Octavia propped herself up on the balcony railing with her forehooves and took several deep breaths of air to calm down. Her eyes swept over the gardens below, to the horizon in the distance and finally the stars and moon in the sky. She lingered on that bright white circle in the sky, the source of inspiration for many musicians and artists over the years, and sought her own inspiration. Inspiration on how to deal with her current situation.
The clinking of ice in glass distracted her from her search and Octavia turned to face the source. Rocky Road walked carefully up to her; a tray balanced perfectly on his head with a glass of water sitting atop it. She eyed him carefully, trying not to look impressed by the dexterous display.
"Thought you'd might like something to drink." Rocky said sitting on his haunches and removing the tray with both hooves. He presented the glass of water to her, and Octavia gingerly plucked it off the tray with both hooves, muttered something about alcohol before draining the glass all in one go. She set down the now empty glass and nodded a thank you before turning away from him to continue looking at the moon. Rocky sighed and set the tray down. After a moment of pause he joined her at her side.
"You know, you're not going to hurt my feelings if you decline."
Octavia rolled her eyes. "Good to know."
Rocky Road held back another sigh. Instead, he looked up at the moon with her, or rather just past the moon. To the darkness on the other side. He became so engrossed with the line that separated light from dark that he nearly jumped out of his skin when Octavia spoke.
"When I first met you." She said softly. "We were neck deep in changeling limbs fighting for our lives. I didn't fall for you then, as impressive as you were. I saw you and Flash take care of and protect ponies you didn't know. Not so much as a flutter. Then you saved my life."
Octavia placed a hoof to her chest and took several deep breaths. remembering the bolt that pierced her lung. She winced and felt a sudden burst of panic as she relived the most agonizing and most desperate moment of her life. The pain and the feeling of cold death was the most distinct memory she had. Second to that memory was the sound of Rocky's voice. Strong and reassuring, somehow, he made her feel safe in the embrace of death. Octavia blinked her eyes, successfully winning the battle against tears.
"Does this make me a bad pony? A selfish pony?" Octavia turned to look at Rock for the first time since she nearly collapsed in front of the bride and bridegroom. She dropped on four hooves and approached Rocky who shifted uncomfortably.
"Are my feelings for you real? Or is it a remnant from my journey to death's door." Octavia did something that made Rocky freeze. She sat on her haunches and gently placed both of her hooves on Rocky's chest. Her expression unreadable, her ears folded back. "I must know..."
Rocky was hesitant at first but released a breath and gazed into Octavia's eyes.
Hurt.
Fear.
Shame.
Passion.
Hope.
...Something else...
Rocky looked away.
"If that's how you feel. Then it wouldn't be fair to you if I continued to play dumb."
Octavia smiled slightly. "No, my lord Dummkopf, it wouldn't be."
They were silent for a moment. Each giving the other time to process what was about to happen next.
"To be honest..." Rocky said softly looking up toward the mountain of Canterlot that towered over them. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to you. But I worry about my duties as the last master of Tei-Rah-Doh."
Octavia smirked. "What do you think being your apprentice will do to my practice in music? Somehow I'm supposed to just figure it out?"
Rocky nodded. "Understandable. Not to mention that the relationship between Master and Apprentice has been traditionally platonic by design. Mastery of the gates is the sole focus, everything else was considered a distraction."
Octavia tilted her head and leaned closer to Rock.
"Then I decline." She said coyly.
Now it was Rocky's turn to smirk. "You mean to tell me that the only thing stopping you from being my apprentice is that you wouldn't be able to practice music and..." Octavia stopped Rocky's words dead in it's tracks when she took Rocky's hoof and held it to her chest.
"I wouldn't be able to know you Rock. Know you the way I want to."
Rocky looked once more into Octavia's eyes and saw everything that made the mare. He also saw the immense potential in her, along with the...whatever it was...that made him feel equal parts discomfort and a strange kind of happy. Like there was somepony out there that wanted him around. Rocky chuckled. This wasn't exactly a traditional situation anyway.
"Then I propose a compromise." Rocky said, slowly withdrawing his hoof from her chest. Octavia straightened and listened intently as Rocky cleared his throat.
"My offer for apprenticeship still stands, but...with um..." Rocky found it difficult to find his next words as a blush overpowered his many years of discipline and training. He coughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry. I've never asked a mare out before."
"I never would have guessed, my lord." Octavia said gently, leaning forward as if goading him to try again.
Rocky stilled himself, with a breath. He took in the mare in front of him and decided it was now or never.
"Octavia Melody I want to be romantically involved with you. Do you feel the same way about me?"
"Yes."
"I also want you as my apprentice. Do you accept?"
"Yes."
"Understand that balancing both will be a challenge for both of us."
"Ja" Octavia nodded.
"The training will be rough, and the relationship might suffer as a result. So therefore, you may end your relationship and or apprenticeship with me at any time, with no hard feelings attached."
"Sounds reasonable my lord."
"Do you wish to add anything to these terms?"
"Nein."
Rocky placed his hooves together and bowed forward.
"Octavia, my apprentice, I am in your care."
"And I in yours, master." Octavia curtseyed before him. They stayed that way for a moment before they arose at the same time. They looked at each other both trying to keep a straight face. Both cracked a grin. Octavia pressed a hoof on her lips trying and failing to suppress a giggle, Rocky's smile broke into a wide nervous grin. Finally, the dam burst and the tension between them unraveled into bouts of laughter. They laughed for a good long moment before Rocky recovered and wiped a tear of laughter from his eye.
"So uh. What happens now? Are we supposed to kiss or something?"
Octavia shook her head and batted her eyelashes at him.
"Never on the first date Rock."
Rocky grinned sheepishly. The sudden rise of lovely orchestral music rescued him from his embarrassment. His ears picked up as an idea occurred to him. He offered his hoof. "How about a dance then?"
Octavia accepted the outstretched hoof gingerly and allowed herself to be led to the dance floor, heart fluttering the whole way.
----
Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor were accompanied on the dance floor by several couples and friends pretending to be couples for the sake of a dance. The orchestral score was slow and beautiful, the dancing of the bride and bridegroom even more so. Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor's movements were graceful, smooth, intimate. By Contrast Rocky's movements were awkward and rather blocky. Octavia didn't seem to mind, enjoying her partners attempts to lead.
"Sorry, never really learned how to dance." He apologized quietly into Octavia's ear. Octavia leaned in so that their coats touched. Rocky stiffened even more.
"Not helping." Rocky muttered under his breath, but Octavia did not break contact.
"My master, defeated by the box step? Neigh. I say." Octavia chuckled. When Rocky seemed to slump she leaned into him even more.
"Take heart Rocky. Just do what I do to the rhythm. See? One...Two...Three...Four..."
Rocky glanced down at Octavia's hooves and mimicked her movements. In no time, they were in-sync. Rocky grinned. It's like a whole different form of martial arts, but with music. Suddenly it occurred to him what the movements of these steps seemed similar to the resonance gate, just over simplified. With that in mind the dance was easy, Octavia smiled as she relinquished the lead to her new...coltfriend? Significant other? Master? Special Somepony? Ah whatever, she'd figure it out later. Right now she was focusing on the moment.
Rocky gave a short sigh. Octavia's ears perked up.
"What's wrong?" She asked softly.
"You're music, I was just thinking I'd love to hear it one day."
Octavia was in danger of fainting yet again as her knees wobbled. Rocky pressed in on her gently to support her as they continued to dance. With only a barely noticeable amount of shake in her voice she replied.
"You already have Rock."
Rocky furrowed his brow trying to remember.
"When?" He asked searching his memory. Then his mind drifted back to that lucid dream with his angel, and the music that seemed all too real to him. His eyes grew as wide as dinner plates when he finally put it together.
"That was you?" He said with an air of awe.
Octavia's only reply was a nod, not sure if she could find her voice at the moment. The two danced to the music in relative silence after that exchange. Neither one of them speaking for fear of dying in embarrassment. The music shifted into something a little folksier. Octavia's ears perked up immediately.
"Oh this should be fun." Octavia smiled grateful for the break in the dance. She looked up at Rocky who looked slightly confused.
"What is it? New dance?" Rocky asked curiously.
"Yes. It is." She said teasingly before she was whisked away by another stallion, in a more upbeat variation of the box step he had just learned. Before Rocky could object to the offending stallion. strongly. A mare landed in his hooves.
"Now now darling, don't keep a lady waiting. The dance has already begun." Said a familiar platinum white unicorn with dark purple main. Rocky looked around and realized that every pony was changing dance partners.
"Oh of course madam." Rocky said grinning and began to lead the mare.
"Please, call me Rarity." She said giving him a playful wink.
Rarity was an amazing dancer, very poised and graceful. She was also generous with her time as well, as she voiced some helpful tips to help him improve, but before long they had switched dancers again. It was one mare after another, even Cadence came into his hooves at one point. She gave him a wink and told him how happy she was that things worked out. Before he could register what, she meant, Cadance was whisked away by an old guards pony, medals clinking all the way. The music was beginning to pick up reaching some sort of crescendo, but every time Rocky thought it might stop, it would pick up again. A white earth pony mare with pink mane landed in his hooves. She was beautiful, more so than any pony in the wedding hall.
"Hello my lord. It seems you are adjusting well."
Rocky furrowed his brow as he led the mare in the dance like he did with every other mare. There was something vividly familiar about this one, and he couldn't quite place his hoof on it.
"I am. Have we met?"
The mare laughed.
"Lord Macadamia, I'm hurt you don't recognize me. Even after you so thoroughly clocked me in the face. I'd tiptoe on eggshells if I were you. Acceptance of your apology is still pending after all."
Rocky raised an eyebrow in realization but he didn't stop dancing. "Celestia. What..."
She leaned in close to him, their coats touching. "I just wanted to say that I am grateful that you accepted my plea for help. It means more to me than you'll ever know. I hope you're not too angry."
Rocky set his jaw in a grim expression, but when he spoke his tone was even, not a hint of resentment in his voice.
"I will never stop fighting for my fellow ponies, Celestia, and I will not rest until those trapped in that dark heart are freed."
Rocky felt Celestia nod. "That's all I ask."
The music finally stopped, Rocky and Celestia separated. Rocky dared not look back at the mare who earned his ire. Did he believe in forgiveness? Yes. Did he believe in mercy? Yes. Did he believe in JUSTICE? Absolutely yes. One way or another all three avenues of approach needed to be met. And he had to find a way to make that happen. Everypony tried to find their old dance partners in the jumbled mess that was the dance hall. Octavia weaved through the crowd peering over the heads of ponies until she spotted Rocky's now unkempt silver mane. She moved her way through the crowd and met him. the look on his face worried her.
"Rocky. What's wrong?"
Rocky broke away from his trance and looked to Octavia giving her a loving grin.
"I was just thinking about how to start your training. We've got a lot of work to do."