//------------------------------// // Veronica's Solution // Story: The Master Cellist // by Veridian Phantom //------------------------------//         The curtains burst open and a sudden ray of light strikes your eyes, darting you out of bed alert and awake huffing expecting intruders. You leap into action and begin to attack in front of you. Soon after karate chopping the nearest wall you realize it probably isn't a burglar in your room.         “Veronica...?” A faint groggy tone comes forth with a questioning gaze towards the window while you shake the pain away from your hoof. “Why did you do that?”         “Had to wake you up somehow... Normal conventions don't work. It's almost time to open the shop. You forgot to set your alarm I suppose?”         You glance over at your supposedly off alarm clock. “Oh, Celestia! You're right!” Hurrying around the room, tidying up, taking a look in the mirror to see if everything is in check, (it wasn’t perfect, but oh well) and barreling downstairs to prepare for the day. You begin said day by powering up the lights, dusting off a few instruments and making sure the cash register is operating correctly. Finally after the small preparations are complete you make your way to the storefront to flip the open/closed sign to the open side and unlock the door. Just as you get to the storefront, you see somepony opening the door.         “Octavia? Why are you here so early? Or rather here at all?” You ask, a puzzled look upon your face.         She giggles from your display of awkwardness. “I'm here to have you check over my cello before heading to my show tonight.” She walks right in towards the counter and places the delicate instrument atop gently.         “Uh... Sure I can, yes. Uhm... Considering you're The Master Cellist, how come you can't do it yourself? N-not to be rude or anything I'm just curious as to why have me do it.” You move toward the counter to open the case and begin your inspection of the instrument.         Looking over it quickly with a discerning eye you spot a few scratch marks from traveling and playing the instrument a lot. Testing the strings they sound as they should and twisting the ebony knobs ever so slightly to see if they're in nice and tight. One final check over the instrument ensures it still is in pristine condition and should bring many more years of music before turning its bow in.         “Well I could do it myself... Or come see you and have a practiced music mechanic fix it for me.” She smiles at you as she turns to see who is coming down the stairs from behind the counter.         “Hey, I heard a commotion down here. Already have a custom-” Veronica pauses looking straight at the mare in the shop. “Octavia!!” She yells running to the mare giving her a big hug around her front hoof.         “W-what? Veronica?! What are you doing here?” She turns to you questioningly. “Why was she in your apartment? The police are looking for her!”         “I-I can explain. Just calm down now.” You say worriedly, backing up into the drum shelf. Octavia slowly begins to walk towards you, extremely curious as to what you'll say next.         “Go on. I'm all ears.”         “Wait!” Veronica screams. She darted in between you and Octavia looking her straight in the eyes before continuing. “I'll explain everything! He did nothing wrong. I... I Ran away from home because of what was expected of me and the pressure of my parents... I just couldn't take it anymore, so I wound up here. I've been hiding from the police and my parents.” Veronica continues to explain exactly what she had told you that night.         Right when Veronica finished her explanation two cops walked into the shop. With the usual shop-keep reflex you greeted them before realizing their profession.         “Uh... May I ask why you're here?”         “I'm here to browse your wares for my son, He's quite interested in dru-” He interrupts himself as he spots Veronica to his left. “Wait... isn't that the filly we've been looking for Sam?”         His partner looks the filly mane to hoof as well before responding “Yup, that's her Mugsy.”         The first officer stepped towards Veronica. “You’re going to have to come with us, young lady. Your parents are very worried about you.”          “No! I don’t want to go back, I hate it there!” She says whilst slowly backing up into the various instruments on the wall, Rattling the cymbals and percussion instruments as she bumped into them, some falling to the ground. “Your parents are worried sick about you, you have to go back. It’s unfair to them.” The cop known as Mugsy repeated. “Unfair? Try having your entire life planned out for you, and never getting any freedom to do what you want to do!” Veronica yells. “Look kid don’t give us a hard time, we’re only doing our job.” The cop said pleadingly. Octavia looks at Veronica with a worried look. “I’m sorry, but Veronica, you have to go back. Explain to your parents why you ran away as I’m sure they’ll listen. If I know your mother like I think I do, I’m sure she’ll understand why you ran away once you talk to her.” You nod your head in agreement toward Veronica.. Reluctantly, Veronica finally agrees to go with the two cops and leaves the shop to head back home, where a very worried mother and father await. Just as Veronica gets in the carriage Octavia begins to pack up her cello, closing both latches on the case, throws it on her back and heads for the door. “Where are you going?” You say curiously. “To the Amareti’s of course.” She replies with certainty. “Okay and why exactly? I’m sure she’ll be fine like you said. Right?” You start doubting what Octavia said moments ago. “Don’t you think that if her parents would listen and understand like I had told Veronica that she wouldn’t have to have run away?” You knew she was right, not thinking about this prior to asking the question. Without hesitation you begin to pack your cello as well, retrieving it from your room. You throw the cello onto your back and make for the door, flipping the open sign to the closed side and locking the door behind you. Both of you make for the sidewalk and hail a carriage over, seconds later one appears before you. Octavia names the address to head to and asserts that the driver be swift. Arriving at the huge mansions was surprising but considering the family you’re dealing with. It comes as a little surprise to the enormity of their home. The structure itself it quite modern, unlike the Philharmonica’s residence. A giant automatic side-scrolling gate resides in front of a massive grassy garden with a road zig-zagging up to the courtyard. The mansion resides next to the main fountain and the driveway circles around it. You and Octavia pull up just in time as Veronica is entering the mansion, she hears you pull up and turns to see who the visitors may be. You pay the carriage driver for his time and effort and dismount, careful of the contents on your back. “What are you both doing here?!” Veronica calls out bewildered. “Well he is responsible for having let you stay with him.” She says looking over to you. Catching her glance, you do a double-take and look toward the ground scuffing your right front hoof on it sheepishly. “Now then, no point in standing around out here, shall we go inside?” She motions to enter the building.  The both of you follow Veronica inside toward the living room while the butler goes to get her parents. The living room is big but cozy, complete with blanket-covered couches, a recliner, and a very large fireplace. The fireplace features red bricks surrounding it to match the colors of the walls, and white crown molding to match the baseboards and ceiling as if to blend in with the room itself. “This place looks-” Just as you were to complement the room to cut the silence, two ponies burst into the room, with the butler in tow. “Veronica!!” The mare yells, most likely her mother, and the father I’m guessing is the other pony. “Where have you been?! We were worried sick about you.” She turns to look at her other guests standing just next to the fireplace. “Octavia?” She turns to face you. “And you… look familiar, hold on... “ She ponder who you may be for a moment before she asks you. “Do you own a music shop by any chance?”         You pipe up at the question. “Uh yes actually, Winstrum’s Instruments.”         The mare’s eyes widen and a smile begins to creep up. “This must be fate calling…” She whispers to herself, barely audible to you and Octavia. “Uh pardon me, allow me to introduce myself. I am Andrea Amareti, an old friend of your father Instrum Winstrum.”         Your eyes shoot open at the notion of a large prominent family knowing of your father, he never really talked about his own life. As if it was unimportant what happened prior. Your mind racing as to what she meant now about fate calling. Was it merely a coincidence?         “Uh… Unfortunately he never really mentioned you at all, or at least I can’t remember.”         Andrea motions for everypony to have a seat on the couches next to the fireplace. Whilst she and her husband sit on the opposite side of the three of you. “Well he had a lot on his mind after all, he took care of you and Octavia on his own. Of course Octavia had us to help too, he raised you on his own. We didn’t really meet with him much or talk, it was merely just to say hello, check on Octavia or bring her things and that was it. As you may know we are also busy with our own little one and our jobs.” She glances over to Veronica and smiles.         You look over to where you placed your cello just before sitting down. “So you made these twin cellos?”         “Yes, I made them so Octavia’s mother and I could perform a duet together, however that never came to be, so I had passed the one you carry to your father in hopes to have him teach Octavia to play the cello. He did wonderfully and now Octavia has her mothers’ cello. As much as I had hoped to teach my own daughter the ways of the cello, she doesn’t seem to like it that much.”         “I-it’s not that I don’t enjoy it, but that it’s constant day-in and day-out nothing but practice, I never get to go out and have fun, and when I make one mistake it’s like the world is coming to an end.”         “That’s why you ran away? Why didn’t you say anything?” Andrea said moving to hug Veronica.         “I tried to say something several times, but none of you would listen!” Veronica yells, starting to get mad, tears forming in her eyes.         Octavia saw this as going nowhere and not getting anywhere quickly, especially since she has a concert to attend soon and must prepare. So she explained a few solutions to the problem: “If I may, as it is not my place, when she was staying at Winstrum’s music shop, she actually practiced her cello but on her own time, and even then as I’ve heard quite enjoyed her little adventure away from home. Perhaps instead of forcing her to practice and not get to enjoy a little fun, go on a family outing once-in-a-while. She will practice on her own time and learn at her own pace, not everypony can handle it.”         What Octavia had said rang true to the Amareti’s ears and agreed upon this method, as well, thought of schooling options so Veronica may make friends instead of having a private tutor. As a compromise it was agreed that Veronica will practice playing and making cellos at her own pace.         “Now then, we must be going. I have practice to attend, and my friend here will be the one to assist me in that matter. will you be coming?” Octavia quickly glances over to you and winks.         “Ah yes, you have your concert tonight, unfortunately we can’t go as we’re quite busy ourselves signing a contract with a major music store in Phillydelphia to sell our cellos exclusively.” Andrea responds. “That’ll certainly up business, not that you need it.” They both give out a small chuckle before Octavia turns toward the front door. “We’ll see ourselves out. Shall we?” She gestures for you to walk with her. Heading out the door you both say your farewells, just before you get to the first step of the stone stairway down to the driveway a sneaky hug grabs you from behind, turning to look down you see Veronica is the culprit of the surprise attack. She looks up to you with her big beautiful eyes and says “Thanks Mr. Winstrum for letting me stay with you and taking care of me, I don’t know what would’ve happened to me if it weren’t for you.” She says with a big smile on her face. “I believe fate had brought you to me, don’t you?” You let out a small chuckle yourself and smile before moving forward, after Veronica released your back leg, to catch the cab that Andrea had called in. As you board the carriage you look back at Veronica, still smiling happy as ever. You feel the need to say some wise words to her before she leaves, something that may help her in the near or far future. You yell out to her as your carriage begins to slowly move from trot to run. “Remember Veronica, everything in life happens for a reason! So remember to persevere no matter what the hardship, because for sure that was meant to happen for one reason or another!” Well, that was the most insightful thing you think you’ve ever said. As the carriage draws farther away your voice echoes through the trees as the wind picks up and leaves begin to fly toward the mansion. Just before exiting through the main gate you barely catch a glimpse of small shining lights falling from her eyes. Tears which reflect the sun's radiance you think to yourself, truly there is something special about her.