It was a calm morning in Ponyville. Twilight was serving some coffee to some guests and Spike was making some golden sandwiches. However, Twilight's attention was on something else. Specifically the contracts that Derpy showed. As nobility, Twilight has her hoof a lot with contracts. And as such, seeing such a contract was nothing new. But the contracts that Derpy had were... rather extreme. Even for Twilight, and she had seen some far worse.
"Here is the Golden Sandwiches." Spike said as he blinks Twilight back to the present. He noticed this but said nothing as Twilight went to serve the dishes. However as she came back, Spike did speak up.
"So what is the matter? You seem a bit distracted." Spike asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I have been thinking about the contracts that bind Derpy to the governing body and the postal office." Twilight admitted.
"Anything unusual about them?" Spike asked confused.
"Actually yes. They are far too extreme for ordinary contracts." Twilight said confused herself.
"What do you mean?" Spike asked worried.
"Well, the one that binds her to the Governing Body is a massive sum of twelve million bits. While the postal office will not let anyone break the contract." Twilight said worried.
"That DOES sound extreme." Spike said worried, "But what can we do?" he asked.
"First of all. I am going to contact Cloudsdale Postal office to collect some information. And ask my parents about this rather extreme contract. They might be able to obtain some insights into it." Twilight explained.
"So have a whole plan made up. But then why are you still daydreaming about it?" Spike asked.
"Because these types of contracts are made under special conditions. And believe me, I had the unfortunate time to also see such a contract, luckily it never made it to me. But the action is what counts." Twilight admitted, as she had a small flashback of the destruction of the slums district in Canterlot.
"You mean. She had done something so bad. That she received this contract?" Spike asked a lot more concerned suddenly.
"Exactly. Which is why I am trying to investigate first, what happened. Before trying to break the contract." Twilight said determined.
"Perhaps I could help you with that." Rainbow Dash said as she entered the cafe.
"Oh. Welcome to Cafe Omurice, Rainbow." Twilight politely stated.
"Happy to be here." Rainbow Dash said while giving Twilight a polite smile.
"So I take it that you know her personally. Right?" Spike asked faster than Twilight.
"Unfortunately yes. We both went to Flying school and basic school. Though she disappeared both High school. Which was probably due to her eyesight at the time." Rainbow said. Her tone made her sound disappointed although Twilight believed that it was fake... atleast her instinct told her so.
"So, what happened? Surely it isn't as bad as they make it out be, yes?" Twilight asked hopeful.
"Hm. I don't know all the specifications. But it was pricey incident." Rainbow said.
"If you did a count. How much?" Twilight asked.
"Couple of thousand bits... maybe a bit more. Nothing extreme of course." Rainbow said.
"Is that so..." Twilight said, though she did have a thought, 'Perhaps they want to make use of her disability. Since she seemed rather depressed on the incident herself.'
"Can you simplify what she had done?" Spike requested.
"Sure. She bumped into a tower that was improperly secured on the cloud, causing it to fall down towards Canterlot. And breaking Princess Celestia's bedroom in the process." Rainbow said.
"I see. I will speak to Celestia later myself. It seems someone is trying to make use of her disability." Twilight said as her though got confirmed.
"What do you mean?" Rainbow asked worried.
"She got smacked with a twelve million fine. And a permanent contract that is unbreakable with the Cloudsdale Postal Office." Twilight deadpanned.
"She got WHAT!" Rainbow shouted shocked.
"Yes. Which is weird. And believe me, I have seen the same contract. But Celestia stopped it from reaching me." Twilight said.
"What did you do then?" Rainbow asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Destruction of the slums in Canterlot." Spike deadpanned.
"Oh. I am sorry." Rainbow said as she realized that she stepped on a landmine.
"No. It's fine. I will never live that down. However I am going to find out why she is stuck like this. Nopony deserve that contract unless you do something akin to my level of destruction." Twilight said.
"Then let me help. I know the inns and outs of the Cloudsdale Postal Office. I will investigate them for you. Plus the destruction of that tower was a matter of time. And everyone knew this." Rainbow said determined.
"Okay. Then I will focus on the damage done to Canterlot. Through which I will speak to Celestia and see if I can obtain a damage report and potential information regarding a contract of this type. Surely it can't be a coincidence that she received it. It feels too deliberate." Twilight agreed.
"Sure. When will we start the investigation?" Rainbow asked.
"Two days. Since Saturday and Sunday are days we aren't open." Twilight said.
"Understood. I will meet you at your place to which we will begin our investigation." Rainbow said but just as she began walking away. Spike stopped her.
"Wait a second. I though you disliked her? Why the sudden loyalty?" Spike asked suspicious.
Twilight saw Rainbow jump at the mention as she started to look around in fear before crouching down to Spike's level. Though you can tell that she was feeling pressured.
"Please don't tell anyone what I am about to say..." Rainbow said suspiciously, although she looked mostly afraid.
"Maybe... Depends on what you are about to reveal." Spike said with a raised eyebrow.
"If she gets freed she will join this cafe right?" Rainbow tried to confirm firstly.
"Among other things, yes. She will become this place personal Barista." Twilight confirmed, however it was then that she put two and two together.
"You see. I am secretly her biggest fan of her coffee. I tasted it once, and then ensured that she would be able to improve it even further. I supplied her with money through donations and set her fan letters to try and keep her going." Rainbow admitted shyly. A side of rainbow that she keeps hidden all her life got shown.
"So... Derpy is your idol. Then why the cold treatment?" Spike asked confused.
"I was just confused where all the money went and why she quit. All the donations were suddenly for nothing." Rainbow said disappointed.
"Quick question. How much did you spent on Derpy?" Twilight asked, she had a small smile on her face.
"Millions of bits. Whether through direct donations or through letters and other goodies." Rainbow admitted shyly.
This shocked Spike greatly. "Uhm. How bad?" he simply confirmed.
"Uh..." Rainbow realized what the question meant. "Badly." she said with some pink tints on her cheeks.
"Ignoring your love life for a moment. Now that you know the truth, you better apologize to her first before we start our investigation this Saturday." Twilight said dismissive.
"I know. I will." Rainbow said as she drooped.
"Good. Now, if you excuse me. The guests are starting to become impatient. I need to get back to work." Twilight said.
"Alright. And yes Rainbow. Your secret is safe with us. But on the condition that you apologize to Derpy because of your behavior." Spike reasoned.
"Deal." Rainbow said before speeding off. As if nothing ever happened.
Of course, that wasn't the case. She went home and closed the door. Making sure that nobody was around. she went to her bedroom and in her closet there was a fake wall behind it. Inside was a single cup, signed by Ditzy Doo herself. It was her greatest treasure. She hugged it, before hiding it once more. The only other pony that is aware of her almost obsessive love for her coffee was Fluttershy. Though it has been a while since she last praised Derpy, which made her blush in shame.
Meanwhile Twilight continued on the day. She served coffee and sandwiches. Until the start of the evening. Today was Vinyl's day to DJ however she hadn't shown up yet. Which was unusual. Until Octavia came instead.
"Twilight? Vinyl can't come she caught the flu." Octavia said in an apologetic tone.
"Is that so. That is a shame. Tell her to rest well, yes? I guess I will remove her from the playlist for the rest of the week. Octavia, do you have any other gigs? Do you think you can take her place?" Twilight asked.
"You want me to DJ?" Octavia asked a bit shocked.
"Only if you can do it. If not, then I will see if I can make an altercation with the gig. It is a shame. Today was quite a bit of hype. I will lose money if nobody plays music. And also lose potential future guests." Twilight asked hopeful.
"I suppose it has been a while since the last time I was a DJ. I do have some beats. But... nothing special." Octavia admitted.
Twilight blinked, "You were a DJ in the past?" she asked surprised.
"Well. Only because my parents want me too. And since I was born in a family of DJ. I do have some experience as a child. But not as much as you or Vinyl." Octavia admitted.
"Did you have a stage name?" Twilight asked with a small smile.
"DJ Classical horse. I know it is a weird name. But I loved to remix classical music with dupstep and electronic music. And I was just called that at some point. So I took it. However soon after, I just dropped out of DJ school to pursue my own musical career." Octavia said as she got a not so nice flashback of her talk with her father.
Flashback
Octavia comes home after delaying it for a long while. Not too long ago, she applied and entered a classical music school and without permission of her father left the DJ musician school behind. She was really happy right now. However she knows that her dad does not think the same.
"Octavia dear... Please just go back to the DJ school. You made your father quite angry." Her mother said as she sees Octavia enter the house.
"I am sorry mother. But I will not do that. I want to become a Cello player. Not a DJ player." Octavia refused.
"Is that so?!" Octavia's father said angrily.
"Yes." Octavia said deviant.
"I don't think so young lady. Either you re-apply back to the DJ school or I disown you!" Octavia's father shouted. He made sure to tell her that he accepts no impasse.
Her father could see Octavia's eyes tear up a little at the mention. Before she blinked the tears away and looks at him with sheer anger and determination.
"I see. Very well then, goodbye dear father of mine." Octavia said as she once again grabs her bags before going through her own house's front door one final time. Never to return ever again.
She didn't notice her own mother collapsing in shock and sadness. And her own father's face melting in horror to his own actions. Everyone in the house that heard her departure was saddened by this. But they respected it.
"Which got you disowned. Right?" Twilight said saddened.
"Sadly yes." Octavia admitted.
"So... DJ Classical horse? Do you wish to take center stage?" Twilight beamed.
"I suppose. After all you cannot leave behind how you were born. However, you can certainly improve on it." Octavia smiled as she grabbed her dark glasses from her bag and entered the DJ stage.
"Ladies and Gentlecolts. Today we have an alternative DJ due to DJ Pon-3 being ill. Make your way for DJ Classical Horse!!!" Twilight shouted. She noticed a surprisingly high amount of ponies flinching at the name. It seems to be quite well known.
Hall of the Mountain king Dubstep remix that Octavia is playing.
At first the song is just the Hall of the mountain king, however then you can hear the dupstep coming in and ponies just began bobbing their heads to the song. And using some DJ techniques, she made the song much louder and much heavier on the bass. Causing ponies to simply dance as the soundwaves from the sound boxes that pushed and pulled them back and forth.
Twilight smiled as she saw that Octavia was having quite a bit more fun than she probably though she was going to have. It was then that a large stallion that looks a lot like Octavia took a seat at Twilight's bar.
"Good evening. How may I help you?" Twilight said with a business smile.
"Can you please first explain how you got her to be a DJ once more?" The stallion asked.
"Are you perhaps...? Simple. Her roommate that would play this gig is ill. She is simply taking her place." Twilight gave the stallion a genuine smile.
The stallion simply smiled in return, "I never wanted to disown her. However, as the head of the family, I needed to make sure that her leaving the family wouldn't create a rift. Believe me, I wish I had the determination she had back then. To leave the family and pursue her own ideals. However..." The stallion explained.
"You chose family over Octavia. Even if you heart hurts from it. Right?" Twilight asked.
"Right. However, seeing her be a DJ once more. And happy at that. Makes my heart go aflutter. She means the world to me. So her being happy is much more important, then my family." The stallion said.
"So, if I may ask. What is you name? Perhaps I can atleast offer Octavia some insight later on." Twilight asked hopeful.
"The name is Alex Melody. I'm the head of the Melody family. We are lower noble. And Octavia's blood related dad." Alex said as he watches Octavia having fun in the background.
"I see. My name is Twilight Sparkle. Owner of this cafe. I am of higher nobility. And good friends with Vinyl Scratch, Octavia's roommate." Twilight introduces.
"Is that so. Hey, do you serve a martini? I could go for one." Alex requested.
"Sure thing. One martini coming right up." Twilight said happily.
Twilight grabs her mixing equipment. She then crushes two olives and puts it into her mixing glass. To which she adds about 50 ml of vodka and 10 ml of vermouth. She then mixed it with a barspoon and and strained it into a martini glass. And finally added some decorative olives to the glass. And done, one martini. She then placed it in front of Alex.
"One martini." Twilight simply stated.
"Thank you." Alex said before taking a sip.
"And?" Twilight asked.
"Hm. Next time use a bit of olive oil instead of crushed olives. Besides that, it's fine." Alex said slightly unimpressed.
"I will write it down. So, how is your daughter doing?" Twilight said.
"Honestly? She is not playing up to Melody standards. But for someone that hasn't touched a DJ set in years? Amazingly." Alex admitted.
"As she stated earlier. You can't change how you are born. But you change how you grow. And she chose her own difficult career over her family. That takes some serious guts." Twilight explained.
"Is it that bad?" Alex asked.
"Yes. Besides being shown up at joke gigs. To being downright ignored. She has had a far more difficult career than anyone would dare to follow. And yet, here she is. Not giving up, despite falling down multiple times. I think despite everything, she is one strong pony. Far stronger than some... including me." Twilight said as she whispered that last part.
"I suppose that is her bloodline doing it. Although we used to be a warriors family, at some point we switched to music or DJ music I suppose." Alex said.
"Ha! My current family is a family of guardians. And yet I still do not feel so strong." Twilight said disagreeably.
"Perceived strength and being strong is different. You know this." Alex said.
"I suppose. Atleast she has someone that shoulders the same pain. I do not." Twilight said, 'Unless you count Celestia and Luna I suppose.' she thought.
"Regardless. Tell her I said hi. Here. 50 bits. Keep the rest." Alex said as he departed, Octavia's song had finally ended.
She then stepped down and allowed the DJ set to play an old album of hers. Which seemed to be liked by quite bit of Ponies. Which is why everyone gave her space as she walked to the bar.
"Hey Twilight. Give me a Forest Spritz. It's a mocktail!" Octavia requested.
"Sure thing." Twilight said as she began making it.
Twilight first filled a longdrink with ice and poured 50 ml of Everleaf Forest in to it. Then adding about 150 ml of tonic to it, she then stirred in calmly and added a orange slice to the glass. Before giving it to Octavia.
"Thanks!" Octavia said as she sipped it.
"How was the DJ set?" Twilight asked.
"Nostalgic. I might go back and make a new album after all. That was a lot of fun. My knowledge of Classical music and my old knowledge of DJ music is really blending well. Perhaps I might dust off my old DJ set." Octavia said.
"Um Octavia. I just now had a visitor. That knows you very well. He just wanted to say his sorry." Twilight said.
"Who was it?" Octavia asked as Twilight got her full attention.
"Your pops." Twilight simply said as she looked at Octavia for a reaction. Instead Octavia simply sighed.
She then smiled and nodded towards Twilight, "I know." she said before placing some bits on the bar and leaving the cafe.
"I guess it is almost time to close up." Twilight said out loud as she looked at the clock. She then went to the DJ set and stopped it from playing the next song.
"Hey! I was listening to that!" Some stallion said annoyed.
"Sorry everyone. But this cafe is closing pretty soon. In about fifteen minutes to be precise." Twilight said apologetic.
"Oh! You only do evening?" A pony asked in the crowd.
"Yes. Due to the fact that this is a village. And not wanting to annoy my neighbors." Twilight explained.
"Alright. So with no DJ Pon-3, who is playing tomorrow?" The previously annoyed stallion asked.
"I am not sure. But... I might play some of DJ Sparkling Gems earlier songs as music in the case of no musician." Twilight said.
"Okay. Let's go home everyone." The pony said as everyone in the cafe dispersed away. Which allowed Twilight close up extra early.
And during her closing she looked at her income. 300 bits in the plus. Again with everything already removed. 'Not a bad day', Twilight thought.