Bows and Bass

Gray Steel trotted out of the hospital, and got a fin look at the Ponyville scenery. They had a bakery, a boutique, tons of apple buckets, nearly everything he was expecting. He even saw a massive crowd huddled near the town square, with dubstep resonating through the air. Gray Drift joined the mass, who was focused on two mares in the center, standing a few. Octavia and Vinyl Scratch.

Octavia stood poised beside her cello, as Vinyl faced her, nodding her head to the beat of the music. Her turntables were equipped with spinning disks of light that wildly flashed and changed color with the music. As the song ended, half the crowd erupted into applause. Octavia simply faced her and smirked.

“Not bad, Vinyl, my dear. But it won’t be enough this month.” Octavia boasted, and pulled out a small bottle of clear liquid. The crowd let out a small murmur of confusion as Octavia dipped her bow into the bottle, and pulled it out. She flicked off a few loose drops, and set the bottle down.

“What are you doing?” Vinyl Scratch asked, squinting her eyes.

“I believe you’ve met your match.” Octavia chimed before she played a note on the cello, setting the bow on fire. The whole crowed gasped, and as Octavia played, the fire snaked around in the air, streaming from the bow’s strings, Vinyl lowered her glasses as  the fire grew bigger and bigger, swirling in a circle around the cellist. Octavia didn’t seem the least bit fazed and reached the crescendo, the stream of fire swooped high into the sky, and slithered into the shape of Octavia’s cutie mark, a treble clef. The song finished, and the flames dissipated into smoke.

There was a short pause, and the crowd let out a roar of applause. Gray Steel even found himself cheering.

“Fine. You win, Octavia.” Vinyl  grumbled, and her turntables collapsed into a small box.

The crowd dissolved, a few people sticking around to speak with the musicians. Gray Steel began stepping toward Octavia, with a small grin on his face.

“Ah, Gray Steel. I see you checked out of the hospital.” Octavia smiled.

“Please, call me Gray. And, yeah. Not too long ago.” He said. “That fire really was amazing.”

“Oh, that? I’ve been perfecting it for a week now.” She said, trying her hardest not to brag.

“But, uh... how did your bow and cello not get burned?” Gray asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Elderwood and strings made of Waterweave. Can’t burn them even if you tried.” The cellist explained.

“So, I guess I’m paying for dinner, huh?” Vinyl Scratch groaned, stepping beside Octavia. Her eyes widened as she say Gray Steel. “Hey! I remember you! Doin’ well?” She asked.

Gray Steel snapped out of his grin. “Uh... yeah. Still can’t fly, though.” He muttered.

“Psshh. That ain’t so bad. I’ve gone my whole live not flying.”

“True... but you’re not a pegasus.” Gray said sternly.

“Oh, don’t be so hard on Vinyl.” Octavia said. “She’s just...”

“A little rude?” Gray muttered.

“Who callin’ rude, wise guy?!” Vinyl cried, leaning close to him, clearly frustrated.

“Stop it! Just calm down!” Octavia said, pushing the two apart. “You’re acting like spoiled foals!”

Gray Steel sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah... me too.” Vinyl muttered.

“Good. Now, why don’t we get some dinner?” Octavia said, and looked up at the sky. The clouds were lined with a dull orange as the sun began to set.

“It’s not any fun if I’m paying for it.” Vinyl said.

“Come on, now. I beat you fair and square.” Octavia replied.

“Fine...” Vinyl said, leading Octavia to the nearest restaurant, before the cellist turned to Gray Steel.

“Care to join us, Gray?” she asked.

The pegasus smiled widely. After all, he couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten before he was hit by the base cannon. He caught up with the two, and Vinyl groaned.

“He’s coming too?!”

“Consider it repaying me. After you... oh, I don’t know,hospitalized me?” Gray chuckled.

Vinyl let out a hmff.

Octavia stifled a chuckle as they walked into the restaurant. The trio sat down at a table, checking the menus.

Gray Steel took this opportunity to glance at Octavia. He couldn’t help it. Her mane, her voice, her eyes... something about her was just so appealing. Not to mention she was a famous cellist, of all things.

However, his eyes shifted over to Vinyl Scratch. A complete opposite of Octavia. Minimal manners, loud, and boisterous. It was hard to believe the two were friends, let alone roommates.

“Gray.” He heard Octavia say. He looked over, his heart fluttering as she looked at him.

“Aren’t you going to order?” She asked.

Gray turned his head, seeing a waiter right beside him.

“Oh! Sorry... one hayburger, please.” He chuckled. The waiter nodded, scribbled on a pad of paper, and trotted off.

“Kinda spaced out there, huh?” Vinyl chuckled.

“Yeah. So?” Gray sneered.

“Oh, you’re just upset at me ‘cause you couldn’t handle my bass cannon.”

“Any living thing creature that can handle it must enjoy having its eardrum ruptured. Seriously, have you even been hit by that thing yourself?”

“Well... no. Because I already know it’s awesome.” She chuckled, catching a mug of cider as it slid toward her.

Gray sighed, exasperated.

“Don’t be so hard on her.” Octavia said. “She’s just not used to you yet.”

“Yeah? Well I’m not used to her.” Gray replied. The waiter dropped their plated on their tables.

Vinyl instantly dug in to her food, scarfing away, but Octavia took her time. She tucked a napkin over her bow tie and took smaller bites than Vinyl. The trio kept at their meals, hardly speaking. Only then did Octavia break the silence.

“So, Gray. Where exactly are you from?” she asked.

Gray Steel’s eyes widened. “Uh... well, there’s this little place called Manelin...”

“Well, that’s a pretty simple name.” Vinyl said.

“It’s an old town. It’s just over the north-eastern mountain, not too far from the shore, and by the edge of the forest.”

“You don’t mean the Everfree forest, do you?” Octavia said, surprised.

“Oh, Celestia no! That’s far too dangerous. I’m referring to a different forest. Much more safer than the Everfree.”

“Doesn’t sound too exciting.” Vinyl said.

“Well... you’re right. Nothing exciting really happens there. Except for those ocean storms.” Gray replied.

“Can’t pegasi like you control the weather?” Octavia asked.

“No, the storm clouds from the ocean are too packed with water. If we broke one of those clouds, it might cause some flooding. My uh, friends and I got caught in a rather big one...” Gray said in a slightly somber tone.

“Sounds like fun.” Vinyl muttered. “Well, I’m heading to the cider bar. Catch you later.” The unicorn said, and trotted toward the counter as she chugged down another mug she ordered.

“So... do you... not like Vinyl?” Octavia asked softly, now that the two were alone.

“Well... that escalated a little quickly. And to answer you, I don’t know what to make of her. For one, she’s really boisterous. And she did knocked me out of the sky. But if she didn’t do that, I wouldn’t have met you.” Gray Steel replied.

“What do I do know? What should I say to her? Come on, Gray... think.” he thought, looking into her eyes.