//------------------------------// // Chapter Four // Story: Love and Music // by slade8283 //------------------------------// Chapter Four Vinyl smiled as she watched Octavia fall onto her couch. She ran upstairs and grabbed some blankets for the sleeping pony. That, she thought, was the single greatest night I have ever had, or will ever have for that matter. She walked back downstairs and put the blankets on the sleeping pony. Vinyl let out another smile. Oh just take a hint Octavia. Just once. Vinyl sat down in a chair next to Octavia. She let out a huge breath of relief, just as she after every show. It was just one her little routines she had for shows. After her fifth show, she started getting into a routine both before and after shows. She would always arrive at the stadium forty minutes before she was set to go on. That way she had plenty of time to get ready, and get herself warmed up. After the show, she would return to her chariot, fall into the same chair, and contemplate that night's show. But she already knew that that night had been different. She stood up, We haven't left yet. I better ask the drivers. Vinyl walked across the room and opened the door to the "pilot" as she liked to call him. Basically it was the pony who directed each pegasus flying her chariot. When she opened the door she didn't see him anywhere. Not only that, but the four pegasi that normally pulled her chariot were missing too. Something is definitely wrong here. She closed the door to the pilot and fell back into her chair. Just as Vinyl had finally relaxed and was beginning to doze off, three loud knocks came from the door to her chariot. After recovering from her near heart attack, Vinyl got up and went to the door. She quickly peeked through the peep hole and saw one of the greatest sights she's ever seen. Vinyl pulled the door so hard it almost came of its hinges, "Sapphire Shores!" she yelled as she hugged the earth pony before her. Vinyl quickly composed herself after realizing how stupid she had looked in front of her idol, "Um...sorry about that Miss Shores....I just didn't expect you to show up at my chariot. Is anything wrong?" She let out a quick gasp, "Oh please tell me you didn't come to criticize my show." Vinyl was frantic. Criticism was the only logical explanation she could think of. Sapphire just laughed, "Don't worry Vinyl I just came to congratulate you on a great performance. I really love your sound, and your message behind your lyrics." Vinyl was in shock. She's gotta just be messing with me. There's no was she liked it that much, she's Sapphire Shores for ponies sake! She closed her mouth, realizing it was agape, and resumed talking: "Wow thanks Miss Shores, it's a great honor to hear that from you." "It's nothing. Oh, you can call me Sapphire by the way." I can call her Sapphire! She would've been jumping up and down had the greatest pop star in Equestria not been standing in her doorway. "Oh, where are my manners? Please come in Sapphire." Sapphire ran a hoof through her mane, "Sorry Vinyl, but I can't. I kick off my world tour tomorrow and I need to get some sleep. I just came by to see if you wanted to come to the Musician's Gala next Saturday here in Canterlot. All of the biggest names in Equestria will be there." A huge smile broke a across Vinyl's face. This would be her first big "dress-up" event since her brother's wedding when she was still a filly. Play it cool Vinyl, she thought, let her know you're interested, but not that interested. She did her best to hide her smile, "Oh yeah...well I may have something going that day. I'll have to get back to you." Good work, she thought, satisfied with her acting. Sapphire smiled, "Great. Here's my number," she said as she gave Vinyl a piece of paper, "I need to go before my agent gets mad at me for losing sleep. I'll see you later Vinyl," she said with a wink. Vinyl woke up at noon to the sound of Octavia pounding on the door to her suite. "Vinyl I need to use your bathroom in there. Please it's the only one on the chariot!" Vinyl wasn't really sure why the manufacturers decided to put the bathroom on the second floor of a moving object, but she didn't complain. It was a pretty cool bathroom after all. Vinyl got out of bed and slipped her rob on. "Hold on I'm coming, I'm coming," she said reaching for the door knob, "Personally, I can't believe you're even up at thi-" She was interrupted by Octavia slamming the door in her face, "Sorry Vinyl, but I need to go NOW!" All Vinyl could respond with was a mumbled "Hmm...umm..." Vinyl walked down stairs and began pouring herself a bowl of cereal, her usual road breakfast. She had made it halfway through her breakfast by the time Octavia came trotting back down the stairs. "Sorry about that Vinyl, but the only bathroom on the entire chariot is in your room." Vinyl looked up at Octavia with her usual morning drowsiness and Octavia smiled, "Still not a morning person, huh?" Vinyl nodded and resumed eating. Octavia poured her own bowl of cereal and began eating. The two ate in silence until Vinyl decided she was awake enough to give Octavia the good news, "So Octavia, you'll never guess who came by last night. Sapphire Shores." Octavia spit out her mouthful of cereal upon hearing the news. "What?! The Sapphire Shores? No way! What did she want?" "Oh not much...she just wanted us to come to the Musician's Gala next Saturday at the Canterlot Castle." Octavia's eye began to twitch. Vinyl stared in wonder, "Umm...Octavia you alright? You look kind of shocked." Octavia shook her head and returned to herself. "Umm yeah I'm fine. It's just...the Musician's Gala...I've wanted to attend it ever since I was a filly." Vinyl was surprised at what she did next. Octavia reached over and gave a Vinyl a very long, "Thank you Vinyl. You've made one of my dreams come true." "Oh, well I didn't say yes." Vinyl said. She closed her eyes, Why would I say that? "WHAT?!" Octavia jumped up, kicking her chair halfway across the room. Vinyl flinched as Octavia slammed her hooves on the table, "HOW COULD YOU NOT SAY YES?" Octavia was hyperventilating at this point, breathing in and out so quickly it was beginning to disrupt her mane. Vinyl sighed, "Long story, okay? I'll call her right now and tell her to put us both down as guests." Vinyl pulled out her phone and dialed the number Sapphire had given her the previous night. Octavia retrieved her chair and sat back down. "Um...Vinyl?" Her tone had dramatically changed to one of pleading, "Do you think you could put it on speaker?" Vinyl almost fell out of her chair laughing. "You have to bipolar, I swear." Vinyl knew she wasn't, but it was just something she always loved to tease Octavia about, just like how Octavia loved to tease Vinyl about leaving stuff around her apartment. Vinyl finished dialing and the phone began to ring. Octavia gasped, "It's ringing, it's ringing!" Vinyl smiled, giving her a "come on Octavia, really?" look. The ringing stopped, "Hello?" Vinyl recognized Sapphire's voice. Apparently so did Octavia, since it looked like she was about to pass out from pure excitement. Vinyl spoke up first, "Hey Sapphire, it's Vinyl. I was just wondering if it was still possible to get me and a guest down for the gala." "Yeah, I could do th-" Octavia suddenly broke her silence, "Hi Sapphire! Oh my gosh it's Sapphire Shores! I can't believe I'm talking to Sapphire Shores!" Vinyl smiled at her friend. She had never seen Octavia get so excited before. Vinyl almost started laughing when she thought about it from Sapphire's perspective. "Oh, um...hi. You must be that pony that was sleeping on Vinyl's couch, right?" Octavia's smile vanished as her usual look of embarrassment quickly replaced it, "Yes. That was me." Vinyl jumped back into the conversation and pulled the call from speaker phone before it could get anymore out of hand, "So Sapphire, you said you could get us in right? Octavia here is just dying to go." It took a few seconds before Sapphire responded, "Yes I can get both you into the gala." Vinyl thanked Sapphire and hung up. She turned and looked at the hopeful earth pony. "Well Octavia, looks like you're going to the Musician's Gala."