Octavia stood in the Canterlot Castle Ballroom, performing with her quartet on the main stage. She was vaguely aware of the crowd of ponies mingling throughout the ballroom, and the banner above her that read 'HELP THE ORPHANS', but she was mostly absorbed in her music, as was her usual when she played. After the piece drew to a close, she turned to Fredric to await the cue for the next, only to notice somepony talking to the pianist.
"Yes, of course," Fredric said as the other pony finished. Fredric stood and walked to the rest of the quartet. "They will begin the speeches soon, we will resume when they are concluded. For now, we are free to relax and enjoy ourselves."
"Well that's a relief, my lungs need a rest," Beauty Brass said, shifting the sousaphone wrapped around her.
Octavia chuckled as she began to pack her cello back in it's case. "You're the one who chose such a cumbersome instrument Beauty."
"Hey I love my sousaphone, but playing it for to long makes my lungs hurt."
"Well try to recover while we have a break Beauty Brass," Harpo said. "You'll have to play again soon enough." With that, the quartet moved their instruments backstage (with the exception of Fredric's piano,) and joined the other mingling ponies. Octavia made her way to the refreshments table, and helped herself to a cup of punch. She heard a group of young orphan foals giggling and playing at the edge of the room, and she smiled at them.
"Ah've got to say, you're mighty good with that cello of yours," a voice said from behind Octavia.
That voice sounds familiar. Octavia thought as she turned around. "Why thank yo-Applejack!" She shouted in surprise as she saw the pony facing her.
Applejack gave the cellist a curios look. "How'd you know my name?"
"I, uh..." Octavia frantically tried to come up with an excuse. "Wh-why you're the pony who represents the Element of Honesty, you've saved all of Equestria on several occasions. Any civilized pony would know your name." Oh please believe me.
Applejack continued to give her an unsure glare for a moment, before smiling. "Well ah guess that makes sense." Octavia gave an internal sigh of relief. "Ah've heard you play before actually, at the Grand Galloping Gala, and ah saw an article 'bout you in the paper. Your name's Octavia right?"
"Yes, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Applejack." Just stay calm Octavia, she doesn't suspect anything. She offered a hoof for Applejack to shake. Which the farmpony did, with two hooves and rather vigorously, shaking the cellist's mane out of place slightly.
"Well shoot, it's a pleasure to meet you too Miss 'Tavia. Can I call ya' 'Tavia?" Applejack asked.
"Well, um..." Octavia took a moment to fix her mane. "Just 'Tavi will do. That's what my friends call me, I suppose you can too."
"Well thank ya' 'Tavi." On the main stage, Princess Celestia had began to thank everypony for coming, and was discussing the night's guest speakers. "You know, ah've got a cousin that looks just like you."
Octavia gave an uneasy chuckle. "Heheh, is that so?"
"Sure is, Cousin Fiddlesticks."
"If you don't mind my asking Applejack, what are you doing here?" Octavia asked, desperate to change the subject. "This crowd seems a little to high class for your enjoyment...Uh, no offense."
"None taken, you're right. These snooty hoity toity ponies aren't normally mah idea of a good time...Uh, no offense." Octavia shook her head and waved a hoof dismissively, showing that none was taken. "But mah little sister is one of the speakers tonight."
Applebloom? "And now it's time for tonight's first speaker," Princess Celestia announced from the main stage. "Young Applebloom, from Ponyville." The audience applauded as Octavia watched the young yellow filly take her place behind the podium.
"This is her now," Applejack said as she turned to watch her sister.
"Thank ya' Princess Celestia," Applebloom said as the princess left the stage. "Like the princess said, mah name's Applebloom, and I lost both my parents when I was very young. But despite that, I have a great big family, and although I miss mah parents dearly, I've had a great life. That's why ah'm not here to talk about myself. Ah'm here to talk 'bout one of mah best friends back in Ponyville. She's never had any family at all, and it's been really hard on her. But she was to shy to come here herself, so ah'm here for her."
Oh Applebloom, Octavia thought, touched at the filly's gesture for her friend. "She always was such a caring filly." She said under her breath.
"What was that?" Applejack asked?
"Uh...I said she seems like a caring filly, coming here for her friend." Come on Octavia, you can't keep slipping up like that.
"Yep, she's one of the kindest little fillies I know," Applejack said, giving a proud smile to her sister.
"Hey, careful Little Wing!" Octavia and Applejack turned to the group of foals, and noticed a young pegasus flying dangerously close to a large ice sculpture of a mare playing with young foals.
"Quit worrying will ya'? I'm not gonna knock it-" The pegasus was cut off, because while he was looking down at his friends, he accidentally flew directly into the sculpture. The entire hall gasped as it began to wobble back and forth, before finally tipping over, and falling directly towards the main stage.
"NO!" Applejack shouted.
"Applebloom!" Both mares charged full speed towards the stage, as the yellow filly stared at the falling block of ice, to scared to move. As they neared the stage, Applejack bumped into a stallion, causing her to stumble and fall and leaving the grey mare to save Applebloom. She jumped on stage, and tackled the young filly out of harm's way just in time. As the ice collided with the ground and shattered, the grey mare held Applebloom tightly."Applebloom! Applebloom are ya'll ok?" She pulled back from the filly, unaware at at the stares she was receiving from the surrounding crowd.
Applebloom was left dazed from the brush with death, and looked up at the mare. "Huh? Cousin Fiddlesticks? Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me Cousin Apple-" The grey mare froze. Now that Applebloom was safe she remembered where she was, and more importantly, who she was supposed to be. She looked around the room, and finally noticed that everypony was looking at her, including Applejack.
"Fiddlesticks?" Applejack asked.
"I, uh..."
"Why do ya'll look like that Cousin Fiddlesticks?" Applebloom asked.
"Um, ya'll see..."
"What's going on here?" Applejack asked as she took a step forward.
Fiddlesticks froze, she felt exposed in her foreign grey coat. "I...I..." She bolted, wanting to get as far away from the two Apples as she could. She ran back stage, not even slowing as she grabbed her cello and slung it onto her back. She used the rear exit, and bolted out of the castle, and through the streets of Canterlot.