About 2 weeks had passed since Hearth's Warming, and the towns and cities of Equestria were still feeling the effects of winter. Snow, cold, all the same symptoms of the season. Octavia was walking down the streets of Manehattan, cello case on her side. She almost fell when she slipped on a patch of ice, and she was already off balance from carrying the instrument.
"Can't hurt myself, I just got out of the damn concert hall."
Octavia had become a wild hit, nearly putting the other genres of music and their musicians to shame. She had just finished a bit show at the concert hall in Manehatten, and she was walking to her new apartment in the city. Deciding to relocate from Ponyville to Manehatten was a tough but well worth it decision to make. She had to choose between her music and her comfortable life in Ponyville. Of course she chose the music, but there were odd times when she would start to miss her old life. She continued her walk down one of the main streets of Manehattan, being careful to avoid ice patches and other ponies. Stopping for a moment to check how many bits she had got for her last gig, a voice faintly called out to her.
"Excuse me miss, could you spare a few bits?"
She turned to see where the weak, raspy voice was coming from and was met by a mare. She was white unicorn with an electric blue mane, wearing a deep blue sweater and a pair of pink sunglasses with one lens cracked. Octavia looked at the mare for a moment, then back to her saddlebag. She thought about giving the mare some of the bits in the envelope in her saddlebag, but a small part of her brain that wanted her cello re-strung spoke for her.
"I'm sorry, I don't have any I can spare at the moment."
A look of despair lashed across the other mares face when the sentence ended, and Octavia could swear she saw a tear form.
"Oh, o-ok, have a good day then."
The unicorn turned her back, sniffed, and crawled back into the large cardboard box that she was apparently living in. A deep feeling of regret hit Octavia's heart as she watched the mare curl up into a helpless little ball inside the box, and she tried to force herself to walk away, but a strong force inside of her stopped her from moving. Closing her eyes to think for a moment, a voice inside her head told her to do something. She turned back the other way, facing the unicorn once again.
"Hey, I can't give you any bits, but maybe I can make it up to you another way?"
The mare looked up at Octavia, who flashed a warm smile.
"H-how do you mean?"
"Well, I suppose you'd rather spend a night in a building rather than where you are now?"
The mare smiled, and nodded in agreement. Octavia did the same and motioned with her head for the other mare to follow her. The white unicorn levitated a blanket and a few other assorted things with her as Octavia turned and the two began their walk.
"So, I see that you're a musician."
This sentence seemed rather cold, as if it was said more out if anger than out of questioning.
"Yes I am, in fact I actually just left my last show at the concert hall."
"That's great."
Octavia now realized why the mares words seemed to have a bit of hateful edge to them. She caught a quick glimpse of the other pony's cutie mark, and noticed that it was a musical note.
"Y-yeah, yeah it is."
Octavia's mood had shifted quite a bit, seeming as how she felt that she might have caused this poor mares situation. Silence overtook most of the walk to the apartment, though the odd bits of conversation popped up every now and again. They came upon Octavia's apartment building and Octavia looked up for a moment, then switched her gaze to the mare beside her. She saw the mare shiver and decided that she should probably get her inside and get her some tea or something to warm her.
"Well, this is the building. Up two floors and we're in."
"Cool."
"Shall we go on then?"
"Yep."
Proceeding to enter the building and walk up the stairs, the mares eventually found themselves in Octavia's apartment. Octavia put her cello case down near the door, being sure to not damage it or its contents. She turned back to see that the other mare had taken a seat at the table. The white unicorn was just sitting there staring at something that she was levitating in front of her. Octavia thought she saw another tear forming in the other mares eye, and had to try to keep one from forming in her own.
"Hey, I um, I don't believe I got your name."
The mare quickly switched her stare from the item in front of her to Octavia. She put the thing back in her bag and looked at Octavia again.
"My name's Vinyl, Vinyl Scratch. Also known as DJ pon3. Well, formerly known as that I guess."
A slight cringe came from the last sentence to Octavia. Her belief that she had put this mare out of business was confirmed, and she felt awful.
"F-formerly? How do you mean?"
Vinyl looked down at the table for a moment, sighed, and then proceeded to speak.
"Well, I'm not exactly a DJ anymore. My music just isn't really appreciated in Equestria these days."
Vinyl sighed heavily as she raised her head, and brushed some of her vibrant mane out of the way of her eyes. Octavia looked the mare in the eyes, very easily able to see the stress and sadness that Vinyl was feeling. Octavia took a seat at the table beside Vinyl before speaking.
"Well, how did you end up on the street? Surely you had something else to fall back on."
Another sigh from Vinyl signified that her next set wasn't going to be very positive.
"Not exactly. See, my agent had me staying at his place for work, seeing as how I don't actually live in Manehatten. Once the ponies stopped liking the music that we produced, he just couldn't afford to keep me. I didn't have anypony else to help me, and somewhere along the lines I just kinda ended up on the street."
Octavia was on the verge of tears. She had caused this mares misery, and she was overwhelmed with guilt.
"That's awful."
"Eh, I kinda expected him to kick me out at some point anyways."
"Still, that is truly awful to hear about."
Vinyl shifted her gaze again to the table, hiding her face from Octavia.
"Hey, I didn't get your name."
"Oh, I'm Octavia Melody."
Vinyl looked up at the gray mare beside her again.
"Wait, you're Octavia Melody? Like, the classy music Octavia Melody?"
Octavia gulped. It seemed that this wasn't a question of wondering, but more of hate.
"Y-yes, I'm a cellist."
Octavia was expecting shouting from the mare, but instead she sat silent. Then, Vinyl grinned and leaned back in the chair she sat in.
"Well well well, would ya look at that."
"Wh-what?"
"Two minutes ago I was out on the street, now I'm sitting here talking to the musical star of Equestria."
Octavia blushed a little bit. She knew she had been popular lately, but star? Maybe Vinyl was just complimenting her, but Octavia felt as if it meant something more than just being friendly.
"Oh, I don't know about star, but thank you."
"No problem. What's a mare like you doin' living in an apartment like this? Not that it's crappy or whatever, just that I thought that you'd be makin' the kinda money that you would be able to have your own house or something."
Octavia had to stop and think before answering that. She wondered herself why she hadn't moved out and into a house, or at least a better apartment.
"Oh, I guess I'm just living here because it's cheaper."
"Oh, I see."
A feeling that that last statement was a little more sarcastic came over Octavia, and she blushed embarrassedly. She didn't want that mare to think that she was cheap, in fact, she was quite wealthy. Octavia got up and started towards the kitchen area, hoping to change the subject.
"Can I get you a hot beverage? It's awful cold out there."
"You're tellin' me. Sure, I'll take a cup of coffee if you got it."
"Coming right up."
Octavia quickly made the drinks and got them over to the table, putting the coffee in front of Vinyl.
"Terribly sorry if the coffee isn't very good, I'm not exactly and avid coffee drinker."
Vinyl took a sip, and was pleased with the taste of the drink. She was quite frankly happy to have anything warm at all, and she certainly wouldn't be complaining about coffee considering the circumstances.
"It's alright, I won't complain."
Both flashed a smile and took another sip of their drinks. Vinyl set her mug down and used her magic to ruffle through her bag. She smiled widely as she levitated a shiny metal object out of it. Octavia questioned the object at first, but what Vinyl began pouring into her drink made it clear. The object was a flask, full of some sort of alcohol that seemed to resemble one that Octavia enjoyed many times in Ponyville. Vinyl caught Octavia's stare and chuckled slightly.
"AppleJack Daniels. Some of the finest in Equestria. You want some?"
Octavia shook her head, and Vinyl shrugged and drained the rest of the alcohol into her mouth.
"Good stuff. So hey, I forgot to ask you something."
"What's that?"
"So, you're a musician, you play a lot of big shows, a lot of them in Manehatten and Trottingham right?"
"Um, y-yes I do."
"And you play the more, classy stuff right."
"Correct."
"And, I play more, upbeat techno music, right?"
"Well, I wouldn't know from personal experience, but you did say that you were a DJ."
"Right. And the two kinds of music don't really go together, do they?"
"I wouldn't say so. Where are you going with this by the way?"
"Well, I'd bet you would never guess that I've been to almost every show you've played."
Octavia looked with astonishment at Vinyl, who quickly covered her blushing face with her drink. This seemed oddly like a flirtatious sentence to Octavia, and Vinyl's reddened face was also a factor in that belief.
"You? You've been to a lot of my shows? Considering the fact that you're a DJ I never would have thought that."
"Yeah, I never thought I would've enjoyed your music. But this stallion I knew was way into classical, so I went to a show with him one time, and I kinda liked it."
Octavia giggled a little bit at the statement, and decided to be a little bit of a gossip.
"Oh, a stallion you say?"
Vinyl glared at Octavia but couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey, don't be thinking that I was just after some action, he's just a friend."
"Oh, of course."
"Thats right of course. And besides, he has a mare-friend. And I play for the other side anyhow."
This made Octavia laugh so hard that she spit out some of her tea, and Vinyl just blushed and laughed along.
"Well well, and here I was thinking you were some kind of a badass that lept from stallion to stallion like any former celebrity would."
"Hey, I didn't say that I didn't do that at one time. You gotta sample before you buy."
Again laughter arose from the two, and more drinks spilled or spat out. Octavia got up to get a towel to clean the mess that they had made. She came back and wiped down the table. Vinyl had got up and was looking at some of the decorations around the apartment.
"You know most mares couldn't pull off such a good look from this kind of apartment. I know I couldn't."
Vinyl chuckled slightly as she levitated a picture of Octavia and her parents in front of her. Octavia threw out the paper towels she had used and walked over to where Vinyl stood.
"You're not the decorating type?"
"Oh hell no. You clearly are, I couldn't decorate to save my own life."
"Thank you."
"No problem, so it's ok if I crash here tonight?"
"Of course it is. Are you ok with the couch or would you like me to get the guest room ready?"
"Hell, I've been lying on a cardboard box as a bed for the past few months, even a couch will be like a cloud."
Vinyl walked over to beside the couch and unfolded a blanket with her magic. She played down on the couch and draped the blanket over her, settling in to her new surroundings with ease.
"Hey, thank you so much for letting me stay here, I owe you big time."
"Oh, it's no problem. Have a good sleep."
"Same to you."
Octavia turned off the light and walked into her own bedroom, closing the door behind her. She got into bed and turned off the bedside lamp. Once she got comfortable, she began thinking about her day all in all.
So, took in a mare off the street, one that I pretty much put on the street, and now she's sleeping in my living room. Not my typical day, but at least she seems nice.
To Be Continued...
Octavia woke up to her usual alarm that she had set to an easy listening radio station. She opened her eyes and looked around. She walked over to the vanity and brushed her mane down into its usual straight form. Humming along to the radio as she brushed, she took in the comfortable surroundings of her morning routine. Something wasn't the same though, there was an odd noise coming from the living room. She got up and walked slowly over to the door, poking her head out of the slim space. Continuing her walk into the living room, she figured that the noise was coming from the white unicorn sprawled out on the couch.
That's what that noise was? I could've sworn a train was in the living room.
Octavia chuckled to herself as she trotted over to the kitchen and got out a large pan. She turned on the stoves right front burner and put the pan down. Quickly cracking a few eggs onto it, she fried herself up a small breakfast. Not wanting to wake the other mare, and seeing as how the space was occupied, she decided against sitting on the ground couch. She set her breakfast down on her desk and walked over to the dresser. After putting on her show outfit, she debated wearing a hat or not. Instead of continuing her self-debate for more than a few seconds, she decided to review the songs for today's show and sat down at her desk. She pulled open a drawer and drew from inside it a few sheets of music. Octavia looked over the music thoroughly while eating her breakfast. There was another big show today, and if she nailed it it could be the paycheck that upgrades her apartment to a house.
Would I want carpet or hardwood in the living room? Maybe tile? No, tile's for the kitchen. With my luck I'd scratch the floors to hell moving the furniture through the living room.
Octavia got distracted by the thoughts of her new place, and stopped caring about the music momentarily. She snapped back into focus when a loud snort-type sound came from the living room, followed by a long yawn.
She must be up. Should I go out or stay here?
A few rustling noises followed by a few loud, dry coughs made Octavia stand up and walk back into the living room. She saw the unicorn doing a few stretches beside the couch. Vinyl looked over and saw Octavia standing in the doorway.
"Hey."
"Good morning. You sleep well?"
"For sure. Haven't slept like that in months."
"Oh, well I'm glad you're well rested."
"Thanks, and thanks again for taking me in."
"Oh it's no trouble."
"I didn't wake you with my snoring did I? I've been told I can be pretty noisy."
"No, I wasn't bothered."
"Ok, good."
Vinyl cocked her head from one side to the other and back again, hearing it crack as she did so. She used her magic to bring a flip-blade comb up to her mane. With a small flourish, she flipped the comb open and straightened out her mane. Octavia had walked over to the door and picked up her cello. Vinyl had sat back down on the couch and let out a few coughs as she did so. Octavia had almost walked out door after putting her coat on and her cello on her back. She stopped in the doorway when she remembered that the mare on the couch didn't live there. Octavia turned to see Vinyl levitating an apple and taking a bite out of it.
"Um, Vinyl?"
"Yeah?"
"I, I have to go for my concert. Um, I was wondering what you were planning to do?"
Vinyl held up a hoof and swallowed the bit of apple in her mouth. She dug around in her bag and eventually pulled out a small device. After flipping it open, she frowned and looked back to Octavia.
"You got a phone around here?"
"Yes. It's over there beside the fridge. You're welcome to use it if you need."
"Awesome, thanks."
"It's no problem. I'll see you later today?"
"Yeah, I'll probably be here. I got a few calls I've been meaning to make."
"Alright, see you later."
"See ya."
As Octavia trotted out the door, Vinyl got up and walked over to the phone. It was a cordless version, so she just levitated it up and entered the number.
"Alright, let's make these calls then."
______________________________
"So, let me get this straight again. You found her on the street and decided to take her in just because a feeling told you to?"
"Well when you put it like that.."
"Come on Tav, you know better than to do something like that. You remember last year when those ponies were killed by street ponies?"
"Yes I remember."
"Whatever, doesn't matter. So long as she doesn't start distracting you."
Octavia was sitting in her dressing room with her agent, Platinum Record. He was newer to the business, but he definitely was born to do it. He was a unicorn, with a jet black coat and a silver mane streaked with blazing red. A pony poked it's head in the door and looked at Octavia.
"You're on in five minutes miss Melody."
"Alright, thank you."
The pony left the room and Platinum Record turned back to Octavia. The grey mare had taken her cello out and was fiddling around with a few minor things on it.
"Alright Tav, this is it. After this show, you'll hit the top of the charts for sure. Just remember to relax and just focus on the cello."
"Alright, I'm ready."
"Excellent, it's time to go then."
The two stood up and walked over to the door. Octavia walked down the hall to the side of the stage. Platinum Record walked past her and over to the microphone stand in the center of the stage. He levitated the mic beside him and nodded to Octavia before walking through the curtains. Octavia let out a long sigh as she looked down at the ground. She could here her agents muffled words as he addressed the crowd.
"Fillies and gentlecolts, please put your hooves together for Octavia Melody!"
Octavia quickly took her place on the stage as the curtains drew open. Platinum Record quickly walked over and placed the mic back on the stand.
"Good luck."
They nodded to each other as he trotted off the stage. Octavia pressed her bow gently against the strings of the cello, and after a brief moment of thought she began playing. The crowd was silent as she went through the song she had written and played the other day. She never strayed her gaze from the long wooden neck of the instrument, trying her hardest not to mess up. She began straying from the song not in the physical sense but the mental sense.
I wonder what kind of calls Vinyl had to make. Hopefully she makes a call that will get her set up with a nice place, maybe she has a-
Octavia's thoughts were shattered by an ear-peircing sounds coming from her cello. She looked up in a panic as the crowd let out a low sound of disappointment. Octavia went red as she looked down and continued playing. She fumbled through the rest of the song, occasionally catching disappointed glances from Platinum Record. After her song ended, she stood up and bowed. She was given a half-assed round of applause as she walked off the stage with a large amount of shame.
How in the bloody hell did I screw that up so bad? Was it because I was thinking about...it was!
"Octavia! What the hell happened?"
"Save it Platinum, I have to go be somewhere."
"What do you mean by that?"
Octavia had immediately taken the offensive in the argument, as Platinum knew when she was mad. She never snapped on him. Octavia packed up her cello and walked towards the back door.
"I'll, I'll talk to you tommorow?"
"Call me if something happens."
Octavia pushed open the door and began walking home. Platinum Record put a hoof to his earpiece, answering the call that had come in.
"Yeah this is Plat, what you got? Yes. Yes she did. I figured. Alright. Alright, thanks. Yeah, bye. Fuck. I hope she gets it together before Friday."
______________________________
Octavia stormed up the stairs to her apartment. She had been thinking about her screw up all the way home. Octavia nearly broke the door with the amount of force that she opened it with.
"Vinyl! I need to talk to you now!"
She set her cello case down and closed the door. She turned around to see the white unicorn sleeping on the couch.
"Vinyl, wake up!"
When no response came, Octavia walked over and prodded Vinyl's body.
"Vinyl?"
She put her head up against the unicorns chest and listened. She didn't hear a heartbeat.
"Vinyl!"
______________________________
"I'm sorry miss Melody, but she's in intensive care at the moment."
"And why does that mean that I can't see her?"
"Are you family?"
"No."
"I'm sorry, but I can't let anypony in who isn't family."
The receptionist pony looked at Octavia from behind the glass. Octavia felt a mixture of defeat and anger. She put her front hooves on top of the desktop and stared daggers at the pony.
"Isn't there any way I can see her? Is it a money issue? I promise you I can-"
"Bribery will only get us both in trouble miss Melody."
Octavia lowered her hooves and looked to the floor. Another pony walked up behind the receptionist.
"Your shift's over, you can go."
"Alright, I'll talk to you tommorow."
Octavia looked up to see another mare sitting down and adjusting her mane.
Maybe she'll let me see Vinyl.
"Excuse me miss, but is there a way I could see a patient?"
The mare looked up and saw Octavia. A grin instantly spread across her face.
"No way! You're Octavia Melody!"
Octavia blushed a little bit at the pony's enthusiasm, and she nodded.
"Yes, yes I am."
"I'm a huge fan! What are you doing here?"
"Um, there's somepony I would like to see. Can I do that?"
"Sure can!"
The pony dug around in a drawer and pulled out a few forms.
"Who are you trying to see?"
"Vinyl Scratch."
"K,she's in room 2C just down the hall to the left."
"Thank you very much."
"No problem, but can I get an autograph?"
"Sure."
Octavia was given a pen and a peice of paper on which she wrote her name and a short inspirational sentence. The receptionist squealed like a filly when Octavia passed the paper back to her. Octavia ran down the hallway and quickly entered room 2C. The sight that awaited her almost made her cry. Vinyl was laid out on the hospital bed, asleep. Octavia ran over and put her hoof on Vinyl's chest, feeling the slow heartbeat. The only ambiance she had was the machine next to Vinyl's bed beeping.
"Vinyl? Vinyl are you awake?"
Vinyl's eyes fluttered open, and she rolled onto her side. She saw Octavia and tried to sit up.
"Oc-octavia?"
"Vinyl! You're alive!"
"Yeah, I'm alive. What the hell happened?"
"I don't know. When I got home I thought you were asleep on the couch, but I couldn't hear your heart beat so I rushed you here."
"Wait, you rushed me here?"
Octavia nodded as Vinyl pushed herself into a sitting position. Vinyl smiled and looked around the room.
"Thanks. I mean, the last thing I remember was getting off the phone with an old friend and then I passed out. Now I'm here."
"What did the doctor say?"
"He said something about my body reacting badly to the cold. Apparently it took this long for it to become something bad."
"Well, in just glad you're OK."
"Well look who was worried about little old Vinyl."
Vinyl crossed her forehooves and smirked at Octavia. Octavia's face went a little red and she stumbled over her words.
"I-I was just, concerned that, that you were-"
"Suuuuuuure."
Vinyl chuckled and looked forwards at the clock across the room.
"How'd the concert thingy go?"
"Oh, umm, it went ok."
"Just ok?"
"I sort of messed up."
Vinyl cocked her head and looked at Octavia.
"Wait, you messed up? That can't be good."
"No, my agent was quite upset."
"At least you still have an agent."
"That's true I guess. I have another show in a few days, I just hope I don't screw that one up too."
"I'm sure you'll do great."
Octavia noticed that the machine next to Vinyl had slowed down in its beeps pace. As it did, Vinyl looked to be getting more and more tired.
"Vinyl, are you feeling alright?"
"I'm, I'm fine."
Vinyl's eyes slid shut as she slumped down in the bed and the machine held one long, high pitched note. Octavia's eyes hot open and she rushed to the door.
"Doctor!"
To Be Continued...
