//------------------------------// // Life in Canterlot // Story: Meet Me In Ponyville // by BrushyBill1881 //------------------------------// "Thank you very much Miss Melody," One of the three music professors spoke up. Octavia stood on stage in the concert hall of one of the most prestigious music schools in Equestria, Braylee College of Music. She had just given an audition to be able to attend the famous school. "Thank you very much for this opportunity," Octavia bowed and began to relax. "Come back tomorrow and we'll have a decision made" the professor at the of the table said. Octavia nodded and took her cello offstage. Once out of sight of the professor's she couldn't help but smile. 'Oh my gosh!' she screamed in her head. 'I just performed in front of three professors for Braylee, BRAYLEE!' She could barley contain her excitement. 'Calm down Octavia, remain professional. Act like you've been places.' She straightened up, placed her cello in its case and exited the concert hall. While making her way in Canterlot she took in the sights. The streets were bustling with high society ponies. Ponies that Octavia was used to being around with her career, but had never lived among them, did she belong. She shook the thought from her and continued to her hotel. After dropping her cell off in her room, Octavia returned outside to see what she could. Canterlot, quite the opposite of Las Pegasus. Fancy building yes, but no high rises, and there was culture in all of them. As she walked she could pick out the architecture styles, seeing Queen Celestia style, popular in Canterlot a few decades ago. Even older how ever were the Gothic buildings, her favorite style. It was much like her, subtle, yet a very complicated style once a closer look was taken. There were a few shingle style shops, and many more modern buildings with the changing of time. 'Vinyl would hate this' she smiled to herself. Her smile immediately fell with her second thought "Vinyl," she said aloud. She deeply thought about her friend from Ponyville. Her friend...that word didn't sound right. She looked around at the busy ponies, all of them having some where to be but her. She continued her walk through the capital city trying to keep her mind off of Vinyl but failing. 'Was this a mistake?' she asked herself 'No, this is my dream, I always wanted to attend Braylee. This is what is going to make me happy.' She smiled and then noticed a coffee shop in front of her. The sign read Moca Joes. "A latte does sound nice." The inside of the shop was unique. It appeared to have been two separate shops at one time or another. The counter was directly in front of her and on her left was pillars which help of the ceiling where originally there would've been a wall. On the other side of the pillar was a sitting area for customers. There were comfortable arm chairs with the daily newspaper set on an table next to it. Further back in the shop were tables that ponies were seated at tables, one of which had a chess board on it. The walls were covered with sheet rock with intentional breaks in it which exposed the deep red bricks of the original building. Octavia walked up to the counter. "What can get you miss?" Asked a pale yellow barista with a long curly mane. "What would you recommend?" "Well today's special is our honey pot, its a latte with honey in it," the barista smiled "Sounds good, I'll have it, and one of your blueberry muffins please," Octavia could never turn down and muffin once she had seen on. "Of course, that'll be 12 bits" Octavia handed her the bits and went to go sit in one of the arm chairs. She shook her head, '12 bits, back home that would've been 6 or 7 bits. Canterlot sure is expensive.' Once again her thoughts dwelled where she rather they did not. 'Home,' she began to think about the little home her and Vinyl shared, not far from Sugarcube corner. How her and Vinyl would walk there on Friday mornings to have a celebratory 'we made it through the week' treats. 'Vinyl.' She didn't have long to delve on that before the barista called her name. Octavia got her coffee and returned to her seat to find an older mare seated in the other arm chair. She hesitated for a moment, contemplating changing seats, but not want to be rude, went back to her arm chair. The old mare looked up and gave a smile that Octavia returned. "Hello there, I'm Amaranth Filbert," smiled the old rose colored mare. "Hello, my name is Octavia Melody" she returned the pleasantry. "Oh Octavia, so am I right in assuming that you are a musician?" asked the old mare. "Yes, I play the cello." "Ah, the cello, such an under used and often misused instrument. I am happy someone as young as you is interested in it." "Thank you Mz. Filbert, am I correct in assuming you are an artist?" "Oh used to be dear, my old bones don't care for it much anymore but I used to be quite well known in Canterlot and Chicoltgo. In fact I attended the art institute there." the old mare smiled reminiscing. "Where did you attend?" "Um, not where yet, but I just auditioned for Braylee." "Impressive, well I hope the professors there appreciate the use of cello as much as I do. I think you'll make it" Amaranth stood up shakily. "Thank you for the chat dearie. I do appreciate it." With that the old mare walked out into the busy streets of Canterlot. Octavia smiled and began to enjoy her coffee and muffin. When she left the coffee shop it was late afternoon early evening. The little shop had helped her get her mind of waiting for tomorrow but she still had a whole night to get through. 'Maybe I should go back to my room, order some dinner and sleep. Hopefully that will make the time go by faster.' Unfortunately for Octavia this was not the case. After a small salad, she lay wide awake in her hotel bed. Many things could've been occupying her thoughts, keeping her awake. Her conversation with Amaranth Filbert, waiting for the news about her admission into Braylee, her plans if she got in or not. But there was only one thing on her mind this night "Vinyl," she whispered into the darkness.