Octaves of Time by KodyMcQ
MLP: FiM is Copyright Hasbro
I only made the Story, nothing else.
The tears vibrated as they graced the poplar wood siding of the Cello. Octavia didn't care, as she wept, playing her most sorrowful tune. It was Hearts and Hooves day again in Ponyville, and she was yet again without a Partner. She wiped a tear off of her gray cheek with her bow, then proceeded to gracefully bring it down and around the bow and onto the strings, then quickly strung them off of the Cello. This produced a horrible screech sound, one Octavia knew to be her 'Hearts And Hooves, You're Kidding” chord. She spent hours playing the tunes she knew by heart, as the golden sun slowly rose through the window, to light up the small room, with the gray pony casually standing and playing.
BANG BANG. Octavia dropped her bow, and turned. She waited.
“Hello? Come in, please!” She called out. Her british accent making the remark sound like she came from a tea party. She waited some more. A slight shuffle was heard, but nothing more.
She shrugged and picked up her bow once again.
She continued playing, a rendition called “Smile” made by the annoying pink pony she met at the Gala. That pony was horrid. Although I did want to join in on the Pony Pokey, that Gala was no time or place to play such a song. She thought, ranting off in her mind. But if I'm to perform at her 'Hearts and Hooves Celebration' I guess I'll have to perk up. Maybe I'll meet a nice colt there. She grinned at the last thought. Admittedly, this song did seem to cheer up Octavia no matter what her mood, or what day. Clock, 8:30. Perform, 10:00. I have a bit. Maybe I can go get some apples for after. Or ma-
Her thought process interrupted when she heard something. She wasn't sure, but it sounded like a French Horn. She was often interested in the instrument, amazed by the skill a pony needs with their ears to play the thing. I've gotta say, this pony is good at it. Where's it coming from? Then she recognized the tune. She could almost hear the lyrics in her head. I'm gonna make you smile, and I, will brighten up your day.
There was another pony playing Smile.
A sudden strike of nerves hit, and Octavia quickly caught on, and played along to the French Horn. Her low deep sound mended with the bright mellow sound perfectly, as they played. She wasn't sure if the mysterious Horn player knew of her playing along, but if they did, they certainly didn't give a buck. They jammed out, almost reaching the end of the piece, when Octavia noticed something. She was now playing alone.
She stopped and listened, determined to find an answer as to why her Duet partner bailed out. She pressed her ears against the walls, and heard nothing. OCTAVIA! What are you doing? You don't live in that trashy old Canterlot apartement anymore, you live in a wonderful Ponyville home. There is no French Horn playing Pony across from your wall, and there is no need to be listening! Get your mind in the game! She furiously smacked herself in the face with her hoof, and returned to her original task. Clock, 9:00. Performance, 10:00. I wasted a good 30 minutes. I need to get the hoof out of here.
Octavia gently placed her cello in the brown case, laced with pink edges and golden buckles. She grabbed the pink and gold strap coming from behind and laid the Cello against the wall. What am I going to wear? This is a solo performance, so it can't be anything too drab, yet this is not a formal party, therefore no need for the dresses...
BANG BANG BANG.
There goes that door again.
“WHAT THE HOOF DO YOU WANT?” She lashed out, dashing across the room and bucking open the door. She furiously spun her head, looking for the culprit, but saw nothing. She took a step out her door, and paff, stepped on something unnaturally soft. She looked down, to see she had just stepped on a small green bag, with apples dotting it. She grabbed the soft, godly package with her mouth, and brought it inside. The softness of this fabric was unimaginable, calming her rage almost instantly. She set the package down on a small desk, and pried open a green lace around the top. As the package unfolded, Octavia was dumbfounded.
Laying on her desk, on top of the soft green fabric, was a white rose, bright as can be, on top of a folded white dress, with a heart shaped jade beside it. On a small piece of parchment, was the words:
Octavia my dear, master of the Music,
My heart soars with every note you grace.
Do not change, for perfection should not be altered,
Octavia my dear, master of the Music.
-Sugarcube corner, 10:00
Octavia's face was shaded the same color as her eyes. She had just received her first Secret Admirer, and her mind soared with possibilities of who it could be. Then it hit her.
Sugarcube corner, 10:00, that's when my performance is!
Octavia quickly slipped on the dress, which was a vivid white, with an emerald lace, topped off with a collar that extended up her neck like Dracula's cape from some vampire movie she cared too less about to remember. It seemed too good to be true, somepony must've gone through a lot of trouble to get it, most likely from Canterlot. She stuck the rose in her hair, and did a quick mirror check. Perfect. She grabbed her Cello and quickly sprung out the door, prancing down the dirt paths with a silly grin on her face.
When she arrived at SugarCube Corner, Pinkie Pie was already waiting for her. As usual, she was popping out of random stuff and giving people suggestions.
“Hiya Octavia! Nice look!” She beamed, somehow bursting out Octavia's Cello case.
“Thanks. Say, happen to see any Colts about yet?” She asked the pink pony, a small stream of hope bleeding into her voice. They entered the doorway, and Pinkie disappeared.
“EEEENNOOPPEE!” Pinkie returned, as she jumped out of a vase beside Octavia, “But I'll leave you be, seems like you've got some stuff on your mind.”
And poof, Pinkie was gone. Octavia shrugged off the encounter, seeing as it was just Pinkie being Pinkie. She set her Cello case down beside the door, leaving the strap wrapped around the base, and took a look around. Pink streamers arched above, while the floor was a soft fuzzy pink carpet. There was so much pink it made her want to puke. Pink hearts, pink cupcakes, pink tables and cups, pink... Hot sauce? She didn't ask. She picked up the Cello and proceeded to a pink stage off in the corner, with two lights beaming from above. What color? PINK.
Octavia rolled her eyes. Although she was still excited to meet whatever Colt wanted her here, she was getting tired of the Hearts and Hooves day commotion. It was a normal day to Octavia, not much different, considering happy couples are everywhere, all the time. She played a few harmonic fifths, and a few dissonants to get her mind off the pink. A~ F~ C~. D~ Bb~ G. E~ F~ Ab~.
The room was slowly being cluttered by ponies. Taking a glance up, Octavia looked for any competition for her Special Colt. There was Soarin’, standing off in a corner, but he was soon joined by Spitfire. Too bad, She thought. There was Caramel, who was then joined by Applejack. What. she almost fell over. That was too funny to her, she couldn’t help but chuckle. Get your mind off the Colts, Octavia. You need to focuse on the songs. Remember, Smile, Wrap, Pet, Ar~no. Smile, Warp, Pet, Special Somepony. She corrected herself. The Aria was a sad piece, definitely not fit for the party at hand. She cleared her throat, and took one last glance. Pinkie appeared from a bowl of pink punch nearby, giving her a thumbs up, and then dissappearing, probably to go break the fourth wall somewhere.
Octavia played a C. Decently tuned, she decided to bear with it and start. She plucked her strings a few time for tempo, then got a few annoyed glances. No more stalling I guess. Right into Smile. And that she did. Ponies slowly got back to their conversations, as Octavia played her last-minute memorized pieces. Smile, Wrap, Pet, Special Somepony. Smile, Wrap, Pet, Special Somepony. The process continued for what felt like hours to her, but in reality was only Thirty minutes. 10:30, off stage. Now I get to go meet my Colt. She thought. She finished her song, which was currently Special Somepony, and strutted off stage in a dignified manner. Everypony clapped for her, and she took a small last second bow before dropping off the small raised stage.
She took her Cello and hid it behind the counter, where nopony could step on it, and then began to mingle. She met a few Colts, who were decent, but knew nothing of her. She desperately scanned the room when she saw it. In the corner, through all the chaos, was a brown Colt, with darker hair and an hourglass cutie mark. She was instantly attracted, and shoved through crowds to get to him. As she got closer she could see a small bit of annoyance rise up on his face, as if he was waiting for someone who had not showed up.
This is him this is him this is him! She was now racing across the room. And then, just as soon as she recognized him, she heard a large, booming THUNK. And before anypony could ask, the room went black. There were a few terrified screams, and then confused murmurs. Octavia found herself tripping over, and falling flat on her face, for what she guessed was inches from the Colt. She crawled over, where she thought the corner was, and ran into a pair of black hooves. They had small round holes in them.
Confused, Octavia looked up. And instead of seeing her Colt, she saw a changeling.
Which then morphed into her Colt, and gave a wicked smile.