Summary: Just as Pinkie must come to term with Bellamina's passing, so must Octavia. The show mare decides to give her youngest sibling a proper send off when she gets an unexpected visitor.

The balmy summer night settled around the old house. A gentle breeze blew through the rocky field and into the open window, playing with her mane gently. She stared out at the quiet surroundings of the farm house, then up to the clear star filled sky. The moon was out in its full glory once more, washing over everything with its soft night light.

Octavia let out a soft sigh as she moved from the window and back into her old room. The three beds lined up to give each enough space from the next, a small desk next to each of them, and dressers along the wall. It was a comfy abode for three foals and a home she hadn't rested in for a long while.

She could see the form of her pink younger sister sleeping soundly in her bed, tuckered out from an energetic day spent with her family. It really had been too long since they'd last spent such a fun time as a family. She'd missed the feeling; it was nice seeing her parents and getting to spend time with her hyper active younger sister. There was only one family member that was truly missing from this scene.

Octavia walked over to where her cello lay waiting inside its case. She brushed a hoof against the case, smiling softly. Tomorrow she would be leaving the farm if she wanted to make it in time for her concert in Hoofington. After all, she couldn't leave her band mates stranded without her. So, before she would say goodbye to the rest of her family, but tomorrow there was one family member she had to give a special goodbye to. A goodbye she had been neglecting to give for a long time now.

She quietly slipped the cello case around her body and moved to exit the bedroom. The door creaked open with age and she looked over her shoulder to see if she had woken her sleeping sister. The pink mare shifted quietly in her sleep, but remained asleep. Octavia smiled thankfully and slowly closed the door behind her.

The house creaked softly with each footstep, but they all served as reminders to the age of the house.

It didn't take long to navigate the familiar home and be outside in the night air once more. She could easily see her destination from the front door of the farm house. The silo where so many parties used to be held when she was young.

"How come you don't join in 'Tavi?" A young Pinkie Pie asked looking up at the dark coated mare simply watching the two of them play.

"Yea, it's a lot of fun!" Bellamina chimed in with a beanbag in her mouth. She then tossed it forward, just barely missing getting the bag into the barrel.

"No, no. You two keep playing." A young Octavia waved her hoof smiling, "The parents told me to chaperone you two and that's what I plan to do. Besides, I wouldn't be a very good judge of who wins if I played too."

"Oh, that's not fun 'Tavi!" Pinkie bounced over to her older sister and held out a beanbag for her, "I betcha don't wanna play cause you're scared of losing!"

"Excuse me!? As the oldest I would be able to out-score BOTH of you." Octavia said, taken aback at her sister's words.

"Come on and prove it then!" Bellamina grinned, "Pinkie's the best at this game!"

"Oh she is huh?" Octavia raised an eyebrow curiously, "Then I guess I'll just have to show you who the REAL master of this game is." She grinned taking the beanbag from Pinkie, quickly joining them in their fun.

"Yea! You can do it 'Tavi!" Pinkie cheered happily.

"Do your best sis!" Bellamina cheered as well.

"Nothing to it." Octavia grinned happily as she tossed the beanbag towards the barrel.

Octavia pushed open the silo door and looked inside it with a soft smile. The silo was mostly empty; the only items left inside were the tools that were used to help take care of the rock farm. Octavia could still remember all the different decorations that had been set up for various parties Pinkie had thrown.

All those memories dwelled deep in her past however, as the silo seemed as lifeless as any tool shed. But she was where she wanted to be. She gently placed her cello case against the wall before opening it to meet her old friend. She carefully pulled the instrument out of its case and stood on her hind hooves. The instrument rested gently against her body as she placed her hooves against the strings.

She carefully took the bow in her other hoof and rested it against the strings. She took a slow, deep breath. Then she began to play.

"Hey sis, where's the glue?" Bellamina asked curiously.

"Top drawer." Octavia quickly pointed with her hoof.

"Thanks!" Bellamina said rushing off to get the item. Octavia shook her head softly as she went back to focusing. Her parents had assigned her to a rather difficult test to ensure she had learned everything they had taught her for the last year well. She had retained most of it, but the essay portion was proving difficult. She knew what they wanted to see and she didn't want to disappoint. She wondered if non-homeschooled foals had it this tough.

"Hey sis, where's the glitter?" Bellamina poked her head back by, causing Octavia to softly grit her teeth in frustration.

"In the decorations drawer, where else?" Octavia said trying to hide her irritation.

"Thanks!" Bellamina smiled happily before rushing off once more. Octavia let out a soft sigh before returning to her paper. She felt her ideas beginning to flow, writing down the next two sentences with ease.

"Hey, where's the streamers?" Bellamina popped back in and asked.

"Argh!" Octavia gripped the sides of her head in frustration before looking at her youngest sister, rather annoyed, "What do you need all this stuff for anyway!?"

"I'm making Pinkie a gift." Bellamina explained with a smile, "She's given me so many I felt I should return the favor."

Octavia sighed rubbing her eyes.

"Why wouldn't the streamers be in the decorations drawer?" She asked still annoyed at wanting to ace this test for her parents. After all, ONE of them had to be the responsible child of this family.

"I don't know, I think Pinkie used up the streamers there for her last party. I was wondering where the replacements were kept." Bellamina smiled almost obliviously. Octavia wondered if she truly was oblivious or she was ignoring the circumstances on purpose.

"They keep the spare in the attic." Octavia finally said, hoping it'd be the last she saw of her sister.

"Thanks!" Bellamina quickly trotted out of the room going to get the supplies.

"Finally, I can get back to my test!" Octavia grumbled turning back to her paper. She cleared her thoughts from her sister's activities and began to work once more. Scribbling on the paper she could finally got some progress done. She wasn't near finished, but she could already tell the quality of the work was impro-

"HEY! OCTAVIA! You gotta come with me!" A hyperactive pink filly suddenly jumped onto her desk spilling her papers everywhere. Octavia felt her face hit the desk hard. "There's going to be a SUPER WONDERFUL PARTY! And I'm inviting everyone to go! Though mom and dad already turned me down, so I'm inviting you next!" Pinkie bounced happily up and down on the desk.

"Pinkie… can't this party wait till tomorrow or something?" Octavia groaned not lifting her head up.

"I don't think so. It's a wonderful once in a lifetime opportunity!" Pinkie grinned happily. Octavia rolled her eyes, to Pinkie EVERY party was a once in a lifetime event.

"Sorry Pinkie, I can't. I have to finish this test mom and dad gave me. Go ask Bellamina though; I'm pretty sure she's got plenty of free time." Octavia stood up from her chair and started picking up the scattered papers.

"Well… okie dokie. I'll bring you back a piece of cake or something. Oooh, or a cupcake! There are going to be cupcakes!" Pinkie said thinking back to earlier as she licked her lips.

"Yeah, bring me back a cupcake." Octavia said sorting the scattered papers now.

"Okie dokie loki!" Pinkie nodded her head before bouncing off back into the house.

"Okay, now I should finally have some peace and quiet." Octavia sighed putting her papers back down so she could work once more.

Octavia, with her eyes closed in remembrance lowered her hoof and bow as the last note of the song echoed in the silo. She sighed softly as she held herself back. There was so much left to say, so much left to do, so much that needed to be accomplished but never would be.

She knew she was a rotten sister. Not only had she wished to not see Bellamina again, she had gotten her wish. She had let Pinkie be traumatized. She bore the weight of letting them go.

All over a silly test that in the end didn't even matter. She was the most responsible one of them and she let them go without a word. She may as well have been the killer.

But she still had to be strong with her head held high. After all, she was the oldest, it was her job to be strong. She had to be strong for Pinkie, she had to be strong for her parents and she had to be strong for herself.

She remembered so many nights that she lay awake with Pinkie crying into her coat, hugging the filly close to her chest and comforting her, letting her know that she would be alright. After all, she still had her big sister to protect her.

Pinkie's big sister, who had yet to shed a single tear over the passing for their youngest sibling.

"Can you play another? I really liked that." Came a sudden soft voice Octavia hadn't heard in years. Octavia's eyes shot open at the sound of the intruder. Her mouth fell open as she stared at the sight before her.

There sitting before her was a young filly, with a soft blue coat and gray hair staring at her. There was no mistaking who the filly was. After all these years she hadn't aged a day.

"Hm? What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost." Bellamina chuckled softly, smiling at her sister.

"H-How… No… you're not really here right now are you? I'm… I'm just hallucinating." Octavia turned her head away, closing her eyes, trying to dispel the illusion.

"I'm no illusion. I'm really here right now." Octavia turned her head to look, Bellamina was still there smiling at her.

"But… But how? You're… you're…" Octavia felt a lump form in her throat, preventing her from saying more.

"It's… complicated. But… I was given some time to spend with you." Bellamina smiled brightly, "So please, I want to hear another song if that's okay."

Octavia was silent for a moment, not sure what to say. She felt herself freezing up. Of all the things that could have happened tonight, this was one she never thought would be a reality. Her sister was there to see her, but was that really alright? There was so many things Octavia needed to get out, but her mind and body refused to say any of it. All she could do was comply for now.

"Alright." Octavia said moving her bow back up to her instrument. She then began to play another of her ballads, moving the bow back and forth as the cello created its soft sound. Bellamina sat raptured by the sound for a moment or two before getting up from her sitting position and walking closer to the instrument. Octavia looked at her curiously as the little filly then sat just a foot or so away from the cello.

"Hey sis…how come your music is so sad?" Bellamina asked curiously. Octavia's slipped causing a sour note before she looked at her sister with a strange look.

"Sad? That… that wasn't a sad song…" Octavia looked down at her instrument wondering what her sister meant.

"But… it is…" Bellamina tapped a hoof to her chin in though, "Here, I'll prove it sis. Start playing again." Bellamina instructed. Octavia wasn't sure what Bellamina meant, but if its what her sister wanted she would comply. She pressed the bow against the cello once more as music began to fill the silo.

Bellamina slowly nodded her head to the gentle beat of Octavia;s playing, giving a moment to let he momentum build up. Then, to Octavia's surprise, Bellamina began to sing.

Octavia had wanted to stop playing. As Bellamina sung it felt like old wounds opened inside of her, letting out demons she had long been holding onto. Every word of Bellamina's song felt like a stab at her heart.

But, she couldn't have stopped playing.

Even if every word hurt, if every second of playing felt like it tore her body apart, if every note of her melody dug into her soul she couldn't have stopped playing. The words Bellamina sang rang true to her very soul and moved her in a way she never thought that she could be moved.

The song came to an end and the last note of Bellamina's song lingered in the air. Octavia lowered the bow slowly, staring at her sister with wide eyes, mouth agape. Bellamina just seemed to smile at the sight.

"That's what your music is telling me sis." Bellamina explained to the confused pony.

In that instance, Bellamina found herself being hugged desperately by the older mare. The cello fell to the ground with a dull thud, Bellamina gasped for air as her older practically crushed her within the embrace. As Bellamina found her air, she could feel something wet hit her body. As she carefully turned her head she could see that it was Octavia.

Octavia was crying.

"B-Bellamina…" Octavia hiccupped through her sobs, letting out so many emotions she had been bottling up for years. All the pain, the suffering, the sorrow, the regret, the loneliness, Octavia let it all out in her tears now. Bellamina wrapped her hooves around Octavia and hugged her back, letting the eldest sister cry deeply.

"I'm… I'm so… I'm so sorry…" Octavia blubbered some more, trying to speak despite her lungs gasping for air, "I've been a horrible, horrible rotten sister." Octavia shook her head, "I never deserved a sister as sweet and fun as you. I hurt you, I wished you gone, I ignored you… what kind of older sister doesn't protect their siblings…"

"Oh 'Tavi…" Bellamina sighed smiling happily.

"I should've gone with you! I should've known better than to let you go without me! I'm the worst sister in the whole world." Octavia continued to sob as she let out every bit of guilt she'd been holding onto.

"Okay, that's enough sis." Bellamina said pushing against her sister. Octavia opened her eyes wide as Bellamina pushed them apart. She stared at her younger sister, unable to stop crying.

"Let's get some things straight here." Bellamina turned her head looking at her sister from a slant, "There's no way you could have known what was going to happen was going to. You're just a pony, not some psychic. You did what was natural and you can't have expected anything more."

"B-But I-" Octavia tried to speak but Bellamina only interrupted her again.

"And of course," Bellamina grinned happily, "There's no way you're the worst sister in the world. You're crying your heart out because you miss me, because you've been holding back those tears for too long now." Octavia rubbed her face, looking at her sister even more confused, "You never had to be the strongest amongst us 'Tavi. You didn't have to hold all this inside of you. No pony would've blamed you for crying, but you were strong for your family. You did what you thought was best for making them happy. How could you be a horrible sister for wanting that?"

Octavia stared dumbfounded at her sister as the words hit deeply once more. Octavia closed her eyes as she felt more tears burning at her eyes.

"Oh Bellamina!" Octavia gripped her sister in a hug once more. "I'm so sorry!"

"Sis," Bellamina sighed, "You don't have to apologize-"

"No, no I do have to apologize Bellamina." Octavia squeezed tightly, "Even if I wasn't a rotten sister, even if it wasn't my fault this happened to you, I still have to apologize." Octavia took a deep breath as she nuzzled her head against her sister's, "I never properly said goodbye to you. I never properly mourned your passing. I never let these emotions out. I have to apologize for this. I was running away from what happened to you just as much as Pinkie has been."

"Well… then I'll forgive you Octavia… under one condition." Bellamina smiled, closing her eyes as they hugged.

"Anything sis." Octavia smiled happily.

"I want to hear you play a happy song, one not weighed down by your guilt." Bellamina grinned happily.

"Of course. Anything." Octavia nodded her head quickly, letting go of her sister and walking over to the cello. Bellamina smiled happily as Octavia picked up the cello and the bow, quickly dusting it off and getting the proper pose. Octavia cleared her throat as she smiled, placing the bow against the instrument.

Then she began to play.

Bellamina smiled happily as the new song echoed through the silo, a much different beat. Bellamina couldn't help but smile, the music was so full of life, so joyous, so different from the songs Octavia had been playing before. The music was infectious, it filled Bellamina to her core. She got up on her hooves as she felt her body begin to sway to the music.

Then, she began to dance.

Bellamina swung and twirled, she skipped and hopped happily to the beat. Octavia's music was filled with such pleasure and joy, she couldn't help but feel so joyous with the music.

The song filled the air, Bellamina danced, and it was as if the two of them were in their own little world, a world where only the two of them existed. They could've spent the whole night in that moment, Octavia playing her music, Bellamina dancing to the melody. A world where just the two of them existed.

But as all moments did it came to an end. The last of the notes echoed through the silo as Bellamina came to a stop before her sister, bowing gracefully to her sister. Octavia bowed gracefully back, the two of them looking up at each other.

They began to snicker before softly chuckling at each other. The chuckling turned into giggles and the giggles turned into fits of laughter. The two of them lay on the silo floor, laughing away at nothing, as if an invisible joke had been shared between them.

The two shared in the moment before it too began to calm and the two ponies lay on their backs next to each other looking up at the roof of the silo.

"Oh Bellamina…" Octavia rolled over and threw her hooves around her sister, hugging her once more.

"This is weird." Bellamina laughed hugging Octavia back, "Getting hugged so much by my serious older sister…"

"Hey, I don't know when I'm going to see you again you silly filly, so I have to get in as many hugs as I can now." Octavia smiled, hugging Bellamina a little tighter.

"Thank you sis," Bellamina hugged back as tightly, "But I can't stay much longer." She spoken, Octavia able to hear the sadness in her voice.

"Then even more reason for me to hug you." Octavia spoke without hesitation, snuggling up close with her sister.

"Can you do me a favor sis?" Bellamina asked quietly, snuggling back.

"Anything for you Bellamina."

"Could you not tell Pinkie about this? I'm going to spend time with her soon and… I'd like it to be a surprise."

"Of course. I can promise you that."

The two of them sat in their embrace for a long time, not saying a word. Octavia never wanted to let her sister go, but the more the minutes passed the lighter she could feel Bellamina getting. Her hooves were starting to slip from her sister's fading body and she just desperately tried to cling harder. But, the time finally came, and softly from Bellamina's lips slipped her last words to her sister Octavia.

"Goodbye Sis…I love you."

"I love you too Bellamina." Octavia clung to her litte sister until the last moment, as Bellamina faded from her hold. She was gone, just as she had been before. But this time, she'd left something behind.

A smile on Octavia.

-----

"Alright, well, I've got to head off. My show in Hoofington won't wait for me so I better leave now." Octavia sighed softly, loading her cello into the taxi carriage they'd sent for.

"Awww, I wish we could've spent some more time together." Pinkie pouted as her sister loaded up. This made Octavia chuckle.

"It's alright sis, we've got plenty of time in the future to hang out. And once I'm done with my tour we should." This made Pinkie smile.

"You have a safe trip, alright dear?" Her father walked up and gave his daughter a hug, kissing her on the forehead.

"I will dad, geeze." Octavia laughed happily at the affection.

"You know we worry. You could send a few more letters to your parents once in a while." Her mother hugged her next, Octavia nuzzled up against her.

"I know… I promise I'll keep better in touch." Octavia smiled happily.

"Hey, are we leaving or what?" One of the taxi ponies asked a little annoyed at how long they'd been standing around.

"Oh, sorry, of course." Octavia chuckled before stepping onto the taxi. She turned to her family and waved as the coach began to head off, her family waving back as the farm slowly escaped her vision into the distance. Octavia let out a soft sigh as she sat back into her sit and looked out the window into the sky.

"So… my next performance is for a Wonderbolt's opening huh… this'll be an interesting concert." Octavia mused happily, thinking about her musical prospects for the future.