Octavia is pointed in the direction of Carousel Boutique by a respected colleague. She intends to commision matching uniforms on behalf of her ensemble leader, the esteemed Frederic Horseshoepin. Octavia has misgivings however, when informed that the boutique in question is in Ponyville, a backwater farming town.

Can the proprietor of Carousel Boutique prove to the Canterlot mare that she has what it takes?

Spike decides he wants some spending money, so he gets a job as an assistant to the local DJ, Vinyl Scratch.

What starts off as a part-time 'errand boy' job, quickly evolves into a close friendship, and may become something more in time. Apparently, they have more in common than they ever would have thought.

Super special thanks to Avox for being my editor.
Super speical thanks to themouthofmush and Starlight Shadow for Proofreading. You guys rock!

Cover by: wafflenaw

Fiddlesticks forgot to bring a dress for the Apple family square dance. She wasn't about to go without one, and she wasn't about to miss the opportunity to spend quality time with her family. Luckily, her cousin Applejack knows just the pony to help.

(cover vector given by Camsy34)

Octavia has finally been promoted to first chair, unfortunately for her, that chair is in the new (and as of yet unformed) Royal Ponyville Orchestra. Now, the best cellist in Equestria (Her words) is being sent to the cultural gulag of Ponyville (Also her words) to form and lead the Royal Ponyville Orchestra to greatness (Princess Luna's words).

Now has a sequel, Princess Luna's Academy of the Arts and Sciences.

And an online reading.

Credit goes to jlm123hi for arranging the cover art
Vectors used:
The stage
Vinyl
Lyra
Fiddlesticks
Octavia

Bonus: Have some fan art made by GamingMelody I found when I accidentally typed my username into Deviant Art's search tool instead of logging in. It's cool someone liked my words enough to draw them, and I hope anyone who does so in the future will send me a link so I can plug them in whatever way I can.

Rarity notices Spike spending less and less time with her and spending more and more time on his own, she was fine at first, but his frantic behavior begins to tip her off that he's not off on his own, he's off with somepony special, She Follows him around ponyville to discover just who is stealing his attention from her, The answer surprises her.

Vinyl Scratch notices her Octavia slowly playing less and less attention to her and spending more and more time out on her own, She was cool with it at the beginning, but her behavior and general anxiousness to leave at certain times tips her off that she's not off on he own, she's with somepony Special, she follows her around ponyville to discover who it is, the answer surprises her.

(was originally gonna post on Valentine's day but was delayed) (until 2 Valentine's day later it seems,)

Rarity prides herself on her work, and when letters start pouring in from Canterlot after the Royal Wedding she is overjoyed by the enthusiasm for her dresses. Drawing on her friend Fancy Pants, she is able to set up a temporary shop in Canterlot for one month, where she will do her best to turn out as many dresses and outfits as she possibly can.

She swears to Twilight and her friends that she won't fall for the allure of the big city again, and that Ponyville won't have to go long without her... but once there, she is quickly swept up in the grandeur and glamour of post-Wedding Canterlot. Her clients are rich, prestigious and famous, with clout and influence to burn...

...but it is one mare, a simple gray earth pony, who catches her attention. She doesn't behave like the rest- she is quiet, yet when she speaks she is witty and clever, not dull and droll like the others. She dodges Rarity's questions about her artfully, which only piques the white unicorn's interest and nigh-on forces her to dig deeper into the community to find out about this mysterious mare named Octavia.

But what does she hope to find? Why is she so driven to find out more about the gray earth pony musician... and what will she do with the information she gleans?

How about a pairing that we know for sure hasn't been done before?

Frederic has been in love with Octavia for a long time. Sadly for him, it's an unattainable goal. Similarly, Rarity was heartbroken by the boorish, uncouth actions of Prince Blueblood. But maybe, just maybe, they can find love elsewhere.

~Co-written by BillyColt

In Canterlot, Twilight Sparkle meets a new friend, Octavia Melody, who helps her cope with the loneliness of being separated form her old friends in Ponyville. As time goes on, Twilight becomes more attached to the cellist than she originally intended. Meanwhile, back in Ponyville, a certain unicorn begins to realize just how much she misses her former neighbor...

Special thanks to GreekSatellite for my fancy new cover image!

The Element of Magic, Octavia Melody, needs help to defeat a monster that threatens all of Equestria. When only one of her friends can be there, she turns outside to bring others to her aid.

Fate (and the guidance of the Princesses) brings her the assistance of virtuoso cellist Twilight Sparkle and her wubtastic marefriend, DJ Rar-👁-T.

Of course, Princess tasks are rarely without their own unspoken machinations...

An Alt-U of one of the most unlikely Elements with a dash of gratuitous RariTwi.

Brought to you by: Secrets: A Swapped Roles Contest. Where it won!

Also now with a three part Fic Case Study by Casketbase77.

Featured on Equestria Daily on 5/27/2024 as part of 12 of the Best Fanfics to Read for Vinyl and Octavia Day!

When Vinyl and Octavia first meet on the streets of Manehattan it seems that they have little in common. Octavia is a part of a prestigious String Quartet and a graduate of Canterlot's most acclaimed music school. Vinyl, on the other hand, is a young street musician, playing and living on the dirty streets of the low-end part of the city, trying to survive harsh winters without shelter. But there is a one thing they share that binds them together in spite of everything: music. And thus their story unfolds. But with all of the struggles they face and the secrets they keep, can two ponies who are so different ever find peace with each other and, more importantly, with themselves?