//------------------------------//
// Octavia's Arrival 
// Story: Twilight Sparkle is an Awkward Dancer 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
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Chapter 2

"Octavia's Arrival"

The very next morning after learning of her visit, Twilight and Spike spent the entire night readying the library for Octavia Melody's arrival. All of the books were organized in their proper order and the books that Twilight wanted Octavia to autograph were placed on the center table of the library.

"Spike, is the food and tea ready?" called Twilight, who was up in her bedroom getting ready. "Octavia will be here any minute."

"Pretty much," he replied, emerging from the kitchen wearing his tuxedo and bringing out a tea set and placing it on a small table. "I've got all kinds of tea that you and Rarity like."

Twilight then came down from her bedroom wearing her birthday dress, since her gala dress was too formal for a tea party. However, she was wearing her star earrings that went with that dress and her mane was in a bun.

"How many kinds of tea do we have exactly?" asked Twilight, inspecting the various tea sets.

"About three kinds," said Spike, showing off what he and Twilight had done to the library. "It's not like there is any that Octavia doesn't like. I'm pretty sure she'll like them all."

Just then, there was a knock at the door and thinking it was Octavia, Twilight and Spike dusted themselves and Spike walked up to the door and opened it. However, it wasn't Octavia at the door, it was Rarity, wearing the yellow dress and hat she wore at the Canterlot Garden Party with her tail adorned with various flowers.

"Well, I suppose everything is in order for Ms. Melody," said Rarity, walking into the library. "She always likes it when everything is in order, you know."

"Should I invite anypony else?" asked Twilight, slightly nervous. "I mean--?"

"Heavens, no!" interrupted Rarity, breaking into a formal monologue. "This is our time together and our time alone. We will give Ms. Melody the chance to be treated like royalty."

Both Twilight and Spike gave her a questionable stare as a way of saying to Rarity that she had gone overboard herself.

"What?" asked Rarity, taking note of the stares. "She is from Canterlot, you know."

"And she is like any other pony," added Twilight. "Who just so happens that I am a big fan of."

Just then, a knock was heard at the door and Spike was motioned by Twilight and Rarity to it. Spike opened the door and there standing in the doorway was a gray pony with a light black mane and tail with a pink bow tie around her neck.

"Is this the home of Twilight Sparkle?" she asked in a posh accent, stepping into the library with her eyes closed. "I have been dying to meet you since the Garden Party."

"Yes, I'm Twilight Sparkle and your biggest fan," giggled Twilight, reaching up to shake Octavia's hoof. "I am honored to meet you, Ms. Melody."

"Please, call me 'Octavia,'" she said, walking past Twilight and Spike. "I have heard many things about you, Twilight, since that display you and your friends produced at the Canterlot Garden Party a few days ago."

Octavia then placed her cello on the center table and took notice of the books that she had written.  She looked at the books with a keen expression.

"I assume you want me to autograph these," she said. "That's all I do in my private meetings with my fans, give autographs and nothing more."

Twilight and Rarity took notice of the sad tone in Octavia's voice as she signed away at the books Twilight owned. They were surprised to know that Octavia was sad at meeting her fans, like Twilight.

"Here you are," replied Octavia. "My autographs for your books."

"Thanks," said Twilight, confusingly as they all came to the tea table. "But, I can't help but notice why you suddenly turned sad."

"It's because I am nothing more than just a tool for autographs," said Octavia, sitting down at the table. "All I ever want is to just be with ponies who appreciate me for who I am: a humble pony who wants to have fun."

Rarity was surprised to hear something like this from her former schoolmate. As far as she was concerned, Octavia enjoyed living the life of a social pony in the capitol of Equestria.

"Seeing you act the way you did got me thinking," continued Octavia, taking a sip of tea. "I admire you for who you are Twilight Sparkle, a pony who is not afraid to be free of the bonds that hold you."

Both unicorns looked at each other with confused looks on their faces. They were surprised that one of the premiere Cellists in Equestria would be speaking like this.

"I don't understand, Octavia," said Rarity. "Whatever do you mean by the bonds that hold you?"

"My family would never let me be anything but a violinist," replied Octavia. "They always said that I was nothing more than a musician. I want to say to them that they can't control me and what I do. I want to be myself and create my own works, but I can't allow my mind to expand."

It was then that Octavia showed Twilight the newspaper with her picture on the cover. Twilight looked at the picture of herself dancing and then looked back at Octavia.

"So, what is it that you want to be?" asked Twilight.

"I want to act like a fool, Twilight," replied Octavia, taking a sip of tea. "I want to learn moves that I can use to match the music I want to write."

Spike and Rarity both looked at each other nervously as Octavia continued to plead her case to Twilight. The young student of Princess Celestia could see that she was being sought after by Octavia for something that she had done so stupidly and on her own birthday as well.

"Well, I am not exactly a good dancer," chuckled Twilight, nervously. "But, I am sure I can help you in any way I can."

"Wonderful!" laughed Octavia, now growing excited. "Shall we get started?"

Rarity wanted to intervene and voice her concern, but she couldn't interfere in her friends' keen interest. So, they watched as the lessons were about to begin…