The Chance To Say

"You're doing great Vinyl!"

"Yeah yeah yeah."

Octavia grinned as she sat on a chair and watched Vinyl move boxes into the house. As Vinyl stopped for a moment and wiped the sweat from her brow, Octavia greeted her with a kiss and a glass of iced tea.

"Thanks sweetie."

"You're the one doing all the hard work."

"Oh, don't down yourself. You did move that one box."

Vinyl chuckled to herself and Octavia joined in. The two sipped from their drinks as they looked around the empty house.

"Anypony seal the deal on the apartment yet?"

"No, not yet. I don't mind, I have a little extra that I can live on for a while. Which reminds me, I've got to pay a friend back."

"For?"

"Remember when you were in the asylum?"

"How could I not?"

"Well, the fine money was given to me by a friend. We had a sort of joint account pact with me, her, and her mare-friend."

"Huh."

Once again the mares sipped their drinks and sighed. Octavia looked at Vinyl with a questioning face.

"Vinyl, I have sort of an odd question."

"Sure, go ahead."

"Well, since you're on your last week of rehabilitation, should we maybe start discussing the plan for employment when you get out?"

"Hmm, hadn't really thought of that. Guess it is something we should talk about."

"Well, let's see."

Octavia stood up and walked over to the one table she had set up for them. She sat down in one of the chairs and motioned for Vinyl to sit. When she did Octavia looked at her and put her front hooves on the table.

"Well, what do you feel you'd be good at?"

"I don't know. I mean, other than DJ-ing, I never really had any other hobbies or interests."

"Well, what's a job that you would want to be a part of? Let's stray from the music industry."

Vinyl thought for a long moment before suddenly perking up.

"Ya know, I think that being a police officer would be pretty cool. Think about it, former drug addict turned cop? Seems pretty fitting."

"That would be a good turn, definitely should consider that one. Any others?"

"Hmm, I'll think about it. What about you? Shouldn't you be thinking about getting back into the business?"

"I should, but I just can't find a damn agent. I figure I could try to run without one, but it would be harder to get more and more shows. Actually, that seems like a benefit."

The two laughed at Octavias joke for a bit before a knock at the door interrupted them.

"I'll get it."

"Thanks honey."

Vinyl trotted over to the door and opened it up. On the other side was a tall, white coated, blue, white and red maned earth pony.

"Hello there."

"Hello, can I help you?"

"Oh, are you the ponies moving in here? I'm the next house over."

"Oh, cool. Here, come in."

"Thank you."

The pony stepped inside and shivered for a second. Octavia stood up and walked over to Vinyl.

"It sure is cold out there for the season."

"You're tellin' me. Oh, how rude of me, WaveMaker, nice to meet you."

"I'm Octavia Melody, this is Vinyl Scratch. Pleasure to meet you."

"So, you two friends? Roommates?"

"We're a couple."

Vinyl blushed a little as she spoke, and she looked over to see Octavia smiling and blushing just as much. WaveMaker smiled a bit as he watched.

"Well, you two do seem very happy together. Just thought I'd run over and say welcome to the neighborhood. My wife would've been here as well, but she had an errand to run, I'm sure you'll meet her some time soon."

"I'm sure we will."

"Well, I'd best be going. It was nice meeting you two, enjoy the house."

"It was, and thank you."

WaveMaker waved as he walked out the door and off towards his house. Octavia and Vinyl sat back down, smiling.

"Well, nice that we already got a friendly neighbor."

"You're right about that Tavi. Where I used to live, the neighbors wouldn't even say hi if you caught them robbing your apartment."

This statement made Octavia laugh so hard she couldn't keep the small amount of iced tea in her mouth.

"Already made a mess on the floor Vinyl!"

The two laughed as Vinyl stood up and levitated a foldable mop from one of the boxes. When she started cleaning up the mess, she noticed that Octavia was staring out the window.

"Something wrong honey?"

"I, I'm not sure. I just have a weird feeling. I had a similar one when the police came to me about Platinums murder. I can't explain it, but it happened just at the time I figured out that Open Mind did it."

"What do you think it means?"

"I have no idea. I just hope it doesn't mean somepony's in trouble again."

"Well, I'd say this is about good, wouldn't you?"

WaveMaker was standing on one leg atop a ladder while a red maned, white coated pegasus mare watched the framed portrait he was adjusting.

"Uh, maybe to the left just a little. Perfect!"

WaveMaker stepped down from the ladder and looked at the picture.

"Yeah, you were right. It looks good there."

"Told ya."

"Oh whatever."

"Hey, you best take that back."

"Or what?"

The pegasus grinned and used her wing to grab a pillow and smack WaveMaker with it. WaveMaker stumbled slightly, giving the pegasus a change to pin him.

"Well?"

"Fine. I take it back. You win again Skyline Breezer."

"Exactly."

Skyline Breezer leaned in and quickly kissed WaveMaker on the lips. She rolled off of him and looked around.

"How are the new neighbors?"

"They seem really nice, I can't believe you didn't come with me."

"Hey, you know how I am around new ponies."

"True."

WaveMaker stood up and walked over to the conjoined kitchen and dining room. He pulled out a clear bottle filled with a lemonade colored liquid.

"Want one?"

"Sure."

WaveMaker cracked open one of the bottles and passed it to Skyline Breezer as she walked over. Then opening one for himself, he took a long drink.

"As I was saying, I really wish you had come with me. They seem like perfectly nice neighbors. And get this, they're a couple too."

"Oh cool! Finally we have another couple in the neighborhood. Mare and stallion?"

"No, two mares actually."

"Hm, alright. Anypony familiar?"

"You know, now that you say it, one of them seemed really familiar, I just can't place it."

"Huh. Oh well, I'm sure it'll come to you. It always does."

"Here's to hoping."

The two clinked their bottles together and took long swigs. Skyline Breezer convulsed for a split second and clutched her stomach.

"Ooh, fuck."

"Honey? What's wrong?"

"I'm fine. Just that stomach ache."

"I don't think that that's a regular stomach ache. I think we should get that checked out."

"No, it's fine. I'm fine."

"Sweetie.."

WaveMaker walked over to his partner and raised her head to meet him eye to eye.

"I don't want anything to happen to you. You need to tell me if something is wrong."

"Nothing's wrong."

WaveMaker sighed slightly and lowered his head. As he looked back up, he dropped his hoof.

"Fine, but I see that little convulsion there one more time and I'm taking you to a doctor."

"Fine, fine."

Skyline Breezer set down her drink and started towards the door.

"I'll be back in a little while."

"Where are you going?"

"I just have to go get something, I'll be back within the hour. Love you!"

"A-alright. Love you too!"

The pegasus walked out the door and let out a heavy sigh. Clutching her side again, she stumbled down the stairs and started towards the main part of the city. Once she reached Manehatten General, she walked inside and approached the front desk. The receptionist looked up and flinched slightly when she saw the mare.

"Skyline Breezer? You don't have an appoin-"

"I need to see Doctor Open Heart. Asap."

"Uh, s-sure thing. I'll get him right now."

As the receptionist got up and started quickly walking towards an office, Skyline Breezer clutched her stomach and hunched over.

You should've listened to him! You should've gone earlier.

"Oh, oh fuck."

Skyline Breezer started trying to walk towards the office the receptionist had gone to but tripped over herself and fell to the floor. As her vision faded, she could see two sets of hooves rushing towards her.

"Just make yourselves at home."

Octavia and Vinyl sat down on the long couch in WaveMakers living room. He sighed as he sat in the chair across from the couch and looked at the mare.

"So, I have a bit of a problem."

"Problem?"

"Yes. And, even though we hardly know each other, I need somepony that can maybe help me."

"I'm sure Tavi and I can help. What's going on?"

"Well, my wife, Skyline Breezer, she left about two hours ago and hasn't come back yet. She said she'd be back within the hour but..."

WaveMaker looked at the clock and sighed again. He stood up and walked over to the kitchen area.

"She hasn't come back yet."

"Well, is there any place you know that she would've gone?"

"I don't think so. Well, she had this one bar, but I called the mare who runs it, she said she hadn't seen her all day."

"Well, was there anything about her recently that seemed weird?"

"She might have been stressed."

"Why?"

"We have a little show coming up. Local talent show back in Ponyville, where she grew up. But I didn't think she'd be that nervous about it."

"Anything else?"

Before WaveMaker could open his mouth to answer Vinyl's question, the phone behind him rang.

"Excuse me one second. Hello? Yes, this is WaveMaker. Yes, yes she is. She.....what!? Alright, I'll be right over."

He slammed the phone back onto his stand and ran towards the door.

"What's going on?"

"She's in the hospital! Stay or leave, I don't really care, but I have to go!"

"Do you want us to come with you?"

"Whatever you want!"

Vinyl looked at Octavia, who shrugged a little and started walking towards the door.

"Alright, we're right behind you."

"Well doc, what is it?"

A tall pony with a orange coat and a white mane walked in and levitated the clipboard off of the bed. Looking it over for a minute, he sighed and looked at Skyline Breezer.

"Well miss Breezer, there really isn't any good news I'm afraid."

"Oh, w-well it can't possibly be that bad can it?"

The doctor sighed, which pushed a few tears out of Skyline Breezers eyes. She looked down and closed her eyes before the doctor continued.

"Well, I'm afraid that you have a tumor. A malignant tumor. The only good news is have is that any procedure or surgery we attempt is covered almost fully by your work benefits. Unfortunately, some of the more effective but still experimental procedures may have unprecedented side effects."

No words came to Skyline Breezer. She didn't know what to think, to say, to do. All she wanted was for somepony to be there, and tell her it's ok.

"I'll give you some time."

The doctor walked out of the room and closed the door. Skyline Breezer immediately burst into tears. After a few minutes of uncontrollable sobbing, the doorknob slowly turned, and the door was pushed open. Skyline Breezer didn't want anypony to see her like this, and she didn't want anymore doctors to come in. She looked up and saw familiar features. The blue eyes, the red, white and blue mane. WaveMaker said nothing, but ran into the room and held Skyline Breezer in a tight hug. Skyline Breezer sobbed deeply into WaveMakers neck. Octavia and Vinyl stood just outside the door and watched the moment transpire.

"Honey, I'm so sorry, I should've listened when you said to go to the doctors, I ju-"

"Shshshsh, shh. It's ok sweetie."

As the couple talked amongst themselves, Vinyl and Octavia had their own conversation going on.

"Tav, just tell me what's going on."

"What do you mean?"

"I can tell something's wrong. You've been acting weird ever since that weird feeling you got earlier today."

"That's not why I'm acting up."

"What is it then?"

Octavia, who had been looking down during their conversation, looked up at her mare-friends concerned face.

"Alright, I'll tell you when we get back home."

"Fine. What do you think we should do here?"

Octavia peeked into the room when Vinyl motioned her head towards it. She saw a mare on the bed and WaveMaker sitting on a stool at the beds side.

"Well, suppose it can't hurt to go in?"

"I guess not."

"Well, let's go."

As Vinyl and Octavia walked into the room, the mare on the bed looked up and smiled half-heartedly.

"Hey, you must be the new neighbors."