Octavia stood at the podium, facing her graduating class, a smile on her face. I waved up at her, and her smile grew wider. Her notes were in front of her, and I smiled equally wide as I remembered her, frantically trying to figure out what she would say.

“It’s a very big deal, Vinyl. This speech needs to be perfect.” I had, of course, suggested that she wing the entire thing and just say what came to mind, but that had been a ‘terrible idea’. Everything I suggested was a terrible idea, apparently.

“Octy, when have you ever screwed up a speech?”

“First grade. I said ‘wumb’ instead of ‘dumb’. It was very traumatizing, as you can imagine.”

Octy was full of silly stuff like that. Tiny imperfections that most ponies forgot about, or didn’t put any thought into were Octy’s biggest pet peeves. Today though, I sat beside my graduating class, beaming up at my marefriend, who had gathered her thoughts.

“Four years ago, I was a very different pony. I began my time here as a naive young mare who believed that she was owed something. My only friend here was my cello. I’d never bothered to make friends back in grade school. I had one, but she wasn’t coming here with me. I was alone. A mare with no real experience in the outside world. I was sheltered and, as some may remember, a bit uptight.

“Today, I stand before you as a different mare than I was when I walked through these doors for the first time. I’m more educated in not only my own prefered genre, but in a much wider world of music than I thought existed. I used to think that only Classical music was worth studying. I thought that only my music had a history, and I realize how wrong I was now. Meeting so many wonderful ponies has expanded my own ideas on music. It’s helped me to find a community.

“The biggest change, I would think, is my outlook on life. When I first arrived, I was very set in my ways. A mare and a stallion were, in Celestia’s eyes, the proper couple. Until I met Vinyl. She’s made me into a more open minded pony. When I first found out what Vinyl was, I was disturbed. Now, I know who she is, and she’s helped me to see who I am. And for that, I thank her. Just as I thank everypony here who has helped me to learn who I am.

“Is that not what school is for? To find out who we are? We are told when leaving High School that we are moving into the real world. Yet, here we all are, still in school. Now is the time we are moving into the real world. There is no more for us to be taught. There is still much to learn, but we cannot rely on our teachers to give us the information. We need to seek it ourselves. The growth we’ve made here is only the beginning. There’s a whole world out there for us to explore, and with it, comes a new world inside ourselves. Maybe you still don’t know what you want to do. You’ve taken your pathway, but you don’t want that anymore. Maybe you’ll learn something new, that will change you, and you’ll realize ‘this is what I want with my life.’

“I want you all to take a moment, and look around. Look at the ponies you were friends with when you began here, four years ago. Are they still your friends today? What about somepony you’re friends with now. Were you friends when you started?” I took a second to do what Octy asked. I glanced at Neon Lights, who still wasn’t speaking to me. We locked eyes for a second, and I tried to smile. For a second, he almost smiled back. He turned away, and I looked to Bee. She was smiling, but not at me. Her smile was only for the golden brown earth pony mare sitting beside her. It made me happy to see her coming out of her shell a little bit.

“Now that you’ve had a moment, I want to wrap things up. Sometimes, friendships don’t work out. But many times, those failed friendships lead to something much better in the long run. Losing one friend can result in two more friends. If I take anything away from this school in later years, when my hooves can no longer support my cello, it’s that change is part of life. I want to thank this school for all the changes, and preparing me for many more to come.”

I like to think I clapped the loudest when she was done talking. She smiled and stepped down from the podium and joined me, throwing her hooves around me in a hug. That’s when the hats started flying. We were graduates.

“What’s next?” I asked. Octavia shrugged.

“Who knows? I have that invitation from the Manehatten Orchestra. You have your DJ gig with your dad.”

“There are clubs in Manehatten. I’ll get a job over there. I’ve never been to Manehatten.”

“You’re moving to Manehatten?” Lyra had pushed her way through the crowd to join me and Octy. “Me and Bonnie are going to Ponyville.”

“Why Ponyville?”

“It’s quiet, and that’s where my sister is. She says she can get us a place to live.”

“Your sister, the crazy dentist?”

“She’s not crazy. She’s just…different.”

“Yeah, just like you,” I teased.

Lyra rolled her eyes. “Very funny,” she playfully shot back. “Either way, I’m sure you two will have a blast. We’re all still gonna stay in touch, right?”

"Of course!" Octavia said, offended at the thought that we wouldn't stay in touch.

"You couldn't get rid of me if you tried." I added.

We all looked to one another, and it was kinda crazy how we were all smiling. These past few years had many ups and downs, but it all resulted into something pretty awesome. I mean, I had my friends, my new life waiting in a new city…and of course, I had my Cellist.

“Hey, Tavi?” I said softly, taking Octavia’s hoof in my own, and looking to her - letting myself get lost in her eyes. The eyes I could look into forever....

She had a cute little blush as she met my gaze, and smiled. “Yes, Vinyl?” I didn’t know what to say. I almost got lost for a minute, but then I found the right words.

“Thanks,” I replied. “For always being there, even when things seemed bad. You’re the best thing I’ve got so far.” She blushed even harder. Yeah, I knew it - I had her nailed.

So I kissed her - and then, in that moment, I realized life was probably going to throw me more punches, but if I got Tavi by my side?

...well, then I have no room to complain.

Author's Notes:

KISSY SMOOCHY SUPER CHEESY ENDING (~Toni)

Toni wrapped up the story, clearly. I couldn't think of anything not cheesy to end it with, so I had the Queen of Cheesy Endings add the last bit. Very logical, on my part.

But yeah, this is the end, I guess. It feels weird, finishing this. Like, what am I going to do now that Cellist isn't taking up all my time? Obviously, write more lesbian ponies. Mostly sad-fics though. That's all I have planned right now.

~RushingAutumnLeaves~