Lady Octavia

by Cyber Clash

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Romance, Octavia, DJ P0N-3
Length: 44670

Octavia finds herself a new servant.

Octavia is a polite mare on her way up to fame as a cellist. She was brought up in a strict manner in order to be the perfect member of a perfect family. It was an annoyance at times, and she felt trapped. Of course, Octavia rebelled against it; her family knew what was best and what kind of pony wouldn't want to be perfect?

One day, she meets a homeless mare named Vinyl Scratch and immediately takes her in and asks her to be her servant. Vinyl opens Octavia's eyes, telling her that she's capable of making her own decisions, and that her family simply needed to accept her.

Published 2013-12-20 19:00:03 UTC
Last updated 2015-06-11 05:42:25 UTC

Chapter 1

The Canterlotian ensemble walked out of the music hall. They had just finished practice and were about to walk home together. They chatted about their humble achievements of the day. Frederic Horseshoepin, the pianist, had mastered a very complex composition after only three days. This composition was made by Harpo Parish Nadermane, the harpist and part-time composer of the ensemble, who was impressed that the pianist could play his masterpiece. Beauty Brass, who played a variety of instruments, boasted about how she was requested to do a solo performance at Fancy Pants’s theatre.

Then there was Octavia, the cellist; she never really talked about her talents and her position in the high society. Rather, she congratulated everyone on everything they would brag about.

Soon enough, three members walked north to their homes, but the cellist had to walk south to get to her destination. She positioned her cello case on her back and looked at the advertisement posters on the building. One of them said ‘Earth Pony Cellist Octavia. Performing at Melody & Harmony Theatre!’ She smiled. Melody and Harmony were twins who owned one of the biggest theatres in Equestria. Octavia was very close to them and the twins wanted her to perform. That day is coming up pretty soon…I should make a note to practice even more than usual. There are so many shows coming up, I wonder if I could actually get any sleep.

Snapping out of her reverie, Octavia looked around to make sure she wasn’t caught doing absolutely nothing. She was known as a hard-working cellist and just one whisper could ruin her whole reputation. As her eyes shot toward various directions, she noticed something, or rather, someone. Right there in front of the music hall, was a homeless mare. The grey pony had seen her all the time when going to practice sessions, but she always felt something in her chest turn to stone when she saw her.

The cellist knew almost every physical aspect of the street mare’s being: she wore purple shades, had white fur, two tones of blue in a very messy mane and tail. She was also a unicorn and her cutie mark, a double-eighth note, suggested that her special talent was music. Octavia always pondered what would happen if she were to talk to the mysterious mare. If she were to be seen, would they see her as a pony who mingled with peasants, or someone generous enough to give her precious free time to a lonely homeless mare? Probably not the latter, for the high society had always frowned upon plebeians for some reason rather than helping them.

Octavia could feel a gaze coming from the direction of such a plebeian. She walked along as if she hadn’t been suspiciously staring at the poor pony. While she walked, she continued her thoughts.

The high society was usually represented to the rest of the world as ponies like Fancy Pants. However, anyone who lived in big cities like Manehattan or Canterlot knew the ugly truth. And that truth was that unless you wanted to be taken for granted, you had to either be unbelievably wealthy or aggressive. You had to be friends with the right ponies, marry the right pony and live up to everypony’s expectations. You had to always be on your hooves because one wrong move and everyone would fancy you a waste of time.

Octavia didn’t exactly want to be famous, but she loved her cello and her parents might do unspeakable things if she disappointed them. What were these unspeakable things? Well, they were actually so unspeakable, that her parents never talked about them. They just threatened Octavia with that.

You could probably compare all of the high class with Hoity Toity, and the ringleader being Prince Blueblood. Sure, nopony liked him; he was as stuck-up as can be, but that’s what would make him the ringleader after all. Octavia did indeed despise Canterlot with a burning passion, especially when she was caught acting like a true Canterlotian. Still, she had stayed here for various reasons: she was pretty successful, her parents told her to do so, she had plenty of friends who weren’t too stuck-up, and she had nowhere else to be.

Finally, the grey pony had arrived at her home. It was the typical Canterlotian house; the architecture was unique, with a spiral staircase leading to the entrance, a giant balcony with an amazing view from the mountain Canterlot was on, and it was quite spacious. She repositioned the cello on her back and walked up the staircase. When she opened the door, the house was quite dark due to the low position of the sun. She didn’t really have much energy to turn on the lights. All she wanted to do was practice a few pieces for the twins, have a drink, shower, and sleep. She was too tired to be hungry.

Deciding to take a shower first, Octavia turned on the cold water on her shower because it was Thursday. She always showered with cold water on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. While enjoying the sensation of water pouring down her body, her thoughts wandered toward the mare on the streets. She had seen her plenty of times. Sometimes, Octavia knew she was looking at her behind those shades.

But what if she wears them because she’s blind?

Octavia, I’ve seen her head match up with where you are going, I don’t think she’s blind.

But what if that’s because she can hear me walking?

Well, ask her if she’s blind.

I don’t even know her! I can’t just walk up and ask her about her disabilities!

Sure, and you can’t talk to yourself either?

Okay, this conversation is over.

As her internal conversation ended, the mare stepped out and grabbed a towel. She vigorously dried herself and put on a robe. Octavia went to her music room down the hall where she had put her cello. She turned on the lights and walked toward the instrument. She took it out of its case along with the bow. After a minute of balancing herself and visualising the musical notes from the songs, she began to play.

The room was filled with music. At first, the notes were slow and grim, but they grew into a staccato of higher notes. Then the harder part in which her notes had to have a sense of fear came in. The mare played as if she had known the song all her life. Her talent was very impressive. She was one of the few earth ponies that could play an instrument without any trouble. And although she denies it any time it is suggested, she might actually be the best cellist in all of Equestria.

It was already midnight by the time she finished practicing. Now she was too tired to have the drink she had promised herself. She didn’t complain, though. Octavia simply went off to bed and fell asleep after ten minutes of getting comfortable.

Octavia’s dreams were quite interesting most of the time. Like many artists, her ideas came from dreams. However, her dreams were like those of a blind pony- she saw nothing. The musician could only hear music and at most she would see a cello being played or music notes being placed on a music staff. She would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, play and record her composition and go back to sleep. Strangely, Octavia wouldn’t continue with her creations. No matter how good, she would just write it down, store it in a folder, and leave it to be covered in dust. She didn’t believe that her creations were good enough.

Tonight was one of those nights. She had had her idea, recorded it, and left it to die in a limbo of dust particles. She sighed at what she considered a “lack of talent.” I don’t even know why I keep these. They just take up space! She thought as she looked at her shelves that were entirely filled with music sheets. She crawled back in her warm bed and, once more, fell asleep.

Octavia woke up at seven and began her morning routine: She prepared a simple bowl of cold oatmeal for breakfast, and ate quickly. She went into the bathroom, brushed her hair for ten minutes, brushed her teeth, and put on her bow-tie. Once she felt presentable, she sprayed a bit of perfume on herself (her mother said it was lady-like), grabbed her cello and began to walk toward the music hall. She was grateful that it was Friday because Octavia needed her rest.

The cellist walked into the building and went upstairs to room 417, where ensemble practiced together. She greeted everyone in her calm yet cheerful way, “Good morning, Harpo,” she said kissing the purple stallion on both cheeks. “Frederic,” she moved to the pianist and did the same. “Beauty!” she said before repeating her gesture once more.

“Good morning, Octavia,” Frederic began, “Would you like a cup of rose tea?” he offered.

“No, thank you. I had coffee this-“ she cut herself off, realising that she had missed that part of her routine dammit. “Actually, I think I would like a cup.”

“I’ll ask Script to get it for you. I do believe he is in room 312 polishing the brass instruments,” said Harpo. He walked out and made sure to close the door behind him.

Beauty Brass stepped beside Octavia, “So, Tavia, we were thinking for Harpo’s song ‘Celestia Took a Star’ we should have a diva sing. I already have lyrics for it. And since you know Melody and Harmony, maybe we could-“

Octavia held up a hoof to interrupt the brunette mare, “Pardon me for interrupting, but we’ve been over this, Beauty. I am not going to have neither Melody nor Harmony work for us for free. That would be abusing my friendship and I refuse to do such a selfish thing.”

“’Tis not selfish! You are doing it for the ensemble, not just yourself,” Beauty Brass argued.

“Beauty Brass, no means no. Even if I weren’t part of this ensemble, I still wouldn’t let you use them for free. Besides, they don’t even like singing opera,” the cellist countered.

“Oh, alright. However, you do know that they wouldn’t think any less of you, right?”

“I know. They’re great friends, but I still don’t want to take advantage of them.”

“Well, I still want my lyrics to be sung…” Beauty Brass trailed off, looking down at the music sheet in her hoof.

Octavia wasn’t good at comforting, but she still awkwardly put her hoof on the blue mare’s shoulder, “We can ask Script to find us a singer. For now, let’s practice the music.”

Just then, Harpo walked in, carrying a cup of tea in a green field of magic. He levitated it toward Octavia, who thanked him, and spoke, “Now, let’s get practicing.”

Practice, although lasting seven hours, went by very quickly. Their assistant Script recorded and did some sound editing, “Bravo, everypony!” He said, clapping his hooves. “You all did marvellous! Now, by Wednesday, I will have a few auditions ready for you to decide on our diva. Until anon, and have an absolutely wonderful weekend!” The cheerful stallion made his way to his office and left the ensemble.

The members packed up their instruments and walked out of the building together. Harpo was the first to speak of their accomplishments, “Well, it seems like we truly have improved since our last session. If all goes well, I’ll take you all out for a celebration at Le Cheval.”

“Yes, that does sound nice,” Frederic agreed, “While we’re on the topic of food, Does anyone want this bag of chips? I got it from the vending machine, but I just now saw how many calories it has. It is absolutely absurd! How can you eat this vile food from Tartarus?” he said, holding a bag of chips.

“I suppose I’ll take them,” Octavia said, “I haven’t been eating much these days and I could use the carbohydrates.”

The pianist gave the mare her chip bag and the ensemble broke apart to reach their homes. As Octavia walked, she looked at the bag of chips. Sweet Luna and her Stars! Five hundred calories?! How much grease can a pony put in these bags? Ew, is there oil coming from the sides? Octavia wanted to throw the chips away, but didn’t have the ignorance to do so. Instead she looked around and saw the mare on the streets. Surely she is hungry enough to eat anything, right? Giving her junk food isn’t rude, right?

The cellist walked up to the mare, with the bag in her hooves. She didn’t get too close in case somepony was nearby. Octavia hesitated, but then decided to throw the chip bag toward the mare’s direction and gallop away.

“Ow. I was sleeping,” the mare said groggily.

“My apologies. I didn’t mean to hit you in the face,” the cellist said, turning around.

“It’s fine, Octavia. You gave me greasy food. And greasy food is good food.”

“Still, I shouldn’t ha-wait. How do you know my name?”

The shade-wearing mare opened the chip bag with her magic, “You’re all over the posters. If you’re as good as those announcements say you are, you should keep on living your dream,” she said, eating a chip.

“Hmm…I’ll make sure I do that. Bye for now. I need to head home; my cello is really heavy.” And so the grey earth pony galloped all the way home.

Once she arrived at her home, Octavia put her cello in her music room and was on her way to the bedroom when she heard a knock on her door.

The cellist opened the door, “Yes, may I help you?”

Standing outside her door was a grey pegasus with blonde hair and crossed eyes, “Hi, are you Missus Fleur de Lis?” she asked.

“No, I’m sorry. You must have gotten the wrong house,” the grey pony said, as she was about to close the door.

“Oh, well could you point me out to where Miss Octavia lives? I can’t find her anywhere. I have this letter that Miss Melody wanted to deliver ASAP,” said the mailmare.

“I’m the Miss Octavia you seek. May I have the letter?”

“Oh, hi, Miss Octavia! I’m Ditzy Doo, but you may call me ‘Derpy Hooves.’ I have a letter for you this afternoon,” Derpy took out the letter and gave it to Octavia.

“Thank you, Derpy.” Said the earth pony as she took the letter.

“Oh, and would you like a complementary muffin? They’re free and you can only get them with Derpy Hooves Postal Service! Today, I’m giving out blueberry muffins.” The pegasus said, as she took out a muffin from her mailbag.

“I would like a muffin. Thank you.” Octavia received a blueberry muffin.

“No problem! And when you need your mail delivered, trust Derpy Hooves Postal Service! We also carry packages and give out free muffins to our customers! Bye!” the mare said before she tripped all the way down the front steps. “I’m okay!” and she flew off.

“A strange little pony, she is.” Octavia closed the door behind her and set the muffin down on the counter. The letter was, as Derpy Hooves said, from Melody. Octavia opened it and began to read:

My Dearest Octavia,

Next month you will be preforming at our theatre. Harmony is getting the details set for you, but since it’s kind of my day off, I wanted to see if we could go to the Drycker bar. I figured you’ve been so busy, you haven’t had time to relax. So, why not put down your cello, meet me at eight in the bar, we’ll have fun and come back to my house after a few drinks, baby? I’m just kidding, of course, but do come to the bar. I haven’t had a drink all week!

Love,
Melody

The cellist took the muffin from the counter and snuck a bite into it. Not bad. She decided she would go to Drycker with Melody. Octavia could really use a margarita tonight. The cellist went to her bedroom and got a book off of her shelf. She didn’t even care to read the title, and started reading right away.

From what Octavia had gathered, she had been reading an interesting novel about murder investigations. The Purple Magnifying Glass was an interesting tale about three friends and a victim of a very violent criminal. The cellist had been so immersed in reading, that when she put the book down, it was already seven thirty-three. She had long since finished her blueberry muffin and was now brushing her hair and teeth.

She was out the door by seven forty-two and made her way to the bar. She roamed the cobblestone streets with modesty. Every pony that walked by had their noses held high and walked with over-confidence. The cellist, instead, cantered casually through the alleys until she could make out the flashing lights of a sign that read “Drycker Casual Bar.”

The cellist walked into the bar and relished the smell of orchids in the building. Drycker had a thing for orchids and purple and blue lights. There were small flowerpots that adorned each table and more extravagant orchids were placed in the VIP section. The lighting was dim and would gradually change from blue to purple. There was a currently unoccupied wooden stage in the back where special guests would perform sometimes. Covering the whole western side was a bar. Octavia could see a lavender earth pony with strawberry pink mane and tail waving at her.

The cellist adjusted her bowtie and walked past the occupied tables of social ponies to talk to mare, “Hello, Melody,” she said, kissing her on both cheeks.

“Hey, Octavia. I ordered you one of those special strawberry margaritas you like.”

“Thank you, Melody.” Octavia climbed onto the chair next to her friend and took a sip of her drink. She felt the cold strawberry and tequila rush down her throat.

“So how are the other shows coming along, dear?” the lavender pony asked, as she took a sip of her own drink.

Octavia sighed at the inquiry, “Well, they could be better…”

“Uh-oh. What’s wrong? Is your agent being an arse again?”

“No. Beauty Brass still wants you and your sister to sing. The more I say ‘no’, the more she insists. Even if we ask Script to find us a singer, she probably still won’t be satisfied. I don’t even know why she acts like we have to save every bit we make. We’re pretty successful; I see no reason to hoard,” the cellist ranted.
“Look, if she won’t get over it, we can sing for you guys, but I’m sure she’ll get it through her head over time. Even the most stubborn ponies give in with a bit of time.” Melody reassured her, placing a hoof on the stressed friend’s shoulder.

“And that’s not the worst part,” Octavia continued, “Now, my parents are pestering me about what to do to get more money and fame. I tried to tell them many times that I am aware of what I am doing, but they just won’t let me do what I want with my career!”

“You know, if you want them to leave you alone, you could become my personal dancer.” Melody seduced, waggling her eyebrows.

“Oh, shut up,” Octavia giggled. She took another sip of her margarita.

From her peripheral vision, Octavia could see a familiar mare sitting down one stool down. She eavesdropped on her conversation with one of the bartenders, “Hey, thanks for letting me use the staff showers, Salty.”

“It’s the least I can do, Vi. If ya need anything, just come to me.”

“Well, I’m gonna go sit down at the table in the corner. I don’t wanna be seen.” She grabbed her drink and walked off to her table.

“Hey, Octavia, are you listening?”

The grey pony jumped, “Oh, my. I am so sorry, Melody. I saw someone come in and I didn’t even realise you were talking! Please forgive me, I-“

Melody interjected, “Whoa, calm down, filly. All I said was that I’m going to the bathroom. In the mean time, you can go talk to whoever that is you saw. Unless if it’s a secret lover I should know about?”

“What? No!” Octavia said quickly.

“Thought so. I’ve got my eye on you.” She said before walking off.

The cellist moved to the bartender and began talking to him, “Excuse me, sir?”

“Yeah? What do you need?” the bartender answered. He was a muscular dark purple unicorn with a dark red and blue mane.

“Who is that mare you were talking to just now, if I may ask?”

“Oh, that was Vinyl Scratch. You seen her around or something?” he smiled.

“Sort of. I’ve seen her on the streets. Not to be rude, but how did she get into this place? I don’t see the other customers giving her any glares.”

“Heh, I guess you could say that the more accepting ponies come here. They all know about Vinyl, but there’s not much they can do about her.” He frowned.

“What do you mean? They want to get rid of her?” she asked, wide-eyed.

“Not really. Y’see, Vinyl doesn’t exactly have a place to live. Her closer friends are either strugglin’ enough as it is, or live really far away from Canterlot. And for her part, she always rejects other ponies’ offers unless it’s a small amount o’ bits.”

Octavia raised her eyebrow at this, “So she doesn’t want ponies offering her a home?”

The stallion shrugged, “I don’t know what her deal is. I’m guessing she’s stubborn, but she just brushes me off when I bring up the subject. S’pretty weird, right?”

“Indeed. Well, I think I’ll go talk to her. Thank you for the information, Mr…” she left the bartender to finish the sentence.

“Salt Rim, at your service,” he bowed.

“Thank you, Mister Salt Rim,” and the cellist was off to make a new friend.

Vinyl Scratch was sitting at a booth in the corner, drinking whiskey. The cellist approached her, “Would it be too much trouble if I sat?”

The mare shook her head, “Nah, you can sit.”

Octavia took her seat and asked her, “You remember me, right?”

“The mare who threw a bag of chips at my face? Yeah, I remember. Good times, right?”

Octavia blushed out of humiliation, “I-it was an accident! I didn’t mean to!”

Vinyl Scratch laughed, “I know, don’t worry. You were generous enough to give me food. How you give it to me doesn’t matter.”

Octavia quickly took the opportunity to broach the subject, “Speaking of giving, do you have a home? Because if not, I wouldn’t mind a roommate.”

“Not this again…” Vinyl Scratch angrily murmured, “Look, Octavia, I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine, okay? I can manage without any help.”

“For Celestia’s sake, Vinyl, you live in the alley in front of my workplace!”

The mare adjusted her shades with a hoof, “So? I sometimes crash at my friends’ houses. And no offense, but you just met me, why are you randomly offering me a roof over my head?”

“Because I-“ Wait…Why am I offering her my home? For all I know, she could have escaped from prison! Well, maybe that’s too farfetched, but the point is I hardly know her! “Because it would benefit the both of us. You need a home, and I need a roommate.” Why do I keep going with this?

“Octavia, please. I just don’t want to. It’s not because of you, I just…” Vinyl trailed off.

“It’s just what? Pray tell, why won’t you just accept my offer?” the cellist asked slowly.

“Because…” Vinyl sighed, “Because if I accept, I’ll have to pay you back, and I doubt I’ll ever be able to.”

Octavia smiled, “Vinyl Scratch, this is just because I want to, I’m not expecting anything in return.”

“Yeah, but I have to. I’ll feel guilty if I don’t,” the mare said, crossing her hooves.

“Well, how about returning a favour with a favour?” the cellist offered.

“Fine, but it has to be a huge one. It can’t just be like, ‘you can organise my closet’ or something small like that” Vinyl required.

Octavia tapped a hoof to her chin in thought. She let a malicious smile grow on her face, “Well…that’s one thing you could do for me. I think…I’ll hire you.”

“Hire me? Like a job?” the homeless unicorn was interested and sat up straight.

“Yes, a job,” Octavia held out a hoof and loudly offered, “Vinyl Scratch, I want you to work as my butler.”

Vinyl Scratch deadpanned, “A butler? Really? That’s as big as you can get?”

“Oh, it isn’t a small job, Vinyl. You’d have so many chores, and I might ask you for extra favours quite often. Oh, and I need to be satisfied with your services,” Octavia spoke excitedly.

“Well…okay. Fine, but no easy favours. I have to be worked hard.”

“Deal. Now shake my hoof. I can hardly feel the blood rushing to it.”
Vinyl completed her first task, “Okay, I’ll meet you out the door when you’re ready to go home, okay?”

“Right.” Octavia had a large smile on her face as she walked back to the bar.

“Octavia, what the hell! You know the rule! Never leave your margarita unattended. It looks so lonely…” the lavender pony looked sadly over at the drink.

Octavia quickly apologised before downing her drink, excited.

“Damn, filly! Calm down. That has tequila in it!” Octavia put down the glass and placed a few bits on the table. Melody noticed the smile on her face, “What? Did something happen between you and that mare you were talking to? Octavia was about to say something but was immediately cut off, “Oh, no…don’t tell me…she’s your one night stand, isn’t she? How could you Octavia? I thought we had something!”

Octavia felt the weight of her friend against her as she was hugged rather hard, “Melody, ponies are looking! Get off of me.”

“But you’re so soft,” the lavender pony muttered into her fur.

“Are you drunk?”

“Nah. I’m sober. Well, maybe a little drunk. But I can call a cab. You go have fun with your playmate, okay?” she giggled, and got off of her friend.

“Cut it out, you. I’m not interested in anything sensual,” she said getting off of the stool.

“Fine. Have fun, anyway.” She waved.

The cellist exited Drycker and, as promised, her butler was waiting for her, staring blankly ahead, like a soulless servant, “There you are. Shall we go?”

“Yes, my lady,” she bowed, with a grin.

“Cut it out,” her master chuckled.

And they began to walk toward their home.

Author's Note

Here, this is my Hearth's Warming present to all of you. Hopefully I corrected all the errors I have there, but if you spot something, let me know and I shall fix it.

Chapter 2: Confession

The walk from Drycker was not a particularly long one. During the walk, Octavia glanced at her new servant. She kept wondering why her eyes were hidden behind those shades. It was night, making the use of sunglasses completely useless for a seeing pony. However, Octavia knew better than to question somepony’s choice of clothing. After all, she wouldn’t like it very much if Vinyl insulted her bowtie.

“You like what you see?” Vinyl asked, giggling as she felt the cellist’s eyes hovering over her in examination.

“I…guess?” Octavia responded, oblivious to the innuendo.

“Hmph. So how much longer?” the servant switched the topic.

“Actually, it’s this one,” Octavia said as she nodded toward the magnificent home with two treble clefts on the balcony walls.

Vinyl gave a low whistle out of acknowledgement, “This house is huge! Do all Canterlot ponies live in places like these? I knew they were rich, but this one has your cutie mark and everything!”

“Not all ponies live in places like this. I simply have a lot of money from my parents, and I make quite a bit of money with my job as well.”

Octavia opened the iron gates, allowing Vinyl to hold the door open for her mistress. She stepped inside after the grey mare and looked around. The house was absolutely incredible! In contrast with the smooth purple bricks used for the outside, the interior was an incredibly elegant pink, produced by the lights of a chandelier made of topaz. The floor was alabaster and there were two marble spiral staircases on either side.

Octavia showed her to the living room, past the entrance. It had redwood floors with a rug and two cushions in front of an unlit cobblestone hearth. The kitchen was white with grey and black cupboards. The master bedroom was upstairs, where the halls were all covered by a luxurious amethyst and pink carpet, and had a large black bed in a white and purple room. It even had it’s own little balcony. Vinyl’s room was right next to Octavia’s; it was only a bit smaller than the cellist’s and was designed to be grey and the bed was white with pink pillows. There were a few paintings on the walls, along with a closet and a wooden chair, but other than that the room had plenty of space for extra furnishing.

“What else do you need to know…Ah, the bathroom is to the left, across is the study. Next to that, the music room, and next to that is the theatre room. What do you think?” Octavia awaited her opinion.

Vinyl’s jaw had been ajar the whole time. She was completely in awe with how much the design portrayed the mare, “This house…it’s amazing. Did you do the design?”

“Oh, no no no. My parents designed this and hired workers to get it done. I know it looks a lot like…well, me, but I can get your room redone if you want,” she offered.

“Please, don’t. It’s fine,” Vinyl walked up to her mistress and hugged her tenderly, “Thank you so much.”

Octavia wasn’t used to hugs, but she put a foreleg around her servant and said, “Well, it’s not like I could leave you on the streets like that. Besides, you’ll be working for me the whole time.”

“Still, it’s a lot. I couldn’t possibly be able to thank you enough.” Just then, Vinyl’s stomach growled loudly. She hadn’t eaten since the potato chips. She simply blushed.

“I suppose sustenance would satiate your ravenousness?” The grey mare offered. Vinyl tilted her head in confusion and Octavia rephrased her sentence, “Would you like dinner, I mean?”

“Nah, you’ve given me enough. I’ll be fine,” she dismissed.

“Vinyl Scratch, until you are completely satisfied with all your needs, I won’t let you work!” Octavia said with determination.

Vinyl smiled and reluctantly accepted, “Fine. But something small.”

Once in the kitchen, the cellist prepared a pot of superb minestrone soup. Vinyl ate quickly and ravenously. When Octavia offered more, Vinyl refused, but the cellist didn’t bother anymore. The unicorn cleaned up after herself and they sat on the living room couch for a while to talk.

Vinyl said to her, “You know, you’re super generous. Like, it’s insane. Every single second, you offer me something.”

“Would you like me to not be so generous, then?” the cellist asked.

“See? There you go again. That’s what I should be doing. I should be offering you anything I can think of.”

The elegant pony chuckled, “You know, for my part, I wanted you here as a roommate. It wasn’t entirely out of good heart.”

“Yeah I get it,” Vinyl smiled, “You’ve got this huge house with no one to share it with. You must feel so lonely! You poor thing, don’t worry,” Vinyl brushed her tail against Octavia’s flank and whispered seductively, “I’ll let you be selfish with me.”

“M-Miss Vinyl Scratch, you are my butler, n-not my sex slave!” Octavia blushed, her heartbeat becoming rapid.

“I know.” The white mare said, “I was joking. Sorry if it made you uncomfortable. I just hadn’t joked like that with anyone in a while.”

“It’s fine, but it’s just that I’m not really…comfortable with that type of humour.”

Vinyl sat up, as she seemed to have struck a chord, “So…you’re, like, a prude or something?”

Octavia chuckled, “Kind of…I’m…I-um…” the cellist began to blush.

“You don’t have to be ashamed of telling something to your servant. I swear if you were ever raped, I’ll stop those jokes right now. I mean, that’s…super bad, like I’m sorry if you went through that. Is that what’s bothering you?” Vinyl said, grabbing Octavia’s hoof to comfort her.

The cellist immediately pulled her hoof from the unicorn’s grasp and sighed, “No, it’s not rape…I’m sorry, I just…” She trailed off, chuckling and blushing. Once again she couldn’t say the right words.

Vinyl began to put the pieces together and deducted the sheepishness down to one last thing. She asked slowly, “Miss Octavia, are you…into mares?”

The grey mare took a deep breath and nodded, “I think I should have told you that before bringing you into my home. I haven’t told anyone.” Octavia’s cheeks became more sanguine and she swallowed a lump in her throat as she imagined Vinyl Scratch walking right out the door.

Instead, the unicorn hugged her friend, tighter than last time, “You’re so weird. You probably have a bunch of nice friends, and yet you just tell a random pony you’ve just employed that you’re gay. I don’t mind though. It’s not like it changes who you are.”

Octavia let a small tear run down her cheek, “Thank you. I thought you would feel uncomfortable and leave me,” she sobbed, burying herself in Vinyl’s neck, “But I swear I’m not a pervert! I-I’ve never even had a marefriend. I’m still new to it, and-“

“Chill,” Vinyl commanded, “I’ve had gay friends before. It’s not like you’d sneak into my bed in the middle of the night. I mean yeah, I’ve got a nice plot but-“

“Vinyl!” Octavia giggled, smacking her friend’s shoulder and pulling away.

“Alright, Alright. I’ll stop.” Vinyl promised, “I’m really happy that you trusted me enough to tell me that.”

“Well, you’re going to be living with me, so you should probably be aware.”

“Speaking of things I should be aware of, I need you to tell me what exactly I need to do, ‘cuz I’ve never been a butler, so…” Vinyl trailed off.

“Of course, I wasn’t expecting you to know right away. Do you think you’ll need to write this down?”

“Nah, I got it.”

“Okay, well,” Octavia began, “since you’re the only one here, I don’t expect you to do everything all at once. Maybe one day, you can dust off the music room, study, and recording room, and other days you could clean the kitchen and the living room, and so on.”

Octavia paused and Vinyl nodded her head, “Okay, don’t clean everything in one day, got it.”

The mistress nodded and continued explaining, “Whenever I get home, I will be expecting you to greet me at the door, or sometimes, you could take me home if you get the time. I will take care of all the bills so don’t worry about that. You will be doing much of the shopping, and you’ll be in charge of fixing anything that needs fixing, or call a professional if it comes to that; I have a phone book in the study. You could also help with the cooking if you won’t be terribly busy, and I may ask you to bring me something now and then.”

Vinyl Scratch nodded her head slowly, “Got it.”

The grey mare took a deep breath, “I know it sounds like a lot, but I had to do it all by myself before you came along. I promise I’ll help you out whenever I can.”

“Don’t worry, I got it,” Vinyl said for the third time.

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want you passing out like I did.”

“I’ve got my magic, okay? I can clean a bunch of things at once and then take care of you, well, your needs I mean,” Vinyl said, blushing in embarrassment.

A giggle escaped the cellist’s lips, “I know what you meant to say.” She looked at the clock, “Well, it’s getting late. How about we both go to sleep? I wake up at seven tomorrow, so you need to be ready by then.”

Vinyl bowed her head, “Of course, I’ll be ready, my lady.”

“You know, you needn’t be so formal with me,” Octavia smiled.

“I know,” Vinyl said getting off of the couch, “It’s just fun to speak fancy.”
The next morning, Vinyl awoke Octavia by softly nudging the grey mare, who had made a cocoon out of blankets. Her mind was still trying to function while her servant brushed her hair and tied her bowtie. Once she had fully awoken, the cellist made her way to the bathroom whilst Vinyl went into the kitchen to prepare a fitting breakfast for her mistress.

“Let’s see…does she have a cookbook around here or what?” Vinyl muttered to herself as she looked in every drawer and cupboard in the magnificent kitchen. Her search proved successful when she found the book, “Aha! Now, what do fancy ponies eat?” She quickly flipped with her magic until she found an Eggs Benedict recipe.

Vinyl used as much magic as she could to prepare her mistress’s breakfast. She poached the eggs while toasting the crumpet and sliced the lettuce and tomato while she made the sauce. She was tired of using magic, so she hoped it would be worth it.

Octavia walked downstairs, and greeted Vinyl, “Good morning,” she said simply.

“Good morning, Miss Octavia. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, I slept wonderfully.”

Vinyl placed the Eggs Benedict on the table as she sat down. She placed a napkin on the echelon’s lap with her magic and let her eat her food as she brought a cup of tea she had been preparing for Octavia.

“How is it? Did I get the recipe right?” she asked as she placed the hot green tea next to the plate.

Octavia swallowed the sustenance in her mouth, “Tis absolutely delectable. Have you tried it?”

Vinyl shook her head, “Nah, I should always serve you first.” Her stomach rumbled, in rebellion to her choice.

“Come now, grab a plate and sit with me. I don’t want you to starve for my sake. That is why I took you in after all,” Octavia ordered.

“Yes, ma’am,” the unicorn said, grabbing another plate of the poached egg goodness.

“Now I can eat and not feel guilty, knowing you aren’t starving.”

Vinyl savoured the creamy yolk and sauce. She had been skittish to make sure she got every detail right down to the decorative cilantro on top. A couple minutes after her first bite, she asked with food still in her mouth, “You know, I’ve never met shomepony ash nishe ash you.”

“Vinyl, could you please learn to avoid talking with your mouth full?” Vinyl nodded and swallowed, “Good, now start again.”

She did as she was told. “I said that I’ve never met somepony as nice as you…in the upper crust, I mean.”

“Really? Well, thank you.” Octavia smiled.

Once they had finished eating, Vinyl cleaned the plates. She left them impeccably glossy with cleanliness. The mare went around the house, cleaning furiously with a mop wiping the floor quickly, a duster dusting the nearby shelves, careful to not drop anything on them, and a fresh rag and spray cleaning the windows of the room she was in, all with her magic. She even got the mail and took out the trash.

Octavia watched from the upstairs hall, with a bow in her hoof. She had been trying to practice playing. The noise of the unicorn cleaning frantically wasn’t obnoxious, but it was distracting the cellist. The earth pony could see Vinyl rubbing her head. She seemed to have used a little too much magic. She came up to her and offered, “Would you like to take a break? You seem to be tired.”

Vinyl rubbed her temple, “Nah, it’s fine. I’m just overusing my magic a little, I guess. I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

The classical musician knew Vinyl was only being stubborn and that she really did need a break, so she tried another method, “Well, I am composing a song, and I need to know if it sounds alright. Could you help me?”

Vinyl nodded, and followed Octavia to the music room. The servant held the door for her mistress, and walked in afterwards. Once inside, Octavia took out one of Harpo’s compositions from her desk drawer, while Vinyl sat down on a cushion in the room, and placed a hoof on her temple. She placed it on her music stand and positioned herself with her cello. Once she was prepared, the cellist took a deep breath and played.

Vinyl Scratch still felt an intense ache from her horn and her head. However, her eyes widened behind her shades and all of her pain was forgotten after a few minutes. It had been a long time since she had heard high quality music. Of course, Drycker put on music from their speakers if no one was performing, but the speakers would release an unpleasant static sound. Vinyl liked the performances as well, but the crowd wouldn’t cheer for her, they would cheer for someone else, and Vinyl would feel nostalgic of her past.

Octavia’s notes were fast and complicated, impressing the unicorn since Octavia lacked the use of magic. The notes grew slightly slower and slower, but Vinyl felt like the cellist had made them sombre without the intention. The unicorn’s theory proved to be true as she noticed Octavia glare slightly at the sheet before her, as if scolding the notes to rewrite themselves to Octavia’s satisfaction. The song came to a close a few measures later.

The cellist looked down, thinking about how she could have played better, and then at Vinyl, whose mouth was ajar. The earth pony noticed that her hoof was no longer massaging her head, meaning her music had soothed her ache as she had planned. Octavia placed herself on all four hooves, and prevented her cello from hitting the ground by holding its head with one hoof.

“What did you think?” Octavia asked, hoping to break the silence.

Vinyl snapped out of her trance, “Huh? Oh! It was amazing, Miss Octavia! It was probably the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard from classical music.”

Octavia sighed in relief, and joked, “So you didn’t sleep during my playing, right?”

“Hell no. How could I fall asleep in the middle of that awesomeness?”

The grey mare smiled, “Well, alright.” She asked, “Do you think there was something I could fix? I really need this to be perfect.”

“Well,” the blue mane mare thought, “I’m not an expert in classical music, but there was this one part that felt a bit…sad. It was in the middle of the song, where the longer notes are. Are they supposed to be like that?”

Octavia looked through her sheet music, and found it. Measure forty-seven had notes written to the side that read, “work on this” and “must be jovial.” She knew exactly what the unicorn meant. Octavia always made that faux pas in her playing. The cellist sighed, this time frustration, “I know about that. I’ve been trying to improve on that part, but no matter how many times I try, it just won’t come out right, you know?”

Vinyl walked over to Octavia, “Actually, yeah. I know what that’s like. I had trouble with it whenever I made songs, too. You can play that part better by thinking of something that makes you happy.” Octavia stood silent, and the unicorn continued, “How about taking a break from music to think it over?”

The grey earth pony nodded, “Okay, then.” She looked for something to switch topics, “Vinyl, do you play any instruments?” she asked, remembering her cutie mark.

“Instruments? Well…I used to play the harmonica, but it’s been years since I’ve even seen mine. Why?” Vinyl curiously tilted her head.

“Well, it’s just that I saw your cutie mark, and I figured you played something.”

“Oh! This thing,” she said, turning toward her flank, “Before I wound up in the streets, I used to be an awesome DJ! I’d get the crowd going real good. Everyone would have a good time and-“

“Wait,” Octavia interjected, “You were a…DJ?” Vinyl nodded. “Oh, well…” Octavia looked around, trying her best not to seem disgusted.

“Hey, it’s not like I did drugs and all that,” Vinyl said in defence, “I just gave music to those ponies. I swear, all the elites think we’re just obsessed with drugs and booze and sex. They even suspect us for thefts and stuff! We’re not all like that. I mean, yeah, I’ve gotten drunk, and stuff, but I’ve never done anything bad!”

The echelon nodded, “Alright, I’ll take your word for it. Just don’t do anything foolish.”

Vinyl rolled her eyes behind her purple shades, “Whatever.” She then remembered something, “Oh yeah, a mailmare came by this morning. She gave me a letter for you. Let me go get it.” Vinyl said before running off.

To avoid the use of magic, she held the letter in her mouth. Octavia took the letter with her hoof and inspected it. The cellist sighed, “It’s junk mail. We might as well throw it away.”

“Whoa, you sure? Who’s it from?” the unicorn asked.

“My parents. I don’t want to read it,” she dismissed.

“Why? I’m sure they-“

“I just don’t,” Octavia said, scowling. “I-I’m sorry. I just can’t read that,” she said, giving back the letter.

“Okay, you don’t have to read it, but I won’t trash it.” Octavia nodded in agreement. “Now, how about I go make something to eat? Or we can go out.”

“I don’t usually go out on Saturdays, so maybe we could eat here.”

“Alright. Well, I’m gonna get something cooking, okay?”

Just then, something crossed Octavia’s mind, “Wait, Vinyl,”

“Yeah?” she turned.

“Are you blind?” the cellist asked.

“What? No. Why?”

“No reason. Just go cook.” She dismissed.

Vinyl shrugged and left Octavia to practice. Well, that answers that. She thought.

Author's Note

Why did this take me so long to update? I don't know. I would say that I was busy, but that would be a very lousy excuse. I didn't really procrastinate either, or at least, I didn't mean to. I wanted to update this sooner and I don't know why I didn't do that. Oh well.

Anyway, let me know if there are any mistakes in here so that I may fix them. I'm not good at revising things when I'm tired. Strangely, I always tell myself to revise things whenever I'm tired. I should probably break that habit. It's like telling someone to eat when they just had a huge meal moments before. It's something you should do, but not at that moment, because that's simply illogical.

So yeah. That's it. I'm going to go get a cup of tea now because I'm tired, my face hurts, and I have nothing else to say. So enjoy this chapter if you can. Bye.

Chapter 3: Random Mood Swing

Monday morning was Vinyl’s first actual workday. At 5: 45, she awoke her mistress, and went down to the kitchen to prepare a nice breakfast for her. According to the random page she stopped on in the cookbook, today she would be making croissants. She prepared the dough and slid them into the oven. The unicorn made a cup of coffee with almond milk while she waited for the pastries to be done.

Once the croissants were ready, Vinyl took them out and let them cool for a while. She heard Octavia coming down the stairs, and set her coffee down on her table.

“Good morning,” Vinyl greeted with a smile.

“Good morning to you as well.”

Vinyl pointed toward the baked goods on the counter, “Uh, I made croissants. They’re almost done cooling down, but if you want a warm one, I can quickly get the cheese and daffodils out.”

“Yes, please. They smell delicious,” Octavia said, mouth watering as she relished the smell of the bread.

The pale-coated mare followed Octavia’s command and prepared a croissant for her. She placed it in front of the cellist, and afterward decided to get one for herself. She, again, stuffed the bread with cheese and daffodils.

Vinyl sat down and began to eat her own meal, while Octavia spoke, “You don’t have to walk me to the music hall this morning. I would prefer you to get as much work finished as possible.”

The mare before her swallowed before speaking, “Okay, but I am going to walk you home when you’re done there. It looks like it’s going to rain and I wouldn’t want you walking home and getting your cello, as well as yourself, soaked.”

“So it shall be,” Octavia responded. She looked at her kitchen clock on the wall, and quickly ate the rest of her croissant and downed her coffee, “I have to go. I’ll see you in the afternoon, okay?”

Vinyl levitated Octavia’s cello to her and opened the door. Octavia adjusted the instrument on her back and stormed off. “Bye, Miss Octavia,” Vinyl shouted, though she doubted the cellist had heard her.

Vinyl Scratch closed the door and got all of her cleaning utensils. The first room she cleaned was the study room. It was filled with about as many books as the Ponyville library. No, it probably had less, but it still had a lot of books.

The alabaster mare dusted the shelves, along with each individual tome. Upon swiping all the dust, she found a small book that seemed very obtrusive amidst all the filthy books. Out of curiosity, the servant took it out of its shelf and looked at it. It had a treble clef on the cover, and as she opened it, the prying unicorn could see journal entries.

Vinyl thought for a second, open journal still floating in front of her, Well, this could give me a few tips on what she expects of me…but if I find something personal in there, I’m not sure what I’d do. It’d be best if I left it alone. I mean it’s my third day here. I wouldn’t want her to think I’m a bad pony. Vinyl sighed and put the journal back in its place.

The unicorn then moved on to cleaning the music room. She carefully cleaned each instrument with pipe cleaners and polisher. Every wooden instrument shined like metal and every metal instrument shined to the point where it almost gave off its own light.

Vinyl Scratch cleaned the wooden shelves that housed Octavia’s compositions. The unicorn figured it wouldn’t be like prying into her journal. She quickly looked through the mare’s compositions. She thought they were amazing, as she imagined the music in her head. The pale mare made a mental note to ask her mistress about it later.

After a few hours, the ensemble had finally finished their practice. The four musicians were in front of the exit of the building, chatting as they always did before saying goodbye, and trying to wait out the rain. Octavia, however, wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. She was lost in thought about how Vinyl had accepted her homosexuality so easily.

“Don’t you think so, Tavia?” Beauty Brass asked, anger coating her voice.

“Hm?” the cellist blushed, realising that her friends were talking, “M-my apologies, I was thinking about something. Could you repeat that, please?”

“I said that that noise-loving club down the street is the worst place to end up at! I was trying to enjoy a simple drink from the bar, and some imbecile of a stallion comes up and asks me a bundle of sexual questions!”

“Hmph,” Frederic retorted, “Absolutely despicable!”

“Oh, but here’s the punch line,” the blue-coated mare continued, “I thought he was nice at first--before all the carnal inquiries, I mean. He said he wasn’t like the ‘other stallions.’ He kept talking about how he didn’t understand why his friends had to be so bad. And what do you know? He was only trying to sweet talk me!”

“That’s how they all are.” Harpo said, “They tell you they’re not that bad, so that you won’t feel disgusted, but they disgust you even more than before by lying to you like that!”

“Right you are,” the grey mare replied meekly.

Just then, the door opened, and a pale unicorn with an umbrella levitating beside her came in, “Hello, my lady,” she smiled.

Beauty Brass leaned in and whispered, “Octavia, who is that?”

The grey mare sighed, “She’s my new servant.”

“Your what?” Frederic asked loudly.

“My servant,” Octavia repeated. She could see the curious looks on their faces, “I would love to tell you all more about this, but I must leave now.”

Vinyl held the door open and waited for the cellist to get under the umbrella, “Do you wanna go straight home?”

“Of course,” Octavia responded as they walked down the road, “why would we do anything else in the pouring rain?”

“I don’t know. I was just offering.”

“Well, I don’t need anything, so let’s just go home,” the cellist retorted.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, until Vinyl asked, “So, how’d practice go?”

“Well. It went well,” she responded.

“Miss Octavia, are you okay?” the unicorn asked.

“I’m completely fine.”

Vinyl took a deep breath, “Alright, then.”

The rest of their walk home was silent and uncomfortable. Octavia felt rage wash over her for some reason. Her servant, meanwhile, was puzzled and melancholic about the cellist’s sudden change in demeanour. Millions of thoughts rushed through Vinyl’s head, all asking what was wrong and what she could do to make it better.

The unicorn opened the door with her magic, making sure that Octavia wouldn’t get wet when getting out from the umbrella. The servant smiled, hoping that the mansion’s neatness would please her.

Vinyl’s smile soon disappeared when Octavia looked around, shrugged, and heaved her heavy cello upstairs. The unicorn lifted the instrument up with her magic; at this gesture, the cellist nodded to her in acknowledgement and proceeded to the music room with the string instrument.

The blue maned mare desperately wanted to know what was wrong, but when she asked if Octavia needed something or if she felt all right, she was only answered with a shrug or a nod.

The cellist, as well, knew of her new behaviour. She wanted to stop, but some sort of rage stirred inside her whenever she saw Vinyl. After what Beauty Brass had said, Octavia couldn’t trust her servant. She felt like the pale mare would attack her or worse if the echelon wouldn’t make her feel scared.

And her parents weren’t exactly making things better. Everything they sent to her talked about how they wanted to see her perform but were “too busy to do so.” The mare loathed her parents and wished that they would stop sending her mail. They’ve never even been to any of her performances. If they really wanted too, they would have made time to go to one.

Days passed by, and Vinyl tried harder and harder to make the grey mare smile again like she used to, but to no avail. Saturday came and the unicorn was in the shower, wondering what she could make for breakfast. After a few minutes of thought and soap, she stepped out, dried herself off, and put on her shades.

Vinyl went downstairs into the kitchen and grabbed butter, milk, eggs, and other ingredients to make batter with. She made a creamy mixture and poured some into a pan. She let it cook on one side before flipping it. The mare continued this process until the batter ran out.

Octavia yawned and entered the kitchen, “Good morning,” she said in a bland tone.

Vinyl took a deep breath, turned around and smiled, “Good morning, my lady,” she said. The unicorn had trained herself to pull off a happy façade. Octavia didn’t complain, so she figured that she should keep it. “For breakfast, I made pancakes.”

The cellist arched an eyebrow, “Really? Pancakes? Are you serious?”

“Yeah, everypony loves pancakes!” she smiled.

Octavia groaned, “Whatever.” She sat down and sighed.

Vinyl Scratch brought her a plate with three pancakes stacked over one another, along with syrup, strawberry marmalade, honey, and cream cheese, “So, what do you want on it?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never had this kind of breakfast,” Octavia retorted.

“What!? Really? Wow, you know what? Here, hold on,” Vinyl went to the refrigerator and got a banana, two strawberries and whipped cream. She poured honey on the pancake. Then the unicorn sliced the banana and strawberries and served them on top of the whip cream she squirted on to the food.

Octavia looked at the plate before her, studying it. She grabbed her fork and knife and began cutting off a piece with a small slice of strawberry. Vinyl watched as she drew the food closer to her mouth, waiting for the mare’s reaction. The cellist chewed carefully and shrugged, “Well, it’s not all that bad.” She tried to act blasé, but her servant noticed how she ate the meal quickly and savoured every bite.

“So, did ya like it?” Vinyl asked.

Octavia nodded, “It was a nice change from the other breakfasts I’m used to.”

The white unicorn took up the plate and washed it in the sink. From her peripheral vision, she could see Octavia sulking. She decided that she would ask the mare about her behaviour, and press on the matter until she was given a decent answer.

“Miss Octavia,” she began as she walked toward the monochromatic mare, “what’s wrong?”

The cellist rolled her eyes, “You’ve asked me this a myriad of times. I’m fine!”

“You’ve answered with that every single time, but I don’t believe it.”

Octavia felt Vinyl’s hoof on hers, but the cellist quickly jerked it away, “I am fine. I promi-“

“Don’t make fake promises, my lady.” The unicorn took off her shades, her eyes were closed, but she opened them after a second. “Tell me and I will try to fix it.”

“I…” the grey mare felt Vinyl’s scarlet eyes pierce into her, “It’s just that…my father keeps asking me to visit my mother.”

“Then why don’t you go visit her?” she asked, her eyes giving off a sense of curiosity.

Octavia couldn’t look at the other mare’s intense gaze anymore. She looked down, “We always end up bickering over something.”

“Well, you can just visit her later, you know.”

The cellist closed her eyes, “The problem is, Vinyl, the more I procrastinate seeing her, the less I want to go. And I have to see her because she might…”

“Then go today.” Vinyl said, now understanding the situation, “We can buy her a nice bouquet and I’ll be there just in case things get intense.”

“Are you sure I should do this?” Octavia asked, half to her servant, and half to herself.

The mare nodded and placed her shades back on, “Yeah. Now, let’s go see her.”

After walking around the market, trying to find the most extravagant bouquet possible, the two mares grabbed a taxi, and drove to a large white building. Octavia’s heartbeat grew louder and louder the closer she got, and the smell of antiseptic didn’t calm her down very much.

“May I help you, ladies?” asked a pale-coated mare from behind a counter.

“Yes, please.” Octavia answered, “Um, we are here to see Missus Crescendo. She is my mother.”

The mare smiled, “Oh, of course. Just sign in. She’s in room 354; it’s on the third floor to the right. I believe her husband is there as well.”

The grey mare wrote her name and the time, “Thank you.” She turned to Vinyl, “Come on.”

The unicorn, bouquet in her mouth, followed her mistress upstairs. They followed the nurse’s directions and ended up in front of the room door. Octavia took the bouquet from Vinyl’s muzzle, allowing her to speak, “Are you ready?”

Octavia nodded, took a deep breath and went inside the room. She found a light grey stallion with short black and cyan hair sitting down on a chair in the corner. She put the bouquet in an empty vase and whispered, “Father? How is she?”

The stallion looked up with sad amethyst eyes, “She…probably won’t make it, sweetie. I’m sorry,” he said in his heavy Itailian accent.

“No, actually, I’m sorry,” she apologised as she looked at the bed with a sleeping mare nestled in it, “I should have visited sooner.”

The stallion got up and hugged his daughter, “It’s okay. You’re here now,” he sobbed.

The grey mare wrapped her forelegs around her father, “Daddy, I need to speak to her alone. Could you please, maybe…”

“Of course,” he said pulling away, “She really wants to hear your voice. She’s missed you.”

“I know. You told me.”

The stallion nodded and headed toward the door, “I’ll be outside, then.”

The grey stallion sniffed and saw a blue-mane pony in front of the room. He greeted her, “Hello.”

“Hey.”

“Were you…a friend of Crescendo?” he asked.

“No. I’m just Octavia’s servant. Vinyl Scratch’s the name,” she smiled.

“Ah. I didn’t know she had an employee. I’m Piano Forte, Octavia’s father,” he introduced, holding out a hoof.

“Oh, really?” Vinyl said as she shook the outstretched limb. “Huh, I thought her parents would have a Canterlotian accent like her.”

“Her mother does, but I’m originally from Itaily,” Piano explained.

“I see.”

Meanwhile, Octavia pulled up a chair next to the bed her mother was lying in. She heard her mother shuffle as she was awakening, “Octavia. What a surprise. I didn’t expect to see you. How is the music business?”

“It’s fine, Mother. I have a few shows coming up.”

“That’s nice, dear. Perhaps I can see one if it comes up on the telly,” she smiled.

“And how is it going for you?”

“Well, the doctors said I’d be out in a few months. They said I don’t even need chemotherapy. Soon, I will be able to go to all of your shows and see you more often,” she said happily.

Octavia’s face fell. How could they tell her that? “Oh…that’s great. I’m so happy you will be out of the hospit-al,” the grey mare choked a little.

“Don’t cry, dear. A lady should smile always.”

Octavia sobbed, “Mother, I need to tell you something.” The cellist didn’t know if she would see her mother again.

“Yes, Tavia? What is it?”

“I-I…I’m-“

“Don’t stutter, darling. You have to be sure of what you want to say,” her mother interrupted.

Octavia bit her lip and took a deep breath, “Mum, I’m into mares.”

Her mother’s eyes went wide, “What was that?”

“I am…into mares.”

“But what about Fine Bit? What about my grandchildren?”

Octavia shook her head, “I know you don’t like it, but I had to tell you. I don’t want to marry Fine. In fact, I’ve never felt like he wanted to marry me either.”

“Oh,” Crescendo looked down, “that’s fine, dear. This is just…a lot to take in. However, I won’t force you to marry a stallion you don’t like for my sake. All I want is for you to be happy,” she smiled as she looked at her daughter again.

The cellist began to cry heavily. She hugged her mother tightly, “Thank you, mummy. I love you so much,” she sobbed.

“I love you too, dear. You’re a good filly, and I want all of Canterlot to know it.”

The cellist pulled away, wiping a tear from her eye, “I have to go now.”

“I understand. You have to go and amaze Equestria with your music. Make me proud.”

“I will,” she smiled, “Goodbye.”

Piano and Vinyl’s conversation was interrupted by a door opening, and a grey mare coming out with puffy eyes.

The stallion went up to Octavia, “Are you alright?”

The mare nodded, “Yes. We had a nice talk.”

“That’s good to hear. Why don’t you head on home and relax? Your mother needs some rest.”

“Thank you, father,” she felt him kiss her on the forehead, and say goodbye.

Once they had signed out and exited the building, Vinyl asked Octavia, “So, did you guys get into a fight?”

“No. Actually, I told her about ‘it’.”

“Wait, you came out to her?” the unicorn asked in surprise, “Wow. How did that go?”

The cellist smiled, “Actually, it went well. She said that as long as I’m happy, she doesn’t mind.”

Vinyl noticed the earth pony’s smile and let a grin grow on her own face, “We should celebrate, then. How about we go eat somewhere nice?”

“That sounds splendid.”

After a wonderful lunch and a silent walk home, the two mares spent the rest of the day talking and working. Vinyl was cleaning around the house as Octavia took out a parchment and wrote on it.

My Dear Father,

When I saw Mother, she told me that the doctors said she would be out of the hospital in a few months. That isn’t what you told me, though. Could you please come over tomorrow if you’re not too busy and explain why she thinks this? I really hope you didn’t ask the doctors to tell her such a lie. Anyway, I hope you can see me tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Octavia

Author's Note

Bluh! I should really stop procrastinating. I'm seriously updating once a month and that's just...no. I'll try to update a bit more often, but don't count on it, because...well, I'm a procrastinator.

Anyway, here's the new chapter. Comment on any mistakes because proofreading is not my thing and...umm...yeah. I have nothing interesting to say. Have a nice day.

Catching Up

Vinyl walked into Octavia’s room and nudged her on the side until she felt the sleeping pony shuffle. After some groaning from Octavia, showing the servant that she was awake, Vinyl cantered downstairs to prepare a pot of oatmeal.

The cellist, still in her room, got out of bed and went into the bathroom, stepping into a cold shower. She quickly washed her jet-black mane, flowing tail and her always-impeccable coat. The cellist stepped out of the shower and dried herself off. Once dry, she stepped out of the bathroom and walked toward her drawer. From it, she pulled out her bowtie, tied it around her neck, and went downstairs.

Octavia looked blankly at the white mare who seemed to be pouring a form of sustenance into a bowl. She stepped into the kitchen and greeted her with her usual “Good morning.”

“And to you too, my lady.” the unicorn responded. “I made some oatmeal for breakfast. Do you want any toppings?”

Octavia sat down, “Lovely. I take mine with apple slices, if that won’t be too much trouble.”

“No problem. I was going to cut one for the both of us.” The servant picked up a half apple from the counter and began to peel it with her magic. She did the same with the other half and then diced them both. Vinyl then took one of the bowls of oatmeal and placed the apple slices on top. She repeated the process with her bowl and levitated them both to the table.

Octavia watched the steam flowing from the food. The smell of oats, milk, and apples wafted through the air, making her mouth water. She felt Vinyl sit across from her, making her jump slightly before she muttered, “Thank you for the oatmeal.”

They ate in silence for a while before the unicorn cleared her throat to grab the echelon’s attention, “So, how’d it go with your mum?”

The purple-eyed mare frowned, remembering the lie her mother had been told, “It isn’t really any of your concern.”

“Sorry. I was just trying to make small talk,” she apologised.

The cellist suddenly snapped. “Well, I don’t have time for small talk. I’m a busy mare, you know. I wouldn’t have hired you otherwise. You’d still be on the streets if it weren’t for me and my busy schedule!”

The pale-coated mare took off her shades, eyes showing the anger and despair that her voice tried to hide, “And if it weren’t for me, your mother would have died without hearing a word from you.”

“H-how do you know about that?” Octavia asked, astonished.

“Piano Forte told me. And you-“the pair of garnet eyes squeezed shut as Vinyl cut herself off, not wanting to argue with her mistress. “Never mind. I shouldn’t get so angry with you. I’m sorry.”

Octavia looked at her servant and was about to apologise as well, but she decided against it. Instead, she simply sighed, went upstairs to brush her teeth, and came back down to get her cello and head out the door.

“Get ready, I’m going to place the cello on your back,” warned Vinyl.

The grey mare felt the weight slowly settle on her back before turning around and nodding toward her servant. The door was magically opened for her, and she cantered off.

The blue-mane unicorn shut the door and returned to the kitchen. She picked up the two bowls and washed them in the sink. She didn’t even finish her oatmeal…

Vinyl Scratch put the bowls back in their place and put her purple-tinted shades back on.

Octavia arrived to the music hall with a cello and a vexed ambience. She didn’t feel like seeing the other musicians, but she couldn’t just skip practice: it would be extremely rude and her parents would ask her about it.

She walked into the room and was immediately greeted by Script, “Good morning, Miss Octavia. You look lovely today.” Script commented, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek.

However, as he reached Octavia's cheek, he was stopped by her hoof. “I’m sorry, but could you please not touch me? I have been having a bad morning and I don’t want to stay in practice any longer than I have to.”

The assistant’s gaze fell.

Noticing this, Octavia reassured him “It isn’t you, Script. It’s just one of those days. Don’t worry.”

He smiled, “Okay. I’ll try to make practice quick for you.”

“I appreciate it.”

Frederic cleared his throat, ending their conversation “Yes, well, if you two would be so kind as to do your jobs, practice might actually go by a bit faster.” His voice sounded desperate to move the duo along.

“What happened, 'Tavia?” Beauty Brass asked, “Did you have problems with the music?”

“No, not that,” Octavia sighed.

“Is it about your parents, then?” joined in Harpo.

The pianist groaned, making his presence felt for the second time. “Could we please move along? I have other errands to attend to today, and I would like to get finished quickly.”

The cellist agreed, “Yes, I think we should start practicing. I need to be alone and the sooner that happens, the better.”

The white-haired stallion silently thanked Celestia before starting everyone off. His notes were slow and dramatic, his hooves moved expertly as he closed his eyes, playing the piece by heart.

Harpo joined in with an angelic harmony as he plucked each string gingerly but with determination. Beauty Brass played her sousaphone in the most sophisticated manner possible, giving the music a nice sense of jazz, but never drowning out the two strings players.

Octavia came in with smooth, deep notes. She sped up a bit to pace the others, eventually evolving the music into a more energetic piece. Script watched with a small smile as the musicians played perfectly.

The song ended and the purple-coated assistant nodded “You are all improving very much. I think it’s perfect.” he stated to the group.

Beauty Brass sighed, “I agree that the piece is marvellous, but imagine someone singing with the music. Wouldn’t it go so well?”

The cellist felt the brunette mare look at her with pleading eyes, “Beauty, I told you that neither Harmony nor Melody will be singing.”

“But can we not at least try?” Frederic asked, “I think it would be lovely to have one of their voices join with our music.”

The irritated mare sighed, “They don’t. Want. To sing. And I will not force them to, either.” She got up and exited the room. She desperately needed to be alone.

A few hours later, Vinyl took a break from cleaning and went into the kitchen to prepare lunch. She opened the icebox to reveal only a couple of frozen artichokes at the very bottom of the box. Damn. How did I not notice that this morning? She closed it and grabbed a few bits Octavia had given her. Oh well, looks like I’m going shopping.

The unicorn closed the door and headed toward the market. She cantered down the cobblestone path until her eyes found the ornately designed stands and shops. Luckily, there didn’t seem to be many ponies around. While the mare walked toward the market, she made a mental list of what she was to purchase.

First, Vinyl Scratch went over to the carrot stand, where a lovely orange-mane pony smiled, “Hello, miss. Would you like to purchase a bundle of Golden Harvest’s carrots? They’re only two bits.”

The unicorn grinned back at the earth pony, “Yes please,” she said, pulling out two coins from the pouch and let them drop on the table.

“Thank you,” the farmer responded as she nudged the carrots into a bag and gave it to her customer.

The shade-wearing mare nodded in thanks and repeated the process with other street vendors. With all the necessary groceries at hoof, she walked around the market to browse trivial things non-sustenance related. She was nearing a music shop when she saw a pony with a strawberry coat and luscious lavender mane and tail.

The mare’s cyan eyes looked at Vinyl Scratch with delight and surprise, “Vi? Is that you?!”

The white unicorn almost dropped her bags from her aura as she galloped away from her old friend.

“Wait, Vinyl! Vinyl! VINYL SCRATCH!” the mare yelled.

The two-toned mane mare galloped as fast as she could, but the other mare’s earth pony speed caught up to her in only a few moments. She fell to the ground as the pink pony pinned her down.

“Shit. You got me.”

“You’re coming with me, Scratch. We’ve got a lot to talk about,” her assailant whispered in a staid tone.

The unicorn grunted before nodding reluctantly, “Fine. Now get off of me Harmony.”

“Follow me to the café. We’ll sit down and talk for a while,” Harmony suggested, waiting for her friend to follow along.

The servant shook her head, “No, sorry. I can’t. I’ve gotta start making lunch before Octavia gets home.”

“Octavia? The cellist? You’re living with Octavia?!” the salmon-coloured mare asked, surprised. Vinyl nodded, “How could she even talk to you for more than thirty seconds?! I mean, don’t take it the wrong way, but you two would drive each other mad in a relationship. I didn’t even know she was a fillyfooler! I didn’t know you were a fillyfooler!”

“She’s not into mares, Hormone. She took me into her house, and now I work for her to pay her back.”

“Don’t call me Hormone, Flank Scratch!” she said, hitting her friend in banter.

The unicorn chuckled, “Whatever. Anyway, I’ve gotta get home.”

Just as the blue-mane filly turned to walk, the earth pony jumped to her side, “I’ll walk you home. I want you to explain everything to me along the way.”

“Fine, whatever,” Vinyl sighed in irritation. They began to walk and the mare told her story, “Well, I was doing just fine with DJing until my bitch agent said I needed to get ready for a tour. I did, but while I was doing my part, she just took all the money I had in the bank. Then she got all of my stuff confiscated, convincing the guards that I was stashing drugs. I went to jail for a few weeks, got out, and lived in an alley for the past few months until Octavia came along.”

“And all this time you never wrote to me?” Harmony asked, a hurt tone laced into her voice.

“It’s complicated…” Vinyl replied, her sentence trailing off at the end.

“Vinyl, I can accept you not wanting to stay at my house, but you could’ve at least visited, and-“

“And let you convince me to stay? To try again? Harmony, I knew that talking to you would tempt you and Mel to get me to start playing again. I’m done, okay? I want to start over. Rub away my Cutie Mark. Start something new and hope no one remembers DJ P0N-3!” the angered unicorn interjected.

The other mare pursed her lips. She spoke again, her voice shaking, “I’m sorry, Vinyl. It’s just that…you’re my friend, and…I was worried about you. I wanted to know you were okay--if you were alive, even.”

Vinyl chuckled angrily, “Yeah? Well, I’m doing fine. I’m Octavia’s servant, I’ve got a roof over my head, and I’m eating well. How’s that?”

“You seem…angered. Is there some sort of dispute happening between you two?” the lavender singer asked, placing a hoof on Vinyl’s shoulder.

The unicorn shrugged of the limb and sighed, “Sorry. It’s just…she’s acting like I’ve done something wrong, and when I ask, she doesn’t tell me anything. I mean, the first few days, she was extremely nice, and she warned me about getting stern later, but…”

The lilac-maned earth pony smiled sadly, “It’s okay. I know Octavia. She did this to me too. There was some sort of rumour going around about Melody and me, and she just kept scowling at me all the time. We tried being nice to her, we even asked her what was bothering her so much, but she just shrugged me off.”

“What happened then?” The pale unicorn asked with curiosity.

Harmony chuckled, “One day, she just apologised to us and told us why she was so angered. We forgave her and became friends.”

“So…Octavia’s angry at me because she heard something about me?”

Her friend shrugged, “I can’t promise you that’s the cause, but I can promise that this will pass. Just give her some time.”

Vinyl Scratch nodded, noticing their proximity toward the mansion. “Okay. Thanks for taking me home, and listening to me. I…” she removed her shades and smiled sadly at her friend, “I missed you.”

Harmony felt warm tears stinging her eyes, “I missed you too.” She pulled the alabaster unicorn into a tight hug.

Once she was released, the mare nodded, “I have to go, Harmony. Could we hang out this weekend, if we’re not too busy?”

“Of course. And bring Octavia. We might be able to clear things up together, okay?”

“Alright, cool. See you then,” the servant responded before replacing her shades upon her snout, and entering the gates.

Octavia finally saw her house come into view, and sighed in relief. She couldn’t wait to rest her hooves, have a nice lunch, and perhaps get a certain issue dealt with. It truly irked her to know that her honest and loving father would lie to her mother.

The cellist sighed again, this time in frustration, and walked into her home, expecting the smell of food, but only to be greeted by the sound of bags unpacking. “Were you out somewhere?” she asked her servant.

“Hello, Miss Octavia. Here, let me help you with that.” A scarlet aura wrapped itself around the heavy instrument and conveyed it upstairs, letting it lean against the wall. “And to answer your question: yes. I was at the market getting food.”

“I see. You took a while, considering that you just got back. What held you?” she asked as she went into the kitchen to help put everything up.

“I ran into a friend. You might know her. It was Harmony,” said Vinyl Scratch.

The bowtie-wearing mare stopped for a second, “Harmony, the singer? How do you know her?”

The two-toned-mane mare walked over to the icebox to store a bundle of carrots, “Back when I was a DJ, we used to be best friends. Then my career crashed down, and I hadn’t talked to her since.”

“Why did you stop talking? Was there some sort of argument?” the musician asked, putting away a few fruits.

“No, I…I didn’t want her worrying about me, so I cut her out of my life.”

“That’s a little selfish of you,” Octavia commented.

“Yeah? Well, she would have freaked out if she found out where I had been. In a way, it’s a good thing I didn’t tell her anything.” She said as she stored away cheeses and tomatoes.

“Hm… You know, my father is coming over later,” the cellist said, changing topics.

“Really? Are you guys catching up or is it just casual?” the unicorn inquired.

“Both. We are only going to drink tea and have a few snacks. We need to talk about Mother.”

Vinyl Scratch sighed, “Hey, um, about that…I’m really sorry.”

“For what?” the echelon asked, half in anger and half in curiosity as she finished unpacking and storing.

“I know it’s tough when your parents die, and I just want you to know I’m here for you,” she assured.

“I’ll be fine. It’s not as if they were really there for me before. They’re probably just being considerate of my feelings for once. Or maybe they’re just as depressed as I am about the situation, and are not concerned about me at all,” she surmised.

“Don’t say that.” The servant tried, “You know-“

“Know they love me? Yes, of course. They love their perfect little cellist, who is absolutely successful, will marry a wonderful colt, have an amazing family, and will be remembered for generations to come. But they detest her mistakes, her sins, and every time she tried hard but not hard enough. Yes, they love me, oh so much,” she ranted.

“Miss Octavia-“

“Oh, and what marvellous choices she makes for herself. Of course she is not just her parent’s puppets,” she said in an angered mocking tone, “Oh, what’s this? It looks like a few strings are coming loose because one of the puppeteers seems to be dying. Oh, this seems to have changed the whole act. How, oh how will the perfect cellist continue to be perfect? You know what? I’m glad she’s dying! I might actually be free for once!”

“Octavia! Don’t say that!” the unicorn exclaimed before pulling the other mare into a comforting embrace.

The cellist's amethyst eyes closed, tears leaking from the shut eyelids and onto Vinyl’s coat as the cellist broke down. “I do-on’t want her t-to die, Vinyl,” sobbed the cellist, “but I don’t want my parents to control me either. What am I going to do when she’s gone? What will my father do?”

“Well, I…I know it doesn’t mean much to you,” the servant said in a soft voice, stroking her mistress’s mane, “but you’ve always got me to talk to. It doesn’t matter what you do, I’ll always be by your side. You can talk to me about this whenever you want.”

“W-why?” she sniffed.

“Why what?”

“Why do you even care ab-about all this? After I’ve b-been so rude to y-you?”

The white mare hugged her tighter, “Because, even though you push me away, I want to be your friend. Besides Melody and Harmony, you’re the only pony who’s got my back. Plus, you’re the reason I’ve got a roof over my head, and I’d do anything to pay you back. If this counts as anything, then I’ll do it. I’ll comfort you.”

The echelon continued to cry, but unlike before, these were tears of gratefulness. She buried herself into her friend’s coat, whispering, “Thank you…Vinyl, for everything.”

Author's Note

I tried to get this chapter out a bit faster than the others. Yay, productivity! Also, try not to roll your eyes at my attempts at making up insults for Harmony and Vinyl Scratch. I tried, okay? Okay.

Also, big thanks to Twilight_Scratch for editing this. You guys probably would have had to wait longer if it weren't for him, so yeah.

Okay, I'm out. Enjoy this thing.

Small Talks go Great with Tea

Suppertime came by, and Vinyl Scratch had just finished preparing the table. She placed an ornate white tablecloth over the coffee table and placed a tea set on it with three cups, just in case she was asked to join. The servant had also placed out madeleine biscuits, and some bruschetta for her mistress and guest.

Octavia walked into the living room and looked at the set, “This is perfect, Vinyl. Thank you,” she said with a forced smile.

“I tried,” shrugged the unicorn. “You ready for your dad?”

“Of course I am. He should be arriving soon.”

Vinyl stepped closer to her mistress. “Hey, if things don’t go so well, just know that I’ll be right here, okay?” she said in an assuring tone.

“Thank you, Vinyl. I’ll keep that in mind,” the grey mare smiled.

The doorbell rang, shattering the moment that the two were sharing. The servant trotted toward the entrance, to open the door for the expected visitor. Standing on the threshold, was a grey stallion with a cyan-streaked mane. “Good evening, Mister Piano Forte” greeted Vinyl.

“Good evening to you as well, Miss Vinyl Scratch,” he responded, kissing her on both cheeks.

“Miss Octavia is in the living room. Follow me, please,” she requested before turning to lead the stallion indoors.

The cellist stood up from the couch when she saw her father, “Hello, Father.”

“Good evening, my little princess,” he greeted, kissing both of her cheeks.

“Please have a seat,” she ordered. “Vinyl has prepared madeleine biscuits, bruschetta, and a simple green tea for us. You have already eaten dinner, correct?”

“Yes, don’t worry. This is perfect for me,” he said, as Vinyl began pouring tea into two cups.

“Sugar? Milk? Honey? Lemon?” the blue-mane pony asked. When she received no answer, she spoke a little louder, “Anyone?”

“Sugar and lemon for the both of us, thank you,” Octavia responded.

The white-coated mare nodded and followed her orders. Once she had poured the tea and added the condiments, she stepped back a little, “Well, I hope you both have a lovely chat. I need to go do butler stuff. I’ll still be in the nearby rooms, though, so call me if you need anything, okay?”

“Thank you. You are dismissed,” Octavia stated, waiting for her servant to leave before turning to her father, “Now, you know why I invited you here, don’t you?”

“I do, my dear,” he responded. “You are misunderstanding the situation if you think I wanted the doctors to tell your mother she would live.”

“Alright,” the mare sighed, “I’ll believe you, if you tell me who did lie to her.”

Piano took the cup of tea, and drank from it, “Surely you remember your Auntie Pearl Posh, yes?”

Octavia groaned as she brought a hoof to her temple, “Father, you are simply bantering with me, right?” she scoffed when he only responded in silence, “Really? You would let Mother’s sister do this? And you just went along with it?”

“L-listen, Tavia,” he stuttered before clearing his throat, “I had absolutely nothing to do with this, okay? She bribed the doctors to tell her she would be fine. I was against it, but…when Pearl told your mother… If you had seen Crescendo’s smile, you would have done the same thing,” he stated in a soft voice.

The cellist noticed her father’s eyes tearing up, “Father…this isn’t right. No one trusts Aunt Pearl Posh because she thinks she’s always right simply because of her wealth. You know mother would prefer the truth, and you know better than to lie about something like this!”

The stallion took a deep breath, and swallowed the lump in his throat, “Sometimes…a lie is better than the truth, Octavia. I can’t tell her now, not now when she has so much hope.”

The cellist scowled, a tear ruining her fierce gaze, “Well, if you won’t tell her, I will.”

“No!” he choked. “No, Octavia, please! I love your mother too much to let her know I lied to her.” He buried his face in his hooves and sobbed loudly.

“Listen, Daddy,” the cellist whispered, going around the coffee table to place a hoof on her father’s shoulder, “Mummy will still love you if you tell her the truth. I know it’ll be hard for all of us, but I don’t think you want her to die, remembering in her final moments that her husband had told her she would live.”

“Oh Octavia,” he whimpered, throwing his arms around his daughter, “You’re right, my darling! I sh-shouldn’t have lied to her! I feel like such a f-fool!”

“Don’t be so harsh with yourself, daddy.” The cellist cooed, running her hooves through the pianist’s mane, “Just tell her the truth. I could come with you, if you’d like. It will be tough, but she will know that we love her enough to be honest, even when the truth isn’t exactly beauteous.”

The grey stallion pulled away from the embrace, tears streaking his aged face, “Thank you, Octavia. You are the most wonderful daughter a father could ever ask for. I want you to always remember that.” He then kissed the cellist on her forehead. “Thank you for understanding.”

“That means a lot to me, Daddy,” she said with a quivering voice, fresh tears adorning her face. “I promise we will get through this, okay?”

“Of course, sweetheart,” he said before kissing her hoof. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” she whimpered before embracing her father once more.

After a few minutes of pure silence in each other’s arms, the father and daughter separated. Piano spoke barely above a whisper, “Listen, I need to go home. I have a lot of work to do. Make sure Vinyl Scratch continues to take care of you, okay?”

“Okay,” she sniffed, “thank you for coming, Father.” She led him to the door.

“Of course, sweetie. Goodbye,” he whispered before leaving.

Octavia turned around, ready to break down when she saw a pale-coated unicorn slowly stepping toward her, “Are you okay, Miss Octavia?” she asked.

“Yes,” the cellist answered said, clearing her throat. “I’m fine.”

“Hey,” Vinyl Scratch whispered, putting a hoof on the sensitive mare’s shoulder and taking her shades off, “I overheard a few bits of the conversation. You guys were talking a bit loud…If you need anything, just tell me.”

The grey earth pony’s lips trembled, “Thank you, Vinyl.” She finally broke down into tears, clinging onto her servant’s chest and sobbing wildly, “Oh, Vinyl! I-I don’t want h-her to leave me!”

The unicorn sat both of them down on their haunches and hugged her tightly, “I know, but you can’t go against fate. Still, I’ll always be by your side, Tavi.”

“Wh-what did you just call me?” she asked, confused, lifting her head to meet her friend’s face.

“Sorry,” Vinyl shook her head, “I called you ‘Tavi.’ That was really informal of me. Forgive me.”

“No, I l-like it,” she tried to say firmly, but her sobbing defeated her tone. “Keep it.”

The unicorn smiled, garnet eyes watering at the cellist’s amiability, “Okay, Tavi. I like it, too. It sounds…cute.”

The classical musician smiled, her head returning downward to Vinyl’s chest. She sighed into the mare’s fur, listening to her heartbeat, relaxing as she felt her hair being stroked by gentle, white hooves. She’s so soft, and her hooves feel like heaven in my mane! And the way she talks to me, telling me she’ll be here for me…

Octavia wanted the moment to last forever, and she would have allowed it, if she hadn’t perceived what she was doing. The earth pony opened her eyes suddenly and pulled away from the servile mare with a magnificent blush painting her cheeks. “Sorry, I just need to be alone for a while.”

The unicorn got up after her mistress, and watched her go up the stairs. She yelled, “Wait, what do I do with the food? You guys didn’t even eat anything!”

“Umm, store them in the fridge, I could eat some tomorrow for breakfast!” Octavia called back before closing the door to her room. The mare closed her door, heart pounding as if it could burst out of her chest. What was that? Some pony hugs me, and I feel like snuggling up to their chest?

Octavia wiped the remaining tears out of her eyes. She figured it would be best to go to sleep and forget the incident had ever happened. The cellist walked over to her bed, lied down, and forced herself to sleep.

The next day, the grey earth pony walked to work, argued with Beauty Brass over having the twins as singers, and walked home. She felt like life just wouldn’t let her rest for a second. She was always busy with the same things.

The cellist walked to the music room after a lovely lunch only to be pestered by the unicorn.

“Hey, Mi—Tavi, I mean, do you think we’ll be able to meet with Melody and Harmony tomorrow?”

The grey mare set down her quill, “Sure, I suppose. Will they be able to?”

The servant nodded, “Yeah, I checked with Harmony; she said they’d be able to, but only for a while.”

“Where are we going to see them?” the musician asked.

“The plaza. They wanted to go shopping,” Vinyl shrugged.

The black-mane cellist smiled, “Okay, we can go.”

“Awesome. I’m gonna go dust the shelves,” she said enthusiastically, about to walk out when a voice stopped her.

“Wait, Vinyl, I need your opinion.”

The shade-wearing mare walked backward toward her mistress in a comedic act, “Yes?”

“I made a new composition, and I want you to hear it,” Octavia requested.

The unicorn shrugged, “Alright. Play it for me.”

The strings musician smiled, grabbing her cello and setting herself up, “Okay. Now, Vinyl, take off those hideous shades; you look like a blind pony.”

The servant frowned humorously, but did as she was told. Her scarlet eyes set themselves on the cellist, waiting for the first note. Once Octavia began to play her piece, the unicorn smiled warmly. The performer closed her eyes to concentrate better.

Two minutes passed and the earth pony ceased her playing, opening her amethyst eyes again. She carefully set down her cello and turned to the spectator, “That was all I had written down before you came in. What do you think so far? Is there anything I should change?”

Vinyl Scratch brought a hoof on her chin, using her magic to levitate a quill and the parchment toward her, “Grab your cello and come here, I want to show you something.”

The grey mare did as she was told and looked over the unicorn’s shoulder, “Okay, I found it. See those three measures right there? I think it would be good if you switched this one and this one.”

“So, like…” Octavia played the improved section, “that?”

“Yeah, exactly like that. You want me to mark it down?”

“Yes, please.” she nodded, “I like it. Thank you.”

The white mare wrote down the corrections, and placed them back on the stand. She then turned to grin happily at Octavia, who was now sitting next to her.

The cellist chuckled at her silly expression after a few moments of silence, “What is it?”

“Nothing, just looking at you.”

Octavia blushed and stuttered, “Why?”

“You’d be amazed at how different the entire world looks when I take off those shades,” she explained.

“Well, of course, you dunce. You’re always wearing them as if they’re some sort of charm,” the cellist said, sitting on a nearby cushion.

“They kind of are, in a way. Still, I never realized how…purple your eyes are. I mean, I knew they were purple, but—I don’t know. I can’t really explain it.”

The echelon blushed at the compliment. “That’s alright, Vinyl. You said something about those shades being a charm. How is that?”

“Well, these things have always been with me.” she explained, looking into the tinted lenses. “And I always said they were my lucky shades, because when I was changing my image, my best show was in these. Everything would go great with these. Or, well…I used to think so before I ended up on the streets.”

“Come now, it couldn’t have been so bad. You went from living in the streets to living in a mansion.” Octavia licked her lips. “Of course, I may have been pretty harsh on you at first, but…”

“But… you trust me now, right?” the unicorn asked slowly.

The cellist sighed, feeling hesitant for a moment, “Yes. It’s true, I felt threatened by you at first, but now, I trust you the most of all ponies.”

“Why’d you feel threatened by me?” she asked.

“I don’t know, Vinyl. I guess that since I had just told you that I liked mares, I was afraid you would use that against me.”

“Octavia, listen to me,” Vinyl said in a soft, but stern voice, “I would never hurt you. I’m here to protect you.”

The cellist pulled her servant into a strong embrace. She knew that Vinyl had assured her many times that she was by her side, but Octavia loved to hear her say it. So she asked, “Why are you so concerned about me?”

“Because I—“ the red-eyed mare gulped. She felt something strange stir inside of her, but recovered after the realization, “Because I want to make sure you’re okay. That’s what I’m here for.”

Octavia drew back from the embrace in hopes of avoiding last night’s awkwardness. The small glimmer of disappointment in her servant’s eyes went by unnoticed. She cleared her throat, “Well, I appreciate your concern. I care about you too, so if you ever want to get back to your old career, don’t hesitate to ask for help.”

The unicorn nodded, “Thanks, Tavi. I’ll keep that in mind.” She got up and helped the other mare do the same

Both ponies exited the room and got back to their own works, each thinking about the other quite a lot. Of course, it wouldn’t cause any trouble. They were just sparks, nothing more…or so they thought.

Author's Note

Alright guys, don't be celebrating now. I'm still here.

Anyway, have a chapter. A nice little chapter that I had to re-write. Yay. How lovely. How lovely indeed! Also, I'd like to thank Twilight_Scratch for editing this thing.

So yes. Tea. Tea is good. As usual, I have no idea what to say, so umm...bye. Haha.

A Shopping Trip

Octavia awoke to her servant bringing her breakfast in a tray. After eating quickly, she stepped into the shower and turned on the hot water. Since she did not have work on this day, she allowed herself to relax in the heat of the water and relish the steam in the bathroom.

In the meanwhile, Vinyl Scratch was gathering a few bits from the cellist’s room into a small pouch. They certainly wouldn’t be buying too many things; it was to be a small get together, not a crazy shopping spree.

The unicorn stood by the doorway, smiling when she saw the aristocrat come down the left staircase, “Ready to go, Tavi?”

The cellist nodded and grinned back, “Of course. Let’s go.”

The two mares walked side by side with each other, walking very close together. Octavia blushed whenever the unicorn’s tail would lightly brush her own, though she told herself it was the proximity’s fault. The cellist looked at the servant, but Vinyl was simply looking straight ahead.

Octavia prayed that the question wouldn’t come off as suggestive, but she boldly asked, “Well, I’ve told you I’m interested in mares. How about you?”

“Huh?”

The cellist took a deep breath, “Do you fancy mares or stallions? I’m just wondering. You never know who might be interested in whom.”

“Well, I…” the servant thought for a moment, I’m not exactly sure. She’s cute, and all, but I don’t know. I thought colts were hot too, but I never dated a lot of them. “I’m not really sure. I haven’t really been interested in either gender for a while. I’ve thought both genders are pretty attractive, but I only dated three ponies back in school. I didn’t find the whole relationship thing all that appealing, I guess.”

“I see. Do tell me when you figure things out and become enamoured for somepony. I’d be interested on who it would be,” the classical musician giggled.

The pale-coated pony giggled back, “Alright, I will. And you? Got any special somepony you’ve been keeping an eye on?”

“Sort of…” Octavia sighed in despair, “There’s a stallion called Fine Bits that my family wants me to marry. I don’t like him, though. He can be quite arrogant sometimes. He doesn’t even like me.”

“Then don’t marry him,” Vinyl shrugged.

The cellist chuckled sadly, “I wish that were an option.”

“Have you ever thought about telling your family that you’re…?” the servant asked.

The mistress shook her head slowly, “That’s a social suicide, Vinyl. They’d tell all of Canterlot—all of Equestria some absurd rumour to keep me from ever being successful. That’s why I don’t tell them. Or anypony, for that matter.”

“Not even the twins?”

“Especially not the twins. They know my family too well, and even though I want to trust them, I can’t risk having one of them tell my family by accident. Melody might blurt something out defensively if they mention something about my arranged marriage.”

“You know, most ponies would actually be alright with you. You’re an amazing cellist and you being interested in mares isn’t going to change that. I promise I’ll get you out of that arranged marriage thing,” Vinyl vowed with a comforting smile.

“I appreciate your support, Vinyl,” Octavia said, “but you haven’t met my family. My auntie is cruel, and if things don’t go her way, she makes sure to cut off somepony from the family. It's happened before...”

“Ouch,” the servant grimaced at the thought of the cellist’s career plummeting over such a trivial thing.

It was kind of strange how no matter what law you passed, no matter how many victims gave into the hate, and no matter what you did to try to convince the world, there were always going to be those few ponies who just hated. It was in their nature, and you couldn’t do anything. Yes, Celestia had passed laws to give everypony a taste of equality, but there never is full equality. Some ponies would still discriminate by sexuality, gender, and race. It just never fades away; the disdain is always there.

Finally, the two mares reached the plaza, where they almost immediately spotted the strawberry and lavender twins. The two musicians trotted up to their friends, and greeted them with smiles.

Melody was the first one to speak, “Hey, you two. Walking awfully close, you are.”

Both the cellist and the unicorn blushed and took a side step away from each other. The servant laughed nervously, “It-it’s not what you think.”

“Guys, chill. You know she’s only being facetious,” Harmony assured.

“Yeah, I know,” Vinyl said, shaking her head. “How about we start buying a load of junk we more than likely won’t be using in the future?”

“Sounds like a plan!” Melody cheered, punching the air with her hoof.

The four mares walked along the cobblestone path together, giggling as they shared stories with one another, eyed the merchandise in shops, and ogled “cute colts,” or so Melody called them. They turned a corner when they found heaven on earth—a small music shop called “Sympony.”

The group eagerly entered the shop, relishing the smell of polished wooden instruments, the sound of a jazz record playing in the background, and the lovely shimmer that the brass instruments gave off.

A stallion wearing shades, a vest, and a tie greeted them, “Sup, fillies. Can I help you with anything today?”

“No thanks,” the blue-mane mare smiled, “We’re just gonna check out a couple of things.”

“Alright, cool. The records are back in that corner, we’ve got strings instruments over here, brass and percussion there, and DJ stuff in the far back. I’ll be at the counter, so call if you need anything,” he explained, lowering his shades slightly and giving a friendly little wink at the four customers.

“Thank you, sir,” Octavia chuckled.

“The name’s Neon Lights. But you guys can call me ‘Neon,’” he introduced himself before walking over to his post behind the counter.

The four mares began walking with the cellist having a happy thought, That Neon pony is quite disarming. There are hardly any ponies like him in Canterlot.

“Hey, Vinyl,” Harmony whispered, “Do you think he might have a thing for you? You’re totally his type.”

I take it back. He’s a jackass. I hope he gets crushed by a piano, and they burn his corpse. There is no way he could be with Vinyl. He’d hurt her, definitely! And why do I even care about that? Shut up, Octavia!

“Nah,” the she said, adjusting her shades, “He’s just friendly. Besides, I don’t go for rock n’ roll colts.”

“Oh, is that so?” Melody asked in a sensual manner, “And what type of stallion does our little Scratchie crave?”

The unicorn stuttered and blushed a little, “W-well, I’m not sure. Somepony who’s…a bit cooler.”

“Cooler!?” they all shouted in unison, though Octavia had a more outrageous tone.

Harmony cackled, “Really, Vinyl? You can’t get much cooler than that!”

“Keep your voice down, dammit!” the unicorn hissed.

“Whatever, you know you like him,” Harmony giggled.

Octavia was now blushing in jealousy. She likes “cool” ponies? How ridiculous! She belongs with somepony better! Somepony with more class! Somepony who is successful and doesn’t work in a music shop! Somepony-

Somepony like yourself?

“What!?” the cellist shouted suddenly at herself, catching the other three’s attention. “O-oh my, I apologise. I thought…I thought you said something. Um, I think I’ll browse the records for a while.” And with that, the grey mare went down an isle of vinyl records, still blushing, though now from embarrassment, and pretending to look at the merchandise.

Vinyl Scratch and Harmony went to look at a few percussion instruments to play around with, leaving Melody to follow Octavia. She made her approach noticeable so as to not startle her friend and asked, “Tavia, could I ask you something?”

The violet-eyed mare smiled and responded, “Yes, of course. Feel free to ask me anything you would like.”

Melody took a deep breath, “Do you…have a thing for that cashier?”

“A ‘thing’?” the cellist asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“Yeah, you know. A thing. Like…like, liking somepony.”

“Well, yes, of course I like him; he’s a nice gentlecolt,” she said.

“Yeah, but do you…you know, like, like-like him?” the twin asked nervously.

She asked, suddenly understanding the situation, “Why, whatever gave you such an idea?”

“Well,” Melody coughed before continuing, a sign of uneasiness, “When we were talking about that Neon Lights guy and saying how he looked good on Vinyl, you got quiet.”

“I didn’t want to joke about pairing ponies up; you know how I am about that,” she said dismissively.

“Yeah, I know. But I also know that you always laugh politely at other ponies’ jokes unless it bothers you. So obviously, it would only bother you if you felt something for him,” the teal-eyed pony explained.

The cellist chuckled, “No, no, it’s not him.” She continued to laugh lightly at the situation, digging through the records and picking a smooth jazz one out.

“Then…” Melody leaned in a little closer and whispered in the softest voice Octavia had ever heard from her, “Is it Vinyl?”

Octavia’s heart gave a particularly loud beat, a chill ran up her spine; she stopped chuckling, and let go of the record in her hoof. She swallowed, “No, it isn’t. You know I’m not into mares.”

The twin managed to see straight through the lie as if it were glass, “Octavia, I know you’re lying. You couldn’t have made it more obvious,” she whispered again, “It is Scratch, isn’t it? You can tell me, you know. I won’t tell anypony, not even Harmony.”

“Melody, I don’t have feelings for—“

“Oh please,” she interjected, “As if I didn’t notice how quiet you were, how your cheeks turned pink, or how you had to keep yourself from freaking out just from me suggesting you might like her!” she hissed. “Just admit it.”

The cellist sighed and tried to find her words, “F-fine. I…I am interested in Vinyl Scratch as…more than just a friend and servant.” Octavia blushed again and clenched her jaw.

“I’m proud of you for admitting that, Tavia,” the twin smiled, “Have you ever thought about telling her?”

“And lose the friendship I have with a mare I just met and lives with me? Absolutely not!” the grey earth pony retorted.

“She’s not the type of pony to get freaked out over something like that. It’s fine.”

The cellist shook her head, “Listen, Melody, I’m glad you accept me, really. However, you must understand that even if Vinyl would be okay with my feelings for her, I’d prefer to tell her on my own time. My enamoured state for her is new, therefore, it might just pass and all will be as it was before.”

“Octavia, come on, just let me play Cupid for once in your life!” the lavender pony whined. “You’ve never been with anypony because you were so afraid to reach out, and this could be your one chance to let your mane down and let someone make you happy.”

“Melody, she’s not even a fillyfooler!” The bow-tied mare almost screamed, “I talked to her and from what she said, she sounds like she’s not into either gender, or at least, she doesn’t think so.”

Melody sighed, “Fine, you don’t have to tell her. Still, you two are living together, so it might be better for her to be told than to find out.”

Now it was Octavia’s turn to sigh, “I…I guess you’re right. But I won’t do it right away. I’ll see where these feelings go and I’ll start from there.”

“I just got an idea!” Melody yelled loud enough that the other ponies in the store turned, “Oh, sorry, guys,” she apologised before turning back to the cellist, “You can tell her on your own time and all, but how about I ask her what she thinks of you to see what your chances are with her?”

“I…don’t know Melody. What if what she says isn’t what I am hoping for?” she considered nervously.

She shrugged, “It’s just an idea. Just please promise me that you’ll tell her sooner or later. I’d hate for you guys to get into some quarrel over it or something.”

“I’ll tell her,” Octavia promised, swallowing hard as she imagined confessing her love to Vinyl. “I’ll do it when I feel ready.”

“Okay. Why don’t we get back to those two before one of them lights the place on fire?”

The violet-eyed mare chuckled, “Good idea.”

They trotted over to the other side of the store, Melody splitting with her friend to talk to her twin and Octavia heading toward the back of the shop where her servant was. Vinyl was staring at some strange rectangular mechanism with a load of switches and buttons on top. It was black with neon blue lighting on the borders. She looked like a foal observing the biggest bar of chocolate in the world.

“Vinyl? What is this thing?” the mistress asked, eying the machine with curiosity.

The unicorn didn’t turn. Instead, she simply swallowed a lump in her throat and closed her eyes, letting a tear run down her cheek.

The cellist hadn’t noticed her watery eyes from behind the shades, thus the crying had taken her by surprise, “Oh dear, are you alright?”

The white-coated mare lifted her shades and wiped away the tear, “I’m fine,” she chuckled sadly, “This just reminds me of…who I used to be.”

“Right, your…career as a DJ and musician. I’m so sorry about that, Vinyl,” she apologised.

“Don’t worry, it’s all in the past. I just get nostalgic when I see these. It’s like when you have a really scary near-death experience; you see your life flash before your eyes, all the good times you had, right before feeling that it’s all going to mean nothing once your gone.”

The classical musician nodded, taking it all in, “I think I understand. Why don’t you get back into music, then? I’m sure your fans would love to have you back.”

“No, I don’t have fans anymore. Besides, I don’t have any great ideas for songs anymore either. I lost my inspiration along with everything else,” shrugged the melancholic pony,

“And…what did inspire you?”

“I don’t know,” she responded, “Life in general? The way everything was? Just looking at my music equipment would spark something.”

“You’ll get an idea sooner or later. I know you will.”

She didn’t say anything back.

“Hey,” Octavia called, nuzzling her crony’s cheek, grabbing her attention, “We can get you through this. I promise I’ll do everything I can to get you back on your hooves.”

“Thanks, Tavi,” she smiled appreciatively, “but don’t tell the twins about how much I miss DJing. They’ll just freak out and all that. I wanna start clean, but they'll just rush me into it.”

“Not a word shall come out of my lips,” she giggled, placing a hoof on her lips and winking.

“Guys!” Harmony called, “How about we check out the perfume shop?”

“Sure,” Vinyl answered.

The four mares were about to exit the shop when Octavia smirked and asked, “Would you all mind waiting outside? I did see a jazz album that I found interesting.”

They all shrugged and exited, leaving Neon and the cellist in the store.

“So, you want a jazz album? You want an authentic Hoofstrong one? Or maybe I could interest you in—“ he cut himself off as the customer held up a hoof.

“No, I lied about that. What I really need is that thing in the back of the shop,” she pointed at the device her servant was eyeing earlier.

“The turntables, you mean?” she nodded and he smiled, “Huh. Didn’t see you as the DJ type, miss.”

“It’s not for me; it’s for my unicorn friend.”

“Oh, okay. Well, do you want to think it over and have me reserve it for you, or pay with a cheque and have it delivered in a few days?” he asked.

“The latter. I know how badly she wants to go back to spinning records, so the sooner the better,” she sighed.

“Well, alright. Just sign here and make a cheque to Sympony and give us your address. You can have it whenever you want.”

“Do you think,” she began while writing, “a fortnight from now will work?”

Neon Lights shrugged, “Yeah, sure. Thanks,” he smiled, taking the paperwork. “I’ll tell the delivery colts to have it there by then for ya. Is that all?”

“Yes,” Octavia grinned gratefully, “Yes, thank you so much!” she probably would have hugged the cashier then and there, but she didn’t want to make things awkward. Instead, she walked toward the door.

“Alright then,” he giggled, “Have a nice day, miss!” he yelled as the cellist exited the store.

“Did you find the album you wanted?” Vinyl asked once she saw the aristocrat.

“Album? Oh!” Damn it! I should have known they would ask about it! “Well, I wasn’t really sure about it so I decided not to buy it in the end.”

They all shrugged and continued walking together. Melody walked over to the cellist, “That album thing was a load of bullshit, wasn’t it?”

She gasped a little, “Was it really that obvious?”

“Nah,” the diva waved a hoof, “I just know how to read you like a book,” she chuckled before asking. “So…what was it? Did you warn the dude to stay away from Scratch?”

“What? No! I ordered something. I asked about a specific violin, but he said I could only have it delivered. I just went with that instead,” she lied.

“Ah, you wanna try the violin, huh? That’s cool, I guess.”

Octavia nodded, and they continued to walk around. After so long, the twins were finally reunited with their beloved DJ. Octavia had found Vinyl, and Vinyl had found Octavia. Being happy in each other’s company was all that they could ask for right now. It was simply the best thing in the world to the four mares.

Once they arrived at home, the cellist held the door open for her servant, who was carrying loads of bags with her magic. They were finally alone and giggling with each other over the silly get-together. It was past noon and they were ready to just relax for the night.

“Hah. ‘Not a shopping spree’ my flank! Do you see all of this!?” the unicorn cackled, shaking the merchandise lightly in her aura.

“And they said it would be for a short while? Pshaw! We might as well have stayed until midnight!” the grey pony bantered.

The servant smiled, “It would have been awesome to walk around until midnight, but according to my hooves, I’ve had enough fun,” she shifted from hoof to hoof exhaustedly.

“Well, we still have the rest of the night. Have you finished your chores?” the cellist asked.

“Yeah.”

“Then how about accompanying me while I practice for my show next week?” the classical musician offered.

The unicorn smiled, “Sure, let’s go.”

They climbed the stairs on the left and Octavia played for Vinyl, who corrected her on some parts. It was fun, being in each other’s company. Just them. It was a different kind of fun. The kind that makes you giggle because you’re not sure if you’re in love or not. Do you even love the pony you’re with? That’s why you giggle—it’s funny that you don’t know that, and even funnier when Cupid hits you on the head and tells you.

Author's Note

I don't usually go shopping unless I'm just accompanying someone else. Women's clothes stores scare me. Actually, all clothes stores scare me... The people employees aren't always so friendly. Maybe the next time I go to a store, I should give the cash register person a sticker. Maybe that will cheer them up?

Anyway, another chapter! Yay.

Silly Tavi, you're a terrible liar. Melody's just being nice.

Also, thanks to Twilight_Scratch for editing.

Peace. :3

An Announcement

Octavia was sleeping soundly in her bed, no dreams, no thoughts, only sweet respite in her soft, warm bed. She felt a soft nudge on her side, gently requesting her to wake up.

Violet orbs fluttered open, squinting as they were no longer protected by the shelter of their eyelids. The grey mare groaned as she stretched, relishing the sounds of her limbs popping. Her family had always told her it was unruly of her to do so as a child, though they eventually stopped scolding her for it as she grew older. In a way, she takes even more pleasure in popping her joints since it reminds her of her minor rebellion against her parents’ expectations.

“Tavi, hey,” a voice called, interrupting her thoughts, “Guess what today is?”

Octavia turned toward the source of the soft voice, “What day is it?”

Vinyl chuckled and whispered into her ear, “Your show at the twins’ theatre is tonight, remember?”

The sleepy pony bolted upward, almost hitting her servant with her head in the process, “Oh my, that is true. I have a show tonight! Oh, I should get ready!”

The aristocrat jumped out of her bed in the most ceremonious way possible and headed toward her closet. The unicorn used her magic to hold her down by the tail, “Whoa, Tavi, the show’s at night. It’s only seven.”

The earth pony took a deep breath as her tail was released, “Right, I know. I’m sorry, I just got really excited for a moment.”

“It’s fine. Anyway, I’ve already got some pancakes ready in the kitchen.”

“Wonderful, I’ll just freshen myself up and head down when I am ready,” Octavia planned before heading toward her bathroom, leaving Vinyl to head to the kitchen.

After a few minutes, Octavia entered into the kitchen with an overly gracious walk, the way she did whenever she was nervous. It was a way for the cellist to put herself above fear, as if to show that fear was only for the hoi polloi, and not for the upper crust.

The servant noticed this and rolled her eyes behind her shades. She chuckled, “What’s with the princess-walk you’re doing there?”

Octavia blinked, “I beg your pardon?”

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it. Pancake?” she offered.

“Yes, I would like mine with bananas, strawberries, and whipped cream,” the cellist requested with a posh tone.

The blue-maned unicorn giggled, “Tavi, are you nervous?”

The earth pony gasped lightly and put a hoof on her chest, as if hurt, “Why, I haven’t the faintest idea what you are talking about.”

“Hey, it’s alright if you’re a little anxious. Performing does that to you. There’s no shame in it.”

Octavia smacked her lips in defeat, “Well, maybe I am a little nervous, not a whole lot, though. After all, it’s the twins’ theatre. All will be fine.”

“I’m glad you’re thinking positively. You’re comfortable with all the songs, right?” Vinyl asked.

“Oh, I practically know them by heart. I just have a tad bit of stage fright is all,” she admitted with her ears down in shame.

“Hey, it’s totally fine,” Vinyl reassured. “Everyone gets nervous sometimes. Those who admit they’re afraid, though, are stronger than those who deny it,” she winked.

The cellist giggled lightly before she softly said, “Thank you, Vinyl.”

“No problem. Now, how about we go over those songs one last time and then relax until night comes?” the unicorn suggested.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

And so, the two mares spent the first hours of the day preparing for the impending show. Eventually, night covered the sky with its queen, a large white pearl, governing her small, glittering, diamond subjects with strict order, yet still managing to seem the most appealing. Maybe there was some sort of subliminal message Princess Luna was trying to get across when she made the night. Or maybe it was just coincidental and it was simply Octavia’s mind changing the meaning of the night’s masterpiece.

However, Octavia did not believe in coincidences.

The cellist was clothed in a fair purple draped dress, something that would not distract her from her playing, but would not seem so tawdry that the media would get anything out of it. As for Vinyl Scratch, she was wearing a light blue secretary-esque coatdress with a ruby necklace adorning her neck. There was a soft silence between the two as they rode in the carriage. It was one of the fancy kinds that could make anypony seem like royalty.

“You know, my family is going to be at the show,” Octavia stated, never looking away from the night sky.

The unicorn looked at her with confusion, “Really? Even your parents?”

“No, my father said he was tired and my mother is not allowed out of the hospital. Only a few family members will be attending. Two aunts and two uncles, maybe even my cousin. They’re usually very nice to me, though.”

“Awesome. I might meet them at the show, then,” Vinyl said as the carriage came to a stop.

“Miss, we have arrived,” one of the stallions announced.

The white mare stepped out first before and then held out her hoof to help Octavia out. She then gave the stallions the amount of bits owed and took Octavia’s cello out of the carriage.

The cellist led her servant to the front entrance, where two royal guards were standing. Upon seeing her face, they nodded to each other and opened the door. Vinyl Scratch stepped inside after the aristocrat, looking around the magnificent theatre.

The hall was made of alabaster blocks of polished stone and the chandeliers hanging overhead were made of diamonds. There were replicas of famous paintings and sculptures around the hall. Vinyl felt slightly out of place, but her thoughts were washed away when a sort of weight seemed to have been lifted from her back.

“Hello. Equestria to Vinyl Scratch,” Harmony said, tapping the unicorn’s horn.

The blue-maned pony snapped out of her trance, turning to see that an employee was taking the cello backstage. She turned back, “Oh, hey Harmony. Sorry, I was just…looking around. This is the first time I’ve been to your theatre.”

“Oh, you’re right!” the earth pony perceived, “Well, what do you think?”

“It’s really…fancy.”

“Mm-hmm, but you know what isn’t fancy?” Melody chimed in, hoof ready to yank off her friend’s shades, “These.”

“Hey, no!” Vinyl smacked away the lavender mare’s hoof away. “I’m keeping these on. You know how I feel about my shades.”

“Vinyl, Octavia’s family will be attending, and believe me,” Harmony said, “They’re not the type of ponies who approve of tinted shades.”

“Well, it’s not like I give a shit about what they think. I’m not here to impress them; I’m here for Octy,” she argued.

“Please, it’s just for one night,” Harmony coaxed.

Unaware of the whole situation, Octavia cantered right in front of her servant and took off her sunglasses, “My apologies, Vinyl, but you must understand that my family believes it is inappropriate for a pony to be wearing these indoors. I promise, though, I will give these back to you as soon as possible. I understand how much these mean to you.”

The unicorn squinted while adjusting to the light. She looked at the aristocrat with large garnet eyes and smiled sheepishly, “Yeah, I get what you mean. It’s fine. My eyes match the necklace anyway, so I guess I’ll survive.”

The cellist thanked her servant for understanding and walked backstage. The twins exchanged looks and then looked at Vinyl with suspicion.

“What?” she asked.

Both of them shrugged before Harmony walked off to help Octavia set up. Melody made sure no one was around and asked in the softest voice she could manage, “Can I ask you a few things?”

“Shoot.”

“Is Octavia nice to you?” the lavender mare began, hoping to ease her way through her plan.

“Yeah,” the unicorn casually answered, “I mean, she used to be a bitch, but she was just worried about her mother. We’re all good now.”

“Huh, I see,” Melody commented, placing a hoof on her chin in a thoughtful manner, “And…when did she stop being a pain?”

Vinyl shrugged, “Umm…I guess it was when I told her that I’d always be there for her?”

“Okay, well, what do you think of her now?” the earth pony asked eagerly.

Instead of answering, the blue-maned pony asked, “Hold on, where are all these questions coming from?”

“I’m just curious,” she said honestly. “So, once more, what do you think of her?”

“Umm, she works really hard, she’s really generous, and I kind of owe my life to her, even though she won’t let me do anything to repay her.”

“Well, yeah, that, but what does she mean—“

Suddenly, Harmony shouted from backstage, “Hey, you two get your flanks over here before I grab Octavia’s cello and beat you with it!”

“Dear Luna, we weren’t even talking for that long,” Melody murmured before both mares followed the voice.

Vinyl eyes widened when she saw a mare with a blonde mane and purple eyes, “Oh, Missus Lyrica Lilac! Hello! I didn’t think you would be here,” she greeted nervously.

“Vinyl, relax,” the older mare said, “You may call me Lyrica.”

“Mum, why are you here?” Harmony inquired, “I thought you would only take care of the show.”

“What? Can’t a mare wish her daughters’ friend good luck?” she looked at Octavia.

“Oh, well, thank you, ma’am,” the cellist responded.

Lyrica sighed in disappointment, “All I want is for you all to not be so formal with me. I really don’t mind you calling me by name. Is it because of my age? Is that it? Well, I can be a fun pony at times. I’ll have you know, one time, when Vinyl was still—“

“So, is Octavia’s family here yet?” Harmony interrupted.

The older mare shook her head, “No, they are yet to arrive. And please, Harmony, do not interrupt me when I am telling a story.”

“Forgive me.”

“So anyway, where was I? Ah, yes! Well, Vinyl came to me once when she was still spinning records and all.” She looked at the unicorn, “Oh, don’t you remember? You were asking for some advice on how to get more publicity and I remember Harmony—“

“Okay, mum,” Melody interjected this time, “Thanks so much for all of your support. We’ll see you at the show, but right now, we need to help Octavia get set up.” The twin pushed her mother out of the room.

“Oh, well. Goodbye and good luck, Octavia!” she said, exiting the area.

Melody closed the door and sighed, “Thank fuck. I can’t deal with that right now.”

“Are you okay, Vinyl?” Harmony asked, placing a hoof on her friend’s shoulder.

The white mare shrugged her off gently, “Don’t worry about it, Hormones. I’m fine.”

“What was she about to say?” Octavia asked.

Melody looked at her, “My mother never really forgave Scratch for disappearing like she did.”

“What? She’s still not over that?” Vinyl asked. “She seemed completely fine.”

“No, Vinyl,” Harmony assured, “That’s exactly how she starts. Mother just brings up the memory and then starts talking about how great you were, and how you just cut us out of your life.”

“I didn’t cut you guys out!” The blue-maned mare yelled, earning her a few looks telling her to be quiet, “I didn’t. I just—I had to think about stuff, okay? I didn’t mean to hurt you guys, but…”

“Vinyl,” Harmony began, “I understand that you were in a very complicated situation and that you were frustrated about it. And I get that you didn’t mean to cause any harm. But, you really hurt me. You hurt all of us, badly. We would have been there to help you out of the situation, and using your pride as an excuse to decline our help was—“ she sobbed before she could finish.

Vinyl’s eyes misted. She walked over and pulled Harmony into a tight embrace, “I’m sorry. I really am.”

“Guys, let’s just forget that ever happened, okay? Vinyl’s back, Octavia’s show is in a few minutes, and we’re supposed to be supporting her,” Melody reminded.

Harmony reluctantly pulled away from the unicorn and looked at the cellist, “I’m sorry you had to see that, Octavia. I really do hope you do your best during the show.”

Octavia tried her best to forget what had just happened, “Thank you. I’ll try.”

And so the theatre filled up. With grace and elegance, aristocrats poured in through the door and sat themselves down in their designated seats. They conversed among themselves as they waited. Diamonds, the latest scandals, and the wealthiest ponies—this was all they ever talked about.

Ten minutes of light chatter passed by and the twins decided it was time. Melody and Harmony came out from backstage with their mother. They looked around, waiting for a few ponies to look at

them and spread silence throughout the theatre. Then Lyrica then tapped the microphone three times to catch the remaining ponies’ attention.

The older diva and composer smiled warmly at the crowd and greeted, “Welcome, ladies and gentlecolts, to Thalamos Theatre. Tonight we have a special guest with us.”

Melody joined in, “She’s known all over Equestria as one of the best cellists and is a very special friend of ours.”

“Please put you’re hooves together for Octavia,” Harmony finished before the trio exited the stage.

A few ponies applauded in unison as the mares hurried to join Vinyl Scratch in their reserved balcony. The unicorn smiled at them as they came by.

Harmony sat by her side and whispered to her, “You see those ponies sitting in the balcony across from us?” Vinyl nodded. “That’s ‘Tavia’s family.”

The servant was about to respond, but instead looked to the stage, for the ponies had stopped clapping and the red curtain was rising. She squinted to get a better look at the cellist, but couldn’t see much of her. Lyrica handed her a pair of opera glasses, and Vinyl nodded at her with appreciation.

There was a temporary eternity of silence. Nothing but one’s own breathing could be heard. And then, the first note was played. From it, a beautiful prelude sprouted like a mustard tree from the ground. The melody was slow, easing the crowd into focus, especially Vinyl. She scrutinised the cellist with her utmost absorption.

The introduction was soon over and the next song began. This one was a bit faster. Octavia’s servant was very interested, her focus momentarily broken by Melody sneezing. “Bless you,” Vinyl whispered. She was about to turn back to the stage when she saw something a bit odd; Right across from them, none of Octavia’s kin were paying attention to the music. They were simply conversing amongst themselves. A mare from the group laughed a bit too loudly, the sound perturbed Vinyl and made her clench her jaw.

The blue-maned pony decided to pay them no mind and simply turned back to the musician. She pressed her eyes against the opera glasses and listened closely to the music. There was a particular nocturne that brought a few tears to her eyes. She wiped them away quickly, trying her best to avoid making a scene.

Once the show was over, Octavia bowed, and everypony applauded as loudly as they could. Vinyl smiled and the family of divas made their way back to the stage as the curtain was lowered.

Melody, Harmony, and Lyrica Lilac gave a small speech, thanked their audience and Octavia for coming, and bid everyone a good night.

Octavia stepped into the backstage room and wiped the sweat off of her face with a warm towel, which was ready for her on top of a table. The mare put the massive cello away and lied down on the couch.

After a minute or so of relaxation, her friends came in to congratulate her. They all beamed at her, and she giggled at all of their compliments.

“Octy, that was amazing!” Vinyl squealed in admiration. “Guess all those hours of practice really paid off, huh?”

The cellist blushed at the compliment, “I suppose so.”

“Seriously, though,” Melody said, “The crowd went wild. You were great out there.”

“Indeed she was,” said a mare standing at the entrance, a stallion in a vest standing beside her. Everyone turned to her, all but Vinyl staring in fear as they watched the pony step forward.

Octavia regained her composure and kept a straight face. “Aunt Pearl Posh, how lovely it is to see you. Did you enjoy the show?”

“Oh it was marvellous, my dear. I was completely in a trance with your music.” Vinyl scrunched her face in disgust at the lie.

“I’m glad you liked i—“

“Yes well, Fine Bit and his family were here as well,” she interrupted.

Octavia internally gagged, “How nice. Did he also enjoy my playing?”

“Yes, but he was disappointed by a few flaws in your performance,” the mare said matter-of-factly, “I didn’t exactly notice, but he does have a very keen sense of hearing. Oh, who knows? Maybe once you two are married, he can help you with your music and you will truly be the best in the world.”

Vinyl Scratch gave a snort of anger, which went by unnoticed as Lyrica butted in, “Oh, and where is the rest of the family?”

“I was only able to get myself past the guard. You know how security is in these opera houses.” Pearl cleared her throat, “Enough with the chatter now, I come bearing news.”

“What sort of news?” Melody inquired.

“Sad news, I suppose. Nothing much, however; you’ll be fine.” The older mare turned toward her kin, “Now Octavia, I’m afraid that your mother has passed on.”

What?

Octavia wanted to scream. She wanted to slap her aunt and run off. She wanted to say it wasn’t true, but she knew she couldn’t. Not in front of Pearl Posh. The cellist raised her eyebrows and nodded, “I see.”

Pearl Posh stared at her for a moment. Waiting for one simple thing. And she practically beamed when she saw it—Octavia’s eyes became glassy with tears. Behind her façade that Octavia has built up, she was completely shattered. “Oh my, how late it is! I’m afraid I must go. Grey,” she called to her butler, “let us go now.”

The mare left, shutting the door with a slam. The silence that followed lasted for a few seconds until a certain unicorn yelled, “I’m gonna fucking rip her head off!” and began to run toward the door, only to fall to the ground as Harmony grabbed her tail. The white unicorn looked at her friend, who was giving her a look that begged her to keep calm. She took a deep breath and put a foreleg over Octavia, “Hey, I’m really sorry about…”

The cellist simply sniffed and nudged her off. She walked over to a table where Vinyl’s shades sat and gave them to her, “Here. Thanks for keeping them off for tonight.”

Melody was about to hug her friend, but was stopped by a grey hoof against her chest and the shake of the mare’s head. The diva sighed, “Octavia…”

“No, I’m fine. Worry not. I simply…need to go home,” she looked at her servant, who was already getting her cello.

“Okay, well,” Lyrica began, “If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I shall keep that in mind.”

“You ready?” Vinyl asked, and Octavia nodded.

The two said goodbye to the others and went outside, where their carriage was waiting. Vinyl helped Octavia get inside and had the driver help her with the cello. Half way along the silent ride, the unicorn heard soft sobbing from her mistress.

“Octavia,” Vinyl began, “we should talk.”

The grey mare shook her head whilst staring at her hooves, and with a thick, melancholy tone replied, “Not now, please. I want to wait until we are safe at home.”

The blue-maned pony nodded and kept silent until they were finally at the mansion. She opened the door for Octavia, ready to say something, but as she looked at her lifeless eyes, Vinyl decided to keep quiet.

In the end, they didn’t talk that night. Both mares just went straight into their beds, exhausted yet sleepless. Vinyl Scratch tried to close her eyes but couldn’t as she heard muffled sobbing coming from the room next to hers. Deciding that she couldn’t just lie in bed while Octavia was breaking down, she slipped out of her room and gently opened the door to her mistress’s room.

The cellist spoke first, “I—I’m sorry. Did I—Did I wake you?”

Though Vinyl couldn’t see her face, the heavy sobbing in her speaking made it obvious how much of a mess she was. “No, I was already awake. I’m just checking to make sure you’re okay.”

“Vinyl, ple—please…I really do not want to talk about it right now,” Octavia begged.

The unicorn slowly reached out her foreleg, stopping when she felt her hoof come in contact with Octavia’s luscious jet-black hair, and began caressing the locks gently, “We don’t have to talk, but I think I should stay here with you…if you want.”

The cellist responded by grabbing the hoof that was tangling itself in her mane and yanking Vinyl Scratch toward herself, pulling her into a sudden embrace. “Please do.”

The unicorn squirmed out of the tight hug and tucked Octavia into bed, letting herself lie down next to her afterwards. The cellist placed her head under her servant’s chin and sighed in content.

Vinyl Scratch listened to Octavia’s breathing as it went from sobbing, to uneven breaths, to silent snoring. She tenderly nuzzled the top of the grey mare’s head and whispered, “Sweet dreams, Tavi. I love you,” into her ear. Though she was a bit shocked about the last part, Vinyl had no time to discuss it with herself as she sank into a deep sleep.

Author's Note

This is a relatively sad chapter, so I don't want to say anything stupid and ruin the mood here...

Thanks to Twilight_Scratch for editing yet another chapter.

Let's Have Lunch Together

Octavia inhaled deeply, a subconscious habit, before slowly opening her eyes. The smell that filled her nostrils was not the usual morning scent of fresh sheets. Rather, the mare could smell a faint scent of another pony, and she could see nothing more than a wall of white fur. Furthermore, she felt a set of hooves around her.

Startled, the cellist tried to squirm out of the embrace, but stopped when she remembered everything about last night.

Mother… she thought, I’m not sure what astonishes me more—mother’s passing, or the way that Aunt Pearl told me about it as if it were something trivial. At least the twins and Lyrica were concerned about me. I should let them know I’m alright when I get the chance. Right now, however…

Octavia buried her face into Vinyl’s chest with a sigh of satisfaction. Just as she made herself comfortable, the other pony began to shift. The grey mare moved away from her servant, and got to a position where she could see her at eye level.

“You’re awake?” Vinyl asked the obvious. Receiving a nod, Vinyl fell back into the bed “Shit, I must’ve fallen asleep again.”

“Were you awake earlier?”

“Yeah,” the servant said, “I was going to leave you here to sleep in while I made breakfast, but I guess I just couldn’t get up and leave you.” She removed her hooves from her mistress and began to get up, “I’m so sorry about that, my lady. I’ll just—“

Octavia grabbed her hoof, “Stay.”

The servant looked out the window, and then at Octavia, “But it’s already elev—“

“Please, just stay,” the mare begged in a small voice. “I don’t want you to do anything but lie here with me right now.”

“Okay,” the blue-maned pony whispered. She lied back down next to the mistress, and wrapped her forearms around her again.

This is nice, Octavia thought. I wonder if she would be mine if I requested her to do so—no wait, what am I thinking!? That would be abusing my authority over her. Maybe if I just…asked her to dinner sometime, and then I could see how that turns out…yes. I think that would be nice. She buried her snout into Vinyl’s chest.

“Tavi,” Vinyl spoke, interrupting the mare’s thoughts, “Do we have anything to do today?”

“I don’t…believe so. The last time I checked my schedule, I didn’t see anything planned for today,” she answered, her voice muffled by the fur covering her face.

“Okay. I just wanted to make sure you’re not working when all…of this is going on,” Vinyl said slowly, making Octavia cringe at the memory of Aunt Pearl Posh’s news.

“I guess so. If I’m honest, I really don’t feel like doing anything at all. I just want to lie here in my bed until I die too,” the cellist whispered.

The servant propped herself up on one elbow and stroked the musician’s mane, “Don’t say that.”

“Well, what else do you want me to do?” Octavia retorted in a weak voice, “You said yourself that I shouldn’t work right now. And there’s really nothing left for me to do.”

The servant stayed quiet for a moment, ceasing her caressing motions to concentrate on her thoughts, “Hmm…how about tonight, we go watch a play or something? I know an awesome place we can go to.”

Octavia shook her head, “No, thank you. I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think I want to get out of the house today.”

“Yeah, I understand,” the unicorn nodded, imagining Octavia breaking down in the middle of a restaurant. “Okay, in that case, let’s just stay in and I’ll—“ The doorbell chimed, interrupting Vinyl Scratch and forcing her to get out of the bed, “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”

The unicorn trotted downstairs and got to the door after the third ring. She opened it and was immediately greeted by the mailmare, “Good morning, Miss Octavia’s butler.”

“Derpy, my name is Vinyl,” she giggled.

“Oh yeah, I forgot,” Then the pegasus leaned in close to the white-coated mare, scrutinizing her and then whispering, “Don’t be alarmed, Vinyl, but I think your shades ran away.”

“My wh—“ the unicorn touched her snout, but didn’t feel her adorning spectacles. Aw, son of a b— “Oh don’t worry, I just left them upstairs. Anyway, what’ve you got for me?”

“Umm…Oh! A lot, actually, since your deliveries were delayed.” Derpy reached into her satchel and pulled out a myriad of cards and letters addressed to Octavia. “And you also have a package.”

Vinyl looked around once she had all the mail in her magic grip, “Where?”

“Oh, the delivery stallion has it. He’ll be here shortly.”

“Delivery stallion, huh?” the unicorn mused, “Do you have any idea of what the package has inside?”

“Nope,” the pegasus responded with a smile.

The sound of grunting and heavy hoofsteps took Derpy’s attention away from Vinyl and to the stallion walking up to the house. He was a large, well-built earth pony carrying a large box on his back. Derpy stepped aside to let him past, and he gently slid the package onto the floor, asking Vinyl, “Is there a certain room you want this in, miss?”

The garnet-eyed mare squinted at the box with confusion before responding, “No, I think I can handle it on my own. Thank you very much.”

“It’s no problem,” he bowed his head and went out the door.

“Oh wait, sir!” Derpy called out, searching through her satchel, “Please have one of Derpy Hooves Postal Service’s special muffins. I made an extra batch of banana-nut today.”

“Thank you, Miss Derpy Hooves,” he smiled, accepting the pastry from her hooves. “Oh, and uh…excuse me, miss?” He turned to Vinyl.

“My manager just wanted to make sure that you did want this package delivered by today and not last week, correct? I know that the delivery time was changed, so I we just want to be sure.”

“Uh…well, I don’t really know. I think this is for my employer. Don’t worry about it, though. It’s all good.”

“Alright then, thank you.” the stallion shrugged and walked away.

“Oh, and this one for you,” Derpy said, turning back to Vinyl with a muffin.

Vinyl took the baked good in her magical grip and thanked the mare before waving goodbye and shutting the door.

The unicorn trotted upstairs to her mistress’s room and knocked before entering, “Hey, I got you a banana-nut muffin.”

Octavia sat up on the bed and smiled as the muffin magically set itself in front of her, “Oh, thank you. I’m assuming the mail came in, finally?”

“Yes. You have mountain of letters waiting for you downstairs…and a package.”

“A…package?” the grey mare asked suspiciously, hoping that Vinyl hadn’t opened it yet. “Would you happen to know what it is?”

“No, but I could go check right—“

“No!” she yelled, startling her servant, “No,” she repeated in a calmer voice. “I…um, I will take care of it later. It’s that…violin I ordered at the music shop.” And it’s a bit late… I wonder why that is.

“Oh, okay."

“Anyway, I should just check all those letters you were talking about earlier,” Octavia bolted past Vinyl and trotted downstairs.

“Is there something about that box that I should know about?” The other mare shouted. Receiving no response, she grabbed her shades from the nightstand and put them on before following her mistress.

Upon entering the living room, the servant found Octavia sitting in front of the cobblestone fireplace searching through the letters. “They’re all from ponies that my mother knew. One of them even spelt my name incorrectly.” She sighed, “I should just throw these all away…”

Vinyl Scratch leafed through the pile and found an envelope with a golden wax seal on it. “Wait, this one’s from your dad.” She opened the letter and peaked at its contents. “I think it’s a copy of your mother’s will.”

The earth pony grabbed the envelope and laid it out on the coffee table. “There’s another note from my father. Could you take a look at the will while I read my father’s note?”

Vinyl shrugged and took the will, while Octavia began to read:

Dearest Octavia,

I hope you read this before Pearl Posh tells you. This is very hard for me to say, but your mother passed away this morning. I’m so sorry that you have to go through this, but just remember that she loved you very much, and so do I. If you would like to talk more about this, then feel free to visit me at any time.

Anyway, the hospital was able to make copies of your mother’s will. I figured you should have one so you know what is going on.

Take care and stay strong, sweetheart.

Sincerely,
Your father.

Octavia reread a few bits of the letter. She wiped away the tears that formed as she was reading and sighed.

“Umm…Octavia, you told your mother you weren’t into stallions, right?” Vinyl Scratch asked.

“Yes, I did. It was the same day that you came with me to the hospital,” she responded.

"How long ago do you think this will was written, then?”

“Why are you asking that?” the mistress inquired with a tone of worry.

The unicorn handed her the will, “It says there that you’re supposed to marry some guy named Fine Bit. Third paragraph.”

“What!?” all feelings of sorrow were replaced with disgust. Octavia read quickly through the will and then shouted, “Are you fucking joking!? …And what’s this part that all of her possessions and money will go to the members of the family who ‘deserve it?’ My father should be the one looking after her things! This is just…so absurd!” Octavia slammed the paper on the coffee table and sat back on her haunches.

Vinyl Scratch glanced at the envelope and frowned before embracing the grey mare as she started to cry, “Maybe she just wrote it a while ago and never got to rewrite it.”

“But that still means that I have to marry that arrogant bastard!” she sobbed.

The unicorn nuzzled her cheek, “I’m sorry. But…maybe he’s not that bad and he’ll let you see other ponies or something.”

“Don’t be dense. I'm still expected to have foals with him.”

With nothing left to say, Vinyl simply held Octavia closely. I can’t believe all of this is happening to her. I should really do something for her, but…what? It’s not like I could take her out somewhere because she might break down and cry. Maybe I could distract her with something like her music… “Hey, Tavi.”

The earth pony looked up at her servant, “Yes?”

“How about we go up to the music room and you can play your cello?” she suggested.

Octavia sniffed before letting go of the other mare. “I don’t really feel like playing…”

“Then…what if I played something for you?” Vinyl tried again.

The mistress sighed and shrugged, “Okay. I kind of want to hear you play.”

“Let’s go then!” the unicorn said before leading Octavia to the music room.

Once inside, Octavia closed the door and watched the other mare browse through all the instruments. She seemed to be taking each and every single one into deep consideration. Finally, Vinyl looked at a tuba and gasped with excitement. She showed it to the earth pony with pleading eyes, begging her to say yes.

The grey mare rolled her eyes playfully at Vinyl’s antics and approved, “Alright, but only if you clean the mouthpiece extremely thoroughly once you finish.”

Vinyl squealed in delight and blew into the massive instrument to test it. Satisfied with the deep, loud result, she began to play the Pony Pokey. The unicorn tried her hardest to play the instrument while holding it, but since she was unaccustomed to playing the tuba, her cheeks began to turn red from exhaustion.

With one last long note, Vinyl Scratch finished the song, her face purple and her breaths short and desperate for air. Once she recovered, she looked at Octavia and struck a pose, panting, “…Ta-da!”

The earth pony stared blankly for a small moment before she threw a tremendous laughing fit, “You-you should have seen your face! Ha-ha, that was absolutely hilarious!”

The unicorn put down the tuba and started to chuckle herself, gratified that she was able to make Octavia feel better. The servant brushed her mane out of her face and regained her composure, “Heh, I’m just getting started…”

They spent the next few hours together playing random songs on instruments, laughing with each other, and forgetting the reason why they started doing this in the first place.

When Vinyl was about to try out the accordion, the doorbell rang. Both of them stared at each other in confusion before Vinyl went down to answer.

The unicorn poked the bridge of her snout to make sure her shades were there this time before opening the door. “Umm…hello?” she asked, confused at the sight of a scrawny, orange stallion next to another more handsome indigo stallion in a suit. “Can I help you?”

“Yes, you can,” responded the indigo stallion. “I am looking for a mare named Octavia. Is she here?”

“She is,” the servant said. “Pardon me for asking, but…who are you, exactly?”

“I am Fine Bit, and this,” he pointed toward the other pony, “Is Light Eye, my servant.”

“Oh, I see. Well then, come in and I’ll go fetch her for you,” she said, leaving the door open for them.

The cellist was already half way down the stairs. She had been able to hear what was taking place on her doorstep and felt irritated, “Vinyl, what are they doing here?”

“I don’t know. I’ll make sure to make them leave as soon as possible, though,” she promised, noticing her mistress’s anger.

“Oh please do. I really do not want to deal with him today,” the cellist sighed as she trudged the rest of the way downstairs. “Hello Fine Bit.”

Fine Bit noticed Octavia, acknowledging her arrival only with a look. “I am taking you to dine.”

“Pardon me?” Is there some sort of family event today I overlooked? “I didn’t realize there was a special occasion today. If that is the case, there is no need to escort me.”

“No,” he said. “Just simple courtship matters between you and me. We are going to have lunch together.”

“What!?” Vinyl and Octavia yelled simultaneously.

“I said we are going to lunch together,” he repeated, oblivious to their astonishment.

The cellist regained her composure, “Listen, Fine Bit, I appreciate the offer, but I am going to have to decline. I am just not feeling well today.”

“No excuses,” he retorted. “I came here all this way because Pearl Posh is paying me to have lunch with you. I refuse to take no for an answer.”

“You can’t force me into this,” Octavia said.

“Oh, but I am not forcing you into this,” the stallion countered. “Your mother wanted us to be together. You would not dare go against her wishes, Octavia!”

The grey mare stood silent, unsure of what to say. Vinyl Scratch stepped in, “Miss Octavia said she doesn’t want to go out with you. Leave her be.”

“Do not interfere, you parasite!”

The unicorn was about to lash out, but Octavia stopped her. She smiled and whispered, “Let’s just go along, Vinyl, please. For my mother.” The earth pony cleared her throat, “Alright, Fine Bit. We can go have lunch together as long as Vinyl Scratch is by my side the entire time.”

“Very well. In that case, Light Eye will also be accompanying us,” he complied. “Now, let us take our leave. I am famished.”

Vinyl’s stomach rumbled at the word “famished.” Octavia waited for Fine Bit to step through the door before whispering to her servant, “I’m so sorry we did not have a proper breakfast. You didn’t even eat! I should’ve just let you cook breakfast.”

The unicorn chuckled, “You’re apologizing for that? My only regret is that you’re probably starving, just like me. Other than that, I would have stayed with you all day in that bed.”

The cellist turned away, so that her blush would be hidden. “Thank you for staying by my side, Vinyl.”

The other mare was about to respond, but was interrupted by Fine Bit outside, “Hey! Quit wasting my time!”

Both mares rolled their eyes and caught up with him and Light Eye.

The cellist felt strange to say the least. In most of the romance novels she had read, the mare always wore at least a smidgen of makeup and the stallion was always disarmingly chivalrous whenever they went on dates. Needless to say, the date she was going on made it seem more like a quick run for coffee—informal, no makeup, other ponies coming along, and with that one asshole in the group.

Octavia made sure to avoid walking beside Fine Bit, something he was subliminally encouraging by trotting a bit faster than her. Instead, she walked side by side with Vinyl, something the servant was obviously encouraging by slightly brushing her tail against the cellist’s.

Unfortunately, the violet-eyed mare was oblivious to the innuendo, “My apologies, Vinyl. Am I too close?”

The servant chuckled, “No, Tavi. You’re fine where you are.”

“Oh, alright then. It’s just that our tails were touching, so I just assumed that our proximity was bothering you.”

“No,” the unicorn giggled again, “You really didn’t get that?”

“Get what?”

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it,” she finally dismissed.

A few steps further, Octavia’s thoughts drifted. We should have just taken a taxi. The place is quite far… And having lunch with Fine Bit is absolutely repulsive; I can’t believe Aunt Pearl Posh would do this! I always thought my first date would be with a mare who walks besides me, talks to me and makes me laugh, kisses me, and—Oh! “Hold on, Vinyl. Just now, were you..?”

“Playing tailsies with you? Yeah. I know it’s stupid, but I just wanted to have a bit of fun with you,” she answered, deciding now wasn’t the best time to discuss her feelings.

“Oh…right,” the cellist nodded half-heartedly.

Damn, her mum’s death is really hitting her hard. I wish I could drag her way from here and just comfort her…

“We have arrived,” Light Eye announced. The mares looked up at the sign. “Gyllen Glede,” it read.

Fine Bit led them all past the counter, giving a quick nod to one of the waiters. He sat down at one of the tables, and the rest of them followed suit. The waiter to whom Fine had nodded immediately set down a bottle of rose wine and poured some into a glass for him.

Octavia and Vinyl looked at each other, but said nothing. Then the waiter gave them menus to look through and gave the rest of them water. He bowed and walked away as quickly as he had come.

“So, Mister Fine Bit,” Vinyl began. The aristocrat scrunched his face at the commoner’s attempt to speak, but she persisted. “Would you happen to know why Missus Pearl Posh would want you to invite Octavia to lunch?”

He lashed out, “It is none of your concern. Do not speak to me again unless I ask you to.”

The servant shrugged and leaned into Octavia’s ear. She silently whispered something, which the cellist spoke aloud, “She says that it is of my concern, and that I have the right to know.”

Light Eye chuckled at the Vinyl’s wits. “Silence,” Fine Bit hissed at him before turning to Octavia. “You already know this. Your mother wanted us to get married.”

The unicorn spoke another bunch of susurrate words, and the cellist repeated, “Yes, I know that, but why would we date?" she added her own thoughts, "I thought the wedding was scheduled three years from now. It is not necessary for us to do this, yet she insisted. Why?”

Fine Bit snorted, “Take off those damned shades already, you delinquent.”

Vinyl Scratch did as instructed and glared playfully at the stallion, startling him with the intense colour of her eyes. “We still want an answer,” she said, placing her tinted shades on the table.

“I told you not to speak to me!” The aristocrat was about to jump out of his seat, but stopped himself to avoid causing a scene. He took a sip of wine and calmed himself down, “Again, that is none of your concern, and it is not Octavia’s either.” He took a quick glance toward the window and smiled before taking another sip of wine.

Octavia retorted, “It is of my concern! I’m the one marrying you!”

Fine Bit watched as a crowd of ponies with cameras and journals flooded into the restaurant. He chuckled, “Do calm down, Octavia. I’m sure your mother would have preferred for you to smile in these pictures.”

“Pardon m—“

Octavia was cut off by the wave of media ponies swarming around their table.

“Miss Octavia, is it true that you and Mister Fine Bit will be marrying soon?”

“Well, I wouldn’t call three—“

“Miss Octavia, why haven’t we heard you say anything about your mother’s passing?”

“I’m sorry? Why do you know about th—“

“Miss Octavia, over here! Miss Octavia, was the prelude of your performance from yesterday to commemorate your mother?”

“Pardon me? Why—“

“Miss Octavia, why are you not attending your mother’s funer—“

Fine Bit tried to cut them all off, “Alright, we are done here!”

“Miss Octavia, is your servant an old colleague of yours?”

“Miss Octavia, Are you so entranced by Fine Bit that…”

The cellist could not stand anymore of it. She curled herself into a ball and covered her ears with her hooves. She began to sob quietly, “Please…stop…”

When the journalists and photographers kept going, the unicorn shouted, “Okay, that is enough! Come on, Miss Octavia. We’re going home.” She mustered all the strength she had and transported Octavia and herself outside of the restaurant. They ended up at the back entrance, where no one could see them.

The cellist’s sobs grew into hyperventilation, “What—they…how?” She rubbed her temples in frustration as tears poured heavily out from her eyes.

The white-coated mare placed Octavia’s head on her chest, “It’s okay, Tavi. Just calm down and take deep breaths.”

Octavia tried to breathe deeply, which proved to be difficult with her heavy sobs. Eventually, though, she melted into Vinyl’s embrace, closed her eyes, and relaxed, “W…what were they talking about? Why do they know about Mother?”

“I’m not sure, Tavi. Something is definitely up, though.” She felt the cellist clutch her fur. “Hey, don’t worry,” Vinyl lifted the grey mare’s head. “I promise you we will figure this out, and I’m going to be by your side through it all.”

Octavia felt a small kiss on her forehead, causing her to snap her eyes open in surprise. The cellist stared at the servant, who was looking right back at her. The two locked eyes for what seemed like an eternity until Octavia could finally speak. “You have the most beautiful eyes,” the mare whispered, lost in a sea of crimson.

The unicorn blushed, “Thanks, I—“ she felt the bridge of her snout. “Fuck! I left my shades!”

“Oh dear. Come on,” Octavia stood up and wiped the tears off of her face, “Let’s go back and get them.”

“It’s not worth it, Tavi. I don’t want you to deal with those shitty media ponies. Let’s just go home,” the unicorn uttered, looking downcast.

“Are you certain? It would only take a moment. I’m sure you could go in there alone and grab them,” the violet-eyed cellist insisted.

“No…let’s just go home,” Vinyl repeated, already leading the way to the luxurious mansion.

Octavia followed after her, “Alright then.”

The two mares walked slowly back to their home, exhausted and crestfallen. Nothing really mattered at that moment. All they wanted was to get to the mansion and hide away from the media for a while. All they wanted at that moment was to simply fade away together.

Author's Note

Was anyone misled by the title and thought Vinyl and Octavia were going to have lunch alone? That was what I had originally planned, but I thought, "Nope. It's too early for these ponies to be happy. Not yet. Soon, but not yet."

Anyway, yes. This chapter did come out soon (I think?), but it was because I'm going to travel for two weeks, so it's best to get this out of the way now instead of letting you all wait so long.

And thanks to Twilight_Scratch for editing this thing. You helped.

The Beginning of a Comeback

Vinyl looked at the enormous box next to the left staircase. She ran her hoof down the cardboard, thinking Yeah, I’m pretty sure this isn’t a violin. I wonder why she doesn’t want me to open it…

“Vinyl, I told you to quit looking at the delivery package. Come here and eat,” Octavia called from the dining table.

The servant trotted over to the dining room and sat down to finish her food. “Why won’t you just tell me what’s in the box already? I promise I won’t judge if it’s anything…lewd.”

The grey-coated mistress got up from her seat, walked over to Vinyl, and whacked her in the back of the head.

“Ow! Why’d you do that?”

Octavia walked back to her seat, “That was because you imagined I would do such a thing.”

“Hey, it’s not like I’d judge you.” They were both quiet for a second until Vinyl spoke again. “I’ve got it! Until I see what’s inside the package, I’m going to assume it’s some really strange pleasure machine. Since you don’t want me judging you, you’ll be pressured into letting me open the box!”

“Oh Luna. I really hate you sometimes,” the earth pony rubbed her temple. “Fine. You may open the box once we’re finished eating.”

Vinyl squealed before scarfing down the rest of her daffodil salad.

I hope she realises I said, “when we finish eating.” Not just her, Octavia thought to herself, purposefully eating her own salad at a very slow pace.

After the dishes were washed and the dining table was clean, Vinyl and Octavia went into the entrance hall where the box stood, tempting Vinyl, begging her to rip it open and observe its contents. Vinyl looked back at her mistress, who nodded at her with a smile, telling her to open it.

The unicorn sighed anxiously and ran her hoof through her royal blue and cyan locks. The tension was making her heart pound and her stomach flutter. She looked back at Octavia again, “Wait, are you sure I can open it?”

The grey mare rolled her eyes, “Seriously, Vinyl? You’ve been bothering me about that damn package for two days now, begging to know what’s inside, and now you’re not sure if you want to?”

“What? It’s just that now there’s all this anticipation and it’s getting to me. Why don’t you open it? It’s your package anyway,” Vinyl countered.

The grey mare smirked slightly, “It isn’t for me actually,” she admitted. “It’s for you. The delivery just came at a bad time and I wanted you to be as excited as possible, but I suppose that now this can make up for your sunglasses.”

The servant shot the aristocrat a questioning look, then turned to the box once more. “Aw, you got me a present. You’re so sweet, Tavi,” she grinned. The unicorn used her horn to cut through the tape and then lifted the flaps with her magic. She pulled out the turntables, effects rack, and laptop from the box and stood silent with her mouth ajar.

“…Well?” Octavia asked as she walked closer to Vinyl.

The white-coated mare began to stutter and then covered her mouth with a hoof. Tears welled up in her eyes and she smiled. “Oc…Octavia…Oh dear Celestia! This is amazing!” She beamed. “I can’t believe this! This is so nice of you to do for me! It’s—I can’t—just come here, damn it!”

Vinyl grabbed Octavia by her withers and pulled her into a quick kiss of gratitude, aiming straight for her lips. When they pulled apart, the cellist looked at the unicorn with a dumbfounded expression.

The servant noticed the blood rising to the mistress’s cheeks. She would have paid no mind, but Vinyl saw something besides shock in those violet eyes. Unable to recognise the emotion, the mare sheepishly whispered, “Sorry. I got a little carried away there…” She turned back toward the machines, “Wow…I just can’t believe you did this…for me.”

A million thoughts were running through Octavia’s head. Was that real? Did she really just kiss me? No, but it’s like she said; she just got a little excited. Yes, that’s all. “Well then, do you like it?” She asked.

“Pshaw! I don’t just like it. I love it!” The servant exclaimed, pulling the other mare into a tight hug this time. “I wish I could return the favour somehow.”

“Oh Vinyl, your gratitude is enough for me,” Octavia responded before thinking a little further. “Hmm...but maybe you could take me out to eat dinner tonight?”

“Whoa, hold on,” Vinyl started with a tone of concern, “Tonight? Octy, don’t you think it’s a bit soon? Like, I’d love to take you out somewhere, but not if it could make you uncomfortable.”

“I know you’re concerned, but I do believe I’ll be fine,” Octavia assured. “I understand that it’s a bit sudden, but right now, I really don’t know what’s happening to my life. I want to enjoy it before something worse happens.”

The DJ started thinking about the idea. It would be nice to take her out somewhere, but her mother just passed. I really don’t—Before the unicorn could finish her thought, the doorbell rang. “Just give me a second.” She trotted towards the door with a scowl forming on her face, “It better not be another journalist!” she grumbled.

Vinyl threw the door open, her face softening at the sight of the twins. “Hey, Scratch,” Melody greeted with a soft smile.

“Fine Bit wanted us to return these to you,” Harmony said, holding out Vinyl’s shades.

“Holy shit! You got them back!” the unicorn snatched the eyepieces and placed them atop her snout. “…Wait. Fine Bit told you to return them?”

“Well, his servant did, actually,” Melody corrected. “Anyway, could we come inside? We need to talk to Octavia urgently.”

“Oh? Okay then,” Vinyl stepped aside and let the visitors in. Closing the door behind them, she called out, “Tavi, the twins are here!”

Octavia cantered over to the entrance and greeted Melody and Harmony with hugs and kisses. “It’s so good to see you two.”

“It’s nice to see you as well, my friend,” Harmony nodded, “But we need to tell you something important.”

“Can it not wait until tomorrow? I wanted to have a relaxing dinner with Vinyl and I would rather not have any more troubling thoughts tonight than I already do,” the grey mare pleaded, rubbing her temple with a hoof.

“Dinner? So you finally told Scratch?” Melody beamed.

The unicorn tilted her head in confusion, “Told me what?” She glanced at Octavia in search of an answer, which she found in the cellist’s reddening cheeks. I would’ve never guessed.

“N-no, I haven’t told her. We’re just going as friends,” Octavia responded in a whisper.

Harmony sighed, “Okay, listen. We came here to tell you something important that will change your life and you need to hear it.”

The cellist sighed as well, “Fine. What is it?”

“Alright. Melody and I were being interviewed about you and your mother’s death. One of the journalists, who was named Quill Spill, asked if we had attended the funeral,” Harmony began.

Melody continued, “Obviously, we had no idea what he was talking about. So we told the dude that the funeral hadn’t been held yet, and he just gave us a confused look. So we cut the interview short and asked Quill Spill what he was talking about.”

Harmony picked up again, “We paid him to tell us everything. He said that he wasn’t able to attend the funeral so he wanted to ask us about it because he had heard that you weren’t there. He also asked us if you were okay because he also heard that you hadn’t responded to any letters in a while.”

“So then we figured that we should ask your Aunt Pearl about it. She just told us to quit meddling with family affairs, and now we’re here, reporting to you.” Melody finished.

“Hold on,” Octavia began to process, “Did she…hold a funeral without telling me? But…why would she do that?”

An idea popped into Vinyl’s head just then, “Wait a second,” she went over to the coffee table, where a few letters were still remaining. She came back with a few of them in her magical grasp, “I just remembered something. Look at the dates on these letters, Tavi.”

The letters were sprawled out on the floor. Melody looked at one of them, “Hey, this is from a week ago. When did you get these?”

“The day after Aunt Pearl Posh told me my mother had passed,” the cellist answered, her confusion forming into anger.

“Derpy did say something about the letters being late.” Vinyl thought a bit further, “Oh! And the delivery stallion said something about the delivery time being changed. Shit, I knew something was off! Octy was asked about the funeral too when we were having lunch with Fine Bit!”

“Is that why Light Eye had your shades?” Harmony asked. Receiving a nod from the unicorn, she turned to Octavia, “Then, why were you two dining with Fine Bit?”

Octavia frowned, “My aunt Pearl Posh paid him to take me out somewhere, according to him. I’m still not sure why, though…”

“We need to figure out what they’re up to. They could be ruining your life,” Melody mused aloud, “Have you talked to your father recently, Octavia?”

“No, I haven’t. He sent me a letter, but it came late along with the rest of the mail. He…intended on telling me about my mother.”

“That’s good,” Melody nodded. “Maybe that means he isn’t part of this whole thing… That said, why hasn’t he stood up for you?”

“Well, it’s not as if he ever has…” Octavia grumbled curmudgeonly.

Vinyl sighed, “Tavi, you shouldn’t—“

“No!” Octavia yelled. “Stop telling me what I can and cannot say! You don’t know what my parents are really like!”

“Will you stop degrading your parents like that?” the servant yelled back. “From what I’ve seen, they’ve done nothing but love and accept you! You’ve been the one pushing away all this time! So what if your dad isn’t saying anything right now? Hasn’t it occurred to you that maybe he needs some time to—“

Once again, the unicorn was interrupted. “Vinyl, this isn’t the time,” Harmony stated in a stern tone, covering the mare’s mouth. “Octavia is the one who’s facing all of her family issues. She knows far more about them than what she’s led on. Even after all the time that Melody and I have known her, there are some things we don’t know either. And believe me, we’ve seen how complicated her parents are.”

Vinyl looked at her mistress, who was glaring at the floor. The unicorn removed her shades from her eyes as well as Harmony’s hoof from her mouth, “I’m sorry, Tavi. You need all the support you can get right now, and pissing you off isn’t going to help in any way.”

Octavia faced the unicorn, “I would like to apologise as well. I didn’t mean to lose my temper and yell at you.” She sighed. “I understand if you don’t believe that my parents are a bit unsavoury. My mother’s ill state had brought us closer together a little, but now her death is tearing us apart again.”

“Yeah, and this whole situation seems really fucked up, too,” Melody commented bluntly. “I don’t know what Posh is planning, but you better be careful, Tavia.”

“Yes, indeed,” Harmony agreed. “I propose that you talk to your father, while Melody and I figure out what’s happening. It’s safer that way.”

The cellist turned to the unicorn with a disappointed look, “I suppose that night out will have to wait a while…”

“Nonsense!” Vinyl grinned, putting her shades back on, “I’ll tell you what: We’ll see your dad tomorrow, and if you still feel like it, we can go to a fancy restaurant.”

Octavia simpered back, a blush reappearing on her face.

“Well, would you look at the time?” Melody asked comically. “Harmony, I think we should get back to doing the thing we had to do today.” She winked at her sister.

“…What thing?” Harmony asked, oblivious to her twin’s intentions.

Melody face-hoofed. “C’mon, sis! Two’s company, four’s a crowd! Let’s skedaddle and leave the two lovebirds alone.”

“Oh!” Harmony giggled.

The grey mare snapped out of her trance, “H-hey! I told you two that Vinyl and I are not dating!”

Harmony’s chuckling settled down. “Octavia, we already know you’re a lesbian. You’re being more obvious than a gay pride flag.”

Octavia grunted, her face completely flushed from embarrassment. “Oh, shut your mouth and get out of here already!”

Melody smiled, “Calm down, we’re just playing. It’s all good.” The twins made their way towards the door. ”But for real, be careful. And Vinyl, you look after her.” She waved, “Bye!”

Octavia waited until her servant closed the door behind the two guests, “Goodness, those two can be a pain! I don’t even know how I put up with them sometimes.”

“That’s the magic of friendship for ya,” Vinyl responded.

The cellist chuckled awkwardly and changed topics, “Well…you have your shades again,” she stated, touching the tip of the unicorn’s snout. “And you have the technology to make your music. So how about you give me a private concert of sorts? You could show off these skills of yours.”

Vinyl could tell by the earth pony’s innocent smile that she had no sexual intentions, but their proximity alone was making her flush. “Uh…y-yeah, okay. I’ve already got a melody in mind, so give me an hour or so and I’ll have something ready.”

“I can hardly wait!” Octavia grinned.

Two hours later, Vinyl had set up her turntables in the music room and began working on a song. She decided to make a progressive song, something soft for Octavia. The DJ was working on the track when she heard the door open.

The cellist entered the room with a tray of teacups in her mouth. She set them down on an end table and brought one over to the DJ before taking one for herself. “How is the song coming along?”

“Not to brag, but considering that I haven’t touched one of these in months, I think it’s going pretty well,” she responded before taking a sip of her drink.

“I’m glad you are enjoying your gift.”

“’Enjoying it’ doesn’t even begin to describe my love for this beauty,” she said, planting a quick peck on her laptop.

Octavia smiled, “That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve made.”

“Well, it’s not finished yet, but how about I play it right now?” Vinyl offered. “I want to test the speakers out anyway.”

The cellist set her cup down beside her cushion. “Erm…Yes, that sounds like a lovely idea.”

The DJ nodded, “Get ready.” She attached a speaker to the laptop and played the track. The pony played around with the volume of the speakers until she felt it would be soft enough for Octavia. Satisfied, Vinyl sat down on a cushion next to her mistress. A minute into the song, the unicorn asked, “So…what do you think so far?”

Octavia thought for a moment, “Well, it isn’t something I would listen to every day, but it is enjoyable.”

“Glad to hear it,” Vinyl grinned. They both drank their tea and listened quietly for a while before the servant spoke again, “I’m sorry about earlier today for…kissing you like that.”

The grey cellist skittishly fiddled with her bow-tie, “D-don’t worry about it. You were simply caught up in the moment is all, yes?”

“Well yeah, but it isn’t that I regret kissing you…I’m just apologising for making it such a shitty first kiss for us,” the DJ laughed softly.

The cellist turned to face the unicorn, her cheeks sanguine from what she had just heard. She took off the other mare’s shades, revealing her red irises. “I’m assuming you’ve caught on to my feelings for you?”

The DJ nodded once, “Yep. And about the kiss, let me make it up to you.”

And with that, Vinyl Scratch closed the space between their lips. She kissed softly but with noticeable fervour, caressing Octavia’s bottom lip. In turn, the cellist wrapped her hooves around the other mare’s hips. Eventually, they were so caught up in each other that the music became simple background noise.

After a moment of gentle lip play, Octavia leaned a bit more into the kiss a bit more and licked her servant’s lips. Vinyl was surprised at Octavia, but parted her lips nevertheless. Immediately, the cellist snaked her tongue in, letting it dance around Vinyl’s, causing the DJ to moan quietly. The two continued their fervent kissing, sliding past each other’s tongues and letting out small sighs of pleasure.

Octavia was the first one to pull apart. She gasped for air and opened her eyes, noticing a small strand of saliva still connecting her lips to Vinyl’s. She swatted it away before Vinyl could see, “That was…”

The unicorn opened her eyes. “…Amazing,” she panted. Vinyl was about to speak on when she heard a series of bland notes from the speakers. “Shit. That’s the part I didn’t finish.”

The cellist giggled as she watched the DJ get off of her and pause the music. “I must say, it was quite enjoyable after a little while.”

“What?” the unicorn asked with a smug grin, “The song or the kiss?”

“Both were magnificent, but I was referring to your song. What will you call it?” Octavia inquired.

Vinyl furrowed her brow in a pensive look, “Hmm…I don’t have any ideas yet.” She winked and spoke in a sultry tone, “Maybe I need a bit more inspiration from my muse?”

The aristocrat walked over to the unicorn and gave her a peck on the cheek, “Don’t get suggestive just yet. We haven’t even gone on a proper date!”

The DJ sighed, “Fine, but being serious about all this, where are we going to go with it? Are we even going to date? I mean, with all that’s going on…” she trailed off.

Octavia looked downcast, “Right now is an inconvenient time, obviously… And even if this whole situation dies down, we would have to keep our relationship a secret and I would eventually marry Fine Bit. After that, we wouldn’t be able to court any longer… Maybe we shouldn’t do this at all.”

“Octavia, look at me.” The cellist raised her head slightly and locked eyes with the servant. “I promise to get you out of that shitty arranged marriage. You’re not going to marry that arrogant prick.”

The cellist shook her head slowly, “Vinyl, you and I both know you can’t do anything about it. Not even Princess Cadence could get me out of it if she tried…”

“Maybe…but you can. Just say no to Fine Bit. Stand up for yourself.”

“Don’t you think I would do that if I could?” Octavia retorted softly. “If I say no, Aunt Pearl Posh will ruin my career.”

“Okay, so…what if you said yes and then divorced Bit right after?”

The grey mare shook her head again, “That wouldn’t work either. You see, the reason I am marrying Fine Bit is so that Aunt Pearl can take control of his family’s company. And she will only have control as long as the two of us are married.”

“Aw fuck that!” Vinyl yelled. “Can’t she just buy the damn company?”

“She could, but she also wants me to marry a successful stallion to keep the family going,” Octavia responded.

The DJ sighed angrily, “Can’t they just get one of your cousins to do that!?”

Once more, Octavia shook her head, “She wants all of us to start families of our own… I don’t even want to have foals, but I suppose that is my fate.”

“No!” Vinyl enveloped her mistress in an aggressive hug, “I can’t stand the thought of you marrying that bastard! I promise I will do whatever it takes to get you out of it.”

Octavia pulled away from the embrace to face her servant, “I already told you it’s no use. Do not make promises you cannot keep.”

The servant’s scarlet eyes were filled with a spark of determination, “I may be a shitty butler, but I know that part of my job is to help you live a good life. If this arranged marriage is going to ruin your happiness, I will get rid of it one way or another.”

“…Thank you, Vinyl,” Octavia smiled. “That means a lot to me.” She knew it was hopeless, but she found no reason to further upset the unicorn.

Vinyl smirked back, “Anything for you. And now there’s another serious thing we need to talk about.”

“What would that be?”

Vinyl gave her a stern look, “Are we sleeping in my bed or yours tonight?"

Author's Note

THEY DID NOT HAVE SEX! OKAY!? THEY ARE JUST SLEEPING IN THE SAME BED! I'm sorry! I'll make it up to you...not in this story, though. (wink wink nudge nudge.) ;3 Or you could just pretend that they had sex if you want. Whatever.

But yay! After so long, I was able to do this thing! I had some jet lag to deal with, then some silly relationship rumours (which took ages to clear up!) and then more traffic because school has started here in the U.S. I should be able to update faster again, so if I don't, slap me.

I've been re-watching Sherlock, so that was the inspiration for this chapter, despite it not having many complicated details and aspects.

Wisdom of an Old Friend

Vinyl Scratch and Octavia were making their way to Piano Forte’s house, walking very closely and not minding if anyone perceived them as a couple. After all, according to the media, Octavia only had eyes for Fine Bit. There was no possible way she could fall for the beautiful, loveable, talented delinquent that is her servant.

However, any recluse who had not heard of such stories from the media would think otherwise with how their tails brushed against one another and the way one mare would nuzzle the other’s cheek now and then. In fact, it is inaccurate to say that they were “walking” down the pavement. No, these two were clearly cuddling their way to their destination. But of course, all those who had read the papers only saw them as close, affectionate friends and nothing more.

“Tavi, I think we’re being too obvious…” Vinyl mused aloud.

Octavia simply gave her a peck on the cheek, “No one has given us any dirty looks or asked about Fine Bit. I think we are alright.” They ventured on a little further, “Ah, we have arrived.”

The pair turned towards a giant manor, about the same size as Octavia’s. The gates were made of iron and gold and had the family insignia on it: a bit coin with a treble cleft and a bass cleft around it.

Behind the gates was a unicorn wearing a black suit with the same symbol as that of the gate. She noticed the two mares approaching, “May I help you, ladies?”

“Yes,” the aristocrat spoke, “My name is Octavia, the daughter of Piano Forte. And this is my servant Vinyl Scratch. I am sorry for coming here so suddenly, but this is urgent.”

“I see. Please wait for a moment.” The mare turned to a pegasus stallion behind her and hollered, “Arrow, tell Mister Piano Forte that he has some unexpected visitors.”

Arrow nodded and flew inside the manor at incredible speeds. “Whoa. That guy’s fast. Like a…like…” Vinyl couldn’t think of anything to describe the incredible speed.

“Like an arrow?” the female guard suggested, chuckling at the familiar sight of awe.

“Y-yeah,” Vinyl nodded.

The guard chuckled, “So, what’s so urgent that you just had to come today?”

“I am hoping my father can explain something to me. There is something very strange happening with our family and I don’t know what is going to happen to me…or him, for that matter,” Octavia answered.

The guard furrowed her brow, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I suppose that’s why you came to talk to Mister Piano Forte in the first place.”

Arrow came back as quickly as he had gone. He reported, “Mister Piano Forte is waiting for you inside.”

As he said that, the female guard pulled a necklace with a key tied to it from her uniform and unlocked the gates. Arrow pulled them open as the other pony led them to the house, “Right this way, ladies.”

The DJ had been amazed the first time she had seen Octavia’s home, but just looking at the garden in front of the house made her gasp softly in awe. Her eyes went wide as she admired the different sculptures made of bushes, crystal, or stone.

Finally, they arrived at the door. The female guard opened it and let them inside first. She then led the pair to the living room, “Mister Piano Forte, I brought the visitors.”

“Thank you, Platinum Shield,” said the older stallion who was swirling a whiskey in his hooves, his voice empty and emotionless. “Please leave us. I can take care of this from here.”

Platinum Shield bowed and went back to her post.

The cellist looked at what had become of her father. His mane was unkempt and there were bags under his eyes. He refused to look anywhere but his half-empty glass. Octavia greeted from afar, “Hello, Father. Are you feeling alright?”

“...No.”

She looked at the two empty whiskey bottles on the coffee table in front of him. There was a third one he seemed to have just started working through. Oh dear…has he sunk down this low so quickly? “I’m sorry to hear that… Do you know why I’m here?”

He took a swig of his drink, “You want to know why Fine Bit took you to dine with him the other day.”

“That’s right,” the grey mare nodded. “And I also want to know about that will. I’m not sure if mother told you, but I told her I was not interested in marrying Fine Bit. I told her I wish to marry a mare and she supported my decision.”

Her father was not fazed by the new information, “I know.”

“You…You know?” the cellist repeated in confusion.

“Yes. Pearl Posh told me. That is why she told you that your mother had died a week after it had actually happened. Then while the funeral was being held, she paid Fine Bit to dine with you. She also informed the media ponies that you and he shall marry this year, which is why they are so excited right now,” he explained quickly.

Octavia stared at her father with a blank expression. Her pale face full of shock was noticed only by the DJ, who moved closer to her side. Octavia shook her head, “Wait, you mean…Fine Bit and I are marrying this year!? No, this can’t be!”

The cellist collapsed on the floor, hyperventilating. “Tavi!” Vinyl yelled out, pulling her mistress back to her hooves.

“Yes, Pearl Posh wants to speed up the process of your betrothal so that no one ever knows that you are a fillyfooler. There is nothing I can do.”

“So that’s it, then? There’s no way out of this?” Vinyl asked, frustration leaking through her words. “Octavia’s gonna spend the rest of her days with some arrogant bastard who doesn’t care about her! You’re going to let that happen?”

“As I said, Miss Vinyl Scratch, there is nothing I can do,” he spat. Octavia’s father cleared his throat and calmed himself, “There is more, however. It is not your mother’s wishes to marry Fine Bit, but Pearl Posh modified her will. And because she thinks we didn’t raise you properly, she has taken
control of all we own so that we do not inflict anymore damage on the family than we already have with you..”

“N-no!” Octavia gasped, “That’s—That’s illegal!”

“I hear Fine Bit is going to propose to you very soon too,” he said, pouring more whiskey into his glass.

“Do you…not care at all, Father?” Octavia inquired in a voice that was barely audible.

The stallion was silent for a while, “It isn’t that I do not care. I simply have no hope left. All I wanted was for you to be happy, but it seems that is not what the stars above have in mind for you. I am sorry.” His last three words were said in an insincere tone.

Vinyl Scratch placed her shades on top of her head, “Is that all you have to say?”

“You know everything I know, now. I’m not quite sure why you wanted all this information anyway. There isn’t anything you can do. Even if you report her, Pearl Posh can pay the police off so they don’t investigate the situation,” he said. “Unless you have more questions, I suggest you leave me.”

The cellist wiped away her tears and nodded to her servant. “We have no more questions. We’ll just go now,” Vinyl said.

Right as they were about to leave the room, Octavia spoke once more. “I love you, Father.” Then they both walked out of the mansion without another word.

They were led back to the gate by a random guard and Platinum Shield opened the gates for them again, giving them both a polite smile. The pair walked out of the estate and made their way back home.

As they walked down the pavement, Vinyl would occasionally nuzzle the grey mare’s cheek. Octavia didn’t pay any mind to the gesture until they reached a park. “Vinyl, could you stop that for a minute? I really need to rest my hooves.”

“Of course,” she said, spotting the nearest bench. “Here, let’s sit down for a moment.” Vinyl led her mistress to the bench and sat her down, taking a seat next to her afterward.

Octavia leaned her head on Vinyl’s shoulder and sighed, “I can’t believe this is happening. The stranger thing is that I’m not extremely upset about the situation anymore. …Maybe I’ve lost hope the way my father did.”

“I still think we should report Pearl Posh to the Canterlot Police,” Vinyl suggested.

The grey mare rolled her eyes, “We have already established that that will not work. Face it, Vinyl. There is no possible way to escape fate. And don’t you dare suggest I come out publicly. I might as well sever my limbs while I’m at it.”

“No, you’ve already made it clear that coming out is not an option.” She embraced Octavia in a hug. Vinyl felt the other mare remove her head and smiled at her. Suddenly, the cellist smashed her lips into her own, but Vinyl quickly pulled away, “Octavia, no! Didn’t we just say that coming out isn’t a smart idea?”

“I might as well show all my affection towards you while I can. Unless somepony asks us questions, I don’t care who sees us right now,” the violet-eyed mare responded. She kissed the unicorn once more before asking, “So, how about we go eat something. I know it’s a tad early, but we might as well.”

“Really? Well, how does Drycker sound?” the servant offered.

Octavia licked her lips comically, “Mmm, fancy greasy food. Yes, why not have a heart attack tonight. After all, we have nothing else to look forward to.”

“Hey it was just a suggestion. Besides, it’s the one place around here with no media ponies, no one blackmailing ponies into marriages, and it's the only place we can safely call each other marefriends in public. Besides, I haven’t seen Salt Rim in ages,” Vinyl said.

“Really? Drycker is that accepting?” Octavia asked.

“Everypony who goes there doesn’t give a shit about starting scandals. They all live simple lives and have no other intentions than to help each other out. It’s like a peaceful little family, I guess,” the unicorn explained.

“Alright then. Let’s go there.”

Vinyl held the door open for her mistress and followed behind her afterwards, reminiscing the wonderful scent of alcohol and flowers. The DJ waved at Salt Rim, who smiled from behind the bar and gestured toward two open seats in front of him.

As soon as both mares were seated Salt Rim chuckled, “Well, well, look a’ you two! Haven’t seen ya in a while, how’ve things been? I see ya finally moved in with someone, Vi.”

Vinyl Scratch smiled, “Not just that, but we’re kind of dating now!” She sensed Octavia’s shocked face, but held her hoof to reassure her.

“Ah, congratulations, you two!” he clapped, and was joined by a few other customers. “How ‘bout I give ya any drink on the house to celebrate? Sound good?”

“Thank you,” Octavia smiled, “I’ll have a glass of buttonwood rose wine.”

“And I’ll have a Pantiripa,” the DJ requested. “Also, could we get some loaded potatoes and some daffodil sliders?”

“Certainly, just one second,” the bartender smiled and peaked his head into the kitchen to place the order. When he came back to make the drinks, he asked, “Now tell me, what else has been gon’ on? You got your DJ-ing back on, Vinyl?”

The unicorn shook her head, “Not quite, but I’m almost there. Tavi here bought me everything I needed to get back on stage!”

“That’s amazing!” he yelled in delight, “And how ‘bout you, darling? I assume the cello work’s goin’ lovely?”

“I haven’t been to practice in a while, but yes, I’m still playing,” Octavia answered.

Salt Rim nodded and put on a serious look, “Ey, and I’m sorry ‘bout your ma. I know it must be hard.”

“Thank you. I’ve been so stressed out about her death and the wedding and—“

“Whoa, hold on!” suddenly, the stallion’s cheery demeanour came back, “You two are getting married!? I didn’t realise you been datin’ for so long!”

“No, we started dating yesterday and we’re not getting married… At least, I’m not,” Vinyl explained. “Tavi’s family arranged a marriage between her and some asshole named Fine Bit. This relationship we have is a secret. In fact, Tavi’s sexuality is a secret too. And if she refuses to marry the prick, her life will be ruined by terrible rumours!”

“Yikes!” he commented, giving them their drinks. “That sounds like a mess. What’re you gonna do?”

“I don’t know. I’ll just have to marry Fine Bit and get over it. Vinyl will have to…stand back as it all happens, I suppose,” Octavia sombrely took a sip of her wine.

A waitress smiled at Vinyl and brought the pair what she had ordered. As soon as she left, the DJ turned to Salt Rim, “What do you think, Salty? Is there any hope in avoiding this at all?”

Salt Rim scratched his chin in thought, “You know, my ma always said, ‘There will never be a situation where you can’t find a resolution, and there’s no resolution ya won’t have t’make sacrifices for.’ Do you get the idea?”

“Yes, but I don’t want to sacrifice Vinyl to keep my career…” Octavia said.

“Nah, y’don’t have to! In fact, you could go the other way around,” he waved off, grabbing the pair’s attention. “Say you…’mysteriously disappeared’ from Canterlot. Ya’d be leavin’ behind your past, your money, and maybe a few friends, but that’s all trivial compared t’your happiness!”

Octavia took one of the sliders, “I’m not sure that will work…”

“Wait,” Vinyl swallowed a potato, “Let’s hear him out.”

Salt Rim smiled, “I hear Ponyville's great for second chances. The citizens there are very friendly and try to lead simple lives. Plus, they love newcomers. It doesn’t take much t'make a livin' there either.”

The cellist shook her head, “I don’t think we should just run off to Ponyville. It doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

Salt Rim shrugged, “Well, it’s either that or have a secret affair with Vinyl.”

Octavia looked at Vinyl, who reminded, “You would still have to bear Fine’s children, wouldn’t you?”

The cellist scrunched her face in disgust, “You’re right…but it’s the only way to stay together and stay here, isn’t it?”

Salt Rim noticed someone waving an empty glass at him, “Choose wisely and remember what I said. Now if you’ll excuse me…” he left them to attend to his other customers.

Vinyl took a cautious sip of her exotic drink and turned to her marefriend, “It would be cool if we could escape to Ponyville, start a new life and meet new ponies. Of course, it would be easier for me to leave than for you.”

Octavia nodded and clenched her servant’s hoof. “I know you don’t want me to marry him and I know that you don’t want to be some secret lover nopony will ever know about, but this is the only way for us to be together…”

“I know,” Vinyl whispered, feeling crestfallen.

“I’m going to give you a choice,” the cellist said, rubbing her companion’s foreleg. “To make things easier for you, I can give you enough money to get back on your hooves, and then you can finally start spinning records again. It will be difficult for me to survive without you, but…”

Vinyl shook her head, “No, I want to stay with you. I don’t care if that means keeping us a secret. I don’t want to abandon you, not when we just started this relationship.” The unicorn proceeded to kiss the mare’s lips lightly.

Octavia smiled at her servant and took another sip of her drink, thankful to have a committed marefriend by her side. Perhaps their relationship is worth all the sacrifices, after all.

Author's Note

Finally, it's out! I wasted a ton of time with pointless tweaking, un-tweaking, then re-tweaking, and repeating. But I'm done now. Here you go!

Also, for anyone unfamiliar with the drink Pantiripa, it's an alcoholic drink made from pineapple juice and coconut rum--a lot of coconut rum. (Also, it's pronounced "panty ripper," in case you're wondering. :twistnerd: )

By the way, thanks to Twilight_Scratch for editing this thing. It helps. And thanks to any readers out there for reading.

And now I sleep.

The Other Face

“Well, my friends, I have a surprise for you tonight. Many of you are gathered here, not just to get shit-faced and get laid, but also to enjoy the music! You’re here to make this night yours; to dance until your hooves get sore. Am I right!?” yelled a stallion on the stage of the club, raising his hoof in the air, basking in the enthusiastic screams of the audience. “That’s what I thought! Well, tonight, we have an amazing guest. Surely, some of you thought this pony was long gone, never to play another song. But….she is here with us now. Give it up for DJ Pon-3!”

The crowd stood silent in disbelief for a while before Vinyl jumped onstage, causing the crowd to holler louder than before. The DJ grinned, “Aww, you guys missed me? How sweet. But enough with the mushy stuff. Are you guys ready to have the time of your lives!?” The ponies stomped their hooves in excitement, their cheers making Vinyl’s ears ring. “Then let’s kick this shit!”

And with that, a track began to fade in, the stage lights above synchronising with the music. The ponies below began to dance and jump around in time with the beat. At that moment, Vinyl felt something she had not felt since the last time she was on stage; a sort of exciting energy that made everything else fade into a blur, as if nothing existed except for the musical euphoria that flooded into her ears.

The feeling lasted for about an hour before she waved goodbye to the crowd, receiving loud cheers in response. “Thank you all so much!” The DJ made her way backstage and threw herself on one of the chairs, lifting her shades to wipe the perspiration from her face.

“Here, you need this,” said a voice. Vinyl looked up to find the manager of the club holding a can of beer in his hoof.

“Thanks, Mister Gold Dust!” She grinned, snatching the can and popping it open with her magic before downing half of the cold drink in one gulp. Vinyl wasn’t even sure why she always felt so exhausted after only playing a few songs. She had not even danced on stage, yet her coat was drenched in sweat and her breathing was quick and desperate. Perhaps it was the nerves of playing music in front of a crowd, or the heat from the other ponies. It was a phenomenon the mare would probably never figure out.

The manager chuckled, “Just Gold is fine.” He continued, “You have no idea how amazing it is to have the real DJ Pon-3 here in my club! I was a huge fan of your work back then and your disappearance hit me pretty hard. Hell, I would have gone looking for you if I didn’t have this place to look after.”

Vinyl Scratch nodded, “I like what you’re doing with the club, by the way. It’s pretty awesome.”

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Gold Dust leaned in closer, running a hoof through his pale yellow mane and clearing his throat in embarrassment, “What happened when you disappeared?”

“It was just a little drug scandal, but it’s all dealt with now, so I’m back and here to stay!” Vinyl grinned.

The stallion nodded, “Well then, it’s good to have you back. Your style hasn’t changed one bit. I want to know one more thing: What made you want to start over?”

“I don’t know. I’d wanted to start DJing again for so long, but I never had the motivation I needed.” The DJ explained. “Then one day, my marefriend gives me all the equipment I needed and I…I guess I wanted to impress her? It’s a stupid reason, but I really think that’s it.”

“Well, anypony who can appreciate your music enough to get you back on the rails is a friend of mine. She sounds like a great mare,” Gold Dust commented with a wide grin.

Vinyl Scratch smiled back, “She is.”

Octavia set her book down on the couch when she heard the front door open. A smile found its way onto her face at the sight of her marefriend, “Welcome home, darling.”

“Tavi, I told you to quit it with the endearments!” Vinyl scolded in a light-hearted tone, cantering over to the cellist. “They make me feel like we're an old couple.”

“Oh don’t be so dramatic,” Octavia chuckled before placing a light peck on the unicorn’s lips. “So, how did your first night go?”

“You know, I actually enjoyed it.” Vinyl smiled before lifting her shades, revealing a furrowed brow in thought, “Hold up. Didn’t I tell you not to wait up for me? Seriously, Octavia, it’s, like, three in the morning!”

“It was your first time playing for a crowd in a long time. Since I couldn’t watch you at the club, I wanted to wait so that you would tell me all about it.” Octavia explained.

Vinyl Scratch sighed. “But you have work tomorrow. You won’t be able to wake up early enough in the morning now.”

“That’s a small price to pay,” Octavia nuzzled her lover’s cheek, “Now tell me more about the night. Were you nervous?”

“No, not at all,” Vinyl dismissed with an uncomfortable chuckle.

Octavia gingerly ran her hoof through the DJ’s royal blue and cyan locks. “A wise mare once told me ‘everyone gets nervous sometimes. Those who admit they’re afraid, though, are stronger than those who deny it.’”

Vinyl’s eyes started to water and she threw her forelegs around Octavia’s neck, “I love you, Tavi. I’m gonna miss you so much…”

“Please don’t mention that. We are together right now, and that is all that matters,” Octavia whispered. Vinyl only sniffled in response. “Come on, you must be tired. Let’s go to sleep and we can spend some time together tomorrow.”

Vinyl was working on a new song. Or at least, she was trying. For some reason, none of her snare drums seemed to be doing the trick. She wanted something that sounded powerful, but didn’t make her ears feel like they were getting kicked in the hearing crotch with a metal boot. The DJ tried everything she could with the effects rack to make it sound decent enough, but nothing seemed to work.

Sighing in defeat, she closed the laptop and took the headphones off of her ears. She looked at the clock on the wall of the music room. Octavia would still be rehearsing for a while. But maybe I could take a walk before the time comes.

Walking by herself was not the most appealing of ideas, but it seemed like a dream compared to waiting around in the house. Vinyl had finished all of her chores for the day anyway. Octavia had told her that they should start sharing the amount of work, but Vinyl still did most of it when the other wasn’t looking.

Figuring that she had no other choice, the mare walked down stairs and let herself out of the house, grabbing her shades and a pouch of bits on her way out. Vinyl placed her shades over her eyes and walked north from the house.

Even after a few steps she was already feeling reminiscent of her days on the streets. To think that only a few months ago, Vinyl would have to settle for any leftovers from the Drycker customers. Although she was glad that she had fallen in love with Octavia, Vinyl had to admit that she would have much rather not have met her at all than to watch as the mare fell into the arms of some wretched stallion who doesn’t care for her.

Fine Bit, the unicorn thought with a snort, I don’t know why I haven’t killed him and thrown him over a bridge already!

And as fate would have it, Vinyl saw the stallion, trotting away from something with an angered expression. She may not have been fond of the stallion’s personality, but something about his expression drew her to him, her concern—No. Curiosity—grew even more when she saw streaks of his fur matted down near his eyes.

Vinyl walked over to the curmudgeon and greeted him with, “Hey, Bits. What’s with the waterworks?”

Fine Bit jolted and wiped his eyes before turning towards her with a deadly glare, “I am not crying, you asinine wench. It isn’t any of your concern anyway…” The usual bitterness in his words was missing.

“Honestly, it’s like your favourite line is, ‘It isn’t any of your concern,’” Vinyl commented, imitating his deep voice and snobby lilt. Switching back to her normal tone, she continued, “I already know that you’re going to propose to Tavi sooner than originally planned so there’s nothing left to hide.”

“Do you really think that is all there is to it, you idiot?” He seethed. “Are you so ignorant to assume that Octavia is the only one who is against this damn arranged wedding!?” Fresh tears flowed from the stallion’s eyes.

“Easy there, big guy,” she said, patting him gently on the back. She looked around and saw that a few ponies had stopped to stare at them. “Follow me into this alley.”

“You can’t just tell me what to—“

“Shut up and get over here before some shitty media ponies catch onto us,” she cut him off. Fine Bit sighed and followed her, scrunching his nose at the scent of garbage in the small alley. “Yeah, you get used to the smell. Now, what are you going on about?”

“It is none of your concern,” he said weakly.

“I swear to Celestia, Fine Bit! If you say that one more time, I am going to kick you so hard in the face, that no one will be able to recognise you!”

Wincing slightly at the threat, the aristocrat sighed in defeat. “As I said before, Octavia is not the only one against this marriage.”

“Yeah, so am I, and her dad, and a few other ponies,” Vinyl shrugged.

“And I am also against it.” Fine Bit added.

Vinyl chuckled humourlessly. “Bullshit. I know you’re in it for the money.”

“I was at first…until I found out that Pearl Posh was simply playing my family and me,” he spat.

“Oh boo-hoo. You won’t get double the shit load of money you already have now! Is that really why you’re crying? You really don’t know true sadness, do you?” Vinyl mocked, grinning when the stallion growled at her.

“Idiot!” He yelled. “If Octavia and I marry, Light Eye will be dismissed from his position as my butler!”

The unicorn rolled her eyes, “Whatever. It’s not as if you liked him. You’ll just get a new butler and everything will be peachy.”

Fine Bit shoved the mare against the wall, “Don’t ever speak of Light Eye and me as if we were nothing but master and slave! He was...” the aristocrat choked and looked away as more tears rolled down his face. He sobbed and let Vinyl go. “Never mind.”

Vinyl dusted herself off and looked at the poor stallion, “You care about Light Eye, don’t you, Bit?” The stallion only nodded, but refused to face her. “So why don’t you bail on this marriage thing?”

“That is what I was trying to accomplish just a moment ago. Unfortunately, my parents have already given Pearl Posh all she needs to buy our company. Consumed by their own greed, they refuse to listen to my warnings.”

“Come on, there’s gotta be something up your sleeve, right?” Vinyl asked anxiously.

“I…don’t know what to do anymore.”

“I guess there’s nothing left then, is there?” Vinyl seethed, tears welling up in her own eyes. There was never any chance of me stopping this in the first place, was there? I… No, I can’t give up! There needs to be something I can do! There has got to be something I’m overlooking! I don’t want Octavia’s life ruined!

“I’m…I apologise for…for all of this,” Fine Bit said. “I know Octavia means much to you. That is…how I feel about Light Eye. He is the only pony that is willing to stay by my side.”

“Yeah, I see why he would be the only one,” Vinyl chuckled, earning a glare from the aristocrat. “Sorry, bad joke. Why won’t Posh let you keep Light Eye in your employment?”

“She says that she wants me to stay ‘as clean as possible’ since I must have children with Octavia,” he spoke in an acidic tone.

Vinyl made a noise of disgust, “Ugh, don’t remind me.” After a few moments of silence she said, “I wanted to stop this somehow, but I’m starting to think that there really is no easy way out.”

Fine Bit chuckled, “The easiest way would be if one of us died, though, I would rather that be a last resort. I don't want to kill anyone.”

Vinyl sighed, “Well, I guess I should get going now.” She looked at Fine Bit one last time and gave him a sincere smile, “Take care of Light Eye while you still have him, yeah?”

The stallion nodded, “And you must do the same for Octavia. I promise I will take care of her once we are…betrothed.”

“Thanks, Fine Bit,” she spoke sincerely. “And uh, thanks for giving my shades back.”

“That was Light Eye’s idea. I would have burned the wretched things if not for him.”

Vinyl chuckled, “Then tell him I said thanks.”

Fine Bit simply stood looking at the ground, having nothing more to say.

The DJ swallowed a lump in her throat and left the alley, never looking back at Fine Bit. Seeing this different side of him made her think a little more. Maybe Octavia wouldn’t forget about her, but would see her in Fine Bit. They were both very stubborn and crumbled into a mess when they couldn’t win. The sad thought of Octavia moving on was strangely cathartic to her. Somehow, the tears on her face didn’t sting her eyes, but felt rather refreshing in a way.

“Bye, everyone! I will see you all tomorrow,” Octavia grinned to her co-workers before turning to Vinyl. “How was your day?”

The unicorn grabbed the cello with her magic, letting it float beside her. “It was alright. I got a little bored at home, so I went for a walk, and I...I ran into Fine Bit.”

Octavia stopped walking and joked, “Oh no, there isn’t a crime scene, is there?”

“No, no,” Vinyl giggled for a moment before putting on a more serious face, “No, we talked for a while, actually. Did you know he is actually losing everything to this marriage?”

“What do you mean?” the cellist furrowed her brow. “He’s gaining money.”

Vinyl shook her head, “No, that’s what his family thinks. Pearl Posh is cheating them. He’s losing his money, Light Eye—everything.”

“Well, he deserves it for being such a greedy, arrogant bastard,” Octavia shrugged.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Vinyl smirked a little when she saw Octavia’s confused face. “I saw this different side of him. I mean, yeah, he is greedy and arrogant, but he actually has a heart. I saw him crying today!”

“That’s quite hard to believe. If he isn’t getting anything out of this, then why go on with the marriage?”

“Like I said, his family still believes they’re getting the money. So he’s still taking one for the team, but the team doesn’t understand that they’re aiming for the wrong goal,” she analogised.

Octavia began walking again, “Oh dear… It looks like none of us are getting out of it, then. Right?”

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

“Vinyl,” the cellist looked at her lover with worry, “This is the part where you swear that you will get me out of it.”

Vinyl gave her a broken smile, “That was when I still had hope.”

Octavia’s expression dropped to one of alarm, “No, don’t be that way. You said yourself there is a way out of this!”

“And you said there isn’t, so did Fine Bit. The only pony who suggested something was Salt Rim, but we can’t risk your career.” Vinyl sighed emptily, as if exhaling her soul out of her body.

“Vinyl!” Octavia snatched the other mare’s shades with a quick movement of her hooves, revealing tear stained cheeks and reddened eyes. “There is a way out of this! We just haven’t found it yet.”

“Tavi, stop. Even if there is, it might be too late by the time we find it.”

“No, don’t say that! Please stop saying this…” A single tear fell from her eyes and made its way towards her chin.

“Hey,” Vinyl kissed the tear off of Octavia’s face and nuzzled her cheek for a moment before looking into her violet eyes. “It’s okay. I’ll still love you, and I’ve made sure that Fine Bit treats you well.”

“But Fine Bit isn’t you!” Octavia sobbed.

“I know…but it’s for the best. It’s so you can keep your dream job, remember?” Vinyl gave her a small peck on the lips.

Octavia responded by pulling the other mare into a longer, more passionate kiss. When she pulled away, she said, “Giving you up is going to be so awful.”

“Watching you do it is going to be a nightmare.”

“I really don’t want to,” the cellist sobbed softly.

“It’ll just be a few months of suffering, and then you’ll be able to enjoy playing again. And you’ll be happy,” Vinyl smiled.

Octavia looked at her with desperate eyes, “What makes you think it will only take a few months to forget you?”

Vinyl shrugged, “I don’t, but it’s easier to say that it’ll be quick.”

Author's Note

Wow! It's been so long! Okay, so here's the chapter.

This is becoming a sad story. Okay. Have a good day.

Edited by Twilight_Scratch

The Most Dreadful of Days

Months of despair had passed and now the day had arrived. Octavia had been sitting at the foot of her bed all morning, staring blankly at the floor. She wondered if she could avoid this day by staying there. Vinyl would be up with her breakfast at any moment, though Octavia wasn’t sure if they would eat…if either of them could eat, anyway.

As if her thoughts had been read, Vinyl came into the room followed by a floating tray of croissants, condiments, and orange juice. She set the tray down on the bed and smiled at her lover, “Breakfast?”

Octavia wanted to decline, but all she could do was shrug her shoulders and take one of the pastries.

Vinyl took a butter knife and spread cream cheese, peanut butter, and three different types of marmalades on her croissant. Then she added two slices of tomatoes and a piece of lettuce. She licked her lips while looking at her breakfast masterpiece, but then hesitated to take a bite. She looked at Octavia, who still had not touched her food. “You should eat something.”

The cellist simply stared blankly at her food. She blinked before looking back at Vinyl.

The unicorn gave her a concerned look, “Please, say something. You’re scaring me.”

Octavia sighed and whispered, “I’m sorry…but I can’t do this. I can’t pretend like today isn’t going to be one of the worst days of my life.”

Vinyl caressed her cheek and leaned in to kiss her, only to be stopped by Octavia’s hoof. “You’re acting as if we won’t be able to be together after today.”

“Well, why would we? So I can grow even more attached to you and have an even harder time letting you go?” Octavia retorted, causing Vinyl to wince. “Besides, the problem isn’t that I can’t be with you. It’s that I’ll have to deal with my love for you while pretending I’m happy with Fine Bit and you’re moving on with somepony else.”

“…You really think I’d replace you?” Vinyl asked.

The cellist resisted the urge to roll her eyes, “Don’t be so unrealistically romantic. Of course you would move on eventually.”

“Then you would move on from me eventually too,” The DJ said.

“Perhaps, but I’d still be with Fine Bit,” Octavia reminded.

Vinyl chuckled, “I still wish I could steal you away from all this.”

“Well, you can’t,” Octavia whispered sourly.

Vinyl leaned in again, and this time, she succeeded in kissing Octavia’s cheek. “You’re right… Why don’t we just shut up about it until tonight?” Once Octavia nodded she offered, “Do you want me to feed you? The only thing that could make things worse tonight is if you pass out from hunger on our way home.”

“Or I could pass out right before I give an answer,” Octavia joked.

Vinyl burst out laughing, “Wouldn’t that be something…”

“You know what we should have done yesterday?” Vinyl spoke out as she was preparing a vegetable lasagne. “We should have gone to the best club around and gotten wicked drunk.”

“Speaking of drinking…” Octavia mumbled.

Vinyl heard a bit of rummaging around as she placed the final layer of pasta on top. She picked up the pan with her magic and was about to place it in the oven when she heard the clinking of glass on marble. “Tavi...?” she asked with a lilt.

Octavia answered, “Yes, my dear?" with the same tone.

“Isn’t it a little early to be drinking?” Vinyl asked, noting the subtle scent of alcohol and fermented grapes.

“It’s actually a little late, as we didn’t get ‘wicked drunk’ yesterday, right?” Octavia joked as she offered her lover a glass. “Besides, it’s a very small amount.”

“I guess you have a point…” Vinyl shrugged as she placed the uncooked meal in the oven. Then she took the drink in her magical grip and looked at it. Octavia had been true to her word. Vinyl could probably finish off the wine in a gulp or two.

They clinked their glasses before downing it all at once. Octavia sighed, “I needed that.”

“Same,” Vinyl responded, licking her lips. “Wanna go lie down on the couch and chill while the lasagne’s cooking?”

Octavia nodded. Vinyl led her lover to the living room, happy that the cellist was in a much better mood than she had been in the morning. She lied down on her back and held her arm out for Octavia, who soon climbed into her embrace. The grey mare smiled at her DJ before leaning in and kissing her. Vinyl had wanted to keep it simple, but Octavia locked her head with a hoof and soon enough, it became a passionate session.

The cellist broke away with one last peck and smiled at Vinyl. She was about to say something when a timer went off. Vinyl laughed, “I’ll go get the lasagne.”

Octavia put a hoof on her lover’s chest to stop her, “No, no. I’ve got it. Just give me five minutes, alright?”

“Are you sure?” Vinyl asked insisted, only to have Octavia nod eagerly at her. Vinyl shrugged and lied back down on the couch.

The DJ closed her eyes and relax, yet kept her ears up to figure out what Octavia was up to. She could hear Octavia cursing to herself as she took out the lasagne. It must be really hot. Wow, they really should invent some sort of jaw mittens for earth ponies. Eh, maybe I’ll get that patented some day. Soon, Vinyl forgot that she had been listening in and zoned out into her thoughts until she was beginning to fall asleep.

Vinyl Scratch moaned when she felt a gentle hoof shaking her. “Vinyl, lunch is ready. Come on.”

The unicorn let herself fall off the couch before quickly propping herself onto her hooves, earning a laugh from her violet-eyed lover. “Yay, I’m starved!”

Vinyl was about to make her way to the kitchen, but was stopped by Octavia. “Ah-ah. Not so fast, my love. First, cover your eyes.” The DJ shot her a confused look before shrugging and obliging. She felt Octavia take her hoof and lead her to the kitchen. When they entered, Octavia whispered into her ear, “Open them.”

The unicorn peeked one eye open before the other and gasped in delight. The table was set with two candles on opposite sides on top of a lovely golden tablecloth. There were two empty glasses and the bottle of wine from earlier. And in the centre was the eggplant lasagne, steaming and begging to be eaten. “Octavia…”

“I’ve been making this whole situation about me and ignoring how much this whole thing is going to hurt you too. So to make up for it, I figured we could have our own sort of dinner date—or lunch date, in our case,” The cellist smiled.

Vinyl’s lips broke out into a grin so massive, it hurt her cheeks. She ran up to Octavia and pulled her into a tight hug. “Goddesses! I am going to miss you so much!” She placed a wet kiss on her lover’s cheek before letting her go. “You’re an amazing pony and I—I don’t know what I’m going to do without you!”

Octavia chuckled and brushed Vinyl’s hair out of her face, leaving her garnet eyes in clear view. She pulled out a chair and invited, “Come sit down, darling. I’ll pour you some more Chardonneigh.”

Vinyl happily took her seat and smiled as Octavia poured filled her glass and then turned to her own and did the same. Then Octavia went to a cupboard and grabbed a spatula. She placed a large piece of the lasagne on her lover’s plate and then a smaller slice for herself.

The DJ’s mouth watered at the sight of the food on her plate. As soon as Octavia sat down, Vinyl grabbed her fork and knife and began cutting away at her meal, not even bothering to place a napkin on her lap. She brought a large piece to her mouth and gave a pleased hum. She swallowed and commented, “Not to brag, but I’m pretty sure I make the best veggie lasagne in the world. This is so good, it definitely puts any other pasta dish out there to shame!”

“You know, Vinyl, when you say ‘not to brag’ you’re still supposed to be somewhat humble,” Octavia giggled.

“Hey, I’m not ashamed to be proud of my accomplishments. I am confident in my skills and this just shows that I don’t just ‘talk the talk’ so to speak. So if I want to brag, then by Luna, I will brag! ...Just with a disclaimer.” She proclaimed.

Octavia took a small bite of her food and nodded. She swallowed before smiling, “Okay, maybe you do have a right to brag on this one. However, that doesn’t excuse the fact that you just insulted every grandmother with a secret recipe for lasagne.”

“Well, then my apologies to all those grandmothers, but it’s still a damn good lasagne,” Vinyl asserted.

Octavia rolled her eyes and then they continued to eat in silence, smiling whenever their gazes met.

Finally, the sun was setting and the moon was rising. Octavia put on an extravagant violet dress that matched her eyes. The collar was itchy and the back bothered her tail, but she had to look her best for the pictures. Damn media ponies…even at the day where I choose to throw my joy away, they appear!

Vinyl brushed her black mane to one side and placed a lovely diamond necklace on her neck, “There you go.” She smiled at Octavia through the vanity’s reflection. “You look wonderful.”

“Thank you,” Octavia offered a fake smile of gratitude. “The same could be said about you.”

The servant was wearing a simple lilac dress so as to not take attention away from Octavia’s wear. Vinyl grinned. “Alright, the carriage is waiting on us. We should go.”

“Wait,” Octavia pulled her back by the tail just as she was turning around. She gave the unicorn a quick peck on the lips and whispered, “Now we can go.”

The earth pony cantered out of the house, Vinyl following after to lock the doors. The couple stepped into the carriage and were lovingly greeted by the chauffer, “Good evening, ladies. Are you both ready to go?”

“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Vinyl simpered.

“Very well, then. Off we go!” The stallion cheered as they took off.

Octavia took deep breaths to calm down, appreciating the fact that they were in an open carriage, which allowed the cool wind to blow on her face. She shifted a lot, trying to accommodate herself in the plush seats but Octavia simply couldn’t find a way to sit comfortably with the accursed dress.

Vinyl noticed this and shifted herself so that she was seated on her flanks and her hind legs stuck out in front. Then she told Octavia, “Here, lie down on my lap.”

Octavia blushed furiously, “Vinyl, no! Sit properly. Your dress raises when you sit like that and...that position isn’t very appropriate.”

“Oh quit fussing and lie down. It’ll cover me up if you do,” Vinyl winked.

Octavia sighed in defeat, “Fine.” She lied on her side and rested her head on Vinyl’s lap. She looked up at the unicorn from her position, noticing the smirk and pink cheeks. “No,” Octavia pointed up at her lover. “I know what you’re thinking. Take those thoughts and kill them.”

“There are some thoughts I can’t control, Tavi,” Vinyl licked her lips.

“Well those thoughts won’t be happening in real life any time soon,” Octavia huffed.

“Hmm…you’re right. It’d only seem real if we switched positions,” Vinyl mused.

“One more word and I will cut that tongue out of your mouth,” Octavia warned. Before the unicorn could make another clever comeback, Octavia placed her hoof over her lips, “Don’t even think about saying it.”

“Alright, we’re here,” The chauffer announced a few minutes later. As both mares stepped out he said, “I was already paid in advance, so you ladies just enjoy your night!” He waved before dashing off into the dark streets of Canterlot.

Vinyl and Octavia stood in front of Pearl Posh’s mansion. The gates were open and there were crowds of ponies waltzing in, paying no mind to either of them. The mansion was far more than just extravagant. The windows were made of the finest crystals from the Crystal Empire, The front doors were made of a wood they had never seen anywhere else. The entire home was surrounded with precious gems that shined almost too brightly. Octavia thought it was hideous a hideous combination, however it had one quite a few awards for its aesthetic. …Though, she might have just paid her way to the top for that as well.

Vinyl glanced at her, “Well, we don’t want to keep them waiting. Come on.” She held out a bent limb for Octavia to link her arm through.

The cellist took a deep breath and let her servant escort her inside. The guards at the front doors bowed toward her and let them both inside. Once they entered, Octavia whispered, “Vinyl, I’m going to need you to stay by my side, alright?”

“Of course,” she said. Then her eyes went wide as she looked beyond her mistress. “Uh-oh. Posh is heading right toward us.”

Octavia turned to meet her aunt and a trio of servants behind her with a smile, “Auntie Pearl Posh! How are you?”

“My dear, I should be asking you that. Why, this is a big step for you and Fine Bit. Are you not nervous?” The mare asked as she looked to see who was watching.

Ah, pulling of a façade, are you, Auntie? If my life is going to hell, then you’re coming with me! “Nervous? No, not at all! Why, Fine and I have been eagerly waiting for this! Speaking of which, where is he?”

“I believe he was speaking to your father. Here, I’ll lead you to them.” She smirked as she turned to her servants, muttering something to them. “Come along.”

The servants nodded and beckoned Vinyl to follow them. “Wait, I think it’s safer if I stay with my mistress.”

“She’ll be fine,” One of them, a young stallion with a blank face reassured. “Sometimes servants get in the way, and we don’t want that, now do we?”

Octavia looked back at her and mouthed, “It’s okay,” earning a nod from Vinyl. The grey mare followed her aunt to Fine Bit and Piano Forte. “Hello father,” she greeted.

Piano turned to her and Pearl Posh and scrunched his face in drunken disgust. “Hello, my daughter. I see you’ve brought a ghoul with you. How quaint.”

“Now is that any way to speak to a lady, much less your sister-in-law?” Pearl Posh gasped, as if hurt.

“A true lady does not use money for poison. And I don’t welcome any demons in my family,” the elder stallion spat.

“But you seemed to welcome Crescendo almost as soon as you met her.”

Piano Forte stomped and snorted in anger, ready to attack. Fine Bit held him back. “Mister Forte, please, not in front of your daughter.” He called one of the guards in the house, “Could you please keep these two separated? Thank you. Also, Lady Octavia and I would like a bit of time alone, so do not bother us.”

The guard nodded and led the two older ponies away. Octavia tuned to Fine Bit. “Good evening.”

“Don’t say that. This evening is anything but good. Hmph, maybe I should have let your father rip off that serpent’s head off after all. Maybe then it would be a good evening,” Fine Bit seethed.

“Vinyl told me. I’m so sorry about all this,” Octavia’s apology was cut short by Fine Bit raising his hoof.

“I do not need your pity.”

Octavia was about to say something else when the music started. The whole house went silent as everyone listened to a violin soloist play. Then a harp joined in. Harpo? The stallion was deeply focused on not missing a note. Then the piano joined in—Frederic! And finally the cello came into play. Octavia’s eyes widened in disbelief. Beauty Brass!? I didn’t know she could play so well.

Fine Bit cackled humourlessly, “The irony of it all.”

Vinyl was taken down to the basement, where other servants were mingling and watching over their masters’ foals. “Stay here until called by your mistress.” The three ordered simultaneously.

Vinyl huffed in disapproval, but soon recovered as she caught sight of a scrawny stallion in a tux. His face was down in his hooves and he was sitting alone in a corner. Recognising the poor fellow, Vinyl sat beside him and whispered, “Hey, Light Eye.”

The stallion jolted, his teary face pulling into a broken smile. “Oh, he-hello, Vinyl,” he sniffed.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Oh n-nothing. I’m—I’m just a bit sensitive about weddings and proposals and—and—“ he buried his face back into his hooves and sobbed harder.

“There, there,” Vinyl rubbed Light Eye’s back comfortingly. “I know how hard it must be to lose someone you love to someone who doesn’t even love them back.”

Light Eye rose up, “You…know? About us?” Vinyl nodded. “He…he’d started sleeping with others. He…even slept with a mare to get used to it.” Light Eye hiccupped. “I—I know he was only trying to get me to hate him, but it hurts him! It hurts him so much to push me away and I can’t bear it.”

“Oh damn... Come here, pal,” Vinyl wrapped her arms around Light Eye and gave him a kiss on his head. “I know how awful this is for you. But you can still see him in secret once he and Octavia are wed.”

“No, I couldn’t stand to see him so broken! I just want us to run away, to just...elope!” He sobbed.

Vinyl stroked his mane gently, “That’s what I’ve been telling Octavia. But…she can’t do it and neither can Fine Bit. I wish they could… I wish we could all just disappear and live happily ever after or some bullshit like that…”

Light Eye pulled away. He rubbed away a tear that had escaped from Vinyl’s eye unbeknownst to her. “But I assume you have accepted by now that we won’t have our happy endings, right?”

Vinyl nodded. She tried to take a deep breath, but it came out a shudders, “But damn it, I hate feeling so helpless! Heh, I haven’t told anyone about how I feel about this except for Octavia.”

“Oh, don’t even try telling other ponies,” Light Eye scoffed with a wave of his hoof. ”It’s as if everypony has lost their ability to give good advice! Do you know what someone said to me? They said, ‘Hey, you’re a free stallion! You can just court anyone in Equestria!’ as if it were that simple! And I am sure that this pony knew that I was still living with Fine Bit, still seeing him every day as my heart sank lower and lower.”

“That’s just ignorant!” Vinyl shouted with a grin. “It’s like these ponies have never heard of a heartbreak. This shit takes time to get over and it is powerful! Did you know you could die from that? It’s called ‘stress cardio-something-or-another.’ It’s a real thing!”

“How terrible! I’m surprised I’m still breathing,” Light Eye laughed.

“I feel ya!” Vinyl joined in, chuckling. Once they both grew silent, she spoke again, “Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Yes, anything,” the stallion nodded.

“Well, from what I’ve seen, Fine Bit acts like a total jerk, but then there was that time when I found out he actually had feelings and I realised I had only seen one side of him,” she explained. “So, what is he like…towards you?”

The other servant rubbed his chin and answered, “Quite lovely, when no one is around. He’s constantly giving me bouquets, kissing me deeply, taking me out to places…and he’s the most adorable little cuddler in his sleep!”

“A cuddler!? I somehow suspected that,” she laughed. “Okay, so what’s the story between you two?”

Light Eye pursed his lips in thought before beginning, “Well, when I was first hired, years ago, even before this betrothal catastrophe had gotten to him, he was quite the gentleman. His requests were always followed with ‘please’ and ‘if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.’ In fact, he was so generous that we spent most of our nights sneaking out to give food, money, and blankets to any poor souls in the alley.”

“Really!? Wow that’s…unexpected.” Vinyl commented.

“I know,” he smiled before continuing. “When he was at the peak of his adolescence, though, he started to act a little…odd. He would lock himself in his room, and whenever he bumped into me, he would blush madly, and sometimes, I could hear him crying in his room…” Light Eye sighed. “One day, his father ordered me to find out what was wrong, so I talked to Fine. It took an hour of comforting and then a thousand promises to keep a secret before he told me that he was interested in someone…a stallion.”

“Ooh! That’s you, right?” Vinyl squealed.

“Not yet,” Light Eye chuckled. “It was a high school crush of his. Being a few years older than he was, he sought advice from me. I told him there was nothing wrong with how he felt, but we both knew that others in his school felt differently. It was a petty crush, mostly harmless…until the rumours started. This greatly upset Fine Bit. Any mention of love, school, or mistreatment, he would snap at! He told me I was a fool for thinking he was normal. And finally, he hit his lowest when his crush got a mare pregnant.”

“Damn, that must’ve sucked!”

He nodded, “Oh, it was definitely hard on him, and I was there for it all. Then he was introduced to his future bride. Fine expressed his disgust, but everyone told him that a mare is only made perfect by a stallion, or some bullshit like that. And suddenly, he started acting strange again. This time, though, he would be incredibly kind to me. Fine Bit would ask me to escort him to my favourite restaurants, and to concerts and symphonies and I…I grew fond of him. Though, I couldn’t act upon my feelings just yet as he was still a minor and I would never forgive myself. Anyway, it wasn’t until his birthday that I finally did something and kissed him square on the lips. And that’s that.”

“Aww! That kind of makes Tavi and my story look like trash. She just took me in, gave me work to do, got me back into my career and then one day, we kissed,” Vinyl shrugged.

“Well, of course it’s going to sound boring if you tell it like that!” He complained.

“Hey, there’s not much more to tell! She was nice, then got really mean, then her mother died, then she was nice again, and then kiss!”

Light Eye sighed, “We need to work on your story-telling skills.”

Octavia was shaking from head to hoof. The servants had finally been released upstairs, but Vinyl only had the chance to speak with her for a mere second before Octavia was bombarded with excited aunts, cousins, and even a few journalists advising her not to faint before answering. They are far too excited for this…

After the crowd had died down, Vinyl came to her with a shy smile, “You ready?”

“I need a drink.”

Vinyl laughed, “I thought you might say that, so I came prepared,” she said, hovering two glasses of white wine over to her mistress.

“I don’t think that will be enough… Could you give me some of yours too?” Octavia pleaded.

“Darling, the second glass is also for you.”

Octavia giggled, “Aw, you even learnt my drinking habits for when I’m nervous.”

“Oh shut up before someone listens in,” Vinyl joked, but looked around to see if anyone had heard. She caught sight of Light Eye, who seemed to be talking to Fine Bit.

When the unicorn turned back around, both glasses were completely empty. She gaped at Octavia who only responded, “You would have done the same.”

Vinyl shrugged. She was about to crack another joke when someone tapped a spoon to a glass. Vinyl put down the empty glasses on a nearby table.

All the attention was on Pearl Posh, who was standing on the first step of the stairs to make herself seen. “Good evening everyone. As you all know, we are gathered here for a very special occasion. Two young lovebirds have been waiting patiently for this moment. Well, perhaps ‘patient’ is the incorrect word, as they had me move this up a few months.” The crowd laughed politely. “Moving along, it’s time Mister Fine Bit asked a very important question to a special lady.”

Fine Bit stepped out from the crowd, a small box balanced on his left hoof. “Octavia, if you please,” he said in a grave tone.

As soon as Octavia came out, there were thousands of flashes coming from the whole group of the media. As if my image hasn’t been captured enough times.

Fine Bit reluctantly kneeled down and opened the box, “Dearest Octavia, will you marry me?”

Octavia stared at the ring in front of her. It was a gold ring, with a diamond that seemed like it could fall off due to its immense size. For her, time seemed to stop, however, it was definitely still flowing around her, evident by the whispers and camera flashes that could still be heard. She looked at Vinyl and instantly regretted it. There she was, a hoof over Light Eye’s shoulder, with tears quietly streaming from her eyes.

Then she looked back at Fine Bit. From her angle, only the top of his head was visible and he seemed almost attractive. Here he was, a stallion who was better off dead with his family, kneeled down before her. And here Octavia was, taking all the time in the world, feeling the alcohol heat the tip of her ears and cheeks. Go on then, she told herself. Say it. You’re causing Vinyl so much hurt by delaying this and making her watch. Come on! Speak! Speak!

Finally, Octavia regained her ability to speak. She opened her mouth and said the one word that would change her life for good.

“No.”

Author's Note

Imagine if this were the end of the story. That'd be terrible. This is actually a split chapter. I'll post the next one as soon as I revise. Give me about half an hour tops. :raritywink:

To Us

For a quick, single moment, everything was completely quiet while everyone’s minds processed the word. Not a single facial expression had changed yet, there was no reaction just yet. Everything was pure silence and the only sound Vinyl could hear was her own mind and even it spoke in a whisper.

'No?' Did Octavia just turn him down? Her jaw hung ajar and her eyes were beginning to widen just as the world continued to spin and finally, everyone reacted.

There were gasps, murmurs, glasses dropping and breaking on the floor, flashes of cameras, the scribbling of pens, and one single voice cackling haughtily, as if entertained, to hush everything else. That voice was none other than Pearl Posh's. Vinyl turned to see her come out of the crowd and say, “Oh my! What a hilarious sense of humour you have, dearest Octavia. However, the media ponies are simply dying to hear your actual response.”

A second chance, Vinyl thought. She wouldn’t turn something like this down…would she? Vinyl gulped as Fine Bit held the ring a little closer to Octavia, as if asking again. His eyes shone with an infinitesimal glimmer of hope.

Octavia shook her head and answered again, “No, I won’t marry you, Fine Bit.” Then she turned to the media ponies. “I can’t marry him…because I don’t love him. I don’t love him at all!”

Vinyl’s mouth widened even more as she said that and fresh tears poured out of her eyes. Light Eye turned to her and whispered, “Did you two plan this?” All the unicorn could do was shake her head.

Immediately, the journalists bombarded her with questions.

“Miss Octavia, is this true? Does this mean that your entire relationship with Fine Bit was a lie? How could you lie when—“

“Did Fine Bit do something? Why did—“

“Oh! Miss Octavia, are you leaving him for one of the orchestra members? If so—“

“Miss Octavia, is this because you are still upset about your mother’s—“

“Are you leaving Fine Bit for someone else?”

The last question seemed to have picked Octavia’s interest. She turned her back to all of the journalists and photographers to face Vinyl Scratch. “I am in love with someone else.”

“With whom!?” the media ponies all asked in unison, shouting their best guesses afterward.

Vinyl closed her mouth and gulped. Octavia’s violet eyes had never seemed so determined. “I’m in love with Vinyl Scratch.”

Light Eye nudged her and said, “Well, what are you waiting for? Go to her.”

The unicorn did as was told. Her appearance was followed by more gasps and even screams, either from delight, horror, or fright from more glasses of champagne hitting the ground in shock. Vinyl trotted and threw herself into Octavia, wrapping her in a massive hug. She buried her face into Octavia’s neck and mane.

Vinyl pulled away and expected the worst—yelling, discrimination, food being thrown, but instead she heard a slow clap. She turned to see that it was Fine Bit, who had put the ring away and stood up. He had a tear in his eye and Light Eye was by his side, clapping along with him. The small ensemble joined in and the clapping became louder and faster. It spread until half of the guests, even Octavia’s father, were clapping.

Octavia held her hoof up, and the clapping slowly died down. When it was once again quiet, she announced, “I would like to have this soiree be a celebration, not of what would have been a dishonest proposal, but of the truth between two couples. Please, do carry on with the music.” She looked at the ensemble, who immediately began to play upbeat songs.

The crowds of guests went back to enjoying themselves and the media ponies approached the two couples. A young male journalist stepped forward, “So, was the whole relationship fake, or was there a spark at some point?”

Fine Bit, much to everyone’s surprise, gave a genuine laugh, “Believe me, Octavia and I detested each other. There was never a spark. It was all for the fame and fortune.”

“Miss Octavia, what made you change your mind?” he asked, scribbling down on his notepad.

Octavia nuzzled Vinyl before responding, “I realised some things are worth much more than fame and fortune.”

“Mister Fine Bit, does this not bother you at all? Your family would have received a lot of money by collaborating with Miss Octavia’s.”

“As she said, love comes first. Besides, both of our families have more money than they know what to do with. I’m positive they can live without a larger surplus,” he responded.

“Understandable. One last question: What are you planning to do now?”

All four ponies blinked and looked at one another. Truth be told, they weren’t sure of what was to come. Sometimes, however, it is better to let the future handle things on its own.

“Again, we’re sorry we couldn’t be there with you two. The concerts popped up so suddenly, it almost seemed like Pearl Posh’s doing,” Melody joked, causing all four of them to laugh.

“Yeah, but it looks like you definitely managed to handle everything perfectly,” Harmony smiled.

Octavia nodded, “Sometimes you just need to have a little drink before making an important decision.”

“Ah yes, let’s all promote alcoholism,” Vinyl supported sarcastically. “Because that’s always the way to go.”

“I am quite concerned, however. Octavia, you do realise your aunt is going to demolish your reputation now, right?” Harmony asked slowly.

The cellist sighed and leaned in, “That is what I wanted to talk to you all about.” The twins came in closer. “Vinyl and I are packing our things and leaving Canterlot.”

“What!?” the twins yelled simultaneously, Melody in an excited tone and Harmony in a depressed one.

“Hey, calm down, you two!” Vinyl warned. “The entire café is looking at us like we’re crazy.”

The twins looked around to confirm what Vinyl had said. They apologised in sync before sitting upright. Harmony spoke first, “But won’t you guys miss everyone and everything?”

“Believe me, I am going to have a terrible time not chilling at Drycker. And we’re really going to miss you guys…” Vinyl began.

“But it really is the only option. I fear my aunt might drag Vinyl down to hell with me,” Octavia finished in a sombre tone.

Melody lightly smacked her sister, “Aw, don’t listen to this depressing sack of flesh. I think it’s great you guys are moving to..?”

“Ponyville,” Vinyl answered.

Melody scrunched her face, “Ugh…a rural town? That does not sound like my cup of tea. I hear weird shit goes on in that town. Must have something to do with the fact that all the Elements of Harmony all live in that place.”

“Actually, it is the perfect place for us,” Octavia smiled. “The town is like a big, happy family. All the food comes straight from the farms, no one is gossiping behind your back, no media ponies on your tail, and a nice bit of excitement every day.”

“Hmm…yeah, I guess it sounds like a cool place to start fresh,” Melody shrugged. “But you better not start using any small town lingo!”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” the cellist giggled.

“So, when are you two planning to leave?” Melody asked.

“In just a few days. We've already bought a house there.” Octavia responded. “The sooner we take a train out of here, the sooner I can stop thinking about this mess.”

“And what of Fine Bit and Light Eye?” Melody wondered.

Vinyl shrugged, “Light Eye mentioned he was friends with some confectioner named ‘Bunny-Bun’ or something, who also happens to live in Ponyville. We might get the same train together if they’re quick enough.”

“Oh, that’s great! I mean, Fine Bit might be a prick, but at least you won’t be alone, right?” Harmony said.

“Actually, we’ve become pretty good friends. After the party, Fine Bit broke down and thanked Octavia maybe a thousand times for rejecting the proposal.” Vinyl explained, laughing at the twins’ blank expressions. “That was my reaction as well.”

Melody smiled, “I think it’s lovely that after all the catastrophe, you were all able to become friends and have a happy ending. Seriously, Octavia, I haven’t seen you this happy in years!”

Octavia couple just as the waitress came by. “Can I get you four anything else?” she asked.

“Just the cheque,” Harmony nodded.

After a week, Vinyl and Octavia were running around the train station with their luggage floating behind in Vinyl’s magic. They had been completely lost for awhile, but the cellist was now convinced that they were on the right path.

“Vinyl, hurry! We might miss the train at your pace!”

“Tavi, darling, I don’t think you understand that while my magic makes things more comfortable to carry for ponies without eight separate hooves, it doesn’t make our baggage weightless!” She wheezed, “Besides, we’re like, three hours early.”

“Yes and one full hour of that was spent trying to figure out where we need to go,” Octavia explained with a scowl, which soon faded at the sight of her panting, perspiring, exhausted lover. “Here, give me the two heaviest ones you’re carrying.”

Vinyl separated two big bags, one being Octavia’s cello, away from the clump of eight other ones. She dropped them in front of the cellist, who began to push them forward. The DJ sighed, “That’s a little better… Hey Tavi?”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t you and the ensemble go to tours around Equestria?”

“Yes. I could tell you a few stories on the train. Why do you ask?” The cellist looked back at her.

“Well, don’t take this the wrong way, but shouldn’t you know the train station by heart?”

Octavia rolled her eyes, “No, we took private pegasus carriages for touring. They’re much faster and more…well, private.”

Vinyl nodded, “Oh alright.” Vinyl looked around, “Uh-oh…”

“What is it?”

“A few ponies are looking at us… I think they recognise you.”

Octavia looked around and spotted the crowd. She arched an eyebrow, “…I don’t think they recognise me, Vinyl… I think they’re looking at you.”

“Huh!?” Vinyl’s eyes widened behind her shades. She blinked when the posse of three fans trotted toward the twosome.

“Hey!” One colt grinned. “You’re DJ Pon-3, right?”

“Uh…” the unicorn cleared her throat. “Yeah, I am.”

“Awesome!” another colt yelled. “Hey, think my siblings and I could get your autograph?” He pulled out a sketchpad from a pouch he was carrying and held it in front of the DJ with a pen.

“Sure.” Vinyl grabbed the pen with her mouth, but the action caused her magic to fail, and the luggage dropped on the floor. “Damn it… Alright, give me names really quick!”

A mare answered, “Strike, Astro, and Peridot.”

Vinyl signed her name and gave the pen back. Then she turned and started picking up her bags. “Umm…Miss Pon-3?” One of the colts called.

“Did I misspell something?” Vinyl asked.

“No, this is perfect. We were just wondering if you needed any help with your bags.”

“Oh?” Vinyl looked up at Octavia, who smiled and shrugged. “You know, that would be awesome. I could really use your help with these three bags,” She pointed toward three small bags. While the DJ appreciated the gesture, she didn’t want to abuse their generosity either. After all, they were only a trio of foals.

“We’ve ways to go, I think…” Octavia simpered.

“Oh, where do you need to go?” the mare asked.

“Terminal seven.”

“Okay. Just take a left and we’ll get there. It’s not far at all.”

“Awesome!” Vinyl cheered as she picked up the other five bags, “My hooves are killing me.”

While they made their journey, one of the colts asked, “So if you don’t mind me asking, where are you headed to? It looks like you’re moving with all these bags.”

“We are,” Vinyl answered.

“Aww, what’s wrong with Canterlot?” the other colt asked.

“Long story short, we were having issues with my family, so we’re sort of starting fresh,” Octavia explained. “Fret not, however, you’ll see Vi—DJ Pon-3 around soon.”

“Yeah, and I’ll even see about getting you backstage passes when I'm touring for doing this,” she chuckled.

“Really!?” The three yelled at once.

Vinyl nodded, “Yep. I really appreciate this, so it’s the least I could do.”

“Wow, thanks…” The mare said in disbelief. “Oh, we’re here. There’s no train, though…”

“Oh, we know,” Vinyl rolled her eyes, “But somepony thought we should arrive extra early for no reason.”

“Oh hush,” Octavia countered. She turned toward the three foals, “Again, thank you for doing this. We really appreciate it.”

“No problem,” one colt said. “Aww man! We need to go, guys…” he announced as he looked at the time.

“Aww, can’t we stay awhile longer?” the mare asked.

“Only if you want to miss a chance at meeting up with Mum,” he answered.

She sighed and hung her head, “Oh alright… Let’s go.”

“Yo, nice meeting ya, Pon-3!” the other colt said, leaving the three bags in front of her before taking off with his siblings.

“Take care!” she waved. “Man, I missed that.”

“What? The attention?”

“Yeah! I had an awesome fan base…or I have an awesome fan base. It looks like the ponies haven’t changed a bit.”

“I’m glad to see you so happy with what you’re doing,” Octavia said, kissing her lover on the cheek.

“Me too…”

For the next hour, Vinyl and Octavia waited around on the benches before the train finally arrived.

When the doors opened, Vinyl formed a neat queue with the luggage, and allowed it to go in before the pair. Then the unicorn quickly found their designated carriage and stepped into one of the secluded rooms. She neatly organised all of the bags in the shelves before hopping on her seat and massaging her forehead, “Finally! Rest!”

Octavia stepped in afterwards, seeming a little disappointed, “I didn’t see neither Light Eye nor Fine Bit. I suppose they chose to take a later ride.”

“Why didn’t we do that?” Vinyl panted, sprawling herself out on the seats.

“Because now we have one more day in Ponyville.”

“Octavia, we’re moving to Ponyville, not taking a vacation. We don’t need another day. We have plenty to spare,” Vinyl explained.

“Well, maybe I want to get to know the area before officially starting my daily routine. I need to know how close the house is to the market, where the nearest music shop is, and organise my day before starting it,” Octavia said.

Vinyl bemusedly scrunched her face before standing on all fours, “I…I’ll just go get us some champagne.”

The unicorn stepped out, leaving Octavia to sit on the cushions with her thoughts. I’m going to miss living in Canterlot… The idea of not waking up in a gigantic house…well, maybe that won’t be so bad. If anything, I should worry about whether or not Ponyville has any high-class restaurants! How will I go on without aged wine and exemplary cheese!? …And starting over with my career…with life… This is going to be a strange experience.

Minutes later, Vinyl returned with a bottle and two glasses. Octavia snapped out of her stupor and pulled out a table from the wall of the room. Vinyl set down the two glasses and braced herself as she popped the cork off. Quickly, the mare trapped the escaping alcohol into one of the two glasses and then filled the other.

Vinyl set the bottle aside and smiled at her lover, “To a new start.” She raised her glass.

“To a new start,” Octavia clinked her glass against the unicorn’s and took a sip. Already, she was missing her favourite liquor store.

“Octavia, can I ask you something?” Vinyl spoke, also furrowing her brow in slight disgust at the drink.

“Go ahead.”

The blue-maned DJ looked into her glass, trying to find the right words. “…We were so set on having you marry Fine Bit to save your career. What made you change your mind at the last second?”

“You did,” she answered. “Seeing you be so hopeless…and we were crying so often…I didn’t want such a sadness consuming neither my life, nor yours.”

“Tavi, you were so far into your career. You could’ve made it into the Royal Symphony or something! It was your dream, wasn’t it?” Vinyl persisted.

Octavia shrugged and took another sip of the cheap champagne. “You’re starting to sound like one of those journalists. ’There’s no resolution you won’t have to make sacrifices for,’ remember?” she quoted.

Vinyl took off her shades and looked at her, “…You gave up everything for me.”

Octavia wrapped her forelegs around the unicorn’s withers, “On the contrary, I gave up my career for everything.”

Vinyl blinked and backed out of the hug, “You wanted to move to Ponyville all along?”

It was a deep and romantic moment while it lasted. Octavia rolled her eyes, “No, you imbecile. You! You’re my everything.”

“Oh!” Vinyl blinked again and smiled, “Aww, Tavi!” she pressed her lips against the cellist’s and wrapped her in a tight embrace once more as the train started to move, leading the way towards their new life together.

Author's Note

Well, that was expected, wasn't it?

Anyway, I'd like to thank Twilight_Scratch for editing this story. And of course, thank you readers for reading. I probably wouldn't have finished this without an audience.

So yeah. That's all. It took me over a year to finish fourteen chapters. Wow... :twilightoops:

Have a good day, guys... Or night. You know what? Have a good year. :heart: :pinkiehappy: