Broken Strings and BPM's

Broken Strings, Ch. 18: Broken Strings.

"So, tell me, Mr. Bass. What can you tell us about the ponies that attacked you?"

I was still in my hospital bed, strapped to some machines. They wanted me to take as much time as possible to heal. The doctor had told me that I'd be able to go home within a few days, despite one of my wings being broken, as well as my right foreleg. I was glad, although it meant one thing. Ivory and I wouldn't have a chance at winning that battle, now. We both knew it, but neither of us dared to say it. She just kept up her act of optimism to keep me going. If only I hadn't seen through it.

"I don't remember much of what they looked like. I remember one of them… the big one… going by the name Sluggo. Other than that, I can't remember much."

After my statement, the inspector thanked me for my input, and went on his way. Everypony that was there had cleared out, except for Ivory, leaving only the two of us in the room. Celestia save me. She looked at me, almost as if she had read my mind. "Why didn't you tell the officer the truth, Bass?"

I looked at her, with a look of confusion. "I did, Ivory."

"The WHOLE truth."

Ah. Now that one caught me off guard. "I…"

"You're hiding something, Bass."

I was silent for a moment, then sighed, knowing that I couldn't keep anything from her. "Fine… I think Flats paid them to take us out of the picture, so we couldn't compete. Just before I passed out, I thought I heard his voice."

"I knew it!"

"You what?"

"Don't you remember his attitude at the club? How he was trying to start trouble?"

"Uh huh…"

"He was trying to get you to leave, so he could have them beat you up! And when you didn't leave, he used it as a chance to remove any suspicion of his involvement."

I looked at the mare, slightly shocked by how much sense this odd theory was actually making.

She nodded. "I read a lot of books in my off time. Is there anything else on your mind, Bass?"

"Nothing besides how sexy you are when you speak in theory. Oh, and why are you wearing a detective's hat?"

"I'll chock that one up to the marephine."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Good idea."

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"I'm sorry, Treble, but I just find it so romantic! A stallion fighting off street thugs to protect the mare he loves! But halt! The tables have turned, and after his love escapes, he is beaten and left for dead in the streets! Oh, such a sad tale! Such drama! Such romance! Such-"

"Yes, Tavi. You've pitched us the same story idea twelve times, now." Treble was rubbing her forehead with a hoof.

Treble, and Octavia had come to visit early the next morning, while Ivory was given permission to sleep on the couch in the room. I actually preferred it that way. I wouldn't be able to live with myself, should Flats decide to send those thugs to perform an encore on Ivory, and I wasn't there to protect her.

"Don't you think it's just such a wonderful story, Bass?" Octavia was now directing the question at me, and I had already prepared a snarky reply.

"I don't think I'd read a story that I lived, Octavia."

The cellist huffed, an crossed her forelegs against her chest, leaning back on the couch. "I think it's a wonderful story." She then leaned over to Ivory, and whispered in a very audible fashion, "If something like that happened to me, you'd best trust that I'd buck that stallion's brains out."

As Ivory blushed at Octavia's suggestion, it was almost as my sister and I shared a brain for a moment, as we both shouted, "Octavia!"

The grey mare huffed again, and leaned back into the couch. "Twas only a suggestion."

I couldn't help but snicker as I watched Ivory scoot away from Octavia ever so subtly.

After a few moments of the awkward silence, Treble finally broke the silence. "So, what are you going to do about the competition? Celestia knows you can't play guitar with a broken leg." That seemed to spur the attention of everypony in the room.

"I could always replicate a guitar with one of my pads," Ivory spoke up. "But I don't know how many things I can do at once. It's not like I'm a unicorn, or anything."

The silence remained, as I downright refused to give my input. There was still a hint of optimism in Ivory's voice, and I refused to kill that.

"You could always try writing a song without the guitar. Maybe just Ms. Keys' talents, and your voice. That sounds a bit more plausible than trying to play with a broken leg."

Everypony in the room quickly turned their gaze to Octavia.

"That's brilliant, Tavi!"

"Why didn't I think of that?"

"Did you just call me Ms. Keys?"

Now everypony was looking at Ivory with our own unique looks of confusion.

"What? It makes me sound old."

After a few minutes, the doctor finally came into the room. "Well, hello, Mr. Bass." I heard a muffled giggle from one of the mares in the room. "I'm glad to see that your friends and family are keeping you in high spirits." That didn't sound good at all. "Well, I've got some good news, and some bad news." Knew it. "The good news is that you'll be able to go home, tomorrow morning." However… "However, your leg won't be completely healed anytime soon. Your wing, however was only a slight dislocation, and should be in working order now. You're a lucky stallion, Mr. Bass." Another muffled giggle. "Most ponies who run into street thugs here, normally come out of it a lot more battered than you were."

I smiled at Ivory, who was trying to hold back laughter. "Well, Doc. I had something to fight for." I cut myself off just in time to here a barely audible "Awwww," coming from Octavia's direction.

"Well, it's a good thing, then. I'll leave you be."

After the doctor left, Ivory burst into laughter. "Mr. Bass! You… He… made you sound like a teacher!"

I looked at her with the kind of look that screamed. "Fucking seriously?"