//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: The Gray Cellist 
// by WhiteDaisy 
//------------------------------//

It was finally Hearth Warming’s Eve. Outside Octavia’s house, the crowd was even thicker than the usual. Most of them were late shopping for gifts, or having a good time with their families. 
Bon Bon, Lyra and Octavia were all at the living room. The couple prepared to leave, packing their saddlebags with the many presents they bought in Canterlot.
“It’s snowing quite a lot today…” Octavia noticed, looking through the front window. “Are you sure it’s safe for you to travel?”
“Don’t be a scared child, Tavi, we aren’t walking for too long, and the train station is just by the corner.” Lyra said. “We’re gonna be ok, don’t worry.”
“Of course… Never mind me…” She sighed.
What Octavia really was is sad. Not scared, she knew their trip was going to be safe, but… Her only friends, who only visit her once a year, were already leaving. She already felt alone.
Lyra proceeded to hugging her friend one last time before they left. 
“Aw Tavi, we’ll miss you, you know! Don’t forget to send us a letter one day or another, ok?” Lyra asked. “Don’t get too much into that DJ to the point of forgetting us!”
“Oh Lyra…” Octavia smiled. “How was that sentence you always say again?”
“Leftovers for the kimono?” 
“…What?”
“Oh!” She remembered. “Lady friends before girlfriends! Yeah!”
They all laughed. 
“See you, girl.” And Lyra left through the door. 
Bon Bon had some time alone with Octavia. 
“I’m actually glad you have somepony else, in town permanently now, Octavia.” Bon Bon began.
“Why so?” Octavia asked.
“We get very worried about you throughout the year, as you rarely send us any letters. Lyra is constantly thinking about you, more than the normal, to be honest.”
“Yes, I do send fewer letters than I should, I’m sorry… But my schedule is very tight.”
“I completely understand, Octavia, so don’t get too focused on that.” Bon Bon smiled. “I’m just commenting Lyra is happy to know you’re making other friends. And so am I. It’s never bad to have someone to rely on in critical situations, and Vinyl is surely a trustworthy mare.”
“How can you be so su-” Octavia was going to ask, but she realized how her friend could know Vinyl is a good friend. “Bon Bon… Have you listened to our conversation yesterday?”
“I actually saw it.” Bon Bon confessed. “I’m sorry, but I have a very light sleep, and am very curious by nature. I’m also always right, if you know what I mean.”
Octavia was not surprised, and sighed, smiling. 
“Yes, you are.” 
Bon Bon saw the worries of a potential not corresponded love in Octavia’s eyes, and had to reassure her friend.
“Don’t worry. Whether you fall in love with her or not, both are equally wonderful situations. You shouldn’t ever feel pushed into having a romantic relationship, Octavia, ever.”
“I know, Bon Bon. Thank you very much for coming.” Octavia said.
“Stay well; we’ll keep in touch with you” Bon Bon said, going through the door. “Goodbye.”
“See you, Tavi!”
Outside, Octavia waved at the couple that slowly mixed in the crowd.
She stood still for a couple of seconds in the steps of her door, just watching the endless movement of the ponies. The white snow was beautiful that day, just like little stars falling from the sky in daytime. 
“Merry Hearth Warming’s Eve!”
Vinyl pulled Octavia out of her thoughts. She was standing right next to her, wearing accompanying headphones to her scarf. 
“Vinyl!”  
“Sorry, did I surprise you?” She giggled. 
“Not really, just… You just took me off guard, that’s all.” She smiled. “Merry Hearth Warming’s Eve for you too.”
Octavia noticed Vinyl’s headsets were still playing songs in her mp3 player, and got a little closer to hear what she was listening to. Vinyl blushed a little from the closeness. 
“Is that… Hm…” An inch close to the headphone, she could finally recognize the song. “Minuet in So Major?”
“Spot on.” Vinyl said. “One of the few pieces I can play without reading the score.”
“Oh yes, Vinyl, this reminds me I still have got to see you playing the piano, as you promised.”
“Anytime we get near one!” Vinyl agreed. 
“Would right now be too inconvenient?” She asked.
“Now?” Vinyl was a little surprised.
“Why, yes. I happen to own an old piano.” She explained. 
Vinyl thought for a moment. She had nothing else to do, and it was her day off.
“I think it wouldn’t hurt to play right now, yeah.” She agreed. 
Octavia opened the door to her house, and waited for Vinyl inside.
“Follow me.” She smiled, inviting her friend in. 
“Don’t mind if I do!”
Vinyl was openmouthed when she saw how big Octavia’s house was. From the street, it looked tall, having its two floors, but when you actually come inside, you see that its sleek silhouette is only the entrance hall for it. Octavia lived in a mansion. 
The hall came to the big, spacious living room, full of rococo stylized furniture, and its enormous fireplace facing the front door. To their left, Vinyl saw the dining room, and realized the house (she thought it was a whole house) she had always passed by those last years, was actually only a single room of Octavia’s.
Octavia continued through one of the staircases to the top floor, where all the bedrooms were. Vinyl lost the count by the sixth door they passed by. They stopped at one by the end of the corridor, and found one of the most lonesome rooms Vinyl had ever seen. Vast, as the others, but without any furniture at all. The only thing that it contained was the piano, covered in a big white sheet. 
“Wow…” She let it slip. “Your place is huge! How many siblings do you have to need so many bedrooms?” She asked innocently, imagining they were all working by that time of the day, and that they filled the many other bedrooms.
“Actually…” Octavia said, pulling the sheet from the piano. “I’m an only child.”
“What!?” Vinyl was shocked. “Well at least your parents live with you, right?”
Octavia was about to correct her, but her expression said everything Vinyl needed to hear.
“They live in my hometown, Los Pegasus. The princesses gave me this house, as I am part of their personal instrument players.” She explained, sitting in the piano’s chair. 
“Don’t you get… You know, lonely?” Vinyl asked, sitting by Octavia’s side. 
“Not really.” She said, smiling. Vinyl got even more surprised.
“Well I would!” Vinyl confessed. “But I still live with my four siblings and my grandparents, so I’m not sure I count.”
Octavia giggled.
“I’m always rehearsing with the Orchestra, so I’m never too long in here.” She explained. 
Octavia’s hooves started playing strain notes on the old, but very good piano. Vinyl couldn’t help noticing how beautiful she was, subtly moving as the rhythm led her. 
“Do you know any Chopony piece we could play together?” She asked, and snapped Vinyl out of her thoughts.
“Uh… Sure! Hm… Let me see…”
Vinyl started to play the accompanying part of a four hooves piece, swiftly pressing each key. She was a natural, Octavia noted while starting to play the melody of the song.
“Good choice.” She said.
Vinyl only smiled, and continued to play.  

In the single minute they played the minuet Vinyl chose, the mood of the room had changed drastically. Vinyl had such a talent; the notes flowed from the piano swiftly, and lighted everything around them. 
“My… That was amazing, Vinyl!” Her talent amazed Octavia. “I had no idea you could play that well.”
“Ha, that was nothing, look at you! Good at the cello and piano. You were amazing too.” Vinyl said. “No wonder you’re the Official Royal Cellist and I’m just… A dance club DJ…”
Vinyl looked very down from making this point. Octavia could see her story reflecting on her magenta, teary eyes. A family that invested hundreds on her daughter’s musical education, only for her to become a DJ. 
Octavia could even see the hatred her parents had for her profession. Not everyone in the classical musical community is as accepting of the pop variant folks as Octavia is. Most of them still hold the preconception that they are all badly formed musicians, which is extremely erroneous. 
But Vinyl loved what she did, she was living her dream. That could never be something for one to be ashamed of. 
“Vinyl…” Octavia begun. “No offense to your classical ability, but… I prefer your electro songs.”
“Really?” Vinyl’s soul lifted a little bit, Octavia noticed. 
“Yes, really. Do you know why?” She asked.
“No?”
“I’ll tell you, then.” Vinyl listened closely. “Because even though you’re amazing at both, the one you love doing is the pop one. And that’s what matters – your happiness. Do not let others make you think the opposite.”
Octavia held one of Vinyl’s hooves, supportively. 
“Thanks, Octavia.” Vinyl’s eyes started to get teary. “You… I’ve only know you for some days, and still… You’re the first one I know that supports me in my job choice.”
“How could I ever not support you?” She said, smiling. “I still remember the glow in your eyes in that performance I saw. It was splendid, and I hope you never lose that.”
“Me too. I’ve gone through too much to ever give up on it.” Vinyl giggled. “And today I’ll see yours.”
“Oh, the concert.” Octavia remembered. “I do hope so.”
“I have no doubt ‘bout that. You will, I promise you.” Vinyl assured, smiling.
They both giggled together.
That was the beginning of a wonderful, everlasting friendship.