Broken strings

It took a few seconds for the words to sink in. Octavia stood there for a little while, eyes wide open and jaw dropped. Then her face turned into an awkward smile.

"O...okay girls, please do not make those kind of jokes again, I am serious. Now, what happened to Vinyl?"

The mane six looked at each other, and then AJ spoke: "I wish we were joking sugar cube, but... things happen and there was nothing we could do about it. She died of lung cancer. The doctors tried everything, but... it was just too late."

Twilight stepped closer and put one of her hooves on Octavia. "I am so sorry that you have to find out this way, Octavia. I tried talking to Princess Celestia about it, but even she couldn't... I am so sorry."

Rarity sighed and said, “It was a horrible accident. She tried to keep it away from you so you wouldn’t be distracted from your career, but it was…”

“Wait, what?” Octavia felt her heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach, “What do you mean? Why would she try to hide it from... me?”

Twilight turned to Rarity, looking troubled, “Well…”

“Please!" Octavia pleaded, "You promised. No more lies. I just want the truth.”

Applejack walked up and put a hoof on Octavia’s shoulder, “Remember that night when Vinyl and you went to that fancy schmancy party?”

“Yes, that was a night I could never forget.”

“Vinyl said the same thing. She said she would never be able to forgive herself for acting like such an arrogant pony. She knew how close she was to ruining your career, and she felt terrible about it. So she decided to settle down back here in Ponyville. She didn't want to stop you from reaching your dreams.”

“That’s… oh Celestia, how could she…” Octavia felt her knees getting weaker. She half sat, half collapsed into the chair next to her. Knowing Vinyl for so many years, she wondered why she wasn't able to figure this out earlier.

“But she became ill, and she had to move to the Ponyville hospital. But things didn’t turn out so well, and she became very sick. One day she called us all into her room, and told us everything. She wanted us to keep it a secret from you, and she wanted you to know that she had always loved you, so much, and that she is terrible sorry for everything.”

Vinyl is gone. Her Vinyl is gone. The Vinyl Scratch she loved and cared about, gone forever.

“Oh Celestia… this is all my fault… if I hadn’t abandoned her…” Octavia could barely speak. She felt as if something deep inside of her had vanished. The words failed to escape her lips as she grasped for air. Tears flow down her round cheeks like broken pearls from a necklace. She closed her eyes and covered her face with her hooves, trying to stop herself from crying.

“It’s not your fault, Octavia! It’s nopony’s fault. It's just… things happens. Bad things. Please, you must not blame yourself.” Twilight's voice became quiet and weak as she spoke, "I even wrote to Princess Celestia and begged for her help, but for the first time... she couldn't help me."

Rarity trotted over and placed her hoof on Octavia as well, "Darling, we all feel terrible, but you must not blame yourself. I know that Vinyl would want you to be happy, even without her."

But Octavia didn't hear Rarity's words. In fact, she could barely think. She felt her senses detach as the world faded away from her. The last thing she heard was somepony saying "Are you okay?" before she felt herself falling out of the chair and slamming head-first into the cold wooden floor. She felt the colors in her world fading away and the infinite darkness consuming her, until she had none but one thought left.

Oh Vinyl, I am so sorry.

Her hooves were still weary from the black out she just had. Her body was still shaking from the cold of the midnight air, but never before, had her mind been so clear and determined. She tightened the straps for cello box and mumbled to herself as she looked up at the tiny hills before her.

It will be all over soon.

Just a few hours ago, Octavia woke up in the Ponyville hospital. She knew she was all right, since it was only a faint caused by trauma. However, her heart was heavy and cold. She had never quite felt like this before, not even when her first contract was brutally rejected.

She sighed and looked around her. It was 4 o'clock in the morning, and the night was still and quiet. She shivered as she stepped out of the bed and landed her hooves on the cold, wooden hospital floor.

She looked over and noticed an envelope laying on top of the little desk next to her bed. She rushed over and picked it up. It was an ordinary mail with a red seal over it. The receiver was Octavia, and the sender... was Fancy Pants.

She quickly unsealed it and pulled out the content. It was a letter. She hesitated a bit, but then she quickly unfolded the paper and started reading it.

"Dear Octavia:

This is Fancy Pants. I have some good news for you. The Princess will be making a visit to Saddle Arabia soon, and she had offered a position for the first royal cellist among the orchestra which will accompany her. Knowing you for a long time, I knew you would be up for the job. Have fun!

-Fancy Pants"

Octavia felt a pit of fire arousing from the bottom of her stomach. She grabbed the letter firmly with both of her hooves and pulled. The paper made a very unpleasant tearing noise from the intense force, but Octavia quickly stopped before the paper was torn up.

"How... How can I live with this now?" She said to herself, looking up at the bright, flawless moon. "I can't just quit now. I have lost too much to just quit now. I think this is what Vinyl wants too. But..."

She buried her face in between her hooves. Is she making the right choice? Should she once again, leave Vinyl behind and chase after her own dream? Or would that be what Vinyl wanted?

"Vinyl... I don't know what to do... Please... Help me..."

She sat down on her bed with the slightly torn letter in her hooves. She read the letter again, but she still couldn't make up her mind. If she were to make that appointment, she would have to leave Ponyville tomorrow morning to catch the earliest train back to Canterlot.

"Tavi, you are always so worried."

"What? No I am not."

"Yeah you are, there is always something on your mind."

"Well, one event always lead to another. I have to evaluate all the possible outcomes before I make my decision."

"That's stupid. Just do what you want. You only live once, right?"

"Please don't use that phrase ever again."

"Ah come on Tavi! You gotta admit that it's pretty true. You don't have a second chance, so might as well give the world your best shot, right?"

Octaiva could still remember Vinyl's warm smile and her kind words.

"Give it my best shot.... right...?"

She rubbed her sore eyes with her hooves and sighed. She read the letter over one more time, and that made her determination even stronger.

Yes, she cannot turn back now. The past cannot be change, and she may never be able to let go of this sorrow and guilt. However, no matter how dark and cold the night is, the morning will still come. The sun will still shine it's glory golden light on everything. The world will still be a nice and gentle place, and she is still a part of it.

Octavia looked at the clock. The train will be here in a couple hours. She doesn't have much time. She packed up all her belongs,  and she quickly left a note for her friends. She then picked up her cello case, and left the hospital.

"R.I.P"

"Here lies Vinyl Scratch, Ponyville's most talented DJ"

Octavia stood in front of the tombstone with her cello in her hooves. She took a deep breathe, and started playing as the sunrise slowly covered her in a shade of orange and gold. She played with passion like never before, and with each tug and pull of the string, she felt her emotions flow like a river. It was as if all her feelings were translated into notes, and then slipped through the tip of her hooves into the air nearby. She felt tear streaming down her cheeks once again.

Vinyl, if you can hear me in heaven... I am sorry. Please, forgive me.

------------------------------------------------ Fin -----------------------------------------------