Chapter 6
Return To Life
For the next two weeks, Octavia watched everything Sandals did while performing more Hoof Detoxes. It was hard every time, seeing Vinyl just limply hanging from the magic of the unicorns. But it seemed that Vinyl was regaining color with each detoxing. When Doctor Hoofstein checked her eyes, he reported that her eyes were clearing up. Vinyl even stopped vomiting for a time. Which was a relief and when she did get sick, Octavia paid close attention to notice that there was no blood! It seemed that the detoxes were proving to be working.
Vinyl still slept a lot, which was to be expected. She kept her food and medicine down, which was good. She still remained silent, moaning and sometimes drooling but not much, to Octavia's wonder. Even her breathing was coming out normally now. Hoofstein would check her progress with blood tests, saying that her blood cell count had increased and that there were less dead cells. To Octavia, that was the best news she could hope for.
After every detox Octavia paid close attention to the water. She could see that the water did indeed change colors every time, but the smell was still there. But this last one, there was no smell. She grinned at Sandals to see her smile too.
It had been a month since Octavia got Vinyl to Ponyville and the weather was getting colder, winter was coming. It had been a week since Vinyl had a detox, Hoofstein suggested that it’s best to give Vinyl a break and to fight off the poisons herself, now that she had gotten most of the poisons out. Octavia then started giving Vinyl the stronger medication to help her immune system fight back.
One morning, Octavia woke up and shivered from the cold, snuggling closer to Vinyl to keep warm. Since the weather was getting colder, the basement also got cold. As she snuggled into the white mass, she felt somepony's hoof stroking her mane. She enjoyed the pet but something was wrong. She stiffened at the thought. She sat up with a yelp, falling off the bed. She groaned, rubbing the back of her head. She sighed glaring at the ceiling. Suddenly the face looked at her with a small grin. Octavia sat up staring at the white unicorn seeing her sleepy, rosy eyes.
"Hey Tavi." Octavia felt tears burn her eyes as she jumped into the bed hugging Vinyl.
"You're back! Oh thank Celestia you're back Vinyl!" Vinyl weakly fell on her side with Octavia on top of her crying. Vinyl only grinned back with tears of her own.
"I thought I was dreaming of you but when I woke up I saw you there and..." Vinyl weakly hugged Octavia, crying. "I thought I would never see you again!"
Octavia hugged her back, careful of how tight she held Vinyl. "I thought... Oh Vinyl! I thought I was going to lose you!" She said sitting back helping Vinyl back on the bed stroking her mane. Vinyl closed her eyes feeling her hoof in her mane.
"Seriously Octavia. I... when I saw you back at Canterlot..." She grinned closing her eyes. "It was a dream come true."
Octavia shushed her stroking her. "Just go back to sleep, Vinyl."
Vinyl snapped her eyes open sitting up. "No, I can't! What if- mmph!" Octavia's lips were on hers, relaxing her frantic thoughts. Once they parted Vinyl smiled.
"Nothing is going to happen to me, Vinyl. You need your rest. Go back to sleep." She whispered soothingly as Vinyl laid back down looking up at Octavia with a smile.
"Are you sure this isn't a dream?"
"No Vinyl, this isn't a dream." Octavia whispered soothingly, kissing her on the head and stroking her to sleep. Vinyl's eyes soon became heavy, and she fell asleep shortly after. Octavia sighed, shakily wiping her eyes. She looked at her phone to see the time. It was only eight in the morning. She grinned and carefully left the bed to trot upstairs to tell everypony the news.
She reached the door and opened it, entering the brightly lit kitchen. "Octavia?" Bonbon exclaimed seeing Octavia in the kitchen. "Is there something wrong? You're crying!"
"Vinyl actually woke up for real!" Octavia grinned nodding.
"Really?" Bonbon gasped and smiled.
"Yes, but she's back asleep now. Where's Lyra?"
Bonbon smiled. "She's taking the kids to school. I can't wait to see her face. You know how worried she was."
Octavia nodded sniffing. "We were all worried. But she... I just can't believe it."
At lunch time, Octavia, Lyra, and Bonbon went downstairs to see Vinyl waking up from her nap. She smiled at her friends.
"Hey," She said weakly. Lyra was on the verge of tears.
"If you weren't so sick, I would beat the crap out of you for scaring me like that!" She cried. Vinyl nodded.
"I deserve it. I didn't know you took me here, Tavi." Vinyl whispered. Octavia stroked her face.
"Of course, this was your home before. I figured the best place to help you would be here."
Vinyl was silent and nodded. Bonbon carried the tray with Vinyl's vegetable soup and placed it before her. "Here you go, eat up." Vinyl made a face sniffing the soup.
"I've been eating this?"
"Yes," Octavia said sternly. Lyra floated a spoon with her magic and scooped some soup to feed Vinyl. Vinyl made a look at her.
"You're too weak to use magic Vinyl. Just eat the damn soup." Vinyl sighed and sipped the soup angrily. She licked her lips, continued her pouty glare to the ground. Octavia and Bonbon laughed at that.
"Same old, Vinyl." Octavia said chuckling.
Later Octavia was napping next to Vinyl. Vinyl begged for her to tell her what had happened so Octavia retold what all happened since she called her. Vinyl gulped after that blushing.
"Wow... I was really sick huh?"
Octavia nuzzled her making Vinyl grin. "You still are. It's just a good sign seeing you awake and talking again. You had me worried, Vinyl. I thought I made a horrible mistake in taking you to my hotel room than to a hospital." Vinyl nuzzled her back getting closer to keep warm from the cold.
"I'm happy that you didn't or He would have found me." Octavia looked down at Vinyl then looked behind her to see Vinyl's tail from the blanket remembering the strange marks on her back.
"Who is this He? I thought you were only hallucinating." Octavia paused stroking Vinyl on her back. "Did he hurt you?" Her hoof stopped over where the marks were. She felt Vinyl stiffen.
"I don’t want to talk about it." She said moving away from her hoof. Octavia found this odd.
"Vinyl... I'm just concerned for you. Can you tell me?"
"I can't." Vinyl said sniffing. "I won't." She paused turning to Octavia to see her worried expression. "Maybe in the future when I'm stronger, not now. Good night." Octavia sighed snuggling close to her side feeling Vinyl's snout in her mane.
"Good night, Vinyl."
Another week went by and everypony was impressed with Vinyl's slow recover. Vinyl was now staying awake longer and napping less, which the doctor said was a good sign, but still wanted Vinyl to get her sleep. Vinyl agreed to nap in the afternoons after lunch, and napped only an hour each day.
It was a Sunday, Vinyl was awake watching Octavia drawing with the Racer and Rain. Star was sitting at a table reading a book. Octavia smiled and spat out her pencil, showing her drawing to Racer.
"Wow Aunt Octy!" Octavia blushed, hearing Vinyl snicker at the name. Octavia could care less for Racer or Rain calling her Octy but hearing Vinyl whisper the name before bed and laughing made her blush.
"Look at mine! Look at mine!" Rain said jumping up and down holding her picture in her mouth. Octavia smiled at her drawing of a pony. But the pony looked like a huge oval with stick legs.
"Oh, and who is that?"
"Aunt Vinyl!"
Octavia couldn't help it but laughed. She fell on the floor rolling around holding her sides. Star walked over to see what Octavia was laughing at, then she too started laughing hard.
"What?" Vinyl called out knowing that they were laughing at the drawing of her. "Show me!" She called with a crack in her voice. Rain trotted over to show Vinyl the picture. Octavia and Star snickered waiting to see Vinyl's face and true enough her mouth went open with a look of shock then they started laughing harder.
"HEY!" Vinyl yelled out glaring at them. "That's not funny! I'm not that fat! Look at me!"
That just made the two mares laugh even harder tears flowing out of Octavia's eyes as she howled with laughter. Finally she got control of herself, still giggling. "Oh Sweet Celestia, I swear I haven't laughed this hard in years!" Star giggled nodding.
"Yeah, me too."
Octavia could see Vinyl's scowl. "Aw come on Vinyl, don't take it personally."
Vinyl gave the picture back to Rain pouting turning away with her thin arms crossed across her chest. Octavia smirked walking over. "You are mean, Tavi."
Octavia chuckled leaping on the bed hugging her from behind. "Aw did I hurt your feelings? How can I make it up to you?" Octavia asked with a grin. Vinyl grunted with her nose in the air. Octavia laughed then playfully bit her ear making Vinyl open her eyes blushing. "I think you are perfect the way you are." Octavia made an evil grin. "Even if you are as big as that picture portrays."
"Hey!" Vinyl yelled out glaring playfully, pushing Octavia on her back hearing her giggle.
"Ahem! Hello, little kids here!" Octavia and Vinyl both stared at Star glaring at them. "Let us leave the room at least." Star ushered the little ones up the stairs. Octavia and Vinyl looked back at one another then they started laughing. Vinyl sighed and flopped on her back next to Octavia staring at the ceiling.
"What are you thinking about?" Octavia asked breaking the silence.
Vinyl shrugged. "Many things."
"Oh?"
"Yeah..." Vinyl paused to look at Octavia from the side. "Do you really think I'm fat? Or was?"
Octavia blinked then turned to her with a blush. "I was only teasing Vinyl." Vinyl blinked and returned her gaze to the ceiling. Octavia blushed with shame. "I'm sorry if that offended you."
"Nah, that's fine I would have said the same if I saw a fat picture of you." Octavia turned to see Vinyl smirking and giggling. "Well that was a funny picture." Octavia sighed a relief.
"Well I see the feeling was mutual."
The two paused again wondering what to do now. Octavia rolled off the bed. Vinyl rolled to her stomach to watch Octavia feeling her ears fold on her head. "Tavi?"
Octavia was walking to the stairs, she turned to Vinyl. "Yes?"
"Uh... do you happen to know when I can have a sandwich?"
Octavia grinned. "I think you can have a sandwich with your dinner tonight. How's that?"
Vinyl licked her lips nodding. "Yes, please."
"Be right back. I have to make a call."
Vinyl nodded the rolled on her back to look up at the ceiling again closing her eyes, she smiled.
Octavia sat in the family room seeing Star looking at her with a grin. "That was quick." Octavia blushed.
"Oh we were just flirting nothing serious."
"Yeah, flirting."
"Star!" Octavia and Star turned to see Bonbon glaring at Star. "Now you behave. Stay out of their personal business." Star sighed and nodded.
"Yes ma'am." Bonbon nodded cooking dinner.
Octavia pulled out her phone and stepped outside on the porch to call Beauty Brass. It had been a week since she last heard from her friend. She sat down on the porch swing waiting until she heard her voice, "Hello?"
"Brass, it's me." Octavia said looking at the bag for the newspaper. She picked it up finding the newspaper and started going through it.
"Octavia, how has everything been?"
"Better, Vinyl is doing a lot better but it'll take a while to get her back on her hooves. How are you?" She asked seeing the sports section browsing through seeing the COLTS won. She smirked at that.
"Oh we have been doing great. Our group is still staying in touch. We can't really leave Canterlot for a while since the snow storm blew in." Just by hearing that Octavia shivered from the cold, brutal wind.She looked up to see the grey, snow-heavy clouds coming from Canterlot, covering the capital in a layer of white.
"How bad?" She asked worriedly.
"Oh it's snowing heavily. I'm curious if the Pegasi made a mistake. It's even sleeting here."
"Sleeting? Oh my, that is severe." She said turning the page to the tabloids, nothing that she could see being this was a Ponyville paper. She folded the paper back and stuck it back in the bag then noticed Bonbon's magazines. She shrugged and grabbed one at random.
"It'll be fine. How is your stay at Ponyville?"
"Oh it's quite peaceful actually. I pretty much enjoy it here. When I get out with Bonbon or Lyra I find the townsfolk so happy and very friendly. I might find a place here for my retirement." She looked at the magazine she caught and glared at the headline, VINYL SCRATCH IS STILL MISSING SEE PAGE 4. Octavia looked up at the title of the magazine, EQUESTRIA DAILY, THE LEAD PROVIDER OF ENTERTAINMENT NEWS. Octavia rolled her eyes and flipped the pages to page four to see pictures of Vinyl in a concert. Octavia grinned seeing her smiling waving in the crowd screaming with them. She blinked realizing Brass was talking to her.
"What was that?" She asked closing the magazine to not further her day dreaming.
"I said, have you heard the news about Vinyl's Agent?"
"What about him?" She asked flipping through the magazine again seeing more articles about stars and musicians.
"It turns out he has a ponyhunt for Vinyl." Octavia paused staring in shock at the ground.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Well darling it seems that he’s desperate in finding her. I mean truly desperate. I listened to the night show last night and they had an interview with him. Begging that if anypony sees Vinyl, they must report to him." Octavia flipped back to Vinyl’s missing story.
The third page she flipped, she saw a picture of a unicorn stallion with his arm around Vinyl grinning broadly at the cameras. But Octavia could tell by Vinyl's forced smile that she wasn’t happy. Octavia stared at the stallion to see that he was a dull red color with a greying blue mane and tail. His eyes were the color of sapphires. For some odd reason Octavia felt chills seeing his eyes. Not the happy chill but a creepy chill.
"Hmm, what was his name?" Octavia asked glaring at the picture looking for more. It turned out that past of the story has an interview with Vinyl's agent talking about her wild ways and sometimes wild manners.
"Oh um he calls himself Flank Shark. That’s his alias."
"How do you know that?"
"Because darling, I hear many words about him over the last month and a half. I've heard rumors that Vinyl's disappearance is the reason that the police have him as a prime suspect in a kidnapping and murder case."
That caught Octavia's attention. "Murder?"
"Yes, the police can't find her body and in such they can't find hide nor hair of her. Which I believe we did a good job getting her out of the spotlight. But I fear our efforts placed her more in the spotlight."
Octavia nodded leafing through the magazine more. "I understand. But why do the police look at his as a suspect? Is there a reason?"
Brass was silent for a moment then sighed. "Octavia dear, did Vinyl ever told you about her career?"
"Well... no, not really. I never asked. What are you telling me Brass?" She asked getting worried, remembering Vinyl's sad face and her flinching from Octavia's touch on her back.
"Well... It turns out that her agent has a history."
"A history of what?" Octavia asked whispering harshly, glaring at the agent's picture.
"It turns out that the last five clients he worked for mysteriously killed themselves or died." That made Octavia jump.
"What?"
"Let me explain first, I only heard about the last three causes, especially the most famous death. Tell me, do you remember that beautiful white mare called Diamond Essence?"
Octavia nodded. "Yes, I remember her. She was a beautiful mare with a beautiful voice. How can anypony forget about her legacy? Even though it was short."
"Right. Well it turned out that Vinyl's agent was hers many years ago. You remember how she died?"
Octavia gulped feeing sweat, the cold breeze made her shiver. "I didn't really pay attention to that."
"She slit her throat they said. Left bleeding in her bathroom in her hotel before a big concert. And the police found a note with her dead body."
"What did the note say?"
"I'm afraid I didn't hear that part either, I just read about it. And his last two clients all died strangely too. A pianist overdosed with pain medication in his apartment room. Then the last client jumped out of his penthouse window. Octavia, the police checked him out every time but somehow he came out clean. Do you find this as strange and scary as I do?"
Octavia nodded shaking. "Yes I do... Brass, Vinyl is trying to keep something from me."
"Like what?"
"Remember when I told you about those marks I found on Vinyl’s back and flanks? Near her tail? I have a very horrible feeling about this. Especially when I touch Vinyl there, she flinched and moved away from me. When I ask her about it, she told me that she didn't want to talk about it." Brass was silent on the other line then she sighed.
"Octavia, you have to know what's going on with Vinyl. I'm getting bad vibes about that agent of hers. Lately the news stations are revealing his past on the radio shows and it's starting to get scary for Vinyl."
Octavia nodded in agreement looking back at the amazing picture. "Brass, tell me when you hear or find anything new that I need to know. Promise me?"
"I will Octavia. I will let you know if I hear of anything else."
"Great, thank you so much."
"Octavia,"
"Hmm?" Octavia can hear the worry in her friend's voice.
"Please be careful."
Octavia smiled. "I will, don’t you worry, I'm surrounded by good friends here in Ponyville." She was ready to say good bye when a thought came to her. "Oh and Brass."
"Yes?"
"Will you be so kind as to send my cello here to Ponyville for me?"
Brass chuckled. "I was wondering when you want the old thing back. Of course, I'll send it to you by train. It might be a while but don’t you worry. Oh and do you want that violin you kept with it?"
Octavia grinned. "Oh yes, I haven’t played that in a while, please do."
"Great, stay warm and good luck."
"You too, bye."
She closed her phone and sighed, slowly rubbing her eyes feeling herself shake with fear. She looked back down at the magazine in her lap and decided to go ahead and read it. She read the story about Vinyl at least three times. She couldn’t believe the words that were written about her. Talking about her wild ways that might have be caused by drugs. There was even a small picture of Vinyl in a black hoodie jacket trotting away from a shady alley she had a cigarette in her mouth. Octavia couldn’t believe her eyes. She even saw a picture of her drinking a whiskey bottle, upending it. She shook her head couldn't believe it. There was even talk about an affair with another mare that only lasted for a year.
There was another picture of Vinyl with another mare with a sky blue coat with a black mane smoking with her. The look on Vinyl's face was shock seeing the camera while her partner just grinned as if saying, "Ha, you caught us!" Vinyl looked spooked with that blush on her face. Octavia felt horrible seeing these pictures. She flipped to another picture showing Vinyl's top five records and CDs. She saw TREBLE CLEF and grinned seeing that it ranked number one and The Cellist Bass was number one. She could see a perfect close up picture of the front cover showing Vinyl leaning against the brick wall at the Treble Clef in the clouds.
There were questions with actual pictures taken from the CD cover showing a picture a mare playing a cello with a question at the bottom of the picture, WHO IS THIS TREBLE CLEF? WHERE IS SHE NOW?
"Hmmph, none of your business." She said glaring at the question.
"Octavia, are you doing alright?" Octavia turned to see Bonbon looking at her then saw the magazine in her lap. Octavia blushed and closed it.
"Sorry I was talking to Brass and saw this magazine talking about Vinyl so..." Bonbon chuckled.
"Please, you don't have to worry about looking at that old thing. But is there anything new in there, like fashion?" She asked peeking over Octavia's shoulder to see the top stories on the front. "Oh... Everything, okay?" She asked seeing it's about Vinyl. Octavia sighed shaking her head.
"I don't know, Bonbon. I thought I truly knew about Vinyl... I guess I'm wrong." She handed the magazine to Bonbon to look through. She could hear as Bonbon gasped or groaned or grunted with displeasure or surprise.
"Wow," She said after reading through the story. "I'm sorry,"
"No that's okay. But there is something wrong. Can I have that back when you're done with it?"
Octavia trotted down the stairs to the basement where she can see Vinyl humming a tune. Vinyl opened her eyes looking up and ginned. "Hey Tavi, how was that talk?" Octavia stopped before her to drop the magazine on the bed pointing at the cover with a scowl. Vinyl gulped seeing her picture then at the top was the name of the magazine.
"Equestria Daily? You actually believe in those crazies?"
Octavia didn't answer, only a frown was on her face. Vinyl chuckled nervously gulping. Octavia flipped the pages to the story on page four and pointed at the pictures. "Hmm, crazies huh?" She mentioned with a raised brow.
Vinyl blushed deeply seeing the picture with that mare she dated many years ago. She sighed turning away. "Alright, alright, there were some things I want to keep hidden okay. Sky was only in it for the fame which I learned the hard way, okay."
Octavia pointed her hoof at the picture of Vinyl smoking and drinking. Vinyl blushed harshly, turning away. Octavia lessened her glare then sighed. She moved the magazine to the side so she could see Vinyl's face. She was crying.
"Vinyl dear, I'm just confused. I heard of this drug problem then I pushed it away claiming that you will never do such a thing. I want to know what you have been through." Vinyl sniffed.
"Look it's been hard being alone alright!" She barked making Octavia blinked hearing her actually yelling at her. "I tried to find a way to lose the pain. So yeah I went to drinking again. And yeah I did some drugs here or there, but I quit that, alright. Then Sky... I actually thought she loved me and I thought she might fill in that space where you once were. But..." Vinyl sniffed pulling the blanket over her head crying. "Who was I kidding. I was an idiot... I wanted all the bad stuff that came back to go away!"
Octavia pulled the blanket off her marefriend's head to look into her eyes. "You don't think I went to great ends to lose that emptiness too? Brass actually found me hugging a whisky bottle one day before practice." Vinyl looked up with shock and sniffed. Octavia blushed. "I went to drinking after you stopped calling me. I thought I did something wrong, so after a night of playing at a concert, I would sneak off at night and go to the nearest pub and drink my sorrows away. Then finally Brass caught me and told me I needed help." Octavia chuckled. "I would have been a bigger mess if it weren't for her." Octavia paused to see Vinyl sniffling. "I'm so sorry."
"No... At least I know you felt the same way. There was no need to be sorry. I should be the one who's sorry. I thought for sure you saw that picture of me and Sky a long time ago and I thought for sure you would hate me for it."
"Well to tell you the truth I was a little surprised at that discovery. How long did it last?" Octavia asked with a glare. Vinyl sighed.
"Two months." Vinyl said dryly laughing. "I was stupid to think she would replace you. She was never you." Vinyl said laughing again. "She was never there to do the things you do for me all day. She never gave me hugs before leaving for the day or make the best daisy sandwiches with what was it you put on it?"
"Olive oil, red bell peppers, and tomatoes."
"Yes!" Vinyl said with a lick of her lips. "Ooooh yes, I never had that sandwich even though I try to tell the cook who made the same thing but when I ate it was never the same." Octavia smiled and nuzzled her face making her laugh.
"Well I did miss your snoring at night. The first month I couldn't sleep proper without at least hearing some kind of noise by my ear."
Vinyl blushed. "Was I that bad?"
Octavia laughed at the look on her face. "No silly that's one of the charms you have that stuck with me for so long." Octavia turned away with a sigh. "Actually Brass and I tried our relationship again." Vinyl glared at her. Octavia held up her hoof to tell her to wait. "We tried but I knew it wasn't the same without you so we requested separate rooms ever since. It only lasted for a week until I told her that we should just go back to being friends. Nothing could replace my Vinyl." Vinyl grinned patting the mattress beside her. Octavia leapt up next to her to snuggle with her.
"Nothing can replace you either Tavi." Vinyl said smiling. "I'm sorry that I did that though. Not a day goes by that I regret making that horrible choice."
Octavia kissed her on the cheek making her smile. "I'm happy that you did apologize."
"Ahem, your turn." Vinyl said with a playful glare. Octavia blinked realizing what she had to say.
"Oh, um, and I am sorry too."
"Thank you." Vinyl said kissing her back on the cheek then laid her head on her crossed arms. Octavia reached for a blanket then the two took a long nap. The snow fell heavily outside as the two mares slept on, happy to finally have peace.
The next morning after a good night rest Octavia heard something like the toilet flushing. She sat up and gasped to see Vinyl trying hard to walk back to the bed. Vinyl looked up and blushed as her legs shook under her weight. "Vinyl, why didn't you wake me up?" Octavia asked leaping off the bed so she can help Vinyl walk.
"I just wanted to try something on my own for a change. You and the others have been helping me and I don't want to be a useless foal again." She slipped and fell forward. Octavia was able to catch her before falling face first in the carpet. Vinyl blushed seeing Octavia's straining with her weight trying to get her back on all four hooves. Once that chore was done Octavia let out a sigh of relief, keeping Vinyl steady.
"Vinyl, you know you are weak and can't walk without falling over." Octavia smiled. "But I am happy that you are starting to move around a bit. That's an improvement."
Vinyl looked up at her with a grin. "Well duh! I wanted to surprise you but it turned out I was biting off more than I can chew." She blushed at her. "Uh, can you help me to the bed?" Octavia chuckled at the blush and nodded.
"Of course, that's why I'm here." With a little help from Octavia Vinyl went back on the bed.
Later that day Octavia told Lyra and Bonbon about Vinyl's recent activities. Lyra nodded at the idea.
"That's good that Vinyl wants to walk again. I mean there has to be a time where she can stand by herself without me using my magic." She groaned rubbing her horn. "And geez since helping Vinyl I've been getting stronger in Magic, yeah, but I've been getting these horrible headaches!"
Bonbon slid a mug of coffee in front of her. Lyra grinned and started drinking the brew. Bonbon shook her head. She turned back to Octavia handing her a mug of coffee too. "So she actually walked to the toilet on her own? That is an improvement."
Octavia took a sip and gasped from the heat on her tongue. She blew into the cup to cool it down. She set the mug back on the table to let it cool off a little longer. "Yes it is and I told her so, but on the way back she fell over. So she can make the walk but will need help getting back. It'll probably take a while. When will Doctor Hoofstein return?"
Lyra snorted. "Not for a week at least. That snow fall from Canterlot moved south and is pummeling us with snow." Bonbon nodded turning to the window to see the kids watching the snow.
"This is by far the worst weather we got since well... that horrible tornado that flew by two or three years ago. It took fifteen pegasi just to calm the system down. Oh my, I remember Rainbow Dash was one of them and couldn't fly for weeks on account of how exhausted she was."
Octavia looked spooked. "Wow, and who's this Rainbow Dash?"
Lyra shrugged taking another sip of coffee. "She's the leader of the Weather Patrol here in Ponyville. They made her captain five years ago and she kept this job serious. But she does the big jobs like that Tornado." Lyra perked up in her seat. "Speaking of Rainbow Dash, I just remembered."
"What?" Bonbon asked raising her brow making herself a cup of coffee.
"I told her I was going to help her move in to her new place. Pony feathers!" She turned to see the snow. "I guess she'll have to wait since the snow banks are massive. It'll take the pegasi a while to clear this up so other ponies can come out." Octavia nodded at that thinking.
"Do you really think something happened at the Weather Factory?"
Lyra and Bonbon both shrugged. "Well the pegasi do plan the weather patterns but this type of snow storm is unusual." Lyra mentioned leaning back against her chair. Octavia turned to see the kids blowing fog on the window to draw faces and smiles, giggling.
"So will the children go play?"
Bonbon shook her head. "It's too cold and the snow is too high for us to get out of the house. Two feet in the front yard while it’s like five feet in the back."
Octavia stared at Bonbon with shock. "Really? Wow, that's more snow than what I had been through as a filly. Will the pegasi be able to clear this out?"
Lyra nodded. "Yeah, no big deal. Rainbow Dash is probably doing the work right now. Then we'll help out in cleaning everything out."
Octavia nodded taking the paper that was left on the table to read through it. She just realized that this was the same paper she looked at yesterday and groaned. "Nothing new?" She asked. Lyra shakes her head.
"The papers are late today cause of the weather. Why?"
Octavia shook her head placing the paper back on the table.
"Mom, Momma!" The three mares turn to see Rain and Racer standing by them.
"Yes?" Lyra answered seeing Rain pulling out a small poster.
"Can we go this year?" Racer asked pointing at the picture of a Hearths Warming Eve picture on the poster. Octavia looked at the poster thinking she never heard of such a party. Lyra took the poster with her magic placing it on the table so the other two mares could see and read it. Bonbon gasped.
"Oh yeah! Applejack is hosting the Ponyville Hearth Warming Eve Party!" She paused to look at the two children. "I'm sorry kids, it's going to be a late party and you are still too young to join."
Racer blew a raspberry sitting down with a pout. "We never get to go!"
"That's because you are too young." Lyra said sternly raising her brow at him. Racer sighed and turned away. "I promise you Racer, once you get your cutie mark or when we believe you two are old enough, you can come. But it'll be past your bed time at the start of the party." Racer groaned and trotted to the window again with Star. Star patted him on the head. Rain sighed.
"But Momma, that will be forever! Even Star is old enough to go!"
Lyra nodded. "Yes she is, but she has to take care of you two. So she won't go either."
Star gasped. "But-but!"
"No buts. Unless you want to stay with Twilight Sparkle though she would want to go too."
Star shook her head. "Oh no! Not again!"
Lyra grinned at the mortified look on Star's face. "That answers that. You'll take care of the kids that is if we really want to go." Star nodded levitating Rain away from them, letting the adults talk.
Lyra chuckled taking another drink.
"So what is this party?" Octavia asked reading the poster.
Bonbon grinned. "Oh, it’s this special party the Apple Family hosts at Sweet Apple Acres. They have been doing this... since when Lyra?"
"They started it about six years ago. It's been a great party ever since."
Octavia nodded reading the form. "So uh, what do you do there?"
Bonbon chuckled. "Well let me tell you some history Octavia. Six years ago, the Apple family here in Ponyville planted two new fields of apples. Since then there were plenty of crops for the winter so Applejack, a close friend of ours, she decided to host a special party for the town. Since then the town loved it so much that they have been hosting the party every year on Hearths Warming Eve."
Lyra nodded. "Yes there is food, music, stories, not to mention games hosted by Pinkie Pie. Everypony in Ponyville goes there, not to mention the whole Apple family comes every other year to help with the preparation."
"Sounds fun." Octavia mentioned seeing the dates and the time for the party. "I might like to go."
"Oh!" Bonbon exclaimed getting the mares attention. "Why don't you and Vinyl go! It'll be so much fun. We will be going out like the old days! Won't that be fun?" She asked. Octavia grinned at the idea then another thought popped in. She frowned thinking.
"I don't know... What if somepony recognized Vinyl? They would tell the press and her agent would be coming."
Lyra nodded hearing the story already from Bonbon. "Yeah there is that problem. But nopony truly knows Vinyl but the town. Ponyville is where she was born Octavia. I don't think that anypony would reveal too much. She's been gone for years and hardly anypony knows her except for us." Octavia was still worried though looking at the poster.
"I'll go see what Vinyl thinks. Besides, perhaps this will probably reintroduce her back to Ponyville. Since she'll be staying here for a while yet."
Bonbon nodded while Lyra looked concern.
"I don't know Octavia." Lyra voiced as Bonbon leapt out of the chair screaming "YAY!"
Octavia took the poster and went down to the basement to see Vinyl stretching her legs uncomfortably on the bed. She smiled seeing Octavia. "Hey, what's up? What you got there?" She asked seeing the poster.
"Here," Octavia said handing the paper to Vinyl. Vinyl took the paper to read it and a grin slowly surfaced.
"What's this?"
Octavia shrugged sitting down before her. "It's a special Ponyville party at Sweet Apple Acres. You know that place?"
"Sweet Apple Acres?" Vinyl said grinning. "Wow, I haven't been there in years! Applejack is hosting a party? Sweet!"
"Settle down first." Octavia ordered. Vinyl grinned looking at her. Octavia took in a breath. "Listen to me Vinyl. Bonbon and Lyra are planning on attending and they have invited us." Vinyl frowned noticing Octavia's tone of worry. "Thought this will seem like a fun party to attend, I'm still worried about the townsfolk. They might recognize you and tell the press about us being here in Ponyville. You can tell I'm worried." Vinyl nodded thinking about that too, all her joy evaporated from the news.
"However," Octavia mentioned noticed how Vinyl's ears perked up at that. "I would still love to attend and I believe it'll be nice for you to see old friends from the town at the party. And also this will give you the excuse you need to get back to walking."
Vinyl grinned at Octavia. "Really?"
"Yes really. I figured it would lift your spirits." Vinyl nodded getting excited.
"Yes, yes, yes, Tavi! I really, really would like to go. Just thinking about Sweet Apple Acres brings back memories."
"Oh?" Octavia asked seeing Vinyl smiling looking at the ceiling remembering.
"Oh yeah the Apple family have the best apple treats in all of Equestria. The best cider, best apple jams, even their Zap Apple jam, and their cakes and snacks." Vinyl sighed with passion laying on her back on the bed.
"Man, I haven't had anything Apple Family certified in years!"
Octavia frowned. "So I'm guessing by drinking the cider you had your first taste of alcohol?" Vinyl sat up with a glare.
"No! When I tried a different cider in Manhattan which I thought was the same, that was how I got hooked on drinking okay. This Apple Family cider is made purely of apples with nothing added." Vinyl licked her lips. "Well maybe they did add something in it but it's not alcohol!" Octavia wasn't believing it but shrugged.
"Alright, so here is the plan."
"I like plans. Especially plans by you." Octavia watched as Vinyl turned back around to face her with a grin. Octavia just chuckled.
"Thank you. Yes, first of all, we need to get you to walk and stand on you own first. Then while we are getting your legs stronger I'll have to ask Doctor Hoofstein to check on you for a full checkup then we might possibly do more hoof detoxes. The party is on Hearths Warming Eve night so if you do get tired during the party, it's vital you tell me so we can get you home and rested."
Vinyl nodded rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. I gotcha."
Octavia nodded with a sigh. "Since we are snowed in for a while perhaps Lyra can help us get out on your hooves."