//------------------------------// // Concerto // Story: Musical Preferences // by Lunae //------------------------------// The next days after Octavia's first "fun" party (according to Vinyl) passed uneventfully. The two learned to tolerate each other, but still had squabbles over small things. Octavia headed home, just like every day for the past week, and did her homework that the teachers had assigned her. Sitting on the bed, she glanced at the cello that lay in the corner, which hadn't been played for days. She tried to stay focused on her homework, but the cello kept calling her. A knock came at the door. Octavia trotted to the door and answered to a mare in one of her classes -- Annie Tubs. "Oh, hello Annie," she said. "Hi Octavia," she replied with a smile. "There's a concerto tonight in Palagon Square, would you like to come?" Octavia's eyes lit up with wonder, oh how enjoyable it would be.... "Yes, yes, yes! I would love to go!" Octavia thought a moment before saying, "But wait, can I bring Vinyl Scratch too?" Annie looked a bit shocked, but recovered quickly. "Yes, I suppose, if she can pay for her own ticket." Octavia lifted a gray hoof to her face and smiled. "Oh, this will be wonderful and so much fun? Should I wear formal attire?" Annie nodded. "Yes, it's very high-class. Everypony will be there." Just as she finished the sentence, Vinyl herself came cantering down the hall. This time she didn't have a large speaker on her back, thank goodness. "What's this I hear about high-class? I'm not in," she said, before anypony could even explain. Annie turned to look at the white unicorn politely, saying, "Tonight there will be a concerto..." Before she could finish, Vinyl snorted. Annie looked taken aback, but continued. "...a concerto in Palagon Square. I've invited you and Octavia." "You took me to that party and I loved it. You know I couldn't stand that type of music before, but now I tolerate it. It's my turn," Octavia said. "All right, fine. How many bits for a ticket?" Vinyl sighed. Octavia looked at Annie expectantly. When she didn't answer, Octavia said, "Annie?" "Oh! Sorry, I was just...uh...er, well it's eight bits." While Octavia and Vinyl were talking, Annie was staring at Vinyl in awe, shocked that she actually agreed. "Fair enough. What should I wear?" "A dress." Vinyl sighed and beckoned the ponies into the room. She led them to her closet that she shared with Octavia. "Is this fancy shmancy enough?" Vinyl pointed to a stunning black and white gown hanging in the closet. Both Annie and Octavia nodded immediately. "It's perfect! Oh Vinyl, where'd you get it?" asked Octavia. "I don't remember." Octavia laughed, went to her side of the closet, and produced a bright blue gown with multiple layers flowing down. She set it on the bed and asked, "Do you like mine?" Vinyl and Annie nodded. ~ Octavia's smile was uncontrollable. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't muster the energy to banish it. They quickly found Palagon Square and waited in line for the ticket booth. They each payed their share and entered the concert hall. They found seats quickly and waited for the music to start. Octavia watched the cello player intensely, searching for hints to improve herself. The music was wonderful, and at the end of each song everypony clapped. Toward the end of the third song, Octavia was crying. It was too powerful. "Psst, Octavia," came a whisper from Vinyl. "Why're you crying?" Octavia smiled at her and whispered back, "The music. It's too powerful. I just can't help it." At that, Vinyl stood up and clapped before anypony else. "Whoo-hoo! Aww, yeah! That was great! C'mon, everypony, it was amazing!" Octavia and Annie looked at Vinyl in horror. If there was one thing you don't do when everypony is silent and enjoying the music (at least peaceful music) you don't stand up and start shouting! "Oh goodness," Octavia said, facehoofing herself. Three burly pegasi were making their way down the rows to Vinyl. When they got to her seat, one of them said, "Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." "What?! That's outrageous! She was simply cheering! You can't blame her for enjoying the music in her own way!" Octavia shouted at the guards. By this point, everypony was staring at her, the guards and Vinyl Scratch, even the musicians. "Well, ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave as well." "Fine!" The guards started marching Vinyl and Octavia out of the concert hall, but they were interrupted by Annie, who shouted "Wait!" Everypony's attention was turned to her. "If they're leaving, I am too." Annie caught up to Octavia, Vinyl, and the guards and trotted alongside them. The guards brought the three mares to the door and released them. The three obediently walked outside into the dark night. "Well, now what do we do?" Vinyl asked. Annie and Octavia looked at each other, exasperated. "I honestly don't know, Vinyl." Annie, Octavia, and Vinyl waited outside in the cool air until the concert was done and most guests had gone. When the musicians started filing out, Octavia noticed the cello player. She stood up and trotted over to him. "Hello, my name's Octavia. I play the cello as well." The cello player stepped out of the stream of musicians spilling out the doors to talk to her. "My name's Lawrence." "Nice to meet you, Lawrence." "Oh please, the pleasure's all mine, Ms. Octavia. Would you like to play out on the streets with me?" Octavia's mouth fell wide open. This was a chance she would absolutely not refuse! "Oh my, yes! But I don't have my cello on me." Lawrence smiled and replied, "Oh it's all right. You can use mine. You can keep it, actually. I need a new one anyway." Octavia would have fainted if Vinyl and Annie hadn't trotted up to the two of them. "Hey, Octavia, do you want -- oh, sorry," Vinyl said. "My name is Vinyl Scratch." "Lawrence." "Ah, Mr. Lawrence, my name is Annie." "Pleasure to meet you Ms. Annie, Ms. Scratch," he said before turning to Octavia. "Now, Ms. Octavia, where do you want to play?" "Oh, anywhere is fine." Lawrence silently handed Octavia the cello that was previously played on stage, in front of millions of ponies. Octavia took it and began to play her best. Soon, ponies began to gather around her. Annie took off her hat and put it on the ground for the other ponies to put their money in. Soon, the crowd was huge, and the hat was filled. "Octavia, would you like to play with us?" Lawrence asked.