Octavia sat in front of her usual table at the cafe. A cup of steaming tea sat beside her, hardly touched. Her muzzle was burried in a magazine filled with news of the classiest ponies in Equestria. A pony was softly playing the piano as someponies came and went, although she hardly paid them any mind. The only thing she noticed when they made their presence was the chime of the bell that hung above the door, and the gentle chatter of their voices. She swayed to the beat, humming to the tune.
“E'hmm,” A pony cleared her thought beside her. Octavia jumped, slightly startled to see the pony standing beside her. She quickly regained her composure with her cheeks blushing slightly when she realized she had been being watched. The white coat of the pony beside her seemed to glow in the warm light of the cafe.
“Oh, Rarity,” She greeted her friend with a small smile,“I didn't see you there. Your mane looks nice today, did you try something new with it?”
Rarity groaned, “Oh I fought with it for hours, it simply wouldn't behave.” A frown contorted her pretty face.
“Well it looks like you did spend hours on it,” Octavia acknowledged, it had a glossy sheen to it that sent off a radiant purple reflection. “It's quite mesmerizing.”
“Why thank, you,” Rarity’s grin returned, “I'm just glad that somepony around here appreciates all of my effort.” She sat on a cushion beside Octavia. The music had stopped, and Octavia glanced over to see Noteworthy had stepped down from his bench and was now at the counter ordering something.
“Are you hungry?” Octavia asked, her hooves were itching to move.
“Actually dear, I just came to talk to you, Vinyl said you would be here.” Octavia's attention refocused on Rarity. “I happen to have some tickets to a ball that I want you to join me for!” Her voice raised a few octaves in her excitement, then she lowered herself to the table, leaning into Octavia and continuing in a hushed tone, “Hoity toity is throwing it, and Photo Finish will be there.” Even in the whisper Octavia could tell she was bursting with excitement. Then the sat straight back up, and looked at her sternly, “I must make an appearance, and I need you to be there to support me, you'll do me this one, small, tiny, favor wont you?” Her lower lip pouted out, and her eyes swelled with hope.
“Well, of course,” Octavia stammered. Being invited to a ball with a friend was hardly a burden.
“Ah, I knew you would,” Rarity perked up as if nothing had been the matter. “I'll leave these with you, and I'll have your gown ready by tomorrow, make sure to bring your otherpony by then too so I can get measurements.” She dropped two tickets onto the table, then stood to take her leave.
The two silver tickets were embellished with the words 'Grand Evening Ball'. Octavias mind went first to her closest friend, “I'm sure Vinyll will be excited to hear that.”
Rarity turned on her heels, “No, no, no! That won't do.” Octavia's head cocked sideways in her confusion. Vinyll would love a good party. Rarity sat back down on her haunches, she exhaled in exasperation before she continued, “This isn't a party for just any ponies, this is a premiere event for only the most civilized, fashionable, classiest, radiant...” with each word she stomped her hove on the ground and her eyes seemed to grow wider. Soon she was out of breath, “...Beautiful, extravagant...”
“Rarity please breathe, I understand.” Her eyes lowered to the table as she crossed her hooves. “I suppose I could find some-.”
“Brilliant,” Rarity stood once more, “I'll start on your dress at once, do not be late tomorrow!” She trotted for the door and left a waft of her lavender perfume where she had just been sitting.
Octavia glanced around the room and saw the other ponies were silent, watching the door where Rarity had just departed. The silence made the room momentarily freeze in the stillness, but after a beat or two they continued their conversations from right where they had left off, Octavia's eyes lowered to the table to where the tickets rested. A feeling of dread washed over her. She felt a lump rising in her throat and tried to wash it away with a sip of her tea. She also tried straightening the purple bow on her neck, but that didn't help her feel any better at all.
The tea sat untouched on the table for the rest of the afternoon as she stared blankly at the same page of the magazine, lost in her thoughts. The tickets loomed on the edge of the table, catching a quick glance every few minutes. By now she knew the deadline. The party was at the end of the week, and Rarity expected her to be prepared with somepony by tomorrow night. And not just anypony, but a special pony. The music was the only thing that helped calm her. She pondered going home and playing her cello to soothe her mind, but knew that wouldn't be making any progress. She couldn't let her friend down.
“Hey there,” A voice jolted her from her thoughts once more. It was Tippour, the grey earthpony who worked at the shop. Octavia reached a hove up to sweep the tickets under the magazine.
“Hello,” She replied, with a nervous laugh.
“Did you want some more tea? It looks like yours is cold.”
“Ah,” She looked back at her cup, “Yes please, that would be most appreciated.”
“I'm on it,” He took the saucer in his mouth yet still managed to say, “I'll bring you a fresh one.”
Soon a new wafting tea was set in front of her, she had turned the page in the magazine to make it appear as through she was reading it. “Thanks Tippy,” she managed to say. She considered him, he was a hard working pony who made sure everypony got their orders, and was satisfied. He was friendly as well. Surely he could be an option to ask to the ball.
“No problem, Do you think you could say hi to Rarity for me?” He seemed hopeful. “She doesn't come in here as often as you do.”
“Why... yes,” She answered. He returned to his place behind the counter, and she wondered how Rarity had left such an impression on him. It was no doubt she was beautiful. Maybe that would be what it would take to get a special pony interested in her. She glanced in the reflection of her tea, studying the way her eyelids fluttered.
“Are you tired?” Cherilee asked from the table beside her. Octavia looked over to the purple pony with her striped pink mane and cheery expression.
“No, just...,” Octavia sighed, “Maybe. I suppose I am.” She closed the magazine and waked over to the mare. She was another regular at the cafe. “Say, What do the young school-ponies to when they ask each other to the dances?”
“Do you have your eye on some pony?” She pried.
Octavia's eyes went to the carpet and her mouth gaped as she searched for words.
Cherliee smiled knowingly. “Usually they will play together,” She acknowledged, “Sometimes they tease or bluntly rush in, but the only way to know is if they ask.”
“What I mean by that is- I'm only... because, Rarity.”
“Shh child, you don't have to explain anything, I understand.” Cerilee took a bite of her tulip sandwich, then washed it down with a swig of honeydew.
“You are a talented pony,” she praised. “A pony would be lucky if they had your attention.”
“Thank you,” She accepted the compliment. “I think I do need some rest though, I'll see you around.”
“Good luck,” Cherilee wished her well.
Octavia returned home with the magazine in her bag with the tickets tucked safely inside. Play together, the thought stuck in her mind. She dropped her bag off by the foot of her bed and took her cello out to play the same songs she had listened to all day at the cafe. She fell asleep that night with the same songs playing through her head.
Octavia woke to the chirps of birds outside her window. It was a better change than waking up to the vibrations of Vinyl's speakers, but those never started until after noon when she was awake anyway. Octavia stared in her mirror, trying to control the poof of grey hair on her head and tame it into a styled fluff. Rarity said she had spent hours on her hair. Is that what made everypony stop and stare after her when she left the room? She spent a while running the comb through her mane but after a few minutes nothing seemed to have changed. I'll have to go ask her how she does it myself, she decided.
With her bag in hoof she trotted over to Rarity's boutique. As soon as she entered she could see her friend was hard at work. “Good morning,” She greeted.
Rarity looked up from her work. Her cat rested beside her, still sleeping in a patch of sunlight below the window. “Oh darling, I'm so glad you stopped by, you must let me know what you think of the design.” On a plain white stuffed manikin sat a lavender-grey dress hemmed with a staff bar held together with a stream of notes made of black and white lace.
“Wow, it looks wonderful,” She praised. She took a closer look at the pattern of the tune. “That's the song I played at my last concert the Moonlight Serenade.”
“Yes! See, I knew you would appreciate good work.” Rarity glowed with pride. “And of course I admire your music as well.”
“Oh,” Octavia remembered, “Tippour wanted me to say hello.”
“Who?” Rarity seemed to strain to try and remember whichpony that was.
“The server at the cafe,” She reminded her.
“Ahh,” Rarity sighed, “I'll have to say the same to him next time we meet.” She returned to the sewing machine.
“If you don't mind me asking, which pony are you bringing to the ball?” Octavia looked around the shop to try and look for a sign of a colts costume in the works.
Rarity let out a soft laugh, “Oh no I am far to busy to look for a pony, I am sure one will ask me at the ball to dance. There will be manypony of high style there.” Octavia felt lost. Then why was she being expected to invite somepony? “Now if you don't mind Twilight is bringing her guard over for a fitting this morning so I'll have to get to him first. Please don't be late tonight.”
Octavia left with her promise a warm goodbye, but as the door closed behind her she felt defeated. Princess Twilight was taking her guard, and Rarity wasn't taking anypony at all. That left her with the sole responsibility of finding somepony on her own. She also realized she had forgotten to ask about how Rarity had done her hair so marvelously. She was back to where she had been last night, not quite sure how to be pretty or interesting. Your talented she remembered Cherilees kind words. But there was a time and place for her to use her skills and right now just didn't happen to be one of those times. If she was in the concert hall, armed with her cello, she knew she would shine. But what about being on her own, just the way she was. What then?
She walked around ponyville that morning, looking for friendly faces. She bought a tulpip from the market that she let hang from her mane as she patrolled the streets. At one point she spotted Big Mac hauling a cart to applejacks stand. He was a nice enough pony that she could talk to. “How is the acapella going?”
He smiled and nodded to her.
“That's good to um, hear...I'll see you around at the concert hall then,” She waved a hoof as he began unloading baskets of apples.
An open door of a nearby shop released a wave of music into the air, a charming clarinet rung out a happy tune. Octavia wandered towards it. In the woodcarvers shop Chipaway was fiddling with his instrument. As soon as she entered, he set the clarinet down behind the counter. “Why did you stop playing?” She couldn't help but ask.
“Well, you see, I'm not that good yet,” He admitted. “And besides, I should be working, not playing around.” He grabbed a broom and began to sweep a pile of wood shavings into a bin.
“Oh, but that is why I came in,” She admitted. “I thought it sounded quite nice.”
“Well, hey, thank you! I suppose I just don't know when no one tells me.”
“Well then, I'm glad I came in today.” She left with a smile on her face. Once she was out the door she could hear him start to whistle a few more notes.
Her hooves wandered some more until they carried her back to her usual place, in her usual spot, on her usual cushion. “Would that be another dandelion tea for you today?” Tippour asked kindly.
“Yes, please.” Octavia pulled out her magazine again as she waited. The tickets fell out into her lap. She knew she had to act, and not sit around doing nothing all day. Truth be told she did know which pony she wanted to ask, but that seemed to be the hardest thing. Every time he was near she felt out of breath and not at all like herself. The only way to know is to ask, she reminded herself. She only ever felt as meek as she did now when she was about to perform in front of a crowd. This would only be one pony. One.
Tippour dropped off her tea once more and she delved into her magazine. Her throat began humming along absentmindedly to the piano as the afternoon went on. She was engrossed in an article about the premier debut of a viola playing pony from Manehattan when Vinyll roused her from the story.
“Woah, oh, hey there Vinyll.” She greeted her close friend. The white pony had an electric blue mane and goggles.
“Hey Octi, Rarity has been waiting for you.” Octavia glanced around the room, most ponies had left, and a glance at her tea told her it had gone cold without her even taking a sip.
“Has it really been that long?” She pondered aloud.
“I guess it has because Rarity is throwing a fit. I told her she could find you here but she said she couldn't bear to think that you had forgotten. But don't mind her, I'm sure she doesn't mean anything by that. She knows you wouldn't forget about her.”
“Oh, no I, just, lost track of the time I guess. I'll meet her right away.” She dropped some bits on the table and left with Vinyll. It wasn't until they were outside the door that she realized she hadn't managed to bring anypony with her except for the one pony she was asked not to bring.
“I've got it from here, thanks for fetching me,” She said before entering the boutique, “I'll see you back at home later.”
“Alright, see ya.”
Upon entering the shop she spotted two new outfits, one that was a shimmering midnight blue gown that could only be fit for the princess, and beside it sat a deep blue shimmering suit.
“I don't know how you manage it,” Octavia complimented.
“Oh, it's nothing compared to seeing you all wear them out. Now where is that special somepony?” Rarity looked expectantly out the window.
“I, uh, wasn't able to ask anypony,” She admitted.
“But Vinyll said-”
“What!?” Octavia cut in. She hadn't told anyone about her crush, not even her best friend. “How did she, why would she, I don't...”
“Relax,” Rarity admonished, “She didn't tell me who she just mentioned that there was a pony that had your interest. And she was supposed to have you bring him with you.”
“And you wanted to make me talk to him?” Octavia was baffled.
“I am helping you dear, how else will he know if you don't do something?”
“I was actually fine keeping it to myself.”
“Oh, but that won't do either of you any good, and besides, I need company for my ball. I can't go alone. So you are going to ask him. Do it for me.” She used her same lip pout as before.
Octavia looked away and huffed, “It's not as easy as you think.”
“Tell me that you will at least try, or else all the hard work I did to get that ticket for him will go to waste.” Octavia could tell that she was only trying to be a good friend and help her.
“Alright,” She conceded, “I'll try, but I may need your help.”
“Ask away.” Rarity grinned.
“Well, maybe, if we could start... by... doing... my... hair?” Rarity's face turned to a look of sheer determination.
“Oh,” Octavia was dazzled by her reflection. Before her stood a beautiful pony whos hair shimmered as if the sun was always shining on it. Her eyelids were painted a deep blue and her tail was put up in a braid. “I'm not sure if I recognize myself.”
“You look stunning,” Rarity praised herself, “Now go out there and bring him with you tomorrow!” She shoved her out the door and waved goodbye with a handkerchief in her hove. The door shut behind her leaving her alone once more. She strutted to the cafe, and peered though the window. Noteworthy was at the piano, and Tippour was making his rounds of the tables. She startled as a voice snorted behind her.
She turned to see Vinyll again. “What?” The snickering pony answered her, “You didn't think I would let you do this alone did you?”
“How, long have you known?” She asked.
“Uh, only since you come here everyday and are always singing the same songs over and over again.” Vinyll stuck her tongue out and made gagging noise. “What is with the look?”
“I uh, wanted to make a good impression.”
“But he doesn't need that, he's seen you before. He sees you every day Octi. It won't matter.”
“Yes, but does he ever notice me? Do you think he'll be interested?”
Vinyll shrugged. “Maybe he won't be, but if he's not he'll be missing out cause your a great pony.”
“I, I can't do this.” Octavia put her hoof down. “You had no right to go telling Rarity anything about what it is you think I want. You two can't be pushing me around, forcing me to do something I’m not comfortable with.”
“If you don't do something you'll always wonder though. I want to see you be happy, and it seems like this pony could do the trick, and your obviously not getting anywhere by us letting you be.” Octavia turned and darted away back towards home. She crawled under her covers and closed her eyes.
There was a gentle knock on her door followed by, “I'm sorry I didn't meant to say anything that would scare you away, just please, don't be afraid to talk to him. Your holding yourself back here.”
In the morning Octavia rose from her bed. The makeup had smeared across her face and her hair was stiff and tangled. She took a long bath to sort all of it out. The lilac bubbles rose her spirits and feeling freshed and renewed she started off to another day.
She returned to the cafe with a new magazine from the market and some fresh sheet music to look over. With her tea beside her and the music around her she felt comfortable. This was enough for her. She glanced at the tea, she knew that was not what she came here for, and the cushion that she sat on wasn't any different from the others. The difference was him, he was what drew her to this place, him, and his music. She could be happy, not just content. She stood.
The piano seemed to be a mile away, but she managed to take one step at a time, until she reached it. At last. She realized she had been holding her breath. She let it out in a puff. “Uh, are you okay?” Noteworthy leaned around to ask, not missing a beat in his song.
Octavia was only able to slightly nod. He turned back to his music, “That was a nice flower you had in your hair yesterday.”
Her face turned beet red as she formulated a reply. “It-it was from the place with the flowers, and the booth.” She wanted to curl back up in her bed. This is what she had been afraid of. She glanced back over to her spot where she knew she would be safe. She only had to get back there.
“I liked it,” He said.
Wait.
He... liked it? As in he noticed her? And that she had done something different. And not only that but he thought it was nice even. Her head was rushing. “You play the piano very nicely,” She managed to find her voice again.
“Thanks,” He smiled back at her.
She took the opportunity to turn to the counter and ask for some hay to snack on. She returned to her spot, brimming with excitement. Then she realized that even though she managed to talk to him she hadn't asked him to go with her. She was mad at herself for that, but still proud of what she had done. She knew Vinyll would have no problem walking up to him and just saying what was on her mind. But there were so many people here. I have to do this my own way, she reminded herself. If not she would wind up trying to be somepony else again with a fancy mane or wait until Vinyll told him. She knew she couldn't stay silent forever.
To the tune of - “On My Own”
Sitting here listening to his music All alone, I sway with him till closing Without him, I feel a silent space there And I lose my tongue when he meets my eyes and smiles my way
In Canterlot the ballrooms shine like silver All the halls are full of joy and laughter In Equestria the realm is full of music And all I hear is him, oh will he say yes, I don't know yet
But I'd know, If only if I'd ask But will he say no and leave me on my own? And although, he maybe just might say yes I am sure I would not interest him
Im listening when no one else can hear you I am there If only you could see me in the crowd but then your done and packing oh, why can't I just speak up?
There he goes, will he be back tomorrow? When I am brave And my voice let's me speak up When he's gone I feel my breath returning With a head that's full of thoughts So hard to share Maybe tomorrow Maybe tomorrow Maybe tomorrow,
But only if I can.
Noteworthy had his music in a folder as he headed for the door. She knew Tippour was about to ask her to leave for the night as well so he could close up, so she packed her things as well. Noteworthy rushed ahead of her to hold the door. Have a goodnight is what she wanted to say, but the words were caught in her throat, and wouldn't seem to make it any further. She stopped trying to force herself to speak, knowing that when the words came out they would be jumbled anyway. Her bag brushed against his folder and the papers flew everywhere.
Octavia stuttered, “Oh, no, sorry, it's just my, I c-.” She looked down at the pile on the floor, there was barely any music in the folder at all, it was mostly ticket stubs. “Here, let me help you with that,” She managed.
“No,” He tried to hide the mess, “It's okay, I've got it, it's fine.” She looked down, ashamed, then she saw the words on the paper.
“The moonlight Serenade,” She read aloud. He must have been at every single show. Then she noticed the others, all things that she had played at.
“No,” He panicked, “I can explain.” Octavia stood speechless and stunned. “I just really like hearing you play, and I didn't want to scare you off. I like seeing you when you come in every day.”
Octavia moved herself to speak up, “But that's why I come in every day, to hear you play.”
“Really?” He asked, just as shocked as she had been.
“Say,” The words came so easily to her now, “There is a ball in a few days, and I'd like to know if you'd go with me?”
Rarity had Noteworthy fit with a tuxedo in under a day. When the night of the ball arrived Rarity, Twilight, Flash Sentry, and Octavia were all waiting at the station. “I thought he'd be here,” Octavia worried.
Rarity chided, “I've already made him a suit so he'd better.”
Huffing, and out of breath Octavia spotted him across the station. She ran to meet him. “I wasn't sure if you would make it,” She admitted.
“Of course I am here, I just thought you needed one more thing.” He removed a tulip from his vest and placed it gingerly in her mane. “There, you are beautiful, let's go.” And happily, they went.