Inconvenient Roommates

Chapters

A different start
Divided mind
Back to myself
Being not classy at all
Meet the fiery Wonderbolt
The past isn't easy
Falling into Darkness
Remember and act
Two halves complete the whole

A different start

Chapter 1: A Different Start

Patchy dreams were disturbing Octavia Philharmonica’s night, despite the sleeping pills she had taken before bed. The doorbell rang. She turned her head to look at her alarm clock, and groaned when she saw how early in the morning it was. Octavia wasn’t sure that anybody willing to disturb her at this time of day even deserved to to be answered. She sleepily peered out of her window, seeing a single pony with a rather large backpack shivering and freezing in front of her door.

“I wonder who that could be, especially at this early hour!” she sighed, drowsily getting out of her bed and making her way down the hallway. Once she reached the door, she opened it and looked outside.

In front of her stood a white mare, wrapped up in multiple coats, but still freezing and shivering. She wore purple sunglasses and under her hood Octavia could see a blue-striped, spiked mane. Octavia had never seen this pony before.

The white mare’s voice quivered from the cold when she tried to speak. “I-I heard t-that there should b-b-be a room open for r-rent in h-here.” She seemed only one hoof away from hypothermia.

Octavia wasn’t quite sure what to do. Should she ask her in? A pony she’d never even met before? On the other hoof, it was almost Hearth’s Warming Eve, and she wouldn’t feel right just sending somepony away.

“Yes, there is. Come in… please.” She at least tried to stay polite, despite being awakened so early.

The white mare shuffled in, only to collapse in the hallway. Octavia sighed. ‘This is going to be fun’ she thought bitterly, tugging the white mare towards the fireplace in her small living room. She wasn’t especially heavy, so it only took a minute for Octavia to reach her goal. She shuddered. ‘I’m helping an obviously homeless mare I don’t even know...’ With that thought, she settled herself down on the couch and waited patiently, watching the white mare laying in front of the fireplace until her breath became steady again.

***

“Uuhh… what the hay...?” Vinyl winced. Her whole body was in discomfort from the sudden heat after being chilled for so long. She kept her eyes closed and tried to relax as much as she could. She realized she had no idea where she was. Then Vinyl remembered knocking on the door of that grey mare, having found her address in the local paper while searching for a new home.

After a while she heard somepony sniff. “I’m glad you’re awake. I do hope you will not lay down there all day.” The grey mare looked down at her, taking a sip of tea.

Vinyl jumped, startled, and looked at the grey mare, which only brought her a nervous look.

“It’s very impolite of you not to have even tried to introduce yourself.” She slid from the couch, standing in front of Vinyl. Getting no answer from the stranger, she sighed. “Well, it seems I’ll have to be the mare who goes first. My name is Octavia Philharmonica, and you are?”

Still a bit confused, Vinyl extended her hoof, intending to greet Octavia the usual way. “Name’s Vinyl Scratch, nice to meet ya Octavia.”

Octavia sniffed again, and looked at the hoof. “I don’t think that will be necessary.” Vinyl blushed just a little bit. “And it is Miss Philharmonica to you, Miss Scratch.” Walking over to her sofa and picking up her tea again, Octavia looked at Vinyl. “So, to what conjuncture do I owe your early visit?”

Vinyl gathered herself up and sat down in front of Octavia, straightening her clothing. Octavia raised an eyebrow. “Well.. you see, Octa.. I mean... Miss Philharmonica, I sadly lost my home here in Trottingham due to… financial business and now I’m trying to find a new place to stay for a few weeks, at least until I’m on my hooves again.”

“And that business led you straight to my door, I suppose?” Octavia sipped again at her tea, attempting to hide her impatience. “I have to say I have some… standards for my roommates Miss Scratch, and I’m sad to say that I am not certain you would fit in.”

The white mare knew that this might be her only chance to find a home, at least until after Hearth’s Warming Eve, and Octavia probably understood that too.

“So you’re just tossing me outside again, is that it?” Vinyl found her strength. “The proud mare Miss Philarmonica thinks she is way too good to help somepony who clearly needs it?” Maybe Vinyl was going too far now...

Octavia set her cup down with an audible clink. “How dare you speak to me like this?! You don’t know me; who don’t know who I am; you have no right to say such things to me!” She tried to calm down, but wasn’t used to being confrontated so directly. But here she was, that white mare, with barely enough strength to stand on her shaking hooves, questioning her character. “I have every right to decide who I allow to stay in my house, MY private domain!, you outrageous mare!” She tried to calm herself, taking her seat again and sipping at her tea.

The white mare blinked away a few tears, slightly hidden behind her glasses. “Then it’s probably best if I leave straight away.” With those words she walked unsteadily, but quite quickly considering the condition she was in, to the door, and slammed it shut behind her.

Octavia was dumbfounded, but also surprised by her own actions. It wasn’t really her way to lose control of her emotions like that, nor to be so stubborn. She was not usually set off that easily and it surprised her greatly. Perhaps her lack of sleep had clouded her judgement and affected her usual sense of self-control?

She groaned. “I’d better brew some more tea and stop worrying about her, I suppose.”

The grey mare headed back to her kitchen, boiling the kettle and opening a new packet of biscuits. Heading back to the living room, she saw Vinyl’s backpack, and all of her capes and jackets, damp and lying on the ground in the hallway.

‘She went outside without taking her possessions.’ Octavia groaned again, this time slightly louder and shook her head. It was not her business. Vinyl would be able to find some shelter to stay in, then she’d surely come back to get her stuff, and then she would be out of Octavia’s life forever. She felt a pang in her heart. Why did it hurt to think of that messy, incredibly rude mare being gone forever?

She sipped at her tea and tried to avoid thinking about it, though she wasn’t able to get ignore those thoughts completely. Time passed and the grey mare, still confident Vinyl would be safe, and get her belongings back, finally stood up and made her way to her bedroom. She intended to read a bit and let the day pass until her performance that evening.

“Oh my… I nearly forgot about my appearance at the Royal Orchestra today, and all just because of that… bizarre mare! I believe it is about time I acquired a roommate.” With a small sigh she stood up again and made her way to the bathroom to get herself ready for her big evening. She must have just been lonely — there could be no other reason for her thoughts to keep returning to Vinyl.

***

Vinyl hurried along the lonely streets of Trottingham as snow started to fall. She was cold and shaking on her weak legs, but going back was not an option.

“That mare was just about to slam the bucking door in my face — why bother with that?” She thought out loud. She would just have to get used being homeless during Hearth’s Warming Eve...

Walking through Trottingham, she lost all sense of time and location. She just plodded through the snow, trying to forget Octavia. She felt hungry. She thought she ought to buy something to eat with her last few bits, but then Vinyl realized she left all her stuff in Octavia’s house. She figured she must have had a few bits left at the bank. She pulled herself together and turned to walk slowly back towards the inner city.

“Thirty-eight bits? That’s all?” The grey maned mare behind the desk nodded. Vinyl sighed. “Okay, okay, I’ll take everything.”

It started to get colder, and icy wind blew through Vinyl’s coat while she walked the streets of Trottingham. She was barely able to put one hoof in front of the other, and stopped at a small lake, intending to rest for at least a moment. While looking up into the sky her thoughts returned to Octavia. She quickly shook her head, trying to avoid thinking about her, but it didn’t help. It was time to do what she had learned to do best at her gigs: getting so drunk she’d barely be able to think. Her mind still adrift, she picked herself up onto her hooves again to search for the nearest bar or club in town. It was not too long before she found one and went inside to drink the rest of the day away…

***

A loud knock sounded at the front door…

“Octavia, what are you doing that is taking so long?! We are going to be late!”

Another knock.

“For Celestia’s sake, Octavia, please get out here!”

It sounded like somepony was trying to smash the door into pieces and Octavia jumped. She had been deep in thought and was starting to worry about Vinyl. She believed it was a perfectly sensible concern considering Vinyl had left without any of her belongings, especially her jackets. She must be freezing out there — taking a glance out of the window, she noticed it was snowing ferociously outside.

Another loud knock, this time followed by the sound of creaking wood. “Octavia, where are you? Is everything alright?” The voice sounded more concerned than impatient now.

The grey mare peeked out of her bathroom, to see Toe-Tapper looking through the window next to the front door. He waved at her, a look of relief on his face.

“Mind opening the door for me? We are going to be late, Octavia!”

Sighing, she opened the door. Toe-Tapper was one of the local tenors that used to work at the Concert Hall. Looking over the door quickly, Octavia noticed he had tried to smash the it in; the hinges were in bad shape.

“As you can see, I was just about to finish getting prepared Tap! And I’d appreciate it if you left my door is in one piece. Would you take a seat and wait for me?” Octavia’s endurance was already at its limit today. “And please try to not break anything today.”

She paced to her bathroom, locking it and trying to get her mane styled. Thanks to that messy white mare she would be late for the first time ever. ‘This is starting just great’ she thought bitterly. She grabbed her cello and made her way to the Concert of the Royal Orchestra, Toe-Tapper by her side.

They reached their destination, not a second too early. There were only minutes before the show was scheduled to start. The venue staff were already closing all entrances, so they hurried up the last few steps and rushed to the backstage area. Everyone looked at them once they were inside.

“What took you so long?” A small colt stood up and looked at them, annoyed. “Toe-Tapper, you were supposed to get her over an hour ago!”

Octavia sighed. “Please stop it, Baritone. It is not his fault, it is mine.”

The stallion called Baritone sighed. “How could I be mad with you, Octavia? Now hurry up, on the Stage!”

***

Black blurry shaped hovered in her vision. Vinyl couldn’t remember what had happened, but the bitter taste of bile in her throat brought it all back pretty fast. She was in a small back alley, lying there freezing, without the strength to get up onto her hooves. This time she knew she’d really overdone it.

“Great, I’m going to die for real this time. Nopony is around this late.” she whispered, almost inaudibly, even to herself.

‘Maybe you just want it to be that way’ a voice in her head replied, ‘to just forget everything and be able to rest.’ The idea sounded appealing, so she decided to close her eyes again, waiting for the snow to cover her coat slowly on this chilly evening.

***

Octavia packed up her cello and was about to leave. She couldn’t have been happier with the results of the performance; everypony had been cheering for her. Then she heard somepony and Baritone entered the room, also happy, but with a quizzical look on his muzzle.

“I’ve known you for six years, Octavia. I have seen you playing, crying and thinking. Every time you play, you concentrate on your cello and you become fully focused on it. This time it… it was different.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Octavia asked in a suspicious tone, and was afraid of the answer.

“You smiled. At one point you even cried while playing! Something’s bothering you Octavia, isn’t it? Whatever it is, it must be quite a big deal.”

The grey mare just sighed. “Listen, Baritone, don’t take this personally, but it’s something I’m trying to forget about, so I won’t bother you with it.”

She earned a rare laugh from the old stallion. “Listen, I can imagine what’s going on, Octavia, you should have seen your face. You were definitely thinking about something or somepony special. Whoever or whatever it might be, don’t let go of it.” With that advice he left the room.

Somewhat confused, Octavia made her way out into the quickly falling night. Yes, she had been thinking about that white mare the entire time she was playing. She hadn’t realized that it had made her smile or cry though. Maybe she should search for her the next morning and at least give her belongings back. As Octavia slowly walked through Trottingham, she heard a small noise, but had no clue what it was. As she kept going, the noise got louder and she recognized it as some sort of hard, laboured breathing. Following that sound she reached a small alley, full of snow but with nopony in sight. Her thoughts went to Vinyl again. Not seeing anything here, she turned back to leave the alley. That is when she saw it: a small layer of blue mane poking out of the snow.

Octavia stopped thinking. Laying down her cello, she ran to that small blue spot. Shoveling everything away she found a white mare laying in the snow — Vinyl. Almost freezing to death, she was lying there, her breath becoming even more unsteady with every second that passed.

Full of fear, Octavia cried out for help. “Please somepony help me! I need help!” Her screaming remained unanswered. Bent over Vinyl’s cold and motionless body she wept, knowing that all this was her fault, but not knowing why she had behaved in such a way. It had somehow seemed the natural course of action to her...

***

The first thing Vinyl saw was bright light. Was this Heaven? Was this how it felt to be dead? She found herself on a small cloud, watching over Trottingham, which looked beautify by night. She noticed that she wasn’t alone — at her side was a white mare with blue mane, slightly brighter than her own and with ruby eyes… her eyes.

“It’s good to see you again, my dear, even in this situation” A gorgeous smile.

Vinyl was near the edge of passing out again and tears filled her eyes “Mom?”. A slight nod. “So I’m dead?”

The expression on her mother’s face melted, and her eyes brimmed with tears. “That depends on your decision, Vinyl, and I hope you will make the right one.”

“What decision, mom?” she cuddled to her mother’s coat and felt protected.

Her mother sighed and pointed with her hoof down towards Trottingham. “You see this?”

“I can’t see anything but an empty street mom, what…” Vinyl stopped, looking at where her mother’s hoof was pointing.

In a small alley full of snow she saw Octavia lying in the snow, crying.

“Why is she outside and crying? Is something wrong?” Vinyl realized that once she’d seen Octavia, she herself had started to cry, worried about never seeing her again.

“Yes, my dear, something is wrong and it is about you.” Her mother had tears in her eyes too, looking at Vinyl full of love. “You have to look closer.”

Vinyl tried to focus on Octavia and everything around her, finally seeing it. “I’m under her. Is she crying about me?”

“Yes, she is, darling, and that is your decision you have to make.” She hugged her daughter for a few moments in silence before continuing. “Will you give up on everything, letting your life run out and be here with me…” She paused, looking at Vinyl. “Or will you fight and join Octavia down there once more; maybe find yourself a new life?”.

It made Vinyl cry even more. “But how can I decide? Is she really worried about me or just feeling bad because she left me hanging without anything?”

“You will have to find that out for yourself, darling. I can’t help you with that, but is she important to you? Worth a new life, maybe with a new friend?”

Vinyl was silent and watched Octavia. “The first time we met, I thought we had known each other for years. It felt… somehow good to see her. But I doubt she had the same feeling.”

Another warm smile from her mother. “Ask yourself again, Vinyl. You thought you had known each other for years. Can’t you remember anything? Try think back at your school time — that time you were alone, with nopony there for you.”

Vinyl gulped. Something she forgot? School… it was a horrible mess… full of other ponies making fun of her… being without anypony…

“Vinyl, it’s Melody… I thought you would figure it out quickly, but I think that accident of yours must have messed with your memory.” She looked at Vinyl, smiling.

Now she was shocked. “Mom… this is Melody? As in Melody the earth pony, with her fancy addiction to her violin?”

Her mother chuckled. “Yes, this is Octavia Melody and she was… interesting. Seeing both of you in school made me smile. Then that accident… it seemed you forgot everything. And I can tell you, Octavia lost everything too. That’s why she is Octavia Philarmonica now. Probably also why she forgot you too. And it seems like she’s playing cello now.” A small hug. “You have to decide now, Vinyl. Your life is nearly over…”

Vinyl sighed. She was surprised that Octavia was there, crying over her after everything. It was a weird feeling, realizing she still liked Tavi. She has never had a true friend in all the years since her mother had passed away. Would she be strong enough to handle it if she chose Octavia, only to find out that Octavia had only wept out of guilt? Would she be able to be strong enough if Octavia refused to remember? But thinking about living with Octavia, that feeling stuck in her chest again, and Vinyl made her decision.

“I want to live, mom. And I really would like to live with Octavia as my friend…”

Her mother looked at her with pure love. “I’m so proud of you!” After that sentence Vinyl’s vision blurred and everything went black once again…

***

Octavia felt lost and was still crying over the motionless body of Vinyl. Tears fell on her white coat, like small pearls. She felt a small movement under her chest and looked down at Vinyl. The white mare was breathing a bit stronger now, one eyelid opening just an inch.

“Please don’t cry about me, Tavi.” It was just a small whisper but it made Octavia smile a bit.

“Dear Celestia, Vinyl, you’re alive!” Now her tears fell even quicker. “I’m so, so sorry… it is all my fault… please forgi--”

“Shhh” A nearly inaudible sound, but it made Octavia feel a bit better. “I can’t move Tavi… my legs are hurting…”

“Wait here, and don’t you dare pass out again!” Octavia ran towards the main street, calling for help. Finally a passing unicorn asked her what was wrong. The unicorn went into her nearby house, alerting a medical team and Octavia sat by Vinyl’s side, waiting for them to arrive. Once they approached, they lifted Vinyl up, making their way to the hospital, with Octavia always at Vinyl’s side.

“I won’t leave you, Vinyl.”

Smiling, Vinyl finally went to sleep, her dreams full of hope.

Author's Note

Thx to VitalSpark for the new edit

Also thx to SpitfiresSpitfire for some Ideas!

Since my writing is far away from perfect I hope you'll just enjoy the story :)

Divided mind

Chapter 2: Divided mind

Octavia was a mare of her word. For four days and three nights she sat next to Vinyl’s bed in the hospital, just waiting for her to recover. Vinyl’s condition when Octavia had found her had been very serious, and even after four days she was still confined to bed, sleeping most of the time, and only waking for two small meals each day. The doctor explained it as a form of hypothermia and said that her body would just have to recover over time; her system had started to shut down after all that time in the snow, and would need a while to get started again. While Vinyl spent nearly all day asleep, Octavia was barely sleeping at all.

“I am so sorry, Vinyl, it is all my fault, no matter what you say,” she whispered.

Hearing a small knock she turned towards the door. Baritone was standing on the other side, waving at her.

She nodded slightly. “You may come in Baritone, but please try to be quiet — Vinyl’s sleeping.”

“So I was right about you — you were thinking about this mare, I suppose. How is she?” he asked, surprising Octavia.

Octavia gulped and looked at the sleeping mare. “She will be fine once she’s recovered. But the doctor said that might still be a few days and I promised not to leave her.” She turned back to face Baritone. “And that is exactly why you are here, I imagine.”

A small nod was his only answer and Octavia looked at Vinyl again.

“I just can’t… not until she’s back on her hooves again. My apologies, Baritone.”

Baritone kept looking at her. “I know I can’t change your mind. I have to accept your decision, Octavia. Just make sure it hasn’t been for nothing,” he said, leaving.

Alone with Vinyl again, Octavia’s thoughts returned to why she was acting so peculiarly, and why she felt so good about it.

***

Everything was black around her… again. She was still powerless, unable to open her eyes. She heard the doctor explaining something about her status, and the pony answering him was Octavia… Vinyl got that weird feeling again and it stuck in her chest. She would give everything to have Octavia as her friend and roommate, but why? This feeling was definitely new and she just couldn’t understand it at all. Maybe she was just really happy that Octavia was at her side? She drifted off to sleep again, thinking about the possibility of a life with the proud grey mare, a small smile on her muzzle.

Vinyl stood in a room, a small blue-coated colt in front of her. She was shaking yet unsure why, looking around.

“Whoo… what we got here? Still a blank-flank? I guess somepony like you will never get a cutie mark. Never!” the colt shouted at her.

Vinyl felt bad and wanted to hide somewhere, to be completely safe. She cried, trying to step away from the colt, small pearls running down her muzzle.

“Ohooo… she’s crying now! What’s wrong? Looking for your mummy?” He pushed Vinyl against the Wall.

The next thing she heard was a voice with a strong accent. “You should be ashamed of yourself Mr Frost. Leave her alone and would you be mindful of the fact that until a few weeks ago, you yourself were missing your cutie mark?”

The colt named Frost blushed and walked towards the new arrival; a rather tall filly with grey coat, long black mane and eyes of such a beautiful lavender colour that Vinyl could barely compare them to anything else.

“Oh, Melody is finally awake. Finished doin’ your beauty sleep? That reminds me… you’re a blank-flank too! How about you fine proud miss-you-can-kiss-my--”

That was the end of his sentence because he was upside down now, held by a small blue grip of Vinyl’s magic. “Don’t say anything you’ll regret. Now get lost!” Vinyl was proud of how confident her voice sounded.

As soon as she loosened her grip, Frost yelped and ran away. Catching her breath she was aware of Melody’s stare, looking at her as if she were deciding if Vinyl was worth speaking to.

“I suppose we are even now Miss Scratch, but I am very surprised of you,” she finally said.

‘Wow! She has an accent and sounds… so proud… like those rich idiots in town but she seems way nicer’ Vinyl thought looking at her.

“Well, usually I’m tougher but if someone mentions my blank-flank, I’m kinda… you know” Vinyl muttered. “I think you understand me.”

Melody relaxed and chuckled a bit. Vinyl thought even her laugh sounded melodic. “Well, Miss Scratch, this still doesn’t explain why you were… supporting me.” Her gaze met Vinyl’s.

“Urgh… please call me ‘Vinyl’, I just can’t stand this formal talk. Why did I help you? I guess I’m a friggin’ mollycoddle, but I suppose it just felt right.”

Melody snickered. “A mollycoddle? And it is nice to make your acquaintance, Vinyl.”

Vinyl sighed. How could she explain this word to somepony like her? “I meant that I am way too soft.”

“Then it is indeed nice to meet you, soft Vinyl. My name is, well, most ponies call me Melody.” She looked into Vinyl’s magenta eyes. “But I think you can call me Octavia” Her voice was almost a whisper.

***

Octavia was woken by Vinyl grumbling in her sleep. She was dreaming about something — her muzzle twitched erratically. Why did Octavia feel so bound to a pony she would never even come close to under normal circumstances? It was a mystery to her and she just couldn’t entangle it. Maybe it would be better ignore her feelings and just act like normal. Maybe all of this would fade after a while, but one thing was settled in her mind: Vinyl would be her new roommate.

Still struggling with her thoughts, Octavia recognized that Vinyl was awake now, watching her closely.

“Ah, Vinyl, you are awake. Feeling better?” she asked Vinyl, trying to push these strange feelings away.

“Yeah, Tavi, kind of. I’ve been watching you for some time but you looked like you’d just drifted off. Everything alright with ya?” Vinyl looked a bit worried.

“Of course, Vinyl, and please don’t use nicknames for me” she replied.

It was a lie. Of course everything was not alright. Octavia nearly blushed. Why was she lying now? For Vinyl, or for her? Or for some other reason? This wasn’t making any sense!

Magenta eyes were watching her. “Okay, Tavi. I hope ya don’t mind me asking why you searched for me? You practically slammed the friggin’ door on me when I left your place.” Octavia noticed how Vinyl’s eyes changed their colour as they reflected the light.

‘Okay’, she thought ‘stop getting lost in her eyes. They are unusual, nothing more.’

She sighed “Unfortunate choice of words, Vinyl. Quite simply, I wasn’t searching for you. I went home from my appearance that evening and just found you.” Another lie. Oh, dear Celestia, where would this lead to?!

Vinyl’s face seemed to droop a little, but that might have just been in Octavia’s imagination. Scratching her muzzle, the white mare stared at her.

“And why are you staying here if it was just by accident?” Vinyl groaned. “Thanks for caring I guess; but I’m going to be OK, so you can leave Octavia.” She turned over, putting the blanket over her.

‘She doesn’t even want you around her!’ said a voice in Octavia’s head, then another answered ‘No, she wants you around; you are such a classy mare after all!’

The grey mare huffed. “It is my fault you left without your things, Vinyl. Please say that you will move into my house; I couldn’t leave anypony at the street on Hearth’s Warming Eve. No exceptions!” This time she was being honest; except that she couldn’t allow everypony to be her roommate.

Vinyl’s cheeks reddened recognizably as she turned back to face Octavia. “Thank you, I guess, Tav-- I mean Octavia.”

Octavia felt it again; she had to get out of there. While heading towards the door, she looked back at the white mare and sighed. This could be difficult; yet she wasn’t sure how she was going to treat Vinyl like everypony else. But, being the pony her parents raised, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. At least that’s what she’d hoped.

“I will be here when they release you from hospital. Until then I must get back to my rehearsals, as I have rather neglected them. Get well soon, Vinyl.” With those words she left the room.

***

Two days later Vinyl was still lying in hospital. She was able to walk again, but still felt tired and powerless due her sleepless nights. It was always a dream about Octavia or the past; difficult for Vinyl to stay focused. The dream of her first meeting with Octavia at school only made things worse.

‘Tavi wasn’t crying because she likes you,’ the voice in her head told her. ‘She was just going home, found you and felt guilty; nothing more, you silly mare.’

Vinyl was sure that she would be homeless again after Hearth’s Warming Eve. Octavia had just said that she could stay during the holidays; they hadn’t spoken about anything long term. She didn’t feel like she could just tell the grey mare about her dreams, and how they’d known each other when they were younger. Small pearls ran down her muzzle until she noticed that Octavia was at the door.

“The doctor says that you can go home; which means you will be coming with me.” She looked at Vinyl. “Are you crying?”

The white mare quickly blinked away her tears. “No, of course not. Why should I friggin’ cry? There’s nothing going on for that.”

Octavia eyed her skeptically but her expression quickly softened. “So shall we get going? This will be a long day for me and I have my rehearsals this evening.”

Vinyl just stared at her. Octavia’s voice sounded almost like the day she had stood in front of her door, and she wasn’t sure if that was a good sign.

“Sure, Tavi, let’s go.” She climbed out of bed with some effort, onto her shaking hooves. Vinyl felt the weight of Octavia’s stare on her.

Vinyl signed some release papers and they left the hospital, walking slowly towards Octavia’s house. It was a beautiful day and Vinyl couldn’t help but look at the grey mare besides her from time to time. She was unsure how this would end, but Octavia’s recent actions seemed like a bad sign to Vinyl.

“She was different that night laying on me,” she muttered nearly inaudibly. But only nearly.

“I beg your pardon?” Octavia looked at Vinyl whose cheeks reddened.

“Nothing, Octavia, I’ve just been thinking about some stuff.” She just hoped that Octavia missed the whole sentence.

The grey mare nodded and they continued towards the house. Once there, Octavia opened the door and stepped in, leaving it open for Vinyl, who hesitated.

“Now come in already — you’ll get cold out there,” Octavia called.

Vinyl shuddered and stepped in; into a house she had barely expected to see again, let alone enter. She followed Octavia and they sat down in the living room, the grey mare looking at Vinyl. They remained silent — that kind of awkward silence nopony could stand — and Vinyl slid around in her chair uneasily. She reached to readjust her shades but found there was nothing on her snout. “Oh damn it! My friggin’ shades! I lost them!”

Octavia sighed. “No, they are here; I kept them safe for you; you are welcome.”

Vinyl looked at Octavia; the shades were in her hooves. She murmured her thanks and levitated them back into the usual place on her snout. At least the grey mare wouldn’t see her eyes anymore, and that had to be a good thing. Looking at the fireplace she drifted into her thoughts again, unaware that Octavia was watching her. Maybe things would be OK; at least for a time. Vinyl tried to stop thinking about the time after Hearth's Warming Eve. She feared that Octavia would throw her out — no, she was quite sure of it.

A slight cough brought her attention back to the grey mare. “How about I show you your new room? I… have arranged some things to make it comfortable. Follow me.” She continued nervously. “I… excuse me, I’m not used to talking for so long with another pony or having a cohabitant here.”

“Yeah, no problem, just lead the way, I guess,” Vinyl answered, following her.

They walked down the corridor and for the first time Vinyl realised how big the house was. Octavia must have been lonely in this house, but perhaps a high-class mare like her would feel it was completely normal. The grey mare walked towards a door at the end of the corridor and pushed it open. Vinyl was left speechless — it was a big room, almost a small apartment. At one side was a large bed — far bigger than she was used to, a small wardrobe, and a desk with a chair.

“I just set up the necessities here and left the rest of the room empty in case you had some furniture in storage or somewhere.” Octavia looked away from her; the white mare could have bet she was blushing.

Vinyl gathered her thoughts. “No, I don’t have any furniture left; nothing at all…” She thought about the horrible night she had lost everything, and Vinyl felt some tears running down her muzzle. “I think I have to rest a bit. Thanks, Octavia.”

Octavia tarried, but closed the door, leaving the white mare alone.

***

She hurried down her corridor into the kitchen. A nice cup of tea and some music; yes, that was what she needed now. Realising what she nearly had done made Octavia giggle. ‘Just hold on a minute’, she thought. ‘I nearly hugged her, and now I’m… I’m even giggling senselessly? What in Celestia’s name is wrong with me?’

Trying to breathe slowly and steadily, she prepared the tea and took it to the living room. She placed a record on her gramophone and sat down. The sound of a cello came from the record and Octavia was able to concentrate again. There was no other solution, keeping herself detached was the only way to survive. Her parents raised an honorable and proud mare; not a simple mare that could be friends with somepony… like… Vinyl. What would her friends think of her? Not to mention the kind of ponies who came to her performances? No, Vinyl was just her housemate, nothing more. But how could she maintain this boundary, even for herself? She wasn’t sure about that, and was also unsure where her friendly feelings for that mare had come from.

‘I should stop dwelling on it,’ she thought, ‘over-thinking it will only make things worse.’

At least she should try to help Vinyl get back on her own hooves. She just knew the right pony to ask.

***

Vinyl quickly hid her tears when somepony knocked at the door and opened it.

“Vinyl, I’m going to my rehearsals. I want you to come with me and wait until I’m finished; I would like you to meet somepony.” Octavia stepped in, looking at her.

Octavia looked different. Her mane was shimmering like silk, brushed perfectly flat; around her neck she wore a small bow-tie. Everything suited her perfectly.

“Vinyl? We don’t have time for you to daydream!” The grey mare was annoyed.

‘Damn, concentrate Vinyl! It’s not like she’s totally beautiful with…’ Vinyl cut off these thoughts and blushed. “I’m sorry, Octavia. I can do that — I owe you so much, so I’ll start with this.”

“You don’t owe… I mean there are some rules for today. First, you will wait outside until I come get you after the rehearsal. Second, you will not tell anypony that you are my house mate at the moment, understand? Third, no behaving weirdly! No ‘friggin’, no slang, no nicknames, just nothing… what’s wrong?”

Vinyl lay on the bed laughing. She just couldn’t help herself. “You… you just said ‘friggin’! It’s so funny to hear you say that!”

“VINYL!” Octavia sighed, “this is not jocular.” She blushed. “Now will you acquiesce to these rules?”

The white mare looked momentarily confused. “jocul… acquie… what? Oh, yes, I agree.”

Vinyl got onto her hooves and followed Octavia to the next room. It was full of records, notes and papers. There was a big case in the middle of the room, and beside it a desk with a chair. Octavia lifted the case onto her back and left the room, closing the door carefully behind her.

“Rule number one in this house: you shall never enter this room.” Octavia walked through the corridor and went outside, Vinyl right behind her. “Now let us go”

Together they walked through Trottingham, towards the concert hall. It was huge and Vinyl couldn’t help but admire Octavia’s job — to be able to play here all the time. They headed to the small performers’ entrance at the side, far away from the main entrance. Vinyl followed the grey mare but waited in front of the door.

Octavia called from inside. “Get yourself in here; it’s too cold outside and I definitely didn’t save your life only to let you freeze again.”

Vinyl walked through the door and found herself in a kind of café.

“You will wait here until the rehearsal ends — and please, don’t touch anything.” With these words Octavia rushed through the next door, leaving Vinyl alone.

She sat down, looking around. Maybe this was the room where Octavia hung out in her free time with her friends? Her eyes roamed around the room, stopping at a small picture on the opposite wall. It was of Octavia with a big instrument Vinyl recognized as a cello. Sapphire had taught Vinyl very well during her career, so she could recognize almost any instrument. Looking closer she noticed that there was a pony at Octavia’s side. The others in the picture were gathered around them at quite a distance. This stallion might be her best friend or something. Staring at the picture of Octavia, Vinyl lost track of time.

***

“Octavia, you are late again! Why did you ask Toe-Tapper to come here directly instead of collecting you at home?” Baritone seemed angry this time.

Octavia lost her temper. “I have enough problems in my life right now, and you should know that better than anypony! Let’s drop it and start practising, Baritone!” She replied far louder than intended.

Everypony was looking at her. It was more than uncommon for Octavia to lose her temper that easily. Feeling everypony watching her, she just sighed and unpacked her cello, assuming her usual position on stage. Rehearsal was short, and Octavia caught herself thinking about Vinyl while playing. It was insane to be thinking about a mare she had just met as if she were a dear friend, but she couldn’t help herself.

After the last note had been played, Baritone approached her. “Why are you still worrying about that mare, Octavia? She’s a distraction and a bad influence.”

“Stop questioning my choices, Baritone. I know what I am doing, and this is exactly why I need your help!” Octavia was about to lose patience with him and Vinyl waited.

Thoughts bubbled in her mind. ‘Why is it important to hurry? Just because of Vinyl? Wait… NO, I’m doing it again. Stop thinking about her, Octavia, she’s not in your class!’

“You really can be stubbo… wait, what?” His jaw nearly fell to the ground.

“I need your help getting her on her hooves again, Baritone. Her cutie mark are two reversed bridged eighth notes, so I guess her special talent is music. You know every agent and producer, and all the club owners, so I know you could help her,” she explained.

He seemed nearly speechless, staring at her. “Reversed bridged eight… why do you feel you have to help her Octavia? This is the first time that you’ve seemed to care about anypony beside your father.”

Octavia sighed “I don’t know, really I don’t. But you owe me, so if you won’t to this simply as my friend, then I am asking for it so we are even.”

‘Wow another lie; you're getting better at this’ she thought sardonically.

Octavia could tell that Baritone seemed unsure. The stallion had a crush on her and had never been able to hide it; Octavia wasn’t really interested in him.

Finally he answered. “Okay, Octavia, I’ll do it. We won’t be even and you know why. I just hope for your sake that she is worthy of your friendship.”

That made her blush. “She is not my friend, Baritone. I am just helping her; it is almost Hearth’s Warming Eve, so I just can’t just throw her out on the street.”

“You know that is a lie. I could tell from the way you looked at her back in the hospital. Stop trying to fool me, Octavia, you more than anypony should know better.”

“Maybe you are right, but please don’t tell her; I have my reasons. Now, follow me, she is at the performers’ cafe and waiting.” With these words Octavia headed to the door, but Baritone stopped her.

“Octavia, may I ask you something?”

She blinked. “That depends on what it is, Baritone.”

He sighed. “Is she special to you? What I mean is, is there something different about her that could explain why you are acting like this? I’m just worried about you?”

Octavia sniffed. “I know why you are asking, but I guess it is fine. I don’t know what I should think about that mare, but something tells me she is important. It feels like I know everything about her, but I can’t even understand it myself. Everything I do for her just seems right, you understand?”

‘In Celestia’s name, even I don’t know why it’s like this!’ she said to herself.

Baritone chuckled. “I guess. Now let’s go and get your friend.”

Together they walked through the door, Octavia unsure about her feelings and the whole situation.

***

Vinyl was still staring at the picture when she heard steps; she sat down quickly and played with her hooves. Then a voice… a somehow familiar voice called her, like nopony had since months.

“I don’t believe it. Those shades, that cutie mark… long time no see DJ-Pon3! It is you, right?”

The white mare was startled. She saw a stallion besides Octavia standing in the door.

The gears started turning in Vinyl’s mind. ‘I know him… I can’t have seen him in years… he’s changed a lot…’

Octavia seemed surprised too. “Baritone, you know her? Why didn’t you say anything at the hospital?”

“I’m sorry, Octavia, but I didn’t see her cutie mark or her shades, so I simply didn’t recognize her,” he explained.

Vinyl stared at the stallion. “Baritone? Oh buck, it must’ve been years since I last saw you… so you’re into classical music now, huh?”

He stared back. “And the most successful DJ of the world stands here without anything now. What happened to you?” Octavia kicked him with her rear leg. “I mean, well, I can help you and Octavia…” Octavia gave him another kick. “Well, I have just the idea to help you make your comeback.”

The white mare stared at them both, trying to gather her thoughts. “Aha… so what now?”

“Well, I suggest we talk a bit at my place while Octavia goes home — she seems tired,” he said. But Vinyl felt that there was something hidden in his voice.

Octavia tried to say something but Vinyl spoke first. “Yeah, I guess so. She’s done enough for me and this will be a long chat, Baritone.” Baritone knew that she had understood his hint.

The grey mare looked at them and sighed. “Well, I think you are both right. I’m heading home but I will wait up for you, Vinyl. Have fun.” With these words she stepped outside, leaving them in silence.

Baritone was the first to speak. “We should definitely speak, Vinyl, and not only about your career”. Vinyl looked at him and was about to answer, but he continued. “Not here! I know Octavia very well and she might be eavesdropping on us even now. She is a marvelous and well-bred mare, but has an incredible sense of curiosity. Let’s go to my place.”

Together they headed out to Baritone’s home, unaware that Octavia was in fact hiding between the next column.

Baritone asked Vinyl to take a seat and she did so, feeling uncomfortable. Something was wrong but she didn’t have any idea what. Baritone opened a small bottle that Vinyl would recognize any time.

“I’m not drinking that stuff, you should know that,” she sighed, “and I don’t understand why you are helping me or what’s going on in general.”

He stopped, only filling his glass. “Well, sorry then; time passed by and there are a few things I may have forgotten.” He sipped at his glass, staring at Vinyl. “Why am I doing this? Because I care about Octavia, and she’s stubborn enough to care about you.”

The white mare snorted. “Oh friggin’ hell, you’re so not right, Baritone! She couldn’t care less about me; after Hearth's Warming Eve I’ll have to leave her house again!”

He looked up. “She told you that?” Vinyl nodded. “Oh, okay, that’s not so good.” He continued slightly nervously, “but I’ll help you anyway. For old times’ sake, Vinyl.” He smirked.

“Oh, I know what you’re trying to hint at, but let me say one thing: I’ve changed! Not much, and perhaps not enough, but I’ve left that insane part of my life behind! No more drugs, not too much alcohol… okay, maybe still too much alcohol, but definitely not any more of that weird behaviour that you remember.” She sighed. “I’m may not be the all-new Vinyl Scratch, but at least I’m an improved one.”

“I’m glad you’re keeping away from that stuff. I heard about that evening from Sapphire and hoped she was wrong.” He laughed. “I guess she was right, but you paid for your mistakes, and that leads me to another thing,” he said, watching her closely.

Vinyl felt uncomfortable. “And that would be?”

“Octavia” he responded. Vinyl tried to say something but Baritone stopped her “Let me talk! I’m not a small colt anymore; I can see that you like Octavia! I… I don’t know if she likes you too, but it is uncommon for Octavia to be acting like this.” His gaze was threatening now. “If you do anything bad to her, you’ll regret it, Vinyl; I swear that!

“Well then, you’ll be glad to hear that I like Tavi. I admit, I like her a lot. And I can promise you that I would never hurt her; but besides that I’m pretty sure I’ll be homeless again in three days, because she doesn’t like me.” She sobbed. “Do you think you could find me a new home for after then? I’ll work really hard to earn my bits, I promise!”

“I think a friend can, and I’m sure he will help you right away. Let’s go!” With these words, he stood up and went to the door, Vinyl following him.

***

Octavia nearly got caught by them when they stepped out of Baritone’s house. There was just enough time to hide around the next corner. She tried to eavesdrop but without any success; hoping that Baritone had said nothing to Vinyl. Following them from a distance, hiding behind corners, she caught small snippets of their conversation.

“… really a home for… next days?” Vinyl asked.

“I’m pretty sure… now hurry, the… opens… a bit and…” Baritone responded.

Oh, for Celestia’s sake! She was just too far away to hear everything; but getting closer would risk getting caught. Still struggling with what to do, she noticed they were heading right towards the corner she was hiding in.

“… pretty sure about… you out after… Eve?” Baritone asked.

Octavia was able to hear more and more; at least for some moment.

“Yes and I intend to… that moment. She got enough… without me; you, the rehearsals and…” It looked like Vinyl was sobbing.

“Well maybe… But ow stop thinking about that now. I’ll help you,” the stallion answered her.

After that Octavia didn’t hear any more as she was trying to hide in a small alley.

‘So Vinyl thought she would make your life more difficult,’ a voice in Octavia’s mind whispered. ‘Well, maybe at one point that was true, but at the same time you’ve never felt better.’

Sadly Vinyl would never know that; Octavia was just too focused on her work, her friends, and everything her parents had told her to value in life.

“Ugh! I should go home and practice a bit,” she told herself, walking straight to her house.

Maybe there she would be able to forget Vinyl, at least for some time. On her way she went past a club called ‘Flashing Lights’ and there was a crowd waiting outside. There amongst the waiting ponies she saw Vinyl and Baritone. At that moment, Vinyl hugged a pony that Octavia couldn’t see properly, but her heart stopped for a moment and some kind of rage filled her. Shaking her head, she ran home. What was wrong with her?

***

The white mare wasn’t aware of Octavia, who had run away like Nightmare Moon herself was chasing her.

Vinyl let go of her old friend. “Neon! I can’t believe you ended up here!”

The pony she had just hugged was a light-blue unicorn with almost black hair, like the night sky.

“Yo, Vinyl, wassup? It’s been months since we last met. And yeah, I kinda own this club now… rocking it every night,” he chuckled. “Baritone said you could use some help?”

Baritone sighed and stepped into the conversation. “Yes, indeed. I hope you two don’t mind, but I have to get back to the concert hall now. You can tell me later how it went, Vinyl.” Waving, he was already on his way.

Still chuckling, Neon put a foreleg around Vinyl, leading her into his club. It was simply amazing — two floors high with a customised bar, a huge stage, and other impressive things.

Vinyl gasped, “Neon… you really made it to the top.”

“You might be right there, but now let’s talk.” He sat down in a corner full of chairs behind the stage. “I know what happened that night, and you know what I mean. It wasn’t fair of Sapphire, but you ruined everything.”

Vinyl’s thoughts went to the night when she’d lost everything. Drunk and high on drugs, she hadn’t even been able to perform; instead she’d just thrown up at the stage and fallen unconscious. “Well, yes, but that’s why I’m here now. I need a home in around three days and a job.” She sighed. “Yes, I know that’s a lot to ask for, but I would pay everything back.”

Neon looked at her in disbelief, then suddenly fell off his chair laughing. “Oh, Vinyl, don’t be so serious! You were the pony that pushed me to the top, so I’m happy to help you! Just give me a day and I’ll sort you out a small appartment. Come back here tomorrow. And about the work… how about every second day, from 10 til 3 at the night to start with?”

Vinyl was overjoyed. “Awesome! You know what seems weird? Since I met Tavi, it is like everything is going my way. I get help, I meet old friends. Nearly everything is great!”

Neon sighed. “Nearly, Vinyl? C’mon, we’ve known each other way too long for you to think that you can hide something from me. It’s about that stuck-up mare, right?”

“Don’t call her stuck-up! She’s maybe a bit… upper class. But I think she can be really nice!” Vinyl looked nearly bruised. “And yes, it’s because of her. I’m not sure about everything, but let’s talk about that another time, Neon. Time for me to head home and…”

Her friend sighed. “Sorry to interrupt, but you’re living with that Octavia right now, yes? So why do you need a home in three day, if you like her so much?”

Now Vinyl really felt uncomfortable, but Neon was her friend after all. “You see… she rescued me… without her I would certainly not be sitting here with you. She… well she’s let me stay with her during Hearth’s Warming Eve, but after that I’m going to have to go again. So in around three days.”

Neon seemed to understand. “Well she sounds nice for a posh mare, but it doesn’t surprise me that she won’t allow you to stay longer. I’ll have something ready for ya tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Neon! I’ll pay everything back, I swear! Uhm… would you mind lending me some equipment for work? Sapphire took my turntables you know…”

Neon gave a small laugh as response. “Sure, you can even practise a bit — it must’ve been a long time since you were on the decks. How about you turn up early tomorrow, around four?”

“I’ll be there, but it’s definitely time to go, or Tavi will lay awake all night.” Vinyl blushed a bit.

Neon stood up and hugged Vinyl. “Stay safe, and whatever it is bothering you, don’t give up! You’re just not yourself, ya know? Oh, and try to be sober tomorrow! We’ll celebrate your comeback soon enough!”

“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of Neon!” she laughed, letting go of the stallion and heading to the door.

Trying to find the way to Octavia’s home Vinyl, thought about that mare. She would throw her out in three days, she was sure about that! But tomorrow was Hearth’s Warming Eve so maybe there was a chance. So what to do then? Unsure of what to do, Vinyl finally found the right direction to head, arriving at Octavia’s house after a small walk. She intended to knock at the door, but it was ajar so she pushed it open. It seemed like Octavia had been waiting for her. Slowly shutting the door, she recognized some music; it was coming out of the special room she had been told to never enter.

“Octavia, are you home?” Vinyl called, but there was no response.

She walked slowly down the corridor to the door and listened; then stepped in.

***

Octavia was in her music room and played her cello. It was one of her new compositions but it felt incomplete. She heard Vinyl calling, and tried to ignore her; she had left the door open so Vinyl could enter and go to bed. The grey mare played the whole song through, and started to feel guilty thinking about Vinyl. Tears formed and ran down her muzzle, but she told herself that it was for the best if Vinyl remained her lodger, not her friend. She finished the composition and blinked the tears away, only to see Vinyl laying in front of her.

“That was amazing, Octavia.” The white mare clapped her hooves.

Octavia wanted to be proud and thank Vinyl, and maybe add that Vinyl was a true friend. Sadly, her head still screamed that Vinyl was only her housemate.

“I thought I’d made rule one clear? You may never enter this room, remember?” she nearly screamed. “So why are you here then, Vinyl?!”

Vinyl seemed shocked. “I’m so sorry, Octavia, but you were playing so beautifully.”

Octavia ignored it. “GO! And never enter this room again, or I might regret letting you stay here, Vinyl!”

The white mare began to cry. “I was just trying to cheer you up after I saw you crying while playing. I really like your music.” With these words Vinyl galloped out of the room, leaving small pearls of tears as a trail behind her…

Now it was Octavia’s turn to be shocked. Why did she keep acting like this, while a part of her kept telling her that she should let Vinyl know that she liked her, and would love for her to stay as her housemate forever? Perhaps it was because she knew her friends and her family would never approve. Putting her cello down, Octavia went to bed, still shocked by her behaviour.

Octavia couldn‘t get to sleep. Every time she started to drift off, a dream pursued her, showing her that she could be happy with a friend like Vinyl; yet she wasn’t able to accept this. Trying to avoid dreaming, she had a horrible, disrupted night.

***

A loud knock.

Octavia wasn’t responding.

Another one, this time really loud.

Murring, Octavia stood up. “What is it, Vinyl?” She opened the door. “I was sleeping! Whatever it is, I’m sure it can wait until later.”

Vinyl stood in front of her, without shades and smiling.

“Well, today is Hearth’s Warming Eve. I thought we could go downtown and grab a bite… I mean have dinner? I would like to thank you for everything you’ve done for me, and to say sorry for last night.” Vinyl blushed a little.

Octavia felt her heart jump, but her mind disciplined it quickly, reminding her that nopony would agree with her friendly feelings for that mare.

“I don’t think that is possible Vinyl, and besides, my schedule is full today.” She hated herself for those words.

“But why? It’s only a quick meal; nothing that would take all day.” Vinyl seemed uncomfortable.

Octavia was about to agree, but the lessons her parents had taught her dictated her behaviour. “Because I say that it is not possible! You are my housemate and we don’t have any other relations, so I might add that this would be very inappropriate for us. Besides that, we are completely different — haven’t you realized of that? It is just wrong, and it will always be. Was there anything else?”

Vinyl stood there, taking a while to find her voice again. “No. Only to tell you that I’ll move out. Thank you for everything, but I guess it’s time to go.”

“Well this is indeed sorrowful, but I don’t have time for your valediction.” Octavia tried to sound sarcastic. “Please shut the door carefully after you, would you?” Octavia closed the door, leaving a speechless Vinyl.

Once she heard that Vinyl was gone she fell on her bed, crying bitterly.

Author's Note

Yaaay it's done.

Thx to VitalSpark for the new edit.

Next Chapter will be a pure Vinyl one.

Back to myself

Chapter 3: Back to myself (Vinyl)

Vinyl wasn’t able to think anymore, just running through Trottingham. As time passed by she slowed down, trying to gather her mind. Octavia didn’t care about her, not even in the slightest way. And now that she thought about it, it was rather clear she never did besides that one night, and that was surely because of her feeling guilty.

‘You were just too blind to see it’ her mind muttered. It was true, and Vinyl felt dreadful. Passing a small shop, she tried to get the time. A small clock behind the Window said ‘7:41 AM’. It was too early to do anything, and Neon told her to come to the club at around four in the afternoon. So what to do? She decided to move on and just walk, maybe clear her head. It was still full of Octavia and how detached she seemed to Vinyls suggestions this morning.

“Ugh, I’m doing it again! Stop thinking about Octavia!” she shouted at herself, causing different ponies on the street to give her irritated stares. “Oh great, now everypony thinks I’m crazy.”

Trying to maintain the last of her pride, she started to think about the future. What should she do now, without anything? Sure, Neon would have the apartment ready, but what about after that? She had no friends here in Trottingham to help her besides Neon and Baritone, and she dropped Baritones name pretty fast since he was too close to Octavia. But besides them? She had some really awesome friends back at the peak of her career, but most of them left her after the disaster at Sapphires party. To be clear, everypony but two. Vinyl stood frozen for a moment.

‘Oh, I’m so dead’ she thought, while running through the City. Her destination was a small, but glowing white building downtown. Ignoring both guards outside she rushed in, just to stop in front of a small desk, the mare behind it looking up at her.

“How can I help you miss?” she asked. “I have a message for Captain Spitfire, reason twenty-two-b-dash-seven and it is to convey immediately” Vinyl said quickly, not even trying to explain more. She used a code Spitfire told her years ago, just hoping it was still in use.

The mare behind the desk watched her closely and sighed “twenty-two-b-dash-seven? Quite a long time since I last heard that code, especially from a citizen, but I guess there is a reason that you know it. I will take care of it, don’t worry. Please write the message down here and sign it.” she placed a small piece of paper in front of Vinyl. The message was short, but Vinyl hoped Spitfire would understand.

‘Club Flashing Lights, Trottingham. You’ll find me there’

Back in fresh air, she shuddered. Nearly one year, would Spitfire still recognize her? Maybe she forgot everything in anger of a Vinyl that never wrote or visited. But that year ago, Vinyl was pretty sure she lost everyone. Thinking back now, she had been really stupid, remembering one sentence Spitfire told her years ago:

“I’ll never leave you hangin’ Vinyl, no matter what happens or what you do!”

That is exactly what she was hoping at the moment, although Spitfire would be mad at her for sure after all this time. She continued her walk and reached the club Flashing Lights nearly automatically, wondering if Neon would be already there. Heading to the door, she was soon stopped by the bouncer.

“The club is about to close, please stay outside” the silver-coated bouncer grumbled, blocking the door with one wing. She remembered that voice, along with everything else about the pegasus and it made her smile.

“Let me in Silver Wing, or I might have to push you off a raincloud again, right?” she joked. Silver Wing stared, looking like he could pass out at any moment. “Vinyl? Wow, it’s been quite a long time since I’ve last seen you! Come in, come in! Neon should be in his office.” “Thanks Silv’, and congrats on the promotion. See ya!” she said as she walked in and took a look around.

Even though it was near curfew, there were a lots of ponies dancing and partying. The dancefloor was pretty crowded. Vinyl smiled as memories from her time back in the best clubs came up. It was really nice to be back in her element, even after what happened and how long it had been. The thought of joining the crowd crossed her mind for a moment, but she wasn’t in the mood for it so she continued to Neons office. Vinyl knocked and went in.

It was a large room with a big desk, which Neon was sitting behind. On the walls were a lot of records and the like, with a small couch and some file cabinets placed around the room, nothing special. Neon sat up and motioned to the couch, and Vinyl sat down on it.

“How about we bring DJ-Pon3 back?” he said, looking quite serious. “At least during shows and official meetings. I know you’ve changed, but this just isn’t you Vinyl.”

Vinyl looked shocked. “You can’t be serious about that! That image ruined everything in the end!” “Well not the whole image. We bring DJ-Pon3 back without the.. insane additions” he smiled a bit “It’s just some advice, but it may come handy”

She wasn’t really pleased by that advice, but thinking about how Octavia acted toward her it was clear that her old personality was quite… upbeat, along with other benefits. Besides that, Vinyl wasn’t sure if her old personality was buried completely. At least she could try it.

“Give me some fun and some drinks while I work, and you’ll get DJ-Pon3 back for sure Neon” she smiled devilishly, thinking about her ‘fun’ back in the old days. This made Neon laugh. “Oh, I can imagine that fun Vinyl. You’ll get everything you want. But first, take these.” He tossed a set of keys to Vinyl “Eight purple drive, fifth floor, the apartment on the right side. Everything is ready, plus a small gift from me to celebrate that you’re back”

“E-eight purple drive? Neon, that’s one of the highest-end buildings in all of Trottingham!” he just nodded as answer. “Wow, thanks… I don’t know what to say…” “Let’s just say I’m helping a good friend, Vinyl” he smirked “Now go have a look, I’ll expect you back here at around four”

Still a bit speechless, Vinyl left his office carrying the keys like diamonds. Her own apartment, without any worries left. Outside she nudged Silver Wing, making him jump. “Yeah Scratch?” he asked after he recovered “Done with the boss already?”

“Yup, but could you do me a favour? You know how I like a big entrance.” She smirked and raised an eyebrow, which was of course difficult for Silver Wing to see through her shades. He suddenly started to laugh. “Oh yes Vinyl, I know what you love and that won’t be a problem” he patted her on her back “See ya later, I’ve got some work to do”

Vinyl patted him back, then continued her way to her new apartment. Things were getting more awesome every minute! While walking, her mind snapped back to Octavia. What would she say now that Vinyl got her own apartment and an awesome job at Neons club? Maybe she would add another comment on her bad behaviour, or that it just wouldn’t fit her routines. Yeah, something like that. It sounded like Octavia.

Shaking her head, Vinyl got rid of that thought as she finally stood in front of the apartment complex. It was really huge. She walked through the entrance and a hallway, looking at all the mailboxes. Her name was pinned on one of them. ‘Apartment forty-three, Vinyl Scratch.’ Walking further, she saw a small door with a button next to it. ‘It even has an elevator, how cool’ she thought after pushing the button.

A small bell chimed and the door opened as Vinyl stepped inside and hit fifth floor. It was a quick, smooth ride before it came to a stop. The door open to a bright, blue corridor. She went to the right like Neon told her. “Forty-one, forty-two.. Ahh here it is, forty-three” she mumbled to herself, reading the numbers at the doors.

She used her magic to unlock the door with the key. It was quite useful to be a unicorn. Earth-Ponies had to do everything by hoof, even the trickiest things that seemed un-doable without magic. Opening the door she gasped, standing in a long blue corridor. The apartment seemed bigger than Octavias House, a corridor leading every direction. She took the right one till she reached two doors. The first one led into a big bathroom including a huge shower, a bathtub perfect for bubble baths, a toilet and a sink.

The second door opened the way to the Bedroom; leaving Vinyl completely speechless. At it’s center was a big round bed with space for at least four ponies, but it was the design that caught her breath. It was covered by a big blanket, on it was Vinyl’s cutie mark on white background. Getting this done in one day must had cost Neon a huge amount of bits. “I’ll pay everything back Neon, I swear” she whispered to herself while still staring at the bed.

After a while she broke off to investigate the rest of the apartment. Going back to the entrance and then turning north, she found herself in front of the kitchen. A huge kitchen with marmor counters, glasses, and a dining area. The table was personalized with her cutie mark like the bed. Everything just fit perfectly and the fridge was even already filled with stuff Vinyl loved. Seemed like Neon hadn’t forgotten anything about her and what she liked. The living-room was connected with the kitchen, so she just continued that way. It was big enough for a small party. Even the sofa was personalized with her cutie mark, and everything looked incredibly expensive.

Vinyl saved the thought to throw a big party for Neon once she settled in a big, long party. Going back the way she came, she noticed another corridor and followed it. It lead to three different doors. Behind one was an empty room, maybe a future guestroom or something. Door two led into a kind of storage room, filled with some shelves and other stuff. The third door was the by far most interesting one, holding a picture of her cutie mark. She took a breath and opened it. The room was empty besides a thin layer of material which Vinyl recognized as sound-proofing, and a big object in the center. It was gift-wrapped and huge, and Vinyl started to immediately unpack it out of impatience.

Vinyl passed out seeing what it contained and a voice behind her whispered: “Welcome back DJ-Pon3” She just had unpacked a brand new set of equipment, worth thousands of bits.

She opened her Eyes, laying on her new couch next to her was Neon. He grinned as he gestured around. “So how do you like it so far, including your gift?” “I honestly have no Idea what to say Neon, thanks!” With that she hugged her friend, falling from the couch. Neon looked at her, a small smile covering his muzzle “Now get ready. I took care over your “fun” you mentioned earlier, and I think you will like her”

“Her?” Now she was definitely confused, but thinking back on her old personality it was washed away as she got the hint. “Ooooh the fun! She’s here?” “Yes, she’s waiting outside while you get ready. Do you want a shower Vinyl? You don’t look too good at the moment” he smirked a bit.

The white mare nodded and made her way into the bathroom, taking a quick but hot shower. Looking into the mirror she saw her reflection. No spikes, her mane and tail waving perfectly down over her fur. The mare she always wanted to be a long time ago, but not today. She shook her head. “That’s not me” she muttered, while getting her mane back to her usual style.

Coming out of the shower, she went to the living-room again. This time Neon wasn’t alone. At his side sat a turquoise coated pegasus with vanilla mane and eyes full of a nice delightful orange. Vinyl knew this pony very well, maybe a bit too well.

A small hoofbump “Hey Vinyl, long time no see! Must’ve been ages since our mix in Canterlot!” Sassa had definitely stayed the same pony.

“Sassaflash, so nice to see you again! What are you doing here in Trottingham?” Vinyl smiled a bit. She had missed her a lot to be honest.

Sassa’s eyes went from Neon back to Vinyl “You know, Neon asked me if I would like to help bringing you back to the top. And you know what? I said yes right away! Besides that, we have a few things to catch up on, don’t you think so?” she said with a devilish grin.

‘This could only end well’ Vinyl thought sarcastically, remembering everything she went through with Sassaflash.

She wasn’t the ordinary mare from next door and everypony knew it. But despite that, Vinyl couldn’t help but smile back with a small wink. Not being lonely anymore was definitely a good thought, and a good chance to forget about Octavia.

A small cough brought their attention back to Neon, who smiled “Well Ladies, I would say have fun. Please arrive at the club in about two hours. Catch ya later!” he waved and left the apartment, leaving Sassa and Vinyl shifting nervously.

“How about having some coffee and talking for a bit Sassa? I know a small cafe down the street.” she started slowly, Hoping Sassa would stop the pacing she had started. She stopped and looked up “Coffee? Huh?.. Oh yeah of course, I would love to Vi” Sassa was one of a rare few ponies who could call Vinyl that and still have their heads on their neck.

Vinyl opened the door, leaving it open for Sassa to step through, then followed her. They went outside the building after a small elevator ride; into the chilling cold. It wasn’t snowing anymore and the day showed some beautiful signs of blue sky and sun. Both mares walked down the street heading towards a small cafe where they could talk; Vinyl was curious how Sassas live had been the last months.

They sat opposite the small table, watching around. No mare had broken into a word since the waitress delivered their coffee. It was a beautiful day and they both hesitated to ask the final question; until Sassa found her words.

“Do you think it can be like it was Vi?” she smiled sheepish, obviously blushing. Vinyl never thought about it since everything broke down. It was no love that bounded both mares; Vinyl didn’t even thought she would know what the feeling was, since she never discovered it. It has been always just a heat or some kind of attracted. Yes, she still felt attracted to Sassa in one way or another; but was she ready to bring everything up again?

Finally she spoke. “I don’t know Sassa, it has been a long time, and not everything went well. Sassa just lifted an eyebrow “C’mon, we both agreed it’s not love or something else going further into a relationship, so what should possibly go wrong? I want to be with you again Vi, every night and every day….” she was clearly sobbing now “I missed you so much Vi!!” she dropped her cup, rounding the table and hugging her tightly.

Suddenly Vinyl felt her muzzle also stained with tears “I missed you too Sassa!” Every weight seemed to drop off of her at this moment. She felt a small knot in her heart asking about Octavia, but she pushed it as far away as she could. Her best friend in the world was back and she planned on holding on to her this time. They sat down again, wiping all tears.

“Okay Sassa, please, tell me everything! What were you doing all those months? I really thought you left me alone.” Vinyl glanced at her friend. Sassaflash seemed like she had to think about that Question, but finally her gaze met Vinyls. “Do you remember how mad Sapphire was that night? She didn’t even bother to give me part of the fault. Instead she instantly said everything was your fault and only your fault.” she paused, a small tear running down her muzzle.

“I tried to convince her, told her you would never do such a thing on purpose… But she just wouldn’t listen. While she tried to talk with the sponsors, I decided to test my luck and get your equipment with me.” Vinyl’s eyes grow wide upon that “But sadly, she caught me while I pushed everything outside over the ramp. Told me it was hers now since she wouldn’t see a bit from your disaster.” Sassa grinned at Vinyl “She said i would have to leave too, doing all that silly stuff for you, and she even tried to walk me out.”

Vinyls ears twitched “What do you mean by ‘she tried’?” “I mean she accidentally tripped over something and rolled down the ramp into a small mud hole” she was laughing loud now and Vinyl joined in. “You should’ve seen her face, red and brown all over it. Sadly she wasn’t that nice anymore after that and the security threw me onto a garbage pile”

Together they laughed for a while before Sassaflash continued. “After that I went from gig to gig, even doing small things like birthdays and sing-o-grams. Well, until today as you know.” she finished with a smile. “Now, please tell me what happened after everything”

Vinyl sighed, trying to prolong it a bit, but there was no use. “Well you know about the night, the following day was a disaster. I went to my apartment just to find it prepared with a new lock. She took everything from me Sassa… After that I lived on the streets, trying to gather food here and there, also collecting a few bits. I’ve never really thought of you or the others and that was stupid of me.” I used my puppy-stare and looked into her eyes “Will you accept my apology?”

“Oh Vinyl, cute and unique as ever” the turquoise mare stated, causing us both to laugh. Just sitting there with a smile on our muzzles as time quickly sped by.

Sassa and Vinyl stood in front of the Club, grinning at each other.

“Back in business, huh Vi?” Sassa just started to laugh “Just like old times” “Yep, now let’s go inside. Neon will be waiting already for sure” Vinyl smiled and stepped in, giving Silver Wing a hoofbump. “Silver, this is Sassaflash. If Neon hasn’t had the time to explain it yet, she’s my stage help and gets VIP-access every time okay? “Of course Vinyl, have fun” Silver Wing said, focusing on the crowd in front of the door again.

Neon was already waiting in his office, walking around impatiently. When they entered he looked up. “Oh, there you are! Everything is ready, so I’m counting on both of you! Just do the same magic you did back the old days.” he seemed quite nervous. “If you need any drinks, just tell the Security to get some for you. And Vinyl if anything happens, don’t hesitate making use of Silver Wings and the others. They’ll help you stay safe.”

Both mares nodded, then heading off to the Stage. For Vinyl it was like being home again. The crowd, the lights, the bass, and Sassa at her side. She turned towards her, smiling. “Ready to wub like old times Sassa?” A small, devilish grin appeared on her friend’s face “Of course! Let’s show em how to do it!”

Together they ran the show like never before. Flashing lights and a hypnotic beat made everypony dance, even the employees started to enjoy it. The night went on and soon they called for their first drink, a small liquor to warm up. With every passing minute, the club got fuller until it was at it’s limit, bouncers blocking the door. After a few drinks Vinyl started to feel like herself again. Like a disguise was falling of.

Increasing the bass she yelled down at the dancing ponies “Yo, DJ-Pon3 wubbing your night with Sassaflash. Move your lame flanks, because we have all Night!”

Continuing with her wubs Vinyl missed that Sassaflash was getting close, really close. When both connected the spark of their music rose, causing them to feel the heat in every beat. Blinking, they leaned towards each other, falling into a long kiss.

It was exactly that moment Vinyl spotted a grey Earth-Pony at the bar, staring at her. It looked like Octavia but she didn’t cared anymore. This was her Night, and nopony would ruin it. Movement came into the crowd as the Earth-Pony stamped towards the stage, obviously furious and yelling something the whole time. Breaking the kiss she waved for Silver, who was at her side in an instant.

“Something up Vinyl?” he glared down the crowd. She just hoof pointed at Octavia “See that grey Earth-Pony with the bowtie? Get her out of here, now!” Silver seemed confused “But what did she do? As far as I can see she’s just trying to get closer to the stage, nothing bad if you ask me” Vinyl glared at him. “Get her out now, or I’ll do it by myself and you’ll joining her right after that” It wasn’t an idle threat.

Grabbing Sassa once again, leaning into another kiss she only saw Octavia surrounded by the security, who lead her out of the club after a small tussle. She instantly tried to ignore the screaming Earth-Pony, returning her attention to the pegasus, tasting her lips with her own.

It felt like a herd of buffalos were dancing on her head. Or like being stabbed in the forehead with an icepick. Vinyl slowly opened her eyes and saw that she layed in her bed. She gently stretched all her hooves, yawing out loud. Everything was still in it’s place, good. However, something definitely wasn’t right. She could hear steady breathing beside her. While turning over, Vinyl nearly fell out of her bed. Sassaflash laid on the other side, sleeping with a smile on her muzzle.

‘I can’t remember getting home with Sassaflash or if I slept with her’ she thought, instantly regretting it because her headache grew even worse. ‘Time for pizza and ice water to get rid of that hangover.’ She slowly stumbled on to her hooves, but tripped and fell on her snout. Vinyl tried it again and finally reached the kitchen to heat up some frozen pizza. Heading back to the bedroom she hesitated, wondering if she should wake up Sassa, then chose to let her sleep. The turquoise mare looked incredibly sweet sleeping. Besides that Vinyl could shower and getting some time to think about everything that happened last night. Shaking her head, she made her way to the bathroom.

She was trying to relax a bit when suddenly the doorbell rang. Muttering Vinyl dried her coat and mane while going to the door and opened it. In front of her was a pegasus with a light pink coat and a mane streaked with cerise and mint green.

“Oh.. hi! Hi DJ-Pon3, my name is Blossomforth! Could I have your autograph in my book, pleeeaaaaase?” Vinyl just looked at her before taking the mares pencil into her magic grip. “Sure sure, it’s always awesome to meet real fans.” she signed the book, giving the pegasus everything back. “Please excuse me, but it was an outstanding night and I’ve still got to figure out the end”

Blossomforth looked thrilled “Oh yay an autograph from you. I wanted to ask you last night, but you seemed too busy kissing that turquoise mare while heading home, so I thought I could surprise you today. Byeeeeeee, hope to see you again soon!”

“Yeah, bye” Vinyl paused “Wait…. what?” she shouted after the pegasus, but Blossomforth was gone already. “That answers one question, only one left” She made her way back into the kitchen, taking a seat and chewing on her pizza. Totally hangover food. Seriously, nothing better than pizza in that case. After a few minutes, Sassaflash stumbled in, looking really tired and done with the world.

“Mornin Vi.” she sighed. “Mind if I use your shower?” “Not at all Sassa. After that, you can join me for some pizza.” Vinyl said grinning “Best hangover food ever!” The turquoise mare laughed, trying to find her way into the shower. After some time she returned and sat down, grabbing a piece of pizza. “I don’t know what the heck happened last Night Vi. Total hangover!” Vinyl rolled her eyes. “Haven’t thought of that but, I think I know what was going on”

She nearly choked on her pizza “You do?” “Well yeah.. according to one of our fans, we made our way drunk and kissing to my apartment. Aaand we slept together” Vinyl ended, nearly whispering. “Come again?” Sassas gaze met Vinyls. “I said we slept together.” the white mare repeated, blushing visibly, not expecting what happened next.

Sassaflash stretched over the table and kissed Vinyl, smiling confidently “You are the only mare I would ever want to sleep with Vi, and you should know it” That made Vinyl feel better. “Thanks Sassa, I needed that” Suddenly, loud knocking startled the two mares. It came from the living-room. It happened again, this time even louder. Sassaflash looked at the white mare, quite confused, but made her way out of the kitchen.

A loud gasp made Vinyl’s ears perk up. “Vinyl! You should come here right now!” Wondering what in Luna’s name was wrong now, Vinyl stood up and slowly trotted over to the living-room. Sassaflash was staring at the glass door to the balcony, speechless. Behind the glass door stood a yellow mare with unique Mane Style that Vinyl knew well… well enough to try to hide behind Sassaflash.

“Vinyl Scratch, open the bucking door! I’m sooo going to kill you for this!” Spitfire yelled, seemingly about to go off. “Oh buck, I’m a dead mare” Vinyl sighed, leaning against the turquoise mare.

What a perfect Day.

Author's Note

Whew it's done.

Thx to DonnEStarside for his help.
Thanks to him, this story is written in a new 'shape'
Please tell me if you like it.

Chapter 4 with Octavia will follow soon :)

Being not classy at all

Chapter 4: Being not classy at all (Octavia)

It felt like hours and Octavia still laid on her bed, crying. Vinyl was gone, all because of her stuck up behavior about her feelings.

‘You wanted it like this.’ she thought. ‘Now the last thing to do is get rid of her memory.’

It sounded cruel, but it was definitely too late to run after Vinyl, not that she even had the choice. Without Vinyl she would feel better and could concentrate on more important things again.

‘Vinyl was important.’ it crossed her mind ‘but not important enough to forget your work and parents, and that’s nearly a shame.’

“Okay not this again.” she shook her head “I am going to forget Vinyl and I will be fine!”

Still mumbling to herself, she decided to take a shower. A nice warm shower to relax a bit. Maybe there she would be able to clear her head for her work that evening. On that day’s plan there was a rehearsal in the evening, practicing a new piece written by Baritone for a new musical in town.

Standing in her shower, Octavia tried to relax and let everything go, focus on her life and the work again. Sadly, another thought came across her mind, her life without Vinyl.

‘Why does this feel so abstrusely awkward? I don’t even have any form of relation to this messy white unicorn.’ she thought, feeling the water patter on her soft coat. ‘Work will distract me successfully, as always.’

With those words in mind she turned off the shower and grabbed for a towel in the cabinet. After drying her fur she reached for her brush that was made for her with a circular handle with a hole in it, perfectly sized for her hoof. Octavia brushed her mane to her usual standard as somepony knocked at the door. Perplexed, she made her way into the corridor to see a smiling Baritone in front of her door after she opened it.

“Baritone! How nice of you to visit me. Do you want to come it?” she started, giving him her usual smile.

“Oh of course Octavia, and never mind, I was in the area anyways.” he stepped in and looked around nervously, after the grey mare had closed the door. “Uhm, Octavia? Where is Vinyl?”

Octavia's face fell and she ran past him towards the living-room.

“Why, in Celestia's name, does everypony have to talk about her recently?” she groaned.

They sat both in Octavia's living-room, drinking their tea in silent. Baritone made a few tries to talk about it, but after various glares from Octavia he dropped the topic. Taking a sip from his cup Baritones gaze met Octavia's and he cleared his throat.

“You can’t hide from everything Octavia. You didn’t even tell her that you like her, and now you’re sitting here trying to avoid anything regarding her. Vinyl's gone again I would presume?” after a nod from her, he groaned. “Octavia you’re not making things easier that way, not at all! Instead the whole situation will grow worse!”

The grey mare blushed slightly and set down her cup, raising to her hooves “Baritone, I have already thought about that! I just can not do this, living with that messy mare in a friendly relationship.” she tried to calm down, without any success. “If you said I like that mare that much, everypony would disagree! How could such a classy mare like me be friends with that… that… horrible disaster?”

Baritone stood up, walking towards the door. While opening it and stepping outside he hesitated, looking back at her.

“Well, maybe it is time for you to stop being ‘that’ classy”

With those words the door went shut, leaving a speechless Octavia inside. Maybe it was time to visit an old friend again.

The grey mare stood in front of a large apartment complex, looking rather worried. After a few moments of shifting from one hoof to another, she finally went inside. Inside the entrance hall she looked at the names around the doorbell buttons, not finding what she was searching for around the first floors.

“Maybe she moved away...” a small whisper, nearly inaudible and filled with fear.

Nonetheless, she continued her search and found the right nameplate on the fifth floor, instantly pushing it without reading the others. She didn’t notice the nameplate right next to the one saying ‘Heartstrings’ said ‘Scratch’. After a while the speaker crackled, causing her to jump.

“Yes?”

“Uhm.. hi Lyra.. It is me, Octavia…” the grey mare started, but was soon cut off.

“What in Luna’s name do you want Octavia? I told you not to come back!” the voice said angrily.

“Well.. we should talk…” Octavia paused, then sighed. “And I might have been wrong”.

After a long silence, a click could be heard, then a small buzzer sounded as the door swung open.

“Fifth floor, apartment forty-two. Don’t you dare make us wait.” the voice crackled.

“Come again? ‘Us’?” her question went unanswered, so she stepped in.

Octavia looked around the big hall, quite impressed by the amount of mailboxes. Reaching the elevator that already waited, she pushed the button for the fifth floor. As the elevator started to move, she sighed and leaned against the wall. Octavia felt nervous in high apartments, even though most ponies would call fifth floor rather… menial. A small bell chimed, letting Octavia know she had reached the right floor, and the door opened. She stepped off of the elevator into a blue corridor, surprisingly fitting to Vinyls mane colour.

‘Ugh, not the right thought.’ Octavia decided silently, going to search for the right apartment.

Soon Octavia found apartment forty-two, hesitating to knock on the door. This wasn’t easy for her, and her old friend still sounded angry, even after nearly two years. Letting out a small sigh she knocked at the door, waiting for her destiny…

A mint green coated unicorn opened, an irked expression on her face. “Looky looky who came here once she needs her cookie”

That made Octavia blush slightly “I am indeed sorry for all my behaviour Lyra and…”

The unicorn cut her off “Just to keep things straight right away, if you’re planning on trying to change my mind again, leave now!”

Instead of an answer Octavia began to sob, small tears leaving their trail on her muzzle. She just looked at the unicorn, a silent plea in her eyes.

“I’ll probably regret this, but come in Octavia” Lyra sighed and waited for Octavia to come in, closing the door behind her.

Lyra led their way into a big living-room, where she sat down next to a beige coated earth pony. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees, both earth ponies shooting daggers while glaring at each other. The green Unicorn sighed nervously.

“Octavia, I think you remember Bon Bon?” Lyra started.

“Yes, I think I can remember her pretty well. What in Celestias name is she doing here?” the grey mare asked.

Instead of an answer Bon Bon smiled and leaned towards Lyra.

“What are you two.. ahh!” Octavia cried as lyra turned around, closing the distance and meeting Bon Bons lips.The kiss lasted a while and neither of them noticed when Octavia just passed out.

After a while, Octavia came back to consciousness, but instead of laying on the floor, she was on the couch. Lyra sat down in her view, smiling a bit while Octavia had only one question in mind.

“You still become a fillyfooler, even after your parents and I told you to think about it again?” she asked, though the answer was obvious.

“Would you stop feeling real love just because someone tells you to do so Octavia?” Lyra glared at her.

“Since nothing has happened since back then what I would define as love… I can not answer that Lyra.” the grey mare sighed. “I have to admit that I do not even know what love feels like”.

“You don’t know… but the stallion from rehearsals, what was his name again? Baritone? He seemed so nice and really caring about you and..” Lyra was soon stopped by a hoof on her muzzle.

“Please drop it Lyra. I was never interested in him and I will never be. I do not know what It is missing from him, but it seems to be quite.. something I could not go any further without.”

The Unicorn tried to speak but Octavias hoof was still on her muzzle. “Oh, beg your pardon Lyra. Speak again?” she blushed at the following words. “Maybe you’re a fillyfooler after all Octavia!”

That made Octavias face drop rather quickly “How dare you say such things to me Lyra? My parents are proud of me and I can be, too! I am a classy mare, with not to say at least some manners after all” she huffed.

“That doesn’t have to dissent from being a fillyfooler Octavia! Now let’s drop that conversation, you wanted to talk with me. I suggest we do this in our old favourite cafe, but only if Bon Bon is allowed to join us”

Octavia looked at Lyra. Trying to leave Bon Bon behind seemed to be no option. “Alright Lyra, let us go”

They sat at a small cafe near the Concert Hall, enjoying the clear sky with a cup of tea. Octavia enjoyed the time, although a small shadow lasted on her mind called Vinyl.

“Well Lyra, first I want to apologize for my behaviour. To be honest, you two look really cute together, and I am really sorry for any actions I took with your parents in the past. I think all my… manners taught by my parents were making me doing all this, even though I knew I could have stopped it.”

Lyra seemed speechless so it was Bon Bon who answered. “After Lyra told me everything you did, I really thought I would hate you for the rest of my Life. You made our Life horrible, even convinced her to break up with me for a couple of weeks. But.. I would say your apology is accepted, at least by me.” her voice was clear, loud and self-confident. “I also get to know ponies pretty well during my job as a candymaker, and I would say that there is something on your mind that is bothering you, and I doubt it’s about Lyra and I.” she blinked, and Octavia felt like Bon Bon’s eyes could see inside her.

“Well, I guess you are right Bon Bon, but I do not know how to.. formulate it.” Octavia thought about it for a second. “It is about a mare I have just become acquainted with, and she is invading my thoughts every few seconds”

Lyra suddenly found her voice. “What happened?”

Octavia tried to explain everything, from the time she met Vinyl at her door, to the actions where she nearly lost her and invited her to stay. At the end she talked about Hearth’s Warming Eve, today. “...And it was just impossible for me to say yes. My mind just said no, and found all those awful words for her, making her run away again. This messy white mare is somehow interesting as a friend and I just don’t know why.” she ended.

While she talked Lyras eyes grew wide, a small knowing smile around her Lips. “If i would have to guess the pony you are talking about I would say it’s my new neighbor. Her name is Vinyl Scratch, white coat, blue spiked hair with some light-blue in it. Yes that is definitely Vinyl.” the green unicorn chuckled. “And looks like you’ve got a crush on her”

“I am NOT having any questionable feelings for that mare Lyra! She is indescribably messy and rude on top of it!” Octavia’s voice grew louder and louder, causing some ponies from the cafe to look at her.

Bon Bon smiled wickedly, causing Octavia to become nervous. “Well then Octavia, let’s try it. We will do something that should reveal how you feel about Vinyl Scratch, and it just happens that I exactly know what”

“Bonnie sweety, you always scare me to hell when you talk with that smile. You are up to something, again!” Lyra tried to glare at her marefriend, but Bon Bon continued.

“Let’s walk a bit and talk about my plan” she chuckled.

Octavia’s jaw nearly fell down “You want me to do WHAT?” she creamed, causing the other two mares to flatten their ears in annoyance.

“How about you drop your voice a bit Octavia?” Lyra tried to hold back her impatience. “Bonnie thinks meeting that mare would either solve your problem and show you that she means nothing to you, or the second possibility that we are right and you love her, or at least feel more than just that tiny friendship.”

“This is just not possible Lyra. You know how I act even to the smallest signs of friendship or anything related to that. And I didn’t even care that she left my house, I even encouraged her to close the door carefully!”

Lyra was enraged by those words, staring directly into Octavias eyes. “This is because your damn freaky, stuck up parents are controlling your Life!” She stepped towards Octavia with every single word, poking her. “You’re acting like your parents would, not like you, and you deny it every time!. I’m so sick of it! You sniffy, silly, dumb mare! Stop living your life after your parents and finally start live your own!”

Octavia was speechless. Even Bon Bon stared at her marefriend, not knowing what to say. The grey mare felt tears running down her muzzle, fighting her own mind. Was it true? Did she really act like her parents would? Could she even act different?

“I… I don’t know what to say..” Octavia cried. But then she remembered Baritones words.

‘Maybe it is time for you to stop being ‘that’ classy’

With a small sigh Octavia looked at Bon Bon, smiling and causing the beige earth pony to get nervous. “Oh, I don’t like this look….”

“Maybe I finally figured something out.” Octavia was still smiling. “Let’s go through with your plan again Bon Bon, it seems so.. surprisingly interesting now.”

Exchanging unsure looks, Lyra and Bon Bon led the way back to the apartment. Coming close they saw a recognizable blue spike-haired mare coming out of the entrance hall with a turquoise pegasus by her side, both smiling wildy.

“Oh look Octavia, theres Vin… Octavia?” Lyra searched around but Octavia was gone. Both mares continued to walk, only greeting the other pair with a small smile and a nod, while Octavia was hidden around the next corner. she stood silent, peeking around the edge to see Vinyl. She seemed quite happy with that pegasus at her side and Octavia felt her temper rise again. Shaking her head, she tried to calm down.

‘This is touching you too deep for only friendship’ she thought with a small sigh.

Once Vinyl and the pegasus were gone she quickly reached Lyra and Bon Bon, who were waiting inside the entrance. Both shared a knowing look, then they went upstairs for the plan.

Octavia laid on the couch, thinking and sipping on her peppermint tea.”So you think it would be a good Idea if I would go to that club? What am I intended to do there? I do not like that noise they call music and I do not like parties at all!”

Lyra groaned “That’s the point! Going there, in an environment you would barely stay in for one minute on your own, could be the possibility to see what you feel for that mare.”

“I do NOT feel anything for this messy white unicorn!”

“STOP lying to us Octavia! We’re no foals anymore!”

She fell silent. It felt like they were right but Octavia was too proud to accept it easily, and they wouldn’t leave the topic until she visited that club.

“Fine, I will do it, but only if you two accompanies me towards this hell!” the grey mare groaned.

She regretted it as soon as they stood in front of the Club, a long crowd in front of the door waiting to get in. Lyra sighed and joined the crowd, waving for them.

“I guess we’ll have to wait then.” the green unicorn said, but then she was startled by an booming noise coming out through the door of the club, suddenly opened by an employee whispering something into the bouncers ear. He seemed to shudder, then cleared his throat.

“Alright everypony, listen up. All of you here at the moment will get in in ten seconds to see Sassaflash and DJ-Pon3. Behave and stay in the line and everything will be fine!”

Octavia looked confused “Sassaflash and DJ-Pon3?” her thoughts were stopped the moment the crowd pushed in through the open door, causing the volume of the noise to go up and Octavia laid her ears down in pain.

“It is really loud” she winced towards Lyra, but the mare just continued to pull Bon Bon and her towards the bar. Lyra motioned for her to sit down.

“You have to listen to me now Octavia. You have to do this alone, but I suggest you have fun, maybe drink a bit. We’ll be over here on the dancefloor so if something goes wrong, just tell us, ok?” Lyra smiled and took Bon Bon towards the dancing crowd.

The grey mare was left shocked. “Wait, you can not just leave me here! I do not know what to do now!” but the two were already gone in the dancing mass of ponies.

Sighing, she looked at the bar pony, motioning for a drink. “Please do give me something strong, I am planning to forget everything about today”.

She got a smile back as the bar pony gave her a glass full of ice-blue liquid. Now a bit unsure, Octavia decided to look around the club and get drunk later. After all, she was still a proud mare, not in need of such filthy pleasure as being drunk and not herself.

She spotted her nearly instantly. A white unicorn with blue spiked hair and purple shades. Vinyl was drinking out of a round glass, really getting into everything as her head bobbed up and down to the beat of the bass. At her side she saw the turquoise pegasus from earlier, feeling anger starting to grow inside her again.

The pegasus was close to Vinyl, a bit too close for Octavia.

‘Stop it.’ she disciplined herself ‘She is just working with her and... wait, why do I even care?’

The pegasus moved closer every minute, then Vinyl picked the microphone up and started shouting at the crowd.

“Yo, DJ-Pon3 wubbing your night with Sassaflash. Move your lame flanks, because we have all night!”

With those Words her horn glowed and suddenly the bass was turned up, making Octavia vibrate in its sound. She felt like air, fresh and full of power, about to dance away. She liked this music.. Vinyls music… she froze immediately and grabbed the drink she left on the counter, drinking the whole liquid at once as she tried to forget her surroundings. After her third drink, she felt light and slightly dizzy. She was getting drunk.

‘Octavia, the classy mare with high manners, was getting drunk’ her mind laughed at her. How far had she fallen because of that white mare?

The grey mare tried to focus on Vinyl again, who was now flank to flank with the pegasus. Octavia felt more anger coming up, and tried to focus and stop the feelings she had at that moment.

She failed. Once she saw them leaning into a kiss Octavia lost control, letting out an infuriated yell and stomping right towards the stage. The alcohol made her act like she never had before, blinded by the hot feeling tightening around her chest.

At that moment Vinyl recognized her and waved for somepony, breaking her kiss for a short time. It was the bouncer from the front of club, but Octavia couldn’t care less at the moment. But as Vinyl pointed towards her and talked with the silver pegasus that stood at her side now just to continue kissing the turquoise mare again, she only felt her anger grow worse.

“You incredibly dumb, messy, infuriating” a small pause “something! Stop kissing that mare and face me instead of pointing at me!” Octavia shouted, but it went unheard. She nearly reached the stage, but found herself surrounded. The bouncer who had talked with Vinyl looked at her.

“Miss Scratch wants you to leave, and you’ll leave now!” he stated.

It made Octavia laugh, barely in control over herself. “Look, I will only say this one time. Get the BUCK out of my WAY” she stormed forward, pushing against the security that tried to hold her down. Octavia screamed, shattered, and tried to hurt everything around her, her mind a small cage of anger and feelings towards Vinyl.

She managed to kick one of the security ponies, but soon found herself held down by various others. They managed to lift her up and drag her outside, while Octavia screamed towards Vinyl once more “Vinyl I hate you! You bucked everything up and don’t even care! I hate you!” Her screaming went unheard again while being carried outside.

Once outside the security dropped her not to gently, causing her to land on her flank painfully. Now it was official. She went to the lowest state of social being, and it was all because of Vinyl.

Octavia began to cry, tear after tear running down her muzzle, everyone with a small cry in it, that went unheard after it shattered on the ground. Soon she felt somepony beside her, hugging her. It was Bon Bon.

“I won’t ask you what happened, but I saw most of it. Let’s go home” her voice was soft and calm as she dragged Octavia up. She felt nothing anymore, everything around her turning black slowly.

She woke up in a soft, green bed, but it wasn’t her own. Sitting up, she felt all her muscles screaming and her head aching like never before, making her immediately lay down again. Wincing from pain, she breathed heavily, as a face moved into her sight.

“You’re awake, that’s good. How’re you feeling today?” Lyra asked nearly inaudibly.

Octavia answered in her normal volume “Not too good, I am afraid.” she regretted it immediately, her headache growing even worse.

The green unicorn nodded with a caring smile. “That’s about what I thought. How does a stack of pancakes, coffee and some fresh air on the balcony sound to you?”

“Great indeed, but may I take a shower first?” the grey mare looked at Lyra, trying to remember what happened and thinking that a shower would indeed be a pleasure now. Lyra nodded, leading her towards a small door after Octavia got up on her shaking hooves.

The warm water running down her coat started to relax her muscles and the pain in her head even started to go away. Maybe the day could only get better. She turned the shower off after a while, stepping out and drying her fur.

Lyra and Bon Bon were in the kitchen, sitting side to side, nuzzling each other with their muzzle. They jumped when they saw her, an apology in their eyes, but Octavia just smiled. It would have annoyed, maybe even offended her one day before, but now she felt happy for both of them.

Bon Bon smiled back and served her some pancakes. “Felling better?”

“A bit.” then the grey mare fell silent, eating her pancakes with pleasure. They went out onto the balcony, every mare sipping a cup of coffee. After a while Octavia looked to Lyra. “I still can’t remember anything after you two left me at the bar, so what happened?”

“You really can’t remember anything?” Octavia shook her head as an answer. “Well, you drank quite a lot and kinda.. went off” Lyra said, looking worried.

The grey mare still looked confused so Bon Bon went on. “After we left you at the bar, we couldn’t see everything anymore. But you got drunk.. really drunk. Then Vinyl did something and you started raging at the stage, only to be stopped by security, and even then you didn’t give up and kicked one of them down. After that, they threw you out and we carried you home”

Her hoof met her face with an audible sound, but Octavia was also curious. Bon Bon was hiding something and Octavia wanted to know everything.

“What exactly was Vinyl doing?” she glared at Bon Bon, forcing an answer.

The mares exchanged fearful looks, then Bon Bon went on “She kissed Sassaflash”

Octavia felt nothing but pain. She remembered… Vinyl kissed Sassaflash and enjoyed it, then let Octavia be thrown out by the security… Octavia was furious seeing Vinyl kissing somepony. What was wrong with her? Maybe.. Vinyl was important to her…

The grey mare shook her head. “Seems like I just got drunk and since I have never experienced such a thing... I guess I went mad. ”

Lyra looked serious now. “Well we would say it looked more like Lo…” Octavia stopped her with a hoof.

“Please don’t Lyra. I might have to admit that I like her, but I just can’t have other feelings for her.”

The green Unicorn was about to say something else when she noticed a yellow blur in the air, heading straight for them. All three mares looked at it, scared, but the blur corrected its course, crashing into the neighbor's balcony, Vinyls balcony. They looked over the railing to see a yellow mare in a wonderbolt uniform knocking loud at Vinyls door. It was Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts, and she was more than furious.

“Vinyl Scratch, open the bucking door! I’m sooo going to kill you for this!”

Octavia sighed and sat down. Her life was getting more and more interesting with every day passing by. Thinking back about what Baritone said she stood up and walked inside.

Maybe it was really time to stop being classy.

Author's Note

It's done!

Don: ...Geese she's dense XD

Don: *geeze, jeeze...How is that word even spelled? XD

Scratch: geeze. But as to Luna: HUZZAH!

Don: lol Ok, the second run through is done.

Scratch: Theeen I'm publishing it now

Don: lol, I hope I didn't miss anything

Scratch: We'll see. It's published

Don: The text from googledocs got put into the story

Scratch: *cursing and editing*

That much to the conversation at the end with my editor... Thx DonnEStarside ^^

Meet the fiery Wonderbolt

Chapter 5: Meet the fiery Wonderbolt

“Open the damn door, or I’ll fly through it so I can finally kick your flank!”

Spitfire was still raging outside, Vinyl felt like passing out would be a good thing. Still resting on Sassaflash to hold herself up, she was considered her options.

“You can’t run away from everything Vi, open the door or I will.” Sassaflash smiled at her seriously.

“Well its my fault anyways because I wrote her the letter so.. I don’t really have a choice.” with this and a nod Vinyl stepped back, waiting for the doom she knew she deserved.

Sassa moved towards the door, keeping Spitfire in view, her eyes warning to be careful but Spitfire just snorted and jumped in once the door was unlocked, tackling Vinyl down. Gasping for breath, Vinyl tried to get her off, but Spitfire was way too strong for her.

“You little, incompetent, fraudulent idiot! I should kill you right here and now! Do you even have the smallest idea how scared I’ve been about you? How much I’ve missed you? Of course not, because thinking isn’t your greatest strength Vinyl Scratch!” Spitfire started to hit Vinyl with her wings and hooves, giving her feelings free reign.

The white mare felt her breath struggling while Spitfire beat her, Sassaflash now sitting on the couch and watching them. It was all her fault and she deserved it, so Vinyl just tried to cover her face and let Spitfire run out all of her emotions. After a while her ribs began to hurt, every muscle ached from being hit. She could even taste some blood in her mouth. She swallowed it down and removed the cover from her face, looking directly into Spitfires eyes, her vision already blurring.

“Please stop it Spits, I’m sorry.” It was barely more than an audible whisper, causing Spitfire to stop and looking worried at her. “I know it’s my fault and I’ve missed ya too.”

Vinyl raised her hoof, touching Spitfires cheek gently that was covered in tears now. Sobbing, Spitfire fell onto her, letting the rest of her feelings free and squeezing Vinyl until it hurt.

“I’m sorry Vinyl, I guess its just my anger and me being scared and…” she stopped, looking down at the white mare that closed her eyes. “Vi? Vi can you hear me? Vinyl!” she screamed the last word, but to no use.

The last thing Vinyl felt was the wind on her coat, while hearing the flap of powerful wings through air.

Spitfire felt like she would fall down into emptiness, she wasn’t sure if it was really her moments ago. Vinyl laid under her, breaths short and eyes closed. Taking a closer look now, the yellow mare realized what she had done, Vinyls coat was covered with blue and red markings. She started to cry again, not caring at the moment about her strong and powerful personality she usually showed. Spitfire wasn’t able to think before feeling a hoof on her shoulder.

“Spits? Please stop crying, we should bring her to a hospital now.” Sassaflash seemed calm, holding her while helping her up on her Hooves. Spitfire couldn’t understand how she could stay calm under those circumstances.

“But I hurt her, I just couldn’t hold back everything after all that time! I’m so sorry Sassa!” another bunch of tears made their way down Spitfires muzzle to finally drip on the floor.

“Spits, please focus! If you want to help Vi now, help me getting her to the hospital, I doubt she will come back anytime soon after your.. outburst.” Spitfire nodded and tried to wipe all tears away. “The best option would be if you fly her to the hospital, I’m barely strong enough to get her there on my back.”

The yellow mare tried to calm down and stretching her wings while Sassaflash pulled Vinyl to the balcony. Spitfire followed them and settled herself down, helping Sassa to get Vinyl on her back so she wouldn’t fall off during flight. Seeing Vinyl on her back, lifeless and with blood dripping from her muzzle, she wished for the past where everything was perfect. Once the white mare was settled on her back and they made sure she couldn’t fall off easily, Spitfire started into the air, quickly heading for the hospital. She wasn’t aware that the neighbours had watched everything on the balcony, even a mare with grey coat and black mane followed her movements until she wasn’t visible anymore

“What happened to her, Captain?” the doctor looked at Spitfire, recognizing her uniform instantly.

“I-I don’t know. I went to visit her and found her on her couch, hardly breathing.” Spitfire felt bad about lying, but she wasn’t sure how her outburst would be handled by the princesses and the press. She didn’t know if Vinyl would cover her story but she had other things to think of at the moment, primarily about the white mare on the gurney beside her that got carried to a small room by the medical staff, letting the door shut in front of her.

“I am so sorry” a nurse behind her said “but since you are not part of her family, I have to ask you to stay at the waiting room.”

Spitfire hung her head, but trotted over to the waiting room, hoping Vinyl would recover fast. Still, it was her fault and she couldn’t explain everything, maybe she just missed her too much? While hoping for the best for Vinyl, Sassaflash arrived, sitting down beside Spitfire and smiling a bit.

“You are damn fast Spits, feels nearly like old times, huh?” the turquoise mare grinned.

“What the buck went into you that you could remain that calm? Usually you’re the first to freak out Sassa, and don’t give me with any lines about knowing she could stand it. Maybe you’ve known her longer, but I know more about her, trust me” Spitfires voice grew louder and louder, causing Sassas gaze to met hers.

“If you believe it or not, Vi knew this was going to happen, she even allowed me to open the door. You may think she’s cold hearted after everything, but I assure you she’s not! She’s a mare that got thrown back into her old life, including a bunch of extra problems.” Sassa’s stare changed more and more into a daunting one. “I care about her at least the same as you do, but she knew what she had done.”

They kept silent the rest of the time while the waiting room got more and more crowded. It seems like a while before Sassaflash sighed and stood up, looking at Spitfire.

“I’ve got to go, we had a gig this evening, but with Vi down here I doubt theres anything to do. I’ll just head to Neon and tell him the great news, I’m sure he’ll be ecstatic. You stayin here? I’ll be back in a few hours.”

Spitfire nodded, she wouldn’t leave Vinyl hanging even she had her own commitments. Now alone, she started to feel uncomfortable, many of the other ponies in the room were starting to recognize her. To her luck, nopony asked for an autograph, at least not at the moment. Just as she started to think about a nice long walk, the nurse from earlier stepped in, looking for her.

“Captain Spitfire?” she asked around, seemly not seeing her right around the corner.

Spitfire face hoofed and walked towards her “I’m here.”

“Oh there you are. Your friend is feeling better now and is conscious again, you can visit her now if you want.”

The yellow mare nodded and followed the nurse down a long corridor to various rooms. They stopped at room 31, the nurse giving her a small smile before leaving her. Taking a deep breath Spitfire knocked and went in, instantly seeing it was an single room and Vinyl laying on a bed by the window, looking outside.

“Vi?” she whispered. No answer, she didn't even turn around to face her.

Folding her ears back Spitfire moved towards the bed, sitting down next to Vinyl. Both mares stayed quiet, watching the life in the city going on and some pigeons flying past the window. The yellow mare felt guilty, yet she wasn’t sure if Vinyl was serious with what she had told Spitfire before wenting unconscious. Just as she tried to say something, no matter how dumb it would be, Vinyl sighed.

“No I’m not angry and yes, I meant it when I said I deserved it.”

“Then why are you staying silent? It’s not quite fitting for you Vi.” Spitfire whispered, still a bit afraid and guilty.

“I was thinking about Tavi.” shuddering, she followed a pair of pigeons towards the skies with her eyes.

Spitfire had no Idea what she was talking about “Who the hell is Tavi?”

“You have some time? It’s not a long story but explaining might still take some time.” receiving a nod as answer Vinyl turned her gaze towards Spitfire “About one week ago I met a young, grey earth-pony with black mane. Well, maybe not really meeting her. Argh I guess I start from the beginning. You remember anything after the horrible night?”

Spitfire nodded “Sapphire wanted to talk to you, and a few minutes after that you were gone. Misty and I searched for you Vi, you just were gone.” A tear rolled down her muzzle.

“I thought everypony would hate and avoid me, so I left nearly instantly. After remembering what you said to me the night we made love, I felt stupid and wrote you the letter a few days ago.” Vinyl sighed “Maybe I was a bad mare, but I’m back and trying hard to keep the drugs and other stuff away.

Another tear “And I thought Sapphire lied to us as she told us you were beaten down by all those drugs.”

“It was true Spits, but back to my story. I paced around in various cities to recover but never got the chance. One day I decided to go to my old home, Trottingham, and there I found a small add in the local paper, saying a classical mare was searching for a roommate. I still don’t know why, but I tried took the chance and went there with little preparation, which was a mistake.”

Vinyl paused and Spits waited for her to continue.

The white mare gulped “I’d been wandering around in town for quite some time and so I wasn’t able to make smart decisions anymore. Shivering, freezing and nearly passing out I went to her House and knocked. It was early in the morning and it took her some time to open it, but in the end she let me in. Sadly I passed out in her hallway.”

“That was stupid. If I remember some of the coldest wintesr here in Trottingham you could have been dead” Spitfire glared at her, but Vinyl only waved with a hoof.

“I’ll come to that”. Turning around to see outside the window again, she shrugged “I woke up next to her fireplace and told her that I wanted to be her roommate, then everything got… worse. Her accent was so beautiful, but she told me I wouldn’t meet her requirements and some words more I can’t remember. At the end I was going in rage and just left, without even grabbing my stuff from her floor.”

“And you went around the city again, this time without anything” Spitfire closed, receiving a nod from Vinyl.

“The next few things are blurred memories again, I got myself drunk and then I froze to death in a small alley.”

“You’re here, so you weren’t frozen to death Vinyl.” Spitfire looked at her with a worried expression.

“Trust me, for a while, I was dead.” Vinyl answered, leaving the part with her mother unmentioned. “Next time I woke up, I was in the hospital and Octavia was at my side. Never guessed that would happen so I moved in at her place after she told me to.”

“And why are you on your own again?” Spitfire could guess the answer but she wanted to be sure.

“She nearly kicked me out after some stupid things so I left, and Baritone and Neon helped me. Making the rest short: I sent the message to you, met Sassa, got a new Job and now I’m here.” the white mare sighted “But still, I’m afraid, I can’t seem to forget Octavia”

“You sure there’s not much more to tell?” Spitfire’s teased her.

The white mare blushed, her cheeks reddened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I would say you like that grey mare a lot more than you are willing to show Vi, although I can ‘see’ it while you talk about her.” Spitfire giggled, pointing at her cheeks.

If it was possible, Vinyl's cheeks even gotten redder than before, making her try to cover it with her hooves. “Stop it Spits.”

“Aww but that could have been fun! You’re no fun Vi!” the yellow mare pouted, trying to sound disappointed.

“You are such a tease Spits, and you know it.” Vinyl shook her head while laughing.

“Hey, but you love me for it! You are one of the few, well I have to admit one of the only six ponies on this world that see my 'real' me, not my show or my Captain personality” Spitfire said while pointing at her hoof six times to count the ponies.

Vinyl now laid along the bed, laughing and holding her side because it started to hurt while she couldn't stop laughing. After a few moments, she stopped, wiping tears from her eyes and facing her friend.

“You know, I actually love your wonderbolt personality in certain situations.”

“You do?” Spitfire blushed slightly, but was also curious.

Vinyl grinned, looking directly at her “Yep, it can be kinky sometimes.”

The yellow mare blushed more, now unable to hide it from Vinyl. “We better keep off of that topic or we'll do something we might regret.”

Spitfire jumped up as Vinyl laid a hoof around her neck, leaning forwards to whisper into her ear “I will never regret those things with you and I’m not in a relationship, not even with Sassa.” She sighed “You know that I love you both, but what we have is fun, we can do whatever we want whenever we want.”

The wonderbolts ear twitched while Vinyl started nibbling on it, causing her to feel a cold but nice shiver down her back. “Don't put any Ideas in my head Vi, you know it could end badly.”

“I would say you still owe me something and I will take it once I'm home Spits.” It wasn't a threat, it was a promise from her and the yellow mare knew it, gulping down hard.

They continued to sit together, thinking about different things before Spitfire laughed.

“What's so funny Spits?”

“Nothing, just thought back to when we met” Her eyes were shimmering at her thought.

“You do remember, right?” she turned her gaze to look at the white mare.

“As if I could forget that Spits....”

About five Years earlier in Canterlot

Vinyl laid down her bed, thinking about her life. She had everything, a more than nice job, gigs, fans, friends, yet something was still missing. Her alarm went off and she groaned, reaching over to tap the snooze-button. Only four hours until work and she felt like a ton bricks had hit her.

“I should stop getting that drunk the night before work.” she mumbled before crawling out of the bed and getting on her hooves.

Walking slowly towards her kitchen, Vinyl tried to gather her thoughts. 'A good breakfast and a nice shower should help me through the day'

She reached her kitchen and searched for cereal and some milk. Everything looked clean but not due to Vinyl being tidy. It was more the fact that the white mare just couldn't cook for her life. Sitting down and chewing on some cereal, her mind started trembling again. She still wasn't sure about the thing 'missing'. Just as her mind proceeded, the doorbell rang.

Groaning, she made her steps to the corridor while shouting “I'll be right there.” She really hoped it was important enough to disturb her.

Opening the door, in front of her stood a stallion with a light-blue coat and a black mane. It was her friend and student in music, Neon. “Yo what's up Scratch”

“Nothing at the moment, I'm afraid. Come in Neon” She stepped back to let him in and closed the door afterwards. “Shouldn't you set up the equipment tonight? Or did Ace do something stupid again?”

Neon grinned, sitting down next to her in the kitchen “First, but I'm already done so I figured I would come here to give you some company.”

“Okay?” Vinyl continued with her cereals, guessing it was really Neon's destiny to become a DJ like her if he was that fast with the equipment. “We should go soon, but first I need my shower.”

Vinyl threw the empty bowel into the sink, slowly trotting to her bathroom. “And no peeping, you hear me?” Her words were punctuated by a door being shut and locked.

She knew Neon very well, including his small crush on her. But she was the only DJ that wanted to really teach him, without any further thoughts in using his blind trust. As long as Neon wouldn’t cross a certain line he was welcomed by her at any time. It wasn’t like Neon wouldn’t be a good stallion, more that Vinyl was attracted to mares. She was a fillyfooler, and just couldn’t get interested in any Stallion in more than a friendly way.

‘Ah what am I worrying about, he’s a nice stallion with good manners’ she thought while entering the shower and flicking her shades off with her magic, placing them at the edge of a small cupboard.

She reached for the valve, turning the shower on and enjoying the water running on her white coat. It helped her relax a bit also, helping her focus on her gig that day. It was her Idea to open the club all day and night, throwing a giant party to celebrate her ownership of the club. She bought it four days ago from Sapphire, who seemed happy to get away from it. With her bouncer and security-chief Ace, she ran it quite successfully the last few days. It could only get better over time.

Vinyl turned the shower off, grabbing the nearby towel with her magic and rubbing her coat dry. Looking at the mirror she sighed at her mane, laying glossy around her neck again.

“This might take a bit work again.” she mumbled to herself, trying to get her Spikes back up with magic. “I think I just need the special music styling again..” Vinyl sighed, knowing her mane would lay just like that until she was at the club. She left her bathroom, and headed back to the kitchen, just in time to catch the turquoise pegasus that snuck in.

“Should I regret giving you the keys to my apartment Sassa?” Vinyl asked with some amusement in her voice. She sat down to see that Neon had left. “Uhm, where did Neon go to?”

“You won’t ever regret it Vi, and I don’t have any clue. He spotted me and quickly left.” Sassaflash smiled at her and sat down.

“Why is he so scared of you Sassa? You didn’t do anything bad to him, did you?” Vinyl tried to look serious, but the gaze of the turquoise pegasus quickly made her smile.

“Well, I may have threatened him one time when he looked at your flank, and I’m not sorry for it.” Sassa shrugged and reached for the cereals and milk.

“Jealous?” Vinyl winked at her.

“Not at all Vi, I know you can’t resist my flank for long.” she smirked and filled a bowl. “Besides, I also know you’re a fillyfooler all through your heart.”

It was time for Vinyl to blush as she shot back. “Says the mare that can barely stand a gig without touching my flank with her wings or biting my neck.”

“I thought you liked it.”

“I do Sassa, now could we leave that topic, at least for while we’re sober? Work calls, and we don’t have time for anything like that.” Vinyl sighed, trying to adjust her shades.. that were still in the bathroom.

Grumbling, she stood up to get them while Sassa grinned at her. Quickly returning with her shades on her snout the white mare went to the door, waiting for the pegasus.

“C’mon, we gotta go Sassa, and you still have to apologize to Neon.”

“Why should I apologize for that?” the turquoise mare groaned.

“Because it’s fun, and I won’t kiss you for a week if you don’t.” Vinyl stuck her tongue out and left the apartment, directly followed by a grumbling pegasus that muttered about unfair actions.

Canterlot was busy, even at this early time. Not even noon, and both mares had to manage their way through crowded streets the whole length to the club. As usual, Ace, a big unicorn with black fur and a silver mane, stood in front of the club, keeping the few already waiting ponies outside. Vinyl was surprised. She intend to open the club in two hours and there were already ponies in front of it. Once they were in reach, Ace waved for them.

“Yo Vinyl, Sassaflash, get your flanks in here and prepare everything! Neon asked for help a few minutes ago, can’t seem to lift your equipment with his weak magic, that poor boy.”

“He told me he was done with everything just a few minutes ago Ace.” Vinyl felt the bad inkling that the stallion had tried to impress her and lied about the equipment earlier.

“I don’t know about what he told you Vinyl, but go inside and look around, it’s a mess.” Ace shrugged and continued his work.

“Thanks Ace. Give me a note if you need anything” Both mares walked in, much to the protest of the waiting ponies.

“Sure boss.” then Ace went to the waiting Ponies. “Shut up, all of you! She owns this place so stop bickering!” he shouted and everypony went silent.

The inside was as Vinyl expected after talking to Ace. None of the lights were operational and her equipment stood in front of the stage but sadly not on it. Quickly looking around she spotted Neon who was trying to hide between the speakers and Vinyl sighed.

“Come out Neon. Why the buck didn’t you tell me that nothing was ready? I could’ve helped you damn it, but now it’s nearly too late…” she tried to keep her voice down but it was nearly impossible. “Sassa, help him get everything done in one hour and please, no complaints.” with that she lifted her equipment in a blue aura up to the stage. “The rest is up to you, I’ll be in my office preparing.”

Her mood was at a dangerous low point now, so she decided it would be better to get ready. Trotting to her office, she remembered her mane.

“Damn it, my mane is still undone” the white mare cursed and looked around for her small music station.

It seemed like a normal player, but the speakers were as big as the one on the stage in the club. Her biggest invention so far, and it made her hair go up in it’s usual spiked manner. She turned it on and the loud sound nearly made her ears scream, but she was used to it. She felt her mane whirling up and stopped the player after five minutes, looking into her mirror at the door. It wasn’t perfect but nothing a bit of magic couldn’t fix. While she was busy with her mane, Ace stomped in, breathing heavily.

“B-boss you should come ou-outside right now.” his voice nearly skipped itself, trying to speak really fast.

Groaning, the white mare styled the last spike. “What’s going on Ace? Can’t handle a bunch of ponies?”

He just shrugged and waved for her to follow. Vinyl made her way out of her Office after him, going through the mainstage to the entrance of the club. Most of the lights were operational now and she saw Sassa with Neon working on the top stage with some wires. Happy about the progress, she followed Ace outside where he quickly got out of the way and left Vinyl speechless.

“Hello miss Scratch”

In front of her stood a yellow mare with orange mane, most of her body covered by a uniform Vinyl would recognize in any situation.

“Captain Spitfire. I’m surprised to see you. What brings you to my Club?”

“We should talk about that in your Office if you don’t mind” Spitfire looked serious, starring a glance at Ace. “Your bouncer insisted to get you outside instead of letting me in”

“He’s just doing his job, follow me please.” Vinyl went inside again, but not before nudging Ace on his side.

‘What the buck is the Captain doing here’ she thought while walking back to her office, Spitfire following her. ‘Is she here because of the music I played at their show a few weeks ago, or is it something else?’

Vinyl wasn’t sure how to react to this, but she motioned to a chair in front of her desk, inviting Spitfire to sit down. “So, what brings you here Captain Spitfire?”

“Spitfire is just fine, and basically, I’m here with an offer.” the yellow mare opened her saddlebags, grabbing some papers with her wings and giving them to Vinyl, who took them into her magic.

“Lifetime contract?” Vinyl looked through the papers, her jaw falling down. “The wonderbolts want me to perform my music at every one of their shows or events?”

“Well, to be honest, I want you for it.” Spitfire showed a sign of smile around her muzzle.

“And why, if I may ask?” Vinyl still couldn’t believe it.

“Okay Vinyl, enough of the playing. You are the best DJ in Equestria if you ask me, so it’s just natural to ask you. Besides that, everypony enjoyed your music at our last show.”

“Captain, you’re bootlicking me.” the white mare stated flatly. “It has been weeks and nopony came to ask me for it, so why now and why you?”

“That doesn’t matter at the moment Vinyl. Do you accept?” Spitfire’s Voice was different now, Vinyl thought she could hear a pleading tone in it.

“I’ll decide after my gig, and that will be after the night once I’ve closed the club. Will you be in town at that point?” Vinyl wasn’t really sure about this, she would figure this out later with Sassaflash.

“Got a better Idea Vinyl. I’m staying here and enjoying it.” Spitfire stood up and showed her a soft smile. “I hope your longer gigs are as awesome as everypony says.” she left the office, leaving a confused Unicorn inside.

Just a minute later Sassaflash stormed in, looking at Vinyl that still sat at her desk, mouth open wide.

“What the hell happened Vi? Was it really Captain Spitfire?” she walked to Vinyl’s side, unfolding one wing and hugging her. “Vi? Everything alright?”

Her soft voice snapped Vinyl back to reality. “Yeah.. yeah I’m fine Sassa. It was Spitfire and she just offered me a lifetime contract for every wonderbolt show and event.”

“Weeks after the show? Why now?” Sassa seemed leery.

“That’s exactly what I’m asking myself, but that’s not all. She’s stay during the whole gig, says she’ll just enjoy it and that she hopes the rumors about my longer gigs were right.”

“Well, you should take the opportunity and do your best.” she gave Vinyl a small peck on the cheek before walking outside. “You’ll be great Vi!”

Vinyl wasn’t afraid of the gig, she was more afraid of the meaning of what Spitfire said. She wanted her for the shows and events, so it sounded like nopony else of the wonderbolts wanted it. But why? Shaking her head, Vinyl left her office, heading for the stage. Sassaflash was still working on the wiring, looking up at her smiling.

“We’re nearly done Vi. The lights and the fog machine still need some work, but your equipment and the speakers are ready.” she stopped once she saw the expression on her friends face. “Everything alright Vi?” Sassa stopped her work and met Vinyls gaze.

“I’m fine Sassa. That you’re here means a lot to me, thanks” the white mare leaned forward to kiss the pegasus and it lasted a while before they were interrupted by a harrumph.

“I hope I’m not disturbing at anything.” a voice called from the dancefloor.

Both mares jumped and looked down, seeing Spitfire looking at them, her expression unreadable. “Uhm Spitfire? What do you want now, I thought you’d just enjoy the gig and we’d talk about the contract later?” Vinyl asked, seeming nervous.

“Sorry, but I felt bored, is there something I can help with?” Spitfire smiled awkwardly, shifting from one hoof to another.

“Y-you could help Sassa with the wiring.” Vinyl looked at the turquoise pegasus. “Show her what’s left to do, I’m preparing my stuff”

Sassaflash gave her a small peck on the lips before jumping down to Spitfire, motioning to follow her.

While Vinyl prepared her deck Sassaflash showed Spitfire how she had to connect the wires to the lights above the stage. The wonderbolt got it quickly and started her work while Sassa watched her, maybe too intensive.

“Is there a problem?” Spitfire returned the gaze, raising an eyebrow.

“I was about to ask you the same. You looked rather interested while disturbing Vi and me, and I just can’t help but feel that there is more behind your simple visit here.” Sassa didn’t even try to sound friendly, her voice dripping with hostility.

Spitfire muttered something as answer, to quiet to be heard and continued with the wiring until Sassaflash stopped her with a wing. “I would do anything for Vi to see her happy, and right now you’re hiding your what you really want with her. It might be unfriendly of me, but I want to know it and I want to know it now!”

“I’m not taking orders from you!” Spitfire yelled, freeing herself of Sassas grip. “I don’t have to tell you anything!”

Both mares glared at each other, not willing to give up. Sassaflash felt there was more, but she just couldn’t guess what it was until her brain started putting one and one together to reveal…

“You’re jealous!” it was a plain statement, letting Spitfire gasp for air.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” a slight blush made it’s way to the yellow mares cheeks.

“Whatever you say.” Sassaflash turned away and continued working. “If you’ve got a crush on her you better stop hoping”

“Because you two are together?” Spitfire looked at her, almost hurt now.

“No we’re not.” Sassa answered, a small tear rolling down her muzzle.

“But you two were kissing full of passion and-” the wonderbolt continued, but was soon stopped by a hoof.

“Stop it. We might kiss and enjoy each other, but it’s for fun only. While Vi might be into mares she never loved anypony and you won’t be an exception, trust me.” Sassa just couldn’t stop the tears around her muzzle. “I’ve tried several times to get her feelings to grow more for me, but I accepted a while ago that I won’t be more than friends with benefits with her.”

“So you gave up?” Spitfire just stood there, shocked by what the turquoise pegasus just had revealed.

“There’s no need to fight for something that you’ll never receive” Sassaflash wiped her tears away, continuing with her work. “I also won’t risk our friendship by pushing her further than I already have.” she ended, making clear that the topic is done.

The yellow mare, still shocked, tried to continue with her work. She thought about what could happen if she told Vinyl that she liked her. Maybe it was like Sassaflash said and she should just hope for friendship.

Vinyl never heard any of this conversation, she was too busy with her equipment. She saw both mares glaring at each other, but thought Spitfire was just doing something wrong and she went back to her turntables. Today would be her longest, and she was sure, best gig ever. Time flew by, and soon the time for opening the club had come, Neon tapping on her shoulders.

“Vinyl? It’s time to open the club, Sassaflash and that yellow pegasus are done with the wiring too.” he seemed nervous.

“Great to hear.” Vinyl pushed some buttons and the lights above the dancefloor went on. “Good work, you’re working with Berry Punch on the bar today. Tell Ace he can start to let them in and Sassa that she should get her flank up here.” the white mare smiled, putting her headphones on and starting with a slow beat.

While the club was slowly filling with ponies, Sassa got up to her side and planted a small peck on her muzzle “Ready to wub Vi?”

“Sure Sassa, let’s wub those ponies and give them the best time they’ve ever had!” With a scream she increased the pace, dragging the switches and knobs with her magic and dropping the beat.

Everypony cheered down on the dancefloor, and a few switches later the lights started flashing to the beat given by Vinyl. Looking around, the white mare even caught the view of Spitfire, dancing to her wubs. It was an awesome sight and Vinyl couldn’t help but smile at it. The day started excellent, and it was about to get better and better.

As time went by Vinyl started to feel tired. It was her longest gig ever, already lasting several hours, and she just wasn’t used to it. After a while Ace motioned for her, so Vinyl left the turntables to Sassa while heading to the black stallion.

“You seem tired Vinyl, need a break?” he looked seriously worried.

“Nope, can’t leave everypony hanging and we still got nine hours to go Ace.” Vinyl said, but her hooves were already shivering slightly.

“Maybe I got something for you in your office.”

The white mare stared, but decided to follow him. Anything he had to make her survive the gig was a good thing. In her office Ace showed her a small, blue bottle with some purple and grey pills in it, her favourite colour.

“They will keep you awake Vinyl. You should really try them” Ace smiled.

“What are those? Adrenaline pills?” Vinyl tried to get a good view on the pills, but Ace laughed.

“Trust me and take two of them Vinyl, you’ll love them!”

She was still leery, but decided it couldn’t be that bad. Grabbing her water bottle and two pills from the bottle, she settled herself down in her chair. Anything that made her survive was a good thing, right? Gulping she threw the pills in, letting them flow down with some water.

“Now just stay here for five minutes and let them work, I’ll head back to the entrance.” the black stallion smiled at her before leaving the office.

She tried to relax as much as possible, thinking about the day so far. It was awesome, but she never thought it would exhaust her in that way. Meeting Spitfire was also one thing she would never have guessed for the day, and she seemed pretty nice. While her mind worked, Vinyl felt the exhaustion leaving her body, adding adrenaline and warmth to it. Those pills were really good. After a few minutes she felt much better, so she stood up and moved back to the stage, a smile covering her muzzle.

“You feeling better Vi?” Sassa looked at her, worried that everything would be too much today.

“I’m fine Sassa, just needed a small break!” with that Vinyl took control over her turntables again, bumping Sassa away playfully with her flank.

The turquoise pegasus blushed, but smiled seeing her best friend recovering that fast. Soon even Neon joined them, looking at the work of the white mare on the tables. He was always fascinated by it and wanted to become a DJ himself later. Vinyl didn’t recognize most of it, she just enjoyed Sassa on her side while wubbing beats for the crowd. She looked around the dancefloor and soon spotted a familiar orange mane. Spitfire stood in front of the stage, dancing excessively to her beats. Vinyl grinned, noticing that the yellow mare wasn’t wearing her uniform anymore. She looked just like any beautiful mare, enjoying everything she received.

Maybe what she did next was dumb, but Vinyl didn’t care. Reaching with her magic while still focussing part of it on the tables, she lifted Spitfire in a blue embrace up to the stage, ignoring the surprised yelp of the mare.

“I thought you would like to enjoy the party from up here.” the white mare told her once she placed her down gently next to her.

Spitfire only grinned and continued to dance, her styled mane whipping through the air. It was a view that made Vinyl smile and even giggle a bit. The white mare was feeling more and more warmth and some other feelings, her mind slowly fading away. She didn’t knew that the pills were now fully working and she wasn’t really thinking anymore at all. The next she knew, there where the soft, but firm lips from the wonderbolt on her own.

She never remembered how long it was, but at the end she stopped the music, sweating and wishing everypony a good night before slowly trotting down the stage towards the bar. Some drinks, that was what she needed now. Sassaflash and Neon packed everything up while Spitfire followed the white mare to the bar where they sat down next to each other.

“Damn nice party, huh?” Vinyl’s voice was raucous from all the screaming and she breathed heavily.

Spitfire wasn’t feeling different and answered in nearly the same voice “Yup, more than nice. You thought about the contract?”

Vinyl hadn’t even spent one more thought about it, but she answered nearly instantly “I’ll sign it.” she was surprised by her own voice “Any conditions I should know about?”

“Only one” Spitfire unfolded one wing and grabbed the white mare gently, turning her towards her. “We’ll spend some more time together. I really like you and that’s the reason why I convinced everypony at the bolts that you would do a fine job.”

Her mind trembled, trying to focus on the mare in front of her. What was her plan? Spitfire was nice and Vinyl indeed wanted to get her know better. It couldn’t end worse, could it?

“Deal” Vinyl smiled and ordered two ‘specials’ from Berry Punch, who placed two small glasses filled with a purple liquid in front of them.

Both mares drowned their drinks and enjoyed the rest of the Night full of laughter and joy.

Vinyl felt exhausted and tried to keep her Eyes closed. Going after the sunlight that tickled her muzzle, it had to be already far past noon. Her entire body hurt, every single muscle, and she only remembered part of the night. She remembered Spitfire, the gig, the kiss with the wonderbolt and then everything went black.

‘One hell of a party.’ she groaned in her mind, trying to get up.

Right at this moment she felt something heavy but soft on her back which caused her eyes to crack open. Her heart started to beat faster once she recognized the orange mane that laid over her body. Spitfire was resting on her back, a smile on her muzzle and snorting quietly

‘Oh buck, what the hell else happened last night?’ her mind went into panic mode.

While Vinyl was still busy with her own mind, Spitfire started to move and groan before an eye shot open. With a loud shriek the yellow mare jumped up and fallen off the bed. Now looking around Vinyl recognized her apartment, although she had no bucking Idea how she came in here.

Spitfire laid next to the bed, breathing heavily before sharing a look with Vinyl “What happened Vinyl? Did we.. did we, you know?

Vinyl shook her head, then groaned because it only caused more pain. “I don’t have any Idea what happened, sorry.”

The yellow mare shifted nervously from one hoof onto another before stopping and smiling sheepishly “Would you mind going out for a coffee?”

It was the last thing Vinyl expected to hear, she was certain that the wonderbolt would have escaped as fast as possible but she smiled, happy that she stayed.

“I would love to Spitfire.”

After freshening up, both mares walked outside of the apartment, finding a note in front of the Door. It read the following:

Good Morning Vi. If you two wonder, I carried you two last night with Neon to your apartment. You two were so drunk and making out, we thought it would be better for you to sleep a bit. Rest a bit, I’ll run the club tomorrow night so you can recover, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do too!

Hugs and hoofbumps

Sassa

Spitfire blushed heavily. “That explains how we got here.” she said, receiving a nod from Vinyl.

They continued their way out and headed towards the city to a small cafe. Sitting down, both mares stayed silent until the waitress came to pick up the orders. Spitfire just ordered coffee while Vinyl ordered espresso and a fried hay sandwich.

“How can you eat something fried just after getting out of the bed?” Spitfire laughed.

“Meh, I’ve had worse, trust me” the white mare just shrugged and looked at the wonderbolt “I remember the kiss behind the turntable.”

Gulping, Spitfire blushed a bit before returning the look “Me too, and I don’t regret it.”

“I’m not into relationships” she tried to look serious at Spitfire, thinking about her whole actions. “It’s nothing against you, but I simply can’t.”

The wonderbolts gaze turned nearly sad “Is there a reason for it.?”

“I just haven’t discovered anything that is near love yet. Sure, I love Sassa, but more as a friend and I’m feeling kinda the same for you.” Vinyl said, looking uneasily to the ground. It was a lie, but how could Spitfire know?

“I can work with that Vi”

It was an simple sentence, but it surprised the white mare in a positive way. “You can?”

“Of course! I would love to know you better and if you want I would also love to be your friend.” She smiled wholeheartedly, knowing that she could at least do what Sassa said and be her friend.

“And I thought that you wonderbolts are tough and serious Spits.” She laughed while the wonderbolt blushed again.

“I’am. As Captain, during shows and in certain situations. But why should I play a personality that isn’t mine towards a friend Vi?”

“I don’t know, but I love it Spits.”

Both mares giggled, looking forward to a nice day, getting to know each other more.

The Present

They still stared out of the Window, a small smile covering Vinyl’s muzzle.

“I’m damn glad that we met Spits. I don’t know where I would be without you, and it’s been a wonderful time. Can you forgive me for all of the stupid things I’ve done?”

“Of course I can Vi, you’re really important to me.” she hugged the white mare with her wing, enjoying it completely.

“Spits?”

“Mhhm?”

“Do you still have feelings for me?” it was a slow question, nearly hesitantly spoken.

“They are more based on friendship now. Maybe I rushed things back then but I’m really, really glad that we’re such great friends Vi.” a tear made it’s way down her muzzle, but she tried to be honest about it, even if it was a lie.

Both mares went silent and enjoyed each other in the warm embrace. Vinyl was indeed glad to have Spitfire as her friend, and she couldn’t really remember the time when she wasn’t her friend. At the same time, Spitfire was glad to have Vi, and that the white mare never assumed that her feelings were more than expected..

“Do you think I will see Tavi again? a whispered question cuted through silent.

“I don’t know Vi. Do you feel something for her?” Spitfire could predict the answer, but somehow she was glad for Vinyl.

“I felt warm around her, protected. My heart pumped faster and stronger than ever before. I just don’t know if it’s love, but I do know for sure that she’s more than important to me.” the white mare sobbed a bit, burying her muzzle deep into her friends fur.

“Then I think you’ll see her again Vi, and this time you should stay at her side.” the wonderbolt was surprised by her own answer, but she knew it was the truth.

“Thanks for everything Spit.”

“I’ll be always there for you Vi, just like I promised…”

Both mares enjoyed the time together, Spitfire glad and confident that she could help Vinyl while the white mare thought about the grey earth pony and her feelings towards her.

“I’m coming for you Tavi”

It was only a small whisper before Vinyl fell asleep, a small smile of hope and happiness covering her muzzle while she fell into dreams about the grey mare.

Author's Note

Here it is, chapter five.
Sorry it took so long :fluttercry:
Thanks to Midnight for his help once again!

Note: The insight in past wasn't directly from Vinyl's memory.
It was more the main part what happened back then
second Note: No they are not out of character!
I still insist that everypony can act different than her usual ponysona, best example Rainbow Dash
at the Academy episode. (The hurrican, ya know)

The past isn't easy

Chapter six: The past isn’t easy

Spitfire continued to hold the white mare in her wings until she was sure that she was really asleep, her breath going soft and steady. A small tear found its way down her muzzle, but she stayed silent. She had lied to her best friend, had told her lies about her feelings.

It seemed wrong, but at that thought, something shot into her mind. Spitfire promised she would never leave Vinyl hanging, and she was going to keep her promise no matter the cost. Even if the cost had to be her feelings. Watching the white mare in her embrace, she heard the door open and looked up to see Sassaflash stick her head in.

“Hey Spits... How is she?”

“Better and asleep now, don't worry.” Spitfire said, smiling slightly.

“We should let her sleep. Coffee sound good?” the turquoise mare showed small signs of a grin.

“Yep, definitely.” the wonderbolt replied, carefully laying Vinyl down onto her bed, trying her best to not wake her up.

Both mares left the room and went downstairs to the hospital’s cafe. It was rather small, but would serve its purpose. They both ordered a large cup of coffee and stayed silent until their order came, then Spitfire took a sip and sighed.

“Did you ever stop loving her?”

The question surprised Sassaflash who choked on her coffee. “Why do you ask?”

Spitfire took another sip and snorted. “Because I still do, and just told her a few minutes ago that I only wanted friendship. I said it so she could chase after that grey mare without thinking she would have to deal with me again.”

“I understand, I feel exactly the same way and would say the same if she asked.” Sassaflash tried to crack a smile, but it nearly instantly faded away. “I miss the old times, and would love to know if it could've gone otherwise.”

“You never told me about those old times, or how you two met, Sassa.”

“I didn't?”she looked at the yellow mare and noticed the interested stare.

“Not really, you two are keeping some secrets.” it sounded almost sad from the wonderbolt.

“Uhm, I'm sorry about that. I could tell you the story, but its rather long and boring.” the turquoise mare tried to play the topic down.

“Well, we’ve got time and I'm listening.” came the reply.

Sighing, Sassaflash placed her cup down and stretched her wings slightly. “If you insist... I think it was about nine years ago, and I still lived with my parents. Quite a sad time, I can tell you that. My parents wanted me to become some kind of weather engineer, so they sent me to Canterlot University.”

“Wouldn't Cloudsdale have been better for that?” Spitfire interrupted.

“Nah, not really, too expensive and all that stuff, you know. Weather stuff is always more expensive at Cloudsdale. Anyways, I’d just finished the first semester, and my friend Cloud Kicker invited me to an awesome party at a club the next day. I told my parents I forgot my notebook at her place, and I visited her to get more details.”

“You know Cloud Kicker? As in Cloud Kicker with lavender coat and lemon mane?” the wonderbolt seemed surprised.

“She's my oldest friend, why?”

“Because she's currently my second Lieutenant at the academy” she answered and Sassaflash's jaw hung open.

“I think we should talk about that later Spits. Anyways, where was I? Ah yes, so I visited her, trying to get some more information about the party. And guess who opened the door?”

“Cloud Kicker?”

“Nope, it was a white mare with a blue mane and purple shades on her snout....”

***
About nine years earlier in Canterlot

It wasn't really what I had expected, maybe Cloud Kicker's sister, but not a stranger that wore shades inside a house...

“What'cha want?” the white mare asked me, staying between the door frame.

“Uhm, I wanted to visit Cloud Kicker, is she at home?” I asked, slightly nervous.

“Ah-huh and you are? She stared at me, at least that’s what I thought, unable to see behind the shades.

“Sassaflash and you?”

“Huh you don't know me?” the expression on the mare’s muzzle fell slightly.

“I'm sorry, I don't think we have met yet” I tried to apologize, but the unicorn quickly turned and yelled inside the house.

“Yo Kicky, there's some weird, blue filly for you at the door.”

“My coat is turquoise.” I muttered, getting a bit annoyed

“What was that?” her head snapped back and she seemed to grin a bit.

“N-nothing.” I tried not to squeal.

Soon I heard some hooves and in the next moment Cloud Kicker pulled me inside the house, crushing me to the floor and hugging me tightly. Her orchid eyes stared at me, seemingly filled with happiness.

“Sassa, glad you came by. Please excuse my guest, she does not have any manners.” Cloud Kicker shot a glare at the white mare “Yo, her coat is turquoise, you should remember that.”

I knew that Cloudy was the only pony besides my family that could remember the colour of my coat. The unicorn snorted and left us alone while she walked into the kitchen.

“Don't mind her, she's unique.” Cloud Kicker laughed, hugging me once more before getting up.

“Who is she Cloudy?”

“DJ-Pon3.” came the answer from behind us. “Maybe you've heard of me, filly.”

The white mare was standing in the door towards the kitchen, a devilish smile upon her muzzle while Cloudy shot her a glare.

“Yo stop it Vi, you're only two years ol-” she was stopped by a hoof upon her muzzle.

DJ-Pon3, or Vi as Cloudy called her, shoved the pegasus away, seemingly starting to get angry for no reason at all.

“I’ve told you many, many times Kicky, Don't bucking call me Vi!” she snapped, pushing her hoof up to Cloud Kicker's chest.

“Okay, okay Vinyl sorry, stop it.” Cloud Kicker squealed, before muttering. “You never said why, but okay.”

The white mare stopped and turned around, letting me feel her stare behind those purple shades. At this moment, I really wished I could see her eyes or at least know what she thought. I know it was dumb, but my muzzle opened to speak.

“Why is it wrong if your friend calls you by a nickname?” I started, unable to shut it down.

She walked up to me, anger fitting her voice as she answered. “Because she doesn’t have any bucking right to use it and you better worry about your own stuff, got it?”

***

“I always thought you two were the best pals right away.” Spitfire interrupted the story.

Sassaflash wanted to continue, but lost her concentration. “Ugh Spits, could you keep these things until after my story? It’s hard to remember everything clearly.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the past isn’t always easy, Spits. Some parts of it hurt, so please, let me focus and finish.” Sassaflash sighed, gathering her thoughts.

“A bit for answering my question first?” the yellow mare threw in, an eyebrow raised.

“If you have to know it, Vi was much worse in her behaviour when I met her. The Vi you met was the nicer and calmer version of the one I met, trust me. Can I continue now?” Sassaflash didn’t like it, but she wasn’t about to lie. A nod made her continue the story.

***

“Whoa, whoa calm down” I said, backing away towards the wall.

The white mare stopped approaching me and looked away. “Don’t do that again. You seem okay, but if you cross the line you’ll regret it. You can call me Vinyl.”

Vinyl walked away from me, grabbed some white saddlebags at the door and intended to leave, but turned back to Cloudy and me, standing at the now open door.

“I expect you two tomorrow at the club, eight pm, and don’t you dare be late!” with that, the door was shut and we were alone.

Silence made it’s way up, reaching us both and I didn’t dare to ask questions about Vinyl. Oh trust me, I wanted to ask Cloudy various things, but something seemed wrong with that mare.

Cloudy was the first to break the silence. “She’s really unique, huh? Uhm, want some of the daisy sandwiches that are leftover from lunch?”

I nodded, but felt the urge to ask her my questions first. “How did you two meet?”

“At the club, three months ago. Things are quite difficult though.” came the answer from the kitchen.

Now I was interested. “And why is that?”

“Uhm, we’re friends with benefits, although we don’t really know each other.” she said, coming back with a small plate full of sandwiches on her left wing.

“So you’re… uhm doing you know what with a mare you don’t even really know?” I asked, getting a slight nod.

***

“Whoa, stop right there! Vinyl bucked with Cloud Kicker because of… nothing?” Spitfire asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

Sassaflash bit her lower lip, starting to get annoyed. “You could ask those things ‘after’ my story, you know? And yes, after what she told me, they were just… doing it.”

“It disappoints me a bit that she was into that stuff that early. At least she’s not doing it anymore today, at least not until she gets feelings for the pony or knows her.”

I nodded, gathering my thoughts back to the story but Spitfire interrupted me again. “Could you go right to the day after that, where you headed to the club with Cloud Kicker?”

“Cloudy had some interesting things to tell me about Vinyl, so listen Spits. I will just continue from the point you interrupted me. So, we ate our sandwiches and Cloudy talked a bit about different things and I got to know Vinyl better….” I started, watching Spitfire to make sure she wouldn’t interrupt again.

***

“She’s tough, loud, silly and messy, but she’s got her heart in the right place.” Cloudy managed to speak between bites of her sandwich.

I wanted to know as much as possible about that mare, But I wondered to myself why I was so interested in her. Trust me, never before had I had such interest in some pony, and so I asked the forbidden question.

“Why doesn’t she want to be called Vi?” I asked, blushing slightly but keeping eye-contact with Cloudy.

“Well, I only know part of it, but I guess you’re interested in her so I’ll tell you.” I blushed deep red, something that was quite easy to notice on my turquoise coat, and Cloudy snickered. “I can tell you like her a lot. So as for the reason, Vinyl has been a fillyfooler since early school. She tried various things, even with stallions before she came to the fact that they are icky, uncool and not trustworthy. She soon befriended with a mare named Beauty Brass…”

“They fell in love?” I asked, fascinated.

“Not instantly, but after a while. They went out, dated, and after a few months became a couple. Then… things went… insane.”

“Insane?” I just couldn't hold back..

“Beauty Brass went to Canterlot Academy and was interested in classical music, while Vinyl went to the same Academy and learned about electronic music. Soon they both became the opposite of each other and they just couldn't hold back any longer. They were fighting every single day, and soon it was too much. Beauty Brass said that Vinyl had to decide, her marefriend or her music. Vinyl had just gotten her cutie mark a few days before and just couldn’t decide, a bit later and Beauty Brass was gone. The reason why nopony should ever call her Vi again is that only Beauty called her that.”

“What happened after that?” the words came out of my muzzle before I could stop them.

“Something broke in Vinyl. She shut herself away from everypony, only taking relief in her music. That’s why she is like she is today. Strong outside, broken inside. I’m glad I could take her out of her shell, at least enough to become friends with her, but everything else I’ve tried to bring her back to life has failed.” Cloudy exclaimed, looking seriously at me.

Something inside me broke at these words, to me this mare was beautiful and I wanted to help her, but I didn’t have any clue how. I never thought about my feelings, and I told myself I would just like her a lot.

***

“Wow, and that’s also the reason why she doesn’t want a relationship, seems pretty clear.” Spitfire interrupted again. “Although she lied to me…”

“Yeah, Spits and thanks for interrupting me again silly. Wait… lied to you?”

“Remember the day I came to the club with the contract? You and Neon had to carry us home that night, and the next morning, Vi and I went to a cafe. We talked for a bit and what she said about the reason she isn’t into relationships is different than what your telling me. She said that she had not experienced true love yet, and that she loved you, but more as a friend…and that she felt kind of the same for me…” Spitfire ended and sighed.

“We can ask her later about that, but could you stay quiet now and listen? I’m about to tell you what happened at the club” Sassaflash said and continued with her story.

***

So the next day we went to the club, and we made it perfectly on time. We wanted to get in, but the bouncer blocked the way and said we weren't on the list for VIP-Entry, so we would just have to wait like everypony else. We weren’t really happy about this, but soon he returned with an apologetic grin.

“I’m sorry, why haven’t you tried to tell me that you’re friends of our DJ? Come in quickly, she wants to see you before the gig.” he said, pulling us inside and through the club.

It was simply huge, it my first time in such a giant club. A big stage and dancefloor were in the center, the dancefloor capable of holding hundreds of ponies for sure. He guided us through a small hallway which led into the VIP-Section, passing small couches and comfortable chairs. We soon stood in front of a small door and Cloudy tried to get in, but he reached out his hoof to stop her.

“Whoa hold on there, the DJ said only the turquoise pegasus is allowed to enter her area, you’ll have to stay here.” he said, nodding me towards the door.

Cloudy just gave me a confused look, but what the bouncer said shot through my head like an arrow. She remembered the colour of my coat, which was unusual. I wondered about what could wait inside, but I went in nevertheless. The room was dark, it seemed like her resting-room with a bed, a small set of drawers, and a door that I guessed led to the bathroom. She sat on her bed, even in this dark room her shades on her snout and snapped her head towards me.

“Glad you made it, Sassaflash was your name?” she asked and I nodded.

“I’m not good with long names, so I just call you Sassa. But hey, I’m impressed with myself that I remembered the colour of your coat.” she grinned at me.

“I was really surprised that you remembered it, and more surprised that you let me in but not Cloudy.” I tried to look behind her shades but to no use.

She stood up and walked towards me, her grin still around her muzzle. I tried to back away, but was soon stopped with the door against my flank. She walked closer and leaned in, her muzzle at my ears.

“I really do like you, too bad I’m not into such things anymore.” she whispered, her breath causing my ears to twitch.

“B-but you only met me yesterday! How can you already think such things?” I stuttered, but my heart jumped and told me I’m a bad liar, knowing I had similar feelings for that mare already.

“Hey, I’m not a pony that sits on her flank and waits for things to come. If I want something or somepony I get up and catch it, also I can tell from your breathing that you feel similar. I’m not a small, dumb foal ya know.” she snickered, leaning back and looking at me.

Or I thought she was at least, her shades were still covering her eyes. I felt the need to take her shades away and had already unfolded my wings, reaching for them, but Vinyl quickly drew back, shaking her head.

“No! N-nopony can see me without them, I’m a freak! They all get scared away or glare at me because of them.” To my surprise, Vinyl was clearly sobbing in front of me and I tried to advance on her again, but she quickly moved back faster. “I don’t want you to be scared and run away.” she whispered and my eyes widened.

“I won’t be scared away, and I’m definitely not glare at you because of them either. If you’re different, that makes you something special Vinyl, something that everypony should recognize and you should be proud of.” I said, trying to take away her fear, but it also was the truth.

The white mare stopped backing away and sobbing. She looked up, a small smile showing on her muzzle. “You really think so?”

“Of course I do!” I quickly stepped forward, passing the last void between us and closed my wings around her body, pulling her into a tight embrace.

At first she tried to fight it but after a few seconds she leaned in, whispering up my ear. “I hate this mushy stuff… I’m Vinyl Scratch, the best and loudest DJ in Equestria for Luna’s sake.”

“That doesn’t mean that you don’t have any feelings.” I managed to answer, then pulled her shades off with my hooves. She resisted at first, and then she just closed her eyes once they were uncovered, making me unable to catch a look at them. “Vinyl, open your eyes.”

She hesitated, but slowly her eyes went open, making my mind stutter and my heart jump. Her eyes were a mix between a nice ruby and dark crimson, giving her a beautiful, exotic look. I took my breath in, barely able to force my mind to think about anything else.

Vinyl looked at me and fear stealed it’s way onto her face as she backed away, shouting. “You’re just like the others, staring at me like I’m a damn freak! Go buck yourself and leave me alone!”

“Vinyl, stop! I’m not staring at you because I think you’re a freak! I’m staring at you because I think you have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen!” I shouted back, a blush making its way up to my cheeks.

What happened next surprised me. Vinyl rushed forwards and pressed her lips on mine. I never expected that to happen, trust me. It ended as quickly as it began, and she turned her eyes down to the ground, her face shining bright red.

“I’m sorry.” she muttered, nearly inaudible.

“You don’t have to be, I like you a lot too.” I managed to say.

She kicked her rear legs into the carpet and looked up, a tear shimmering in her eye.

“Look, I really like you but…” she stopped, tears running down her muzzle.

“But because of what happened with Beauty, you don’t want to risk it happening again?” I finished her sentence.

Vinyl looked shocked, but nodded after a moment and tried to speak. “I’ve watched you for quite a while now, I have to admit. We didn’t just meet yesterday, sorry I didn’t tell you.”

Now it was my turn to look shocked. “Ah okay so you… wait, What?! Where?”

“School, we’re sharing physics class grade B, although I’m in the last semester and you’re in first.” she said, a sad smile appearing on her muzzle.

“I never saw you in one of those…” my mind started running around, trying to remember anypony in the class that looked like her, and then I got the clue.

“Wait!” my eyes widening as I tried to focus her. “You’re the white mare with the glossy, blue mane? You have light-blue trails in your spiky mane, how is that possible?”

“I’m trying to hide my cutie mark as well as I can and as for the streaks… magic. I’m not doing my mane before I go to school so I might look quite a bit different.”

***

“Wait, her mane is actually a normal, flat manecut with only shade of blue in it?” Spitfire interrupted Sassaflash, again.

“You’ve never seen it?” Sassaflash raised an eyebrow.

“Nope, not even after our nightly activities. Only her mane with the spikes and the light blue streaks in it.” the yellow mare seemed disappointed.

“I’m sure you could have asked, now let me continue and stop interrupting me, it really gets on my nerves.”

***

My jaw hung open wide, trying to imagine the mare in front of me as the shy one in my class. She never talked with anypony or did much more than her work. Now that I’ve thought about it, she had never spoken at all during school. But something just wouldn’t match up.

“Her eyes are blue and your’s are like rubies.” I said before I could stop myself.

Vinyl smiled wickedly and I felt heat in my cheeks as I realized what I had said. “Magic, once again, and do you really think my eyes look like rubies?”

I tried to answer her, but only some muttering and babbling left my muzzle. It also really wasn’t helping that she was coming closer, looking deep into my eyes, and I was lost in hers. My head said it would be so damn wrong, that there wasn’t such a thing as quick love and that I should just like her. But my heart pumped stronger and louder, calling my head a liar, and I felt myself moving towards Vinyl.

She kissed me, and this time I leaned in, ignoring everything in me saying that it was wrong…

***

“From that moment on I knew that I loved her. We met several times and our bond strengthened, although we never went further than some kisses and.. ‘Fun-stuff’. I accepted that she didn’t love me, nor ever could, so soon I accepted to be her best friend.” Sassaflash ended, smiling sadly at Spitfire.

“And how come she let’s you call her Vi?”

“Well, it was several months later, we enjoyed dinner on Hearts and Hooves Day and she revealed that I’ve been the only pony in a long time she could trust without hesitation. She kissed me and said I could call her Vi, if I wanted to. Vi reasoned it with the fact that I helped her get out of her shell. She also entrusted to me that she was thinking about suicide before I showed up...”

“Aww that’s sweet, except the suicide-thoughts of course, but you two are definitely more into these mushy things than me.” the wonderbolt started laughing, nearly dropping off of her chair.

“Shall I remind you all those mushy things you did for Vi back in time?” Sassa asked, glaring at her friend.

The yellow mare went silent in an instant, just smiling weakly at her friend. Sometimes Sassaflash wondered what was going on in that mare, she was just so random. At most times Spitfire kept her image of the unreachable and loud Captain, uptight, causing most ponies to avoid her. But in her free time with her friends, or alone, she was a whole different pony, and Sassa was always impressed by how the wonderbolt could keep up the act.

“What do you think of that Octavia?” Spitfire started, distracting Sassaflash from her thoughts.

“I haven’t really met her yet, but from what Vi told me she’s a nice mare, loves classical music, and is beautiful.” the turquoise mare said, trying to remember the things Vi told her.

“Well, if you ask me, she loves that mare…” Spitfire sighed and drank the last bit of her coffee.

“You do know that words like love, relationship and marefriend won’t go along nicely, we’re talking about Vi here, Spits!”

“I know that, but still, there is something going on. We should go back and watch over Vi.” the wonderbolt said and stood up.

Both mares went back to Vinyl’s room, slowly trotting up the stairs. They were lost in their own thoughts, thinking about Vinyl and what would happen in the future. Planning to give Vinyl a break and try to help her, they reached the corridor of Vinyl’s room. Every plan of theirs was cancelled once they spotted a grey mare about to knock on the white mares door.

“Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me!” Sassaflash muttered before spreading her wings and jumping towards the mare, leaving Spitfire behind with her jaw open.

A couple of moments later, Spitfire realized who the grey mare was that now struggled in Sassaflash’s hold.

“Octavia…?

Author's Note

Yay, another look in the past of Vinyl! This time with Sassaflash!
It may seem rushed at some parts, but that was intended.

Thanks again to DonnEStarside for editing
Note: My editor was tired and maybe missed a spot or two. Expect another edit soon.
Second Note: Edited again and fixed more errors

Next chapter will be Vinyl focus only, chapter eight Octavia and from nine on both again.

Falling into Darkness

Author's Note

Welcome to chapter seven.

This one is slightly different and caused me three sleepless nights.
I'm hating myself for what I did to my ponysona in here, but well... (Yes, Vinyl is basically my ponysona)
Added the Tragedy tag just because of this chapter...
I hope you'll like it and looking forward to chapter eight, which will be pure Tavi again.

Have fun reading.

PS: Thanks to Don again for editing :twilightsmile:

Falling into Darkness

Chapter seven: Falling into Darkness

Vinyl felt safe in the embrace of Spitfire, feeling the wings of the wonderbolt gently squeezing around her. Her mind was working hard, thinking about what Spitfire had just told her, that her feelings were more those of friendship now. She trusted her, but why did she cry while saying it? It wasn’t really the time to think about it, there were other things to worry about.

“Thanks for everything Spits.” Vinyl said, strengthening the embrace.

“I’ll always be there for you Vi, just like I promised…” the yellow mare responded, making her heart jump in joy.

They both enjoyed their time together and Vinyl’s mind wandered to Octavia. Was it really love she felt, or in the end was it just friendship? She just couldn’t tell at the moment, and maybe it was better that way. The last time she saw Octavia, things didn’t go quite according to plan.

‘Maybe I’m putting too much thought into this.’ she thought, trying to calm her feelings.

It was hopeless, every time her mind wandered towards the grey mare she could feel her heart stuttering in pain, but it was some kind of longing pain. She just couldn’t bare the thought of never seeing Octavia again. Thinking more about the grey mare and hoping for a life with her, while enjoying the warm embrace from Spitfire, she soon fell in sleep, a last whisper escaping her before diving into her dreams.

“I’m coming for you Tavi...”

Pain. I feel it in every part of my body, but at the same time a pleasuring warmth. Now the pain is worse and I’m trying to open my eyes, without success.

Besides the pain I can feel that I’m laying on something warm, and that I’m covered by something familiar. After a while I can hear music, and I can recognize it instantly as Octavia’s music, causing my eyes to finally crack open.

Oh buck no

I’m laying in the room at Octavia’s house, the same room I slept in before I left her. The music is growing louder and I’m standing up from bed, curious what she is playing and ignoring the pain in every muscle. I open the door, and I find myself in the corridor leading straight to the forbidden door.

This is indeed Octavia’s house, but why am I here?

My hoofsteps are continuing on automatic, bringing me nearer to the door, and the music is still growing louder. Finally I’m in front of the door, but I’m hesitating, thinking about the last time I went in.

Wait… of course! This is just a dream! It can’t hurt me, so why don’t I go in there?

I open the door, trying not to cause any sound as I walk in and see Octavia playing in the middle of the room just like when I still lived with her. Her eyes are closed, small tears running down her muzzle while standing on her hind-legs and playing her cello. It just looks beautiful… and my feelings starting to rumble again…

I guess Spits and Sassa are right, I do have feelings for her…well, maybe...

Octavia is still not aware of me, so I decide to go in, sitting down before her and just watching and listening. It’s amazing. I have no idea what song it is, or if it’s even a real song, but it is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. Every note she plays has me further enraptured... Enraptured? Heh, that sounds like something she would say, but I guess if it fits... I would be happy to sit here and listen forever. Sadly, this moment only lasted for a few seconds.

The music stopped and Octavia opened her eyes, the tears still running down her muzzle. She wiped some of them off and then her eyes meet mine. At first I thought that she would smile, but now it’s switching to fear, and now to pure anger. Somehow I know what to prepare for, but the words still cut deep.

“What are you doing in my room? I believe rule one was clear? Never enter this room! In the end, I suppose that you are just the messy and untrustworthy mare I guessed you were in the beginning.” she says, her gaze burning right through my eyes. I just stay silent, shocked by her words and she continued. “Is there any reason at all why you opened this door? Why you came inside and watched me?”

This is a dream… so why is it hurting so much?

Feeling tears on my muzzle I'm trying to answer, but only a inaudible whisper makes it’s way out of me “Because I love your music.” It leaves unheard and Octavia continues.

“I should have left you out there! That I was too blind to see what you really are…” she is screaming now, before stopping and a look wandering up her face I could not decode. “Leave my house!”

“What?” I say, finding my voice back and now my tears are flowing, not just dripping slowly anymore.

“You heard me. Leave. My. House. Now!” with that she turns around, not even caring about me anymore.

The last sentence isn't reaching my ears. Everything is going white in my head, my feelings rumbling like never before.

Why does it hurt so much?

“Tavi… please” Only a whisper from me, but she ignores it. “Why are you doing this to me?”

Nothing, no sign that she is even listening, so I stand up and leave the room. I hesitate at the door, and I think that I hear some crying, but then I just decide to leave and close the door behind me. My steps lead me through the entrance of her house, leaving it, and then I can feel more tears blurring my vision. Its even starting to snow now, adding more and more to the layer of snow already laying on the ground.

It hurts so much… why? Spits and Sassa might be right, but what can I do about that?

I’m just walking, not really paying attention to my surroundings, and soon I find myself in a small alley. My legs are feeling tired, so I sit down on a bench, and try to gather my thoughts while watching my surroundings,.

Wait… I know this place. It’s where I nearly froze to death… and then met mum again...

It indeed looks just like the alley I nearly died in. The rotten bench, the small sign on the wall showing an advert for a club. Thinking once more about Octavia, my mind is starting to bring up a dangerous idea.

It’s a dream, so I can decide what will happen… well although that’s not working great so far. Maybe I can copy what will happen so I just have to stay here and die to see mum again.

It is a dumb idea, but my mind is filled with pain and Octavia, so nopony would assume that I could make a proper decision at the moment. Sliding off the bench, I lay down on the cold ground while thinking back.

Was there even any way for me to change it? Is there any way to get back to Octavia? It seems so unreal after everything that happened.

The snow is covering my coat, and soon I feel all of my limbs going numb. I wait for the pain, but nothing comes, just the numb feeling and my vision slowly fading.

I’m not scared… instead it feels rather good. Maybe Octavia is right, I’m not trustworthy to anypony and maybe I’m not even worth anything at all. If it ends like this, everything will be just fine…

At this moment I’m not even thinking about the dream anymore. Satisfied with my feelings, I’m starting to accept my end and that it will be better for everypony in the end. Then I don’t feel anything anymore.

***

I think it has been hours, but suddenly I’m able to feel something again. Something warm and gently wrapped around me, with something soft under me.

I’m not dead, how is that possi… I’m still dreaming, buck it!

Cracking my eyes open, I can spot a familiar place, one that I called home a long time ago. A small bed, turntables and speakers in one corner and just a small closet in another while a big poster of Club ‘Harmonic’ is on the opposite wall of my bed.

Definitely my room at the apartment I lived in while I went to school.

While I’m trying to find out why I’m dreaming about this, a knock on the door causes me to jump up.

“Vinyl, sweety? Are you awake now? Your friend is waiting in the kitchen to take you to school.” a suddenly very familiar voice says behind the door.

When I don’t answer, still figuring who that is, the door is opens and a mare I would never forget in my life steps in.

“Mum?” my voice is sounding rather ill.

“Is everything alright dear? You look like you just saw a ghost.” she says, coming closer and smiling at me.

“Yeah, everything is fine.” I lie, trying to gather my thoughts once again and standing up.

“Good, you should get ready fast, I doubt your friend will wait much longer.” with that and a quick hug she's walking outside, humming a song I do remember quite well…

The hug felt real, even though I know that she isn't anymore… and that song is my old lullaby

Walking across the room on shaking legs, I look into a small mirror in my closet, checking my mane and tail.

I look like I did as a filly, several years ago...

After quickly fixing them with a brush, I leave my room and head to the kitchen, led by my memory. Never in my life I could have guessed who would be sitting there and eating pancakes.

Octavia...

“Good Morning Vinyl.” the young filly Octavia says while motioning towards the dish. “Want some? They are really delicious.”

My mind is working, trying to remember that day but it seems it got buried by the past and mums accident. I already know that I met her nearly at the beginning of school, but could never guess that we always went to school together.

“Do I have to remind you that it is very impolite to not greet me in the mornings? I know that you are not a pony for early mornings, but please feel free to be at least a bit kind to me.” Octavia continues, raising an eyebrow.

“Sorry Octavia, I don’t know what's wrong with me. Good morning to you and yeah of course, I would love to have some.” I’m replying, sitting down and grabbing some of the pancakes.

“Is everything alright Vinyl?” she asks, looking a bit concerned at me.

“Of course” I lie. “Why?”

“Because you usually use my nickname, not my full name.” Octavia is cocking her head slightly while mustering me.

“Sorry Tavi, guess I’m really tired today.”

I’m hoping that she will stop asking questions. After finishing my pancakes I grab my saddlebags and we leave the apartment, but not before a small hug from my mother. While walking downstairs to the exit, Octavia is silent before sighing once we are outside.

“Is something wrong?” I ask, shooting her a nervous glare.

“Have you decided what to do yet? Your time runs out today.” her voice is nervous, maybe with a small sign of anger.

“Decided what?” now I’m just confused.

“Your decision Vinyl! Are you going to choose Beauty or your music?” she says, almost whispering now.

With that my mind stops, realizing what day today is. It is the day where Beauty Brass forced me to make a decision. One I never made. My mind is going into panic-mode again, forgetting all this is just a dream.

Beauty Brass… What shall I do now?

“Vinyl?”

“Uhm sorry Tavi, I was lost in my mind.”

“You remember what I told you yesterday?” Octavia is looking at me, something is in her eyes I just can’t figure out.

What did she tell me yesterday? I’m pretty sure that it is important. Remember, Vinyl!

Octavia sighs but also smiles. “I told you that you should listen to your heart. Do what feels right, it is now Beauty or your dreams. But remember, I will always stand at your side no matter how you choose.” the next sentence is barely audible “And I don’t really like her anyways.”

I feel a smile appear across my muzzle, but quickly decide to hide it. Maybe the day could be good. Spending time with Octavia, talking, I can take care of that later. Sadly, my plans end once we are around the next corner.

“Vi my love, you are late!” Beauty Brass says once we are in reach. “Oh, and you are here with that filly again.” she sniffs and her next words are directed to Octavia. “Would you mind leaving us alone?”

Octavia gives me a quick hug which I, much too her surprise, immediately give back, squeezing her a bit harder. With a blush on her cheeks she trots away, smiling at me. A small harrumph pulls my attention away, Beauty glaring at me seemingly angry.

“So, you admire other mares now Vi? That’s the point?”

I sigh, shooting a glare back. “Tavi is really a good friend and always there for me, don’t you get fancy ideas.”

Why the buck did I just said this?

“It has been more than three days now Vi. Yesterday you weren't able to give me an answer, so I want one now.” Beauty is smiling, but her voice sounds strong.

That’s the Beauty I love. Strong, smart and just beautiful. I thought I forgot her, but now that I think about it, I still love her.

“You don’t have an answer again?” her voice is dropping a bit, sounding cold now. “Your music is more important than your marefriend, that’s it?”

My heart is clenching but I’m answering without thinking “So you are demanding me to choose between my music that is my destiny after my cutie mark and you, my marefriend?”

“Indeed my love. You get until the first break at school, then I want your answer. Four days is more than enough time.” with that the topic is ended for now, but she leans in and plants her soft lips on mine, making feelings return that I thought I thought I’d lost long ago.

My heart is pumping stronger and faster than ever before and I can feel the spark rising in my mind.

This is what I’ve missed for months. I’m still in the dream but what now?

Beauty Brass breaks the kiss, motioning towards the road. “We should go, lessons are starting soon.”

I just nod and follow her, walking in silence for several minutes before reaching the school. Even now we are not talking and I’m just following her to our classroom. Beauty Brass is sitting down in the first row, staring at me, but my gaze went to the last bench row.

Octavia is sitting on the last row, lonely, but winking at me. What I’m about to do may be stupid, but I move up and sit down next to her, not seeing Beauty’s glare. It just feels right, sitting next to Octavia, and she just raises an eyebrow in surprise before turning her head to the board in front of us again.

“Good morning class.” a voice says, quickly followed by a tall stallion walking in to our class. “I hope you all had a splendid weekend. I myself just had a nice one. We will continue with musical history of the alicorn timeline again.”

The whole class sighs, even Octavia which surprises me. I’m curious and turn my head towards her, watching her annoyed expression. She sees my gaze and quickly turns to me, sticking her tongue out and winking.

I feel weird again…

Again Beauty is seeing every action but it seems like she holds onto herself. The teacher is continuing his lecture but I’m not really listening, my eyes glued on Octavia. Even as a filly she is elegant, beautiful… I’m not thinking anymore but without knowing I’m leaning towards her more and more until our fur is touching, this is the point Beauty starts freaking out.

“Are you crazy? What do you think are you doing with that mare Vi?” I just look towards her, startled, her gaze glaring at me while moving towards me. “Are you deaf? You are my marefriend for Celestia’s sake!”

I’m still just looking at her, not knowing what to say. My silence is too much, Beauty Brass turning around and galloping out of the room, crying loudly.

What have I done?

Every thought about this being a dream is passing away, my heart struggling hard.

Beauty is my marefriend, not Octavia… Wait, what the buck I’m talking about?

Just as I’m trying to stand up the teacher is looking at me annoyed. “Miss Scratch, sit down again this instant! If you leave now to run after Miss Brass I’m going to send the next letter to your mother!”

I hesitate, but sit down, I could still talk to her later. At least I’m hoping that.

This is getting weirder and weirder with every minute.

Just as I’m trying to concentrate again I feel something soft and turn my head to the source, a smile stealing it’s way onto my muzzle. Octavia is leaning against me and smiling.

“You will be fine Vinyl. I said I will stand at your side and I will keep my promise” she whispers, causing me to smile even more.

“Thanks Tavi, you’re a true friend. But what should I do with Beauty now?” I don’t know why I’m asking that, but it seems just right.

“Go to her after school, try to talk with her. It’s the best you can do now.” she replies.

“Will you come with me?” I’m asking, really curious.

“No, you have seen how she reacts to me. You have to do it alone and I won’t stay in the way of your love.” her voice almost sounds sad and for a moment I think I can see tears in her eyes, but after she blinks there is nothing.

As if she would be interested in me. I’m starting to imagine things… What the buck am I thinking? This is a dream!! Or is it?

It doesn’t really feel like a dream, more like painful reality. I can feel every part of me, how can a dream be that real? Somehow I feel protected at Octavia’s side, but also a huge amount of pain because of Beauty Brass.

“Miss Scratch will you finally start to pay attention? I won’t repeat anything just for you, so please listen to my class.” the teacher snaps me out of my mind, looking angry.

I just mutter an apology and try to pay attention to the class, though I’m not quite successful with my thoughts being about Beauty.

I should be over this since years ago, but still this dream affects my feelings in a way I just can’t predict.

I’m not able to figure out whether it’s reality or a dream at the moment, everything seems more than real. My feelings, my mind and everything around me seems real. The soft touch of Octavia leaning against me feels real.

Wait… what?

I turn my head, just to see that Octavia is indeed leaning against me. She is turning her head also, looking into my eyes, something in her own I can’t identify.

Is this really what happened in past? Why can’t I remember these feelings then?

No, there is a better Question

Why would I ever forget Octavia after memories like this?

I think about it for a while, but I just can’t figure it out, so I decide to worry about it later. I listen to our teacher and his theory about the music during the Alicorn era. It’s kinda interesting, if also weird because the old era contains only classical pieces.

For me, the class couldn’t be over fast enough so I could head to Beauty, but as soon as I raise from my chair once the bell rangs, Octavia is pushing me back.

“Did you forget? We have our double lessons every week on wednesday. There is another hour to get over with.”

Sighing, I sit back and flash a thankful smile at Octavia, who is blushing and concentrating on the teacher again.

“Do any of you know who wrote this piece?” he just asked, while letting a piece play from a gramophone.

I couldn’t recognize it but Octavia is jumping up, waving with her hoof.

“Yes, Miss Melody?” the teacher smiled.

Melody? Oh yeah, her last name was Melody at that time. Why did she change it again?

“This piece is written by Princess Luna herself, about nine hundred years before her banishment to the moon, but there is no official date. She dedicated it to an old friend of hers, even his or her name is unknown still today.” Octavia is speaking fast, but loud with excitement.

“Exactly, Miss Melody. This piece is called ‘Falling into Darkness’, it tells a story of a mare that loves an old friend she met again after a while, just to be left alone due to various circumstances, although we only know some of these.”

Wait… this somehow sounds familiar.

Interested in knowing more I raise my hoof and he finally notices me after a while.

“Yes Miss Scratch?”

“What are the known reasons if I might ask?” I’m starting, trying to stay vague.

“Well, as far we know one of the reasons is a tragic accident in the family of her friend. Another one is suicidal thoughts, although we don’t know why.” he replies while Octavia is just raising an eyebrow at me.

The same reasons Octavia and I lost contact back then… Even though the suicidal thing doesn’t match up, at least I don’t think it does.

“Let’s hear some more of the song.” our teacher says, and with that he lets the gramophone continue the song.

The song is familiar, but I just can’t remember where I’ve heard it. As the piece is growing into a darker, slower note my heart skips a beat.

It’s the song that Octavia played when I disturbed her and the one she played in the dream.... why did I forget everything? I enjoy this, so why couldn’t I remember before this dream?

It is a mistery to me which I just can’t untangle, everything seems clear, but at the same time confuses me a lot. While my mind is struggling, the bell rings again and the teacher looks up, smiling.

“Alright, that’s it for today. I will see you tomorrow.” he says before leaving the room.

This is the chance to make things right. I stand up and share a look with octavia, who nods with a smile, then I’m already rushing out of the room, my hooves managing their way automatically. The fear of losing Beauty again drives my hooves forward, straight to a small house I would never forget. Hesitating, I stare at it, afraid to knock.

Is it really wise to just knock there now? What if she just needs some time?

“Ah buck it, that’s not me.” I murmur before trotting towards the door and knocking on it.

No response and also no sound from inside. I still know where her spare key is, but again I’m hesitating.

Can I really do this?

Still unsure, I reach out with my magic, grabbing a key from a small plant that was buried in the earth beneath it. I put the key in and turn it, just to hear the lock click once before pushing the door open.

Ready or not here I come…

Just as I’m about to move forwards, I notice small sounds from down the corridor. I could identify those sounds anywhere, being nearly the same result of Cloud Kicker’s and my ‘games’ as I would lovingly call them. Usually they make me excited, but this time they are jolting against my heart, stabbing through it like a rusty knife.

Why… so fast… no…

My pain is pushing me towards the door and I just can’t stop myself, I open the door, needing to know the truth. What I see in Beauty’s bed, the bed I shared many times with her makes me shatter apart, only leaving pain and numbness in me.

Cloud Kicker… Beauty Brass… No… Just no…

Both mares in the bed jumping startled, but only Cloud Kicker is looking at me with shock on her face. Beauty Brass on the other hoof is getting up and walking towards me, smiling slightly.

“W-why?” my voice is sounding hurt, but lifeless… everything gone that is marking her as my own.

“Because you waited too long Vi, now go.” she answers me, her smile growing bigger. “I don’t need you anymore in my Life”

The words are repeating in my head, causing my eyes to fill with tears and my heart feeling full of pain. I’m not realising anymore that this is a dream again, everything feels way too real. With a last look, I turn around and run out of the house, onto the streets. I keep running and running, my hooves carrying me home.

Home, to mum. Where I'm safe

I run around the last corner, already seeing the apartment complex. At the same moment I can see my mother crossing the street towards our home packed with saddlebags, before she sees me running towards her, waving. From one moment to another her expression changes, I think it’s because she can see my face and the tears now.

It’s like slow motion, I’m running towards my mother while she is waiting for me… in the middle of the road… The next thing I see is a small chariot driving out of control down the overhang of the street, nopony on it… and it’s heading directly for my mother.

“Mum, out of the way! The chariot! Muuum!” I’m screaming towards her, but it seems she can’t hear me.

The chariot is gaining more speed downhill and I’m speeding up, driving my body over it’s limits but to no use. Everything in my mind goes white, and the only thing I hear is a scream, and then saddlebags falling on the ground, followed by the loud ‘thud’ of a body… followed by my own after my legs give out.

***

I crack my eyes open, which is difficult due to all dried tears. I’m laying in my room in the apartment that I shared with my mother again. But something is different, everything is way too quiet. Not caring about anything at the moment, I standing up and leave my room, heading towards the kitchen.

“Mum? Are you there?” I call through the corridor, still walking. No answer.

Reaching the kitchen, it’s empty and I’m starting to panic.

No, no, no it can’t be!

I run around the apartment, searching every room, but nopony besides me is here. Trotting back to the kitchen I can see a piece of parchment on the table, a black band around it.

No, please…

My heart is tearing apart even more, but I’m still opening the letter. As I read it, my legs are shaking and every breathe feels like I’m inhaling pure acid.

Dear Miss Vinyl Scratch,

We have heard about what has happened, and would like to offer our sincere apologies for your loss. We would also like to offer the ability to take time away from school to cope with said loss, and resume your classes at a later date. We at The Canterlot Music Academy hope that you will soon be able to return.

With well wishes,

The staff of The Canterlot Music Academy

Tears are staining the parchment, blurring away the ink, and with it the words. Once I finish the letter my magic fades away, letting the letter fall onto the ground. Pain and numbness are the only things I feel, my mind pure white.

Everything is gone, everypony is gone…

My mind hurts, trying to focus on the difficult truth, which is answered by a breathtaking pain coming from my heart. I’m getting frantic, not knowing what to do now, so I sit down at the table, trying to focus my mind.

The last pony worthwhile to me gone.

At this moment I’m not even giving one thought to Octavia.

Beauty tore my heart apart, and now mum… How should I handle it?

You don’t have to.

What? Who are you?

I’m you Vinyl. I know how you feel, and I also know the solution to end this pain,

Great, I’m basically talking to myself.

You’re not crazy Vinyl, you just experienced the hard truth today.

What truth?

That you are not worth anything anymore.

I’m trying to argue, but somehow my mind is at peace with this fact. I’m not worth anything anymore, the last ponies that made me feel worth something are gone.

The solution is easy Vinyl. Leave this world and all the painful truth behind you. You can even be with your mother again.

Mum…

The last thing my mind catches is something sharp on the table, reflecting the light. Just as my magic tries to catch it the world fades black

“THAT IS ENOUGH!” a loud, somehow familiar voice is booming towards me.

I’m falling down into darkness, the darkness surrounding my body. Everything that was just here is gone now, leaving nothing left. The pain, however, is staying. It seems like hours of falling, but after mere minutes I find myself in a small opening in a forest, the bright moon shining down on me.

“Thou had some painful dreams, Vinyl Scratch.” a voice says behind me, causing me to jump up.

A tall mare is making her way out of the forest, her dark coat shimmering in the light of her own moon, wings spreading wide open. It is Princess Luna.

I quickly bow in front of her and start murmuring an apology, trying to stay there until she tells me otherwise.

“Thou shalt know that there is no need for that in front of us.” she is saying while walking towards me.

I stand up, a bit confused. “What happened?”

“We saved thee before thine nightmare could take a bad end.” Luna replies with a warm smile.

“Wait.. a dream… But it was bad!” I’m realising it was indeed a dream, but the pain still feels real.

“The nightmare made thee think that everything is real. We were watching the last piece and we also have to admit that it looked terrifyingly real.” Luna’s smile changes to a frown as she finally folds her wing to her sides.

“I never knew that all of those memories were still inside me...” my mind is rumbling.

“Those memories never left you, Vinyl Scratch.” her smile is returning and she is sitting down besides me.

“Everything was gone, and now I can nearly remember everything Luna.” I sigh and look to her. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sometimes painful memories are buried deep in our soul, and of course, Vinyl Scratch.”

“Call me Vinyl, please. My full name sounds so formal. Also… in my dream at school we talked about a piece you made, Falling into Darkness?” I watch her expression as I pause.

Her expression hardens a bit, but she nods “Yes, what about it?”

“I think what happened to me and Octavia is similar to what you experienced.” I say carefully, not trying to hurt her or make her angry at me.

“That might be true, Vinyl. If it is like that, thou should already know the truth and what thee would have to do now.” her expression relaxes and the smile returns.

Now I’m a bit confused “What truth? That it hurts?”

“Think about Octavia and guess again, we shall wait for thine answer”

Octavia… I left her behind at that time. I left her without letting her know why or trying to stay, just walking away from the pain.

I hope you can forgive me, Tavi.

After thinking about it some more a smile steals it’s way onto my muzzle and Luna cocks her head slightly, meeting my gaze.

“We assume that thee know the truth now?” her smile is reappearing

“I still have something that is worthwhile to me. Maybe I have to work on it so it feels like I’m worth it again, but it means the end of all of this pain.” I say out loud, surprised by my own words. “But how can I ever do this? If I can make her remember she will hate me.”

With a smile, Luna gently wraps me in an embrace with her wings.

“Trust us when we say that she will not hate thee. Just try it.” she finishes with a smile, then my vision fades away again.

Vinyl woke up, laying on her bed in the hospital. At first she was confused, but soon she woke from her dream. She looked around and also noticed that Spitfire was gone, the room empty.

“Ugh, what a nightmare.” she muttered, levitating a glass of water from her nightstand.

Thinking about what happened she shuddered, the pain from her dream coming back and tears running down her muzzle. It was like she experienced everything a second time, from Beauty Brass to her mother, and it wasn’t a pleasing thought. Luna helped her, and this was also a mystery she couldn’t solve, but there was a truth, she discovered thanks to the Princess.

“Luna helped me all those times in my dreams while I was homeless…” thinking back at the hard time after the disaster at the club she shuddered, but then she reminded herself of the dream again “I have to find Tavi and talk to her…” she said to herself, her words full of confidence.

Her mind was disturbed by muffled screams coming from the door, then a loud ‘thud’ like something heavy was falling, followed by a curse. Just as Vinyl was wondering what was going on outside, the door opened and revealed a turquoise pegasus struggling with a grey earth-pony, followed by a grinning yellow pegasus.

“What the buck is going on here?”

Remember and act

Chapter eight: Remember and act.

Octavia walked inside and headed straight to the door, just to be stopped by hooves pulling her back. She turned around and was looking directly into Lyra’s eyes.

“Please wait Octavia.” she said, still holding her.

“I am sorry Lyra, but I should go home.” Octavia replied, not quite sure what she should think about what she just had seen outside.

“Would you at least stay for dinner? We have a bit of catching up to do, and maybe we can talk about old times. Before the incident, I mean.”

The grey mare considered it, but she was unsure if it could distract her from Vinyl. Looking into Lyra’s pleading expression, she smiled. She could at least try it and enjoy the company of an old friend.

“I accept your invitation Lyra. What have you two planned for dinner? Cooking something, or shall we go out to a restaurant?” Octavia still smiled, trying to focus on the now and forgetting the shadows in her mind.

“Ooooh, can I cook? Can I pretty please Sweety?” BonBon was hopping up and down, causing Octavia and Lyra to fall over onto the floor, laughing hard. “What?” her expression frowned upon the look.

“I know you love cooking Bonnie, but you should look into a mirror while being excited.” Lyra managed between her laughs.

BonBon was just looking confused now, seemingly not getting the point, which caused her marefriend to only laugh more.

“Oh Bonnie, I’m just teasing you.” the mint green unicorn giggled, walking up to her marefriend and nuzzling her while Octavia turned away blushing.

The grey mare managed to calm down a bit in the meanwhile. “I think I am starting to understand what you like about her. She looks pretty sweet hopping around like a rabbit while being completely excited.”

BonBon blushed slightly and Lyra turned to Octavia with a smile, giggling loudly “Her sweets are even sweeter!” she stated with a wink, causing her marefriend and Octavia to both turn red like a cherry. “Hey, not those sweets...” Lyra was blushing herself now. “You’d better go after your own love, Bonnie is mine.” she said, causing the expression on Octavia’s muzzle to change to a frown. “Oh I’m sorry Octavia, it wasn’t my intention to hurt you.”

Sighing, Octavia smiled a bit. “You did not hurt me, do not worry. But your words reminded me of Vinyl and the question of what I should do about that. I am still unsure why she seems so familiar to me, or what my feelings are for her.”

“Maybe it would help you to talk about it? We would love to help you!” BonBon now said, her words sounded honest but the grey mare was still unsure.

“You really would? Just a few hours ago, I thought you two would hate me!”

“We never hated you Octavia, just a bit angry about your actions in the past. But I think those were forced by your parents, rather than coming from yourself. So you are forgiven, and I’m sure Bonnie will agree with me.” Lyra replied, getting a nod and a smile from her marefriend.

“I do not think I deserve your kindness.” Octavia’s ears were flattened down and she sounded really sad.

BonBon approached her, taking her into a tight embrace. “Don’t you ever try to think that again! You deserve to be happy more than most pony else after what Lyra told me. I don’t think you know it yet, but all that time she thought about you and hoped that you’re alright. She wasn’t sure if you would get over the fact that your parents left you behind with ease.”

Octavia turned to Lyra, which was difficult in the embrace, her expression surprised. “You know about that?” A nod as answer “How?”

“Toe-Tapper told me. I tried to contact you after that, but he convinced me that it would be the wrong time for it, and that I should give you some time.”

“I guess he was just trying to protect me, but at that time I really could have used a friend.” the grey mare sighed, tears making their way into her eyes.

“He didn’t tell me everything back then. Would you like to explain what happened?” Lyra asked, trying to be as careful as she could.

“I would, but there is a problem.”

“And that would be?”

“I can’t remember most things from that time.” the grey mare replied and now the tears were flowing freely.

“I’m sorry Octavia, please stop crying!” Lyra quickly said, her brain going into panic-mode. She looked to her marefriend, who was hugging the grey mare even tighter. After several seconds, she stopped crying and BonBon let go.

“I should prepare the food. How do daisy sandwiches sound? Good? Well, Octavia you could go on the balcony, on the right side are small plants, you could pick some herbs from the blue one.” BonBon said and gave Lyra a kiss before heading to the kitchen.

Octavia sighed and made her way to the balcony, followed by Lyra. While the grey mare headed right to the herbs, the mint-green unicorn looked at the sight, enjoying the warmth of the sun and looking around. Suddenly, the sound of a door being smacked open caught her attention and she turned towards the noise.

“O-octavia… you might want to see this…” the unicorn started, stammering and watching the neighbors balcony.

“What is it Lyra? I don’t want to see…” she was cut off by her own throat tightening.

On the other balcony, Vinyl’s balcony, stood a yellow mare with a white bunch of fur on her back, ready to take off. The bunch of white fur was Vinyl with red drops of liquid dripping from it.

‘What happened?’ was the only thing Octavia thought before her legs shivered and collapsed under her body, causing her to fall down on the sight.

The last thing she saw was the yellow mare flying up with Vinyl on her back, a turquoise pegasus quickly following.

***

“Octavia?”

The grey mare grumbled, why couldn’t they just let her sleep?

“Octavia, please wake up!” the voice said, sounding really concerned.

“What is it, why can’t you let… VINYL!” Octavia suddenly shouted, eyes snapping open and her body shooting up.

“Hey, easy Octavia!” Lyra yelled in surprise, causing the grey mare to look around.

It looked like she was laying on the ground of the balcony before jumping up, Lyra and BonBon at her side with worried expressions on their faces. Her Hooves were still shaking, but she returned inside, making her way to the door. She didn’t know why, but somehow she suddenly felt that she had to go searching for Vinyl.

“Octavia wait!” Lyra and BonBon called almost in unison, causing her to stop and turn around. “Please eat something and rest a bit first. You don’t even know where she is!”

“How do you know where I want to go?” the grey mare replied, cocking her head slightly.

“Well, we’re not dumb, but please rest first. You won’t accomplish anything if you go out there in this state. You can barely stand on your own hooves.” BonBon said and Octavia knew they were right.

“If you two are alright with it, then I will stay a bit longer.” she smiled a bit and sat down on the couch in the living room, surprising and silencing both mares with her sudden change in mind.

“Uhm… okay, good. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.” BonBon finally said, shaking her head. “You two can talk alone in the meanwhile.”

“We don’t have to talk alone, you’re my marefriend Bonnie.” Lyra responded and with a happy grin, BonBon made her way to the kitchen.

Another silence filled the room for a few minutes, leaving both mares staring down at the floor or up at the ceiling. Octavia still had Vinyl in her mind, but something else was breaking down, telling her she had to tell Lyra.

With a smile Octavia looked up. “I am more than happy for you two and this is the truth. You two are a perfect fit and everypony can see that you are more than just happy. Maybe…” her smile turning to a frown before she continued. “Maybe it is exactly this feeling I am missing in my life. The feeling being loved and cared for, although I do not know if it is true.”

“You are acting different Octavia” it was a pure statement from the unicorn.

“Wh-what?”

“It seems like that messy mare as you called her, has managed to break the hard shell around your heart, you are way more chatty than in the old times. The old Octavia I knew wouldn’t bother to think or care about such a topic that long. She would shrug it off to concentrate on her career and life.”

“We all have grown up Lyra.” came the short response.

“I don’t think that’s all, and you know what I mean.”

“Well, I have to admit that I am still thinking about Vinyl, but maybe waiting and seeing what will happen is the best option. I do not think she would be very happy to see or talk to me at the moment.” Octavia shrugged, not feeling good with the thought that Vinyl might not like her anymore.

‘Wait’ she thought ‘what in Celestia’s name am I thinking? I don’t even know if she ever liked me, and why do I find it interesting to know if she ever did? Maybe she’s not so bad after all that...’

A voice interrupted her “Hello? Lyra to Octavia, please respond!”

The grey mare jumped up and snapped out of her thoughts. “Oh, I am really sorry Lyra.”

“You should sleep a bit after dinner Octavia, you’re not looking too well. Uhm, no offense.”

“Do not worry about it, I know it is true.” the grey mare replied with a smile.

Just as Lyra was going to answer, BonBon came out of the kitchen, trying to balance three dishes on her back. She seemed to have to fight with it, and with a sigh Lyra’s green aura surrounded the dishes and made them fly over to the table.

“Thanks hun, I never learned to balance more than two small dishes. Three are way more difficult.” BonBon said with a grin, walking over to give her marefriend a long kiss as thanks.

Lyra purred something into BonBon’s ears, but still loud enough for Octavia to blush deeply.

“But I thought your flank could balance everything Bonnie.” the green unicorn said and even BonBon’s cheeks were getting red.

They sat down and Lyra’s eyes went wide on seeing Octavias blush. “Please tell me you didn’t hear anything at all!”

“I do better not to say anything to that.” Octavia muttered, ears leaning back.

“I’m sorry Octavia, we’re not used to having guests. We try to behave, right Bonnie?” a nod from her marefriend. “Now let’s enjoy the food!”

Lyra eyed the six sandwiches, two on each dish, before looking deep into BonBon’s eyes, then sniffing at her marefriend’s food, eyes going wide.

“We said daisy sandwiches, not fried hay sandwiches Bonnie!” it almost sounded accusing.

“You two have normal Daisy sandwiches, I need something stronger, sorry hun.” came the response as BonBon grabbed a sandwich and started to eat.

Lyra just rolled her eyes and started to eat at the same moment as Octavia who smiled at her friends. It felt good to be with them and eat. Besides Baritone and Toe-Tapper, she barely had any friends.

Octavia finished her first sandwich without problems, it was just a normal daisy daisy sandwich. But when she took a bite of the second one, she felt something hot and dripping from fat on her tongue, causing her to nearly throw up.

“BonBon!” Octavia yelled, staring right into the eyes of the innocent looking mare. “This is not a daisy sandwich!”

The other earth-pony was laughing hard, even continuing under the glare of her marefriend.

“Ooops seems like I accidently switched two, I’m deeply sorry Octavia.” BonBon manages between laughs before Lyra nudged her. Hard.

“That’s not funny Bonnie!” Lyra said while her marefriend flipped gasping from the couch.

Now it was time for the other two to laugh, while BonBon laid behind the couch, rear legs high up in the air and cursing something about unfairness. After a bit of cursing, she flipped around and joined the laugher, biting down on Lyra’s neck and causing Octavia to blush again.

“Bonnie! Octavia is still here!” Lyra scolded her right away once she was aware of the grey mare blushing.

BonBon, however didn’t stop and just asked Octavia shortly “You can stay here Octavia, and sleep in our bed, we’ll take the couch”

“What?” Octavia shook her head quickly. “I am your guest, so I will stay on the couch!”

Instead of an answer she was pushed off the couch, Lyra and BonBon snuggling on it and taking all the space. She sighed and raised an eyebrow, asking silently for the direction.

“Second door on the left, just aaa-after the bathroom. Close the door behind yo-aah!” Lyra said, not really paying attention anymore.

The grey mare decided she should head to the bedroom and rest a bit, even though she wasn’t really tired. It wasn’t night after all, and she was too busy with her thoughts.

‘It seems like everypony got somepony to take care off. Everypony except me’ she thought while open the door, sighing at the look.

At the wall was a big four-poster bed in the colours of Lyra’s and BonBon’s coats. It just looked beautiful and comfortable, inviting her to relax. She sat down at the edge of the bed, feeling bad to occupy her friends bed while they took the couch, but after all it seemed like they insisted on it. Maybe it would indeed be nice to rest a bit after everything.

The grey mare crawled up in the middle, laying down, and she suddenly felt tired and exhausted. It might be in the middle of the day, but right now, resting and not thinking sounded rather welcoming to her. Quickly thinking of Vinyl and wondering if she was alright, Octavia closed her eyes, falling down into a dream nothing could have prepared her for.

Princess Luna paced through the dreamsphere, watching over her little ponies during their dreams. It was her duty as princess of the night, but also her pleasure to discover all those dreams and even helping prevent a nightmare from time to time. She smiled upon the sight of all the various dreamglobes that represent the dreams of every pony. They were all shining bright, a sign of good and peaceful dreams. Looking closer Luna sighed. Yes, they were all shining, all except two globes.

Luna sped up and moved closer to the globes, inspecting them. One globe was marked with black reversed two bridged eighth notes on white background. The globe was slightly red, indicator for a bad dream, but not a nightmare yet.

“This one can wait...” she whispered and turned to the other globe. “...but this one needs our help immediately.”

The globe she faced now got a violet treble clef on grey background, the globe itself wearing a black colour with slices of red in it.

“This is serious…” the princess said, wasting no more time and entering the dream.

She was surprised to find herself in what seemed like Canterlot in front of a big house, a carriage waiting in front of it. The carriage was packed full with furniture and other stuff while the door to the house stood open.

“Why should this be a nightmare, we are confused…” Luna whispered to herself, but she didn’t even get the chance to think about it.

Screams were coming from the house, sounding through the open door. Loud screams, mixed with crying and other sounds. Deciding to investigate and save her subject, she stepped in and straight into chaos.

Inside the house a grey filly galloped around, being chased by a big stallion of the same coat. The filly cried while the stallion seemed to be in anger. Luna noticed a mare crying in the corner of a room, shaking too much and not taking care of what happens around her.

“Come back here you unthankful little worm!” the stallion shouted while continuing the chase.

The filly didn’t stop, but yelled back “No! I hate you! I hate you both!”

Luna looked at the scenery for some minutes, waiting what would happen. Then she heard a name that sounded familiar.

“Octavia Melody, come here right this instant!” the stallion shouted, getting more and more enraged.

Octavia, we know this name, but from where?

The filly Octavia was still running away before the stallion gave up, turning to the mare in the corner. Talking to her he lifted her up-

“We should go now. I doubt she will come with us and I couldn’t care less about our daughter.”

Luna couldn’t believe her eyes. A stallion that abandoned his daughter that quickly was not worth being called father. While she was still thinking that the stallion led whom Luna assumed to be his wife to the door before yelling back.

“You will never be successful Octavia, remember my words! We gave you the chance to move with us to Baltimare, but you are blind. You will be alone, even that white unicorn left you! Everypony will leave you! Remember my words!” with that he walked out and soon Luna heard the carriage moving away.

Octavia was nowhere to be seen, so Luna inspected the rooms, finding the filly in her room. She was laying on her bed, a small piece of paper under her hooves. Luna looked closer and saw that the paper contained a drawing of two bridged eighth notes. Smiling she moved closer to the filly and sat down beside her which jumped up startled.

“Shh Octavia, everything shall be fine.” Luna said and hugging the filly with her wing while she changed the dream.

Luna changed the dream into a small world of trees around them and the filly besides her wasn’t a filly anymore. The grown mare Octavia looked confused at her.

“P-princess Luna. My apologies, but may I ask what you are doing here?” she was still sobbing.

“Thou had a nightmare Octavia. We are here to do our duty as Princess of the Night and protect thee.” she squeezed her tighter for a moment. “May we ask thee a question?”

“Of course princess!” the grey mare stuttered.

Luna smiled to her “Just Luna is fine. May we ask what that symbol on the paper thee dreamed of means?” she asked, but of course she knew it already.

Octavia’s face fell, she seemly tried to remember but at the end she shrugged. “I’m afraid I don’t know P.. I mean Luna. It seems so familiar, but at the same time I don’t know from where.”

“Do you know a mare called Vinyl Scratch?” she asked and surprised Octavia.

“Yes, I do know that mare but what…” Octavia sighed. “Her cutie mark... “

“Indeed.”

“But why can’t I remember, and why did I dream about it now? And from where do you know Vinyl?”

“Oh, a lot of questions Octavia. For thine first question, a desire from deep inside the heart can unbury the past, no matter how deeply one has buried it. But for thine second question, we know Vinyl because we saved her while she was homeless and many times before.” Luna tried to explain without revealing too much.

Octavia mustered her sceptical. “Deep desire?”

“We can show thee something if thou want. Something that thou may have forgotten already.” Luna said without thinking.

Of course she could form dreams with the knowledge of her little ponies. But how much of all that knowledge and memories was left in Octavia? She would probably find out soon.

Octavia chewed on her lower lip, thinking about the offer before nodding. “Please show me Luna.”

The princess covered the dreamglobe with her magic, also touching Octavia who let out a yelp. Luna searched for the right memories to bring up. She had to look for a while, but then she found the right part, forming Octavia’s dream to it. Everything blurred and Octavia let out another yelp of sudden confusion.

Octavia and Luna were standing in a small room, seemingly a class full of fillies and colts sitting behind small tables. Looking around Octavia smiled.

“Ohh I remember this! Music class in Canterlot School! I just loved it, although sometimes the mixing between modern and classical was a bit annoying.” she said, eager to share her newly found memories.

Luna had to giggle on this. The grey mare was acting like a little filly getting some sweets. But then a nearly inaudible wincing caught her attention. Octavia looked up to the left, watching two certain ponies.

“That’s… me as a filly.” she shuddered and looked at the mare besides her. “Vinyl…”

Octavia felt her legs tremble, but before anything could happen she felt a wing around her, steadying her. Looking up, she saw Luna smile at her with a tiny smirk.

“You knew!” the grey mare said, sounding more accusing than she wanted it. “And I always wondered why she seems so familiar and why I like her that much.”

“We know it because as mentioned before, we discovered Vinyl’s dreams some time ago and rescued her life.” Luna said, her smile turning to a frown. “Would thou like us to tell the complete story?”

The grey mare thought about it for a moment. Did she really want to know everything? Yes, but she wanted to know everything from Vinyl.

“Please tell me the short-version, I think I want the complete story from Vinyl.” she said, proud of the confidence in her words.

“As thee wish.” Luna thought back to the first time she met the white mare. “It was a short time after Vinyl left the school, maybe thou remember now. She lost everything in only one day, and with that she tried to do… something stupid from which we rescued her.”

“I think I can… From one day to another she was gone… I think it was because of a friend of her she chased? I felt terrible… and then my parents… Are they the reason I forgot her? Why did she forgot me?” Octavia felt terrible, her heart clenching at the thought of Vinyl.

“Thou will have to ask her about the details, but she forgot thee because of the incidents that day. Maybe thou can’t believe the following before she tells you everything, but she tried to take her own life the following night after her dreams. We discovered her dream and luckily we could convince her that she was important and still allowed to live. Trust us, it was hard work.” Luna said, wincing at the memories.

It hurt her to see the mare in pain and she felt a close bond to Vinyl too. She discovered many of her dreams. Bad and good ones altogether. Even she never met Vinyl personally, she still liked her and felt it as her duty to help her and Octavia become close again.

“Vinyl moved to Trottingham, got a few ‘gigs’ as she calls them and after a while she was back in Canterlot. She worked at a club, even earned some higher position, but then after some time a accident happened, causing her to lose everything. At that time she wouldn’t even listen to us and lost her home. We tried to support her as she traveled through Equestria, but in the end she ended up in Trottingham again, without anything. We watched over her in her dreams, making sure she would live and not do something stupid.” Luna tried to tell Octavia as much as possible, but at the same time as little as possible so they both had to do the last step by talking together.

The grey mare stayed silent and Luna nearly thought she’d lost and wouldn’t be able to help them at all, but then a sigh wandered through Octavia’s lips and she looked directly into the ones of the Princess of the Night.

“W-what should I d-do now?” she asked, stuttering a bit. “Talk t-to her? Ignore her? Just h-hug her?” she looked completely lost.

A warm smile crossed Luna’s muzzle. “That is up to you two Octavia. But may we give thee one more piece of advice before this dream is over?” the princess asked, getting a small nod as answer.

“Do what your heart says. Maybe not all of it that early...” a small wink. “...but thou two can fix thine friendship and be there for each other. If we may say from the memories we saw from vinyl: You two looked sweet together and we would be happy to see you talk and live again.”

“You really think so Princess?” Octavia smiled a bit and Luna thought she could see a small spark in her eyes.

“We do Octavia. Do not give up, we do not think Vinyl would.” the princess responded, giving the mare a last smile and hug before everything blurred and went black around Octavia.

Octavia jumped up, her whole coat damp from sweating. She remembered everything, including her dream and what Princess Luna had shown her.

“Vinyl…”

It should be a whisper but seemed like she screamed it out, because barely seconds later Lyra and BonBon rushed in, both quite messy.

“Octavia! Everything alright? You screamed for Vinyl?” Lyra said, trying to catch her breath.

The grey mare wanted to answer but at the sight of both mares in the door she just falled down on bed again, laughing hard.

BonBon’s expression completely frowned. “What?”

Octavia was still laughing, but managed a few words. “M-mirror, look, obvious”

Both mares turned to the mirror besides the bed and their eyes widened. Mane ruffled, bruises on their necks and other slightly notes made sure that Octavia was able to imagine what happened between them.

“Don’t you two assume that your bed would have been more comfortable?” Octavia still laughed, nearly falling off the bed.

BonBon muttered something about making food and coffee before she quickly left. Lyra just shook her head and turned to the bathroom, leaving Octavia alone again. After a few seconds she was able to keep on herself again, thinking about what happened. Luna visited her and revealed her own dreams to her. She’d known Vinyl for more than twelve years if she counted right.

After a few moments she stopped herself, deciding that something to eat and drink would only help her at thinking of a solution. Octavia made her way into the living-room where already some dishes were prepared and Lyra sitting at it, her mane still slightly damp.

“Now good evening Octavia. Enjoy the early breakfast, BonBon is in the shower now. And could you please avoid the topic of how we looked this morning or what happened at all? Thank you.” the mint-green unicorn said, smiling shyly.

“I don’t get why you are getting embarrassed about it Lyra. I’m fine with it, really!” Octavia chuckled. “Besides that I had a quite interesting time myself.”

Lyra nearly choked on her breakfast. “What?!”

“I dreamed about Vinyl and some other things and now I don’t know what to do. To explain it shortly: I’ve know Vinyl much, much longer than I thought I did and I really like her.” the grey mare said, before jumping up being startled by a hoof on her shoulder.

BonBon looked with an apologize look at her and sat down besides Lyra. “Then talk to her, its maybe the easiest, but still the best solution.”

“You can’t be serious. That’s flat out the dumbest…” Octavia started before being interrupted.

“Okay, this is scary now Octavia, you should hear yourself.” Lyra faced her, slightly surprised.

“What?”

“I mean, you sound different. More like a mare like Vinyl would talk.” Lyra nearly whispered the last part.

Octavia thought a bit about it before blushing.

‘Oh dear Celestia, she is right’ the grey mare thought, only blushing more.

“Talk to her Octavia.” both mares said nearly in unison before yelping surprised.

“You two are really cute. How late is it? It’s getting pretty dark outside!” Octavia tried to predict the time, but wasn’t able to.

“I would say since we went to bed in the evening, it’s in the middle of the Night?” Lyra tried, muzzle crunched up.

“You say that I woke you up and that you are keeping awake now just because of me?” the grey mare was shocked.

“Look Octavia. Not just because of you but that’s a different topic. Go to Vinyl and talk to her.”

“But…”

“Octavia, talk to her!” Lyra said, a confident smirk on her expression.

Thinking back at the dream, at Vinyl, she was sure she had to talk to her, no matter what! But where would she be now? Maybe Lyra predicted it, or maybe she just assumed it, but the answer came surprisingly fast.

“She’s at the Hospital Octavia, I’m sure.” Lyra barely ended her sentence and heard the door being shut.

Her marefriend leaned onto her and stole a quick peck from her muzzle. “Do you think this is a good Idea?”

Sighing, Lyra enjoyed the warmth and smiled. “I don’t know, but I wish them the very best.”

***

Octavia left the apartment quickly and ran outside onto the street. She knew where the Hospital was, but was this really the right way to do it? Just going there, disturbing Vinyl uninvited, and talking with her? Yes it was the right way and she remembered Luna’s words.

“Do what thine heart says”

Pacing up her gallop she made her way to the hospital, reaching it quickly due the fact that the streets were less crowded at night. She nearly smashed through the entrance which brought her an angry look by the mare behind the desk.

“This is a hospital! What do you think are you doing?” she demanded while glaring at her.

“I’m sorry, I’ve really got to talk to Vinyl Scratch. She is here in this hospital, isn’t she?” Octavia managed to bring up two sentences, even out of breath,

“You are way behind the visit-times, I’m deeply sorry.” the mare began but Octavia just winced.

“Please, she’s my best friend!” Octavia said before holding back. Why did she just say that?

The white mare behind the desk looked at her, seemingly thinking. While the seconds passed by Octavia couldn’t do otherwise than think that Vinyl’s coat shined in a brighter white. Finally, the nurse smiled and winked.

“Okay you may go visit her but please be quiet. “ she said before looking into a bunch of papers. “Vinyl Scratch? White Unicorn with a rather special blue mane?” A nod as answer “Third floor, room Seven.”

With a smile and a quick thank you, Octavia headed to the stairs, taking several flights up. She rushed past the Hospital’s cafe, not noticing the turquoise and the yellow pegasi in it, and they didn’t notice her either. It seemed like an endless race until she reached the Third floor.

“Room three, four, five, six… seven…” she whispered, coming to a halt in front of Vinyl’s room, but hesitated. “Can I really do this?”

Octavia stood still, trying to figure out what she would say. Or better, what she could say after everything. She acted unwelcoming to Vinyl two times already and wasn’t sure if the white mare would be happy to see her. Some part of her doubted it but another said that Vinyl still would like her as she liked her during their school times. Sighing, she raised a hoof to knock, but suddenly heard a voice behind her.

“Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me!” the voice said before Octavia felt herself being tackled down by a turquoise blur. “What are you doing here?”

Octavia looked up in surprise. It was the turquoise mare from Vinyl’s side at the club. Then she spotted something yellow in the corner.

The jaw of the wonderbolt hung open before she spoke. “Octavia…? What are you doing here?”

The grey mare blushed. “I just wanted to talk with Vinyl.” she said and suddenly the turquoise mare pulled her up.

“Well then we should go in, shall we? I bet Vinyl is interested what you have to say after hurting her!” Sassaflash snapped at her, while pulling towards the door.

“Wait, I want to talk to her alone, please don’t…” Octavia tried but was stopped as the pegasus opened the door, still pulling her with herself.

Octavia just caught a confused looking Vinyl on her bed before she recognized her. The expression on her face became stern… hurt… angry? She couldn’t tell. Then a single question.

“What the buck is going on here?”

This could be a really interesting night...

Author's Note

There ya go, the promised Octavia chapter with a small extra.
HUZZAH! Hail to Princess Luna and the New Lunar Republic!

Uhm anyways, have fun with this one.
Chapter nine, which will also be the last will be up next week.

Two halves complete the whole

Chapter Nine: Two halves complete the whole

There was an awkward silence hanging in the room, making Octavia shift unsteadily from one hoof to another while the turquoise mare still held her. She stared at Vinyl who was covered in some bandages, but in most places you could see the bruises fading to a slight blue and yellow.

“What the buck is going on here?” Vinyl replied, nearly shouting in anger towards them. “Octavia, why are you here?”

The grey mare was about to give up, but she noticed the look in Vinyl eyes, not matching the anger in her voice. Her eyes looked nearly pleading to her, as if to make her stay. Octavia hoped Luna was right.

“We have to talk about the past Vi.” she started, hoping Vinyl would realize the topic quickly.

As she called Vinyl by her lovely nickname, the turquoise mare pouted and tried to tackle her again, but a raised hoof from Vinyl made her frown and stand in place.

“What makes you think that I would want to talk?” the voice of the white mare sounded unsteady now, quieter.

Octavia hesitated. Could she say anything? She was afraid that Luna wouldn’t approve of her sharing details with anypony besides Vinyl and herself. She got an idea, but she didn’t know if Vinyl would get the hint.

“The moon likes you Vi, and it seems like she likes me too.” Octavia whispered, trying to stay as vague as possible.

Silence, the thing Octavia was always afraid of, before Vinyls expression softened. She nodded with a smile towards her before turning her next words to her friends.

“Would you two mind leaving us alone for a bit? I’ve got to talk about a few things with Tavi alone.” she said, still staring at the grey mare. Both pegasi hesitated, so Vinyl faced them for a quick moment. “I’ll be fine, now go, please.”

They shared a look and left the room, another wave of silence washing into the room, while Vinyl and Octavia stared at each other. The white mare couldn’t do anything about her feelings, seeing Octavia in front of her. The mare seemed a bit tired, but she was as beautiful as ever. Viny just hoped that Luna was right.

At the same time Octavia caught herself looking over Vinyl again, noticing even the smallest bruise or bandage on her white fur. She felt sorry about everything that happened, feeling it was somehow her fault too and just tried to open her muzzle as Vinyl spoke first.

“You talked about Luna?” a small nod. “Well, then I guess you know everything.”

“No Vi, not everything. I’m slowly remembering some parts, but for the most part… Luna said that we would have to talk.” Octavia sounded almost sad.

Vinyl shuddered, trying to remember exactly what Luna had said to her about her concerns over Octavia. “Well, what did she tell you?”

Octavia’s expression completely frowned now, and she started hesitating. “She… she told me that there were some incidents that kept you busy. That you did really stupid things that day, and that they would be the most likely reason that you forgot about me.” Tears were making their way down her muzzle.

She heard a small sigh, and Octavia noticed tears on Vinyl’s muzzle as well.

“Tavi, we’ve known each other for over a decade. We went to school together and everything. I was so dumb… I realized too late that I missed you.”

The grey mare blinked a few tears away, confused by the warmth inside her. Maybe what she did next was stupid, at least for doing it so early, but she hurried forward and hugged Vinyl tightly.

“I missed you too Vi.” she said, her voice muffled, nuzzling Vinyl's neck and causing both to blush. “Uhm, I’m sorry Vi.”

“It’s alright Tavi.” the white mare replied with a cocky grin. “But I do have a question though.”

Octavia backed away a bit and mustered her courage for a few seconds before nodding. What could Vinyl want to know?

“Can we be roommates again? she asked and Octavia’s eyes widened in surprise.

Did she really just ask that? After everything she did, the grey mare wasn’t quite sure if this was just a joke or not. Thinking about her feelings the time Vinyl left her, she was more than eager to get her roommate and oldest friend back.

“Of course Vi, the spare room will be always there…”

Vinyl interrupted her. “No Tavi, not your house. I want you to move in into my apartment, forget the past and start over again.”

“W-what?” the grey mare stuttered. “I-in your apartment? I don’t know Vi… I like my house.”

“You have everything you need at my apartment too Tavi. Please, let it be like back in our past.” her voice was almost high and pitchy now, pleading to her with tears in her eyes.

“Please let me think about it Vi.” with a small hug Octavia turned to the exit and left the room, only to hear a whisper behind her.

“I’ll wait for you.”

Did Vinyl really just say that?

Spitfire was dragging Sassaflash out of the building by her mane into the cold night to let her catch some air. After her reaction, she was too close to going after Octavia, and that was a risk Spitfire wasn’t eager to face. The turquoise mare still struggled, making the wonderbolt groan.

“Sassa, stop it! Didn’t you see the look in Vi’s eyes? She was glad to see her, happy! Let them talk peacefully while you cool your temper.”

The turquoise mare still was in a rage, full of desire to beat that grey mare because she hurt Vinyl. “I don’t have to calm down or cool my temper. I’m perfectly fine, now let go!”

“Think back to the times we hurt Vi, and then ask yourself why we should be allowed to punish a mare that Vi likes if we always made the same mistake! We are not better than her. If she makes Vi happy, then it’s nothing of our concern!” the yellow pegasus held her tighter, carrying her onto the streets. “Stop struggling already, everypony is looking at us!”

Finally, after they put some distance between them and the hospital, Sassaflash calmed down a bit. “We will lose Vi.” It wasn’t a question, it was a fact for the turquoise mare.

Sighing, the wonderbolt put a wing around her friend while they walked along the street. “We’ll never lose her as a friend, and you know what my aunt always told me? There is always love to find, you just have to keep your eyes open. While I don’t think that any mare can be like Vi, I don’t doubt that we both will find somepony that makes us happy, whether it be sooner or later.”

Sassaflash smiled at her friend while they hurried along the streets, gathering their thoughts. Seeing Vinyl happy was suddenly a heroic target to chase for, even if it was with that grey earth-pony and a choice to abandon their own feelings for the white mare.

“I guess I’m happy for her Spits… maybe.”

They continued on their way until the soft thump of a pony landing behind them startled both pegasi. Spitfire turned around, eyes wide.

“Soarin’! What the hell are you doing here? You should be watching over the academy while I’m gone!” the yellow pegasus approached him, poking in his chest. “Now speak!”

“Uhm, hey there Captain. Well, we’ve got a little problem, and you have to come back to the Academy!” he said, looking awkwardly to the ground.

“Hey, eyes over here if I’m speaking with you, Lieutenant. What is going on at the Academy?” Spitfire’s voice nearly automatically switched to her usual commanding tone.

Soarin’ just looked around, trying to find the right words. “Do you remember that rainbow-maned mare?”

“You mean the one that saved our flanks at the best young flyers competition?” Spitfire shuddered. That mare was in her dreams and thoughts more than she wanted to admit. The only mare besides Vinyl she admired, as much as she tried not to.

“Exactly, that one. Don’t know the name right now, but she made it through all of the preparatory tests. She’ll be one of the new recruits, and the training starts tomorrow Captain! Fleetfoot refused to lead the group this year, so we need you.” Soarin’ tapped on the ground. “We should go now so we can prepare.”

“Her name’s Rainbow Dash, and I can’t right now. A friend needs me!” Spitfire tried to forget her excitement about Rainbow joining the Academy.

“Captain! You can’t just let the Academy down, we need y-” he was stopped by her hoof.

“Look Lieutenant, I’ve got something to do before I can go. Please go back to the Academy, and I’ll follow in the morning.” she said, not in the mood to argue.

Sassaflash in the meanwhile just stared at the yellow pegasus. She was definitely good at command.

“But Captain!” he started, but didn’t get far.

“No buts! Now move!” she said to him, her voice booming just like at training.

“Yes Captain!” A quick salute and he took off.

Spitfire turned around, looking into the grinning face of her friend.

“What?” she asked, confused.

Chuckling, Sassaflash continued to walk. “I just barely see your Wonderbolt-personality. It’s interesting, and I think you’re good at command.”

Cheeks turning red, the wonderbolt tried to keep up. “Hey! Wrong way, Sassa. We have to go back to the hospital. I have to talk to Vinyl before I go.”

Together they turned and made their way back to the hospital. At this moment Spitfire disliked her position, she would rather be at Vinyl’s side longer, but she knew she couldn’t disappoint the Academy, and definitely not Rainbow Dash.

“Rainbow…” she barely whispered while they walked.

Octavia left the Hospital, telling the nurse at the entrance that she would come back the next day. There was a lot for her to think about, mostly about Vinyl’s invite. She’d lived in her house for years, and was quite used to her big bathroom and the comfortable practice room. The grey mare doubted that a small apartment could stand up to a comparison.

She sighed and hurried towards her house. Some practicing to think about it quietly, that would definitely help! Trotting down the streets, she walked along a special alley that she could remember too well. It was the one where she saved Vinyl. Stopping, she looked at the place besides the bench. There was no sign of the painful night, but it still caused her to stop and think.

‘Is Vinyl that important? We have been friends for so long, even with the long time not seeing and apparently not knowing each other… besides that she is one of a kind. But… is she worth it?’ Octavia’s mind rumbled.

The grey mare shook her head and continued her way home. After some practicing, her mind would be definitely clearer. After some time, her house came into sight and she relaxed a bit, speeding up her trot again. While getting closer, she looked over the small building. It wasn’t really big, but it was her own, and also very first home she bought with the money from her appearances. Could she leave and sell it? She opened the door, quickly shutting it behind her and going straight to her practice room.

Octavia took her cello out of it’s case, stood on her rear legs, and started to play. She just played, her mind wandering around without a specific song chosen. Just playing as all of the tension from the last few days let go of her, her mind truly at peace once again. What happened next surprised her. As her thoughts turned towards Vinyl, she smiled, feeling warmer and more protected. After a while, she even recognized the song she was playing, an old piece she learned back in school. It was called ‘Falling into Darkness’, a wonderful piece written by Princess Luna and nearly two thousand years old. She loved it with every fiber of her body, and she loved to think about Vinyl while playing it.

‘What is wrong with me?’ she thought and stopped playing. ‘Maybe I need her more than I thought.’

As she tried to calm her feelings and continue, there were three knocks on her door, causing her to jump up slightly. Sighing she laid her Cello down, left the room and turned towards the front door. Opening it her eyes widened.

“Hey Octavia! I hope you don’t mind us visiting you?” Lyra said before hugging her tightly.

“O-of course not Lyra, b-but it has barely been two hours since I left your apartment.” came the stuttered answer while hugging the mint-green unicorn back who giggled.

“Uhm, sorry about that but we were just too excited and eager to know how it went. Soo wanna share?” the unicorn asked, her eyebrow risen slightly before giggling again.

“Please, come in. Maybe you two can help me figure out all of this… stuff.” the grey mare replied and stepped aside to let her friends in.

They went in, but not without a serious look from BonBon. “Seriously Octavia, you’re really starting to talk like Vinyl.”

“Excuse me?” Octavia shrieked, but followed them to the living room after closing the door.

Both mares sat down, sharing a look before turning towards Octavia and Lyra sighed. “Octavia, we can see that you like her, as we’ve already told you. Now please tell us how it went.”

The grey mare sat down and opened her muzzle, but hesitated. What should she tell them? It wasn’t like they wouldn’t know already, but still something in Octavia resisted, trying to defend against all feelings and thoughts. An impatient look from Lyra made her sigh and begin.

“I went to the hospital, as you both know. I went up to her room and hesitated in front of it. While that was happening the wonderbolt and that other pegasus showed up, and she tackled me down. I said that I wanted to talk to Vi alone, but then she just carried me inside. Well, to say Vi was surprised would be an understatement, but nonetheless she agreed to talk. We talked about a piece of the past, that we’ve known each other for more than a decade and some other things… She told me she missed me and I don’t know what got into me, but I hugged her and told her I missed her too. It was and is the truth, but I’m still surprised that I did that step. “ Octavia paused and Lyra looked at her with a confused expression.

“Vi?”

“That’s the nickname for her I used a long time ago.” A small nod from Lyra told her to continue. “Anyways, what was more surprising and shocking, was the question she asked me… She asked me if I would like us to be roommates again…”

“But what’s so bad about that? She lived here before as far you told us, and it could work.” BonBon stepped in.

“That is exactly the point. She doesn’t want to live with me here. She wants me to move in into her apartment…” the grey mare answered, ears folding back.

“And now you don’t know if you can leave everything you’ve built up with this house for her?” Lyra slightly cocked her head.

“Exactly…”

“Well, and we thought the answer would be obvious.” Lyra and BonBon said in unison, leaving Octavia shocked.

“What in Celestia’s name should that mean?”

The nurse on the desk was a different one while both pegasi walked up to it, causing the blue mare behind it to look up.

“How may I help you?” she asked with a nice, but annoyed voice. Not surprising at that time.

“Captain Spitfire, here to see Vinyl Scratch. We were already here earlier.” the yellow pegasus answered her, smiling a bit.

“Ah yes. Well, you can go up but please wait in front of the doors. The doctor is currently in checking her status.” the mare answered and turned back to her papers, a sign for both mares that they could go.

Both pegasi went towards the stairs, trotting up to the floor where Vinyl’s room was. They stayed silent until they reached it, waiting in front of the door once they noticed the red sign on the door handle, making it clear that the doctor was inside. They waited several minutes before the doctor came out, seeming angry.

“You.” he said while pointing with a hoof at Spitfire. “Inside, now!” he turned to Sassaflash “And you stay outside!” with that he went in again.

Sharing an uneasy look with the turquoise mare, the wonderbolt went inside and closed the door behind her. Vinyl laid in her bed, her expression worried and the doctor looking at both mares.

“Okay, I want to know what happened now. You told me a story about falling down the stairs from your apartment and you...” he focused on Spitfire. “Told me you didn’t know what happened and that you just found her like that. I can prove that you both lied to me.

“Doc, please let me explain.” Vinyl started, her voice not very loud.

“I’m looking forward this explanation Miss Scratch!” came the cold answer.

“You may already know what happened, and I ask you to be silent about it. I deserved what she did, I hurt her too back in the day.” the unicorn continued.

“So some kind of revenge? That is still not good behaviour for the Captain of the Wonderbolts!” His gaze burned through Spitfire. “Miss Scratch has several fractures, this is not worth it!”

“It is…” Vinyl’s voice was only a whisper anymore.

Sighing, the doctor took his notes from the side table of Vinyl’s bed and turned to leave. “I won’t tell anypony about this, but I can’t hide the report nor can I change it. I really hope that it was worth it.” with that he left and Sassaflash came in.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Trouble” Vinyl and Spitfire answered in unison.

Vinyl looked to the window, seemingly thinking about something, and Spitfire moved next to her, hugging her with a wing.

“What’s wrong Vi?” the wonderbolt asked, but the mare stayed silent. “Well, I gotta say goodbye for now Vi. Soarin’ ran into us on the street, they need me at the Academy tomorrow.”

“What?!” Vinyl’s head snapped towards her.

“I’m sorry Vinyl, I only have barely an hour left before I have to go.” Spitfire said sadly.

“You don’t have to stay until the last second for me Spits, it’s fine. Just promise me something.” Vinyl smiled a bit.

“Anything you want.” Spitfire nuzzled her gently on her muzzle.

“Write me at least every month, every week would be awesome, okay?” the white mare sighed and returned the nuzzle.

“Promise. I should go now then.” with a small peck on Vinyl’s cheeks Spitfire prepared to leave. “But don’t forget. If you need anything, you know where to find me.” she turned to the turquoise mare and took her into a winged embrace. “And you better watch over Vi, you hear me?”

“I won’t leave her hanging, you know me.” came the reply and Spitfire went happily towards the door. “See you soon.” and the door went shut.

“That means, that you should listen to your heart! Usually it’s obvious, but it seems that a mare like you just can’t stop thinking about such things. It’s a decision of your heart, not your brain Octavia.” BonBon stated flatly, looking at the grey mare that winced.

“But what should I do? I don’t know if it would go well, and if not, I won’t have anything!” Octavia yelled now, jumping off from her couch. “If Vinyl decides to do something stupid, or I can’t stand her anymore I will be homeless!”

“Okay, now you’re just yelling and not thinking Octavia.” Lyra said, which brought her a confused look from the mare. “You could leave the house for two or three months to try it out.”

Pouting, Octavia sat down again. “You don’t have any idea how expensive such a house is at this location, do you?” receiving a small shake of the head Octavia sighed. “I couldn’t afford paying Vinyl rent and paying the taxes on this house at the same time.

BonBon suddenly smiled. “Octavia, did you ask Vinyl to pay rent while she was at your place?”

“No, but what-”

The other earth-pony interrupted her again. “Then why do you think Vinyl would demand it? I’m sure she would be okay for it, at least for the first time to try it out. ‘You’ should try it out.”

Octavia looked at the ground and tried to gather her mind. She couldn’t tell if it was a good idea, but it felt good. Maybe there was a chance to make it work, and maybe also work up the past. While thinking about the white mare, her heart warmed and one sentence appeared in her mind.

“I’ll try it!”

“What was that?” Lyra smirked.

“I’ll try it!” Octavia repeated, standing up and walking to the front door, opening it and left. Lyra and BonBon starred in shock before jumping up and quickly following her.

***

Knocking on the door, Octavia went in, not even waiting for an answer. What she saw made her heart shutter and made her stop, shocked. Vinyl laid in her bed, sleeping, while the turquoise pegasus sat next to her, holding the white mare in her wing.

Sassaflash looked annoyed, but slowly whispered in Vinyl’s ear to wake her. “Vi, wake up. Octavia is here.”

Blinking, the white mare looked around before sitting up and yawning loudly. Then her gaze met Octavia’s “Tavi… you’re back early.”

“Well…” the grey mare blushed slightly. “I made my decision.”

“Oh okay.” Vinyl looked deeply worried now. “And who are they?” she nodded towards Lyra and BonBon. “Oh wait, you’re my neighbors.” she added and Lyra nodded.

“Lyra is an old friend of mine and BonBon is her marefriend. Back to my decision. I’ll move into your apartment, but may I ask something?” a nod made her smile. “We try it and for at least two months, I will keep my house so if anything goes wrong I’m not homeless. After that time I’ll sell my house and pay you the rent properly, sound good?”

“Tavi… you don’t have to pay me any rent. Despite what happened, you were nice enough to let me stay, even though you were aware of my state and that I wouldn’t be able to afford your room.” the white mare said, smiling a bit.

“I insist on paying rent once my house is sold Vi.” Octavia made clear and Lyra and BonBon cheered.

Vinyl looked at the two giggling behind Octavia, but a tear made it’s way into her eye. “You really would move into my place? For real?”

“Yes Vi, for real” Octavia chuckled before pulling the white mare into an embrace. “When can I move in?”

“Tomorrow. I’ll have to stay here till the evening, but I could get you from your house once I’m out.” Vinyl returned the embrace, near tears.

She never expected that answer from Octavia, but she thought she could at least try it. Now she was happier than ever before in her life. At least she thought so.

“I have my rehearsal tomorrow Vi. How about you come to it and listen? I’m guessing you remember where it is?”

“Of course! I’ll meet you there.” Vinyl cheered, a smile covering her whole muzzle.

Sassaflash looked over at Octavia before smiling a bit. “Let Vi rest a bit, I’m sure you two can talk tomorrow.”

The grey mare gave her a thankful look before hugging Vinyl a last time and exiting the room with her friends.. “Sleep well Vi, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Octavia just couldn’t believe it. She would move into Vinyl’s apartment. She jumped up and cheered, but hastily tried to move forward as she heard Lyra and BonBon giggle. Her cheeks burning red the grey mare accelerated her steps.

Both mares were still giggling as they called her to stop and Octavia waited, a sheepish smile on her muzzle.

“Octavia relax, everything will be alright!” BonBon said, giving her a quick hug. “We should go home and sleep a bit, and you should too. If you need anything, you know where we live and if you should need help tomorrow with your stuff, knock on our door.”

Lyra nodded and grinned before hugging the grey mare too. “It’s so awesome that you’ll live right next door from now on. Take care of yourself and we’ll see you tomorrow I guess.” with a small wink Lyra and BonBon went to their apartment while Octavia headed to her house.

Reaching her home, she spared no thoughts to the rehearsal or to anything else. With her mind clearly focused on Vinyl she went to bed, a smile covering her muzzle as she fell into sweet dreams about a future with the white mare that confused her feelings.

***

It was the start of a great day. Octavia woke up far later than expected, noon long past. She took a shower and ate something, but couldn’t concentrate on anything. In her mind only Vinyl went around, making it tremble. It still filled her with doubts about her decision, but Octavia decided to listen to her friends and the princess: listen to her heart, which clearly said that she likes Vinyl and needs her. She wouldn’t go further than friendship and testing it, but what could go wrong?

The grey mare looked forward to seeing Vinyl at her rehearsal, maybe she could even play something special? Thinking about some pieces, one fell into her mind and she smiled. She was pretty sure that Vinyl would like it, it was the same piece she played the day the white mare watched her in her practice room. Grinning, she poked at her sandwich, too nervous to eat anymore. Still two hours until rehearsal and nothing left to do. Wait, she forgot to pack! Quickly she went into her bedroom, stuffing everything she would need into saddlebags and a small suitcase.

After a bit of packing, she looked at the saddlebags and the case, quite worried now. How should she carry all of that, including her cello, to the rehearsal? Her question was answered by a knock on the door. Going to the front door, Octavia saw Toe-Tapper waiting. Opening the door, she smiled, waving him in.

“Toe-Tapper, how nice to see you. I need your help today.” She stated happily, walking towards her bedroom.

He gulped and followed her. “O-okay.”

“Here, could you carry this suitcase for me? I’ll take the saddlebags and my cello.” with that she placed the saddlebags on her back and moved towards her practice room, not leaving Toe-Tapper any time to ask for the reason. He sighed and grabbed the suitcase, following her again.

“Octavia” he started,

“Oh, this is splendid! We will be early to rehearsal today and it will be great!” the mare giggled excitedly, something that made Toe confused.

“Octavia…”

“Just a perfect day, I tell you! Simply beauti-”

“Octavia!” he interrupted her. “What in the wide world of Equestria is wrong with you?”

“Ohh nothing. Come on, let’s go.” she replied while walking out of her house, happily trotting towards the Concert Hall.

Toe-Tapper just shook his head and tried to keep up, still confused. That didn’t sound like Octavia at all, and he had no clue what happened… She talked the whole way, seemingly forgetting him, and it made him more and more concerned.

Octavia grew a bit more serious at the sight of the Concert Hall, reminding herself that she should concentrate now to play the piece without errors. She looked behind her to see Toe-Tapper walking slowly, seemingly deep in thought.

“Are you okay?” she asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“Yes, Octavia, I’m fine. Oh, we’re here already.” he answered.

Octavia gave him an unidentifiable look before turning to the small entrance on the side, which lead to the preparation room. Baritone and the rest were already waiting, happy that Octavia was there.

“Octavia! Good to see you” Baritone started. “I really hoped you would show up today. There is a guest for you waiting outside, she asked if she could watch today. She can’t wait to see you playing.” at his last sentence he winked at her and Octavia blushed.

“Thanks Baritone. Can I ask you for a favour?”

“Of course” he replied. “What is it?”

She struggled a bit, chewing nervously on her lips before answering. “I would like to play a special piece at the end, If you’re alright with it.” she blushed even more now.

Baritone gave her a friendly nod before looking at the clock. “Alright, everypony get your things ready, rehearsal starts in five. All on the stage please.” he telled them, grabbing his stuff and moving past the curtain.

Octavia left her saddlebags by the wall where Toe-Tapper had placed her suitcase and followed Baritone. She looked around while preparing her place and her cello, soon finding what she was looking for.

Vinyl sat in one of the middle seats to have a great view on the stage, but be as close as possible at the same time. She waved eagerly towards Octavia, who smiled happily at the sighs of her. The white mare had no idea what the cellist had planned for her.

The rehearsal went on without any problems, and Vinyl listened eagerly to everything Octavia played. Even though she was more into the electronic genre, she could still enjoy a classical piece. Soon it was getting late, and Baritone nodded towards Octavia who gulped.

The grey mare focused on Vinyl and started playing the special piece. She caught Vinyl gasping and listening eagerly. Octavia smiled at the look and concentrated on the music, managing to make it perfect, way better than when she played it before. She was surprised by it, but soon she realized another fact. Vinyl being here and listening to her made her happy and calm. It made her happy deep in her heart, but also filled her with a bit of fear.

She pushed the fear aside and tried to focus on the other feelings, looking forward to making this work. As the last notes were played and she ended the piece, Vinyl clapped her hoofs and Octavia caught a lonely tear on her muzzle. She couldn’t see her eyes because she was wearing her shades again, but she imagined a happy, proud look, and it strengthened her.

Octavia packed her Cello up just as Vinyl jumped up the stage, surprising her. “Vi! I don’t think you are allowed to-”

She was interrupted as Vinyl shoved up her shades and looking deep into her eyes before rushing forward and turning her into a tight embrace while nuzzling her neck.

“You were just awesome Tavi, and the piece! It’s really old, but I love it!” the white mare said while still nuzzling her, making Octavia’s cheeks turn bright red.

“I’m glad you liked it, but could you please let go? I’m not sure this is appropriate in front of everypony.”

Vinyl coughed slightly before letting go of the embrace. “Ready to go?”

Nodding, Octavia turned to the curtain. “Just getting my things. Would you help me please?”

“Sure thing, Tavi.” Vinyl replied and followed her.

They grabbed Octavia’s things and went to the exit, not noticing Baritone watching them and grinning.

***

“Home, sweet home Tavi.” Vinyl said after opening the door with her key.

The cellist looked around, it looked slightly bigger than Lyra’s apartment, various corridors leading to different rooms.

“You can leave your stuff here in my bedroom for now.” the white mare said, leading her through one corridor into a big room with a huge bed in it. It was personalized with Vinyl’s cutie mark on the blanket.

Octavia placed her stuff on the ground and followed Vinyl for a quick tour, getting shown the bathroom, kitchen, living room and at the end the room with the sound proofing.

“This is my practice room. You can use it too, of course, we should just set some times so we don’t interrupt each other.” Vinyl explained before leading her back to the living-room.

The grey mare couldn’t do anything other than smile. “Splendid! I can practice here just like at my house! This is great! But where will I sleep Vi?”

Vinyl sighed, folding her ears back. “I didn’t have the time to prepare the empty room, so you will take my bed and I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“What?” Octavia’s jaw fell open. “I’m your guest! I will sleep on the couch and you take your bed!”

“No” came the short reply.

“But it’s your b-” she wanted to complain, but Vinyl stopped her with a hoof on her muzzle.

“Tavi, please. Take it as an excuse and to show you that I really want you to stay here and be happy!” the DJ sounded serious.

‘She wants me to be happy...’ Octavia’s mind wandered again, but a long yawn interrupted her.

“You’re tired Tavi, we’ll talk another time. C’mon, let’s get you in bed.” Vinyl giggled and, to her surprise, Octavia showed no resistance as she pushed the grey mare towards the bedroom.

Too happy to argue, the grey mare hopped onto the bed, the blanket being levitated over her. It was more than comfortable and warm, even better than her own bed. Vinyl looked at her with a smile on her muzzle before giving her a peck on the muzzle that made both mares blush.

“Good night Tavi, sleep well”

“Night Vi…”

With that Vinyl turned the lights off and left the room, closing the door shut softly. Octavia nearly instantly dove into happy dreams, looking forward to her future with Vinyl. The barriers that could stand on that path weren’t in her mind as she fell asleep.

Author's Note

Don: Octavia just can’t convince anypony to sleep in their own bed… Still, I’m excited for the next chapter… What? This is the last chapter? Noooooo! =(
Scratch: Nah not really the last at all. Sequel will come.

As you see, it's done! Two months full of fun writing this. I hope you enjoyed it as well.
There might be still a lot of open questions, but that will have to wait.
I promised a sequel and you will get it, I just don't know when.
See you all soon :twilightsmile: