//------------------------------// // Chapter Eleven // Story: Love and Music // by slade8283 //------------------------------// Chapter Eleven "Five....Four....Three....Two....One....The album is now live everypony!" The room erupted in cheers as Arpeggio said the words. The whole production crew was smiling and giving each other high-fives as the count down finally hit zero. All of their hard work was done, and it was finally time to bask in the fruits of their labor. Even Vinyl gave a smile as the team congratulated her, despite the fact that part of her was missing. I guess it's not all bad, she thought, even if Octavia isn't here. After all, this is supposed to be a big album, I guess. She took a look around the room, noticing that everypony was looking at her. Vinyl felt nervous, unsure why they were all staring at her. "Aren't you going to say something Vinyl?" Arpeggio said from his place at the front of the room. Vinyl's heart skipped a beat. She had no idea that she was supposed to do public speaking. "Um..." she said slowly, "sure..." She began to advance towards Arpeggio at the front of the room. Even though Vinyl was a performer, public speak was not her forte. Every time she stood before a crowd to give a speech, her mind would blank and she would be at a loss for words. Vinyl stood next to her manger. She could feel every eye in the room strained on her, but it felt as if all of Equestria was watching. "Hello everypony." She was met with silence, which only made her feel more uncomfortable. "I'd like to thank all of you. Without you guys, this whole project would've been a disaster." That was a lie of course, and Vinyl felt bad about it, but she swallowed hard and continued. "This album was a huge undertaking and I'd like you all to know, from the bottom of my heart, that is was you guys who got the hard work done." The team cheered as Vinyl finished. Just as she turned to leave, another thought invaded her mind; the thought of Octavia. Arpeggio opened his mouth to speak, but Vinyl interrupted him. "But just remember," she continued, "that the important thing isn't the album sales, it's the good work you all did. I'm proud of all of you, even if we only sell one CD." As long it goes to Octavia, she thought as she turned and returned to her previous spot. Arpeggio began to speak again, but Vinyl ignored him. After her thoughts of Octavia, she was lonely again. The only image Vinyl's mind would give her was of her special somepony. "What do you mean you're sold out?" Octavia said furiously. "I woke up at three o'clock this morning for this album!" The cashier shook her head. "I'm sorry ma'am, but we started letting ponies in at midnight. You probably should have pre-ordered it, you aren't the only die-hard Vinyl Scratch fan." Fan is a bit of an understatement Octavia thought bitterly as she turned her back to the mare. "That's fine. I guess I'll just go elsewhere." She started to walk towards the exit. "Yeah, good luck with that ma'am," the cashier yelled. Octavia exited the building. She had never liked PonyMart. The only reason she went was because it seemed like every store in Canterlot had sold out of the album. I need to get my hooves on this album, she thought. Octavia had been anxiously awaiting the release of Vinyl's CD ever since she heard the name: You're Still Here. The street outside the store was full, even at five in the morning, when everypony should have been sleeping. Various fillies and colts ran through the streets, bragging about having Vinyl's CD before this-pony or that-pony. Most of the ponies in the street wore shirts with Vinyl's face printed on the front, some had her older songs blaring on boom-boxes, and a couple even had their hair dyed like Vinyl's. The thought of Vinyl being commercialized made Octavia sick. I don't need this, she thought as she stared at the jam-packed street, I'm going home. Ten hours later, Octavia found herself standing in Ponyville, still in desperate search of the album. After she told herself she was going home, Octavia promptly went to the Canterlot train station for the first train to Ponyville. Vinyl, Octavia had reasoned, wasn't as popular in Ponyville, which historically enjoyed rock and country over pop. As Octavia stepped of the train, she was met with a very bright light. The sun had fully risen since her descent from the mountain-city. The light stung her eyes as she crossed the platform, descended the stairs, and entered the town. Having never been to Ponyville, Octavia was surprised at just how small the town was. Since her tour with Vinyl, she had become accustomed to large cities like Manehattan and Fillydelphia, so much so that the one-horse-town filled her with a sense of emptiness. Octavia started walking through the town, unsure of where she could find a copy of the CD. The first thing she noticed about Ponyville was the color that filled the town. Sure, the various ponies added to the color, but the amount of color intermixed with the buildings and trees and the various decorations took Octavia by surprise, so much so that she almost missed the large poster of Vinyl on the side of a building. Octavia's heart sunk as she looked at the poster. Great, she thought, they like her here too. She considered lying down in the street, in the hope that she would be struck by a cart. The thought of never being able to hear the songs Vinyl had written filled her with a depression deeper than the one she had been in for the past month. Although, she thought, maybe nopony bought the CD. It was a one in a million chance, but Octavia took it, having no other hope. Octavia set off towards the large poster, hoping that no pony had any interest in the thought of owning Vinyl's album. A warmth spread through her heart as she noticed that no pony was making a move towards the small stall where the CD's were being sold. She smiled as she advanced towards the stand. "Excuse me," she said to the stallion working the stall, "do you have any copies left?" Octavia did her best to hide the desperation in her voice, but she knew it was showing through. "You're in luck," he said, "we have one left. Somepony was supposed to come by earlier today and pick it up, but she never showed. I guess you can have it." He dropped his head beneath the counter to retrieve the CD. Octavia restrained herself from doing a hoof-pump, reminding herself she was in public. The stallion popped his head back above the counter and set the CD in front of Octavia. "There you go ma'am. That'll be five bits." Octavia smiled, relieved to finally receive the album. The words You're Still Here made her feel anxious, but only for a moment as she realized she had to pay the stallion. "Thank you," she said with a smile. "Excuse me," said a small voice from behind Octavia as she placed her bits on the counter, "I'm sorry I'm late, but I ordered Vinyl Scratch's new CD and I wasn't able to pick it up earlier. Is it too late?" Octavia turned and was met with a pale yellow pegasus. She recognized the pegasus as Fluttershy, the pony who had released the animals at the Grand Galloping Gala, sending the event to chaos. Octavia smiled at mare, who she knew to be very nice. "As a matter of fact," the stallion working the stand said, "this mare here just bought the last one. I'm sorry Fluttershy." Octavia could practically feel her heart break as the pegasus dropped her head. "Oh, I'm sorry," Fluttershy said quietly, "I'll just leave then." She turned and began to walk away from the stand, clearly disappointed. Oh Celestia, Octavia thought, I've been so selfish. I never stopped to think that other ponies loved Vinyl too. Octavia weighed her options as fast as she could, deciding between herself and saddened Fluttershy that was walking away from her. "Wait!" she yelled after the pegasus, "Come back Fluttershy." Fluttershy's head perked up at Octavia's words. She quickly spun on the spot and trotted back to Octavia. "What is it miss...?" "Octavia," she replied with a smile. The smile quickly disappeared as Octavia swallowed hard and closed her eyes, visibly distraught about what she was about to do. "This is yours, Fluttershy," she said, pushing the CD into Fluttershy's hooves. "You ordered it earlier than I did. I just happened to come along before you did." Octavia could tell that Fluttershy was surprised by the gesture. "Why, Miss Octavia, that's very nice of you, but you bought it before I did. I can't take this back." Fluttershy tried to return the CD, but Octavia held up her hoof in protest. "No. I insist Fluttershy." "At least let my pay you for it." Fluttershy replied as she reached into her bag for bits. Octavia again held up her hoof in protest. "I can't accept payment." Fluttershy was silent for a moment before she responded. "Thank you Octavia. It's very nice of you. Now if you will excuse me, I have a bunny who wanted to hear this CD very much." The pegasus turned and walked away from Octavia, uninterrupted this time. "I'm sorry," the stallion working the stand said, "but did she call you Octavia?" Octavia turned and looked at the stallion. After her conversation with Fluttershy, she had completely forgotten he was still there. "Um...yes, she did." she said, flustered by the question. "I have a CD for you then." He said as reached under the counter again. Octavia was surprised at the stallion's comment. "But I didn't order a CD. I don't even live in Ponyville. Why do you have one for me?" The stallion placed the CD on the counter. "Miss Scratch's request. All places selling CD's must carry a special copy in case somepony named Octavia shows up. We weren't sure why she wanted it that way, but didn't argue. You don't just argue with somepony like Vinyl Scratch." A huge grin broke across Octavia's face as she approached the stall again. "You mean that Vinyl requested I get this CD, in every store in Equestria?" "Yes, ma'am. Also, it's free." Octavia felt her smile get even larger. Not bad, Vinyl, she thought, not bad at all. She quickly spun on the spot and sprinted towards the Ponyville Train Station, not even saying her farewells to the stallion who had helped her. Octavia sat in her apartment, CD in hoof. She opened the CD tray on her stereo and placed the disc in, unsure of what was to come of the situation. On the train ride home, she had nursed the thought that Vinyl still loved her, but eventually that thought gave way to the idea that Vinyl didn't love, and that the CD was just a way to tell her without being face-to-face. "Well, I guess I'm about to find out," she said. "Here we go." She closed the CD tray and hit the play button, letting the melodies take her away.