//------------------------------// // Chapter Ten- A Warming Heart // Story: Notes Of Time // by MLPxMaestro //------------------------------// Notes Of Time: Chapter 10- A Warming Heart: “I promise Octy, and don’t worry, she won’t get into any kind of trouble with me.” Said Vinyl waving back to Octavia, as her and Octave made their way out of Octavia and Maestro’s hotel room. Making their way over towards the elevator, Vinyl then whispered into Octave’s ear. “Don’t worry, with me around you can have a bit of troublemaking and get away with it.” “Why?” Octave wondered, knowing that if she said in front of her mother, she wouldn’t be going anywhere with her daughter. “Because I’m just that awesome of a friend that’s why! Now come on, let’s boogie! I’ll even race ya over to the ice cream store just across the street from this place once we get down to the main floor.” Said Vinyl. “Cool! Ice cream before lunch!” “You bet! Because having your dessert before lunch is always the best part of the day…before you gotta eat the boring healthy stuff afterward that is.” Octave looked back up at her, wondering if she was even serious as far as the ‘boring healthy stuff’ was considered. “Oh what am I kidding, we’ll have pizza after that! You can even choose where we eat. Just name it, and it’s yours ya silly filly.” Vinyl added roughing up her mane a little bit. “Hey! I just brushed you know!” Octave then tried to manage her mane the way it originally just before Vinyl did that. “Oh right hahaha! I forgot you still care about your appearance and all that. Well at least you’re not totally like your mom, otherwise I’d be in trouble.” “Yeah, and I’d sooo tell on you.” Octave replied with a smile, as they continued heading down in the elevator before hitting the main floor. The second the elevator door opened, Vinyl managed to get a heads start on Octave when she shoved her slightly to the side. “Hey! Not fair Vinyl! Or should I say Aunt Scratch?!” Octave called out to her behind her by mere feet away. This remark cause Vinyl to stop in her tracks, and look back at Octave with a ‘you know I don’t like being called that’ sort of expression on her face. However, clever as Octave was, she flew right past Vinyl, and out across the street ahead of her. “Wow you little filly…just wow! Not fair ya know?!” she raised her voice to her from across the street. “It was still worth it!” Octave jumped up and down in place happily. “Ugh, fine…you win, wait for me though and we’ll head in together.” Said Vinyl, now taking her sweet time getting across the street to her. A bell for the door chimed as soon as the two opened it and entered into the ice cream parlor for a nice frozen tasty treat that seemed a bit on the rare side for Octave. “You know I’ll admit, you’re pretty quick for a filly your age.” “I uh…have had practice.” “Doing…what exactly?” Vinyl then raised and eyebrow. “Um…uh…” Octave then looked around her as some kids her age would do before telling somepony something personal. “You promise not to tell my mom?” “Pfft, you’re kidding right? No way in Equestria would I do that to you.” Vinyl replied. “Okay, well…I’ve gotten practice when me and my dad…well…” “Yeah?” Vinyl leaned in closer out of curiosity as for what it could be. “Prank some houses whenever mom’s out giving music lessons to other young colts and fillies.” Octave confessed. “Hahahaha! That’s awesome! I’d so wanna get in on some of that action!” “Heh, yeah, me and him have had so many close calls. I like how at his age, he still acts like he’s young. I’ve seen pictures of him as soon as him and mom got married before I was born. But anyways, yeah, I’ve pretty much gotten a lot of practice of running from households that nearly seemed to catch us in our, uh…” “Mischief?” Vinyl added. “Yeah, that word.” Octave smiled a bit. After they got their cones, they decided to head out and make their way down to the beach as they kept enjoying the moments of hanging out together. They each shared to one another funny and unforgettable mishaps that could be laughed about and remembered for years to come it seemed. As far as their ice cream cones were concerned, Vinyl got some of her favorite flavors. She got a scoop of cookies and cream, along with a scoop of vanilla bean with sprinkles under it. Octave didn’t really have much of a favorite; she almost liked all of them surprisingly…almost being the keyword. She herself merely had one scoop that’d do nothing more than satisfy her seemingly constant sweet tooth. No more than a scoop of strawberry was all it took for her to satisfy her usual craving for sweets. She loved sweets, but she knew how to savor them and make them last. Octave as well enjoyed sneaking a bite or two of some of her mother’s imported chocolates that came from Germaney. Her father however had an even bigger craving for sweets than she did. He was so bad one night…yes it was nighttime…he ate half a box of chocolate chip cookies, half a dozen donuts, and a bowl of Octave’s own sweet cereal she enjoyed for breakfast. He ended up having to miss out on work for over two days straight, and was sick even longer overall, considering his terribly upset stomach after all of that. “We hardly ever have much ice cream at my house, yum!” said Octave devouring her cone. “Really? Wow…I have some all the time at my place, if you ever wanna come by and visit or something.” “I’d love to visit you! Of course I need-” “You need your mom’s permission first before coming over…” Vinyl trailed off saying, and not even glancing over at Octave as she said it. “Um, right…yeah that.” Octave chuckled a bit. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the beach faster than they figured they would. Even better, Vinyl could then see the ship she had her first sea tour off into the great distance. It was a large cruise ship that was making its way back into the mainland, and linking back up with the docks for any repairs or maintenance touch ups it ever needed. The ship gave off a loud sudden noise from its horn, signaling that it had made it back safely. Vinyl then looked back at it once more, then noticed Octave had been looking at the same thing. The little filly caught onto her expressions when Vinyl looked off towards its direction. “What’s that cruise ship for exactly?” “Well cruising of course.” Vinyl chuckled. “What else do you think it could be for?” “Uh…how about a music tour at sea for you? I still don’t know why you quit touring or whatever? You’re still young and pretty and stuff…why did you stop?” Vinyl then sighed. “It’s nothing to worry about, I’m cool about it.” She tried to smile it off back to Octave, but the filly wasn’t buying it, and kept staring at her determined to find out the answer. “Okay, okay fine…” Vinyl and Octave then proceeded down the coastline as she carried on to Octave about what happened and why she had to stop. She continued down the beach, as the edges of the waves washed up on shore and touching their hooves daintily. The cool refreshing coastal air seemed to keep Vinyl’s mind clear and free of most clutter that tended to carry on within that musical genius brain of hers. With a second sigh, she looked off out to the ocean as they both ended up on a boardwalk overlooking some of the water beneath them and out beyond the horizon. “Sooo…is that why Neon Lights had to leave you as a partner?” “Yep, that pretty much sums it up kiddo.” Vinyl replied with a straightforward response on the truth as to why. “But…surely there has to be more than that?” “Well uh, there was…like other artists, Dj’s, Mix masters, whatever you wanna call them. They stole some of my greatest hits before I even had the time to get a copyright on about three of them I’d say.” “But you had so much money? Why couldn’t you manage to get a copyright before-” “I dunno…it was just a stupid decision for me to put the stuff out there before I did. I figured…well if I’m like the biggest name, or well one of the biggest names in music throughout Equestria, nopony would wanna mess with me. But I can now see that I was misled by my own bravado I guess. I figured long story short, they wouldn’t mess with me or my stuff since I was so big in the music industry, and that they would have to…ah forget it.” “It’s fine Vinyl, you don’t have to keep saying it.” Octave stopped her, not wanting to see her seem anymore frustrated with herself than she was already. Though Vinyl was good at hiding her feelings, being troubled with something was not her strong suit as far as hiding that particularly was concerned. “Thanks Octave, I appreciate it.” Vinyl then turned back to face Octave square in her little eyes. “Ya know…you’re a great kid, and you got a great family too.” She then placed a hoof upon her shoulder, and then realized that nopony else was around on the boardwalk, as the sun started to set. “Thanks a lot Vinyl, I’m well, kind of surprised to hear you say that. I’ve never really seen you this open with somepony.” “Eh well, I’m not, you’re right about that, I don’t like to. I know though that even though your young, you’re a smart filly, smartest and most understanding filly I’ve ever seen.” “Thanks again.” Octave giggled. “If I ever wanted a…well…” “What is it?” Octave leaned in a bit closer to her, acting much more mature for her age than what she really was at the time the two of them were talking on the boardwalk “A…well…daughter…I’d want her to be sort of, like you I guess, I dunno.” Vinyl then turned off to another direction, preventing any more idiocy and embarrassment to stack up on her emotions. Vinyl couldn’t stand looking like a softy in front of friends, though deep down she had a great heart. “Um…thanks I guess?” Octave not really understanding it fully, and began to feel a bit awkward or weird at that moment she said that to her. A few more moments of awkward silence was shared between the two of them, but Octave then broke the silence and hugged Vinyl. “W-what do you think you’re doing Octave?! G-get off, I’m not that soft now, conversations over and all that…now please stop hugging me, heh.” Vinyl scratched the back of her head and looked around to see if anypony was watching them as Octave hugged her friend. But Octave however considered her closer than a mere friend. “I love you Vinyl…wish you’d let me call you aunt.” Said Octave hugging up to Vinyl’s own chest. She was speechless, and yet deep inside of Vinyl’s own self, she felt warmth from this filly. It was like nothing but love and care radiated from her, and seemed to stir something up inside of Vinyl. Never had the Dj expected to shed a single tear from her face, as she felt like actual family to her at that certain place and time. It made her think that, maybe being a little soft isn’t so bad after all. She felt a great feeling of love from Octave, who considered her like the pony she knew Vinyl didn’t want her calling her. The Dj realizing this, she then opened up to her like she might not have ever opened up to anypony else except her close friend Octavia. She noticed Octave had so many characteristics from her own mother, Octavia. How certainly mature and understanding she was, how open-minded, sympathetic. Calm and collected she was…just like her mother in times of serious and delicate subjects. Vinyl never wanted her to reply or say anything about what she said; all she wanted was somepony to hear her out, that’s all. This coming from a mere filly of her age shocked her, but yet made her feel welcome, appreciated, and loved like she hadn’t been in years it seemed. “O-Octave?” said Vinyl, as Octave could notice the difference in the one of her voice. It seemed more of care and other positive things. “Yeah?” Octave looked back up, letting go of Vinyl thereafter. “You can call me Aunt Scratch if you want. I uh…sure…go right ahead kid.” Vinyl replied, as she then brought in Octave like they were family. “Yay…it’s about time.” Said Octave, her humorous remark caused Vinyl to then laugh for a short moment there. “Yet you still got Maestro’s sense of humor. After things clear up, he’s the one to hit it off with a little laugh or two to make the subject brighten up a bit if he ever can.” “Yep...that’s my dad…and yeah, I get that from him.” Octave giggled. The sun had then set, as Vinyl and Octave had an awesome evening hanging out together. They both arrived back at Octavia and Maestro’s room, as Octavia seemed to yet feel a change of aura about Vinyl for some reason. “I trust everything went well today? How did you day go Octave dear?” “It went great mom, we got some ice cream, walked the beach, and talked about all kinds of stuff!” “Well I’m delighted that you had a wonderful time with Vinyl.” Octavia then turned back to the doorway of her room, noticing Vinyl seemed a bit…different standing there. Her expression seemed a little unlike the usual one Octavia knew and expected about her. “How did everything go with you?” Octavia asked Vinyl. “Oh, wha- me? Yeah, I had a great time with her! We told some jokes, talked about all kinds of funny stuff and awesome stuff that happened to us. She’s great by the way Octy…you should be lucky to have her as your daughter. I was uh, shocked to realize just how much she is like you.” Said Vinyl. This comment made Octavia speechless, not understanding what she meant by that. Surely this wasn’t Vinyl speaking this from her very mouth? “Vinyl? Is everything okay?” “What? Yeah no worries Octy…I’ll just be on my way back, and leave you three together or whatevs. See ya round Octave, we’ll hang some other time, count on it.” Vinyl waved back, as she then left out of sight from the doorway. “Aww…she didn’t even say hi to me.” Maestro pouted playfully to get his daughter in a good mood. “Yeah dad…she didn’t want to sign autographs to ponies like you.” Octave giggled. “Hush for a moment you two…” Octavia said getting off of the bed, and walking out into the hallway to the sight of Vinyl making her way back to her own room. “Vinyl?!” “Huh?” Vinyl looked back, surprised to see her even bother, thinking she eluded the classy pony with her change of mind in certain ways. “Just wait up for second okay?”