"What is this place?!" Octavia yelled just to be heard over the loud, ears-splitting music that threatened to make her deaf.

The place was dark, except for the flashing, multi-colored lights. Bodies ground together on the dance floor as they danced to the beat of the music, ponies reaching for their drinks on the bars for a sip without missing a beat. Deep bass flooded her ears, her heart pounding to the beat. The smell of smoke assaulted her nostrils, making her cough and clear her throat.

"We're in a nightclub, silly! Haven't you ever been to one?!" An aquamarine unicorn replied, dragging Octavia by the hoof deeper into the building with flashing lights that threatened to make her go blind.

"No…these aren't the kinds of places my family frequents. Actually, we try to avoid these places as much as possible!"

Lyra Heartstrings dragged her to three different unicorns, all laughing with drinks in their hooves. One had a light yellow coat with cerulean hair. Another had a grayish-blue coat and a mane that was a couple of shades darker, and the final one had a tanish-white coat with a pink mane.

"Octy, these are my friends, Lemon Hearts, Minuette, and Twinkleshine. Girls, this is Octavia Sonata!" Lyra said, overenunciating her last name a little too much. "She's a cellist from the same orchestra I'm in. You know, the Philharmonic Symphony."

Octavia just rubbed the back of her head, chuckling nervously, her cheeks blushing. She really had to stop giving strangers her last name.

That was when Lyra seemed to notice something. "Where's Moondancer and Twilight?"

The one named Minuette waved a dismissive hoof. "Twilight said she had a final to study for and Moondancer said she had some studying to catch up on."

"You know, their typical responses." Twinkleshine finished.

Octavia was quickly getting overwhelmed by, well…everything. She could barely think straight with all this chaos. She was not used to this kind of setting. She attended dinner parties and galas, not…nightclubs.

"Umm…Lyra. I, um…I need to head to the umm…bathroom real quick." Octavia said, leaning into Lyra.

"Oh, okay. Don't take too long!"

Octavia hurried towards the bathroom, where she thankfully got a reprieve from the blaring music. She shut the door, the music outside echoing in the walls. She went to the sink, breathing heavily, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

She wasn't sure why she accepted Lyra's invitation to this nightclub. Her parents definitely wouldn't be happy if they knew she was here. She'd be grounded for, like, a month. She just needed a night of freedom from life as a stuffy elitist.

Suddenly, Octavia heard what sounded like a mare heaving in one of the stalls. Octavia hesitated before going to it and knocking on it softly. "Umm…excuse me…are you okay miss?"

"I'm fine!" A voice called out weakly. "Just…go away!"

Octavia hesitated when she heard the mare in the stall heave again, but respected her wishes and began to walk away. But she stopped when she heard the mare's voice.

"Actually, lady, you can help me! Mind getting me a cup of water?" The mare said right before she heard the toilet flush.

Octavia hurried out of the bathroom, and back into the chaotic club, only to return with a glass of water. When she did, she saw a white unicorn with an electric blue mane, sweaty and pale, leaning against the wall at the back of the bathroom.

Octavia quickly approached the mare with the glass of water and the mare picked it up with her magic, taking a long deep drink, and sighing when she was finished.

"What's wrong? I-if you don't mind me asking." Octavia asked, sitting in front of the mare.

"Nothing too serious, if that's what you're asking. Just a little too much to drink on an empty stomach. Rookie mistake. A stupid one. Something I knew, didn't care, and am currently regretting."

"R-right. I'm…I'm not all that well-versed in drinking. Well, unless you're asking about wine. That I'm pretty familiar with."

"Who are you? Some rich Canterlot pony from the high end of town?"

Octavia's eyes widened briefly before answering. "N-no. Just…just a regular earth pony who likes playing the cello. I'm Octavia, by the way. Octavia…" Octavia hesitated, racking her mind for an alias. She just wanted to be a normal pony, even if it were just for one night. "Melody. Octavia Melody."

"Fancy name. I'm Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch. Nice to meet you, Octavia…"

"Tavi, you sure I shouldn't just go as DJ PON-3? You know, break the ice by impressing them with my wicked turntable skills." Vinyl asked, pretending to turn a record with her hoof as the Ponyville Express approached the Canterlot station.

Octavia chuckled softly. "I'm quite sure. They hate your kind of music. You'd just be confirming what they already think of you."

"And what, pray tell, do they think of me, if you don't mind me asking?" Vinyl asked in the same accent Octavia used, though hers was a bit more dramatic with a little more flare.

Octavia chuckled a bit again. Vinyl did always know how to make her laugh. She sighed heavily, leaning against her seat, her head against the cushioned headrest, and turned to look at the mare next to her.

"That you're a lowlife drunk or con artist, they go back and forth, that scratches their hooves on chalkboards and dares to call it music."

"Yikes. That's…a bit harsh. Where the hell did they get that idea?"

"Vinyl. We met in the bathroom of a nightclub just after you threw up from drinking too much, I was disobeying my parents just by being there, and you just so happened to bring me to your apartment drunk. Where do you think they got that idea? Not to mention I was a tad bit underage when I got in, so technically, we were breaking the law."

"Hey, it's not my fault you couldn't hold your liquor. Plus I've been sober for nine years. Plus, I didn't know you were underage. Their opinion of me is a total misfire." Octavia raised an eyebrow. Vinyl was silent for a moment before she reluctantly amended, "Okay, so maybe it wasn't completely off. But I've changed a lot since we met. I matured."

"I know you have Vinyl. Just…try to act more…"

"Respectful?" Vinyl asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm not a barbarian you know. I know how to act."

Octavia nodded, taking a shaking breath and looking out the window to the passing countryside.

Vinyl noticed this and put a hoof on Octavia's. "Hey, you okay, Tavi?"

Octavia blinked back tears, before looking up at Vinyl. "I'm fine. I'm just…nervous is all."

The truth was, she was absolutely terrified. She still wasn't sure why she decided to come back after all these years. Maybe it was out of spite. To prove that they were wrong about her and Vinyl and that she was capable of living a happy life without their money, fancy name, or arranged marriages. That none of it mattered.

Or maybe it was because, despite everything that happened, she still missed her family. That even though she wouldn't trade her life with Vinyl, she still felt alone in the world. Because even though they made a horrible mistake sending her away, she knew that deep inside, they still loved her. Because, once upon a time, they were good parents. They kissed her goodnight and read her bedtime stories to help her go to sleep. They helped her discover her love of the cello. They supported her dreams to become the best cellist in Equestria.

Her mother taught her how to put on makeup and taught her what it means to have a good coltfriend who would treat her right. Lessons she applied to Vinyl when Vinyl asked her out. Her father brought her to parks and pushed her on the swings. Despite the suffocation of the family name, she had a good fillyhood. They were amazing parents. But they were only ponies, just like her. Should they really be judged and condemned for one mistake? Especially if they've shown regret? Should she really hold one mistake against them when she's made plenty of her own?

But then again, this wasn't just an everyday mistake. This was huge. For ten years, they casted out their own child. They made her choose between them and her own happiness. They put their family name over their own daughter. Did they really deserve the chance to make things right?

Octavia didn't know what to do.

"It's okay to be, Tavi," Vinyl said, ripping Octavia from her thoughts. "Considering how things ended, I'd be nervous too. But don't worry. I'll win your parents over with my sick beats."

Octavia chuckled, but it was shaky and wobbly. The train pulled into the train station, screeching to a stop. Slowly, Octavia and Vinyl stood up from their seats, grabbed their saddlebags, and exited the train, Octavia's heart racing until it threatened to burst out of her chest.

They walked through the station, Octavia staying close to Vinyl's side, her body drenched in a nervous cold sweat. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this. After all these years, she couldn't believe she was actually going to see them.

They exited the station only to see a giant gold carriage, with six stallions dressed in tuxes pulling it, a footcolt at the door, and a driver at the reins. The Sonata crest was engraved on the side of the carriage, a swan with two single eighth notes coming out of its beak as though it was singing.

"Wow, talk about flashy," Vinyl muttered. "You're parents are not ones for subtlety, are they?"

"No, they are not," Octavia responded before walking up to the carriage.

The footcolt gave a small bow, saying, "Lady Sonata", before opening the door of the carriage with his magic.

"I‐I prefer Melody, good sir," Octavia corrected, stepping into the carriage.

"O-of course, Lady Melody. My mistake." Vinyl approached the carriage, only for the footcolt to look at her as though she were crazy. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but whatever you're selling, we're not interested."

Vinyl opened her mouth to retort, clearly looking offended, but Octavia had already stuck her head out and was already answering before Vinyl could say a word. "It's okay sir. She's with me."

The footcolt hesitated briefly before nodding. "Very well, Lady Melody."

He stepped aside and allowed Vinyl to enter, Vinyl mumbling "rude" as she did. The footcolt closed the door and stood on the little platform at the back of the carriage, holding onto the bar that was there with his magic. The carriage took off, leaving the station behind.

"Sorry, Vinyl. The ponies around these parts can be a bit…stuffy." Octavia apologized.

"Stuffy's one word for it." Vinyl muttered grumpily.

"Hey, you're the one who insisted on coming. You didn't have to. And I warned you this wouldn't be easy."

Vinyl sighed, putting a hoof around Octavia. "I know, Tavi. I'm sorry. You're right. I'll try and have a better attitude."

Octavia smiled and kissed Vinyl as the carriage rode off to the Sonata Manor.

"Dude, this is your house!" Vinyl asked as she gaped up at the mansion with open-mouthed shock.

The mansion was huge, approximately the size of, like, fifty of their houses back in Ponyville. Actually, probably more like one hundred. Vinyl was surprised there weren't torrents sticking up out of it.

"It was my house," Octavia stated flatly, looking up at it with flat eyes. "My home is now back in Ponyville."

"More like a castle," Vinyl muttered as she stared out the window of the carriage.

The carriage approached the door to the manor following a stone road through an expertly manicured front lawn that's almost as big as the mansion itself. The carriage pulled to a stop and Vinyl was about to open the door to step out when Octavia shook her head, giving her a look that told Vinyl she should probably sit back down.

Vinyl did so, and only a few moments later, the door opened revealing the footcolt. He helped both of them step out onto the stone porch that was bigger than a pool and closed the door behind them. He jumped onto the back of the carriage, as though he was just along for the ride before the carriage pulled away.

The two mares turned to see a silver unicorn stallion with a sky-blue mane. He was old, probably in his mid to late fifties though he looked pretty spry despite his age. He stood next to the massive front door, dressed in a tux, watching them carefully with a small smile.

When Octavia caught sight of him, her face instantly brightened. "Mr. Platter!" She exclaimed, running up to hug the stallion, grinning ear to ear.

She couldn't be happier to see that he still worked here. Silver Platter was their butler since before Octavia was born, and when her parents were busy with writing music or attending parties she was unable to attend, it was Mr. Platter who watched over her. He had a hoof in raising her as much as her parents did.

It was Mr. Platter who was the first to find out about her and Vinyl's relationship when she first started seeing Vinyl in secret. He had supported their relationship and even encouraged her to follow her heart. When her parents casted her out, it was Mr. Platter that gave her enough money to make a fresh start when she and Vinyl wanted to move to Ponyville, without her parents' knowledge. She was so happy to see him here.

"Madame Melody. It's wonderful to see you again." Silver Platter said, his voice in the same accent as Octavia's, but his was slower and more articulate. "And, as I've said time and time again, you may just call me Silver, if you wish. We're definitely past formalities."

"Mr. Platter, if that were true, you'd be calling me Octavia," Octavia responded with a small smile. "Oh, it's so wonderful seeing you again. You have no idea how much I've missed you! How have you been?"

"Oh, not much has changed since you left, m'lady. I trust you've been happy in Ponyville? When I received your letter telling me you found a nice place to live there, I was immensely relieved. I worried you…well, let's just say, it's good to see you so happy." Silver Platter turned to look at the white unicorn standing awkwardly behind Octavia. "And who is this, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Oh, yes, Mr. Platter, this is my marefriend…" Octavia started before Vinyl interrupted, stepping up to hold out her hoof to the silver unicorn.

"Vinyl Scratch. Pleasure to meet you, sir."

Silver Platter shook Vinyl's hoof. "Ah, so you're the mare I've heard so much about. Pleasure to finally meet you in pony. I'm Silver Platter, the butler of this estate."

Vinyl chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her head. "I'd like to say the same, but, to be honest, I haven't heard all that much about you."

"Well, to be fair, seeing you here, most of what I've heard isn't true, I can tell you that much. So, I suppose I don't know all that much about you. I hope you've been taking good care of Lady Melody."

Vinyl smiled, glancing at Octavia. With the way Octavia dragged on about her parents, this wasn't quite what she was expecting. "Umm…yes, well…we kinda take care of each other. Though, she's looking after me most of the time."

"Mr. Platter here has been our butler for…well as long as I can remember. He helped raise me. He's like my grandfather and practically part of the family. Well, to me he is."

"That is very kind of you, m'lady. Your mother informed me to lead you to your room, and allow you to get ready for the gala."

Octavia froze while Vinyl looked confused. "Gala? You mean the Grand Galloping Gala?"

"No, Miss Scratch. A gala is simply a fancy party to mark an occasion. In this case, the gala is to honor your father. Even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are said to attend."

"Yo, the Royal Sisters are attending?! Just how important is this gala?" Vinyl asked, looking between Octavia and Silver Platter.

"It's not how important the gala is. It's how important my father is." Octavia mumbled, twisting her lips.

"Lady Melody is right. They are coming to acknowledge Mr. Sonata's attributions to music. It changed the direction of music as we know it. Just like every Sonata generation."

This was one of the reasons Octavia gave Vinyl a false name when they first met. Another reason that made it easier to choose her heart rather than her family when she was forced to. The pressure that came with having the Sonata name was enough to crush anypony, and it almost crushed her. It was the same reason she went to that nightclub that night so long ago. She wanted to be free of that, even if it was just for one night. She wanted to be free of the high expectations of being a music prodigy, just like every Sonata generation before her. She wanted to be free of the fear that she'd never live up to those expectations. That she'd never be good enough.

But coming back here had brought back all those emotions. Seeing this manor, being on this estate, going to this gala that'd be full of ponies asking her about her musical accomplishments when she had none was too much of a weight to have on her shoulders. And she doubted playing in the symphony of small town Ponyville counted as an accomplishment. And she missed her chance to be seen by the scouts from the Canterlot Symphony when she dropped everything to see her parents. And she doubted playing at the Grand Galloping Gala counted either. As a Sonata, she should've been attending it, not playing at it like some commoner.

She might as well face the music. Since leaving behind the Sonata name, she's been nothing but a failure.

Vinyl looked at Octavia, seeing her distasteful look. A look that bordered on fear. Or perhaps it was the distaste that masked the fear. "Hey, Tavi. You alright?"

Octavia looked up at Vinyl as though startled before clearing her throat. "Huh? Yes, I'm fine. It's just…it's weird being back here after all these years." Octavia chuckled bitterly. "Mr. Platter was right. Nothing's changed. It's just as soul-crushing as I remember."

Octavia laughed loudly as she tripped over her own hooves up the stairs. She fell into Vinyl, nearly making her fall from the weight of the golden grey earth pony.

"Tavi! Quiet! You're gonna wake up the whole building and my landlord's gonna kill me for it!" Vinyl hissed in a whisper.

She still wasn't sure why she brought this rando mare to her apartment. It wasn't like she owed her anything. But…well…the mare was drunk off her ass and it didn't feel right to let her fend for herself. The mare's friends came over a couple of hours earlier to say they were leaving, four different colored unicorns, but Octavia was a little tipsy by that point and opted to stay.

So…Vinyl offered to watch her and make sure nothing happened to her before she got home. So now Vinyl was stuck with her. Vinyl tried asking where she lived so she could drop her off, but the mare refused, saying she was taught to never give her address to strangers, which technically, Vinyl was. Though, she clearly had no qualms about going to a stranger's house drunk, since going to her apartment was Octavia's idea.

"Yesss Veenil! Ssshhh! You need…to be…quiiiieeet," Octavia said loudly, the only word she actually whispered being the last one.

Vinyl rolled her eyes. She almost felt bad for this mare. She was gonna have a nasty hangover.

"Whatever you say, Tavi." She muttered.

"Ma name'sh not T-Tavi. Itsh Oct-Ta-Vi-A," Octavia corrected, overenunciating her name, as though to make it clear how to say her name.

"Yes, ma'am," Vinyl muttered sarcastically. She definitely like the sober Octavia a lot better than the drunk one. In Vinyl's mind, there were three types of drunks, at least in her experience: the angry drunks, the fun ones, and the annoying ones. Octavia fell into the last category.

Octavia gasped in concern. "Oh…no…is…is shomepony all gwumpy?" Octavia leaned into Vinyl as she helped her down the hall to her apartment. "I hep you feel…bet…ter."

Octavia leaned in to kiss Vinyl on the cheek, but Vinyl quickly pushed Octavia away, ducking to avoid her kiss, causing Octavia to stumble over her own hooves and fall against the wall of somepony else's apartment. "Whoa there, lady. You're drunk and…not to be rude or anything but…you are so not my type."

"B-but…why not?" Octavia slurred in a pout, looking more like a three-year-old who didn't get the cookie they wanted than a grown mare.

Vinyl raised an eyebrow, not sure how to react to…whatever this was. "Well, for one, I prefer somepony who can hold their liquor."

"I…I can control me…licking…whoa…why's…why's the werld shpinning?" Octavia asked, suddenly seeming very unstable on her hooves. Well, more so than before.

"Yeah, no, you can't and…you know what? I'm not having this conversation right now?"

"Why…not?!" Octavia whined loudly, stumbling on her hooves, but Vinyl caught her in time. "I wanna know why you don't wanna date me…becuse you…you hot. Hey, why do you wear thoshe sunglashesh?"

"Because you're drunk, Tavi. And…Whoa, you doin' alright there?" Vinyl asked as Octavia dropped her head on top of Vinyl's.

"M'tired…your head feelsh like a…whatsh that thing called again…itsh white and…floofy…an…" Octavia's voice trailed off as she closed her eyes.

"No, Tavi. Tavi. Wake up. Tavi! You are not passing out on me dammit!" Vinyl panicked as she suddenly felt the entire weight of Octavia on top of her, nearly making her fall to the floor.

Vinyl lit her horn, using her magic to help hold the now snoring Octavia. She hated using her magic after drinking since it was always a little unstable, but she supposed she had no choice.

Suddenly, a door behind them opened, making Vinyl jump and turn around, seeing a tan stallion who had a grey mane and beard. "What the hell's goin' on out here?" He asked in a Manehattan accent.

Vinyl clenched her jaw. "Umm…sorry, sir…it's just that…umm…well…my umm…" Vinyl racked her head with an excuse, saying the first thing that came to her mind. "Marefriend here got a bit too much to…uhh…drink and now I'm trying to get her back to…our apartment but she uh…passed out halfway there…"

The stallion narrowed his eyes at her, silent for a moment before muttering. "Damn kids these days. They don't have any responsibility when it comes to these kinds of things." He shook his head and said louder, "Here, why don't I help ya out a bit? You look like you need it."

"Thanks," Vinyl said gratefully, quickly accepting the stallion's help, while in her mind she thought about how much she couldn't wait to be rid of this damn mare.

"My apologies, m'lady, but I'm afraid I don't have a room prepared for Miss Scratch." Silver Platter said as he led Vinyl and Octavia up the stairs of the mansion and down the hall, up another flight of stairs, and down more hallways, each one more decorative and elaborate than the last. "Her coming here was an…unexpected surprise. While a welcome one for me, if I'm being honest, I'm not quite sure how you're parents will react after, well…" Silver Platter stopped and glanced at Vinyl before continuing. "Everything."

Vinyl waved a dismissive hoof. "Oh, it's fine, Mr. P. I already know everything. And besides, Tavi and I can share a room. I mean, we already have for the past decade." She leaned into Octavia, brushing her lips against her cheek, making Octavia chuckle.

Silver Platter cleared his throat, and the two quickly jumped apart. "While I have no qualms about such an arrangement since you two are grown mares…you're parents may have…mixed feelings about it…to say the least." He turned to Octavia, making it clear he was solely speaking to her. "M'lady, I urge you to consider this when making your decision. If you want your visit to go as…" He glanced at Vinyl. "Smoothly as possible."

Octavia bit her lip, before sighing heavily. "Yes. I suppose you're right." She turned to Vinyl, who looked a little surprised and even a bit hurt. "Vinyl, your presence here already complicates, well…everything. I think it's best if we don't share a room…for now, at least. Just until my parents get used to the idea of us being together."

Vinyl rolled her eyes, knowing Octavia was right. "Fine. Lead on to the guest room Mr. P."

Mr. Platter gave a small smile. "What would you prefer, Miss Scratch? The front yard view, the backyard view, the lake view, or the ski resort?"

Vinyl turned to Octavia with wide eyes. "Holy shit, Tavi! Your family owns a lake and a ski resort?!"

Octavia chuckled, the first one that was genuinely happy, with no deeper negative emotion tied to it. "That's Mr. Platter's idea of a joke. My family doesn't own a lake. Though, my family does own a ski resort up in the mountains, but not only is it closed for the season, it's also a couple hours' ride from here."

Vinyl scoffed, blushing, and waving a dismissive hoof. "I knew that. I…I was just playing along. Whatever. I'd like the closest guest room to Tavi's."

"Perfect. I shall lead you there. Once you are settled, you two can get ready for the gala." Mr. Platter looked to Octavia. "I'm assuming Miss Scratch will be your plus one."

"You assumed correctly, Mr. Platter. And, mind doing one thing for me. Don't tell my parents or anypony that Vinyl has come yet. I want her to make her great debut during the gala."

Mr. Platter smiled deviously. "It would be my pleasure, m'lady."

Author's Note

Sorry this took awhile. I've had some things to deal with, the very things that inspired this story. At the author's note of the last chapter, I'll give some more details, but for now, let's just say I'm full of emotions and I feel like I could sleep for days from emotional exhaustion.