I'd like to take this time to acknowledge my good friend Haven, who helped me write this. Thank you for your help.


The two friends ventured out of the museum the same way they had come, passing back through all the exhibits until they reached the place where they had entered. Behind the booth, the old nag still sat, lazily flipping through a magazine at her desk. When the two exited, she immediately sprang to attention, "Did you two enjoy your tour?"

"Well..." Octavia began.

"We sure did!" Vinyl exclaimed.

"Yeah..." Octavia trailed off.

"Well, that's good to hear. I hope Trixie wasn't too much to handle."

"No, she was fine." Octavia said, "I really hope her acting career works out."

The old nag rolled her eyes. "I hope it does too. Finally get her out of the house. At any rate, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed yourselves. Hope you come back again soon."

"Oh we will." Octavia assured her.

"Bye!" the old nag exclaimed as they trotted away.

"Bye." the two called back as they pulled the latched door and exited into the corridor beyond.

The piazza that lay in front of the museum was called 'Modesty Square'; a designation quite contradictory in nature, for it was a cobbled area of immense length and breadth that stretched for several hundred meters in both directions; making it anything but 'modest'.

All around it's great breadth lay stores, shops, bakeries, confectionery booths, blacksmith's forgeries, repair outlets, clothing stores, novelty vendors, styling boutiques, perfume retailers, cafes and restaurants of every sort and variety. Indeed, apart from the looming presence of the Royal Palace, which lay just beyond it, one might have said that this was the most important place in city – or at least it was for the common ponies who transacted most of their business there. And it was not without good reason that many people also considered it the heart of the capital.

While the museum that covered its northern face might not have been a hive of activity, the area located immediately in front of it was. Ponies went this way and that way; crowds of onlookers gathered to see street-performers doing exotic tricks, while others chatted under the shade of the parasol tables that were located around the city fountain. It was in the midst of all this that Vinyl and Octavia found themselves as they trotted around the square's vast distance, looking for a place to eat. After much indecision and a compromise, they finally decided on a small sidewalk-cafe in a secluded corner alley, away from the noisy crowds.

Around the sides of the brick passageway were large trellises where leafy vines and flowers grew to form a shady corridor from the opening of the alley to the serving area beyond, which was nothing more than a small stand with a few cooking pots and kettles. At the counter was a young waiter with a bright-red mane and a lackluster yellow coat and a cup of coffee as his cutie-mark. He energetically wiped the counter with a cloth, polishing it thoroughly why he whistled an old tune.

"Ah! Two ladies approach on this fine day. Would you care to take a seat?" The cafe was largely abandoned, except a few scattered ponies sitting here and there. Vinyl and Octavia sat down at a table near the railing that separated the raised terrace from the side-walk beyond. As they seated themselves, a kettle whistled out on the stove. "Oops! Lemme get that, I'll be with you in just a second." he said, and raced to attend to it.

The two friends began to casually read over the menus that lay on the table. There wasn't much in the way of selection, some basic entrees, but not many. "What are you getting?" Octavia asked.

Vinyl scratched her mane thoughtfully. "I dunno... Everything's so small." She put her menu down and lifted her hooves, measuring a couple of inches between them.

Octavia stared at her. "Nervous?" she asked, her curiosity peaked.

"Nope!" Vinyl grinned. "Are you?"

"No...just..." she gazed back at the yellow colt attending the stove. "What do you think of him?" She motioned with her head, trying not to draw attention.

"Nothin' really. Why? You got a crush on him or something?" Vinyl teased, grinning even more and wiggling her eyebrows.

"Well..." Octavia grinned, blushing, "he is quite handsome. Sure he's not perfect but...there's something about him that I find attractive. So cheery and polite."

Vinyl looked over at him. "He's okay, I guess."

The yellow colt, as if on queue, approached the table. Octavia suddenly ducked her head under the menu so as not make eye-contact. "Sorry about that, had to keep the tea from burning. What can I get for you two today?"

Vinyl looked back at the menu. "I'll have, uh... a couple of blueberry muffins and a cappuccino." She looked at Octavia, waiting.

"Alright" he said marking it down in a little booklet. "And you, Miss?"

"I'll have a light salad, no dressing please and a water." she said, not taking the menu from her face, an obvious anxiety in her voice.

"Got it. Be ready in about ten minutes." With that he trotted back to his post and began eagerly fixing the ordered meal.

"What, are you dieting?" Vinyl snorted.

Octavia scowled. "It's not my fault you get to eat whatever you want and never gain a pound, whereas the least bit of sugar makes me bloat like a puffer fish."

"Well sor-ry! What's got your panties in a bunch all of a sudden?"

"Nothing. I guess I'm just nervous about the upcoming recital. I've been working so hard for it and I guess I'm just mentally preparing myself for what's to come. My biggest fear is I'm going to goof in front of the entire royal court and be laughed at." she cringed, "That would be the worst possible thing."

"Oh, that's not gonna happen." Vinyl waved her hoof. "You play awesomely."

Octavia smiled a bit. "Thanks Vinyl, I'm glad you'll be there. I know I can always count on you." It was then that a couple came walking into the cafe. The first one, the husband, was a middle-aged colt with a thinning mane and rather prominent bald spot on the top of his hand. The second, his wife, was a large mare with with long blonde hair and a masculine set of legs. At her side was a small foal, no older than two or three years of age, who lay in a carriage, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

The yellow colt, still behind the stove, saw them enter. "Take a seat anywhere!" he called, "I'll be right with you." With that the two sat down at a table a little piece away from where the two friends sat.

Vinyl looked over at them for a moment before turning back around. "I wonder who they are..."

"I don't know..." Octavia remarked. It was clear to both of them though that neither of them were happy. The husband came in with a blank expression on his face and his wife was no better, she carried an annoyed grimace, rolling her eyes and making quick, sharp remarks whenever the husband asked her anything, rather than a plainly answering.

"Quite the couple, aren't they?" Octavia said smirking at the pair.

"Psh, yeah..." Vinyl answered sarcastically.

A few minutes later the yellow colt reemerged from the cooking area with the food. "Here you are, cappuccino and some blue-berry muffins, and a salad without any dressing with water. Bon appetite!" he said as he departed, but Octavia stopped him before he could take another step.

"Excuse me, sir, what is your name?"

"Joseph! But most people call me Joe."

"And do you work this Cafe all by yourself?"

"No, normally my parents run things here, but they're on their second honey-moon, so I'm just filling in while they're gone. Now if you'll excuse, I got customers to attend to." He left her, heading over to where the couple sat to take their order.

"By the way you're acting, it won't be long before you and him are your second honey-moon." Vinyl said teasingly.

"He certainly does have his priorities in order." Octavia said, "Dependable, loyal, helpful. What more could you ask in a pony?"

"That you actually know him for a few days or something!" Vinyl exclaimed.

"Yeah, you're probably right." Octavia replied eagerly taking a few bites into her salad.

"Yeah." Vinyl mumbled before cramming a whole muffin in her mouth. Octavia stared at her. "What!?" Vinyl said with bits of saliva and muffin flying everywhere "I'm starving!"

"Alright..." Octavia said as she presumed eating her salad.

In a few moments Joe had finished taking the couple's order and returned to the 'kitchen' behind the counter. It wasn't long though before the two started to bicker.

"Babe," the husband began, "What are you having?"

"I'm going to have the Reuben," she stated precisely, "Why?"

Not taking his eyes off the menu, he stared at it intently, a perplexed look emerging upon his face.

She asks a second time, now slightly frustrated, "Why?"

"I'm not sure what to get," he said putting the menu down, "What do you think I should order?"

"I don't know," she said, visibly more annoyed, "What do you like? I can't read your mind."

"Oh?" he said raising an eye-brow "I thought you could." He did a smirking chortle under his breath at the remark.

The wife clenched teeth in a dagger-like smile. "In that case, I'll have the most expensive thing on the menu!"

The smirk instantly dropped from the husband's face. "Babe," he began, "I was kidding."

"Uh-huh, can you make up your mind?"

"I can't!"

The arguing continued, the turmoil gaining more vitriol with each new exchange. In the mean-time, the small foal, who sat unnoticed in his carriage next to the table, began to cry.

"Uh-oh." Vinyl said, "That's not good."

"Ignore it." Octavia commanded, "They're bound to notice it eventually."

"They don't look like it," Vinyl replied.

"Well, it's not our problem, is it?"

Vinyl shook her head. "I gotta do something."

"I wouldn't." Octavia warned, "They look like they're in no mood for shenanigans."

Vinyl looked around trying to find something she could use – an excuse, an object, anything – to help the child. At last it appeared. Behind the counter, located near a shelf, was a case; but not just any case – a violin case. Vinyl trotted to the counter where Joe was preparing sandwiches. "Uh, excuse me, does that case have a violin inside?"

"Why, yes. It does. It's my brother Fred's violin. He's gone off to the university now, but we still keep it around, because he use to play it so often and it reminds us of him."

"You mind if I borrow it?" she asked.

"Sure." He pulled down the case from the shelf and undoing the latches, "You play?"

"A little," she said pulling the instrument out. She delicately plucked it's strings, judging it by ear, making small adjustments to get it back in tune. She tightened the bow which had already been rosined and proceeded to where the small child lay crying.

At first, Octavia couldn't believe her eyes. She saw her best friend, the one who was only interested in partying, dub-step, and being a DJ, stepping out into the middle of a cafe with a violin her hooves. Did she really think she could play a violin? What was she up to?

She trotted straight up to the distressed child and assumed the position, her chin resting firmly on the base and the bow tightly in her hoof. The parents, still arguing, hadn't even noticed her approach and were still entirely oblivious to her presence, but Octavia wasn't.

"She's really gonna do it!" Octavia said to herself She mentally braced herself for what was to happen next: a disaster of epic proportions.

When Vinyl brought the bow down upon the strings, a sound was made. Not a screechy, high pitched noise as Octavia had anticipated, but as a simple and melodic note that drifted effortlessly through the air. It caught the foal's attention who immediately stopped crying. His eyes suddenly locked with fascination on the white pony that stood in the middle of the side-walk cafe producing such a delightful resonance.

She didn't stop. Instead, she continued, progressing into a melody – slow and gradual with a calm and soothing countenance. It rang out clear and true, causing even the parents to momentarily stop their arguing and watch her play. Octavia watched too – her mouth agape and her eyes fixed on Vinyl. Was this her roommate? Was this even her? She couldn't tell. It was as if the friend she thought she had knew a few moments earlier had suddenly been taken into the sky and replaced with an alien that she didn't even know anymore.

It was in short time that a crowd started to gather around the cafe. People crowded the alley, wanting to get a glimpse of the performer. Despite this, Vinyl continued to play undaunted, oblivious to the entire world around her. She played with all the passion of a virtuoso, her movements controlled and professional, her eyes closed – as if were taking a pulse and transferring it to music.

When she finished, the entire crowd burst into cheers and applause. Vinyl, who had not noticed them, was caught entirely off-guard. She blushed and gave a small curtsey as the clapping continued. Suddenly, from their midst, a voice was heard above them all. "My, my that was impressive." A collective gasp was given and every pony moved to one side to reveal the speaker, who was none other than Princess Celestia herself.

Both Vinyl and Octavia staggered. Why was the princess here? Was it normal for her to be here amongst the commoners? "Your playing was quite exquisite." The princess continued, "Actually, the best I've heard in ages."

"Y-you really mean that?" Vinyl said, almost unable to articulate her words.

"Absolutely." The princess said. "You play from the heart, which makes the most beautiful type of music. As I reward, I'll give you one wish."

"Well..." Vinyl said scratching her chin, "There was this really awesome 'Straddlevarius' that I saw earlier today that I wanted to try."

"Done. You shall play it as the lead for me tonight at the recital."

Octavia suddenly sprang from her table. "But princess!"

"Oh, you're...Octavia, yes?"

"That's correct ma'am." Octavia said looking down.

"How many I help you?"

"Princess...I was suppose to play the lead at the recital tonight!"

The princess smiled. "And you still will be, you'll just be playing second now instead. Is that okay?"

Octavia was at a loss of words. It was as if everything she had looked forward to this past six months had just gone up in flames in front of her. She could feel hot indignation welling up. She had just been betrayed and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it. "Yes." she finally replied in a small voice, "It's fine."

"Good! Then it's settled! Now if you'll excuse me dear, I want to take your friend back to the palace to show her around. I look forward to seeing you again this evening. Goodbye."

The princess turned to leave, but Vinyl didn't budge. She went up to Octavia, who stood motionlessly next to the rail. "See ya, Tavi."

"Farewell." Octavia said, holding back tears.

"Awe, don't cry." Vinyl pouted.

Octavia stood there, her voice-cracking as she spoke. "How...could you?"

"I... I didn't mean to!" Vinyl said, flustered.

"Just..." she shook her head, tears racing down her cheeks, "Just go."

Vinyl sighed. "I'm sorry..." She turned away to leave, looking back at her friend. "I really am." With that, she departed, leaving only the broken Octavia behind at the cafe – alone.