Despite moving to Ponyville, Octavia's career is going strong. In high society, name and recognition is everything, this is holds true for anypony who wishes to work in those circles. So sometimes having a reputation helps in getting those well paying jobs at private parties.

But sometimes? Sometimes Octavia hates her reputation. Because when a pony is found dead in the estate of House Radon, every eye turns to her to figure out who killed the pony, including the main suspect herself: Lyra Heartstrings.

With the rest of Canterlot a blizzard away, help is not likely to show up any time soon. So not only will Octavia have to figure out who among the guests is a killer, she'll also need to confront past demons she wishes she'd left behind.

This was written for the Whodunnit? Youdunnit! Contest

Octavia plays a song for her beloved.

This story was written for the 2023 'A Thousand Words' contest in the 'Horror' category. If you enjoy this story and would like to receive one of your own, see here for more details.

When Octavia hears she's related to the apple family she isn't sure she believes it. Even if she is, Octavia worries if she'll be accepted.

Salt is a terrible substance. Once a pony starts licking it, they can't stop.
It takes a truly brave soul to leave it behind...

This is an Anonymous in Equestria story. Please demonstrate your ability to read by not pointing it out an infinite number of times in the comment section. Thank you.

Four years ago Vinyl and Octavia broke up. It was messy, painful and left scars on both of them. Four years on, now one of the most successful DJs in Equestria’s history, Vinyl receives news that Octavia has been in a terrible accident. The doctors say she may never recover from her coma, but Vinyl refuses to believe them. There are all sorts of stories about coma patients who are brought back by the voice of someone they care about, right? No matter what anypony else says, offers or threatens, and no matter what it costs her personally or professionally, she is determined to stay by Octavia’s side and do all she can to wake her.

But four years is a long time, and no matter how many fairytales end with the princess waking up, real life owes no-one a happy ending.

Featured on EQD - 3rd August 2013

Now with a fabulous dramatic reading by the even more fabulous Goombasa!
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJutr2gUiE&list=UU4c-khcV1wmr1l_ZRfdp9uQ]
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibcPvvXSn8c&list=UU4c-khcV1wmr1l_ZRfdp9uQ]

It's a beautiful morning in Canterlot, but Octavia Philharmonica is having trouble practicing. After her previous betrayal of one of her best and closest friends, she has been unable to move on, and her resulting emotional turmoil is disrupting her music. A mysterious friend drops by to help her redeem herself, but Octavia is unwilling to even consider that she could change. Will Octavia's friend be able to get through to her? And just who is she, anyway? Lunaverse story.

Vinyl tells Octavia why she makes her so happy.

Octavia both dreads and is excited to visit the graveyard, but the graveyard tells a horrible truth that everyone will experience at one point in life. Some experience it sooner than others.

Artist: theartrix — commissioned for bullet25fxbx — 1610763 Derpibooru.

Thank you, FederalPony for finding the artist and who commissioned it!

My unicorn parents called me a worthless mud pony. They pushed me every day to overcome my lowly status. When I woke up one morning with my cutie mark, I thought they would love me. I couldn’t have been farther from the truth.

It was not destiny or enjoyment that led me to discover the cello and composing. My parents made that decision, deciding before I was born I would continue their family legacy of famous musicians.

They did not realize what that decision would cost them.

Special Thanks and Links:

Cover Art: Dreampaw. The inspiration for the story.
Dramatic reading of Act I-III by Malao567. June 2013
Reading with music by ObabScribbler. June 2014
Song: Hooks and Strings by Reverb Brony. May 2014

Style inspired by H.P. Lovecraft
TypeWriterError: Editor & Rating Board
Gage of Grandiloquence: Editor
The11thWonder: Pre-reader
Nharctic: Pre-reader
Breath of Plagues: My Pinch Editor.
ArgonMatrix: Bad Grammar Exterminator
Daemon of Decay: Advice, also inspired me to write fan fiction. Blame him!

Ponyville Mare's Excessive Pranking Leads To Zombie Outbreak

Ponyville Mare Hijacks Parade Float And Careens Into Lake

You can find headlines like this in any newspaper. Crammed somewhere in the back, bought from a smaller publication for a few bits to fill space. Most ponies laugh, if they spot them at all, and then move on. But one stallion took a particular interest in these strange stories and especially their protagonist.

After years of research and study, he's determined to track her down. One way or another, he will find this mysterious Ponyville Mare.