//------------------------------//
// What am I to You? 
// Story: What am I to You? 
// by Midori_Kuroba 
//------------------------------//


What am I to You?


By: ChinchillaKingXam


Music roared, and the bass from it seemed to shake the very foundation of the night club. Ponies throughout the establishment bobbed their heads up and down to the repetitive dubstep as they let it shake their bodies into an electric groove. The sound of this powerful music was coming from a large number of speakers on stage with the pony who was pumping the music into them. Her spiky blue mane bobbed with her head, and her sunglasses glowed with every multi-colored flashing light that crossed her face. Her white mane was like a light in the dark, moreso than the stage lights, and it made her the center of attention as she stood behind her massive turn tables. Fog crawled across the floor around her hooves, trailing over the edge of the stage and into the crowd of ponies dancing to her music.

Not far to her right was a stallion, also wearing sunglasses much like her. His black mane was even spikier than hers, and his fur was a greyish teal. Unlike his unclothed companion, this stallion wore a black collored shirt and a white tie. While she was focused on the music, he was more focused on the special effects that made their show more flashy, occasionally adding his own spin to the mix.

When they got to a slightly more calm section in their chorus, Vinyl took advantage of it to look around the club. She raised her glasses, and scanned the wall as quickly as she could, until she found a grey mare with a well groomed black mane along the left wall. She released a breath that had built up in her tension and smiled even brighter than before knowing that her friend was there to support her.

Of course Octavia was there for Vinyl. She wasn't just her roommate, she was her best friend since they were foals. Why shouldn't Octavia come? Because no matter how many times she promised, Vinyl never came to any of her own shows? Octavia wasn't a vengeful pony, and she didn't hold any ill contempt towards Vinyl for it. Even if deep down it really hurt.

The music hurt her ears, and the dance of the wild party ponies annoyed her, but Octavia was always there for Vinyl to show her support. With Octavia spotted, Vinyl picked up the beat and dropped the bass before her music roared through the club again. This caused Octavia to cover her ears. No matter how many times she listened to Vinyl's music, she just couldn't get used to how loud it was.

When the show was finally over, and Vinyl walked off the stage, Octavia took it as her cue to meet her in back. As she made her backstage, she found the bodyguard had his hooves full with several fans who wanted to meet Vinyl. She casually made her way through the group, not a single one paying attention to her, until she got to the bodyguard. He smiled and said, “Hey Octavia. Go ahead, she's waiting for ya.”

She nodded her head in acknowledgement, and uttered a quiet, “Thank you,” before continueing forward.

Behind her, she could hear the ponies driven to an uproar. “Who the heck is she?” “Why does she get to meet Vinyl?” “Hey, mare! Can you get me in with you? I'll pay you!” Their words annoyed her. Of course they wouldn't know who she was. She was just a quiet, plain, earth pony who played outdated music on an oversized violin. So she ignored their words, whether they were laced with fire or milk and honey.

Beneath her calm demeanor, Octavia was a pile of nerves right now. That was because she had settled on tonight being the night that she would finally tell Vinyl how she felt about her. That she was a rude, selfish,  hypocrit that acted like a foal. That she was noisy, a complete flirt with complete strangers, and above all annoying. And last but not least... that she loved her more than any pony in Equestria.

Sure, Vinyl had a lot of flaws, but deep down that's why Octavia loved her. She wasn't perfect, far from it in fact, and she needed somepony to look after and take care of her. To feel needed, even by one pony, meant the world to Octavia. Vinyl had needed Tavi since they were roommates in college, and that's why despite the fact they obviously didn't get along very well, Octavia was the one who proposed they keep being roommates after they graduated. Vinyl was just happy to have a foalhood friend that she could count on there for her, despite not being very reliable herself.

The grey mare approached her friends changing room. Taking a deep breath and gathering her courage, she slowly opened the door and stepped in. One step was all she took before she froze in her tracks and a tear came to her eye, because as she walked in the first thing she saw was Neon Lights kissing Vinyl Scratch. Her heart ached, but as quickly as the tear appeared she sucked it back down with a deep breath.

The door kept going after she opened it and hit the wall. The loud thud startled the two ponies from their lip lock as they quickly turned to her. Vinyl breathed a sigh of relief when she saw who it was and said, “Tavi! Thanks for coming to the show! I know it's not really your... cup of tea? Is that how you say it? Anyways, it means a lot to me that you came.”

A soft smile appeared on Octavias lips, but vanished quickly. “Of course Vinyl. What are friends for? I was just about to head home. Sorry if I interrupted-”

“Oh no! No, it's fine! I'll come with you!”

Before she could rush to her friend excitedly, a hoof met her shoulder. She turned back to Neon, who said, “I thought we were going to go out and celebrate tonight.”

Vinyl's ears dropped and she bit her lower lip. “Ohhhh, yeah, sorry. It's just that I've been up for the past three days making that new sound for the show. I really want to relax tonight, Neon.”

His hoof slid under her chin, raising her lips up to meet his own. Octavia averted her gaze. When their lips parted he muttered softly, “And what better way is there to relax than going out and having a few beers with me?”

A giggled escaped the unicorn as she blushed gently from his affection. “I guess it couldn't hurt. Tavi, you don't mind-” When she looked back to the doorway it was empty, and her friend was no where to be seen. “Octavia?” Vinyl looked around the room worriedly and said, “Wait, where did she go?”

“Forget about that stick in the mud. She probably got jealous seeing us so affectionate because no one is interesting in her plain flank.”

“Hey!” Vinyl removed her glasses, as well as Neon's so she could glare him in the eyes. “Octavia is my best friend, so don't talk about her like that!”

Neon reared his head back worriedly from the other unicorn's glare. “Okay! Sheesh! I'm sorry, Vinyl. I was just teasing. I didn't think you'd take it so seriously.” He rubbed the back of his head and continued, “But you know, she really does seem like a lonely pony. She always comes to our shows alone, and then stays against the walls avoiding everyone. When I see her walking about, if she's not with you, she's not with anypony! Does she even look for a stallion?”

This got Vinyl thinking. She'd never seen Octavia with another pony, let alone knew if she was looking for one. Perhaps that's why Octavia always seemed so stressed, and sad. She didn't have anypony to call her own. “I guess you're right. She's done so much for me, maybe I can find her someone to go on a date with! You think she'd like that?”

“Heh, maybe if you found a stallion as snooty as she is.” Vinyl's brow furrowed, but she smiled and bumped her flank into his side. Neon stumbled and had a good laugh. “Okay, I'll stop. I just wonder what she looks for in a stallion.”

Meanwhile, while the two of them talked, Octavia had made her way outside. She wrapped a scarf around her neck to keep warm. It was Winter, and the streets were laced with ice and snow. She gazed out into the cold dark night with eyes half lidded and a heart as cold as the Winter breeze. She ignored the trots of a passing taxi as she slowly made her way home by hoof. She felt like walking tonight.

The image of Vinyl and Neon kissing kept repeating itself in her head. Tears finally flowed from her eyes and dripped to the pavement. Nopony was around to see, not that she ever showed her emotions in front of others, but tonight she just couldn't keep her tears from falling. Had she waited too long? No, Vinyl wasn't a filly fooler like she was. There had never been any hope for the two of them being more than just friends.

When the earth pony got home, she decided to wash away her sorrows with some music. Sad music would be too cliché and certainly wouldn't help her current mood, so she put a record of Beethooven on the record player, and relaxed in her bed. She hoped that maybe it would bring back her apetite, but instead it put her to sleep.

She was awoken from her slumber by the sound of the front door slamming shut. Startled by the abrupt sound she fell from bed with a gasp. “Tavi, I'm home!” came a rather strained shout from downstairs. Octavia checked her clock to see it was already eight in the morning.

Making her way downstairs, she found Vinyl at the dining table in their kitchen. Her hair was a mess and her face was against the flat wooden surface, her hooves rubbing her head as she groaned from an obvious hang over. “Vinyl, is everything al-”

She was silenced by a hoof raised in the air towards her face. “Not so loud, please. Can you make me some coffee? French vanilla, and I'll take it with lots of sugar. Oh, and, please.”

Rolling her eyes, Octavia quickly got to heating up some coffee to she could clear her friends head. There was much she could say, ridicule or comfort, but she decided to wait until her friend had her coffee. Vinyl seemed to perk up from the mere smell as steam wafted its way to her muzzle. Before she knew it, her friend had a hot mug of coffee on the table before her.

After blowing on it, Vinyl took a big gulp and sighed with relief. “I'm sorry, I lost track of time and ended up spending the night at Neon's. I hope I didn't make you worry last night.”

Shaking her head, Octavia responded, “Not at all, Vinyl. I knew you were with him, so I just came home and went to bed.”

Vinyl's face slowly formed into a frown. “Yeah, about that. Octavia, please sit down.” The earth pony raised an eyebrow, but did as she was asked. “Octavia, I noticed that you've been really lonely for a long time. I thought it was about time that you got out and started dating. You know, find a stallion that could make you happy.”

A shocked yelp left the unicorns lips as Octavia stood up so fast her chair was knocked over to the floor. As she began to leave the room, Vinyl got up and said, “Wait, Octavia! Don't be mad! I just wanted to help! I hate to see you so quiet and depressed all the time.” The mare paused in her attempt to storm off, and looked back to Vinyl with an expression she'd never seen on her friend before. Teeth visibly gritting, brow furrowed, and tears pouring from her eyes. Vinyl stepped back with her ears lowered and her mouth agape. “Oh my gosh... Tavi, you really are lonely, aren't you?”

Octavia couldn't hold back a sob as her gaze drifted to the tile floor of the kitchen. “Like you wouldn't believe.” A warm pair of hooves wrapped around her neck, and she felt her friends muzzle press into the back of her mane. She knew Vinyl was trying to comfort her, which only made it hurt more. “Please stop.”

“No.” Vinyl answered with eyes clenched shut. “You've always been there for me when I needed you. For once I want to be here for you. I'm just sorry it took me so long to see it, but you hide your emotions all the time. How am I supposed to know you're hurting, Tavi?”

“That's the point. You're not. Nopony is supposed to know. I keep my emotions bottled up because they're nopony elses business.”

Her friends hoof softly rested against her cheek, and guided her face till her eyes gazed into the firey red of the unicorns. “Not even me?”

A level of hurt could be seen in Vinyl's eyes, which caused Octavia to feel bad for her behavior. Her head sunk back to the floor as she said, “I'm sorry, Vinyl. You already have so much on your plate. I didn't want you to worry about me.”

“But that's what friends are for, right?”

Vinyl's smile was almost mocking to Octavia. Friends. Is that all they were? She had to know. She had to ask. So she looked her friend in the eyes and said, “What am I to you?”

The unicorn looked taken aback by the question. She removed her arms from her friend and asked, “What do you mean?”

Seeing as her friend didn't seem to understand, Octavia continued, “Am I just your foalhood friend? Am I an annoying snob, or a nopony you have to deal with?”

“Hey, I never said anything like that!” Vinyl wore an annoyed expression now. “You know I actually defend you when other ponies try to talk smack about you to me? I don't care what other ponies think! You're my friend! I care about you as much as you care about me!” Oh how Octavia wished that were true. “If anything, you're more than just a friend to me! You're like the big sister I never had and I love you.”

Octavia cringed when she heard those words. “You love me... like a big sister?”

“Well yeah! How could I see you as anything less?” The real question Octavia heard to herself was, 'How could I see you as anything more?' Vinyl was just trying to comfort her, to be a good friend, but Octavia's heart sank so low she could almost shake it out of her hoof and stomp on it. The unicorn noticed her solemn expression and said, “What's wrong, Tavi? I thought that would cheer you up, not make you sadder.”

Letting forth a stressed sigh, Octavia said, “I'll be fine Vinyl. Now is no time for me to be looking for love, in any case. I have a show tonight... it would make a great gift if you could come for once.” Octavia was of course reffering to the Heart's Warming Eve play held every year. That night was the night of the celebration and the exchanging of gifts, not to mention spending time with the ones you cared about.

But she knew automatically that her request was about to be denied by the expression on Vinyl's face. “Tonight? Ohhh, no Tavi, I can't make it. Neon Lights is playing at a large party tonight, and he wants me there for support and to help play some amazing beats. But hey, after the play, you can come to the party and join us for a night of-”

“No.” Ocatvia's interruption was quiet, but the word was so unexpected it froze Vinyl in mid-sentence.

“No? What do you mean Octavia?”

“Exactly what the word implies. I'm not going.” She looked at the unicorn with fury burning in her eyes. “Should I be happy that for once you didn't promise me you'd be there and just not show up? I don't appreciate the false hope that my friend who I've always support never supports me, but even less so I don't appreciate playing second fiddle to Neon Lights all the time!”

Vinyl held up a hoof and said, “Whoa, calm down Tavi! I support you! I just... tend to get busy... with Neon. Okay, that doesn't prove anything though! Of course I spend time with him! He's my stallionfriend!”

“He is not your stallion friend! He's a stallion and he's your friend!” Octavia's nostrils flared as she continued. “He probably just wants to be friends with benefits! If he's as wild as you are, then I know one day he's not going to be there for you when you need him most! And on top of that, I don't care if it's not important to you now, but one day your going to want to be with him forever and he won't commit! You don't need a party animal as irresposible as you! You need somepony calm and controlled to bring balance into your out of control life!”

“Shut up!” Octavia cringed. She'd never heard Vinyl shout in anger, and to have it be directed at her made her shrink immediately. She may have gone too far in her lecturing. The annoyed unicorn said, “Maybe what you need is someone like Neon to loosen you up a little bit! As for me, I don't want control in my life! I like to be free and to have fun! I like drinking alchohol and playing music that rocks ponies bodies! I don't need a snob like you telling me what I should do with my life! If I wanted that I'd move back in with my mom, or marry a pony like her!”

Octavia's lip quivered as she received a rather deserved scolding from her friend. “Vinyl, I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean-”

“And another thing!” Vinyl went on, fuming and ignoring her friend. “You don't know anything about Neon Lights! Do you ever even talk to him? Whether I'm there or not at least give him a chance Tavi! In fact, you know what? I don't want you to come to the party tonight! Just leave me alone!” Vinyl stormed up the stairs to their apartment, her hooves loud enough for one to think she was breaking the floorboard. “I thought you were different from all the local snobs, but your not. Way to finally show your true colors!”

She wanted to say something to her, but she was too hurt by the unicorn's words. The next thing she heard was the door to Vinyl's room slamming shut. In that moment, Octavia felt completely alone. She had seldom friends, but none she'd seen in ages, and the one she had left... the one she loved, probably hated her more than anypony right now. She wouldn't be surprised if she came home that night to an empty apartment and never saw Vinyl again.

As she made her way to her room she noticed that Vinyl's room was quiet. She must have her headphones on, since she only blaired her music when she was happy and wanted to share her joy. She couldn't find peace in the silence, for it held a depressing undertone. She went to her room and grabbed her cello, packing it up dressing for the cold weather outside. She then hefted the heavy instrument on her back, and carried it out into the Winter streets.

It was still early, and the play wasn't until evening, so she wandered around the streets for a bit hoping it would clear her head. She managed to calm down after a while, so she stopped in to Doughnut Joe's for lunch. She ordered her usual coffee and an apple fritter and settled into a booth, trying to collect her thoughts and think of how she could apologize to Vinyl later.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, trying to articulate the perfect apology, that she lost track of the time. The sun had begun to set, and Canterlot grew dim. Octavia gasped and hurried out of her seat, but before she could get out the door she heard Doughnut Joe call out to her. “Octavia!” She turned around with an inquiring look on her face. “I noticed you've been over there thinking all day. Anything you wanna talk about? Maybe something happened?”

Joe was about the only pony Octavia ever felt comfortable talking to about her problems. He had a strict policy of loose lips sink ships, and always had great advice. The play could wait, she needed somepony to talk to. She walked to the counter and said, “I had a fight with Vinyl. I said some things that I didn't mean to, and inadvertently hurt her. She said some mean things, and now I'm worried she's going to lock me out of her life. I've been trying to think of how to apologize to her. I can't lose her. Joe.”

He leaned on his counter, nodding to signify he was listening to her. “When a pony is angry, they don't realize two wrongs don't make a right. In the heat of the moment she may have said some hurtful things, but if you apologize to her I'm sure you can still be friends. I know you want more than that from Vinyl, but isn't it enough? Do you really need it more than want it? If you take that into consideration, I'm sure you can be happy with what you got.”

A feint rosey glow came to her cheeks. Ever since she confided her feelings for Vinyl in the unicorn, he could read her like a book on matters like this. “So you just assume I started the fight over my feelings for her?” He just smiled and looked at her, causing her to groan lightly. “Fine. I'm unhappy that she spends more time with Neon Lights than me. I really don't think he's good for her, but I can't let jealousy guide my words anymore. If he makes her happy, then I need to let her be happy.”

“That's a very mature thing, what you just said.”

Octavia reached over the counter and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Thanks for the talk, Joe. You always know what to say. If more stallions were like you, I'd consider dating them.” This made Joe laugh as he waved her off. “Thanks again!” And with that, she rushed out the door to the shop and off to the amphitheater where the play was being held.

The guard pony in back recognized her and stepped aside as she rushed in. She wasn't too late, the play hadn't begun, and she had time to collect herself and prepare. She began take off her wintery clothes, when one of the stage hands approached her. “Excuse me mam, but there's a pony on the phone for you.”

Little to say Octavia was of course surprised. Who would call a theater where a play was about to begin, and ask for her specifically? She decided to follow the stage hand, and made her way past the other ponies that would be playing music as well as acting in the play.They finally came to the main office, where the phone in question was off the hook and on a table. She approached it, and carefully lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello? Who is this?”

“Tavi! Thank Celestia I got a hold of you!”

“Vinyl?!” The unicorn had called the theater knowing she would be there, but why? She heard the sound of sniffles and pathetic sobs on her friends end. “Vinyl, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Did something happen?”

“Yes! Something horrible happened! My mom's in the hospital, Tavi! She got liver cancer from drinking too much alchohol! They diagnosed her with six months to live! I'm freaking out, Octavia! I need moral support really bad right now!”

She didn't want to sound cold towards her friend, especially with what she must be going through from this news. Octavia attempted a concerned and caring tone as she asked, “Then why didn't you try to get in contact with Neon?”

A loud cry came from the other end and she had to hold the phone away from herself for a moment. “I already did! You were right about him, Tavi! When I told him, he didn't seem even a little upset! And then, when I told him she had six months left, he said I shouldn't worry about it and to get to the party already! I don't want to party, my mom is dying!” 

Vinyl's sobs went right to Octavia's heart. “I'm coming home right away!”

“B-B-But what about the play?”

The earth pony looked up to the stage hand and said, “Inform the director that I will be absent due to a personal problem. If he truly needs a cello, give it to Silver Note.”

A gasp could be heard from the phone. “No, Tavi! He's your nemesis and rival! You hate him!”

“I don't hate him as much as I care about you! My decision is final! I'm coming home right away, and I'm going to help you through this!”

Her friend was silent for a moment until she snorted loudly. “Thank you so much, Octavia. I can always count on you.” Hearing those words brought warm tears to the mare's eyes. “I'll see you when you get home.”

Both mares hung up the phones, and while the stage hand ran off to inform the director, Octavia rushed to get out the door. She didn't bother grabbing her cello. It had her name on it and would only slow her down, so she'd collect it later. Out the door she went, nearly knocking over the guard before she ran down the street, ignoring carriages and pedestrians in her rush.

After fidgeting with the front door's lock for a moment, she hurried in and up to Vinyl's room. He charge froze when she got close, and much to her shock, she heard a cello being played. Not just any cello, her cello! She pushed open the door to Vinyl's room, and the sound was coming from her radio. On the desk next to it was the case to one of her own personal albums she'd made with her classical music band.

Vinyl was curled up on her bed, sobbing into her pillow. She looked up with puffy red eyes, and when she saw Octavia she leapt from her bed and wrapped her hooves around her friend. “Oh, Octavia, thank you! I've never needed you more in my life right now!”

'Don't read too far into that. She just needs emotional support,' Octavia thought to herself. She wrapped her own hooves around her friend and said, “I'm here for you, Vinyl.” They broke the embrace, both of them with big smiles now. “Did you talk to her?”

The unicorn's eyes went wide, and she hung her head shamefully, scratching at her carpet with her hoof. “Well, they offered for me to... but I just couldn't do it.”

“Vinyl Scratch! You're mother is in be sick, and dying and you didn't talk to her?! You should be ashamed!” Vinyl cringed and shrank under her friends scolding. Octavia marched over to the phone in her room and picked it up. “You call her this instant!”

Reluctantly, Vinyl walked over and took the phone with her magic. She spun the dial, calling the hospital, and waited for an answer. She had to talk to a couple of different doctor's and be put on hold occasionally, but she finally got through to her mom. “Hey mom.”

“Vinyl? Is that you? Oh, I'm so happy to hear your voice.” Octavia could hear her speaking feintly.

“I'm sorry I didn't call sooner mommy. I-I just needed to collect myself. How did this happen?”

“I'm the one that should be sorry. I've been drinking myself to death for a year now. I don't know if it was out of depression, or because I'm a worse party animal than you. You must be ashamed of me.”

Hot fresh tears slid from the edges of Vinyl's eyes. “I could never be ashamed of you, mom. You were always fun, and a loving mother. I always wanted to repay you for everything you did for me.” She could hear her mother sobbing softly. “And I promise you... I'm not going to let you go without doing something that will make you proud!”

“Oh, my silly filly. You already have made me proud. I'm sorry I've done this to you, Vinyl. I love you.”

“I love you too mom! And I'm coming to see you tonight! I-I'll be there soon, just you wait!”

“Good bye, my sweet.”

After those words were spoken, a busy tone could be heard. “Hello? Mommy?!” She bit her lower lip and hung up the phone. “Octavia, I have to get to the hospital now! Please come with me!”

“Of course!” she responded without hesitation. Octavia helped her friend dress for the cold and rushed out tof the apartment with Vinyl, who shut and locked it behind them with her magic so they wouldn't have to slow down for even a second. She didn't bother fetching her glasses, she was in such a rush. The unicorn was in such a hurry, she began to run faster than Octavia was capable of. The earth pony had more stamina than speed. “Vinyl, slow down! You're going to tire out too quickly, and I can't keep up!”

Just as she had said, Vinyl's speed began to lessen gradually as she wore herself out. Her breathing grew louder, and if it hadn't been for the cold temperature she might be covered in sweat. While trying to take deep breaths to regain herself, Vinyl said, “I can't slow down! My mommy, she needs me!”

A cute squeak of shock left the unicorn's lips as she felt something slip inder her and lift her off the ground. She yelped as her hooves stopped touching pavement, and her body did a backflip, before landing on her friends back. Octavia showed her strength from carrying her cello around all the time in that moment as she had flipped her friend onto her back. “Hold on tight, Vinyl! I'm not stopping till we get there!”

Joy sparked across Vinyl's lips as she cheered, holding on to her friend's back and looking onward with a determined face. True to her word, it wasn't long before the hospital came into view. Having regained herself a little, Vinyl jumped off Octavia's back and rushed in through the glass front doors. She almost crashed through them, had they not auntomatically opened fast enough. When she got to the front counter she said, “Excuse me! Can you tell me which room Mrs. Scratch just checked into tonight?!”

Shocked at first by the unicorn skidding to a halt in front of her desk, she looked through her computer and said, “She just checked into room thirty seven on the third floor two hours ago, but-” Vinyl shot off down the hall, with Octavia close behind panting as exhaustion finally began to take it's toll on her. “Wait! You can't go-”

The two mares were out of earshot before she could finish her sentence. Vinyl found the elevators and hit the button, and to their luck there was one ready for them. Octavia got in behind her just in time for the doors to close, and she took a moment to lean against the wall of the elevator and catch her breath. The elevator ride seemed like it took forever, especially with the impatient unicorn's constant muttering for it to hurry up.

When they got to the third floor, Vinyl seemed to try and pry the doors open and get out. Octavia made haste to follow her, and they both followed the signs to room thirty seven. When they found it, there was a doctor speaking to a nurse just outside. When he saw them approach, he looked startled and quickly blocked their way. Vinyl crashed into him in her frenzy and shouted, “Ow! What's the big idea, doc?! My mom's in there! I have to see her!”

“You're Vinyl Scratch, her daughter? I'm sorry, but I can't let you go in there.”

“Why the buck not?! I don't care what your visiting hours are! If she's asleep I promise I won't disturb her! I just want to be with my mom before she-”

“Miss, please!” Vinyl looked at him with a confused expression and misty eyes. “I'm sorry, Vinyl... There's no easy way to say this. After your phone call...”

He remained silent, avoiding her gaze. Octavia gasped and covered her mouth, her own eyes welling with tears. Vinyl looked between them, and then her face paled even more than her white fur should allow. “No... NO!!!” Vinyl shoved past the doctor and his nurse, into the room. She froze at the sight of her mother in a hospital bed, eyes closed and a smile on her face, her heart monitor flat lined. The unicorn's lip quivered and her vision blurred with salty tears. “Mommy? M-Mommy?”

She slowly made her way to her mother's side, siffling and sobbing lightly until she laid the side her face against her mother's chest. There was no pulse, and her body was cold. Vinyl screamed as loud as she could, tears pouring onto her mother's hospital gown. She screamed again, as if her cries to the heaven's would bring her mother back. “It's not fair! They said you had six months to live! You can't leave me, there was so much I wanted to tell you! You may not have been the best mom in the world, but you were my mommy! You were my mommy!”

Sobbing miserably, Vinyl became frantic and banged on her mother's chest, yelling at her to wake up in an almost incoherent voice. Octavia rushed over and grabbed her friend, dragging her away from her. “Vinyl, calm down! You have to calm down!”

“Noooo! Let me go! Let me GO! Waaahaaa! Mommy! Mommy! MOMMEEE!!”

Octavia dragged her out into the hall and hugged her friend's face into her chest, letting her cry her eyes out and sob like a filly. Tears streamed from Octavia's eyes as well, as both mares clenched their eyes shut and hugged without any spoken words. Vinyl suddenly broke the hug and backed away from the earth pony, and then to her shock she took a bottle of what seemed to be alchohol out of her jacket. Her eye went wide and she tried to grab the bottle from her friend. “What in Tartarus do you think you're doing, Vinyl?!”

“Let me go! I need it!”

“Your mother just drank herself to death and I won't let you do the same! Your mother's ghost would haunt me for the rest of my days if I let you take even a sip of this!”

“I don't care!” Octavia glared and managed to yank the bottle from her friend and throw it away. “NO!” Vinyl's horn sparked, but her emotions kept her from focusing her magic, and the bottle crashed against the floor. It shattered and the liquid contents spilled across the floor, but luckily a janitor was nearby and quickly rushed to the broken bottle to make sure no ponies got hurt. Octavia then gave Vinyl a firm smack in the face, leaving her dumbfounded and rubbing her cheek. “You slapped me,” she muttered quietly.

Her nostrils flared as Octavia said, “And I'll smack you a thousand more times if you try to drink another drop of alchohol! This is exactly the kind of thing your mother wouldn't want you doing. I know you're sad she's gone. I am too! You're mother was more a mother to me than even my own mother, but she's gone now. You need to accept it, Vinyl. Otherwise you'll never be able to move on. I don't want you to move on right away, but show some respect and control!”

Vinyl hung her head and hugged her friend, sniffling loudly. “You're right, Octavia. I just... I miss her already.” This made her the grey pony's lip quiver, and she stroked Vinyl's mane before kissing her brow. The blue maned pony blinked and hung her head a little. “Octavia... what am I to you?”

The words seemed to come out of nowhere to Octavia and her eyes went wide. “What do you mean?”

Wiping away fresh tears, Vinyl said, “Am I a burden to you? Have I been since colledge? Am I a hypocrit and a liar? Are you just too nice to tell me what a horrible pony I am? Or am I just a child that you feel like needs to be taken care of, because she just can't take care of herself?”

This made Octavia shake her head with a sad sigh. “You silly little filly. I could never think ill of you, Vinyl. You may have your flaws, but I do too. Everypony does, and the fact that you have so many... I do think you need to be taken care of, and for me that's a priveledge. I love to be there for you, Vinyl, because... I love you.”

“Well I love you to, but-” Vinyl paused when she saw the look in Octavia's eyes. One filled with desire and longing. “Oh... oh my gosh... you don't mean 'love me like a sister' do you?” The classy pony's teeth clenched and a frog formed in her throat, but she fought her body's resistence and shook her head. “You... love me? Have I been that blind? How long have you even... I-I just can't believe... Gosh, I'm so stupid!”

Octavia raised her hoof with misty eyes and softly said, “Vinyl, I'm sorry I never told you. I just thought-”

Vinyl stepped back from her friend's hoof and said, “I need to think! I-I need cold air! It's just too much to deal with!” And with that, she twisted around and ran away, down the hall and out of sight.

Sorrow swept over Octavia like an Autumn breeze. She looked to the doctor and bowed gently. “I'm terribly sorry about all of this.”

He shook his head and said, “There's no need to be. You both lost somepony close to you. I just hope... you don't lose one more miss. Take good care of her.”

A warm smile managed to cross her lips for the blink of an eye, but quickly changed back into a frown. She turned around and slowly made her way down the hall, back towards the elevators. When she approached them, she noticed there was a staircase next to them, and decided to take her time getting down to the first floor. She wanted to calm down a little, and took her time climbing down the stairs until she was back on the first floor.

When she finally left the hospital, she was shocked when she saw a particular spiky blue mane on a unicorn who was sitting on the stairs that led up to the hospital. She slowly approached, and to her surprise the pony said, “Come sit with me, Octavia?” She was silent for a moment, but continued forward and sat next to her. Both ponies sat there in the cold Winter night air, staring forward and silently. “I'm sorry I ran away. It's just... my mom just died, you confess your love to me, and it's all just a lot to take in. I can't keep running from my problems tough. I've decided to give up alchohol. Not even wine coolers. I'm done with the stuff.”

Octavia looked to her friend in awe, and her face became contorted with a smile and tears. “Vinyl, I'm so proud of you. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't of said those things-”

“But they were true.” Vinyl finally looked towards her, locking her red eyes with her violet ones. “Neon Light's is a party pony, and that's not the kind of stallion I need in my life. Maybe what I need isn't a stallion at all. Since when do I conform to what society deems as normal? Maybe what I need is a mare... one who is 'calm and controlled, to bring balance into my out of control life'. Do you know anypony like that?” 

Vinyl flashed her a smile, making Octavia giggle a little. “You can be such a brat sometimes.”

Both mares scooted into each other's embrace. “Well, I'm your brat. Maybe, someday, I can be more than that.”

Octavia blinked and raised an eyebrow. “What are you trying to say?”

This made the uncicorn chuckle softly. “For somepony so smart, you can be really dense. Octavia... will you... how do I say this? Are you... 'free' this Friday night?”

The mare's heart nearly beat out of her chest as a warm glow rose to her cheeks, warming her body from the cold night air. She hugged Vinyl tight and rested her chin on her shoulder. “I am.”

Vinyl gulped cutely, looking a little nervous and happy Octavia couldn't see. “Then I was wondering, would you like to go on... a date? Maybe dinner and a movie?”

“That sounds wonderful.” As she reared her head back, she was shocked as Vinyl locked lips with her. She melted into the kiss, eyes rolling back and ears dropping. When the kiss broke she had a goofy smile on her face. She pulled Vinyl into another warm embrace, this one a little tighter, and said, “Thank you, Vinyl.”

Vinyl cringed gently from the hug, but she just smiled and returned it happily. “No, Octavia. Thank you.”



THE END