> The tune of compassion
>  by SaltWriter the leviapony
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> Childhood innocence
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It was a sunny day in the streets of canterlot. Ponies went about their daily business as the day went by. One of these was a male earth pony, with a small, grey filly beside him.
      The young filly trotted beside her father, lugging the large cello case on her back. She had been raised all her life in the art of music and refined ladyhood. Which had made her life one long schedule that her dad planned out for her. As they walked, she spotted a small ice cream stand, and tugged at her fathers coat.
     “Father, could we stop quickly and get some ice cream? We have time for it and I've been a really good girl.” Her father stopped walking and looked at her, his blue eyes looking down sternly.
    “Sweet dessert make a lady fat Octavia. It would be unwise to make such a action. Besides, we've to get to your next music recital in an hour.”
    “Please?” Octavia looked at her father with that childhood innocence that melted one's heart, and her father nodded. Octavia cheered, and ran to one of the tables in the plaze, her father watching the whole time.
    “I wish you were here right now honey, maybe then I could see if this is what you wanted for her.” With that, he got in line for the treat.

    Octavia placed her small case beside the chair and opened it up. Inside was a small cello and a notebook made for music. She took out the book and flipped to near the back, past her notes and homework to the pages where she drew and wrote for fun.
    As she wrote in the book, she stopped as she heard a sound. While sounds were to be expected in a crowded plaza, this one was different, like beats on a drum. Octavia looked around and finally saw what it was making the sound, or rather, who.
   A small white unicorn was sitting in the side of an alley. She had a dark blue mane that was poorly kept and covered in marks from dirt. Her coat was also covered in spots of various types of filth and stains. Despite this, her dark red eyes glowed as she tapped a tune out on discarded trash can lids and some broken spoons.
    She continued to listen to the pony, scooting closer in her chair to hear it better. The music was something she had never heard before, being fast paced and having dips in the sound. It was strange to Octavia, who was raised on the slow, string and brass of classical.
    As she listened, she didn't notice her father come up with the ice cream and sit down at the table. He quickly noticed her expression, and followed it to the alley, seeing the unicorn playing on the tins.
     “Ugh, can you believe no one is trying to get that filly to go away?” Her father exclaimed, giving the bottle of water he bought a sip. “That utter trash she is playing is getting on my nerves.”
     “But daddy.” Octavia replied, finally noticing her father and the sweet treat on the table. “That doesn't sound like trash to me. I actually think it's interesting.” Her father looked at her and gave her a light tap on the head.
     “Don't go mixing up sound for music Octavia. You're a musician in training, that is just static noise from a foal. Now, finish your treat so we can get going.” Octavia nodded and began to eat her ice cream, still watching and listening to the unicorn.
      Once they finished, they began to walk down the road again, Octavia still watching the foal. Before they went far, she pulled at her father's shirt and pointed at the foal.
      “Where do you think she lives?” Octavia asked with her childhood ignorance “I want to see her again and try to become friends.”
      “That foal probably lives in the trash with all the other orphaned foals whose parents can't afford the payment for the orphanage. Though that doesn't concern us, since they'll probably die from the lack of food and love.” Octavia gasped at her father's blunt words, but he said no more as they continued to walk.

     Vinyl looked at the crowds of unicorns and shrugged. It seemed she wouldn't get any more bitts out of them for today. She picked up the various items she used for an instrument, and began to return to the small alley where she slept. As she walked back, she could hear the sound of small hoofsteps rapidly approaching from the street. Turning around, she saw the small foal that had been watching her from the tables, carrying a small bag in her mouth.
     She gave the foal a curious look as she dropped the bag onto the floor. Breathing hard from running with the large instrument on her back.
     “I'm… so glad… I caught you.” The foal stated through breaths. Vinyl simply sat, waited for the foal to continue on or walk away. She dropped the case onto the ground and opened it, taking out an item she had never seen before.
     “I really like the music you were making, and I was hoping you and I could try a duet. That is if you're ok with that.” Vinyl looked at the foal in confusion, her voice was not only strange, but she spoke about things she didn't know.
    “What's the matter, don't you understand me?” Vinyl nodded, being the only thing she could do to convey the scenario. “Then why don't you say something to me?”
    Vinyl opened her mouth to show the foal the problem, and she gasped. Vinyl was unable to speak due to being born without a tongue. Vinyl then closed her mouth and shrugged, hoping the foal would go away now. But instead she moved closer, and gave her a hug.
    “I'm sorry things are like this. But I hope I can make you a little happier.” She quickly went back to her case and pulled out a large object from a case. She quickly tuned it, then turned back to vinyl.
    “My dad will probably be coming soon. So, can we maybe play some music together? Please?” Vinyl gave her a smile, and began to tap out a rhythm for her. The two began to play together, not to any particular song, but to the beat of whatever comes to them. It make a nice sound, a mix of instruments and improvised tools to make a unique sound.
    Before the two could conclude the song they were playing, vinyl stopped cold, looking behind the mare she had been playing with. Octavias father was standing behind them, his eyes blazing with anger at the sight. Octavia soon noticed this, and turned to see her fathers expression.
    “Daddy, I'm sorry I did this, but don't..” before she could finish, her father walked past her and smacked the white unicorn across the face. The blow left a visible cut just above and below the eye. Vinyl simply sat in silence, unable to yell or get help.
    “Filthy street foal, get away from my daughter!!” He threw a second hoof, hitting vinyl on the other of her face. She quickly ran away, leaving a trail of tears and blood in the way.
    Octavia tried to say something, but her father picked her up, along with the wallet she had grabbed, and began to walk away down the street.
   “You're lucky you're so late for your recital” her father muttered angrily. “We will discuss this later. For now, we are leaving.” Octavia knew that she wasn't going to win an argument with her father, and simply sat on his back, looking behind her as the young foal she had met came out to see her go
> Returning sonata
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The final chorus of notes was played, ending the symphony of the school band. The crowd gave a generous applause as the orchestra bowed. And as the crowd dispersed, the ponies on stage gathered up their instruments and went backstage.
     Octavia sighed, heaving the cello onto her back and heading back to the changing room. Her life had lead up to this climactic moment on stage, and now that it was done, she could finally relax. She went into her changing room and began to remove the black dress and gloves she wore for the concert.
     As she continued to undress, she heard a knock on the door. She was a bit confused at this, since the school director didn't really interrupt students and her friends were probably changing as well. But she finished undressing and promptly opened the door.
    Octavia was more then surprised to see who she did at the door. It was a white unicorn, with a electric blue mane and tail, wearing a large brown cloak. What made her surprised though was the pair of sunglasses that were distinct of a certain celebrity.
    “You're, you're DJ PON3!!” Octavia nearly fainted at the strange sight before her, but the unicorn promptly used her magic to place the pony into the chair in the changing room. Vinyl walked into the room, closing the door behind her and sat in the opposite chair, waiting for Octavia to recover.
     “Well, forgive me for that. I was just surprised is all. What are you doing here?” Vinyl made a motion for a pen, but she waved her down and made a motion with her hooves.
     “I took sign language as a secondary language. Believe it or not, it was from a mute unicorn vary similar to you.” Vinyl smiled, and began to sign with her hoofs.
Really? So you DO remember me, at least a little?
     “Well, of course I know you. You are one of the new faces of music, even if your style isn't what I care for, no offense.” Vinyls smile faded a little at this, before she continued.
Ohh, I guess you don't remember me well. I'm not surprised, it HAS been several years and we've both changed. 
     “I don't really understand. I'd imagine remembering somepony like you in my childhood.”
It's hard to imagine you'd recognize me like this. Perhaps this'll help. Vinyl used her magic to levitate a small instrument case from under her cloak, and handed it to Octavia. She examined the small case, and gave her a confused look.
    “Umm… thank you, but, as you can see, I don't play the viola. I play the cello.” vinyl lowered her glasses to give her a flat stare, and she puts her hooves up in defeat.
    Octavia opens the case and gasps. Could it be? She examined the small instrument, and sure enough, it was her old kids chello. Granted, it was a bit worn down from age, and a few items were repaired and replaced, but it had the same stickers and notepad inside.
     She slowly took the item out of the case, and grabbed the small bow with it. She flattened her ears, and ran the small bow across the strings, expecting the harsh notes of an out of tune instrument. Instead, it played as if it had been recently tuned, and she looked at it with new wonder.
     “You, you kept this with you, and kept it working, just to bring it back to me?” A tear welled up in one of her eyes as she spoke.
It's the least I could do for someone who was willing to start my love of music. I had to hide it to keep my agents from using it, but I kept it so I could give it back to you.
      “Well. I don't know what to say. This is rather strange to see.”
Just say you'll give me a place to live in while I stay in ponyville. Octavia placed the small instrument back into the case and grabbed her main chello. The two walked out of the changing room and began to discuss plans to stay together. Perhaps, become even more