It's funny how life works.  One day you're just playing your cello like you do everyday, nothing abnormal or out of place.  Then you have your first recital, making you famous in no time.  You become top of the world with fame and fortune surrounding you at every turn.  Then the next day, you slowly fall into a downward spiral, losing everything you worked so hard for.  The day after that, the one who brought you into that spiral takes you in when you have nowhere else to go and befriends you.  And on the last day, you and that pony fall in love with each other.  Just another twist in life's maze I supposed, though I do believe I made a right turn...a very right turn.

Vinyl and I are still sitting here in the garage, cuddled up in a comforting embrace.  I'm still stroking her soft mane while she purs into my coat.  We have been sitting here for almost an hour basking in each others presence.  And not once did I not enjoy a second of it.  Feeling the warmth of her coat brushed up against mine puts me into a state of serenity.  As much as I would like to stay like this longer, I had a grand idea that I'd like to try with my new marefriend.

"Vinyl?"  I cooed in her ear, unable to resist the urge to smile.

"Mmmhmm?"

"What say you and I both play our instruments together?"

Vinyl raised her head high and looked at me with excitement glinting in her scarlet eyes.  "That...would be totally awesome!  Go get your cello!"

I nodded to her before exiting the garage and acquiring my cello.  Setting myself up and making sure it was tuned to my liking, I quickly pick a song from my mental arsenal of symphonies.  One that is not too complicated, but still has some spark in it.  Hmm...Oh!  "You wouldn't happen to know how to play 'Ode to Joy' by Beethooven?"

Vinyl places her violin in the crook of her neck, positioning herself to play.  "Uhh...is that the one that goes like this?"  She started to play, and I have to admit she sounded quite lovely.  Excellent, now that I know she can play, we can play it together!  Oooh this will be so much fun!

Vinyl continues to play as I pick up at her spot.  We both weave our bows around the strings in almost perfect harmony.  I say 'almost' because Vinyl is still a little scratchy with the violin.  Hah...scratchy...both Ironic and cute at the same time.  Scratchie...That is my new pet name for Vinyl and nopony shall say otherwise.

As of always whenever I play my cello, my mind opens itself up to a state of meditation.  I think more clearly when I play, I become more calm with my inner self.  I imagine my life ahead of me.  I imagined a life with Vinyl in my arms, holding her and loving her.  Every thing seems so--pardon the pun--harmonious.  Life ahead of me seems fantastic, even if I do not reclaim my fame and fortune.  It doesn't matter to me anymore, Vinyl is enough to replace everything that I had lost.

The song came to an abrupt stop as a gentle rapping on the door came.  I inwardly grumbled while Vinyl scrambled to put her glasses back on before exiting the garage and answering the door.  I could overhear the conversation from here.

"I am terribly sorry if I am interrupting anything madam, but while on my way home I couldn't help but overhear that lovely music that was playing.  Tell me, was that you who was playing?"  The voice sounded like a young stallion.

"Ohh umm, no that wasn't me.  I could get her real quick though!  One sec!"  The white unicorn suddenly rushed to my side and pushed me over to the front door.  From there, I can get a good look at the stallion.  I can't believe my eyes!  That monocle, that suit jacket!  

"F-Fancy P-Pants?!"  I stuttered.

Fancy Pants widened his eyes and adjusted his monocle.  "I say, Octavia Harmonious is that you?"  He asked.

I am stunned, unable to speak.  Fancy Pants...The Fancy Pants knows who I am!  I feel above honored!  The son of the Duke of Canterlot, the single most important pony, besides the Princess, in town!  I start to sweat, do I look good?  Is my cravat on right?  I cleared my throat and spoke in a tone that I and the Harmonious family has mastered.  A tone that masked all emotions.  "Why yes, yes I am."

The next thing that happened both amused me and almost sent me startling in the air.  The noble stallion bowed down to me, as in bowed down to me!  Then kissed my hoof.  "It is such an honor to make your acquaintance, Ms. Harmonious."

I am barely able to contain my squeals of joy.

Vinyl moved to the side of the doorway.  "Why don't you come in?"  She asked.

Fancy Pants nodded and smiled at Vinyl.  "Thank you kindly Ms..."  His voice trailed off, leaving Vinyl to finish his sentence.

"Scratch, Vinyl Scratch."

As I saw Fancy Pants enter our home, I immediately dashed to the kitchen.  "Would you like a cup of tea?"  I called out to him.

"Oh I wouldn't want to trouble you--"

I cut him off as politely as I could.  "Oh it would be no problem at all, I insist!"  Without waiting for an answer I started to prepare a kettle.  Fancy Pants sat down at the kitchen table while Vinyl and I accompanied him.  The three of us sat there in awkward silence for a few moments.  Think Octavia, think!  Say something you bloke!  The most important pony in Canterlot is sitting at your table and you aren't saying anything to him!

"So," I started slowly.  "What brings you around these parts?"  

Fancy Pants smiled.  "Oh well I was just returning home from a nice stroll through the neighborhood when I heard that divine music you were making.  But I never knew that the Octavia Harmonious lived around here!  Last I heard you were living in the slums of Canterlot."  He finished with a frown.  "I am terribly sorry.  It's a shame what happened to you over the last two years."

I sighed.  "Thank you, but it isn't your fault.  I just wish that there were still ponies like you out there that still have respect for classical music."

At this, Fancy Pants shot a confused look at me.  "I beg your pardon?"

"Well yes, that's the reason why I am where I am today.  I lost all my fans to the modern day music.  It just seems that no one has anymore interest in classical music."

The tea pot kettle whistled from the kitchen, and I excuse myself to go fetch us some cups and sugar.  I placed a tray full of tea cups, sugar, and the kettle on the table and began pouring Vinyl and Fancy Pants' cups.  The stallion grabbed the teacup in his magic and took a small sip from it.  "Ms. Harmonious,"  he started.  "You must understand, there are still ponies out there who are refined such as you and I."

"Oh yes, I am aware.  It's just that there aren't many left."

"I'm sorry but I must interject.  Canterlot's population is still mostly high class.  Only the downtown district of the city is filled with those types of ponies who would enjoy the modern day ways."

At this, I almost choke on my tea.  "Excuse me?"

"Yes, it is true."  He continued.  "When this new style of music came out, the upper class thought of it as a disgrace.  Little to absolutely no noble ponies converted to 'dubstep'.  We practically isolated ourselves from the lower class."

This...this is absurd!  How is it possible?  "I'm sorry, but this doesn't make any sense.  If what you are saying is true, then what happened to me?  Where did all the noble ponies who attended my recitals go?  I was always told that they decided that the classical ways were dying out."

Fancy Pants' monocle fell of his head and he stared at me in shock.  "You...you don't know?  Bastard must have done all this behind your back..."

"I beg your pardon?"  I asked.

He sighed.  "None of what happened to you in the last two years was your fault; it was your manager's.  The crook smothered your name and ran it through the mud a hundred different times.  It started off with rumors and lies, that was what probably made all of your fans stop attending your recitals.  They believed the lies your manager told the media.  

"I knew none of them were true, and my word was spread widely among many of the noble Houses.  They listened to me, and they all still adored you.  We asked for you to play in multiple recitals, but your manager kept making up lies that you didn't want to, or that you were disgracing classical music by practicing 'rock and roll' and doing drugs or whatnot.  That is why you hadn't had a job in a year.  Then there was the scandal with the lawsuit and the copy write issue over one of your pieces.  He was in on that with the prosecutor.  Your manager was the sole reason for your downfall, and no one else.  But for what reason, what motive, still remains a mystery to me."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  My manager actually planned out my entire undoing?!  Everything was his fault?  I briefly looked to Vinyl, who was staring with her mouth agape.  All those years I blamed her for ruining my life.  All those years I thought her music destroyed classical music, and converted all the nobles.  But no, she was just popular amongst the lower and middle class, leaving the upper class unscathed.

My body coursed with rage.  Adrenaline filled my bloodstream as all I could think about was destroying my manager!  I slammed a hoof on the table in anger, spilling my tea, and stood up.  "That BLOODY WANKER!  All of this was his fault?!  The reason I was cast out on the streets for almost a year?!  The reason why I almost died several times?!  I knew the bastard screwed me over time and time again, but he was the reason why my life was complete crap for two years!?  When I get my hooves on his pompous neck, I swear to the gods I will throw him off the edge of Canterlot Mountain!"

I felt a hoof on my shoulder, and I looked to the white mare beside me.  "Calm down, Tavi."  She said soothingly.  "Didn't I tell you this before?  I mean, it seems really hard to believe that in the course of a year all the nobles just decided to kill off an entire culture."

I sat back down and stuffed my hooves in my face.  "I apologize for my outburst.  It's just that I am so angry at the bastard I needed to get it out.  And yes, Vinyl, you did tell me, but...I didn't listen.  I'm sorry.  My mind was so set to believing those lies that I didn't listen to reason."

"All well and good."  Fancy Pants said with an amused smile.  "If I was in your position I would do the same to him."  He chuckled.  "Well, now that I know how to get in contact with you, may I ask you something Ms. Harmonious?"

"Why of course."

"As you know, Hearths Warming Eve is tomorrow, and I am hosting a soiree in the Canterlot Castle Gardens.  Would you have the honor of playing tomorrow night for us with your old ensemble?"

And then I faint, metaphorically of course.  It took my brain a few seconds to absorb the question.  Is all of this real?  Am I dreaming? "Oh my...I...I can't believe this is happening...Yes I accept!  Thank you so much Mr. Fancy!  I swear on my life you will not regret this!"

Fancy Pants smiled widely.  "Marvelous!  I will inform my acquaintances."  He began to get up.  "Thank you kindly for the tea."

"No no no, thank you Mr. Fancy!"

"Until tomorrow, madam."  Fancy Pants said as he exited our home.

As soon as he was out of sight, I couldn't contain myself any longer.  I squeal, lunge forward at Vinyl, grab her, and somehow lift her in the air and spin her around.  The moment that her momentum ceased, I showered her with kisses all over her cheeks.

Vinyl started giggling uncontrollably.  "Tavi...Tavi that tickles!  Calm down!"

Before I broke contact, I made the effort to exert one final, long, passionate kiss on her lips.  I put all my built up excitement and energy into it.  I could tell Vinyl was putting as much passion behind her end as I felt her tongue poking it's way into my mouth.  I allowed it entry happily.  I wrap my hooves around the back of Vinyl's head, pulling her in closer.  The fires inside me rage higher than ever.  I pushed as far as I could and strengthened my lips and tongue.  It felt as if there was some kind of transfer of passion from me to Vinyl as we locked lips, like as if we were sharing power from a much larger source.  It took so much willpower just to break the kiss.

We stood there staring at each other, panting.  Vinyl had a cute goofy grin plastered on her face following a deep blush on either side of her lips.  She took off her glasses, showing me those beautiful scarlet orbs.  "Wow, Tavi.  Just...Wow..."

I nuzzled the side of her neck.  "Did you know that was my first real kiss?"

She grabbed my shoulders.  "You're joking, right?"

I hate to admit it, but it is true.  "Not at all.  Remember I said I never had a special somepony before.  You are my first.  And I say 'real kiss' because I have kissed other ponies before, but not a single one like that."

Vinyl started laughing and flopped herself on the couch.  "Nopony is that good a kisser on their first time."

I start to blush.  "Was it that good?"

She turned to me.  "Good is an underestimate."

I chuckled and laid down next to her, wrapping my hooves around her torso.  "You meant 'understatement' Scratchie."

She looked at me, perplexed.  "Scratchie?  Where'd you come up with that?"

"Well, when you were playing the violin you were a bit scratchy with it..."  I trailed off, knowing that Vinyl will pick up on it.  "Do you not like it?"

She gave me a soft gaze.  "No no, it's just that...I've always called you 'Tavi' and you always called me 'Vinyl.'  It just seems weird for you, a high class froo froo pony, to be using nicknames."

I smiled and rested my muzzle on her shoulder.  "Only for you, Scratchie...Only for you."

There, we both lay in quiet comfort.  I could feel the heat radiating from her coat, warming me from the cold house.  My eyes grew heavy and my sight grew thin as I felt the embrace of sleep slowly take hold.  I close my eyes and basked in the bliss of this moment.  I don't know why, but resting my head on Vinyl is more comfortable than any pillow.

"I'm so happy for you, Tavi."  I heard Vinyl say before I drifted to sleep.  "You finally got a gig after so long..."

"Thank you, Octavia."