Music of Reverence

Vinyl sat in the wheelchair staring at the ground. There were other ponies gathered near her. Lyra, Bon Bon, Carrottop, Derpy and even a several ponies from Ponyville. All of those gathered wore black including Vinyl who had traded her normal shades for black lenses. Truth be known she wasn't trying to keep up her image but rather didn't want any pony to see her red bloodshot eyes. Before the group was an elaborate wooden box with a picture of a familiar gray earth pony wearing a pink bow tie. Princess Celestia stood between the casket and the crowd while Luna was standing slightly to the side behind the picture. Half the sky was day and the other was night. The effect cut right down the middle of the grave and the closed box within which a pony lay. "It is a sad thing to lose one of our own. Today we mourn the loss of a pony of great talent. Tonight we weep for those who lost a friend. We say farewell to a mare who touched many lives and to some she was even more. She will always be remembered for her music and her heart," intoned Celestia's gentle voice. Vinyl didn't want to say good bye she just wanted to throw herself into that hole and stay with her Tavi. A hoof absently moved to the stitches on her chest. Several hooves rested upon her reminding her she could barely move without help now. Celestia continued, "Now with the setting of the sun and the rise of the moon we commend this mare to the heavens to join the glorious stars to shine on us and guide us." Celestia lowered her head as the sun sank from the sky allowing night to cover the cemetery. The casket lowered into the hole and the first shovel full of dirt was tossed over the wooden tomb. Luna rose gracefully into the sky as a star shot across.

The rest of the sad event was somber and Vinyl had lost count of the number of hugs she'd received from ponies she couldn't remember or didn't even know. She was escorted by her closer friends back to her apartment since she was released from the hospital now. Odd the place didn't feel like it was hers anymore. Yes all her stuff was there minus the mess she'd left on the floors. Octavia had moved back in while she was in the hospital and cleaned up the trash. The bedroom's shelves were empty as she'd moved the pictures to the living room all but one. The only picture left in the bed room was a single picture of herself but Vinyl wasn't in it nor could she place when it was taken. The study had been ransacked then put back together. Tavi had clearly reorganized the mess of papers and albums and even recording equipment had a place now. The kitchen was likewise clean with a full stock of food. Obviously the gray mare had been making sure Vinyl had plenty to eat that wasn't junk though she'd clearly gotten several of the white unicorn's favorite comfort foods. Except of course booze, but given the state she had been in when Octavia had found her it wasn't unexpected. She was only slightly aware of the ponies around her talking but she wasn't hungry or exactly sleepy, but still she was tired. She hadn't spoken a word since in the hospital calling out, "Octavia!" That had been three days ago and she hadn't said any thing more than a grunt or a whine. Every pony could see the pain she was in, and it was worse since she wouldn't let any pony in to help.

Vinyl awoke in her own bed which had a chair next it, and for a moment she thought she was back in the hospital. That was when she saw it wasn't Octavia sitting next to her but Neon Lights. Neon had seen her moving and lifted his head calling out, "Hey! She's awake." Several ponies entered the room including her manager.

"Horse feathers," Vinyl thought, "I don't need to hear this now." The berating she had expected never came not that she was in the mood to talk either. She just wanted to be alone. She really wanted to be with her Tavi. Secretly she wished she had died rather than Octavia.

"Vinyl, I know this is a hard time for you and you are still on vacation. I'm deeply sorry for your loss and if you need anything just give me a call. You know the number," her manager had said sincerely before he left the room. She felt herself being lifted into the wheelchair by the remaining ponies. She was only slightly aware of being pushed into the living room. Her eyes now didn't have the sun glasses covering them which was just as well as it was hard to see with them on. Her gaze had fell upon something she hadn't noticed the night before.

Octavia's cello was neatly placed on a stand in the corner. Vinyl reached out a hoof towards it with a sad expression on her face. All eyes had turned from the white mare to the instrument as a faint blue aura wrapped around it bringing it across the room. Tears streaked her face as she ran the outstretched hoof over the strings. "Tavi," Vinyl had choked out. This was the most she said for the rest of the day and no pony dared touch the cello for fear of what the white unicorn would do if they had tried.

Vinyl found that after that day she was left in her bed except when she was bathed or the sheets were changed. They however didn't take her to the living room again afraid it would only hurt her more. It had been nearly three days since the funeral and she had drifted into sleep once more. "But Tavi!" Vinyl whined. Her face was that sad puppy type. Ocatvia wasn't impressed as she stared at the white unicorn.

"No buts Vinyl. You have to do this. If not for your sake then for mine," Octavia said calmly. Her eyes locked on Vinyl's for a long moment. Vinyl looked away with a sigh. She'd never been able to out stare Octavia. This was no different Octavia had made it clear in that one look she wasn't going to listen to any arguments.

"I-I... I can't do it alone. I need you! I always loved you," Vinyl muttered. She felt Octavia wrap her hooves around her in a hug. Vinyl closed her eyes for a long time sobbing on Octavia's shoulder. Octavia gently rubbed Vinyl's back until the sobbing had lessened. Vinyl sniffed softly lifting her head looking at Octavia once more.

"I am always with you Vinyl. You can not just hide like this forever. I literally gave you my heart so you can live," responded the gray mare. Vinyl paused and lowered her head. Octavia released Vinyl stepping back showing her own cheeks streaked with tears. Vinyl took a deep breath trying to memorize every line of Octavia's face before realizing it was like she had always remembered it.

"I know Octavia. It's just I miss you so much. We never got to... Ya know... Fix things. I had so much to tell you and... And now you're gone," Vinyl confessed as she broke into tears again. Octavia looked at Vinyl with pulsating sad eyes. This was clearly had on the earth pony as much as it was on Vinyl. Octavia lifted a hoof to point at the white unicorn.

"I love you Vinyl Scratch. Don't ever forget that. You can remember me by doing what we both love. Make your music," Octavia said as she faded into mist and drifted away. The curtains of white wispy smoke swirled as a sudden breeze picked up. Now Vinyl was all alone and she was chasing the cloud that had been her Tavi. Vinyl's eyes opened with start.

"OCTAVIA!" The cry awoke the mare in the chair next to the bed. Derpy nearly fell out of the chair with a scream. Suddenly several ponies ran into the room looking first to Vinyl then the clumsy blond Pegasus. Lyra ran to help Derpy back up as the others gathered around the bed. Vinyl's cheeks were wet from tears but she actually was looking at them. She realized they had been watching her day and night. Did they even go home or had they been camping out in her living room this whole time? It didn't matter now. "Um... guys... I... I need to go to the bath room." The tension was suddenly released as several ponies laughed. The stallions left the bed room leaving the mares to help Vinyl. It was once the dirty business of the bath room run was complete that Vinyl now sat in the living room talking with the ponies who had been caring for her. Her eyes would still drift over at the lonely cello in the corner. "Look guys... I'm on vacation so it's gonna be a while before I put out any new tracks. I'm not sure I can even make a good mix anymore. One thing is for sure. Tavi doesn't want me to stay in bed any more."