For the Record: Chapter 9

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>The sound engineer rests his head on one of his hooves and fiddles with the sound board.
>A mic sits just in front of him. He leans forward and cracks his shoulder.
>”All set to go, Octavia?” he asks over the intercom.
>The cellist takes a breath, obviously nervous. You lean over the engineer and take the mic.
“You're gonna do fine, Octy,” you say. “We've got time.”
>You turn to the engineer and whisper.
“We've got time, right?”
>”Fancy Pants gave you two an hour.”
>Octavia shifts on the stool.
>You take the mic again.
“Don't be so nervous. This is gonna be great, I'm telling you.”
>The engineer nudges you away from the sound board and grabs the mic.
>”Alright, lets get started. First track?” He flips through a recording list and turns to you. “We'll do these ones first, then get the rhythm layers from her and I'll lace them together. Turn a solo into a duet.”
“Nice. What about track three?”
>”You want a quartet track with one player?”
“She can do it.”
>He shrugs. “It'll take a little time to record. That's a ten-minute track.”
”Saying we don't have time to do it?”
>”There's multiple takes of each track. You're looking at at least two hours. So unless you've got a time machine...”
>You smirk and rifle through your jacket pocket.
“You know, I think I might.”
>The bag of coins jingles loudly on the counter. The engineer laughs and pushes it to the side.
>”That'll work.”
“Let's get down to it.”
1/

>You and the engineer spend the next three hours recording Octavia.
>After the first take, fifteen minutes in, the mare loosens up and looks to start enjoying herself.
>Finally, her work is done. Octavia emerges from the recording booth, looking tired.
>She walks to the sound board and leans on the desk to rest.
>You put your hand on her head and ruffle her mane.
“Nice work, Tavi.”
>She glowers at you a little bit.
>”Did you actually do anything here?” she asks.
“I gave the sound-wizard here moral support! Isn't that right, Brown?”
>The engineer flicks a switch on the sound board and kicks his hind legs up onto the counter.
>”You've got some good takes. Better than I expected,” he evades.
“When am I gonna be able to send the demo out?”
>”Give me two, no, three days. I'll get it for you then.”
>”I can't believe you actually got Minor Seventh to agree to listen to my demo,” Octavia says.
“She'll love it.”
>The engineer nods and waves you out of the studio.
>”Come back in a couple days. I've got to get to work.”

>Octavia follows you out onto the street.
“So've you got any plans for tonight?” You adjust one of your cuffs and stretch your neck.
>”Do you have something in mind? You never ask unless you do.”
“Maybe I just genuinely want to know if you're doing something fun?”
>”What have you got planned, Anon?” Octavia says flatly.
“That's not a very enthusiastic tone, Octy. We're going out tonight and I wanted you to come along.”
>”Who's 'we?'” she asks.
“Vy and me, and some of Vy's roadies. They're setting up her concert at the arena all day today.”
>The cellist mulls it over.
>”Alright,” she answers, her voice suddenly brightening.
2/

“Come downtown at nine. We're meeting at Club Zed.”
>”The weird avant-garde place?” Octavia asks, skeptically.
“Wasn't my idea. One of Vy's roadies is really into it. She convinced her.”
>”Well, it will definitely be interesting.”
“It's gonna be fun.”
>”I wasn't doubting you. Anyway, thanks for getting us the extra studio time today. I don't approve of the bribery, but still, I couldn't have done all...”
>You look up at Fancy Pants' office building.
>”Anon?” Octavia nudges you with her hoof.
“Huh?”
>”What were you looking at? Were you even listening to me just now?”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
>She squints at you. “You seem, I don't know, distracted all of a sudden.”
>You start walking. Octavia follows.
“So, nine tonight. Got it? It'll be a good time.”
>”I know. Where are we going now? I want to drop my cello off at home.”
“I'm heading to Hoity's. Springing for a new suit. Plus, I thought I could put a good word in with him for Rarity.”
>”You'd do that out of the goodness of your heart?”
“Who says it can't be?”
>”Past actions.”
>You cough.
>”I'm right, aren't I?”
“I just thought it'd be nice. Rarity's a good mare.”
>”Are you sure it doesn't have something to do with-”
“Yep, I'm sure,” you cut in.
>”Well, I'm going back, then,” Octavia remarks, after a questioning stare. “I'll see you tonight.”
3/

>Hoity Toity is measuring a particularly slender unicorn when you walk in. The stallion looks over nonchalantly, perking up when he sees you.
>”Anonymous! How are you? Did your trip south go well? I heard good things,” he says.
“It went well. I was just having Octy do her recording session a little while ago. Hope to have her demo in Minor Seventh's hooves by next week.”
>”Well extend my congratulations to her next chance you get.” He turns to the mare.“Diamond, you've met Anonymous, haven't you?”
>Diamond extends a thin, perfectly maintained hoof.
>”I've heard about you, but haven't had the pleasure. I'm Diamond Shine.” she says. “My girlfriends were talking about you yesterday, actually. You made quite a scene at the Softshod.”
“Word got around fast, huh?”
>”It tends to, when Marble White is involved, the gossip.”
“I like to socialize.”
>”You must, in your business.”
“It helps.”
>”I'm sure. It's the same in mine.”
>Hoity clears his throat.
>”So what can I do for you, Anon?” he asks. You turn from Diamond, letting your gaze linger on her for a little while.
“Looking for a new suit. Something a little more up to date.”
>The stallion looks your outfit over and scratches his chin.
>”I can do that. I've been working on my new line with Fleur -you know Fleur, don't you?- and I've already got some ideas for you.”
“Fantastic. You never let me down, Hoits.”
>Hoity nods and takes out his measuring tape again.
“Oh, I had something else to tell you.”
>”What's that?”
“When I went down to Ponyville, I ran into a designer by the name of Rarity. She's good. Thought you'd like to know about her.”
>”You know Rarity?” he asks, surprised.
“You do, too? And here I thought I'd gotten the drop on you for once.”
4/

>”She designed some fabulous dresses for the Gala which I took a look at,” Hoity declares. “She's young, but she is quite the talent.”
>You look to Hoity.
“You're itching to get back to work, aren't you. I'll get out of your mane.”
>”Okay. Good seeing you again, Anon. I'll get you that suit next week, alright?”
>Diamond tracks your eyes with hers. You can see her in your peripheral vision. Hoity moves toward the mare with his tape measure.
>She shakes her head slightly and looks off into space again.
>You stop at the counter.
“Say, Hoity, you wouldn't happen to have an extra tie of mine in the back, would you?” you ask.
>The stallion puts the tape down and thinks.
>”Actually, I think I do. I'll take a look.”
“Thanks a ton. I think I left one back in Ponyville.”
>Hoity walks off, leaving you and the mare alone. You smile and head over to her.
“Great guy, huh?”
>”He's an absolute pleasure to work with,” the mare replies.
>You loosen your stance and fiddle with a length of ribbon. A book catches your eye, poking out of her bag.
>With a smile, you see your in.
“Have you ever been to Mareseille? There's a statue of the Three Maresketeers there, you know.”
>The faintest trace of a blush appears on Diamond's cheeks.
>”How did--”
“The Three Maresketeers was one of the first books I read here.”
>The Three Maresketeers is one of the only books you've skimmed half of here.
>You hear Hoity coming back.
“Well, I'll let you get back to it. But why don't we get together sometime? I'm heading to a little party Saturday night. You should come with me.”
>Diamond pauses for a moment.
>”Alright, Anonymous. I'm intrigued. Saturday.”
5/

>You get home around eleven that night and fumble at the door.
>As you jam your keys in the lock, you look down and spot something sticking out of the mail slot.
>Upon inspection, you see that it's a piece of heavy parchment, folded into thirds and sealed with violet wax.
“The hell?”
>You walk inside, turning the paper around in your hands.
>Using your alcohol-soaked powers of deduction, you identify it as a letter.
>You break the seal and lean against your kitchen counter to read.
>”Dear Anonymous,” it begins “I hope that your trip back to Canterlot went smoothly and that this letter finds you well.”
>You open the cupboard and take out a box of cereal.
>”It was nice meeting both you and Octavia and I hope that you'll come back to visit us in Ponyville soon.”
>Are you out of milk? You're out of milk. Dry cereal it is, then.
>”Incidentally, I'll be coming up to Canterlot on Saturday to look for a certain book at the Canterlot Archive.”
>Dry cereal's not bad, though.
>”I thought we could take the opportunity to talk, since I didn't get the chance before you left. Come and see me at the Archive Saturday night. I'll be there late, no doubt. Best wishes, Twilight Sparkle”
>You stop chewing.
>”Come and see me at the Archive Saturday night.”
>You read closer.
>”Best wishes, Twilight Sparkle”
“Huh.”
>You put the bowl down and fold the letter up again.
>Saturday is going to be interesting.
6/

>”...right up to track three. I don't know about track three. Your call.”
>You've got about six hours, right?
>That's plenty of time to decide.
>Would have to make up an excuse, though--
>”Anon?” Brown taps your shoulder to get your attention. “Listening? Take a look at track three, let me know about it. We can redo that one pretty easy if you want to.”
>You turn to the engineer.
“Sure thing, Note. What do you think's up with it?”
>”Nothing really, but that's the quartet track. There's a lot going on and you should make sure it's exactly what you want.”
“Alright, I'll give it a listen. Octy?”
>The cellist nods. You hand her a pair of headphones and the engineer flicks a few switches on the board.
>Octavia's track flows through the headphones like water. It comes over and weaves together into a harmonious quartet. The mare bobs her head slowly.
>Ten minutes later, the music fades out. You put the headphones down and look to Octavia.
“I thought it sounded great. What do you think?”
>“I don't want to pat myself on the back or anything...”
“Nonsense. It was great. I think we did a damn good job on that one.”
>”So it's what you were looking for?” the engineer asks.
>”I think so.”
“Minnie's gonna flip for it. Is the demo all done, then?”
>”Yep.”
“Great. Press a copy for Minor Seventh's office and get one for me and Octy, too.”
>”Will do.”
>You glance at the clock again.
>”I'll send the pressings to your office,” the engineer says.
>”Anon?” Octavia pokes your side.
”Hm? Right, yeah. Thanks.”
>”Alright, see you later, then.” The engineer takes the master and walks out of the studio.
>You and Octavia head to the street.
>”Are you doing okay?” Octavia asks, looking concerned.
7/

“Yeah.”
>”You seem preoccupied.”
“I guess.”
>A long silence ensues.
>”Are you going to say what with?”
“I wasn't planning on it.”
>”Of course not. What was I thinking?”
“You going to Vy's show?”
>”Why wouldn't I be?”
“Dunno, just thought you might have plans.”
>She isn't meeting Twilight. She doesn't even seem to know that Twilight is in town. You fiddle with your cuffs.
>Octavia narrows her eyes.
>”What are you even asking for? Are you not going or something?”
>You don't answer.
>She looks at you more intensely, cutting in front of you as your walk.
>”What's going on here? You're hesitating about something. I can see it in your eyes.”
>If Octavia doesn't know that Twilight is in town, then the unicorn only sent a letter to you.
>The cellist looks confused.
>”Alright, now you look like you've made a decision. Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing's wrong.”
>You straighten your tie and look up at the castle, where you presume the Canterlot Archives are.
“I've gotta go take care of some business. I'll see you later.”
>”Wait, are you going to the show or not?”
“Can't make it. Say hi to Vy for me, will you?”
>You walk back to your house, leaving the baffled gray mare standing in the street.
8/

>Vinyl sounded disappointed on the phone. You wonder if she would have been less so if you'd told her why you're skipping the show.
>After passing the same street for the third time, you accept that you have no idea how to get to the Archive.
>You stop to find your bearings.
>It takes about three minutes for you to get frustrated and find a bench to be annoyed on.
>There's a brilliant flash of purple light next to you.
“What the hell!?” you yelp.
>”I'm surprised,” Twilight remarks. “I didn't think you'd be one to get nervous about going to meet somep0ny.”
“Nervous?”
>”Yeah.  You were pacing. I could see you from the window.” She points up at a bright window a few stories above you.
>You stare at the window silently.
>”I mean, you passed the entrance four times. The door with the quill and scroll on it?”
“I thought that was a big feather store.”
>The unicorn gapes at you, dumbfounded.
>”You really--”
“So that's the Canterlot Archive?”
>”How does anyp0ny not know where the Archive is?”
“I usually stick to downtown.”
>”Well, I'm still working. Want to come in?”
“Alri...”
>You're surrounded by purple light.
“...ght-aaaugh!” You find yourself next to a desk surrounded by stacks of books. Twilight hops down from her seat and trots happily between the stacks.
>You shake your head to clear it before following her.
>”I can't believe you've never been before. I spent so much time here before I moved to Ponyville.”
>You don't doubt it.
>”They have volumes that date back before the Age of the Three Tribes, you know. I spent all day looking for this one.” She levitates a massive dusty book down from a shelf and lays it in your hands.
>It's the size of a pizza box and about three times as thick. You struggle to balance it.
9/

“What even is this? It weighs a ton!”
>”It's the oldest atlas in Equestria. 'Ye Nowne World.' I've been looking for information on the old unicorn civilization.”
“Like from the Hearth's Warming Eve play?”
>”Sort of. That was the Late Period. The history of the unicorns goes back thousands of years before then. What I'm looking for is something on the Early Period.”
>Twilight slips past you and heads back to the desk.
>”I was reading some books in my library and found a few of the older histories mentioning an Early Period kingdom called the 'Jewel in the Fields,' but it seems to have already been a lost wonder by the time the books were written.”
>You raise an eyebrow and put the book down with a loud grunt.
>”So I'm hoping this atlas has something on it.”
“Lost? You mean like Roa'nope?”
>The mare looks up.
>”I'm surprised you know that one. I didn't take you for somep0ny into mid-colonial Equestrian history.”
>You shrug.
>You saw a movie about it a year ago. Sure, there were zombies, and sure, the zombies could shoot lasers from their eyes, but you remember the name of the town they melted.
>”Well, it's a little different. They found Roa'nope deserted. The Jewel in the Fields hasn't been found at all. I'm guessing that's just an epithet anyway. The real name is probably something like Gaersum or Hyrst or Sincgestreon, from what information I've gotten so far.”
“That's a mouthful.”
>”That's Old Unicornian.”
>She flips the massive book open.
>”So while I'm looking -you can help, by the way; just look for names like what I mentioned and make sure they're in plains or fields- I thought we could talk. You know what about.”
“Sure.”
10/

>Twilight runs her hoof across the first map in the atlas.
>”You should know I'm not normally a mare who does that sort of thing,” she says, without looking up.
“I sort of figured.”
>”And -and don't take this the wrong way- normally somep0ny like you would be the last I'd do it with.”
“Again, kind of saw that one coming,” you laugh.
>You make a pass over the map, looking for Hyrst. All the names are squiggles and you can't find a single letter that you recognize. Twilight sees your confusion.
>”It's Old Unicornian script. Sorry, I forgot. This must look like aliens wrote it, to you.”
>She pauses.
“You were saying how I'm the last guy you'd ever--”
>”Oh! Right. Wow, that actually sounds pretty horrible out loud...”
“I get that a lot.”
>”But I don't mean it like that. Well, I do, but I'm getting to my point.”
“Uh huh?”
>”Which is that normally I'd never do something like that. I mean, I've never really done something like that before...”
>You catch the embarrassment in her voice. She does, too.
>”I know, I must sound silly. A mare my age who's never--”
“You don't have to be embarrassed. Lots of ponies wait to have sex.”
>Twilight turns red.
>”Se-what!? Anon, we-- what!?”
>You blink in surprise.
“Okay, I'm confused now.”
>Twilight gapes.
>”I was talking-- I've never brought a... you know... home before! Celestia! You thought we slept together!?”
“Well, I woke up nude, didn't I?”
>”You undressed in the bed. I was actually pretty confused by that part since you passed out like ten minutes before that.” She calms down a bit and turns the page, still flustered.
“Huh.”
>”I guess that explains why you were so antsy the next morning. You really thought I slept with you?”
“Look, I was really drunk and that's usually what happens when I go to bed with a mare.”
>Twilight looks like she's about to protest, but stops and nods.
>”That... does seem like a logical conclusion, actually.”
11/

>You give up on trying to decipher the map.
“I'm glad you see it that way. You know, Octavia gave me hell when I got back.”
>”She did seem upset at lunch. That must have been why. I had to get back to the Library, so I couldn't see you all off.”
“I understand.”
>Twilight turns her attention fully to the map, scanning every inch of it for clues.
>You shift your weight and look around the room. It seems to go on for miles despite being packed into the city. You can't quite get a grip on the sense of scale.
>”I did have fun, though,” Twilight says suddenly. She's actually looking up from the book now. “I honestly didn't think I would, going in, but I did have fun.”
“I'm glad to hear it.”
>”And you know what?”
“What?”
>”It was a welcome change. I never used to do things like that, Anon. I really didn't. I never went out when I was living here in Canterlot.” She's speaking with purpose. You can't help but pay close attention.
>”But I liked it.”
>You raise an eyebrow. There's an opportunity here.
“Well, maybe you should do it more often?”
>”Is that a suggestion or an offer?”
>Sharp mare.
”A little of both.”
>You put your hand over the book.
“How about I take you out downtown? The night's still young.”
>”But my research-”
“Can wait until tomorrow, can't it? Weren't you just saying something about a welcome change?”
>The mare looks conflicted. Perfect. You move your hand to her hoof.
“It'll be fun. I promise.”
>”Nothing crazy?”
“Nothing crazy.”
>She takes one more look at the atlas.
>”Oh, alright.”
“Great. I know the perfect place.”
>You take Twilight's hoof and she teleports the two of you to the street.
>Maybe you were disappointed about missing out on Diamond earlier, but tonight has turned around.
>You grin widely and lead the mare downtown.
End.