12 Short stories from Equestria
Overture - Octavia's Day
It was early, Octavia was awoken by the sound of amp cables being crashed against each other, a common noise for anypony living with Vinyl to hear. Octavia opened her eyes slowly to see that her fiancée had already gone downstairs to their living room very early because Vinyl's side of the bed was cold. As Octavia made her way downstairs she heard more noises until she heard a clatter and then "Oh horsefeathers!" from Vinyl, What is that mare doing? thought Octavia. She soon found out as no sooner than she had turned the corner at the bottom of the staircase, Vinyl paraded into Octavia, knocking both ponies off their hooves.
"Oh, uh Sorry Octy!" said Vinyl as she helped Octavia up, "didn't see you there-"
"Ugh, it's fin Vinyl, if you can't stand a few scrapes, there's no point in living with you."
"Okay!" Vinyl said "Anyway I have to... prepare... for... oh hors-"
Octavia glared at Vinyl, she looked the mare up and down then into her Scarlet eyes, Vinyl, transfixed by her stare was quiet, Octavia spoke "Where, exactly are you going Vinyl, I thought you were taking today off, what could be so much more important than spending your time with me for once?"
"I uh maybe sorta have to play at the Royal Wedding in Canterlot..."
"You What?! And why have I not heard of any invitation... surely my ensemble would perform better music!" Octavia was exasperated, "so Vinyl, why am I not invited?"
"No clue." Octavia scowled at Vinyl, "Fine! Pinkie Pie is in charge of preparations!"
"Oh... right..." Octavia looked sullen, "well there's no point in arguing, that won't get me an invitation..."
"I guess that's right, sorry Octy" Vinyl put a hoof around Octavia "I'll bring you something back."
"Just bring yourself back in one piece, remember the attack yesterday?"
"Yeah, no problem!"
"Vinyl, come back on time. Please..."
"Sure thing! Any particular reason?"
Octavia put on the most seductive smile she could "maybe" she said playfully, but Vinyl burst out laughing. "What?" said Octavia
"Hey Octy! You should know that only I can put on a convincing seductive look, that's how I got you!" Octavia blushed. "Although, can't blame you for trying, I am pretty sexy aren't I?" Vinyl said saucily.
"You're so full of yourself sometimes" said Octavia
"I am aren't I? And I know you like it" she said in a suggestive tone.
"I suppose you're right..."
"I sure am!" said Vinyl in her normal, boisterous tone.
"Okay then... Vinyl what time are you supposed to leave?"
"Oh- uh- I- oh horsefeathers sorta- now!"
"Well get yourself going!" Vinyl made her way to the door "Wait!" exclaimed Octavia
"Wh-" began Vinyl, but she was interrupted by a kiss from Octavia, it was Vinyl's turn to blush "Well I'd better be going, see ya Octy!"
"Be safe!" Octavia called back as Vinyl trotted down the street to the Ponyville railyway station.
"I will" Vinyl muttered "Hey, I may even come home on time".
~A Few Hours Later~
Octavia was setting out to gather some essentials, the couple seemed to go through bits faster than they could make them these days, but that was at the back of her mind. She had another thing bothering her. Recently, Vinyl had stopped coming home on time, and for one week she hadn't appeared at all. Octavia, worrying being one of her bad habits, had hired a press pony, Film Reel, to 'keep an eye' on her. As Octavia trotted along Ponyville's main street, she noticed a shock of orange mane and the flash of a camera; not a second later Film Reel came running around the corner, and almost collided with Octavia. "Octavia right?" said Film Reel being a pony of few words, she assumed this was enough as a greeting.
"Yes, that's me" replied Octavia "Do you have anything for me?"
"Yeah, here" she cited quietly as she passed Octavia an envelope "Anything else?"
"No, that will be alright ma'am, do you require any assistance?"
"I'd prefer it if I had no help, I don't mean to offend you..."
"That's fine" said Octavia assuringly, "I'll be the first to help if you require anything"
"Uh, thanks I guess" said Film as she trotted off down to the centre of Ponyville.
Octavia, immediately made up her mind to go back home, rather than collect the things she was out to buy; she turned around an headed back at a brisk pace.
~Back at Home~
Octavia arrived home and locked the door, she'd rather Vinyl didn't burst in to catch her looking at anything Film had given her. Let's see what that unicorn of mine has been doing, shall we Octavia thought. She opened the envelope and was surprised to find a tape cassette, a device she had not seen in years, however, being a musician she always had a cassette player stored away somewhere; even if they were incredibly rare. A few minutes later, Octavia emerged from her basement, coated in dust and cobwebs, carrying an ancient looking piece of electronic equipment; Octavia caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror and shuddered in disgust at how she looked, however being eager to see, or rather hear, what Film had collected for her. Octavia inserted the cassette into the slot and waited a couple of seconds as the machine crackled into life; Vinyl's voice came on:
"Hey Reely what've you been up to this past year, I've not caught you in ages!"
"I'm not one for company... anyway have you been well?"
"Sure have! You?"
"I've been fine, wondering how you and Octavia have been doing."
"Yeah, we're fine, although she's riled with me not coming home on time."
"Actually, I've heard that, why aren't you coming home to her? I- I just heard this in idle conversation."
"I've been... well uh, I prefer not to tell anypony but I think I can trust you... can I?"
"S- sure."
"Okay, well You see I've been singing at this club, and they really love my voice, I've been able to sing since I was a filly but it isn't something I'd like to admit."
"Oh, right, could you give me a demo?"
"No way!"said Vinyl "I'm not even going to try... sorry Reely"
"It's okay, I understand, anyway I've got to be going, bye Scratchie!"
"See ya!
The tape crackled and died at that point, Octavia was unsure whether to exploit Vinyl's unspoken talent of singing, or not say anything. Curiosity eventually got the better of her and she decided to make a plan on how to get a song from her fillyfriend.
~10pm~
"Octy! I'm home!" exclaimed Vinyl as she entered the house.
"Hi 'Scratchie'" said Octavia.
"Wait, what did you call me?" said Vinyl "Scratchie?"
"I may have done..." said Octavia calmly, "at least you had the decency to come home on time today"
"Yeah, see you're everything to me Octy, I'll do anything for you!"
"Anything?" said Octavia curiously.
"Yeah, anything and I mean it"
"Would you... sing with me at a... uh... concert! Yes, a concert by my ensemble?"
"Sing? Octy y-y- you've never heard me sing!" Vinyl's face turned a deep shade of scarlet.
"I'd like to, who knows, you may be just the pony I need" Octavia put on an imploring face to increase her chances of getting Vinyl's co-operation.
"Ugh, really Octy you're not going to stop pestering me 'til I sing for you are you?"
"No." said Octavia matter-of-factly.
"Ugh Fine! Just let me get something to sing with..."
Vinyl lifted a record out of her saddlebag and placed it on the record player with incredible care for the boisterous unicorn. The record player sparked into life as Vinyl turned it on with her magic, she placed the needle on the disc and levitated the microphone to her mouth. The record started playing and Vinyl sung at a perfect pitch, she looked as if she was pouring her heart and soul into the song... Octavia sat, staring intently at Vinyl as she sang the song along perfectly with the tune, Octavia was transfixed until the end of the song, when she walked to Vinyl and hugged her tightly. Vinyl turned to Octavia and said "I wasn't planning on telling you that I could sing... it's not something I want anypony to know..."
Octavia opened her eyes and stared at Vinyl "That was beautiful Vinyl, I- is this what you've been doing those nights when you don't come home?"
"Uh, yeah, I found a place that appreciates my singing... privately"
"I see, would I be allowed there, of course you must allow me, I respect that."
"Uh, you wouldn't like it..."
"Why ever not?"
"You don't wanna know Octy, you don't wanna know..."
"Ah... you should make your singing more public, I wasn't actually lying about that concert."
"You think so Octy? I'm not so sure..."
"Yes I really do think so..."
"I guess I'll try... for you Octy"
"Thank you Vinyl..."
"Oh Octy, one more thing"
"Yes?" Vinyl kissed Octavia passionately. "Vinyl! Wait- nevermind, come here you!"
