Into the Night
We ducked back inside, closing all the windows and locking the doors. Luna's guards stood outside, stalwart as ever. It seemed that if I stayed out of the moonlight long enough, even on a full moon, I would slowly change back. It was a painstaking process, and after waiting at least an hour for my claws to retract and my coat to shrink, we talked to Fluttershy. The sweet thing, she let us sleep over for the night.
"Anypony friends with the princess is a friend of mine." Vinyl still wanted to deck her, but Fluttershy assuaged her fears. "And don't worry. I'm sworn to secrecy, and by royalty too! That's even more than a Pinkie Promise! Even though I don't really understand what's going on..."
Vinyl took the couch. She had offered but...I really wanted to sleep on the ground. I trotted around in a circle before settling down into a comfortable position.
Vinyl stared. "What are you doing?"
"I...don't know. It just felt right," I admitted.
Things would never be the same for either of us. There was no going back. We had reached that pivotal moment past the point of no return.
We only had a few hours until daybreak, and we decided to make the most of it. Vinyl was out like a light and began to snore softly. My eyelids drooped, a wave of exhaustion flooding over me.
Lights, camera, action.
Enter an expensive mansion nearly the size of a castle, with an elegant hedge garden with a fountain in the center. The family that lived here was rich.
Cue classical music, somber and simplistic in melody. Transition to inside a hall.
A despondent little filly near the massive window, the sunlight casting a shadow that stretched across the smooth floor. A second shadow. Her mother.
"Mother, did I do good?"
"Average."
"Oh."
"Again. And this time, no mistakes."
"Yes mother."
Cut.
The train ride home was uneventful. Mostly just me, sulking near the windows. Vinyl went home. The princess, well, she was long gone. She didn't have time to deal with us lesser mortals, I supposed. Or maybe she was just busy. In any case, I still had rehearsals. I'd skipped out for at least a week. There was going to be hell to pay.
"Where in Tartarus have you been?" Frederic demanded the second I walked into the studio.
"What?"
"This entire week you've been gone! You haven't been answering your calls! You haven't come to rehearsals!" He began pounding his hoof for emphasis with each point.
What to say at a time like this?
"Sorry," I mumbled. "I've been busy as of late."
"Busy making out with your marefriend?"
My eyes flashed and I was nearly at his throat, inches away from throttling him, purring, "What I do in my own personal life is none of your business."
Their jaws hit the floor. Harpo and Brass Beauty stared, unable to comprehend the calm and stoic Octavia losing her cool.
Frederic mumbled an apology. He sniffed, his nose scrunching up in distaste at our close proximity. "Eugh. You smell like a wet dog."
Are you going to let him talk to you like that? Show them who's boss.
"And you look like you just stuck your face in a blender and set it on high, but you don't see us telling you about it," I snapped before I could even process the words coming from my mouth. I stuffed a hoof into my mouth, my eyes bulging.
"Oho, you have the right to remain BURNED!" Brass hollered, shoving her hoof in his face.
Harpo glanced worriedly at me, idly strumming his harp.
What was I saying? "I-I'm sorry," I barely managed to stammer before I ran from the room, not even bothering to bring my cello along with me.
Brass screamed, "Scorched!"
"What's gotten into her?" Frederic snapped.
I stormed out of the building, trying to calm myself. How would I face them again? At least I had an excuse for not showing up tomorrow. Pony Joe's Donut Shop? I'd expected something a little more professional, or at least, secretive. In my saddlebags, my phone rang.
"Yeah, what?" I asked abrasively. I hadn't even checked who was calling.
"Octavia?"
I jumped. "Father? H-Hello!"
"It would mean the world to your mother if you came to visit."
I rubbed my forehead. "Uhm, of course." She was still in the hospital? Leave it to mom to take advantage of a bump on the head. Although Vinyl did have a pretty mean right hook. "Where is she?"
"Canterlot Hospital, fifth floor, room F."
"Be there in five."
I flipped the phone shut. Father was always...distant. Impersonal. He only spoke out of necessity, even with his own wife and daughter.
They were perfect for each other.
Who knows? Maybe this will go well. I'll say hello and be on my way.
"I don't want you hanging around that DJ!"
"You don't get to tell me what to do!" I shouted before I even realized what I was saying. Those weren't my words. It was that...voice!
"Watch your mouth, young filly! I am still your mother!" she screamed back.
"I'm not your little filly anymore."
"You will do as I say!"
"BUCK you!" I barked impulsively.
She gasped, horrified. "Octavia!"
I slammed the glass door behind me, cringing as I heard the sound of glass splashing all over the floor. Nurses and doctors stared. One dropped the pencil she was holding in her mouth. A desk pony spilled her coffee. You could hear a pin drop.
"I can fix that."
That went well.
"How was your day?"
Pretty awful, thanks for asking.
"Octy? How's dinner coming along? Octy?"
And we're late on last month's rent. I should reschedu—OOH SHINY!
I couldn't tear my eyes away from the silver kitchen knife.
"Wait, Octy, don't touch tha—you still touched it."
Upon touching it, my hoof seemed to burn and sizzle. "It seems my hoof has spontaneously combusted into flames," I noted dully, holding it up for her to see.
"Quite," Vinyl said. "Shall I get the fire extinguisher?" Break in case of supernatural creatures.
"Please do."
Cue screaming.
First day as a lycan and somehow I'd still managed to end up in the doghouse. Vinyl hadn't wanted me to stay home by myself. She even insisted having somepony come over to watch me.
"Having any cravings? Any homicidal thoughts lately?"
Sure, I could KILL you for doing this to me. But I won't.
"I assure you, I'm fine," I lied. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"Look, I'm not too comfortable with this. I'll have somepony come check on you when they can, alright?"
The second that door closed I began pacing in a circle. My tail wagged around, even as I tried to read to take my mind off things. I couldn't stay still. I had to move. I couldn't help it. I had no control over my own faculties. I sat down on the couch, only to start scratching. It was getting worse.
They are weak.
The voice in my head wouldn't shut up. I need something, anything to take my mind off my current situation. Turning to the bottle would have been irresponsible. I was better than this. Better than the lycan in me.
You are strong.
I slumped over, groaning. I took out a glass with two ice cubes and a bottle of scotch, pouring a good amount in. Swirling it around I studied the orange liquor before tilting the glass back. It was unbecoming of me, really. I didn't booze very much. Once in a while, maybe. Not all the time.
You are the alpha mare.
Shut up.
The drink went down like fire.
You poor, helpless thing.
I needed a refill.
There was a time when I rejected things like destiny, or fate. I was starting to figure out that I had the worst luck in Equestria. There is nothing more deceiving than the belief that you ran your life, that you have some semblance of control, that you were large and in charge. We were all insignificant specks of dust in an infinite universe, trying to make the best of the situation. Nopony knew what they were doing, why they were doing it in the first place. It was like gambling. The cards had been dealt and what was left was us grasping at straws. You play or you pay. Or maybe it was like playing jazz music. You just rolled with it, you just improvised.
I knocked another one back. Yeesh. Ponies always told me I got sappy and philosophical when I drank.
And where was I in the middle of all this? Was I still living the dream? Where was the Canterlot upscale penthouse? The bits, the extravagant parties and concerts in Blueblood Hall? That dream was starting to slip away.
"No, no, someday..." I said, if only to reassure myself.
Bottoms up.
Someday? Someday your dream will come true? How pathetic.
Was that how I coped with the truth? Is that what I told myself to help me sleep at night? I was the mule, always trotting forward that for carrot that dangled just out of my reach. This dream of mine had turned around on me. Who was I? A nobody. Some two-bit, has-been cello player for a quartet playing lounge music just to pay the rent. We'd all been banking on the Grand Galloping Gala to rake in the cash. Reality came crashing down on me, and I was treated with a glimpse into my bleak future. Suddenly I was old. My dream? Not a chance. I wasn't going to happen and it probably never would, because I wasn't ever going to do it anyway.
That was the old Octavia, weak and feeble. I am new Octavia. Stronger, faster. Better.
At least...at least I had family. "Mom she, she cares. I know it," I said. Somehow I thought by saying it out loud, it would make it true.
Your mother despises you.
I still had friends.
You don't have friends.
Acquaintances, coworkers maybe.
They don't deserve you.
"Shut up!"
I hurled the bottle against the wall, watching it smash on impact. I clutched my head, groaning, falling to my knees. I was due a hangover straight from Tartarus.
Let no pony stand in your path. Prove your dominance!
I didn't even feel my head hit the ground as I passed out.
I sat in the shadows in the farthest corner of the room. The balcony window had been smashed. My sharp ears twitched, able to pick up the faint sound of Vinyl's hoofsteps approaching. My heart raced as she came closer. That final moment as she fished her key out of her bags and shoved it into the lock, twisting it. The door swung open. Vinyl stared.
"Jeez Octy, you look like hell." She stepped forward, into the light. She stopped when she saw my face. "Is that...blood?"
Dark crimson stained my coat and my muzzle. It was like the life had been sucked out of my eyes. I was scared, traumatized. I stared off into the distance in a thousand-yard stare. All it took was a nod and Vinyl dropped her bags, rushing over to me.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I don't know," I spat.
I felt that rise of that old familiar feeling in my gut. Wait, no, that's just—urk...I ran over to the bathroom, emptying the contents of my stomach into the toilet. What had I eaten? Never mind, I didn't want to know. Ignorance is bliss.
"Did you get drunk?"
"You bet your ass I did," I gasped, wiping my mouth before I continued to retch.
"My contact said she rang the doorbell at least a dozen times! She tried knocking and almost considered bucking the door down."
Vinyl leaned in. I didn't want to kiss. It made me sick. Instead, she licked the blood from my cheek, smacking her lips.
"Rabbit."
I didn't even want to know how she knew what rabbit's blood tasted like.
"What did you do?"
"I already told you I don't know! One second I'm in the loft, passed out on the floor, and when I woke up I was still here! Except this time, I'm covered in...ugh!"
Vinyl wasn't playing around anymore. She was locking all the doors, closing all the windows, pulling all the curtains. "Did anypony see you?" she demanded.
"How am I supposed to know?" I growled.
For a while Vinyl struggled over what to do, muttering to herself before settling on a decision. "Octavia, I gotta run."
"What?"
She sighed. It seemed like she was in a hurry. "You wanna know what I do for the Inner Circle? This is what I do. I run damage control. Now I gotta go—"
"And clean up my mess. It's practically the dead of night, Vinyl. How are you even going to find out...what I did?"
"I got this!" she grinned cockily.
"Vinyl—"
She turned briefly. "Were you going to say something?"
"No no, never mind."
"Go ahead. "
"Okay, fine," I heaved a heavy sigh. "Vinyl, I don't how to tell you this..."
"You wanna break up?" Vinyl asked.
I stammered. "N-No! I simply want to...take a break."
"Is that what they call it these days?"
Had there been anything between us in the first place? Was it something official? Or was it something that needed no words? We'd never discussed anything. I'd kissed her, and she'd kissed me. We'd slept together and cuddled for a while. That was it, really. It seemed that we had passed the initial "puppy" love stage in our relationship, pardon the pun, after the novelty and passion had worn off. I had seemed so sure that Vinyl was the object of my desires in the heat of the moment.
"Vinyl, a break doesn't mean anything. Just some distance."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think so too."
"What?" I gawked. "Frankly I'm a little insulted."
"Octy, the last thing you need right now is a relationship. You've got...too much on your plate. You've got a job, performances. You still gotta deal with this new body of yours. You don't need me to make things worse."
"You don't do that!"
"Maybe I don't. But your parents are gonna give you enough grief already. Let's not give them another reason to make your life miserable, alright?"
"This is so stupid," I sniffed.
"Let's just back off for a while, huh?"
This was a blessing in disguise. I nodded, a bit too eagerly. "My thoughts exactly. Thank you, Vinyl."
It was a clean break. We'd severed our relationship cleanly, and both parties had come out unscathed. It was almost too perfect.
But I suppose once in a while things had to work out, right?
"But don't get any ideas, I'm not moving out, you know!"
I smiled. She closed the door. She poked her head through again.
"I'll still be here. Don't worry." She winked. "You're not alone in this."
My journey continued on through the night. I had a feeling things were just getting started.
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update! :D
I hope this fic won't be ending anytime soon. Quite enjoyable so far.
Wow, quick updates. Me like!
"It looks like you put your face in a blender and set it on high"
encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-M_8H3MzWqk6i1yCMGfhYqnK7YrbILW55Cj0SckFZNOet8KgS
Oh and 3RD
976979 Quoting Octy from previous chapter: "I lied to myself that it was over. It wasn't. Not by a long shot."
It is a pretty fun fic, and the description of her lycan transformation was pretty awesome.
Well...fricaca...
very nice
Fantastic chapter, as usual!
Like where this is going, much more serious. Good!
Hopefully it wasn't Angel bunny.
Head-On: Apply Directly to the forehead.
I'm not liking the turn on this. It's good, the story isn't bad, it's just becoming quite predictable. And a bit confusing. The scene changes are just too sudden.
i like where this is going
977084 IS THIS SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR YA? i.ytimg.com/vi/R3aCFi9pHGw/0.jpg
Okay, new update, tavi breaks up with vin-- wait, WHAT?!?!?!?
NONONONONONONONONONONONONO!!!!!!
THIS IS TERRIBLE!
Good chapter though, even if I hate it.
977098
Oh, I dare to contradict, it was much more sudden when it started out, Octy's frantic thinking was a bit unnerving, even. It has, all in all, actually become slower-paced and calmer.
...sadness.
First she spooks Octavia into getting cursed, and then she ditches her?
Way to be there for your mare, Vinyl. Yours is truly a caring, compassionate heart.
Yeah... Some of your scenes need to be redone it needs more dialog did your rush?
Octivia is losing control love it
Dang, I hope she'll get better over the story, and find a good way to keep that beast under control, because octavia will have a lot of trouble it that thing keep take control and kills
EPIC! I'm very interested in this new chapter!
Uhh... umm... I... You... huh..
encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRoP_XxoOOQ71Ntq9ShxoloJsbM3EqxMhRCxGANf3pCV4b6L19t8A
This chapter was far too confusing for me... but Keep it up.
What I've gleaned from these last two chapters is that Vinyl and Luna are unapologetic and incompetent. Neither of them bothered to tell Octavia that she'd start claiming her territory and losing her temper at the drop of a hat. Hell, it's entirely their fault she's a werepony anyway. But I bet you're thinking "they told her about the Inner Circle, right?" Yes they did. They didn't schedule her for a meeting, however, or assign her a senior werepony to help her cope. It's like shoving a snorkel into a toddler's hands and then pushing him off the side of a boat into the ocean.
Tbh i really don't like that they're leaving eachother for a while
i really hope things turn out better.
btw this is the first story i've read in a while that has sent chills down my spine, i fucking love every word of it, and absolutely cannot wait for more.
First the Lycanthropy then the break-up..dudelol.com/img/extreme-jenga..jpeg
A Me gustan los nuevos Capitulos
Love the new chapters
Well, this is going places. I wonder where.
Octavia adjusting to semi-werewolf life? Recouncilling her new condition with Vinly?
Also, I don't know whether Vinly is doing the right thing. I mean, a bit of a distance in the relationship is good, but she is still needed. Octavia clearly needs someone who she can talk to and help her figure out things.
I have to agree with the cunning_linguist. The fact that Luna and Vinyl left Octavia to her own devices when they clearly shouldn't have given her precarious metal state was a very foolish decision. Still, it's not enough for me to drop the story. I will wait and see what's next.
Hoof spontaneously combusts? That is quite the inconvenience, I hope that shiny thing was worth the trouble
It is sad day to be Octavia
Also, that Max Payne music you linked fits the current turn of events to a T
I feel for Octavia. But hey in the long run I think she can win out over her other self and her and Vinyl can be happy. I hope.
WOW
Things got heated!
Now look at what you've done.
I am another person who agrees with cunning_linguist, Luna and "The Inner Circle" could have done more to help her out. On another note, I am someone who is very familiar with Werewolf lore from reading and watching movies when I was younger. So everything in this chapter made perfect sense to me, I didn't find it confusing in the slightest. Though I can see how someone who really doesn't know that much about Werewolves would be confused and might I suggest expanding on some of the details (Though if you're trying to go for the mystery element than ignore this, or ignore all of this it's your story do what you want with it.) That's all I really had to say. LOVE the story and I can't wait for more!
977093 You seem to have a typo. What you meant to say was "Hopefully it was Angel bunny."
977130 She is still living with her, and looking out for her. It's just things are confusing enough for her already, without her trying to come out of the closet at the same time.
sudden unwanted change in your personality,
turning from complete herbivore to on-and-off carni/omnivore...
that is rough
This story has Conflict!
What r y doing? On this shipping-line is based all fic.
SHITS GONE DOWN AND MORE IS GOING TO COME DOWN
977274
I wanna know why the barely-affords-their-rent couple has actual silver in their flatware.
> It was a clean break. We'd severed our relationship cleanly, and both parties had come out unscathed. It was almost too perfect.
dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/sillyfilly_Sweetie_Belle.png
And the band played on.
AKA Octavia's life falls apart while I play unfitting music!
977485
WAIT, WAIT, YOU'RE TELLING ME
YOU DON'T HAVE SILVER FORKS AND KNIVES IN YOUR KITCHEN
977468
HERP DERP, AMIRITE
977424
wat. denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw194_33056_-_bow_filly_foal_Octavia.png
Woah! Poor Octavia!
Her hoof... spontaneously combusted.. Pff--WAHA
I love how they were both so.. so calm, and then 'Cue screaming' Sweet Celestia, that was genius
Why would a vampire and a lycan both still have anything silver in their apartment!?
images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120604235641/dragonball/images/0/05/Jackie-chan-meme.jpg
977518
All my silver is in my fancy dining room we use pretty much for just Thanksgiving, with the nearly 100-year-old heirloom dining table and sideboard. But then I'm living in a house I've actually had friends get lost in, not an apartment I'm having trouble making the rent for. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Rainbow_dealwithit.png
Does "The Inner Circle" have a secret psychologist? I believe Octavia may need the phone number.
At the very least, Octavia is a lot more braver. Instead of her taking anything bad that's coming to her in stride, she's just going to throw that business right back at them. Unfortunately, since shit seems to be thrown at her often, that may not be such a good thing.
977568
OCTAVIA'S PARENTS MAY BE BIGOTS, BUT THEY KNOW BETTER THAN TO SEND THEIR DAUGHTER OUT INTO THE BIG BAD WORLD
WITHOUT ANY SILVERWARE
Whoever that Brass pony is I like 'you have the right to remain BURNED!' love it.
Keep on writing.
977590
So will they take back all their silverware when she comes out of the closet? dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Octavia_plot.png
977601
WHERE SHE'S GOIN, SHE WON'T NEED SILVERWARE
977618
But everypony needs silverware except maybe ponies who catch on fire when they touch silver so maybe silverware wouldn't be the best thing for a lycan to have but if lycans don't have silverware then maybe they would use silverwere but were means 'human' and humans are just mythical creatures so that's why 'Tavi is a lycan not a werepony because that would mean that she transformed into a human and not a wolf but wouldn't it be cool to transform into a human in the light of the full moon I've got a friend who would think that's amazing which really means that there's a pony that would think that's amazing because everypony is my friend!
dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Lyra.png
WHYYYYYYY???
