Broken Strings and BPM's

"Sorry, Mic," I started. "But I don't play music, anymore."

My old friend shook his head. "Bass, I don't believe that. I know you still think about it. Music is in your blood. Just look at your flank, and tell me differently."

I shook my head in response. "Sorry, Mic. I just can't." Of course I was lying. I wanted to make music again more than anything, but lately, my writing had taken a turn for the worst. Everything I wrote sounded the same. I felt almost uninspired. As if my music had lost its meaning.

"Look, Bass," Mic retorted. "When you decide you want to buck up, and do what you were born to do, I'll be in my studio in Manehattan."

That caught my attention. I heaved a heavy sigh, then shot Mic a grin that would make Vinyl proud. "Let's go." I obviously had other motives for accepting the offer, and he knew it. I missed Vinyl. I had planned on spending most of my time in Manehattan with her, and maybe make just a few tracks with Mic.

We spent about a day traveling, Mic and I catching up, during our travels. Apparently, in the past few years, he had been lending his vocal talents to other musicians, under the name "Mic, the Microphone Zero." I found it kind of funny how similar we were at the core. It turns out he had moved to Manehattan around the time I left Phillydelphia.

All the conversation made the trip seem to go by so much faster, as it felt like we had just left Ponyville, when we arrived at Mic's apartment in the city. I looked out the window of his penthouse, taking in the view of the city. It had been so long, since I had been there… sober. I scanned the area, noting all the skyscrapers, towers and office buildings. It was the polar opposite of Ponyville, which I grew to see as my home within the last year. Ponyville was quiet, and quaint, as Manehattan was massive, and industrious. I was snapped from my thoughts by a hoof patting my back. "Wanna go see the city, pal?"

I turned, and smiled at Mic. "Definitely. I'm starving."

A few minutes later, we were trotting down the Manehattan strip. I had so many things I wanted to see. I wanted to see the Fillyharmonic, the Statue of Livery, and I definitely wanted a slice of the legendary pizzas and cheesecakes that were so famous in Manehattan. And lastly, I wanted to see Vinyl. "So, Bass," Mic began, "What do you wanna do first?"

I looked around, keeping the slow trotting pace. "I don't really know, Mic." I stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted it. It tore my heart apart. I saw a white unicorn mare with a three-colored blue mane, and ruby red eyes. But that isn't what hurt. It hurt when I watched her lean over, and kiss a brown stallion with a white mane. I couldn't believe my eyes. Everything went silent, as I watched, in shock. I was near fainting when I felt a hoof hit my side. Hard. "Bass! What the hay is wrong with you?!"

I turned, quickly, and looked at Mic. "I need to lay down."

About an hour later, we were in Mic's penthouse again. I had just woke up, and told him what I saw.

"I… I don't know what to say, Bass. Maybe you should just go home. I'm not going anywhere any time soon."

I nodded at him, and made for the door. Once I was outside, I took off, flying as fast as I could back to Ponyville. I don't know why I went so fast. I guess I thought I could escape reality if I flew fast enough. I guess I thought I could escape what I had seen. As I touched down outside my house, I was immediately approached by my most loyal new friend.

"Hey, Bass," she shouted happily, landing in front of me. "You're back!"

I looked at my rainbow-maned companion, pure anguish in my eyes. I guess she could read me like one of Twilight's books, because she instantly pulled me into a hug. I was shocked. I had never known Dash to be such an emotional pony, so this definitely caught me by surprise. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I immediately burst into tears.

It wasn't long before we were inside, and I was lying on the couch. I had just got done telling her everything. "I can't believe it, Bass. Why would she do that to you?"

"I… I don't know, Dash. Everything was going great."

Dash started to speak, but stopped when she heard the door open. We both looked at the door at the same time. "Hey, baby," exclaimed the mare who had just arrived. "Hey, Dash."

Dash looked at me, slight concern on her face. "Do you want me to leave?"

I nodded at her.

"Right," she began. "You know where to find me." She then stood, and walked out the door, shaking her head at Vinyl as she left.

Vinyl looked at me, confusion written all over her face. "Baby, what's going on?"

I stood, and turned away from Vinyl, placing my shades over my eyes. "How was the city?"

"It was nice," she spoke. "But that isn't answering my question."

I turned, and glared at Vinyl. I could tell by the look on her face that she was trying to hide something. "It should've answered your question perfectly."

"Bass, what are you talking about?"

"I saw you, Vinyl. With… him."

At that moment, all my fears had been confirmed, when her eyes went wide, and a grim look overtook her face. "I… I…"

"You, what, Vinyl?"

"I'm sorry, Bass," she yelled.

"Just go, Vinyl," I spoke, sadness painted all throughout my tone. "Just… go." I turned, and trudged into the kitchen, to pour myself a drink.

Everything went silent except for the sound of hoofsteps, and the door opening, then closing. I pulled my shades off, holding them in my hoof, as a single tear fell into my drink. Then I hurled the glasses across the room, the lenses shattering, as they hit the wall. Just like that, my life had been ruined, just like my glasses. My heart had been shattered, just like the amber lenses.

The house was silent again, as I trudged into the living room, and plopped down onto the couch, with my drink.

I had sat in silence for about an hour, when I heard the door open. I looked up to see Rainbow Dash cantering in. "I'm sorry, Bass. Are you okay?"

I looked back down to my drink. "No. I'm not okay."

Dash, nodded, and sat down next to me. "You know… if you ever need anything, you can come to me, alright?"

I nodded, and got out most of my sentence. "Thanks, Da-" Like I said, I got most of it out. I was only interrupted by a light blue muzzle meeting mine, and stopping the words from coming out. My eyes went wide, as I realized what exactly had just happened. I didn't fight it. Instead, I accepted it, and wrapped my front legs around Dash's slim, athletic waist.