The Single Lifeby DwarvishPonyChaptersThe Break-UpHow I Met My MarefriendThe LetterDinner With FriendsThe Break-UpOctavia was positively giddy. Though she tried to maintain her calm demeanor, nothing could hide the spring in her step as she trotted through Ponyville. Her marefriend, one Vinyl Scratch, had been gone early that morning. This wasn't unusual, as Ponyville's resident DJ was often an early riser. What had been different was that there was a note for Octavia left on the fridge. 'Octavia: Lunch, Vanilla Bean's Cafe' "She still remembers." Octavia mused just outside the cafe. Vanilla Bean's had been the cafe Vinyl and Octavia had gone on their first date together. It was a simple cafe, tastefully decorated in lovely earthy hues. Soft jazz music slipped out of the open doorway and let itself be carried down the street on the gentle breeze that blew through Ponyville. Octavia smiled lightly at the fond memories she'd had in this place. She could see Vinyl sitting at one of the tables, her back to the window Octavia peered through. Octavia entered and slid into the cushioned seat across from Vinyl, unable to hide her smile. Vinyl wore a cool expression. One that seemed to be simultaneously unapproachable yet beckoned Octavia to lean closer. Octavia would be lying if she said it wasn't a bit of a turn on whenever Vinyl gave her that look. On the table sat two drinks: A cup of coffee with a bit of cream for Vinyl and a steaming latte for Octavia. "It's been a while since we've visited here, hasn't it?" Octavia mentioned off-hoofedly as she picked up her drink and inhaled it's relaxing aroma. "What made you decide to come here?" "Oh, uh... you know." Vinyl waved a hoof dismissively. Clearly something had Vinyl distracted. 'I wonder what's on her mind?' Octavia caught herself wondering as she found herself once again slipping away into those beautiful rosy eyes... 'Wait.' Ocatavia pulled herself back to the edge of the abyss with a sudden- and startling- thought. 'Our favorite drinks, the place we went to on our first date, and Vinyl is unusually distracted? She can't be- I mean- Is she?' Octavia's mind started to race as she considered the possibility playing out before her. 'I mean, I've dreamed about it. I know we've discussed it some time in the past and agreed we weren't ready yet. But is Vinyl really thinking about marriage?!' Octavia flushed a deep crimson as she stared into her drink. "S-so what brings us here, Vine? We haven't had the chance to go out like this for some time. Any special reason?" Octavia's heart was a jackhammer threatening to break through her ribs and fly forward with enough force to break the window up at the front of the cafe. "Oh, uh... just felt like it was a good place for us to be." Vinyl rubbed a hoof against the back of her neck nervously. She glanced away quickly, looking at the other patrons scattered about enjoying their drinks. Some were alone, others in pairs or small groups. All of them seemed to be enjoying a lovely lunch before they'd have to return to whatever business awaited them later in the evening. Octavia liked to make up stories sometimes about them. The loving couple in the corner whispering sweet nothings before returning home for a more intimate setting, the coworkers who just needed a break from their micromanaging boss, the elderly stallion who liked to visit the cafe where he and his late wife had gone every Sunday for more than forty years. A touch of nostalgia settled on Octavia as she and Vinyl settled into silence. The silence continued for some time, with the two mares sipping at their drinks and occasionally looking out at the patrons. "So..." Vinyl was the first to break the silence. "I've been thinking a lot, Octavia..." Vinyl paused for a moment, gathering her words. "And I think its time we talked about something pretty serious." Octavia's heart stopped dead. 'Sweet Celestia, is this really how she's going to do it? It would be such a perfect story to tell our friends.' Octavia fought to contain herself as her heart went from zero to one-hundred in the time span it took a hummingbird to flap it's wings. "Yes, Vine?" Excitement crept into the edges of Octavia's voice. "We've been together a long time. We've been through a lot together. Good and bad, ya know?" "Mhmm." Was all Octavia could muster in response. "And lately I've felt like we need to change the dynamic. Like, the way things are is all right but we've been stuck in a rut. And that's not always a bad thing." Vinyl continued. "But for us, I think there should be a... change." The white mare had begun to sweat profusely. "Mhmm." Octavia replied a bit softer. Tears of joy had begun to spill down her cheeks and she pressed a hoof to her muzzle to keep herself from interrupting her marefriend and shouting 'yes!' at the top of her lungs. "Which is why I've been thinking a lot lately," Vinyl wiped the sweat from her brow. "and I think it would be best for us if we saw different ponies." The tiny part of Octavia's mind that didn't freeze up occupied itself with worrying that her heart really had just stopped. "I- what?" Octavia's voice cracked ever-so-slightly. "W-What do you mean?" "I'm sorry to spring this on you like this Octi, but you must have felt that something's been different between us for the last few months." It was true, if Octavia were being honest with herself. The more romantic side of their relationship had slowly given way to comfortable evenings at home watching television rather than passionate love-making. But that was a normal part of relationships, right? Even after three years of being together the spark of passion was still there. Right? "I don't think we've been... us for a while now. I mean I've been busy lately with making a new album, and you've been doing your composing and your shows around Ponyville, and I think somewhere in all that busy we lost sight of whatever brought us together. And no matter how hard I've searched... I can't find it." Vinyl was crying now, too. Like she'd hurt herself and no matter how tough she wanted to seem she was clearly in pain. Octavia's brain, however, was finally starting to process events and reanalyze the situation. She hadn't been brought here for a proposal. She'd been brought to be dumped! The location, the favorite drink, the crowd thanks to the lunch rush; Octavia was struck by a thought that horrified her almost as much as the words coming from Vinyl: Vinyl didn't want her to make a scene. "I-I don't understand, Vine. I thought things had been going swimmingly. Are you saying you haven't been happy?" Octavia could barely keep herself from breaking down as her voice cracked even more. "I didn't mean-" Vinyl started before cutting herself off. "I... yeah. I think that's what I'm saying." She sighed. "I've already packed my essentials. I'm going to stay with a friend for a bit. Maybe after some time apart-" "Well what is it that I've done to make you unhappy? Because I'll change it, Vine. We don't have to have things end like this." Octavia interrupted. Desperation filled her voice as tears matted her fur. "Octavia, its not like that. I think we just need some time apart to find ourselves." "But we have each other for that!" Octavia snapped, her voice rising as she felt the mare she loved slipping from her grasp. The thought terrified her. "Octi, please keep your voice down." Vinyl glanced at the other patrons. By now the two had started to draw a few curious looks. "Keep my voice down?! You're breaking my heart and you want me to remain quiet about it?!" Octavia scoffed incredulously. "This is just like you, Vinyl Scratch! You're so damned worried about how the public sees you that you lose sight of how cold you can be!" A hush started settling on the cafe as Octavia's outburst drew more stares. "Octi, its not like that. I just-" "You just what? Decided that the years we've spent together aren't enough to work through whatever problems you think we're having?" "Think?!" Anger crept into Vinyl's usually level demeanor. "Octi, you can't seriously believe that we're still normal?! We spend more time apart than we do together, you come home late half the week; and half the time you're sloshed because you've been with Lyra and Bon-Bon while I've been stuck trying to work past the kinks on this album with Neon-" "Oh right, I'm certain that's the only thing you've been working on with Neon Lights!" Octavia lashed out. "What the hay is that supposed to mean?!" Vinyl retorted, no longer trying to keep the anger from her voice. "Oh, you know exactly what I mean. There are nights where I've stayed up, terrified that Neon has finally convinced you that things don't need to be 'strictly professional.'" "You can't be serious. Octavia Melody, if you could ever think that I'd do something as low as cheat on you then this relationship ended a long time ago!" "It ended because you were to busy to try to make it work!" "I- You know what, Octavia? This is ridiculous. I hoped we could still be friends, but you know what? No. Go buck yourself." Vinyl sneered angrily before slapping some bits on the table for the drinks and storming out of the cafe. All eyes were on Octavia, everypony silently watching to see what would happen next. Octavia merely slumped forward into her forelegs and sobbed, wondering where everything had gone wrong. The only other sound in the cafe was the music playing it's sultry tones. How I Met My Marefriend"Did I ever tell you two about how Vine and I met?" Octavia slurred in the general direction of Lyra and Bon-Bon. The two had heard through the Ponyville Gossip Trail about what had transpired at the cafe earlier that day and had thankfully rushed over to console their friend, bearing gifts of chocolate, red wine, and shoulders to sob into. One of the bottles lay empty on the edge of the coffee table, dangerously close to inching forward to plummet the foot-and-a-half to the carpet below. Octavia had taken to cuddling a second one, this one from her own supply of fine wines, while Lyra and Bon-Bon leaned against each other for support. Both of them held a glass of wine in their hooves, listening intently to Octavia's every word despite their own inebriation. "I remember it quite fondly." Octavia sighed, her eyes glossing over as she slipped into times gone by. "It was the day I auditioned for the Gala. You were there too, weren't you Lyra?" ~~~ Canterlot was always bustling. Throngs of ponies making their way through the streets on their way to places only Octavia could guess at. Probably some social function or other. Octavia could have cared less, though. She had her own destination today. A very important one at that. More specifically, a small concert hall near the Canterlot Royal Gardens. Octavia had butterflies in her stomach as she maneuvered through the crowds with her Cello case on her back. She'd been looking forward to this day for weeks, ticking off each day with a red pen as she agonized at how slow time went sometimes. Today was an audition. A very special audition for the one and only Grand Galloping Gala. Only a select few were even allowed to audition. And this year Octavia had finally managed to be one of those lucky few. As she pressed her way through the crowd, she carried herself with a careful poise. Though Octavia was in a bit of a hurry, that was no excuse to appear uncultured. Mother always said it was a Melody's job to always hold oneself above "common" society. She was well aware that she was getting a few looks of admiration from a few uncouth stallions here and there. And why shouldn't she draw their stares? Octavia looked positively radiant. She'd spent hours perfecting every strand of her mane and fur. She had even worn her favorite bow tie, a lovely pink one that had been given to her by her late father. Octavia's thoughts drifted away to what piece she would play for her audition. "I could play something complex. That'd probably wow a few of the interviewers. But what if they're looking for something with subtle undertones? Hmm..." Octavia murmured to herself as she trotted along. "Saddlevari might be a good choice. I'm certain the melodies would be- oof!" Octavia had become so absorbed in her personal debate that she'd lost track of where she was going and tripped over something. "Ow..." A mare groaned from beneath Octavia. Octavia scrambled to her hooves with a cry of surprise. "Terribly sorry. I wasn't paying attention and I didn't see you. I do hope you're all right." Octavia bowed her head apologetically before looking down at the white unicorn she'd knocked over. "Don't worry about it. I was kinda crouching down here actually." The mare ran a hoof through a messy blue mane. 'Clearly a dye job.' Octavia caught herself thinking condescendingly, scolding herself immediately after thinking it. "You okay?" The mare stood and looked to Octavia. "Oh, sorry. I am fine, thank you." Octavia made a move to leave but stopped herself. "If you don't mind me asking, what were you doing down there?" "I saw a really cool rainbow 'cuz of that sign over there and I was trying to memorize it." "I- What?" Octavia tilted her head to the side, losing track of the conversation already. "That sign there." The white mare pointed a hoof at a store sign with a crystalline moon hanging off one corner. "The moon thing was making a rainbow. I was thinking I could use it for an album cover." "Album cover for what?" "Music, what else?" The mare chuckled lightly. "You may have heard of me. Well, my stage name: DJ Pon-3." "I'm... sorry." Octavia said at length. "I'm not really into that sort of music. Erm, if you'll excuse me I really must be going miss Pon-3." "Vinyl." "Sorry?" "My name. It's Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch." "Octavia Melody." Octavia responded instinctively. "I really must be going though. A pleasure to meet you though." Octavia was backing away slowly, eager to be on her way. "Okay. Good meeting you, Octi." Octavia caught herself before she asked about the nickname, instead choosing to turn away from the peculiar mare and head on her way. It took another half-hour before she finally reached the concert hall. While a tourist to Canterlot would have thought it to be a grand location, Octavia was used to visiting larger venues with her mother. All to further her musical career, of course. Mother was very clear about how important that was to the family name. Octavia shook her head and proceeded to join the other musicians gathered for the audition. In front of the group stood a prim looking mare in a purple blazer. "Now, I know that it is an honor for you all to be called for an audition such as this, but do not let that go to your head. Princess Celestia expects the best of the best at the Grand Galloping Gala, and I will ensure that this is the case. Musicians will be judged not only on how well you play your piece, but upon the aesthetics of your performance as well. Poise and attire mean just as much as musical quality here." After the mare's brief speech, she broke the group apart and assigned a number to each of the gathered musicians. Octavia was given number twenty-three. She could have sworn that the mare, who's name was Miss Harshwhinny, gave her a condescending look. "Psst." A feminine voice whispered to Octavia. She looked over at a turquoise mare. "Lyra? I didn't know you would be here!" Octavia whispered, relieved to see a familiar face. "Same! I didn't think you'd dress so casually, either. You must be confident." Lyra flashed a genuine smile. "Casually? I've got my favorite tie..." Octavia's voice trailed off as she realized that she did not, in fact, have her favorite tie. Quite the opposite actually. "Oh bollocks! Father gave me that tie!" Octavia began to search the floor frantically, hoping that it had simply come loose after her arrival. No such luck. "Oh, no! Lyra, I think I lost my tie earlier. I need to go find it. Can you please, please be a dear and cover for me?" Octavia pleaded with her longtime friend. "Sure! But you owe me." "I- Fine. What did you want." "Just for somepony to hang out with later. I've been wanting to head to this swanky new bar up the street from my place, but I don't wanna go alone." Lyra was clearly the epitome of Canterlot class. "Of course. I will be right back." Octavia agreed before hurrying off. She retraced her path, keeping an eye on the ground in the hopes that she would be able to catch a glimpse of pink through the legs of the ponies in the streets. Time was of the essence, and it seemed that fate would have Octavia miss out on a defining opportunity on this day. But she would not, under any circumstances, abandon her favorite tie. It had much too much sentimental value to lose. "Hey. Fancy seeing you again." A familiar voice commented off-hoofedly. "What brings you around these parts again?" "I am sorry, but I'm looking for something." Octavia replied curtly. "Oh, yeah? What's that?" Vinyl asked with a smirk. In retrospect Octavia should have realized the bait for what it was, but she was in no condition to play games. "A pink bow tie, if you must know." Octavia sighed. "I've been searching for some time. And if I don't find it soon, I'm going to miss out on the most important audition I've ever had and mother will be cross and my entire career will be ruined!" Octavia flattened her ears back, barely holding back tears. "Wow... If I knew that it was that important I would have just given it back the moment I saw you." "What do you mean?" "You dropped it earlier. I didn't notice until you were gone, sorry." Vinyl magically floated a familiar pink cloth into view. "My tie! Oh thank you ever so much! I can't tell you how much this means to me. How can I ever repay you?!" Octavia asked, quickly putting her tie back on with well-practiced motions. "Well, now that you mention it... I have a show coming up in Ponyville in a few weeks. It'd be cool to have another musician in the crowd." Vinyl grinned. "Ponyville? That's awfully far for- No. You know what? I'll be there. It is the least I could do." Octavia smiled softly. "Sweet. By the way, didn't you say something about a life-changing audition? You should get to that." Octavia let out a squeak of surprise, thanking Vinyl one last time before galloping back to her audition. Needless to say, Octavia ended up nailing the audition in spectacular fashion. Though the Grand Galloping Gala would later be ruined for her by an aggravating pink mare, it would still be one of the most amazing opportunities she'd ever had. ~~~ "Of course, I've already told you the gala story a few times. Although Pinkie isn't that bad of a pony once you get to know her." Octavia finished her story at the same time she finished the last dregs of the wine bottle she'd been nursing for some time. She finally looked over to her friends, who'd fallen asleep leaning against each other some time ago. Octavia merely smiled fondly at the mares, grateful that they'd made the effort to make her feel better. She shakily stood and retrieved a blanket, gently draping it over the sleeping pair. "You know, it is a shame you two don't see what Ponyville sees. You'd make such a lovely couple." Octavia drunkenly told Lyra and Bon-Bon. The two remained unaware of her words, their minds filled with fantastical dreams. "Goodnight." Octavia yawned before stumbling to her own bed and slipping into a deep sleep. The Letter"Ugh... Why did you let me drink so much?" Octavia groaned. "Not so loud." Lyra whispered, clutching her head between her hooves with a slight whimper. "Sorry." "You hungry?" Lyra asked, fighting the lurch of her stomach. "I could probably use the food. I haven't eaten in quite some time." Octavia noted while her stomach growled loudly in agreement. "How does the Hayburger sound?" "I don't care where, so long as I can get the greasiest, friedest thing on the menu." "Agreed." ~~~ The Hayburger was, thankfully, mostly empty. The scent of deep fried potato hung thickly in the air, offering a promise of tasty food and mild coronaries. Octavia and Lyra sat in the darkest corner they could find, looking mildly suspicious in sunglasses and floppy hats. "I don't get how Bon-Bon can do it. She drank just as much as me and she still got up early to work the shop." Lyra traced a hoof on the table glumly. "She really is amazing." "Perhaps she's a robot or something. I don't know how a normal pony could do it." Octavia joked. Lyra chuckled softly before the two settled into silence for a few moments. The food, while not usually Octavia's first choice, was delicious. Exactly what she needed to settle her stomach. It did nothing for the throbbing headache or the harsh light outside her sunglasses, but she'd done all she could for those. It was Lyra who finally broke the quiet. "So," She said slowly. "what are you going to do now?" "I was probably going to go home and rest. I don't have any other plans for today." "No, I mean about... you know." Even with the hat and sunglasses, concern could be easily seen plastered on Lyra's face. Octavia sighed, staring down at her food as her appetite vanished. For a moment, it looked as though she wouldn't respond. "I'm going to talk to her. Maybe... maybe we can work this out. We're not the first couple to hit a rough patch, are we?" Octavia's voice carried no conviction. Lyra wasn't sure who Octavia was trying to convince. "Maybe we were both just having a bad day." "Okay, but-" Lyra stopped herself. "But what?" "What if things don't go the way we want them to? What if Vinyl's really done?" Worry laced Lyra's question. Clearly it wasn't a topic she was eager to consider herself. "I don't know." Octavia whispered. "We've been together so long that I just can't picture my life without her." It was impossible for anypony to miss the cracking of Octavia's voice. "But it probably won't come to that. You two love each other. Even someone like me can see that." Lyra waved a hoof dismissively in an attempt to shoo away the gloom that threatened to settle over them. "I'm sure if you talk to Vinyl she'll want to work things out as much as you." "You think so?" "I know so." Lyra smiled genuinely. "Lets finish up. You can go talk to her after we eat. I wanted to go check on Bonny anyway." ~~~ It took a considerable amount of asking around to actually track down where Vinyl was staying. Of course the friend she'd said she was crashing with was Neon Lights. He'd booked a room at a local bed and breakfast for an indefinite amount of time while working with Vinyl. It took a bit more asking around and getting lost twice, but she'd finally found the cozy cottage that Neon (and Vinyl by extension) was staying in. The elderly couple had been more than willing to let Octavia visit 'her dear friend Neon Lights.' Octavia felt a bit guilty for lying to the couple, but she was afraid that if she was completely open with them that the couple would refuse to be a part of the domestic goings-on of Vinyl and Octavia. Now Octavia stood at the doorway to Neon's room. Muffled voices slipped from beneath the door, indecipherable in what they were speaking about. She took a deep breath to steel herself before knocking three times. The sound on the other side of the door stopped. Hoofsteps echoed off the wooden floor on the other side of the door as Octavia's heart began to race. The door opened slowly, revealing Neon on the other side. "Octavia." He sounded mildly surprised. "I didn't know you were gonna show up here. What's up, girl?" "Oh, um... Hi Neon. I was wondering if, um, if Vinyl was here?" Octavia shifted uncomfortably from hoof to hoof, suddenly very aware of how awkward she felt. "Ooh. Vinyl," Neon said slowly as he glanced into the room. "She, uh, she just left actually." "Oh. Do you know where she went? I was hoping to speak with her." "I don't think that's a good idea." Neon said evenly. "She seemed pretty adamant about not wanting to speak with you any time soon." Octavia's heart dropped. Was Vinyl really that upset with her? "Are you certain? I just need a few minutes. Perhaps I could come in and wait for her?" "I don't think that would do any good." Neon admitted. From somewhere behind Neon, Octavia heard a crashing sound, like somepony had knocked a vase over. "What was that?" Octavia leaned a bit, trying to peek around Neon. "What was what?" "That noise. It sounded as though something broke." "Oh, I was... listening to some records. That's probably just the needle jumping. It does that sometimes." Neon leaned against the door frame, blocking Octavia's view in the process. "Listen, Vinyl was pretty clear that she was done with the whole dating thing. She said that on the off chance you stopped by to tell you that she was gonna pick up her stuff the day after tomorrow." "I-" Octavia was at a loss for words, her heart having dropped so much that she was fairly certain it had moved into her stomach permanently. "Okay." She turned away, refusing to show Neon that she was crying. Without another word, she walked away. ~~~ Octavia spent the next few days in a daze. The world seemed to just continue along, oblivious to the sorrow that had become her new companion. She'd spent most of her time at home, curled up in bed refusing to move for anything other than eating a few morsels of food and using the loo. It was only at Lyra's refusal to take no for an answer that she left her home at all, accompanying the turquoise mare to the park for some fresh air. "Hey, chin up." Lyra patted Octavia's back awkwardly. "I'm sure Vinyl just needs a little space. Give her some time and she's sure to come around." Octavia said nothing as she stared from the park bench the two sat upon. She was in no mood to be cheered up. Honestly, she wasn't even sure why she had agreed to go out in the first place. Vinyl was supposed to drop by to pick up her things, and Octavia was secretly hoping that she would be able to talk to her. Maybe now that it had been a few days Vinyl would be more receptive to talking. Octavia was going through multiple silent conversations in her head, trying to figure out the best way to encourage her marefriend to stay while she passively observed the park's inhabitants. She felt a tinge of bitterness as she watched some of the ponies in the park. Fillies and colts played and laughed together. Couples cuddled on blankets and benches, whispering sweetly to each other. It was enough to make Octavia sick. 'Why do they get to be happy? Vinyl and I used to be like that. What happened?' Octavia's introspection spiraled into a bittersweet collection of recalling happier times and wondering where it went wrong. What had she done wrong? "Octavia? You still there?" A light shake pulled Octavia back to the present as she looked about in mild surprise. "I- what? Sorry, I was lost in thought, Lyra." "I asked what you were thinking about. I kinda lost you for a second." "Sorry. I was just thinking about the visits to the park Vinyl and I took. We used to picnic under that oak tree there," She pointed a hoof at a large tree. "and over there was where we shared our first kiss." Octavia pointed to another bench that sat unoccupied down the path. "We have a lot of memories here..." Her voice trailed away. Lyra's ears flattened to her head. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know you and Vinyl had a history here. I shouldn't have brought you to the park. We can go if you want." Octavia remained silent. "Octavia?" "Hmm? Oh, right. I suppose leaving would be best. We've been here how long now?" "A few hours. Octavia, you're really starting to worry me. When's the last time you ate something?" "I had a sandwich for lunch." Octavia left the 'yesterday' off the end of her sentence. "Okay," Lyra said slowly, still eyeing her friend with concern. "Just make sure you're taking care of yourself." Octavia forced a smile and looked Lyra in the eyes. "I promise to take care of myself." She wrapped the unicorn in a tight hug before standing. "I think I'll head home. Vinyl's stopping by for her things and I was hoping to speak with her." "Okay. Let me know how it goes. I'm rooting for you guys." Lyra smiled sadly. Octavia left Lyra in the park, trotting quickly down the street towards her home. Doubt gnawed at the gray mare as she went. 'What if Vinyl didn't want to work things out?' She passed Sugarcube Corner. 'What if Vinyl's met somepony already?' Octavia trotted up the walk towards her home. 'What if she hates me?' Octavia unlocked her front door and stepped inside. 'What if-' Octavia froze, her mind going blank. Things were missing. A recliner, some decorations, Vinyl's records. Gone. Octavia's hooves carried her forward despite her silent protests. The rest of the house matched the living room in terms of missing objects. All of them had one common thread to them as well: everything missing belonged to Vinyl. Octavia's ears were ringing as she walked back into the living room. This had to be a dream. Right? A glint of sunlight on metal caught Octavia's eye. A key sitting atop a piece of paper. A vinyl record keychain marked the key as Vinyl's. With a dry throat, Octavia picked up the paper and began to read: Dear Octi, I'm sorry to do it like this, but you weren't home. I'm gonna go on tour. I think I need to get out of Ponyville for a while. Clear my head, ya know? I'll never forget the times we had. You're an amazing pony, Octi. Don't ever forget that. I'll always love you. -Vine "Octavia? Are you in here?" For a brief moment, Octavia's heart leapt. She looked to the open door, half-expecting to see Vinyl having returned. Instead Bon-Bon stood in the doorway. Time stopped for a moment as Bon-Bon took in what she was seeing. It didn't take long for her to piece it together. Octavia confirmed it anyway. "She's gone, Bon-Bon. She's really gone." Octavia could hold it in no longer. She broke down into wracking sobs as Bon-Bon crossed the room and held her close. Dinner With FriendsOctavia sighed for the umpteenth time in the last two days. Lyra and Bon-Bon had stopped by whenever they could, but their words fell on deaf ears. Octavia was just numb to the world. Sure she took care of her basic necessities (mostly thanks to her friends), but most of the last few days had been spent either laying in bed staring at the ceiling or rereading the brief letter from Vinyl. Octavia had become well acquainted with the ceiling in the last few days. Staring upwards afforded her the ability to memorize every chip and crack in it's surface. Each time she looked up she found new ones. Flaws in the structure that could only be seen under close scrutiny. "I wonder if our relationship was like that." Octavia said to the empty room. "I suppose so, considering." Octavia rolled onto her side, determined to ignore the analogy she'd created. "I wonder what she's doing?" Octavia asked her pillow, as if the object would answer. The pillow, of course, remained silent. She supposed that was a good thing. Her depression hadn't progressed to the point of hallucinating. Did depressed ponies hallucinate? Octavia had no idea. She hoped not though. The mare's bladder started to complain, reminding her that she needed to use the facilities yet again. Octavia ignored it, tracing mindless patterns in the empty sheets next to her instead. Her bladder, however, would not be ignored. After insisting for a while, Octavia finally gave into it's demands, rising and trudging to the restroom. After relieving herself she moved to return to her self-imposed solitary confinement, only to stop in the doorway. The room looked hollow. Not empty. That would imply that it just needed furniture or something. This was more like the room had something in it once that was no longer there. A vitality that had simply withered away. Octavia turned away, unable to set hoof in her bedroom any longer. Instead she unceremoniously flopped onto the couch in the living room, letting a hoof dangle off the side. She wondered if Vinyl felt this way. "Of course not." She told the room angrily. "She's probably out doing some show somewhere like Fillydelphia. Why would she mope around, anyway?" Octavia moved a hoof forward and placed it on the coffee table in front of her. There was a single vase sitting at the center. Octavia decided on a whim that she no longer liked the vase. Sliding her hoof along the surface of the table, she gently nudged the object until it fell backwards, rolling along until it fell from the table and onto the carpet. "I can't even do that right." Octavia grumbled. At least she now had a completely unobstructed view of the wall, so that was something. Octavia's ear swiveled as the sound of a lock turning reached it. She didn't need to look to know who it was. "You've moved up front." Bon-Bon stated from the doorway. "I didn't expect that." The cream mare made her way inside, closing the door behind herself. She carried a brown bag on her back, moving straight to the kitchen with it. "Lyra's coming over in a bit. She's got some errand or something." She wandered back into the room. "I was gonna make some sandwiches, maybe some steamed veggies to go with them. Have you eaten?" Octavia mumbled something vague and indecipherable. "You have to eat something, Tavi. Its not healthy to starve yourself." Bon-Bon sighed lightly. "I'm making you eat every bite of this meal." "Fine." Octavia acquiesced. "Can we have chips instead of steamed vegetables though?" Octavia asked without looking at her friend. Another sigh escaped Bon-Bon, this one accompanied with a faint smile. ~~~ Lyra showed up about an hour later, conveniently when Bon-Bon had just about finished making dinner. Lyra and Bon-Bon sat at the table, while Octavia munched on her fries from the couch. At least she was sitting up. Lyra and Bon-Bon were making small talk, doing their best to keep Octavia involved. "I got invited to do a music thing next week." Lyra mentioned. "A charity event in front of Twilight's castle. One of the colts in town is sick and they're trying to raise money to pay for his medicine." "Whose idea was that?" Bon-Bon asked. "I think it was Rarity's idea. She was asking about you, Tavi. She said it'd be 'absolutely fabulous' if you showed up and played a piece." Lyra gave a dramatic impersonation of Rarity, complete with a coy toss of her mane. "I don't know, Lyra." Octavia replied hesitantly. "Come on, it's a good cause. The colt's adorable, too. His name's Pipsqueak. Sounds like he's from Trottingham, too." Lyra added. Octavia chewed her sandwich thoughtfully, mulling the idea over in her head. "Come on, it'll be good fun. Besides, you need out of the house- ow!" Lyra found herself interrupted by a painful nudge from Bon-Bon, which was accompanied by a look that told Lyra to shut her mouth. "Of course, if you're not up to it, you don't need to force yourself." Bon-Bon hastily amended. "I'll think about it." Octavia said after a few moments of quiet. "I won't promise anything though." "That's the spirit! It'll be great. Fresh air, music, sunshine. You won't regret it." Lyra chimed in, grinning widely. "She didn't say yes, Lyra." Bon-Bon gave a flat stare to her friend. "Well, not exactly. But Tavi always comes through for others." "I am right here, you two." Octavia rolled her eyes, the faintest touch of amusement in her voice. "We know. But its fun talking about you like this." Lyra stuck her tongue out at Octavia playfully. "I missed dinners like this one." Octavia gave a weak chuckle. "Funny, isn't it? I can't remember the last time Vinyl and I sat down and ate a meal together like this." Her voice trailed away, leaving an awkward silence hanging over the trio. After a few minutes of silence, Octavia spoke again. "Do you think it's my fault?" Lyra dropped her fork in surprise. Bon-Bon, however, was the first to answer. "What?! No, Tavi. Of course it wasn't your fault. Sometimes... Sometimes ponies just drift apart." Bon-Bon placed a hoof upon Octavia's. "You can't blame yourself for that." "But what if I could have done more? What if the signs were there and I didn't see them?" "So what? You guys gave it a go and things didn't work out." "Lyra!" Bon-Bon stared wide-eyed at her friend. "What? I'm just trying to say that it was good while it lasted. Octavia, do you regret your relationship with Vinyl?" "No, but-" "There you go. You have your memories of the good times. Don't let the bad stuff outweigh the good." Lyra nodded emphatically with her front legs crossed. "That," Bon-Bon looked at Lyra in amazement. "Was actually a surprisingly profound thing to say." "Thanks. I read it in one of your books." "And just like that, the illusion is gone." Bon-Bon gave Octavia an earnest look. "She's right, though. And you can't blame yourself for what happened. You'll drive yourself nuts." "I know," Octavia admitted. "But I miss her. I can't help but think about the little things. Arguments over trifling things, times spent apart because we were caught up in work or some such thing, evenings spent quietly reading at home rather than doing anything. It hurts, knowing that we let what we had die simply because we didn't care for it." Lyra and Bon-Bon exchanged glances, uncertain of what to say. Truth be told, neither of them knew if there was anything they could say to cheer up their friend. "I should get her back." Octavia said with a surprising amount of determination. "How?" Lyra pointed out bluntly. "I don't know yet. I'd have to find her first. But when I was with Vinyl those were the happiest moments of my life. I'd trade anything to have her back." Bon-Bon gave Octavia a melancholy smile, squeezing her friend's hoof lightly. "Then we'll help any way we can."
The Break-UpOctavia was positively giddy. Though she tried to maintain her calm demeanor, nothing could hide the spring in her step as she trotted through Ponyville. Her marefriend, one Vinyl Scratch, had been gone early that morning. This wasn't unusual, as Ponyville's resident DJ was often an early riser. What had been different was that there was a note for Octavia left on the fridge. 'Octavia: Lunch, Vanilla Bean's Cafe' "She still remembers." Octavia mused just outside the cafe. Vanilla Bean's had been the cafe Vinyl and Octavia had gone on their first date together. It was a simple cafe, tastefully decorated in lovely earthy hues. Soft jazz music slipped out of the open doorway and let itself be carried down the street on the gentle breeze that blew through Ponyville. Octavia smiled lightly at the fond memories she'd had in this place. She could see Vinyl sitting at one of the tables, her back to the window Octavia peered through. Octavia entered and slid into the cushioned seat across from Vinyl, unable to hide her smile. Vinyl wore a cool expression. One that seemed to be simultaneously unapproachable yet beckoned Octavia to lean closer. Octavia would be lying if she said it wasn't a bit of a turn on whenever Vinyl gave her that look. On the table sat two drinks: A cup of coffee with a bit of cream for Vinyl and a steaming latte for Octavia. "It's been a while since we've visited here, hasn't it?" Octavia mentioned off-hoofedly as she picked up her drink and inhaled it's relaxing aroma. "What made you decide to come here?" "Oh, uh... you know." Vinyl waved a hoof dismissively. Clearly something had Vinyl distracted. 'I wonder what's on her mind?' Octavia caught herself wondering as she found herself once again slipping away into those beautiful rosy eyes... 'Wait.' Ocatavia pulled herself back to the edge of the abyss with a sudden- and startling- thought. 'Our favorite drinks, the place we went to on our first date, and Vinyl is unusually distracted? She can't be- I mean- Is she?' Octavia's mind started to race as she considered the possibility playing out before her. 'I mean, I've dreamed about it. I know we've discussed it some time in the past and agreed we weren't ready yet. But is Vinyl really thinking about marriage?!' Octavia flushed a deep crimson as she stared into her drink. "S-so what brings us here, Vine? We haven't had the chance to go out like this for some time. Any special reason?" Octavia's heart was a jackhammer threatening to break through her ribs and fly forward with enough force to break the window up at the front of the cafe. "Oh, uh... just felt like it was a good place for us to be." Vinyl rubbed a hoof against the back of her neck nervously. She glanced away quickly, looking at the other patrons scattered about enjoying their drinks. Some were alone, others in pairs or small groups. All of them seemed to be enjoying a lovely lunch before they'd have to return to whatever business awaited them later in the evening. Octavia liked to make up stories sometimes about them. The loving couple in the corner whispering sweet nothings before returning home for a more intimate setting, the coworkers who just needed a break from their micromanaging boss, the elderly stallion who liked to visit the cafe where he and his late wife had gone every Sunday for more than forty years. A touch of nostalgia settled on Octavia as she and Vinyl settled into silence. The silence continued for some time, with the two mares sipping at their drinks and occasionally looking out at the patrons. "So..." Vinyl was the first to break the silence. "I've been thinking a lot, Octavia..." Vinyl paused for a moment, gathering her words. "And I think its time we talked about something pretty serious." Octavia's heart stopped dead. 'Sweet Celestia, is this really how she's going to do it? It would be such a perfect story to tell our friends.' Octavia fought to contain herself as her heart went from zero to one-hundred in the time span it took a hummingbird to flap it's wings. "Yes, Vine?" Excitement crept into the edges of Octavia's voice. "We've been together a long time. We've been through a lot together. Good and bad, ya know?" "Mhmm." Was all Octavia could muster in response. "And lately I've felt like we need to change the dynamic. Like, the way things are is all right but we've been stuck in a rut. And that's not always a bad thing." Vinyl continued. "But for us, I think there should be a... change." The white mare had begun to sweat profusely. "Mhmm." Octavia replied a bit softer. Tears of joy had begun to spill down her cheeks and she pressed a hoof to her muzzle to keep herself from interrupting her marefriend and shouting 'yes!' at the top of her lungs. "Which is why I've been thinking a lot lately," Vinyl wiped the sweat from her brow. "and I think it would be best for us if we saw different ponies." The tiny part of Octavia's mind that didn't freeze up occupied itself with worrying that her heart really had just stopped. "I- what?" Octavia's voice cracked ever-so-slightly. "W-What do you mean?" "I'm sorry to spring this on you like this Octi, but you must have felt that something's been different between us for the last few months." It was true, if Octavia were being honest with herself. The more romantic side of their relationship had slowly given way to comfortable evenings at home watching television rather than passionate love-making. But that was a normal part of relationships, right? Even after three years of being together the spark of passion was still there. Right? "I don't think we've been... us for a while now. I mean I've been busy lately with making a new album, and you've been doing your composing and your shows around Ponyville, and I think somewhere in all that busy we lost sight of whatever brought us together. And no matter how hard I've searched... I can't find it." Vinyl was crying now, too. Like she'd hurt herself and no matter how tough she wanted to seem she was clearly in pain. Octavia's brain, however, was finally starting to process events and reanalyze the situation. She hadn't been brought here for a proposal. She'd been brought to be dumped! The location, the favorite drink, the crowd thanks to the lunch rush; Octavia was struck by a thought that horrified her almost as much as the words coming from Vinyl: Vinyl didn't want her to make a scene. "I-I don't understand, Vine. I thought things had been going swimmingly. Are you saying you haven't been happy?" Octavia could barely keep herself from breaking down as her voice cracked even more. "I didn't mean-" Vinyl started before cutting herself off. "I... yeah. I think that's what I'm saying." She sighed. "I've already packed my essentials. I'm going to stay with a friend for a bit. Maybe after some time apart-" "Well what is it that I've done to make you unhappy? Because I'll change it, Vine. We don't have to have things end like this." Octavia interrupted. Desperation filled her voice as tears matted her fur. "Octavia, its not like that. I think we just need some time apart to find ourselves." "But we have each other for that!" Octavia snapped, her voice rising as she felt the mare she loved slipping from her grasp. The thought terrified her. "Octi, please keep your voice down." Vinyl glanced at the other patrons. By now the two had started to draw a few curious looks. "Keep my voice down?! You're breaking my heart and you want me to remain quiet about it?!" Octavia scoffed incredulously. "This is just like you, Vinyl Scratch! You're so damned worried about how the public sees you that you lose sight of how cold you can be!" A hush started settling on the cafe as Octavia's outburst drew more stares. "Octi, its not like that. I just-" "You just what? Decided that the years we've spent together aren't enough to work through whatever problems you think we're having?" "Think?!" Anger crept into Vinyl's usually level demeanor. "Octi, you can't seriously believe that we're still normal?! We spend more time apart than we do together, you come home late half the week; and half the time you're sloshed because you've been with Lyra and Bon-Bon while I've been stuck trying to work past the kinks on this album with Neon-" "Oh right, I'm certain that's the only thing you've been working on with Neon Lights!" Octavia lashed out. "What the hay is that supposed to mean?!" Vinyl retorted, no longer trying to keep the anger from her voice. "Oh, you know exactly what I mean. There are nights where I've stayed up, terrified that Neon has finally convinced you that things don't need to be 'strictly professional.'" "You can't be serious. Octavia Melody, if you could ever think that I'd do something as low as cheat on you then this relationship ended a long time ago!" "It ended because you were to busy to try to make it work!" "I- You know what, Octavia? This is ridiculous. I hoped we could still be friends, but you know what? No. Go buck yourself." Vinyl sneered angrily before slapping some bits on the table for the drinks and storming out of the cafe. All eyes were on Octavia, everypony silently watching to see what would happen next. Octavia merely slumped forward into her forelegs and sobbed, wondering where everything had gone wrong. The only other sound in the cafe was the music playing it's sultry tones.
How I Met My Marefriend"Did I ever tell you two about how Vine and I met?" Octavia slurred in the general direction of Lyra and Bon-Bon. The two had heard through the Ponyville Gossip Trail about what had transpired at the cafe earlier that day and had thankfully rushed over to console their friend, bearing gifts of chocolate, red wine, and shoulders to sob into. One of the bottles lay empty on the edge of the coffee table, dangerously close to inching forward to plummet the foot-and-a-half to the carpet below. Octavia had taken to cuddling a second one, this one from her own supply of fine wines, while Lyra and Bon-Bon leaned against each other for support. Both of them held a glass of wine in their hooves, listening intently to Octavia's every word despite their own inebriation. "I remember it quite fondly." Octavia sighed, her eyes glossing over as she slipped into times gone by. "It was the day I auditioned for the Gala. You were there too, weren't you Lyra?" ~~~ Canterlot was always bustling. Throngs of ponies making their way through the streets on their way to places only Octavia could guess at. Probably some social function or other. Octavia could have cared less, though. She had her own destination today. A very important one at that. More specifically, a small concert hall near the Canterlot Royal Gardens. Octavia had butterflies in her stomach as she maneuvered through the crowds with her Cello case on her back. She'd been looking forward to this day for weeks, ticking off each day with a red pen as she agonized at how slow time went sometimes. Today was an audition. A very special audition for the one and only Grand Galloping Gala. Only a select few were even allowed to audition. And this year Octavia had finally managed to be one of those lucky few. As she pressed her way through the crowd, she carried herself with a careful poise. Though Octavia was in a bit of a hurry, that was no excuse to appear uncultured. Mother always said it was a Melody's job to always hold oneself above "common" society. She was well aware that she was getting a few looks of admiration from a few uncouth stallions here and there. And why shouldn't she draw their stares? Octavia looked positively radiant. She'd spent hours perfecting every strand of her mane and fur. She had even worn her favorite bow tie, a lovely pink one that had been given to her by her late father. Octavia's thoughts drifted away to what piece she would play for her audition. "I could play something complex. That'd probably wow a few of the interviewers. But what if they're looking for something with subtle undertones? Hmm..." Octavia murmured to herself as she trotted along. "Saddlevari might be a good choice. I'm certain the melodies would be- oof!" Octavia had become so absorbed in her personal debate that she'd lost track of where she was going and tripped over something. "Ow..." A mare groaned from beneath Octavia. Octavia scrambled to her hooves with a cry of surprise. "Terribly sorry. I wasn't paying attention and I didn't see you. I do hope you're all right." Octavia bowed her head apologetically before looking down at the white unicorn she'd knocked over. "Don't worry about it. I was kinda crouching down here actually." The mare ran a hoof through a messy blue mane. 'Clearly a dye job.' Octavia caught herself thinking condescendingly, scolding herself immediately after thinking it. "You okay?" The mare stood and looked to Octavia. "Oh, sorry. I am fine, thank you." Octavia made a move to leave but stopped herself. "If you don't mind me asking, what were you doing down there?" "I saw a really cool rainbow 'cuz of that sign over there and I was trying to memorize it." "I- What?" Octavia tilted her head to the side, losing track of the conversation already. "That sign there." The white mare pointed a hoof at a store sign with a crystalline moon hanging off one corner. "The moon thing was making a rainbow. I was thinking I could use it for an album cover." "Album cover for what?" "Music, what else?" The mare chuckled lightly. "You may have heard of me. Well, my stage name: DJ Pon-3." "I'm... sorry." Octavia said at length. "I'm not really into that sort of music. Erm, if you'll excuse me I really must be going miss Pon-3." "Vinyl." "Sorry?" "My name. It's Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch." "Octavia Melody." Octavia responded instinctively. "I really must be going though. A pleasure to meet you though." Octavia was backing away slowly, eager to be on her way. "Okay. Good meeting you, Octi." Octavia caught herself before she asked about the nickname, instead choosing to turn away from the peculiar mare and head on her way. It took another half-hour before she finally reached the concert hall. While a tourist to Canterlot would have thought it to be a grand location, Octavia was used to visiting larger venues with her mother. All to further her musical career, of course. Mother was very clear about how important that was to the family name. Octavia shook her head and proceeded to join the other musicians gathered for the audition. In front of the group stood a prim looking mare in a purple blazer. "Now, I know that it is an honor for you all to be called for an audition such as this, but do not let that go to your head. Princess Celestia expects the best of the best at the Grand Galloping Gala, and I will ensure that this is the case. Musicians will be judged not only on how well you play your piece, but upon the aesthetics of your performance as well. Poise and attire mean just as much as musical quality here." After the mare's brief speech, she broke the group apart and assigned a number to each of the gathered musicians. Octavia was given number twenty-three. She could have sworn that the mare, who's name was Miss Harshwhinny, gave her a condescending look. "Psst." A feminine voice whispered to Octavia. She looked over at a turquoise mare. "Lyra? I didn't know you would be here!" Octavia whispered, relieved to see a familiar face. "Same! I didn't think you'd dress so casually, either. You must be confident." Lyra flashed a genuine smile. "Casually? I've got my favorite tie..." Octavia's voice trailed off as she realized that she did not, in fact, have her favorite tie. Quite the opposite actually. "Oh bollocks! Father gave me that tie!" Octavia began to search the floor frantically, hoping that it had simply come loose after her arrival. No such luck. "Oh, no! Lyra, I think I lost my tie earlier. I need to go find it. Can you please, please be a dear and cover for me?" Octavia pleaded with her longtime friend. "Sure! But you owe me." "I- Fine. What did you want." "Just for somepony to hang out with later. I've been wanting to head to this swanky new bar up the street from my place, but I don't wanna go alone." Lyra was clearly the epitome of Canterlot class. "Of course. I will be right back." Octavia agreed before hurrying off. She retraced her path, keeping an eye on the ground in the hopes that she would be able to catch a glimpse of pink through the legs of the ponies in the streets. Time was of the essence, and it seemed that fate would have Octavia miss out on a defining opportunity on this day. But she would not, under any circumstances, abandon her favorite tie. It had much too much sentimental value to lose. "Hey. Fancy seeing you again." A familiar voice commented off-hoofedly. "What brings you around these parts again?" "I am sorry, but I'm looking for something." Octavia replied curtly. "Oh, yeah? What's that?" Vinyl asked with a smirk. In retrospect Octavia should have realized the bait for what it was, but she was in no condition to play games. "A pink bow tie, if you must know." Octavia sighed. "I've been searching for some time. And if I don't find it soon, I'm going to miss out on the most important audition I've ever had and mother will be cross and my entire career will be ruined!" Octavia flattened her ears back, barely holding back tears. "Wow... If I knew that it was that important I would have just given it back the moment I saw you." "What do you mean?" "You dropped it earlier. I didn't notice until you were gone, sorry." Vinyl magically floated a familiar pink cloth into view. "My tie! Oh thank you ever so much! I can't tell you how much this means to me. How can I ever repay you?!" Octavia asked, quickly putting her tie back on with well-practiced motions. "Well, now that you mention it... I have a show coming up in Ponyville in a few weeks. It'd be cool to have another musician in the crowd." Vinyl grinned. "Ponyville? That's awfully far for- No. You know what? I'll be there. It is the least I could do." Octavia smiled softly. "Sweet. By the way, didn't you say something about a life-changing audition? You should get to that." Octavia let out a squeak of surprise, thanking Vinyl one last time before galloping back to her audition. Needless to say, Octavia ended up nailing the audition in spectacular fashion. Though the Grand Galloping Gala would later be ruined for her by an aggravating pink mare, it would still be one of the most amazing opportunities she'd ever had. ~~~ "Of course, I've already told you the gala story a few times. Although Pinkie isn't that bad of a pony once you get to know her." Octavia finished her story at the same time she finished the last dregs of the wine bottle she'd been nursing for some time. She finally looked over to her friends, who'd fallen asleep leaning against each other some time ago. Octavia merely smiled fondly at the mares, grateful that they'd made the effort to make her feel better. She shakily stood and retrieved a blanket, gently draping it over the sleeping pair. "You know, it is a shame you two don't see what Ponyville sees. You'd make such a lovely couple." Octavia drunkenly told Lyra and Bon-Bon. The two remained unaware of her words, their minds filled with fantastical dreams. "Goodnight." Octavia yawned before stumbling to her own bed and slipping into a deep sleep.
The Letter"Ugh... Why did you let me drink so much?" Octavia groaned. "Not so loud." Lyra whispered, clutching her head between her hooves with a slight whimper. "Sorry." "You hungry?" Lyra asked, fighting the lurch of her stomach. "I could probably use the food. I haven't eaten in quite some time." Octavia noted while her stomach growled loudly in agreement. "How does the Hayburger sound?" "I don't care where, so long as I can get the greasiest, friedest thing on the menu." "Agreed." ~~~ The Hayburger was, thankfully, mostly empty. The scent of deep fried potato hung thickly in the air, offering a promise of tasty food and mild coronaries. Octavia and Lyra sat in the darkest corner they could find, looking mildly suspicious in sunglasses and floppy hats. "I don't get how Bon-Bon can do it. She drank just as much as me and she still got up early to work the shop." Lyra traced a hoof on the table glumly. "She really is amazing." "Perhaps she's a robot or something. I don't know how a normal pony could do it." Octavia joked. Lyra chuckled softly before the two settled into silence for a few moments. The food, while not usually Octavia's first choice, was delicious. Exactly what she needed to settle her stomach. It did nothing for the throbbing headache or the harsh light outside her sunglasses, but she'd done all she could for those. It was Lyra who finally broke the quiet. "So," She said slowly. "what are you going to do now?" "I was probably going to go home and rest. I don't have any other plans for today." "No, I mean about... you know." Even with the hat and sunglasses, concern could be easily seen plastered on Lyra's face. Octavia sighed, staring down at her food as her appetite vanished. For a moment, it looked as though she wouldn't respond. "I'm going to talk to her. Maybe... maybe we can work this out. We're not the first couple to hit a rough patch, are we?" Octavia's voice carried no conviction. Lyra wasn't sure who Octavia was trying to convince. "Maybe we were both just having a bad day." "Okay, but-" Lyra stopped herself. "But what?" "What if things don't go the way we want them to? What if Vinyl's really done?" Worry laced Lyra's question. Clearly it wasn't a topic she was eager to consider herself. "I don't know." Octavia whispered. "We've been together so long that I just can't picture my life without her." It was impossible for anypony to miss the cracking of Octavia's voice. "But it probably won't come to that. You two love each other. Even someone like me can see that." Lyra waved a hoof dismissively in an attempt to shoo away the gloom that threatened to settle over them. "I'm sure if you talk to Vinyl she'll want to work things out as much as you." "You think so?" "I know so." Lyra smiled genuinely. "Lets finish up. You can go talk to her after we eat. I wanted to go check on Bonny anyway." ~~~ It took a considerable amount of asking around to actually track down where Vinyl was staying. Of course the friend she'd said she was crashing with was Neon Lights. He'd booked a room at a local bed and breakfast for an indefinite amount of time while working with Vinyl. It took a bit more asking around and getting lost twice, but she'd finally found the cozy cottage that Neon (and Vinyl by extension) was staying in. The elderly couple had been more than willing to let Octavia visit 'her dear friend Neon Lights.' Octavia felt a bit guilty for lying to the couple, but she was afraid that if she was completely open with them that the couple would refuse to be a part of the domestic goings-on of Vinyl and Octavia. Now Octavia stood at the doorway to Neon's room. Muffled voices slipped from beneath the door, indecipherable in what they were speaking about. She took a deep breath to steel herself before knocking three times. The sound on the other side of the door stopped. Hoofsteps echoed off the wooden floor on the other side of the door as Octavia's heart began to race. The door opened slowly, revealing Neon on the other side. "Octavia." He sounded mildly surprised. "I didn't know you were gonna show up here. What's up, girl?" "Oh, um... Hi Neon. I was wondering if, um, if Vinyl was here?" Octavia shifted uncomfortably from hoof to hoof, suddenly very aware of how awkward she felt. "Ooh. Vinyl," Neon said slowly as he glanced into the room. "She, uh, she just left actually." "Oh. Do you know where she went? I was hoping to speak with her." "I don't think that's a good idea." Neon said evenly. "She seemed pretty adamant about not wanting to speak with you any time soon." Octavia's heart dropped. Was Vinyl really that upset with her? "Are you certain? I just need a few minutes. Perhaps I could come in and wait for her?" "I don't think that would do any good." Neon admitted. From somewhere behind Neon, Octavia heard a crashing sound, like somepony had knocked a vase over. "What was that?" Octavia leaned a bit, trying to peek around Neon. "What was what?" "That noise. It sounded as though something broke." "Oh, I was... listening to some records. That's probably just the needle jumping. It does that sometimes." Neon leaned against the door frame, blocking Octavia's view in the process. "Listen, Vinyl was pretty clear that she was done with the whole dating thing. She said that on the off chance you stopped by to tell you that she was gonna pick up her stuff the day after tomorrow." "I-" Octavia was at a loss for words, her heart having dropped so much that she was fairly certain it had moved into her stomach permanently. "Okay." She turned away, refusing to show Neon that she was crying. Without another word, she walked away. ~~~ Octavia spent the next few days in a daze. The world seemed to just continue along, oblivious to the sorrow that had become her new companion. She'd spent most of her time at home, curled up in bed refusing to move for anything other than eating a few morsels of food and using the loo. It was only at Lyra's refusal to take no for an answer that she left her home at all, accompanying the turquoise mare to the park for some fresh air. "Hey, chin up." Lyra patted Octavia's back awkwardly. "I'm sure Vinyl just needs a little space. Give her some time and she's sure to come around." Octavia said nothing as she stared from the park bench the two sat upon. She was in no mood to be cheered up. Honestly, she wasn't even sure why she had agreed to go out in the first place. Vinyl was supposed to drop by to pick up her things, and Octavia was secretly hoping that she would be able to talk to her. Maybe now that it had been a few days Vinyl would be more receptive to talking. Octavia was going through multiple silent conversations in her head, trying to figure out the best way to encourage her marefriend to stay while she passively observed the park's inhabitants. She felt a tinge of bitterness as she watched some of the ponies in the park. Fillies and colts played and laughed together. Couples cuddled on blankets and benches, whispering sweetly to each other. It was enough to make Octavia sick. 'Why do they get to be happy? Vinyl and I used to be like that. What happened?' Octavia's introspection spiraled into a bittersweet collection of recalling happier times and wondering where it went wrong. What had she done wrong? "Octavia? You still there?" A light shake pulled Octavia back to the present as she looked about in mild surprise. "I- what? Sorry, I was lost in thought, Lyra." "I asked what you were thinking about. I kinda lost you for a second." "Sorry. I was just thinking about the visits to the park Vinyl and I took. We used to picnic under that oak tree there," She pointed a hoof at a large tree. "and over there was where we shared our first kiss." Octavia pointed to another bench that sat unoccupied down the path. "We have a lot of memories here..." Her voice trailed away. Lyra's ears flattened to her head. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know you and Vinyl had a history here. I shouldn't have brought you to the park. We can go if you want." Octavia remained silent. "Octavia?" "Hmm? Oh, right. I suppose leaving would be best. We've been here how long now?" "A few hours. Octavia, you're really starting to worry me. When's the last time you ate something?" "I had a sandwich for lunch." Octavia left the 'yesterday' off the end of her sentence. "Okay," Lyra said slowly, still eyeing her friend with concern. "Just make sure you're taking care of yourself." Octavia forced a smile and looked Lyra in the eyes. "I promise to take care of myself." She wrapped the unicorn in a tight hug before standing. "I think I'll head home. Vinyl's stopping by for her things and I was hoping to speak with her." "Okay. Let me know how it goes. I'm rooting for you guys." Lyra smiled sadly. Octavia left Lyra in the park, trotting quickly down the street towards her home. Doubt gnawed at the gray mare as she went. 'What if Vinyl didn't want to work things out?' She passed Sugarcube Corner. 'What if Vinyl's met somepony already?' Octavia trotted up the walk towards her home. 'What if she hates me?' Octavia unlocked her front door and stepped inside. 'What if-' Octavia froze, her mind going blank. Things were missing. A recliner, some decorations, Vinyl's records. Gone. Octavia's hooves carried her forward despite her silent protests. The rest of the house matched the living room in terms of missing objects. All of them had one common thread to them as well: everything missing belonged to Vinyl. Octavia's ears were ringing as she walked back into the living room. This had to be a dream. Right? A glint of sunlight on metal caught Octavia's eye. A key sitting atop a piece of paper. A vinyl record keychain marked the key as Vinyl's. With a dry throat, Octavia picked up the paper and began to read: Dear Octi, I'm sorry to do it like this, but you weren't home. I'm gonna go on tour. I think I need to get out of Ponyville for a while. Clear my head, ya know? I'll never forget the times we had. You're an amazing pony, Octi. Don't ever forget that. I'll always love you. -Vine "Octavia? Are you in here?" For a brief moment, Octavia's heart leapt. She looked to the open door, half-expecting to see Vinyl having returned. Instead Bon-Bon stood in the doorway. Time stopped for a moment as Bon-Bon took in what she was seeing. It didn't take long for her to piece it together. Octavia confirmed it anyway. "She's gone, Bon-Bon. She's really gone." Octavia could hold it in no longer. She broke down into wracking sobs as Bon-Bon crossed the room and held her close.
Dinner With FriendsOctavia sighed for the umpteenth time in the last two days. Lyra and Bon-Bon had stopped by whenever they could, but their words fell on deaf ears. Octavia was just numb to the world. Sure she took care of her basic necessities (mostly thanks to her friends), but most of the last few days had been spent either laying in bed staring at the ceiling or rereading the brief letter from Vinyl. Octavia had become well acquainted with the ceiling in the last few days. Staring upwards afforded her the ability to memorize every chip and crack in it's surface. Each time she looked up she found new ones. Flaws in the structure that could only be seen under close scrutiny. "I wonder if our relationship was like that." Octavia said to the empty room. "I suppose so, considering." Octavia rolled onto her side, determined to ignore the analogy she'd created. "I wonder what she's doing?" Octavia asked her pillow, as if the object would answer. The pillow, of course, remained silent. She supposed that was a good thing. Her depression hadn't progressed to the point of hallucinating. Did depressed ponies hallucinate? Octavia had no idea. She hoped not though. The mare's bladder started to complain, reminding her that she needed to use the facilities yet again. Octavia ignored it, tracing mindless patterns in the empty sheets next to her instead. Her bladder, however, would not be ignored. After insisting for a while, Octavia finally gave into it's demands, rising and trudging to the restroom. After relieving herself she moved to return to her self-imposed solitary confinement, only to stop in the doorway. The room looked hollow. Not empty. That would imply that it just needed furniture or something. This was more like the room had something in it once that was no longer there. A vitality that had simply withered away. Octavia turned away, unable to set hoof in her bedroom any longer. Instead she unceremoniously flopped onto the couch in the living room, letting a hoof dangle off the side. She wondered if Vinyl felt this way. "Of course not." She told the room angrily. "She's probably out doing some show somewhere like Fillydelphia. Why would she mope around, anyway?" Octavia moved a hoof forward and placed it on the coffee table in front of her. There was a single vase sitting at the center. Octavia decided on a whim that she no longer liked the vase. Sliding her hoof along the surface of the table, she gently nudged the object until it fell backwards, rolling along until it fell from the table and onto the carpet. "I can't even do that right." Octavia grumbled. At least she now had a completely unobstructed view of the wall, so that was something. Octavia's ear swiveled as the sound of a lock turning reached it. She didn't need to look to know who it was. "You've moved up front." Bon-Bon stated from the doorway. "I didn't expect that." The cream mare made her way inside, closing the door behind herself. She carried a brown bag on her back, moving straight to the kitchen with it. "Lyra's coming over in a bit. She's got some errand or something." She wandered back into the room. "I was gonna make some sandwiches, maybe some steamed veggies to go with them. Have you eaten?" Octavia mumbled something vague and indecipherable. "You have to eat something, Tavi. Its not healthy to starve yourself." Bon-Bon sighed lightly. "I'm making you eat every bite of this meal." "Fine." Octavia acquiesced. "Can we have chips instead of steamed vegetables though?" Octavia asked without looking at her friend. Another sigh escaped Bon-Bon, this one accompanied with a faint smile. ~~~ Lyra showed up about an hour later, conveniently when Bon-Bon had just about finished making dinner. Lyra and Bon-Bon sat at the table, while Octavia munched on her fries from the couch. At least she was sitting up. Lyra and Bon-Bon were making small talk, doing their best to keep Octavia involved. "I got invited to do a music thing next week." Lyra mentioned. "A charity event in front of Twilight's castle. One of the colts in town is sick and they're trying to raise money to pay for his medicine." "Whose idea was that?" Bon-Bon asked. "I think it was Rarity's idea. She was asking about you, Tavi. She said it'd be 'absolutely fabulous' if you showed up and played a piece." Lyra gave a dramatic impersonation of Rarity, complete with a coy toss of her mane. "I don't know, Lyra." Octavia replied hesitantly. "Come on, it's a good cause. The colt's adorable, too. His name's Pipsqueak. Sounds like he's from Trottingham, too." Lyra added. Octavia chewed her sandwich thoughtfully, mulling the idea over in her head. "Come on, it'll be good fun. Besides, you need out of the house- ow!" Lyra found herself interrupted by a painful nudge from Bon-Bon, which was accompanied by a look that told Lyra to shut her mouth. "Of course, if you're not up to it, you don't need to force yourself." Bon-Bon hastily amended. "I'll think about it." Octavia said after a few moments of quiet. "I won't promise anything though." "That's the spirit! It'll be great. Fresh air, music, sunshine. You won't regret it." Lyra chimed in, grinning widely. "She didn't say yes, Lyra." Bon-Bon gave a flat stare to her friend. "Well, not exactly. But Tavi always comes through for others." "I am right here, you two." Octavia rolled her eyes, the faintest touch of amusement in her voice. "We know. But its fun talking about you like this." Lyra stuck her tongue out at Octavia playfully. "I missed dinners like this one." Octavia gave a weak chuckle. "Funny, isn't it? I can't remember the last time Vinyl and I sat down and ate a meal together like this." Her voice trailed away, leaving an awkward silence hanging over the trio. After a few minutes of silence, Octavia spoke again. "Do you think it's my fault?" Lyra dropped her fork in surprise. Bon-Bon, however, was the first to answer. "What?! No, Tavi. Of course it wasn't your fault. Sometimes... Sometimes ponies just drift apart." Bon-Bon placed a hoof upon Octavia's. "You can't blame yourself for that." "But what if I could have done more? What if the signs were there and I didn't see them?" "So what? You guys gave it a go and things didn't work out." "Lyra!" Bon-Bon stared wide-eyed at her friend. "What? I'm just trying to say that it was good while it lasted. Octavia, do you regret your relationship with Vinyl?" "No, but-" "There you go. You have your memories of the good times. Don't let the bad stuff outweigh the good." Lyra nodded emphatically with her front legs crossed. "That," Bon-Bon looked at Lyra in amazement. "Was actually a surprisingly profound thing to say." "Thanks. I read it in one of your books." "And just like that, the illusion is gone." Bon-Bon gave Octavia an earnest look. "She's right, though. And you can't blame yourself for what happened. You'll drive yourself nuts." "I know," Octavia admitted. "But I miss her. I can't help but think about the little things. Arguments over trifling things, times spent apart because we were caught up in work or some such thing, evenings spent quietly reading at home rather than doing anything. It hurts, knowing that we let what we had die simply because we didn't care for it." Lyra and Bon-Bon exchanged glances, uncertain of what to say. Truth be told, neither of them knew if there was anything they could say to cheer up their friend. "I should get her back." Octavia said with a surprising amount of determination. "How?" Lyra pointed out bluntly. "I don't know yet. I'd have to find her first. But when I was with Vinyl those were the happiest moments of my life. I'd trade anything to have her back." Bon-Bon gave Octavia a melancholy smile, squeezing her friend's hoof lightly. "Then we'll help any way we can."
