//------------------------------// // 82 Finale by Arctic Inferno // Story: Rhythm and Harmony: The Octascratch Prompt Collab // by lyra_lover777 //------------------------------// Finale by Arctic Inferno The curtains rose gracefully and the crowd was greeted with the full ensemble of musicians; a group of trumpets on the left, a number of rows of violinists on the right and, of course, the centerpiece; a beautiful earth pony with a mane like silky chocolate and a large, antiquated cello carved from smooth, glossy wood. There was a short round of welcoming applause from the sea of Canterlot ponies, but it quickly died down and silence filled the room. Said silence was split by a wonderfully performed low note from the cello, its owner skilfully holding the bow across the string and pinning a fret down with her hoof. Then, as quickly as it had started, the rest of the instruments took their parts; first a number of the violins, followed by a few trumpets. The piece built higher and higher, pitch building, before breaking into a glorious series of chords and vibrant explosions of orchestral sounds. From one of the higher booths a white unicorn sighed irritably and placed her head in her hoof, bored entirely with the performance. She didn't like classical music at all. It wasn't terrible, just old-fashioned and boring. Nothing like the beats and wubs that she blasted out of her speaker system at numerous gigs and concerts she enjoyed performing at. With a roll of her eyes she turned to her friend alongside her, another unicorn. "Tell me again, Lyra..." She said, voice barely audible over the loud orchestral piece being played from the stage, "Why did you think I would like this? You know classical isn't my thing." "I already explained this, Vinyl," Lyra said with a slight groan, "We're here to see my friend perform. She's the cellist." "Then... Then why didn't we just visit her another time?" "Because, y'know, isn't it nice to listen to her play? And besides, we had a table booked for three at a restaurant right afterwards." Vinyl had to admit, for someone who didn't like classical music, the cellist wasn't terrible to her ears. Something about the music she was playing was most peaceful, almost serene. If the unicorn wasn't so stubborn with her arguments she might even have been swaying to the sound of it. "And besides..." Lyra said slowly, "She told me the other day she was feeling lonely, and I know how you feel for other mares..." The white unicorn once again turned her attention to the mare on-stage. It was true, she was very beautiful. Dainty yet refined movements, a flowing mane like a river of silk. Lyra giggled quietly at the blush which started to twinge on her friend's cheeks, then perked up a little. "Oh, we'd best be quiet now," She said to nopony in particular, "The finale is coming up."