Her Last Bow

Overture in E Minor

***

The next morning greeted me with a sigh of the vernal breeze blowing through the ruins. The air smelt of heavy rain, and it cleared my smoke-covered lungs from the inside. I had fallen asleep on the spot, without returning home. It was so strange. It was all strange. It was the first time I had fallen asleep without hours of shifting and uneasy thoughts filling my head like poisonous liquid.

Her wonderful, charming music was still playing in my head, like an echo of the past. I got up and stretched my limbs. Strangely enough, I felt something like optimism.

Optimism. The feeling that had never been an acquaintance of mine. I felt the corners of my mouth twist upwards, as if they were forming a smile. Now, that was nearly impossible. I couldn't remember a single time I smiled, even if I tried really hard. But now, I knew that it was not a frown upon my face but something else.

I approached the nearest puddle and saw an ugly, repulsive, yet delightful, smile on my face.

I smiled.

I smiled and smiled and smiled, savouring the feeling, as if I were a hopeless alcoholic drinking finest Scotch with no intention of stopping.

She ran away.

My smile immediately faded, like even the sweetest dreams always fade into day.

She ran away, you fool. She ran away from you.

I shook my head fervently, tossing my mane about, just to get rid of that voice in my head.

She didn't just run away from you. She ran away because of you.

I groaned in mental pain, shutting my eyes close. I had never experienced something like this before. Was it... guilt? But why should I have felt guilty? I did no harm to the mare... to Miss Philarmonica... What went wrong?

Sure, she couldn't have mistaken me for somepony else, but... What did I do to her to make her feel that way?

What went wrong?

It doesn't matter. She ran away, ran away, ran away, she ran-

"Shut up!" I yelled aloud, making the birds around me fly away in a matter of seconds. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut! Up!" I cried and wept and shouted, until I fell on the ground, exhausted from the anger that was overwhelming me.

Anger.

I had never lost my composure before. How could it happen? What enigmatic power was controlling my mind? Controlling my... heart?

I arose in silence, wondering whether that voice had left. Apparently, it had.

I took a few hesitant steps in the direction of the empty street. For the first time in my life, I didn't know where exactly I was going. I directed my feet towards the main street and followed it, my gaze fixed at my hooves, until I hit a transparent door.

I looked up to see it to be a musical shop - one of the shops I owned. I found nothing better but to enter it. I pushed the door and went in.

A grey earth pony slept behind the counter. Suddenly, I felt anger come upon me again, and, to the stallion's (or was it a young colt? I didn't care, in any way) regret, he was the perfect target.

"Now what are we doing here, huh?" I said, almost hissing the phrase, approaching the counter.

The grey colt awoke with a start. He saw me, and his eyes widened in fear.

"Master, I- I just-" he mumbled, blinking dumbly.

"You... what?" I wondered, breathing heavily, bathing in anger.

"I- I was studying for finals- I'm in college, you see- and I had no time to sleep at night- and there were no visitors- please forgive me, Master," he stammered and muttered and apologised.

"I'm taking this cello," I said, suddenly even to myself, pointing at the elaborate cello that was standing at a golden pedestal in the centre of the room. It was a beautiful instrument made of cherry wood and redwood, a work of a true master - I could tell it from the first glance. After all, I had quite an experience at selling those things.

"B-but..." the colt tried to reason me. "It is an order from Maestro Legato, he is to play tonight..."

"As if I care," I said roughly and took the cello in my magic grip. I turned round and almost left the shop when I felt that my blind anger was still occupying my mind.

I smiled; yet, this time it wasn't a smile of happiness. It was an evil smirk, a terrible grin - I could feel it.

But I didn't care.

I never did.

"One more thing," I said, not looking back at the grey colt. "You are fired."

"But-" the earth pony began, tears audible in his voice. "I have a family to feed..."

"Too bad for you then," I stated and left the shop, shutting the door close.

I listened to my feeling to find out if I felt better.

I did not.

Anger was still my guide, my judge and jury.

I frowned and went to the only place where I could shout, break furniture and dishes without losing my social image - home.

***

I followed the streets that led me to my flat in silence, without looking around much, without paying attention to the world around me.

Ponies passed by, lost in their meaningless deeds, boring lives and pointless feelings.

As my anger faded away, the usual depression occupied its proud pedestal once more. "Anger always fades away," I remembered my father once saying.

But the pain never does, I added mentally, shaking my head.

Suddenly, something bumped into me, making me stagger a little. I rose my head to see it to be not something but somepony instead. To be exact, it was a pink filly - no, a young mare - with a blue mane; a unicorn, the most widespread species in Canterlot.

She blinked a few times and arose from the wet asphalt. I closed the distance between us so she could see me well.

"Oh, I'm so, so sorry!" she apologised as she recognised me. "I didn't mean to do it - I didn't know it was you!"

"Oh, and if it weren't me but somepony else instead, you wouldn't have apologised?" I wondered with a smile, not a single hint of anger in my voice. I saw a pack of cigarettes she had dropped and levitated it next to her. Those were my cigarettes - the ones I had developed and was selling successfully: my scientists made those twice as addictive as the ones my father'd sold.

What an achievement!

"Well, I-" the mare replied with a blush, flapping her eyelashes.

I immediately understood everything. She was a hooker, a streetwalker, like many other mares. I knew the scheme she tried to use - I invented it.

"How much?" I wondered idly. I needed to get rid of some tension, and this was a perfect opportunity.

"It's free for you, Master," she whispered with a blush.

She was probably still inexperienced in the art of seduction. I looked over her. Sure, she was still very young. I sighed and shook my head.

"You know-" I began but then an image of Miss Philarmonica playing her cello crawled into my head and I suddenly felt anger and tension deep inside once more.

I grinned, for the third time that day. I nodded and led the mare towards my home.

***

I awoke in the evening, the pink mare lying next to me in my gorgeous bed. Moonlight was falling on her face, lighting it perfectly, giving her an expression of a saint.

I gave her a light peck on the cheek and got up. I left the money on the bed, right next to her.

When I made my way towards the bathroom, I tapped my hoof against the wall two times. It was a signal for the captain of my private guard, who resided in a separate special room: if she doesn't leave in two hours, make her.

I entered the spacious bathroom and turned the knobs. I felt water fall on my weary limbs like a cataract, washing my worries away.

Not for long, though. As soon as I dried myself and left the room, I felt sadness chew on my insides once more. I resolved to act as I would've acted any other day: I went out and gave myself up to the night.

***

I followed my daily routine quite well: I left home and trotted along the dusty, empty, lifeless streets towards the first Temple of music. The last Temple in this faithless world.

I closed my eyes as I approached the conservatoire, trying hard to hear music - her music.

To no avail.

I ran into the building, searching high and low for her. Needless to say, she wasn't there. I was alone.

Again.

As always.

Yet, this time I got no pleasure from loneliness. All the feelings that had been haunting me suddenly came over me at once and exploded in my head and heart.

I fell on the floor and sobbed and cried myself to sleep.

***

It's strange how quickly ponies change their masks that they're wearing. I admit to wearing different masks all the time. The thing is, even I myself cannot comprehend which one is the real one. Maybe they are all real. Or, perhaps, none of them are. I'm not sure. And, what's more. I don't care.

That morning, I woke up with a sudden determination in all of my limbs. I yawned and thought over the situation. I had money. I had power. I didn't know where to find Miss Philarmonica. Well, what was I to do but to find her?

Galloping from the spot, I knew exactly where to go: Canterlot Police Department.

The building was located in the city centre: a piece of modern architecture, it was pretty utilitarian - aluminium doors and small windows greeted me.

I opened the door without wasting time on knocking. In the corner of a small room that appeared before my eyes was sitting a gruff stallion, of the earth pony variety. He smiled upon seeing me.

"Master," he said respectfully. "What brings you here?" he wondered lazily, obviously having not much to do.

"Octavia Philarmonica, the cellist," I said, tapping my hoof against the floor. "I need to know where she lives."

The policepony shook his head.

"I didn't know you were into classical music, Master... but I cannot tell you. It is against the law," he stated firmly.

"I am the Law," I hissed, losing my temper. "One word - and you will be arresting bugs in the streets, being homeless and unemployed," I threatened him.

He shifted uneasily but looked in my eyes, his gaze straight and firm.

"My fate is up to you to decide..." he began with an invisible gulp. "...but I will never break the law," he finished, fear disappearing from his voice.

I sighed as my anger expelled. I hung my head low and felt a tear make its way down my face.

"She... she is playing at the Royal Conservatoire tonight," the stallion mumbled in an embarrassed tone, loud enough for me to hear.

I rose my head and wordlessly thanked the guardian of justice - with a thankful gaze.

He nodded in understanding.

I nodded as well.

My life had meaning once more. She was my meaning - and my life.