The small clock tower in the middle of the strip began to chime. "10" Vinyl sighed, "10 rings, I thought I wouldn't hear those till at least 2am in not 10am." A tear fell down her face. She was wandering down the strip, her thoughts still on Sly's words. "Some dreams aren't meant to be." She looked up and saw that she was back at S&S's diner. "I've got nothing better to do," Vinyl said with a bitterness in her tone. The little bell on the door rung when she walked in. Unlike earlier it was dead inside. No pony at booth or the bar. The door closed behind and she made her way to the bar stool she was sat on early that night. The door from the kitchen swung open.
"Welcome to S&S's what can I-" Sassy Broad stopped when she saw the blue maned mare with her head on the counter. "Well Vinyl you're back, I thought you had a gig to get to," the waitress chuckled as she made her way over. Vinyl looked up and simply shook her head. Sassy could tell that she had been crying. "Oh hun," she raced around the counter and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry." Vinyl leaned into Sassy's hug. The whole time she was in Las Pegasus, these were the nicest ponies to her. Sassy picked Vinyl's head up. "How about about a slice of pie and a cup of coffee, on the house." she smiled and made her way to the kitchen. In the sweetest way Vinyl had ever heard Sassy talk to Short Order, Sassy called "Love, we have an achy one."
"Uh oh." Short Order poked his head out from the window to the kitchen. "Understood ma'am." He went back in and came out with a steaming slice of pie. "Fresh out of the oven and full of lovin." the older stallion smiled as he placed in front of Vinyl. She slowly began to eat it while Sassy poured her some coffee.
"Can I have a cup?" The three turned and saw Whinny Nelson walking in. Sassy got another cup as Whinny sat next to Vinyl. "Well looks like you had rough night." Whinny grabbed his cup. Vinyl just nodded as she continued to slowly eat the pie.
"Why don't you tell us hun." Sassy pulled out a stool from behind the counter.
"Yeah, whose head do I need to knock." Short Order smacked his spatula on the counter. Vinyl let a giggle escape her.
"Ok" she sighed. Vinyl then recounted the whole story to the three older ponies. From when she first met Sly Alley, up until he told her to leave. "And now we're here." she finished the last bite. Whinny shook his head and sighed.
"That sounds like Las Pegasus now. No pony cares for talent as long as somepony is making them money."
"That does it, I am putting up a 'No Sly Alley' sign on the window." Short Order grumbled. Sassy patted her husband's head.
"Oh yeah that'll show him." She rolled her eyes. Sassy then looked back an Vinyl.
"I think there is more to your issue than just Sly." Vinyl looked up at her.
"I agree," Whinny chimed in. "I am beginning to think your decision to come out here was rushed and reckless." he looked over at Vinyl. "And I'll betcha it has to do with your girl problems," he gave a warm smile. Vinyl opened her mouth to deny it, but nothing came out. "Ah ha."
"What was her name kid?" Short asked. Vinyl looked around her, the old ponies waiting patiently for her response. After a few seconds she realized that maybe they were right. They had years on her and looking back on it maybe.
"Octavia," she whispered. Whinny put his coffee down, and put all his attention on Vinyl.
"And who is this Miss Octavia."
"Tav- Octavia is or was, I don't know, my f-f-friend." Vinyl struggled to say the word. It didn't sound right. All three of the old folks noticed her hesitancy to say friend, though none pointed it out.
"Vinyl, why are you here," Sassy asked. Vinyl sighed. She began to think back.
"It was only a few days ago."
Vinyl's flashback
Back in Ponyville, Vinyl was fast asleep in her bed. Her room was dark. Records were all over the place. Some still in their sleeves, and some just out and about. Posters of famous bands adorned her walls, The Horseflys, The Hooves, even a Whinny Nelson one. There was a knock on her door. Vinyl grumbled and rolled over. Three more knocks came and then a voice. "Vinyl come on! We're going to be late," Octavia called from behind the door. Her voice made Vinyl's heart tingle despite being half asleep. Slowly she sat up.
"Late for what?" her door opened revealing the gray mare. Her hair was already fixed and she had her signature tie, well tied. Octavia giggled.
"For the music swap of course. I know that one of the vendors has an original composition by Johann Sebastian Buck and I need it!" she squealed. Vinyl smiled at her excited friend. 'She's so cute when she's excited.'
"Ok ok, I'm up. I'll be ready in 15." Vinyl got out of bed and stretched.
"I'll be waiting outside." Octavia walked outside of the house leaving Vinyl's door open. She stared after Octavia until she was out of view. When she looked away, she noticed her heart racing.
"Keep it together Vinyl." she whispered to herself. Vinyl had no idea when she started feeling something for Octavia but it was getting stronger. For a few months now she felt nervous about being in the same room with Octavia, but she played it cool as possible to not make the living arrangement awkward. "I am going to have to tell her eventually. I don't know how much longer I can hide it." She wandered to the bathroom, styled her hair, brushed he teeth, and threw on her sun glasses. "Looking good Dj P0N-3," she winked at herself. Vinyl walked out of the little house and saw Octavia standing in the sun light. 'She's beautiful,' Vinyl's jaw dropped. Shaking her head and hitting her self she walked up to Octavia. "Ready?" Octavia seemed surprised and jumped at Vinyl's words.
"Oh goodness" she chuckled. "Guess I was thinking to hard." Vinyl laughed and playfully pushed her.
"You think too much."
"And you don't think enough." Octavia pushed back. They began walking to the fair grounds where the music swap was being held. Vinyl was looking around the town and glancing at Octavia while doing so. Everything about the mare in front of her was enamoring. Her gentle steps, her little pink tie, her beautiful purple eyes and gorgeous black mane. "You looking for anything specific today?" Octavia asked, startling Vinyl out of her thoughts.
"Oh um not really." she said panicking a little and caught off guard. 'Had she noticed me looking at her?'
"Weren't you looking for an original record of Balloon Spirit by the Horseflys?"
"Oh yeah, that! Yeah it'd be great to have that one to go with my poster." Vinyl smiled calming down. "What about you, going after anything besides the stuff from Buck?"
"If I see anything I like I'll get it, but nothing specific comes to mind." They continued till they got to the fair grounds. Almost all of Ponyville had shown up. "Oh my gosh, I hope I'm not too late." Octavia nervously tapped her hooves.
"Go on to your place Tavi, I'll meet up with you at the center when you're done."
"Oh thank you Vinyl!" Octavia gave Vinyl a hug and raced off into the crowd. Vinyl stood stiff watching Octavia disappear into the crowd. Her heart was racing even faster than this morning. "That was awesome," she smiled to herself. After a while Vinyl regained her ability to move and starting looking through all the different booths. However, she was unable to focus. 'Do I love her? No that's ridiculous. Octavia is my oldest friend. She gets me. Its just over familiarity that's all'. She shook her head and began looking through a box of classic rock.
"Ooo, The Horseflys album Help?," She flipped it over reading all the songs on the back and stopped when she saw the 4th song. "I Need You," she whispered to herself. Her eyes widened and once again she shook her head. "I am way to influenced by music." She chuckled and continued to look through the box. "Wow, a Trotten album, Back For The Attack." she read the songs on the back once again coming to a song that seemed to try to convince her of something. "Heaven Sent," she chuckled "Whatever." she stopped once again at another song. "Stop Fighting The Love," she said flatly. "Ok we can stop now," She laughed and read the next song. "Jaded Heart." She furrowed her eyebrows and frowned. "Where's 'It's Not Love' by Trotten when I need it." she grumbled.
"Oh sorry ma'am I just sold my only single of that." The vendor pointed at a pony walking away.
"Oh never mind." Vinyl put the records down and walked away. As she wandered through the festival her mind raced with thoughts. 'I always trusted music. Maybe it's trying to tell me something. No no, that's ridiculous.' She stopped in the middle of walking when she heard a song over the speakers,
"We've always been the best of friends, no secrets and no demands. But suddenly from somewhere out of the blue
I see a different light around you."
"Deana Cart, 'How Do I Get There." Vinyl smiled "A about a friend falling for a friend."
"One thing I haven't told you, I just wanna hold you never let go, I need to know...' The song continued. It dawned on Vinyl then.
"I do love her." she whispered. Vinyl looked up and the the hill in the center. Octavia was sitting on top of it waiting for Vinyl. Vinyl smiled and raced for the hill. "I have to tell her." She made it to the top. "Octavia!" she said a little to loudly. Octavia jumped.
"Vinyl! Look." She showed her the sheet music from Buck.
"That's great Tavi, but-" he huffed but was cut off.
"And guess what?! While at the booth I met a professor from Braylee!" Octavia squealed. "They got me a school audition next week." Vinyl's heart sunk. "Oh just think of it Vinyl. I can play there and become well known and travel the world like I have always dream."
"Braylee? That stuck up school? You sure you want to go there? Now?" Vinyl asked with some distain. Octavia's smiled dropped.
"Well, yes." she was confused "Vinyl, you know it's always been my dream to attend Braylee. This is my chance."
"Yeah, but it so far away, and you know who wants to be among such snobs all the time."
"I thought you would be happy for me Vinyl." Octavia whimpered with a tear falling.
"Yeah well, kind hard when you're abandoning everything that we've made together here." Vinyl said her anger rising.
"I am just thinking of the future Vinyl. But I guess you don't think enough!" Octavia spat. Vinyl turned to her, hurt by her words.
"Well you think to much!" Vinyl spat back. Octavia shared the same hurt expression. Vinyl walked away and down the hill, leaving Octavia there. Slowly she made her way home and sat in her room. Tears streamed how her face, "How could she do this to me. We're happy here why would she want to leave,” she cried. Vinyl looked up and saw travel poster of Las Pegasus. "If Octavia is abandoning this place for her dream. Then so am I." Quickly she filled her saddle bag with all she could. She walked out of her room. Octavia wasn't home. "She's not home." Vinyl's heart hurt. "Good! She can't yell at me now." She went for the door. "Maybe I should leave a note. Just incase she calls me in as missing. " Vinyl got a pencil and paper and wrote 'Gone to live my dream in Las Pegasus, Goodbye Tavi.'
Back to the Diner
"And that's it. I over reacted, ruined a good thing and came here. Now I have nothing. Not even a crummy night club wants me." the old ponies all nodded in understanding. "I didn't even say a proper goodbye." she sniffled. There was a long pause of silence. Then Whinny spoke up.
"Vinyl, why are you here?" asking the same question as Sassy. Vinyl looked over to him.
"I just told you." she said confused. he laughed and shook his head.
"I think what he means kid is, what are you doing here?" Short asked. Vinyl looked over to Sassy for clarification. She just smiled
"I was here to live my dream, now I don't know."
"And?" Whinny raised an eyebrow. Vinyl was very confused. The old country star sighed. "It’s obvious. You are running away." the DJ looked over at Whinny in shock. He laughed. "Don't look at me like that. Look kid, you are in love. Emotions are high. You made a mistake in anger. But something tells, tells all of us that you haven't completely given up on Octavia." the two owners of the diner nodded.
"What?" Vinyl asked.
"Hun, in your note you wrote Tavi, not Octavia. I think we all can agree when the love is gone, so are the nicknames." Sassy Broad smiled. Short Order nodded.
"Vinyl, remember I told you I realized what I wanted to do in this place?" Whinny asked. She nodded. "I wasn't talking about music." He smiled. Vinyl looked confused. "It was here, after being denied a show, that I realized, I want to go home and I wanted apologize to my girl. Without her, I couldn't have done anything." Vinyl looked around at the three ponies.
"What should I do?"
"Well whenever I make Sassy mad, I write her a note." Short Order smiled. "In your case, you might want to go with a letter." Vinyl nodded.
"Thank you...Thank you all." she stood up. "I think I need to get some sleep."
"Come back anytime hun," Sassy smiled. Vinyl nodded and walked out and to her motel. She wanted to sleep. But sitting on her beside table, was a pen and paper.