The end.

Glancing up at the clock, Ink impatiently tapped a hoof on the ground. They were going to be late to dinner if Vinyl didn’t hurry up. He sighed quietly, trying his best not to knock on the bathroom door for what felt like the millionth time. In reality, it would really only be the seventh, but even that felt quite extensive to the impatient artist.

After this morning’s somewhat awkward wake up, Ink had made reservations at Manehatten’s finest Istallion restaurant that he could; even pulling in favors and using his status to get past week long waiting lists. When he broke the news to Vinyl, she practically broke his ribs with her hugs. Ink was practically shaking with excitement. Or was that impatience? He could never tell.

After what had felt like a lifetime had passed, Ink dared to look at the clock again. Two minutes had passed. Only two minutes. Ink groaned loudly, shattering the silence with his cry of boredom. He quietly trotted to his bathroom, determined to drag Vinyl out and get the two of them out to dinner. As he raised his hoof to knock however, the door swung open; leaving Ink to pick his jaw up from the polished hardwood floor.

Any trace of the tomcolt-ish mare that Ink had previously known had been erased, leaving only a gorgeous symbol of equine beauty. Her choppy mane had been curled and styled; now hugging and framing her face in a very effeminate manner. A tight black dress hugged every curve of her shapely cream body; yet again knocking Ink’s jaw to the floor. Her ruby eyes were done with orange shadow, wrapping the entire package up in just the right manner.

“Here there, lover-colt. What’s with that look? You’re gawkin’ at me like you’ve never seen me or something!”. Vinyl giggled, drinking in Ink’s surprise. She turned in a circle; slapping Ink with her likewise curled tail as she passed. “Oh, is Inky here not used to seeing Vee dressed up? Well drink it up, lover-colt! This shit ain’t happenin’ too often, ‘ya here?”. She leaned forward, kissing him softly, before nuzzling into him. “But Ink? I’m glad we’re doing this...”

“Damn Vinyl, you’re going to have a lot of stallions sleeping on the sofa tonight...”. The couple were currently being led to their table; a small seat located towards the back of the restaurant. Ink couldn’t help but notice the extra “oomph” in Vinyl’s step, which was drawing her quite a bit of attention from other males in the restaurant (not to mention a few mares, as well).

Vinyl only continued to surprise Ink; speaking to the waiter in a very fluent Istallion. Before Ink had even had time to look at his menu, he found it removed from his hooves, no doubt due to Vinyl’s short conversation. “I...uh... Hope you’re alright with the house lasagna... He said it was already ready and...”. Vinyl’s less-than-feminine demeanor was made even less feminine; her stomach eliciting a loud rumble. “And... uh... that.”

It didn’t take long for the waiter to return; two plates of food and a bottle of wine levitating atop a tray at his side. Without much to say, he slowly lowered the plates, letting them quietly settle in front on the pair. Ink raised an eyebrow across the table at Vinyl as the wine was poured; getting little more than a nod and a blush in return. Vinyl conversed with the waiter, who looked over at Ink and blushed, before quickly replying back in a hushed tone. Vinyl laughed, waving the waiter off. A nod and a bow later, and the waiter was off.

“What was that all about, eh?” , Ink questioned; getting little more than a confused grin in return. “I’m.. uh... Not sure what you’re talking about there, Inky. Not sure at all...”. Vinyl giggled, slowly lowering her napkin to her lap; her fork levitating just short of her piled-high plate.

“They really don’t let you go hungry here, do they?” Vinyl inquired, tracing circles in the air around her food. “Well, for the bits I have to pay for it... They sure as hell better not.” Ink said, sipping the slightly tart cherry wine. He let it sit in his mouth for a moment; savoring the slightly alcoholic taste. He watched as Vinyl tore viciously at her food, deciding after a while to join her.

“Goddesses damn, that was a good meal!” Vinyl practically shouted; her voice quickly lost in the cold manehattan air. After the dinner that had cost Ink a small mountain of bits, the two had quickly gained their bearings and departed. Next on Ink’s list was supposed to be a movie. Supposed to be.

“Hey Ink, why don’t we just go back home? I know ‘ya got this whole romantic stuff all planned out, but... I dunno.” She shrugged, scuffing her hoof along the ground; her horseshoe making a distinct metallic scrape as she kicked idly. “Maybe we should just go back. I mean, it’s gettin’ late, ‘n we should just...”. A small sigh came from Vinyl’s lips.

“Look, this whole romantic thing ‘ya got goin’ here? It’s just not me, Ink. I thought that you of all people would know that. I’m the mare in your basement, who’s content to get you drunk and ride your bones. I’m really not feminine, I guess is what I’m trying to say.” She looked at him, her deep red eyes rimmed slightly with tears. “And I’m just... Not comfortable with having to say this. You went out of your way for this... You like, just spent a friggin’ sack of bits back there. Only for me to say that it’s not my style..?”. She stepped forward, her lips meeting Ink’s in a warm embrace.

The kiss lasted mere moments; spanning a metaphorical lifetime in the matter of seconds. The pair found themselves at a loss for breath and words as they pulled away. Ink felt his heart pound in his chest, something that Vinyl obviously reflected. It wasn’t long before the pair rushed to meet again; fiery passion fueling their every motion.

Vinyl’s lips were soft and smooth against Inks. Her tongue slid through his teeth, catching him off guard. Pushing into the kiss; Ink found himself leading the charge. The pair wrestled tongues for a while, just content to play for the middle ground. When at last Vinyl succumed to Ink’s force; she found herself in a much different position.

The pair slowly trotted; lips still locked in a heated expression. Vinyl moaned quietly into Ink’s mouth, pushing him slightly in the direction that she decided upon. When at last they stopped, Ink found himself in a very interesting position.

The concrete wall at his back was uncomfortable at best; the Mare at his mouth greatly compensation for the harsh stone. She pushed into him, pressing her muzzle into his with a passionate force. The vague taste of food and wine could be detected as their tongues wrestled; a fresh departure from the horrid concoction that Ink was used to.

The pair pulled away once more; breath visibly hanging stagnantly in the frosty air. “Ink...”, he swore he heard her whisper. Tears had unexpectedly started to well in the mare’s eyes. “I’m leaving tomorrow...”.

“L-leaving..?”

“Tomorrow... I’m going to Canterlot... There’s a record producer that wants to work with me...”. She blinked; a single tear sliding down her face. “I’m... I’m probably not going to be coming back...”. She chuckled slightly; a pitiful sound. “I’m so sorry Ink... Just when I finally get the guts to confess to you, I get this email... And I mean... I just... I need to do this Ink... This is... This is my life. This is what I’ve worked at...”

Ink stepped back, feeling quite like he’d just been smacked. Vinyl was leaving? He felt the food in his stomach forcefully lurch. He swallowed harshly; fighting the urge to puke. He felt so crushed. She was just... leaving?! It was too sudden! It was too much for him to take. He felt his cheeks grow wet.

Tears.

He was crying.

He looked back at Vinyl, who was quietly sobbing. She was practically falling apart in front of him; something that didn’t really register to him. He quietly put his hooves around her, stroking her mane as she sobbed into his shoulder. He could feel her eyeliner run into his coat; running and wetting him with her tears. She let out a sob, anguish filling her quiet scream.

“Why?! Why does it always have to happen like this?! Why do I always ruin things like this?!”, she screamed into his shoulder. Ink didn’t put forth to answer; instead letting the words hang heavy in the air. He choked down a sob of his own, finally letting the weight of her words settle in. He felt the tears slowly trail down his face; creating a damp spot in Vinyl’s styled mane. The pair sobbed quietly for a while, just content to cry.

That had been almost a month ago. Time passed so fast for Ink. Vinyl moved out, The house grew quiet, and Ink quietly returned to his art. As pathetic as it seemed to him, sales on his work were at an all time high. All of the emotion that had come with Vinyl’s departure had been thrown into his work. It had left him drained; both physically and emotionally. He had decided that he needed a break. He needed to get out of the city, and more specifically: The house that he spent so many years with Vinyl in.

It didn’t take him long to find a small town a few hours south of Canterlot, the place that he’d decided he needed to pay a visit. He said it was for closure, but even he didn’t believe that. Ponyville was a quaint country town; and from what Ink had heard: probably the best place for him to continue his work. As he finished packing the up the last of his house, he took one more look about the place, leaving him feeling just as the house had become.

Empty.