Chapter 9
"Octavia Meets Her Parents"
The night before Octavia's recital in Canterlot, Twilight and Rarity along with Vinyl Scratch took the first train back to Equestria's capitol. All of them knew that if Octavia was going to give her best performance, she needed to face her parents to tell them face to face about what they thought of her.
"You have to do this, Octavia," insisted Rarity as they walked up to the front door. "It's the only way you can get your anxieties out of you, darling."
"That's what you think, Rarity," grunted Octavia. "They will just say I am an embarrassment to them."
Just as they walked up to the door, however, Twilight began to take notice of several ponies that were gathered outside of the gates. Knowing that they would be coming for her, she decided to let Rarity and Vinyl handle the situation with Octavia.
"I hope you can deal with them fluently," said Rarity. "They have been a bit of a bother since we came here a few days ago."
"They will probably be wanting my autograph," sighed Twilight. "I'd better handle them myself. Can you walk Octavia inside?"
Rarity nodded and Twilight walked up towards the crowd of the ponies that were gathered, trying to think of a way to get them to leave her alone.
Meanwhile, Rarity knocked on the door and the same butler who had greeted her and Twilight, opened the door and allowed them inside.
"I can't believe it," whispered Octavia, who was in both shock and awe at the same time. "I'm home, a place that I both want to and don't want to be at the same time."
Soon, the butler led them into the living room and there sat Octavia's parents on the sofa, both of their mouths hanging at the sight of their daughter. Octavia nervously walked over and sat down in front of them, taking an enormous gulp to show how nervous she was.
"Hello, mother and father," she said nervously. "It's been a long time."
"Indeed it has," replied Octavia's mother, taking a sip of tea. "You wanted to come here to tell us something?"
Octavia hesitated for a moment and wanted to leave, but she couldn't. If there was a time and a place for her to reveal what her parents thought of them, it was now.
"Well," she began, stuttering slightly at the beginning. "I, I know we have not spent as much time as we should have, but there is something on my mind that I need to tell you."
Octavia then looked back to Rarity who motioned her to reveal what was on her mind to the two ponies that sat in front of her.
"All my life," she sighed, looking down at the floor. "I've always wanted to be a famous cello player throughout all of Equestria. But, I was afraid that you wouldn't be satisfied with whatever I would accomplish, no matter how hard I tried."
Both of Octavia's parents could not believe what their daughter was saying to them. In fact, Octavia's confession had sort of touch a chord with Rarity, who also had a similar experience when she was younger.
"Why would you say that, Octavia?" cried her mother, walking over towards her daughter. "You know your father and I would be happy with whatever you would accomplish."
"The only one you are feeling sorry for your actions is yourself, Octavia," added her father, his voice a little stern. "We know that we would be proud of you no matter what you succeed in. How dare you think of the fact we would act this way?"
Octavia was now beginning to feel extremely foolish over her actions. She was now beginning to see that she was acting ridiculous over something that was never going to happen.
"I, I don't know what to say," answered Octavia, sheepishly while scratching her neck with her hoof. "You mean that you were not going to be ashamed that I would stray from traditional Canterlot cellists?"
"Absolutely not," replied her mother, embracing her daughter into a hug. "We are going to be proud of you no matter what you decide to do."
Octavia's father then joined in as the family got together in a group hug while Rarity and Vinyl watched from a short distance.
"Groovy, babe," remarked Vinyl, looking over to Rarity. "Hopefully Octi can mello and bliss out."
"I hope so, Vinyl Scratch," remarked Rarity. "I certainly hope so."
Meanwhile, Twilight was having trouble trying to shoo away the crowds of ponies that continued to surround the fence, trying to catch a glimpse of the pony who dance awkwardly. Poor Twilight was trying everything that she could to get them to leave.
"Hey Twilight," called a pony, holding out a newspaper. "Can I have your autograph?"
"Can I get a picture for my son?" asked a female unicorn. "He loves ponies who dance funny."
Twilight then began to notice that the gate was beginning to break down and knowing that she had to act quickly, Twilight activated her horn and a surge came out of it, sending what appeared to be a large pink dome surrounding the house. The quick actions of Celestia's student allowed Octavia's home to be protected by the dome as it pushed the crowd of ponies back into the streets.
"That ought to hold them," Twilight whispered to herself as she trotted back into the house, racing by the butler, who was nearly knocked to the ground.
"Do you mind?" he called, raising his hoof up in disgust.
Twilight then raced into the living room, just as Octavia and her parents had broken up from their group hug. The studious unicorn could see that the family had a major breakthrough.
"Well, I guess that the family has made up," remarked Twilight to Rarity. "Now, Octavia can focus on her recital."
"I certainly hope so," added Rarity, taking in a deep sigh of relief, only to notice the force field right outside. "By the way, Twilight, what is that purple thing outside?"
"I had a little trouble with the public," laughed Twilight nervously, scratching the back of her neck.
Now, the attention would shift to Octavia's recital the following night…