[Normal] Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Remember this post, where I put out a challenge to our authors to write a story about Octavia? Pen Stroke answered the call with this beautifully-written short piece called Changing Octaves. I honestly hadn't expected anyone to write the story I described, much less write one this quickly and this well. I applaud you, sir.
Author: Pen Stroke
Description: Cereal Velocity should really be careful what he posts up on Equestria Daily. A one-shot of an Octavia story Cereal wanted to see written.Changing Octaves
Octavia may be a gifted musician, but that doesn't mean she always liked her instrument. After all, what filly grows up wanting to play a huge contrabass?
Changing Octaves Alternate
Additional tags: At the challenge of Cereal Velocity
52 comments:
Oh Cereal you so silly
I knew this was comming!
I was hoping for some Scrach shipping but oh well. Very good fic anyway.
That's our Pen Stroke!
Seriously, folks..."Better Living" "Creeping Darkness" and now "Changing Octaves". Keep an eye on this brony; he's going places with his fan fictions.
I should know; I'm his personal editor/pre-reader.
well, cereal ask for more stuff¡¡ that's what you pay them for
Better Living, this and Creeping Darkness should totally all be together in the same universe! Then Octavia, Nyx, and Chell can team against something or another!
I like that my art got selected to be used for this :). Will definitely read.
Isnt there already another fanfic of this name>? >>
Great story :) So many extra bonus epic points for the Amadeus reference :D
I thoroughly enjoyed that, reminds me of my first concert!
Just a hiccup with "clef" being called "cleft" a couple of times, but besides that, as many thumbs/hooves as I can put up!
@Anonymous
This
As a musician, it really reminded me of how I learned to love classical music. Thanks for bringing back the memories, Pen.
Well, that was the first time I ever read a fanfic. That was extremely well done! I'm glad I gave a fan-made reading a chance :)I hope there'll be a follow-up on how she became apart of the royal orchestra.
OOPS!!! I didn't know the name Changing Octaves was already taken. My apologies to Twinkletail who had the original Changing Octaves. I did not mean to steal the name.
I really loved this one. As a bass guitarist myself, I can definitely second Octavia's sentiments towards her first instrument here.
@Pen Stroke
I was under the impression that there was some kind of rule against it.
Seeing as its been posted i suppose there isnt.
Sorry ><
This was pretty darn refreshing to read. I remember when I chose the clarinet pretty randomly quite a few years ago, and now I'm studying performance.
What's even funnier is that I'm reading this story in a dorm room at a music fest. Quite the time for this story to appear. Nice job and good selections of examples, which really helps give life to something that is pretty much indescribable.
That was fucking awesome.
@Pen Stroke
Might want to change the title. How about...
....
...I got nothin'
@Pen Stroke
A possible alternative title for you:
"Modulation"
@Pen Stroke
Oh, I know how about
An Old "Friend"
How depressing to be a young foal and to gain your cutie mark... only learn that it is a briefcase. Welcome to a world of stuffiness and six appletini lunches!
"Why is Changing Octaves back on chapter 1? Oh."
Also, I think Octavia should be playing the Octobass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octobass
I got gooooooosebuuuuuumps! :D
It makes me miss my old French Horn. That ol' girl would shock the shit outta anyone that touched her for some weird reason. It was kinda possessed...but that's how i got to All-State!
@The Lord of Ábrocen Landmearca
Let's put it this way, he's rich.
The End.
I know the author :P
One thing that confuses me though. If she's playing a contrabass, in the bass clef, why does she have a treble clef as a cutie mark? I play music as well, but wasn't in band. I play indigenous and traditional folk woodwinds. Can't read music to save my life. It's all by ear. The stuff I play is almost like the instrument is telling ME what it wants to play, and it just happens.
A very fine piece of fic, for sure. 5 stars, and my congratulations. ^^
Heh. The one problem I have with this fic is totally unfair. Nothing to be done about. I blame Seth. Thing is, she is being forced to play. I don't want her to like it. I want her to tell her parents to leave her well alone and do something completely different.
So I guess I am really different then Seth in that regard. I don't know why he wanted this fic. Anyway, yeah, other then that, well written and entertaining enough.
@Anonymous
Well, I think the treble clef is more recognizable. Most kids, when they learn music, learn to read treble clef first, but I doubt anyone important thought about it even that much.
Hey Cereal, now request that somepony does a contrabass solo number inspired by Octavia. Classical preferred, but jazz also acceptable if paired with a sax.
C'mon, you know you wanna.
@Baree
I requested this fic, not Seth.
Also, just reiterating my thoughts down here rather than on the story blurb- fabulous story, Pen. You put some delicious meat on the bones of that summary.
@Cereal Velocity
Oh, my bad. I suppose I should take better notice as to who posts blog entries ^^ Anyway, you have quite a different taste then mine it seems :) In this case anyway.
cereal expect my take on this story very very soon.
Wasn't there another fic called "changing Octaves" and it was about her talking to pinkie about needing money for her dad or something.
Though I prefer Octavia being related with Pinkie, this one sure is nice to read
Actually, I enjoyed it!
Also, thanks for putting the song's links there
It'll be hard for me to imagine them without it ^^
also, it's a cello, treble clef cutie mark not a bass clef.
@PureZOOKS
It's definitely a contrabass. You can tell from Octavia's playing position.
This was great. Two Thumbs/Hooves up, way up. So sweet and touching.
Unless somepony had just drunk Corner Office's mane, I do believe the word you were looking for was "coiffed".
Ah, children. Parents. The neverending cycle of vicarious living promoting to constant chafing at authority. However, as petulant as Octavia starts in this (and as overbearing as her parents are, I still found it hard to like her), her redemption in music as rather moving. (Nice choices for the music links, to boot.) Good work in fulfilling this wish!
I think you aced the test!
This is just one example of why FiM fanon rules!
Although I love the current selection, this should be the picture at the top: http://dreatos.deviantart.com/art/Filly-Octavia-214058064
I don't understand how Octavia's cutie mark is a treble cleff. I mean, she does play a bass after all.
Truly enjoyable read!
This was one of those storys I thought I wasn't going to like all too much, at first. But I was wrong! I enjoyed it immensley!
When I read the title of this story, I thought "(the original) "Changing Octaves" has more parts to it now?"
But it's just that it happens to have the same title is all. But that's already been addressed.
Hm, in that case...
*goes to see if the original had more parts added to it now*
Nice read. It really does capture how kids feel about their first instrument (or at least how I did). I was waiting for it to end with "And then she made out with Scratch."
Those parents are ASSHOLES.
I honestly, truly hope her canon parents, should they ever show up, are nothing like that.
Glorious! Magnificent! I was both shocked and astounded at how a piece so short as this can be written so beautifully, and in such great detail. This has become a personal favourite of mine. Bravo, good sir!
Pen Stroke, you're awesome, just sayin' ...again. :P
Anyway, I loved the musical inserts to listen to. Genius writing idea.
Glorious! Magnificent! I was both shocked and astounded at how a piece so short as this can be written so beautifully, and in such great detail. This has become a personal favourite of mine. Bravo, good sir!
Short, sweet, simple; all the makings of a good short story! As always, my dear Penstroke, your writing is simply blissful genius. Keep it up!
Lovely piece; I believe your cutie mark would be a pen and paper. ;)
Hey wow this is good. I outta read your other previous works before Past Sins...
A really nice little story :). I do indeed love me some octavia
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