Oblivious Bliss

by Scott Grimm

First published 8th of January, 2013

Octavia's unkown love for Lyra becomes known to herself through a shameful act.

Octavia and Lyra have been roommates living in Canterlot for about a year now. Unknown to Lyra and even to herself, Octavia has had feeling's towards her roommate. That is until she becomes aware that people are starting to see the two as a couple, rather than just roommates. Being the mare that she is, Octavia begins to dwell on these thoughts and explore the possibilities...

Chapter 1: A solitary moment

Chapter 1: A solitary moment

"Uhhh Tavi, what the hell were you doing in my room?" The drunken Lyra slurred at her roommate, not in anger but in confusion. She stood there, leaning against the white walls of the hallway outside of her room. The drunken mare held herself up gently swaying back and forth as she looked to her roommate

"Your room? I wasn't in your room!" The grey mare snapped back at Lyra's accusation. Lyra took a moment to gulp down before continuing to speak to Octavia.

"Yeah you were. Sneaking into my room, what the hell were you doing in there?"

"I wasn't in your room!" Octavia's cheeks reddened

"I know your lying to me." Lyra said with a smile. She knew and trusted Octavia. She knew she wouldn't go about snooping in her room, she was just trying to get a further reaction out of her.

"I cant believe that you think I would go into your room!" Octavia completely ignoring the smirk on Lyra's face signifying a joke. Octavia then scoffed at Lyra, trying to keep her cool and hide her shame from her. The two stood silent for a moment before Octavia whipped herself around and stormed down the hallway, quickly closing herself in her room. Lyra was still confused about why she had just witnessed Octavia exiting her room but she was too tired to even care. Shrugging it off and giving a sigh Lyra entered her room and turned on the light revealing the current state of her room.

"Oh dear sweet Luna is that-"

Earlier That Day.

"No... no no.... NO NO NO NO NO! AWWWW!" Lyra flailed her hooves up, controller held within her right hoof as her whole body grew limp on the couch as bold red letters flashed on the T.V. screen.

Game over! Player One Is Victorious!

"And that my dear friend is how it's done." Octavia said with half lidded eye's and a smirk of satisfaction plastered all along her face. She laid the controller on the table and began sipping on her drink.

"Best thirty seven out of seventy two?"

"Ugh I don't know Lyra, I think it's about time we-" Octavia cut her sentence short asher eye shifted to look at the clock that hung on the wall above the T.V. "Oh crap we're late! Go grab your thing's Lyra we gotta get going!"

Without a moments hesitation Lyra sprung up from the couch and dashed down the hallway into her room. Not five seconds later she was back with her Lyre in case waiting for Tavi who was just now putting her cello away in her case. Octavia snapped all the locks shut before tossing it on her back. With their gear now in hoof the two mares bolted out the door, barely remembering to lock their apartment door.

Ever since they were little kids in the performing arts school for gifted fillies, Lyra and Octavia had been best of friends. Throughout elementary, middle, and even high school the two were inseparable. Always walking together, talking together, performing together, and now even living together.

Once they had graduated from high school they both went on to pursue their dreams, to become famous and respected musicians within a prestigious Canterlot orchestra. But being low on funds and not knowing anyone or anything about living in Canterlot, the two mares found themselves both willing and wanting to be each others roommate in order to fulfill their dreams.

Before long the two were performing audition after audition until very much to their surprise, they had both been accepted into the same orchestra. To put it simply, this was a dream come true for the two struggling musician's. Having your best friend since you were a filly within the same orchestra as you could only be described by Lyra as 'BUCKING AWESOME!'.

"I can't believe how late we are!" Octavia said recalling the time on the clock. She rubbed her temple with her one free hoof, she couldn't believe how Lyra got themselves late again.

"Relax, today's just an open practice. We're not required to show." Lyra said as she looked up to the sky, her mind a million miles away.

"I know that. But if we plan to excel as musicians we need all the practice we can obtain."Lyra responded with a head shake of approval.

"That's true I guess."

The two mares trotted down Canterlots streets at a fast and steady pace. The scenery on their path was always a sight to behold. The charming cobblestone streets paved with pedestrians every which way you looked. The colorful flower beds aligned with the sidewalks.The Celestial sun shining bright on top of their coat's and the cool breeze that blew freely through their hair. Unfortunately for them, having been in a rush they were not able to take it all in.

After ten minutes of a steady trot the mares reached their destination, a old wooden dome that was about a mile or two out of town and surrounded by a well kept lawn, blooming bushes, giant oak trees surrounding it and a waterfall off in the distance flowing down a mountain side. The dome was a hundred years old, possibly even older and seemed to be collapsing on top of itself, constantly giving off a creek to display its age. This however was not the concert hall where they would perform in, this was just the practice hall where the orchestra would go to in order practice every other day.

"Somepony really needs to repair this..." Octavia exclaimed with a scrunched face as the two headed towards the entrance. Octavia detested the practice hall. She felt the beauty of the nature surrounding it was drowned out by the look of the dome, attracting all the attention with its awful display of termite infested beams, mildewed supports and decaying white paint job.

"No one's stopping you." Lyra nudged Octavia's shoulder a bit, hinting at her.

"I meant somepony else. I'm far too busy for such a trivial task." Octavia exclaimed.

"Such as?"

"Such as kicking your flank in video games." Lyra rolled her eye's as she exhaled a large breath.

The two mares entered the dome through two large wooden doors that stood a good five feet above their maximum height. They then proceeded to walk down the dimly lit aisles of seats heading towards the well lit stage in the center of the concert hall.

Although this was a practice hall now, it originally was a concert hall with a lot of history to it, housing a great many artists and it even once held princess Celestia in it's halls at some point. But that was now all fading away with time, along with the hall itself.

"Ahh Ms. Octavia and Lyra, good of you to join us today." The instructor exclaimed as he turned around to greet them with a bow. The instructor wore the typical tuxedo one would wear when performing, even though he did declare all practices to be casual.The mares bowed back at the instructor and apologized for being late before making their way to the string section of the band.

Each section of the orchestra sat in a circle with their respective instrument categories. The brass, the wind, the percussion and for Lyra and Octavia, the string. As they joined the group, the mare's were greeted by all of the string performers that had decided to show up today. Taking their seats within the circle of performers, they began to practice.

Their music flowed through the air, along with the other string players creating a symphony with their section alone. The instructor paced by each part of the practice groups, wind, brass et cetera, until finally ending up at where Octavia and Lyra were practicing along with the others. Normally Octavia wouldn't bother to pay attention to him, but today she had to really 'wow' him, being that her last performance was less than pleasing to the both of them. During the middle of performing, her cello had become a half step out of tune which is a rather big deal for a musician. Although she was able to adjust to the new tuning, she still hated making mistakes and one as big as being knocked out of tune frustrated Octavia to no end, where as the instructor did not mind as much. 'Mistakes happen' is what he told her and that should have been the end of it. But not for Octavia, she was going to prove that she was better than that.

The piece the string group was currently playing was in the key of D, a relatively high pitched note. That being the case, Octavia went an octave lower to display her comprehension of the notes, and hopefully catch the eye of the instructor. Sad as it is to say, this did not happen. She had become completely lost in the piece from the spontaneous desire to play in the lower octave to impress the instructor. This caused the entire string group to loose tempo and stop to look at Octavia.

"Damnit Octavia, what the hell is wrong with you?!" Gibbon's shouted causing all the other groups to stop with their practice and look to the string group. "Its such a simple progression, can you not follow the simplest piece?!"

"Shut the hell up Gibbons, you know damn well she didn't mean to mess up!" Lyra spoke for Octravia. Tavi just sat their with her head hung low, ashamed of having messed up, blowing her chance to show off her abilities and now for being too embarrassed to fight her own battles.

"Could have fooled me, she's been slipping up more and more. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's trying to sabotage us." Gibbons said as he pointed his bow loosely at Octavia.

"Who the hell do you think you-" Lyra was cut short of her banter with Gibbon's when she felt a hoof being placed on the shoulder. She looked up and saw the instructor.

"That'll be enough out of you Gibbons. This is practice for a reason, mistakes are meant to and want to be made here. If you cant handle that you can get up and leave."

Gibbons was a brown colt with light grey hair and had always been, well... a bit of a prick towards Octavia. Mainly due to the fact that before she had come along he was lead cellist. However once Octavia joined the orchestra, it took a whole two weeks before she took his place as the lead cellist. Ever since then he has had this immense grudge against her. So every time she would show any kind of weakness or make a mistake he would jump onto it and make sure everypony knew about it.

"Not my fault she can't handle things on her own." Gibbons snapped back at the instructor. Bad move.

"Alright then, if that's how you feel. Leave, and don't bother coming back to next practice. Your suspended until further notice."

Gibbons dropped his bow to the floor along with his jaw.

"You can't be serious!"

"I am and if you think I'm not then by all means continue arguing with me and see what happens." Everypony knew what he meant by that. Shut up or your out, simple as that.

With a grumble under his breath he kicked the metal fold out chair from beneath him as he stood up. The chair made a large screeching sound against the aging wooden floor as the whole room was silent in watching the events unfold. He swung his body around causing his eye's to make contact with the other groups looking at him. Instantly they turned around and continued with their own practice as to not get on Gibbons bad side. Octavia's group continued except for Octavia who's head continued to sink lower and lower.

Gibbon's threw his cello into his case and snapped it shut. He then violently threw it over his back and walked out of the practice hall but not before muttering something under his breath to Octavia as he passed by her.

"Good thing you have your marefriend to fight your battles for you." Octavias eye's grew wide, she twisted around to claim that Lyra was not her marefriend but it was too late, he was already out of the hall.

After that little spat practice continued like normal. Hiccups were made here and there but no one gave a second thought to them. The instructor finally called out for the end of practice and everypony put their instruments away and began conversing among themselves. Everypony but Octavia who just continued to sit there with her case at her hooves. Her head still hung low at how she had messed up. Lyra, who was chatting with the others from their group a little ways away noticed how down Octavia was acting and walked over to her.

"Hey clumsy, how ya doing?" Lyra asked as she scooted herself on a chair over to Octavia and wrapped her hoof around her neck.

"That's not funny Lyra..." Octavia not bothering to raise her head to her friend.

"Mmmm, I thought it was." Lyra was hoping to spark some kind of reaction from Octavia to get a better read on her, but received none. "Come on, cheer up!" Lyra looked at her friends for a moment then back to Octavia. "Hey! Me and a few others a gonna go out to have a few drinks again, you game?"

It was customary for Lyra to go drinking with others after practice was over although Octavia rarely joined them, regardless Lyra would always ask if she wanted to come along and seeing at how down she was because of her mistake and Gibbons, Lyra figured that she could definitely use something to drink right about now. Octavia raised her head to look at Lyra and just shook her head.

"Alright... You sure? There is always room for one more."

"Yeah, I'm sure. You go on and have fun." Octavia said waving her hoof to the others Lyra had mentioned just moments ago.

"Alright I'll see you at home then." Lyra said still concerned for her friend.

"Yeah, sounds good."

Lyra got up rejoined her group and they left not soon after. A little while passed before everyone had left the practice hall except for Octavia who just sat there... Frustrated, ashamed, disappointed, and determined. She had unpacked her cello and began practicing for hours on end once everypony had left. Her bow swung back and forth as her solitude allowed her the peace of mind she so desperately needed. However that was not enough and her frustration got the better of her, causing her to break the hair of her bow forcing her to stop her practice.

"Shit..." Octavia swore as the hair from her bow flew freely.

Even more frustrated with herself she threw the bow into her cases compartment, along with her cello, buckling up the case she began walking up the aisles out of the practice hall. A blissful breeze blew past Octavia as she stepped out of the practice hall. The hall was always stuffy and the nice cool breeze of the night was much welcomed. Octavia took a long breath, gazing up at the stars before beginning her long and lonesome trek home.

As she walked she began to ponder on what Gibbons had said about Lyra and her. So many questions where in her head, toiling away at it.Why would he say that? No wait, I know why he said that, to insult me. But, is that how everypony see's us? I mean... I can see the possibility of us being perceived that way... No come on Octavia, nopony sees you and Lyra like that, get real! Octavia thought to herself. But these questions and many more continued to linger within Octavia's brain. Driving her to the point of insanity with all the questions she had to what few answers she could muster. Before she knew it she was home and took a big sigh of relief. Maybe some down time will do her some good.

Unlocking the door she walked into the dark house, taking notice that Lyra had yet to arrive home. She stood at the doorway as she let her case collapse where it may and turned on the lights. She sighed and rubbed her neck as she tossed her key's into the bowl that sat next to the door. Not even caring about eating dinner Octavia slowly made her way to the liquor cabinet. Although she had turned down the offer of a drink with Lyra and her friends, Octavia still needed one, and bad.

She reached into the cabinet pulling out a large dark green bottle of sweet, tart, and glorious red wine of which she had received from a secret admirer during a previous performance a few months back. She plopped her backside onto the living rooms couch, wine glass in one hoof and the wine bottle in the other. She bit the cork off with her teeth and poured a tall glass of the relaxing liquid.

Within moments she had downed the entire glass and was already pouring another one. This glass she only nursed; the first one taking the edge off for now. Octavia sat there, swirling her hoof around the slowly emptying glass and staring blankly at the living rooms wall. While sitting there she began to ponder... Thinking of the past and reading into every detail her memory would allow her to relive. Every second, minute and hour that the two spent together ran through Octavia's head as if it were a film at the local theatre. Minutes passed, or at least what felt like minutes passed until Octavia had finally downed the very lost drop of her bottle. She gave off a little hiccup as she stumbled while lifting herself up.

The effects of the wine were more than in full effect as her thoughts and vision became increasingly blurry. Letting a yawn out she realized just how tired she had become from the drink and decided to make her way into bed. Once she had made her way into her room she stood in front of her bed for a moment before collapsing face first onto her bed and fell asleep within a few minutes.

Octavia tossed and turned for hours on end while on her bed before waking up. She groaned as she turned onto her side. Blowing her frazzled hair out of her face she saw the numbers on her alarm clock. It was only three in the morning, only a few hours had gone by since she had gotten home and fell asleep on her bed. She lifted up her self slowly to an upright position before smacking her dry lips together. With a yawn she leaned forward and slouched herself out of bed to go and grab a drink of water from the kitchen, perhaps a beverage would allow her to fall asleep with more ease. She wobbled her drowsy body towards the door and entered the hallway walking down it until she stopped outside of Lyra's room.

"Lyra..." Octavia whispered to herself, still only half awake.

Octavia began to contemplate the idea of being with Lyra. What would it be like? The thought had occurred to Octavia many times before, but not to the extent of today. The thoughts about being in a relationship with a mare, Lyra more specifically have crossed her mind, but she had never dwelled on the idea...Not this long atleast. Of course she had feelings for Lyra, she was her BPFF but being respectful, Octavia had always remained reserved, never once making any hints or advances to Lyra. In addition of Lyra being her best friend, she was her roommate as well. She couldn't just blurt out her feelings for her. What if she were to reject her? What if she would to kick her out of their house?! Besides, Octavia wasn't even sure if Lyra was a fillyfooler. And even if she was, who would be interested someone like her; Octavia would always cling to this thought when it came to the idea of being with Lyra.

"Fucking Gibbons..." Octavia said as she opened Lyra's door, still only half awake and not thinking straight.

She had expected to hear Lyra snoring up a storm, but when she opened the door nopony was there, just emptiness with a hint of litter, scattered among the room. Octavia looked back out into the hallway, making sure Lyra was not home. Being certain that she was the only one home she re-enetered the room and slowly skid her hoof across the lavender sheets of the bed before collapsing on it. She watched her hoof as she began to circle the sheets around with her hoof taking in a large inhale of the sheets to gather Lyra's scent. Octavia closed her eye's and let out a smile before opening her eyes half way as she exhaled her breath.

I wonder...I wonder what it's like, to make... Love? Octavia still apprehensive about what she wanted, being that she had never had relations with a mare before, or colt for that matter.

Octavia continued to lay their in silence, slowly inhaling then exhaling with a grin on her face and half lidded eyes as her hand delicately made its way down her chest. Her eye's closed fully as she continued place her hoof lower. Octavia's grin grew from a small smirk to one of full blown smile filled with passion and bliss as her hoof finally made its way to nethers. She gasped as her hoof finally slid across her already moistened slit sparking pure desire. She bit her lower lip as her back arched upwards and her face buried itself into Lyra's pillow whilst her hoof assaulted her region.

With each inhale Octavia took of Lyra's scent, her motions increased from a slow stroke to a rapid gyration as her pussy began to slicken with each additional movement she made. Low, lovely moans began to escape her mouth only to be muffled by the pillow. As her bliss continued her hoof became less and less satisfying to the grey mares increasing lust. Wanting...Needing something more Octavia lifted herself up to a upright position, her hoof still assaulting her nethers and she began to pump herself up and down gently onto her hoof.

Her hair swung freely, flowing over her shoulders as her breathing became more strained. With each pump, her force onto her hoof increased. And with each contact Octavia made she would sharply gasp, desperate for air. Her head tilted back as she started gyrating herself forward then backwards, slickening her hoof further and further till their was no friction. Her mind was growing fuzzier and fuzzier as she arched her back forwards and placed a second hoof to her slickened lips. The additional hoof increased her pleasure ten fold and her moans were no longer gentle or low, they were now full on screams of joy. She began to sway her head side to side as the pleasure began to build up even more, flailing her hair with each violent twist of her head. Her speed grew even further until her eye's beaded and she ceased her thrashing of her head and looked forward. Octavia's hair fell in front of her eye's as she let out a scream of Lyra's name that shook the whole room. The moment had come and she released herself onto Lyra's bed, unleashing a whirlwind of pleasure she had never felt before. With that one beautiful moment she had relinquished her mind, freeing them from any and all thoughts.

Octavia stayed there for a moment, her head curled up towards he chest as her hooves remained between her legs...Soaked, along with the sheets and mattress of Lyra's bed.

"Fuck me..." She managed to whisper aloud between her pants. Octavia let out a smile and closed her eye's as she fell face first into the pillow lifting her rear end into the air. Her tail twitched back and forth, still quite excited from the session.

The moment lasted for an eternity, but even that was short lived as she heard the jingle of keys from outside of the room and the locks of the front door being turned. At first Octavia didn't pay any mind to the noise until her momentary state of pure joy wore off and she began to take notice of the cooling liquid on her hooves, and bed.

"Oh shit!" Octavia muttered in a voice of shear panic as she jumped off of the bed and gazed upon the huge puddle that laid on the bed. Quickly shifting her eyes across the room she saw a empty soda can on Lyra's nightstand. She swiped up the soda can and placed it on top of the puddle.

"There... She'll just think I spilt something..." Not wasting another second thinking this terrible plan through she bolted out the room and slammed the door shut behind her back. Octavia's hair was frazzled and flowed in front of her eye's. Once she was able to let out a huge exhale and wipe the hair out of her eye's she revealed a drunken Lyra staring her down with a confused look as she leaned against the hallway's wall.

"Uhhh Tavi. What the hell were you doing in my room?" Lyra pointed to the rooms door being hidden by Octavia.

"Your room? I wasn't in your room!" The grey mare snapped back at Lyra's accusation. Lyra took a moment to gulp down before continuing to speak to Octavia.

"Yeah you were! Sneaking into my room, what the hell?"

"I wasn't in your room!" .

"Liar."

"I cant believe that you think I would go snooping around in your room!" Octavia then stormed down the hall and went into her room.

Shrugging it off Lyra said "Whatever." before going into her room. Once she was in she turned on the light she was able to come into full view of Octavia's shame.

"Oh dear Luna is that? OCTAVIA WHAT THE FUCK!?"

Author's Notes:

Okay, so for the record this is not mine! A friend of mine learned about my account and asked if I could type it up for him. Seeing no problem in it I did just that. However he pulled a M. Night Shyamalan on me and has decided to make this into a romance fic with clop on the side, that is why this chapter ends so abruptly. That being the case, and the fact this is not my story, it will not be updated very often. Not saying it wont, just saying its the lowest on my priority list of stories to continue with.

Chapter 2: Repercussions

Chapter 2: Repercussions

Octavia shuttered under her sheets as she heard Lyra scream her name. It was now only a matter of time now before Lyra would be storming into her room to scold her and question what the hell she did.

What the hell was I thinking? Doing that on Lyra's bed... What is wrong with me! Lyra must hate me now, oh god! Octavia began to whimper and shed a tear as her thought's raced through her minds at a million miles an hour. Her thoughts were ceased as her door slammed wide open, revealing lyra full of rage within her eye's.

"Octavia what the fuck is that on my bed!?" Lyra screamed pointing back into the hallway. Octavia was silent as she uncovered the covers from her head, not making eye contact with her friend. "Is that... Is that your cum?" Lyra asked with a stern tone as she walked up towards Octavia's bed, stopping just a foot from the base of her bed. Although the liquid had appeared clear while on the green mares bed, the over whelming smell of Octavia's sex was a dead give away for Lyra; instantly telling her what it was, she just didn't know why it would be there. Lyra waited a minute as Octavia continued to look away from her, continuing not to make a sound. "IS IT!?"

"Y...Yeah..." She muttered out.

Lyra coughed a few times in shock at her roommate. "Why the hell is the c- wait, you were masturbating in my bed?!" That little fact just now popping into Lyra's head. Octavia nodded lightly after a minute. "WHY!?"

Octavia looked up at her roommate, lips quivering and eyes tearing up. The look caused Lyra's expression to turn from one of anger to one of compassion. She walked up to Octavia's side and put a hoof onto her lap. She opened her mouth to begin speaking to her but was silenced when Octavia leaned over and planted her lips against Lyra's. Her eyes became beaded as her head jerked back some while Octavia's tongue invaded the green mares mouth. Lyra pushed onto Octavia's chest trying to break the kiss but Octavia denied her by wrapping both her hooves around Lyras head forcing her to continue the kiss. She continued to struggle causing Octavia to loose her balance and send both of them stumbling off of the bed and roll on top of each other until Octavia was on top of her. The cellist continued to invade her roommates mouth, her tongue swishing back and forth while Lyra's tongue tried its best to dodge her roommates.

Lyra finally managed to break the kiss when she pushed off Octavia and knocked her on her back. Before Octavia could regain herself Lyra was standing above her, preventing the mare from getting up. Octavia only laid there in her exposed, defenseless position. Lyra glared down at Octavia as she wiped the spit from the side of her mouth.

"What the hell was that Tavi!?" Octavia's hooves curled up closely against her chest as she looked away from Lyra, her cheeks reddening once more. Lyra waited for a few moments, still not recieving an answer. Not wasting a second more she looked away and began to speak to Octavia.

"I-I think you better leave..." Octavia looked back at Lyra, her eyes growing wide. The red hue within her cheeks had almost dissapeared from Octavia as the sentence had left Lyra's lips.

"W-What?" Octavia shakily asked.

"Octavia you just forced yourself on me... I don't know what the hell is going through your mind right now but think it would do us both some good if you just left for the night."

Octavia took a second to pause. "Where will I go?"

"I dont know, just please, leave... I got, I got somethings I need to think about." Lyra got up from Octavia allowing her to do the same and opened up her bedrooms door, leading Octavia out into the hallway and eventually out of the house. Octavia didn't say any words of protest.

Octavia was lead to their front porch of their apartment. She took a glance back at Lyra who's eyes were glued to the ground, avoiding eye contact with Octavia's pity eyes as she slowly began closing the door. Once the door had been completely shut Lyra put her back to the door and slid down it until she was on her rump and put her hooves to her face. Her heart ached from having to kick out her best friend into the cold, shallow night; this was to be the first major conflict of the two mares friendship.

Octavia stood there outside of their apartment for a moment, mentally kicking herself for what she had done. She looked up at the stars letting out a powerful sigh.

WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?! I just threw myself on top of her, Luna i'm an idiot..." Octavia let a single tear roll down her cheek as she shook her head back and forth, still astonished at what she had just done. Octavia took a few minutes to gather herself before leaving the front porch of their apartment.

She walked around town for an hour without any particular direction, she just needed to clear the thoughts circling around in her brain. Her mind was heavy and her heart was shattered, she didn't know what she would have expected Lyra to do in that situation. Perhaps something corny; like in those cheesy romance movies or novels?

"I love you octavia, and I always have. I just wish I had known you felt this way about me sooner... Not having to waste all the years yearning for your body to press against mine. Your lips, your eyes, your hooves, I desired them to be mine! And now... They finally can." Octavias cheecks became slightly red again as her thoughts became more steamy. But she needed to be honest with herself. This was the real world and things like that just dont happen... Regaurdless of how bad she wanted it to. After all she did want it, right?

She continued to walk aimlessly through the cold dark streets of Canterlot. Most of the shops had closed for the night, but that was normal being that it was now four in the morning. Octavia began to consider just sleeping on a park bench for tonight, and maybe Lyra would be forgiving enough in the morning to let her back into their home. The more she thought on the idea the better it sounded. Fore she had become cold, tired and in addition to skipping dinner, hungry. She began making her way down to the city park until she saw one of the shops with it's lights on, one of which read 'open'. She looked up to the sign and saw its name in bright red neon lights. 'The Apple Bobber' was the name that belonged to the brick stone establishment.

Octavia couldnt believe her luck that a place was still open at this time of night. She happily trotted across the street and entered this god send. Once she was in the establishment she was bombarded with the scent of beer, peanuts, chicken wings and cigarette smoke; all the things a good bar needs. Octavia walked up to a bar stool and took a seat. She waited for a few moments as she scanned around at the bar, taking notice of her surroundings. The floor was an old glossed wood, scratched everywhere on its surface. The lights above her gave off a loud hum as they flickered on and off. And dust clouds seemed to be the rulers of the establishment, making their home on every item in the place. Continuing to look she saw how little business the bar was doing this time of night, hardly anypony was in here, but she supposed that was to be expected.

"What can I getcha hun?" The bartender asked as he made his appearance.

"Oh I uhh, I dont really know. I don't usually go to these kinds of places... What would you suggest?"

"Well, if I were you. I would suggest a mudslide. It's pretty much a chocolate ice cream shake with alcohol in it."

"Yeah that sounds fine."

"Alright, one mudslide coming up." The bartender disappeared behind the bar and began mixing her drink. He re-appeared a few moments later handing her, her glass.

"Thanks." Octavia took the drink from the colt and began to sip on it.

"Never seen ya around here before. What brings ya in?" The bartender asked as he started cleaning a glass.

"Oh I uhh... I just needed a breather is all."

"Well welcome to the Apple Bobber."

"Thanks" After Octavia had finished thanking the bartender, a colt down at the end of the bar called him over for a refill on his drink, leaving Octavia alone with her drink and thoughts.

Things wont be the same anymore will it?" Octavia asked herself rhetorically. Was I still drunk? No that was hours ago, I was sober as could be. T-Then why did... How could I... I-I don't even know! Gah! I can't remember!" Octavia started sipping her drink with quicker and more intense sips as her thoughts continued. The mares thoughts started to race through her head, forcing her to cease with her drinking and just focus on her thoughts. She placed her elbows on the bar and her hooves on her head, not taking notice of a mare that had just taken her place next to her. Her thoughts continued to nag at her and frustrate her until she finally snapped.

"HOW COULD I BE SO STUPID!?" Octavia exclaimed as she flailed her hooves up not caring where they flew, hitting the mare that sat next to Tavi right in the snout. The blue and white mare fell to the floor with a loud thud. Once Octavia had made contact with the mares face she instantly retracted her hoof and swung herself around to see the damage she had caused.

"Ow, what the hell was that?" The mare asked as she held her hooves to her nose; blood running down them.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" Octavia hopped down from the bar stool and lent a helping hoof to the fallen mare.

"Yeah yeah, i'm alright I guess. What the hell was that about?" The mare questioned as she leant on her stool, looking at Octavia who was now handing her a napkin for her nose. The mare grabbed it from Octavia and began applying it to her bleeding nostrils.

"I uhh, have a lot on my mind right now. I guess, I kind of, snapped a bit?" Octavia said bashfully. "Do you need anything? Anything at all that I can do to make it up to you?

The white mare looked at Octavia for a moment, contemplating how she could make it up to her. "Well for starters you can get me a new drink, you kind of spilt my last one." She said pointing to the ground where her shattered glass laid on the floor. Octavia, being so distracted with helping the mare up hadn't even noticed that she spilt the mares drink as well.

"Oh right, bartender!" Octavia waved her hoof at the bartender, beckoning him over. "My appologies for the glass, heres some bits for it. And could you please treat this mare to another drink of her choosing on me." The bartender took the bits and walked off for a second then returned with another glass for the strucken mare.

"Thanks, ....?" The mare rolled her hoof in a circle to lead Octavia into saying her name.

"Oh right, Octavia."

"Alright, Octavia. What made you flip out? If you don't mind me asking that is."

"Thats... rather personal, Ms. ...?"

"Vinyl, Vinyl Scratch."

"Right, Ms. Vinyl. I rather not share that if you dont mind."

"Fair enough. But, it sounds like you could use someone to talk to right now. I mean no one just flips out like that unless they have something bugging them." Vinyl figuring that was the end of the conversation turned back to her drink.

Vinyl had a point, Octavia could really use someone to vent out all her frustrations out on. And nopony she knew was awake or even there to listen to her tale. Octavia bit her bottom lip, thinking of telling one of her most inner secrets to some stranger wasn't exactly an ideal plan, but she just had to get it off of her chest.

"Are you sure you want to hear?" Octavia asked as she turned to face Vinyl who was now gulping down her drink. Vinyl cut off her gulp and put her glass down.

"Sure, if you wanna tell me." Vinyl said giving Octavia a reassuring smile.

Octavia took a large inhale before beginning.

"MybestfriendisLyrashesalsomyroommateandIreallylikeherbutshedoesn'tknowthatI'vehadfeelingsforherforquitesometimenowandtodayIleanrnedpeoplearestartingtoseeusasacoupleratherthanroommatessoIwenthometodrinkandthinkonthatthoughtbutwhenIwenttobedIwokeupandwentintoherroommasturbatedonherbedandthenshecamehomefoundmycumandconfrontedmeaboutwhatIhaddonebutwhenshedid... I... sort of, well... Forced myself on her." A poof of smoke could be seen leaving Vinyl's ears, her brain had been completely fried. Octavia breathed heavily as she regained her breath.

Shaking herself out of her state of shock Vinyl began to retort. "Care to repeat that in English Tavi?"

In a much slower and lower voice Octavia repeated herself in a simplified story. "I have feelings for my roommate who has also been my best friend since I was a filly. I acted on my feelings tonight and... 'released' myself on her bed while she was out of the house and got kicked out for it. And now I don't know what to do. I'm just so confused with the whole situation"

"Yeah."

"Yeah what?"

"Yeah, I think I would go around smacking mares in their snouts too if I was in your situation." Vinyl said as she continued to sip on her drink.

"I said I was sorry!" Octavia's cheeks reddened, still embarrassed from hitting vinyl in the snout.

"I know I know, calm down geesh. It was only a joke, lighten up a bit will ya?"

Octavia looked away to the ground. "Sorry, I don't have the best sense of humor."

"That's fine. So... When did you discover you had feelings for your roommate?"

"I don't know. I mean I have always had feelings for Lyra, obviously. She is my best friend after all. It's just that today, somepony said that she was my marefriend. I couldn't believe my ears, but at the same time I wanted to." Octavia stared at her drink. "I don't know when I went from loving her as a friend to loving her as something more... But I did."

"Does she feel the same way about you?"

"MmMm, I don't even think she's into mares."

"Are you?"

"I don't know... I guees so. I mean, I have had Coltfriends but never have I glanced at another mare other than Lyra."

"I see."

The two sat there for a while in silence. The bartender made his way over to the two and refilled their drinks. Taking her drink in hoof and turning around to Octavia, she raised her glass up.

"Here's to love"

Octavia looked at Vinyl with a bit of shock at first but then gave her a warm smile. "To love!"

The mares sat there for a while, conversing and enjoying each other's company. They told stories ranging from dumb things that had done in the past, all the way up to their life goals. And everything in between. As time continued the drinks seemed to be disappearing faster and faster. After a while both of the mares shared a common feature, both of their cheeks had become a crimson red hue from all the drinks they both have had.

"And then I said, Oatmeal are you crazy!?" Vinyl delivering her punch line to one hell of a juicy story to Octavia who had been nursing her drink, almost causing her to shoot her drink through her nose.

Octavia was far beyond drunk, gulping down the current swig of her drink to allow her the freedom to laugh at Vinyl's joke she began to pound on the table and laugh hysterically. When typically she would let loose a small chuckle, and on occasion an adorable snort that would embarrass her to no end.

"Ahh, oh wow. That was a good one Vinyl." Octavia still laughing a bit as she wiped a tear from her eye.

Octavia let her hoof drop from her eye, landing on vinyl's leg. Both the mares looked down at the hoof then back up at each other's eyes. Both of their eyes gleamed as they stared into one another. An eternity passed until Octavia finally stood up from the bar stool and began walking away from vinyl, slowly dragging her hoof up her leg until she reached Vinyl's cutie mark and just let it roll off of her. That sent shivers up and down Vinyl's spine as she quickly turned around to see where Octavia was heading.

She saw Octavia staring back at her; eye's half lidded and hips swaying back and forth. Octavia twitched her tail in all different directions allowing Vinyl little glimpses at her sex as she continued to stare. Never breaking eye contact with Vinyl, Octavia made her way to the bar's restroom, stumbling only once over a bar stool. She quickly recovered and gave a sheepish smile to Vinyl before returning to her sex strut into the restroom. She was definitely drunk.

Stumbling a bit herself off of her bar stool Vinyl made her way to the restroom. Once she entered the door way Octavia tackled her, pinning Vinyl's back to the tiled wall and pressed her knee against Vinyl's sex that was quickly becoming wet. Vinyl let out a gasp at the sudden pressure put against her nethers. She stared at Octavia's lust filled eye's as she pushed back at Octavia, knocking her back against one of the bathroom stalls; taking the same position at Octavia's nethers.

Octavia was shocked a bit by Vinyl's sudden forceful action.

"I'm gonna be on top." The white mare siad with a smirk. And with that Vinyl poured her tongue in Octavia's mouth who happily accepted the strange visitor with a loud moan. Both mares breath poured into each others mouths, tasting all the flavors of the drinks they had just finished. Sweet, bitter, and foriegn flavors flowed over Octavia's tongue as she began to curl around Vinyls, trying to pull her into her mouth even more; Vinyl did the same. Octavia began to heat up down below and Vinyl was beginning to take notice of how wet her knee was becoming. Breaking the kiss, Vinyl moved her hooves southward to Octavia's cutie mark and began groping them as hard as she could. Octavia let out a sharp gasp at Vinyls grouping, she hadnt expected her to be this hard with her... She liked it.

Vinyl cuddled along side Octavias face as she made her way to her ear. "I want you to ride me." Vinyl cooed into Octavia's ear.

"What?" Vinyl slowly slid her leg that was at Octavias aching pussy along the slit. That gave Octavia all the information she needed to know what she was talking about.

"Ride me, while I ride you." Vinyl moved her nethers between one of Octavia's legs and slowly began grinding herself against her leg.

The two mares began to grind on each others leg. Both of them could feel their partner growing hotter and wetter as their juices began to stream down one anothers legs. Vinyl increased the pace, surpasing Octavia's rythym while Octavia remained at the same steady rythym as she they both continued to pant their steamy breaths into each others faces. Vinyl begun to shake her hips faster and faster, sliding her slit on top of Octavia's leg.

"Shit, I'm almost there. Fuck, fuck me Tavi! Fuck me harder!" Octavia took the top role and slammed Vinyl back against the tiled bathroom wall, kneeing her leg into Vinyls pussy faster and harder with each gyration Vinyl performed on it.

"More, More!" Vinyl was aching. She was damn near ready to burst when Octavia bit down on her ear, sending her over the edge. Screaming a loud 'Fuck', she clenched onto Octavia with all her strength as her orgasm exploded and pulsed all along the length of Octavia's leg and eventually the restroom floor. Vinyl slowly came down from her climax, still gyrating slowly on Octavia who had timed her kneeing with her partners gyration, still continuing to increase her pleasure. Vinyl rested her head against Octavia's as she caught her breath.

The two mares stood there as Vinyl's legs shivered. Both of their juices were on the floor, even though Tavi had yet to cum. Vinyl leaned her head back to face the mare who had just pleasured her and let out a devious smile as she lowered her eye's a bit.

"Your Turn." Vinyl whispered as she began to slowly kiss her way down Octavia's body. Vinyl gently stroked each part of her until she finally made her way to her nethers. She then spread Octavia's legs apart to allow her access to the grey mares goods. She took a moment to admire the pink pulsing glory that Octavia was shyly displaying to her. Vinyl slowly ran her hoof across the slit causing Octavia to shutter, and almost collapse under the weight of her own legs. She was astonished at how much juices were scrapped up by just one stroke of her hoof. Looking up at Octavia she slowly licked up Octavia's juices off of her hoof. Then without warning, Vinyl took both her hooves and cupped them under Octavia's ass, lifting her up, Vinyl carried her over to the sink.

"Wait, Vinyl w-what are you doing?!" Vinyl dropped Octavia into the sink and buried her muzzle into Octavia's pussy, quickly silencing Octavia's questioning and replacing them with gasps of ecstasy and bliss as Vinyl lapped up any and all of Octavia's juices. Vinyl placed her hooves on Octavia's hips and started pulling them towards herself, trying to bury her tongue as far as she could into Octavia's crevice as to lap up more of her sweet nectar. Octavia bit her right hoof to suppress her screams and put her left hoof on her partners head, forcing Vinyl even further into her.

"Oh sweet Celestia Vinyl. Faster..." Octavia asked as her hips involuntarily began to rock themselves towards Vinyl, grinding up and down, back and forth against Vinyl's muzzle trying to gain all the pleasure she could. Vinyl took one of her hooves off of Octavia's plump rump and moved it to Octavia's clit and began to flick it back and forth.
That sent Octavia's sweet moans into those of guttural desire.

"Oh YES! RIGHT THERE!" Octavia screamed. She was nearing her peak. She clenched on the hoof that she was biting on and pressed Vinyl harder into her snatch. "Almost there, oh god... Just a bit more..." Octavia was about to burst. Her back was arched, her mind was blank and her eyes were rolling into the back of her head until she felt Vinyl push back and stop her actions. Octavia quickly looked up at her partner with a pouted look of pity and desire.

"W-why'd you stop?"

"Beg." Vinyl asked as she was just mere inches from Octavia's wanting nethers. Juices flowed freely from Octavia, as if she was overflowing with juices. She could feel Vinyl's breath on her and it drove her nuts. Just one more touch would even do it.

"What...? You can't be serious..."

"Beg for me. Or I'm afraid I wont let you cum. Beg for me, say, Vinyl let me pour my cum all over your muzzle. I want to hear it come from your mouth." Vinyl demanded as she slowly began to circle the hoof that had been flicking Octavia's clit earlier around the walls of her vagina. This was pure torture for Octavia. She wasn't going to stoop down to begging so that she could get relief. She began to move her hooves down to finish the job herself but they were swatted away then pinned down by Vinyl.

"Uh uh uh. That's not fair now is it?"

Octavia looked away and bit her lower lip. The pressure that had been building up inside of her as she neared her climax had not subsided yet. And with each second that passed the pressure became more intense, she needed relief and fast.

"Please... finish."

"Please what? I don't believe I caught that."

"Please Vinyl I'm begging you. Let me cum."

"Still didn't quite get that."

Octavia was becoming frustrated to no end with how childish Vinyl's actions were. She gave a glare and a pout at Vinyl letting her know she was not amused. Vinyl didn't budge though. With much swallowing of her pride Octavia spoke the sentence that Vinyl so desired.

"Please Vinyl, let me cum. Let me release myself all over your muzzle."

Vinyl gave her a seductive smile before stopping her teasing. "Good girl." Vinyl stood their motionless staring at Octavia for a minute before diving right back into her previous actions.

"OH FUCK!" The sudden sensation from Vinyl was more than enough to shoot thousands of volts throughout Octavia as she came all over Vinyl's muzzle, drenching the mare all over her face and down her chest. Octavia's forelegs pushed down on Vinyl's head as her head snapped back, colliding with the mirror that stood behind her as she sat in the sink causing it the crack, she didn't even notice though. She was too busy being swept up in the sea of pleasure that was caressing her entire body. Vinyl never once left Octavia's pulsating sex as she rode out her orgasm licking up all the juices Octavia had to offer; savoring each and every delicious drop she received. Once she finished with her Orgasm, she released Vinyl from her grip and let her rise up from her sex only to giggle slightly as she saw how drenched in her cum Vinyl was. Vinyl collapsed onto Octavia and wrapped her hooves around her, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. Octavia did that same in response.

"Sorry, heh I guess I let out a bit much huh?" Octavia asked barely as drips of her juices could be heard dropping into the puddle that had now formed on the floor.

"Not at all. I loved it. The whole thing was... Amazing... You were amazing Tavi"

Octavia giggled at the compliment. She hadn't had very much experience in sex and it was good to hear she did it right. Octavia gripped Vinyl closer and whispered into her ear. "You were great too Vinyl.."

Lyra

After that the mares cleaned themselves off before heading out of the bar.

Author's Notes:

By popular demand I updated it again earlier than what I had originally planned. I hope you enjoyed it. Btw, enjoy the stories I post? Sweet! Why not tell me in the comments below?

Chapter 3: The Morning After

Chapter 3: The Morning After

Octavia unlocked the front door to her apartment after spending the entire night out of it. She was weary and still a tad tipsy. luckily Vinyl had been kind enough to walk her back home before saying good bye to her for the night. Octavia creaked the door open as slowly and as quietly as she could, as to avoid the detection of Lyra. She wanted to avoid the inevitable for as long as possible, and since she had no idea weather Lyra was up or not she had to be extra careful.

The door was now fully open. Octavia took a quick look around and saw no Lyra, and proceeded putting her keys into the key bowl next to the front door before she began tip toe-ing to her room.

"Morning Octavia." Octavia's whole body cringed as she heard the voice of her crush enter her ears. She turned around and saw Lyra there on her chair, hooves crossed at her.

"Oh, h-hi Lyra." Octavia turned to meet her roommate. She scratched behind her head a bit.

"Why don't you take a seat." Lyra said uncrossing her hooves and pointing one to the couch beside the chair that Lyra sat in. "I think it's best we talk about this and get it out of the way."

Shit!

"Yeah I think we should." Octavia said hiding her true thoughts on the subject matter.

The two mares looked at each other for a bit not saying a word. The awkwardness in the air could be cut with a butter knife. Both of their cheeks reddened as the made eye contact and took inhale as to begin their conversation.

"I'm so sorry I forced myself on you, it'll never happen again!"

"I realize why you did what you did, and... I love you to!"

Both of them looked at each other with beaded eye's. Neither of them truly catching what they had said.

"Why don't you go first." Octavia gestured to Lyra.

"N-No you first..."

"Okay." She took a big inhale. "I'm so sorry for doing what I did on your bed, for forcing myself on you and not having the courage to explain why I did those things. Can you please forgive me?"

Lyra gave Octavia a smile before answering. "Yes, I forgive you Tavi." Octavia expelled a sigh of relief as she slouched a bit in her posture until she remembered that Lyra had something to say. Regaining her posture she began talking again.

"So, what did you want to say?" Lyras eye's became beaded once more as she just realized it was now her turn to spill her guts on the floor for Octavia.

"Well... I know why you did what you did." Octavia gulped down.

"Y-You do?"

"Yeah, I mean it's pretty obvious Tavi" Lyra said with a chuckle. "I've seen you eyeing me before, I didn't say anything because... Well... I wasn't sure if I felt the same way."

"Uh huh, and?" Octavia leaning on the edge of her seat, eagerly anticipating and dreading Lyras next sentence.

"I thought about you and about us all throughout the night. I realized how much I missed you, even if it was just for a few hours. I felt empty when you weren't here with me, even if I was upset with you. I guess what I'm trying to say is... I discovered I love you Tavi. I just wish I realized I loved you long ago." Lyra said as she let out a bashful smile, folding her ears down in embarrassment.

" R-Reallmmmm" Lyra had silenced Octavia with their first kiss the two would ever share. They both let out moans into each others mouths as their tongues swirled together, not fighting for dominance, but for connection between them. Lyra leaned back breaking the kiss, allowing a strand of saliva to leave the two connected.

"L-Lyra I..." Lyra raised a hoof to Octavia's mouth, silencing her once more.

"Shhhh. Just be quiet. I can't stand the fact that I kicked you out. Please, let me make it up to you." Octavia slightly nodded at Lyra and with that Lyra pushed her marefriends back onto the couch. Exposed and embarrassed, Octavia laid there as Lyra mounted herself on top. "Just let me do all the work." Lyra whispered in her lovers ear before slowly making a beeline down to Octavia's chest.

Lyra looked back up to Octavia who was watching her partner intently, waiting to see what she would do. She smiled warmly back at Tavi as she began to nibble gently on her fur while she pressed her hooves against Tavi's cutie mark and began to message it gently. Octavia lolled her head back onto a pillow as Lyra continued to nibble her way down to Octavia's awaiting sex, just stopping right before she hit anything too sensitive. With a quick lap Lyra wiped up any and all of Octavia's juices that had gathered at her sex.

"Oh wow." The green mare muttered a bit as she breathed her hot breath onto Octavia's thighs.

"Sorry, I was out all night. I didn't exactly have time to shower."

"No no, I like it. It's sweet."

Lyra nuzzled Octavia's inner thighs a bit before returning to the real attraction between her legs. She moved her hooves away from messaging Tavis cutie mark and spread her pink lips with much tenderness. She took sometime to admire her marefriends pussy before diving her tongue straight in. Octavia let out a quick gasp from the instant pulse of pleasure the overwhelmed her like a tidal wave. Lyra closed her eyes as she began to thrust her tongue in and out of Octavia, swirling it in a circle each and every time she re-entered.

"Oh my god that feels great Lyra!" Octavia arched her back off of the couch some as Lyra increased her piston like thrusts of her tongue.

Taking one of her hooves away from Octavia's thighs, Lyra began to flick Octavia's clit. Instantly Lyra felt Octavia convulse on her tongue making it extremely difficult for her to continue. Lyra removed her tongue from her friend and lifted herself up to look at Octavia who now had the kind of eyes that said 'Please don't stop.'

"Wow, your tight." Lyra said panting, trying to regain her breath. Octavia was about to say something in response when her sentence was lost as Lyra had begun swiping her hoof up and down the lips of her pussy. With a devious smile Lyra made her way back up to Octavia and began another passionate kiss, all the while continuing with her hoof. Octavia began to grind her hips against Lyra as her tongue swished around in the green mares mouth.

Breaking the kiss and stopping her motions Lyra looked down at Octavia who was gazing right back at her. Without a word Lyra moved her slickened hoof up to Octavia's mouth. Almost instantly Octavia began to lap up her own juices, savoring both her and her marefriends flavors that had mixed together. Lyra leant back down to Octavia's ear nibbling on the base just a bit before whispering into it.

"Your in for a treat... Bite a pillow if you have to." Octavia only let out a seductive moan in response.

Lyra made her way down, trailing both her head followed by her now clean hoof all along Octavia's body. She took a moment to pause and spread Octavia's nethers apart once more before lowering her head past it.

"L-Lyra what are you do-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHMMMMMMMM" Octavia bit down on a pillow as Lyra had just penetrated her sex with her horn.

Lyra stayed there for a moment allowing to Octavia to get used to it before proceeding.

"You ready for me to start moving?" Octavia yelped into her pillow; Lyra took it as a yes.

Rapidly she pulled her horn that was setting off a faint glow of yellow and slammed herself right back into her causing Octavia to yelp and convulse once again. With a smirk Lyra began to repeat her previous piston like actions, only this time with her horn.

Octavia's whole body began to spaz out as her hooves flailed wildly all over the couch. She continued to bite harder and harder as Lyras thrusts continued to send wave after wave of pleasure coursing throughout every fiber of her being. Arching her back, increasing her breathing and moans Octavia released her vice grip like bite on the pillow so as to speak.

"Harder! Faster! I need it Lyra! I want it!" Octavia said as she did her best to widen to hooves farther apart, allowing Lyra easier access to her sopping wet sex. Lyra happily obliged by slamming into her, faster, harder and with each reentrance a quick swirl of her grooved horn.

Octavia's eyes rolled up, her back arched even further. Her hooves grabbed the cushions of the couch and her head lolled back. This was it, this was the moment that she had been waiting for all these years. She was finally about to cum from the hooves or horn in this matter, from the mare she secretly loved.

"Oh my G- Lyra I'm gonna!" With all the power she had left in her Lyra slammed into Octavia, releasing all of her juices onto herself, sending the charcoal mare to heaven.

Lyra remained inside Octavia as she rode out her orgasm. Once her breathing had become normal and her body limp, Lyra moved up to Octavia's side and began to cuddle up with her. Gently, Octavia flopped her head to her side to face her lover.

"Lyra I love you, so much." Lyra lowered her eyes to a seductive glance, and gave Octavia a quick peck on the cheek.

"Octavia, I beep you to."

"What?" Lyra chuckled some.

"I said, I beep beep beep."

Octavia opened her eyes, revealing she was in a strange room in a strange house. Her heart had almost snapped from the realization that it was all just a dream and the alarm clock was going off. Slamming the alarm clock off Octavia looked down to her nethers that were aching; at least that much was real. She saw a puddle of her juices seeping through the purple covers and could feel them trickling down her leg.

Please tell me I didn't just came in someone's bed again... She did.

Octavia looked around and saw a pair of purple shades on the floor, along with her signature bow tie on top of them. Chairs were knocked over and half the covers from the bed laid by the foot of the bed. Beer cans were on the covers and made a rustle every time she moved around.

What the hell did I do last night? Octavia asked as she felt something moving around her chest followed by a slight grunting noise. All the clues that she had gathered by looking at the room had finally clicked with Octavia's hung over mind. Oh please sweet merciful Luna, don't tell me I did what I think I did... Biting her lip and embracing herself for the worst she lifted up the covers revealing a curled up Vinyl scratch clinging onto her side. Vinyl had a look of discomfort as some of Octavia's juices had gotten onto her and were beginning to cool.

I did... Buck my life.

Already regretting all her actions, or at least the ones she could remember Octavia tried to wiggle herself free of Vinyl's death grip. After a little squirming her attempt proved successful as she was able to slowly and delicately get out of bed. She made her way over to her bowtie and tied it on herself as quick as lighting. slowly turning around she began to head for the bedroom door and hopefully make her exit unnoticed.

"Hey you." Vinyl cooed in a light voice to Octavia. Vinyl had been woken up from her rusting of the bed. Octavia's shoulders raised up as if a chill had just ran up her spine. Reluctantly accepting that she had been caught she turned around and faced her mistake.

"H-hey Vinyl."

"MMmMm, last night was so much fun..." Said as she stretched her hooves behind her head. It was? Whatcha doing over there? Come back to bed." Vinyl said patting the bed, beckoning Octavia back over to her side.

"Oh gee I would, but I need to get going..."

"Oh, okay. Where you gotta go?"

"Just out is all."

"Well duh, but where to?"

Octavia didn't want to hurt her feelings by just flat out saying that she made a huge mistake with what she did with her last night. On the other hoof she didn't want to be caught with being with her for the day.

"I uhh, I got to head on down to band practice"

"You play in a band!?" Vinyl let out a little gasp "What do you play? And for what band?"

"Oh, I play the cello for the Royal Canterlot Orchestra." Octavia said, a bit surprised at how excited Vinyl was to hear she played in a band.

"Cool! I'm a bit of a musician myself. Can I come and watch you practice?" Vinyl asked as giddy as a filly going to the local candy shop

Octavia could see that this was going nowhere fast. She decided to put it as plain and simple as possible and hope for the best.

"Iiiiii don't think so Vinyl. Look your a good mare, kind, caring and I can't thank you enough for letting me spend the night in your house. But last night... Was a mistake. It should have never happened, and I'm sorry if I gave you any kind of hope of some sort. I-I should just go." Octavia turned her head back to face the door.

"Oh..." Vinyl folded her ears down at Octavia's confession. "Well, that's fine. Does that mean we can't be friends?" Octavia was taken back a bit at how well she was taking this. She had just called Vinyl a one night stand after all, and a bad one to have at that.

"Uh, yeah sure we can." Vinyl let out a false smile at Octavia before hopping off of the bed and making her way to a desk. She scribbled something on a piece of paper and trotted back over to Octavia, handing her the piece of paper.

"What's this?"

"My phone number. In case you wanna ever hang out again, you can just give me a call." Octavia smiled back at her before tucking the piece of paper away.

"I will, thank you Vinyl."

"Your welcome... H-Here let me walk you out." And with the Vinyl marched over and opened the door that lead out of her room, then opened the door that lead out of her house. Octavia waved good bye as she walked away from the white mares house. Vinyl did the same before closing the door again.

Meanwhile on the other side of Canterlot, Lyra was just now starting to wake up from her sleepless night. The events of last night consumed her, preventing her from entering a state of sleep. The morning sun had just began its daily bombardment on Lyra's apartment, lighting anything and everything within its path. Bringing forth the new day. Lyra however shunned the new day as she laid in her bed. She tossed and turned as the morning sun became brighter and brighter, shining its warm glow into her room through the blinds.

"Ughh. Stupid sun, piss off." Lyra rolled over onto her side, covering her head with her pillow. But sun continued to raise itself higher and higher into the sky until Lyra could no longer ignore it. "Fine... I'll get up."

Lyra rolled out bed with a face plant onto the floor of her room. Dusting herself off, she got up and walked out of her room. Letting out a yawn she headed for kitchen to perform her daily ritual of making breakfast and coffee. She grabbed the pot, the grinds and turned the machine on. Leaning her rear end on the counter waiting for the pot to be ready, Lyra continued to think about Octavia.

"I bet she snuck back in." Lyra thought aloud.

Unknown to Octavia, Lyra had actually left the front door unlocked last night. She felt bad about having kicked her best friend out with no place to stay. It wasn't that Lyra hated Octavia or anything like that. She just needed Octavia to get away from her for a while, allow her to cool down and clear her mind before discussing what had happened.

Lyra got up from the counter and headed down the hallway to Octavia's room.

*Knock* "Come on Tavi wake up. I got coffee ready and breakfast will be done shortly." It was a custom within their household for Lyra to be Octavia's alarm clock. Not that Octavia couldn't wake herself up, it's just that she preferred to sleep in. Lyra waited for a second or two before knocking again. "Come on Octavia I know your in there... I'm not mad at you, but I think we need to have a-" Lyra slowly opened Tavi's door only to see that she was not there. "Talk..."

She began to look all over the house, even checking the bathroom but no sign of Octavia was found. Certain that she was not home Lyra moved back into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of the now brewed coffee. She refused to drink it though, she only stared into it.

"Was I that harsh on her?" She asked herself, swishing her mug back and forth. " No, after what she did it was justified to kick her out. I mean who the hell does that!? Kissing someone then pinning them down against there will... Totally justified!" Lyra replayed the sequence of events through her mind again. "It was like she wasn't even herself..."

Lyra took a glance up at the clock on the wall, seeing that it was only 9:00 in the morning she let out a sigh. Band practice wasn't for another couple of hours. Disregarding that fact she shotgunned her coffee and went back to her room to grab her lyre. It wasn't that she was so eager to practice, but she desired to get out of the house and occupy her mind on something else.

She quickly wrote down a note for Octavia, pinning it on the fridge. She then turned everything off in the house, not bothering to even make breakfast and walked out of the apartment, leaving it unlocked; she was uncertain weather or not Octavia had her key on her. A few minutes after Lyra had left the apartment, Octavia arrived. She entered the apartment taking notice of the unlocked door. She looked around and called out for Lyra a few times to let her know that she was back but the mare was nowhere to be seen.

She let out a sigh of relief knowing that she was alone within the house. But at the same time she wanted to see her again, so as to explain her actions. Octavia locked the front door and headed to her bedroom to get some sleep, she figured with not being able to remember anything from last night that a whole lot of sleeping must not had taken place. She waddled into her room, plopped herself face first on her bed and quickly fell fast asleep.

~~~~

Lyra had finally made her way to the old wooden dome just outside of town and made her solitary entrance into it. She walked down to the stage and pulled up one of the many metal fold out chairs that laid hidden behind the back of the stage. She sat down, pulled out her Lyre and was about to practice when she was stopped by the greetings of the instructor.

"Ahh good morning Ms. Lyra, good to see your eager about tonight's performance... Where is Ms. Octavia?"

"Mornin- Wait what, tonight's performance?" Lyra had been so preoccupied with her troubles to realize that tonight was the first of many performances the orchestra had scheduled this month.

"That's right, we're performing at 7:00 o'clock tonight, sharp. I'm actually pleasantly surprised to see you here so early. That shows some real initiative on your part. But where is Ms. Octavia? Usually its just me and her prepping for the performances this early."

"I uhh, I don't know exactly."

"Oh, I just thought since you two both usually enter together you would know where she was."

"No, I have not seen her since last night."

"I see, well would you mind helping me set up for everyone? I actually just finished prepping the performance hall downtown so my backs killing me. I would really appreciate the help. That is if you don't mind."

"Oh, right sure. Would excuse me for a second first though?"

"Sure thing."

Lyra got up from her seat and made her way to the back of the stage where a public phone was still in service. She walked over to it, put in some bits and made a call to the apartment. Lyra figured if she had forgotten about the performance, then Octavia may very well had forgot as well. The phone rung numerous times until the answering machine came on. She left a message alerting Octavia that there was a performance tonight before hanging up and proceeding to make her way back to the instructor to begin preparations.

Hours passed, and the entire orchestra practice went off without a hitch. That is for the exception of their lead cellist. Throughout practice Lyra made several more calls to the apartment, each one meeting the same response; none. With constant inquiries on the whereabouts of Octavia with no answers, the instructor decided to make the call to bring Gibbons in for tonight's performance as lead cellist.

With the conclusion of practice, all of the mares and colts proceeded to make their way to the performance hall via limo. Including a very worried Lyra.

Meanwhile at the house Octavia had just woken up from her slumber. Wiping her eye's Octavia wobbled out of her room and down to the kitchen. She opened the fridge, completely missing Lyra's note. Octavia looked into the fridges contents and grabbed some milk with some left over stir fry from a few nights before. She turned around and placed the items on the counter and took notice of the red blinking light on the answering machine. It read that 20 new messages were on the machine.

"Holy crap, who called so many times?" Octavia asked aloud as she pressed the replay button.

Twenty new messages received. First message.

"Octavia, it's me. Pick up the phone. Come on... Look we got a performance tonight, if your hearing this get your ass in gear and get down here. Bye."

Octavia swung her head around and gazed at the calendar that hung just above the clock on the wall and saw the date was marked up with red writing, signifying there was indeed a performance tonight. She then looked at the clock, it was a quarter (Fifteen minutes) before 7:00. Her eye's widened as she looked over her body. Still drenched in sweat and wreaking of sex. Her mane was rustled all about and out of place. Without wasting another moment she bolted down the hallway and into the bathroom to wash up, thinking that she could still somehow make it on time. Five minutes later she busted the bathroom door open and sprinted into her room, still drying herself off from the shower.

She grabbed a new bowtie from the rooms closet and quickly hung it on around her neck before grabbing her cello. She swung the instrument over her back and was about to head out the door when she heard the messages still continuing to play. She stopped to listen as she saw the final message was being replayed.

"Octavia... Don't bother showing up. Your seat was given back to Gibbons." Octavia could barely hear Lyra as her voice was as soft as one could get. "I don't care about last night, if you didn't show up today because of it well... I-I gotta go. I'll talk to you later... Bye."

Octavia let her cello drop to the floor as the message finished playing. She didn't know how to feel, so she just sat there on her cello case, silently.

The performance had just finished and the Orchestra received a standing ovation for their performance. The curtains closed, separating the performers from their audience allowing them to begin putting their instruments away. Lyra had just snapped her case shut when a hoof made its way in front of her. She looked up revealing Gibbons who had a rather large grin on his face.

"Look's like your marefriend couldn't handle the heat of being lead cellist." He said as he panted on his right forehoof and began to polish his chest. "Can't say I blame her. Only the truly exceptional can do what I can." He chuckled a bit at the end.

Lyra stood up meeting Gibbons face. Her lyre in her left hoof and a fist in her right. She wound up her right hoof and socked Gibbons right in the snout, knocking him into the rows that sat in front of them. Gibbons collided with numerous music sheet stands and chairs as he tumbled all the way off of the stage. Everyone quickly turned around gazing at Lyra who was just now lowering her fist.

"Lyra what the hell was that about!?" The instructor asked as he walked up to her. Lyra gave no response to him. "I'm sorry Lyra but your gonna have to be suspended until further notice."

"Fine." Lyra lashed back at the instructor as she swung her body around and stormed past everypony as she headed for the back entrance of the performance hall. Now in the alleyway behind the hall she let out a sigh, she couldn't believe she had just punched Gibbons. She tried to push the thought from her mind as she started to make her way home.

"Excuse me. Ma'am?" A blue and white mare holding a bouquet of roses with her hooves tried to flag down Lyra who tried just to power walk her way past the mare. She did not want to be bothered right now. "Hey hold on!" The mare shouted at she caught up with Lyra and was now walking by her side. "Are you in the orchestra?"

"Yeah." Lyra snarled.

"Do you know Octavia?" Lyra halted at the sound of her roommates name. She looked at the mare with a questioning look.

"Yeah I know her... Why?"

"Oh right. Do you know if she's still in there? I wanna surprise her with these." The mare held the bouquet in front of her face to display them to Lyra.

"What, are you an admirer or something?" The mare laughed a bit at the question.

"No nothing like that. I'm her marefriend."

"Marefriend?" Lyra was in utter shock. Who the hell was this mare, and how could she be her marefriend? She had never heard Octavia talk about her before.

"Yeah, she told me she plays for the Royal Canterlot Orchestra. I thought I'd surprise her with these." Vinyl gave a smile to Lyra. Lyra shook her head in a no at Vinyl.

"I don't know if she's still in there." And with that she turned around began to sprint away from Vinyl.

"Hey wait!" Vinyl called out but Lyra ignored her.

She sprinted at full speed down the alleyway, down the streets of the town and all the way to their apartment door. She slammed the door open knocking Octavia out her state, she had not moved an inch since the answering machine had finished playing. Octavia looked back at Lyra who was panting, almost snarling even at her. Lyra stood in the doorway just staring at Octavia with a glare of pure rage before she took the largest inhale she possibly could and yelled out.

"MAREFRIEND!?"

Chapter 4: I...I...L...

So real quick, please read the author's notes before reading this chapter. Thank you. :3

Chapter 4: I...I...L...

"What?" Octavia asked, confused as she stumbled a bit off of her case from Lyras slamming of the door.

"Tonight, a blue and white mare asked if I knew you. She had roses and told me she was your marefriend!" Lyra shouted as she approached Octavia. Octavia titled her head back a bit as Lyra was now right in front of her face.

Instantly she knew who Lyra was talking about. Vinyl must have thought It a nice gesture to give her roses after the performance but she couldn't help wonder why Vinyl claimed that she was her marefriend.

"Lyra you know me, I don't have a maref-" Lyra held up a hoof to Octavia to silence her as she closed her eyes, taking a long inhale then exhale.

"Do. You. Have. A marefriend, or not?"

"No!"

"Don't fucking lie to me TAVI! I met her tonight, so don't you fucking lie to me!" Lyra shouted at Octavia who was taking notice of a tear forming up at her eye.

"I'm not!" Octavia shouted, surpassing Lyras volume as she flailed her hooves above her head. "I don't even know the mare! I only met her last night, that's it!"

That instantly stopped Lyras shouting. Lowering her hooves, Octavia began to pant in order to catch her breath. They both stood there, looking at one another. Lyra looked down at the ground, thinking a bit before raising her head to meet Octavia's eyes once again.

"So, you only met her last night?" Lyra questioned, still uncertain if Octavia was telling the truth.

"Yes. She's not my marefriend. She's just someone I met last night at a bar. She was kind enough to let me spend the night at her place. That's all..." Octavia stated in the calmest voice she could muster. Lyra's heart began to race from Octavia's words.

"Did you...Do anything?" Lyra said in a very low voice, almost a whisper.

"W-What?" Octavia asked a tad shocked that Lyra would even want to know that. "No no, we didnt do anything like that." Octavia said in a panicked tone as she flat out lied to her roommate. Normally Octavia wouldn't lie to Lyra, but judging by her actions she figured it was best not to tell her the real details of last night. For now at least...

Lyra let out a heavy sigh, almost as if she was relieved to hear that Octavia hadn't done any funny business last night. Her body relaxed a bit as she sat down moving her face away from Octavia. Octavia did the same but still remained a little uneasy around her. She gave an uncomfortable look to Lyra as she began scratching the back of her head.

"Uhh look Lyra, about the other night..." Octavia started up but stopped herself. She was still trying to gather her courage to tell her why she acted the way she did. Not wanting her to continue, Lyra raised her hoof to silence Octavia.

"Me first." Octavia with her thunder stolen away from her nodded her head. "I was up all night last night." Lyra began as their phone started to ring from an incoming call. Lyra didn't pay any attention to the rings. Nor Octavia for that matter, she was too focused on Lyras next words. "I felt bad for kicking you out with nowhere to go, heck I didn't even give you a chance to explain yourself." The phone continued to ring. "And I think I know why you did what you did." lyras cheeks became red at the end of her sentence.

"You do?"

"Yeah, and the truth is... I-" Lyra was interrupted from continuing her sentence when the answering machine began to record the message of whoever was calling them. Both Tavi and Lyra turned to look to the answering machine to hear who it was.

Hi you've reached Lyra and Octavia, we're not in right now. Please leave your name, number and your message.

Hey babe, it's Vinyl... I was just thinking about all the things we did last night. It was soooo much fun. I had never felt so good before in my life! The things you could do with your tongue... Oh my." You could hear her giggle a bit in between her sentences. "I was wondering if you'd wanna go for round two tonight at my place after the performance tonight, but I didn't see you, so I couldn't surprise you with some flowers I bought ya." There was a momentary pause. "Anyways, call me." The message stopped recording as Vinyl hung up her side of the line.

Octavia's head sunk into her torso some. She couldn't believe the timing of the call... She couldn't believe that Vinyl had somehow managed to get her number! She closed her eyes and turned to face Lyra. When she opened her eyes, she saw a Lyra with tears streaking down her cheeks, bottom lip quivering and ears folded back.

"I can't believe you." Lyra said in a scornful mutter.

"Lyra it's not what it sounds like..."

"Then what does it sound like Tavi!? Because it sound's like you lied to me!" Lyra smeared the tears on her face as she tried to wipe them away. "God, I can't believe how stupid I am, of course your lied to me!" Lyra got up and began to storm her way past Octavia and head towards her room.

"Wait! Lyra! Let me explain!" Octavia said as she reached out to grab Lyra by her tail. Lyra quickly turned around, breaking Octavia's hold on her tail.

"Explain!? Explain what?!" Lyra came closer to Octavia, her voice raised to the highest volume she could possibly make.

"Please, you don't understand." Octavia was becoming more and more desperate as she continued to try to explain herself. Lyra stood there, waiting to hear what Octavia had to say but she was frozen stiff. Scoffing at Octavia, Lyra turned her back to Octavia and headed down the hallway once more. Octavia had become so flustered, so distraught, she blurted out the only thing she could think of to make Lyra stop.

"I love you!" Instantly Octavia covered her mouth with both her hooves as her ears folded back and her eyes became beaded. It had worked. Lyra ceased her exit, just a few feet from her room.

The room became tense as Octavia looked over at Lyra, wishing she could take that sentence back. Octavia stood there studying everything about Lyra, looking for any kind of response from her; be it her body or her words. Lyra slowly turned her head back to Octavia, her gaze deadlocked on the floor.

"What?" She asked as if Octavia had said it in some foreign language.

Cringing her shoulders up a bit she repeated herself. "I-I, love you..." Lyra lifted her gaze from the floor to meet Octavia's eyes. lyra slowly shook her head back and forth at Octavia.

"I don't..." And with that she went into her room, slamming her door.

A sound of glass shattering could be heard from Octavia's chest. She plopped herself onto the floor and buried her face in the rug. She could hear Lyra cursing and talking to herself within her room as she quietly sobbed into the carpet. She had done it. She had said those words and she hated herself for it.

A while passed as Octavia continued to bawl her eyes out into the carpet until she heard a series of knocks coming from the front door. She lifted her face up and thought for a moment to act as if she wasn't home but decided not to do so. She got up and made herself as presentable as possible, slicking her mane into place and wiping the tears from her eyes before opening the door, revealing much to her surprise, the orchestra instructor. The second to last pony she wanted to see right now.

"Oh, hi Octavia. Is Lyra home?" Octavia looked behind her shoulder to Lyra's room then shook her head.

"She, she's not home yet." Octavia said as she sniffled a bit, still half teary eyed.

"I see. ." He said to himself. "Well would you mind coming with me to the café just down the street? There's a few things I need to discuss with you." Octavia wasn't particularly fond of going down there with him right now, but she figured with her missing both practice and the performance that she owed it to him.

"Oh, yeah..." Octavia said as she wiped another tear that was forming. "Just let me get some bits."

"No need" The instructor waved his hoof to Octavia. "My treat, come on."

Gathering her keys the two left the apartment and headed down to the local café at the end of the block Octavia lived on. Neither of them spoke to each other as they strolled down the sidewalk. Octavia embraced the silence, she wasn't in a real talkative mood at the moment.

During their walk Octavia began to wonder as to why the Instructor had shown up at her front door. Typically he would just give a call whenever he needed to discuss something with them. Maybe he was just being friendly? Maybe he wanted some insight as to why she had missed today. But Octavia kept thinking of the worst case scenario; That he was going to be kicking her out of the orchestra. The perfect end to a perfect day she thought...

They finally arrived at the café. Octavia got two seats out in the patio section while the instructor got the coffee. Octavia gazed up at the stars, letting her mind drift wherever it pleased, not caring to focus on anything. She just felt, out of it. When she looked back down she saw the instructor returning, two cups in hoof as he sat down. He passed a drink over to Octavia and took a sip out of his before starting up.

"So... We got a problem here."

Octavia finally snapped herself out of state of shock to respond. "No we don't. I'm sorry about missing the performance tonight. It won't happen again." Octavia's words lacked any emotion at all. Almost as if she didn't care that he was about to possibly remove her from the orchestra. The instructor looked a tad confused at Octavia's response.

"Ha, you think I'm here to talk about you missing tonight?" He smirked at Octavia's innocence, while Octavia now had the expression of confusion. "No I know your a good person, so I wont bother with asking why you missed it. Just see that it never happens again okay?"

"Uhh Okay."

"I'm here to talk about a different matter."

"What matter exactly?"

"Well, since Lyra wasn't home yet I assume you don't know. After the performance Lyra was approached by Gibbons. Words were exchanged. None of which I heard, but after they were spoken Lyra got up and punched Gibbons in the snout. He fell down row after row into multiple chairs and instruments until he finally fell off the stage." Octavia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Lyra had never been a one for violence, even if she hated Gibbons as much as she did. "I approached her, told her she was suspended until further notice and after I said that she just barged out of the concert hall."

"Okay so she punched him. What does that have to do with me?"

"Well, it involves you because I need your help. Both in solving and resolving this." The instructor leaned back in his chair a bit before restarting. "After she left I went over to check on Gibbons who was already being treated. When I arrived I saw his left hoof had already been bandaged up. Apparently it broke from the tumble he took. That being the case, Gibbons made mention to me that he is going to sue Lyra for assault, along with pain and suffering."

He took a moment to take another sip from his coffee before continuing. "With the possibility of Lyra being sued, I've had to let her go... For now. Legal issues and what not, it's nothing personal." He leaned forward to put more emphasis on his next words. "Now, that you know I need you to tell me why she did what she did." Octavia looked down at her cup.

"I don't know why she did."

"No idea? Not one?" Octavia was silent. "Please Octavia I need your help here."

"I can't say why she would punch him, I honestly don't know."

"Well that's a shame."

"Sorry."

"You didn't let me finish my sentence Octavia. It's a shame alright. A shame that your such a bad liar." Octavia snapped her head back up at him, her mouth slightly agape. "Oh don't act so surprised. Anyone could tell from the tear stains under your eyes that something is going on... That and I could hear Lyra cursing from the inside of her room once you opened the door. So, you want to talk to me? Or am I going to have to get this information from Lyra?"

Octavia gave a little chuckle as she held her cup up to her mouth. "Am I that easy to read?" She took a quick sip and set the drink down on the table. She sighed heavily before beginning; she was growing rather tired of explaining her actions from the previous night. "The other night I did something that got me kicked out of the house..."

Octavia explained the whole ordeal in extensive detail. Every little thing she could think of telling him she did.

"And that's what happened... When she came home she started yelling to me about having a marefriend. Then I said... I loved her."

The instructor began to laugh hysterically as Octavia finished her story. He even slapped his knee a couple of times before calming himself down.

"And just what the hell is so funny!?" Octavia asked, upset that he was laughing at her.

"Oh nothing, I'm sorry Octavia. I'm not laughing at the situation. I'm laughing at how naive you are."

"What?"

The instructor cleared his throat of any chuckles he still had and leaned forward to Octavia. "You've had relationships before right?"

"Y-yeah, a few stallions but no mares or anything like that."

"Uh huh and was Lyra ever mad you at you back then?"

"Well no."

"So what makes this time any different?"

"I don't know. Because I kissed her maybe?"

"Oh come on Octavia don't be so stupid, she obviously cares very deeply for you. Why else would she get so upset with you having one. That's if you had one... Did this thought never occur to you?" It in fact had not occurred to her.

"Did you not just listen to me explain everything? She said she doesn't love me." Octavia whimpered a bit.

"She said that because she's hurt. If you had explained things to her like you did for me she would have understood. Well... On second thought she may have been pissed about you having sex with a stranger but otherwise I think she would have forgiven you."

"No, I don't think she will..." Octavia put her elbows on the table and began to cry some more into her hooves. She tried her best to stop herself but she couldn't.

"Hey hey, no crying now." The instructor said as he moved his chair to Octavia's side and wrapped his hoof around her, comforting her. He grabbed one of her hooves away from her face and patted it a few times before continuing. "Listen to me Octavia. I've known you girls for almost a year now, Lyra isn't the type of mare who hates anypony, especially you. I know it may seem that she does right now but believe me that's not the case. Just give her some time, then explain to her what really happened. She'll forgive you, trust me."

Octavia wiped her tears from her eyes and looked up at the instructor.

"R-Really?" She sniffled a bit at him.

"Yeah, I'm certain of it." She gave the instructor a small smile.

That one sentence was exactly what she needed. It made her hopeful and somewhat happy again. The instructor then gave her a quick hug. He then went to remove his hooves from her but Octavia stopped him. She wanted to be held a bit longer. After a minute or two of continues hugging she let go of him, and gave him a larger smile than the previous one.

"Feeling better now?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"Don't mention it." The instructor gave a smile back to Octavia. He was glad he could make her feel better.

Both of them relaxed as they enjoyed each other's company. The instructor simply sat there while Octavia relished in the very thought that Lyra cared for her. The lovely moment was broken when the instructor cleared his throat to begin talking.

"Thank you for the information Octavia that helps me a great deal with comprehending this situation."

"Your welcome."

"Well..." The instructor drawled out as he sat up to stretch. "I best be heading home now... I'll give a talk to Gibbons tonight, see if I can't get him to drop the charges on Lyra. Once that's done Lyra can come back and play for the orchestra." The instructor looked at his watch then finished off the rest of his coffee with a quick gulp. "I'll give you a call once I know that they've been dropped. Sound good?"

"Yeah sounds good, and thanks sir..."

"Your quite welcome. I'll see you first thing in the morning for practice then." The instructor turned around and took a step or two before he turned back to Octavia who was getting up to make her exit as well. "One more thing Octavia... Good luck with Lyra."

Octavia gave him a look of confidence in response and with that they both went their separate ways.

Author's Notes:

Fair warning here, there is no clop, this is a filler chapter. I will make it up to you guys though! Believe me, what is planned for the next chapter is quite 'juicy'.

So I just want to apologize for the delay on this chapter post. I know its a lot shorter than the other chapters its just that me and my friend ran into some huge writers block when writing it, thus taking a bit longer for it to be written :\

On a side note however, I now have an editor, Woot! He's/She's going to edit the next chapter of the story. The only reason he/she didn't edit this one was because I didn't want you guys to wait too long for an update.

On a side side note I hope you all enjoy this chapter. :3

Chapter 5: Mulligan

Chapter 5: Mulligan

The Instructor and Octavia said their goodbye's to one another and went on their separate ways home. The instructor, home to where his restless kids and loving wife awaited for him to return. Eager to hear all the details of tonight's performance.

An as for Octavia, she too went home. She was actually overjoyed at the mere idea of heading home to the mare she loved. Especially with the advice the Instructor had just given her. The fact that she now knew that Lyra had rather deep feelings for her sent Octavia's heart racing and filled her stomach with butterflies. Although you wouldn't be able to read her true feelings as she headed home in a smooth and even pace while her face retained a warm smile and nothing more.

But all those warm and fuzzy feeling changed once her walk was over and she was sitting right in front of their white apartment door. Joy, hope, excitement, love, all those things that had filled within Octavia were flushed out in an instant and replaced with fear, remorse, guilt, sorrow, and depression now that the moment was now at hoof.

Her grey coat turned a shade lighter as her forehead broke out in a cold sweat. Her legs began to quiver and her stomach became queasy. Her whole body was shot including her mind which had begun replaying the spat the two mares had had a little while ago. The way Lyra looked... The hate and pain she held within her eye's as she looked upon Octavia and said those words that broke Octavia's heart in two. The pain still very much fresh in Octavia's mind caused her to whimper as she replayed the evenings event.

Octavia took a gulp as she rebuilt her courage up again. She stood up, regained her posture and reached for the doorknob, only to stop a few inches from it. Her hoof remained motionless in the air as she started down the doorknob as her whole body grew cold again. With her courage faded once more she plopped herself down and resumed staring at the door.

"What if she's still mad at me? What if Lyra doesn't want to see me... What if the Instructor is wrong and she really doesn't love me!" Octavia thought to herself.

"Sweet Luna your an idiot! Octavia thought, lashing back at herself.. How can you be such a wuss?!"

"I'm not! I just don't want to screw this up again..."

"Well if you're not scared, then why are sitting out here like a frightened filly when the love of our life is inside, waiting for us."

"Because..."

"Because why? What reason could you possibly have to sit out here?"

"I just..."

"Just what? Scared? Grow up."

"No..."

"Then what? If you're not scared why are we still out here and not embracing her?"

"I'M TERRIFIED ALRIGHT! Scared doesn't began to express how I feel... This is our last chance, no more second chances, no more mulligans, this is the endgame... If we screw this up now, that's it. We loose her forever."

"All the more reason to go in. Obviously we're not going to get anywhere just sitting out here in the cold while she's in there."

"What am I going to say?"

"Well, let's try with sorry for starters."

"But what if we mess this up?"

"Come on, it's Lyra. We wont mess this up."

"But-"

"Stop second guessing yourself and just do it!"

"I CAN'T!"

"DO IT!"

"AAAAHHHHHHH!!!" Octavia screamed aloud as she gripped her head with both hooves, her eye's clenched shut. Her inner argument with herself had finally sent her over the edge into a flustered fit.

"STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!" Octavia continued to scream aloud as she pounded her head repeatedly against the apartments door. She was an emotional mess, her innards were twisting all around inside as she continued to release the tension that had been building up inside of her the only way that seemed fit at the moment, screaming. Octavia raised her head from the door and began to thrust her head forward to make contact with it again when suddenly the door flung wide open, causing all of Octavia's force that was originally designated for the door to reroute its course to the wooden floor of the apartment. Instantly Octavia blacked out from the contact with the hard surface.

A Little While Later

"Tavi, you okay? Hello?" Octavia could hear a fuzzy alarmed voice ringing in her ears as she began to regain consciousness. "Come on Tavi wake up." The same voice could be heard, this time sounding more alarming than before.

A few seconds passed before she heard a clacking of two hooves. Octavia became more conscious as she heard the hooves another time. Her eye's still remained shut as Octavia let out a pained groan as one of hooves slightly shuffled on her chest.

"Oh thank Celestia." The voice said as it exhaled a nervous chuckle. There was a sniffle and a throat clearing before the voice was heard again. "Come on Tavi, wake up." The voice had become eased and relaxed.

Octavia could feel a hoof petting her hair and eventually her forehead. It was calming until the hoof rubbed over the fresh bump Octavia had received from her tumble a few moments again. Instantly Octavia sprung up, fully awake and head throbbing with pain. She hissed at the displeasure as she reached her hoof up to touch her head.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you." The voice said, only this time it wasn't fuzzy. It was crystal clear in Octavia's ears that it was Lyra. Forgetting about her pain for a second she lowered her hoof as swung her head back around to see Lyra sitting there in front of her in her lavender colored robe.

"Lyra? Wait, what's going on? Why am I on the couch... I'm on the couch... I'm inside." Octavia said now realizing that she was indeed inside.

"Well yeah, I couldn't leave you there on the floor, blacked out and what not... Now lay down, you took a nasty fall." Lyra demanded as she put both her hooves on Octavia and forced her roommate down back onto the couch where a pillow laid awaiting Octavia's aching head.

"But But But." Octavia began to chant hysterically as she tried to lift herself up again.

"Shh, down." Lyra said as she pushed her back down and pulled the blanket that had draped down to her waist over her once more.

This time Octavia did as Lyra said and laid her head back down on the pillow, all the while watching Lyra with great focus. Lyra walked over to the open section of the couch above Octavia's head and took a seat down herself before starting up again.

"What in Equestria were do you doing out there?"

"Uhh, I don't honestly know..." Octavia said with pure innocence, she in fact had her full memory still. However Octavia thought that perhaps if she were to play dumb she would never have to live with her stupidity.

"Uh, your hopeless.." Lyra said as she exhaled a sigh at the end of her sentence. Lyra slouched her posture a bit as she began fiddling with her hooves. The two remained in silence as Octavia laid there staring at Lyra from her position while Lyra looked at her hooves on her lap until she spoke up. "So you feeling okay then?"

"Yeah... Besides a little bit of a sting from the bump I'm okay. How did I injure myself anyways?" Continuing her lie to Lyra.

"I don't know, you just came flying through the door and hit your head on the floor." Lyra said very sharp and bluntly as she once again exhaled a sigh at the end of her sentence. Lyra patted her hooves on her lap as she leaned forward of the couch to signify the she was done talking. "Well, if your feeling okay then I'll be going to bed now." Lyra started walking past Octavia towards her room.

"Wait Lyra!" Octavia said as she jerked herself up to a sitting position to talk to Lyra, completely ignoring the sting from her forehead. Lyra stopped and stood there, stiller than stone. Octavia's heart began to pump erratically as she looked to Lyra. Her whole coat was becoming drenched from a cold sweat.

"What." Lyra asked as she turned her head back towards Octavia, keeping her eyes glued to the ground, just like before when Octavia confessed her love to her.

The two stood there for an eternity, and Octavia could feel the weight of each second passing by piling up on top of her; and with each moment that passed she could feel her chance slipping more and more. Octavia took a sharp inhale and opened her mouth as to speak but no words made their way out. Her mind and body had become two separate entities. While her mind was swimming with ideas, sentences and actions that could get Lyra to be hers, her body however was a vessel deprived of any and all actions. After a little while more Lyra shook her head and blew her hair from her eyes before turning her head back around to head down to her room.

"Do something idiot! Your blowing it!"

"I'M AN IDIOT!" Octavia involuntarily shouted aloud to Lyra. Lyra immediately stopped in her place.

"What?" Lyra turned her head again but this time made eye contact with Octavia instead of with the ground.

"Not exactly what I had planned... But role with it anyways.

"I am a stupid, thoughtless, selfish idiot." Lyra now had fully turned her body to face Octavia and had a surprised, confused look on her. "For what I did on your bed, for what I did to you; forcing myself upon you... Missing the performance, and then hurting you the way I did. I can't take any of that back, as much as I wish I could, I can't." Lyra took a step towards Octavia as she continued talking. "I could simply say an apology but that wouldn't be justice to what I truly want to say to you." Octavia's eyes began to tear up some as she grew more emotional on her apology. Lyra noticed Octavia's eyes watering up causing her blush some herself.

"What are you getting at Tavi?"

Octavia hesitated for a moment before responding. "I-I don't know exactly."

"You don't know?" Lyra's expression of confusion increased dramatically as she began squinting her eyes trying to comprehend what her roommate was trying to say to her.

"No, wait I do.. It's just, GAHHH!" Octavia flailed her hooves up and pounded them back onto her lap. "I know what I want to say, I just don't know how to say it."

"Just say it." Lyra took another step towards Octavia.

"Okay." Octavia took a large breathe to ease her nerves before starting up again. " I'm not sorry.."

"Excuse me?" Lyra's expression instantly changed from confusion to anger.

"I'm not sorry for the things I've done these past few days." Octavia stated as she slowly got up from the couch, wobbling a bit as she put all four of her hooves onto the floor.

"But you just said you were before." Lyra said.

"I know I had said sorry before. And although I do feel guilty and slightly ashamed, I am not sorry anymore." Octavia exclaimed in a scared tone as she could see Lyra's expression continue to change. "I admit I know what I did was wrong and I shouldn't have done it. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted you to be with me while I was in your room. I wanted to kiss you while you were in mine, and I wanted you to know I love you." Lyra looked away to the ground avoiding her eye contact with Octavia again.

"You don't love me..." Lyra muttered under her breath.

"That's not true Lyra, and you know that! If it weren't true then why would I be telling you this right now?"

"If that were true then why'd you sleep with some hussy!" Lyra snapped back at Tavi showing Octavia her tears.

"Because I was devastated!" Octavia planted a hoof firmly on the floor adding extra emphasis on her words. "I was just thrown out of my house by not only my best friend but the mare I love on top of that!"

"So what?! You go out and flaunt your flank around town until you got somepony to have sex with you?!"

"No! Yes! I mean, that's not how it happened! I was heartbroken, with nowhere to go. I even contemplated sleeping in the park for Luna sake! That was until I saw a bar open..."

"Oh that figures, you got drunk off your ass again!"

"I didn't plan to drink at first, honest!" Octavia protested as she grew closer to Lyra.

"Save your breath Octavia, we're done here. I'm going to be-" Lyra's sentence was cut short as Octavia's hoof made contact with her face.

"No! You are not going to walk away from this!" Octavia demanded as Lyra turned her head back to face Octavia. Her expression was that of pure shock as her mouth hung agape. She raised her hoof to the spot that Octavia had hit and did nothing more. "I didn't know what I was doing that night... I had been thinking about how things were left unresolved between us, and it frustrated me to no end. So much so I bursted out and ended up hitting some mare in the snout... Vinyl." Lyra continued to stand there motionless as Octavia continued her explanation of the events that transpired that evening. "She obviously could sense something was up with me, and lent me her ear so that I could vent my feelings. We began to drink some as the time passed by. With what was originally one drink turned into five then ten.. Before I knew it I was indeed flaunting my flank at her."

Octavia took a second to catch her breath. She then plopped herself down on the ground and hung her head down low as it could go before hitting the ground.

"And we had relations... In the bathroom of the bar. And I think her house, maybe." Octavia mumbled, she was so ashamed of herself. Not only for her actions with Vinyl but the fact that she lied before about them having relations, although Vinyl's call earlier pretty much cleared that up for Lyra earlier.

Octavia clenched her eye's shut, embracing to be chewed out from Lyra but the exact opposite happened. Rather than a hurt and scornful voice coming from Lyra a gentle, weak voice muttered from her breath; simply asking "why?"

"Why what?" Octavia lifted her head back up and un-clenched her eyes to look upon Lyra again.

"Why are you telling me this now?" Lyra asked as she put her hoof down from her cheek.

"Because the first time I told you this I tried lying to you. I know it was stupid but I figured with how emotional you were that the truth may not be the best thing at that exact moment. But now I know that's not how it should have gone down, I should have been straight up honest with you. Because I know you love me as much as I love you, and you would have forgiven me no matter what. You do love me, don't you?" Octavia asked with a voice as fragile as glass.

"I don't know Octavia. You hurt me... So much." Lyra looked down to the floor once more.

"You know I never meant to hurt you, I never want to hurt you." Lyra gave no response to the grey mare as the two stood there in silence. With each passing second Octavia could feel her already delicate heart begin to crack again from receiving no response from Lyra. After a minute or two had passed Octavia felt she had gotten her answer. "I never meant to hurt you Lyra... Just know that." With that Octavia walked away from Lyra and curled back onto the couch facing away from her as she began to let the tears that she had been building up out onto the couch.

Lyra could feel her heart sink in her chest as she stood there watching Octavia bawl her eyes out onto the couch. She raised her hoof onto her cheek once more to feel the spot that was no longer stinging from Octavia's slap. Lyra rubbed her cheek some as she turned her head to face the phone where she could see the new message from Vinyl still being shown on the answering machine.Taking all things into consideration Lyra decided to take action. Putting her hoof back onto the ground Lyra puffed out a quick exhale as she slowly made her way over to Octavia who was oblivious to Lyra's presence.

"Do you really love me?" Lyra said as she stood above Octavia. Octavia's ears perked up instantly as she ceased her crying. Octavia then raised herself up and turned around to face the mint mare.

"With all my heart." Octavia gulped at how corny her sentence sounded. She couldn't believe that her mind couldn't come up with something better but it would have to do.

Lyra didn't say a word to her. The two just looked into each other's eyes until Lyra put one hoof onto Octavia's shoulder and her other one behind Tavi's head. Lyra then jerked Tavi's head towards hers and embraced her in what would be their first true kiss. Octavia's eye's instantly went wide as her pupils became the size of pebbles. Pure shock, and joy coursed throughout her entire being as she let Lyra's tongue invade her mouth.

Closing her eye's, Octavia wrapped her hooves around her friend, her mare. Lolling her head back, Octavia began to pull Lyra's entire body back with her onto the couch. Never once breaking the kiss Lyra had gotten on top of her while Octavia rested her head on a nearby pillow as she toiled with Lyra's hair. With a heavy heart Lyra broke their kiss and rolled to the inner side of the couch to lay side by side with her Tavi.

"Lyra I-" Octavia tried to blurt something out in response but was stopped by Lyra's hoof. Not resisting Octavia remained silent as Lyra moved down and snuggled into Octavia's neck.

"I do love you Octavia.I've loved you since we were fillies,playing our small instruments and thinking big dreams. The entire time I wanted to be closer to you, like we are now. But I couldn't. How could I? Since I didn't know if you felt the same way about me, and when you finally kissed me I-I paniced. I honestly had no idea how to respond to your feelings because I couldn't understand how to respond to my own. And when I finally did have a response for you, it seemed like it had come to little too late with this whole Vinyl scenario. It was as if my whole world had been shattered around me in an instant. And even though I'm still hurt, I m willing to give us a shot." Lyra said as she clenched Octavia closer to her chest. She could hear Tavi's heart beat erratically causing Lyra to giggle at how nervous she is.

"So do you forgive me then?" Octavia asked.

"Yes, I'll forgive you... Just make sure it doesn't happen again. Got that buster!?" Lyra said with a playful grin and tone as she nudged Tavi in the shoulder with her hoof. Setting her head back down, Lyra closed her eye's, and began resting her head on Tavi's chest.

"Thank you." Octavia let out a sigh of relief as she heard that she was forgiven.

The two laid there embracing each other, never wanting the moment to end. Especially for Octavia. The advice the Instructor had given her had worked, Lyra truly did love her and she was relishing every moment the two were now sharing. It was as if the gods themselves had made this perfect moment in time, where all seemed right with the world and nothing could go wrong. This was it, this was all that mattered, no job, no mortgage, just tonight.

"Can we just stay out here tonight?" Lyra asked as she yawned a bit at the end of her sentence.

"Of course we can."

Although in the back of Octavia's mind her problems still remained ever present. She would have to ensure that Vinyl never bothered the two of them again to allow their relationship to be. But that problem would have to wait for another day. Tonight is about her, and her marefriend; Lyra.

Author's Notes:

Okay so wow, like what? three, four months since my last update? MAN I'M AWFUL! But! I do have a good reason for that. I kind of got burned out on MLP on all honesty. With work and all my other real life responsibilities I just didn't have time for anything MLP and when I finally did... Well it didn't have any appeal to me. So I pretty much stopped logging onto anything related to this fanbase or any episodes in general.

That was until I saw "Double Rainboom" a fan made episode of MLP. And I got re-inspired to make fics. So I do plan to finish this fic up and start work on other idea's that I have been getting in my head lately.

So in short, I stopped everything MLP for a while and now I'm back with a vengeance! So I hope you enjoy this chapter, I really enjoyed typing it and I hope to see all of your responses to it.

Also the next chapter will come with a URL to my new fic that I'm currently working on. Guess who it's starring? Yup Vinyl, Lyra, and Octavia! GOD I'M ORIGINAL :P I want to show you guys the story first hand before I upload so I can get some much needed feedback until I get back into the groove of things.

Chapter 6: The Collapse Part 1

Chapter 6: The Collapse Part 1

A rustle could be heard from the couch as Lyra lifted herself up into an upright sitting position. She rubbed her eye's knocking out the mornings sand; clearing her vision.

The mornings first light was just now protruding into the living room of their apartment through the blinds.

Looking over her shoulder she saw Octavia still lying there, sound asleep. She had already replaced Lyra's missing presence with a nearby pillow and began to lightly squeeze it. A small trail of drool was slipping down the side of Octavia's mouth as delicate snores emanated from her. Giving a low chuckle, Lyra leaned over and wiped the drool away from Octavia's mouth before giving her marefriend a quick peck on the forehead.

With a stretch followed by a yawn, Lyra got up from the couch and headed down the hallway of the apartment to the bathroom. She closed the door before turning around to start up her shower. After checking the temperature, the mint mare got in to wash up and begin her day.

After cleaning herself up for the day ahead, she exited out of the shower, closely being followed by a cloud of steam. Wiping the condensation that had gathered on the mirror, she started to style her hair into its natural, or rather her typical style. With a few puffs of perfume, she made her way out of the bathroom; still drying herself off. She walked into the kitchen and tossed a few scoops of grounded coffee beans into the machine as to brew a fresh pot.

After the machine was set to auto-brew, Lyra made her way back to the bathroom and tossed the towel back on the rack before heading to her room.

Once inside, Lyra began rummaging through the concentrated mess that had formed in her room. After a few minutes of searching, she finally found her saddlebags laced with a white floral design on the side. Lyra tossed the bags over her back and strapped it on tightly. After her bags were securely fastened to her sides, she walked over to her bed and placed her hoof underneath it. She slid her hoof back and forth until her ears perked up and she lifted her hoof from underneath, holding a white apron in it. She stuffed the apron in her bag as she made her exit out of her room, heading back towards the kitchen.

Reaching for one of the top cupboards, Lyra pulled out two porcelain mugs and set them on the counter top, pouring the fresh brew into both of the mugs. Plopping a few sugarcube's into each one, along with some cream into just one of them. Octavia would always take her coffee with lots of cream and lots of sugar, she felt it tasted too bitter otherwise. Levitating the two mugs, Lyra walked into the living room and placed both of them on the coasters that laid on top of their coffee table.

Lyra sat back onto the couch and bent over, brushing the hair out of Octavia's face and giving her a light peck once more. " It's time to wake up Tavi." Lyra said in a very soft and delicate voice as she nudged the unconscious mares shoulder.

The only response Lyra received was a disgruntled moan from Octavia as she tightened the squeeze she had on the makeshift Lyra pillow. Her eyes clenched tightly and her nose scrunched up a bit, she clearly did not want to be woken up. Leaning back up to an upright position Lyra gave a pouted face at Octavia's stubborn behavior.

With a sly smile, Lyra leaned back down to Octavia's level. Clearing her throat, and taking a large inhale she positioned herself at the base of the grey mare's ear. "Holy crap, Octavia wake up! We're late for tonight's performance!" Lyra belted out.

Octavia instantly jumped up from her prone position, flailing her hooves all around trying to gain some form of balance from her sudden jump. Not being able to save herself, Octavia fell off the edge of the bed onto the floor below with a loud thud. She hissed at the pain coming from her head as she rubbed the still tender area. Looking up she could see Lyra practically busting a gut as she continued to laugh at Octavia who was now putting the pieces together of what had just occurred.

"What the hell was that for Lyra?" Octavia said in annoyed tone.

Halting her laughing fit, Lyra wiped a tear forming at one of her eyes to look at her friend sprawled out on the floor. She paused for a moment, she could tell her the truth and the simple answer. That she made coffee for the two of them and she was being stubborn again and not waking up, but instead Lyra decided to see how far she could go to mess with Tavi.

Slowly slinking downwards, Lyra slid off of the couch and started to crawl towards Octavia. Her eyes half lidded.

"Well, I've been feeling a little frisky this morning, so I'd thought I would give you a little morning surprise." Lyra said in the most seductive voice she could muster, trying all the while not to show a smile. Octavia's cheeks instantly turned a bright hue of pink as she shifted her eyes away.

Still on her knees, Lyra inched ever closer to Octavia. Slowly trailing up her body, brushing her chest against Tavi's fur until her face was an inch or so away from the blushing mares face. " So I was naughty this morning..." Lyra paused her sentence to glide a hoof up Octavia's side and place it under her chin. She turned Octavia's face to face her and gave her a passionate kiss.

Still trying to keep up the charade, Lyra let loose a moan and in turn, so did Octavia. Breaking the kiss, Lyra leaned her head over Octavia's shoulder and cooed into her ear. "So naughty in fact... That I made us coffee." Lyra jerked her head back and got off of Octavia and proceeded to make her way back up to the couch. " So wake your lazy butt up already."

"W-What?" Octavia had a look on her face that resembled that of an infants when they're told that they cant have a new toy. Lyra now began to snicker at Octavia, her devious prank worked flawlessly.

"You really need to see your face right now. Ha!"

Plopping her head back onto the floor, Octavia let out a pouted sigh. "That wasn't nice Lyra! God..." Blowing her bangs out from her eyes, Octavia muttered "Freaking tease..."

"Oh don't be like that, you know very well I got work every Monday through Thursday. I wouldn't have time for something like that." Lyra leaned back down to Octavia and gave her marefriend another passionate kiss. This time lasting a bit longer than the previous one. "Not that I wouldn't mind it."

"But you won't..." Octavia gave another sigh.

"Nope, not today at least." Lyra said with a sly tone. Getting up the mint mare started to walk to their front door. "I gotta head on over to work." Lyra said as she took a quick glance at the clock on the wall. "Wake your lazy behind up and get to band practice on time today. I'll see you later tonight after work okay?"

"Alright. I'll be there."

"See to it that you are. Anyways, I made some coffee for ya, it's on the table right there." Lyra opened the door and stepped outside the door. Poking her head back into the apartment just before it closed. "Maybe we'll continue where we left off later tonight..."

Octavia's perked up a bit as she raised herself onto her haunches. She gave a warm smile to her. "That sounds like a plan. Oh, and say hello to Roseluck for me will you?"

"Gotcha. Oh, and Octavia?"

"Hmm?"

"Love you." Lyra said bashfully.

Octavia blinked a few times in response. A tad bit shocked to hear Lyra say those words. Not that she hadn't heard them before, but this time they just seemed... Genuine. "Love you too."

~~~~

Lyra walked down the streets of Canterlot at a steady, even pace. The sun was just now starting to seep through the alleyways of the tall buildings that stood on both sides of any and all streets in the city. The early commuters were beginning to exit their houses and apartments to make their way to work to begin another daily grind to bring home the bread. She took a heavy, relaxing sigh as she basked in the cool crisp air of the morning. This was the time of day that she enjoyed, 'the magic hour' she would call it. That tiny moment of time that wasn't quite day and yet not quite night.

As she continued down the now bustling streets of Canterlot, Lyra made a left turn at the intersection of Main Street to Market Blvd. Now on Market, she reached into her bags and pulled out the white apron and begun to wrap it around the front of her. The apron had stitching's that read "Roselucks A Dozen Bouquet Flower Shop." in white and red lacing.

A few months back Lyra had fallen on tough times. Even though she had a roommate that shared half the rent with her, and a great paying job, she was still having a difficult time making ends meet. Canterlot, although the place she had always wanted to and dreamed about living in, was no cheap town to make your life in.

If she didn't find a way to increase her income soon, Lyra would have to do the unthinkable and leave Canterlot, her dreams, and Octavia. The very thought weighed very heavily on mares mind. So much so that she begun to sleep less and less. Some nights she wouldn't even go to bed, she would just lay there staring at the ceiling. That was the case up until during one of the celebrations after a successful and stupendous performance at that, with the orchestra.

Everyone had chosen to go to some hole in the wall bar just down the street from the performance hall, the atmosphere there stunk right out loud, but they were there for the booze not the atmosphere. Everyone but Gibbons was having a grand old time, laughing, drinking and telling stories or jokes with one another. Lyra was talking with Clef, another string player when Octavia nudged her to get her attention.

"Hmm?" Lyra asked, turning her attention away from Clef.

"Hey Lyra, correct me if I'm wrong. But isn't that Roseluck sitting over there at the bar?"

"Huh? Where?" Lyra asked as she squinted her eyes, scanning for the mare.

"Right there." Octavia extended her hoof pointing in a general direction. "Between that red stallion and yellow mare."

"Oh my Luna, you're right!" Lyra placed her hooves on the table and pushed herself from her seat. "Imma go say hi, you wanna come along?" She asked as she paced by Octavia.

"No, I'm good. Thanks though." Octavia replied before beginning to nurse her drink some more.

"Alright then, I'll tell her you said hi anyways."

Lyra made her way past the crowd of various patrons, along with a few waiters and bust-boy's to the bar. When she finally arrived she gave a light shoulder tap on her old friends shoulder before speaking.

"Excuse me ma'am, but I'm going to need to see a photo I.D." Lyra said in the most masculine tone she could imitate.

Giving a sigh and head roll, Roseluck slowly turned around. "Look, I've already been carded by the bartender. I don't think you have to see it ag- Holy crap! Lyra!" Her expression changed from being annoyed to one of shock and joy.

"Rosie!" Lyra matched her volume and extended her hooves for a friendly hug. Her gesture was received instantly as Rose hugged her right back in a tight squeeze.

"What the hell are you doing here!?" Rose leaned back away from the hug and asked.

"Ahh, I'm just celebrating a good performance tonight with the band." Lyra stated as she took the now empty seat next to Rose. "Oh, Octavia says hi by the way."

"Octavia? Where is she?"

"Oh she's over there... Hiding."

"She's not still mad at me for that sneezing powder gag I pulled on her is she?" Rose asked in concern.

"Well, she's not mad... But you know Octavia, she's gonna hold a grudge until she gets even." Lyra chuckled some.

"I'm not looking forward to that..." Rose said in a bit of playful worry.

"Eh, don't worry too much about it. But what am I talking about? What the hell are you doing here!?"

"Oh I'm living here now."

"Nu uh."

"Yeah, just moved in this week actually. Been doing a hell of a lot of unpacking and I decided to have a few to relax for a little bit."

"So why the sudden change in scenery? I thought you loved living in Ponyville."

"Oh I did and I still do. But my flower shop has been doing really, really well ever since you two left. I've actually been able to keep my old shop open and open up a new one here in Canterlot."

"That's great!"

"Eh, when I talk about it, it sounds great. But lately I've been having some serious problems."

"Like what?"

"Well, the landlord that's letting me rent the place to open my shop at is a total ass. He mislead me on everything about the property and now I've basically been swindled out of my down payment... And with moving I haven't even been able to open up the shop with consistent hours. And then hiring people has been a major pain in the neck just to make matters worse." Roseluck stated her woes to Lyra as she started into her drink.

"Oh wow, that does sound bad. But I would had thought with the economy these days, there would be a line breaking your door down for a job."

"That's just it though, not a single application has come my way. I don't know if I'm just not advertising myself well enough or what. So when I'm at my apartment unpacking my stuff the shops closed. So I'm loosing a ton right now."

"How much?"

"About 300 bits a week... I mean, when I am open the customers are a constant flow. But obviously I can't serve them when I'm closed."

"Damn, that's a lot."

"Tell me about it." Roselucks ears and head hung low as she relayed all of her problems to Lyra. But then Roses ears perked up as she raised her head to look at Lyra. "Say... Lyra, I got something to ask you."

"What's that?" Lyra tilted her head to the side a bit.

"Well, I'm wondering something. Would you mind helping me out and working for me at the shop?"

"What? I don't knowing anything about being a florist."

"Yeah you do. You and Octavia would practically lived at my shop back in Ponyville after practice was over. Hell I remember how people would come in just to see you two do recitals. I'm certain you picked up a thing or two from watching me work." Rose leaned a bit, looking at Lyra with almost pleading eyes.

"I dunno Rose. I mean, I do need the money, but I don't think I'd be very good at it."

"I'll train you!" Rose leaned a bit more causing to Lyra to lean back in her seat a bit.

"I still don't kn-"

"I'll double minimum wage."

"W-What?"

"You heard me. The minimum wage here is what, 10 bits? I'll do 20 for you if you'll help me out."

"But why me?"

"I don't have the time right now to go through any applications and actually have an interview with a potential hire... Not like anyone's trying to apply anyways. I just need your help until things get settled down and then you can feel free to leave."

"Well I got my career with the Orchestra that I need to think about Rose..."

"I'll work around your hours. You won't have to skip a beat with them, no pun intended."

Lyra looked at Rose as the pondered the possibility of working with her. She did need the money and an extra twenty bits per hour did sound good. It would definitely be more than enough money in order to continue her life in Canterlot. Lyra brought her attention back to Rose who was practically on the edge of her seat.

"Just until you get back on your feet right?"

"And not a day more, if that's what you want." Rose said as she crossed her heart.

Shaking her head a few times before speaking. "Alright Rose, looks like you got a new hire."

The bell that hung in front of the shops door rung as Lyra entered the fragrant shop. There was no sign of Rose as she made her way to the front counter, dropping her saddlebags behind it. Looking around, Lyra still saw no sign of Rose on the front floor and decided to go into the back to look for her.

"Rose you back here?" Lyra asked as she could hear a muffled noise coming from the bathroom in the back. As she got closer to inspect what the noise was, she could make out that it was somepony crying. Pressing her ear against the door Lyra called out again. "Rose you in there? Is everything alright?"

The crying instantly stopped and some shuffling could be heard from the other side of the door. Lyra was about to call out again when the handle of the door shifted. The door slowly creaked open revealing a distraught Rose with stains beneath her eyes.

"Rose what the hell happened? Are you alright? Come here, sit down." Lyra said as she guided her friend to a nearby chair. Taking the seat, Rose buried her face into her hooves and began hiccups of sobs. Lyra just watched, concerned for what had gotten Rose so upset.

"I'm doomed..." Roseluck managed to squeak out. "All I've worked for these past months... Gone."

"What are you talking about?"

"The fucking city! They're taking away my shop." Roseluck cried out as she flailed one hoof outward while keeping the other one on her cheek.

"Come on Rose, they can't just take away your shop Rose."

"Oh yes they can. Some bull called 'imminent domain'. They can take whatever property they like... I found a slip on the door this morning." Roseluck reached for the pocket in her apron and pulled out a beige slip. Lyra grabbed it from her and began to skim through it.

"Dear Ms. Roseluck.... The city of Canterlot.... to claim imminent domain? You have 48 hours to vacate the premises!? They can't do that!" Lyra cried in outrage.

"They can and they are... I already called my lawyer after I read that... Once he told me that there was nothing I could do to fight the city, I locked myself in the bathroom and started crying." Roseluck smeared her make up across her face as she tried to fight away the tears that trickled down her face.

Lyra stood there, the pink slip in her hoof. She looked down at Rose with great agony, it always pained to see one of her friends cry.

"So what's going to happen?" Lyra broke the silence between the two,

Roseluck let out a strained sigh. "I don't know Lyra. Without the shop, I can't make rent. And Celestia know's I don't have enough bits to just reopen another shop at a different location. I fear I might have to move back to Ponyville and just live off of my old shop." Roseluck got up from her chair and headed towards the counter in the front of the shop. Reaching underneath the counter, she reeled back a drawer and pulled out a sealed envelope. She turned back to Lyra and gave her a weak smile.

"I guess making it with my business just wasn't in the cards for me." Rose chuckled as Lyra walked up to her.

"It's not your fault Rose. You got dealt a shit hand... Gah! I can't believe this city sometimes. I mean, how can they just ruin someones life like this?!" Lyra slammed a hoof against the counter, crumpling the pink slip.

"I suppose I did." Rose looked down at the envelope that was on the countertop. She placed a hoof on it and slid it over to Lyra. Taking her thoughts away from the matter at hand, Lyra looked at the object Rose had just slid over to her.

"What's this?" Lyra asked as she took it off of the countertop.

"It's your paycheck, your last one that is." Rose choked up a bit at the end of her sentence. "I wish I could give you more, I really do. After all you've done for me and the shop, I wish I could give you a fortune... Sad truth is I need the money to go back home."

"It's no problem Rose." Lyra looked down at the envelope then back at Roseluck. She extended her hoof to her. "Gimme your hoof."

"What?" Rose asked confused.

"Just gimme it." Roseluck extended hers to Lyra. Taking the envelope, Lyra slapped it into Roses hoof. "Take it. You need it a hell of a lot more than I do." Lyra said with a smile.

"No, Lyra I couldn't. It wouldn't be fair to you."

"To hell with fair. Do I look like I'm desperate for money? Do I look like a mare that just got her whole world turned upside down? No, so take it."

"Please, I really couldn't."

"Your going to take this money Rose, rather you like it or not." Lyra said in a firm demanding tone.

"Well at least make me feel like I earned it. Tell ya what, seeing as how I won't be seeing you or Octavia for that matter, how's about I treat you both to dinner? For old times sake and to show you how much I really appreciated all the work and effort you put into my little shop." Rose gave Lyra a weak grin. It was hard for her to put on a friendly face at such a time like this.

"That sounds like a great idea, maybe have a few drinks even? That'll take your mind off of this whole mess for a bit."

"Maybe... Why don't you head on home, I don't think I'm even going to keep shop open today... Not with this looming over my head."

"You sure? I'll stay if you want me to."

"Yeah, you go have fun. I'll swing by your place around eight o'clock. Sound good?"

"Yeah that sounds fine, I'll let Octavia know." Lyra took off her work apron and wadded it up as she walked over to her saddlebags.

"Uhh, would you mind not telling Octavia?"

"Huh? Why not?" Lyra asked as she stuffed her apron into her bags.

"I rather she not know is all. Not to say anything bad about her, but if she knew she would pester me for all the details and I just don't think I would wanna discuss this during tonight. That's all."

"Oh well yeah, that's my Tavi for ya." The two shared an uncomfortable chuckle. "Well I won't tell her."

"Thanks Lyra" Rose said as Lyra opened up the front door of the shop. She stood there, halfway out the door, she paused.

"You gonna be alright?" Lyra asked

"I'll manage I suppose. I'll see you later."

"Alright then, remember though eight o'clock sharp." Lyra tried to lighten the mood by giving a playful tone in her voice.

"Eight o'clock sharp."

Author's Notes:

So again, sorry for the delay. And no there is no new link for the fic I've been working on, sorry. I just wanted to say for this story I wasn't able to continue it in any way shape or form unless I came up with a new aspect. So more or less this is another filler chapter, will the next one contain clop? You betcha. So just a heads up that this one will give the story some breathing room to progress but does not withhold a lot of the story up to the point, it just gives you a little bit of history and some events that will lead up to some serious stuff.

Chapter 7: The Collapse Part 2

Chapter 7: Collapse Part 2

The sound of keys clashing against one another could be heard as Lyra turned the lock of the front door of her apartment. Swinging the door open, she made her way into her home. Dropping her bags down to the side of the doors frame she craned her neck with a wince, rubbing her shoulder some in the process.

"Damn thing, really need to get a new one. Hey Octavia you home?" She called out into the apartment. No response. "Huh, guess she already went to practice."

Lyra sauntered over to the couch to her left and plopped herself onto it, lifting up a controller of her game station that sat on top of the table in front of the couch. Kicking her hooves onto the table, Lyra sunk herself into a comfortable position and let loose a sigh.

"I'll head down to practice when I'm actually scheduled to go down there... For now, video games!" Lyra cried aloud, pumping a hoof into the air in excitement. Quickly she retracted her hoof and a small blush crossed her cheek from the realization of how loud that announcement was. "I really need to stop talking to myself..."

* * *

"Gotcha. Oh, and Octavia?"

"Hmm?"

"Love you." Lyra said bashfully.

Octavia blinked a few times in response. A tad bit shocked to hear Lyra say those words. Not that she hadn't heard them before, but this time they just seemed... Genuine. "Love you too."

With that Lyra closed the door and began her solitary walk to work over at Roseluck's shop. Octavia sat there, still for a few minutes. Letting those words sink into her brain as she contently watched the door, as if she was studying the finish of it. When she was finally done bathing in the afterglow of those words, she got up to begin her day by sipping on the coffee Lyra had brewed for her. Grabbing the mug in one hoof, Octavia lazily moved her way to the kitchen, still wiping the morning dew from her eyes. Upon arrival she grabbed a bowl and poured herself a simple breakfast consisting of cereal and nothing more. Octavia turned around to the fridge, opening it up. When she saw that Lyra had used the rest of the milk to make their coffees, she turned around and shrugged her shoulders before pouring the rest of her coffee into the cereal bowl.

After her quick breakfast, she got her self ready for the day ahead. Showering, grooming her hair, and tying her signature purple bow-tie on her, she was ready to hit the day. Grabbing her cello, she slung it over her back and exited the apartment to get to practice early like always.

As Octavia walked along, she relished the feeling of serenity that had taken over her. Sure she had felt like this before, somewhat, when the instructor had told her that Lyra had feelings for her but this time was different. Everything seemed better. The sun was extra warm and inviting, while the flowers were the most fragrant she'd ever smelt. Even every other pony seemed to be in a joyous mood today.

Not to mention she still couldn't quite wrap her mind her head around Lyra saying she loved her. The very thought made her giddy beyond belief. So much so that she let out a little squeak of joy while waiting at the corner of a street as a couple of carts passed by. Her strange noise gained a few very curious eyes to glance over at her, earning them a sheepish smile in response.

Her walk to the old worn down practice hall seemed a bit shorter than usual but Octavia didn't mind. Today was beautiful in every way to her. She even enjoyed seeing the eyesore structure that once used to be called a music hall. The rot infested support beams, the creaky floor boards, and chipping grey paint. She loved it all this day.

Barely shoving the main entrance doors open, Octavia wiggled herself through the small gap, catching her cello case in it once or twice before finally entering. Dusting herself off, she pushed the daunting door back shut and proceeded to make her way into the concert hall section of the structure.

Gliding through the isle of tattered chairs, Octavia reached the light switches and flicked them all on, giving some life to the damp, humid and dreary place.

Although it was never properly discussed between her and the instructor, Octavia would always come in and set things up. Every so often the instructor would beat her but typically she would be the first out of everypony to arrive. Eventually it got to the point where the instructor would just leave the place unlocked the night before just for Octavia the next day.

Reaching the stage, Octavia flicked it's light switches on too, providing additional light to the hall. Setting down her cello case behind the partially opened curtains, she walked over to the hidden hatch in the back of the stage. It was the main entrance for the basement of the hall, where they kept all the chairs, equipment and where the instructors office was.

Taking delicate steps down the stairs of the basement, Octavia could see a light emanating from the bottom of the staircase. When she finally arrived down at the bottom, she could see the instructors office lights were still on, while the rest of the rooms lights were left off.

The office was a subsection of the basement, a room within a room. And for some odd reason, one Octavia could never quite grasp, it had windows with blinds on the inside. As if he would have to block out any un-welcomed eyes down here, or block out the sun.

Using the dim light coming from the office to guide her path, Octavia approached the only door of the instructors office. Dodging every piece of equipment that crossed her path. Weaving in and out, ducking and swerving around like a mad mare, making sure not to break any of the expensive equipment that had been lazily tossed down here by the rest of her band mates. She begun to make a mental note to clean the place up later today right before her hoof got caught up on one of the sides of a chair stack, instantly knocking a dozen plus metal chairs to the ground. Letting out a quick 'eep' before her body was encased in a tomb of fold up chairs, Octavia groaned loudly.

After the large clashing of metal that sounded like a thunder storm had ceased, she could hear the door of the office open up and hoofsteps approaching her. Shoving off one of the chairs from her head she puffed a few strands of hair from out of her face and looked up. The instructor was standing above her, his eyes bloodshot with matching bags beneath them. His usually slick mane was frazzled and out of place, along with his suit. Extending his hoof outwards, he helped Octavia get back up, knocking a few more chairs down in the process, earning and embarrassed wince from Octavia with each clashing of them.

"A bit clumsy this morning aren't we Ms. Octavia?"

"Yeah sorry. I clean those up right away."

The instructor raised a hoof to her for silence. "That can wait. I have a more pressing matter I need to discuss with you in my office. Come, follow."

Without another word, the instructor turn around and headed back into the well lit office. Obeying his request, Octavia followed suit and walked into the small room a few second after him.

The office was as cramped as cramped could be. Although in person, the instructor was a very well refined pony, in private he was a slob. Papers were scattered throughout the floor, his trash bin was overflowing with crumpled up music sheets along with multiple cigarette butts smashed into the wads of paper. Octavia hadn't known that he partook in such things, but then again the instructor was a very private stallion outside of practice.

The walls were aligned with out of date calenders with most of their dates ex'd out, signifying when they had played a show. The shade that should have been surrounding his desks lamp had been removed, adding additional and unnecessary light to the room, forcing Octavia to squint just a bit. Multiple pens were splayed on his desk, covering up a green fabric cover to protect the natural wood of his desk.

Taking a seat behind his desk on an old, beaten chair, he let out a groan. He leaned forward onto his desk with his elbows for support and begun rubbing his temples while Octavia took her seat at the opposite end of the table. Removing one of his hooves from his temple, he leaned his head onto the other and began to play with a pen on his desk, rolling it around, back and forth. Not paying any attention to Octavia as his mind remained a million miles away. Octavia watched in silence for a while until she finally cleared her throat, gaining his attention.

"My apologies Ms. Octavia, my mind is a little preoccupied at the moment." He stated as he leaned back into his chair, staring at Octavia now. With a large inhale, he continued, "Lyra is out. This time I don't mean until further notice. This time, she is out."

The news took Octavia back a bit. Her mouth opened up slightly from the initial shock. "Wh-what? I thought you were going to have a talk to Gibbons about dropping the charge-"

"Yes and I did... In fact I've been talking with him for most of the night. That's the reason I'm still down here at this ungodly hour. After we had our talk over at the cafe, I came back here to give him a call. I would have gone straight home but by the time I reached my house, chances would have been that he'd be asleep and I wouldn't be able to solve things. When I called him, I begun stating the facts and reasons why I need both of them. Apparently my words fell on deaf ears because he wouldn't have any of it. He was certainly adamant about suing her. Saying he's going to throw her onto the streets. After stating that, I practically begged him not to do this, because in turn I'd let him go from the orchestra."

"And?" Octavia was practically on the edge of her seat.

"And nothing. He wouldn't have any of it... My hooves are tried Octavia, there is just simply nothing I can do." The instructor slouched back into his chair which gave off a creak. Placing a hoof back up to his head, he continued to rub his temples.

Octavia sat there, completely still. While the world around her continued on, inside she felt as if her own had just shattered. She knew that not being able to play in the orchestra would mean the end for Lyra's life here in Canterlot, and in turn, their new and fragile relationship.

Snapping herself back into reality, Octavia spoke again. "So that's it? You're just going to give up on it?"

The instructor could tell simply by the tone of Octavia's voice that she was becoming frustrated and flustered. Trying to keep her cool, he spoke in a clam and professional voice, "I tried, believe me I did. I stood up all night on the phone with that..." He took a pause as he re-framed from calling Gibbons what he truly thought of him. Clearing his throat, he rephrased his sentence, "That colt."

"Well try again!" Octavia cried out as she grabbed the old, beige colored telephone off his desk. She held it out at the instructor and shook it a few times as if expecting him to grab the receiving end of it.

Gently placing his hoof onto Octavia's, the instructor lowered the phone back down onto the table. Removing her hoof from the phone, he cupped it into his hooves. "Octavia, believe me when I tell you I would love nothing more than to help you and Lyra out."

The instructor gave Octavia a stern and honest glare. Finally the situation had sunk into Octavia's thick skull, that this was going to happen. Gibbons was going to sue Lyra, forcing her out of the orchestra and Canterlot.

Octavia hung her head low, wallowing in her thoughts. Her ears pinned themselves back as she begun to let little hiccups of sobs out.

The room fell silent. The only noise, a light buzzing from a fly swarming around a near by trash bin. The Instructor gave Octavia's hoof a light pat to comfort her before letting go. Standing up, the Instructor made his way around his desk, stopping at Octavia's side. Looking over his shoulder he gave her a quick glance before murmuring something under his breath before continuing his path towards the door.

The lock from the door shifted, echoing it's clanking sound through the room to break the silence. As her took a step out of the office, Octavia's ears perked up and her teary eyes shot open. Jerking around with lightning speed, she turned herself around, knocking the wooden chair down to the floor. The toppling of the chair caught the Instructors attention, making him turn around to face Octavia once more.

What he saw was not Octavia, but a misty eyed mare with fury behind them. Her legs were spread apart, as if she was ready to charge at an opponent that had threatened her life. Her tail swished back and forth as her nostrils flared. From what the Instructor could remember, this was not Octavia but an entirely different mare.

"What if I talk to him?" She questioned, her chest puffing out some.

"What?" The Instructor completed his turn towards Octavia now that his full attention was caught.

"What if I talk to him? He may not listen to you, but maybe he'll listen to me"

"Why would he listen to you? It's no secret that he despises you for taking his spot in the Orchestra."

"Then what would you suggest?! I can't just stand by, idly fiddling with my hooves and do nothing!"

"I suggest you go home... Tell Lyra and try to figure something out with her. There's no winning here, just accept it and move on. That's my suggestion."

The passion within Octavia's eyes faded away. Typically the Instructor would give her some comforting words, or at the very least give her some motivation. But his words completely deflated her drive. Her head slowly slunk down again.

"I know you think you can change things, and I know you want to. But it's the best thing for you to do right now." The Instructor looked at Octavia who gave to acknowledgement to his words. After a few more moments of staring, Octavia finally fell onto her rump with a thud. Giving a loud and audible groan, followed by a harsh stroke of his mane, he spoke again, "Fine."

Octavia lifted her head up and glued her curious eyes onto the Instructor as he walked back into the office and past her. Twisting the upper half of her body around, she saw him rummaging around some files that had been stored within the confines of his desk. Lifting his head back up above the wooden desk, he dropped a tan folder from his mouth onto its surface. Opening the folder up, he spread a couple of sheet to the side onto he found what he was looking for. Grabbing the mysterious piece of paper up, he walked back over to Octavia and sat down, placing the paper on the floor underneath his right hoof.

"It's up to you-" With that the instructor got up and walked towards the door, stopping in its frame to look back at Octavia. "on that paper you'll find Gibbons home address. Just remember, if you do go and see him... You didn't get that paper from me."

Octavia smeared a hoof across her face, wiping any dew that still lingered in her eyes away before giving the Instructor a smile. The Instructor in turn gave her a forced smile as she picked up the paper off the floor.

Turning around to face away from Octavia, he continued, "Now, If you'll excuse me Ms. Octavia, I must prepare the hall for today's practice. Make sure to lock the basement up when you leave."

With that, the Instructor strolled off leaving Octavia alone in the office. The paper she held within her hooves could possibly contain the information she so desperately needed to fix both hers and Lyra's problems. Lifting the sheet up to her face, she scanned it for the home address of Gibbons. Lowering the paper down and placing it back onto the desk, Octavia turned off the lights and locked the offices door before making her way out of the basement. With the basement locked, Octavia moved quickly behind the curtains of stage towards the back exit of the hall.

The glare from the sun shone down onto Octavia, causing an instinctive squint from her. A swift breeze blew past her, pummeling her with a dozen or so leaves as they rolled past her into the sky. Once her vision adjusted, she gave a couple of blinks followed by a long exhale. Remembering the home address of Gibbons, she began on her journey with one thought in mind.

Lyra...

Author's Notes:

Hey I got a new chapter out! Amazing! Not really but hey miracles come in all shapes and sizes. Be sure to leave me a comment telling me if you enjoyed it or hated it, perhaps it'll motivate me to make some more this weekend. :D

Chapter 8: The Collapse Part 3

A/N: So I had somethings pop up today and wasn't able to really write like I had hoped. However, I did manage to write this down while I was just kind of spit-balling with the story line and... I kind of like it. I don't exactly know what it is about this short little snippet of the story but I really, REALLY like it. So sorry again for not updating 'full' chapter today (9/17/2013) but hey perhaps this will hold you guys over until I can get the rest of the chapter up by tomorrow.(9/18/2013)

Chapter 8: The Collapse Part 3.

Four fifty two... Those numbers echoed throughout Octavia's head. Four fifty two, at the corner of Pine Street and Prospect Avenue. Those words and numbers becoming an inner mantra within the grey mare as she paced herself along the exceptionally active streets of the Trottingham district. Trottingham was the name of the colt that had originally founded Canterlot before Princess Celestia had decided to make it her home and in doing so, the capitol of all of Equestria. To Octavia, this was just another district within the walls of Canterlot. But to a pony fresh to the Canterlot scene, this was 'it'. Once you entered the districts lines, you would automatically know that this was the upper of the upper crust of society. Every which way you looked, mares and stallions alike, all dressed in the finest and most desirable of clothes. The streets bursting with well kept gardens and bushes that were precisely cut, adding to the refined and civilized look that the Trottingham district would pummel your eyes with.

Each side of the street had department store after department store, advertising the latest in fashion, jewelry, and for the little well to do's, toys.

Mere trinkets in Octavia's eyes. Not that she doesn't want nor enjoy the finer things in life. But her mind had become preoccupied with her mantra of 'four fifty two'.

Passersby would knock into her shoulder, giving her a scoff at her 'undignified' actions, but would receive no response as Octavia would simply continue her march on, searching the endless streets of the Trottingham district. At the corner of each block she would glance up, preying that this would be the intersection she was looking for, the intersection of Prospect and Pine.

When she had first started out on her trek out from the practice hall to the Trottingham district, she was filled with rage, spite, and drive to give Gibbons a piece of her mind and possibly her hoof. But as time progressed, and still no sign of the streets she sought, her drive slowly lowered itself, along with her subsiding rage. Her mind had become clear and level. Her rational side had begun to reveal itself. The mere thought of storming off into someones home to pummel some sense into them seemed rather... rash, to say the very least.

Halting at the intersection of Prospect and Baker, Octavia leaned up against the stoplight post, waiting for the sign to turn white, allowing her safe access to the other side of the street so she could continue her search. Octavia started out blindly at the wagons that passed on by as more and more aristocrat's filed up behind her, also waiting for the light to turn.

Drowning herself within her thought as the wagons become one giant blur, Octavia started to consider just talking to Gibbons. Surely he can be rational. That was her original thought before she remembered, he's the main instigator in all of this. Suing Lyra purely out of spite because he can't cash the checks his mouth spews out everyday is as irrational as one can get.

The brown blur before Octavia ceased, soon replaced by a multicolored one, moving towards her. Blinking a few times, Octavia could see the ponies from the other side of the street beginning to cross to her side. Remembering how to move her legs again, she started up once more. Instantly engulfed in the sea of ponies, Octavia got knocked back and forth from the shoving of the hustling folks around her. Normally she would groan about how rude these type of folk could be sometimes, but her train of thought continued right on, undisturbed.

"I must be barking mad." She thought to herself as she passed another row of high class shops. In what world would Gibbons listen to me? The guy despises me to no end. If he had his way - and if things continue on their current path, he will - I'll have to say goodbye to Canterlot...

A chill ran down Octavia's spine from the though, accompanied with sweep of air as cold as ice flow past her. Giving a slight head shake to fight away the chatter, she rubbed her left shoulder with her right hoof to keep herself warm. The breeze distracted Octavia from her thoughts for a moment, allowing her to contemplate how frigid the air was, especially for it being one of the first days of spring. Looking up towards the sky, she could see the once clear blue skies covered with dark grey clouds. The final rays of sunlight seeping through the clouds were not soon covered up.

As the final ray of golden sunlight disappeared, Octavia couldn't help but feel a connection to it. The feeling of being overwhelmed. Both helpless to stop their fate. To accept the oncoming storm and be consumed in it.

Her gaze drifted off into the endless sea of clouds as she continued along her path. With every step she took, her will became more and more feeble as her heart sunk further down into her chest.

Looking down for a moment, she could see that she had reached the end of another block, still no sign of Prospect and Pine though. Taking a glance at the crosswalk sign, she estimated she had about a minute to wait before she had to cross. Leaning up against a streetlight post, she raised her head back up to the clouds.

For whatever reason, her mind refused to let her look away from the sky above her. It was symbolic to her. To the other pony folk passing by, on their merry or miserable way, they were just clouds. Nothing more than floating fluff, something no other pony would take their time of day to stare at. But to Octavia, they were now something more.

A single thought had penetrated into the cellists mind. That if she could find one ray of sunlight bursting through the immense mass of dark clouds above, then somehow, some way she could break on through herself. Fix this problem, and be able to live her life happily with Lyra.

With mouth hung agape, she could feel a familiar nudge against her sides. Jerking her head back down she could see it was time to cross the street once more. Picking up her pace, she quickly made it safely to the other side of the street, glancing a few more times to the sky above before giving up on the sunlight. None was to be found.

Author's Notes:

Again sorry for how short this is, but if I didn't post this, I would have just ended up deleting it, and quite honestly I really didn't want to. Look for another chapter later today. (9/18/2013)

Chapter 9: The Collapse Part 4

Oblivious Bliss: Chapter 9: The Collapse Part 4

Calm...

Just keep calm... There's nothing to this right? Knock on the door, wait for a response. When he answers we calmly, and in a civilized manner talk to Gibbons. When we finally get our point across to the bastard, we can leave his household and proceed home, right? Simple.

Octavia continued to psych herself up as she stared at the daunting knocker that hung on the termite infested door. After searching for what seemed like hours on end, she had finally found the broken down structure that Gibbons called a house. It's garden looked as if it hadn't seen a drop of water in all of eternity, that is if you exclude the weeds with vines so supple that not even a hacksaw would be able to tear them down. Dead and brown brush covered the first couple of feet of the houses walls, covering only the first couple of cracks that could be seen protruding along the entire length of the structure.

The house was two stories, barely being held up by crooked, slanted beams. One of which was completely useless, snapped in half with a gaping hole at it's base. The roofs boards had become withered, slowly creeping backwards into itself. Chipped paint, cobwebs, sun beaten wood, annihilated garden decorations such as bird baths, statues and even the cliche garden gnomes. All this and more Octavia seemed to miss. Once she had cringed the iron barbed fence gate of the premises, her eyes had only been focused on that damned door knocker.

It's shape, that of a manticore's head. It's mouth hung agape with what was once a golden ring within its jaws. Its eyes held deep crimson rubies adding more of a intimidating presence more than necessary to ward off any un-welcomed delivery mares and stallions alike.

Raising a shaky hoof only a few inches off the ground, Octavia waited. She waited for sometime, expecting something to happen, anything really. When it finally dawned on her. Looking down she could see her hoof tremble so. It refused to move to her whim, stopping almost as soon as it began for the knocker. Grabbing her disobedient hoof with her free one, she tried forcing it forward. It would not budge an inch. Giving up on her right hoof, Octavia tried the same thing with her left, with the same result. Her mind was willing but her body absolutely refused to partake in any of this.

Struggling again, Octavia put more effort into her motions, earning a few grunts to emanate from her. With her hoof completely still in mid-air, Octavia got up on all of her other hooves and leaned forward with her weight, hopefully moving the stubborn appendage forward. Instead the reaction Octavia got was an unexpected one. Instead of her hoof giving way, the rest of her body did and caused her to stumble, knocking her body in the door - head first.

Her hooves suddenly under her control again, planted themselves onto the tender area and began to rub the pain away. Octavia gave a hiss as she regained her posture on her haunches. Her eyes had clenched themselves from the stinging pain that pulsed throughout her head. When she opened them again she could see Gibbons looking down at her, a glass of whiskey held by a slinged hoof. A royal red robe was dropped loosely over his back, the rope belt dangling a bit from the outside breeze.

He glared a look down upon Octavia who was scrambling, trying to get in a proper positioning to address him. As she flopped her hooves around, she could feel the judgmental darts shoot through the core of her very being, elevating the amount of nervousness that had already began creeping inside of her.

With her hooves properly down on the cement below, she puffed out a relieved sigh before tensing back up at the sight of Gibbons. His facial features continued to sag downwards in disgust at Octavia's display as his harsh glare softened to half lidded eyes. He was gaining no amusement from Octavia's actions, much less her visit.

Octavia became still, focusing on all of Gibbons as she searched for the right words to say. Her mouth hung agape and tiny squeaks of her voice could be heard from her every couple of seconds. Her mouth had become dry while her brow was breaking out in a cold sweat.

After countless seconds, Octavia finally found the words to say to Gibbons, but was interrupted by a hearty throat clearing from him. "Why are you here." His voice evenly matched his aggressive body language.

"What?" Octavia asked absent minded. With her words taken out of her mouth from Gibbons interruption, she was once again lost for words. She lowered her head in though for a second, pondering on the sentence she had just a few moments ago before it all came rushing back to her. "Oh right, yes. I'm here to discuss Lyra with you."

"Lyra huh?" Gibbons raised an eyebrow at her.

"Yes, may I come in?" Octavia got up from her haunches and lifted a hoof, moving towards the open door.

"No." With that Gibbons slammed the door in the face of Octavia.

Octavia's hoof became limp as her eyes beaded up. Shaking off the rude gesture, Octavia knocked against the door, this time without hesitation.

The door instantly swung back open revealing Gibbons once again. "I demand to talk to you!" Octavia stamped her hoof down.

"Or what?" Gibbons leaned forward, stopping just an inch or two away from Octavia's face. Naturally Octavia craned her neck backwards a bit to avoid contact with him.

"I uh-" Hey eye's shifted away from making any further contact with Gibbon's.

"Exactly. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm very busy today so if you don't mind I'm going back inside." Gibbons turned around and moved a couple feet into his home. "Oh and don't worry about Lyra. I'll make sure to make her suffer for the humiliation she's bestowed upon me." Gibbons said, turning around only for a moment to give Octavia a devious grin before turning back around.

As the door began to close, a thought raced across Octavia's mind. Before she could even properly process it, it had blurted itself out. "First chair."

The door halted.

"What?" Octavia could only faintly hear Gibbon's voice as the nearly closed door muffled most of his sounds.

Biting her lip, Octavia continued on, "First chair. If you let me talk to you, and possibly persuade your mind about Lyra, I'll give up my first chair to you."

Gibbons opened the door back up a bit, just enough for one of his eye's to poke out.

"What makes you think that the Instructor will even agree to me being first chair again, over you?"

"I don't" Octavia answered truthfully. "But, I'm sure I could convince him."

Gibbon's darkened form remained still for a moment before Octavia could see him hand his head in contemplation. Lifting his head up, he moved to the side as to open the door back up.

"Five minutes, nothing more. Nothing less." Were the only words Gibbons said as he led Octavia into his home.

"That's all I ask."

~~~~

"Tavi, I'm home." Lyra called out in the couples apartment as she shrugged off her work bags, letting them drop to the base of the door. "Hello? Ya home?" Lyra called out again after receiving no response from her first call out.

Giving a momentary pause, Lyra still received no response. Looking back over at the door she could see Octavia's cello case along with her saddlebags gone. Putting two and two together, Lyra assumed Octavia must have gone into practice early as usual.

Letting a puff of air escape her mouth, Lyra slouched her posture some before making her way over to living rooms couch. Dropping herself onto the cushions of the couch - back first - Lyra looked up at the ceiling, groaning all the while. Reaching with both hooves, Lyra rubbed her eyes shut before straightening them out up into the air in front of her before letting them fall back down above her head.

"Rose..." Rose, was the only thing her brain could muster to think about. The fact that she had been evicted in such a quick and hasty fashion enraged and saddened her at the same time. But above all, it scared her. Sure she felt for her friend, but what of Lyra? For the time being she's financially stable, but what if something happens to her or worse Octavia? Something that leads her to loose all of her savings.

That one awful thought crossed her mind for a split second, no more and no less. But that split second was more than enough to make Lyra shudder in fear. The unforeseeable future of the days, weeks and months to come were already starting to drive her mad. What a blessing foresight would be for her.

Rolling over onto her side, she looked at the closed door of the apartment before letting out another sigh, this time of relief. Relief that Octavia wasn't home. Sure she wouldn't had been upset if she was home, but with her mind dwelling on such bleak thoughts, she rather be left alone for now to dwell.

Rolling back onto her back, Lyra put a hoof onto her forehead. "Shit..."

~~~~

"I got to say, I didn't expect to see you at my doorstep. What's the matter? Did the instructor finally loose his nerve? Damned prick." Gibbons said aloud as he lead Octavia through the halls of his house. Although on the outside it looked trashy, un-nurtured, beaten, worn and all around horrid, the insides was that of a royal palace. Blood red curtains draped themselves over every window, marble pillars stood at each side of the hallways bearing statuettes and trophies. The floors were covered with multiple fur rugs, and the walls covered with countless self portraits of Gibbons on them.

"His nerve?" Octavia asked absently, taking in the lot that was Gibbons house.

"Yes, his nerve." Gibbons hissed with scorn. "The very thing that he thinks gives him the right to talk down onto me." Gibbons finished his sentence as the two musicians walked into what Octavia assumed was Gibbons' 'study'. With a gesture of his hoof, he lead Octavia to take a seat at one of the two couches in the room. Both of the couches facing one another whilst a coffee table laid between them.

The guts of the room were the same as the rest of the room, excluding a personalized bar that stood a few feet behind where Octavia sat and the two armored knight statues at opposing ends of the room.

A shaking noise from behind the grey mare interrupted Octavia's gawking at Gibbons house. She hadn't even heard his earlier response, nor was she even fully aware that she had been seated. Looking back at the noise she could see Gibbons standing behind the bar counter, mixing a drink for himself.

"I suppose you'd want one too huh?" Gibbons asked half-hearted, Octavia lightly nodded for a yes. With a sigh and eye roll, Gibbons disappeared behind the bars counter for a few seconds, only to reappear with two bottles of alcohol. Pulling the tops off of each bottle, he began mixing Octavia a drink of her own.

Octavia looked on at Gibbons as he continued to mix her drink. After a couple for shakes he begun pouring the light red drink into two martini glasses and dropped a swirl of lemon zest in both of them.

Walking back around, Gibbons gave Octavia her drink before walking over to the opposing couch and taking a seat.

"Four minutes."

"What?" Octavia looked up from her drink.

"I said you had five minutes to convince me to drop the charges, you now have four." He finished up his statement with a sip of his drink.

Gibbon's words sunk into Octavia's skull like a ton of bricks, he had quite literally meant five minutes. Scrambling to set the drink down onto the table in front of her, Octavia prepared herself. Opening her mouth some, she let out a squeak of what should have been the beginning of her sentence. Instantly closing her mouth, she looked back down at her drink before picking it back up and downing it in one gulp. Her actions surprised Gibbons who in turn raised an eyebrow at the grey mares downing of the drink.

Letting out a sigh, Octavia clapped her hooves onto the upper portion of her hind legs. She cleared her throat before speaking, " Sorry, my throat was a little dry.". A blatant lie, both Octavia and Gibbons knew. In truth Octavia's nerves were a wreck, having your loved ones career on the line would make anypony nervous. A drink was what she truly needed before beginning her plea for Lyra.

With her nerves relaxed Octavia opened her mouth again, this time making an audible sound, "I can't do anything to stop you from suing Lyra, this I know." Gibbons chocked up a bit on his drink from her words. Her pounded his chest a couple of times as he coughed, trying to clear his throat as to breathe once more. Nearly spilling over his drink in hoof, he calmed down and looked onto Octavia with shock. "Even if I were to give up first chair for you, there's no guarantee that you'll be true to your word and drop the charges on Lyra. In fact, I suspect that If I were to give my spot up for you, that'd be exactly what you do. I mean, why wouldn't you? You'd have both me and Lyra out of our respective positions, leaving you at the head of the Orchestra... For the most part that is."

"Most part?" Gibbons pondered out loud, still trying to grasp what game Octavia was pulling.

"Well I mean the instructor will naturally know if you continue to go through with your case against Lyra, meaning that he'd know about our bargain that we would have made."

"How would he know about any deal that we make? Obviously something like this would have to be made under the table. No way he'd let this kind of deal fly if he were to know about it." Gibbons retorted.

"Precisely, he wouldn't go through with it. And that is where our issue lies, well yours at least. You see, I had a lot of time to think while I was looking for your house." Octavia leaned forward, placing both of her hooves on her knees. "I figured that if your pulling something like this over a little scrap that you and her had, what possible reason could I have for trusting you? And that was my main though in my head, how can I trust someone like you? I couldn't, or at least that was my final conclusion. So, I'm going to lay down the only options that you currently have. Option A, I give up my seat willingly and you drop the charges on Lyra, or option B is that you go through with the charges and you'll be permanently removed from the Orchestra. It's your decision to make."

With her last breathe of air, Octavia let out another sigh and leaned back onto the couch, he body shaking a little bit from the adrenaline that had been coursing through her veins since they had begun. This was the first time she had ever acted this way to anypony, ever but she needed to for Lyra's sake.

Gibbons chuckled a bit as Octavia laid back onto his couch. Killing his drink off, he responded, "I must say Octavia, you came with your guns loaded." He scratched his chin, pondering what would the proper course of action. "So if I drop the charges and play along with you, you'll surrender first chair. However if I follow through with my plan, I get removed at you two girls go right on with your lives, is that correct?"

"In short yes." Octavia quietly responded. Her adrenaline had subsided and her whole body was growing colder by the second. Her stomach continued to tie itself in more and more knots and she could swear the room was starting to spin around her.

"Well that certainly does put me a predicament doesn't it? Hmm, what to do what to do." The hints of sarcasm within his voice was starting to boil Octavia's blood. The fact that he was acting like this was some sort of game they were playing rather than having peoples careers and in turn their lives on the line. "Well I appreciate your offers, I truly do. But I think I would rather decline both, if you don't mind." I grin crossed Gibbon's face.

"What!" Octavia sprang up in response to his declining. As quickly as she had sprung up in protest, she was back down onto the floor. Her knees and forelegs barely able to support the weight of her body. Her breathing was strained and her vision was becoming blurry.

Keeping her eyes plastered on the floor below, Octavia could hear Gibbon's hoof steps making their way over towards her. She tried to speak out against him again but it was if her voice had been stolen from her. She could do little more than breathe at this point.

"Geez Octavia, you didn't tell me you were such a lightweight." He gave off a laugh at his own pathetic joke before kicking Octavia onto her back. Her hair sprawled out, along with all of her legs. Her breathing becoming heavier pants as her vision and hearing were beginning to fail. "Aww don't pass out just yet Tavi." Gibbons got down to her level and leaned in towards her ear. "If you pass out now, you'll never get to see what option C is."

With that Octavia's world went black...

Author's Notes:

Dun Dun Duhhh...