New story!

I don't know about all of you, but I have a good feeling about Octavia's first rave. :-)

As for continuity, I see this as a tie-in. I do want some elements of it to be able to move into the canon episodes at some point (Paperweight and Metail especially), but since it doesn't really involve the L6 or M6, it's not a full episode.

As for when it is... originally, it was slated for S2, but there's nothing really placing it there besides the concept that Octavia has been the Court musician for 'a while' at this point. And time is fungible in MLP, like how it's only winter for one episode. So that's not a big deal, and I decided to write it now as a late-S1 tie in.

Out of curiosity, have you every heard anyone ask for someone's handograph?

Also...Kinda nervous with the summery there. Maybe I'm getting worked up over nothing...Or maybe you really are going to go that route.

Please don't go that route.

>>17444291744429: What route?

Premise sounds promising, will track this, good luck!

-Minty

>>17444491744449 The Batman:Fortunate Son route.

>>17444971744497: I haven't read it, although I've seen the AT4W review of it. Rest assured:

1. No one complains about capitalism or profit-seeking ruining art.

2. No one insinuates that an entire genre of music is bad. The problem is the one guy, not that metal itself is somehow corrupt.

The reason why it's a different genre than classical is that the new guy needs to be playing music Octavia isn't familiar with, or the story doesn't work.

>>17445011744501 So...we going to see other performers then?

>>17445131744513: There's a fair chance of that happening, yes. It'll be hard for Octavia to figure this guy out if she has no idea what non-evil metal is supposed to sound like in the first place.

>>17445271744527 Cool.

And you still haven't answerd my first question. Have you ever heard someone ask for a Handograph?

>>17444491744449

Left on forty-seventh, down into the bad neighbourhood.

>>17445291744529: No, but hoofograph sounds cooler than hoofprint. :-)

Well, as I've said before, you're better at writing music than any other author I know - that includes published ones, BTW. And this story has me officially intrigued.

I'll add it to the tie-ins section.

Interesting start. Bit rapid for my tastes but you've definitely intrigued me. Hope to read more soon and thanks for sharing.

Well, this is an interesting start. Can't wait to see where this goes...

did....did Octy get asked out on a date without realizing she was being asked out on a date?

I gotta admit, Octavia comes off as... arrogant and entitled sometimes concerning music. I don't exactly have perfect pitch, but I don't think I have to be as 'aware' of music as she is in order to buckin' compliment her without coming off like she thinks.

Anyway, goo start. Glad you're aware of Fortunate Son. Punk is not crime nor rage of the beast.

I'm loving this so far, as always the way you describe the music is fantastic.

The relationship that has clearly developed between Octavia and Luna is nice to see too. Being the court musician has worked out well for her.

I think the main issue with translating the Lunaverse into a traditional animated series would be finding someone as talented in making music as you are in writing it. I love your musician stories, can't wait to read more

>>17445351744535 And...You couldn't just use autograph? You had to make a pony pun?

Also, I'm, hung up on the word choice of an inconsequential word in an entirely inconsequential scene. I...I feel the intense need to do something productive right now.

>>17450451745045: Heh. Octy doesn't know much about dates, that's for sure.

>>17453111745311: As the Court Musician (who also became a media name due to all the build up over the Symphony), she probably has to deal with a lot of suck-ups who want to use her to get close to Luna. I don't blame her for being a bit paranoid, although, yes, she may well take it too far.

>>17455651745565>>17454601745460>>17450381745038>>17448401744840>>17445541744554: Glad you all like it! :-)

Well, this seems off to a fairly good start.

>>17450451745045 Heh, I didn't even think of that!

So much to love about this story!

- Octavia is helping Luna raise the sun. That is just amazing. It's so sweet that Luna actually has somepony making her daily burden just a little bit lighter.

- Paperweight is adorable! He's so enthusiastic and excitable!

- Octavia is so classy. Arrogant, maybe, but she's in a position to be arrogant. She's basically won at life.

- Octavia dressed up for a rave is hilarious. Somepony needs to draw this.

- Thrash Metail. Seems awesome, but something is wrong, if he can make Octavia dance to music that she knows, knows is bad. I have a theory as to what's going on here...

So, yeah. Awesome start, I love it!

>>17497251749725: Glad you love it!

One note though: Paperweight is female. And I'm glad you like the character. I figured that Octy could use a hyper, silly, almost Pinkie-esque but slightly more sane, friend. :-D

I like Crescendo. She's cool. (And hopefully the name isn't already taken by a Daughter of Discord or something; if it is and I forgot, ping me and I'll change it).

Metail's kind of a jerk, I guess. Although he should have known better than to try to get Octavia to help him with lies. Honesty's kind of her thing. Well, that and awesome music.

And I really like Octavia's reaction at the very end there. She just got blasted with multiple hours of whatever it is Metail is doing... and she's still all, "Yeah, I'm gonna get to the bottom of this." She's a tough one.

heh. Hypnotic music. Nice.

Ooh...Metail's an evil bard! Awesome!

>>17567051756705

the real question is whether or not he is spoony as well

Spoony's an elitist self-aggrandizing deluded ass... So yeah seems like a good characterization to give for this guy.

Anyway, really interesting story. Odd how the mind control seems to be working. Would've thought it was a little more something to do with the crowds, though if there is a draining of energy angle that's really quite interesting indeed. Overall quite a well written story with a lot more ground to cover and an interesting story backing then whole thing up. Thanks very much for sharing and can't wait to read the more.

>>17567881756788 I thought he'd be more forky.

Anyway, wow. He is seriously messing with Octy, here. Although I do agree with Crescendo's views on Octavia, how high she's got her muzzle in the air sometimes.

>>17574161757416

.....seriously? You do know the reference, right?

>>17574331757433 Yes, I know the reference. I was making a joke.

Badass musician is badass, I really love this rendition of Octavia, as well as how resistant she is to Metail's machinations.

She was familiar with such thoughts… she’d had them before. Thoughts of horrific inadequacy, of being a worthless failure. They were wrong then, and they were wrong now.

I'm guessing this is a reference to her kidnapping in her last story?

rhythmical (music/chant-based) magic always tends to be the most subtle and powerful, but not many can actually pull off describing it.

Alright, I'm going to put my guess out here now, but ROT13 in case I turn out to be right and it's a spoiler: Guenfu Zrgnvy vf hfvat gur nyvpbea nzhyrg.

You've written Octavia's integrity and discipline very well here, and it's such a sharp contrast when she loses it. It's a clear demonstration that something's going very wrong. She makes a very good point about the difference between "I think Thrash Metail is a good musician" and "I should recommend Thrash Metail to Luna and the Court". Thrash really doesn't know what it takes to be a successful musician, does he? He's been thrust into the heights of musical fame without working his way up the way a normal musician would, and he doesn't understand what he's supposed to do now.

Uh, oh. Octavia, don't listen!

Anyway, another good chapter. I like Octavia's integrity, and Metail is becoming more and more ominous. I guess I don't have any thoughts on Crescendo yet, but I guess we'll see what happens. It would be awful, though, if Octavia, without the creepy brainwashing stuff, viewed Crescendo's music objectively and didn't like it, and that furthered her impression that Metail is actually good at the genre.

A dinner. He’s having a few business associates over for salad and pasta; they’re talking about building this big new dam in Latigo. It’s a really big deal – if it goes through, it’ll be one of the biggest dams in Equestria.

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a dam."

...

...

...

...

Sorry, couldn't resist.  Thought it was a dam shame no one took advantage of it.  

>>17567051756705: I love the idea of magic, particularly mental magic, crossed with music. Music is already a way to influence emotions, adding magic just makes things more awesome.

>>17572111757211: Glad you're enjoying it! And I'm also glad that Metail's characterization is working well for you.

>>17574161757416: Well, when she spends all her time focusing on the embodiment of the moon, I suppose it's only natural that she'd have her head in the clouds. :-)

>>17575421757542: Yes. Glad you appreciate Octavia's characterization as well.

>>17580881758088: No comment on the ROT13 stuff. :-) But yes, that's what I'm going for with Octavia. She loves his music, but she has too much integrity to recommend him based on that alone... and yeah, Thrash doesn't know how to deal with things like this. Not that he won't try, of course.

>>17585331758533: Glad you're enjoying it!

>>17587321758732: *badum-tish*

Well, Metail sure itrouble. I wonder why Crescendo is immune to his mind-affecting.

>>17621691762169: Stay tuned to find out! :-)

(Actually, there've been a couple of hints in the story already that it could probably already be deduced, but I'll spell it out more explicitly in a later chapter).

I apologize for any errors. I am practically a zombie due to a marathon day of flying that is not yet over.

Score one for Octavia! Hard work beats fraud every time, at least in pony land. And she defends Paperweight too from a couple lazy slackers. For that matter, I think Paperweight and Pinkie Pie would get along well.

Next time: Thrash plots his revenge, and Octavia goes to a real metal concert. Hijinks ensue -- I promise!

(Random note: on the legality of the spell, I don't know if it's legal or not (with permission) in mlp, but Octavia doesn't know either and is assuming that it is, hence her not bringing charges).

Looking forward to seeing what she thinks of Crescendo’s stuff.

Nice musical analysis by Octavia, straight up transcribing his music to study it.

Can't believe I'm about to say this... but go, Octavia! I can so see her staying up all night to analyze his music. And yeah, I figured it was some sort of spell pretty early. Great job on this one!

This was good, but I can't help but feel you kind of rushed Octavia's discovery a little quickly.  A bit more of her trying to figure things out and comparing other musicians in the same style first before confronting him seems like it might have made this a bit of a better story.  Overall though really solid writing and plotting though and thanks very much for sharing.

Hmmmm.......I wonder where it is that L!Twilight gets her annoying tendency to focus on trivial details at the expense of the point from. I might be wrong but I think I saw something that might point me in the right direction.

♪♪This Concert's going to be perfect....

>>17721911772191: It's perhaps worth noting that the pages don't really have an unbiased view of the guy.

>>17723081772308: I hope so!

>>17720981772098: I thought about it, but the chapter was running long already. Besides, Octy's metal revelations, I think, will come best experienced live.

>>17720301772030: Why were you not expecting to say it? She's the hero. :-) But I'm glad you liked it.

>>17718881771888: I think you'll like next chapter, then. :-) Glad you liked this one too.

I kind of wonder what Thrash is going to do now. I imagine it's going to be something more aggressive, but can't really guess much at the details.

Also, I only spotted one error, so I'd say your tiredness didn't impair your writing as much as you thought it might have.

Then I won’t keep you any longer. Best wishes, Octavia.”

There's only one quotation mark on this quote, rather than two.

False Metal is the worst kind of metal.

Metal should be pure.

>>17725861772586: Indeed. Fortunately, Crescendo has just the playlist for her. :-)

Always enjoy a good Octavia story, and you write her so well that I think I'll keep reading as many of these stories as you want to put out. Looking forward to seeing just what Thrash is up to and why he's so eager to get his hoof into the door in court. In fact he seems very specific about playing for Luna. While part of me figures this is just another random political scheme I think it'd be rather funny if Thrash just wanted to play for Luna because he's audacious enough to use it as an opportunity to hit on her.

I'd like to revise my earlier guess, and cast a very, very suspicious eye at Thrash's guitar.

Thrash's motivations are weird. He doesn't seem to be playing the same game as other musicians. As Octavia says, he acts as though he's honestly never had to deal with critics before. I think he honestly wants the adoration of being a beloved musician more than he wants actual success or fame as such.

Octavia really is a perfectionist, isn't she? That comes through very well here, and while she can be a bit mean about it, one can't help but admire her. So is Night Light, for that matter - we can see where Twilight gets it.

The story feels like it's over already, which is why it feels a little rushed, but I know there's more to come! So exciting!

Where are you Raindrops you need to kick that guitar.

Ooh! Nice! This explains things. I must admit that I understand why some would consider this rushed, but I suspect that Thrash still has a lot to do which alleviate the problem.

So Octavia makes her discovery, but the story's not over yet! I have a feeling that

Image: http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/masonry/000/295/553/19a.jpg

>>17725861772586 Indeed.

>>17762321776232 That's what I figure.

This story simply gets better and better. I can;t wait to read more/ Bravo!

Any other story would have stretched the reveal out to the end, and while I had my own thoughts going into it, Octy caught on pretty fast for someone who was hit with a mind control spell specifically to keep her from figuring it out.

>>17840541784054: Octy has experience with this kind of thing from her last adventure, and she's pretty analytical anyway. Besides, it's like with Lyra versus the sirens -- the lack of musicality in the enchantment is going to irritate a sophisticated listener such as to weaken the enchantment itself.

....oh Thrash, you bastard...

I think that if Thrash tries that with Luna, he's going to need a bucket to carry around his brains.  Or a teaspoon.

>>17921481792148: Heh. I think it's safe to say that's a very optimistic outcome for him, in that event.

>>17921921792192  You're right.  An eyedropper would do, with space left over

Very nicely done. Like how you balance Octavia's character so well. I do think this has really little to nothing to do with the Luna-verse other then a few names and character positions and you might get some more well deserved reviews and attention if you say that more obtusely in the summary of the story. Shame it isn't getting more views totally deserves it. Very nice work to date can't wait to read more.

Uh oh.... o.o

Paperweight continues to be adorable! I love the way that she's taking her career so seriously, and achieving the notice of Viceroy Night Light, and yet she's so youthful and chirpy and loves her bubble baths and rubber ducky.

I think you've written Octavia's first foray into proper metal really well. She's taking it very seriously, as a musician of her stature should.

So can we beat Thrash to death with his own guitar now? I know, I know, that's no way to treat an expensive musical instrument, but goddamn it, he's got a hell of a lot to learn about metal. He's crossed the line from "clueless" to "creepy" here. A bit like Trixie between her two episodes. In fact, Thrash is the M!Trixie of the Lunaverse, isn't he?

Iron Mare, nice. Good job with the concert, sounds like that was a fairly reasonable introduction to the genre. I love that Octavia's immediate reaction was to start composing.

*Throws up horns* YEAH! Loved Iron Mare. And Octavia getting into it, too. Good on her. As for Thrash... he will soon be 'thrashed'.

>>17930921793092 Basically this.

>>17930921793092 Nah. We don't have enough people claiming Octavia is a thug who is denying the truly blameless and pure Thrash his rightful place as mane character!

As for the chapter. Was kinda annoyed that you wrote that whole segment describing how Paperweight solved a problem we had never been introduced to. Felt like you were trying to establish how Paperweight is awesome by telling us she was awesome, as apposed to showing us. Otherwise, a good enough chapter.

Thrash reminds me of Zaphod Beeblebrox.

Random thoughts of the overall story thus far:

Loved the scenes with Luna and Octy. And the "Octavia versus Heavy metal fashion" scenes are priceless.

And agreeing with HopeFox, Paperweight is very likable.

Iron Mare scene was great. Once again a wonderful description of music as an experience.

Oh, and if Thrash is some lame punk-rocker at best, Crescendo is now Jari Mäenpää in my books. Mostly 'cause I listened to Wintersun while reading through the whole fic. It was exciting, to say the least.

And a good message of broadening one's horizons in taste of music. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some 70's progressive rock I need to educate myself with while waiting for the next chapter...

>>17445011744501 This story is nothing but death! And crime! AND THE RAGE OF A BEAST!

Couldn't resist.

Thrash...was speaking to himself there. Speaking, and responding, as though he was having an actual conversation and not just floating ideas out loud.

...

...is Thrash the only pony in his own head?

Wow, Thrash just won't stop setting himself up for a worse and worse fall. At least at this point it's only Octavia and relatively soon now the guard that is after him, once he messes with the Night Court there will be some very powerful ponies out for his blood.

>>18074461807446: This will get addressed, don't worry.

>>18075641807564: I think a song about a downward spiral would be appropriate here. :-)

Man, Thrash keeps going higher and higher on my "asses to kick" list.

Octavia sprang after him, growling savagely. His music was done, now, he wasn’t playing, and she was free. “I will crush you!” she roared, as she sprinted across the sitting room. “There won’t be enough of you left to bury!”

Octavia is a scary, scary pony when she gets rilled up

Between this story and Symphony for Moon and Sun, we know one more absolute truth about the Lunaverse. If your plan in any way revolves around screwing with Octavia's head, you've already lost. Mare's got an iron will and a mind like a steel trap!

>>18036631803663: Thanks for the rec; just got some Wintersun and have been enjoying it quite a bit. :-)

"mind like a steel trap"  = Under immense pressure, highly dangerous to poke

>>18107201810720: Heh. I can't see poking Octavia, in her mind or anywhere else, going all that well.

>>18107381810738

Judging how things are going, Paperweight might have some luck poking Octy is some places.

...I'm sorry.

>>18118181811818: For Octavia, I would imagine that, whenever someone asks her why she doesn't have a special somepony, her response is along the lines is along the lines of, "Well, I spend so much time practicing and performing that I simply don't have time for that."

I foresee this being judged to be an inadequate answer at some point in the future of the Lunaverse. :-)

Thrash, you're dead. No matter what this lat plan of yours is, it'll fail. although whatever you do to Octavia and Paperweight... I hope it's not too bad.

>>18134541813454: But you want it to be a little bad? :-D

>>18135001813500 No, I actually don't want it to be bad at all.

>>18074461807446 I'm 90% sure that Thrash has the Alicorn Guitar. The most powerful and dangerous musical instrument known to ponykind. It bestows great power but corrupts the mind of its musician. Or musically semi-literate hack, in Thrash's case.

Did anypony else watch Octavia get close to Thrash while he was playing, and expect Thrash to activate Star Power? No? Just me? Okay.

There is absolutely no way this new plan of Thrash's is going to work. If there's anypony in Canterlot more focused and perfectionist than Octavia, it's Night Light, who also happens to be one of the most powerful nobles in Equestria.

This was a pretty exciting chapter! It's cool to see Thrash taking his scheme to the next level, and Octavia fighting it off, and the way she looked after Paperweight afterwards was lovely. Her character development from "Musicians and Dreamers" is really showing.

So...Is Luna going to be conveniently out of town? Because somehow I doubt this plan will hold together very well if she is in Cantorlot, as she probably interacts with a large selection of the nobles each day. And somehow, I think she might be able to recognize something is wrong. Y'know, when pretty well all the nobles stop acting themselves.

Plus there is the whole thing where Thrash is probably stupid enough to try to affect Luna at some point or another...Which will probably go over about as you'd expect.

You've successfully set up a immensely interesting story between a cellist and a maid fighting a evil rock magician musician with a horde of zombies. That alone deserves props. Hehe anyway really looking forward to the next thanks very much for sharing.

Aww, I feel sorry for Thrash now. It's not his fault he's not very good, and is just the right kind of pony for the Alicorn Guitar to corrupt. (I'm going to keep calling it the Alicorn Guitar until we find out more about it next chapter.) It is very good of Octavia to try to help him, considering the similarity in their circumstances.

The upcoming confrontation keeps looking like the final duel in Guitar Hero III in my mind. It probably won't look like that, but I'm sure it will be epic nonetheless. This was an awesome setup, and I can't wait for the next chapter!

Lots of plotting going on. Very nice. And I appreciate Octavivia's confrontation of Thrash as well.

oh screw you Bellemane. Crap like that is why Night Light likes Paperweight better.

>>18250981825098: I wonder if they send bad pages to the griffin kingdoms? :-)

Beautiful stuff! Your ability to weave calm moments in between the escalating tension is truly a great thing to see.

Ahem

Sorry I knocked out the pretentious twit. Awesome story, loving the concept and Thrash is a fantastic villain. the insights to his character just draw me in deeper and deeper.

I'm torn between feeling sorry for Thrash for his obvious chronic stupidity, and hating him for everything else.

I really like how Octavia's development from Symphony is showing, as well as how she escaped Thrash's enchantment.

>>18195341819534 Indeed.

>>18118181811818>>18118441811844 What's this? Shipping Octavia with somepony other than Vinyl?

...

Screw it, this is something I can support anyway.

Its not quite the right style of music but you've gotta fit ;You're Gonna Go far Kid; somewhere into this it seems to fit Thrash well and the music video with the magic guitar fits even better.

>>18264931826493: I wanted to, but I believe RDD has already called that song for use in the Gala, and sung about Trixie. Since that's a full-fledged canon episode (and written by the head of the Lunaverse to boot), it takes precedence over this.

There is one more song coming up, though, and I think it'll be a pretty cool number. :-)

Huh, very interesting insights here.

I mean, DANGIT STOP MAKING ME FEEL SORRY FOR THRASH!

Night Light being a good pony! Yay!

I hope y'all can guess what song we're going to be using. :-)

Oh yes, oh god yes!

....Sirens.....Cursed Sirens....

It seems so obvious, in retrospect.

Okay, Bellemane? Screw you. Seriously. Paperweight works her flank off, which is why she's where she is... and do I sense a small parallel between them and Octavia and Thrash?[/legit_question]