Una Nota Dolce Chapter 8 - Accelerando

>You look over at Octavia, who stands next to you, bow at the ready.

“Ready?”

>Octavia nods with a warm smile.

>”Lead us off, Anon.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnwxXNfdsxU

>It’s now been a month since Octavia came into your life.

>The most wonderful month of your life.

>Even better than that one time you went to Disneyland as a kid.

>Octavia still lives with you, the two of you performing together on occasion like this.

>The crowds are pretty decent, and the two of you make good bits.

>Enough that you were able to quit working for Rarity for the time being.

>The crowd stomps their hooves with the music in delight.

>You feel Octavia lean against you as she plays.

>It’s a feeling you’ve gotten used to, especially on these warm summer nights.

>Ever since that first night when the two of you kissed, your relationship hasn’t gone very far.

>At least from what you can tell, she’s fine with the pace the two of you have been going. Besides the occasional kiss and the platonic bed-sharing, she hasn’t been pushy for your affections.

>Unlike somep0ny else…

>You spy Pinkie in the middle of the crowd.

>When you talked to her after that night, she seemed her normal, cheerful self.

>Although she treats Octavia with obvious disdain, Pinkie is usually business as usual with you.

>On occasion, you’ll get an offhand or hushed comment. Things like how she doesn’t trust Octavia, how she will just hurt you in the end, stuff like that.

>Maybe that’s what rustles your jimmies so, rustled to the point that you’ve been spending less time with your best friend.

>The time you spend with Octavia does wonders for your frazzled jimmies though, times just like this.

>Then there was the time you tried to teach her to swim.

>Now you know why you never see p0nies swimming.

>And knowing is half the battle.

>Thanks, brain.

>Yo Joe!

>As the song comes to an end, you and Octavia do your now-routine bow before a crowd of applauding p0nies.

>Dare I say, Anon, this is one commission well-earned.

>Thanks, brain.

 

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>The two of you laugh and converse with fans after your performance is complete.

>”You know Anon, a girl could get used to this.”

“What, the open-air performances, the small crowds, the contemporary music or the slow, almost pastoral life of small town living?”

>”Yes.” Octavia bumps you with her flank as she signs an autograph for a rather enthusiastic young colt.

>You chuckle a little. Nice to see her flash that little streak of smart-ass she usually hides away.

>”ANON! ANON! What are we doing?”

>You cock your head as Pinkie charges to the front of the line, bouncing up and down like she’s about to burst, her hooves on your thighs.

“Pardon?”

>Octavia just glares at your friend. All things considered, it doesn’t surprise you that the two of them don’t get along.

>Gee, you think?

>Pinkie has a brief look like you just ran her dog over.

>Thirteen times.

>However, it takes just a second for her to resume her enthusiastic bouncing.

>”Don’t tell me you forgot your own birthday is in two days!”

>Oh shit, it is, isn’t it.

>You couldn’t make hide nor hair of this funky Equestrian calendar, so everyp0ny has been celebrating your birthday on the day you first arrived in P0nyville.

>Oddly fitting.

>Octavia’s mouth hangs open, aghast. “What do you mean your birthday’s in a few days?! You could have told me sooner!”

“I…forgot?”

>Octavia glowers straight through your sheepish smile.

>”Excuse me, Anon, I will see you tonight. I have an errand to run.”

>With that, Octavia shoulders her cello, turns her nose up and walks away.

>Yep, she’s perturbed all right.

>”So, Anon, we having the party at Sugarcube Corner again?”

>You smile and put your hand to still the hyperactive party p0ny.

“Of course! What, you think I’d have it anywhere else? You think I would entrust my favorite day of the year to anyp0ny else?”

>You aren’t sure it’s that you touched her or your words, but Pinkie looks like she’s on cloud nine.

“Now, you understand Octavia will be there, right?”

>”Mmm hmm! I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

>Pinkie can’t stand Octavia, so you need to take a ha-…wait, what?

>She just smiles at your quizzical look.

>”Welp! I’ve got a party to go plan!”

>And like that, she’s gone.

>That’s Pinkie for you.

>Maybe she’s accepting that you’ll never see her that way?

>I can only hope so, brain.

>You sling Octavia’s violin under your arm and head off on your own errand.

>It’s a good thing she left you alone for the time being.

>It would spoil the surprise.

 

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>You are Octavia.

>You leaf through the catalog with an annoyed look on your face, sitting in the lobby of the local post office.

>You really, really wish you had some kind of warning!

>There’s no way this can get here in just two days…

>You’ll need a week, at most.

>”Excuse me, miss, can I help you?”

>You look up at the grey pegasus. You’ve seen Anon talking to her while she’s out on her rounds in the mor…

>Where the bloody hell is her eye going?

“Uh….yes, just…give me a moment please…”

>You go back to your catalogue. So many options…and so little time to decide!

>Anon, you can be such a jerk, you know that?

>Octavia, if he was such a jerk, why would you be doing this?

>Brain, I love you, you are a part of me, but kindly cram it!

>Why, I never!

>You wonder if Anon has such vivid conversations with his internal organs.

>You shake your head. He’d think you were crazy if he knew.

>You glance up from your perusal at the mail mare…Derpy Hooves, was it?

>She seems to be staring at you with that unsettling smile.

>Well, at you, and at a poster at the wall advertising 10% off Hay Bacon Strips at the Saddlebag Superstore mail order grocer.

>Mmmm….hay bacon strips.

>You sheepishly smile at Derpy and go back to your shopping.

>No….too obtuse…no way that would work in…There!

>Not too expensive, but not too cheap…good brand, good name behind it…it at least it looks like it’s made from quality material, should last for generations if cared for properly.

>That’s it!

>You check your bits. Between your shares of what you’ve been earning with Anon and the occasional music lesson, you have just enough.

>He is going to adore this.

“Excuse me, Miss…I’d like to send off an order for this…” You point out the item in question.

>Derpy just nods and scribbles something on an order slip.

“Also, I’d like them to inscribe this…”

>You slide a folded note and the requisite bits over.

>Derpy just nods and writes some more.

“Now, Derpy…whatever you do, you cannot tell Anon about this!”

>”OK!”

“Promise me!”

>”I promise! Cross my heart, hope to cry, stick a muffin in my mouth!”

>You smile.

“Good.”

>You look over the counter at the order form.

“…Derpy, that looks like a shopping list for lunch.”

>”I’m hungry…”

“…maybe I should fill the form out myself…”

 

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>You are Anonymous.

>And this is the most gut-wrenching decision you’ve ever had to make.

>You sigh and press your face against the glass, much to the consternation of the owner standing behind the counter.

>This isn’t going to be an easy decision, but then again, you never expected it to be.

>Just getting this far was the hardest part, and now you’re getting hung up on this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrGqC6tKeN8

>As much as you keep telling yourself this was a hard decision to make, it really wasn’t.

>Part of you knew this day was coming the moment she walked through the door at Carousel Boutique.

>Maybe you should have brought Rarity with you, she has an eye for these kinds of things.

>You sigh. You feel like your heart is going to fly out of your chest.

>”Sir…perhaps you would like to see one of the pieces up close?”

>The shopkeeper sees this with every young stallion that graces his door.

>Oh well…the thrill of youth.

>You just keep scanning, looking over the individual pieces until you find…

“…that’s it.”

>That’s the one.

>It’s simple, just a single, moderately sized stone. However, the elegance of the gold inlays surrounding it belay the true beauty to be found in such a simple article.

>It reminds you of a certain p0ny you know.

>A very special p0ny indeed.

>You smile as the clerk fishes the ring out for you.

>You have just enough bits saved up.

>If Octavia feels only a fraction about you as you do about her, everything she brings into your life…then her saying yes is a foregone conclusion.

>You have never been so sure of something in all your life.

>You place your bits on the counter.

>”You want to buy the extended return insurance, son? You know, just in case?”

“No need.”

>This is going to be the best birthday ever.

 

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>You are Pinkie Pie.

>And this is going to be the best birthday ever!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVJD3dL4diY

>Preparing a party is no problem for you. You do it all the time.

>This may come as a surprise to some, but parties are kind of your thing.

>The decorations you always have planned well in advance.

>This day, Anon’s birthday…

>It will be just perfect.

>For you.

>You make sure you have all the ingredients for the cake.

>It wouldn’t be a birthday party without the cake!

>Finally, the main attraction!

>You pull a small black book out from a drawer, looking for a certain number.

>Boy howdy, Anon sure is lucky that you only have eyes for him! So many stallions wishing to court Miss Pinkamena Dianne Pie…

>Ah! Dashing, handsome, a way with the ladies…and he owes you a favor.

>You pick up the phone and start dialing.

“Yes…hello, Thunderlane? It’s me! Pinkie!...Yes, I’m doing fine. Listen, remember that party I threw for your little brother before he went to flight school? Well, I have a party coming up in two days and I need you to do me a little favor…”