Vinyl lives a rough lifestyle, and it grates on more than just her health. When Octavia comes looking for her, Vinyl flees out of shame.

Octavia has always played the piano. From a young age, it was her mother's dearest wish that she would learn, and she couldn't let herself disappoint her mother. So she played the piano. But that isn't to say she wanted to.

This is the story of her life, told by her. It's a story about music, family, and self-discovery.

Written for the /fic/ May Write-Off, in which it came second place (to DuncanR's amazing Erase and Rewind).

Edited by Vimbert.

In the wake of the Bugbear attack, Vinyl hears of Bon Bon's - Or, rather, Sweetie Drops's - true identity.
This, naturally, makes Vinyl curious. Could Octavia be hiding something from her?
Of course not, right?
...Right?

It was supposed to be Octavia’s first big moment in her beginning career. To her dismay a unicorn named Vinyl Scratch stole her spotlight and left an impression on the cellist she would so soon not forget.

This is my take on how two of my favorite ponies met and the stages they went through.

This story takes place about 2 years before Nightmare Moon returns, so you will not see any of the main characters here. If you are here for some Scootaloo & Rainbow Dash, I am sorry to disappoint you.

But please….stay a while and listen….err read.

Rated Teen for some slightly darker scenarios in later chapters and some crude attempted humor.

Two passengers on a train ride toward an uncertain future. One is a pony. The other only pretends to be.

Sex is tame and non-explicit. Don't be afraid to read.

Written expressly for Equestria Daily's Outside Insight Summer Fanfiction Contest.

Now with a dramatic reading by Illya Leonov!

Russian translation courtesy of Arsus.
Chinese translation courtesy of viczhn.
French translation courtesy of BroNie.

Inspired by the artwork of RubleGun and Raddjuret. Musical accompaniment by Patrick Poe.

Featured at Equestria Daily and the Royal Canterlot Library.

Reader Testimonials

"Vinyl + Octavia is one of the fandom's most cliché and mismatched pairs, and yet this is a real romance with genuine depth and emotion." - horizon
"Holy shit this is impressive. Like... Holy shit, man." - Skeeter The Lurker
"You have crafted something wonderful here, a true gem. You should be proud." - Illya Leonov
"Note that I hate this ship when I say this is far and away the best ScratchTavia I've ever read." - PresentPerfect
"Fuuuuck it's so good!" - Luminary

Vinyl knew she loved him from the time she was very small...

And she knew it was wrong.
They had grown up together.
He was like a brother to her.

But she still loved him,
And it wasn't supposed to be that way...

But that didn't make it hurt any less.

This story is a sequel to Accidental Harmony

Several months after moving to Ponyville, Vinyl and Octavia are planning their upcoming wedding. With help from friends like Lyra and Bon-Bon, what could possibly go wrong?

"My life has run its course; I've planted my hooves firmly on the ground and ridden the ups and downs to my greatest potential. I've loved, I've hated, I've cried, I've laughed... but most importantly, I've overcome."

A simple life, floating on the wind.

Brace down and buckle up as you are taken along on the wicked rollercoaster ride that is Vinyl's life. Stand beside her as she first learns of her talents as a musician. Hold her hoof as she braves whatever life throws at her while buskering on the streets of Manehatten. Cry with her as she faces old fears and overcomes new ones. Cheer and revel in her marriage and success. Laugh wholeheartedly at her comedic small mistakes and happenstances.

Most importantly however, understand the rocky and twisted road that shaped the DJ we have all come to know and love.

Octavia Melody is calm, patient and longing to break the boundaries of class through her career as a musician.

Princess Luna is lost in the eddies of her past, struggling to belong in a new age that doesn't seem to want her.

A chance meeting after a disastrous gala gives these isolated souls a chance to find companionship and comfort. As Luna seeks solace in Octavia's soothing music, Octavia comes to recognize the princess's loneliness and fears. When it's your duty to protect other ponies' dreams, who protects your own? Octavia might just be willing to try.

...a fantastic fic, with one of the best paced romances you can find on this site, great prose, and one of the best characterized Octavia's I could point out. — Soge, TPCaRG (Read the review!)

PaulAsaran has crafted what may well be the best LunAvia ship on the site. —Cerulean Voice

Highly recommended if you like romance instead of the more typical shallow shipping. —City of Doors

If you're a fan of Luna and or Octavia, it's a crime not to indulge! —Wanderer D

I guarantee you will enjoy it. —vren55

Technically, this is flawless: the writing, the pacing, you name it, it's great. —PresentPerfect

Print copy now available for purchase on Lulu!

Now with a YouTube reading by Never After All Readings!

A re-imagining of The Gentle Nights, reworked from the ground up to be bigger and brighter.

Special thanks to Mercury Gilado, Absolution and Starlight Nova for pre-reading and editing.

Artwork commissioned from the talented viwrastupr.

[11/11/2014]: Now featured on Equestria Daily!
Featured 11/22/14.

Now featured by The Royal Guard!

The path to adulthood is one riddled with pitfalls and obstacles, and it's no easier weighed down by everypony's expectations. Octavia has to deal with resentful teachers, impatient parents, school pageants, bullies, rivalries, and broken bow strings if she ever wants to make it as a respected musician. If she can even be sure that's what she wants. Luckily for her, she's always had one pony who'll stick by her through thick and thin, and maybe make a little trouble herself.