//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: The Gray Cellist 
// by WhiteDaisy 
//------------------------------//

There was an hour left for the presentation. Octavia was still home, by her room’s vanity. She put on her makeup, a little too heavy, but for the occasion, it was still appropriate. She wondered why she was putting so much attention into such frivolous things – the important part was the music, not her look, anyways. 
She put her hair up, in a simple but fancy style, and secured it with a diamond pin she got from her mother. She felt beautiful once in a long time. 
Passing by the side of her cased cello – already cleaned and tuned for the big concert – she opened her closet, and took a long dress out of it. Its color matching her purple eyes, when finally on her body, Octavia looked stunning. 
She wrapped the cello’s case’s ties around her, and prepared to leave, looking once more in the long mirror she had by her bed’s side. After taking the difficult trip downstairs, she finally reached the outside, where the cold breeze was a little too much in that dress. She endured it, anyways, and continued in her path. 
She reached the opera house in some minutes. Outside of it, the crowd could be already be heard. She entered, and saw all the seats already taken. Good thing she wouldn’t need one, she thought.
She peeked at who was there, and found, among the noble of the city, Princess Celestia and Luna themselves. Right next to them, Vinyl was sitting, apparently very self-conscious because of her company. Octavia giggled, and proceeded to go to backstage. 
The backstage room was also full, but the air was so much heavier and rushed than in the audience. Ponies checking on their makeup, reviewing their musical sheets, oboe players freaking out because of soaked reeds.
Octavia sighed. Being a veteran wasn’t easy because of those situations. Before a big concert, every single freshman would get very nervous like that. On that year, the fuzz was even greater, as most of the veterans had retired, and those new musicians filled the places. The maestro was nowhere to be seen either, so he could maybe calm all those nerves. 
“Octavia!” Noteworthy called her. He seemed as nervous as the others did. “Would you please help me with this passage? I’m not sure I’m prepared enough, you see-”
But he was interrupted by Octavia’s hoof closing his mouth. 
All that fuzz was making her anxious too. She had to do something. She took a big breath. 
“Hold that thought, and listen to me.” She said. “Everyone? One minute of attention, will you?” She asked them.
They slowly obeyed, and all looked at her. 
“I know it’s a big time for most of you, and that’s why I need you all to calm down.” She started explaining. “You have already studied your parts for months now, and I’m sure you are going to do a splendid job if you manage to control your nerves for a little time. So breath in and out, do a little revising if you need to, and don’t focus too much on the show. It’s going to happen anyways, so there’s no need to anticipate it. Just let time do its job.”
She finished with a comforting smile, and minutes afterwards, the calmness could already be felt in the air. 
“That was wonderful, Octavia!” Noteworthy said. “You managed to calm everyone… Even myself. Thank you very much.” 
“Experience brings something very precious, Noteworthy: Confidence. You just needed to be reminded that you are all brilliant musicians, and that even the worst piece you play will sound delightful. No need to thank me.” She explained, smiling. “Now, let me see that part you’re struggling with again.”
They proceeded to the piece, and Octavia helped him how she could, until the maestro came up to the room, and announced their entrance in ten minutes. 
Each pony grouped with their instrument partners, and lined up for the entrance. The audience cheered as they appeared, and positioned themselves. 
Octavia rose her front hooves, and placed them on her instrument, tuning it once more by the maestro’s order. In the crowd, Vinyl smiled to her, and she smiled back. The princesses, noticing the exchange, smiled to each other. Vinyl blushed, and Octavia silently giggled too. 
The maestro gave the signal, and the presentation begun. The whole show was filled with Hearth Warming songs, calming and supportive, giving every listener that warm feeling of gratitude. 
Octavia looked at the orchestra, at the new players – mostly to Noteworthy – and smiled at what she saw: confident instrument players. She was happy her words had reached and helped them. 
The first act flowed nicely, and the Orchestra finished their last piece together that night with a standing ovation from the crowd. They all bowed, and excused themselves to the backstage for the break. 
The first thing Octavia heard was how exited everyone was by how good they did their presentation. Compliments everywhere and relief filled the room. Octavia loved that mood. 
As she checked her makeup and hairdo, Noteworthy came to her with a group of friends. 
“We are leaving for a drink, and we were wondering if you’d like to accompany us?” He invited her.
“I’d happily accept that, if it weren’t for my solo in…” She looked at the clock. “Fifteen minutes.” She giggled.
“Oh, I forgot about that, this year’s solo is yours.” He noticed, a little embarrassed. 
“Next time, maybe?” She said.
“Absolutely.” He agreed, already leaving. “Good luck, and thank you again!”
Octavia smiled as he was dragged by his friends though the door. 
Young ponies.
With her makeup in place again, she supposed a bit of fresh air would do good, and began her way out.  But she was surprised by the princesses, in their way out too. 
“Melody.” Celestia greeted. 
“Octavia, my loyal cellist.” Luna seemed to be more close to her than her sister. 
“My Highnesses.” Octavia bowed shortly. “How is your night?”
“Marvelous, I must say.” Luna answered.
“We loved the concert; the new generation of musicians surely have something new to show us.” Celestia commented. 
“I do agree. They are sweethearts too.” Octavia smiled.
But their conversation was interrupted by Vinyl.
“Found you!” She said, as she noticed the familiar silhouette in the dim lights of that hall. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, you weren’t backstage either so…”
But she noticed Octavia had very important company, and realizing who they were, she stopped, and awkwardly bowed.
“Uh, princesses!” She said nervously. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to…”
“No needs for apologies, we were just leaving.” Celestia explained. 
“Aren’t you staying for the second part?” Octavia asked. 
“Unfortunately not, Octavia. We are heading for the Hearth Warming theater piece; Twilight Sparkle and her friends will be acting, and our presence is needed.” Luna said, not much pleased by that responsibility. 
“Well, I’ll see you again on the Grand Galloping Gala, then?” Octavia asked. 
“Certainly, Melody. We must go now. Goodbye.” Celestia said, waving to both Octavia and Vinyl. 
A minute of silence between Octavia and Vinyl followed by the princesses’ leaving. Vinyl let out a long sigh.
“That was so awkward; I can’t believe I interrupted the princesses…” She confessed.
“I’m sure they didn’t mind it a little bit, Vinyl, don’t worry.” Octavia reassured her, giggling.
“Still… I had no idea you were friends with them.” Vinyl was surprised.
“I’m not really their friend, I’m their cellist. They are my bosses; the only connection we have is a business one.” Octavia explained.
“You’re still closer to them than many of their guards, you know.”
“Possibly.” Octavia giggled. “But why were you looking for me again?”
“Oh! I was wondering what happened to your solo piece you were going to play. The show ended, and I heard nothing of it.” Vinyl explained.
“That is because I’m playing it on the second part.”
“Really? I didn’t notice there were going to be two parts.” Vinyl giggled. 
“Well, I’ve got to go now. I’ll be up in a few minutes.” Octavia excused herself, beginning to trot away from Vinyl.
“Wait.” Vinyl asked, and Octavia stopped, looking back to her. “I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with my family after your solo. I thought you’d be alone after that, so…” 
Octavia was indeed going to be alone that night. Her parents didn’t have enough energy anymore to travel, so she was the one who had to visit them at Los Pegasus. As she usually only had time on her vacations, that was only once a year, in the summertime. 
“Are you sure? I… I don’t want to be an annoyance to your family.” She said.
Vinyl laughed. 
“My mother is your biggest fan; she was the one who told me to invite you, actually.” Vinyl explained. 
“Really?”
“Yes!” vinyl assured. “So, what do you say about it?”
Octavia didn’t even think. It had been some years since she had company for Hearth Warming.
“I’d love to!” She accepted the invitation, hugging Vinyl, who blushed a little. 
At the start of the hall, a staff pony called her.
“Miss Octavia Melody?” She asked.
“That’s me.”
“You’re up in two minutes.”
“Good luck.” Vinyl wished.
“Thank you, Vinyl.” And they parted in different ways: Octavia to backstage, and Vinyl to the audience, to her seat in the front roll. 
The audience cheered once more as Octavia entered the stage, and smiling, positioned herself for the presentation. Her sheets were nicely organized in the stand in front of her, but she didn’t need them. She already knew the piece by heart. 
“I’d like to thank everypony here for your presence. Your constant support is what moves us, musicians.” She begun a little speech before playing. “The piece I’m playing today is called ‘The Sought Sonata’, and follows the story of a pony who has lost the ability to sing. They meet many other ponies with stolen talents in the way, and they all discover that the thief had only stole the talents out of jealousy. The thief is forgiven, and they all become friends.”
She noticed Vinyl looking at her. 	
“I’d specially like to thank Vinyl Scratch, my friend, for helping me with the last movement. Without her help three days ago, the story, like many others, I presume, would have open ending.”
The audience giggled softly. Some even recognized Vinyl’s name, and were amazed. A piece by Octavia Melody & Vinyl Scratch. The idea was a good one. 
Octavia, accompanied by a flute and a celesta, begun leading the piece. The first act, cheerful and happy, depicted the main character, excited about their talent, and sharing it with every other talented one around. 
Then, the second act begun, and things get darker, the song brusquely entering a minor key. The thief came in, and stole the talent. The pony is desperate; the tempo gets faster and faster. The audience tenses up. By the end of it, everypony was holding their breath. 
In the third act, the tempo slows down. The pony is sad, and hopeless. But slowly, it gets happier again, as the pony friends come together, and help them find the lost talent. The end of the act finishes with a sudden tension. They unexpectedly find the thief.
It’s time to fight in the fourth act. The song tenses up again, and gets really loud and fast. Uncomfortable notes were played throughout it.  It’s a mess of a battle. The thief is finally down. And then, by Vinyl’s addition, the songs has a grief tone; the thief is explaining what made them do that. The other ponies understand, and forgive them. 
At the last minutes of the song, instead of the dreadful end Octavia was planning, like most other tales, it was happy. Relief, love, compassion mixed together in a perfect combination of notes. 
Octavia looked at the standing ovation of the audience. They loved it. 
And once in a long time, she felt that playing the cello was, after all, what she was meant to do. She was feeling something she would only experience on stage, performing. A mix of happiness, proud, and honor that is hard to explain. 
She was glowing.
Vinyl looked mesmerized from the audience. Her eyes widened as she saw Octavia’s glowing more than anypony else in that room – partly from being a musician too, but mostly from being… Well…
“Dammit…” She thought, never taking her eyes away from the cellist.
Yes... She was definitely deep in love with Octavia.