The Ballad of Xyclone

Entrance to Chrysalis' kingdom, midnight

In Vinyl Scratch's and Octavia's tent, Octavia giggles at Vinyl's antics as she goofily tries to straighten out her sleeping bag.

"Gah! How does this stupid thing even work?!" Vinyl exclaims.

"You need some help, dear?" Octavia laughs, jokingly.

"Oh, ha-ha, very funny!" Vinyl retorts sarcastically. "I got this, 'Tavi!" Vinyl once again attempts to straighten the sleeping bag out, failing comically in the process. "ARRGH!!" she roars frustratingly.

Octavia snickers.

"Oh, buck it, I'm sleeping on the ground," Vinyl says, finally giving up.

Octavia giggles again. "Oh, Vinyl...you...re so cute when you're angry..."

"Would you just drop it already?!" She says, blushing. "Forget that stupid sleeping bag! I swear, it's out to get me, I just know it!"

Octavia continues giggling.

"Hey, 'Tavi, can I ask you something?" Vinyl says suddenly.

"Yes, what is it, Vinyl?"

"How do you feel about this Xyclone dude? Do you trust him?"

"Yeah, he's a really nice pony. Why do you ask?"

"I keep thinking back to when he came here to Ponyville, when I gave him a tour of our apartment...he went crazy when I showed him all my DJ'ing and producing equipment...I wonder...maybe he wants to be a DJ like me! He said that he was my biggest fan ever when we first met...And the way he marauded that changeling the other day, that's just the kind of energy to rock a crowd full of hyped-up ponies! Maybe I can take him under my proverbial wing; you know, show him the tricks of the trade..."

"Become your apprentice is what you're trying to say, right?"

"Yeah. I bet he'd love that! At least I hope he loves it...right now, it seems like he's too busy drooling over Lyra."

"What do you mean?"

"You haven't noticed? You haven't see the way those two act when they're around each other? They're both real nervous, they blush a lot...They're obviously in love with each other."

"I suppose you're right. You know, those other two ponies, Jappleack and Clarity I think their names are...they act like that when they're around each other. I even thought I saw them cuddling the other morning!"

"Those two? Filly-foolers? That's not good; if anypony finds out, they could be banished by Princess Celestia!" Both Vinyl and Octavia sit in silence for a few moments until Vinyl speaks up again. "You know, I'm kinda jealous of Lyra. That Xyclone is...hot dang, that is one sexy stallion!"

Octavia looks away sadly. "A-Are you saying you like him more than me?"

"What? No!" Vinyl pulls Octavia into a hug. "Relax, 'Tavi, you're the only pony for me!"

"Th-Thank you, dear. Hey...c-can I ask you something, Vinyl?"

"'Course, 'Tavi! What is it?"

"Do...do you think we'll ever make it back to Ponyville...alive?"

"What?! Of course we will! What makes you think somethin' like that?"

"I don't know, it's just...Queen Chrysalis is back again, and I can only imagine how furious she is with Twilight and her friends, what with them having defeated her twice before..." Her voice trails off.

"Octavia..." Vinyl says sympathetically.

"I'm—I'm just so scared!" cries Octavia, breaking into tears.

Vinyl goes over and gives Octavia a caring hug. "Come on, 'Tavi, cheer up." She grabs Octavia's hoof and kisses it gently. "You know I'd never let anythin' hurt you. You're my best friend; you've always been my best friend and you always will be my best friend, okay? I'm sure Xyclone knows what he's doing."

"Okay..." Octavia sniffs. "I'll t-try and have a better outlook on things."

"That's my girl. How 'bout we get some shut-eye now, huh?" Vinyl says, nudging her.

Octavia smiles and chuckles as she wipes the tears from her eyes. "Sure. But first let me help you with your sleeping bag!"

In a couple of minutes, the two friends are all set up. They enter their sleeping bags and go to bed. Then Octavia says something:

"H-Hey, Vinyl...?" she asks.

"Yeah, Octi'?"

"I-I love you."

"I-I l-love you t-too, 'Tavi," replies Vinyl, blushing.

Within a few minutes, the two of them are fast asleep.