"Arpeggio - Chapter 5 Pt. 3: Dig a Pony"
By Albert_Reginald (https://pastebin.com/u/Albert_Reginald)

URL: https://pastebin.com/N841mExE
Created on: Thursday 21st of June 2012 06:49:41 AM CDT
Retrieved on: Monday 26 of October 2020 03:32:17 AM UTC


>The sun's warmth washes over you from the window
>You would've noticed, if you weren't currently sitting between sleep and consciousness
>The jobs yesterday weren't really all that strenuous
>Regardless, there you are next to your bro. Oblivious to the sunshine peering in your room
>What sounds like tapping from downstairs makes you stir in your sleep
>The sound continues, to your annoyance
>It doesn't really occur to you that it may be someone at the door. Your mind is still hazy from being half-asleep
>Suddenly a loud bang from downstairs rings out, causing you to jump out of bed in surprise
>Dash is awake as well
>Surveying the room you find nothing out of place thankfully
>A loud clopping from behind your door grabs your attention
>The door then bursts open revealing Twilight
>"ANON! RAINBOW! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
>You muster up the only response a confused person can
"Wait...wha?"
>"The symphony's starting in five minutes! I've been waiting for you two!"
"Sym..phony..wha-?"
>Your mind finally clears up
>You're about to miss the event you three worked your asses off to be able to attend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXHOB1s56zc
>You quickly look to Rainbow, your eyes wide with surprise
"We gotta get ready!"
>She nods, a determined look on her face, and flies off out your window
>Thank goodness she opened it first
>Treating cut wounds would definitely slow you down this morning
>"Rainbow! Anon, where is she going?!"
>She turns just in time to see the bathroom door slam shut
>Twilight groans before going downstairs

>Your morning routine finished, you sprint out of your house with Twilight in tow
>Tying up a ponytail is hard work while running 
>You manage it, though
>Twilight follows close behind, keeping up with you
>You sprint through the marketplace, vaulting over ponies to avoid ruining anyone's day
>Getting crashed into by something almost twice your size would definitely ruin yours
>You just pass by the spa who's name you never learned before what sounds like a jet engine fast approaches you
>Remembering this noise anywhere else, you quickly pick up Twilight on your back and raise your arms in the air
>Thankfully Twilight held on to you around your neck
>If she didn't she'd be flat on her flank seeing as Rainbow just hooked your arms with her hooves and took the fuck off
>Somehow she's able to carry the both of you higher and higher, easily soaring high above the landscape
>The momentum from her flight may have had something to do with it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhtednkzJl4
>You speed high across the pastel ponies and multicolored houses 
>The scenery moving underneath you at a break-neck pace, the air flowing through your hair
>It reminds you of a tune from back home
>You rush by the clouds, Dash speeding around them 
>She flies you directly through a large cloud
>Making it through, you look back to see an obscure imprint of the three of you on the cloud
>You smile and turn back as Dash takes a nose dive
>Just when you think she's going to crash you into a house she turns up sharply and flies higher and higher
>She's really showing off 
>You don't really care. You're enjoying the ride
>Unfortunately the same can't be said for Twilight who is holding onto your neck for dear life
>Thankfully she isn't choking you
>Suddenly you feel yourself drop and rise a few times
>Looking up to Dash you see she's getting tired 
>Carrying a human and another pony? You're not surprised
>"A-..Anon! I don't think I can go-..anymore!" She says, her wings becoming fatigued
"Gotcha! Let's head back down!"
>She complies and slowly drops her altitude, landing you on the ground and taking Twilight's spot after Twilight jumps off your back
>Now carrying Rainbow, you continue to run through P0nyville 
>From high up it looked like you had made significant progress
>Down below, you see that you really didn't
>In fact, you're not sure which direction the place is anymore
>"Follow me, Anon!"
>Thankfully Twilight does
>She takes off at a fast gallop, getting a big headstart on you
>You get a better grip around Dash's hind legs before sprinting after Twilight
>She's taking a more daring approach, one that you never thought you'd see from the scholar p0ny
>Heading between homes and businesses, taking quick alleyway shortcuts and dodging anyp0ny that gets in her way
>You quicken her pace as to keep up with hers
>Soon enough you reach the bridge over the river that crosses into the district with the concert hall
>There's just one problem
>There are two large carts full of shit blocking the whole bridge..and the river's too wide to jump across
>Twilight's standing at the edge of the river ahead of you
>Suddenly your feet leave the ground
>Thinking quickly you zoom over Twilight, grabbing her before you clear the river and land running, Dash now flying next to you
>Seems like her wings got a good rest
"Nice one, Rainbow!"
>"It's what I do!"
>Twilight gets back on the main road as you follow close behind

>Running about three blocks and taking a few turns, you're finally in front of the concert hall
>You catch your breath as Twilight brings three tickets out of her mane and hands them to the ticket-p0ny
>Seeing that the exchange is finished, you follow her inside the concert hall
>You read a sign next to a door in front of you 

Concert Performance
The Stalliongrad Symphonic 
Featuring Miss Octavia, cello

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU_QR_FTt3E&t=0m35s
>You hear the muffled sound of a cello being played magnificently before Twilight opens the door leading into the actual concert hall
>The sound hits you almost immediately. You walk into the hall, captivated by the sounds
>A song you thought you'd never hear in Equestria
>A composition by Bach himself
>And here it is, being played by a p0ny
>Words cannot express your surprise and excitement from finding a p0ny that not only can play a stringed instrument with such grace and precision, but one that knows arrangements familiar to your ears
>It's quite awesome to say the very least
>"So where do we sit, Anon?...Um, Anon?"
>Twilight looks away from the rows of seats to you, only to see you walking down the aisle up to the stage
>You're too engrossed in the performance to notice that you're getting stares from some of the seated p0nies
>You don't care. There, on the stage, sits a potential band member. Playing her heart out on the strings
>Stopping at the edge of the stage, you continue to listen to this magnificent piece until the final note rings out
>Octavia opens her eyes, cutting the note short after noticing the only human in Equestria staring at her 
>She clears her throat
>You quickly regain your composure and look around, realizing you nearly interrupted this performance
>If she wasn't so into the music, you're sure you might've been kicked out for distracting her
>You quickly turn back around and look up to Octavia, who is currently walking away from the chair she once sat on with her cello on her back
>On impulse, you call out
"Wait!"
>It rings through the concert hall
>She slows to a stop before sighing and turning around
>"What do you want?"
>You stammer for a second or two
>It's a chance, but you have to take it
"Miss Octavia...I'd like you to...well...join our band."
>You gesture to the blue and purple ponies standing next to the entrance
>She seems to survey the two before moving to you and doing the same
>A few seconds pass. Pretty long second in your opinion
>...
>"Show me."
"Pardon?"
>"Show me what you can do. Otherwise you're just wasting my time."
>Not the response you expected
>You actually thought you were going to get a flat-out no
>Then again, you also expected to meet her in private
>This is a very surprising development
>Especially since you don't have an instrument
>Oh shit
>You barely realize you don't have any kind of instrument to show her that you can actually play
>Thinking quickly, you scan the stage for anything you can use
>A large black grand piano sits next to the orchestra, slightly obscured by the performer ponies from your position
"I've got just the thing" You say, giving her a confident look
>She shrugs it off and moves back to her chair, taking a seat and holding her cello up with the bow held by her other hoof
>You climb on-stage and make your way to the piano
>Luckily nop0ny was using it
>You sit down and lift the cover
>The ivory keys welcome your touch as you glide your hands across them
>"I lead. You follow."
>Her violet eyes meet yours for a moment, a determined look within them
>You nod and look back down to the keys before taking a deep breath
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW_MAQj0aIA
>Once she plays her first and second note, you immediately recognize the piece
>You practiced it once or twice before but nothing major
>You did listen to it a whole lot, though
>Liebesträume No. 3
>The most famous of the three arrangements
>At least back home it was. Here you're not so sure
>Somehow your improvisation works out beautifully as you remember how the song goes
>You close your eyes and lose yourself in the music
>You flow with Octavia's playing as she moves up and down the neck of her cello with incredible precision and aptitude
>In your mind it's clear that you're more than capable of keeping up with her
>In hers, however, you're not done yet
>She quickens and slows the pace at some points
>You're able to keep up with her without botching the notes
>She glances at you a few times during the course of the performance
>She stops playing the melody randomly, giving you time to either shine or completely fuck up the performance
>You oblige her by not only improvising a backup, but playing out the melody before Octavia jumps back in
>Soon enough the piece reaches it's climax
>You play a final chord as Octavia lets her final note ring out
>You take your hands away from the keys and look over to Octavia
>She's not looking at you or the crowd
>She's just looking down at her cello, seemingly in deep thought
>You stand and walk over to her
>Before you reach her the crowd suddenly erupts in applause
>She turns to you abruptly, a cold stare in her eyes
>"Let me guess. You'd like me to play a bass guitar. Am I correct?"
>You nod slowly, surprised by her sudden outburst
>Octavia, in a flustered manner, then promptly throws her cello on her back and walks off
>You're left standing on-stage, the applause slowly dying down
>You don't stay long afterwards

---------------------------------------

>You sit in the performer dressing room set up especially for you
>Your cello stands next to the blue bass guitar a fan gave to you a while back
>He said you should try it out...
>Well...you did
>And, to say the least, you weren't that bad
>To say the most? You were exceptional at it
>Transitioning the playing style from vertical to completely horizontal seemed strange at first, but it didn't even take five minutes for you to get used to it
>The sound it gave off was quite...pleasing
>The smooth tones of the cello were nice, but this...this was new
>A much more bold sound that you really enjoyed
>It felt good to pluck the strings in order to play
>Without having to use a bow to let the sound ring out, playing faster pieces with more improvisation was much easier
>You really liked playing the bass guitar
>If that's the case then...why did you leave the creature out there?
>You've heard ponies in the orchestra speaking of rumors about a new creature in Equestria, but you never thought you'd actually get to see it
>A "human", they called it
>You release a heavy sigh, getting up from your chair and walking over to your cello
>You run a hoof over it lightly, feeling its familiar curves
>You then look to the bass guitar 
>It's something you'd hate to admit, especially to yourself
>But maybe it's the reason why you became upset and left the stage
>Maybe...you yearn for more than just unappreciative ponies attending performances just for the image
>You yearn for ponies who will actually appreciate the music as much as you do
>That...human
>It-..-He- seemed to let the music take hold
>His eyes were closed for most of the performance
>Needless to say, you were impressed with the performance
>So impressed that you're willing to go against your roots and join the "rocker" image
>...
>You catch yourself staring down the bass
>A few moments pass before you're running out of the dressing room with the bass on your back
>After all, how hard can it be to find the only human in Equestria?

--------------------------------------

>You trudge into your house, Twilight and Rainbow following close behind
>"Anon?"
>You're too distraught to notice Rainbow trying to get your attention
>What went wrong?
>The performance went great
>Everyp0ny loved it
>The entire situation is fucked in your eyes
>Where were you going to find somep0ny as skilled as her?
>It wouldn't be easy...but maybe you could
>You sit on your couch and hold your head in your hands
"Who am I kidding?..."
>"What do you mean, Anon?"
"Twilight...where are we going to find another bassist? The only reason we found Octavia is because she's a well known performer."
>Suddenly there's a knock on the door
"Ugh...Rainbow, could you get that please? I don't feel like dealing with anyp0ny right now."
>You lay back on the couch, staring at the ceiling
>Wallowing in your own self-pity isn't going to accomplish anything, but it's the only thing you want to do right now
>After all, you just lost a great opportunity
>You swear you just heard Rainbow gasp
>"Uh...Anon? I think you need to see this."
>You pull yourself up into a sitting position to see a certain grey mare standing in the doorway with a blue bass guitar on her back
>"Pardon me, but I believe you need my help. Correct?"
>You swear you just saw the smallest hint of a smile on her face