Chapter 1
Octavia looked around her room. Like most dressing rooms, it was relatively small. It had a simple make-up station with a golden-lined mirror. There was a dress rack behind her holding all of her various outfits. She stood up from her stool and began browsing her apparel. The lounge where she worked had a peculiar taste in fashion, most dresses were outrageously skimpy, revealing most of her skin.
Displeased she shouted: "Metal! Get your butt over here!" The door burst open as a muscular man clad in a black t-shirt jeans and a denim vest walked in with a pint of beer in his hand.
"What's the problem Tavi?" He said before drinking from his pewter tankard.
"What sort of perverted drunkard chose these rags?" She asked him while removing an outfit that looked like a bathing suit with frilled cups.
The burly man snorted before returning to normal. "Yeah about that, Sapphire Shores went a little overboard with her last outfit and the boss thought it would be a nice attraction if you looked kind of like her."
"I am neither an exotic dancer nor do I work in a brothel so these clothes are unfit for my profession."
"What about this piece? I think it matches your figure and looks decent enough." He said as he pulled out a grey silk dress from in between other outfits. It completely revealed her back, her breasts were covered by the cloth, which started right at the bottom and split up, reuniting itself in her neck. The bottom was long, reaching up to her heels, and was split from the beginning of her thigh.
She grabbed it and took a long look. "Is this the only one that doesn't make me look like a whore?"
"I don't remember every single outfit, but I knew you would hate most of the selection." He began scouring the rack, but he didn't find anything. "On the bright side, today is your last show, so there's no need to worry about the next day."
Octavia suddenly realized the dark truth, today was her last show. She was sure he wouldn't be able to renovate the contract, her standards were getting lower and she desperately needed to get out of Canterlot. The capital was just not as good as it was before, the once peaceful place had slowly become a pleasure city with several nobles falling for the various vices offered by the Precious Family.
"Very well, could you please step outside so that I may change clothing?" She instructed.
"Very well ma'am, I'll give you some space. Holler if you need anything." He said as he disappeared.
Octavia began taking deep breaths, stretching her muscles and doing her warm-up routine. After warming up her voice she took off her white felt robe. She slipped into the dress and checked herself in the mirror. She really liked it. The dress was comfortable enough for her despite being too flashy for her taste. She accompanied her dress with grey high heels, just because it was part of her job. She never could understand the need to insert nails to one's heels, but it was considered formal.
"Things could be a lot worse." She said to herself. She sat down on her stool and began working on her makeup. Her mother used to say that a no matter how good a dress is, it is nothing if the wearer looks ugly. Typical of her mother, always worried with appearances.
She only put on the first layer, she hated caking up her face. It felt too unnatural. She reached out to her lockbox and grabbed a golden chain with a treble clef pendant. This necklace was the last gift that her teacher, Bass Strings, had ever given her. It wasn't the greatest, but it was the one she could proudly take anywhere.
She was startled by four consecutive knocks on her door. "Show time Tavi." Said the man with the beer pint.
"Very well, what is the audience like today?"
"The usual rich, spoiled kids who brag about useless stuff. I'd tell you want language they like to use, but mama raised me better than them."
"Your mother raised you, they were raised by nannies. The education is very different."
"Not all nobles are bad, I have this one friend who was raised by his mom and he is very easy-going."
"I did not want to state that all of them were bad, just today's audience." She said as she opened the door. "Did you manage to fix the dent in Arkadius?"
"Yeah, and I also fine-tuned her. I was about to replace the strings, but I couldn't find them."
"Thank you Metal."
"Don't worry about anything, you just focus on taking the audience to serenity."
She started walking toward the stage.
"Good luck Tavi." He said before taking another sip of beer.
She looked at her crowd, most of them were sharply-dressed young men; and some were old sharp-dressed men. The female count was very low, with only three women sitting in one table and next to a rich boy. "Brilliant." She murmured.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen I, Octavia the Cellist, welcome you to tonight's performance. For this evening I will be playing Master Crescendo's Flight of Sera in C flat." After bowing down, she took a seat next to her oak cello and picked up her bow.
No one reacted to her announcement, they just kept talking. Typical.
She noticed that the dent at the bottom front of her instrument was none-existent. Metal's repair ability was unmatched. The instrument was even wound tight, making it easier to play.
The concert was like most, calm and not much excitement. Flight of Sera was what she called background music. Relaxing and without much enthusiasm and occasionally with some light applause. She bowed at the end, but it was useless, the decent men were gone and the drunks or junkies were either passed out or howling at each other.
Backstage she started gathering what she left behind in the dressing room. It mostly was her jewelry, but she also left behind some clothes. She had to leave thee get dress behind, even though she had grown slightly fond of it. It was the last she would wear for a show. After packing everything she took one last look at her room, she certainly was not coming back for a long time.
She quickly changed to flats, now those high heels wouldn't be missed, ever.
Outside her old room she saw both her ex-boss and Metal, holding a cased Arkadius.
"Here are your termination papers, I wish you the best for your future." Said the owner with generic cheer, making sure of saying the politically correct phrases rather than his actual opinion. She knew that he was glad she was leaving. Most new talent would probably have to succumb to his dirty ways, unlike her. "You will receive your payment later this week."
"Thank you sir, I hope we meet again soon." said Octavia before putting on her coat and exiting through the back door.
She started walking down the narrow corridor as was showered by the May rain. Frustrated and cursing to an unknown deity, she started running toward her home.
Just as she was coming up to the street she was stopped by a muscular man wearing a black silk suit, but Octavia couldn't make out any of his features.
"Hey babe, nice show." He said in a suave voice.
"Thank you very much, now if you could be so kind as to please move, I need to get to ,y house as soon as possible." She stammered. The rain was starting to freeze her and she feared she would get sick.
The man ignored her. "C'mon the night is young! There's so much two people can do."
"I really have to get to my house and get off this rain. Now if you please..." Said the cellist as she tried to force her way through. But he stopped her.
"Don't make this harder. Come with me or they could hurt you." He said as he stepped into the light. His face was nothing special, just the usual rich boy. Octavia quickly looked back and noticed two burly silhouettes behind her.
"No." She said firmly. She slowly went for her bow, she was going to need a weapon if things got dangerous.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Said the man as he withdrew a small object from inside his blazer. Octavia had lived long enough to know that this was a gun, not something any junkie could get his hands on. Also, he wasn't drunk, so he well knew what he was doing.
She managed to recognize him as Count Pearl Lance, firstborn of the Precious Family. He had gone to the lounge on various occasions, often ogling her for the entire performance.
"Listen babe, you have one of two choices. Either you come with me as I save you or I'll leave you here so those two brutes can do whatever they wish. I think I remember seeing prods in their jackets." He said with a smug grin.
Octavia reacted by slapping his left cheek.
This made the noble turn red with rage. "How dare you hit me! Do you have any idea what I can do to you?" He punched the left side of her jaw. "Now you listen up, bitch, you are coming with me wether you want to or not."
Octavia didn't hesitate, she went for her bow and slashed at his cheek. Her weapon was not the instrument she used to play the cello. It was specially designed with a thin metal blade rather than the usual rubber band. Perfect for self defence.
She managed to scratch him, but he still deflected most of the blow.
"You have no idea of what you just did bitch, now is where I tell you that you're fucked. For life!" He yelled as he raised his fist one more time.
Octavia jumped backwards, barely dodging the blow. Before she could do retaliate she slipped on the wet floor. She was picked up by the thugs behind her, who grabbed her arms firmly.
"Fight me like a man you coward!" She shouted.
She was responded with a swift punch to her stomach.
"This could have been easy for you, this could have been your best night. But you just had to resist." He said as he unleashed another blow to her face.
"Why are the best women so resilient? Why can't you be respectful of your superiors?" He said as he devastated Octavia's stomach.
The cellist just looked at him, but her look didn't ask for mercy. She just stared at him.
"Beg you bitch!" He yelled as he unleashed another blow.
But she said nothing.
Infuriated, Pearl Lance began using her as a punching bag, only stopping when he was satisfied.
"Beg for me Octavia, and all of this will be over. I'll let you become my mistress if you want, but please just beg me to stop."
Octavia managed to conjure enough saliva, mixed with blood, and spat straight at his face.
"You were so beautiful, so perfect, yet you just had to continue endangering yourself. Now, you will become my slave!" He raised his pistol and prepared to shoot her right leg.
"Not if I can help it." Shouted a voice familiar to Octavia.
She heard an electric guitar play a really loud chord, and saw both thugs fly away. Another chord was played and lightning struck down the noble.
Without those ruffians, Octavia fell like a rag doll. But before she could fall something grabbed her arm. She looked her right and saw Metal. His hair flooded with rain, and his left hand was holding something that looked like a battle axe.
"C'mon Tavi, we don't have much time!" He shouted as a bolt of lightning flashed behind him. He lifted her up and started dragging her through the street. She managed to recover and started walking at a brisk pace. They exited the alley and found themselves in a dark street, only lit by the torches of two guards and the occasional lightning.
"Stop those two!" Came the cry from the shocked noble. The guards immediately prepared their halberds and approached them.
Octavia suddenly felt helpless. She was about to be arrested for being a rape victim. That is bound to look pretty on her record.
But it seemed Metal had something else in mind, as he had grabbed his axe upside down with the next flash of lightning Octavia was capable of seeing why he was holding it like a guitar: because it was a guitar. He played a quick solo, and as he jumped in the final notes, he emitted a shockwave that covered both guards.
The armored men fell down as if their armors were turned to lead. Metal rushed forward, pulling the woman with him. But Octavia was in no shape to walk, observing this Metal grabbed her and put her in a piggie-back position before braving the storm.
After some time of intense running in the rain they arrived to a small apartment building. Metal grabbed a key from his vest and opened the door, rushing Octavia inside.
"What just happened?" She demanded as she steadied herself.
"We can't talk here, follow me." Was all he said before descending to what she guessed was the basement.
She was correct, it was the basement. But it was also an underground apartment with little decoration and no windows.
"Sorry about the mess. I didn't expect to bring visits."
"Would you please tell me what just happened? I swore I would be..." Said Octavia before sneezing loudly.
Alarmed, Metal went to what looked like a kitchen and brought a tray with warm tea. He filled up a cup and handed it to her. "You might want to drink this." He said. She hesitated at first, but she began drinking as soon as she felt the warmth of the ceramic. That rain was dangerous, it usually leaves someone sick when at it's best.
"Now tell me, what just happened? And don't tell me you are part of some secret vigilante group that wanted to recruit me so you followed me." She mocked.
"I am not part of a group, but I did hear the boss talking with someone during the show, talking about how he had sold you. I rushed to get Marcy." He lifted his instrument. "And went outside. I thought I was too late when I went outside, but thankfully I was wrong."
"So what happened back there? I have never seen anything like it." She asked
"What you witnessed was the use of musical magic."
"What?"
"Y'know how most wizards use wands and stuff? Well I use Marcy as my instrument!" He chuckled.
"Hilarious." She muttered coldly.
"It would do you well to laugh every once in a while. But enough about that, we need to talk about the future. Where should we go now?"
"I appreciate you saving me, but there is no we. I prefer living alone because it is simpler, I don't have to look out for anyone and no one has to look after me."
"Maybe if you had company you wouldn't be so bitter."
"There is no one who could interest me."
"Ouch, so anyway, I have friends in Manehattan who would love to hear your music. And I'm sure that they would pay better than here. You could live a far better life, and best of all, free of Pearl Lance."
Octavia was intrigued. "How can you guarantee that?"
"Manehattan belongs to the Mare of the South, a really tough woman with no love for nobles."
"I read the papers, and they said that she had been defeated by the Comission."
"She still has power, maybe not as much, but she can still protect you from Mister Tightpants."
"I have to think about it."
"I hope you can make up your mind soon, cuz we should leave tonight. If Pearl is obsessed with you, he will have the entire guard hunting you and my house can't keep us hidden forever."
Octavia thought about her options, she could stay and be enslaved or she could go to The Big Apple and start anew.
"Start packing, we need to go to my house immediately." She ordered.
"No need to pack, I already have my place reserved for the six o'clock train, which should be leaving in four hours."
"But what about your job?" She asked skeptically.
"I quit after your show, without you, I'm also jobless."
"Why would you do that? It's stupid!"
"I'm a roadie, my job has always been to help musicians and you have been the only one to accept my style. Everyone else has been a snobby, mediocre Joe. So either I help you or I risk getting fired. Either way, my career here in Canterlot is over. You know how special these people are."
"But why do you insist with joining me? You could easily get a job for any band in Equestria." Said Octavia coldly. She really wanted to finish this conversation.
"Most bands don't truly understand music, but you do!" Said Metal with a giddy tone. "You play with passion! Each note is something unique! You want to transmit happiness, passion and every single emotion on you. The others are just in it for the fame and the fortune."
"You are gravely mistaken. I play my cello because I need to get paid to continue living." She shot.
"I don't believe it. Not for one bit. No one trains with Bass Strings and says they do it out of need. I know you play in the Grand Galloping Gala every year. Money isn't the ultimate reason. You like playing your instrument." He said, his eyes full of hope.
"How do you know that I was instructed by..."
"Bass Strings? My dad was a Roadie for him back in the old days, before they both settled down. My old man would tell me about Bass and his many shows across the country. And he still kept in touch. So I dreamed of one day following in my dad's footsteps, and he once mentioned of an apprentice. So when I met you and saw the pendant, I knew where I had to go."
"And what if I say no?"
"Then I'll escort you all the way to the train station, where you will go in whatever direction you wish. I won't beg and I won't look back. It doesn't matter what you choose. I will respect your decision either way."
Octavia was left speechless. She had no idea of what to do next, and with this event, she was going to need to get out of the city as soon as possible.
"Let's go." She said as she walked out the door.