> Octavia's Different Side > by Rose_Fire > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Meeting Thunder Chord > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1:Meeting Thunder Chord I watch carefully as my fingers dance on the strings of my cello. My bow glides across my instrument gracefully . I complete my melody. Everyone cheers my name. Especially Vinyl. Octavia! Octavia!I bow. My long black dress flows around my ankles, my heels click as I walk off stage. Vinyl is the first to congratulate me. “You did amazing!” I smile at her compliment. “Thank you, are you coming to the after party?” I ask her, curious. She nods. “Of course I will, I’m hosting it, Octi!” She hugs me and runs off. A lot of other people come to congratulate me as well. I finally meet someone I don’t know I don't think I've seen him here in Ponyville before. He smiles down at me. “You did amazing.” I look at his spiky black and white hair, his blue skin and muscular wings. I look into his green eyes. He wears jeans, a blue shirt and denim jacket. I look at his wrist bands dangle as he sticks his hands in his pocket. “Thank you … I didn’t quite get your name.” He laughs, “I’m Thunder Chord.” I extend my hand, “Octavia.” He shakes. “We should hang out sometime, get to know each other some more.” He suggests. I glance at my watch. I have time now. “We can hang out now, if you’d like.” I tell him. His smile grows. “Cool.” “I just need to change first.” He nods. “Ok, then. I’ll be waiting right here for you, Octavia.” I walk to my dressing room. I set my cello and bow in its case carefully. Then I yank off my dress and heels. Replacing it with black skinny jeans, a purple shirt and blazer. I wear wedged sneakers. I fix my hair and put it back in its normal state. I take my cello case and carry it out of the room. I find Thunder Chord waiting patiently, as he promised. “Told you I’d wait.” He tells me. “Are you coming to the after party?” I ask him. “Yeah, I heard DJ-Pon3 is hosting.” We walk toward the building that holds the after party. “You know, she’s actually my roommate.” I say, trying to start conversation. “Oh really? That’s cool. What’s it like to live with her?” I sigh at his request. “Sometimes it can be annoying. But, she says the same thing about my cello. Yet, she’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had.” I ook down, trying to change the subject. “So where are you from, Thunder? What do you do?” “Well, it’s a long story.” he says, rubbing the back of his head. I fold my arms. “I have time.” “Ok then. Well ... I moved here from Manehattan. My brother and I finished college together with a musical degree. “ I nod along. “I play the electric guitar, I’m in a rock band. But I can play piano and violin. Probably not as well as you, though. Anyway, I like to play sports. I’ve raced and almost made the wonderbolts, but I didn’t get in.” “I have a sister as well, her name is Electric Blaze. She’s not really in to this whole music thing though.” He turns to me. “So what about you?’ “Well, like I said, Vinyl is my roommate. For some reason everyone believes we’re together. Like, together, together. But, I’m not seeing anyone, nor am I a lesbian. Not that I find anything wrong with that, but I’m just not.” “Anyway, I also graduated with a music scholarship and completed college. I play cello professionally, now.” I brag. “That’s pretty much it for me… well despite another thing.” I trail off. “And that is?” We enter the building at last, the flashing lights are vivid and colorful. Vinyl is on stage, working with her station, as usual. “I’d rather show you after the party.” I say. The party was fun. We had cake, and danced. Just a taste of beer for me. Soon enough, when the party was over, it was late at night. “Care to show me that ‘other thing’” Thunder moves his fingers in a quoting motion when he says 'other thing'. “Ok, ok." I give in, " Just give me a minute.” We arrive at my house, Vinyl isn’t there - she’s crashing at a friend’s last time I checked. “If I show you this, you have to promise not to tell anyone.” he nods. “Pinkie promise.” I demand. He holds out his pinky finger. I laugh. “The other Pinkie promise.” He looks confused. “Pinkie hasn’t told you yet. Follow what I do: Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” He repeats. “If this promise is broken, I’d lock my door.” I say. I get my targets. I grab my bow and guns. Thunder looks stunned. “You don’t … you aren’t gonna…?” I laugh. “No. I do it for fun, not to harm anyone or anything – despite the target.” He sighs in relief. I hold my gun - with a silencer, of course - in position, aiming … fire. A bull’s eye. "Wow! That was - amazing!" he exclaims a little too loudly. "Shh! People are sleeping!" I whisper-shout. "Oh, sorry." he changes the subject, "So how did you get interested in this stuff, Tavi? Can I call you Tavi?" I laugh silently. "It all started when Vinyl took me to the shooting range. That's where I learned, in case of intruder - which is very unlikely, here, in Ponyville. I started to buy guns, and shoot them when no one was looking. Now here I am. Sure, call me Tavi if you want, I don't mind." "Well, that's reasonable." he chuckles. I start putting the stuff away. "Let me help you with that ... Tavi." When we've finished, I grab my cello case and we head inside the house. I put the case up against a wall, Thunder sits on the couch whilst I lean against the countertop. I say something before it gets too awkward. "So tell me more about you, Thunder." "Well, there's not much to say, I told you I play electric guitar and - Oh! I almost forgot. My band might have a concert right here in Ponyville." I nod. "I'm guessing you travel a lot then?" "I do, but only every few months. We just got here this morning." I thought I saw some RVs that looked like they belonged to the Dark Angels I've heard them around Equestria. But it's not really my type of music. Vinyl tried dragging me to meet them, but I wanted to practice before my concert. "Hey, uh, Tavi, can you play the cello one last time before I go? I like the way you play - and this is coming from a guy who's been all over Equestria and hasn't heard better." I smile. My cheeks begin to heat up. "Um, sure, Thunder, I'd love to." I shuffle to my cello and take it out, setting it up. I play a sweet song I memorized. And I am lost in my fantasy of melodies and notes. > Surprise Visit > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A knock at our door. "Are you expecting someone, Octi?" Vinyl teases, I blush. "No, not really. I'm trying to practice for my next concert." I get back to rehearsing on my cello. She opens the door, "Hi. Are you the new guy, in the band?" I look up and find Thunder Chord there, his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, that's me." he says, not looking at Vinyl but at me. "Excuse me, Vinyl." I say, sort of shoving her aside. "Hey, Tavi, it's been a while." "An entire month." I say. "What brings you here?" "Well," he invites himself in. I close the door after him. "I wanted to give you these." he holds out tickets to his rock concert. "These are for us?" I gasp. "Yeah, take 'em." "But, you barely know me." "I know enough." "We'll take it! Thank you!" Vinyl interrupts. "But-" "Don't fret, I can invite whoever I want, and you're the only one I know here." he flexes his wings and brushes his hair out of his face. "I mean I can't." I admit sheepishly. "How come?" he asks, a little disappointed. "Well, you see, I have a concert on the same day." I point to my calendar. "Same time. I really want to attend, Thunder, but I can't." I say sadly. "Oh. Well there's always next time." he says gleefully. "I really wanted to see you play." I admit. "I'll leave you two at it." Vinyl exits the room and heads up stairs. Her stereo booms in no time at all. "Then I'll go to your concert." "What? No! Thunder, don't miss your performance for me. I swear I'll go next time - Pinkie Promise!" I don't want him to miss his own concert. It's very gentleman-like, but it isn't fair to him. "How about we go get lunch then?" he suggests, winking at me. I should brace myself. I shout over the booming music, "Vinyl! I'M HEADING OUT! SEE YOU LATER!" I close the door behind us. "So where are we going?" I question. "You'll see. We're not really going out for lunch..." "Then where are we-" Before I could finish, he pulled me on his back and began to soar. "Whoa!" I say, grasping his shoulders. "You're pretty light for someone so tall." he teases. "Are you kidding? Just because I'm thinner than most girls doesn't exactly mean I'm light." He laughs. I never really wondered what it was like to fly. It just never occurred to me. But the sights are so beautiful. Thunder Chord is almost as fast as Rainbowdash. It makes me wonder why he isn't a Wonderbolt. All the mares on the ground and in the sky look at us, murmuring how I'm such a lucky girl. Or why such a 'hot guy' is hanging out with a nerd. I ignore their ignorance. "Where are we going?" I ask. My question is answered to us landing on the ground. Presented in front of me, an RV with Dark Angels written on it. " I want you to meet the band." He ushers me inside and he is greeted by a bunch of 'oohs and aahs'. "That you're new girlfriend, Thunder?" Someone asks. It was a punk guy wearing dark clothing. He had green and black hair and dark red eyes. His skin a pale green. I notice that Thunder Chord is holding my hand. I snatch it away automatically without thinking. "Looks like she isn't." All the guys chuckle. Thunder Chord smiles and looks to me. There's a mini-stage in here, if you want to hear us play." he offers. I nod my head. "Sure." The other guys surround me. "So, do you play any instruments?" A guy with red hair and silver eyes, asks me. "I do." is all I say. I feel my cheeks growing hot." "Well, what instruments?" "Didn't you guys see her play at her concert about a month ago?" Thunder says, a little annoyed. "Oh yeah, you're the chick with the oversized violin." another purple guy with silver and green hair guesses. I don't feel offended, I get asked that question constantly. I smile. "Yeah, the cello." "She's the best in Equestria." Thunder Chord brags. The guys look at me in awe. "So, are you going to play or not?" I say. They hop on the stage and tend to their instruments. Thunder Chord is lead guitar. The drum set has their logo on it - black angel wings. they begin to play a song. The lyrics to the song are full of emotion and character. It easily tells the tale of a punk rock star living life to the fullest. Once they finish the song, I applaud. "Bravo!" even if I'm the only other person here. "Thank you!"