Title:           Octo Octavia: Back from Oneshot Hell
Author:          CuriousAnon
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/SfW5ArEe
First Edit:      Friday 10th of May 2013 10:11:57 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Friday 10th of May 2013 10:11:57 PM CDT

Octavia, that was flawless
>Your compliment brings a smile to Octavia's face
>"This was nothing.  You should see me up on stage at the Royal Canterlot Theatre"
I really should get around to seeing that some day...
>You grin
But you'd have to stop giving me private showings like this.  You're spoiling me
>Octavia gives a delightful chuckle
>"I suppose you're correct..."
>"But, I'm afraid, this one must come to an end"
>You obligingly get up off her cello case and pull it open for her
Here, give me your cello
>"I can put it away myself"
No, I insist
 
 
>Octavia reluctantly hoofs the cello over to you
>You gently take it from her with both hands
>Then you carefully set it inside the case
>You remember the last time Vinyl broke one of these
>It wasn't pretty
>You hold out your hand when you've finished
Let's have the bow now
>Octavia extends the hoof holding the bow, and you reach out to take it
>For the briefest moment, you both have your respective manipulatory extremities on the b-
 
 
>BAMF
>An unexpected flash of green light blinds you
>There's something on your hand
>Something that wasn't there before
>It's warm and fleshy
>And it grips your hand on a series of spots
>You finally blink the whitness out of your eyes and look down
>There's a brown tentacle draped over your hand
>Your eyes follow the tentacle up its length
>It grips the bow for a ways, growing ever wider
>It terminates at a body comprised of seven other, similar tentacles
>And on top of that body is...
>Octavia's head
>Still wearing her white collar with pink bow tie
>Celestia's bowels
>How did this happen
 
 
>Octavia is rapidly blinking
>"What in the world was that?" She asks
Octavia?
>She finishes her blinking
>"Hmmm?"
Don't panic, but do you feel... different?
>"do I feel..."
>She looks down
>The bow clatters to the floor, no longer supported by your hand or her... tentacle
>"AUGH!"
>She gives exactly the sort of dignified shriek you would expect from her
>"I'm an octopus!"
>That's the term you were looking for
>"I'm a freak..."
>You start to pull your hand away
>"No!  Don't leave me!"
>And lands on your head, enveloping you in a desperate bid to keep you from running
 
 
>You feel tentacles work their way under the collar of your t-shirt
Octavia
>They drape down across both sides of your torso
>And out along your arm
Octavia, what are you doing?
>that's an interesting sensation...
>Then the suckers find purchase, and anchor Octavia in place
>You can't help but shudder just a little bit, fighting panic yourself
>When she's finished, you know exactly where all eight tentacles are
>Four drape on either side of your back, forming a loose J shape that terminates just above your belt line
>Two run out along your arm, all the way to your wrist
>And the final two are wrapped around your head
>Octavia's own head is situated to the left of yours, poking through the stretched neck hole of your poor t-shirt
>All in all, it feels like you're wearing a warm, heavy, fleshy blanket
>With suckers
 
 
>Octavia is crying
Octavia...
>"I'm a monster!"
Octavia
>"I can't play cello like this!"
TAVI!
>Octavia sniffs
You're panicking
>"What?"
I warned you not to panic
>You try to turn your head left
>Octavia removes the pair of tentacles wrapped around your head, shifting them instead down your right arm and out the sleeve
>"Anonymous, I'm scared"
And you have every right to be.  However, you can't panic
>She starts to lose it again
>"Why?  Why shouldn't I panic?  For all I know, I'll be stuck like this for the rest of my life...  However long that is..."
Relax.  We can fix this
>She looks at you with red rimmed eyes
>"We can?"
Yeah, I know just the p0ny for it; if there's anyone that wou-
>The door behind you interrupts your speech by opening
 
 
>You wheel around to face it
>It's none other than Vinyl Scratch
>She pulls down her signature purple goggles and peers at the both of you
>"Tavi?  Is that you?"
Yep, that's her
>"Are you an octopus?"
>Octavia is a moment in her reply
>"I-yes, I'm afraid so, Vinyl"
>"That's..."
>You feel the tentacles tense slightly as Octavia braces
>"That's AWESOME!"
>Good ol' Vinyl
>"Y-you really think so?"
>"Of course!  Octopi have all kinds of crazy abilities!  I bet you could crawl on the ceiling with suckers like those!"
>"well Vinyl, that's... good to hear..."
 
 
>You clear your throat
Octavia
>"Yes, dear?"
Would you mind getting off me?
>Octavia looks down and realizes what she's doing
>"Oh.  Oh my. Anonymous, I apologize-"
No, it's fine.  You were scared.  Here
>You yank your shirt up off over your head
If you can let go, I'll lift you off
>"I shall try"
>You feel the suckers attached all over your body weaken their grip
>You accordingly reach up underneath Octavia's main body with both your hands
>A pair of suckers the size of baseballs latch onto your palms as you lift her up and off your shoulder
>Then you set her down on the stool
>Her tentacles drape down over the framework and onto the floor
There
>Vinyl whistles
>"Wow Octavia, when you go for it you really go for it, don't you?"
>"What's that supposed to mean?"
>"Well look at him!"
>Octavia gasps
What
>You look down
>Your torso and arms  are covered a vaguely swirling pattern of red spots
>The spots get larger as they approach your left shoulder
Oh...
 
 
They're on my face too aren't they
>"Yeah"
Wonderful
>"Anonymous, I'm sorry... I didn't know..."
I'm fine, I'm fine
>You reach down and pick up your shirt
>The neck is now stretched pretty bad
>but it's still wearable, so you put it on
>Vinyl approaches Octavia and pokes one of her tentacles with her hoof
>"How did you become an octopus anyway?  I want to try!"
>BAMF
>The same green flash goes off
>You reach up and rub your eyes
>When your vision returns, your fears are confirmed
>Vinyl Scratch is now on the floor
>She holds one of her new tentacles up to her face
>"Woah..."
>Then she begins swishing them back and forth across the floor
>"COOL!"
 
 
So Octavia, how DID you become an octopus?
>"I... well, honestly, I have no idea.  One moment I was passing you my bow, and the next I was... well..."
Interesting.  Vinyl?
>"Hmmm?"
>Vinyl pauses her swishing and looks up at you
Do you think you could change her back?  Or for that matter yourself?
>"Pffft, nah.  Music is my specialty, remember?  If I tried anything Tavi'd probably end up with even more tentacles.  Or a built in set of speakers...  Actually, that WOULD be pretty awesome... But I'm guessing she doesn't care to become the world's first octowub"
>"Most definitely not!"
>"Octowub... That'd be a good album name..." mutters Vinyl
>"No, if anyp0ny in p0nyville could fix this, it'd be Twilight Sparkle"
That was my first thought too.  How about this
>They both look at you
I'll go get Twilight.  You two stay here and wait for me.  Sound good?
>"Works for me"
>"I agree"
Alright.  See you both in a bit
>You turn and head out of the room, closing the door behind you
>On your way out, you stop in Octavia's entryway and don your trench coat
>It's still raining out
>And you don't intent to add "Wet" to the list of things you're feeling right now
>Finally, you head out the door and into the downpour
 
 
>The trip to Twilight's housebrary is relatively uneventful
>There aren't many p0nies out and about
>And you can't say you blame them
>It's just one of those wet, dreary days better spent inside with a cup of something hot and a few friends
>You press onwards through the rain and finally come upon the massive oak tree that is the P0nyville library
>Then you raise your fist and knock
>"Come in!"
>Slipping quickly through the front door, you close it quickly behind you, shaking the rain out of your hair
>Twilight is, surprise surprise, reading a book
>She lowers a lightly steaming mug of something to the table and turns to face you
>"Oh, hello Anonymous!  How are you doing?"
>You step forward into the light
Twilight, I need your help
>Her expression switches from one of pleasant surprise to questioning concern
>"Anonymous, what happened to your face?  Did you get into poison joke?"
What?  No, what's poison joke?
>She opens her mouth
Actually, don't answer that.  I need you to come with me; it's rather urgent
 
 
>Twilight sets her book down
>"What's the problem?"
You wouldn't believe me if I told you.  
>"Is it magic related?"
I think so...
>She sighs
>"It always is.  Try me."
Octavia and Vinyl have turned into octo... p0nies?
>Twilight sighs
>"Very well, I will accompany you"
>She gets up and goes to a closet, retrieving and donning saddlebags and a p0ny rain slicker
What's the bag for?
>"Magical emergency kit"
You have those?
>"With all the malarky that goes on around here, it wouldn't make sense to not have one.  Let's get this over with"
You're right
>You turn right back around and open the door, stepping back out into the rain
 
 
>Twilight doesn't say anything as you lead her through the rain-soaked streets of P0nyville
>Nor does she say anything when you pull open Octavia's front door and beckon her inside
>She does raise an eyebrow though
>You both pause to remove your respective bad weather gear
>"Can you tell me now, what exactly it is I'm supposed to help with?"
You'll see in a minute
>You lead her to the practice room and pull the door open
>It's empty
>"Yeah Anon, that's a really magically distressed music stand there.  I'm so glad I'm here to help"
>She's just piling the sarcasm on
>You can't say you blame her
>She's got a book waiting for her
>You step inside the room
I don't understand.  They were r-
>SPLAP
>Something warm and fleshy swings down and impacts your forehead
aaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!
>"AAAAAAAHHHHH" Screams Twilight with you
>The mass peels off your forehead, and you almost fall over backwards
>You look up towards the ceiling
>Right above you is Vinyl Scratch, having herself a nice hearty laugh
>Next to her is Octavia, who looks apologetic
>You turn to Twilight and gesture towards the ceiling weakly
See?
 
 
>Twilight sits down heavily on the floor
>"I... I do see."
Are you quite finished, Vinyl?
>You ask disapprovingly to the laughing... white octopus on the ceiling
>After a minute, she slows down enough to reply
>"Yeah, Yeah... Alright.  Just... The look on your face!"
>She sniggers a minute more
Will you get down?
>"Sure, sure, whatever" she mumbles
>Her tentacles contract and expand, the suckers attaching and detaching in such a manner as to allow her to inch across the ceiling without falling on your head
>Octavia is already halfway down the wall
>Twilight, meanwhile, sets her saddlebags off to the side
>Something inside tinkles, like glass
>"I don't even.... how did this happen?"
>You shrug
Octavia was giving me a private showing, and then there was a green flash, and then...
>You wave your hand in the general direction of brown octopus
That.
>Vinyl snorts
What?
>"Private showing"
>The double meaning of the phrase hits you about the same time she utters the "P" sound
 
 
>Oh christ are you blushing
>Oh shit
>you don't know
>Better cover
Vinyl, you dirty mare
>She holds up two tentacles in a defensive manner
>"Hey, I calls it like I sees it"
Yeesh
>Twilight clears her throat
>"What about Vinyl then?"
She remarked that she wondered what it'd be like to be an octopus, and then the same green flash.  And then octowub.
>"Heh"
So... Is there anything you can do?
>Twilight sucks air through her teeth
>"I'll have to have a closer look before I can tell you anything definitive."
>She opens her bag, revealing an array of test tubes, magnifying glasses, and tongs
>"Who's first?"
 
 
 
>"I'll do it!" volunteers Vinyl
>"Alright."
>Vinyl begins making her way across the floor to Twilight
>"Anonymous, Octavia, I'm going to have to ask you to vacate the room.  The procedures I'm about to preform are rather... delicate."
>You look down to Octavia, who nods up at you
Fair enough.
Do you need a lift?
>Octavia shakes her head
>"I believe I can manage, but I appreciate the offer."
>She begins to flow and undulate towards the door
>You step up and push it open, watching her flow across the ground and through the doorway
>When she's through, you step out and close the door behind you
 
 
>You look up at the gangly human looming above you, his... hands in his pockets
>Still as a rock
>Who knows what manner of thoughts swirl behind those tiny, azure eyes?
>All of this, all of this strangeness
>He endures it with nothing more than a sense of mild bemusement about him
>Offering encouraging words and toleration...
>"Would... would you care for a spot of dinner?"
>The head jerks, snaps up slightly
Huh?  
>Then it shakes
If I could impose so far...
>"It's no trouble at all" you offer
>It takes you a moment to start moving, these...
>These blasted tentacles...
>Celestia, why did this have to happen to you?
>On tonight, of all nights!
>...
>But these blasted tentacles take some getting used to
>You dearly hope Twilight will be able to do something about them
 
 
>Octavia leads the way into the kitchen
>Her tentacles look like they're quivering a little more than usual
>Well, usual as far as you've seen
>As you watch, she opens the door to the fridge
>A pair of tentacles peruse the inside, withdrawing a container of salad, some dressing and garnishments, and an oblong package wrapped in plain white paper and tape
Anything I can do to help?
>"If you could get a medium bowl out of the cupboard and put it on the counter, I'd greatly appreciate it" she says back to you
>You step over to the cabinet and pull it open, eventually finding the medium sized bowl on the middle shelf
>When you turn around to place the bowl on the counter, Octavia's there
>Arranged around her are all of the necessary ingredients for a salad
>And an oblong, mysterious object wrapped in white paper
>The tentacles wrap around the containers, pouring the ingredients one after the other into the bowl
>She has a bit of trouble with the drawer on the side of the counter
>And the rather small forks and spoons inside give her pause
 
 
>you're about to ask when she speaks up
>"A-anonymous, would you be a dear and... and mix this?"
Of course
>You offer, taking a mixing fork and spoon from the drawer
>The wobble in her voice is obvious, but you don't want to offend her
>As you toss the salad, she slides down the side of the counter, package in tow
>You hear something clank behind you
>And when you turn around, you see she's got a frying pan on the stove
>She's trying to turn the knob and get it lit
Octavia
>The gas jets out of the holes in the burner, but she can't get the starter to spark
>"I can do this"
>She's taking too long
TAVI!
>She looks towards you just as the starter finally sparks, igniting the gas into a small fireball
>You leap across the intervening space and flick the burner off
>The flame was a brief flash
>So the ceiling is a bit singed, but not burning
>Octavia looks at you slackjawed
>If she hadn't turned her head, she'd have a facefull of ouch
>As is, all she has are a few singed hairs
 
 
That was close
>Octavia sobs quietly, drawing your attention
>Her face has fallen over forward and is laying flat on the counter
Octavia, what's wrong?
>"...I'm useless..." Drifts up from the counter
>You were afraid this would happen
Well, with that attitude you are
>"I can't even use the stove..."
You mean you can't use the stove yet?
>The head rises, peering at you blearily
>"I can't work the knobs..."
So are you going to give up?  Or are you going to make them bigger so you can use them
>She sniffs again
>"I suppose..."
>You stare into her eyes
>Her beautiful, violet eyes, rimmed with tears
>A few strands of mane have escaped their usual arrangement, and you reach forward and sweep them behind her ear
You can't look at it like that.  That's defeatist.  You can't think, 'Oh, I can't do this, may as well give up'.  You have to think, 'How can I make this work?'
 
 
>"I-I can try..."
That's all I'm asking.  And I'll be here every step of the way if you need me.
>She sniffs again
>OH BOY
>HERE COMES THE BLUSH
And hey
>You postulate, trying to lighten the mood
This is all assuming Twilight doesn't work out a way to change you back.  You could be back to your proper form by this time tomorrow!
>"I-I hadn't considered that..."
>"You're right, Anonymous.  Thank you."
>you shrug
Being different is hardly an alien experience to me.  After all you've done for me, I'm happy to have a way to help you in return.
>Oh christ
N-not that I was hoping for this to happen
>Octavia emits a watery chuckle
>"I understand the intent."
>She begins to inch down the side of the counter
>"Hard to find p0nies with proper taste in music in this little burg"
>Then, she pauses
>The tentacle holding the white package wavers ponderously in your direction
>"This is for you.  Perhaps you'll be able to do what I cannot."
>You reach out in wonder and take the package
>Cold and firm to the touch
>you head to the section of counter opposite of the purple octo p0ny and set it down
>Then you tear through the tape and unwrap it
>When you finally reach the inside, you inhale sharply
 
 
 
>Nestled inside are two objects wrapped in wax paper, one longer than the other and red
>Could it be?
>You reverently pick up the longer of the two and prize it open
>Inside is a wad of bacon
>BACON!
>of all the things
>you set the bacon back in the paper and pick up the other roll
>Inside this, you find a small stick of butter
>Just enough to grease a pan
>You're touched
>Meat isn't exactly easy to come by, nor does it come cheap
>Especially bacon
>You turn to Octavia in wonder
>She's halfway up the side of the counter with a pair of bowls
Where...
>"I got it from a gryphon merchant."
>"He was kind enough to instruct me in its preparation, but I... can't manage it right now." she says sadly
>"I trust you know how?"
I do...
>You muse in wonder
Octavia, I'm touched
>Is that a hint of blush you see on her cheeks?
>"Anything for a friend"
>She has the salad bowl in her tentacles
>And she's in the process of meting it out between two smaller bowls
If I might...
>"By all means."
 
 
>A half hour later, and you're seated across from Octavia at the table, pouring glasses of water for the both of you
>There's a plate on your left with six
>SIX
>Strips of glorious, glorious bacon
>And three more in bits all over your salad
>Across the table, Octavia pulls her bowl closer
>You set the water jug down and pick up your fork
>And dig in
>Three bites in, and you realize it
>It's the best salad you've had in a long, long time
>No offense to the local chefs, they do quite well with their vegetarian ingredients
>But the bacon adds that little zest that you've craved for so long
>Across the table, Octavia eats directly from the bowl
>If it's bothering her, she doesn't show it
>The meal is silent for the most part
>You pivot in your chair
>It's Twilight
Hello Twilight
>She looks slightly stricken, and she's got her gear on
Any new developments?
>"I bear good news and bad news."
 
 
>The table shifts a bit as Octavia inches over to be able to see the purple unicorn
>"The good news is, I can change them back."
>You clap once, vigorously
Excellent!
>"And the bad news?" Inquires Octavia wearily from the table
>"The bad news is that the method for doing so takes several hours, and is rather... volatile.  I have the equipment necessary at the Library, but I can't bring it here."
So we have to bring them to the library?
>"In a few hours, yes."
How muc-
>Twilight holds up a hoof, the contents of her bags rattling under the damp raincoat
>"I cannot, in good conscience, charge money for this.  I will not."
>"Just have them at the library in four hours."
I think I can manage that.
 
 
>Twilight turns to the door, pausing
>"Are there any other questions?
I don't have any
>You shrug, and look back to Octavia
>"No.  Thank you, Twilight."
>"I'm doing my duty as a civil servant of P0nyville"
>Twilight hesitates for a moment longer, making sure there are truly no more questions to be had
>Before finally heading out the door
>"Anonymous, would you mind seeing her out?"
Of course
>You rise from your seat, intent upon Octavia's request
Really Twilight, thank you so much
>You remark once you're out of earshot of the kitchen
>"Let's... let's just say I know what it's like to be deprived of vital manipulatory faculties."
It's no fun, is it
>"It is not."
>She confirms
 
 
>After that brief moment of awkwardness, Twilight finds her way out of the house quite readily
>You're on your way back into the kitchen when you almost run into Vinyl's head making its way down the wall
Hello, Vinyl
>You greet
>"Hi Nonny!"
>you grimace
>You hate it when she calls you that, and she knows it
Where are you going?
>"I'm headed to my mixing room.  All this is giving me wicked ideas"
Are you going to make a whole new album?
>"Heh, I just might"
>You slide past her and continue down the hallway
>"Hey" She calls just before you round the corner
>Something in her voice makes you stop, and consider
Yeah?
>She's a moment in responding
>When she does, it's in a lower, more subdued tone of voice
>"You should go spend some time with Tavi.  This really hit her hard."
Y'know what?  I think I will.
>"Good."
>you turn the corner of the hallway
>In the kitchen, Octavia is cleaning up after dinner
>The bowls and the glasses have been moved to the sink, and she's on the counter next to it
>She looks up when you enter the room
>"Oh, hello Anonymous.  Nice of you to stick around."
You thought I was gonna leave?
>"Well, I had considered the possibility..."
I said I was gonna be around all night, that's what I'm gonna do.  Besides, you need my help getting to the library in a couple hours.
>you step inside and take a seat.
 
 
>You twiddle your thumbs for a moment, as the rain patters against the window
Octavia, do you think we could continue with your original plans for the evening?
>"What?" she responds from the counter
>She's practicing working the knobs on the sink
Do you think you could start teaching me to play?
>"Oh, that!"
>She sighs
>"I'm not sure how much help I'll be, but I AM a p0ny of my word..."
>"And I'd rather have something to do..."
>To distract her, is the unspoken message
Well then let's go, shall we?
>"Yes, let us."
>You kick forward off the wall and walk over to Octavia
Come here
>"Oh, you don't have to carry me!"
Pish posh.  It's faster and less trouble for both of us.
>She considers your hands before her
>"Well, if you insist..."
I do
>"Just this once, I suppose..."
Think of it as practice
>A pair of tentacles reluctantly inch up your arms
>Octavia moves at moderate pace up your arms
>Until she's nestled up against your crooked elbows
 
 
See?  Now was that so hard?
>"I-I guess not..."
We'll be there before you know it
>You say, turning to the doorway
>The hallway is void of white tentacle monste- err, p0ny
>You stride purposefully along
>You can feel her respirating against the parts of your arms under her main body
>Heading through the door to the practice room, you kick it closed behind you
>"Set me down over there" she intones
>And you oblige her
>She is momentarily still, getting her bearings
>Then she goes to the filing cabinet
>And pulls open a drawer
>the tip of a feeler indicates the frontmost folder
>"There should be a sheet titled..."
>She pauses for a moment, concentrating
>"Cello for p0nies.  Could you get it for me?"
Of course
>You pull the folder open, and sure enough there it is
>Right at the front
>You grab the sheet and pull it out
>Turns out it's a packet, stapled at a corner
>That works too
>"I knew I still had it around, somewhere"
 
 
>Octavia directs you to the music stand, where you set your wad of papers
>"Resin the bow and take up the cello" she commands
>You reverently open the case and do as asked
>Carefully but strongly running the resin block up and down the bow
>And, when that's done, reverently taking the cello from its velvet cradle
>You rise from your crouch, and glance about
>...Octavia's gone
>Nowhere to be seen
>"Up here, Anonymous!" calls a familiar voice from above
>you look up
>She's on the ceiling
>Directly above the stool and music stand
Whaaa...
>"I had an idea!"
>"Now, pull your stool over have a seat."
>You hook your foot in the legs of your stool and push it over, keeping both hands on the cello
>The music stand is at the first page, showing proper position for a p0ny to hold a cello
>Calling forth vague memories of cellists from your world, you take up a position
>Something warm and soft snakes down and wraps around your wrists
>It adjusts them, moving the cello back a bit and bringing the hand with the bow to a more perpendicular bearing to the strings
>"There, see?  I can adjust your pose properly from here."
That's pretty clever
>"Well, one must make the most of one's situation..."
>There's a bit of a pause
Thank you, Octavia.  I really appreciate this.
>"Oh, it's no problem at all"
>"Now," She continues, cutting off your chance to respond
>"For a lesson in the underlying physics of the cello..."
 
 
>Octavia goes on to explain how drawing the bow across the string causes it to vibrate
>To resonate
>And how that resonance bounces back and forth inside the body to produce the sound
>How different tightness and lengths of string create higher and lower pitch
>And how p0nies press the string down with the inherent, rudimentary magic in their hooves
>The same magic that enables them to grip things they otherwise couldn't
>A little bit of experimentation, and you find that you can press the string down with your fingers pretty well
>The lesson book needs a little adjusting, but Octavia's with you every step of the way
>You're just learning the positions of the various notes, when there's a flash through the window
>And then a deafening roar of thunder shakes the house
>Rattles the shutters
>There's a shriek above you
>And then something hard smacks into your head
>The last impression you have is of sudden blackness
>Before you slip away into unconsciousness
 
 
>You spiral down, falling and falling
>Black surrounds you like a blanket, a prison
>Pressing in on your eye sockets like the air presses upon the front of your body
>You cast your head about wildly, looking for something
>Anything
>There!
>Approaching fast is a point of light
>It grows into a circle, before enveloping your entire field of view
>And then you're through
>Still falling
 
 
>The land beneath you is a rich, verdant green
>You do your best to assume the skydiving X you've seen on TV so many times
>Looking left and right shows wisps of cloud lazily floating through a beautiful blue sky
>The rapidly approaching ground, however, presents a rather pressing problem
 
 
>you reach hopefully for your shoulders
>But there are no straps
>No ripcord to pull
>No, you're just in your regular clothing
 
 
>Peripheral motion catches your gaze, and your head turns once more
>There are a pair of skydivers next to you, all kitted out in polyester and goggles and helmets
>The one with the gopro, mostly hot pink, waves to you
>You try to get over to her
>Fighting down the surprisingly small amount of panic in the corner of your mind
>Perhaps she has a spare parachute?
 
 
>Your novice skydiving skills, however, fail you
>You flail about and almost succeed in flipping yourself over in the wind
>But your abilities are sufficient to return you to the skydiving X
>You look again over at the pink skydiver and her partner
>Both of their helmets are shaking
>Anger flares for a moment
>How could they consign you to certain death?
>When you see the pink one doing something
>She's holding her arms up in front of her, and clenching her fists...
>And twisting her right wrist?
 
 
>A mad idea seizes you, and you hold your arms out
>You gun your right wrist, and instantly the falling sensation disappears
>instead of rocketing towards the ground, you're rocketing forward through the sky
>You're not going to die!
>The sensation of flying is incredible
>you can feel yourself accelerating rapidly, the trees beneath you turning first into blurs and then streaks on the ground
>This almost
>No
>This is fun!
 
 
>The forest below you has just recently turned into an orderly orchard of some kind when motion once again flickers in the corner of your eye
>you swivel your head around and nearly fall out of the sky
>On your left is a jet fighter, all done up in blue
>The pilot, inscrutable behind his golden visor, gives you an encouraging thumbs up
>On a hunch, you look over on your other side
>And there flies Rainbow Dash, her mane and tail slick back and her hooves forward
>A streak of rainbow following closely behind her
>She winks
 
 
>You look back at the pilot, who looks up from his radar
>He points a finger down, and then the plane pivots
>The belly gets smaller and smaller as it breaks away
>You look down to see a massive, pink cannon nestled on the outskirts of p0nyville
>With a thunderous roar it fires, launching a gigantic apple directly into your path
>you're going too fast to turn away in time, and you fly into it
>Everything goes dark
 
(Mood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5bDWEWovuQ or any of the yourenigma tavi and scratch stuff)
 
>You open your eyes
>You're standing in a crowded auditorium
>The crush of bodies around you is so dense, you can't really tell what species they are
>The lights go down, and a pair of spotlights flicker on, highlighting two different spots on the stage
>on the left is a brown earth p0ny with a black mane, standing next to a cello taller than she is
>A small orchestra occupies the risers behind her, although they reside mostly in shadow
>And on the right, white unicorn with a spiky, two tone electric blue mane
>Seated behind a pair of turntables, which are in turn surrounded by speakers with blue glowing bowls
 
 
>The pandemonius audience falls silent as the bespectacled mare puts a pair of records on her table
>Similarly, her brown compatriot leaves her cello on its stand and puts several pages of sheet music on a stand in front of her
>each settles back into their respective positions
>And then, the needles hit the records
>And the bow hits the string
>And the music begins
 
 
>The magically and mechanically amplified sound washes over the crowd in waves
>There are light, flighty parts on the upper strings and echelons of sound
>Deep, throaty bass from each side
>Sometimes they cooperate, the two genres mixing together like a pair of lovers
>And other times the two musicians clash, fighting with all the vigor of a pair of wolves
>It is during one of these spits that something odd happens
>Octavia, sweat dripping from her nose, draws across the mahogany cello
>And a white stream of musical notation jumps from the point of contact, growing and fluttering away from it like an ever lengthening ribbon
>A moment later, and Vinyl's motions over her turntables blur
>her speakers emit electric blue sine waves that float off across the stage
 
 
>The two competing threads grow larger and larger in your vision
>Until all you can see is notes on a bar
>And blue spikes against a black background
>The musical bar suddenly tilts, becoming the floor
>And then a slide, as it becomes too steep to stand on
>You give a panicked shout that is lost in the music as you go, rapidly picking up speed
 
 
>You ride up and down the waves of the ribbon, the background a soft white glow
>As one style takes precedence in the music over the other, the ribbon beneath you changes from bar to sine wave and back
>The sine wave is interesting to ride on
>It sports a staticky, almost electric feel
 
 
>You don't know how long you've been riding this crazy train
>But it's coming to an end
>At the end of the song is a massive treble clef on the left
>And a double eighth note on the right
>Your ribbon delivers you soundly between the two, into a hole in reality
>The music abruptly cuts off and you black out
 
 
 
>This time when you come to, you're in bed
>or at least, you think you're in bed
>You've only ever felt warm like this in your bed
>Well, and when you had a fever
>But since you don't feel like shit, you think you're in a bed
>Further confirming your theory is the soft, warm blanket all over you
>You open your eyes
 
 
>Well, you're probably still dreaming
>Your heart does a little flip at the visage before you
>For laying next to you is none other than Octavia
>her usually well-kept mane free to flow over her head and the pillow in all its silky glory
>she murders something in her sleep, one of her eyelids twitching
>You can't say you've ever had a dream like this before
>But then, you don't really remember your dreams
>For all you know, you could have dreams like this all the time
>Now that you're aware of it, this one seems to be just simple wish fulfillment
>Then again
>If not for your wishes, what is there to fulfill?
 
 
>With this wisdom in mind, you seize the day
>you move your head into position, her warm breath flooding out over your face
>And then brush your lips against hers
"Good morning, Octavia" you say as you withdraw
>Octavia smiles in her slumber
 
 
>The blanket around you constricts
>The blanket that's... holding on to you with suckers
>You look down
>Yep
>Octavia is still an octop0ny
>You're back in the practice room
>And the "Bed" is just the thick shag carpet that's in place to minimize the damage of dropping an instrument
>Like the thankfully intact cello you now notice laying on the ground beyond your blushing companion
>The "pillow" is the cushion you usually sit on
>you're not asleep at all
>The unique mixture of tentacles and p0ny currently wrapped around you is very, very real
>You close your eyes
 
 
>The mass attached to your front shifts once more
>And it is to your great surprise that you feel that same pair of lips, once again, upon your own
>But it goes further this time
>Your eyes fly open, to reveal Octavia with hers closed
>Her brows slightly contracted, Octavia kisses you long and deep
>You aren't complaining
>You return it in kind
 
 
>The kiss eventually breaks, and you suck your air down greedily
>The brown creature on top of you has a similar reaction, panting lightly
>Her respiration pulls a little on numerous suckers
>The suckers currently all over your chest
>it's not a bad feeling
>you open your eyes and look up
>Octavia's eyes are still closed
>And the smile has progressed into a healthy grin
>your face begins to burn
 
 
>Something thumps on the door, and Octavia's eyes pop open
>She looks down and around, all around the room
>Her face starts turning red as the doorknob rattles
>You look over to see it open, revealing a mass of white tentacles with Vinyl's head on top
>"Hey, are you guys alright in h-"
>Vinyl stops speaking and snorts
>"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
>She smiles a ruthless and savage smile
>"I didn't know you were into that "Tentacle porn" thing you mentioned that one time, Anon"
>Well
>If your face wasn't red before
>It is now
 
 
 
No!
>"Absolutely not!"
>Your own and Octavia's response mingle with each other as you both vocalize simultaneously
>"Then how come you're all over him?" Asks Vinyl as she enters the room
>"You guys have been in here for a couple hours"
>You sit up and rub your head, which is starting to ache a little
...I don't know, actually
>"I-I think I do."
>You look up
>Oh yeah
 
 
>"I was teaching Anonymous how to hold the cello from the ceiling.  It allowed me to guide him to the correct position."
>You sit the rest of the way up, looking the cello over as Octavia continues
>"The last thing I remember is a rumble of thunder... I must have jumped and lost my grip."
>You look up just in time to see Vinyl's expression soften
>"Are you guys okay?"
My head's a little sore, but I'll live.  Octavia?
>"I am in similar condition."
 
 
>You can feel Octavia shifting on your torso
>Suddenly all the suckers detach, and she slides down under your shirt
>And then right out onto the floor
>You shrug
>While you didn't mind having her on you
>Especially in light of recent developments
>You also don't have all the extra weight now
>"I think..."
>Octavia stops
>She's looking at the cello
>You get on your knees and gingerly reach down
>Lifting the cello by the neck doesn't cause it to fall to pieces, which is a good sign
>You stand it up and spin it slowly for Octavia to inspect
>As far as you can tell, it looks fine
 
 
 
>The cello goes two revolutions before Octavia releases the breath she'd been holding
>"It looks like the carpet was worth the hassle after all."
>You grin
>You can remember helping them put it in
>Vinyl snorts again
>You pick the cello up and lay it down in its case
"I think I'd like a glass of water right about now" you say as you close the case
Would either of you two ladies like to join me?
>"Oh Anonymous" gushes Vinyl
>"You flatter me so"
>Octavia frowns
>Then she looks up at you
>"I could do with some refreshment as well..."
I'll have them out  when you two reach the kitchen then?
>After receiving a pair of nods, you head out
 
 
>you're filling the second glass when it occurs to you
>You were supposed to take them to the library!
>You smack your forehead
>"Hey Anonymous, what's up?"
>Then you set the glass on the counter, turn off the sink, and turn around
>Vinyl's in the doorway, looking up at you with a concerned expression
I need to take you two to the library
>"I thought it wasn't for another couple hours?"
>You sit down on a chair
That was several hours ago.
>"Oh yeah..."
>Then you get back up and fill a third glass
>The two filled glasses float off the counter, Vinyl sipping at one while the other floats over to Octavia
>You pick up your own glass
 
 
>"So how are you gonna get us over there?" Asks Vinyl
>Octavia has been conspicuously silent this whole time
>Although when you look up you find her looking at you from behind Vinyl
>She quickly looks down into her glass
Well, I uh... I was planning on carrying you.
>"Wouldn't that be conspicuous?  'Man running through mud carrying octopus'?"
Well, you could say it's more like... riding.
>"Riding?" Vinyl's voice almost cracks
Yeah.
>You lightly massage your forehead
I was thinking you could... cling... to my torso, under my shirt.  Your head would be over my back, and with my raincoat on you'd just look like my backpack.
>you look up from the table
What do you think?
 
 
>"Me first!  Me first!" sings Vinyl
>You look past her to Octavia, who nods slightly
Alright.
>You take the rest of the water in your glass in a gulp, then stand up and set it in the sink
>You step in front of Vinyl, thinking
>What's the best way to get this started?
>Vinyl seems to have ideas of her own
>The barrier presented by your pants gives her pause for only a moment
>Then a tentacle snakes up each leg and under your shirt, where the suckers find purchase on your skin
>You instinctively step forward as the weight transfers onto the front of your torso, the suckers marching up your abdomen
>Vinyl's head comes up under your shirt, magic holding it out of the way of her horn
>The thing is more or less shot anyway
>The neck is more suited to an ettin than you
>Vinyl highlights this by occupying the open space
 
 
>You feel a tentacle on your front snaking lower
>When it pushes under the button of your pants, you teach down
>You pull with considerable might and the suckers detach
Suckers off the goods
>The tentacle releases the rest of the way, and you let it go
>"Can't blame a mare for being curious" says Vinyl in a verbal shrug sort of voice
 
 
>You watch Vinyl's head until it goes out of view, sliding down your back
>Now there are six tentacles wrapped around your torso
>And two that go out along your arms
>"Yeesh" comes from behind you, slightly muffled
>"When was the last time you showered?"
This morning
>"I kid, I kid"
>Octavia moves to the side as you walk towards the door
>you stop in front of her
I'll be back, okay?
>She nods to you
Promise.
>You head for the coat rack
 
 
>By now, it's starting to get dark out
>Through the gloom you spot an irritatingly familiar mint green blob rapidly approaching
>It resolves itself into Lyra, complete with yellow rain slicker and hat
>"Hey Anonymous, what are you doing out here on a rainy day like this?"
>What luck
Oh, you know...
>"You should come back to my place to get dry; then you can show me more about those marvelous hands of yours..."
>A wicked idea occurs to you
But I can't
>"What?"
>Lyra's eyebrows furrow
>You hope Vinyl's listening
I said... I can't
>"Why not?"
Because...
>Lyra leans in closer
Because I DON'T HAVE HANDS ANYMORE!
>You thrust the sleeves of your trench coat forward, and feel Vinyl shift under your clothing
>White tentacles shoot out of your sleeves and writhe furiously
>"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Shrieks Lyra
>She wheels around and takes off at a dead gallop in the opposite direction
 
 
>The rest of the trip to the treebrary passes uneventfully
>You're going to have to wash your pants thoroughly after tonight, for sure
>But that's the extent of it
>You trip on the lintel and stumble into the library
>The sight that greets you is at the same time reassuring and, given your past experiences, terrifying
 
 
>The room smells of citrus and sugary confectioneries
>There are a number of tables set up, covered in all manner of strange glassware
>Some bubbles, some spins, and there's even one that appears to be floating
>Twilight herself wears the p0ny equivalent of a white lab coat
>She turns to face you, a pair of black goggles coming up off her eyes to rest above her horn
>"Oh, hello Anonymous!  You're just in time..."
 
 
>Under the goggles, the purple mare's eyebrows contract
>"Where..."
Where's the dutiful assistant?
>"Sugarcube Corner is hosting a tea party he wanted to attend..." She says absentmindedly
>So you're in the clear then
>You shrug off your coat, revealing a conspicuous pair of white tentacles that run along the outsides of your arms
>Twilight's jaw drops
>"That's... rather clever..."
>"You're telling me!"
 
 
>vinyl finds her way out from under your shirt and slides down to the ground
>"I thought he was just gonna get one of his backpacky things for me to ride in"
>Both of the mares look up at you
You wouldn't fit.
>You roll your shoulders
I was also under the impression that the cure was rather time sensitive?
>Twilight shakes her head
>"Yes.  Yes it is."
>She steps aside, revealing a pair of test tubes sitting in a mostly empty rack
>Said test tubes are bubbling and smoking, the liquid inside cycling randomly through the colors of the rainbow
>Vinyl whistles
>"I've had some brews in my day, but this'll take the cake"
>You look at Twilight once more
Is it safe?
 
 
>"Would I have prepared it if I didn't know it was?" she asks in return
>You just stare at her
>"Okay, yes.  It's safe."
>Twilight holds up a thick, well worn leatherbound book
>"Mordenkainen's cures for magical maladies is one of the most well researched and referenced guides there is, and it was quite clear.  This"
>She nods to the fizzing concoction
>"Is the answer."
>Your own eyebrows contract
>"What's it like?"
>Vinyl asks the question you were about to
>Twilight sets the book aside
>"The book makes only a passing mention of it being an 'out of body experience'"
>"Well, nothing ventured nothing changed!"
 
 
>you see one of the vials lift
>It floats over towards Vinyl in a tinted blue glow
>"Welp, down the hatch"
>"Vi-"
>Too late, Twilight reacts
>Vinyl shotguns the bubbling broth like one would an energy drink
>The now empty test tube floats up and away from her as she wipes her mouth with a tentacle
>You snatch it from the air just as the glow fades
>Then you look down on her with concern
>The octop0ny's eyes are dilating
 
 
>you hear shuffling behind you
>In spite of everything, the librarian has the presence of mind to take up a notebook and pencil
>She begins to scribble madly, even as she looks on in amazement
>You turn back towards your friend
>She's...
>She's glowing
>Slowly at first, but then faster and faster
>The octop0ny's entire form is suffused with an electric blue glare
>All too soon it becomes so intense you have to shield your eyes
>And then, just like that, it dies out
>You look down
>There's nothing there, just a faint blue glow on the floor
>Then you look up
 
 
>Floating in the air at around chest height on you is an amorphous, electric blue blob
>It's quivering a little, sort of like how you've seen videos of blobs of water in zero gravity on the ISS
...Vinyl?
>All at once, the blob changes
>It moves up a foot, going from electric blue to a deep, royal blue
>Then it turns white and begins to change shape
>First a tube, then a square
>And then, after turning red, a spheroid with a hundred little stubs sticking out
>The mysterious object that was once Vinyl stops, and then drops to the floor
>Then it streaks into motion, bouncing around the room while modulating through different shapes and colors
>Sometimes two or three colors at the same time
>It's picking up speed, almost to the point of being hard to track when it impacts your chest
>You choke down a shriek as it spreads around you, taking a crude semblance of the ocop0ny that clung there not so long ago
>The feeling...
>It's hard to describe
>Like metal and wicker and plastic and wood and vinyl all at once
>Like being simultaneously burned on a million degree stove and being thrown naked out into the arctic
>Then the blob leaves you, and you breathe again
 
 
>This time it floats back out to its original position, blue once again
>It forms a large, concave disc with a small, circular lump in the middle
>Having an inkling of what's about to happen, you rush to cover your ears
>Having your hands in place, however, feels like it has no effect at all against the noise
>A single, pure, unimaginably deep bass note issues forth
>It is simultaneously bouncy and flat
>A cacophony of beeps, boops, shrieks and drops
>And with it comes a flash of that same blue light from before, causing you to blink your eyes
 
 
>When you open them again, you breath a sigh of relief
>Standing in front of you is none other than Vinyl Scratch.
>Vinyl sits down hard
>Then her eyes bulge
>The white unicorn's mouth opens up, and she belches out a good sized cloud of rainbow-colored flame
>you hear hooves behind you, and crank your head around
>Twilight's approaching Vinyl
>"How do you fe-"
>you hold out an arm, and Twilight stops short of it
Give her a minute, okay?
>Twilight frowns at you
>But she doesn't move
 
 
>Vinyl is feeling her face with a hoof
>After a moment, she brings it back down to the ground
>With a little wobble, she gets up from her sitting position
>"Alright.  I'm good."
>Your arm is already lowered, and Twilight takes a few steps forward
>"How do you feel?"
>"Well..."
 
 
>it doesn't take long for you to move to the entryway
>Twilight's a nice enough mare
>But once she wants to know something, god help you if you're even tangentially related to it
>You heard (and answered) enough questions for two lifetimes from her when you showed up in this wonderland
>And you're not keen on listening to more of them anytime soon
>So here you sit, next to your dripping jacket
>Listening to the rain hitting the roof
 
 
>The inner door opens much, much sooner than you expected it to, and you look up to see a familiar white unicorn
>"Hey."  she says in a subdued tone
Hi
>"You waited for me?"
I figured you wouldn't want to be walking home through this alone.
>Vinyl nods
>"Thanks, Anonymous."
Think nothing of it
>You stand up and put on your jacket
>Then you push out into the rain, holding the door open behind you
>Vinyl walks out of the warmth and light and into the muck and mire with you
 
 
>Vinyl doesn't say a word the entire way back to the house
>Or if she does, you don't hear it over the rain and thunder
>you're concerned
>She's usually a very vocal mare
>But then, she'll only talk if she wants to
>You get in the dark entryway and untie your mud-soaked boots while Vinyl quietly towels off next to you
>Your hand is just reaching for the door into the interior of the house when
>"Anonymous."
>Something in her tone of voice makes you stop
>It's... different from her usual
>The spring is gone.  The fight.  The rambunctiousness.
Yes?
 
 
>"Do you know what that change back there was like?"
>You turn around, and squat
No.  I cannot say I do.
>"At the beginning...  I lost myself."
>Vinyl's eyes were before concealed in the shadow cast by her mane
>But now they look up into yours
You lost yourself?
>"I completely and utterly forgot who I was.  I wasn't... I wasn't me."
>Vinyl's voice is as deadpan as you've ever heard it
>"I couldn't remember what I was.  when or where or how."
>She takes a deep breath
>And her massive, maroon eyes blink
>Then she retains the stare
>"It was terrifying."
>"But then... then I heard my name.  And the memories started trickling back in."
>"Was it you that said my name?"
It was.
 
 
>"Then thank you for that." She says
>"Just... you make Octavia remember who she is."
>You nod
You have my word.
>"Good."
>Vinyl turns and opens the door with her magic
>"I'll see ya when you get back then, okay?"
Yeah
>And without another word, she disappears into the house
 
 
>You get up after a few moments
>You're on the clock, after all
>Then you enter the house proper, and start poking around
>The practice room is empty
>As are both the bedrooms, and the living room
>From the living room, however, you see the light is on in the kitchen
>That's your cue
 
 
>You find Octavia munching on an orange
>And normally you'd find it a little odd, considering how difficult it'd be to peel one with tentacles
>But she hasn't bothered to peel it
>She just takes bites out of the thing
>Perks of p0ny physiology, you guess
>You notice Vinyl at the table
>She's eating...
>Pancakes?
>Vinyl is tearing into a plate of syrup-drenched flapjacks
>Must be leftovers
 
 
>Octavia takes the last bite of her orange and looks up
>Her eyes widen a bit seeing you across the room
>"Oh, Anonymous!"
Are you ready?
>"I do believe I am."
>Your eyebrows furrow for a moment
>Then you crouch down and set your arm on the counter next to her
>Octavia seems to understand your intentions
>She moves over top of your hand, running tentacles out along your arm
>They go over your tshirt and then down the stretched neck hole
>Gradually, Octavia's main mass inches out across your arm towards you
>A second pair of tentacles come forward and wrap around your neck
>Perhaps a little tighter than is to your liking
Easy now
>You say, rasping ever so slightly
>The tentacles around your neck slacken immediately
>They instead run down your opposite arm
>Octavia slides into place on your neckline
>Too late, you wonder how many days you're going to be covered in sucker marks
 
 
>When Octavia is finally situated, you turn around
See you in a bit, Vinyl.
>Vinyl swallows before responding
>"Good luck you two!"
Thanks
>"Thanks"
 
 
>This walk to the library holds no surprises, and you make good time
>Heh
>This could be a good way to get in shape
>You're certainly breathing harder than you usually would be when you finally crouch through the recessed door
>Octavia made no complaint when she had to go down on your back
>Although now that you've taken your coat off you hear a sigh of relief from behind you
>The tentacles shift, and Octavia's head slowly inches into your peripheral vision
Are you ready?
>"I'd like to feel my own hooves again, yes."
>You push open the inner door and enter the treebrary proper
 
 
>"Welcome back" intones Twilight
>She's halfway through cleaning up her brewing apparatus, lab coat on and goggles astray
>"You're here sooner than I anticipated"
>You shrug
I have long legs.
>You can see the second vial in its holder now, still bubbling away merrily
>You walk over and pick it up, holding it up at eye level
>"That's it?"
That's it
>You confirm to Octavia
Twilight, is there anywhere a little more.. private we can go?
>Twilight squints at you, But ultimately doesn't ask
>"...The basement door's right over there"
>Good
>You head for the door, opening it and descending the stairs behind
 
 
 
>The basement of the library is a little different from the main floor
>You have to crouch slightly, the ceiling not being quite as high
>Boxes are stacked about neatly in rows
>And shelves covered in ancient tomes, jars of fluid and picture frames line the walls
>There's a fair sized open space under the lamp in the middle of the room
>Seeing no better locations, you walk over and sit down
 
 
>Octavia inches down your abdomen, her head sliding under your shirt and her mane tickling you almost as much as the suckers are
>It is only with great effort that you manage to not laugh
>And then she's out, quickly down over your legs and out onto the rough wooden floor
>Octavia finishes turning around, and looks up at you with an expression you've only seen on her once before
Octav-
>"Anony-"
>You each say the other's name at the same time
>And you both cut off at the same time, too
>There's a silence while you wait for her to finish
>And, presumably, while she waits for you to do the same
 
 
>Octavia appears to come to a decision
>Her previously contracted eyebrows relax to a more natural state
>No, too high for normal
>If she wasn't looking at you with wide eyes before, she is now
>"Anonymous, did I kiss you?"  She blurts, evidently done beating around the bush
>"Back there, in the practice room?"
Yes.
>"Did... did you kiss me first?"
...Yeah.
>Is all you can manage
>Octavia laughs for a moment
>Stress relief laughter
>"I was afraid I had dreampt that part"
>There's another pause
>Octavia's face has been slowly coloring over the entire conversation, but it is only now that it reaches a red hue similar to the one she displayed in the practice room
>Then again, yours probably isn't in much better shape
>"I-I like you very much, Anonymous."
>You swallow down the lump in your throat
That-that means a great deal to me, Tavi
>You say, taking a bold risk
>So far, the only person you've seen Octavia let call her that is Vinyl
>There's a moment of silence
>"And you?" She asks, an uncharismatic waver in her voice
I... words fail me.  I think you're a wonderful person, Octavia.  
 
 
>Another short time passes
>You cough, trying to dislodge that damn lump
>You'd almost forgotten the bubbling vial in your fingers
>"Anonymous..." Asks Octavia
>You can see she's looking at it as well
Before I give you this, I have to tell you: Vinyl talked to me, and she said it's not... not a pleasant experience.
>"She talked to me as well."
>You nod
Right.  I'm going to be here the whole way through, no matter what.  
>"Thank you, Anonymous."
>From the tone in her voice, you can tell she means it
Of course.
>You say
>Your promise fulfilled, you carefully pass the vial down to the octop0ny
>She consumes it at a more sedate pace, and after the vial's empty she coughs a little
>You can see her watering eyes dilate just like Vinyl's did
 
 
 
>Octavia begins to glow with an eerie purple light
>You squint as the tentacles retract, the entire body forming into a violet colored blob
>It floats up to around nose height, the surface oscillating slightly
>You remember this part
>You release the breath you didn't realize you were holding, and the blob changes color
>First brown, then white
>Then black and blue and orange...
>The blob begins to drift upward, into the rafters
>Uh oh
>You reach up and seize it before it can get too far, the thing now practically a technicolor strobe light
>That same feeling hits your fingers, the buzzing
>As if cycling through a thousand different materials and temperatures at once
>You don't care
>You pull the blob down and hold it in your arms
Octavia
>you whisper to it
You are my Octavia
 
 
>The lightshow stops, and the blob turns a familiar brown
>It spreads out over your chest, out along your arms
>The feeling is overwhelming
>Portions of it come up to carcass your face as you see it go from brown to purple to black back to purple
>Then it begins to pull away from you
>It's forming into something in front of you
>You can only watch in awe as a neck takes shape, and a resonating chamber
>It's a cello
>An honest to god cello
>And next to it, a bow
>The bow comes down across the strings of the cello...
>And moves across with incredible smoothness
>The resulting bass note is a balm to the ears
>Endlessly varying, it moves at once at both a jaunty gallop and a slow, stately pace
>You hear this note with your very soul
>You smile
 
>But like all things, this tribute to classical music eventually comes to an end
>In its place, a flash of blinding violet light your eyes slam shut against
 
 
>Your senses eventually return to you, and the first thing you notice is a weight hanging off your front
>It's rather nice, actually
>Makes it easier to sit up straight
>Further sensory input reveals a ring of pressure around your torso, right under the armpits
>And a soft, furry weight on your shoulder
>You open your eyes
>You see the back of a very familiar looking head in your leftside peripheral vision
>And a brown, furred torso firmly attached to your own
>It is at this point you feel a wetness on your shoulder, in addition to the weight
>"Hold me, Anonymous"
>"Please"
>You reach up and wrap your arms around the brown p0ny
 
 
 
>Octavia's chest heaves three times against yours
>You can hear hear breathing
>Long and deep
>But too forced to be natural
>You just hold her close
>Going from what Vinyl told you
>you wouldn't want to be alone either
 
 
>Eventually, Octavia's breathing levels out
>The surprisingly strong grip with which she holds your torso fades
>And you feel her head lift off your shoulder
>You loosen your hold on her, leaving it barely more than a touch
>Octavia's hooves come back, and she lifts herself up off your torso
>Her mane is in wild disarray, and she looks down at herself with large, watery eyes
>Then she reaches up and feels her face, much like Vinyl did
>"...I'm back.  I'm me again."
>She wipes away her tears with the side of one of her legs
>Those not as watery eyes look up at you
>"Thank you."
 
 
You're welcome.
>Octavia stands up the rest of the way
>And promptly wobbles on her newfound hooves
>Your arms come up to steady her
>But she catches herself before you have to
>"I... I think I'm ready to go home."
>You start getting up
I'll come with you, if you like
>"I would like that very much."
 
 
 
>You're first going up the stairs, checking behind you frequently to make sure the brown p0ny isn't having any
 
trouble with them
>You open the door to the library proper
>And are greeted by purple unicorn and white paper
>"How-"
>Twilight backsteps when she actually sees what's occupying the stairwell
>"Oh, hello Anonymous!  Where's Octavia?"
>She asks, attempting to peer around you
She's behind me, and she's not in any state for questioning.
>You respond
>"I'm sure just a few wouldn-"
>You continue your forward motion, forcing Twilight to backstep haphazardly
No.
 
 
>Twilight is a good mare, but as you've observed again and again
>She can be a bit oblivious to... well, everything when knowledge is on the line
>So you're not going to lose any sleep over being a little ham-handed
>You clear the basement door, and check behind you
>Octavia emerges into the light, blinking like an owl
>Then she enters the library proper
>"I will happily answer any questions you might have tomorrow, Twilight."
>She shivers a bit
>"Just... not tonight."
 
 
>The purple unicorn sighs, and shakes her head
>Seeing Octavia seems to have broken the spell
>"Alright.  I'll find you tomorrow."
>She sets the writing utensils down on one of the only remaining tables, and steps out of the way
>"Travel safe."
>"Thank you"
>You make your way to the entryway and don your coat
>You would offer it to Octavia, but it would just drag in the mud
>Octavia joins you, and you both head out the door
 
 
>Aside from passing a dejected looking Spike, the walk back to the cellist's home is uneventful
>You get in the entryway and start pulling off your muddy shoes and jacket
How do you feel?
>"Honestly?"
>Octavia sits down
>"I feel like I just ran the Canterlot Quad."
>you grimace in sympathy, remembering gym class and charity runs
You have my sympathies.
>Octavia wearily rises and scrapes her hooves off on the floor mounted brush
>"Yes, well, I'm sure it's nothing a good night of sleep can't take care of."
Here's hoping
>You respond as the two of you head into the house
 
 
>The light in the kitchen is still on
>You're halfway down the hallway when you here a thump behind you
>You turn around
>Octavia's on the floor
>She looks up at you with tired eyes after a moment
>"I think I'm going to sleep here tonight.  Those look stairs are so long and tall..."
Nonsense
>You turn around and stoop
>You get an arm around her front and an arm around her hindquarters and heave, lifting with your legs
Up we go!
>"Ooh!" She witters as the floor falls out from underneath her
>"Well, as long as this is an option..."
>"Could you carry me to the bathroom?"
>Of course
>The mud
Certainly
>You start up the stairs
 
 
 
>At this rate, your new year's resolution of getting in better shape will be accomplished in no time
>The bathroom door is open, and the light is on
>Vinyl is snoring away on the floor just outside of it, her fur and mane still damp
>Heh
>Looks like she's not so invincible after all
>You step over the sleeping unicorn and into the still moist air of the bathroom
>Then you stop in front of the tub
Do you think you can stand?
>"I think I can manage that."
>You carefully set her down in the tub, and she does seem to have command of her body once more
>She remains on her hooves
I've got to put the incredible DJ to bed, alright?
>"By all means."
>you turn around and flick the fan on
>Then you step out and pull the door closed
>When you've got Vinyl up in your arms, you hear the shower turn on
 
 
>You kick Vinyl's door open and head over to her bed
>You've only been in here a couple times before
>Padding across the soft black carpet, you stay in the beam of light cast by the door
>You can't spare and arm to hit the lights, and you don't want to take any chances stepping on something without your shoes
>Vinyl snores away soundly as you lay her down on the round mattress
>You pull the covers on the left side back
>And then roll her over from her right side position onto the newly exposed mattress
>She snorts when her head hits the pillow, but her eyes don't open
>You Pull the covers over her
Night, Vinyl
>You whisper
>You're careful to close the door silently when you leave
 
 
>Back down the hall, you can still hear the shower going
>You knock on the door
>"Come in!"
>Then you head through, closing it behind you
>Inside, the bathroom is moist and warm
>Your gaze sweeps across the foggy mirror, the p0ny grade toilet, and the closet door
>over to the opaque shower curtain across the room
>"Do come over" prompts Octavia
>You walk numbly over to the shower, and stop
>"Oh it's alright.  You may look inside."
>You blink
>You suppose it's nothing you don't see every day anyway...
>So you step to the side and poke your head inside the shower
>Octavia's sitting in the middle of the tub, her eyes closed
>She opens them and looks up after a moment
>"I..."
>She yawns
>"I can't quite stand up to wash my underside as I usually do."
>"Would you please help me?"
Certainly.
 
 
>You pull back out of the shower briefly, and yank your shirt off over your head
>You'll have to take it to Rarity if you ever want to wear it again anyway
>Then you lean back into the shower, further this time
>Octavia opens her mouth
>And then closes it just as quickly
>On the ledge on the far wall are a couple bottles and a pair of sponges
Which of these are yours?
>"The... brown bottle and the yellow sponge" she says
>You reach over and pick up the shampoo and sponge in question
>A squirt of the bottle onto the sponge, and the scent of hardwoods wafts up to your nose
>Interesting choice in bodywash
 
 
>You place a hand on Octavia's shoulder to steady her, and then reach in with the sponge
>She seems to have already cleaned her legs
>So you start scrubbing down her front
>She steps forward, out of the stream so the foaming soap isn't washed away immediately
>The white bubbles turn a dirty brown as the dirt works out of her fur
>She's closed her eyes again, which you admit you're glad for
>Although her brow occasionally furrows
>and every so often, she shakes her head
>So you start working down between the legs
>And when that's nice and soapy, you move on to her belly
 
 
>This is a bit of a different beast than her front
>There's more surface area, and you've got to reach under to get to the other side
>Octavia, for her part, is holding surprisingly still
>You felt her torso twitch a couple of times when you first started
>But it's not twitching anymore
>If anything, she's a little lower on her hooves
>Relaxed, you would guess
 
 
 
>You venture as far south as you dare, but not so far as to hit anything private
>The p0ny under your fingers makes no objection
>Now that she's lathered up, it's time for the rinse
>You wring the sponge out, set it back on its cubby, and gently push backwards
>Octavia moves readily enough at your touch, backing under the water
>The suds aren't rinsing off fast enough for your liking
>So you begin to wipe them off
>She shudders under your touch, which stops when you abruptly take your hands off her
>a pair of newly opened eyes peer back at you
>"I didn't say stop..."
>You mentally shrug and proceed to wipe the rest of the suds off
 
 
>Eventually, all the suds are gone
>So you reach up and turn the water off
Shower's over
>You say softly
>Octavia opens her eyes, blinking owlishly
>Then she slowly, ponderously steps over the edge of the shower
>And wobbles heavily
>She rests a haunch against the wall, however, and manages to steady herself before you have to
Towels are...
>You ask
>You've never actually seen any here
>"In the closet..." She mutters
 
 
>You get two towels
>One for her, and one for yourself
>She does her best to hold still as you dry her off
>Her fur poofs out from all the places you've dried it
>She looks sleepily down on herself while you towel your own body off and pull your shirt on
>"I'm going to look like Hades tomorrow" she muses
>"But honestly, I don't care"
>You can't suppress a little bit of a grin
Alright you, time for bed
>"I've... yes.  I am ready for bed."
>You squat down and, for the last time tonight, pick up the musician
 
 
>You're getting a little tired yourself as you edge into the bedroom
>You lay her down on the neatly made bed, pulling back the violet covers
>She slowly helps you pull the cover up
>You make a brief detour to turn off the lights in the hall and the bathroom, then do the same for the bedroom
 
>"Meep!"
>...Wait
>Was that Octavia?
>You cross the darkened bedroom and get down a little closer to her level
Oct-
>And nearly jump out of your pants when she lunges
>her hooves wrap around your chest, much like earlier in the night
>You barely choke down a shout when you notice her face
>Her eyes are wide open, an expression of sudden terror gripping her face
>"Anonymous, please" she chokes out in a half-strangled whisper
>"I-I don't want to be alone..."
I'm here, Tavi.
I'm not going anywhere.
>You whisper yourself
>You're probably going to be here all night
>Why not make the most of it?
>So you clamber onto the bed, Octavia still firmly attached to your front
>And crawl beneath the covers
>Octavia's eyes don't close again until your arms are around her and she's as close to you as she can get
>She nuzzles your neck, squeezing you for all she's worth for a moment
>And then the grip loosens
>you breath a silent sigh
>The last thing to cross your mind before you drift off is idle curiosity as to what exactly it was the two of them went through
>Whatever it is, you wouldn't wish it on anyone