An ornate door opened to the cobblestone streets of downtown Canterlot. A middle-aged mare with a velvet sleeve'd hoof held the front entrance to the agency ajar, sporting a practiced smile that was just as plastic as her voice: "I'm sorry we couldn't offer you anything better for the time being."
"Oh, it is quite alright," Octavia spoke pleasantly—just as practiced. She and Vinyl Scratch trotted out onto the sidewalk. Cool mountain air embraced them with a slight gust that toyed with their manes. "I only hope that our discussion—however brief—has properly assured you of the talents we have to provide."
"Most assuredly." The mare smiled, performing a quick bow... nod... or something in between. "I will make sure that you two will be the first to hear from us in the event that a fresh new opportunity blooms."
"We await with eager antici—" Octavia began.
Th-Thap! The door to the agency closed.
"—pation." Octavia sighed.
Vinyl Scratch performed a gesture involving her tongue and the side of her left fetlock.
"Viny, love, please!" Octavia hissed at her. Turning tail, she briskly trotted down the sidewalk with her companion in tow. "No need to be so horribly vulgar."
Vinyl shrugged, sighing out her nostrils.
"Yes... I know... I know..." Octavia muttered into the air, ears slowly drooping like melted wax. "But the fact of the matter is, we must remain ever so persistently polite. There's no telling which of these agencies may in fact wish to call upon our services. It would do us well to leave them with a positive and well-mannered impression!"
Vinyl's eyebrow arched above her shades.
"Alright... so perhaps we have indeed entreated the gracious attention of over two dozen establishments... but that does not change things! I shan't lose the faculty to maintain benevolent airs! No matter how..." Octavia slumped in mid-trot. "...infuriating the constant rejection is." A huff.
The two came to a limp stop at a street corner. The rattle of stagecoaches and clopping hooves penetrated the silence of the melancholic moment. A setting sun skimmed the rooftops surrounding them, peppering the high mountain air with golden rays of stubborn daylight.
"Do they think we are lower than them?" Octavia muttered. "And I don't mean in terms of altitude—of course. The denizens of Canterlot would always come out victorious in that case."
Vinyl whistled. With a smirk, she raised her forelimbs and charaded a cloud.
"Yes—well—true. But, granted, the pegasi of Cloudsdale are made of far better mettle. Not to mention a modicum of humility." Octavia frowned. "Why must Canterlot reject everypony that wasn't born on its lofty over-priced aristocratic summit? And it's not as though I wish to acclimate to this social climate! I simply wish to have our talents presented to the whole of Equestria! And for as long as I have lived, ingratiating myself to the maestros of Canterlot is the only means of accomplishing this noble goal!"
After offering a hopeful smile, Vinyl then tossed forth a few key gestures.
"I'm sorry Vinyl. I know it might work for you, but I simply cannot allow myself to experiment at the Manehattan underground scene," Octavia said in a breathy tone. "Nevertheless, you've been so... so very supportive in assisting me as of late. Please don't feel as though you must dwell upon the same sinking ship as myself. I would not be insulted if you were to pursue more solitary musical endeavors without having to wait for me."
The unicorn beside her rolled her shaded eyes. She gave Octavia a playful swat with her tail, then sliced the air with a solid gesture.
"I mean it. There simply is no use in waiting any longer." With a sad sigh, Octavia gazed towards the sun toasted clouds floating overhead. "I do not know what I was thinking, Vinyl. Opportunities? Here in Canterlot?" Her eyes glistened slightly, and she did her dignified best to push all semblance of sorrow into the far corners of her voice. "It's not as though good fortune will just decide to spontaneously fall across our flanks from the sky."
Just as she said that—
Plop!
—a pair of headphones descended from the sky, landing neatly across Vinyl's neck.
"....???" The unicorn looked straight up. Her shades reflected two pegasus figures levitating above the street.
"Told you I'd give them back!" Flash Sentry musically burped. "They made for major mid-air endorphin farming! I can't thank you enough!" He grinned, coiled his wings, then dropped like a goofy anvil. Th-Thap! He landed nimbly before the two mares and saluted. "'Sup ladies? Besides me, of course. Hehehehe—"
Octavia tilted back, raising a dainty hoof. "Flas—!" She winced, correcting herself mid-utterance. "Brad. Good sir..." She leaned forward with a curious expression. "...what brings you to Canterlot?"
Vinyl Scratch gestured something before taking a moment to examine the headphones that had been returned to her.
"Ahem..." Octavia looked from Vinyl to Flash again. "Finished with your aerial adventures, I take it?"
"Wow, so this is the pony Canterlot, huh?" Flash Sentry paced about in the cobblestone street, his dazzled eyes reflecting colorful storefronts, lights, and rooftops. "Feels like I'm back in time... waiting to climb Heroics on my way to raiding Icecrown!"
"Uhhhhhhhhhh—"
"Do you know the nearest place to buy thorium bars?" Flash winked. "I have an engineering alt."
With a sigh, Octavia rolled her eyes. "Back to your usual non sequiturs, I see..."
"Sure. Whatever. Say..." Flash Sentry leaned towards the two. "I don't suppose you two mares are still needing to land a super snazzy musical venue, huh?"
"Well..." Octavia fidgeted.
Vinyl nodded and nodded and nodded and nodded and nodded and—
"Right." Octavia gulped. "I suppose there's no denying it."
Flash cocked his head to the side. "Canterlot's a dry well, huh?"
"More like a sterile moutaintop. Nopony here appears in the mood to recognize our talents. We were better off back in Ponyville—I shudder to say."
Flash cocked his head to the other side. "So you're still at it, I'm guessing?"
"Most indubitably, although I doubt providence will shift its winds anytime soon."
Swooosh! Soarin dropped, landing right beside Flash. "Wowsers. I just love her voice." He smirked at Flash. "Lemme guess. This is Girl Number Three."
Flash gritted his teeth and stared daggers at the older stallion. "Don't. You. Even."
"I beg your pardon..." Octavia's eyes narrowed on Soarin. "Have we met before?"
In the meantime, Vinyl was scratching. With a wide grin, she did a little excited jig in place, spun three times, then charaded a gliding eagle.
"He's..." Octavia's muzzle hung open. "... ... ...searching for mice?"
"Nah. I wouldn't harm a fly." Soarin shrugged. "But your stylish friend here no doubt recognizes me from the Wonderbolts."
"The Wonderbolts?"
Soarin bowed. "Soarin at your service. Pleasure to meet you, Miss—"
"Octavia Melody!" Flash pointed. "And Vinyl Scratch! The one and only! Well... the two and onlies!" He giggled slightly. "S-sorry. I've been practicing."
"And brushing withers with celebrities, I see," Octavia said. She sensed Vinyl practically vibrating in her peripheral. Showing much practice, Octavia wetted her tongue on her fetlock and used it to extinguish the glowing point on Viny's horn. "So..." Her eyes remained locked on Flash Sentry. "...what brings you here? I must say—for an outsider—you exercised exceptional navigational skills in order to locate us in these lofty streets."
"How would you like to seize the musical opportunity of a lifetime?" Flash offered.
"My dear Brad, you do know why Vinyl and I are here, yes?"
"Screw Canterlot," Flash said, eliciting a gasp or two from nearby passerby's. "This is bigger than that!"
"With all due respect..." Octavia smiled tiredly. "...you are not from around here, Brad. How could you possibly offer us something bigger than the venues in Equestria's most important city?"
"How about their most important ally?"
"Hmmm?"
"The Crystal Empire is needing some help right now," Soarin interjected. "And Brad here isn't offering something bigger. It's the stewards—Princess Cadance and Shining Armor—and the Wonderbolts are the ones directing it all."
"And you mares are perfect for the job!" Flash exclaimed.
"Says who?"
"Says me!" Flash briefly frowned. "Jiminy Cricket, girl! If this has been your attitude all along, no wonder you got any work!"
"I do not mean to sound ungrateful, Brad," Octavia said. "Desperate or not, I fail to see how a venue in a faraway place like the Crystal Empire could possibly be on the same level with what we're looking for here in Canterlot."
"I'm not talking about playing the cello at a crystal nightclub or just entertaining the stewards for a night," Flash said.
"Then what are you talking about, dear?"
Soarin's eyes darted across the sidewalk, meeting Vinyl's.
Vinyl gave a knowing breath... then strategically reposistioned herself lengthwise behind Octavia.
"I'm talking..." Flash leaned forward with a smug grin. "...about composing and conducting for the entire Crystal Imperialist Symphony..." Her eyes narrowed. "For the upcoming festivities to celebrate the official joining of the Crystal Empire with the Equestria Union."
Octavia blinked.
Flash grinned. He waited... he waited some more...
"Oh my... stars..." And Octavia teetered back...
...fainting across Vinyl's flank, draped their in delicious unconsciousness.
"Nifty." Soarin looked at the other stallion. "She took it well."
"Eeyup!" Flash rubbed his hooves together, looking across the street. "Now where can somepony go for a bite to eat around this place?"