"Una Nota Dolce Chapter 8 - Accelerando" By MisterElGuapo (https://pastebin.com/u/MisterElGuapo) URL: https://pastebin.com/NNxNxJt9 Created on: Monday 30th of April 2012 12:49:31 AM CDT Retrieved on: Saturday 24 of October 2020 07:44:49 AM UTC >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. ------------- >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. ----------- >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…” -------------- >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. ------------------ >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…”