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Symphony for the Rival

by No More

Chapter 6: Chapter VI

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Chapter VI

"So I said to the guy, 'I said bass not ass!'  Then I threw him across the bar with my magic!"  Vinyl leans back on her chair at the breakfast table with a smug smile on her face.  "Then you know what happened next?  He stood back up and said 'So I see you like it rough.'  It took five ponies to hold me down from stabbing a broken bottle in his face!"

I took a sip from a cup of tea I made for the both of us, "Oh my, did you get in any trouble?"

Vinyl scoffed, "I got thrown out of the bar, permanently."

I raised a brow, "Were you drunk when all this happened?"

She looked at me as if she was offended, then started to laugh.  "Tavi, baby, please.  I don't get drunk.  I have never been drunk, nor will I ever.  I've seen what it does to ponies, it's not pretty as you can tell by these stories."

Well, that's good to know about Vinyl.  Yet another trait about her that has impressed me so far.  I'm starting to really like her, like a true friend.  She is my only real friend I've ever had.  Even though we still have a lot of differences, we still seem to get along, for the most part.  I guess what they say is true:  Opposites attract.

"So what about you?"  She said, breaking the silence, "Got any interesting stories?"

I had to ponder for a bit.  My life was rather dull and boring, compared to hers.  There isn't much in my memory that spikes any interest.  I've always gone to upper class soirees, and ponies there never get any more than tipsy.  Ponies then were civilized and respectful.  

Noticing that I was still thinking, Vinyl seemed to fish some memories out more easily.  "C'mon, nothing?  No, like, recitals that went wrong?  No epic fights with violinist using your bows as rapiers?"

"Uhhh...no."

"Alright then.  Have you ever had a...special somepony?"  She starts to blush.

My teeth start to clench.  "Unfortunately."

"Whoa now, what happened?"

I crack my neck.  "Nothing special, he was just a bloody good for nothing pig.  Using me just to further his reputation."

She banged her hooves on the table in shock, "What?!  How could somepony take advantage of you like that?!  That's just...wrong!  Anypony in their right mind should be lucky to even have you as a friend let alone a marefriend.  Celestia knows how long it took you to lighten up around me."

I smile, "Thank you for the compliment, but I honestly do not care anymore.  After him, my only love was my cello and my symphonies."  I took a pause as a thought came to mind.  "However, there was this another colt that was at a performance during my...downfall."

"Oooohhoohohohhh."  She chimes with a smirk.

"Can it, Scratch."

She waves her hoof.  "Fine fine, I'll be good."

I cleare my throat, "It was about a year ago, I was at the end of my downfall, and I believe it was one of my last performances."

The curtains--red as blood and closed off so that nopony can see what lay behind the stage--were only minutes away from opening.  Octavia Harmonious took a deep breath, calming her mind and preparing her soul for unleashing a torrent of classical music.  Her cello was tuned to perfection, her choice of a symphony was divine, and her spirits, low.

For a while now, life was brutal on Octavia.  Less and less demand for her performances was available, and depleting rather rapidly.  She had not had a performance, recital, nothing in three months.  Her expenses were low, and she was almost broke.  This may as well be her last performance, and if so, she will go down fighting.

The curtains drew, and the whole of the building was seen.  It was a restaurant, tables and chairs lined the floor each with tablecloths on them.  A waitress trotted between the tables, picking up finished dishes and glasses.  A spotlight fell upon Octavia, making it hard for her to see the entire place.  Her eyes adjusted a few seconds later, and what she saw was almost a nightmare.

Only one.  One single pony sat in the audience.  The waitress went back into the kitchen, leaving only two souls in the main room.  The pony was a stallion, he sat in the front row with a glass of wine that he so casually sipped every minute or so.  He wore a pristine black suit and a black top hat rested on the table.

It was appalling, truly appalling.  Only one pony stayed the extra hour that Octavia was reserved for in the restaurant to hear her play?  It was far worse than she thought.  Of course she knew that all her adoring fans abandoned her, but she didn't know it was this bad!  How far have they gone?  When will it be until classical music is wiped from Equestrian culture?  

It was all her fault.  She ruined everything for Octavia!  It was still a complete disbelief to the cellist, that a low life DJ peasant took her place as in the spotlight!  Octavia's name has been run through the mud in many instances after the DJ rose to power.  It seems as if they wanted to get rid of her!  Newspapers depicting rumors that were horrid and completely untrue.  Soon, no producers would hire her, her agent quit on her and left her to fend for herself, nopony wanted her anymore, they all wanted Vinyl Scratch!

Octavia cleared her mind, she had to stop thinking about her, lest she pull a gasket and lash out.  She looked back to the lone stallion that served as her audience.  He took a sip from his wine and raised the glass up in a toast, wearing a warming smile.  Octavia felt her heart warm up as she raised her bow.  Even if there is only one pony in the audience, she would play.  If there were no ponies left at all, she would play.  Even on her deathbed as a last dying wish with nopony within miles of her, she would play.

And so she did.  

Vinyl stared at me with an expression swapping between confused and inquisitive.  She seems to be processing all the information I have given her in two different ways.  I clap my hooves together a few times to get her attention.  She slowly shook her head and began to speak.

"I don't understand.  That doesn't seem possible.  How can I, one mare, just kill off an entire culture because of some bass drops?  There's no way, Tavi."  She crosses her forelegs.  "I mean, media hype aside, dubstep isn't even that popular.  Knowing pop culture...it'll probably die in about...six months."

I sigh, "Yes, Vinyl.  I know it doesn't seem possible at all, but look at me!  If what you said is true, how did all of that misfortune happen to me?  How did I slowly lose all of my respect when I did nothing to dwindle it?  It has to be the only explanation.  Excuse me, not entirely actually.  There are still some upper class ponies I see from time to time, but they all look the other way after noticing me.

"Ever since you released your first album, it all started.  At first, less and less ponies showed up at my recitals.  Eventually, they didn't want me, and would rather use their stages for other means than have a cellist with a hooffull of fans.  I'm sure there are a lot of ponies who still enjoy classical music, but just not enough.  How can you rightfully explain all of that?"

Vinyl just stares at me through her purple tinted shades.  She waits a few moments before answering.  "I don't know, Tavi.  I just don't know.  But, knowing your tenacity to - no that's not that right word...tendency - tendency to overreact, I do know this: there has to be another explanation.  Culture just doesn't die that quickly."  She starts coughing.  "Also...ego problems."

I ignore her last statement.  "I know Vinyl...I know.  But I don't know, too."  I sigh sadly and put my head down.  Soon, I feel Vinyl's foreleg around my shoulder.  I look up to find her smiling at me.

"If it's any consider--no that's not the word again...dammit...console-something...help me out here?"

"Is the word you're looking for 'consolation?'"

"Yes!  If it's any consolation, I'm sorry for ruining you."

I smile at her, "It's ok Vinyl, I don't blame you anymore.  It's not like you intended to ruin me.  Besides, If you would've never run me to the ground, I wouldn't be enjoying myself with my...my best friend right now."  The words felt foreign on my tongue, but not unwanted.

Vinyl squee'd and hugged me tighter than before.  She whispered 'thank you' to me before letting me go and sitting back in her chair at the table.  She smiled at me again and propped her chin on both hooves  "Continue."

I cleared my throat, "Right of course."

The song was over, and the audience of one clapped his hooves together in applause.  He stood up and raised his glass yelling 'Beautiful!  Simply Divine!' and other compliments.  Octavia smiled and blushed despite herself, then rose to take a bow.  She exited the stage when the curtains closed and placed her beloved cello in its case.  

She thought about the stallion.  Maybe it would be nice to stay and chat with him for a while?  Maybe have a glass of wine?  She shouldn't be so rude as to just walk out from her only one fan.  Yes, Octavia shall meet this stallion.  He seems humble.

Octavia approached the table.  The first thing she noticed as she approached was that he was a unicorn.  His coat was bleach white, and so was his mane.  His eyes were a soft blue.  The stallion took another sip of his wine and smiled welcomely.  Octavia smiled back, "Mind if I sit?"  She said.

The stallion motioned for her to sit, "Not at all, Ms. Harmonious.  It would be an honor."  As Octavia took her seat, the stallion waved his hoof at the waiter.  "Care for a glass of wine?  My treat."

"That would be lovely, but you don't have to pay--"

He politely cleared his throat, "Nonsense, Ms. Harmonious.  A true gentlecolt never lets a lady spend a single bit."  He turned to the waiter, "Two more my good sir."  The waiter nodded and retreated back through a pair of double doors.  The stallion then turned back to Octavia, "First, I'd like to say what an honor it was to hear you play, it was magnificent.  It sounded as if angels were serenading me."

Octavia chuckled, "Thank you Mr..."  Octavia allowed her voice to trail.

"Quartz.  Mason Quartz."

"Mr. Quartz.  But it should be I to have been given the honor of having such a charming audience."  She chuckled and waved her hoof around the empty restaurant.

"I wouldn't say they're charming, I was the only one cheering!"  They both laughed.  A small silence then loomed in the air for a short while.

"It's a shame really."  Mason said as he took another sip of wine, "That within a matter of months, your reputation is almost destroyed now.  And to be replaced with what?  This...this garbage!  This mockery!  I mean, who actually enjoys this...what is it called, dubstep?  It sounds like...pardon me, two machines having intimate actions!"

Octavia widened her eyes.  "I agree,"  she said after a moment, "Dubstep sounds exactly as you described it.  I can't believe I found another pony who thinks so."

Mason chuckled, "I was always the oddball, they said.  Never went with the crowd.  I absolutely love classical music, and classical art, hell, anything from more than fifty or so years ago!  I always wanted to live in the past, like my father.."  He trailed off, lost in thought.

If Octavia had a bit for every time she was surprised this evening, she would have been rich again.  This stallion was full of surprises, and quite handsome to boot.  So then the two talked for about an hour, casually sipping their wines as they went along.  The topics were scattered here and there.  Mostly around the days of old, antiques, culture and the like.

For every word Mason uttered, Octavia got more and more interested in him.  It even got to a point where she didn't even listen to him anymore, but just stared at the handsome stallion.

The two were leaving the restaurant, and Mason held the door for Octavia as they walked out.  Mason had also offered to walk her home, which at that point was a run down old apartment building.

She stopped in front of the door and smiled sheepishly at Mason, not making eye contact.  "It has been a very delightful evening, Mr. Quartz, and I thank you sincerely for it.  You don't suppose, um, we could, uh...have another?  Together?"

Mason sighed, but he kept his warming smile on his face.  He grabbed Octavia's hoof in his own and looked her in the eye, "I am very sorry, but my heart belongs to another mare.  Maybe one day we will meet again.  But for now,"  He kissed her hoof, "I bid you goodnight, Octavia."  Without another word, he vanished into the darkened streets of Canterlot.

  

I almost had tears in my eyes when I finished the story.  When I returned to reality, I found that the conversation traveled to the living room.  I am sitting on the couch, while Vinyl preferred to lay on the floor for some odd reason.  I swear that girl is a strange one.

Vinyl gets up from the floor and notices that I'm on the verge of tears.  She hugs me once again.  "I'm sorry, Tavi.  He really seemed like a cool guy.  Have you met him again after that night?"

"No," I answer, "Last I heard he moved to some small town outside Canterlot."

"Well, you know what."  Vinyl said, instantly brightening up.  "I know what'll lift your spirits!"

I raise my brow, "Is that so?"

She snickers, "Close your eyes!"

"Umm, ok?"  I obey and cover my eyes with my hoof.  I soon hear the sound of scraping.  

"Open your eyes!"  Vinyl nearly screams.

I open them, and what I see in front of me is a giant box wrapped in colorful wrapping paper with a bow on top.  It is about the size of a pony.  I chuckle, "Vinyl, Hearths Warming is next month.  Besides, you didn't need to get me--"

I found conjured duct tape on my mouth.

"Shut up and open it!"

I pry the tape off my mouth and throw a scowl at Vinyl.  I tear the wrapping paper off the present and a box is left.  Opening the box, I pull out its contents.  I nearly faint from what I see.  It is a case, but not just any case, a case that can hold an instrument.  That particular instrument being a cello.

I didn't know what to say.  Vinyl actually went out of her way to get me a cello.  I don't know if I should be overjoyed, or angry.  For one, I told her the story of my mother's cello, and how much I cherished it.  I can never, ever replace that with just any other cello.  

This is a mockery to me, bringing back bad memories.  I look at her with a death glare.  In return, she took a step back.

"How dare you!  How dare you think that you can just buy me a new cello after what I told you about what happened to my mother's?!  I told you I already tried replacing it, and how much worse I felt when I did so!  Do you think doing that again would make it all better just because it's from you?!  Any old cello won't replace the memories of my mother whom I've never even met!"  The nerve of her!  I trusted her with my emotions, and she goes and does this to me?!

"Tavi," She says meekly, "D-did you even o-open it?"

I roll my eyes.  "What?  Is this supposed to be some kind of special cello?  Or maybe something else in a cello case?"  Disgusting.  I open it anyway, just to see what is there.  And yes, it is a cello, what is so special about this one that--

My mind goes blank.  There are no words to describe this feeling.  There, sitting on the neck between the strings, was a sepia photo of my father, and my expecting mother.  I slowly reach for it, tears flowing out of my eyes like a river.  I grab at it, and just stare at it.

My father is wearing a suit with his fedora on.  My mother is wearing the most beautiful white dress I've ever seen.  The two are sitting on stools, and the background is blank.  One of my mother's hooves is resting on her expanded stomach, while the other is being held by both of my father's hooves.  Thousands of memories flooded my mind at once.  My father telling me about my mother, showing me the videos and pictures of their wedding.  Him telling me how they met, and how they got together.  I couldn't hold out any longer, the dam in my eyes had broken.  

I feel the warm and soft embrace of Vinyl hugging me from the side.  She did the same thing to me as when I was at the restaurant:  Pressing herself close to me and not letting go.  I turn around and hug her as tightly as possible, never wanting to let go either.  She has done so much for me.  Taking me into her home, caring for me, befriending me and now she just returned my mother's cello to me somehow.  It is the greatest gift I could ever get.

I whisper in her ear in between sobs, "Thank you Vinyl.  Thank you so much.  You are the best friend I have ever had."  Just to show how much I appreciated her, I leaned in and kissed her cheek.  For some reason, some part of me was actually happy that Vinyl ruined my life.  For if she hadn't, we would have never met.

So the two of us sat there in silence.  Simply embracing each other and basking in the heartfelt moment that loomed around us.  Whatever feelings of smite, spite, or hate I have left for Vinyl has completely vanished.  Vinyl Scratch is the greatest pony I have ever met, and I couldn't be happier.




Next Chapter: Chapter VII Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 45 Minutes
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