//------------------------------// // 04. Friendship // Story: Taken in Stride // by Recon //------------------------------// Friendship 04 "Vinyl, are you okay?” a gentle voice came. “Wake up, you’ll need to be ready for fan meetings and autographs! Do you know how much money that can net us? I already called over a doctor, but don’t worry – you should be up and running to make some results in no time." Bullshit. "Hello, Vinyl," Octavia chimed in, her voice as bright as the sun that gleamed through the lounge's windows at breakfast. "Good morning!" She still managed to keep a hint of professionalism in her voice, despite the eased atmosphere in the room, it seemed.   "Hmm. Why are you so happy?" Vinyl said, a tinge of sarcasm in her voice. "Good morning," she continued with a mercurial mood change. Octavia cocked a brow and floated her bowl of soup to the table Vinyl was at, and set it down. She noticed the lone bowl of fruit on Vinyl's side of the table.   "That's your whole breakfast?" Octavia observed. "Not much, is it?"   "And you're having noodle soup," Vinyl summarized in a mocking tone. She snorted. "Not that I care." Vinyl tried to keep an edge of joking, light-mannerism when she talked with her "bad habit". Even though a lot of people saw it coming off as rude, the ones that were close to Vinyl knew about her habit and put it aside to take it for what it was. A bad, uncontrollable habit.   "Just don't spill any on me," Vinyl continued. Octavia looked really unfocused.   "Don't worry, don't worry," she assured. "I'm a pretty careful eater," she said with Rainbow Dash-esque pride.    Vinyl watched curiously as Octavia strangely picked up the spoon with her hooves. "Octavia, why are you-"   Splat.   -   "So, how are things going?" Octavia asked, as she and Vinyl walked along the upper tier of the lounge that led to the elevator.    "Huh? What do you mean?"   "You and your Secret Service agent," she explained. "I thought you would fire him immediately."   "He's supposed to be going shopping with me later today," she said with an emotionless aspect to her voice, as if it was a simple chore. "Do you want to come?" she asked Octavia. She nodded in response. Vinyl tried not to reveal too much about last night. It would be pretty embarrassing had anyone known. She was self-conscious of her image, in spite of the way she acted.   "You two are getting along better than I expected," she concluded. Vinyl yawned as they stepped into the elegant elevator. Octavia looked away, a fake tear of pride in her eye. "My Vinyl made her first friend~"   "It isn't like that!" Vinyl snapped, causing Octavia to burst out in a fit of laughter.    "Well if anything happens, you have your specialty," Octavia reminded. Vinyl tilted her head at her expectantly. "What you can't say, write down on paper." Octavia giggled. Vinyl rolled her eyes.   "You're surprisingly honest on paper," Octavia added. "That letter you sent me after we had a small fight hit me in the heart."   "I was just practicing writing with magic." She lied through her teeth, and Octavia knew; and Vinyl knew that Octavia knew.    ~ Vinyl woke up in her room, having gone inside to take a quick nap after talking with Octavia. It was much too early for her. She couldn't understand how ponies like her could fathom being awake so early. Vinyl herself had gotten accustomed to waking up early from nightmares. She got up and slowly walked to the door. She opened it to be greeted by the "normal morning routine", as she had come to call it.   "Good morning," Emerald said in his typical gentle voice. Vinyl yawned.   "Morning." “You look as beautiful as ever. Your clothes suit you very well. Your mane adds the perfect touch-" "You can stop flattering me now..." her voice softened as she looked at his bandaged hoof. "How is your...?" Emerald looked at it to examine it. "It'll be fine. Do not worry about me."   Emerald was still smiling, eyes closed in a welcoming expression. "I trust you are going to be breakfasting in the lounge today, as well?"    "I already ate." Vinyl watched as Emerald froze, the same expression - or rather, lack of expression - caressing her face. The atmosphere seemed to change to a dark setting. She saw Emerald as he started to quiver, then broke down and fell to the floor in a submissive stance.    "That means..." he said with a tear forming in his eye. "You carried your own food, brought it to the table, and poured your own water...?" Vinyl raised her eyebrows.    "Wha- Sure? How much do you want to help me with?” “Everything… From the moment you wake up.” he said desperately. Seriously? “You know-”   Emerald cut her off, sobbing. "Does this mean..." his voice trailed off as he continued."You have no use of me?" He pulled out the same sword, in the same manner, in the same position.    "Enough with this sword nonsense," she said, annoyed. "Your irritation level is increasing exponentially." Vinyl sighed, tossing away the sword with her magic. This had to be the sixth time in three days. She felt a breeze from the window run through her mane, carrying along petal leaves from a cherry blossom outside. They landed curtly on the ground in between them. “What do you mean? All I wish is to take care of you… And you said you would allow it.” His face grew dark. Why did she make that damned promise?   “Can we just go?” "Sure." He brought himself up, attaining his regular couth posture, as he gestured for Vinyl to lead them to the elevator. The elevator opened before they reached it, the metal doors opening to reveal a gray mare with an unmistakable jet black mane. A glint of suspicion was visible in her eyes.   "What do you need?"   "I realized I had some shopping around to do; may I come along with you two?" she asked, faltering a weak smile. “You’re driving, right?” she asked, gesturing towards Emerald. He nodded curtly. “Yeah, let’s just get this over with.” Vinyl led them into the elevator as it descended to the lounge floor, picking up Octavia along the way. … Emerald graciously held the car door open for Vinyl. What exactly was it about this stallion that made him so… Addicted to her?  He said he knows me from the past… “I told you that when we first met, that I have known you for a long time." He says I saved him. But I don’t remember. I suppose it really isn’t much of a mystery… Still. “The only reason I am here is my loyalty to you. It is irrelevant to me whether you were a world famous icon with endless wealth or not.” He told me it was for me, and me alone; with no connection to my fame or fortune.  How long I’ve waited to hear those words. I’d like to repay them. I may not be able to change right away, but surely I can at least do something in return. “Is everything alright?” Emerald asked, breaking through her daydream. The car hadn’t even started. She put her outer character back in play. “A-Are you all settled in your new life? Is there anything you require?” “No, I’m fine. But thank you for expressing your concern.” “Heh.” Vinyl snorted. “You thought I was expressing concern? I just want you in optimal condition if you are to work for me.” ~ “All that’s left is the cell phone,” Emerald acknowledged, as they walked out of the furniture shop. They spotted Octavia, waiting on a bench outside the store, reading a novel about what looked to be classical music.  “Yeah, you’re right,” Vinyl replied, searching their bags for anything that could be missing. “You don’t have one?” Octavia asked, picking herself up from her book. “Oh… I guess you didn’t have any friends to call…” “Miss Vinyl…” “I don’t need your pity!” she broke out, turning away. “I’ll be living on my own, so having one will come in handy.” “Well, yeah,” Octavia replied bluntly. “Have you decided on one yet?” She chuckled cockily. “What a silly question. Everything I purchase undergoes multiple rounds of careful analysis.” She pulled out three technology magazines out from her pack. “I’ve done my research.” “Exactly what I’d expect, Miss Vinyl,” Emerald brought up, with the tone of a parent that was proud of their child. ~ “Now that we’ve got everything out of the way…” Vinyl trailed off. “Oh! Octavia, what did you want to purchase?” Octavia pulled out a box of what looked to be cake. “Cake? You wanted to buy cake?” “Cake and I are ‘tight’, as you would put it.” “Ha. Don’t you mean ‘you and cup noodles’?” Emerald broke in. “You two are such good friends.” “What? Are you blind?” Vinyl returned sarcastically. Octavia reached out her hoof to pet Vinyl’s electric mane. “Well, we have known each other for a long time." She wrapped her foreleg around Vinyl. "I’m kind of like a big sister.” “We were just roommates. That’s all.” “You know how she always makes enemies?” she said, reminiscing on their past. “Then her trusty big sis comes in and cleans up the mess.” “Roommates.” Octavia withdrew her hoof and pointed at herself. “Feel free to call me ‘big sister’,” she directed at Emerald. “I shall be sure to.” “No you won’t,” Vinyl said. “Well, let’s get going.” “Wait. Why don’t we hang out more?” Vinyl turned around. “Specifically until… Six o’clock.” “Why specifically until then?”’ “Eh… Is there anything else we need to buy? Like…” she thought of an excuse. “Emerald, don’t you need anything else?” “I am here entirely in my capacity as Miss Vinyl’s Secret Service agent, so please don’t concern yourself over me.” “Come on… Isn’t that a little boring?” “Not at all.” He glanced over at Vinyl and smiled. “Just accompanying Miss Vinyl on her shopping trip… Is like a dream to me.” “What did you do to him?” Octavia asked under her breath, leaning in to Vinyl. “I have no idea.” Like he did for me… Isn’t there something more I could discover to do for him?