//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: All We Need to Strive to Be // by screenaholic //------------------------------// Take your brushes, young and old, Together, paint it, bright and bold. Turn 'em round quick by the left elbow, Grab a new partner, here we go! Fiddlesticks sawed a quick solo on her fiddle, before lowering it to sing with the rest of her family and join them in front of the barn for the family picture. We raised this barn, we raised this barn, Yes, we did. Together we sure raised this barn, Yes, we did. Being together counts the most, We all came here from coast to coast. All we need to strive to be, Is part of the Apple Family! Fiddlesticks sat on a bale of hay idly playing her fiddle. Around her the majority of her family was packing, preparing to go back to their homes all across the country. She wasn't thinking of anything in particular, but instead was letting her mind wander. "Wooo-ee! Cousin Fiddlesticks, looky here!" She heard Half Baked Apple shout. She turned her head to look at her cousin cantering over to her. "Whatcha' got there Half Baked?" "Look at this fancy pony in the paper, she looks just like you!" He hoofed her a newspaper, and she looked it over. The pony he was talking about was a gray cellist, the caption said her name was Octavia. The article was a review of her last performance. "Well looky there, she does look like me don't she?" The similarity was uncanny, the only real difference was the colors of the mane and coat. Both of them even had a treble cleft for a cutie mark. "Somepony looks like Fiddlesicks?" "I wanna see!" A small crowd of family members gathered around to see the picture in question. Fiddlesticks jumped on top of a stack of hay bales and held her fiddle vertically in front of her. "Look at me everypony, I'm a big time fancy cellist!" She began playing a mocking rendition of "Oat to Joy", her family loudly laughing at the joke. "Better wrap it up Miss Cellist," Fiddlesticks's cousin Applejack said. "Aint your train leavin' soon?" "Shucks, ah nearly forgot." She jumped down off the hay and started putting her fiddle and bow back in it's case. "Thanks fer remindin' me." "Anytime Fiddlesticks," Applejack said. Fiddlesticks finished packing away her instrument and slung the case over her back. "I best get goin'. Bye everypony." She waved goodbye and walked off as her family returned her farewell. Fiddlesticks rose from her seat as the train pulled into Canterlot Central Station. She slung her fiddle case over her back and exited into the crowded station. "Fiddlesticks! Fiddlesticks over here!" Fiddlesticks turned her head to see a familiar electric blue mane and purple glasses. "Vinyl! Well shoot, you didn't have ta meet me here." She trotted over to her friend and gave her a hug. "It's no biggy, I didn't want you to have to walk all the way home by yourself after your trip," Vinyl Scratch said as she returned the hug. "Well thanks Vinyl, ah always appreciate the company." The two made their way out of the station and headed towards their apartment in midtown Canterlot. As they walked, Fiddlesticks told Vinyl all about the Apple family reunion. They entered their apartment building using the back entrance in the alley that Fiddlesticks always used. The two mares used the stairwell instead of the elevator, trying to avoid as many ponies as possible. When they finally opened the door to their apartment, Fiddlesticks plopped down on the couch. "Woo-eee! It sure is nice to be home." "No place like it," Vinyl said as she sat next to her. "So whatcha wanna do for dinner tonight?" "Ah don't rightly know. I'm still hankering for some more Apple family fritters." Vinyl gave a chuckle. "Well I'm sure we can find some fritters, but I have a feeling they won't be as good as your family's." "Course they won't. Nuthin's as good as an Apple family fritter." Vinyl was giggling at her friend again, when the phone began to ring. "I'll get it." Vinyl stood up and made her way to the phone. "Hello?" She said as she put the receiver to her head. "Yeah one sec'." She lowered the phone. "Octavia?" Fiddlesticks looked over at Vinyl. "It's for you." Fiddlesticks took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them again her entire presence seemed to have changed. She stood with an air of sophistication, and calmly walked over to the phone. Vinyl hoofed it to her, and she cleared her throat before putting the receiver to her ear. "This is Octavia." "Thank you very much. Goodbye." The yellow mare hung up the phone and brushed her blue mane out of her face. "Good news Octavia?" Vinyl asked as she stood near by. "Very good news. The princess is holding a charity event next week, and she just hired my quartet to perform." "That's great! Congratulations." "Thank you Vinyl. Our first rehearsal will be tomorrow. Hm, I haven't even touched my cello for a few days because of the reunion. I should practice right away." She looked back at her friend. "Would you mind?" Vinyl's face dropped. "Aww, but I was hoping to spend some more time with Fiddlesticks." "Why Vinyl, if I didn't know better I'd say you didn't like spending time with me." The yellow mare put a hoof to her chest, jokingly feigning being offended. "Of course I like spending time with you Octavia, I just feel like I've been seeing Fiddlesticks less and less lately." "I know Vinyl, and I apologize. I've just been so busy lately." "I know, and I'm happy for your success, but I miss her." The yellow mare walked over to her friend and put a hoof on her shoulder. "How about this Vinyl? Next week, after the charity event, you and Fiddlesticks can spend all weekend together. I promise I won't interfere." The DJ nodded. "Yeah that sounds nice." "Good, now if you wouldn't mind, I really should begin practicing." "Yeah, I got you." Vinyl built up a store of energy in her horn, and unleashed it towards the yellow mare. When the light faded, Vinyl could see her coat had become ashen, and her mane and tail dark gray. "Well, how do I look Vinyl?" Octavia asked. "A little odd in Fiddlesticks's clothes, but other than that perfect." "Oh, of course." Octavia looked at the green shirt and orange kerchief she still wore, and put a hoof on the cowboy hat. "I'll have to change. Thank you Vinyl." She gave her friend a hug. "Anything for you Octavia, you know that. Don't you need to practice?" The cellist stepped back from her friend and released the hug. "Yes, of course, I should get right to it. I'll be in my room if you need me." The gray mare turned and trotted to her room, untying the kerchief as she did.