Una Nota Dolce Chapter 6 - Innig

>You haven’t had that much fun in a long time.
>You recline on the cool grass, taking in a big lungful of night air, watching the fireflies dance with the stars in the sparkling sky.
>Octavia lets out a contented sigh at the same time you do, letting her forehoof dangle in the water of the reservoir. She watches the reflection of the fireflies on the surface of the water, disturbed only by her own idle motions.
>You hear an animal rustle in the bushes. They tend to do that.
>”Anon…I have to admit, you were right. That was a lot of fun.”
>You just chuckle.
“Of course, when have I ever been wrong?”
>Octavia shoots you a smug glance. “Oh, I’ve known you for a week, I’m sure that will come soon enough.”
“I have no doubt.”
>The two of you share a laugh before the silence creeps over the scene once again, the low drone of summer insects barely discernable against the backdrop of rustling water.
>The silence continues.
>”Hey, Anon…”
“Yeah?”
>Octavia glances up at the splendor of the night sky.
>”I think I see why you like it out here.”
>You sigh and glance over at the grey mare.
“When I was a kid, I lived in a city. A big one, like Manehattan…sure, there were plenty of stuff to do, like any other city…”
>Your eyes drift back up to the sky.
“But the city can’t produce a view like this.”
>Octavia sighs and stands before falling back next to you, mimicking your relaxed posture.
>It’s adorable to watch her squirm, trying to adjust to it as she places her forehooves under her head.
>”I know…I feel like I can sleep under a sky like this…”
“Yeah…I actually have once or twice.”
>Alcohol does that to a guy.
>Once again, silence. A cricket chirps, and you wonder if it is searching for someone to share the starry night with.
>You look over at Octavia, a question forming in your throat but unable to express itself.
>You watch her stare up at the sky, a look of contentment on her face, as if she could fall asleep at any moment.
“Octavia…”
>She turns to face you. What is it about those violet eyes that keeps catching yours?
>”Yes?”
“I don’t think you play that violin you keep letting me use…why do you keep it?”
>Octavia’s expression falls. She was afraid you would ask that.
>You don’t press her as the silence settles in, turning on to your side to face her.
>For her part, Octavia just looks back up at the sky.
“I’m sorry…if you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have t-“
>”Sonnet.”
>You blink.
“Sonnet?”
>”Sonnet is my mother’s name. The violin is hers.”
>Octavia turns and faces you, her face a painting of painful memories.
“It’s her violin? Why do you have it? Where is sh-“
>Anon, you idiot….
>Octavia closes her eyes, a single tear falling down her face. “She’s gone. She died…a long time ago.”
“Oh…Octavia, I’m sorry…”
>She holds up a hoof before turning back to face the stars. “It was the day after I got my cutie mark…she had bought me my first cello to celebrate.”
>A small smile crosses the mare’s lips.
>”I was so excited, I’d get to play music with my mother…she was an amazing violinist.”
>Octavia’s voice cracks a little, the smile fading from her lips.
>”She never told anyone she was sick…didn’t want me to worry, she said.”
“Octavia…”
>”It’s all I have left to remember her by…You’re the first person, p0ny or otherwise, to play that instrument since she died.”
>You had no idea.
“But…then why…”
>Octavia turns on her side, facing you, the smile reappearing.
>”Why let you play it? Because…you remind me a lot of her.”
>Anon, I’m not quite sure how to take that.
>Me neither, brain. Me neither.
>”Anon…when I first met you, I thought you were an idiot.”
>You visibly wince.
“Hey now…”
>”…but then I heard you play. When you grabbed it, I was angry…but when I heard you play it, it was like I was a little filly again.”
>You feel like you should be disturbed, but oddly enough, you aren’t.
>Octavia turns and looks at you again, her eyes shining in the moonlight.
>”I’m sorry, I don’t think many guys want to hear them compared to somep0ny else’s mother…”
>Got that right, sister.
>Your annoyance fades when the mare gives you a soft, almost…personal smile.
>”But…it makes me happy when I hear you play…and today, at that contest…it was the first time I was happy performing in a long time.”
>…
>Octavia blushes a little under your gaze, closing her eyes to avoid it.
>”I guess what I’m trying to say is thank yo-“
>Octavia is cut off, her eyes shooting open wide as you pull her into an embrace, your head pressed against her shoulder.
“No, Octavia…thank you.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xm_MWN7tA4&feature=related
>Anon? It’s the brain. What are you…
>Octavia’s body goes tense against you as you pull back, facing her once more. Her jaw hangs open a little as confusion dances across her face like the fireflies on the surface of the water.
“When you asked if you could stay awhile, I agreed…partially because I felt it would give me a chance to play again, if only for a little while.”
>”Anon, I…”
>You put her finger to her snout, silencing her.
>You’ve only known this mare well a few days, but even among p0nies you’ve known forever, you’ve never known one you felt…trusted you.
>Not as a human…not as a p0ny, but just…as another being. A kindred spirit.
“You trusted me with your mother’s legacy so I could fill a hole…something I have missed the entire time I’ve been here.”
>This time, it’s your turn to look into her eyes, pulling her close again in a tight squeeze. You feel her cheek brush against your neck.
>It’s the middle of the night, but it feels like it’s burning hotter than the sun.
>You could swear you felt something thumping against your chest, but you aren’t sure what it is, or whose it is.
>Heart, you ok?
>LITTLE BUSY…TALK LATER…
“So…thank you. You’ve given me something nop0ny else could, and even when it ends and you leave, I will treasure it forever.”
>You turn your head to face her, noticing that the only other p0ny to get her face this close to yours has been Pinkie.
>The difference this time is that your jimmies remain blessedly unrustled.
>Octavia doesn’t seem to be having the same reaction, her jimmies must be rustling so hard she’s physically quivering.
>You start to loosen your grip as you put on a sheepish smile, scratching the back of your head.
“Ehehe…sorry, guess I surprised yo-“
>It was a slow, intentional movement. Deliberate, in both aim and execution.
>Insistendo.
>It was no word, no rustling of leaves or water that cut your words short, but the soft feel of velvety lips as Octavia closed her eyes and brought her lips to meet yours.
>Brain, report.
>She’s kissing you, fool.
>I CAN SEE THAT. What do I do?!
>What are you, a virgin? Don’t ask me!
>Fine, fine…heart?
>JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL!
>You ignore the barely inaudible gasp from the bushes, focusing instead on the ragged gasp of the mare in front of you as she snakes her hooves around your neck, pulling herself closer into your grasp as you return her gift.
>There’s no tongue, no lustful passion, just a simple expression. One sweet note in harmony with the here and now.
>The two of you finally separate as Octavia’s eyes flutter open, as if awaking from a dream.
>Shit, say something.
“Um….”
>Smooth.
>Octavia takes a few breaths before her eyes snap open in shock. Her face turns beet red as she backs away suddenly, her hoof snapping to her mouth.
>I guess she just realized what she did.
>”Anon, I’m sorry, I….”
>Before you can get a word in edgewise or even sit up, Octavia is off like a bullet, down the path leading back in to town.
>What the hell did I do?
>Oh Anon…you’re a real jerk.
>Shut up brain! She kissed me!
>As you sit up, you hear the bush behind you rustle as something moves out of it.
>Please, please don’t let it be who I think it is.
>You turn around to see…
>…shit.
>Pinkie Pie.
“Pinkie…have you been in that bush the whole time?”
>You feel something hit the bottom of your gut as Pinkie, your best friend despite your constant rebuffing of her advances, just bites her bottom lip as tears well in her eyes, audibly holding back sobs. Her flat hair ru…
>Flat hair.
>”Anon, you….you….JERK!”
>Pinkie slams her hooves into your shoulders, sending you flying into the reservoir. The sounds of her cries as she runs off are masked by the rush of water past your ears.
>By the time you surface, she’s gone.
>WHAT DID I DO?!
>You sigh and look at a very confused squirrel on the shore.
“And here I thought human females were hard to deal with…”
>The squirrel doesn’t respond, he just sits there.
>Munchin’ his nut.
>You sigh. Even if the squirrel responded, that couldn’t rustle your jimmies any more than they already are.
>You can’t help but think that you, once again, dun goof’d.