I'm standing in front of her door. I'm in Canterlot, standing in front of the door of Octavia, the great cellist for Princess Celestia. It happened back at the Grand Galloping Gala. I saw here and fell in love. She was playng the cello and I fell in love. Even the pink mare that made her play Pony Polky couldn't change my love. I'm going to knock on this door and tell Octavia how I feel. I don't care if I get shot down, I just want her to know. As long as she knows, I'm happy.
I raise a hoof, my heart thumping hard. I hear nothing, absolutely nothing on this dark night full of Luna's stars. It's a little cold out here, but heat leaks from the house, keeping me comfortable. Inside of Octavia's house is the smell of pasta. Spaghetti most likely. If she doesn't turn me down, I will be her cook. I love to cook, but I want somepony to cook for other than my friends and their damn marefriends. That's all they use me for, a cook. I just hope Octavia doesn't turn me down.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
I tap three times on her door. I hear nothing from within. I let the smell of food serenade me as I look up toward the sky. I look at different constelations - Alicornus, Draco, Head of Celestia and Luna's Heart. I hear a shuffle from the house and look back at the door. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a curtain slide to the side. It snaps back to its original position and I'm left standing there.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
I rap three more times to get the mare's attention, telling her I'm still here. I hear more shuffling the the door opens. "What do you want?" the mare growls at the sight of me. "I don't have time to be talking to ponies I do not know."
I swalow hard and stare at her eyes, pure violet. I open my mouth but no sound comes out. I look at the ground and hear the door starting to creak closed. "Wait!" I shout, lifing my head up before she can close the door. "Please, wait!" She heeds my pleas and opens the door wide once again. "Do you remember the Grand Galloping Gala?" I ask her.
"How could I not? That annoying pink Earth pony made us play that song. That was the worst day of my career," she admits. "Why does it matter to you?" I do nothing but stare, lost in her angry eyes. "Hello! Are you still there?" she shouts at me.
I gulp and start stammering. "O-O-Octavia. I-I-I w-w-want to...to tell you something...I uh..." I have to cut myself short so I don't sound like a complete idiot. I hear her sigh and start to close the door again.
"If you can't tell me whatever it is you came to say, then you can get lost."
"No! Wait! Please! I'm trying, but it's hard to look at you and say it. It's hard just to be in your presense and say anything. I...just please...I really have to tell you this. Can...can I at least come inside?" I whimper.
The door flies open and she stomps up to me, her face inches from mine. "What makes you think that I'd let you in my house when I don't even know you? How do I know you won't kill me, or rape me after I let you in?"
I shrink down, lowering myself to the ground, putting my tail between my legs. "I won't, I swear. Just please, let me come inside. It's cold out here and I don't want you to pass out if what I say affects you in a bad way." She backs up with a scowl on her face, but side-steps to let me inside.
I stand up, but leave my tail tucked, and walk into her house. I'm instantly assaulted with the scent of the pasta, but it's much stronger. I look around and see paintings. Her cello sits in the corner, leaning against a piano. There's a small cushion and low table that she must use for eating. I look at Octavia, who is closing the door.
"You have a very beautiful home." Under my breath, I add "But it's not as beautiful as you."
She whips around and looks at me. "What did you say?"
I put my hooves up defensively and reply "I said you have a very beautiful home."
She shakes her head and grunts. "No, you said something else. I heard you muttering. What did you say?"
I look down at the floor and listen as her hooves clop aginst the hardwood floor on their way to me. I feel her hoof tap my back. I raise my head to look into her eyes of slight annoyance. "I heard you muttering something, now tell...oh my...sweet Celestia...I can't believe this..."
"What is it? Did I do something wrong? is there something on my face?" I squeak as I swipe at my face and run my hooves through my mane.
"No, it was nothing. Now...now tell me...tell me what you said."
"Please don't make me tell you Octavia, it's embarrassing." When I see her stare back at me, I gulp once again and look directly into her purple eyes. "I said you have a very beautiful home, but it is not as beautiful as you." She blushes and walks over to the piano, where she sits down.
Looking back at me, she smiles. "Thank you. Nopony's ever given me a compliment."
"That was no compliment Octavia," I say, stepping closer to her. "A compliment is what I'm about to give you. Octavia, you are the most beautiful mare I have ever seen. No mare's looks could ever compare to yours. You could go to a beauty pagent, but they'd kick you out because you're too beautiful. You're beauty makes everything else ugly. If it weren't for you're face, this world would be nothing more than dirt. If you had not been born, there would be no beauty whatsoever." Each sentance, I take a step closer to her. I watch her blush deepen and her smile broaden.
I feel myself getting bolder with each step so I keep on going with the compliments. "Octavia, you are the most talented are I have ever seen. You can play the cello like no other. I have heard you playing and I have absolutely fallen in love with your music. You are far better than I could ever be or hope to be. There is not a mare on this planet that could match your skill."
"Okay, that's enough. My face hurts from the smiling," she says. I get quiet and look down in sorrow. I hear her click back over to me and touch my shoulder. I look up and still se her smiling.
"I thought you said that hurt."
She chuckles. "It did. It doesn't anymore."
"Octavia, will you please sit down so I can tell you something?" She looks at me with a weirded out look and I sigh. "Please do it. I need to tell you something and I don't want you to get hurt if you pass out." She goes over to the cushion and sits down. I follow, but stand up in front of her instead of sitting down. "Octavia, do you remember the Grand Galoping Gala?" She nods and I continues. "Well, I was watching you play the cello and..well...I...my whole life changed. I realized that...that...I love you."
I watch my words take effect. She sits there and stares off into space for several seconds before passing out. "I knew this would happen!" I bend over and hoist Octavia onto my back. I walk through the kitchen, which is attatched to the den, and walk to the stairs on the other side. They spiral upward and lead to a large bedroom that takes up the whole floor. Across the floor are pictures of...me. How did she get these pictures?
Has she been watching me, or does she have a roomate that has an obsession with me? Either way, the pictures creep me out. I walk to an enourmous bed that I gently lay her onto. I roll the blanket up and place it on her softly. Not wating to disturb her, I go back down the stairs to check on the dinner she was making. On my way down, I notice a mirror, full-length too.
I look at myself, noticing my black-rimmed glasses. Beneath the glasses sit my sapphire blue eyes. I see my soft, black and white mane, brushed back, almost double-layered because of how I brushed it. My black vest cover's my chest and nothing else, maybe that's why I was so cold. Note to self: get some pants. Something to cover my rear. And speaking of rear, I look at me tail, curving behind me, gently touching the floor, looking like a thick whisp made of black and white stripes. My grey fur covers me completely and barely allows my Cutie Mark to be seen.
A big, black sixteenth note. Just sitting there, doing nothing. I don't know why I have it when I'm not that good at music. I admire my ugliness for moments more before I go downstairs and check the food. She was making spaghetti. She won't eat it tonight so I store it in the icebox with clear wrap covering it. I climb back up the stairs and look at Octavia, still unconscious.
There's no way I could leave her alone while she's unconscious...I better stay here and watch over her for the night. I squat next to the bed, my back facing her. I stare out the doorway, into the nothingness of the stairwell. I hear winds whipping outside and whimper as I am terrified that she'll kick me out into the storm when she comes to.
To hide from this possibility, I slide under the bed and cower in loneliness. I see lightening flash and start counting the seconds until the crack of thunder. One. Two. Three. Fou-
CRACK RUMBLE RUMBLE ROLL
"Yipe!" I squeal from beneath the bed. I jump and smack my head on the wooded supports. Rubbing my head softly, I poke my head out to make sure she's still asleep. Thakfully, she's still out cold, so I slip back under. My body shakes with fear so I close my eyes and think of a happy place.
I see myself sitting next to Octavia, on the very bed she rests in now. She...she leans over and gives me a kiss....right on the lips. I...I return it. She pushes me down onto the bed...she opens her mouth and...and slides her tongue into mine...I...I let her...she keeps pressing on me....such a wonderful happy place....
CRACK RUMBLE RUMBLE ROLL
I jump and smack my head again. This time, I feel a small amount of blood coming from where I hit my head. I press my hoof down and stop the bleeding. I hope I don't get this all over my coat...
Above me, on the bed, Octavia moans. No! Stupid storm! She'll kick me out! Don't do this to me! Another moan and I hear the bed creak. Creaking so slowly...like she's weak. More creaking...please go back to unconsciousness....please...the bed creaks again, but this one loud and quick. I see her hooves hit the floor and I just barely hold back a whimper.
She's up! Now I'm doomed!
"Where are you?" she groans. "I want to talk to you about something..."
Don't move....don't go anywhere...stay right here Octavio, right here. I watch her hooves walk around to the front of the bed where the blanket obscures my view.
"Hello? I know you didn't leave with me unconscious so come out from wherever you're hiding!"
Her voice fades and I hear the cliopping of hooves. They...they're behind me. Dont move...don't move...
"Ah!" I shout as I feel myself pulled from under the bed by my tail. I hide my face with my hooves from both her and the storm.
"Get up. I want to talk to you, but I won't do it if you're shaking like a frightened foal." Her voice scares me into looking back at her. "Get up or get out," she growls.
I jump to a standing position. "Y-y-yes Octavia?" I stutter.
"Thank you for everything you said. Those were the only compliments I have ever recieved. And what you said...about loving me...I...I feel the same way for you."
Her words take me back. I stare at her, not knowing what to says. I hear thunder crack again, but I don't budge. "You...love me? But...you don't even know me..."
"I kinda do...I've been following you around for quite some time. I wanted to see who you were. At the Gala, I saw you. I saw you and my heart skipped a beat. But, working for the Princess, I couldn't act upon it. If I had said anything or stopped playing, she would have had me fired. I couldn't do that."
I feel something flood my body. I don't know what it is, but it makes my heart beat faster. I feel my whole body warm up instantly. My head clears and I see nothing but Octavia in front of me. I grab her face and put my lips on hers. She smacks at my chest, trying to push me off, but I hold strong. Her swings weaken and eventually stop as I kiss her.
She puts her hooves on mine and pushes them to the floor. I step back and she looks at me. "Thank you," she whispers. "That was my first kiss."
