Broken Strings and BPM's

Broken Strings Ch. 9: Come Clarity

It had been a long night of traveling, and the sun was just cresting the horizon. Birds were chirping, and the morning was just beginning. It was a new day. A perfect day to make amends. If only it was as easily done as it was said.

I looked to my right, and saw Treble leaning against the side of the carriage, neck deep in slumber, Octavia nuzzled up against her. I couldn't help but smile at how adorable it was. I would have loved to be taken in by sleep's sweet embrace, but I had too many things on my mind.

In the last couple of weeks, I had begun to feel something for Ivory. I began to see her as more than a friend, and more of that special somepony. In fact, I think she would've loved to see the sunrise, today. It was especially beautiful. As the sun rose, and began changing the color of the sky, itself, I couldn't help but think about her eyes, which were the same color as the daytime sky. Maybe this is when I finally realized that possibly… maybe… perhaps I had fallen for the mare. I tried to push that thought out of my head, for the simple fact that  I was afraid to love again. After what Vinyl did to me, I just didn't want to get hurt again. After a few moments, I softly poked Treble with a hoof. "Hey, Treb," I whispered.

She stirred for a second, then opened her eyes, turning her head to look at me, over the sleeping Octavia. "What is it, Bass?"

I looked out at the sunrise. "I… I don't know what's going on with me."

My twin sister must've picked up on my slight insecurity, since she tried to wriggle her way to a sitting position. "It's about Ivory, isn't it?" Did she even have to ask?

"Yeah," I replied, hesitantly.

"You love her, don't you?"

I quickly turned my gaze to my sister. "How did you-"

"Bass, I'm your sister. I know you better than you do. And since I know what you're going to say next, yes. She does love you back."

"How do you-"

"She told me, Bass."

Then, the apparently sleeping Octavia grumbled. "It's true, Bass. Now will both of you return to silence? I need my beauty sleep."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "You're damn right you do." Of course, this was met with a backhoof to the face from the grey mare.

"Silence!"

The trip was only halfway through at this point. Octavia started whining about having to sit for so long, so we made a quick stop outside Canterlot. The whole time, I had to fight the two mares to keep them from running off into the city to go shopping. After about an hour, we continued on for Manehattan.

It was early evening when we arrived in the city, and I hadn't slept since Ivory had run off. I hadn't eaten either. The moment the carriage came to a stop, I hopped up, and jumped out, paying the puller, and running off to find Ivory. Celestia knows what Treble and Octavia did.

I started in a quick gallop, then spread my wings, taking off into the sky, beginning my search. The first place I went was the obvious decision. I landed on Ivory's doorstep, knocking quickly, only to find that the door was unlocked. My heart sank. I have a bad history with unlocked doors, and I was truly afraid of what I might find. I slowly pushed the door open, preparing myself for the worst. I peered into the dark apartment, finding everything much too dark to see. I quickly found the lightswitch, took a deep breath to prepare myself, then flicked the switch to find… nothing different from the night we left. No Ivory anywhere. I searched the entire apartment, only to come up empty-hoofed.

Still desperate to find the mare I loved, I ran out, an took off again, doing the only sensible thing I could. A few minutes later, I landed on the balcony of Mic's penthouse, to see the lights on, and Mic on the couch, listening to his records.

I knocked on the window, and watched him rise from the couch, and unlock the door with his magic. I cantered into the penthouse, toward my old friend. "Hey, Mic. I-"

"What did you do to my little sister, Bass?" He had an almost deadly calmness to his tone. If I wasn't afraid before, I definitely was, now.

"Mic, I'm sorry. I-"

Mic hopped up, and glared at me. "'I'm sorry' doesn't answer my question. Now, why… did you hurt… my little sister?"

I was at a total loss for words. I stood there, dumbfounded until I felt myself tilted off my feet, and my head swung to one side, as Mic reared back, and hit me hard in the face with a heavy right hoof.

I slowly collected myself, and got back up on my hooves. "Right… I probably deserved that... Now, can I explain myself?"

"You've got thirty seconds, Bass." He was serious. I could tell by the anger in his eyes.

I cleared my throat, and began telling him everything.

"So, wait… you never actually did anything with this Dash chick?"

"Well, once. But that was before Ivory."

"And you really love my sister? Don't you lie to me."

"Yes… I do." I was expecting another hoof to the face, so I prepared myself, closing my eyes, and gritting my teeth. After a few seconds of nothing, I opened my eyes again, only to see Mic grinning at me.

"Well, it's her that you've gotta convince, not me. She's going to be DJing at the Dual Core in about half an hour. We'd better get going, if you want her."

Next thing I knew, we were out the door, heading to the club where I had regained my confidence in music. After getting through the door, we headed to the door that had led us to the stage the level below. We were headed through another hallway, which led to the backstage area. An area that I had never seen. It was a small lounge, complete with a bar. I looked around, spotting Ivory with no difficulty at all. Apparently, she did the same.

She turned, and set her eyes on me then stood, an cantered out of the lounge. I was about to give up, when I felt Mic nudge me. "Go, bud. Don't give up."

I nodded, then followed after her. I followed her out the door, and halfway down the hallway. "Ivory, wait," I called out to her. "Give me a chance to explain."

She turned, and gave me a look that could pierce a brick wall. "No, Bass. I don't want to hear it." I could see tears building in her eyes. At that point I knew that she just wanted to believe that this was all some bad dream. That she'd wake up, and none of this will have ever happened.

I saw a small window of opportunity, and took it. "Ivory, look. I didn't want anything from Rainbow Dash. I only want to be with you." Not exactly the best choice of words, I suppose.

She shook her head, and now I could see the tears. "Bass… please. Just go home."

Any other time, I would've been beaten. But this time was different. I felt as though I had nothing to lose. I shut my mind out, and let my heart speak for once. "Ivory… I'm already home."

Through her tears, I could see that she was giving me a look of confusion. "What are you talking about, Bass?"

I cantered closer to her, and looked her straight in the eyes. "Well, the always say that home is where the heart is. And well… my heart is here… in your hooves. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

I watched as her eyes filled with the same longing that I imagine she saw in my eyes. "Bass… are you trying to say you…"

"Yes, Ivory. I love you. I don't know how, or when it happened, but all I know is that ever since you left my side, I just couldn't stop thinking about you. I haven't been able to sleep. I haven't been able to eat. Hay, I haven't even been able to think straight. I need you, Ivy."

She stared into my eyes, blushing. I don't even know what expression ran across her face at that moment, since my eyes were locked with those sky blue gems. All that I know is that her tears had me on the verge of my own. "I… I love you too, Bass!" She finally broke eye contact, and jumped at me, wrapping her forelegs around me.

I didn't want to say a word. I responded by wrapping my forelegs around her, as well as my wings, holding her in a protective embrace. From this moment on, she would be my Ivory Keys, and I wasn't going to let anypony hurt her ever again.

Just as I thought the hug would last forever, the silence was broken by a soft sob. I turned my head to see Treble and Octavia standing behind me, Treble wiping a tear from her cheek. "It's so beautiful."

I looked at Ivory, and noticed that she was smiling at me. I couldn't help but smile back, as we both leaned in toward each other, our muzzles pressing together in a passionate kiss.

"Well, why doesn't this surprise me?"

Needless to say, the moment was bittersweet.