The Chance To Say

The funeral service was held the following Friday. As if it wasn't bad enough already, a small thunderstorm had started brewing, and the mourning ponies were being rained on. Octavia, Vinyl, and WaveMaker were standing together directly in front of the casket as it slowly was lowered into the ground. WaveMaker hadn't said a word, nor sighed, sniffed, or broke down. He just stood there, staring. When the service ended, the trio was walking to their homes, and Octavia decided to try.

"WaveMaker? How are you holding up?"

Still no response came from the stallion as they approached his house. He opened up the door and stopped halfway into the house. As he turned back to face the mares, he sighed.

"Look. I can't begin to thank you two enough for your help and support. But, I think I just need a breather."

Octavia nodded, as did Vinyl, before receiving one back from WaveMaker before entering the house and shutting the door. Vinyl and Octavia looked at each other and shrugged before turning to walk back to their own home. Upon entering, the two mares shed their wet coats and laid down on separate pieces of furniture in the living room. Octavia had flopped down on the couch with her face in the pillow, and Vinyl had thrown herself over both arms of a chair.

"Vinyl?"

"Yeah Tav?"

"When will all this shit stop happening?"

Vinyl sighed before draping her head over the arm of the chair and looking at Octavia.

"I don't know. Hopefully soon. But hey, let's look at the positives right now. Wedding in a couple months."

A sudden realization came to Octavia when she heard Vinyls words. Her head shot up to meet Vinyls upside down gaze.

"We only have four months!"

"Ok, so?"

"It takes longer than four months to plan a wedding!

"Alright, alright, calm down. What all do we need to do?"

"Well, lets see. We need to arrange a venue, catering, invites, dresses-"

"Wait, dresses?"

"Yes, dresses. Have you ever been to a wedding Vinyl?"

"Uh, not that I can remember. I really should've thought ahead."

"Well, just let this be a lesson in planning. Here, you go and get tickets to Ponyville for tomorrow, we have a lot to do there."

"Have a marvelous day darling."

Rarity waved the mare out of the store and turned back to something behind the counter, but after only a few seconds, the door opened. She spun around to see two mares walking inside.

"Welcome! How may I help you?"

"Well, this was your big idea."

Vinyl chuckled after nudging Octavias side. Octavia rolled her eyes and walked up to the counter.

"Yes, hello. Um, we need two wedding dresses."

"Alright, well, what kind? Strapless, A-line, low back, ballgown?"

"I.. I have no idea."

"Well, we can start with this. Who's getting married?"

Octavia quickly looked to Vinyl and then back to Rarity. Both Vinyl and Octavia motioned towards each other.

"We, we are."

"Yeah, us."

"Oh, well then. I suppose that would make sense considering you wanted two wedding dresses and not one wedding dress and a mare of honor dress."

"Yeah, sure."

"Well, why don't you follow me, I'm sure I have a few in here that you might like."

As the white unicorn walked into the back room, Vinyl looked at Octavia with a frown.

"Oh this is gonna suck."

"Oh hush up you big baby, it could be fun."

"Sure. You know, I never should've asked if you had any spare change. It all led to this."

"Yes, and who would still be on the streets?"

"Well, maybe I woulda... ok fine, you win."

"That's what I thought."

Octavia smiled before planting a quick kiss on Vinyls cheek.

You may now kiss the bride

WaveMaker raised the Vodka bottle to his lips and down another swing as he watched the two ponies of the screen lock lips, the camera zooming in on the beautiful moment. He lifted the remote and held the rewind button for a few seconds.

may now kiss the bride

kiss the bride

kiss the bride

"Believe me pal, I wanna."

He drained the rest of the bottle on his hoof and tossed it beside him. Tears had been rolling down his eyes as the footage of his wedding rolled on the TV. As he raised his hoof again and turned the TV off, his ears perked up.

"Come on, it'll be fun!"

"What?"

He turned to look at the stairs, seeing nothing but thinking he heard a voice come from there.

"Don't be a wuss WaveMaker, come on!"

"Who's there!?"

He ran up the stairs, stumbling and half crawling along the wall to the next floor. He looked out the window at the pouring rain, but heard no sound other than his own heavy breathing and a few giggles. He walked up to the trapdoor to the attic and quickly pulled the drawstring. When he ran up into the dark room, he saw a translucent version of him and his late wife, and he remembered what they were doing. It was one of the worst thunderstorms since they had moved there. The power was out, and they were drunkenly playing truth or dare by candlelight. When he had been too scared to accept Skyline Breezers dare to go onto the roof, she did it herself. WaveMaker watched the image fade away, tears once again running down his face. He gripped his head in his forehooves and fell to the floor, back against the wall.

"Come on, do it."

"Huh?"

He looked up, once again met by nothing more than old furniture and dusty decor. A glare caught his eye, no more than a fleeting glance, but still, he found himself crawling towards it.

"Do it!"

The voice got more aggressive as he approached the object slightly covered by a sheet.

"Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it!"

WaveMaker ripped the sheet off the object, watching the metal door swing slowly open, and revealing the handgun inside. He pushed himself away from the safe, mouth agape in shock. As he panted, the flow of tears stopped.

"Fuck."

He cross his front hooves over his rear ones and put his head in his lap. After roughly ten minutes of sitting alone in the musty attic, Wavmaker heard the doorbell ring. Down both sets of stairs and to the door, WaveMaker wondered who'd be knocking at his door. As he pulled the door open, he was met with a smiling purple mare with a red and blue mane.

"Hello?"

"G'day. Um, have you seen Vinyl around? I heard that she lived next door, thought maybe she was around. Is she?"

"Uh, no, I haven't seen her. You knock on her door?"

"And rang the doorbell, yes."

"Huh. I don't know, maybe her and Octavia went somewhere. If you'd like, they may be back later, you can come in and wait for a bit?"

"Well, suppose there's no harm, I don't wish to be a burden though."

"Oh, it's no problem. Here, come in. My names WaveMaker by the way, friend of Vinyl and Octavia."

"Hail Toss, roomed with Vinyl in rehab, pleasure to meet you."

"Well, I'm not gonna lie, that was actually the worst five hours of my life."

"Oh hush. So you don't like wedding dress shopping? Who does?"

"We didn't even decide on one!"

"I was going to wait and bring some friends along."

Vinyl rolled her eyes and smiled at her fiancé.

"Course you were. Well, hopefully that's the worst part of today, or what's left of it, what's next?"

"I guess we don't have much. Catering, venue, and guests. Are you sure you don't know anypony in town who you want to invite?"

"Not really."

Octavia furrowed her brow and sighed.

"You know, I guess I still have to do a lot of running around. Do you want to go back to ManeHatten?"

"Wait, what?"

"I may need to stay overnight, I'm sure Lyra and Bon-Bon will take me in for the day, hell, they might even be able to help me. You can go back home and just wait for me. I know how much you hate being with me."

Octavia gave a playful wink and looked at Vinyl. Vinyl chuckled and gave Octavia a nudge in her side.

"Oh, you finally caught that did you?"

"Apparently."

"'Bout time. Are you sure you'll be all good on your own? I mean, you don't need me?"

"It's not that I don't need you, it's just that I know how much you'd be bored. Wouldn't be surprised if you fell asleep."

"Hey, I resent that. Alright, if you're sure."

"Go ahead Vinyl."

Vinyl and Octavia locked lips quickly before parting, waving each other off. Octavia turned and started walking towards Lyra and Bon-Bons house.

"Alright, now maybe I can talk to Lyra and Bonnie alone, like I planned."

"Good to be back!"

It was now roughly nine at night, and Vinyl was happy to be back home. As she closed the door behind her and flopped out on the couch, she sighed and closed her eyes. Not fifteen seconds later, the doorbell rang.

"Are you serious? Who in the hell?"

She pushed herself off the couch and walked over to the door. When she opened it, she gasped.

"Hail Toss?"

"Surprise!"

"Oh, Hail Toss! no way! Come here!"

Vinyl wrapped her forehooves around the other mare, as did she. The two separated and smiled at each other.

"Damn, when did you get out of rehab?"

"Earlier today. I've been at your friends house almost all day waiting for you. Where were you?"

"Wait wait wait, you were over there?"

Vinyl pointed to the house the WaveMaker lives in, and Hail Toss looked, her smile fading slightly.

"Yes, that one. Why? Is he-"

"What did he say? How was he acting?"

"Vinyl, calm down. What's up with him, and why are you freaking out?"

"Here, come in."

The two mares walked inside, and Vinyl motioned for Hail Toss to sit down.

"Alright. All you need to know about him right now is that he might not be fully stable."

"Stable?"

"His wife just died."

"Oh. Oh, I'm so sorry."

"We all are. I don't know him the best, but I think I know him well enough to know this. Nopony can just go throigh their wifes funeral service and say nothing. He didnt even react. It's almost like he's suppressing it. My fear is that he's gonna snap."

"He seemed alright when I was there. We just sat around, had some coffee, and talked. Just a lot of talking."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Although, not the best detective, but there were a few odd things I noticed."

"Tell me."

"Well, for one, his cheeks were wet. Two, his mane was messed up, but only in the spots near his temples. And three, he had a lot of dust on him."

"Dust?"

"Yeah, he looked awfully dusty. No idea how, the place was spotless, save for the bottles everywhere."

"Wait, bottles? Like, alcohol bottles?"

"Looked like them."

Vinyl put a hoof to her chin and thought for a long moment. Hail Toss fiddled with her mane as she let Vinyl think.

"I have no idea. He wasn't that much of an alcoholic that I know of."

"Maybe it's because of his wife?"

"Probably. Well, we should maybe switch subjects before the ringing in his ears drives him crazy. How are you?"

"I'm actually not bad. A friend of mine offered to take me in untill I get a new job, and I'm thinking about looking around for somepony special. Maybe one who isn't into drugs this time."

"Good to hear. Hopefully you find somepony soon. Which reminds me, I have to ask you something."

"Ok, what is it?"

"How'd you like to be a mare of honor to my wedding?"

Hail Toss' face went blank of expression. Her mouth opened slightly before growing into a huge grin.

"No way! You two got married!? That's awesome! I'll totally be your mare of honor."

Hail Toss moved and hugged Vinyl. Both mares smiled as they held the embrace for a few seconds.

"When is all this happening?"

"Roughly four months."

"Cool, I'll be there. Congrats Vinyl."

"Thanks Hail."

"Well, I'd better get back to my friends house."

"Here, I'll walk with you, I got a few more things we should talk about."