A Colourful Vacation

by Harmony Split

Disastrous Opening

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Author's Note

Welcome to our collab!
We hope you enjoy this work, where we smash our thoughts about Octavia and Vinyl together.
Let's see where this trip takes us, shall we? :twilightsmile:


Disastrous Opening

Chapter One: Disastrous Opening

I sighed, my eyes closed as the wind slowly breathed against my face. It was nice to just relax and do nothing, even if I wasn’t used to it. Opening my eyes, I gazed upon the wide beachside of Ponyrife, packed with ponies and other creatures, enjoying their vacation.

Of course, with the sight the noise also came back. Little foals playing around or crying for ice, families chatting loudly, as if nopony could hear them nearby.

Keep in mind what Harpo and the others said. Just relax. Take the vacation as the chance to rekindle your spirits. Yes, Octavia Melody is just the pony for vacations.

I snorted. For them, it seemed so easy, as if they never lost their inspiration, ever. It was as if Frederic sat next to me, smiling his usual bright smile and telling me that everything would be fine in the end.

“Everything is just fine,” I mumbled and reached for my water. “As if I have no other problems already.”

Four months. For nearly four months I had created nothing new, just played the old, dull songs. Everypony told me that I would find my spirit again, that I would soon write masterpieces again, taking the breath of every noble.

And yet nothing helped. Not even this stupid idea of going on vacation all alone. Why did I choose to go alone anyway? Is this because even the most extroverted ponies seek some solace from the crowd? Or is it the noise pollution killing our brains slowly, but steadily? Maybe we all seek to find a spot of mild, gentle, un-phoned, un-newspapered, un-socialnetworked happiness?

With a sigh, I took a sip of my water before relaxing in my beach chair again, trying to ignore the sounds around me, only concentrating on the warmth and the wind. That was, until something stepped onto my hooves.

“Ouh! What in the-” I found it strange that my body had apparently drowned in rest so much that I didn’t open my eyes immediately, but spoke out at once.

“Sorry!” came the voice to my left, a muffled voice swiftly trailing off in the distance.

I just opened my eyes in time and turned left to see a white mare with an unusual spiky, blue mane running off, apparently after one of the foals I heard earlier.

I guess she at least apologized.

Rubbing my sore hoof, I looked in that direction again. That mare sure was a strange pony. Now that I thought of it, her mane looked like she had a magical spike, causing it to stand on all ends. That she also wore deep purple shades didn’t make it any better.

I wonder what such a pony does here. She seemed strange enough.

Deciding to not put further thoughts to such a ruffian, I closed my eyes again and sighed, just to jerk up as I received a small droplet of water against my muzzle.

“Oh for the love of-” I started and opened my eyes, just to see that the downpour really started now. “What a great first day of my vacation,” I grumbled and packed my stuff to retreat into the hotel.

What a great start indeed.

***

Vacation? Pfft! As if DJ-Pon3 needs ANY vacation!

Yet here I was. In some sunny resort of Ponyrife. My manager suggested I should step down for a while and relax before the fame would devour me with coat and mane. Now I sat here at the beach bar and drinking some sweet, fancy drink while humming a soft melody.

“OH SWEET CELESTIA, ARE YOU DJ-PON3?!”

I turned my head to the foal that tried to rob me of the last bit of hearing I got left after all those gigs and parties. It was a colt, grinning eagerly while holding up a magazine.

“Can I have your autograph?” he pleaded with those soft, round eyes of his. How could you say no to a foal?

“Sure kiddo.” I smiled and pulled my signature pen out of my small pocket. Always prepared.

I quickly signed the piece of paper and the colt basically squealed in delight. Then something happened I never thought of. The colt grabbed my special pen out of my magical grip with his muzzle and sped off, leaving me blinking in confusion.

“What?! You little mug, give that back!” I screamed before chasing after him.

It was annoying. Where I had to avoid or surround obstacles, the little mug simply slipped through, gaining more and more ground on me.

“Get back here before I put-” I cried, but nearly fell over as my hooves tripped over something soft, yet hard. Looking back, I noticed a grey mare angrily looking at me, rubbing her sore hooves. “Sorry!” I quickly called before chasing after the little thief again.

I wasn’t even sure the little colt knew what he’d done wrong. Maybe he’d just snatched the pen because he was way too nervous. I mean, hell, it wasn’t like he was going to sell this pen or anything, right? Maybe he realised that it was wrong, but it was too late? But I’d be damned if I was going to-

At first I thought somepony splashed water from a bucket on me. Then I took a swift look around - naturally, letting the gleeful thief run free - and realised that rain had dictated the entire beach. Rain was falling in blankets, and I just stood there, soaking wet, mourning the loss of my wonderful pen. Off in the distance, I saw lightning pierce the cloud-covered sky.

With a sigh - such proximity to water was not in my favour - I glanced one last time at the beach, noticing that grey mare I’d tripped on walk away slowly, with what seemed to be dignity. It looked hella stupid, really. I mean, when you gotta run, you gotta run.

And I did just that: I turned around and ran towards the hotel.

***

If the rain thought that it could prevent me from having a vacation, then rain surely didn’t know Octavia Melody. If I were to have a vacation, I would have the damn vacation. Even if it meant going for a swim in the hotels indoor pool.

What was interesting about the pool - and the hotel in general - was that it was almost empty. I don’t doubt that it was due to its being terribly costly (and extremely luxurious, if I may add) - but, the way things were, there were only two ponies who’d decided on attending the pool with me, an elderly couple who just sat at the pool bar sipping their drinks and watching the outside through the huge glass wall, a signature feature of the hotel.

Well, I wasn’t content with just sitting at the bar sipping my drink. After a couple mojitos, I decided, with firm, if unsteady, resolve, that I definitely had to go for a swim that day. I mean, since I had been lazing off in the sun and not swimming in the sea, at least I had to feel the water on my fur. Not seawater, granted, but water nevertheless.

I entered the pool gracefully using the granite steps, descending regally into the water at the side, instead of opting for one of the metal ladders in the corners. The water wasn’t cold, so I was able to swim immediately. The joy of swimming after such a long time of abstinence was indescribable.

After making my way across the pool, I lay on my back and floated freely in the water, rocking gently on the tiny waves I had created while swimming. I closed my eyes and relaxed. My tense body, pushed on the brink of water, softened and gave me the impression that I was in a queen-sized bed, only a bed without boundaries. So I floated and floated and-

With a loud splash, something hit my side, making me lose balance and disappear underwater for a moment. Once I emerged, my mane all wet, rivulets running down my face, I saw, next to me, a bashful-faced, yet grinning, white mare - the very mare who’d tripped over my hooves earlier that day!

“Heeey,” the white mare offered before I could burst off into an angry tirade. “Uh. I really like your mane?”

“Thank you, I guess?” I replied warily, having no idea what this ruffian was up to. Why was I talking to her again?

“You’re welcome!” she replied, not caring or knowing that she was disturbing me.

I blinked and tried to fry the mare with my eyes. Which, to think about it, was a weak attempt, what with the water everywhere. “I’ll be on my way now.”

With that I just turned to continue my rounds, but of course, that mare wouldn’t make it that easy. I mean, was it ever easy? I’d known from the beginning the vacation was bound to be bad, but does anypony ever listen to me? Noo, it’s just “Octavia, you don’t know how to relax” and never “Wow, Octavia, your predictive powers are so astonishing!”

“Nice flank.”

What. What? WHAT? ...Okay. This is enough.

“Excuse ME?” I gritted my teeth, turning to face that annoying mare, trying to maintain at least some semblance of dignity. Which was really, really, incredibly difficult.

"Nice flank for such a stuffy princess,” the white mare giggled, shaking her spiky mane - which somehow managed to remain in such a weird state despite being submerged in the pool. “Name’s Vinyl, but everypony knows me as DJ-Pon3.”

“Well, I don’t know you!” I tried to reply with as much dignity as I could muster, but of course, I failed. Oh Celestia, why are you punishing me like this?

The DJ seemed to deflate upon that information. “Aww, really? I guess we have to change that! Are you free this weekend?” she asked, winking at me. Winking at me. Winking. She. Winking. At ME. A DJ winking at the star of modern classical music, one of the best cello players in Equestria, and a generally mild-mannered (and very humble) mare.

“Can’t you understand perfectly clear Equestrian? I just want to swim, not listen to you ruffian!” I said out loud, not able to withhold my anger anymore.

“You’re no fun, Clefbutt.”

“What did you call me?” If I could do a spit-take on thin air, I would have done it. Instead, I did a spit-take on the water that had made its way into my mouth - I had opened it wide enough for water to make it through. And yet, this “Vinyl” didn’t seem to mind.

“Clefbutt. You have to relax!” And once more she giggled that ridiculous giggle. I don’t know what set me off: the giggle, or the hair, or...

One way or another, I won’t excuse my actions that followed, but that mare simply begged for it. Not able to control several… itches… my hoof lashed out, hitting her hard straight on her muzzle. However, I really felt sorry as she clenched her muzzle tightly, blood starting to drop from her hooves.

“Oh Celestia, I’m sorry!” Thing is, I wasn’t sorry I hit her. I was sorry I hit her without remorse. I was sorry I had made her bleed. I was sorry I lashed out at a total stranger, okay. But didn’t she deserve that?

“No, you’re not,” Vinyl glared at me. “Guess I should learn that you nobles are different. Next time I’ll try to hook a young teenager.”

“I’m not old!” I insisted, grumbling before sighing. Why would she assume that I was a noble anyway? “Move your hooves away and show me.”

“Why?” came a muffled grunt from Vinyl, some blood dripping into the pool as she held her hoof against her muzzle.

“Because, despite whatever you might think, I AM sorry.” That shut her up and she showed me her muzzle. It was pretty much a perfect hit from me. “Alright, come with me, we gotta clean it up and look closer.”

Vinyl only blinked dumbly at me, but quickly followed as I raised my hoof, glaring at her. She followed me out of the pool and to the elevators, casting a confused glance, but I simply continued until I had her in front of my room.

“What are we doing here?” Vinyl finally asked.

"Cleaning your muzzle of course,” I replied and opened the door. “Sit down.”

Having no other choice, Vinyl sat down and glanced around. “Nice place!” There was a genuine note in her tone, a surge of honesty in her voice that made me feel both extremely pleased and uncomfortable. I wasn’t used to such bluntness: usually, “nice place” was a compliment spoken through gritted teeth, a sign of envy or a desire to suck up to me… but this time, this pony, she really meant it.

I huffed and prepared a cloth with some warm water before going back to her, gently rubbing the blood off.

“Ouh,” she winced. “Why are you doing this? First you hit me and then you care for me!”

I stopped. She was right. Why did I feel sorry for hurting such a ruffian? Of course it wouldn’t suit a high class star like me, but still, she was right. Why do I even care?

“I don’t even know. I should’ve let you bleed out and be done with it.” Of course, I didn’t mean that. But, by Celestia, was I irritated! Two encounters in one day, and both ending in something unpleasant to me? Let’s set pleasantries aside, Ms Vinyl, a.k.a. DJ-Whatever, we’re talking real here.

“Very nice of you.” The mare snorted, while I caught the blood with the cloth like a top-notch goalkeeper.

“I know. I’m the perfect embodiment for the perfect mannered mare.”

Vinyl just stared at me in disbelief. Then, suddenly, she started laughing madly, spilling blood everywhere.

“STOP IT! You’re ruining my coat and the room!” I cried, but even I couldn’t resist and started to chuckle. “Look what you’ve done to me!”

“What?” Vinyl grinned. “It’s not like I infected you, we didn’t even had sex yet!”

[Yet? YET? Okay, Octavia, calm dawn. Nice and steady breaths. After all, I’d always been the picture of self-discipline. Okay, maybe not in such a situation. Still… “It’s ‘haven’t’,” I said, with a grin that was, if I may say, rather smug. “We ‘haven’t’ had sex yet, not ‘didn’t’.”

Vinyl blinked in disbelief. “Did you just go all grammar-Sparkle on me?”

Now it was my turn to blink. “Grammar-Sparkle?” I asked obliviously. Then, a realisation dawned upon me. “Wait, did you actually just try to insult the Princess of Friendship?” I mean, it was enough that she was insulting me, a noble, granted, but a self-proclaimed noble, and it was another matter entirely if she was insulting royalty!

“Twilight is a friend,” the still-bleeding mare said simply.

“Of yours? As if I could believe that!” I snorted.

Vinyl smiled a very… shall I say worrying smile? At least worrying for me. “Well, actually, I had a gig on her brother’s wedding and we’re totally cool now.” She snorted once again, much to my displeasure, spilling blood on the floor. “You should have seen her dance moves.”

“What?”

“She can shake that rump like I rarely seen before,” Vinyl grinned.

“Are you trying your innuendos on every single mare?” I asked in disbelief.

“Only if I think they are worth it,” came the smug reply.

Should I worry now or feel flattered? Or maybe just hit her again? Just a tiny bump with my hoof?

Just before I could move my hoof more than an inch Vinyl glared at me. “I tried to be nice and open and you just think about hitting me again?”

“You think that is nice and open? You are simply unbelieveable!”

“Sorry that I’m not good enough for you, miss stick-in-the-flank,” Vinyl growled back.

“You are definitely not good enough for me!” I yelled before flailing my hooves in the air. “You know what? Why do I even do this? Get OUT!”

“What?” Vinyl blinked.

“Get out!”

“But…”

I just pointed in the direction of the door, glaring at the unicorn. After a few seconds, she took the washcloth and stood up, heading for the exit. Immediately, I felt a little smidge of emotion well up in my chest, building up, eventually to be squashed into a heavy ball of guilt. After all, I had hit her just before, and words should never hurt me. Or how did the saying go? “Sorry,” I uttered, feeling like I wasn’t genuine enough. “Please come back.”

The mare simply turned 180 degrees and stared at me, waiting for me to say something. Then she took a hesitant step back towards me. “Make up your mind already,” she said sternly, in a tone I didn’t expect her to adopt. “Do you want me to stay or do you want me to, how did you phrase it, GET OUT?”

I sighed and rubbed my eyelids. “Vinyl,” I called her by name, feeling that it was the necessary degree of familiarity. “Honestly, I don’t want you to stay - and I do have my reasons…” For a moment, my eyes shone with a glare. “But I cannot just let you go.”

“Why?”

“Because I owe you.”

“That’s your explanation?” Vinyl asked me.

“Yes. Did you expect anything else?”

“I don’t know what I expected.” I looked confused at her as she sat down, pressing the washcloth against her muzzle. Then she blinked. “You never told me your name by the way.”

Don’t tell her! “I’m Octavia Melody.”

“Rings nothing.”

What?! “I’m the most prized Cellist in all of Equestria, maybe even the world! I always play for Celestia’s orchestra at the Grand Galloping Gala!” I exclaimed. If she was familiar with Princess Twilight, then surely she was familiar with- “And don’t even thinkto say anything about Princess Celestia’s rump!”

Suddenly, Vinyl burst out in laughter, making blood wash over the cloth again. “Oh, that’s rich! You have a pervy mind, Tavi.”

I blinked. “Tavi?”

“Yeah, well.” Vinyl scratched her head. (I did not just make this pun!) “Octavia is too posh for me, so I think I’ll call you Tavi.”

“Why would you call me at all?” I asked, assuming a defensive state.

“How else would I address you when I take you to the beach bar tonight?”

“What.”

Vinyl grinned, and I felt shivers run down my spine. “Remember, you owe me.”

"That doesn’t mean that I’m going out with you!” I shrieked.

“C’mon, Tavi, just one drink and a bit fun,” Vinyl drawled.

Is she serious?! “Vinyl, NO!”

“C’mon! This or sex.”

“Excuse me; WHAT?!”

Vinyl grinned like mad. She had somewhat of a point. I owed her, and I wanted to erase it as soon as possible. Still, I would never agree to the last one, so I had only one choice. “Alright,” I sighed, before glaring at her. “But don’t get any comical ideas!”

She gave me a smile, a smile that made me fear for what was to come.

What have I done?

***

I’ve been to many bars in my life. Believe it or not, a DJ may get slightly drunk during her performance. Okay, maybe not slightly. Maybe more than slightly. Maybe she can get blasted and sleep with a bunch of mares in a parking lot.

But I’ve always been more drawn to the quiet pool bars. I rarely have vacations, but, when I do, those aren’t really vacations. Those are day-vacations and evening-gigs. But it is at the pool bars - or beach bars, if we’re talking real vacations - that I can relax and unwind, without having to think about the music or keeping the crowd going, or pursuing another hot flank.

Well, speaking of hot flanks, that mare does have a hot flank. Boy, she does. I can’t say I was nervous - I am never nervous - but I was afraid she wouldn’t come. Okay, not afraid. I was a little perturbed, if that’s the word I want. I’m pretty sure it is.

I was sitting by the counter, sipping on my mojito and enjoying the view of the dark, empty abyss of the night sea. While the resort was situated in a nice, quiet bay, the beach bar was on the edge, giving a glimpse into the vast emptiness of the quiet waves, concealed by the darkness.

“Do you ever have this feeling of emptiness when you realise just how small we are, compared to the size of Equestria and her nature?”

I turned round immediately, only to see the very familiar grey mare sitting with her back to the counter, leaning on it in a bizarre fashion, a dreamy expression in her eyes. Immediately, I collected my cool - okay, I hadn’t lost my cool… It just got… confused a little, my cool, that is.

“Nah,” I shrugged. “I know I’m always bigger.”

Octavia only stared at me in disbelief before she facehoofed. “Ugh, Vinyl! Can’t you be serious for one moment?”

“I’m being serious here!”

“You’re not.” Octavia growled and poked me with her hoof. “Not a single fibre in your whole body is serious!”

Now, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy getting poked now and then. Okay, I did enjoy it, maybe too much for my liking. Still, I had to save face. So I said, “Uh-uh. Can see, can’t touch this.” I grinned widely, seeing dismay and embarrassment in the form of a fine shade of pink on Octavia’s face. “I understand I’m sexy and hot, but leave the touching for tonight’s fun in my bedroom.” I winked, ending the killer combo.

That is, for about ten seconds. Before she completely freaked.

“You are the worst big of… GAH! Whatever you are in the world! It not only seems like your mother dropped you on the cold, hard floor at your birth, NO! It also seems she completely forgot to teach you manners at all!”

I had to admit, I was seriously impressed. She managed to hold herself far longer than I expected, but every mare would break sooner or later. “So that means we can enjoy our date now?” I simply asked with a yawn. “Oh, and, just for your information, I never knew my mother. So I guess it’s not her fault my manners are so…” I struggled to find the right word. “Un-posh.”

For a moment, Octavia’s eyes widened in surprise. “I… I am sorry, I didn’t know.”

I waved my hoof in the air dismissively. “Hey, that’s all right. So,” I grinned, “since you just silently agreed that it’s a date, how do you think it should proceed?” I wiggled my brow as suggestively as I could.

“You are unbelieveable! How did you manage your life like this so far?” Octavia sighed.

“Hey, I’m a bucking DJ! I’m loud, proud and big for my living!” I protested. “Besides, it’s fun!”

Octavia gave me a pretty annoyed look at that. “So you’re always like this? May Celestia have mercy with me…”

I laughed at that. Celestia or no Celestia, this mare had just admitted to getting stuck with me, for the time being. “Wait till you see me at the club!” I promised rather boastfully.

“Never in my life,” Octavia replied pointedly, “have I been to a club. And I don’t see a single reason why that should change.”

“I see many reasons,” I smiled smugly.

“Such as?”

“You’re sexy.”

“What?”

“You’re loud.”

“Excuse me, now you-”

“And, I admit, you would look incredibly hot at my side on the stage.”

“I have no- Wait, what?”

"Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow what?”

“You. Me. Stage. Bass. Sexy dress. Or maybe even no dress and just lingerie…”

“VINYL!”

“So that’s a yes?”

“Why would I even agree to this?” Octavia asked, her voice dangerously quiet.

“Because you’re sexy and you know it,” I replied simply matter of fact.

She just snorted. “That didn’t make any bit of sense, Vinyl.”

“That’s not the point,” I waved a hoof. “The point is that you will be with me tomorrow. And you will be right next to me on the stage, shaking that nice flank of yours.”

“And why,” Octavia leant over me, “why in Equestria,” she pointed an accusing hoof at me, “would I ever agree to that?”

“Because you like me!” I smiled.

“Why would a lady like me go out with a ruffian like you?” she huffed.

“Well, let’s see.” I stomped my hoof against the ground once. “I am pretty.” I stomped my hoof again. “I am incredibly smart.” Octavia’s huff did not prevent me from continuing. “And I can just feel all the sexual tension in the air between us.”

I wanted to stomp my hoof for emphasis again, but was prevented by a well-placed smack on the back of my head.

“I can just disagree with all of your points.”

“Okay, okay, I’m not pretty, I’m absolutely, positively the hottest mare in Equestria.” I looked at my flank - which proved a little difficult of a task. Naturally, Octavia’s eyes immediately followed mine. “See?” I grinned. “You’re even looking at my flank like that. Come on, you are meant for my stage.”

Octavia facehoofed, groaning loudly. “Will you shut up if I agree to this?”

"Maybe?” I smiled, fluttering my eyes at her.

“Good, I agree.”

“YES!” I pumped a hoof into the air. “You’re so gonna-”

“Can I buck you in your muzzle now?”

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