A hearty Hearts and Hooves day

Octavia stared out the window of the classroom. The window was cluttered with deep red paper craft of hearts and horse shoes. The classroom was buzzing with little fillies and colt's trotting around decorating for hearts and hooves day. The teacher passed out supplies and joined in the festivities aiding the little foals in their happy activities. All happy bouncy little foals aside from one little filly sitting alone at her desk.

Octavia sat in her desk eyeing the sky that was mostly obscured by the paper craft. Her gaze fixed on the clouds in the distance. The velvety smooth clouds filled with crimson morning light as the new school day was beginning "Now class it's time to make your Hearts and Hooves day cards!" The teacher announced. Octavia snapped back to the class room as the fillies scampered to their desks.

The sounds of talkative busy fillies filled the room as they began making their cards. Octavia buried her head in between her hooves as she stared at the craft supplies before her. She gave an exasperated sigh thinking to herself. Who can I make one for... I don't even have any friends... Her attention drifted back to the window, her thoughts spinning. She didn't want anything to do with this day. She hoped the beautiful display of colors dancing through the clouds would take her mind away from this place.

She hadn't had the best school year, no pony was mean to her but they never talked or offered to play with her. Her usual day was that of a focused student applying herself however, she wanted friends to spend that time with but really didn't know how to approach any pony to try and make some. Octavia usually sat alone during recess and lunch, admiring the beautiful skies that would take her mind away from the mundane.

All she had to look forward to when she got home was practice "practice makes perfect, now do it again" Her father’s words echoed in her mind. Her face scrunched up in a frown in response. She loved to play her cello it made her feel alive. The vibrations seem to almost have a soul, she thought to herself. But dad ruins it when I don't play right... It brought this darker feeling when that happened, like the music was being restricted by her errors. Someday I'll be the best cello musician Equestria has seen. She thought, her mind falling back on her fathers critiques filling her with a gloomy spirit. She rested her head down on the pile of red papers on her desk closing her eyes.

She tried to think of the sound, her cello waiting for to return. The thought of making sweet music again and being away from this lonely place. Her eyes shut tighter as her thoughts turned back to how alone she was. Why is there a stupid hearts and hooves day? She sat with her head planted firmly on the paper covered desk. I'm just going to sit here till this is over - "Time to hoof out your cards My Little Ponies©™" The teacher’s words cut off Octavia's thought.

She didn't budge from her spot. She listened to the hustling fillies scattering through the room passing out their cards. I just want to go home. She thought, her shoulders slumping down to meet her forelegs and head on the desk. When will this end? I can't even understand the point of this, who would even want a card? A bump to the back of her head and a fairly loud "Hey!" tore her mind from her thoughts Grabbing her attention, her ears perked as her head shot upwards turning to meet the intruder, a piece of paper stuck to her cheek.

"I saw you sitting here all morning, you looked pretty sad so to cheer you up I made you this" Vinyl Scratch floated a card with her magic and set it on Octavia's desk. Octavia's expression was wide with surprise, the paper on her cheek slowly peeled itself off and fluttered to the desk as she sat staring in awe and silence. "T-thank you" She managed to mutter out in response, her face still fixated on this little pony. "U-HUH!!" Vinyl nodded happily, turned and trotted away to her desk sitting down.

The noise of the classroom had died down to a low roar. The fillies and foals had mostly taken their seats a few stragglers passing out their last cards. They directed their attention to the teacher "Now class, lets talk about the history of Hearts and Hooves day" she said as she began her lessons, the foals listening to her every word except one. Octavia sat, her face had settled from its shocked state to a more perplexed one. She couldn't hear the teacher, her mind was too focused on something else, something more puzzling to her.

Can it be? Some pony really DOES like me!? We never talked, but...She must care to make me a card... She stared at the heart shaped tiding with bedazzled eyes, her heart pounded hard. She reached a hoof to the card opening it slowly savoring each passing moment of blissful happiness that this gift was bringing. An overwhelming rush filled her stomach, a fluttering feeling wormed its way around inside her. Her heart pounded harder like the beating of a drum, a glorious reprise.

She examined the colorful heart designs that were drawn throughout the inside until her eyes fell onto the only words inside. A wash of emotions riddled her being and water blurred her eyes as she read the card. She held back tears as she looked to Vinyl who was attentively listening to the teacher speak. Octavia looked back down at the opened card that sat alone on the desk, the tears she tried to hold in falling onto its fibrous surface. The tear drops making a few soggy marks on the card. She began reading it again...

~ Kill yourself - Vinyl Scratch~