Vinyl, Octavia, and the changelings were shivering in the living room, all dressed in coats. Octavia had graciously lent them all brown pea coats, while she herself was wearing a black pea coat. Vinyl herself was wearing a faux-leather duster and a black fedora.
“I still don’t understand why you didn’t spring for real leather, Vinyl.” Octavia said.
“Nuh-uh!” Vinyl said while shaking her head. “Some of my best friends in Ponyville are cows!”
“You do realize that the cows sign their hides over of their own free will after death, right?”
Vinyl shook her head again, drawing her duster in closer to herself. “I dunno. It just wouldn’t feel right, wearing something that used to be alive. It’d be like wearing one of Rarity’s hats.”
“You do realize that she doesn’t put actual birds on her hats, right?”
Vinyl shook her head again. “I dunno. It just seems kinda creepy if you ask me.” Octavia chuckled. Vinyl glared at her. “What?”
“It seems I’ve found something that unbalances the great Dame Vinyl Scratch. And here I thought you were unflappable.”
“Did you give your friendship to the changelings yet?” Viny asked, changing the subject.
“No, I haven’t.” Vinyl stared at Octavia like she had grown an extra hoof.
“Why not? Didn’t you hear Chrysalis over the changelings?”
Octavia nodded. “Yes, I did. However, don’t you think that one of the Princesses would have said something if it were that important?”
“But the Windigoes! Don’t you care about the Windigoes?”
Octavia shook her head, drawing her pea coat in closer. “Vinyl, of course I care about the Windigoes, but I just don’t trust Chrysalis. This could be just another mad grab for power.”
Vinyl then slammed the floor to her apartment.
“Yo!” somepony yelled from below.
“Yo Syko!” she yelled down.
“Yeah?”
“What do you think of the changelings?”
“Hmmm...they seem to be alright. We have a changeling intern at Playcolt, twenty-twenty-seven. He seems to be on the ball.”
“Yo Syko! If you had a chance to help with the friendship bomb that Chrysalis was trying for, would you help?”
“Of course I would!”
“Well, then, come on up! We got changelings up here!” The shuffling of hooves was heard, followed by a door slam. There was silence for a few seconds, when the shuffling of hooves was heard outside their door, followed by three sharp raps. “Come in, it’s open!” Vinyl yelled while smiling at Octavia. In entered an orange stallion with shaggy green hair that went past his nape in the back, while the bangs seemed to slightly hide his eyes. “Yo, Skyo, my man! What’s up!” Syko glared at Vinyl.
“Listen here, I am not here to make friends—”
—but you really are, in order to make friends with the changelings.” Syko blushed at that. “Gotcha.”
“Well, so where are—AUGH!” Syko yelled as he spotted the changelings crowded around each other, looking like a pile of coats. The changelings looked up, shivering, unable to talk due to the freezing conditions. “So they need friendship, huh?” Vinyl nodded. “Ok, here goes.” Syko then focused on the changelings as rainbow tendrils flowed out of him into the changelings.
“I still think that looks so cool.” Vinyl said, remembering when the rainbow tendrils had escaped from her. “Don’t you wanna be cool, Octy?” she said while sticking out her tongue at Octavia, who harumphed and turned her head away. Syko took a seat on the floor.
“Nice duster. Where’d you get it?” he asked, rubbing his forehooves together and blowing on them.
“I got it from Neighman Marecus. Isn’t it sweet?” Vinyl said.
“Yeah, it actually is sweet. Does it come in a stallion’s size?”
Vinyl looked up. “I think I saw some in the stallion’s section…” then she looked down and saw more rainbow tendrils escaping from her, as well as Syko. “Coooooool!”
Syko looked upon the tendrils. “Now why do you suppose that happened?”
“Because the two of you are forming a connection,” Nineteen-sixty-nine said weakly.
Vinyl smiled. “So I guess we are friends!”
Syko glared at Vinyl. “Just because we were stuck in a jail cell together doesn’t mean—”
Vinyl laughed. “Of course it does! We’re jail buddies!”
Syko snorted. “More like lock-up acquaintances.” Octavia raised an eyebrow at that.
“When you were in jail?” Vinyl blushed at that.
“Oh, I ran into Syko somewhere and kinda...startedariot…”
“Slow down...WHAT did you say?”
“Startedariot—”
“—enunciate that clearly.”
Vinyl looked down. “Started a riot.”
Octavia gave a menacing stare at Vinyl. “And why, pray tell, did you start a riot?”
“Because I was trying to throw the Royal Guards off of my scent…”
“And why were the Royal Guard ON your scent in the first place?”
“Because I...might’ve...stolen a dagger off of one of their sheaths.” Octavia stared angrily at Vinyl.
“And why did you steal a dagger off of one of the Royal Guard?”
“Because I wanted it, and it’s really hard to get weapons in Canterlot.”
“Really, Vinyl? That’s all you have to say for yourself? ‘I wanted it, so I stole it?’ That’s something a child would say!” Octavia then turned her head away from Vinyl. “I’m disappointed in you.” She then turned her head towards Syko. “And what part did you play in this nefarious scheme of hers, huh?”
Syko raised his hooves and said, “Look, mare, it was a while ago, I don’t exactly remember the details, just leave me out of this.” Octavia got up on her hooves and strode angrily towards Syko, who shrank back.
“No, I will not leave you out of this! For all I know, you’re the ringleader of this little stunt!”
“Look, Octavia?” Octavia nodded curtly. “Octavia, please, do I seem like the kind of stallion who would incite a riot?” Octavia looked down, then away.
“No, I suppose you’re not. In fact, you’re not good for much of anything except for writing articles in that filthy magazine—”
“—which was ruled by Celestial Court as a work of art!” Octavia snorted.
“Work of art, my rump. It’s just pictures of nude ponies.”
“Hey, it’s not like most of us wear clothes anyway!”
“Not the point!” An ethereal whinnying was heard that rumbled the entire room. “What was that?”
“The Windigoes. Remember, guys?” Vinyl said. “The more you fight, the stronger they become?” Octavia and Syko both blushed at that. Octavia sat down on her haunches. “So, is everyling ok?” The changelings refused to respond. Vinyl waved a hoof in front of Nineteen-sixty-nine’s eyes. “Hello? Equus to changeling!” A regal yet exhausted voice then came out of the changeling’s mouths.
“Hello? Is this thing on? Bring your changeling in here...ah yes, there it is. Ahem, testing, one two one two. Yes, I hear myself clearly. Well, hello everypony, this is Princess Luna, and I’m here to say that I’m very ashamed of all of you. I know for a fact that there are far more changelings in Equestria than the piddling amount of friendship we’ve collected. Look, I know you’re worried that Chrysalis might make a mad grab for power, but need I remind you that she has sworn fealty to the Equestrian Empire, so give her a chance. You all gave me a chance when I had just reverted back from Nightmare Moon, and I’d appreciate it if you’d do that same for Queen Chrysalis. She’s nursing a severe hangover right now, so please be nice to her. And do it for your Princess of the Night, too, because when we get out of this situation you’ve gotten us all into, I can finally get some sleep!...what should I say now? Well, I suppose I could say anything I want...or sing anything I want! Ehehem. I’ve got a lovely bunchs of coconuts, there they are, all standing in a row—” and the signal cut out sharply as the changelings shook their heads. Octavia stared at the changelings, taking in what Princess Luna had said. Ashamed...she really should be ashamed of herself. Here they were in their apartment, and they hadn’t even disturbed anything! They were wearing her jackets with the utmost care, and had even refused them at first. Plus, that Nineteen-sixty-nine really helped her see the light. So, she focused on Nineteen-sixty-nine. Instantly, several rainbow tentacles slithered out of her and into the changeling, who had subsumed them into its form. Vinyl was grinning at Octavia.
“See, Syko, I told you she’d come around.” Syko stared at her with a bemused expression.
“You never told me anything.” But his words were lost on Vinyl, who was basking in the glow of her friend finally accepting at least one changeling.