On the stroke of midnight, Octavia drew her bow across the strings of her cello, a gentle low B-major note. As soon as she gracefully swung her bow away from the cello, there was a brief silence, then the audience clapped their hooves. Octavia and the rest of the performers in the Moonlight Symphony bowed, thanking the audience. A few ponies along front row tossed roses and flowers up on stage. Their recital was finished. Another successful performance, even with a tough crowd of Canterlot’s toughest music critics.
They had performed in the Amphitheater of the Equestria Music Conservatory, the institution that governed all music in the country. To perform there was a huge honor, even for an alumni such as herself.
As the crowd filed out into the lobby, the performers and the stage crew began packing up the instruments. Exhausted, Octavia placed the cello in its case. She enjoyed performing, but felt a tinge of sadness. Her best friend and love of her life wasn’t here to see the show. But she reminded herself that there was no way she’d ever come back to the Conservatory.
“Miss Octavia!”
She turned to see one of the stage crew, a young earth pony approaching her.
“Yes, what is it?”
“I- er- I have a letter ma’am. It’s for you.” He gave her a closed mauve envelope.
“Thank you, that will be all,” Octavia replied curtly. The pony smiled awkwardly, and said, “By the way, great performance tonight.”
“Oh, but I’m one of twenty five performers, just your average celloist. Now, if you please, I must go.”
The pony nodded and trotted off.
Octavia retreated to her dressing room and opened the envelope. It was sealed with a stamp- the marks of the Consortium, the ultimate authority in music.
She pulled out the delicately folded document, unfolded and read it:
Dear Miss Octavia,
A stunning performance this evening! You have made great graceful leaps since graduating our academy, and performing with the Moonlight Symphony. I dare say that your career is already bringing you great success. I commend you for your work.
With all due respect, however, I must speak to you with an urgent matter, concerning a rogue musician, whom you had been seen with by our agents. It has come to my attention the manner in which you have interacted with this unicorn. I see an opportunity here. I invite you to meet me in the Grand Dining Hall at 70° tomorrow morning for breakfast, so we may discuss this matter at proper length. Until then dear,
Sergeant Maroon Blackhoof.
Octavia’s heart skipped a beat, and felt her blood rush through her body and her breath shorten. This was no invite, it was a compulsory summon. Maroon Blackhoof was a high ranking officer in the Conservatory’s secret police. She sighed. They wanted Vinyl Scratch, the love of her life. And they were very unhappy with her.
There was a knock on the door.
“Yes?”
The door opened, it was the band conductor.
“Ahem, Miss Octavia, if you please, we are going to retreat to our quarters in the hotel. Won’t you come and join us?”
Still unsettled by the note, she replied, “Sorry Mr. Clef, I’m not feeling well. I need to sleep soon.”
“Very well. The stage crew and guides will escort you back to the hotel. See you in the morning then. Cheerio.” And he closed the door.
Octavia sighed sadly. She didn't know what to expect at breakfast tomorrow. She was scared.
+ + +
Dressed in her usual formal attire- a black suit with her signature pink bow tie, Octavia stepped nervously into the Grand Dining Room, a huge eatery in the hotel.
“This way, Miss Octavia,” the servant politely beckoned, directing her over to a table by the large window. As she followed the servant, Octavia spotted the maroon stallion, also dressed in a black business suit, sitting at the table. Maroon Blackhoof. Mr. Blackhoof as he was to be addressed.
“Good morning, dear,” he greeted her, then to the servant, “That is all, you may go now.”
The servant trotted off, and Octavia nervously sat across from him. “Good morning, sir.”
“Care for some tea?”
“Yes, please.”
“The first course will be baked apple stew and corned bread.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Not at all,” Blackhoof said, “My colleagues and friends enjoyed your concert. A stunning solo you performed, well done.”
“Thank you, sir,” Octavia said, trying to keep the grace in her voice. She feared all that she had been taught at the finishing school for young mares was beginning to unravel. All thanks to Vinyl Scratch.
“The meal will be served in due time. I’d rather we have finished discussing the matter at hoof before we eat. The food will go down better.”
“I agree, sir.”
Blackhoof sipped his tea, then placed the cup back in its little saucer and put them on the table.
“Now then, to business, dear. It has come to my attention that you had been fraternizing with a rogue musician by the name of DJ-Pon Three, a.k.a. a miss Vinyl Scratch, am I correct?”
“Yes, sir,” Octavia replied nervously.
“And it has come to my attention you made very little progress in bringing about her enthusiasm for the proper kind of music.. I have also read reports from other agents that you, ahem, have become friends and even romanced with this traitor, am I correct?”
Octavia gulped nervously, and felt her blood run cold. She expected some of the other ponies sitting around them to suddenly get up, walk over, and arrest her. She couldn’t even look at him anymore, and gazed down at his teacup.
“Go on, tell the truth.”
“Yes, it’s true. I...I...I’m sorry-”
Blackhoof raised a hoof, silencing her, then spoke quietly: “Of course, you would be viewed as a traitor, arrested, jailed, and perhaps executed. Romancing with the most dangerous musical fugitive in the country is tantamount to treason my dear. Against yourself, your family, your professors, the Moonlight Symphony, and everypony in the entire Conservatory. A swift execution would be a proper, but too quick of a solution. I took over your investigation because I believe if they sacked you, it would be a tragic and pathetic waste.”
Octavia was stunned by what she just heard. She wasn't’ sure how to react, or if she should even feel safe here.
Blackhoof continued speaking. “On the other hoof, I see you as a very valuable agent for us. Unlike the thousands of dimwitted, simple minded ponies corrupted and swayed by Vinyl Scratch and her infernal music, you, my dear seem to remain entirely intact, and refined, just the way you were taught here. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were immune to Vinyl Scratch’s corruption?”
“I-I never liked her music. I always found it to be annoying racket,” Octavia admitted.
“Either way, my dear, you are in a lot of trouble. I think you should know that I am the one keeping you alive right now. For a purpose. This Vinyl Scratch only trusts a select few in her own circle of friends and bodyguards. She stays close with them, and my agents can never seem to get close enough to her. They have made attempts on some occasions, only to be attacked by her own bodyguards. Does Vinyl Scratch trust you, Octavia?”
“Yes, I think she does...”
“Then, I am assigning you a new role and a new task in regards to her. I need you to draw out Vinyl Scratch, safely away from her entourage, so that my agents can apprehend her. Prove your loyalty to us by doing so, and you will be cleared of all wrongdoing.”
“But...with all due respect, Vinyl isn't foolish, She has a special sense, and she can easily figure out if somepony’s trying to trick her. She- she’ll easily see through me if I ask her to come to a remote place.”
“Hmmm...” Blackhoof mused, “Well then, perhaps, you will have to bring her here yourself. Tell her it’s a special occasion.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but there’s no way she’ll ever come back to the Conservatory. Vinyl knows there’s a death warrant out on her. She won’t even come to Canterlot unless she’s surrounded by her entourage. And she still won’t buy it if I try and lure her out to where your mares can get her.” Octavia held her breath, scared of what Blackhoof would do if angered.
“Do you know why we allowed you to romance with her, Octavia?”
“...not really...”
“Because you now have a wealth of information on Vinyl Scratch, and the groups she associates with. I can see by the look in your eye you know she won’t be easily fooled. That you will have to earn an even greater trust in her to coax her out of the range of her protectors. Might I ask, what in Celestia’s name do you see in her? She’s a witch. A monster, a heathen, a corrupted wench to be cast in the fire. Do you even know how you connect to her on such levels?”
“...not exactly, sir. I felt it when I first met her. Same thing must’ve happened to her. We just clicked. We don’t always get along; we fight all the time, we argue, we-”
“I have full detailed reports on all of your private disputes from where my agents could get close enough,” Blackhoof cut her off, “You tried to convert her to classical music, she tried to convert you to her brand of...infernal cancer of the sounds. One of you tries to be the leader and dominate the other. And from the reports I received from our faithful spies who have watched you, you aren’t on the upper hoof of your relationship, are you?”
Octavia just sat, stunned by what he had just said. Blackhoof knew all her private business with Vinyl Scratch. She was terrified.
“We watched you, waiting to kill her and take you in. Nopony in the conservatory wanted to see a promising young mare such as yourself go down the wrong path and deviate from musical righteousness.”
“Permission to speak, sir?” Octavia asked, trying to keep her voice in check. She was very unsettled and a bit emotional. Blackhoof was pulling at the nerves in her that spelled love for Vinyl Scratch.
“Go ahead, dear.”
“When you do capture her, will you kill her?” A pleading question, the tones and frequencies of her voice told Blackhoof’s well-trained ears that she didn't want Vinyl to die.
“That all depends. How about I make a deal with you: You bring Vinyl Scratch to me anyway you can. Doing so, you will have helped us take down a grand enemy and traitor of the Conservatory and music, and proven your loyalty to us. In exchange for your work, Vinyl Scratch will live. She will be reformed to our liking, to the extent of every single cell in her brain. She will repent for her sins and treachery, and when all is done with her, you will get her back. Think of it as a reward.
“I know you love Vinyl Scratch deeply, which is why I fully expect you to carry out this new mission. Because if you fail, she will be killed, make no mistake about that. Think about it, dear Octavia. Imagine your lovely Vinyl Scratch, dutifully attending your recitals, clapping for you every performance; waiting on you when you return home; doing your every bidding, making love only when you ask of it. You will be the master of your relationship, and she will forever be in her place, and love for you will be the light of her life. She will again learn to appreciate the music that the Consortium promotes. And of course, she will be all yours when we are done with her. how about it?”
Octavia couldn’t answer right away. “...How will you...get her to change? She’s so....”
“We have ways, dear. New ways, but ways. Our legion of unicorn mages and doctors who work for us are becoming skilled at new methods of breaking and re-making the minds of ponies who deviate from musical righteousness. Get me Vinyl Scratch, and we will gladly remake her for the benefit of yourself, the Conservatory, and all of ponykind.”
“Y-yes, sir,” Octavia stammered nervously. She had no right to protest or disobey his order, but she still was worried if she’d even have room to carry out the order in the way she could do it.“How long do I have? If I attempt to rush things, she’ll catch on pretty quick”
Blackhoof shrugged, “There’s no real deadline, Octavia; However, I do ask that you report to us periodically. In addition, we will be watching you and Vinyl, and my agents will only intervene at my discretion. That should make it easier on you, simply keep your beloved Vinyl distracted, do what you can to bring her out, and if the odds really do stack up against you, like I said, you have backup, and we will move in. Report to me on your progress or lack of, hell, you a free to ask for assistance if you wish.”
“If I may ask?”
“Go ahead, dear.”
“Is she to be captured sooner than later?”
“Sooner the better, but I see no point in rushing. Are there anymore questions?”
“N-no sir, I know what to do.”
“Very good then. Shall we eat?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Excuse me, sir.” A black-suited earth pony approached Blackhoof.
“Yes, what is it?”
The two whispered for a minute, then Blackhoof got up from the table.
“I’m sorry dear,” he spoke to Octavia, “I must go. Duty calls. By the way, you have been discharged from the Moonlight Symphony, and all other major obligations. Your primary work is as we discussed. Transportation back home has already been arranged.”
Octavia’s heart sank, but she managed a “yes, sir.”
“Very good,” Blackhoof said as he walked out of the dining hall with the other pony.
+ + +