Chapters 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."
Chapter 2 Together as one
Vinyl had surprised every pony when she had called out to Octavia as she had woke up. It had surprised them more when she told them she had spoke to her once lover. The real surprise was that she was still sad but was more herself and insisted on scarfing a whole bag of chips for breakfast. True it had been the most she'd eaten since coming home but she had nearly eaten the bag with the chips. What Vinyl resented though was that every pony was doing things for her insisting she just sit still. It was driving her nuts she had to do something. Her eyes fell upon the cello wrapping it in her magic. The large instrument floated to her with the bow. A long mournful note echoed through the room as the cello's strings were rubbed. Every pony turned to stare as Vinyl held the instrument at an angle that allowed her to stay sitting but let her hold the neck and strings in one hoof. Vinyl's own eyes were closed as she drew the bow across the strings.
The sound was sad but still beautiful as one note wove into another. Several of the ponies gathered recognized the song but had kept quiet. A look of awe hung on the faces of all the ponies. They could almost hear the familiar sound of the dubstep electronic bass that had made Pon3 famous. Granted it wasn't by far perfect it was not the mistakes any pony noticed but how easily she was playing the song. How quickly she was correcting the mistakes. This wasn't DJ Pon3 playing. It couldn't be. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes they'd have sworn they were hearing Octavia practicing. The last note was fading in the air as the bow fell away. Vinyl sagged in the wheelchair suddenly surrounded by ponies who were trying to catch her. The cello and the bow were replaced in the corner where they had resided. "What the buck were you thinking?!" demanded an angry Neon Lights. It was clear on the stallion's face he was impressed but more upset that vinyl had exerted herself the way she had.
"I'm fine Neon. It will take more than that to keep me down," Vinyl said weakly waving a hoof. "Whoops... Whoa light headed." With a snort Neon corrected Vinyl in the chair making sure she wouldn't fall as Lyra and Bon Bon brought something for her to eat and drink. Vinyl was about to protest but the stern looks from every pony made her think twice as she accepted the drink and the bowl of sweets that her friends had quickly procured. "What's got you all so spooked? It's not like I died and came back just now." She tilted her head before she noticed the cello was slightly off center. She used her magic correcting it.
"Vinyl, when did you learn to play the cello?" asked Lyra. Vinyl looked at her friend raising an eyebrow. Lyra looked at the other ponies for a moment then met Vinyl's gaze. "I mean that was almost good enough to be Octavia." Vinyl gave a confused look then glanced at the cello again. She lowered her head lifting a hoof to her chest and the stitches over her heart. No, Octavia's heart. She couldn't think of it as anything else.
"I didn't. I just did what Tavi used to do," Vinyl said after a long moment. "Besides I might just play for myself. She was the only pony I could listen to playing that kind of music." She gave her typical DJ Pon3 smile but the state of her mane did nothing to enhance the mirth. She hadn't even bathed properly since the surgery. "Ugh! How long do I need these things any hay?" Vinyl asked pointing her hoof at the stitches.
"The Doc said it would be a week or two before they can even think about it," Neon said. Vinyl frowned wondering how long had it been already. "Don't ya worry we'll get you in for a follow up in a day or two. We just got ya talking again and we got some catching up to do." Vinyl looked around the room and sighed before looking at the now empty bowl.
"Fine Neon, but don't think one bowl of fruit is gonna get me to bare my soul," Vinyl replied with a sly grin. "It's not like I'm gonna be going back to work any time soon." Lyra had already collected the bowl and taken it to the kitchen. "Now who got the food? I swear the fridge and cabinets were empty," Vinyl said drily. The other ponies looked at each other nervously whispering so the white unicorn couldn't hear them. She sighed knowing from the reaction it wasn't them. "Oh. I see. Well thanks Tavi," whispered Vinyl.
The evening went without a further incident. Vinyl was still sad but tried to look happy for her friends. It wasn't until she was in her bed and asleep that anything happened. Vinyl sat under a tree leaning back against it. Her fore hooves crossed behind her head. "Octavia, The guys said I played your cello. I don't even remember that. I miss you so much," said the white unicorn. Vinyl turned her eyes to look at the lovely gray earth mare sitting next her.
"I know you do Vinyl, but you must really stop moping around like this. I want you to be happy. I do wish I could still be there with you, but I can not. You must go on. You mean more to me than life itself," Octavia said in soft voice. "Do what makes you happy and I'll be happy too." Octavia would stand and kiss Vinyl's cheek. She would vanish as she had before.
Chapter 3 Back to the show
Vinyl groaned as she rubbed her chest. The stitches were gone but it still felt odd. It didn't really hurt just a little itchy. Her manager had scheduled a press meeting using her recent hospital stay as an explanation for her prior moodiness. He really was playing down the truth trying to preserve her image. Vinyl didn't feel right letting him lie like that and it was clear even after this she would still be on vacation. "Yeah, yeah, yeah I know don't admit to anything. It still don't feel right just saying I was sick."
"Addiction is being sick Vinyl. You are not lying about that," Neon Lights said. He was there more to give the white mare support. Vinyl would have much rather it had been Octavia instead. Neon continued, "Look Vinyl. I saw some of the things you did remember? Your manager wants you to play down the half drowning yourself in booze." Vinyl winced at Neon's words, but she had to admit to herself that was just what she had done. She hadn't even looked at a booze bottle since being released for Tavi's sake.
"I still miss her. I never got to tell her how sorry I am for everything. I... I... I need... I need to see her again," Vinyl spoke softer than was normal for her. Neon placed a hoof on her back. She was still in the wheelchair but now was starting to walk a little. The doctors had told her she would have to stay in the chair most of the time but she would need to walk a little each day to regain her strength. That didn't help her feel any better as her legs felt like they were made of lead after first her stay in bed at the hospital. Then again on returning to her apartment.
"Now don't start this again Vinyl. We all miss her, but that won't bring her back," Neon was growing increasingly more frustrated as he tried to get Vinyl to focus. "Look I'm sorry for your loss. We just have to keep moving on. You can find another anytime you want," Neon blurted out then slapped a hoof to his face not seeing the glare the white mare shot him. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm gonna step outside and let the um... Others help you get ready."
"Fine but I'm gonna visit Tavi on the way back. I don't care if those photoponies get a picture of it either." Vinyl had given up on trying to talk her way out of the press meeting, but she hadn't given up her desire for Octavia. Neon shrugged as he walked out of the room. Several mares pressed in around Vinyl going about cleaning her mane and tail. What she really needed was a bath but given the time of the meeting a quick mane and tail style was the best they could do. True they had sponged her off as best as they could before the stitches were removed, but fur made for less than effective baths done this way.
The press conference went mostly uneventful aside from one reporter trying to get a scoop on some strange conspiracy theory involving some sort of weird creatures. Mostly her manager did the talking with Vinyl agreeing when needed. Very few questions had actually been answered by her not that any pony noticed that over the healing scar on her chest and her sitting in a wheelchair. She had kept the nonchalant smile on her face as much as possible. Once out of public view she allowed her true emotion show. Now she was looking down at the dirt mound under which Octavia rested. "I wish you were here. Tavi, it hurts so much. I know you wanted me to live even if it meant you would die. Somehow I feel like part of me died too. I love you. I've loved you for a long time. I... I never stopped loving you. I'm so sorry I got so jealous." Tears welled up in Vinyl's eyes. Her sunglasses rested above her horn allowing her eyes to be seen as they watered. "But hey. My manager said the press conference we had today might boost my record sales. I couldn't tell him I didn't want the money. I want you."
The scene had grown hazy. Octavia stepped out from the mist ignoring the grave. Tavi's grave was gone replaced by a tree. "Vinyl it so good to see you again. I do say you are looking better now." Vinyl's face seemed to brighten but was somewhat confused at the lack of a grave marker where it had once been. "So Vinyl, are you going to retire or get back on stage?" This made Vinyl blink in surprise. She hadn't thought about it but hearing Octavia ask that question made her reconsider. "Listen to me Vinyl. If you retire then the music will die. Your music will die. No, that's not quite right. Our music will die. Do you honestly want that to happen?" Vinyl thought for a moment as the gray earth mare watched her intently.
"No I don't Tavi, but I can't hear it anymore," Vinyl said as a sad expression crossed her face. Octavia would wrap her hooves around Vinyl in a tender hug. "All I can think about is how much I miss you." She closed her eyes returning the embrace. It was then she heard it. The sound of a cello playing. It wasn't just any cello player it was how Octavia used to play. She opened her eyes to see her turn tables in front of her as Octavia drew the bow over the strings of the cello. When had she released hug Vinyl didn't know. Watching Tavi play awakened something inside her. It was faint but it was there. She could hear it but it wasn't very loud yet she only had to turn up the volume.
Vinyl awoke jerking upright which she instantly regretted from the cramps in her muscles. She seethed wondering how she had gotten in her bed. She dismissed the question as she rolled out of bed and staggered to the bathroom. She had barely managed to get inside and plop on the toilet when she heard voices in her bedroom. She groaned trying to ignore the stabbing pain in her legs. Her horn ignited as she turned on the hot water in the tub. Hoof steps neared the bathroom door. "Hey! I know I'm sexy and all but no free shows." A rather embarrassed Lyra poked her head inside. "Oh. Lyra. Um... I was about to take a bath, but I don't think my legs want to work with me." She grunted as she pushed off the toilet and half stumbled to the tub. She turned the water off stepping into the basin and easing herself into the steaming pool. "Are you just going to stand there or help me get cleaned up. I smell like I just woke up from a week long bender rave." Lyra hurried in getting a brush and began to scrub Vinyl's now dull coat getting the built up dirt, which no sponge could ever remove, out and revealing the true white of the DJ's fur.
Over the course of the next few days Vinyl spent considerable time in her study. Octavia's cello was no longer in the corner of the living room and instead been placed in the study. Vinyl had insisted it would help her relax. Sometimes they'd hear the sound of the cello playing with an undertone of the electronic bass that was the signature of DJ Pon3. No pony had expected what would happen next. Vinyl finally emerged wearing her sunglasses. Her head bobbed in time to a beat still playing in her ears. She was walking with more ease though she was still stiff and needed to rest regularly. "Yo! I'm starved. Any pony up for take out?" Every pony looked at Vinyl not because of her cheery mood but because of the disk that was balanced on her horn. "What? You think I'm not gonna make new tracks even if I'm on vacation?" That comment made the other ponies laugh.
Sleep came faster to Vinyl this night. She was again with Octavia basking in the closeness. "I'm tell ya Tavi, I don't play cello. Every pony keeps saying that I do, but I don't." Vinyl sighed not sure how to say it. "I just like to look at and hold your cello when I'm working. It helps me to relax. I can hear the music when it's near me."
"Then perhaps we aren't so different. It is the music that drives us Vinyl. You can't just ignore it," Octavia said in a soft tone. Vinyl smiled gazing at the lovely gray mare. "It's the harmony that binds us." Vinyl opened her mouth to speak only to be stopped with a kiss. Vinyl could only nod and return the kiss. Vinyl felt a warmth flow through her body. Octavia's last words echo and fade on the air, "The love that surrounds us..."
Chapter 4 Spotlights and fireworks
Octavia had been right. It was the music that had driven them. Vinyl had lost the harmony when she read the article about the gray mare getting married. It was love that had saved her. She had been silently listening as the classical music hovered in the air and a nervous mare tried her best to play her cello. It wasn't as good as Tavi's playing by any means. The mare as making simple mistakes. After about the fifth or sixth Vinyl approached the stage. "Hey. Relax when you play. Don't try so hard." The mare gasped and blinked looking at Vinyl. "I know it's strange to get advice from a pony like me. Just trust me. You have to relax and don't just hear and play the music. You have to feel it. It's the same with any music."
The cream colored mare looked down with a blush. She was surprised when Vinyl had moved behind her placing white hooves on her own. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Vinyl guided her as the piece began. With the other mare's help had was making fewer mistakes and started to relax. She didn't notice when Vinyl let go and moved away. Several other musicians had stopped playing to listen. Then they began to follow in the piece. When the song was done there was a thunderous applause from the stage workers. The cream mare looked around but Vinyl had already left.
Then came a soft low tone. All the ponies perked their ears and soon they were all playing. The haunting melody coursed through the theater. They didn't even stop as the electronic music began to play. There was Vinyl off stage at a sound board with a turntable. The two genres mixing together creating a completely new and exciting blend of music. Some of the stage hands were surprised at the way the music complimented each other. After the song Vinyl smiled. "Thanks guys. I knew it was missing something. Octavia would love this new track." Vinyl pushed her sunglasses up looking at the cream colored mare. "Keep it up and you'll be as good as Tavi." Pulling her glasses back down Vinyl left the theater. With a new found drive the cellist began to play once more.
Vinyl returned to her apartment. Shortly after Lyra and Bon Bon knocked on the door. Her friends were concerned about the somewhat odd changes about her. The apartment was actually clean. Rooms that had been chaos were organized a little better. Vinyl herself had been seen playing Octavia's cello for guests. Today they were going to have answers. Vinyl sighed and shrugged when the two confronted her. "I don't know for certain. It's like there's a part of Tavi that takes over at times. I'll be walking through the house and just start cleaning things up or something. I still have dreams about her. We talk and she gives me advice about stuff. I still miss her but she's really gone ya know."
Vinyl was still on vacation but she had found her self at a club working a set. The regular DJ had fallen sick and others were booked. This was the beginning of Pon3's comeback. Vinyl's manager had to agree that it was indeed time for the white unicorn musician to get back in the spotlights. This time though she wasn't just playing to ravers but her new tracks brought unlikely ponies together. The new sound brought the lovely classical music into the electronic world of dubstep in a blend that complimented both styles and enhancing the overall melodies. What was even more important was Vinyl had adopted the habit of opening each of her sets saying, "This show is dedicated to the memory of Octavia Philharmonica."
It had been nearly two months and a white unicorn stood before the elegantly carved grave marker. Magenta eyes gazed at the name inscribed in the stone. "I know we don't talk like we used to Tavi. It's weird ya know. My shows are even better now and you aren't even here to see it. I know you're watching and all but it's not the same. I still miss ya. I'll always love you and I hope we'll be together like before someday." Vinyl sniffed rubbing her misty eyes with a hoof. "I can feel you with me all the time now but I want to see and feel you with my hooves. I'll stop by to visit as often as I can. I've started to play with a quartet in my off time. I'm still not as good as you but they like hearing me play your cello. See ya soon Octavia." Vinyl kissed her hoof then placed it tenderly on the marker before she turned. "Our heart is set on playing one of our favorite songs with the others. I'll be dreaming about you." Vinyl walked away slowly but she could swear she heard Octavia whisper a farewell in her ear.
