A/N: Hello. It is I. With another brand fanfic in which I somehow bring Ellie Oswald back to life (yes I'm a sucker for Clara and Ellie's relationship, deal with it u.u).

As always, I'd like to thank Marion (CAPALDlSCO) for drawing the most magnificent cover for this story, and my beta who's so willingly put up with all my stories.

There are a bunch of rock stars au out there in the twelveclara tag, but not a Single classical musician one so I just thought to myself, "It's time I change this."

This AU is inspired by the anime 'Your Lie In April', which has me sobbing every time I watch it. I seriously recommend watching it if you have the time. However, watching it might spoiler you to what might eventually happen in this story, so if you don't like spoilers than I'd say postpone the anime until I'm done posting this lol.

As this is a musician AU, it'll be filled with classical music which are recommended to be listened to while reading certain chapters. That said, I recommend listening to Chopin's Nocturne op.9 No.2 while reading this chapter.

With no further delay, I hope you enjoy it.

Music had always been her life.

Ever since she was just a little kid; her bare foot touching the cold metal of the damper pedal underneath, even if she could barely reach it – she had always lacked in height – her little hands desperately trying to open enough to perfectly hit an octave, her short fingers struggling to play scales without slipping; music brought her to life.

But not anymore.

Clara Oswald would never forget the day her mother brought home that big brown piano. She was only four years old. It was so gigantic she had been terrified of it at first, afraid it would swallow her petite frame, but as her mother delicately placed the child's index across the 'do' note and encouraged her to press down the key, she understood; the piano was her home.

But not anymore.

She played in recitals and school concerts. She competed in national contests, and overworked herself until her music was perfect and she won them all. She majored in classical music in university and she made the piano her master. And she was good.

But not anymore.

She made her career flow. She worked harder and harder until her talent reached the ears of other people. She allowed the music to speak through her until the music she played got national recognition. She would walk onto the stage tall, regardless of how small she was, demanding respect from all the people who would pay to see her play. And she would sit by the piano, taking ragged breaths until she was ready. Until the music took over her existence.

But not anymore.

She earned herself a name, through her talent and love for the music she played. She found herself fans who asked for pictures and autographs, which she gave them delightedly, but never as delighted as she played her music. She had never asked for fame, all she ever desired was to sound her sound and touch the souls of even the lost ones with her music. Her music was her salvation; her music could be someone else's salvation as well.

But not anymore.

And always there, sitting in the front row, was Ellie Oswald. The woman who had always supported her, no matter how difficult her path was. She didn't have the knowledge of music like the daughter, but she was the person who made that life for her possible. She was the person who had bought her the piano. She never failed to attend a performance of hers, despite how many times Clara would tell her that there was no need of it, that she had already heard her play enough times. But the truth was, Clara drew comfort from always having her mother stand up and applaud her. Ellie was always there for her.

But not anymore.

Clara strode across the stage with the same confident expression she always wore on her face. The hall was full, filled with thousands of faces she had never seen and probably would never see again. As she made her way to the piano, her eyes searched around the crowd for the warm smile that always welcomed her.

Except… It wasn't there.

Clara swallowed roughly, trying to sustain her composure. That didn't make sense; she probably just missed her mother's face. With shaky limbs, she sat by the piano and closed her eyes. She couldn't let her heart be attached to earthly things, not when music transcended the limits of the physical body, not when music had the power to break the barriers of time and space, not when she was about to give life to Chopin. Not when she was about to fly.

She focused her eyes on the white and black keys. Sweetly positioning her hands, she prepared to pour life into Chopin's Nocturne op.9 no.2. She reminisced how her mother would listen to it on vinyl on repeat when she was just an infant, it was one of her favorites; she remembered perfectly how Ellie's eyes flooded with tears when she first played it to her; she could still feel the tight hug she had given her once she was done.

Her mother was so proud of her.

Clinging hard onto those memories, Clara played the first note.

She became the music herself.

Her hands gently caressed the keys. Her emotions took over her body. That moment, she was nothing more than the melody, obeying the composer's sheet music she had long ago memorized faithfully. The world faded from existence as she and the piano became one only.

She played the final chord.

The crowd broke into applause, offering her a standing ovation. She felt lighter as she rose to her feet and her spine bent forward in gratitude. Her lips curved into a shy smile, taking a few steps back until she retreated herself from the stage, finding her way back to her dressing room. She just couldn't understand what her grandmother was doing there, a pitiful and sorrowful expression written all over the lines on her face.

Clara felt her knees growing weak underneath her. Something had happened.

Something bad had happened.

Her mother was dead.

Her mother was dead.

Clara took a long breath, body widely spread around the mess of sheets and duvets that she had slept tangled with. Preparing herself for yet another music-less day. Every day was a battle to survive; she had no idea who she was anymore.

It had been almost one year since Ellie's death. One year since a disease took over her and so quickly, so mercilessly consumed her until there was nothing left of her. One year since the strongest person she knew lost the battle to cancer. Ever since that day, music had lost its meaning to Clara. Music had faded away from her.

Clara could no longer play. Ever since she died. Although she had tried, desperately tried, although she had been encouraged by her friends and family, the piano was soundless to her.

Ever since that day.

The day that music died.

A/N: Ok then! This first chapter was quite short, but it meant just to set a tone to this story.

Appreciate a writer's effort to writing thousands of words for free and take the time to leave a comment. Your incentive is the solemn here why we're still here :)