Vinyl felt a stinging sensation against her eyes. She rubbed them with her hooves. Her head felt groggy as she slowly sat up. She blinked a couple of times to re-adjust her eyes to the dimly lit room and looked around. The room was full of an arrangement of “Get Well Soon” balloons, stuffed animals, and flowers.
Her mouth felt dry. She turned to see a red button on the side of the hospital bed. Above it the instructions read: “Press for assistance.” Vinyl figured being thirsty is being in need of assistance so she pressed the button twice.
Suddenly, she heard galloping down the hallway. The door opened and slammed into the wall as a team of nurses gathered around Vinyl’s bed.
“Um, hi?” She managed to croak out as the nurses seemed to be inspecting every part of her.
“She’s good.” One of the nurses chimmed. “You can come in now.”
As the nurses left, a small group of ponies squeezed their way into the room. Vinyl felt a smile spread across her face as she recognized them. Lyra, Bon Bon, Derpy, and Carrot Top gathered around the DJ’s bed. Vinyl looked at them, they looked happy but also… sad?
She tilted her head to the side. “What’s wrong you guys?”
The mares at each other and then back at Vinyl. Bon Bon cleared her throat. “Vinyl, you were dying. The doctors couldn’t fix the problem. There was nothing we could do.”
Vinyl raised her eyebrow. “But then why am I here? Shouldn’t I be dead?”
Lyra rubbed the back of her head. “Yes, you should but… They tried one last thing, a heart transplant and, obviously, it was successful.”
Vinyl rolled her eyes. “Well you could have just told me that’s what you ponies are worrying about- Hey, where’s Octavia?”
Silence.
Derpy looked down at the ground and fumbled with something in her hooves. “S-she told me to deliver this to y-you when you woke up.” The mare held out a letter.
Vinyl took the the envelope from Derpy and tore it open. She pulled out the piece of paper inside and began to read.
Dear Vinyl,
If you are reading this then it means that the surgery was a success. You might be wondering where I am and why I’m not there with you right now. Well, I am there with you. You see, you were going to die, Vinyl, and nopony could figure out what to do. The only solution was a heart transplant and the success rate was still a tad shaky. The doctors tried very hard to find a heart that would work for the surgery, but they always came up empty-hoofed. That’s when I realized how I could help you. How I could grant you a life where you would never have to worry about your heart again. Don’t blame our friends, though. They tried up until the end to convince me otherwise. Saying that you would somehow get better or the doctors would find a solution. I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t risk your life on a gamble like that. I chose to make that sacrifice for you because, Vinyl, you mean more to me than myself. You might not ever fully understand my decision. I’ve tried to explain it as best as I can for you I will never forget the times we shared and you are the most important and talented mare in all of Equestria. Do know one thing, Vinyl. Just know I do love you. I love you more than life itself and I’ll never leave you. Ever.
Your special somepony,
Octy
The room was silent. Tears ran down Vinyl’s face which landed on the paper shaking in her hooves. She ran a hoof over her chest where she felt stitches sealing together her skin. The only thing she could hear is her heartbeat— No, Octavia’s heartbeat. She looked up towards the ceiling and wailed.