//------------------------------// // Prompt #567-A Busy Morning // Story: Ponywatching // by ThunderTempest //------------------------------// As had been her habit for years, Octavia awoke with the rising of the morning sun, as the light shone through the windows, and striking Octavia’s face, serving as the most reliable alarm clock in the world. Sitting up and stretching out her legs with a pleasant groan, Octavia allowed herself a few minutes to simply relax in bed, as the morning sun warmed her body. Rolling off her bed, Octavia remade the bed and headed out to the kitchen of the apartment that she and Vinyl Scratch shared. Vinyl was still asleep, as Octavia expected she would be. The only time that Vinyl would be awake at dawn was if she had never gone to bed in the first place. Fortunately, that was not the case today, which worked in Octavia’s favour. Usually, Octavia liked to start her day with a short practice on her cello, but she had a great deal to do today if it was all going to go well, and she wouldn’t have time. “Oh well,” Octavia muttered to herself, “I suppose I shall simply have to make do without. Now, where did I put it...” Octavia moved back into her room, and found what she was looking for; a thin folder, containing a few sheets of paper. Placing it into her much abused pair of saddlebags, along with her bit pouch, Octavia slipped out of the apartment and into the cool morning sunlight. Octavia always thought that the streets of Canterlot showed their true beauty this early in the morning, as the lightening sky reflected of the white stone that formed the roads and houses around her, tinting the city shades of red, pink and yellow. Shadows were long and angular, and Octavia hummed the Morning Mood from the Pony Gynt Suite as she trotted through the empty streets towards the Royal Castle. As she approached the castle, Octavia veered off to the side, heading into a short, squat and oddly foreboding building, bearing a sign that declared it to be ‘Canterlot Town Hall’. In truth, it wasn’t so much a town hall as a form processing centre, and as she pushed open the door, Octavia switched to humming the finale from the Pony Gynt Suite. It seemed oddly fitting. As usual, the pony behind the front desk was an Earth Pony, with a cutie mark of two coins. “Money Penny, I do hope I’m not too early,” said Octavia, as she fished out the folder from her bags. Money Penny simply laughed. “Of course not, Octavia. I would imagine that you would like this processed as quickly as possible?” “Indeed. If possible, I would like to pick up the approval and the notices by lunch time, though at the latest I could manage four PM.” Money Penny nodded. “I will personally see that this is rushed through.” Octavia let out a sigh of relief. “I know that I did spring this on you rather suddenly, Money Penny, but it was a hasty idea.” “Nonsense,” replied Money with a wink, “Anything for the ones you love, am I right?” “Money, how many times do I have to tell you, Vinyl and I are not romantically involved, and we likely never will be,” said Octavia, a long-suffering sigh escaping her throat, “we are both concentrating on our professional lives, and do not have time for any relationship beyond friends.” “Whatever you say, dear. Come back around midday, and I should have this processed for you.” “You’re a lifesaver, Money Penny,” said Octavia, heading out of the building, and back into the morning sunlight. [Time] After her business at the Town Hall had been concluded, Octavia strode through the slowly filling streets of the royal city, heading for the record shop that both herself and Vinyl frequented to pick up a prearranged order. With the sun well on its trek across the sky by now, and the beauty of the morning fading, Octavia stopped by a cafe to have a brief meal before her next stop. The Canterlot Orphanage held a lot of memories for Octavia, and it was always hard for her to see the building slowly falling into disrepair, even with the efforts of the two matron sisters and the older fillies and colts who lived there. Knocking on the door, she was greeted by a small army of fillies and colts, each of whom desperately wanted to play with her. “Now, young ones, I won’t be here for long, unfortunately,” said Octavia, and a chorus of disappointed voices rose up, “I need to pick up that wonderful art project that you’ve all been working on.” Instantly, the fillies and colts brightened, and they dashed off to recover something. They were back before Octavia could count to ten, and draped a large cloth bundle over her back. “Now, you all be good little fillies and colts, and Vinyl and I will see if we can stop by, Okay?” the children cheered, and a smile spread across Octavia’s face as she left. A stop by the Town Hall after that revealed that Octavia’s request had been approved, and the cellist picked up everything that she needed, before heading to Vinyl’s nightclub, of all places. Her DJ roommate was there already, as was her habit, setting up for the party that night. “Heya, Octy. What you got there?” “Oh, just a little something I thought you might appreciate,” said Octavia, hoofing over the record and the notice from the Town Hall. “Octy, you...you got me permission to break the noise ordinances tonight? You are the best friend ever!” There were tears in Vinyl’s eyes, and then Octavia unrolled the bundle that she’d picked up from the Orphanage, revealing it to be filled with messages of ‘Happy Birthday Vinyl’ from all the ponies in the orphanage. “This...this is the best birthday present ever, Octy. Thank you.”