Octavia Philharmonica has had an interesting life since becoming the Bearer of the Element of Honesty. Between her music studies, her jam sessions with Vinyl Scratch (the Element of Magic) and the other Ponyville musicians, and her attempts to learn more about friendship, she's got a lot on her plate. Fortunately, she seems to be doing well, and her attempts to integrate into the Ponyville community have been largely successful. She is even invited to go to a magic show by some of her friends, an invitation which she happily accepts.
Unfortunately, during the show, a traveling showmare and a purple-coated scholar get into a fierce argument over which of them is the better mage, and Vinyl's attempts to mediate only make things worse. When Trixie Lulamoon and Twilight Sparkle refuse to back down, they retreat to the Everfree to settle things and accidentally antagonize the dreaded Ursa Minor! Their only hope for rescue is the Element Bearers, who alone have mastered the magic of music and friendship to defeat those that would harm Equestria. Octavia will have to work with Vinyl and the other Elements to save the day once more. To accomplish this, though, she'll have to use all she knows about music... and about friendship as well.
A Cadanceverse story, and the sequel to 'The Music of Ponyville'. However, you don't need to read that one to understand this story.
So Much AWEOME!
Great Chapter!
Twilight's parent are shoemakers? I hope you explain that, at least in an Authors Note. Also, I think Vinyl should try to make a golem of her own(and name it Wubsy), I feel like its the kind of thing she would do.
2761960: Well, she does have that metal wireframe of half a pony... she's working on it. :-)
A promising start.
Jsut one point: You called twilight Shining's brother insyead of his sister.
I see that you're giving Twilight basically the opposite background to her Lunaverse self. Thatshould be interesting. Hopefully she's more sane too.
2761980: Fixed, thanks!
Yes, I decided that I'd deviate from the Lunaverse in backgrounds for Twilight, Tavi, and others. I think it works... hopefully, others will as well. Glad you like this chapter!
Deviation from the Lunaverse is fine. Technically, Twilight's parents don't even have canon names unless you count the toys and trading cards (where "Twilight Velvet" is apparently a writer of adventure stories... could explain why Twilight has all of the Daring Do novels). Though due to the L!verse Gala and his subsequent ship with Pinkie Pie, it took me a second to realize that "Bluey" wasn't referring to Prince Blueblood.
It's good to see that although Octavia has changed, it's pretty obvious that it hasn't been easy for her, and it certainly isn't complete, as her teaching session with the school fillies shows.
2762210; While I'm a Lunaverse fan and Lunaverse writer, this is an independent venture. The only relevance Lunaverse has in this verse is I might make some jokes or vague homages to it.
Theoretically, if RDD were to hide the Lunaverse in his attic or something tomorrow, Cadanceverse would still exist and be intact and comprehensible to new readers.
I guess this story is only set a few weeks after Musicians? rather than a few months like in the Lunaverse.
Oooh, Octie and Mac sitting in a tree.
Does it have a giant penny or a robot dinosaur?
The layout of the house sounds really fun, although I'd think it might become uninhabitable if Vinyl injured herself and couldn't clamber around for a while.
I likes the music based theme song.
Interesting making Twilight a phenomenally talented commoner and Trixie nobility, I wonder how their personalities will be .
I'm British so that political system sounds totally normal to me, although the lords isn't really nobility any more.
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"Fine" was a rather poor choice of words on my part... especially considering how much I love this AU. I love the Lunaverse, too, but I digress.
Let me rephrase a little... it's GOOD that you're diverting from Lunaverse canon. The C-verse needs to have its own appeal, characterization, etc. because they're not the same thing. Lyra and Fluttershy are two very good examples of how somepony so recognizable can be so different. Especially Fluttershy, because she still has to remain somewhat true to the show's characterization of her (aka "canon") to keep the suspension of disbelief intact.
This Octavia (I almost said "your" Octavia, but you have also written a lot of the L!verse headcanon for Tavi) should be different from most other Octavias out there. She's her own pony, and so far, I've really enjoyed how you've written her, warts and all.
I can definitely see the way that Octavia's character has grown since the first story. She pays more attention to her friends, of course, but what's even more interesting is that she's capable of making mistakes and not berating herself too much for them. It's a nice bit of growth.
None of which would ever happen, right, Tavi?
So Twilight is the poor, hard-working scholarship kid and Trixie is the high-born... well, we have yet to see what she is, precisely, but something interesting. I'll be interested to see your take on their personalities for this setting.
2764785: Of course it would never happen! Especially the bit with her hugging Big Mac. Never. And she certainly hasn't dreamed about it either. :-)
Ah, Twilight. Ill-considerate and less than mindful of what you're saying, as per standard. While Trixie is... herself. Will be fun as always to see their comeuppance.
Minor error: The line ”That’s what I thought -- ya crook!” is the wrong color.
2768232: Fixed, thanks!
Ah, yes. Trix and Twi... they just bounce off each other, and Vinyl, in such an entertaining way.
Nice!
And I like what you did with Spike.
Now this was impressive! I do love that song. I actually have a PMV of it on my phone:
I'm definitely pleased with how you've depicted Twilight and Trixie here. Trixie is, if anything, more annoying than she is on the show - probably because she's also more famous and successful, not even considering her pre-existing wealth and status. Twilight comes across to me as not arrogant in and of herself, but she has a very definite idea of what magic is and isn't, and she won't hesitate to tell other ponies when they're doing it wrong.
I love Vinyl here, too. She doesn't lazily ignore the theory like Trixie, but she doesn't devote herself to it as an end goal the way Twilight does. Frankly, they all make good points, but Twilight and Trixie are being jerks about it, and Vinyl's caught in the middle. I feel really sorry for her.
And there's Spike. Hi Spike! I hope Trixie is nice to you!
I like it, that song was an inspired choice for the magic show.
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You say everything I wanted to, only better than I could
I do really like that song, though.
An excellent start, but then you already knew that. ;) Ah, Trixie. Always did have a soft spot for her.
And Vinyl Scratch's house is made of pure, concentrated win.
Awesome song, here. For my money, Trixie is annoying, but far less than Twilight, who I wanted to smack. To be fair I wanted to smack Applejack, Rarity and Dash during Boast Busters, but that's neither here nor there. ;)
Please oh please oh Please let that happen to them.
I don't see how you can put a baby bear to sleep with wubstep...
Something like Bach Cello Suite I can understand though.
Twilight really needs some real friends. I almost hesitate to say this, but even more than in canon. There at least she had Princess Celestia to keep her head from getting too large to fit on her body.
Hopefully what is about to transpire will knock at least a bit of sense into her without, you know, destroying the town or something and putting her on the run from the law or somesuch...
Vinyl's friends (even Octavia, now) are less shallow than Trixie and Twilight's followers. I'm assuming that it was intentional for Bluenote (laughter) and Lyra (Kindness) are absent for this one, just like their counterparts in the Mane 6 didn't play any significant role (other than watch) in Boast Busters.
I'd laugh if they ran into some poison joke...
2773242: Yes, to keep the parallel, I used the 4 Bearers corresponding to the 4 that were used in the actual show.
I have to say that I like how you've made you're version of Vinyl more then just a generic crazy awesome depthless one note DJ. So kudos there. Also, for some reason the idea of 'big ego' Twilight amuses me. Keep up the good work!
Great conversation between Tavi and Vinyl.
Stupid unicorn antics incoming in 3... 2... 1...
Great!!
And MIMES? You Magnificent Bastard!
But what about Spike? Does he avoid it by riding on Trixie's back(if she even allows him on)? Also, will Spike crush on anypony, or were you implying that with Scootaloo?
Oh, wait, I get it now! Twilight and Trixie, both exceptionally powerful mages, are going to have a showdown, and Vinyl and Ponyville are going to be caught in the middle of it! It's a microcosm for the conflict between Burning Sun and Nightmare Moon, with Cadance and Equestria caught in the middle. Very nice! Hopefully this ends with a bit less damage to Ponyville than last time.
Vinyl's friends are much better friends than Twilight's disciples or Trixie's fans, I am certain of it. Not that I would assume that any of those ponies are bad ponies, but they almost certainly don't care for their objects of adoration nearly as deeply as Vinyl's friends care for her.
I really have to feel sorry for Vinyl here. She works really hard - I love your descriptions of all of the work she does - and yet she doesn't have the fame, recognition or probably even actual talent of Twilight or Trixie. She needs a hug.
I for one would like to see Trixie and Twilight become mimes. Who wouldn't?
And very heartfelt scene with Octavia and Vinyl. People so rarely consider the effort and dedication that goes into art when all they see is the finished product. To quote an comic-book artist, "It takes me nine months to create a comic book that can be read in twenty minutes."
On the other hoof, Vinyl doesn't get to see the countless hours that Twilight's likely spent studying, researching and struggling to get things right just so she can rattle off those facts with confidence, or the preparations Trixie has to make before every show. The seesaw swings both ways, yeah?
All right. I like the way that you are portraying all the characters here.
That scene with Vinyl was really good.
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Maybe, you make it dance so hard that it collapses in exhaustion?
Of course that could be bad for the town it's dancing in.
Hopefully, Trixie and Twilight don't try to one up themselves here,
"Look I can control an Ursa Minor!"
"That's nothing I can control an Ursa Major!"
*Walks up to Twilight and smacks her upside the head* No, you moron. You got up on your own accord.
Anyway, great post. And of course the lair needs traps! I like Vinyl here, too. She works hard, to play hard!
*sigh* I'm hoping that Twilight and Trixie can avoid doing something stupid, but, alas, with their colossal egos that's not going to happen.
This is going to end badly.
What is Spike to Trixie? Is he actually employed by her? A pet? It could be implied that he's a slave (although a rather well kept one who seems happy enough). Is he's the same age as in the M-verse then he would have been at most a few years old when Trixie's parents 'got him' it doesn't seem like he could be employed at that age. I suppose they could have 'adopted' him similar to Twilight but it doesn't sound like that.
2781563: He's about the same age as in the mane-verse.
My view is that he's adopted, probably when Trixie said that she wanted a cool pet or a younger pony to boss around or something. (Being nobility, I would imagine that Trixie's parents could well have foreign contacts, including maybe some wherever dragons live). Trixie views him mostly as a pet who does stage tricks and functions as a mobile ATM; he likes that she feeds him well, so he doesn't whine about the infantilization too much.
2775022: True, but Vinyl wasn't the one saying the other two were inferior to her. She probably does recognize that they work hard, and just wishes she could receive the same recognition from others.
The Equestria Daily school of beauty summed up in one sentence.
Enjoyed the hell out of Arrogant Academic!Twilight and Tixie's banter.
Very good stuff.
Twixie is best odd couple. Their bickering is fantastic, second only to their planning capabilities.
Oh, you idiots...
Sad thing is, even in maneverse I could see this possibly transpiring.
Nice!
But NO SONG?!
The interplay between Twilight and Trixie here is really fascinating! They don't like each other, obviously, but they're not actually being particularly jerks to each other besides their obnoxious insistence that each is Right and the other is Wrong. I'm actually perceiving a certain amount of grudging respect underneath the hostility.
But seriously, girls, leave the Ursa Minor alone. That was just foolish. Listen to Spike, he's more sensible than both of you put together.
2782700: "Bees. My god." -- Linkara. :-D
Wow is Twilight mean or what?
Should this be word rather than world?
Is this a reference to something?
Excellent teamwork, there. I loved Fluttershy fussing over Spike, there.
Great!
I like what you did with the Ursa.
Oh, Lyra. Forget Applejack, you're the silly pony!
Twilight and Trixie do not know what a lullaby is? Blasphemy and madness!
Oh, I really hope the lesson sinks into their heads.
Ah the KISS principle at its finest. Maybe Twilight will remember that next time she thinks QWOPing is a valid strategy.
The C!Verse really showcases team effort. I am really liking how things are going here.
Vinyl has quite the brain... Although I wonder if there'll be an equivalent to the Magical Mystery Cure here.
Vinyl has some great ideas, and more importantly, a cool head. I like the way she didn't panic at all, simply coming up with a plan and seeing it through with the assistance of her friends. Hopefully Twilight and Trixie can learn a lesson from this. I can't hate them too much, after what they've gone through. Even if it was their own stupid fault.