“Surprise!” cried a choir of voices as the door opened.
Octavia was more than a little stunned, in fact she was positively catatonic as she stood rigid in the doorway. It wasn’t until a bright pink earth pony jumped into her field of vision that she managed to recover some of her muscle control.
“Hi!” she chirped in a voice so high it was almost cracking, “I’m Pinkie Pie and I threw this party just for you! Were you surprise? Huh huh huh? I hope Rarity didn’t spoil the surprise, because what’s a surprise party without it being a surprise. But then given your reaction I guess you didn’t know, which makes it a surprise. Well until now when I just told you I was throwing a surprise party for you, but the surprise had already happened by then so I wasn’t spoiling it either and…”
“Pinkie Pie, do hush now and let our guest inside,” interrupted Rarity as it became evident that Pinkie wasn’t going to be quiet anytime soon.
“Oh sure! I’m going to go and check on the cake! Can’t have a party without cake!”
With that Pinkie departed, bouncing off across the room towards the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner. Octavia watched her leave for a moment until she noticed the many sets of eyes that were now watching her with beaming smiles. Despite her years of performing on stage it was a little off putting. Rarity decided to defuse the moment, stepping up in front of Octavia with a smile.
“Now then everypony, there will be plenty of time for introductions later,” she said quickly, “Octavia and I have just had a rather long tiring trip and we both need a little time to relax.”
Most of the watching ponies nodded to themselves in agreement, it was a perfectly normal request. Turning to their various partners they went back to what they had been doing a moment before. Rarity meanwhile turned to Octavia and began ushering her across the room towards some seats.
“Goodness I wasn’t expecting something this big…but then again I shouldn’t have expected anything less when I asked Pinkie to throw a party,” she mused thoughtfully.
“Party? Wha?” murmured Octavia, the mare seemingly completely perplexed by the situation.
“Forgive me dear,” replied Rarity as she slipped into a seat, “After I left the hospital yesterday I decided to write ahead to my friends here in Ponyville. I wanted to do something to make you happy and Pinkie Pie always knows how to throw a good party…even if they are a little more…rustic…than you might be used to. Although I must say I’m surprised she managed to get something like this organised in less than a day. She could only have gotten my message early this morning.”
Rarity gave a sheepish grin as she looked around. Ponies from all over town were here from Berry Punch the local vineyard keeper to Cherry Berry the owner of Ponyville’s hot air balloons. Around the room tables were stacked with cakes, pastries and buns of various types intermixed with various drinks and other party foods. I was a spread to be proud of, no doubt the Cakes having helped Pinkie with the food order.
She looked back at Octavia. The mare still looked a little startled by what was going on around her and Rarity couldn’t blame her. Since she had collected the pony from the Manehatten hospital early that morning Octavia hadn’t said much at all. Despite looking more comfortable than she had the previous night it was clear that she was still carrying a heavy burden. The train ride to Ponyville had been conducted mostly in silence although Rarity had taken heart when Octavia had fallen asleep at her side once again.
The day had been reaching mid-afternoon when they had arrived at Ponyville and still Octavia hadn’t said much at all. Even as Rarity had tried to show her the various sights of the town the grey mare hadn’t taken much notice of her. It had taken her encounter with Pinkie a moment ago to even get her to speak.
Rarity watched as Octavia looked around the room. She still wore the badge of a pony who had a lot on her mind but Rarity could see faint cracks appearing in it. The music and chatter in the room was making her ears flick back and forth and each time her gaze passed over the food tables her tongue would sneak out and lick her lips. And yet it was almost as if Octavia was pulling herself back whenever something took her interest, the pony seemingly reluctant to allow herself to have any comforts.
“Do cheer up darling, I know things don’t look so good at the moment but…”
“How can I justify being happy Rarity?” asked Octavia in a sombre tone, “All the pain and suffering I’ve caused…perhaps Frederick was right. Maybe I do deserve to live a long and unhappy life after all I’ve done.”
“Darling, is this why you’ve been so quiet today?”
Octavia just gave a nod and sighed as she looked back at the party going on around her. Rarity gave a sigh of her own.
“Octavia dear you can’t go on like this,” she said slowly, “I know you feel like you should but what good will come of it? Hindsight is a wondrous thing my dear and I’m sure you’ve been telling yourself if only you had done something different then this wouldn’t have happened. But it has happened and you can’t go on living your life in the shadow of your mistakes. Brass and her sister didn’t want that and I’m sure Parish doesn’t want you to do that either.”
“But what about Frederick? I had no idea I had hurt him so much,” asked Octavia.
“I’m sure you didn’t but that doesn’t mean he should have spoken to you like he did either. There are always regrets that we have in our life but we have to move past them. Don’t let everything you’ve done since last year go to waste. You’ve been through far too much pain and turmoil to give up now.”
Octavia gave a small nod and shut her eyes, “You’re right Rarity, I know you’re right…it’s just so hard.”
“Just remember you don’t have to face it alone, you have friends and…”
“And ah’m sure that Rarity’s friends will help in any way they can,” interrupted a voice.
Both ponies looked up to find an orange mare trotting towards them holding a tray of small cakes and buns. She quickly set the tray down next to them and turned to Octavia.
“Howdy, name’s Applejack,” she said quickly as she reached in to shake Octavia’s hoof, “Ah understand you’re going through a tough spell, or at least that’s what ah understand from the note Rarity sent. Now ah might not know a lot about organising a party but ah do know that a belly full of good grub can make any pony happy. So what ya hankering for? Ah got apple pies, apple fritters and apple dumplings here…oh and if that ain’t your thing ah’m sure Pinkie has a whole host of different cakes as well.”
“Um…well…” replied Octavia.
“Applejack darling, don’t crowd her so much. Octavia here is quite delicate right now,” frowned Rarity as she moved in to separate the ongoing hoofshake.
“Don’t mean nothing by it Rarity, just trying to cheer her up a bit.”
“I’m sure you are darling but I also thought I mentioned for everypony to give her some space as well.”
“Yeah well, how’s she gonna go and cheer up if nopony tries to cheer her up?”
Rarity was about to reply when a light giggle left Octavia’s mouth. The pair looked around to find the pony smiling slightly as she sat watching them. She gave a small cough as they looked at her.
“Oh sorry, it’s just…well you two remind me of myself and Brass,” she said slowly, “We used to bicker like that all the time when we first met.”
“Bicker?” questioned Rarity.
“Nopony said anything about bickering…ah was just stating the facts,” responded Applejack with a sideways glance at Rarity.
“As was I.”
The two ponies looked at each other sternly for a moment before Octavia gave another giggle. After a moment both Applejack and Rarity also started to chuckle both of them giving the other a small smile. Octavia meanwhile leaned forwards and plucked one of the small apple pies from the tray. She took a small bite, one that showed the proper table manners she had taught herself after moving to Canterlot, and then a much larger one, showing the growing desire for more that crossed her face upon tasting it.
“This is good!” she exclaimed happily before taking another bite.
“Well there’s plenty more where that came from. Speaking of ah better go check on Pinkie Pie,” replied Applejack as she turned to leave, “Nice to meet ya Octavia.”
“Ah, and you too Miss Applejack,” replied Octavia between mouthfuls.
The farm pony chuckled again as she wandered off. Rarity sat back in her chair.
“I am sorry about that, Applejack has a heart of gold but she is well, perhaps a little rough around the edges.”
“Don’t worry about it…but she is right, a good meal can certainly lift your spirits.”
Octavia gave a small smile, the first that Rarity had seen on her face in a few days.
“Although I must admit, she does look a little familiar from somewhere. That pink pony as well,” continued Octavia, “Can’t quite put my hoof on it. Have they ever been to Canterlot before?”
“All my friends have at some point or another. We regularly get summons to the castle but we have all attended the Grand Galloping Gala and we were there for the royal wedding as well.”
Octavia thought for a moment. In all honesty she couldn’t recall Rarity saying much about her friends since they had met. Conversations between them had always revolved around her own problems and ways to fix it. Thinking back on the two events Rarity had mentioned was not something she enjoyed. The royal wedding held its own pain and sorrow for her and the last Grand Galloping Gala that she had played at had been a mess of chaos and…
Octavia blinked, now she remembered. She looked up sharply scanning the crowd before looking back at Rarity.
“That pink pony, she was at the Gala last year! She was the crazy one who kept jumping on the stage and interrupting our music.”
Rarity gave a sideways glance and cringed slightly, “Yes…I’m afraid she was…although I didn’t know it was you playing at the Gala that year.”
Octavia paused again, Rarity easily seeing the cogs turning in her mind as she processed her thoughts. She went to speak several times but each time she did she went back to thinking.
“But I also heard that pony was actually one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony,” she said at length, “And if you know her that would mean that you also know…”
“Well hello there, hope I’m not interrupting,” came a voice.
The timing was almost comical in a way. If Rarity didn’t know better she would have said the new pony had been waiting for this very moment before revealing herself. Octavia turned towards the voice slowly to find a purple coloured alicorn standing tall behind her. If it hadn’t been for her slightly larger stature and the combination of horn and wings you wouldn’t have been able to tell she was any different to the rest of the party goers. She wore no fancy clothing and the crown that usually sat upon her head was nowhere to be seen.
“I take it you’re Octavia,” continued Twilight as she stepped forwards and extended a hoof.
“P-Princess Sparkle!” exclaimed Octavia as she snapped herself from her stunned silence.
“Oh no need for formalities,” blushed the alicorn, “Tonight I’m simply Twilight Sparkle, see? No crown.”
“Twilight,” smiled Rarity happily as she got up to embrace her friend, “I didn’t think we were going to see you tonight.”
“My latest trip to Saddle Arabia got cancelled so I was able to attend. I must say Pinkie has done a great job once again, how she does it I have no idea. Despite how crazy she can get at times maybe even I could learn something from her organisational skills…not that mine are bad you understand.”
Rarity smiled, typical Twilight. She glanced back at Octavia, the earth pony simply staring at Twilight with an expression somewhere between disbelief and terror. Carefully she placed a hoof on Octavia’s shoulder but even this gentle touch was enough to make her jump harshly.
“Darling let me introduce you properly,” she said with a small smile, “This is Twilight Sparkle, one of my dear friends. Twilight as you so correctly guess, this is Octavia.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” smiled Twilight, the alicorn extending her hoof once again.
This time Octavia retained enough of her free will to extend her own hoof to shake Twilight's.
“A-A pleasure,” she managed to squeeze out between nervous chuckles.
Once again Rarity smiled, perhaps this had been a little too much for Octavia to handle. Looking around the room for another subject to talk about she found herself questioning something.
“Say Twilight, have you seen the others?” she asked.
“I assume you mean Rainbow and Fluttershy?” replied the alicorn in a factual tone, “I’m afraid neither of them will be here tonight. Rainbow is still at the Wonderbolt Academy and Fluttershy apparently has an emergency at her cottage and had to stay home to care for her animals. She’s been taking things super serious since she started her formal education.”
“That’s understandable although I did so want to introduce Octavia to everypony.”
“Looks to me like she’s had enough already.”
Rarity looked round to find Octavia sat on a nearby seat staring at the far wall. She shook her head slowly and gave Twilight a small wave with her hoof.
“Maybe it’s best if I talk to her alone for a little.”
Twilight just gave a smile and nodded before trotting off towards the punch bowl at the other side of the room. Rarity meanwhile took a seat next to Octavia, giving her a gentle nudge as she did.
“Darling, are you alright?”
“I…I was just thinking,” replied Octavia without changing her gaze, “If that pink pony is one of the elements of harmony…and you know Princess Sparkle then…then…”
“…yes, I’m a bearer of harmony as well,” finished Rarity, sensing where Octavia’s mind was going, “I didn’t mean to keep it a secret, I suppose it just never came up. I’ve been so busy trying to find solutions to your problems that I never thought about it.”
“It’s…alright. In fact it explains quite a few things…you’re certainly full of surprises.”
Octavia looked round at her friend, smiling happily as she did. After a moment she looked away, giving a small laugh as she looked at the party going on around her.
“Look at me, you ponies have gone to so much trouble to throw me a party and all I’ve done is sit here in a corner,” she chuckled to herself.
“Well you’re doing better than the first time we threw a party for Twilight…all she did was sit in her bedroom sulking,” Rarity chuckled as she thought back to the incident in question, “Now then, what say we have a look at the buffet table? I am a little parched and so long as Gummy hasn’t landed in the punch bowl again that will do nicely.”
“Gummy?” questioned Octavia as she rose to her hooves along with Rarity.
“Long story, remind me to tell you about it sometime.”
From this point the party fell into full swing. Whilst a little reserved at first Octavia gradually began to relax, chatting and interacting with ponies from all over the town. By the time the evening was drawing to a close Rarity even managed to get her to dance, something the earth pony had been highly reserved about doing initially. However, being surrounded by kind and fun loving ponies had slowly begun to break down the walls of reservation and doubt that existed in Octavia’s mind.
By the time both she and Rarity left Sugarcube Corner Octavia’s smile had broadened into a full grin and she was laughing and joking with everypony she spoke to. Compared to what she had been like the previous day she was a pony transformed. The pair continued to share stories and jokes all the way home, the quiet early evening streets of Ponyville echoing with the sound of laugher and high spirits. As they reached Carousel Boutique Rarity gently pushed open the door and beckoned Octavia inside.
As Octavia stepped inside her vision was filled with yard after yard of elegantly crafted fabrics. Dresses of all shapes, sizes and designs sat around the room, each displayed on its own mannequin and each seeming to glimmer in the light. Octavia had never been a pony to take much notice of fashion, usually opting for something practical rather than stylish, but even she couldn’t help but stare at the collection before her.
“What do you think my dear?” asked Rarity as she slowly trotted to a nearby dress and started to brush out a few mild creases with her hoof.
“It is certainly an impressive collection,” replied Octavia as she approached a nearby dress as well.
For a moment she just examined the fine detail. The perfectly stitched hem lines, the carefully crafted pattern, the tiny sparkling gem stones…there was only one word for it, precision.
“I’m glad you like them darling, although I must say these are last seasons…or soon to be last season’s anyway. My new line is already in Canterlot ready for showing.”
Octavia gave a small sigh, “I suppose that’s our next stop isn’t it.”
“Don’t fret Octavia, it’s most unbecoming of you. Besides, everything will work out, I’ll make sure of it.”
Octavia gave a small nod as she turned back to the unicorn, “Thank you Rarity, I truly mean that.”
“You don’t have to thank me dear, I’m only doing what is right. Now why don’t you go and relax a little and I’ll fetch us some drinks.”
Rarity motioned to one of the doors leading from the room before disappearing off around a corner. Octavia looked back at the dresses for a moment, still amazed at the work the unicorn had done. Whilst some of the dresses and garments shared a common theme none of them were the same, each having their own original twist or flare. It was amazing to think of how far the unicorn must have come from where she had started. Whilst at the party Rarity had amused the earth pony with tales of how she had first become a fashion designer and, by extension, how she and her friends had all earned their cutie marks.
Much like Octavia it had been a long and somewhat difficult road and yet she was willing to risk it all for her. She hoped that everything went well, she hoped that she wouldn’t doom yet more ponies to a life of misery and pain. Beauty Brass, Parish…Frederick, they had all suffered due to what she had done, she didn’t want Rarity to be the next.
As she set off towards the door Rarity had motioned to she shook her head. Thinking like that wouldn’t help, she had to focus and do her best like she had always done. If there was one thing that had been reinforced to her today it was that no matter the circumstance if you stand tall and believe in yourself you can do anything. The Elements of Harmony, she hadn’t for one moment thought she would ever meet them…and yet here she was in their midst. Through talking to Twilight, Applejack and even Pinkie Pie at the party she had learned so much, not just about their struggles but about her own. She couldn’t give in, not now…not ever!
Entering the next room she found it set out as a lounge. Several large padded sofas surrounded a small coffee table in the centre of the room and large bookcases and potted plants filled in the gaps between. Octavia approached one of the sofas, hoisting herself onto it and settling down on her haunches. As much as she had enjoyed the party she was now exhausted. Her limbs ached from days of walking and her heart hung heavy with the burdens she was carrying. Even so a smile was still evident on her face and as she relaxed it began to grow.
“Well I see somepony is happy,” announced Rarity as the door opened and the unicorn stepped through levitating two mugs with her, “You do look so much nicer when you smile.”
Octavia blushed slightly, giving a small cough to try and hide it but to no avail. Rarity chuckled quietly as she levitated a mug over towards Octavia and sat down. Octavia took hold of it and looked at the contents, some form of tea filling the cup.
“It’s a special blend that my friend Zecora makes,” commented Rarity as she noticed Octavia looking at her drink.
“Zecora? That’s an unusual name,” replied Octavia as she sipped her tea.
“Yes well she is an unusual character, she’s a zebra. She lives out in the Everfree Forest, why she wants to live in that icky place is beyond me but she’s a darling to get along with.”
“A zebra? There’s a zebra in Ponyville?”
Rarity nodded, “It is a little unusual I will agree and at first the residents here were convinced she was a witch…myself included I’m ashamed to say. But we all realised how silly it was and now we regularly see her in town, especially on market days.”
“I never thought such a small town could have so much diversity. A princess, a baby dragon, a zebra and all six of the Elements of Harmony. It must be quite interesting living here.”
“You have no idea darling but I wouldn’t be without it for all the fame in the world. Growing up in Ponyville has made me what I am today and I would never be without it.”
A silence fell across the room for a moment, Rarity taking another sip of tea as Octavia stared at the leaves at the bottom of her cup.
“…You know…in a way I’m a little jealous,” murmured Octavia after a moment.
“Jealous? What do you mean darling?” asked Rarity quizzically as she put her cup down.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean that to sound negative. It’s just that…well…if I could swap my childhood for anything else I would.”
“You’ve not spoken of your childhood before Octavia, what is it?”
Octavia remained silent for a moment, swishing the tea leaves around her cup for a moment before speaking, “I grew up on my parent’s farm…or rather my father’s farm. My mother died when I was very young…all I can remember are fragmented pictures. It was a hard life but not because of the work we had to do. My father had a relatively short fuse and whilst he was pleasant most of the time you could never tell when he would suddenly erupt. I think he blamed himself for my mother’s death…I don’t know if he meant to take it out on us but…that’s just how it was.”
“Us?” asked Octavia, “You have a sibling?”
“Had…a younger brother…his name was Pitch String. We were always together, always helping each other out. If it hadn’t been for him I don’t know what I would have done, he gave me a reason to live. Whenever my father got mad he would always get scared, especially if my father was mad at him. But I always took the blame, creating a story to keep him out of harms way. I’m amazed I still don’t have the bruises to be honest with you. I suppose it was all the loving care Pitch gave me after my father calmed down.”
Octavia paused and sighed heavily, “Then one winter he caught pneumonia. We weren’t a rich family and couldn’t afford to pay for treatment and slowly he started to fade away from us. I don’t think I’ve ever been as sad as I was at his funeral…and yet there is something about that day that gave me hope.”
Rarity remained quiet, entranced by the sad tale unfolding before her.
“One of my grandparents gave me something that day. He said my mother would have wanted me to have it. It was an old fiddle that had belonged to my mother during her childhood. My grandfather told me that music had always made her happy and that I needed something to make me happy too. I can’t say I touched it for weeks. For me the pain of losing Pitch and being reminded of my mother was too much for me. But as things returned to normal on the farm I found myself pulled to that old fiddle. Oh course the first time I played it was horrid, I’d never had any musical training and well…you can imagine.”
Rarity gave a small nod.
“Over time I started practicing more and more and slowly I began to improve. My father never saw the point in it, always telling me I was wasting my time and that I should focus more on helping around the farm. I hated him for that…he never seemed to care how I was feeling, always putting me down and making me feel worthless. But whenever I played that fiddle I felt as if I could forget about all the pain and sorrow, all the anguish and troubled night’s sleep. Nothing else mattered apart from me and the music I was making. When I finally became old enough to leave home I couldn’t sit still. I enrolled myself in a music school and left home…I’ve not been back since.”
“Never?” asked Rarity slowly, finally feeling it was time to interject.
Octavia frowned as she stared into her cup, “Why would I want to? My father never cared about me; after mother died all he ever did was abuse me.”
“But he’s still your father darling.”
“My only living family, yes…but…I can’t, I just can’t. The only things that mattered to me from that time were my brother and that fiddle…and I don’t have either of them now.”
“What do you mean darling?”
“When I left home…I…didn’t exactly leave normally. I…I fled in the night. I knew my father would never allow me to go so I ran. I couldn’t take anything with me…I didn’t want anything slowing me down. I left that fiddle on my bed with a farewell note attached to it. I…I…”
Rarity watched as tears began to pool in Octavia’s eyes. In her cup the tea began to quiver as her hooves began to shake.
“I’m a monster…” she murmured to herself, “As much as I hated my father…he didn’t deserve that. But I’ve been so ashamed that…I couldn’t bring myself to go back.”
A hoof slowly fell across her shoulder, Octavia jumping slightly as it did. Looking up she found Rarity beside her, the unicorn smiling down at her like some kind of angel.
“And so I continue to learn more and more about you darling,” she said softly as she pulled the earth pony into a hug, “This explains why your music means so much to you. Without it you…”
“…I have nothing,” finished Octavia as she returned Rarity’s embrace, “Just what am I without my music? What have I become?”
Rarity didn’t respond, simply choosing to run a hoof through Octavia’s mane once again. The gentle breathing of the two ponies was the only sound that filled the room for the longest time. As Rarity finally pulled back Octavia looked almost ready to fall asleep in her hooves. Pulling herself from her seat she set off towards the door.
“I’ll be back in a moment darling, there’s a little something that I want you to have.”
With that Rarity left the room and headed for the upstairs part of the Boutique. As she climbed the stairs her mind was racing, trying to remember where she’d seem the item she was looking for. Fearfully she could only think of one place, the store room. It wasn’t the most glamorous part of the building, a small room stacked high with box upon box of various unsorted junk and brick-a-brack. She just hoped it was obvious or she could be a while finding it and she hoped Octavia would remain awake long enough until she did.
Approaching the room she opened the door and readied her magic in case anything decided to topple out. Luckily nothing did but as she looked at the stacks of boxes she knew her hunt wouldn’t be easy. She started in earnest, sifting through one box and then the next and the next. Old ornaments, bills, clothing, toys and everything else you could think of was soon scattered around the small amount of floor space and Rarity was beginning to lose hope. It was then that one box caught her attention. It was poking out from behind another stack of boxes almost hidden from view by the shadow. Rarity quickly grabbed at the box, sliding it out and grinning, this was it.
A moment later she had sifted through the box’s contents and had pulled out another item. Smiling to herself she left the room and headed downstairs. Octavia was lying still on the sofa when she arrived, the unicorn fearing that she had already dozed off, but as she arrived she rose her head and rubbed her eyes. Rarity quickly floated the item she had brought over towards Octavia and allowed the earth pony to take hold of it.
It was a plain triangular shaped wooden box. Two sets of hinges adorned one long side whilst a catch was visible on the other. The box itself was old and tatty, scratches and marks scored into the once pristine varnished surface.
“What’s this?” asked Octavia.
“Just open it my dear,” replied Rarity.
Octavia took another look at the box and then did so. Inside the box was padded, a deep maroon fabric moulded to the shape of the item it was cradling. The violin was pristine, its polished surface glinting in the light and its strings shimmering. In one corner of the instrument was a mark, a signature if you will, that showed the instruments origin. Octavia could do little but stare at it.
“This…this is a Strata…Stratahoovius! Where did you get this?” she exclaimed.
“It’s been passed down through my family for generations darling. I got it from my father who got it from his mother, etcetera etcetera. I know it’s not exactly a fiddle but and I want you to have it.”
“What?! No! No I can’t accept this! Element of Generosity of not this thing is worth tens of thousands of bits! I couldn’t possibly…”
“Octavia darling, please don’t make me repeat myself. I want you to have it. My parents were never musical types and I myself will never have time to learn to play an instrument. It’s just going to sit in a cupboard unused for several more generations and I feel that is an unworthy end to such a fine instrument. No, I want you to have it…but I do have one request.”
“What is that?”
“Play me a song.”
For a moment Octavia looked like she was going to protest. Whilst she had played a fiddle in her youth and had tried many different string instruments in her lifetime, the cello is the only one she had played for the last half decade. She looked down at the instrument, examining the finely crafted curves and filigree pattern that adorned its surface. Slowly she lifted it from its case, looking even more closely at it in the process. She plucked a string, the sound resonating around the room. Even after the length of time it had been in storage the sound was still nearly perfect.
For a moment she continued to pluck the strings, altering the tightness of each one a little before she was satisfied. Next she lifted the bow from the case, it was a lot smaller than the one she used for her cello but nearly identical in appearance. She held it up, checking the balance and weight for a moment before lowering it to her side. She adjusted her position, sitting herself on the edge of the sofa as she brought the violin up to her chin. Making sure it was in a comfortable position she finally brought the bow around and ran it clean across the strings.
Even this simple movement created a beautiful sound and for a moment Octavia had to stop as she felt her heart race. Looking back at Rarity she found the unicorn’s gaze glued to her, watching her every movement with great interest.
“My grandfather told me that this was my mother’s favourite piece,” announced Octavia after a moment, “I’m not sure if I can remember it right but I’ll try.”
With that Octavia began to play. At first she seemed stiff and unsure but gradually the earth pony began to relax. As she did her eyes closed and a light smile spread across her face. Rarity didn’t seem to notice, she was enchanted by the music, lost in the varying tempo and flow of the music. She could have remained there forever, locked in the musical prison that Octavia was creating, but all too soon the music stopped and the earth pony lowered her instrument. She wore a smile and yet tears were forming in her eyes. Rarity slowly crossed to her as Octavia returned the instrument to its case.
“Come along my dear, I think you need a good rest.”