Octavanon Part 2 (WIP)

>The train arrives at the station and you immediately set out for Twilight's home.

>During the ride back you realized just how unprepared you are for this turn of events.

>This is probably going to be a little awkward but Twilight is the best friend you have here, it can't be too bad.

>You knock on the door before letting yourself in, never hurts to be a little courteous at a time like this.

>The library is in a state of significant disarray, Spike has his back to you and seems to be talking to himself as he sorts through a stack of books.

>You grab a stack near the door and walk over to where he is working.  “Hey Spike, is Twilight around?”

>”Huh?  Oh, uh, hey Anon.  No, she ran off to the royal archives.  Once again I got stuck with cleaning all this up.  Thanks for giving me a hand though....”

>”...What are you doing dressed like that?”

>Crap, you never even thought about changing before coming over.

>You don't really feel like going into your story just yet, not with Spike.  You decide to ignore the question altogether with a shake of your head.  You really didn't want to stick around sorting books, but with Twilight out you don't really have a lot of options.

>You work with Spike for a couple of hours and get things more or less cleaned up.

>You are sitting in a chair enjoying a glass of lemonade when Twilight comes in, saddlebags bulging with scrolls and books.

 

>”Oh, Anon!  You're here!  And...really overdressed.”

>You sigh; definitely should have stopped off at home before coming over.

>Twilight trots in and levitates the contents of her bags out and onto a clear table.  Her eyes never really leave you, it seems she is trying to figure out what's up.

>You try your best to explain everything as well as you can.

>”Okay, its like this:  I need a job.  A real job, something that actually provides for more than subsistence living.”

>She narrows her eyes a little.  “Soooo you dressed up to try and impress me for a job?”

>Unbelievable.  She is the smartest pony you know, and she can still be so thick sometimes.

>”No, Twilight.  I haven't had a chance to change yet...”  Yeah, that's probably not the best way to start.

>”Look, I have been living here for I don't know how long.  Over a year.  And I have been getting by just fine, but I need to change.  I need to do more than just get by.  Does that make any sense?”

>She nods sagely, as if this was exactly what she expected.  “I was wondering when this would finally happen.”

 

>”You have?”

>”Obviously you have been doing your best to remain distanced from this world.  No matter how much you might claim to have embraced your life here, you have made only the most halfhearted efforts to really integrate.  Until now.”  She smirks, having successfully nailed the problem.

>It actually stings to hear it spoken so plainly.  Stupid smart Twilight.  ”You're right, as usual.  I guess some part of me always thought this would pass somehow.  As much as that thought has dominated my life, I never really allowed myself to think it through.”

>You set your drink down on a table at your side and tilt your head back to stare up at the ceiling.  Light from the upper windows cuts across the room; dust mites swimming across your vision.

>”So what happened?”

>”I guess I found a reason to stay.”

 

>”Wow, Anon.  You really have fallen for her!”

>You bolt upright to see Twilight stifling a laugh.  All of a sudden you suspect the question about the suit was a joke.

>”Fallen for who?”  Spike's head pops up from behind a stack of books.

>Dammit Twilight, this is not what you had in mind.

>She allows herself a little giggle before calming herself enough to speak.  “I'm sorry Anon, you are just so cute when you are serious like that.  Anyway, I think its sweet you want to impress her.”

>“Impress who?!”  Man that little dragon is excitable.

>”I'm not trying to impress her Twi.  Not superficially.  I just realized this is really home for me now and I need to act like it.”

>Twilight crosses the room to the chair you are sitting in and gives you a sympathetic look.

>”Its okay, I know you want to make a good impression.  I am sure if you just act like yourself things will work out just fine.  This could be the start of you really finding a special somepony.  Your biggest problem has always been opening up.”

>Well, yeah, you've had a hard time feeling comfortable but...Oh man.

>It dawns on you just how wrong she has the Octavia situation.  Awesome.

 

>”I just don't want to see her tomorrow without some kind of plan.  I need to able to support myself.  There's a lot of things I already have in mind that I need some money for, not the least of which is a few new changes of clothes.  Just because we know the Element of Generosity doesn’t mean I want to take advantage of her.”

>Twilight laughs, she almost seems a little unsure of herself. “How exactly are you going to see her again tomorrow?  Is she playing again so soon?”

>You don't mean to be cruel, but this is too good.  “Oh, no.  Haha, wow, how did I not tell you already?  She is coming into town tomorrow so we can have lunch together.”  You give her your most innocent smile.

>She stares blankly back at you.  You hate to be this way but this was just too good to pass up.

>”OH COME ON GUYS!  WHO?!”  Spike has scaled a stack of books and is jumping up and down; near to exploding with suspense.

>”My bad Spike.  Octavia, the Cellist, you know?  We kind of hit it off I guess.”  You shrug and give another sheepish grin.

>Twilight's right eye twitches.

 

>Spike falls face first off the books.

>Twilight blinks a couple of times before the vapid look leaves her face and she seems to remember what is going on.

>”Anon?”

>”..Yeah?”

>”That...is...Awesome!”

>You both bust out into big smiles, and you feel all the internal tension melt away.  You had no idea how this conversation would play out, but this just proved Twilight is a true friend.

>You spend the next half hour trying to explain everything as best you can without going into excessive detail.  It would be improper to say to much after all.

>Spike is silently engrossed the entire time, presumably taking mental notes for a future encounter with Rarity.

>It turns out Twilight has the perfect opportunity for you.

>The Royal Library is in need of more ponies to do copy-work for the more popular scrolls and manuscripts, as well as creating reproductions for valuable and rare works.  Some unicorns are able to do the work easily, but apparently few are willing.

>The job will give you an excuse to be in Canterlot, and should pay much better than odd manual labor around Ponyville.

>You haven't spent much time with a quill since you came to Eqeustria, but there is an undeniable charm to the idea.

>After hugs and some sincere thanks, you head back home to prepare for the next day and your future job.

>You are finally able to shower, change clothes, and relax; thoughts of a beautiful gray mare dance across your mind while you hum an approximation of a tune from last night.

>Sleep comes easy, and with it dreams of music more beautiful than your waking mind could aspire to.

 

>You awaken well rested and already cheerful, but not without a little apprehension.

> You go about your morning routine in a brooding sort of silence, getting dressed in the best your meager wardrobe has to offer: a solid gray shirt that seems to be the only thing that doesn't make you look like a vagrant and pants vaguely resembling khakis.

>This will be a first for you in a lot of ways.

>This is your first honest, public date since you have arrived here.  You don't know how most ponies will react to seeing you two.

>This is the first time Octavia will be seeing you in a casual setting.  Hell, this is the first time she will be seeing you in broad daylight.  Its silly, but you cant ignore these kind of thoughts entirely.

>Your do your best to kill time, fixing a little breakfast of fried eggs, toast, and an apple before checking the mail.  You thumb through the morning paper, and are moderately interested to read a sizable article on the rising popularity of a local store dealing in high quality quills and sofas.

>You finally give up and toss the paper on the table.  Its close enough to time, so you head for the train station about an hour before noon.

>The route to the station takes you through the a wooded park and you allow yourself to lose focus, just enjoying the pleasant warmth of the sunlight filtered through threes and the birdsong in the air.

>The walk actually does you some good, by the time you arrive at the station your mind is clear and you nervous energy seems to have dissipated.

 

>You timed your walk perfectly, the train is nearing the platform just as you arrive.

>You are actually kind of amazed at how good you feel.  Any hints of nervousness are completely gone, replaced only with excitement.

>The train pulls in with a hiss and opens it doors, your heart beats a little bit faster.

>Earth ponies and unicorns begin to file out of the cars, the occasional pegasus flitting out and taking to the skies or meeting up with a friend.

>Once or twice you glimpse a gray coat or mane exiting the train, but it is always the wrong shade.

>The flow of passengers has diminished significantly, with only one or two stragglers exiting the train now.

>Just a hint of worry is beginning to creep in.  Did she not come?  Did you get misinterpret the conversation yesterday?  Did...something just brush your elbow?

>You turn and look down to see a familiar pair of sparkling, amethyst eyes peeking out from beneath a charcoal mane, nuzzled lightly against your arm.

>”Octavia!”  Its not a shout, but an exclamation bursting with more happiness than you knew could fit in your voice.

>”And here I was worried I was you wouldn't be excited to see me.”  She steps back, and you can't quite suppress a gasp in time.

>She isn't dressed up like you have seen for her performances.  She actually isn't wearing anything at all.  You know this is totally normal, pony clothes aren't about nakedness, but you still can't stop your eyes from rolling over her body for a moment.

>Her coat has a faint sheen in the daylight, her form fit and athletic.  For a moment you are taken by a near irresistible urge to run your fingers through a little tuft of hair on her coat, just above her forelegs.

>”Ah..Anon.”  Her voice snaps you out of your little fantasy and snaps your eyes back to her face which is now blushing profusely.

 

>You can already feel your own face heating up, no use lying about it.  “Sorry...I just don't think I have ever seen someone so beautiful.”  Jesus, that's not exactly defusing the situation.  “I mean...you just have this natural grace about you, its stunning at first.”  You bite down on your tongue before you make this any weirder for her.

>She looks a little stunned herself for a moment at your exclamation, but her face slowly lights up in another smile.  “You really mean that don't you?”  She shakes her head as she steps into you and places a gentle kiss on the back of your hand.

>You gently run the tips of your fingers through her mane in response.

>For a moment all you can do is bask in the contented feeling that has washed over you now that you are together again.

>A moment later and your surroundings begin to creep back into your awareness.

>You realize you may have made a minor scene.  A nearby colt and mare, probably a couple, are both grinning at you.  Another mare seems a little indignant at the whole thing.

>”You, uh, ready to get something to eat?”

>She responds in a little sing-song “Mmm-hmm!”

>God that's cute.

>You leave the platform side by side, the sounds of the train getting ready to depart fading behind you.

>You walk on in comfortable silence for a moment before speaking up.

>”I was thinking we could go to a little place nearby before heading into town.  They make excellent food but its just out of the way enough that we should be able to get in right now with no trouble.”

>”That sounds perfect.”

>Hard to argue with that.

 

[4/26/12 - And this is where I start over.  Snipped out all the stuff that I just couldn't make work.  Hopefully this will get me writing more now that I am putting all that behind me.  Sincere apologies to anyone that was reading.  In the off chance that someone is still checking on this, I promise I am still working on this]