//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Charity Concert // Story: Pretence // by Kapuchu //------------------------------// Melodia Allegrezza, daughter of Fancy Pants and Fleur De Lis, a talented violinist, and famous across Equestria for her soul-reaching music and unorthodox way of playing. Of all the musicians in Canterlot and beyond, this one unicorn was probably the most famous of them all, and the one known the least about. She wasn’t much for the paparazzi, and being a skilled unicorn only made it easier for her to avoid them. Despite being a talented and relatively powerful unicorn - one capable of even short range teleportation - she never used her magic during her performances. That was the reason for her fame spreading like wildfire the way it had ever since she took the stage just a few years prior. All she used were her hooves to play, just like an Earth Pony would. Had it not been for her numerous flashy escapes from the paparazzi, many would have gossiped that she was a Fizzle - a unicorn incapable of magic. It was because of this mare that Octavia was currently heading towards one of the smaller musical theatres in Canterlot. Melodia would play there as a guest, supposedly, and would receive no payment if the advertisements were to be believed. Knowing the De Lis family, however, Octavia was fairly certain that the advertisement was correct. Powerful and rich as they may be, they were surprisingly round-hooved with their money, giving away large sums each year for various beneficial projects. It made Octavia smile that she would be helping in the same way by going, even if the only thing she gave to the theatre was the money she paid for her ticket. Octavia pushed open the door to the theatre and stepped inside, breathing deeply, soaking in the familiar atmosphere that always seemed to permeate every theatre no matter where it was or how many ponies were present. Her smile widened ever so slightly, her mood only getting better as she walked closer to the hall where she knew one of her greatest idols would play in just a short half hour. Getting nearer the door, she dug into her saddlebags and produced her ticket, showing it to the gentlecolt guarding the door. He nodded and pushed the door open for her, letting her pass. She stepped inside and glanced down at her ticket, bumping straight into a stallion as a result. “Oh! I’m s-sorry sir!” She bent down and picked up her ticket again, having dropped it at impact, and then looked up. He was pegasus stallion, not the most handsome but, then again, he wasn’t one she would call unattractive either. He was merely another stallion in the world. “No harm done, Miss. Please be more careful next time.” He gave her a curt nod and trod past her. She couldn’t keep from shuddering as his feathers briefly brushed against her, neither could she stop herself from looking at him with a frown marring her brow as he walked away. The sound of a pony laughing somewhere put her out of her stupor. She shook her head and looked down at her ticket again. Row 4 seat Nr. 22. A quick glance down the rows of mostly empty seats revealed that the majority of ponies she would sit near were pegasi, causing Octavia’s otherwise polite expression to sour for just a moment before it reverted to the socially polite mask. She couldn’t help but wonder why, even as she made her way down to her seat and sat down between a unicorn mare to her left and a pegasus stallion to her right. “Such a lovely arrangement, don’t you think, dear?” Octavia cocked her head, looking to her left where the unicorn mare sat with her attention fixed on Octavia. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” The mare smiled faintly. She was middle aged, though still plenty attractive. “It’s a lovely arrangement, don’t you think?” She waved a hoof to emphasise the entire room. “A free concert by one of the most talented musicians Equestria has to offer, all for the sake of promoting this little theatre. Free in the sense that Melodia doesn’t get paid, that is.” Octavia couldn’t help but smile herself, her eyes following the mare’s hoof before settling back on her again. “Indeed, it is. I find myself entranced by Miss Allegrezza’s music every time I listen to it. And then there’s the fact that she only plays with her hooves.” She couldn’t help herself, her hooves acting on their own as they clopped together in excitement. “Simply marvelous!” The mare giggled, holding a hoof to her mouth. “It seems like I found a fan of hers.” She extended a hoof, one which Octavia pressed her own against it and shook gently. “Name is Lyrica Heartstrings, by the way.” “Heartstrings?” An eyebrow raised itself almost on its own accord. “As in the Heartstrings Family? Do you, by any chance, know a mare of the name Lyra Heartstrings? She’s was my senior in the university.” Again, Lyrica giggled. “I do. She’s my daughter. So If the two of you went to the university together, I take it you are Octavia? I remember her talking a lot about you. She always was impressed by your skill. Not many earth ponies can play a string instrument like you do. Why, she almost made it sound like you were a national phenomenon.” Warmth crept into her cheeks, colouring them a light pink, adding to the sheepishness of her smile. “Yes, I am Octavia. And I wouldn’t say that it was a national phenomenon. I’m merely an up-and-coming cellist as it is. Nowhere near your Lyra’s level.” She turned her attention to the scene where the red curtain still separated the stage from the audience. “Working with Miss Allegrezza must be a dream come true.” At that, Lyrica chuckled, a dainty hoof covering her mouth in a vain attempt to hold it back. “You wouldn’t believe the kind of complaints my dear Lyra can come home with. Why, sometimes sounds like Melodia is a bit of a hoof full at times, as opposed to being a ‘dream come true’, as you call it.” Octavia just smiled, turning her attention towards the stage once again. “Still, sounds like an interesting job with a lot of opportunities. Oh, and here she is.” The curtain in front of the stage parted, giving way to a wooden stage polished almost to a shine. In the middle of it stood a beautiful white unicorn. Her coat was as white as freshly fallen snow, and a mane a gorgeous shade of cyan blue hung loosely around her head, combed to perfection. A pair of sky-blue eyes looked out at the audience, the smile on her lips so easily reaching out to the far back of the hall. She wore an elegant dress, a shade of blue lighter than her mane, with a silky shawl of a darker blue colour draped across it, and a large ribbon following the edge of the dress. Octavia’s breath caught in her throat. She had seen Melodia on a few other occasions, but the mare’s beauty never ceased to amaze her. It wasn’t even because she covered herself in make-up to make herself pretty, as the mare hardly used any, nor had use of it. No, it was the more in the way she presented herself; confident and kind. But even then, she couldn’t help but admit that the way the unicorn’s mane framed her face, large fringes falling down like a pair of velvety curtains, was stunning in and of itself to say the least. What make-up was used only made already eye-catching features stand out even further, but never becoming the sole focus. She swallowed as the unicorn’s horn flashed brightly, a violin appearing in the air beside her. Octavia knew what was coming next, but even so she never ceased to be amazed by what happened. Melodia reared up on her hindlegs, taking a few seconds to balance herself, before she balanced the instrument against her throat and took hold of the bow. Somewhere, off to the side, a piano started playing. Calm yet emotional tones echoed through the entire hall, followed by Melodia pulled the bow across and the strings, creating a beauty without equal. It was all Octavia could do not to start shedding tears immediately. Both of her front hooves had raised to her mouth, her eyes watering within the first few notes. It was so beautiful and emotional that, despite the tears, a brilliant smile found its way to her lips. She knew well what effect music could have on ponies, having seen more than a few watery eyes and quiveling lips during her own performances. All too soon the song was over, and a massive applause rang out through the hall, the echoes ringing throughout the building. Whistles and praise were heard en masse and, cliché as it was, more than a few roses were thrown onto the stage where Melodia picked up each and every one in her magic, smiling, and bowing to the audience once she had returned to all four hooves. “Marvelous, isn’t she?” Lyrica asked, smiling proudly. “She is indeed. And the pianist as well, amazing skill.” She was silent for a few moments, eyes trained on the unicorn still on the stage, gathering roses and handing them to someone behind the curtains. “Do you know who played the piano, by any chance? I would love the chance to meet him, or her.” “That,” Lyrica said, pointing to the pony Melodia was handing the roses to. “Was my daughter, Lyra. She’s not only a lyrist, but also a pianist. She doesn’t always play with her, but she does from time to time. Today the usual pianist was sick, so she took his spot.” “Still, being able to play with Melodia must be fantastic. So many opportunities and… I’m rambling, aren’t I?” An embarrassed giggle accompanied the faint blush that crept onto her cheeks. “Think nothing of it, Dear. It’s only understandable. You seem to idolize this Melodia, so seeing working with her as a great opportunity is no surprise.” She turned back towards the stage, pointing towards where Melodia was again standing in front of the microphone. “Now, I believe there are a few songs left, then perhaps I can introduce you to my daughter? Or re-introduce you, as it were. What do you say?” Clapping her hooves together, Octavia smiled widely and nodded once. “I’d love that. I never talked much with Lyra back in University, but it would be lovely to see her again.” Lyrica shot her a sideways glance and smile. “I’ll see to it, then. Now, I believe Melodia is about to start playing again.” Melodia had finished her concert with bravour, spreading energy and emotion with only the strings and bow of her violin. Not an eye in the hall had been dry, not a soul untouched by the energy exuding from the violinist. It had been, for lack of better words, magnificent. Octavia followed Lyrica with a spring in her steps, a happy smile on her lips. They were heading backstage down a long hallway, to where Lyra would be packing her belongings. Melodia had, according to Lyrica, already escaped the premises. It wasn’t that much of a surprise to Octavia who knew the reputation the violinist had. She was one of the better ponies in Canterlot when it came to escaping the Paparazzi, the only ones who might be better were her parents. That family had a reputation for being able to either defuse whatever political scandal that they came across—if not avoid them altogether. Lyrica walked up to a door leading into a side room near the end of the hallway, knocking a few times before pushing it open and walking in, Octavia on her heels. A mint green unicorn mare with a teal and white mane sat before the mirror by the opposite end of the room, one eye closed and a small eyeshadow brush held in her magic. Seeing Octavia and Lyrica walk through the door behind her, she smiled at their reflections. “Hi mom, hi-uuh… what was your name again?” She put the brush down and turned around, face twisted in deep thought. “I remember you from the University, but I can’t remember your name. Wasn’t it Octypus or something?” Lyrica shook her head and walked up to the unicorn, gaze glancing over the set of make-up below the mirror. “I believe you remember Octavia.” She turned to look at the unicorn again, one eyebrow raised—their eyes meeting. “Don’t you, Lyra?” Lyra just chuckled at the look her mother gave her. “Of course I do.” She then returned her attention to Octavia, grinning widely. “Sorry ‘bout that. Yeah, I do remember you. The Hooves-On Cellist of Canterlot University, was it?” The pony in question hung her head and sighed dramatically. “I never liked that title. But yes, that was that they called me.” She looked up again, a small smile on her lips. “How are you, Lyra? I know we never talked much, but… I’d like to get to know you a bit better now, if you don’t mind?” Before Lyra could answer, her mother leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Something which caused a the lyrist’s ears to perk up, and a slow smile to spread. “Little opportunist, are we?” Lyra asked. “Excuse me?” Lyra dropped down from the chair and stalked closer to Octavia like some predator. “You know I often work together with Melodia, so you think that you might get to do so as well if you and I become friends, isn’t that right?” If Octavia’s cheeks had been red when Lyrica had praised her earlier, then this time it would be nigh on impossible to see the difference between her face and the ripest Sweet Apple Acre apples. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly averted her gaze to somewhere in the other end of the room, looking thoroughly ashamed as if caught red-hoofed. “N-No… I just wanted to-” The laughter of both unicorn mares interrupted her, though Lyra’s was by far the loudest and most raucous. “Y-You should’ve seen your face!” She wailed, clutching her stomach with one hoof. “That was priceless!” It took several moments, but when she finally reigned herself in and managed to stop the laughter she looked up to meet the face of Octavia frozen in abject horror. “Woah… Maybe I overdid it.” With the best apologetic expression she could muster, she walked the rest of the way up to Octavia and tapped her on the shoulder. “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to make you appear as some corrupt business pony. You were always quite the fan of Melodia even when she was only a child star, and Mom told me about how you seemed to idolize her, so… I thought I’d pull a prank. Didn’t go so well. Sorry.” She smiled sheepishly, pearly white teeth revealed beneath rosy cheeks. It took a while for Octavia to regain her bearings, but once she did she briefly shook her head and waved her hoof at Lyra as if waving waving off the issue as a whole. “It’s fine. Apology accepted.” Whatever Lyra was about to say next was cut off by an audible ‘thwack’ echoing off the walls in the room. Lyra, one eye pinched closed in pain, rubbed the back of her head where Lyrica had hit her. Said mare was still standing with a hoof raised when Lyra made her complaint audible. “Ow. What was that for?” “For being an inconsiderable little bully. I thought you learned your lesson back in High School?” Lyra didn’t answer outright. Rather, she sort of curled up a bit and mumbled something about “Not a bully,” although it was difficult to hear exactly what it was she had said. Sensing that the topic, and general mood of the room, was approaching a slippery slope downwards, Octavia asked one question she had been thinking of for a little while. “Lyra,” she started, causing the unicorn to look up. “I realise that my question might be a bit intrusive and it’s probably not my place to ask, but why were, or are, you putting on make-up? Forgive my assumptions, but wouldn’t you be washing off the make-up after a show such as this, rather than put it on?” While Octavia spoke, Lyrica had silently left the room, waving to the two younger mares, of whom only Lyra noticed, before making a discreet exit worthy of a certain princess on the way back to her room after a cake-raid. Lyra just smiled cheekily at the question, as if seeing something Octavia couldn’t—and she probably could, metaphorically at least. “Usually, yeah. But I wasn’t on stage so making myself look good wasn’t all that important. As for why I’m putting it on now. A friend of mine, Vinyl Scratch, asked me out tonight, and I thought ‘why not?’” She shrugged and turned back to mirror and climbed up on the chair again. The brush with the eyeshadow was surrounded by Lyra’s pale green aura and resumed its earlier task of beautifying the unicorn. Lyra, with one eye closed, looked at Octavia’s reflection in the mirror, letting her know that she wasn’t simply being ignored. Octavia, for her part, said nothing as she took a few steps closer, idly observing the wide range of beauty products on the table. More than a few of the products, she noticed, were of the more expensive brands that hardly any but the professional make-up artists used “She asked you out, you said. As a date?” The unicorn’s brow creased ever so slightly—almost unnoticeable. “Nah. We’re just friends. Why, though? You got a problem with two mares dating?” Her tone, Octavia noted, was most definitely defensive. She smiled disarmingly and simply said. “If I was, I’d be a bit of a hypocrite, would I not?” “Huh? You mean?” Lyra put down the brush and turned around, eyebrows shooting up under her fringes. “Since when?” “Since as long as I can remember. I always found the graceful and gentle curves of the female body far more attractive than the bulky and often blocky form of the stallions. And, well, a mare knows a mare best. I’ve heard more stories from old classmates about how some stallions seem to think with their rear-end, and only concerns themselves with how they can get into the bed of whoever they fancy.” She paused, smiling ruefully. “While such mares do exist, I find the vast majority to be of the same opinion as I: Companionship above intimacy.” Lyra seemed somewhat taken aback by the answer. Eyes wide and mouth agape. She was silent for several moments before she eventually clamped her mouth shut, face melting back into a more casual expression. Or she tried, at least, as she still looked rather shocked. “You are gay?!” Octavia tilted her head to one side, trying her best not to grin too widely. “You remember what ponies said about that Trenderhoof guy during University?” It was Lyra’s turned to tilt her head this time, albeit in confusion. “Raging Homosexual?” Octavia stood silent, smiling. “Seriously?” Octavia nodded, the grin breaking through a bit. “As much as can be.” Taking a spin on the chair, Lyra let out a low whistle and came to a stop facing the other mare. “Yeah… didn’t see that one coming,” she said, turning around once more and stopping once she faced the mirror. The brush floated up again and made a few finishing touches before it was replaced by a small tube of lipstick. “Say… Why don’t you join us? I’m sure Vinyl wouldn’t mind—she usually doesn’t when I drag a friend along.” She put the lipstick down and turned around, smiling widely and with both her forelegs spread wide. “So, whatcha say?” “You look gorgeous,” Octavia replied, nodding in approval. “Thanks,” Lyra said, giggling. “But that’s not what I meant. Wanna tag along?” “Well,” she said, quickly running through a mental schedule of the rest of her day. Coming up with nothing, she shrugged and said. “I don’t have anything planned, so why not?” “Great!” Her horn flared to life and Octavia was promptly surrounded by its glow, lifted up from where she stood and onto the chair next to Lyra, who immediately started to pick out certain colours of eyeshadow and the likes that, she was sure, would suit Octavia. Almost an hour later, Lyra and Octavia were walking towards the bar where they would meet up with this Vinyl. Lyra had done up the other mare’s mane in a high ponytail, as well as applied a bit of purple eyeshadow, though nothing too fancy per Octavia’s request. Attempting at mingling with high society she might be, but that didn’t mean that she wanted to become one of those mares whose faces were treated like a canvas more than anything. They wore no clothing, as such would only be laughed at where they were going. Even Octavia’s small bowtie had been separated from her, though only after several minutes of pleading and begging from the unicorn. Lyra herself had the eyeshadow and lipstick she had adorned earlier, as well as a single earring made of silver. “What’s your opinion on techno music, and especially the loud kind?” Lyra asked suddenly, glancing at Octavia briefly before looking back towards their destination at the end of the road. “I never listened to it much,” Octavia conceded, “so I don’t have much of an opinion, though I will say that I have my doubts. It’s not as refined as classical, I think. I’m not saying it doesn’t have its merits.” She sighed and smiled good naturedly. “I guess I will try not to judge it too quickly and give it a proper chance.” Lyra chuckled, grinning. “You’d be surprised. Not all techno is loud and trash, which is what I’m guessing you were referring to. Some of it can actually be pleasant and have an engaging rhythm—even play with your emotions a bit. Oh, and look, we’re here!” Looking up, Octavia noticed that they had indeed arrived. The bouncer let them pass with nary a glance, only taking the time to see if they looked underage which they, of course, did not. Inside the music was loud, but not overly so. There was a heavy thumping that echoed throughout the entire building, not quite shaking it but still loud enough that the two mares could feel it in their chests. It was a pleasant song with some piano and flute, though also the heavy bass which felt like secondary heartbeats. Suddenly, to Octavia’s momentary dismay, the pleasant melody was ‘invaded’ by a sort of electronic sound; something she could compare to a vinyl player breaking. It wasn’t long before she got used to it, however, and started to see the upsides of the music. It wasn’t as bad as she had expected. They walked along the bar situated to the immediate right of the door into the main room of the bar from the hallway, Lyra walking purposefully forward while the other looked this way and that way, taking in the sights, sounds and smells. It was far from what she was used to, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. The heavy thumping of the music and the piano playing alongside it awoke a sort of spark of energy inside her. “So this is Techno,” Octavia said, nearly shouting to be heard over the music. “It’s actually quite good, one you get used to the occasional mechanical sounds.” Lyra’s chuckle caught Octavia’s ears over the music. “Glad you like it, but it isn’t exactly techno. It’s something called ComplexTro, I think. Oh, VINYL!” Having spotted who she was looking for, Lyra went into a canter and soon stopped in front of her friend. Octavia, lacking a bit behind, came up beside them a few seconds later, first looking at Lyra and then at this Vinyl. First thing she noticed were the shades: Large, obtrusive, and covering her eyes entirely. Next was the horn on her forehead, and after that her white coat and two-toned mane. Her breath caught in her throat; the semblance was uncanny. This could not be a coincidence. She refused to believe it. Yet… she was so very different that most anypony wouldn’t spare her a second glance. It was true that they both had white coats, blue manes, and both were unicorns, but Vinyl’s eyes were obscured, and, likewise, Melodia’s Cutie Mark was unknown, whereas Vinyl’s was proudly displayed as the opposite eight notes that it was. But even with all those similarities, Vinyl’s wild mane compared to Melodia’s carefully brushed locks, the two tones versus the single cyan blue was enough to make most people take a glance and then look away—plenty of ponies had similar colour coats and manes. Despite all of this, however, this Vinyl seemed the spitting image of Melodia Allegrezza, so much so that Octavia could not shake the feeling that something was off, that there had to be a connection. She gulped when the white unicorn looked at her—or she assumed that she was looking at her. It was difficult to tell with the glasses. The white unicorn grinned, showing pearly white teeth. “Yo! I’m Vinyl Scratch, DJ Extraordinaire. Nice to meet you!”