Octavia finished her song, took a bow while the crowd slowly applauded and she walked off stage as others came and took her cello for her. Vinyl turned and glimpsed at the stage to see the curtains fall and a dark mane before they hit the floor. She ignored it and went back to her drink, wishing for her thoughts to fade.
The bar was closing up and it was now time for the occupants to leave and go home. Vinyl started to be shoved out by the crowd behind her all moving towards the doorway at the same time. She fell into the alleyway and landed in a muddy puddle. Everypony ignored her and trotted past her; moving towards their destinations.
She slowly got back on hooves, covered in mud. Her white coat had spots of mud all over it and her mane was a mess. She shook her coat with an angry look on her face, she breathed heavily and walked out of the alley. The city was starting to seem less populated, everypony was finally going home for the night. Vinyl’s hooves started moving forward, she didn’t care where they took her.
‘The same thing everyday... Routine, oh I will break you. I’m sick of this, everyday I do the same thing! My life cannot fall to pieces...’
She found herself in a park and decided to lay down on a bench. She laid on it, looking up to the stars. ‘My life cannot fall to pieces... Shame it already has.’
******
Octavia left the bar, leaving her cello behind because she had another performance tomorrow and she figured it would be a hassle dragging it everywhere. She decided to take the long way home, she trotted towards the park not too far from the bar. She stopped outside it and read the sign placed in the grass. ‘Welcome to Canterlot’s graceful and peaceful garden’. She continued on, admiring the colorful flowers she could see in the darkness.
It appeared nopony was out, but after all it was very late. She trotted along the trail, lost in her thoughts. ‘I guess tonight's performance wasn’t that bad... I must be getting used to it. After all it could be worse, I could be shaking my flank on a pole for money.’ That thought made Octavia shiver. She walked past a bench that appeared to have a pony covered in dirt sleeping on it, but the pony had its back turned so she just ignored the mud covered pony and trotted on past it. Soon enough she reached the exit of the park.
Vinyl sat up on the bench, her back starting to become sore from the hard wood. She looked to her left to see a pony leaving the park, a pony with a purple cutie mark... She jumped to her hooves, her heart beating extremely fast. Her mind racing with several thoughts, but she didn’t have time to stop and think.
Her hooves started to move very fast and she broke into a run, her breathing unsteady, and her joints sore from sitting still on such a hard surface for so long, but she didn’t care. She had to know if it was truly her, she’d never forgive herself if she lost the chance. She reached the exit, rushed through the gate and came to a sudden stop. She looked around, but could see nopony... Nopony at all, she hit the ground hard as she could with her hoof, frustration taking over.
She cursed into the silent, unforgiving night and lowered her head in disappointment. “Was... Was it really you Tavi or am I just losing my mind? I’d do anything just to have my friend back...” Vinyl whispered while trying to hold back a small tear.
“Vinyl...” A voice whispered in the wind. The white mare ears stood up when she heard her name and she slowly turned around. She turned and looked into the bright purple eyes of a pony with a beautiful silk mane blowing in the wind. “Tavi...” Vinyl whispered, her voice breaking.
Time seemed to have slowed down for them both, their minds trying to process that this moment was finally happening. They both instantly wrapped each other in a hug and letting small tears of joy fall from their eyes. They eventually let go of each other and Octavia asked the first question.
“What happened?... Sorry, I don’t mean to sound rude, but what happened to your coat?”
“Oh, it’s a long story... I’ll fill you in later,” Vinyl said while slightly giggling. “But enough about me, where you going? I bet it’s to your super awesome penthouse crib. I bet you got all the stallions swarming around you because of the music you’ve been producing.”
Octavia blushed a little, looked at the floor and scraped the floor with her hoof nervously. “Actually Vinyl... I live in a one bedroom house here in Canterlot...” Octavia said, not looking her friend in the eyes. “Oh... Well to be honest you’re kinda doing better than me.” Vinyl said.
“Oh? But how?”
“I’m homeless Tavi, I’m barely surviving out here. I came into Canterlot yesterday with what little money I had left and I haven’t had a chance to get anything going... But I never forgot you, not for one single minute.”
“Nor have I... I’m so sorry Vinyl, I’ve missed you for all these years, but had no way of finding you... Please forgive me?”
Vinyl looked at her friend, their eyes still wet and she smiled. “No,” Vinyl said firmly. Octavia’s face fell and lost all expression, she didn’t know what to do until Vinyl nearly fell over laughing. “Of course I forgive you Tavi, I couldn’t find you either.”
Octavia blushed and even had to let a small laugh herself. “Well let’s get you home shall we?” Octavia said. Vinyl stared at her confused, raising an eyebrow. “Home? Tavi didn’t you hear me a few minutes ago, I don’t have one.” Vinyl replied.
“Well you can come home and live with me for awhile, at least until you get yourself more money and a place of your own.”
“Tavi... Are you sure? I don’t wanna be a burden on you like that.”
“A burden? You’re my best friend. Now let’s go before it get’s even later, I’m getting really tired.”
Octavia ushered Vinyl beside her and they began walking together, but Vinyl couldn’t help but feel a little bad. Even though it was Octavia’s idea to begin with. They walked through the lonely streets of Canterlot, reminiscing about their fillyhood memories together. Although it didn’t take long for them to reach Octavia’s house.
Octavia pushed the door open and gestured Vinyl on in. Vinyl walked into the house and stopped in a hallway that was covered in complete darkness. “Uhh Tavi, I can’t see a thing. Where are the lights?” Vinyl asked, looking around in the darkness.
CRASH
A loud bang happened and the lights came, quickly followed by a pony who was trying to hide her laughter. “I probably should've warned you, not everything is unpacked,” Octavia giggled while staring at Vinyl who was laying on the floor, her eyes spinning in her head. “Typical Vinyl.”
Vinyl stood up to see the rooms in house. It had no upstairs, a kitchen, a bathroom, one bedroom and a hallway with boxes in it. “Well... Nice pad.” Vinyl said with a sheepish look on her face. “I got it real cheap, that’s kinda the reason it has no living room so I just spend most of my time hanging out in my room. Oh, sorry; our room,” Octavia said while smiling.
“Now let’s get you cleaned up before bed, I heavily doubt you wanna sleep covered in all that mud. Shower is down the hall and the last door on the right.” She said while pointing down the hallway. Vinyl began walking down the hall and shouted behind her. “Thanks Tavi!” She entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
Octavia could hear the shower being turned on and a small hum coming from the bathroom. She smiled to herself and walked to the kitchen; she opened her cupboards looking for something. She pulled out a bottle of wine and two glasses, she then proceeded into her room. “You can find me in our room whenever you get out!” Octavia shouted towards the bathroom and in response heard a faint “Okay”. She continued on into her room which only had two things. A t.v and a makeshift bed on the floor, she laid down on the floor, placing the wine and glasses beside it. Opened the wine and poured some into the two glasses.
Switched on the t.v and changed it to the news, she wasn’t really focusing on the t.v. She was waiting on her friend coming out of the shower and before long she heard the bathroom door opening. Vinyl walked in still a little wet even though she tried her hardest to get dry, but the towels weren't up to complete living standards. “Hey Tavi, what ya doing?” Vinyl asked, looking at the glasses. “You’re not trying to seduce me are you? Oh Celestia you are...”
Octavia laughed and patted the space beside her. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to seduce you. Besides, you couldn’t touch this if you wanted it.” Octavia whispered the lines seductively and shot a smug smile at her friend.
“Oh come on and sit down already.” Vinyl moved beside her friend and sat down, she hovered a glass of wine to her side using magic. “I assume this is for me? Either that or in the space I’ve been gone you have turned into a raging alcoholic?” Vinyl asked, but already knowing the answer.
“Yes it’s for you, I thought we could catch up on past events and fill in the blanks from when we were separated.” Octavia stated.
“Sounds good. What do you wanna know?” Vinyl asked.
“Well did you ever get a show? I mean back in Ponyville. I remember you always wanted to be a world famous DJ, I believe your stage name was... DJ Pon3?
“Yeah it was... And I did get a show back in Ponyville, but it didn’t go down well. We had a bunch of technical difficulties and the show went to hell. Everypony started leaving early and nopony else would ever work with me again.”
Vinyl lowered her head and took a drink of her wine, she hated that memory. Octavia noticed it and tried to change the subject quickly. “Well... If it helps, I haven’t been doing so great either, I found a job where I do in fact get to play my cello, but it’s for a bunch of drunks.” She said bitterly.
“Let’s get onto happier topics shall we?”
“Actually... I think we should sleep, it’s been a pretty long day Tavi.”
“Yeah... Alright then let’s go. I’m dead on my feet anyway.”
Vinyl stood up and started heading for the door. “Where you going?” Octavia asked. “To the kitchen, this is your bed. I’m just gonna sleep on the floor.” Vinyl replied.
“Silly, this is our bed now. I know it’s a bad one, but it’s better than sleeping on the kitchen floor.” Vinyl smiled and walked back to the bed and laid down on it. “Thanks Tavi... I really owe you.” Vinyl whispered to her friend. Octavia placed her glass down and laid down beside her friend.
“You owe me nothing... I’m just glad you're here. I don’t think you realize how much you mean to me...” Octavia whispered back.
They both smiled and stared into each others eyes, accompanied by the faint glow of the television set. It wasn’t long before sleep took them to their dreams and they found warmth within each others embrace and for the first time in so long... They both slept with a smile on their face and with excitement for the morning.