Orange purrs massage my ears as I telekinetically dangle the string of yarn in mid-air. Scribbler flounces and pounces across Fluttershy's cottage, dead-set on eliminating the fibrous threat.
“Remind me again what this 'Platinum List' is that Pinkie Pie's been working on,” Fluttershy remarks.
I look across the way at where Rarity sits. She daintily sips from a teacup and lifts her muzzle.
“Well, if I'm to recall correctly, it's the exclusive list of absolute musts.” She gulps. “In terms of invites, I mean.”
“Oh.” Fluttershy blinks.
“I refer of course to Twilight's Council of Friendship—us—as well as Bon Bon and Miss Heartstrings.”
“And what of those music performers that I heard of?”
“You mean the deejays?” Rarity glances at me. She smiles. “Miss Scratch's insistence, I suspect.”
I nod.
“Simon Neighs and Harmonicide are casual acquaintances of hers, but also big names in the electronic underground music scene. I... believe they're coming at the request of DJ Capricorn, who's also on the Platinum List.”
“Oh!” Fluttershy blinks. “She's the one who helped Vinyl produce her new album.”
“Indeed.”
“Wow.” Fluttershy grins, her cheeks puffing. “This all sounds so exciting.” A breathy giggle. “The only thing that will make this perfect is if... if...” She sighs. “Well, you know.”
I hang my head—then jolt in surprise after Scribbler pounces on my tail, having lost interest in the string.
“Fluttershy, darling, it's only been two days.” Rarity leans back. “The Equestrian Postal Service is magnificent... but it isn't exactly lightning fast.”
“True. I s-suppose not.”
“Besides.” Rarity smiles. “Twilight's best eyes are on Octavia. As soon as Miss Melody gets the message... we'll know.”
“Yes, but...” Fluttershy stares melancholically down at Scribbler as I snuggle the kitten. “But what if she's too conflicted to bother showing up? And after all the work that Vinyl has put into it.”
“Surely you have not forgotten how to put good faith in things, Fluttershy!” Rarity remarks. “Besides, I do believe that Applejack is working on something that will seal the deal.”
“Oh?”
Just then, the door reverberates with crimson knocking. An amber voice bellows from the far side: “Fluttershy?! Rarity?! Y'all home?!”
“Speak of the Discord!” Rarity stifles a giggle.
“Come in, Applejack!” Fluttershy replies with a pink voice.
Applejack trots in. “Whew-wee! We're in business!”
“Good news?” Rarity asks.
“Darn tootin'!” Applejack smirks, standing before us. “I pulled a lotta favors... or... rather... Granny pulled a lot of favors. But I think it's just what we need to put a cherry on top this here sundae of ours!”
“Well, stop leaving us in suspense, darling!” Rarity exclaims.
With proud freckles, Applejack unrolls a poster. In gold-embossed words, the sheet reads: “Live and In Concert! Royal Canterlot Symphony Orchestra Performing at the Friendship Palace in Ponyville!”
“Mmmm... yes yes. We've seen it before.” Rarity squints. “Do get to the point.”
“No you get to the point!” Applejack frowns. “Are ya blind?! Look at the bottom!” She points.
I lean forward, adjusting my shades.
Fluttershy reads out loud: “One... bottle of free red wine to all p-participants?!” She gapes.
“Eeyup!” Applejack smirks. “Guaran-darn-teed to keep the city of Chicacolt dry for a week!” She winks in my direction. “Reckon they'll need to lose it more than we'll need to pour it.”
I gaze at her, muzzle dropped.
“Well?!” She tilts her hat. “Dun just stand there! Who here volunteers to help me go fetch some corkscrews?!”
Everyone knows booze is the best way to lure musicians. The obvious question is, though: Granny Smith?
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I wonder what Granny did to earn a favor like that.
If I could catch Tavi in a bottle. A free bottle of Taviscratch will be served to every commentator in attendance this Saturday after 8 P.M. Please show your identification at the door. Those who attempt to steal a second bottle of Taviscratch (talking to you Berry) will be escorted from the premises. Thank you.
Great. Now I have a headcanon that Granny Smith ran a bootlegging operation back during Pony Prohibition, and still has contacts among hooch-hawkers across the Equestrian countryside.
De-wining an entire city to lure in one pony?
What'd they do, send in Berry Punch with a budget?
6825453 She is Granny. She is well over a hundred, treats everyone like they're a friend, and founded Ponyville. I believe she has quite a few favors racked up over the decades. Heck, Tia might owe her one or two.
Holy hells, Granny Smith?!
Also, I find it poetic that Vinyl is going to 'save' Tavi.
6825587
I kind of want to read this fic now...
Cue Berry Punch repeatedly trying to sneak out and come in again in a variety of laughably thin disguises
This is my reading of what happened in this chapter:
They went and bought all the wine in Chicacolt, meaning Octavia won't be able to get any for a good long time, and so will be desperate for a good bottle. This is intended to be a nudge to get Octavia distracted from the fact that she would be returning to Ponyville with the promise of free wine.
Also my guess a couple chapters ago was correct: Music and Wine.
6825666
I want a small side fic chapter of this now...
6825616
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6825608
I'm still holding out for her running cider to a speakeasy in the Whinny City during some sort of well-intentioned prohibition.
6825781 That's in the Everfree. Why do you think AJ always tells bloom to never go in there?
Jinkies! I found a clue in the story description!
Now that is something Tavi can't ignore. Free wine!
Hey, let's turn an entire concert hall's worth of rich snobby ponies into a drunken mess! This can't possibly go wrong!
Oooh. Cle-ver~
Come to the dark side: We have wine!
That's some serious favours...
Now, the only problem is that Octy's drunken fantasy of having the entire orchestra at once has a decent chance of becoming reality.
What could possibly go wrong!?
6825796 That's ubuntu running with window maker, which is a uber-lightweight window manager that looks ugly in a way that appeals to me.
Well, actually its window maker running over a ssh session with X forwarding within cygwin-X, but from my experience when you say "Actually" then you are knee-jerk in something no one else cares about.
The music player itself is Foobar2K, as Swan Song said already. Never exit your home without your handy music player!
She shall come.
6824523 PHEW! (It was just a joke. THings can be must worse...)
Seriously? They're inviting that guy?
The perfect Tavi trap to bring this story to a close, and end with cuddles
I think the trombone section agrees with that notion.
LET US DRINK AND BE MERRY.
LIKE PHILOSOPHERS!
If the music doesn't draw in Tavi, then the freebies will! Sometimes, it's frightening just how cunning the Mane Six can be!
Woah! Now the only thing missing is a complimentary soft pillow and one long walk on the beach included with each ticket.
Does this plan involved rope and dragging her back?
Oh, well, free booze. I guess that works too. At least it'll be interesting.
6826538 everything forever
6826087
Borrow featherweight's camera and you will quickly end up with gobs of black-mail material!
He'd love that. I just know he'd treat that like a compliment.
Awesome chappe! Booze? For free? What could possible go wrong?
...
NOthing, actually, hehehehe.
6825666 I'm reminded of that episode of Family, where Peter gets a free sample, and like, two other people pop up, who look like him in a horrible disguise XD
6825587 Can someone write this? I would so read it, so ahrd hahahah.
Aha! The answer was booze all along!