Sugarcube Corner was filled, it's seating completely occupied by high-class ponies from Canterlot. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were exceedingly happy that Rarity had called a social gathering in their bakery, as sophisticated unicorns bought their sweets and complimented them on how well-made their food was. Pinkie Pie was in the back, cooking up a storm. She would've rather been outside partying, but Rarity had insisted "no singing, dancing, streamers, balloons, or whatever else you can fire from that party cannon".

Music flowed through the bakery, provided by a group of four Earth-ponies on a quickly-assembled stage. One was a brown stallion playing the piano, another was a purple stallion on the harp, the third was a light blue mare playing the trumpet, and rounding out the quartet was a grey mare with a cello. The music paused for a moment, grabbing the attention of everypony present, and Rarity came on stage.

"Yes, ahem," Rarity began. "I would like to thank everyone for coming to my little party. I believe we can all give a a large thank you to our hosts, the Cakes-" She paused as hooves stomped the ground (about the closest thing to clapping in Equestria). "- And to our musical entertainment, the Galloping Quartet." More hooves stomped the ground. "I do believe Miss Octavia, the cellist, had a few words to say." The grey mare stood and stepped beside Rarity, nodding curtly.

"Yes, thank you all for having us here," Octavia said slowly, in a somewhat high-pitched voice. "I would just like to announce to you first, before word gets out to everypony else, that though our, shall we say, 'gig' at the Grand Galloping Gala in recent years has been quite enjoyable, we will not be performing there this year." Murmurs swept through the audience. "I realize that this may come as a surprise. But I'd like to elaborate. We have been called to Phillydelphia by a retired Wonderbolt - most of you likely do not remember Storm Rider - where he has arranged for us to play at a charity event. Proceeds benefit orphaned ponies. As much as we value our position at the Gala, we are ceding it for this year, for the bettering of the foals." More hoof-stomping rang through the bakery, as Octavia stepped back.

"Well, that's very nice, isn't it?" Rarity asked retorically. "The band is packing up, so I suppose it is time to be going. Thank you once again, and I will be seeing you in Canterlot when I next come by to sell outfits."

The band had just gotten out of the covered wagon after a two-day ride to Phillydelphia. They were staying there for the entire month leading up to the charity event. The loud noises of a busy city surrounded them, yet the rustic architecture of the city maintained a sense of home to them.

"Blegh. I hate wagon rides," the purple harpist complained. "I am feeling nauseous."

"Your stomach cannot handle anything, can it, Cleft?" Octavia asked, rolling her eyes.

She stepped over to the two large stallions who pulled the carriage and thanked them, as the rest of the band began to pull their stuff from the wagon.

The band walked to the hotel they would be staying at and entered their rooms. They'd agreed on two 2-bed rooms: one for the stallions, and the other for the mares. When the two ladies entered their room, they paused and strained their ears.

"D'you hear that, Taves?" the purple one asked.

"Uh, I think so, Forte," Octavia replied. The real name of the pony was Anna Apple, but she'd pretty much changed her name when her calling was found to be on the stage, rather than in an orchard. "Sounds like some sort of party to me. I suppose it's on the floor above us."

"I hope they calm down before it is time to sleep," Forte said. She added as an afterthought, "Honestly, I don't understand how anypony can put up with such obnoxious noise. That's not even music!"

"Mm, not my type of music, but I don't deny that it is music," Octavia said. "Hm, speaking of which, I wonder if there will be other performers at the event."

"We'll find out, won't we?" Forte answered mysteriously. "I'll see you at dinner. I'm off to explore the city. I would particularly like to see the Harmony Bell. It has only been rung twice, you know. Once when Discord was sealed away, and the other-"

"When Nightmare Moon was sent to the moon. Yes, I know about the legends. They're not exactly uncommon knowledge," Octavia replied. "Plus, we were there for both of their freedoms. Do you know how hard it is to practice my cello when all the music sheets have been flipped backwards? And every note hangs in the air for hours? And the strings make a different noise every time I run across them? Still, I didn't even get the worst of it. Some ponies themselves got, as the term goes, 'Discorded'. Did you hear about poor Screwball?"

"I can't say I know her, but I understand the sentiment," Forte said, already heading out the door. "Well, tata!"

It was midnight. Forte and Octavia rolled in their beds, stuffing their pillows over their ears, but it was no use: the music was simply too loud. Finally, Octavia sighed and stood up.

"I'm going to go up there and have them turn it down a few decibals. I shall be back in a moment," she said. Forte merely nodded.

Octavia walked up the stairs, and followed the noise until she came to a ballroom. There was a white unicorn mare using magic to operate a turntable. She had a two-shaded blue mane, and her Cutie Mark was a reversed musical note. She wore purple glasses for no apparent reason.

Octavia was about to move when she felt someone bump into her. She quickly moved out of the way, and saw two more mares behind her. The one who bumped into her was a light green unicorn with a blue-white mane and a harp Cutie Mark (reminding Octavia of Cleft). Her companion was a yellowish Earth-pony with an evenly split pink-purple mane. The Earth-pony had three wrapped candies for her Cutie Mark.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry," the unicorn apologized quickly, before her eyes lit up. "Ohmygosh, I remember you! You performed at the Galloping Gala! I'm Lyra! Lyra Heartstrings! Can I please have an autograph?"

"Uh... sure?" Octavia said, somewhat confused. Lyra pulled a piece of paper and pencil from nowhere, and handed it to Octavia anxiously. Octavia signed it, every now and then glancing at the odd pony. She then handed it back, and Lyra got hearts in her eyes.

"Octavia is such a great name! You're totally cool!" Lyra squealed.

"My apologies," the Earth-pony said. "She's a great fan of classical music. I'm Bon Bon. We're just coming by to ask them to turn down the volume, so I'll just go ahead."

"Ah, we'll all go, then. I had the same goal," Octavia offered.

The three ponies walked through a large crowd of dancing ponies, folding down their hooves to block out the loud noise from the speakers. Octavia walked on-stage, getting the attention of the DJ. She turned down the volume a bit, pausing the action.

"Ah, yes. Excuse me, ma'am, but your 'music' is far too loud for the late hour. You are disturbing patrons, ourselves among them," Octavia explained diplomatically. The DJ continued to stare, with no reaction. "Um, can you not hear me? I've been told I need to work on being louder." No response.

"We need you to TURN DOWN THE VOLUME!" Lyra shouted. No response, though the DJ seemed to recognize that there was shouting involved. She pulled down her glasses to get a clearer view of the ponies, revealing that she had matching violet eyes.

"Can you not hear us?" Bon Bon asked, now completely confused.

"No, she can't," a pony from nearby said. "DJ P0n-3 is deaf."

"You're kidding. She's deaf?" Lyra asked.

"Well, I can't possibly imagine how that happened," Bon Bon said sarcastically.

"Allow me," Octavia offered. She took a notebook and pen, and began to write out the group's request. She slid it over to the DJ, who peered over the list. She laughed, and wrote back. Octavia read the note aloud.

"Sorry, fillies. Guess I turned the volume too high. I couldn't tell because of my condition, which you've obviously just heard about. By the way, don't bother calling me DJ P0n-3 unless you're in the party. My real name is Vinyl Scratch."

"Well, now that that is settled, I suppose we can head back to our rooms," Bon Bon said. "Come along, Lyra. And thank you, Miss Octavia."

"No problem," Octavia said, following them until they split at the stairs. "Good night!"

The next morning, the Galloping Quartet met in the hotel's breakfast bar before going their separate ways. Octavia was surprised to see Vinyl Scratch already eating. She thought he would've slept late after partying so long. She excused herself from the group and walked over, pulling out the same notepad and pen. Vinyl stopped her, before surprising her by speaking, though she seemed to move over each word slowly, as if trying to make sure she was saying it correctly.

"Don't worry. I can read lips," she said. She took off her glasses, and looked at Octavia expectantly.

"I just wanted to say hello," Octavia said slowly, to allow Vinyl time to read her. Vinyl nodded to show that she understoof her. "How was the party?"

"It was good. So, what brings you and your band here to Phillydelphia?" Vinyl asked. "I seem to remember you as... Canterlotian, I think, is the word."

"Ah, you recognize me. We are here for a charity event at the end of the month. We shall be providing music," Octavia explained.

"Hang on, I think I may have misread you. You are at a charity event?" Vinyl asked.

"That is correct," Octavia confirmed.

"For orphans?" Vinyl pressed.

"Yes. Why do you ask?" Octavia asked.

"Then we will be performing at the same event. I've been asked to go to the same event. I reside in Ponyville," Vinyl said, smiling. Octavia's smile fell.

"Please keep your volume down, then. Classical music, such as that which we play, isn't overpowering to the ears," she said.

"You have my word, even if I can't hear it," Vinyl said. "You'd better get in the breakfast line, before they take it away."

"Well, thank you very much, Vinyl Scratch. I will be seeing you," Octavia said, walking to te breakfast bar.

"Yes! A whole conversation, and I didn't trip over my words once!" Vinyl thought to herself giddily.