Faltered Notes

by Poet Knight

Play me a song...

Octavia breathed calmly as she surveyed to audience beyond the stage. She was performing tonight with the Orchestre National de Prance, and even had a small solo on the ballot. But, she was prepared for that. No, her attention was on the audience filling their seats. Will you be here tonight, my love? She raised an eyebrow as she spotted a mint-green unicorn conversing enthusiastically with another mare, one with a blue and pink bi-colored mane. Lyra and Bon Bon? She was a little surprised to see her old friends from Ponyville here. She wondered what could have happened to make Bon Bon, a hard-working earth-pony like herself, close her shop and travel all the way to Prance and take in this concert. She smirked and giggled silently as Bon Bon calmed Lyra with a small peck on the lips, then sighed as the action still caused some looks of disgust from some of the other members of the audience.

Octavia frowned in confusion as a murmur started up both in the audience and on stage, just as she saw Bon Bon point to something and Lyra turning to look with a visage of concern. Looking for the source of the commotion, Octavia felt her heart speed up as her gaze fell upon two unicorn mares entering the concert hall. The one on the left was a vivacious mare with a white coat, royal-purple mane and tail curled to perfection, and a gorgeous black mini-dress with matching purse. This, of course, was Rarity the Element of Generosity; but, Octavia's eyes were drawn to Rarity's companion. The mare supporting herself on Rarity's arm wore a dress, that from the front, one might mistake for something from Lady KaKa's collection if not for the creator's embroidered name on the left side. The dress had a bowl-neckline of loose fabric which melded into a stiff back-piece that extended in a tapering form up behind the mare's head, before seemingly to flatten out over it and project towards her horn. She also wore a very distinct pair of tinted shades. Oh Vinyl, you came!! And did you shave your mane for another wacky gig? Her expression a mix of happiness and curiosity, she quickly refocused on the performance as the conductor raised his baton.

As the concert ended, Octavia glanced in Vinyl and Rarity's direction only to spot them walking towards the exit amid the applause. Octavia wondered as to why they were leaving when a sight nearly made her break out in filly-ish giggles. Rarity had shaped the back of the dress to resemble a cello, including sequined strands representing the strings and openings in the back resembling the f-holes. It was the sight of these that made Octavia's pulse race again. The f-holes had the peculiar counter cut that was the same as the ones on the cello Vinyl had given her on their first anniversary, the same cello she was holding now.

She quickly but carefully was stowing her beloved cello away with the intent of chasing after her DJ, when a stage hand gave her a note. "It's from the mare with Mademoiselle Rarity, she bade you to read it." Thanking him she opened the note reading:

Octavia looked at the wine in her glass, wine the same hue as Vinyl's eyes, and let her thoughts wander. She had come straight here after the concert, only to find a table and chair set up on the balcony of their hotel room with a single candle lit and the single glass of wine sitting beside its bottle. Luna's moon was already a quarter through it's nightly journey, shining full. She had checked, but there was no sign of the DJ and so she had sat and waited. And waited. What did you want to talk about Vinyl? Where have you been? Especially today of all days?

Octavia had been invited to a tour of many of the great cities abroad, and Vinyl had come with her eager to sample some of the nightlife and new sounds coming from outside Equestria. She hadn't been playing that many gigs of late, and seemed to withdraw into herself when she thought Octavia wasn't aware. But, the prospects of traveling with the tour seemed to have brightened her spirits. At least they had for a little while, then she became reserved again. And to top it off, she would sometimes leave for days on end only to show up again when they needed to leave or Octavia was playing a concert like tonight. When she questioned her love, Vinyl would always say she was trying to find this or that famous artist or was trying to work on a new song using some of the local talent. Octavia had always waived her own concerns regarding the absences aside, since she was busy with her own practice and since Vinyl had always come back.

Octavia's ruminations were interrupted by the door to their suite opening and the sight of Vinyl entering. She wore the same dress as before, but this time she was carrying a long white box. Octavia watched in puzzlement as Vinyl, leaving her glasses on the table beside the door, walked slowly and awkwardly towards her.

Stopping to stand in front of Octavia, Vinyl kept her eyes on the package in her hands. "Octi, I... I know I haven't been around much, but I... Well, I got you this. Happy anniversary." Vinyl handed Octavia the box, then looked away.

Octavia raised an eyebrow in worry, Vinyl never called her 'Octi' anymore unless she flustered or mad. "Thank you, Vinyl. You know you don't have to give me gifts on our anniversary." She carefully opened the box revealing a solid white cello bow resting on blue satin. Setting the box on the table carefully, Octavia raised the bow off it's bed examining it in the moonlight. A blue flash as she turned it, caused her to look at her partner and speak up, "Vinyl? Are the hairs on this bow yours?"

Her gaze focused on the moon above them, Vinyl answered Octavia's questions with a nod. "And they're not all." she said, pointing to the satin.

Lifting the satin out of the box, Octavia barely suppressed a gasp. Laying in the bottom of the box was a great amount of horse hair, all of it long enough and well enough to fit the bow. The faint glow of a preservation spell shone on the box's sides. Octavia looked worriedly at her love, "Vinyl, the amount of hair here... how?"

Vinyl closed her eyes and answered, "Tavi I have something to tell you, but it's not easy okay? Tavi, I... I have horn-cancer." As she said the last, her hands balled up into fists.

Carefully setting the satin and bow back in the box, Octavia reached out and took her lover's hands in her own. "I know Vinyl. I read Doctor Horse's letter before we left. You left it in the trashcan in the bedroom remember?" Smiling at Vinyl, Octavia continued, "We can cut the tour short. We can go see the doctors here, and see what we can do." Octavia knew that horn-cancer was a rare disease that could affect unicorns. It meant that they would no longer be able to cast magic and could, in a few cases, render the pony incapable of practicing their Talent.

To this Vinyl shook her head slowly, "I've been doing that Tavi. Every time I've been gone for days, it was to see a new doctor or get a new treatment." Unclenching her fists, she gestured to the box. "This last round of Alchemo caused my mane and tail hairs to fall out. My tail fell of too, the bones were made into your bow's frog."

So that explains Lyra and Bon Bon. Vinyl must have asked Lyra to teach her how to walk without her tail for balance. Octavia felt glad that Lyra had gotten certified as a physical therapist, beyond just playing her lyre. "Well, that must be helping some right?" she pleaded.

Kneeling down slowly in front of Octavia. "It's malignant, and it's advanced Tavi. It's already into my skull and my brain. I'm still able to function somewhat right now, but my magic is gone. The docs don't know how much time I have left." She looked up at Octavia's face and took it in her hands, tear welling in her eyes, "But the hard part Tavi is...." As her voice trailed off, Vinyl released Octavia's face and proceeded to pulled various hidden strings in her dress.

Octavia through tearing eyes watched as Vinyl's dress changed before her. The back of the dress lifted backwards as hidden pieces of solid material slid into place, and real strings lifted out of hiding from within the sequin form faux-strings along with a hidden bridge. The piece of the dress leading forward to Vinyl's horn lefted to resemble the peg-box on a cello, but with the strings actually being routed to the unicorns horn where she saw that they were in fact strung through the horn. In the end it appeared as though Vinyl was actually melded with a cello.

Picking up the bow and passing it to Octavia, Vinyl confessed, "I can't feel the music anymore Tavi. Not any music but yours." Moving so she was pressed up against Octavia with their heads side by side, Vinyl pleaded quietly, "Please, Tavi! Please play me like your cello."

Octavia nodded and reached around her love, ignoring how awkward the placing was. Only fourteen years, Vinyl. Oh Princesses, how I wished I had an eternity more! With her eyes blinded by tears, she played the cello that was her greatest friend. Her hooves moved playing out songs she couldn't hear, the only sound she know was the beating of her love's heart.