Cello and Wubs

Chapters

First Meetings
The Next Day
Dinner Invitations
Breakfast at Octavia's
Night Out on the Town
Siblings/Party Time
The Beginning

First Meetings

“Really Octavia? You’re going to stay in tonight and just read? It’s Hearts and Hooves day and just because you don’t have a special somepony doesn’t mean you need to stay home like some crazy cat pony. Maybe going out will even allow you to meet your special somepony? Did you ever think about that, hmm? With all of your education I bet that didn’t even dawn on you.” A light brown unicorn with a blonde mane and a major chord for a cutie mark insisted by applying some makeup to her roommate.

“Really Melody I don’t want to be a third wheel and just because I’m staying in for Hearts and Hooves doesn’t make me a crazy cat pony.” Octavia rebutted but was only seemed to be resisting verbally.
“You already have two and I love them as much as you do, but they’re quickly taking over your life. You won’t even let them drink tap water for Celestia’s sake Tavi. And you’re not going to be a third wheel, it was even DK’s idea, and we’re not doing anything romantic it’s just going to be a club. You know dancing, drinks, you know fun. Both of us have been too busy to make some dramatic show of what we already know.” Melody was trying to decide on a bowtie for Octavia before choosing one that matched her eyes and cutie mark.

“Well-“

“Perfect it’s decided. DK should be over in an hour and then we can all go. I heard they’re having this DJ play that’s really starting to take off but I’ve also heard she’s a bit of a wild one. But I guess if your job is to party then it only makes sense if you’re more on the wild side.” Melody smiled at Octavia admiring her own handy work “You look absolutely stunning right now. The stallions will be lining up around the block just to buy you a drink, love.”

XXXX

“Okay rules of the night first I’m not carrying you home again tonight and I don’t want some random pony doing the same that’s how you got into trouble the other week. Second no random ponies taking you back to their place for the exact same reasons as the other week. Thirdly don’t get into any fights everyone’s just trying to have fun so none of your depressing drunk antics. Forth and most important I love you.” Vinyl Scratch finished up her lecture with a kiss on her roommates forehead.

“I’ll promise everything but you might have to assist my stumble home.” Countered Berry Punch.

“You have to at the very least be able to walk somewhat, I need to carry my vinyl’s and can’t carry both of you.”

“Deal. Now down the hatch.” Both ponies cheers and drank their pint of alcohol mixed with energy drink. “Wait did I just agree to not getting laid tonight?” Berry questioned.

“If you know them I won’t stand in your way but I don’t want you waking up to some weird pony who couldn’t even find a date for tonight.”

“But I don’t have a date for tonight.” Berry looked crestfallen.

“Don’t be crazy you’re my date for tonight, and being such the perfect date that I am I said I wouldn’t mind if you hooked up with a former lover.” Vinyl smile but sighed inwardly not intending to insult her best friend.

“Lover? Really Vinyl? You know me better than that.” Berry laughed “But seriously we do need to get going or you’re going to be late and tonight everyone will notice.”

XXXX

The club didn’t seem to be a seedy place but it was a bit over the top with all the hearts and roses everywhere for Octavia’s taste but everyone seemed friendly enough. On the other hoof this was Ponyville and it did have a certain reputation for its friendliness. Everyone seemed to know each other also which left Octavia a bit out of water compared to Canterlot where everyone just seemed to mind their own business. Not that that again was a bad thing just something she wasn’t use to. Tonight was actually a lot of things she wasn’t use to.

A loud pounding club, a town full of ponies who all knew each other, a town that wasn’t draped in culture and history like Canterlot and most terrifying of all she was out to let her hair down and act like someone her age. Octavia took a deep breath to steady herself and prepared for the worst. Then she heard Melody and DK laughing at her nervousness and felt like filly.

“Relax Octavia don’t expect anything from tonight just let it happen.” Chuckled a white unicorn with a short black mane and a cutie mark of a skull with a knife in its mouth. Dark Knife or DK as he usually went by wasn’t as dark as his cutie mark or name implied but certainly made most people assume that.

“I’m just out of my element is all. You both know this isn’t my typical crowd of people.” Octavia admitted.

“True but we’re friends also and I’m not part of your crowd. Now stop shaking in your hooves and move that plot. This is Ponyville you’ll make some friends quickly and with any luck maybe more.” DK smiled pushing Octavia into the club as Melody followed still laughing at her friend.

True to its reputation everyone was extremely friendly even with a packed bar everyone was being polite. The DJ wasn’t supposed to play for another hour so it gave the group time to find a table and have a couple of drinks while the crowd got thicker and thicker. Seeing everyone being so friendly had relaxed Octavia quite a bit and they did have some decent wine which always elevated her mood.

“You know I think you two were right. This is something I needed and I’m going to just have fun tonight.” Octavia addressed the table with some of her usual confidence back. “And for thankfully forcing me to come out tonight I’m getting the next round.”

“And talk to that stallion by the bar the huge red one, I think he might be single.” Melody informed Octavia causing her to blush lightly.

Getting to the bar wasn’t a problem but getting the bartenders attention was. Everypony seemed to know when the bartender was paying attention to them when he was looking away and Octavia was having problems also being heard over the clamor. When suddenly she was being pressed in between a couple of mares, one purple and one white with giant purple shades on, but it was the white one which drew her attention with just placing her order. Ordering a lot by the way and seemed to be instantly moved ahead of everypony else and then started to just talk through her to the purple mare completely drowning her out to the bartender. Within moments shot glasses were being clinked in front of her by the two and pints were emptied, before she gave a little sigh of exacerbation. Instantly the two went quiet and looked at her causing her to give a squeak of embarrassment from the sudden attention.

“O.M.C. I’m sorry did we bother you?” Asked the purple one.

“I’m sorry here’s a shot let me buy pay for your drinks.” The white one said shoving a shot into Octavia’s hooves.

“What’ll it be?”

“Umm a cider, a cosmo and a glass of Zin?” Octavia hesitantly asked feeling a bit overwhelmed by the two.

“I’m guessing you’re the Zin, huh?” Asked the white one.

“Ah, yes.”

“Gimme a cider, a cosmo, a bottle of Zin and five shots of vodka.” Called the white one.

“Oh I think you might have misheard me I said-“

“None sense I got you the bottle because Berry and I were rude to you, accidently by the way, and the five shots are for us and I’m guessing your two friends. I’m Vinyl Scratch also and as I mentioned earlier this is Berry or Berry Punch.” Vinyl said as she levitated the drinks and urged Octavia away from the bar.

‘Wow the ponies in this town really are nice and odd or oddly nice? Whatever.’ Thought Octavia. “I’m Octavia and this is Melody and her coltfriend DK.” Octavia said as she led them to the table.

Everyone greeted each other and they all cheered to making new friends.

“So how long have you two been together?” Ask Octavia asked Vinyl.

“Who?”

“You and Berry.”

“Never.”

“Oh.” Octavia face planted into the table out of embarrassment. “I’m sorry its Hearts and Hooves day and I just assumed and make a complete foal of myself.” Octavia stammered as she turned red as her wine.

“Don’t be sorry with a fine plot like hers I take it as a complement. You know you’re really cute when you blush. OH I love this song come on.”

Vinyl grabbed Octavia and pulled her onto the dance floor before she could even react to anything. The sudden intake of alcohol was doing its job for Octavia and she was quickly dancing away with Vinyl. After what felt like hour they made it back to the table with both of them lightly panting.

“I hate to do this but I have to go take care of this thing.” Vinyl said taking a minute to catch her breath. “Are you going to be here for the show?”

“Yeah, Melody said it was some up and coming DJ but honestly it’s not really my type of music. I’ve never really felt like there’s any passion in music that comes from electronics.” Octavia said between breaths.

“Oh yeah? Well I will bet you that this up and coming DJ will blow your bowtie off. In fact if she wasn’t playing tonight I wouldn’t even be here.” Vinyl smirked.

“I’ll take you up on that.” Octavia laughed.

“Berry I’ll need you for a minute. Chop chop.” Vinyl said as she walked away.

“Tavi I’m impressed with you. Making friends, dancing, drinking you know fun. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this side of you before.” Melody smiled. “And is it just me but are you getting a little flirty with Vinyl?”

“Melody! I’m just having fun with Vinyl and I’m not flirting I don’t know anything about her. Since when have you known me to flirt with anyone I didn’t know anything about or even flirt with a mare? But…” Octavia was drowned out by an announcer shouting out over the speakers.

“ALL RIGHT EVERY PONY! THE MARE YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING TO SEE! THE ONE! THE ONLY! DJ-PON3!!”

The crowd erupted in applause and cheers as all the lights went out for a moment and refocused on the DJ booth.
“Vinyl?” Octavia’s jaw dropped then fell even more as she heard her play.

XXXX

“She’s really good Tavi.” Melody said after the set.

“Shut up Melody I realized that already. Tonight was even going so well and now I look like an ass for literally criticizing her before I knew who she was.” Octavia was working herself into full blown panic mode and had started to drink to calm her nerves. Seeing as she’d already had more than she usually drank and she rarely drank things had started to blur to her.

“So whatcha think?” Vinyl said trotting up to her.

“I need a drink about now.” Responded Octavia.

“Okay, well after hours at Berry and mine’s place and I’m not taking a no from all of you. And with that we all could use some more shots.” Vinyl said as she moved to the bar.

“We are SO going to that. Not only is she an amazing artist she’s fun and cool.” Melody said while DK agreed.

“Might as well.” Octavia said defeated as the rest of her night faded from memory.

XXXX

Pain and an unquenchable thirst started to rouse Octavia from sleep. Sleep being a generous word for passing out. Blinking back the sun she didn’t recognize her surroundings until she vaguely remembered the idea of going back to Vinyl’s for a party. Looking around she was in a bed room that was a complete mess. Star Buck’s coffee cups, cloths, wires, empty bottles and general junk surrounded her. Groaning she began to sit up but was hampered by something and pulled off the blanket. And instantly regretted that decision. Laying face down between her legs was Vinyl with her muzzle resting on her holiest of holy places. Octavia didn’t know how to react but to scream at the top of her lungs.

Author's Note

I intended for Octavia to come off as fairly meek and Vinyl to come off as cock and fairly shallow. I felt like both of them aren't in a situation that they're comfortable in so they're not going to be themselves which changes next chapter.

The Next Day

Sweet blissful sleep, everything calm and quiet, gently embraced Vinyl. Vinyl could even feel the beat of last night still pulsating through her head. Then she heard the scream. Vinyl shot up immediately and was greeted to a painful blow to the top of her head, and the scream turned more into a moan. “AHHH!” She called out in surprise, pain and a sudden awakening.

Octavia was now regretting her panic with a very painful head butt to the jaw. “OOOHHH Vinyl!” She yelled as she scooted back against the wall taking in everything as her mind raced to figure out her situation. Taking a couple moments for the pain in her jaw to subside and to collect herself she began her investigation of the previous night. “So umm did we?”

Vinyl nodded.

“I was pretty drunk you know.”

“That’s why I told you it was a bad idea.” Vinyl said, still rubbing her throbbing head.

“Then why’d you let me or us or whatever happen?” Octavia asked panicking a bit but oddly enough not freaking out. Which she decided she’d try to figure out later.

“You were…how should I put it…persistent.”

“That doesn’t really sound like me.” Octavia protested.

“You said you wanted me to ‘spramp all over you” Vinyl said in all seriousness.

“Spramp isn’t a word.” Octavia countered.

“That’s what I said.” Vinyl agreed.

“Okay let’s forget that part for now. How did we end up like that?”

“You got really drunk and started to pass out at like three and Melody and DK were still up and partying. We talked and decided to let you just pass out in my bed and they’d spend the night also. Either way I’m going to bed and cuddle up next to you to sleep, nothing more by the way, when you turn around and start to kiss me. We kissed a bit then you started to get a bit frisky. See.” Vinyl pointed to her neck showing a couple of light love bites. “But I told you to stop because you were drunk and would regret it in the morning. You said no, I said yes, you said ‘spramp all over me’, I said no again. And well…”

“What? Well what?” Octavia insisted.

Vinyl got up and moved over to one of her recorders and hit play. “I wan the whooole world ter her this cuz you lil mizzy blue butt don’t believe me. I Octavia Philharmonica want you Vinyl to spramp all over me again and again. Now blow off my bowti-“Vinyl turned it off and looked over to a ghost pale Octavia.

“Youhavetodeletethatnowandnevertellanyoneaboutitevereverever.” Octavia said in rapid fire. (You have to delete that now and never tell anyone about it ever ever ever.)

Vinyl pushed a button. “And now it’s gone forever, happy?”

“Thanks.”

“So believe me now?” Vinyl smiled.

“I can only accept it. So what do we do now?” Octavia asked looking at her hooves. ‘Why am I nervous about her answer?’ She asked herself.

“Well normally back to bed but I’m kinda awake right now so coffee and breakfast but a shower would probably be good first. You did get me to ‘spramp’ after all.” Vinyl air quoted Octavia and laughed.

“Oh Celestia, I could die of embarrassment right now.” Octavia tried to ostrich herself in the mound of pillows and blankets.

“What’s there to be embarrassed about?” Vinyl said sounding a little hurt.

“Seriously?" Octavia said out raged. “I just meet you and then fucked you. There was a recording of me saying I was going to make you cum, please let it have just been of that.” Vinyl nodded “And I slept with a mare which I have never done before in my entire life.”

“So it wasn’t because it was me? That’s a relief I was kinda worried for a minute.” Vinyl said letting out a breath she’d been holding in.

“And I guess you’re just like a stallion who just won his prize.” Octavia said as she stood up and headed to the door.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa calm down. I-I’m sorry.” Vinyl had sprung up, cutting off Octavia’s exit. “I’m kind of not good at this stuff. You know emotional stuff.”

The silence in the room was deafening. After a moment Octavia slowly reached forward and pulled off Vinyl’s shades, which had somehow never come off through everything, and looked her right in the eyes. In that moment Octavia realized that Vinyl was the one who was actually the most vulnerable in their situation. As the silence continued Octavia could tell Vinyl was bracing for the worse, and Vinyl was completely caught off guard when their lips meet. The kiss was quick but sincere and a little nuzzle was followed with Octavia nipping Vinyl’s ear and whispered “I need to shower.”

‘Really romantic Octavia ‘I need to shower’ is that the best you could do after that?’ She thought as she opened the door and was greeted by DK and Melody standing there pressed up against what was the door.

“…We heard a scream?” Melody offered as an excuse.

“Don’t you dare tell me you were listening in on us.” Octavia said as she shot fire from her eyes.

“NO no no no…slightly. We didn’t know what type of a scream it was.” DK said trying to help.

“Well time for both of you two to leave. So bye I guess.” Octavia could feel herself starting to grow flush from anger.

The two of them just turned to leave and just barely out of ear shot she heard Melody whisper, “I told you that was a pleasure scream.”

Octavia turned to Vinyl who was still in the exact same spot and hadn’t seemed to even notice the encounter. “Sorry Vinyl they’re usually not that noisy.”

“Huh, oh yeah that’s fine.” She said finally returning to earth with a nice pink hue to her face.

Octavia smiled, ‘Well I guess I can really rock her world with just a kiss.’ And she was off to the bathroom to clean off last night’s fun.

XXXX

Vinyl was so…confused? Surprised? Overjoyed? Probably all three of them she decided. She really did like Octavia and was delighted that everything seemed to have worked out. But honestly she didn’t really know much about her yet. Which was causing her to feel a bit panicky which she also felt was absurd. They barely knew each other but there was just something about her that seemed to drive Vinyl crazy. It was a lot more than just her physical looks, and they were quiet nice, but in the way she seemed to carry herself. Yeah last night she was kind of meek but she was clearly not in her usual situation then.

Vinyl sighed and flopped down on her bed. If this was just like a one-night stand she could handle that. But that’s not what she wanted and she almost ruined it already with her persona of DJ Pon3. That was the thing. Everyone expected her to be like that but not Octavia. She literally just about walked out the door, probably for good, if Vinyl hadn’t had her panic attack.

Obviously Vinyl had to just drop all of her bullshit and not-give-a-fuck attitude with her. But that wouldn’t be as easy as it sounded in her head. That had become her way of coping with pain and rejection and hurt. What if she let her into her heart and Octavia saw who she was and decided it wasn’t someone she wanted.

Her heart started to race and she sat up in her bed and started going through her bedside drawer looking for something to calm her down. Shifting through all of her pot and pills and powders she finally came across her anxiety medication. ‘Okay Vinyl first take a few deep breaths to calm down. You’re not trying to get fucked up. Just to calm down a little bit so you don’t fumble this up.’ She decided on half of one to just take the edge off and downed it with half of a stale cider she found from the night before.

‘Who’s the best? You are Vinyl. You just have to be yourself and she won’t be able to get enough of you.’ Gulp.

XXXX

Octavia had to take a minute to take in the mess of the bathroom. Yeah Vinyl’s room was a mess but it didn’t smell like urine and have troublesome looking trash like the balled up bloody toilet paper in the corner. Never in her life had she wished she was a unicorn so she could clean up some without having to touch it. Just don’t try looking at it.

Octavia sighed at the mess as she tempered the shower and climbed in. Shower time was always the best time to let your mind wander and let your body just take over the actions of cleaning and grooming. Unlike most mornings this wasn’t as relaxing as she had hoped, she kept thinking about Vinyl. She’d seen something real in her beautiful ruby eyes, a spark for just a second that was now taking over. She could see herself with her. She could also see the disappointment in her parent’s eyes, the whispers behind her back from the symphony and the fear of Vinyl getting bored with her.

Vinyl was all about having a good time and she really wasn’t. Not by Vinyl’s standards that’s for sure. Could she be able to keep up with her crazy life style and late nights? Would she be willing to give up some of that for boring old Octavia? Did they even have anything in common enough to keep them together?

If Vinyl’s career kept going like it had been she’d be on the road a lot. That might mean a lot of lonely nights. Yeah she hadn’t initiated their love making, could she call it that if she didn’t remember it? but would she remain faithful to her? Could she even trust her if she was?

‘Wow Octavia get into your own head much?’ She climbed out of the shower toweling herself off and looked for a brush for her mane. As she was about to start she hesitated as her mind wondered. Maybe she should just take the same advice from last night and not expect things. Just to let them happen. Not that she didn’t want things to work out, but she should try to find out what would happen between them. Yeah they were different but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t work, and Vinyl might bring some adventure to her life. And if that adventure was like what she could remember from last night it might do her some good.

XXXX

Vinyl was just finishing the cider when she felt a bump on her flank and turned to see Octavia standing their smiling. It was a pretty good smile she had to admit. “Sorry.” She apologized, feeling a bit embarrassed about drinking that early in the morning. “Hair of the dog you know.”

“Well with your life style I’m sure you have some ways to get rid of a hang over, and maybe you could show me because I feel pretty yuck.”

“You don’t look very yuck to me.” Vinyl smiled

“Heh thanks.” Octavia said sheepishly then in all seriousness, “But honestly I feel horrible, please fix me.”

Vinyl couldn’t help but laugh, “Okay come with me and I’ll introduce you to this little place called Sugar Cube Corner. Pinkie, one of my sis’s friends, will hook us up and hopefully we can get out of there without her talking our ears off.”

Vinyl led the way and waved at a few ponies along the way, while Octavia continued to note how easy going and friendly everyone was. Sugar Cube Corner wasn’t too far from Vinyl’s and the overly energetic pony gave them some amazing looking pastries and coffee, and Vinyl was able to let them escape without too much of a hassle by saying she was showing around a friend. Which got the response of ‘Ooo Scratchie she looks cute’ and brought a slight blush to both ponies, but they were in and out fairly quickly and Vinyl took them to a pleasant looking park.

“How long have you been – sweet Celestia these are good. Sorry, so how long have you been living here?” Octavia asked in between bites.

“All of my life. My parents moved here when I was born.” Octavia noticed she fidgeted a bit at the mention of her parents and decided to change the subject.

“It’s really nice here. I mean Canterlot I guess is more elaborate with everything and is a lot bigger, but everyone’s just SO friendly. I feel kind of like it’s a culture shock if you know what I mean.”

“Well it’s not all peaches and cream but everyone is really nice. I guess you could say it’s a place where you can leave your doors unlocked. What about you? How long have you lived in Canterlot?” There could be some chaotic times in Ponyville she had to admit but on the whole Ponyville was a quiet place.

“Well I was from Los Pegasus but when I was 9 my parents sent me to a boarding school in Canterlot so I could study the cello. And I’ve been there ever since.”

“You’re a musician! How did I not know that already?” Vinyl asked amazed she hadn’t found this out sooner, then glanced at her rump noticing the bass note. ‘It would be a bass note wouldn’t it.’

“I don’t know.” Octavia wiggled her rump showing her cutie mark, “But I’m actually kind of flattered that you were paying more attention to me than just my flank.” She smiled.

“I really can’t picture you carrying around a cello. How do move it around?”

“I guess I’m stronger than I look, but I don’t really move them around anymore. I have my pride and joy at home and the symphony keeps one in the hall for performances and for practicing with everyone.”

Vinyl’s jaw dropped, “Symphony like THE Royal Canterlot Symphony?”

“Ah, yeah that’s the one.” Octavia said feeling a bit embarrassed.

“That’s amazing Octavia. You should have told me right away. If I was in the Royal Canterlot Symphony I’d be telling everyone.” Vinyl gushed.

“Well I think you already have enough to tell everyone. I never even considered, umm I don’t know what it’s really called but what you do, a type of music until I heard you. I was honestly moved last night. But you do know what this means now right?” Octavia hinted.

“You’re coming to more of my shows?” Vinyl guessed.

“No it means you have to see me play now.” Octavia giggled.

“You really want me to come to see you play?” Vinyl asked hesitantly.

“Well I guess if you wanted to. It was a silly idea, forget it.” Octavia said feeling foolish for asking.

“No I meant it like you REALLY want me to see you play. I’d love to Octy.” Vinyl beamed at her.

“Yay now I’m excited but don’t call me Octy please.” Octavia excitedly corrected Vinyl about the nickname she hated from grade school.

“Tavi?” Vinyl tried.

“Perfect. If you could perform anywhere where would it be?” Octavia knew this was a topic they could spend all day on.

“Easy, Neigh York, Mareson Cube Garden. You?”

“Crystal Empire but I don’t know much of anything about the place. I just think it’d just be marvelous to play at a place that’s made out of crystal, even the ponies, and was basically unknown to the world.” Octavia sighed lost in romantic thoughts about the unknown city.

“Pinkie has been there and my sis and her other friends.” Vinyl said before thinking, she’d gotten too caught up in Octavia’s wonder of the crystal city.

“Oh I’d love to talk to them...You know sometime eventually. Wait I thought only the Elements of Harmon…OH. Your sister is one of the Elements.” Octavia said standing up at the surprise realization.

“Yeah don’t make a big deal about it. We don’t really get along and see eye to eye on a lot of things.” Vinyl said looking extremely uncomfortable.

“Vinyl I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to upset you.” Octavia apologized and sat down closer to Vinyl giving her a nuzzle of affection.

“It’s fine honestly.” Vinyl said returning the nuzzle.

Vinyl shifted on to her back to stare at the clouds and gave Octavia a little nudge with her magic to join her. Which Octavia took as a sign to cuddle and Vinyl seemed to welcome the idea and a comfortable silence set in.

XXXX

“Do you wanna go back to my place?” Vinyl asked hoping.

“Never.”

“What? I thought we were having a pretty good time?” Vinyl asked sitting up.

“We are I don’t think I’ve ever had a better day. Especially since I started out feeling horrible, but your place is horrible. It’s a complete mess and I won’t have us doing anything there until it’s been cleaned up. And before you say anything I’m not being particular about cleanliness your place is a pig sty.” Octavia stated, laying down in the grass having been removed from her pony pillow.

“Well I can’t change that right now so maybe you could try to ignore it this once and I’ll get it cleaned up for next time.” Vinyl compromised.

“There was a bloody piece of toilet paper in the corner of your bathroom.” Octavia countered.

“Fine I see your point.” Vinyl flopped back down next to Octavia but this time it wasn’t in a comfortable silence.

“Are you seriously pouting about us not going back to your place and rutting in dirt like a couple of animals?” Octavia asked incredulously.

“No it’s not like. I just wanted to get a bit more intimate with you, but the rutting in dirt like a couple animals does sound like a lot of fun.” Vinyl chuckled.

“I was being serious Vinyl. If you want this to work you’re going to have to understand there are some things I won’t bend on. And us making love in trash is not going to be happen. I’m sorry I’m sounding sort of like a bitch right now by criticizing your place but it removes me from the mood.” Octavia tried to get Vinyl to see her side.

“That didn’t seem to stop you last night.” Vinyl said throwing it in her face. ‘That was the wrong thing to say.’

“Fine then if you just want a fuck mare, I’ll be taking my leave.” Octavia couldn’t believe how childish Vinyl had suddenly become and got up brushing off the loose grass and started to walk off.

“If I just wanted a fuck mare why would I have spent all day with you?” Vinyl yelled at her.

Just then a streak of rainbow was shooting past the sky and changed direction with Vinyl’s shout and headed in their direction. Octavia had never seen anything like it before and paused to watch it as she heard Vinyl say “Oh, fucking great.” to herself as the rainbow slammed into the ground in between them. Instantly Octavia noticed a similarity in their hair and realized this was Vinyl’s sister, the Element of Loyalty.

“Hey, so Pinkie has started planning this party-“, began Rainbow Dash

“She’s not moving here so unless it’s for something else tell her to cancel it.” Vinyl interrupted.

Octavia was blown away someone would talk to one of the Elements of Harmony that way. In Canterlot they were considered heroines of all of Equestria, but she was just her sister to her. Imagine how it would feel to then have your sister become an Element of Harmony and to be reminded of it on a daily basis. It wouldn’t matter how popular or famous Vinyl became because she would always be in her sisters shadow, and Vinyl was the type who needed to be in the sun.

“Yeah figured and I told her not to get too far ahead of herself. Anyway I’m going to the Wonderbolt’s Academy to train-“Rainbow Dash said excitedly.

“Cuz why wouldn’t you.” Vinyl interrupted again.

“Shut it. I’m going to need you to watch Tank while I’m away for me.” An aggravated sounding Rainbow Dash finished.

“Okay bring him by tonight.” Vinyl agreed but rolled her eyes.

“Yeah I'm not sure about that. I don’t know if your place is really right for him he’s not use to landfills.” Said Rainbow Dash critically.

“Well what the fuck do you want me to do? You know I can’t fly.” Vinyl had jumped up by now clearly agitated and had started to leave.

“Vinyl and I were actually just going to be cleaning her place because I might be spending more time in Ponyville.” Octavia decided to interrupt the squabbling sisters.

Both sisters paused and just stared at her for a moment before Rainbow Dash broke the silence, “Who’s this?”

“That’s Octavia, she-“Vinyl began.

“Pinkie said she was cute.” It was Rainbow Dash’s turn to interrupt, “So why are you doing with her?” She asked Octavia.

“We were having a pleasant afternoon together.” Beamed Octavia, the smile wasn’t sincere because seeing Rainbow Dash insult Vinyl had oddly upset her.

“Yeah I heard some yelling. She really does like to ruin things.” Rainbow Dash confided in Octavia.

“You’ve never had a fight with your special somepony?” Octavia retorted to the implied insult.

“Special somepony you're making it official already. I guess I’ll tell Pinkie the parties back on.” Rainbow Dash said giving Vinyl a gloating look.

‘Well now I know where Vinyl got that look, must be genetic,’ thought Octavia.

“Well we should be off so we can get Vinyl’s place ready for…, Tank was it? tonight.” Octavia walked over to Vinyl and started to push her along.

“Yeah I don’t know if it’s the trash that’s the problem.” Rainbow Dash muttered before taking flight.

When Rainbow Dash was out of ear shot Vinyl turned to Octavia, “What just happened?”

“We just started dating, had our first fight, I meet your sister, saw a family feud and we now have to spend the rest of the day cleaning your place.”

“That doesn’t sound very fun.” Vinyl had to admit.

“Yeah you owe me. You owe me really big for this one.”

Author's Note

The next chapters will be more sound because I obviously rushed out the first two and didn't really hit my stride till the second.

Dinner Invitations

Octavia had just gotten home and just went straight to her bed too exhausted to do much of anything. Cleaning Vinyl and Berry’s house or “The Barn” as they called it, had taken much longer than she’d thought. To top it off when Rainbow Dash had come by to drop off Tank, her turtle or tortoise or whatever he was her and Vinyl had of course gotten into it again. It didn’t help that she had strapped Tank with a device that allowed him to fly. Lastly Berry helped clean also but drank the entire time and left a trail of bottles behind her as she picked up other bottles. In the end she and Vinyl had just gone to sleep that night too exhausted to even go out and get something to eat. At least they got to cuddle she thought but she could have gone for a little more. Shortly there was a soft knocking on her door, sighing she called out and Melody meekly opened the door.

“Hey Tavi, I just wanted to say I’m really sorry about the other day. We didn’t mean to invade your privacy like that. You’d just passed out and we were worried when we heard the scream and really didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”

“You didn’t hear any recording or anything did you?” Octavia inquired dreading the worst.

“What recording? Ew, what were you doing?” Melody asked then quickly back tracked, “Wait, don’t tell me I really don’t want to know.”

“No nothing like that and of course you’re forgiven Melody. I’m just really tired right now. Vinyl and I had a really wonderful morning and half of an afternoon. Then her sister showed up and they got into a fight and then we spent the rest of the day cleaning her place. Oh by the way there’s a party in about a week announcing, I guess, our relationship.”

“You’re like official then?” Melody asked.

“Yes, is there anything wrong with that?” Octavia answered hesitantly.

“Of course not Tavi you know me better than that. It just seems sort of fast don’t you think? I mean you meet each other just a couple of days ago and now you’re an item already.”

“Please not now Melody I just want to relax right now and not get upset again.” Octavia sighed exhausted again.

“What do you mean by again?” Melody crossed the room and had begun to give Octavia a massage.

“We might have gotten into a fight right before her sister showed up. It was just a spat. I keep telling myself that she’s going to get bored of me or what will others say or how it’s going to work out being in different cities or what-“

“Wow okay time for you to stop. You’re a quite the catch Tavi. You might not know it yourself but you’re very attractive, an amazing musician, educated, cultured and obviously you can have a good time. You did hook up with and then started to officially date one of the hottest DJ’s in in Equestria in less than 24 hours. Do you have any idea how many ponies would be jealous of that.” Trying to boost her best friends some how lack of confidence.

“I don’t think Vinyl cares about any of that.” Octavia said sounding depressed. “We’re basically from different worlds in every aspect. We barely have anything in common. Part of me says I’m making a huge mistake but a much louder part of me says that if I let her go it’ll be a much bigger mistake.”

“Well do you think me and DK had much in common when we started dating? No, but you know what. I got interested in his things and he did the same for me. It’s how relationships work. You’re both musicians so how about you two start by sharing that.”

“I did invite her to come see me play some time, and she did seem excited about that idea.” Octavia perked up at Melody's suggestion.

“Oh perfect. You could make a nice dinner then play a private solo for her. Maybe throw in something else like read poetry to her after.”

“I don’t think poetry is Vinyl’s thing but I think you’re onto something. A nice quiet romantic evening with just the two of us candle light dinner my cello. I could show her around Canterlot. Melody you’re brilliant I can’t believe I didn’t think of this earlier.”

“I think there’s some art show going on also down the block this weekend also.” Melody hinted to Octavia.

“How are you so good at this?”

“Good at what?”

“For always somehow making me feel better Melody.” Octavia rolled over and hugged her friend.

XXXX

It hadn’t taken long before Vinyl had taken off the device strapped to Tank. That first day had been terrible and he’d basically trashed the place all over again, but Vinyl had promised Octavia that she’d keep her place clean. It wasn’t really in her nature to be cleaning up constantly but she’d promised. Never before had she noticed how messy Berry Punch was but since she hadn’t made the said promise and wasn’t dating Octavia, Vinyl had decided to let it slide. After all they had lived together for a few years without any mention of cleanliness before. Vinyl had also found it easier to clean if she just took a couple of her pep pills and as an added bonus it would help her shed a couple pounds. Not that she was overweight but she wanted to look good for Octavia and her party life wasn’t the best for her weight.

Was she already trying to change herself for Octavia? That girl must have had her hooks deep into her if she was trying to lose a couple pounds for her already. Not that she minded these hooks. She’d even inadvertently helped her shut up her sister the other day when she’d seen her place was actually clean. Of course that hadn’t kept Rainbow’s mouth shut for long but it was something that she couldn’t pester her about. Vinyl thought as she heard a sudden crash outside.

“Mail's kinda early today.” She said to herself as she trotted over to the door and opened it letting in Derpy with a smile.

“Here’s your mail. You got something besides bills today.”

“Here’s your muffin.” Vinyl traded the mailmare the baked good in exchange for her letters.

It had to be from Octavia because of the flourish hand writing; Vinyl ripped open the letter and quickly scanned it. ‘Blah, blah, blah...come over this weekend. Yay.’ Vinyl started her happy dance at the thought of seeing Octavia again, before she told herself to calm down. It was still a new relationship and she felt like she shouldn’t get overly excited yet. That was one of the good things about new relationships.

Vinyl searched for a piece of paper and quill to write back her response hopefully before Derpy was too far. Unfortunately in her ‘excitement’ to clean up her place she hadn’t exactly organized everything. Finally she found both of them and wrote a quick response as she rushed out the door. Favor wasn’t with her because Derpy wasn’t in sight but she figured she could just use her sister’s mode of communication. Twilight’s dragon and it was way quicker than pigeon mail. Didn’t it get sent to Princess Celestia though? Pfft she was probably pretty cool. Vinyl was more of a Luna girl herself but that didn’t really matter. Decided she headed to the Ponyville library.

“Good morning, Vinyl. How are you doing today?” Twilight greeted the snow white pony.

“I’m good Twilight. I was wondering if I could borrow some thing.” Vinyl asked.

“Well of course this is a library. What’d you need?”

“Can I use your Spike?” Vinyl asked hesitantly.

“Umm what do you mean?” A confused Twilight replied.

“I was hoping I could use your Spike to send a letter.”

“Did you have something to send to Celestia?”

“No, I just figured it’d be faster than mail.”

“Umm, I don’t know if that’s okay?”

“Oh I thought she was really nice and friendly and just so helpful. At least that’s what Dash keeps saying.” Vinyl knew she was taking advantage of Twilights weaknesses to the Princess and her friends, which she felt a little bit bad about abusing the former.

“Is it important?” Twilight asked starting to relent.

“It’s very important to me.” Vinyl said in earnest.

“Well okay I guess. I need to send a letter to her anyways so I’ll just send them together. What’s so important if you don’t mind me asking?”

If she was going to send it, it would only be fair for her to know. “I’m sending a letter to my marefriend.”

“D’aww that’s sweet of you Vinyl. Pinkie mentioned something about a party but said that Rainbow Dash said it might not be happening.” Twilight said then noticed a cold look from Vinyl. “Oh, I’m sure she didn’t mean it like that.”

“Sure she didn’t. Hey do you have anything about the Crystal Empire that I could buy?”

“I don’t really have anything from the Crystal Empire, sorry. Look Vinyl I know I shouldn’t get involved in you two but she just worries is all.” Twilight said trying to smooth things over, “She also said that she seemed like a really nice mare.”

Vinyl didn’t interrupt Twilight to talk for two reasons 1. She wanted that letter sent 2. Twilight had honestly always been nice to her and she probably did mean the best. “Twilight thanks for caring but I just don’t…” Vinyl trailed off then just changed topics, “Octavia, my marefriend, is really interested in the Crystal Empire and do you think you could like write something about it or have a map drawn? If you have the time of course that is.”

“You know what in a couple of days I might just be able to come up with something.” Twilight said slyly, an idea popping into her head.

“Really!? Twilight you have no idea how much I’d owe you. I’d do like anything for you.” Vinyl started to do her happy dance again before she restrained herself.

“I’ll hold you too that.” Twilight said in all seriousness.

“You have no idea how excited she’d be. Maybe something with music would be great.”

Twilight laughed, “Vinyl, I don’t think they have any DJ equipment, sorry. They were kind of frozen for a thousand years.”

“Well she’s actually a cellist.”

“Do you want some tea?” She asked leading Vinyl into the kitchen, “A cellist you say, well that’s very different from you.”

“Yeah we meet at my Hearts and Hooves set and there was just a spark I guess. Actually we kind of figured it out the next morning, but you know how that goes.”

“Yeah I don’t but please continue.”

“And she wears these cute bowties, they’re too adorable. You know what I bet you’ve heard her play. She plays for the Royal Canterlot Symphony so I’m sure you’ve heard her at that hoity toity stuff that Princess Celestia drags you too.”

“That’s really prestigious Vinyl. What’s she like?”

“She’s really nice like the nicest pony I’ve ever meet and she’s got this kind of quiet strength to her.”

“Go on.” Twilight said drawing Vinyl into her plan.

It was around lunch before the two parted ways. Immediately Twilight sat down and wrote down everything that she could remember about Octavia. Then a letter to her sister-in-law and finally one to Celestia about how she was going to help one of her friends soon. With those done she looked for Spike and off the latter two letters went.

XXXX

A couple of days later Vinyl was enjoying a nice relaxing afternoon smoke when she heard a knocking at her door. Waving her hoof around quickly to dissipate the smoke and she hoped smell she answered the door.

“Twilight, how’s it going.”

“I’m good…What’s that smell?”

“It's incense.”

“Okay well I just wanted to drop off your present for Octavia.” Twilight pulled out an ornate box from her saddlebag and levitated it to Vinyl.

“Wow that’s really pretty.” Vinyl beamed.

“Open it.”

Vinyl cracked it open carefully and just about dropped it even though she was holding it with her magic. “WOW! Just…WOW. Like…”

“Like wow? I’m glad you like it. Now if you remember you said something about you owing me.”

“Yes, anything Twilight you name I’ll take care of it, no hassles.”

“That’s great to hear Vinyl.” Twilight smiled then let the hammer drop, “You and Rainbow Dash are going to go out and have dinner together, get some drinks after and be nice to each other. Or at least try but I’m going to be asking for receipts from you two so I at least know you did it. Of course you two can take you dates which might be a good idea to at least help ease the tension between you two.”

“Oh come on Twilight. “ Vinyl whined.

“How much does Octavia’s joy of seeing this mean to you?” Twilight asked taking the box away from Vinyl.

“…Well played Twilight. Well played.” What other choice did she have?

“That’s good to hear.” She returned the box to Vinyl, “Speaking of your sister have you gotten any mail from her?”

After a full minute of laughing Vinyl finally responded, “Why would I. But seriously Twilight thank you so much.”

“If things don’t go to terrible with your sister there might be more things for Octavia to come. My brother and sister-in-law do run the Crystal Empire so I do have connections.”

“Let’s just agree on this for now.”

“Okay, but keep me updated. Have fun on your date Vinyl, well your real date. I’m going to be visiting your sister now actually but I’ll let you talk to her about that. I’ll send her your love.”

“Don’t bother.” Vinyl called out as she closed the door.

XXXX

The next day Vinyl saw the tall tail rainbow streak in the sky showing her sister had returned home. Not long after the typical crash of her landing, thankfully that was never her strong suit to Vinyl’s enjoyment, and a pounding on her door.

“Come in!” Vinyl called out knowing who it'd be already.

“Hey I’m here to pick up Tank.” Rainbow Dash said as she entered the house.

Vinyl spun around in a swivel chair with tank on her lap. “Diner, drinks and you can bring who ever you’re fucking right now.”

“First you know who I’m ‘fucking’ me and Soarin have been dating for a while. Second is that pot that I smell? You didn’t get Tank high did you?” Rainbow Dash rushed over and was giving an inspection of Tank.

“I was going for an evil villain thing thanks for noticing and no he’s not high.” Vinyl rolled her eyes as she defended herself.

“It’s like 9am and his eyes look a little red.” Rainbow Dash accused.

“How do you even get a turtle high?”

“Tortoise and you would know better than me.” Rainbow Dash said matter-of-factly.

“Whatever don’t play innocent with me. I remember Mom and Dad busting you.” It was Vinyl’s turn to accuse.

“That wasn’t mine I was holding it for a friend.” Rainbow Dash argued.

“LIES!” Vinyl shouted at her sister.

“SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU! I’M TRYING TO SLEEP OFF A HANG OVER!” Berry Punch screamed from her bedroom.

“Sorry Berry.” Called back the sisters in unison.

“Okay why do you want to go to dinner with Soarin and me?” continued Rainbow Dash quieter.

“Can’t I just want to spend some time with my sister?” Said Vinyl trying to sound like she was innocent.

“You never have before so what’s going on?”

“Fine Twilight did me a favor and in return that’s what she wanted. Actually it was for us to be nice to each other during it also.”

“That must have been some favor.” Rainbow Dash sounded surprised.

“Yeah I had no other options.”

“You didn’t get into any trouble did you?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Do you always have to assume the worse out of me? Maybe it was for something for someone else?” Vinyl defended herself.

“Was it for…what was her name?” Rainbow Dash said searching for the name of the gray pony.

“Octavia,” Vinyl helped, annoyed that she had forgotten her name.

“Yeah…….You seem to be pretty serious about her.” A concerned tone entered Rainbow Dash’s voice.

“Yeah,” Vinyl said letting her defense’s down a little bit.

After a moment of silence between the two siblings Rainbow Dash asked, “Is she coming?”

“I haven’t asked her yet but I’m going to Canterlot tonight to see her.”

“Sure then. Now where’s Tank’s propeller? How’s my baby going to learn how to fly if you take it off?” Said Rainbow Dash, showing her rarely seen affectionate side by hugging Tank.

“He was making a mess.” Vinyl fired back at her sister.

“This place is always a mess no one would notice.” Rainbow Dash said dismissively.

“Look around. What mess? You should get those eyes checked out the Wonderbolt’s don’t want anyone who can’t see, even if you happen to be fucking one of them.” Vinyl said smugly.

“Soarin’s not in charge of who joins the Wonderbolt’s.” Replied a defensive Rainbow Dash.

“It’s on the counter and I’ll see you Sunday.”

“Saturday would work better for me.”

“Sold.” Vinyl sang out her agreement.

“What? Whatever I’ll see you Saturday…” Rainbow Dash trailed off hoping Vinyl would pick up on the hint.

“Yeah Saturday that’s what I just said.” Vinyl said, completely missing where her sister had tried to lead her too.

“Here or Canterlot. Seriously you don’t need to be this high in the morning.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

“Canterlot, I’m gunna be spending the night gettin some.” Vinyl said thrusting the air with her hips.

“Ugh, I don’t wanna hear that.” Rainbow said disgusted as she left.

‘Did I just win? I think I did. The cleaning WORKED! I totally need to listen to Tavi more often.’

XXXX

Octavia was all set and just needed Vinyl. She had their evening all planned out first dinner, then art show, then dessert at this little spot a couple blocks away and then back here for the private concert. Melody was staying at DK’s so they had the whole place to themselves and DK had given her some recipes from his restaurant. It was all going to be splendid. At 7 sharp Octavia heard the knock she’d been waiting for.

“Coming.” She sang as she opened the door to Vinyl.

“I got you these I hope I’m not late.” Vinyl presented her with a bouquet of flowers.

“You are just right.” Octavia said gazing into her eyes and taking the flowers into the kitchen looking for a vase. “I hope you found the place alright. I know it’s in the middle of downtown.”

“It wasn’t any problem at all.” Vinyl said looking around. This place was way nicer than hers. It was huge for starters and it just dripped of culture and class. ‘Well I know how Tavi must have felt.’ She was out of her element now and that wasn’t good. A familiar tension set in her chest. “Where’s your bathroom?”

“You can use mine. Up the stairs to the right is my bedroom and it’s just in there. I’ll get dinner started.”

Vinyl followed Octavia’s directions and stopped dead when she got to her room. Not only was it about twice the size of her room it was furnished with everything she’d only dreamed of. Silk sheet on a Princess sized bed, several book shelves covered in leather bound books and a few tasteful pieces of art on the wall gave the whole room a minimalist look. There were also two doors and no cloths on the floor. ‘She has a walk in closet that bitch. I have to take a peak that’s only expected.’ First door was the bathroom and it broke Vinyl’s heart. A huge mirrored vanity with all the lotions, perfumes and make up a girl could dream of, not that Tavi needed any really, and what looked like a bath tub that could sit four ponies with ease.

Vinyl’s heart was now racing. She’d assumed Tavi had been well off with the cello and going to a boarding school when she was a filly but this was absurd. This was way out of Vinyl’s league. She wasn’t part of the upper crust she was the upper crust. Vinyl took a few breaths and took one of her anxiety pills. She’d tucked away a few ‘party favors’ with her medication before she left. She assumed she’d need them tomorrow with Rainbow cuz the booze probably wouldn’t cut it. Taking a few minutes to let the medication start working she decided to check out some of the perfumes, all of which were quite nice before she headed back down stairs.

“Again you're right on time Vinyl.” Octavia had set the table with the flowers in the center and candles were lit. “Oh you can just set your saddlebag by the door. Now first I have tempura asparagus and a salad with balsamic dressing and of course wine.”

“That looks great. So your place is nice, like really nice.” Vinyl hadn’t intended on bring up how nice it was. “Like really really nice.” And definitely hadn’t continued to keep bring it up.

“Yeah I guess it is.” Octavia tried to act cool about it but she could tell that it was probably a bit more than Vinyl had anticipated. “My parents bought most of this stuff. I don’t even know what half of it is.”

“It suits you like in a good way. You’re all educated and classy and so is this place. And I’m not sounding very good. Look I’m sorry Tavi I feel like if I broke something here it would cost more than I’d ever make. Is that bad?” Vinyl said extremely anxious and angry that her medication hadn’t calmed her down yet.

Octavia looked at Vinyl and nodded. Then slowly pushed the vase off of the table causing it to smash on the ground. “Something broke and it doesn’t matter.”

“I got you those flowers.” Vinyl said sounding and looking sad.

“Oh shit.” Octavia rushed to pick them up. “That was the only vase…” Octavia looked around confused and lost on what to do next.

Vinyl couldn’t help but laugh at her expression. “Don’t worry about them.”

“But they’ll die soon if they’re not in water.” She moved to the kitchen looking for something to put them in and settling on a mixing bowl.

“Forget about them. Come here.” Vinyl beckoned her over.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to push your flowers on to the ground.” Octavia apologized.

“Like I said don’t worry about them. Besides I got you something better. Now close your eyes.”

Octavia obeyed and placed her hooves over her eyes and Vinyl gave her a kiss.

“That is better Vi-“

“Keep em closed Tavi.” Vinyl insisted. “And no peaking until I say you can open em.”

Octavia heard Vinyl moving around and a moment later Vinyl allowed her to open her eyes. In front of her was an ornate wooden box containing a soft pink crystal rose which almost seemed to glow on its own resting on a cloth made of red silk. Octavia gasped. “Vinyl it’s beautiful.”

“It gets better. Guess where I got it from?”

“I have no idea it’s so detailed.” Octavia picked it up admiring it

“It came from the Crystal Empire.”

Octavia was stunned into silence, then gently set it back in its box and stood up heading to the stairs.

“Where are you going?”

“You just ruined my plans for the night Vinyl.”

“I’m sorry I thought you’d like it.”

“Oh I do and that’s why we’re going to bed now so I can thank you.”

Breakfast at Octavia's

Melody had walked in the door when she was greeted with the sight of a broke vase and food that’d been left out overnight. That wasn’t a good sign. It wasn’t like Octavia to leave a mess. She hurried up stairs and walked into Octavia’s room to see how she was doing. There was Octavia with a little smile on her face fast asleep with her back pressed against Vinyl who had her fore hooves wrapped around her and her face buried in her mane. It was really cute and Melody quietly snuck out of the room. She had no idea what’d happened last night but it seemed to have been a good thing.

She headed down stairs and was cleaning up the mess when she noticed the box and had to take a peak. ‘Whoa that’s nice, no wonder dinner ended fast. Wait crystal rose, not finished dinner, broken vase. They didn’t do it on the table did they?’ Melody took a step back from the table and looked around for any suspicious stains. Not finding any she continued cleaning.

Upstairs Octavia had started to wake up when she heard the sound of hooves downstairs. ‘Melody must be home. Shoot I left that mess down there. That was irresponsible one of the cats could have cut themselves on the glass or knocked around the pieces. I should get up but I’m so comfortable.’ The rumbling in her tummy changed her mind. They hadn’t really had dinner last night and had worked up quite the appetite. Slowly snaking out of Vinyl’s hooves so as not to wake her, Octavia decided Vinyl had definitely earned breakfast in bed. Vinyl mumbled a little when Octavia had escaped her and slid a pillow into her hooves which seemed to satisfy her lover.

Downstairs she saw Melody sweeping up the remaining pieces of the vase. “I’m so sorry about the mess Melody. Let me take care of it” said Octavia as she took the broom from her roommate.

“It’s okay. I’m guessing last night went well. I kind of peaked in on you two thinking something horrible had happened and was delighted to see that everything seemed good.” Melody had let Octavia take the broom and had started some coffee in the kitchen.

“Well it was great but nothing I’d planned happened really. I guess if I’m dating Vinyl I’ll have to learn to grow accustom to that. Oh look what she gave me.” Octavia had taken the box containing the crystal rose and flaunted it in front of Melody.

“I kind of peaked in there to.” Melody said grinning sheepishly, “But it’s amazing. Where’d she get it from?”

“You’ll never believe this but the Crystal Empire. I think one of her sister’s friends got it for her.” Octavia confided in her friend.

“How, I thought most ponies weren’t really allowed there yet and since there’s no railway it would have taken weeks to have gotten that. And that’s not even considering the cost of the whole ordeal.”

“Well…her sister is one of the Elements of Harmony but don’t make a big deal about it. Besides they really don’t seem to get along. Each time I saw them together they just bickered and fought the whole time.”

“Shut up. Her sister is one of the Elements of Harmony. Who is it?”

“I told you not to make a big deal about it and since you are I’m not telling you.”

“What was it? Spramp.”

Octavia turned as white as Vinyl the blurted out, “Rainbow Dash but I swear Melody if you tell anyone I will be furious with you. Same with spramp no one hears of it.”

“That is the one time I will ever use it and DK didn’t hear that so it’s just the three of us that know.”

“And it will remain the three of us if you want to continue to be friends.” Threatened Octavia, “Any ways I’m going to run out and grab some donuts from Joe’s for Vinyl.”

“No, let me to make up for prying that out of you.”

“You know you would have found out eventually right?”

“You know me I’m not a patience girl.” Melody said as she stepped out the door.

Sighing Octavia had finished cleaning up when she noticed Vinyl’s saddlebag still next to the door. She walked over and picked it up when a small silver lock box fell out and a bottle half full of pills fell out. Picking them up she heard Vinyl coming down the stairs and stopping when she saw her.

“What are you doing?” Vinyl asked obviously troubled by what she saw.

“I was just picking up your saddlebag-“

“And go through it?” Vinyl interrupted Octavia letting her anger get the best of her. “Just because were dating doesn’t give you the right to go through my stuff, Octavia.” She said as she walked down the stairs and grabbed her saddlebag and stash from Octavia with her magic.

“Calm down Vinyl they fell out and if the roles were reversed I’d be angry too. It was an accident.” Octavia pleaded to her marefriend.

“I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.” Hearing Octavia sounding hurt instantly pulled the plug on Vinyl’s anger. “I’m kind of private on some things. Can you forgive me?”

“Of course I can Vinyl. Like I said if I found you going through my things I’d be upset.” Octavia nuzzled Vinyl and the two kissed good morning. “Umm, but can I ask something?”

“If I can ask you some thing also.”

“You can go first, love.”

“Love, I don’t think I’ve ever been called that before. I can totally get use to that but I was hoping that you’d come with me to dinner tonight…”

“I’d like nothing better.”

“Well it’s also going to be with someone else, my sister and probably her coltfriend.”

“Oh, well the answer is still yes but that seems a little odd. I didn’t think you two really got along.”

“We don’t but I promised Twilight Sparkle I’d do it for getting me your rose.” Vinyl confessed to her girl but relieved that she was going to dinner with her. “Okay what’d you want to ask?”

“Well you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to but what were those pills?”

“Ahhh…” Vinyl began to fidget and pace a bit. ‘Okay Vinyl you can trust her. She really likes you and you really like her. This is what ponies in relationships do; they tell each other private things.’

“It’s okay you don’t need to tell me. Like you said you’re private with some things.”

“No, I-I want too.” Vinyl still wasn’t entirely sure until she made eye contact with Octavia and saw the warmth and love in her eyes. “I sometimes get panic attacks and they help me with them.”

“Oh, okay. Do you want any coffee? Melody should be back soon with some donuts from Donut Joe’s. Which I have to say Sugar Cube Corner has some great pastries, but they can't beat a donut from Joe’s.” Octavia moved to the kitchen and poured two cups of coffee.

“Umm is that okay?”

“It’s more than okay you definitely earned donuts from last night’s exercise.” Octavia said blushing deeply remembering the previous night.

“No I mean about me having to take medication to keep from freaking out all the time.”

“Why would I care? You’re still the same pony I know.”

“What if I told you I smoked pot?” Said Vinyl testing Octavia.

“That still doesn’t bother me but I don’t want you doing it at my place. What’s this about? Do you want me to be upset at you about something?”

“I think I do.” Vinyl said with a sad, worried look in her eyes.

“That’s silly Vinyl why would you want that?”

“This is sort of the freak out stuff I was talking about. I feel like something terrible is about to happen and my chest gets tight and I feel like I don’t have control over anything. So to feel like I have control of something I make a problem.”

Octavia listened intently nodding. “I think I understand what you’re saying.”

“I take a lot of ecstasy also.”

“Oh.” Octavia responded calmly but was starting to get upset inside but knew that’s what Vinyl was expecting. Or she should say the part of Vinyl that expected to be hurt. Right now reacting with what that part of her wanted would only make the problem worse. So if she couldn’t tell Vinyl how angry she’d try to turn the tables on it and try some positive reinforcement.

“And hallucinogens.”

“I get it Vinyl you do drugs. I kind of expected that when we started dating. I just don’t want you to do them around me. I want you, not drugged out you. Now maybe you take one of your pills because I don’t want to fight with you and I know you don’t want to also.” Octavia commanded Vinyl letting her anger starting to seep though.

“I’m sorry.” Vinyl took one and felt terrible. “I don’t know what comes over me Tavi. I can tell what I’m doing is wrong but it’s like I can’t control myself.”

“I know, love.” Octavia walked over and hugged Vinyl and kissed her cheek. “I’m happy that you told me all of this. I could tell how nervous you were about opening up to me about that and that takes strength.” Octavia kissed her neck, “And strength...is...a...big...turn on.” Octavia had started to kiss her way up Vinyl’s neck and at turn on she whispered it sultry into her ear then gave it a bite. Octavia pulled Vinyl on top of her and kissed her deeply. Just then of course the door opened.

“Dou-okay!” Melody started to walk in then quickly covered her eyes at the sight of the two entangled and turned around walking right out again.

The two just stared at the door for a moment then burst out laughing. “Melody, it's safe!” Octavia called getting up from under Vinyl. “It’s okay.”

The door opened a crack and a bright red Melody poked her head in cautiously. “Are you two decent?”

“Yes, come in.” Octavia replied. When Melody entered Octavia apologized. “Sorry, we just got a little caught up in something and I promise it won’t happen again.”

“That’s a relief to hear. Now I’m going to try and scrub that image from my head.” Melody hurried to her room after dropping off the donuts.

“I bet she’s going to clop to us.” Joked Vinyl, which got the response of a swift punch in the arm dealt from Octavia. “Ow Tavi, that hurt.”

“Come on lets head back to my room.” Octavia grabbed Vinyl’s saddlebag and the donuts while Vinyl levitated the cups of coffee and they returned to Octavia’s room.

After setting down Vinyl’s bag next do the door and the coffee and donuts on the night stand, Vinyl pushed Octavia onto her bed, getting a giggle from the gray mare, and returned to her previous position above her.

“Vinyl,” Octavia stared into her eyes and addressing her in a serious tone, “do I make you nervous?”

“No,” Vinyl said glancing away but Octavia’s hooves on her cheeks returned her to the purple eyes, “It’s not that simple. With you I want to be…I don’t know better I guess. I get into my own head and scare myself.” Octavia kissed her and wrapped her back hooves around Vinyl’s waist pulling her closer.

“Did you bring any drugs with you?”

Vinyl looked at her saddlebag but was drawn back by Octavia’s hooves again into her eyes pleading for the truth. “Yeah.”

‘Okay Vinyl here it goes. The do or die moment. She’s been understanding and kind and gentle so far. Just try to be strong and…she’ll let you down easy. No Vinyl she said that she was here for you. Just try to open up.’ Despite what she was telling herself Vinyl began to brace for rejection.

“Do you want to tell me why?” Octavia asked gently, trying to keep any judgment and anger out of her tone, just trying to listen.

“For tonight, so I can deal with my sister easier.” Vinyl felt like a terrible pony saying it out loud and to her marefriend. What type of a pony couldn’t make it though one meal with her own family without being high.

She rolled off of Octavia and hid her face in the blankets, but Octavia wasn’t finished yet and definitely wouldn’t let her love go into a dark place. Octavia spooned Vinyl pressing herself along her body so Vinyl would know she wasn’t alone. “I’m here for you, talk to me my love.” She gently nudged Vinyl.

After a moment of silence Octavia decided to probe Vinyl a little. “Can you tell me why you feel like you need to do drugs?” Vinyl didn’t say anything for a while and Octavia knew that pushing her to much right now wouldn’t help.

“I don’t like being like this.” Vinyl felt Octavia’s breath on her neck, calm and gentle. “Ugh, the fear gets really bad some times, to the point that I don’t feel like I can take it anymore. Drugs make it go away.” Vinyl felt a kiss on her neck, not in an erotic way but in a comforting manor and she started to feel tears sting her eyes. Being honest wasn’t easy when you were scared of rejection, especially if it was to the person who you wanted to be proud of you.

“What are you scared of?” Octavia said giving Vinyl another little probe, trying to figure out what had been troubling her marefriend so much.

“I-I’m scared…that you’ll see who I really an…and…and you won’t want me anymore. I’m scared that no one will ever love me. And…I’m scared that I’m some sort of a freak for feeling this way.” Vinyl choked out trying to suppress the feeling to sob.

“I will always want you Vinyl and there’s nothing wrong with you, baby.” Octavia ran her hooves over Vinyl’s sides in a nurturing manor before continuing. “Do you feel like you’re an addicted?”

Vinyl sighed, “I do and I don’t. I’m not addicted to any one thing per say but I do do a lot of drugs. It just changes what I take depending on my mood or what I’m doing.” Vinyl started to cry silently and felt Octavia hold her closer enveloping her in her warmth and love.

Vinyl turned around and looked at Octavia. Octavia knew this moment was critical and returned Vinyl’s look without judgment or pity, full of confidence and acceptance. She softly wiped the tears from Vinyl’s eyes and embraced her again. After a minute of silence Vinyl stood up and walked to her bag and shifted through the contents until she found her silver lock box and gave it to Octavia who took it into the bathroom and emptied out the white powder inside of it into her toilet and flushed it.

With the deed done she returned to Vinyl’s side and kissed her. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Tavi.” Vinyl said as she studied her hoofs not making eye contact with Octavia.

Octavia said with tears welling up in her eyes. This wasn’t part of the plan but she knew she wouldn’t have gone this far to help out someone she wasn’t in love with. She did love Vinyl with all of her heart. Was this to fast? For most ponies probably but she knew with Vinyl it wasn’t. It wouldn’t have mattered if they’d said it when they first meet or ten years from now, it still would have been true. “I know I’m in love with you.”

Vinyl looked at her still full of the fear of rejection from all of her revelations. When she saw the tears streaking Octavia’s cheeks she knew she didn’t need to be scared any more. “This has been the most difficult morning of my life.”

Octavia laughed, “Yes it’s been quite emotional.” She nuzzled Vinyl’s neck happy to see her marefriend returning to normal. “I’m really proud of you Vinyl.”

“It’s really not that big of a deal.” Said Vinyl, trying to down play the feeling of pride that had started swelling in her chest.

“It really is Vinyl, don’t sell yourself short.” Octavia grabbed the donuts off the night stand and offered one to Vinyl. “I’ll always be proud of you Vinyl but when you opened up to me like that and faced your demons like that. That takes a kind of strength that a lot of ponies don’t have and you should be as proud of yourself as I am of you.”

They ate in silence, the donuts still fresh but the coffee had gotten cold but neither of them minded. After breakfast they cuddled for a while during which Vinyl had fallen asleep again which suited Octavia just fine. Vinyl had exhausted herself by doing something that was against her nature and shown something that had been troubling her throughout her life. Octavia again slipped from under her and replaced herself with a pillow again then gave Vinyl a light kiss so as to not wake her.

Octavia walked into her bathroom and pulled out her diary from one of the drawers and began to write in it detailing what all had happened to sort her own feelings out about the matter. She wasn’t mad at Vinyl but she was just angry at the whole situation. For Vinyl not telling her sooner about her feelings and whatever had caused her to feel so bad about herself to have made her turn to drugs to coup. Honestly part of her wanted to be angry at Vinyl but she knew that wouldn’t have been fair to her. On the bright side of things it was a step in the right direction and knowing that she was helping her marefriend was the most important thing.

Night Out on the Town

Vinyl awoke with a jolt. “Tavi?” She called out to her marefriend still confused with sleep and began to feel panicky when she didn’t see Octavia.

“Hey good to see you finally woke up sleepy head.” Octavia walked out of the bathroom.

“I didn’t think I was that tired, what time is it anyways?” Vinyl asked stretching out.

“Well you basically slept through the entire morning it’s about 3 now.”

“Rainbow’s going to be here in 3 hours. You should have woken me up.” Vinyl jumped out of the bed and grabbed her saddlebag and turned it upside down on Octavia’s bed, much to Octavia’s distress of the mess where she slept. She grabbed the dress and headed to the bathroom and came out a moment later wearing a, still wrinkled, bright green dress. “What’d ya think?”

“It’s…it’s a lovely dress for sure Vinyl.” Octavia didn’t sound at all confident about that. “You know what would be fun? What if you tried on some of my clothes?” Octavia tried to make it sound like a fun option instead of saying out right she wouldn’t be going out with Vinyl if she was dressed like that.

“You don’t like it do you?” A hurt looking Vinyl said.

“No it’s not like that. I just…don’t know if it’s appropriate for tonight is all. Besides I have all of these dresses and I never go out. It’d be a shame to just let them waste away in a closet.” Octavia had gotten up and opened her walk in closet door showing two rows of cloths packed together of various styles and colors.

“I don’t think you have anything in my size Tavi.”

“I probably do. I’ve fluctuated in size a couple times, something my mother loved to point out by buying me half of these.”

“Did you just call me fat?” Vinyl looked at her flank from a few different angles in a mirror.

Octavia poked her head out of the closet giving Vinyl an ‘I didn’t and never would call you fat’ look before returning to work. In reality it was after she’d graduated and been dealing with some issues and Donut Joe’s had just opened. She might have gained a pound or two or twenty. Any ways she preferred Vinyl’s fuller rump to her own and the thought of it made her blush a bit. Maybe we have time before. “Is your sister punctual?”

“She’s never on time but she’s going to be with Soarin, her coltfriend, so they will be.”

“S-Soarin you said?” Octavia said biting her lower lip.

“Yeah he’s in the Wonderbolt’s.” Vinyl said nonchalantly.

“Umm Vinyl maybe I shouldn’t go. You see…Soarin and I, well, we use to date a while ago and it didn’t exactly end that well.” Octavia said remembering the incident that had broken her heart from her first love.

“But Tavi I’ll need you tonight. You make me less nervous and calmer. And if my sister finds out it’ll drive her up the wall. She’s the really jealous type.” Vinyl grinned at the idea.

“Do you really want her jealous of your marefriend?” Came a stern toned question from the closet.

“Well when you put it in that tone I don’t.” Vinyl said rolling her eyes.

Octavia’s revenge came in dress form this time and she picked one that she knew wouldn’t fit Vinyl. “How about a black one, it’s slimming. And I don’t want you telling your sister then.”

Vinyl had returned to looking at her flank in the mirror when Octavia handed her the dress and returned to the search. “Fine, I won’t tell her about you and Soarin but how about you tell me what happened.”

“Well a brief version is he cheated on me…A lot I found out later.”

“Do you think he’s cheating on Dash?” Vinyl said trying to not sound hopeful at the notion of her sister making a mistake.

“For starters I wouldn’t know we don’t keep in contact. Secondly I honestly hope not. Your sister cant so bad that you’d want her to get hurt like that.”

“You don’t know her.” Vinyl muttered as she struggled with the dress but only succeeded in getting it stuck around her. “You were joking about not coming right?”

“For you Vinyl I will go.”

“Love you Tavi”

“I love you too Vinyl.”

They eventually found a nice light purple dress for Vinyl which matched Octavia’s eyes and cutie mark and a black over coat. While Octavia choose the black one she had originally given Vinyl as punishment which Vinyl hadn’t found the least bit amusing.

XXXX

Vinyl had started to pace around the living room. At first Octavia, Melody and she were chatting and sharing a nice bottle of wine but the closer it got to 6 PM the more anxious Vinyl had become. When the knock at the door came Vinyl could feel her stomach drop several feet. Octavia had of course noticed and she was feeling the same only she was better at hiding her worries compared to Vinyl. Octavia stood up, gave a kiss to Vinyl’s forehead and reminded her to be nice before answering the door.

In the door way stood Rainbow Dash wearing a dress streaked with the colors of her mane and tapered with a material that was practically transparent but had been folded over and over delicately that made it resemble clouds. Finally the dress came together with a small gold clasp around her neck and a small red purse around on shoulder. Octavia noted that the dress made her look surprisingly feminine but was also made to allow her plenty of room to fly if she needed too.

“Rainbow Dash please come in. I have to say you look quite stunning.” Octavia said sincerely then looked out into the hall way. “Where’s your coltfriend if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Thank you Octavia. You look beautiful as well. Soarin had to stay later than planned at the Academy but he’ll be joining us later this evening.” Octavia let out a breath she had been unknowingly been holding in. “Vine you look lovely also.” Rainbow Dash said spotting her sister across the room.

“Oh wow YOUR Vinyl’s sister. I’m Melody Octavia’s roommate.” Octavia rolled her eyes at Melody.

“We should probably get going.” Octavia interjected before Melody could go any further and hurried the sisters out the door.

“So how long have you and Soarin been dating?” Octavia asked when they got to the streets of Canterlot.

“About 3 years now. We actually have something to announce tonight and I wanted you, Vine, to be the first I told.”

Octavia quickly did the math in her head and was relieved that Rainbow Dash hadn’t been in time frame of her and Soarin.

“No one calls me Vine.” Vinyl said giving an insincere smile.

“I called you Vine all through our childhood and I’m not planning on stopping any time soon.” Rainbow Dash gave Vinyl a friendly big sister smile.

Vinyl didn’t say anything but sulked a bit as they left Octavia’s and walked down the street.

“So where are we going?” Octavia asked trying to break some of the tension.

“I was thinking about this great Japony place Soarin took me to a while ago. They have a great hibachi grill and even better Saki.”

“That sounds like fun.” Octavia said at Vinyl.

“Yeah sounds…great.” Vinyl said not sounding very excited at the prospect.

Octavia held Vinyl back a moment and angrily whispered, “Vinyl you keep saying how awful she is but right now you’re being the awful one. She even said she has something to announce and she wanted to tell YOU first. Not her friends. YOU. So stop acting like a filly.” With that being said Octavia caught up to Rainbow Dash before Vinyl could respond letting Octavia’s disappointment sink into her.

Vinyl gave a huff, of course out of hearing range of Octavia, and pulled her over coat a bit closer. Tonight wasn’t going pleasantly at all for her. She just knew that her sister was up to something. Vinyl looked ahead of her and saw Octavia and Dash laughing and talking. Suddenly she did feel like a filly. Sisters do fight from time to time but that doesn’t mean that it’s serious. Maybe when she called her Vine it wasn’t as an insult. Maybe it was just some friendly sibling ribbing. Maybe it was a happy nickname she’d given Vinyl when they were kids. ‘Great Vinyl, start out by ruining the night.’ Vinyl took a deep breath to clear her head just as they arrived at the restaurant.

Rainbow Dash had made reservations earlier and the three were taken to a private dining room with a small flat top in the center. The room was adorned in traditional Japony design which was simple with a few plants in the corners and lit by red chochin giving a red glow to everything. The trio took their seats around the grill and ordered a couple bottles of warmed Saki.

“Okay so I told you two that there’s something I need to tell you but it’s actually a couple of things. I know Soarin’s not here yet but I’m sure he’ll forgive me to tell you two. Firstly as you know Soarin and I have been dating for a while and we’re done dating…We’re getting married!” Octavia toasted Rainbow Dash but had her worries which she kept to herself and Vinyl congratulated her sister and hugged her, which had earned a pleased smile from Octavia. “Vine, I of course want you to be my mare-of-honor I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d want to be.”

“Umm…Yeah of course I will be.” Vinyl said being taken completely off guard by the request.

“Awesome. Okay now comes the really important thing.”

“That wasn’t the important thing?” Asked Octavia

“Well Soarin and I are in love and do want to get married but it’s actually for something else entirely. I’m kind of adopting a foal….So I guess our family is growing.” Rainbow Dash said looking at Vinyl for her reaction.

“So you’re becoming a mom?”

“Well I don’t know if I’d say I’m going to be her mom but we’re going to be giving her a stable loving home. Sort of like AJ and Applebloom’s situation.”

“So you’re getting a sister?”

“Ahh…Sort of in a way, I was thinking more like WE’RE getting a sister.”

“I’m going to the bathroom.” Vinyl said standing up and storming off.

“That wasn’t what I was hoping for.” Rainbow Dash said to Octavia.

“Congratulations Rainbow Dash and I’m sure Vinyl’s going to be fine. She probably just needs some time to think about this. Now excuse me please, I’m going to go check on her.” Octavia said getting up and following her marefriend.

XXXX

“A SISTER!” Vinyl yelled at Octavia. Not at her per say but more at the situation they were both in. “Can you believe the nerve of her? Couldn’t make things between us work so she just decides to get a new sister.”

“To be fair Vinyl she did ask you to be her mare-of-honor which means that she’s not removing or replacing you. You’re going to be in her wedding, something she’ll remember for the rest of her life.” Octavia said leaning against the wall watching her marefriend pace back and forth in the bathroom.

“That was a pity offer.” Vinyl said dismissing the idea. “I don’t know why I even agreed to do this for Twilight.”

“I do.”

Octavia walked over and nuzzled Vinyl's neck which seemed to have instant calming reaction over her. “I would have agreed to it over and over again to see you that happy again.” Then the fire returned and Vinyl was back to pacing. “This is all because she never thought I was good enough to be her sister. She’s always looked down on me. She’s never even supported me in any of my choices. Did you know that she’s never even been to one of my concerts? My own ‘sister’ can’t be bothered to do that.”

“Calm down Vinyl. Did you ever think that this foal could be someone that you’re sister met and could really use her help? Besides she wouldn’t have told us about a big announcement to say that she was abandoning you as her sister. Maybe it’s because she wants you to be a part of the foal’s life also?”

“Stop trying to make this sound rational Tavi.” Vinyl said but the anger was already dying in her. “Did you bring any of my medication?”

“Yes I did Vinyl but it says no alcohol, so no pill.” Octavia said sternly.

“Fine...” Vinyl said annoyed, then sighed. “No you’re right baby. I just need to take some breaths. This kid could need help and she might want me to be part of her life also. I don’t know why because Rainbow and me don’t get along but whatever.”

“Feeling better?”

“Yeah I am,” Vinyl walked over and gave her lover a kiss on the cheek, which was returned. “I couldn’t have done this without you. You know that right?”

“You’re stronger than you know love. Now let’s not keep your sister waiting all night.” Octavia said as she led her marefriend back to their table.

“Okay soo a sister you said.” Vinyl began trying to keep an open mind about the situation. “I guess you should tell me about her then.”

“She’s actually in Applebloom’s grade and they’re also best friends. Not the reason why we’re adopting her by the way. Her names Scootaloo and she’s a Pegasus like me but her wings are kind of under developed so we’re going to be getting a place in Ponyville soon. She unfortunately looks at me like a heroine which I’m sure that will end within a week or so. She puts on a bold face most of the time but she’s a real sweetheart. Trust me Vinyl you will love her as much as I do. You two are a lot alike.”

“I’ll give her a shot.” Vinyl couldn’t hate a child for just being around. It didn’t mean she had to like her yet but she shouldn’t hold anything against her.

“When are you two getting her?” Octavia asked.

“The sooner the better if you ask me. It’s why Soarin and I are getting married; the officials think that if you’re not married it “can’t be a stable home”. So the ceremony is going to be pretty quick soon. It’s going to be small, well as small as I can make it with Rarity involved. I just want everyone that’s close to me there and that’s it. Either way Princess Celestia said she was going to put a good word or two in for me and if things go well it’ll actually be before the wedding. She’d be so cute as a flower girl.” Rainbow Dash said confiding in Octavia the last part. “The problem right now that we’re facing is actually finding a place to live. There aren’t that many in Ponyville and”

Vinyl started to feel her stomach drop. She knew Ponyville and there were only a couple places that were vacant and most weren’t suitable for a family.

“There’s one that’s actually a couple houses down from you Vinyl.” Rainbow Dash said with a smile on her face looking for a sign of approval.

“It’s mostly a free country.” Vinyl said and downed her drink. Octavia gave her hoof a squeeze of approval.

“Are you sure? I know we don’t usually see eye to eye and it’s your neighborhood and I don’t want to impose.” Rainbow Dash sincerely said, willing to withdraw her idea at a moment’s notice.

Vinyl took a deep breath. “No I want you to move next door. You’re family and she’s about to be family. And I’m sure she’d like some place to go when she can’t stand you.”

Rainbow Dash speed across the table giving her sister a bear hug and kissing her check. “Oh thank you Vinyl. You have no idea what your approval means. I love you.”

Vinyl was again taken off guard, besides from her sister’s speed, because that was the first time that Vinyl could recollect her sister saying those three important words. “I-uhh-I love you too, sis.” Vinyl returned the embrace and kiss.

“Okay that’s enough of the mushy stuff from me for the night.” Rainbow Dash said returning to her seat and hiding a tear of joy. “So where do you want to go tonight Vine?”

“I’m not sure if I should go out in this it’s Octavia’s and I don’t wanna ruin it.”

“I knew you didn’t have that good of taste. I assumed that you would have shown up in some brightly colored, gaudy dress.” Rainbow Dash jabbed at Vinyl.

Octavia stifled a giggle into her drink. “Well I guess I should first ask when we’re meeting up with Soarin before we start coming up with ideas.”

“That’ll be a fun reunion.” Vinyl smiled at her sister and received a painful kill under the table from her lover.

“Oh you know Soarin.” Rainbow Dash said brightly to Octavia.

“I think I need to touch up my lip stick, Vinyl?” Octavia “offered” her marefriend to join her. “I’ll take just a second.”

XXXX

“Why in Tartarus would you ever bring that up, Vinyl?” Octavia angrily whispered at said mare.

“She’ll find out sooner or later. It’s like a Band-Aid just do it fast.”

Octavia gave Vinyl a hard look.

“…She criticized my style and I got pissed. I just wanted to make her as mad as she made me and that was the only thing I could think of then.”

“Oh Vinyl,” Octavia embraced her partner. “You do have bad taste.”

“What?”

“I wouldn’t have let you out wearing that thing of a dress but your terrible taste in clothing doesn’t excuse the fact that I’m the one in trouble right now. Or at least will be if what you said about her being really jealous is true.”

“Oh boy is it. This one time she was seeing this guy and this mare comes up and starts to hit on him and she just flew up and….oh.” Vinyl stopped realizing the situation she’d just put her marefriend in.

“You have got to be kidding me Vinyl.” Octavia face hoofed.

“Maybe she’s calmed down some, you know gotten more mature.”

Octavia sat down and took a deep breath collecting her thoughts. “Okay well the cats just about out of the bag if you will. We might as well just tell her but I swear Vinyl if you ever and I mean ever use me like that again…” Octavia didn’t need to finish her words.

“Don’t worry Tavi. Okay look I’ll go out there and just tell her and then I’ll get you after I talk to her a bit.”

“Yay hiding in a bathroom like an adult.” Octavia sarcastically said.

“Okay then go to the bar and I’ll tell her. And I promise I’ll do it with the grace that you have. It’ll be nice and friendly and charming. I’ll just channel my inner Tavi, okay?”

“Fine I could use something stiff for the evening any ways.”

“I’ll make this all better, I promise, and I’ll never do anything like this again.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep Vinyl.” Octavia said dangerously.

Vinyl took Octavia by the hoofs and looked her in the eyes. “I promise I’ll make this better and I promise I’ll never use you like that again.”

Octavia couldn’t resist her love. “Okay, but don’t think for a second I’m still not mad at you.”

“You are very angry got it. Ready?”

“Ready.”

The two walked out of the bathroom and Octavia made a bee line to the bar while Vinyl headed back to the hibachi.

“Where’d Octavia go?” Rainbow Dash asked glancing around.

“There’s something I need to tell you. It’s about Octavia and Soarin.”

“What about Soarin and Octavia?” Rainbow Dash’s voice got much more serious.

“Well they, a long time ago like they were basically kids really, but they’d dated.”

Rainbow Dash laughed, “Oh Vinyl I don’t care about some playground relationship. Filly’s and colts don’t really count as dating.”

“That’s good to hear because I was kind of worried about it and I really shouldn’t have brought it up. I mean what’s a couple years anyways.”

“A couple years?”

“Well like, ahem, well Octavia was 17 so that’s a child technically, by law.”

“Huh.” Rainbow Dash said deadpan but Vinyl noticed a stiffness that had come over her.

Vinyl knew where this had started to go and the only way to stop it would be with her own way of things. “Okay look who cares. They use to fuck. But Octavia isn’t interested in that or him anymore, especially since me. She doesn’t want to have a thing to do with him anymore and you are the only reason why they’re going to be seeing each other. So if you’re going to be pissed at anyone be pissed at yourself for coming out.”

“I guess you have a point.” Rainbow Dash hesitantly agreed to Vinyl’s logic.

“Also if you ever hurt her I would FUCKING destroy you.” Vinyl ended with a happy smile. “So can I go get her now because she’s worried that you’ll be upset?”

“Wait. I’ll go get her.”

Vinyl shot Rainbow Dash a look. “It’s good don’t worry. And you’ve been hogging her all night.” Rainbow Dash got up heading to the bar.

Octavia was trying to get the attention of the barkeep for another drink when Rainbow Dash walked up and gave her a slight poke. Octavia fumbled and just about dropped her empty glass and gave a high pitched “Hi” to Rainbow Dash and started to look around for a means to a quick escape.

“Oh calm down. I’m not upset or anything.” She took a seat next to Octavia and ordered two shots of tequila. “Probably won’t be able to have any adult fun for a while when we get Scoot. Vinyl like usual will be the lucky one and get to have fun but I’m not complaining.” Rainbow Dash forced the shot into Octavia’s hoof, clinked the shots and downed hers before Octavia could really follow what was going on and followed suit.

“So you’re not mad or anything?”

“No, Vinyl made a good point that it was years ago and I do trust Soarin and you are with Vinyl. Besides I have to stop letting some things get to me if I’m going to be taking care of our sister. So we are great.”

“Should we head back to the table then?”

“Not yet I wanted some alone time with you.”

“Okay then. Did you say that Vinyl was the lucky one?”

“Ha. I bet you won’t get something like that coming from her but I think it’s true. She doesn’t have the pressure of life threatening situations to deal with. Don’t forget everyone constantly looking at you and expecting you to be something more than you are. But I didn’t really want to talk about me. First let me apologize to you about how I was when we first meet. I assumed you were just some mare who got caught up in her…everything.”

“It’s okay. How many mares are we talking about?”

“Don’t worry. None of them have done a fraction of what you have done to her. I mean she seems more like herself, not as distant. I felt like I was losing my sister and there wasn’t anything I could do to reach her.”

“I don’t know everything that’s happened between you two but I think this has been a really good start to getting you two back on track.” Octavia smiled at Rainbow Dash who returned the look and gave her a hug. “Can you do me a favor Rainbow?”

“Of course.” Rainbow Dash replied.

“I know that some of the things you say to Vinyl you see as just teasing but I need to ask you to stop.”

“Umm, yeah I can stop.”

“Thank you, she would never admit this but she takes them all extremely personally. She’s tough but I think anything you say to her she takes to heart.”

“I…wow, I didn’t know…” Rainbow Dash said feeling guilty for all the years of what she saw now as abuse.

“Oh don’t beat yourself up.” Octavia gave Rainbow Dash a light poke to the ribs. “Would you have said anything if your roles had been reversed? You didn’t know. You got fooled by her tough act. You know both of you are remarkably similar I’m surprised you two don’t get along.”

“That’s probably why we don’t get along together. If we had more in common we’d probably be inseparable.”

“That’s true. How about you head back to the table and I’ll order us another round and we just drop all of this drama for the night and just let loose.”

“That sounds like a great plan. Hopefully Soarin doesn’t get too scared when he sees you.” Both ponies laughed at the thought. Rainbow Dash headed back to Vinyl and Octavia ordered another round for the trio.

Vinyl watched her sister return, with a slight stumble, and flop down in her seat. “We need food. I’m not use to drinking let alone on an empty stomach.”

“Where’s Tavi?” Vinyl asked, not meaning to sound as concerned as she really was.

“She said she was getting another round. She’s awesome if you didn’t know.”

Vinyl had begun to look for Octavia. “What’s with you right now?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I’m just looking to make sure she’s okay is all.”

“She’s fine. Stop acting like a spaz.”

Vinyl folded her fore legs and stopped looking around. “Fine.”

“Sorry,” Rainbow Dash instantly realized what she’d done. “You’re fine and so is she, we’re all fine. Now Octavia said we should stop with the drama crap tonight and just let our manes down and have some fun.”

Vinyl relaxed a bit. Not often had she heard an apology from her sister but she guessed Octavia had that effect on ponies. “No, yeah let’s just have fun. What do you want to do tonight?”

“I don’t know something exciting and fun.”

“Well you like sports and I think there’s an Ultimate Pony Championship fight tonight. I might be able to pull a few strings and get us into the after party?”

“That sounds awesome.”

“Okay let me go make some calls and I’ll get us in.”

Octavia returned shortly with a tray of drinks. “Where’d Vinyl go?” Octavia asked looking around.

“Do you two need to be around each other constantly? Whatever I was the same with Soarin at one point so I shouldn’t judge. She’s setting up the night to take us to the post UPC party.”

“Oh, my favorite.” Octavia said trying to sound like she actually wanted to go.

“Yeah it’ll be awesome if she can pull it off.” Rainbow Dash waved over their waitress. “Do you know what you want? I’m starving and the alcohol is starting to get to my head so I at least need something.”

The waitress walked over and asked Octavia what she was having.

“I’ll go with the beet and turnip hibachi.”

“Make it three of those actually wait four. Soarin might make it and if he doesn’t I’ll just have his also.”

“Putting on the mommy pounds already?” Vinyl said returning to her seat as the waitress left.

“I’m not her mom Vinyl, you know that. What’s the story for tonight?”

“Then don’t eat like you’re preggo and it’s totally on.” Octavia gave Vinyl a look at the comment.

The three continued to enjoy their drinks and the show their chef put on for them. As they were walking out of the restaurant a stallion grabbed Rainbow Dash from behind and picked her up. Dash screamed then twisted around and the scream turned into a giggle and the two kissed.

“Wow, how much have you had to drink? I can literally taste the alcohol.” Soarin asked after the two broke their kiss.

“About this much.” Rainbow Dash held up a hoof showing Soarin.

“That doesn’t tell me anything but I’m guessing a lot.”

“Hey Soarin, we were having fun until you showed up.” Vinyl greeted her soon to be brother-in-law.

“Hey Viny..umm *cough*l.” Soarin said noticing Octavia standing next to Vinyl.

“Get over it. I know already we talked about it. So it just means you have some catching up to do.” Rainbow Dash said giving Soarin a peak on the check. “Now where heading to the post UPC party. You missed dinner and I ate yours.” Rainbow Dash stumbled through her words.

“Maybe you should cool it with the drinks for the night.”

“Pfft we won’t be able to do this for a while after we get Scoots.”

“That’s a good point. What are we waiting for?”

XXXX

The party was perfect. Not too many ponies to keep you from walking around and having conversations but enough to always be meeting new friends. Strobe lights flashing in different colors with coves around the wall containing booths. The music had a steady electronic beat but wasn’t loud enough to make you have to shout to be heard. The four had made their rounds and had settled into a booth with a bottle of vodka for the table. All of them where talking and telling stories and jokes but Octavia and Soarin hadn’t really talked to each other but had just made some polite safe comments to each other.

“Oh Vinyl do you see that mare at the bar with the long spikey hair?” Rainbow Dash pointed to a mare at the bar.

“The one that’s light blue?”

“Yeah that’s Cloud Chaser I use to work with her on Weather Patrol but she quit because she started to do music promotions and I guess it really took off. Com’ on I’ll introduce you two.” Rainbow Dash started to get up but was stopped by her sister.

“Save it for another time I’m having fun with you.”

Across the bar Cloud Chaser had noticed the mare with Rainbow Dash and Soarin and was waiting for her to look back at her and had positioned herself so the white mare could get a good look at her flank. She knew that Rainbow Dash had pointed her out to the girl which is what had originally drawn her attention to her. Now it was the time to wait for the game to start.

Stereophonics - Devil (if you want music for the “scene”)

Vinyl got up from the table and headed to the bathroom. On the way she looked at the bar and made eye contact with Cloud Chaser who gave her a cocky seductive smile and a wink. Vinyl couldn’t hold back and returned the wink and smile.

Cloud Chaser headed to the exit using her hips to hypnotize the girl, drawing her in like a fly to honey. As she reached the door she then looked back to make sure the mare was still paying attention to her and lifted her tail just barely keeping her marehood covered and exiting with another wink.

Vinyl bumped into somepony before finally getting her senses back and glanced back to the table to see if Octavia had noticed anything. Thankfully she hadn’t seemed to have seen anything and Vinyl continued on with her business but for some reason Cloud Chaser wouldn’t chase herself from her that night.

Vinyl returned to her seat after picking up a round of drinks for everyone. Octavia cuddled up to her but seemed to be holding on tighter than normal.

“You’re holding on a little tight babe. You okay?” Vinyl asked in a hushed tone to not gather everyones attention.

“I’m fine. I don’t know maybe I’m feeling a little insecure. This isn’t my type of crowd or place.” She whispered back to Vinyl.

“You have nothing to feel insecure about. Besides I only have eyes for you.” Vinyl replied before giving Octavia a kiss.

“Love you.” Octavia said and released her grip on Vinyl some but inside Octavia felt the lie sting her. She could feel Vinyl’s love for her being tested by that horse, Cloud Chaser, and a small part of her heart started to crack. She'd seen the look of lust that'd gone through Vinyl.

That night Octavia wasn't sure if it was her or Cloud Chaser that Vinyl made love too.

Author's Note

My apologies for the delay. I had a Muay Thai tournament coming up so I spent most of my free time training or working out. Any way it's an excuse and I shouldn't have put this off because I just needed to go over the chapter to flush out some things. Feed back is always welcome.

Siblings/Party Time

“Come on Vinyl.” Octavia said as she struggled with the mound under the blankets.

“But I’m comfy.” Vinyl whined and tried to wrap herself in more blankets.

“I saw you play now it’s your turn to see me play.” Octavia said in a growing annoyance and continued trying to free Vinyl from the blankets.

“I know you’re awesome, besides listening to a dusty old cello will just put me back to bed.” Vinyl’s voice came from somewhere in the mound.

“Dusty. Old. Cello.” That was Octavia’s breaking point and she shoved the mound with Vinyl off the bed.

“Ow.” Vinyl finally popped out of the mound and was greeted to Octavia standing on the bed glaring down at her.

“The cello I’ll have you know is more complex than your records. Not everyone can be called a cellist unlike you DJ’s it takes more than just buying a set of headphones and some turntables.” Octavia fumed.

“Hey!” Vinyl said outraged, finally getting out of bed and meeting Octavia’s anger.

Octavia held up a hoof signaling that they both should calm down and take a deep breath. “What I meant was there are hundreds if not thousands of ponies who call themselves DJ’s when they have no talent to speak of. You Vinyl are truly an exceptional talented DJ but you have to admit there are a lot of DJ’s that just don’t have very much talent.” Octavia said as she hoped off the bed and began to set up her cello.

“I won’t admit that about other DJ’s but I get at what you’re saying.” Vinyl said calming down.

“Thank you and I’m sorry for what I said.” Octavia apologized as she carefully set her cello on its stand and pulled out what looked like a mat with numbers on it and a cord hanging from it.

“I probably shouldn’t have called your cello dust and old.” Vinyl said taking a seat again in her blanket mound.

“There’s a lot you can do with a cello that most people don’t know. I feel like it’s the most underestimated instrument currently. Everyone thinks of it only in an old fashioned way and very proper.” Octavia plugged the mat into a microphone and then plugged in the amp before finally plugging in the cello. “But let me tell you Vinyl, the cello can be anything but proper at times. In fact I think it’s one of the most sensual of the instruments there is. Just the heft of it involves your whole body and it certainly doesn’t help that it’s right between your legs. Your thighs help guide it and your arms move the bow. Your hoofs position the strings and can even pluck at it like a bass guitar.” Octavia had walked over to Vinyl and was inches away from her face as she finished her lecture and gave her a passionate kiss which ended too soon for Vinyl.

Octavia gave a quick stretch before taking her seat. Octavia closed her eyes and let herself shine through the cello.

Zoe Keating - Exurgency live at Cafe 939

Octavia started out simple and moved her hoof over to the mat and recorded and set it to play. Looping herself over and making it sound like she was playing with several other cellos. Her timing had to be perfect or she’d be off key.

Vinyl was blown away on several levels. First never having seen a cello being played in such a style; Secondly for the amount of time it must have taken to perfect just this one song and it didn’t feel like this was a solo song. Lastly she was surprised just how cool her marefriend really was. She’d known Octavia was cool just not on this level cool.

Octavia finish and looked up at Vinyl.

“You need new blankets.” Vinyl said in a nonchalant manner as she inspected one.

“Umm, okay.” Octavia said feeling a little crestfallen by Vinyl’s lack of response as she put her cello on its stand.

“Because I totally soaked these! That was AMAZING Tavi!” Vinyl had bounced up and embraced her lover. “I take back everything I’ve ever said or thought about the cello. Which honestly wasn’t too much, because I never thought about cello’s until we meet but I still take it all back. Seriously Tavi feel me I’m so damp right now, and that’s all because of you.” Vinyl purred the last part into Octavia’s ear and started to guide her back to the bed.

“Vinyl I don’t know if we have the time right now. Remember the party at Ponyville for us?” Octavia said but was still complying with Vinyl physically.

“We’ll have plenty of time before the train leaves and if we miss it at the worse we’ll be fashionably late. Besides I have something I want to show you.” Vinyl’s horn lit up.

Octavia gave a small gasp. “Mmm, I’m okay with late or whatever.” At least this time she’d know Vinyl was thinking of her this time.

XXXX

The train pulled into Ponyville and Octavia and Vinyl got off. They’d gone to Ponyville a little early to check on the party. Vinyl knew Pinkie Pie could throw a party but she wanted to make sure Pinkie hadn't over done it on anything. Melody would be joining them later in the evening for the party.

“Soo um, Tavi?” Vinyl awkwardly began. “We’re going to have to clean out my room.”

Octavia laughed. “That’s what’s making you nervous? It can’t be that bad again.”

“No I mean CLEAN out my room.” Vinyl stressed.

“Oh!” Octavia finally realized Vinyl was referring to her stash. “Of course love, we’ll do it together.” Octavia gave Vinyl a light nuzzle of encouragement but could tell it didn’t help Vinyl much. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“I think it might be a bit more than what you’re thinking.” Vinyl said finding something very interesting on the ground.

“Then I’ll prepare for the absolute worse, far worse than what you have. Vinyl, you shouldn’t be scared about this with me. I love you and that means I’m not going to judge you especially for past behaviors that you’re putting behind yourself.” Octavia said bringing her hoof under Vinyl’s chin and making eye contact with her, giving her a reassuring look.

“Okay, if you say so.” Vinyl said relaxing a little bit but still on edge. “Can you give me one of my pills?”

Octavia reached into her saddlebag and handed one over to Vinyl.

“This is half of one, where’s the other half?” Vinyl asked.

“This isn’t anything you need to be worried about love. Besides you have a drug problem and I don’t want you shifting that problem to these. Half of one is all that you need right now to help take the edge off of your anxiety. The anxiety and worry is the problem and taking these won’t help the problem.” Octavia answered returning the bottle to her saddlebag.

“Fine.” Vinyl huffed then relented. “No you’re right. It’s the healthy choice. This is why I need you.”

“I need you too. You just don’t know how much I need you in my life.” Octavia said cuddling up to Vinyl as they walked to her place.

“Please, you’ve seen how I was before we meet.”

“What a life full of friends, and parties? Oh I certainly saved you.” Octavia said playfully sarcastic. “I was on a fast track to become a crazy cat pony.”

“That’s true.” Vinyl teased and got a small jab to her ribs.

Shortly they arrived at Vinyl’s house which was surprisingly not in shambles with Vinyl being gone over the weekend.

“Berry, I’m home and Octavia’s here.” Vinyl called out hearing the shower running.

“I’m right here.” Berry Punch said splayed out on the couch with a glass of wine resting on her chest.

“Who’s in the shower? And why are you using a glass?” Vinyl asked in a hushed tone having sped over to Berry Punch with Octavia in tow.

“Big Mac and it’s not that unusual for me to use a glass.” Berry Punch replied.

“You didn’t!” Vinyl gasped.

“No, gross.” Berry Punch said waving off the accusation.

“Ahem.” Octavia quietly coughed.

“Big Mac is dating Cheerilee, Berry Punch’s sister.” Vinyl said filling Octavia in on the conversation before returning to Berry Punch. “Then why is he in the shower?”

“From what Cheerie has told me I wouldn’t be casually laying here after a bucking from him.” Berry Punch joked before answering. “I guess they’re having a bit of turmoil right now and he came over asking for help. We got drunk and he passed out, for someone his size I’d assume he could hold his booze better.” Berry Punch said, whispering the last part like it should be treated like a closely guarded secret.

Vinyl gave her a questioning look.

“I didn’t and if I did you of all ponies shouldn’t be one to toss stones.” Berry Punch said taking an angrier tone at the doubt Vinyl was showing her.

“We actually had dinner last night.” Vinyl said deciding to just drop it and change tactics.

“I’m sorry, do you want some wine? Or better yet tequila!” Berry Punch said showing quite a bit of excitement at the idea.

“No, it went really well actually. They’re going to be moving in to the empty house down the road and I guess I’m getting a little sister also.” Vinyl said still sounding a little unsure of the latter part.

“Shut up a little sister! I didn’t know your parents were still doing the nasty at their age.”

“Thanks for that image but it’s more of an adoption situation and she’s doing the adopting.” Vinyl said.

“I know who it is.” Berry Punch sang.

“How do you know who she is?” Vinyl questioned her roommate.

“My sister teaches her and I’ve heard all about her situation. That’s actually a great thing if it’s who I’m assuming.” Berry Punch replied.

“Hmm, well me and Tavi have something to take care of.” Vinyl opted to end the conversation, still not sure how she felt about the whole situation, and led Octavia to her room and closed the door.

“Should we get started?” Octavia asked after a moment of silence. She had taken a seat on the bed and noted the place looked much nicer since Vinyl had cleaned and she could actually walk around.

“Yeah this whole sister thing is sort of throwing me for a loop still. Everything should be in the nightstand.” Vinyl said pointing to it and flopping down on her bed.

Octavia opened it and just about said ‘wow’ before she caught herself. The cupboard was full of various bottles full of pills and bags full of powders and other paraphernalia. “Okay, this isn’t so bad.” Octavia said sounding hopeful. “Honestly I don’t think I know what half of this stuff is Vinyl.” Octavia said inspecting a bottle of purple pills.

“That’s ecstasy that’s cut with heroin so it won’t keep you up when you start to come down.” Vinyl glanced over seeing which bottle Octavia was holding.

“In the trash we go then.” Octavia moved to the next one.

“That one’s a mild stimulant.” Vinyl said still in her prone position.

“What are all of these?” Octavia held up 5 bottles full of white pills.

“Oh those are all painkillers.” Vinyl said rolling on to her stomach.

On it went until Octavia got to a bag full of tiny pink packages. “Pitch it.” Vinyl said upon seeing it.

“What is it?” Octavia asked hesitating.

“Nothing just throw it away. We should finish up so we can make sure Pinkie Pie didn’t get out of hand.” Vinyl said finally moving from her position and sitting up.

“I feel like this is something I should know.” Octavia insisted, everything else Vinyl had explained it or told her but not this.

“It’s Xylazine. I never did it but I just know it’s just dangerous but fun I guess. Okay, now pitch it.” Vinyl insisted.

Octavia couldn’t help but note how anxious Vinyl had become. “Is this something I should make a note of?”

“No, that I promise you. It’s just embarrassing because it’s sort of scary.” Octavia could tell this was the thing that had made Vinyl so nervous earlier and gave her a questioning look.

Vinyl took a deep breath and sat down next to her. “If you knew what it was it would seriously bother you that I had it.”

“None of this other stuff did so I don’t see why you’re getting so nervous about this Vinyl?” Octavia couldn’t figure out what made this so special. If things that had heroin in them weren’t bad. What was she holding?

“That’s not like the other stuff. That’s basically a life in your hands. If you start to take it, it’s all over, there is no coming back.” Octavia looked at the bag in her hands again. There were hundreds of little bright pink pieces of paper wrapped up. If this is a life then what exactly was Vinyl doing with it.

Octavia looked back at Vinyl the pieces starting to connect. “Why?” The gray mare felt a chill like ice water being poured over her knowing that her light had gotten something that dangerous for herself.

“It’s hard to explain. What if life just hadn’t worked out? I know it doesn’t make any sense but what if everything was just wrong. I’d at least be happy…” Vinyl’s sentence trailed off leading Octavia to her own conclusions.

Tears stung Octavia’s eyes and she pulled Vinyl into a hug and began to sob. She’d already known that Vinyl had some darkness in her but she’d just seen how dark it could get. The thought terrified her of losing the white mare with eccentric blue hair and she held on to her for her life.

Vinyl began to rub her back and comfort her. “Hey babe, it’s okay. I’m not going there I promise. Remember what you said about promises? You shouldn’t make them if you can’t keep them.” Octavia began to collect herself and wiped her tears away.

“I probably look a mess right now.” Octavia threw the bag in with the rest of them and stood up. “I should clean up then I’ll throw these out.”

“You can’t do that.” Vinyl said in a way of stating the obvious.

“And why can’t I.” The fire started to rise in Octavia. The whole point was to remove the drugs so Vinyl wouldn’t slip up.

“You can’t take a bag full of drugs and put them in the trash. Do you have any idea how dangerous that could be the law being one of the better scenarios?”

“Then what do we do with them?” Octavia asked embarrassed realizing the possible consequences that could have happened.

“I don’t know? I disposed of them in a different manner. Flush them down the toilet?”

“Well I guess I was just heading there.” Octavia headed to the bathroom now that Big Mac had cleared out.

Upon returning looking freshened up and empty hoofed, Vinyl was greeting her with a coy smile. “What are you smiling at?”

“I noticed you didn’t get rid of everything.” The shit eating grin remained in place.

“Yes I di…” Octavia stopped and started to look guilty when she saw that Vinyl was holding up a bag of pot. “…There’s a really funny movie coming out soon.” She confessed sheepishly.

XXXX

Octavia and Vinyl walked out of Vinyl’s place after reminding Berry Punch about the party that Pinkie was throwing when they heard a familiar voice.

“Hey, you two.” Vinyl’s sister called from down the block. Rainbow Dash, Soarin and Twilight were standing outside of the empty house that Rainbow Dash had mentioned renting out. The couple trotted over to them and the sisters embraced each other earning smiles from Octavia and Twilight.

“What are you guys up too?” Vinyl asked her sister after letting go of her.

“Well we’d already looked at the place before but we’re now figuring out what exactly we’re going to do with the place. Twilight decided to come along because she got excited about planning and organizing.” Rainbow Dash smirked at Twilight who rolled her eyes.

“You and Soarin both live in cloud homes which are very different from houses on the ground.” Twilight justified her reasoning for coming along.

“I’ve lived on a house on the ground.” Rainbow Dash said defending herself.

“Part time.” Vinyl piped in.

“That wasn’t my choice.” Dash said lightly brushing her side against her sisters letting her know it hadn’t been in her control. “Are you two off somewhere or do you have some time?” Dash asked changing topics to a less sensitive subject.

“We were on our way to check on Pinkie to see how the party planning was coming.”

“You could do that or you could stick around and meet our little sister.” Vinyl could see the excitement of the offer in her sister’s eyes. She looked back at Octavia and saw the same look in on her face. How could she say no?

“Yeah let’s do this.”

“Awesome! You’ll love her trust me come on I’ll show you around.” Rainbow escorted her sister and Twilight inside the house, leaving Soarin and Octavia alone.

“How’s it going?” Soarin lamely said.

“I’m doing well. How are you?” Octavia weakly answered.

“I’m good.” A moment of awkward silence fell between them. The previous night they’d had a buffer so the conversation could continue without having to directly talk to each other.

Soarin groaned then took a deep breath. “I’m already sick of this. I’m sorry about how I treated you Octavia. I was young and stupid and full of myself. I know it’s not an excuse for how I was but I’ve changed and I’m sorry again.”

Octavia pondered what he said for a moment. “I forgive you. Honestly we wouldn’t have worked out. Let’s just put this all behind us.”

“Good because you and Vinyl seem to be pretty serious and if we’re going to be neighbors we should get along.” Soarin smiled warmly at her.

“Besides they weren’t all bad times. Remember when Thunder Dome tried to asked Melody out but she’d just had a spinach salad and still had her braces.” Octavia laughed at the memory.

“I’ve never seen someone back out of a conversation faster than when she gave him that green smile.” Soarin added to the story laughing.

“Hey! I’m watching you two.” Vinyl yelled from the second floor window above them, glaring daggers at Soarin then slowly creeping back inside.

“I guess jealousy runs in the family.” Soarin whispered to Octavia who snorted a laugh.

“You know what I’m actually happy we talked. It’s been years but it’s nice talking to an old friend.” Octavia sighed. “Why’d you stay out here instead of following the rest inside?”

Octavia didn’t get an answer because Soarin shot up in the sky as a buzzing sound started to approach. Octavia watched Soarin shoot upwards and start to loop back down as the buzzing sound got louder. The buzzing got louder and Octavia looked down to see an orange filly with a helmet on coming at her a high speed on a scooter. Soarin looped around again this time just off the ground coming up behind the little filly. Octavia was about to call out a warning when he sped up and picked up the girl off the scooter much to her delight. The scooter rolled then fell to a stop in front of Octavia while the joyful laugh of a child came from the sky. A moment later he gently set the filly down and landed near Octavia who was just as amused by the show as the filly was.

“Aww, can’t we do more?” She begged the older stallion.

Smiling Soarin replied, “If we had it your way we’d never be on the ground and today is kind of a special one. This is my friend Octavia, Octavia this is Scootaloo.”

The little filly raised a skeptical eyebrow. “A friend huh?”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Scootaloo.” Octavia said trying to ease the little girls mind.

“Scoot! I thought I heard you.” Rainbow Dash, Vinyl and Twilight came joined them outside and the cyan mare walked up and nuzzled her. “I have someone very important for you to meet.”

“I know Twilight she runs and library and is one of the Elements of Harmony.” The orange filly said rolling her eyes.

“No although she is important, but this is Vinyl Scratch, my biological sister.” Rainbow Dash gestured to her sibling.

“Hey.”

They both regarded each other critically for a moment before the youngest one broke the silence. “I didn’t know you already had a sister.” The little one said looking at Rainbow Dash with a slightly hurt expression across her face.

“That just means you have a bigger family now, honey.” Rainbow Dash comforted the purple haired filly.

“I’m giving it two weeks until she starts to accept being her mom.” Soarin quietly whispered to Octavia.

“Are you ready to be a daddy?” She asked in an equally hushed manner. Which she received a look telling her he’d already accepted the job. Octavia could tell he couldn’t be happier with the responsibility and grinned back at him.

“Don’t worry kid it just means I came first.” A smug looking Vinyl said.

“That’s okay; they had to get another after you.” Scootaloo fired back.

“Trying to copy perfection is only natural.”

“So is trying to fix a mistake.”

“Scootaloo enough! Vinyl you should just know better than to argue with a child.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Honestly I don’t know what I was expecting with you two.”

“I don’t like her.” Both ponies said turning away from each other sitting and stubbornly crossed their fore hooves.

Soarin left Octavia on the sidelines to help out his marefriend. “I got this.” He said to Dash before turning to the conflicting ponies. “I’m going to get some ice cream do you two want any?” The offer immediately distracted the two from their war and they began to interrogate Soarin about said ice cream.

“Cone, cup or bowl?”

“If it’s cone are we talking about waffle or sugar?”

“Can we get any flavor?”

“Do our bowls of ice cream come with toppings?”

“Unlimited toppings?”

“Some places say they do unlimited toppings but when you fill up a cup with gummy bears they get mad.”

“Could I do fudge ice cream with fudge pieces and fudge drizzle?”

“Does it have to be one bowl or can we have more than one?”

Soarin looked at Dash as the two girls got more and more excited about ice cream and started to bounce up and down. “Food can unite the world. I’m going to take these two to Bon Bon’s what do you want?”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at how natural Soarin seemed at dealing with the two. “I’ll take coffee with toffee.”

“I’ll just have vanilla.” Octavia replied.

“Vanilla is boring.” Scootaloo said dismissing the classic flavor.

“She loves to eat vanilla. If you know what I mean.” Vinyl said nudging Scootaloo’s side with a wink. The comment clearly went over the fillies head by the questioning look she gave Vinyl. “As you can see my coat is white and vanilla ice cream is white. So if you think of me as vani—“

“VINYL SCRATCH!” Rainbow Dash warned her sister. “She’s just a kid.”

“She’s basically an adult.” The vanilla mare said dismissing the warning.

“Yeah.” The ten year old filly boldly agreed with Vinyl then backed down when Rainbow looked at her.

“Twilight?” Soarin asked the forgotten element of magic.

“Nothing for me thanks. If Spike found out I had ice cream and he didn’t get any I wouldn’t hear the end of it for a week, but I’ll come with you. It’s on the way to the library and I should get back to my studies.” Twilight hugged and kissed Rainbow Dash on the check farewell and bid Octavia ado until the evening and left with the others.

Rainbow Dash watched her sisters walking off with her best friend and coltfriend. She couldn’t help but smile at seeing Vinyl and Scootaloo starting to bond, over ice cream of all things. “I have no idea how he managed to pull that off.” She said to Octavia.

“Soarin can be really quite charming at times.” Octavia replied.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “That’s true. I shouldn’t say this but before we fell in love he talked me into a threesome one night.”

“Well I guess you and Vinyl both seem to be the…adventurous type.” Octavia said trying to phrase her words delicately. “Can I ask you a question that might be a little personal?”

“What’da’ya wanna know?” The cyan mare led them into the house for a more private setting.

“It’s actually a couple things but the one that’s weighing most on me is, if you know, if Vinyl has any substances that she prefers over any others that I should be aware of.”

Dash paused before answering. Her sister’s drug problem wasn’t something that normally came up in conversations, but she knew full well that Vinyl had some demons she was working out. “I don’t know too much, I never really got into them, but I know she tends to enjoy painkillers.”

“Thank you. Could you also tell me what she meant earlier when she said you lived on the ground ‘part time’? You don’t have to tell me honestly if it’s too private.”

“This could actually help you some. Our parents are Pegasi, their parents and grandparents were also. Vinyl threw them for a bit of a loop. Somewhere in our bloodline was a unicorn which, I mean come on, who doesn’t have some of all the races in them, but it wasn’t known in our family. So along came Vinyl which made them have to get a house on the ground but they wanted me to be able to learn how to fly without being hampered by the ground and hard walls. So they’re solution was to split us up for most of the week. To make matters worse they weren’t prepared for the magic of a Unicorn and probably didn’t deal with it in the best of ways. When Vinyl would get magical surges, which is typical in young Unicorns, they’d sort of punish her.” Rainbow Dash started to tear up but held herself together.

“I didn’t know until I was older but by then Vinyl had already lumped me in with them and assumed I knew. When I became the element of loyalty she asked me how loyal I could be when I would let that happen to my little sister. She was so high I don’t think she even knows she said it and honestly I don’t want to bring it up to her. Some Element of Loyalty I am but anyways we’ve barely had a civil conversation since then until you came along. I will always be in your debut just for letting me have my sister back last night. Even if it ends up being just for a brief time I will never be able to repay you Octavia.”

“We’re back.” Dash turned away from the door and blinked away any residual tears. She felt a comforting hoof touch her shoulder, just for a brief moment, and Octavia walked up to the returning party giving Rainbow Dash the time to wipe away her tears.

Octavia walked up to Vinyl and embraced her, giving her a passionate kiss that tasted like cake batter ice cream. “Tavi, I love you but ice cream.” Vinyl said right after she was released from her lover.

“Here I kept yours cold with ma magic’s.” Vinyl levitated a bowl of vanilla ice cream to her.

“And you didn’t for me. Thanks Vinyl.” Rainbow Dash said looking at hers which almost had the consistency of soup.

“Mom, why’d my sister kiss dad’s special friend?” A sticky faced Scootaloo asked.

“Whoa, first I never said ‘my special friend.’” Soarin said looking back and forth between the older mares. “Secondly Octavia and Vinyl are in a relationship so they can kiss each other all they want….because they love each other and only kiss each other because they love each other. Never kiss anyone that you don’t love.” Soarin said thinking of his past and trying to instill good morals into he’s soon to be daughter.

“But I thought Octavia was special? Vinyl kept saying so. And if she’s your friend doesn’t that mean she’s a special friend?” Octavia ‘aww’ed and cuddled Vinyl again who blushed and looked away in embarrassment.

“Close kiddo but in this case special only applies to me. This sort of special means that Tavi and I are-“ Vinyl started to explain before being cut off.

“VINYL.” Another warning came from Dash.

“I was going to say dating. You shouldn’t be so fast to judge what I’m saying.” Vinyl said in a mockingly arrogant tone.

“Sorry Vinyl.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Soarin did you have to get her the largest size they had?”

“You said it was an important day for her. This means important amounts of ice cream.”

“You ruined her dinner.” Dash scolded, shuddering internally at how much of her own mother she sounded like.

“What were you going to cook with we haven’t started to move yet. And I wouldn’t subject a filly to your cooking.” Soarin teased much to the amusement of Scootaloo and Vinyl.

“Fine you can stay up with her then if she gets sick from all of that ice cream.” Dash said finally having enough.

“Deal, you heard her peanut slumber party tonight.” The sticky orange filly cheered.

“Oh and I’m your sister.” Dash added as an afterthought sighing.

“Got it sister mom.” Scootaloo beamed at Rainbow Dash who had to smile at her.

XXXX

They finally were heading to the party which had already started having been delayed from Dash trying to get all of the melted ice cream out of Scootaloo’s coat. The ‘parents’ where ahead of the young couple, having been pulled forward by the happy filly, while Octavia and Vinyl strolled along enjoying the sunset. Well one of them seemed to be enjoying it. Octavia couldn’t help but notice how tense and quiet Vinyl was getting as they approached the party.

“Vinyl?” Octavia asked finally having enough of her marefriend’s attitude.

“Huh?” Vinyl grunted miles away from where they were.

“I was just saying how I’m desperately in love with your sister.”

“Mm,” Vinyl grunted again. “Wait what?”

Octavia laughed. “Oh you decided to join me again. What was keeping you away?”

“Nothin.” Vinyl said a little more defensive than she intended.

“Oo look at those flowers!” Octavia trotted over to a bush on the side of the road and began to admire them, giving her and Vinyl some more privacy. Vinyl sat down next to Octavia looking a little annoyed by the distraction and began to tap her hoof.

“Yes Vinyl?” Octavia asked as she closed her eyes and deeply inhaled the aroma from one of the flowers.

“Nothing let’s just get going or something.” A frustrated sounding Vinyl replied.

Octavia turned to Vinyl and gave her a skeptical look before running a hoof through Vinyl’s mane. Vinyl took a deep breath and let it out. “It’s that feel that something’s going to go wrong but I just don’t know what it is. It’s stupid I know, sorry.”

“It’s not stupid and you don’t need to apologize to me.” Octavia said and took Vinyl’s hoof into her own and brought it to her lips giving it a gentle kiss.

“It’s a feeling in the bottom of my stomach. Like if you could see something bad is coming like a storm and there’s nothing you can do to stop it or get away from it. That feeling of dread, that slowly builds inside of you in the bottom of your stomach. That’s how I feel right now and I know it’s silly. I mean we’re going to a party to have fun it should be a no hassle thing, but I can’t seem to shake this ball of fear inside of me.” Vinyl told Octavia knowing that she didn’t have anything to hide from her.

“Feeling better?”

“A little bit. I feel saner, I guess, but I still have that feeling of terror inside of me.” Vinyl said taking another deep breath.

“Here then.” Octavia reached into her saddlebag and gave Vinyl one of her anxiety pills.

“You sure?” Vinyl asked taking it from her lover.

“This is a perfect example of when to take one. It sounds like you’re starting to have a panic attack so we should head it off before it causes you to do something you don’t want to do.” Octavia smiled at Vinyl, who took the medication after Octavia explained it. “Do you want to walk around for a bit to help calm down or head to the party?”

Vinyl took a third deep breath. “Let’s go to the party. It’ll kick in soon and until then I have you.”

Octavia nuzzled the white mare. “Okay and no drinking tonight. It doesn’t mix well with your medication.”

“No problem babe.” Vinyl said at the couple returned to the path. Before they got too far Vinyl looked behind her and used her magic to pick a flower for Octavia and carefully levitated it between her mane and ear. Octavia smiled and cuddled up to Vinyl the rest of their walk.

The party was already going by the time they arrived. Vinyl was guessing Pinkie had invited all of Ponyville to welcome Octavia. “You ready for this? Cuz Pinkie’s probably going to ponyknap you for the first hour to introduce you to everyone.”

“This is going to be fun Vinyl; I’ll get to meet all your friends and neighbors at once.” Octavia smiled at her.

“My sister’s friends are probably going to be here also.” Vinyl added.

“Shut up really?!” Vinyl rolled her eyes. “Oh come on Vinyl. I’m not related to one of the Elements of Harmony so to me it’s a big deal meeting them.”

“It’s not that big of a deal. It’s not like they’re one of the Princesses.” A slightly jealous Vinyl countered.

“They talk to the Princesses and they’ve saved the world and countless lives.” Octavia gushed.

“I don’t know about saved the world. I mean Discord wasn’t really dangerous more like annoying.” Vinyl said dismissing the Elements achievements. “Now come on we’re already late. I’ll be with Scootaloo if you need me.”

Octavia barely had time to register what Vinyl said as she was pulled into a hug by a couple of pink hooves that came out of nowhere. In a matter of moments she was dizzily being dragged around the party being introduced to every pony.

Vinyl continued on to find her new ‘sister’ to learn more about her. After giving her a second chance Vinyl decided she had some potential. Spotting her Vinyl headed over but was interrupted by her sister. “Vinyl I was looking for you. This is Cloud Chaser she does music promotions.” Rainbow Dash said shoving the Persian blue mare at her.

“Hey!” Vinyl said to Cloud Chaser.

“Hey, how’s it going?” She smiled at Vinyl who was trying to not freak out.

“I’m great, how are you?” Vinyl asked back feeling more and more awkward.

“I’m fine; I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about you. I’d love to hear you spin some time.” Cloud Chaser said standing slightly to close for Vinyl’s comfort.

“That’d be awesome. Dash said you did promotions.” Vinyl took a small step back only to have Cloud Chaser mimic her maneuver.

“Packing clubs is something that I’m good at along with finding talented ponies. Let’s get a drink.” Cloud Chaser said grabbing Vinyl and taking her to the bar. “What’s this party for anyways? Pinkie just invited me to come.”

“It’s for a friend. MY friend…I mean my marefriend.” Vinyl stumbled through her sentence as a cider was placed in front of her.

“Your marefriend, huh? You don’t seem like the type that likes to settle down to quiet evenings.” Cloud Chaser said drinking her cider in one gulp.

“It’s not settling down, you know. We’re dating.” Vinyl said trying to defend her and Octavia’s relationship but she kept getting distracted by Cloud Chaser gently bumping into her.

“Got it you’re dating.” Cloud Chaser winked at Vinyl. “Do you not like cider? I’ll get you something else.”

Before Vinyl could respond to anything she had another drink in front of her. “I’m not getting drunk tonight and it’s a serious relationship.” Vinyl finally got out. Cloud Chaser stopped bumping into her which Vinyl was took as a sign that she understood that she was off limits.

“Then don’t get drunk. I just had a cider and am I drunk? No, so just have a few drinks and have some fun. Unless of course your marefriend won’t let you. I shouldn’t have said that it was in bad taste but seriously Vinyl it’s not like you would have this party if it was for some mare you met the other week. I’m just saying unwind. The nights for lovers and poets after all, so praise Luna.” Cloud Chaser had already found out enough information about Vinyl and her marefriend, as if ponies wouldn’t talk when you have a party for a budding relationship. To Cloud Chaser unless you were married you were still far game and even then it was questionable. Besides what was the point of a relationship if it wasn’t tested? If they failed then it just meant that it wasn’t suppose too be and both parties were wasting their time. She was doing an honorable task she figured.

“Praise Luna.” Vinyl raised her glass and took a drink of the cider.

“Atta mare.” Cloud Chaser high fived (high hooved?) Vinyl. “I’m getting a good vibe off you Vinyl so I’m going to do something I don’t do often. I’ll help you out with a couple of shows before I even see you play but I will need to hear some CD’s or something to help me figure out how to promote you.”

“Awesome!” Vinyl was on cloud nine, not only had she set up her relationship with Cloud Chaser as strictly plutonic but she’d also managed to get a promoter out of the deal.

“We should do some shots to celebrate and you can call me CeeCee.” Cloud Chaser said.

“Sure why not CeeCee.” Vinyl smiled at her.

“Okay let’s play a game called ‘Murder, Fuck, Kill’.” Cloud Chaser picked three ponies at random and told Vinyl which one she’d murder, fuck or kill.

XXXX

Eventually Octavia got away from the pink hurricane known as Pinkie Pie and looked for Vinyl. Not seeing her she spotted Rainbow Dash and trotted up to her. “Have you seen Vinyl recently?”

“Yeah I introduced her to Cloud Chaser from the bar the other night.” Rainbow Dash said pointing across the room at them.

Octavia looked over and then headed to the bar and ordered the largest most expensive scotch they had before settling into a seat and trying to set Cloud Chaser’s hair on fire with her gaze. “What’s up with you filly?” The familiar voice of Melody asked.

“Nothing.” Octavia said as nonchalantly as she could but her hoof was tapping an annoyed tune on the rim of her glass.

“Yeah right, who are you staring at?” Melody followed Octavia’s gaze. “Okay Vinyl’s talking to that mare over there so what? Are you getting jealous of that?”

“Well she did show Vinyl her vagina last night.” Octavia said in a deadpan tone, taking a sip of her drink.

“What?” Melody just about shouted.

“And she said that she wasn’t drinking tonight.” Octavia took another drink.

“Oookay, why are you just sitting here then?” A stumped Melody asked.

“Well that whorse could actually be beneficial to Vinyl’s career. So I’m not bringing up how much I utterly hate her to Vinyl because I want Vinyl to succeed.” At the rate Octavia was drinking she’d be out of scotch shortly.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you call someone a whorse.” Melody said realizing the dangerous territory she’d just walked into.

“Well the name is fitting.” Octavia stood up and wobbled a bit.

“Tavi, where are you going?” Melody asked concerned.

“I’m getting my marefriend and we’re going to her place.” Octavia had started to annunciate her words more than normal, a sign she knew meant she’d reached her limit for the night, and marched over to Vinyl.

“Sorry to interrupt but I’m ready to go home, Vineyl.” Octavia could have died then, she thought she’d at least sounded sober until she butchered her lover’s name.

Both mares burst out in laughter. “I see what you mean Vinyl.” Cloud Chaser laughed.

“I should get her home I’ll see you around CeeCee.” Vinyl waved goodbye to Cloud Chaser, their eyes meeting for a moment before Vinyl broke away.

XXXX

“Are you mad at me?” Vinyl had to ask; Octavia wasn’t walking entirely straight and refusing any help from Vinyl along with not conversing with her.

“I’m not mad.” Octavia said stumbling on something in the dark.

“Okay then why did you tell me to stop lighting the way?” Vinyl asked seeing through the lie.

“It was…distracting from the moon.” Octavia said gesturing to the moon which was hidden by a cloud.

“Uh huh.”

“Oh shut up Vinyl.” Octavia said finally letting some of her anger out.

“Hey I talk to you about what I’m feeling. The least you could do is admitting you’re upset.” Vinyl stopped walking, the conversation having taken a serious turn.

“Fine I’m upset Vinyl. I’m drunk and I’m mad. Are you happy now?” Octavia yelled releasing more of the steam that’d built up inside of her, lashing out at mostly innocent Vinyl.

“Not really.” Vinyl meekly responded but unwilling to just take abuse.

Octavia sighed calming herself down. “Yes I’m upset right now Vinyl. You told me you weren’t going to drink tonight.”

“I had a couple of drinks tonight, but I wasn’t drinking. I was socializing so I didn’t think a couple of drinks would hurt.” Vinyl defended herself calmly, the fight having died down already between the two of them.

“Well I don’t know how I feel about who you were socializing with.” Octavia finally confess what had truly been bothering her.

“CeeCee? Are you jealous of her?” Vinyl said smiling, not that she wanted Octavia jealous of anyone but she liked the idea.

“I can’t see if you’re smiling but I can tell Vinyl.” Octavia warned and Vinyl instantly wiped the smile off her lips. “And yes her. I just…I just don’t like her.”

“Okay I can cancel what we planned together.” Vinyl said in all seriousness.

“No I don’t want to stand in the way of your career. I just feel like I can’t trust her.” Octavia could feel her anger welling up inside of her again just thinking about ‘CeeCee’. She even hated that nickname.

“Then what do you want me to do? I don’t like mad Tavi. I like my Tavi happy like she’s in a pile of puppies and kittens.” Vinyl asked giving Octavia a comforting nuzzle of affection.

Octavia returned the affection. “I don’t know. I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

“No, I’m sorry that I had a couple of drinks when I told you I wouldn’t.”

The two sat in the dark both feeling guilty for different reasons before Vinyl turned to Octavia. “I promise I will always love you, Tavi. No matter what happens in our lives I will always love you and will be there for you when you need me.”

Octavia snuggled up to Vinyl. “I will always love you Vinyl.”

The cloud finally moved past the moon basking the night in a brilliant glow.

Author's Note

Sorry I was planning on this coming out sooner but the 4th of July and Freedom Day slowed me down.

Nothing is going on with Berry Punch and Big Mac it's a story idea I had so I thought I'd plant some seeds if I decide to make it.

Also Xylazine is a real drug that's used on horses. Don't do serious drugs people cuz shit like that is used to cut it.

I'm also planning the next story of Tavi/Scratch and will be wrapping up Cello and Wubs soon in one or two more chapters. A link will be added as a final chapter when I start it. Also things are going to speed up in the next chapter or two.

Enjoy
ZRM

The Beginning

Octavia woke up to a headache and the taste of scotch on her breath. She instantly regretted half of the previous night as it started to form in her head. Squeezing her eyes shut she tried to form a plan to properly apologize to Vinyl. ‘Wait a minute’ Octavia thought sitting up realizing she was the only one in Vinyl’s bed. The gray mare flopped back on the bed and covered her face with a pillow. Had she really behaved that poorly last night to be left to sleep alone?

The door quietly opened and Octavia glanced over from under the pillow, watching Vinyl carefully tip toeing levitating a tray with fresh fruit and a couple cups of coffee. Setting it on the nightstand Vinyl started to nudge Octavia awake. Octavia removed the pillow from her face and looked at Vinyl who was beaming at her.

“Hey.” Octavia awkwardly said feeling embarrassed from her outburst last night.

“How do you feeling today?” Vinyl asked in a hushed voice.

“Physically I feel awful and emotionally I’m embarrassed.” Octavia figured she should just get it over with.

“Yeah you got pretty drunk fast.” Vinyl said as she levitated a strawberry to Octavia and fed it to her. The simple gesture of being feed and taken care of calmed Octavia, knowing that Vinyl wasn’t upset with her.

Swallowing Octavia apologized. “Vinyl I’m so sorry about last night I shouldn’t have yelled at you and I definitely shouldn’t have told you to ‘shut up’.”

“No you were right to be mad at me. I said I wasn’t going to drink and I did so I deserved that.” Vinyl continued to feed her love.

Vinyl had forgiven Octavia but the gray mare was still feeling troubled by the Cloud Chaser situation. They’d briefly touched on it the night before and Octavia knew they’d need to discuss it but she wasn’t even sure what she’d want to come from the conversation. Cloud Chaser could be a huge step for Vinyl’s career and she’d finally start to get the full attention she deserved, but she also got a feeling that her intentions weren’t entirely good. She also had to consider if it was just part of her past being dug up again.

Yes she’d forgiven Soarin but it hadn’t left scars that might not have completely healed, if they ever would. All of it could just be inside of Octavia’s head. Well part of it truthfully. Cloud Chaser had flashed Vinyl but she thought Vinyl had made it clear to her that they were in a relationship. When she’d ‘shown off’ to Vinyl at the club she hadn’t known that so it could have just been her form of flirting, even if it was whorse-ish. Besides Cloud Chaser it was making Octavia question Vinyl’s faith to her. Vinyl hadn’t done anything to really betray her trust and they were both deeply in love…

“Vinyl, can we talk about Cloud Chaser?”

Vinyl was in mid levitation of a piece of pineapple and set it back on the tray, giving Octavia her full attention. “Of course babe.”

Octavia scooted over and beckoned the white mare to join her in bed. “I’m having some conflicting emotions with your relationship with her.”

“What do you mean my relationship with her?” Vinyl said slightly defensively as she cuddled up to Octavia.

“Not like that sort of relationship. I feel jealous when she’s around but I don’t know if I’m being silly because of past instances or if it’s something I feel like she wants.” Octavia explained.

Vinyl gave Octavia’s nose a peek. “She knows you’re my marefriend and the whole party last night was in honor of you. If she wants something more she’s bucking the wrong tree and she knows that. If she tries any funny business then I’ll break off our deal.”

“Okay.” Octavia nodded feeling satisfied with the answer and knowing she could trust Vinyl.

“And if you get any bad feelings about her you can always tell me and I will either talk to her or end it with her.” Vinyl said levitating the piece of pineapple up again. “Seriously Tavi you’re the world to me. Also you should know she’s coming over tomorrow to so we can go over things.”

“It’s probably best then that I have to go home tomorrow morning.”

“Boo. Why can’t you just stay here?” Vinyl complained.

“I have to practice Vinyl and the Royal Canterlot Symphony is very competitive. A single slip up during a performance will get you cut and I can’t allow that to happen.” It had taken Octavia years, in a very literal sense, of practicing to get to her level of expertise.

The rest of the day was spent with Vinyl nursing a hung over Octavia. It hadn’t taken that long for Octavia to feel back to normal but she did have to admit she enjoyed having Vinyl dotting over her, and she thought it was cute having Vinyl feed her.

XXXX

“CeeCee, how’s it going?” Vinyl said allowing the pale Persian mare into her house.

“I’m great.” Cloud Chaser answered and gave Vinyl a hug before entering her domain. “So after listening to some of your stuff I totally know where to start. How do you feel about doing a short tour?”

Vinyl gave her a questioning look. “You haven’t heard any of my stuff yet. And what were you thinking about with a tour?”

“Your sister lent me a couple of CD’s,” smiled Cloud Chaser.

That news took Vinyl by surprise as far as she’d known her sister had never shown any interest in her life until recently, which Vinyl hadn’t realized until then how much she’d wanted her in her life. “Umm, okay so about this tour thing?”

“Well right now you’re doing clubs and bars in Ponyville and occasionally in Canterlot. Nothing wrong with that but you really do have a talent and I think I could help you get your break through. I was thinking we could start in Ponyville then Canterlot from their a couple nights each in Fillydelphia and Las Pegasus. So we’ll start out with just a small tour, only about 10 days, to get ponies to start to hear about you. Before you go I’ll have my teams start to put fliers up and start to spread word of you. Maybe give out a few EP’s so people will really know what to expect.”

“A team seriously you have a team of ponies?” Vinyl had to ask.

“I’m a pro honey.” Cloud Chaser smiled at the marshmallow mare.

“I’ve never had a team of ponies doing something for me. Usually I have to put together my own set.” Vinyl said impressed by Cloud Chaser’s speed of organization.

“I’ll get ahold of someone so you don’t have to do that again.” Cloud Chaser said earnestly.

“You really have this under control. I thought this was going to take a lot longer.” Vinyl was a bit surprised how quickly it had all come together.

“Just doing my job and I want to get you on the road in a couple of weeks, sound good?” Vinyl nodded in agreement.

“So what are you doing for the rest of the day?” Cloud Chaser said taking a small step toward Vinyl just barely getting into her personal space to throw Vinyl off a little.

“Ah, I’m not sure get a coffee and work on some music.” Vinyl said rubbing the back of her neck suddenly feeling a little awkward.

“That’s not a bad idea but I have another idea.” Cloud Chaser said and pulled out a small packet from her saddlebag which contained 4 green pills. “We could roll, I could get some ponies over here and you could do a mini rave?”

Vinyl carefully took a step back. “I’d normally be one to suggest that but I really shouldn’t.”

“Why? You only live once.” Cloud Chaser argued.

“I told Octavia that I’m done with drugs.” Vinyl said invoking her name removing the urge to indulge.

“Sounds like she can be a bit of a buzz kill but it’s also kind of sweet of you. I’ll just bounce for now then and when I get the dates lined up I’ll be in touch right away.” Cloud Chaser said returning the pills to their point of origin.

XXXX

Vinyl knocked at her sister’s door, casually drinking from her latte and holding another one for her elder sibling.

“Here,” Vinyl said giving the other beverage to her sister once the door was open and walking in before being invited in.

“Thanks, so what’s up? You don’t usually bring me something unless something’s wrong with it.” Rainbow Dash said taking the drink and closing the door behind Vinyl, who was inspecting the place that was mostly unpacked.

“Where are they?” The white unicorn asked perusing her sister’s music shelves.

“What are you talking about?” A confused Rainbow Dash asked.

“My CD’s, CeeCee said you lent her some and since I’ve never seen you at any of my shows I’m a little curious.” Vinyl asked searching underneath a book.

“Just because I haven’t been to one of your shows doesn’t mean I don’t have friends that have gone. And when they do I usually ask them to get me something of yours if it’s new.” Rainbow Dash said getting comfortable on the couch.

“Really,” Vinyl asked skeptically.

“We’re sisters and even if you didn’t want me in your life, that doesn’t mean I didn’t want you in mine. I…could have done things better than how I was but it always supported you at the least from afar.”

“Really,” Vinyl said again joining her sibling on the couch.

Rainbow Dash playfully punched Vinyl, “Loyal even when I’m not wanted. I’ve always loved you Vinyl and I always will.”

“Stop being so lame.” Vinyl said pushing her sister way which was Vinyl’s way of reciprocating the feelings.

XXXX

Vinyl was dressed in a ruby red dress which left one shoulder bare and draped down her flank. Her hair wasn’t its usual tussled manner and was neatly groomed for once. Vinyl settled into a chair in one of the balconies, excited for the show that was soon to begin. She’d never seen the Royal Canterlot Symphony or even listened to this sort of music but none of that mattered. She was going to see her Tavi shine in front of thousands of ponies.

Tonight was important for several reasons. It would be their last date night before Vinyl would have to go on tour, even if it was a short one, and Vinyl had an important question to ask her. One Vinyl felt like she already knew the answer to but it still made her anxious even thinking about it. What if she said no? Which Vinyl thought was unlikely but it was still a chance.

The curtain opened and the entire crowd stood applauding and the show began. As the concert went on Vinyl got bored and started to look over the crowd trying to spot ponies she knew or recognized. There weren’t many but she did notice a few record executives that she’d seen in magazines or heard about. Neon Lights for one, being one of the hottest, in popular terms, and youngest executives that she’d heard of. For being someone who was known for being in the ‘scene’ he seemed completely enthralled. At the end of it Vinyl felt like it needed fewer ponies being involved and more Tavia just playing, who did get her own solo’s but not enough in her professional opinion but she still stood and applauded when they’d finished.

Vinyl rushed down the stairs hoping to get to the backstage entrance before the rush to leave and what she presumed would be groupies. By the time she got to the main hall it was packed. Vinyl swung by the bar to grab a drink to ease her nerves and to pass a few minute for the crowd to thin. The first drink was quickly gone while the crowd had not. Vinyl ordered another and turned to the stallion next to her who seemed to be alone also.

“Hey. How’s it going?” Vinyl asked the pale gray-green stallion.

“Pretty sweet. How’s your evening so far?” He said looking at Vinyl over his shades.

“Awesome, so what brings you here?” She absently mindedly asked.

“I heard about some mare that plays here and who could pass up on seeing this. It’s like watching a master painter work only on a larger scale. There’s something about seeing someone or a group of ponies completely in their element that I find fascinating.”

‘Great a deep conversation that’s exactly what I was looking for,’ Vinyl sarcastically thought. “Yeah I agree,” Came from her lips in a light friendly voice.

“She was good to be completely honest but it wasn’t quite right just yet. Definitely noteworthy but she was just missing something if that makes any sense?” He continued.

Vinyl saw the crowd was starting to taper off and she finished her drink. “Well I gotta go good luck with that missing thing.” She answered as she trotted off to meet her marefriend.

When Octavia finally emerged she was greeted by a hug and a kiss from her love. “You were perfect babe. They should have fewer ponies because some of the others kept trying to drown you out.”

Octavia returned the hug but not the kiss and kept a slight distance between them as they walked. “Thanks Vinyl but it’s not all about me it’s about the group as a whole.”

“I made dinner plans for us at some fancy Prance place that I thought you’d like.” Vinyl moved a bit closer only to have Octavia mimic the action to keep a friendly distance. “Alright what’s going on here?”

“Sorry but the RCS can be really political and even dating the ‘wrong’ pony can cause some problems.” Octavia replied with a sad tone in her voice.

“And I’m the wrong pony.” Vinyl swallowed her sadness.

“Never but to the ponies have who supported the RCS you’re the wrong gender. I know it’s wrong and I don’t like it one bit but I’ve worked so hard to make it here Vinyl. Can you understand?” She pleaded in a hushed whisper so as not to be over heard by others.

“Is it just when we're here or does it include the rest of Canterlot?” Vinyl tried to keep some of the bitterness out of her voice.

“Just here. Think of it like where in front of one of our parents. You don’t want to make out in front of them.”

“I don’t get it but I know it’s important to you so okay. I feel like I wouldn’t want to pretend to be something I’m not for a job but again I’m accepting your choice.”

“Thank you and I wish I could be as free as you can be.” Vinyl noted the sadness in Octavia’s voice which was the last thing she wanted from the night.

“Come on let’s get out of here and sneak into an ally to make out before dinner.” Vinyl said trotting ahead.

“I’m not making out in a dirty ally.” Octavia replied catching up to her.

“You say that now and we’ll find a clean ally.” Vinyl winked at the gray mare.

XXXX

“This is a really nice place are you sure you want to eat here?” Octavia had to ask her marefriend over the table which was adorned with candles and flowers.

“I wanted to treat you tonight.” Vinyl was looking over the menu trying to make sense of it. “You were really great tonight and deserve this. There was also something I wanted to talk too.”

Octavia put her menu down, “You keep saying how well I preformed tonight and took me to a restaurant that I’d like and you’re going on tour. Oh Celestia, you don’t want me to make a scene when you break up with me.” Octavia hid her face behind her hooves to collect herself. “Why else would you bring me here? So I don’t have a big freak out in front of everypony.”

“I’m not breaking up with you. Can’t I do something for my marefriend that I won’t enjoy?” Vinyl said reaching across the table to get her to come out of hiding.

“I suppose.” Octavia replied and after a moment returned to the world.

“Thanks for making me tell you I’m not going to enjoy myself here. I wasn’t even planning on complaining about this place because I knew you would like it.”

“Sorry, it’s just all out of place for you and then when you said you wanted to talk about something I just assumed.” Octavia apologized, embarrassed from her overreaction to a simple statement. “So what’d you want to talk about?”

“Where’s the waiter? I could go for a drink.” Vinyl waved down the server intentionally delaying the conversation.

Orders were placed with Vinyl just getting the exact same thing that Tavi got, assuming it had to at least be decent, and a silence fell between the two. Octavia waiting for Vinyl to proceed while Vinyl waited to build up some courage until Octavia finally broke. “Is this a bad conversation?”

“No or I hope not at least.”

“Then why don’t you just ask?”

“Because I haven’t done something like this so I’m nervous.”

“Really,” Octavia said smiling and sitting forward intrigued to where this was going.

“Stop enjoying how uncomfortable I am.”

“Well if this is something good and you haven’t done it before then it means that I’m special. How could I not enjoy this and I will continue to enjoy it until you finally ask.” Octavia was grinning by this point.

Vinyl looked down at her currently empty plate and decided to just get it over with. “Do you want to move in…together?”

Vinyl heard nothing and looked up to a surprised looking Octavia staring at her. “Never mind it was stupid let’s just forget it and enjoy dinner.” She back tracked.

“Yes! Not yes let’s forget this but yes let’s move in together. Sorry I hesitated I was trying to think of a shorter word than yes.” Octavia said taking Vinyl’s hooves into her own.

“We should celebrate and get some Champaign. I truly can’t wait to wake up next to you every morning.” Octavia was getting excited thinking about it. “Wait, where are we going to move to?”

“I didn’t really think that far honestly. I was more just thinking about how great it’s going to be to live with you.” Vinyl couldn’t be happier in this moment everything in her life was lining up and with Tavi by her side nothing could ever bring them down.

“That’s so sweet but not to helpful right now. Let’s just think about it for a little bit before we make any choices. Let’s just enjoy the evening and work out the details later.” Octavia made light talk with Vinyl while she ponder the pros and cons of each place as their food was brought to them and the Champaign was ordered.

XXXX

Octavia was resting her head in Vinyl’s lap both ponies exhausted and still breathing deeply from the night’s activities in Octavia’s bed. “Are you getting along with your sister or sisters still?” Octavia asked breaking the silence they’d both been enjoying.

“Yeah we are. Oh I didn’t tell you did you know that Dash actually has a bunch of my CD’s. I seriously didn’t believe it until I talked to her about it.” Vinyl said gently stroking Octavia’s charcoal black mane.

“You don’t say. You two never really got along before did you? I mean I’ve seen you two fight but now you seem to be reconnecting, right?” Octavia probed deeper.

“Oh yeah we’d fight constantly but we’re getting along now. I don’t know maybe we just matured.”

Octavia sarcastically responded, “Yeah Vinyl you’re really an adult now. I’ve seen you watching cartoon’s in the morning when you thought I was sleeping in.”

“That was research for…something with music. But honestly I think it does have something to do with you.” Vinyl leaned down to kiss Octavia who met her half way. The kiss lingered each enjoying the taste of the other.

“I think we should live in Ponyville.” Octavia said after finally breaking the kiss.

“Are you sure? I mean Canterlot’s a lot bigger and it would mean you’d have to take the train every day to commute here for work. I could easily find work here, there’s a lot more clubs than Ponyville.” Vinyl felt like Octavia was rushing the decision.

“Your family’s here and you’re starting to make amends with them and family is important, love. I couldn’t live with getting in the way of that.” Octavia said in complete sincerity gazing into her lover’s eyes.

“Speaking of families I don’t know much about yours.”

“Ahem, I suppose you should meet mine eventually, I guess.” Octavia said a bit of nervousness creeping through her demeanor.

“They don’t know you’re gay. I totally forgot.” Vinyl smacked her forehead with her hoof.

“To be far I didn’t know I was until we meet. I could just be gay for you.” Octavia teased.

“Well that’s understandable I mean I’m the second most beautiful mare in all of Equestria and an extremely popular DJ. One might even say I’m changing the entire history of music with my style.” Vinyl jokingly teased back.

“Second most beautiful mare I’m impressed you didn’t go with first. So who is first?” Octavia asked knowing the answer.

“Fleur-De-Les. OW!” Octavia had taken advantage of her position in Vinyl’s lap and gave a light but rough bite to one of the nipples near her head. “You know I was joking, it’s of course you.”

“Aww, you’re so sweet.” Octavia replied back to her gentle manner.

“It was always you but even if it wasn’t I wouldn’t have any other choice after that.” Vinyl reached down and started to rub the now sore spot.

Octavia became hypnotized watching Vinyl rub herself so close to one of Octavia’s favorite spots. “Do you trust me?” She asked.

“Yeah of course I do.” Vinyl replied.

“When you get back I’ll take you to our house, if that’s alright with you?” Octavia’s eyes still hadn’t moved from their original spot.

“That’s kind of fast but yeah I’m down.” Vinyl was excited about moving in but she was a little worried about it possibly hurting Berry’s feelings especially if it was so sudden but Berry was also a full grown mare and would understand.

“Good, now let me help you out with that.” Octavia moved Vinyl’s hoof and repositioned herself between Vinyl’s legs.

XXXX

Vinyl was stunned by all the ponies. Yeah she’d been a fairly popular DJ but this seriously felt like a true taste of fame. The club’s she’d worked had been full and profitable but this was PACKED with ponies and a line hoping to get in. Everywhere the crowd’s would erupt in cheers when she took the stage. It was a surreal, heady feeling for Vinyl like when she’d been high but better.

Yeah there was stress having to be on every night and hoping everyone left with a memorable experience and would remember her. Something CeeCee had assured her after every show. Which appeared to be true because Vinyl had sold out not only every seat but sold out of every CD’s she had for each show. When she finished playing they would call for her to do an encore which Vinyl didn’t think she’d ever get tired of.

True to her word CeeCee had truly taken care of everything. All Vinyl had to do was decide which vinyl she was going to play that night and preform. It allowed her to spend more time just focusing on the music which came through. The first few shows it’d felt odd not having to get the sound ready and set up the booth and everything but after she’d gotten used to it, it was wonderful.

“Seriously CeeCee, how did you do all of this?” Vinyl had to ask one night after the show.

“It wasn’t all the hard; the hardest part is finding someone who’s talented. But I have put a lot more attention into this than other projects. I have to admit I have an ulterior motive.” Cloud Chaser gave Vinyl a sly wink, who responded with a faint blush. “I want to move into managing and since no one, somehow, has their hooks in you…” Cloud Chaser trailed off.

“You want to get your hooks in me.” Vinyl laughed lightly.

“I want to get something in you but yes.”

Yes Vinyl was enjoying herself but being on the road wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. They weren’t pulling in huge amounts of bits, still more bits than what Vinyl had been making, so a number of times they’d just sleep in the chariot. Constantly meeting new ponies was stressful especially when they’d be someone important in the area and Vinyl would have to remember exactly who they were. Forgetting somepony could ruin some business in the future.

Constantly being in a crowd wasn’t helping Vinyl’s anxiety but at least her medication helped her out with that. Even if she had indulged a couple of nights and gotten a bit too drunk after the show. Turns out there was a reason to not mix medication with alcohol because Vinyl would get instantly black out drunk but her body would continue on normally which lead to a few awkward mornings not remembering what she’d done. Thankfully it was never any actual damage to anypony or anything just a few minor scrapes or bruises from falling down.

The mares and stallions were another problem. There was a difference between wanting to meet her and wanting to sleep with her. That got complicated a few times when Vinyl had thought she’d just meet a really cool mare and later in the night said mare would try to kiss her thinking that’s what Vinyl wanted. It wasn’t a temptation thing because Vinyl didn’t want that from any of them but it would start to make her doubt their intentions. It all made her just miss the love of her life even more. It was just a short time, a few days really, but it felt like months to Vinyl.

XXXX

Octavia heard the train whistle and couldn’t help getting gitty knowing she’d see Vinyl again after 10 days. It’d been the longest they’d been apart since meeting. Even if it hadn’t been that long Octavia still couldn’t help but to feel alone while she was away, even if it made her feel like a foal. She was also excited about them moving in together and it would be Vinyl’s first time to see their new place.

The train pulled up and Octavia was tackled to the ground before the steam and dust could clear away, and was being showered with kisses from every direction. “Vi…Vi…Vin...yl…Vinyl,” She finally got out the snow white mares names between the assault of affection and struggled to get up.

“Shh,” Came the response and the attack continued.

“Your family,” Octavia said finally managing to get into a position to actually speak.

Vinyl looked up and noticed Rainbow Dash with a disapproving look on her face, Soarin smiling at the show of affection and Scootaloo who was trying to look around Rainbow Dash’s hooves which were attempting to hid the spectacle. “Ah…hi, do you mind we’re trying to have a private moment.”

“We came to welcome you back and do a little house warming thing.” Rainbow Dash said without much warmth. “Seriously Vine try and keep it between your tail we’re in public.”

“Thank you Rainbow.” Octavia agreed brushing herself off. “Now we were going to show you to our house and hear about the tour.”

“It was better than perfect.” Cloud Chaser said as she stepped off the train.

‘Just who I wanted to see,’ Octavia thought. “That’s good to hear. Thanks for taking care of Vinyl but we’ll take it from here.” Octavia smiled and lead the group away, least she say something she might regret later. Even with Vinyl’s promises she didn’t trust her and probably never would.

“You should come with us CeeCee we’re going to check out our new place.” Vinyl called back over her shoulder.

“Ugh,” Octavia quietly groaned. “Um, Vinyl I was thinking it could just be a more intimate group.” She whispered.

“Never mind Tavi said no.” Vinyl said calling back to Cloud Chaser again.

“I didn’t say no. Sorry Cee…Cee I have something planned for us.” Octavia apologized just to be polite. She hadn’t had anything planned but the last thing she wanted was Cloud Chaser in her house and led Vinyl along the way to their place.

“Seriously this is it?” Vinyl said when they arrived at their home.

“Well it was the best place on the market.” Octavia defended her choice.

“This is where I already was living and it wasn’t on the market.” Vinyl said actually a little disappointed that it wasn’t a brand new home.

“Well I talked to Berry Punch and she agreed to move out if I paid for her rent at her new place for a while. So I just made it on the market.” Octavia explained. “And she wasn’t upset about moving out because I guess she’d started to get close to someone so it was best for both parties. I of course arranged help for her to move out and for me to move in. I told you to trust me and trust me you will love it.”

“It means you’re still near us also.” Rainbow Dash chimed in.

“I don’t know if that’s a plus.” Vinyl said out of reflex then was given a small nudge in the ribs by Octavia. “I’m joking it’s a good thing. It means you can come by any time you get sick of your mom.” Vinyl directed the later part at Scootaloo.

“Really,” The filly asked hopping up and down and making her wings buzz in excitement. “Can the Crusader’s come over also?”

“Sure I don’t know who they are but why not.” Vinyl agreed.

“That might be a bit too much for you Vinyl.” Rainbow Dash warned.

“I’ll have Tavi’s help.” Vinyl said dismissing the warning.

“That’s true. I won’t have anything to worry about then.” Rainbow Dash conceded.

“What’s that mean?” Vinyl argued.

“It means that between you two I’m sure you could handle them.” Rainbow Dash slyly said and looked at Octavia giving her a wink.

“Come on Vinyl, I’ll show you around.” Octavia took Vinyl by the hoof and pulled her inside.

“Obviously this is the living room.” Octavia said walking into the main entrance. It was all done in blacks and whites
with four couches in a square with a large glass coffee table in the middle. Half of the walls were covered in books while the other half was covered in albums.

“Oookay.” Vinyl skeptically said. This wasn’t her style at all. It wasn’t bad per say but it was pure Tavi. Vinyl could feel a knot start to build in her stomach if this was how the rest of the house was going to be.

Noticing the discomfort in Vinyl Octavia decided to try the bedroom. Octavia’s big black bed was pushed into a corner with Octavia’s giant vanity next to it. Across the room were two wardrobes Octavia’s in purple and Vinyl’s in red. Vinyl felt lost in her own home.

“Yay, it’s…cute,” she was trying to keep her feelings to herself about the living arrangement so far.

“Okay just one more room.” Vinyl could see how excited Octavia was about this one.

“Ta da,” she sang out as she opened a room which had a set up for Vinyl’s turntables, a TV with video game system, shelves of DVD’s and all of Vinyl’s posters smattered across the wall.

“I’m okay with this.” Vinyl instantly cheered up.

“I kind of took over the rest of the house so I thought you should have your own room. I’m kind of particular about things being in the right place but since you like messes I thought you can just do whatever you want in here.” Octavia smiled at her marefriend’s change in attitude about their living arrangements.

“They’re not messes it’s just controlled chaos.” Vinyl playfully defended herself.

An unexpected knocking came from their front door and all the ponies looked back and forth at each other wondering who it could be. Octavia took it upon herself to answer it and trotted off to answer it, still smiling. That smile faded when she opened the door to see a beaming Cloud Chaser.

“Hey, I have some really big news. Where’s Vinyl?” The spiky haired mare asked.

“Umm, Vinyl you have a visitor.” Octavia called out to her love but still stood in the entrance preventing Cloud Chaser from coming in.

“Hey! CeeCee long time no see.” Vinyl walked up letting Cloud Chaser into the newly refurbished house, much to Octavia’s unnoticed annoyance.

“I just heard a rumor which has some actual legs. The tour went over so well a lot of ponies have been talking about you. So we need to do another one but a lot bigger.” An excited Cloud Chaser said.

“I don’t feel like that’s really big news.” Octavia lightly fired a shot at Cloud Chaser and tried to gently escort her back out of their house. “Sorry but we were in the middle of something.”

“That wasn’t the big news,” Cloud Chaser brushed Octavia off of her. “Neon Light’s has apparently heard some of the talk and is planning on checking you out.”

“Shut up,” Vinyl gave a friendly push to Cloud Chaser.

“I already got this figured out. We wait a month, don’t play a single set in that time Vinyl, and let the talk build up. I’ll have my people keep promoting you to help out the hype then we go on a huge tour across Equestria. With all the talk and build up he’ll have no choice but to notice and hopefully he’ll come. If he sees you play you’ll have a guaranteed contract. This can be the big break Vinyl.”

“That’d be awesome but can we even afford a tour that big?” Vinyl would love to do it but it was an honest concern.

“You don’t worry about that. I’ll get some loans and make this work, that’s what I do babe. You just have to relax over the next month but just be ready to seriously blow the roof off of every place we go to.”

“A month of a vacation? I think I can handle that.” Vinyl grinned.

“You need ANYTHING just get ahold of me. I’ll even get you an advance if you want to fully max out your free time.” Cloud Chaser confidently reassured Vinyl. “Now I’ll let you two get back to bumping against each other.” She winked at Octavia causing her to blush out of embarrassment and a bit of anger for just being there.

Vinyl immediately began to kiss Octavia passionately once the door had closed, which did sooth the gray mare some for her mood had been spoiled a bit. The rest of Vinyl’s family had joined them in the living room and tried to ignore the display that was beginning to be displayed before them. Vinyl eventually stopped before things got too heated. “Sorry but big news and it’s been a bit.” She apologized.

“We heard and congratulation’s Vinyl. Maybe we should take our leave. How about we get together for dinner tomorrow and you tell us about everything then?” Soarin offered.

“Yeah that seems to be the best choice.” Rainbow Dash said getting Scootaloo moving out the door. “Before I forget Twilight got me something for you two. You can thank me tomorrow.” Rainbow Dash reached into her wing and pulled out an evelope and handed it to Octavia.

“We’ll see you tomorrow sorry things didn’t work out as planned for tonight.” Octavia apologized after taking the evelope and led them out.

“What is it?” Vinyl asked after the door closed.

Octavia tore it open and out fell four tickets, two tickets to the Crystal Empire and two to the Crystal Symphony, Octavia’s jaw nearly hit the ground. “I heard they just only started to allow the public to the Crystal Empire. These must have cost a fortunate, Vinyl. Really this is too much from your sister.”

“Eh, Element and all that probably didn’t cost her a bit.” Vinyl said dismissing how much it could have cost and nibbling on Octavia’s ear, who hadn’t noticed.

“Oh my Goddesses, this means we can actually take a vacation to the Empire. I’d have to talk to the RCS about getting some time off but it shouldn’t be a problem.” Octavia was being pushed onto one of the couches in their living room by Vinyl.

“This is going to be our first trip together. Ugh, I can’t wait. Think about how romantic it’ll be and exotic.” Vinyl realized Octavia was off in her own world and slowed her ministrations down on the mare but still got into position on top of her waiting for her to return.

“I can’t wait to see the Symphony. Their music was lost a thousand years ago; I wonder what it’ll sound like. We have to watch the sunset every day we’re there. Think about how it’ll reflect off the crystal castle, it’ll be like magic every night.” Octavia suddenly snapped back to reality and looked down at Vinyl who was resting her chin on her chest smiling at her. “Sorry I just got lost.”

“You’re somehow cuter when you day dream, Tavi. And this trip will be perfect for us, get the time off and we’ll go as soon as we can.” Vinyl leaned up and kissed her. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than I am now. The Crystal Empire isn’t really my thing, I’m still excited about the trip, but seeing how happy it makes you would make a trip to some place I’d hate worth it.”

“I love you so much Vinyl.”

“I love you even more Tavi.”

Author's Note

Hey everyone its been a little over a month since I updated so I felt like I really needed to get something out. The delay has been because I've started to work on the second part of the Tavi/Scratch series I'm doing. I'm actually planning it out unlike this one was when I started it and I have a few chapters rough drafted already and know where I'm taking the whole story. People actually liking this was sort of a fluke and I wasn't prepared which wont be happening in the second part.

Sorry no song in this one to anyone who's actually been listening to them. I just figured if you're going to have the two ponies that deal with music you should involve some music in the story.

After I wrap up CnW I'll post a few samples of the next part of their story in my blog.

Enjoy
ZRM