//------------------------------// // Returning // Story: The Symphony of Love Keeps No Rhythm // by aKaPinkiePie //------------------------------// The last goodbyes of the evening were spoken and the bar emptied. That was except for an exhausted bartender and an unconscious DJ. This was nothing new to the humble owner of “Joe’s bar”. Every week for five years Vinyl had come to his bar. Usually she only drank healthy amounts, but this was just one of those days. Usually he would order a taxi for the drunken mare and send her the bill later. Today, however, fate would decide otherwise. Blissfully unaware of the mare trotting down the street towards his establishment, the bartender picked up his phone and dialed the number of Manehattan’s taxi service. He was interrupted, however, by a couple of soft knocks on the door. “We’re closed!” The shout was replied to with another two knocks. Realizing the potential customer probably would not just walk away, the owner walked over to the door. “I told you we’re clo- Octavia? Is that you?” “Hello Bartender Joe, long time no see. I would love to talk, but I have to find someone. You would not know where Vinyl Scratch is, would you?” A polite smile showed on the earth pony’s face. She’d clearly picked up on a heavy Canterlot accent since the last time he’d seen her. Joe looked uncomfortable. Despite being gone for so long Octavia still recognized the little signs. The way his eyes would flicker to the left, then he would stare at off to the distance for a couple of seconds before coming up with an excuse. This was not his stronger side however. “She’s not really very talkative at the moment,” he said with a forced smile. “What happened?” Octavia’s face turned dead serious. “She drank herself unconscious,” Joe replied with a sigh. “It’s just one of those days.” Octavia did certainly not remember Vinyl ever doing that before. “Does she do so often? “She seems to do so once a month. I haven't really paid it too much of my mind, but now that I think of it. Usually she has those days at the end of the month.” Octavia visibly winced at this. She could still remember the day before she’d left. It was a Saturday afternoon, but due to heavy rain the bar was almost empty. The two best childhood friends were sitting in their usual booth. It was in the corner of the dim lit place. If not for the rain hammering the windows, complete silence would have engulfed the bar. None of the ponies wanted to start the inevitable, so the silence stayed. Vinyl’s expression was unreadable due to the glasses covering her eyes, but Octavia knew she was just as annoyed, desperate and sad as the cellist. Both had too many feelings bottling up inside of them. Eventually the tense situation was too much and Octavia spoke up. “You know that playing in Canterlot has always been my dream, Vinyl. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. Why can’t you just come with me?” “Because there’s no way an aspiring DJ can make it in that stuck up place. Face it, if you go to Canterlot you’re off on your own. I can’t always be there for you if you keep taking the path that leads away from me.” Vinyl’s voice was scarily void of emotions. “Can’t you just-” “Give up my own dreams? Quit my career to follow you into my own misery? No Octavia, I can’t, and if this is your final decision, then fine. You’re on your own from now,” Withouteven dignifying Octavia with a bye the white mare rushed out of the bar and slammed the door shut behind her. The next day Octavia boarded the train for Canterlot and her new life. It had been five years since she had that fight with Vinyl. It was at the end of a July month. Was that why Vinyl had drunk herself unconscious? Octavia could feel the confidence she’d built up earlier that day fade slowly into nothingness. What had she been thinking in the first place? Because she realized that playing in Canterlot was not her true call after all she could just come back to Manehattan and everything would be fine between her and Vinyl? She wanted to just turn and run away, never look back. Maybe starting a new life in a smaller town? “Octavia?” The voice snapped her back to reality. “Are you okay?” “Yeah, I was just thinking.” “Well, I’m going to order a taxi for Vinyl. How about I leave her a message that you’re back in town and you guys can meet up here tomorrow?” “Thanks a lot. It was nice seeing you again Joe.” She gave him a hug before turning to leave for her destination. Spitfire’s holiday apartment. It was not a long walk; however Octavia’s mind was not in its usual state. She was not going to lie to herself, at the moment she just wanted to lie down and break into tears. By the time Octavia reached her destination she was on the brink of a breakdown. All the memories and feelings that had submerged in her by her arrival were way too much for her to handle. She started fumbling with the key Spitfire had given her earlier.Just as she got it out of her saddlebags the door opened in front of her. “Octavia, you’re here already? How’d it go?” The fiery maned wonderbolt asked her face filled with worry. Octavia could not hold it back anymore. She fell down on her haunches and started sobbing uncontrollably. “H-hey, it’s gonna be fine Octy. Come inside and tell me what happened okay?” Octavia seemed to calm a little. “I’m sorry, it’s just it’s been so long. I d-don’t really wanna talk about it right now. I just wanna go to bed. I’ll tell you everything tomorrow okay?” Exhaustion was written all over her face. It had been a long day filled with emotion and she was clearly not in the mood for talking. “You talk when you’re ready okay? There’s food in the fridge if you’re hungry. Your room is to the right at the end of the hallways, there’s a private bathroom in it.” “Thanks a lot Spitfire, it means a lot to me.” Octavia gave Spitfire a quick hug. “Good night.” She started walking down the hallway. “Night Octy,” the wonderbolt called after her. Octavia did not really pay the bedroom much attention. She just slumped down on the giant bed and buried her face in the pillow. Right now all her body wanted was sleep. However, her mind would not let her. When she finally drifted off to sleep she had no idea how long she’d lied there. There was one thing she did know; tomorrow was going to change her life. All she could do was pray that it was for the better.