Una Nota Dolce Chapter 11 - Lettere dal Cuore

>You look out the window of the train as it speeds through pre-dawn Equestria, the lights of Manehattan glowing in the distance.
“Pinkie, are you sure she’s here?”
>Pinkie nods enthusiastically. “Of course! She’s the featured soloist with the Manehattan orchestra for tomorrow night’s Summer Sun Celebration!”
>You cock an eyebrow.
“And how did you learn this?”
>Pinkie looks at you like you’re stupid.
>”Because I’m Pinkie Pie, silly filly!”
>Obviously.
>You sigh and lean against your bag.
>A set or two of clothes, your tuxedo from before…
>And the item you found in Octavia’s box.
>Should come in handy.
>If anything, it’s one more thing you need to apologize to her for.
“Wait…Pinkie, you said the Summer Sun Celebration, right?”
>She nods. “Yep! It’s the longest day of the year! Princess Celestia always raises the sun in a special ceremony, each year in a different city!”
“Ok…so how do we get in? We don’t have tickets.”
>”Oh, Pinkie has a plan for that too…”
“I was afraid you would say that.”
>Pinkie snorts and rummages in her own bag.
>”Come on Anon, when did I ever have a bad idea?”
>Do you really want me to answer that?
“Ok, ok Pinkie. What are you thinking?”
>”It’s simple, we take someone else’s tickets!”
>….
“Pinkie…YOU WANT ME TO STEAL THEM?!”
>Pinkie jumps a little at your outburst.
>”Well, sorry Anon, but those tickets sold out a long time ago. You don’t have much of a choice unless you’re swimming in bits.”
>Your jimmies rustle like a field of Kansas wheat in the wind.
>Pinkie’s eyebrows furrow.
>”Anon, if you’re passing me over for a p0ny you wouldn’t do anything for…I’ll never forgive you.”
>What is this I don’t even…
>Thanks, brain.
“…what did you have in mind?”
>Pinkie looks like she thought you would never ask.
>Jimmies, enact Phase 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdSai09_jzc
>”Ok, so tickets to the Summer Sun Celebration are long sold out, right? And Octavia’s performing that night leading up to the ceremony, right?”
“Yeah.”
>”Now, I have it on good authority that one of the biggest socialites in Canterlot will be in town, a miss Fleur-de-lis. I also know that she has a ticket.”
“And how, pray tell, do you know this?”
>”Let’s just say a lot of her clients owe Pinkie a few favors.”
“Don’t ask, it’s Pinkie Pie. Got it. How does this help me?”
>Pinkie pulls out a map and spreads it on the floor, apparently of downtown Manehattan.
>”Whenever she comes to Manehattan, Fleur-de-lis always visits the same place: The Crystal Hoof club.”
“Ok, and…”
>Pinkie snorts. “You’re going to go in there and sweep her off her hooves. Get her to take you back to her hotel room, where you can search for and take the ticket.”
>Jimmies, report.
>Batshit crazy idea off the starboard bow, captain.
>Acknowledged. Red Alert. Arm phasers and load photon torpedo bays.
“Pinkie…while I appreciate the effort, that will never work. I’m the only human in all of Equestria. I kind of stand out, and would be easy to find once she realizes I stole her ticket.”
>”Already thought of that! It’s simple, Anon. We’re going to make you look like a p0ny!”
>You know, it may be all the time you’ve known her, or the fact that for the last two weeks she’s been sleeping with you, but you are pretty goddamn certain Pinkie Pie is not a unicorn.
“…how?”
>”With THIS!”
>With great flourish, Pinkie produces her ingenious solution from…you know what? Best not to ask where.
>…no.
>No way. It’ll never work.
>Nobody is this stupid.
>You look out as the Manehattan train terminal comes into view.
>You are so boned.
“Pinkie…I am not putting that on.”

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Hsf1HCiyU
>You are Octavia
>You groan as the glory of the sun jars you awake.
>You must have passed out.
>Your joints ache as you pick yourself up off the floor.
>Your mother’s legacy surrounds you like a graveyard of memories.
>Your eyes hurt from the crying you did last night when it dawned on you what you did.
>You remain speechless as you pick up the chunks of wood and slack catgut string.
>You place them in the case. Even if you believed there was little hope of putting the instrument back together.
>You pick up a rather sizeable chunk of the lower bout when you notice something out of place.
>Violins normally do not have little pieces of paper taped to the inside.
>You pull the paper free of its aged tape binding with your teeth, setting the chunk aside as you unfurl the letter.
>You feel your gut sink as you read the contents.

“My dearest Octavia,

If you are reading this, then I am gone, and you must be going through a difficult time.

Words cannot express how it pains me that I will not be there with you to watch you grow, and to help you as you travel life’s journey.

I hope someday you find this letter, and take these lessons to heart.

Never borrow money, especially from friends.

Never deal with a pawn shop.

And finally…Musicians are passionate p0nies, but are also reserved and afraid to show it. Follow your heart, it will never lead you astray.

Oh, how I wish I could see how you’ve grown. You have my mane, but you have your father’s eyes. I know, it isn’t fair that your dad left this world before you were even born, and now I’m leaving too…just, do your mother one thing for me, okay?

Music may be the window to your soul, but only love can unlock it and set it free.

Let love set you free, as your father did for me.

~Sonnet”

>You wipe a tear from your eye as you finished cleaning up the violin pieces, setting the note on the table.
>If you had read that two weeks ago, you may have had more tears to shed.
>You may have stayed and fought.
>But you left. No doubt, he’s moved on.
>Part of you hopes Pinkie is there for him. She seems to love him as much as you did.
>You don’t know if you do anymore.
>You look over at your cello, sitting against the wall.
>Just need to make it through the concert tomorrow.
>You can do that, get back into music…maybe you can put him out of your mind once and for all.
>Then…
“Then, mother…we’ll see about your last wish.”

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

>You are Anonymous.
>Guess what?
>You put it on.
>You and Pinkie go over the plan one more time in the back of the carriage taking you to the club.
>”Ok, Anon, any questions?”
“Are you sure this is going to work?”
>You wince under your horsehead mask, wanting to scratch your nose.
>Kinda hard to do that with fake hooves on your arms.
>”Don’t worry Anon. Remember, you need to get her to invite your back to her hotel room. Once you get the ticket, cheese it. I’ll wait for you back at our hotel, got it?”
>You take a deep sigh and nod.
>Remember…this is for Octavia.
>Anon, if you pull this off, you will be the smoothest bastard alive.
>No, just the luckiest.
>You take a deep breath as the closed carriage starts shaking as it slows down. You look out the window. It’s the dead of night, but the lights of the club makes it look like high noon outside.
>”Remember Anon, she won’t notice you if you play wallflower. You have to work it. I know you can do this!”
>Deep breath.
>Remember, Anon…
>Work it.
>You open the carriage door and step out.
>It’s like you’re moving in slow motion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy-5d4r_6Y8
>You feel like one of those music videos, where doves fly out of the car as the star makes his way to the club.
>Wait, doves really are flying out of the car behind you.
>How in the nine hells…
>Worry about that later! WORK IT!
>You stroll up to the door, ignoring the line trying to get in.
>The patrons and bouncers all stare at you as you strut inside like you own the place.
>Not often you see a pony walking around on two hooves.
>Anon, are you sure you’re…doing this right?
>No time for questions, brain! Time to put my swag on!
>As you enter the club proper, you’re hit with the music.
>Man, you hate going to these places.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt50S-mfwMc
>As you make your way to the bar, you spy your target.
>Fleur-de-lis.
>You look out through your mask’s limited viewing area. She’s out on the dance floor, getting her groove on.
>Several stallions are dancing around her, trying to impress her.
>They seem to be failing.
>Bitches ain’t got nothin’ on a biped.
>Alright Anon…time to get out there and shake what yer’ maker gave ya.
>Well Brain, when you put it that way…
>For Octavia.
>You sigh as you take a random p0ny’s drink in your oversized fake hooves, dumping it in your mouth.
>You catch at least some of it in your real mouth.
>The shit I put up with…
>You stroll out towards the center of the floor, where Fleur-de-lis is. Dancing p0nies stop and make way for the giant horse who walks upright.
>As you stop in front of Fleur-de-lis, she looks at you with a confused, disbelieving eye.
>You start bobbing your head in beat with the music as it changes.
>Wow, this DJ sure has a wide taste in music.
>Oh well…work with what you have…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL2txMU50CI
>Aaaand….DROP IT.
>Work it…work it…
>That’s right, pop those shoulders, put the work in…
>strut…strut…
>The stallions you interrupted just stare at you slack jawed.
>Shufflin’ it…
>Crotch grab aaaand thrust!
>Unf unf unf unf unf unf unf….
>Pop it, pop it, shake it hard yeah…
>Let’s see these p0nies do this…
>Bustin’ out the MOONWALK, what up son?!
>Spin, WOO!
>You look over at Fleur-de-lis.
>She looks bemused, a grin crossing her face as she joins in, dancing up next to you.
>She tries to emulate whatever the hell it is you’re doing, standing on two hooves.
>Oh god…do you look as ridiculous as she does?
>Thankfully, you have more experience operating on two legs than she does.
>She tries, bless her heart. She tries.
>As the song ends, she finally loses balance and topples over, forcing you to stop and catch her.
>She’s laughing as the next song starts.
>Good sign.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnLg39Boass
>”Oh my, you’ll have to show me how you do that sometime!”
>You help her off the floor, taking a seat in a booth along the wall.
>You emit a strained laugh as well as Fleur-de-lis giggles, signaling the bartender for two drinks.
>She turns her attention to you, folding her hooves under her chin.
>”So, tell me stranger, where did you learn to dance like that?”
>Oh shit, you forgot to think of a backstory!
>THINK!
>I’M TRYING!
>Fleur-de-lis cocks an eyebrow. “Are you…alrig-“
“STALLIONGRAD.”
>She jumps a little at your outburst, in the worst fake Russian accent you can muster.
>Anon…you didn’t…
>Yell at me later brain, roll with it!
“Yes…Stalliongrad very cold, learn early to walk on two hooves. Dance same.”
>Fleur-de-lis’s grin comes back across her face, her eyelids lowering a little as the drinks arrive.
>”Stalliongrad, you say? I’ve never been there, but I do hear it is quite cold. What’s your name?”
>Uhhh….
“BORSCHT.”
>You make her jump a little again, and you fake a cough.
“Pardons…I am called Borscht.”
>…Anon, I think ya dun’ goof’d.
>Fleur’s smile widens a little as she sips her drink, sliding one towards you.
>Holy shit, she bought it?
>Thank god, there’s a straw.
>You awkwardly drink yours as Fleur rests her chin on her hooves, looking up at you.
>”Borscht, huh? That’s quite an exotic name.”
>OH DEAR CELESTIA SHE BOUGHT IT.
>This will be easier than you thought.
>You lose track of how much time you and Fleur spend in that booth, making small talk, having her eat up your cheesiest pickup lines like potato chips, and the drinks.
>SO MANY DRINKS.
>Brain to Anon, transmission coming in from the liver.
>Liver, report.
>I CANNAE TAKE MUCH MORE O’ DIS, KAP’N!
>You shake your head. It’s getting harder to stay awake…
>”Say, Borscht…”
”Da, Miss de Lis?”
>”I have an idea…let’s get out of here and go back to my place, hmm?
>Your brain hangs a banner as it pins a medal to the Liver’s falciform ligament.
>Mission accomplished.

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

>The two of you stagger into Fleur-de-lis’ hotel room.
>She’s nibbling on the ear of your mask.
>Thank the maker she’s not on your real ear, or your penis may stage a coup and you’d really be in trouble.
>”Hee hee…why don’t you make yourself…comfortable, Borscht…I’m going to go…’freshen up.’”
>Oh shit.
>You know where this is going, as Fleur brushes the underside of your “chin” with her tail as she walks into the bathroom.
>I’m gonna get some booty, I’m gonna get some booty…
>ANON! FOCUS! GET THE TICKET!
>I’m gonna get some booty…
>ANON! Remember why you are here!
>…Octavia.
>You hear the shower turn on in the bathroom as your mind forces its way through the alcohol, back to the forefront.
>You look around…where would she hide them…
>Right on the table?
>Well, that saves a lot of time.
>You hear Fleur-de-lis call from the bathroom.
>”You know, Borscht, it’s sooooo lonely in this shower…”
>…I’m gonna get some-
>ANON!
>YES! Right.
>You snatch the ticket and get the fuck outta Dodge.

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

>You slam the door of your hotel room behind you, pressing your back to the door as you catch your breath.
>You lost your horse costume somewhere along the way.
>You aren’t sure where or how, but you don’t really care.
>The ticket to tomorrow’s Summer Sun Celebration in your hand is all you care about.
“Pinkie, I got it! I got the tic…”
>No Pinkie.
>You walk in to your hotel room. You got the right one, there’s your stuff on the table.
>…and two envelopes.
>You walk over, setting the ticket on the table as you pick up the envelopes. One has Octavia’s name on it.
>One’s addressed to you.
>You open it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvUfUx4h4X0

“Dear Anon,

I’m sorry, but I had to go. I know I said I would help you get Octavia back for what I did…but I can’t. I just can’t. It hurts too much.

I won’t ask you to forgive me, and I don’t want you to follow me. I won’t be in P0nyville by the time you return.

Anon, I want you to be happy. That’s what I always wanted. It took me until now to realize…that’s something I cannot do. Celestia, I wish that weren’t the case. I wanted to be with you always, to raise a family, to grow old with you by my side.

Go to Octavia. I know if you send out your true feelings, you will succeed. Use your gift, and follow your heart. You love Octavia in a way I could only wish you loved me, and I know that love will reveal the path to you.

Anon, there is so much I need to tell you…but now is not the time. Someday, perhaps…but not now.

Anon, you need to promise me you’ll succeed. That you’ll get Octavia back and live the kind of life I wished for us on so many nights, on so many shooting stars.

Or I truly will never forgive you.

Forever yours, even if you are not forever mine,

~Pinkie Pie. “

>You smile and close your eyes, folding the letter and placing it on the table next to the ticket, wiping a tear from your eye.
>Maybe, in a different time, a different place…you could have made her dream come true.
“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye…”