//------------------------------// // Espressivo // Story: The Music That Binds Us // by Dreams of Ponies //------------------------------// The evening had been amazing. The last train to Ponyville clacked across the tracks, a quiet rhythm that was perfect to accompany the slow melody Vinyl hummed. Her hoof gently stroked through Octavia's mane, her friend having passed out almost the minute the train had departed. The slow rise and fall of her chest fell along in half-steps, the railway serving as the steady pulse. She's still a bit worn from last night. Vinyl's eyes drifted out to the stars, watching the intricate tapestry of Luna's sky wink at her from above. Lights twinkled in time with an invisible melody, tiny little notes that struck a chord in her mind. Vinyl smiled and nodded to the night. "I think I can work with that." Ponyville was quiet that evening. Octavia rested upon Vinyl's back, softly glowing with a magical aura as an added precaution. The trip took a bit longer than usual, as the few ponies they did cross would stop them, concerned about Octavia. Vinyl would smile, making a shushing noise with her hoof, and point to the slumbering mare. They would smile back, and then silently be on their way. "I love Ponyville," Vinyl whispered. "I love you too, Vinyl," Octavia moaned, her muzzle rubbing against Vinyl's neck. Vinyl cracked a smile as she continued on down the road. Her remaining journey went uninterrupted, and soon enough she was opening the door to their little cottage. Vinyl sighed happily as her eyes fell on her music equipment, silent and waiting for her loving touch. As she trotted further into their home, she passed Octavia's prized cello, sitting perfectly in its stand, ever vigilant for the return of its companion. Vinyl rubbed a hoof across it gently before carefully levitating Octavia onto her respective bed. Octavia curled up against the pillow as Vinyl pulled an extra blanket from her own bed, draping it across her favorite filly. Satisfied that Octavia would be comfortable til' morning, Vinyl quietly walked over to her set. Her hoof lovingly traced across the dials, before gently lifting up the needle. From a box in the corner floated an old record encased in Vinyl's magic, dusty and forgotten, until now. Vinyl blew the dust off the sleeve, extracted the record and placed it on the eye of the table with practiced ease. Then, a different record, one Octavia didn't even know Vinyl had, popped out from the back of her record box. Holding it in her magic, Vinyl traced the lettering with a hoof. First Concerto: Octavia Melody Performance at the Canterlot University Performing Arts Center Vinyl didn't care for symphonies, or parade bands, or much else than didn't have a killer vibe, but this was different. Listening to Octavia play sent chills through her whole body, because it was her, a true expression of Octavia's deepest self. It was because of this that Vinyl placed the record reverently on the second eye, plugging her headset into the device. "Time for The Scratch to take the stage one more time," Vinyl whispered, smirking a little despite herself. The brush of the warm sun slowly crept upon Vinyl's hoof, slowly pulling her consciousness from its dark slumber. Vinyl snorted awake, her hoof rising to rub her cheek, where an impression of the table had left its mark. Her horn lit, pushing in the playback button on her equipment with a click. Smiling, Vinyl bobbed her head slowly as her headphones pulsed with magical sound. When she was done, Vinyl got up and trotted out, careful to close the door quietly behind her. Celestia had just raised the sun, silhouetting the distant Canterlot mountains like a bright candle. Vinyl galloped down the main road, not stopping until she was once again in front of Twilight's Castle. As she was about to knock, Vinyl caught a touch of movement to the side. "Huh?" Vinyl followed along the crystal walls, a cool wind tussling her mane. A familiar pony was resting in the grass, leisurely holding a spool in her magic. The purple string shifted back and forth with the wind, eventually ending in a purple-pointed star. "Starlight?" Vinyl called out. Starlight Glimmer sat up in surprise, before she turned and spotted Vinyl. "Oh, Vinyl... Sorry, I'm not used to anypony being up this early." Vinyl cracked a smile as she glanced back to the castle. "She not much of a morning pony?" Starlight stifled a laugh as she patted the grass next to her. As she settled down next to Starlight, Vinyl watched the kite move in a repeated pattern. It took a moment, but soon she recognized the shape of her cutie mark, invisibly painted in the sky. "How do you get it to move like that?" Vinyl said, her glasses slipping slightly. "My telekinesis is never that smooth!" "I'm not levitating the kite," Starlight said, giving a good-natured roll of her eyes. "I'm moving the wind." "Is that even a thing?" "There's a lot that magic can accomplish, Vinyl." Starlight's horn sparked briefly, the kite's colors inverting as it waved around. "There's also a lot that magic can't do." She closed her eyes and smiled sadly. "Friendship might be magical, but that doesn't mean that magic can make people friends." "Sounds like you'd know..." "Ah, yes, sorry about my rambling." Starlight smiled and shook her head. "I'm sure you didn't come to listen to me philosophize about magic and friendship." Vinyl smirked and waved her off with a hoof. "No trouble, filly... Actually, I was hoping to set up a party for Octavia tomorrow. I, uh, just need help convincing Pinkie Pie to help me." Starlight blinked several times, before a long smirk blossomed across her face. "Oh, I'm sure that will be a terribly difficult and arduous quest, my dearest Vinyl. But for you, I shall stand before the mighty dragon of party planning and face the fire!" The was a long moment of silence before both mares burst into a fit of giggles. After a full minute of laughter, they were finally able to calm down enough to wipe the tears from their eyes. "So... can you help me?" Vinyl asked. "Anything for a friend." There was another moment between them, their eyes meeting before they shared a smile. "Anyway, let's head over. Pinkie Pie should just be getting up right about now." Starlight reeled in her kite, wrapping the string neatly before she teleported it out of sight. Her horn lit again, and soon a growing wind spiraled down towards them. Only a short while after, a nice, fluffy white cloud sat before them, softly glowing in Starlight's magic. "Cloudy day much?" Vinyl asked, raising an eyebrow. "If we're going to Sugar Cube Corner, we might as well have fun while we're at it." "And who said magic can't help you make friends?" Starlight blushed, before her horn flashed once, causing Vinyl to feel light on her hooves. "Clouding-walking spell. Okay, now just climb aboard and we'll be on our way," Starlight said as she hopped up onto the puffy surface. "Oh, and I would appreciate it if you didn't tell Rainbow Dash... She might think I'm trying to replace her as weather control." "Hah!" Vinyl jumped up alongside Starlight, carefully situating herself into a comfortable position. "Now how do we get this ride to start?" "Just ask nicely." Starlight smirked. Another flash of magic from her horn and the wind pushed up and past them, carrying the cloud with it. Soon they were high in the air, about halfway past the terrace of Princess Twilight's castle. Another breeze rushed past and pushed them toward the center, the morning sun now high enough to illuminate the entire town. "This is pretty sweet." "Isn't it?" Starlight took them once around Ponyville, just because it seemed that Vinyl was enjoying the view, before heading down towards Sugar Cube Corner. The breeze ruffled Vinyl's already chaotic mane as they approached a second-story window, where Starlight raised a hoof and knocked on it gently. A shuffling could be heard from inside before the blinds were pulled up, followed by the window. A frazzled, pink-maned mare covered with a balloon-ridden robe looked out at them with half-lifted eyes. "Oh, hello, Starlight. Hello, Vinyl. What kind of goodies can I get you this morning?" Then Pinkie Pie blinked, shook her head and finally put the pieces together. "Morning, Pinkie Pie. How are you this morning?" Starlight asked, unable to keep a smile off her face. "Awake," Pinkie answered. Then her mouth dropped, her eyes widening in horror. "Did I miss something? A big party?Did somepony get their Cutie Mark?" Her mouth shut as her eyes spun, Starlight putting her hoof up to stop her. "Wait! No, don't tell me!" Starlight sighed, waiting for Pinkie Pie's panicking to play its course. When she'd finished rambling, Starlight found her window and took it. "Pinkie Pie, you didn't miss anything. Honestly, you're way too prepared for that to ever happen." Pinkie beamed with pride, saluting Starlight smartly with her hoof. "Vinyl here needs a party planned." "Oh, is that all?" Pinkie Pie said before giggling. Then she pulled out a piece of parchment and a container of... yes, that was food coloring. "Alrighty then, I need the name, theme, time, cutie mark, occassion and favorite types of desserts." Vinyl listed it all off for Pinkie, then thanked her before Starlight brought their cloud about-face. "And you thought it would be difficult," Starlight joked. "Thanks for the help, Starlight. Octavia means a lot to me, and now, so do you." They landed in front of Vinyl's home, the cloud disappearing into the ground. Starlight looked awkwardly at the house before she smiled, and then gave Vinyl a hug. Vinyl blinked in surprise, but reciprocated a moment later. "Thanks for giving me a chance, Vinyl." "You better be at the party, filly." "Wouldn't miss it." At that moment, the front door opened to reveal a rumpled Octavia, a rather irritated scowl on her face. Starlight and Vinyl broke up their hug hastily, Vinyl pushing her hoof through her mane. "You're on your own for this one, Scratch," Starlight said before teleporting away in a flash. "Fudge nuggets."