//------------------------------// // Prompt #421: And The Song Continues // Story: Ponywatching // by ThunderTempest //------------------------------// (This is the ending to the ‘Just Friends, Darn It’ Universe. For those who don’t want to trek back through everything I’ve written, the basic premise is that Vinyl Scratch and Octavia are best friends, but everypony (literally, everypony) in Equestria thinks they’re in love. Shenanigans ensue.) ---- Vinyl Scratch trotted through the streets of Canterlot, surprisingly unhindered by the usual crowd of reporters and fans. She certainly didn’t mind the attention, and knew that it just came with the territory of being famous, but there were times when she simply wanted privacy, so she was glad of the temporary reprieve from the questions and camera flashes. All she wanted to do was have a nice, quiet lunch with Octavia. Both of their schedules had been exceptionally busy as of late. With the Coronation of Twilight Sparkle coming up, Octavia had been preparing for a concert series in the new Princess’s honour, and from what Vinyl could tell, this required her to spend practically every waking hour with either her ensemble or the Philharmonic. Not that Vinyl herself had been idle, either. She’d been busy travelling across almost the entire length and breadth of Equestria, spending more time out of the mountainside city than in it over the last few weeks, but such was the life after she released a new record. Still, this lunch meeting with Octy would be a nice way for both of them to unwind for a few hours and catch up. As Vinyl entered the restaurant, she quickly caught sight of Octavia sitting in one of the booths at the side of the restaurant, and picked her way through the oddly crowded restaurant. “Vinyl, it’s great to see you again!” said Octavia, as Vinyl sat down. “You too, Octy. I was worried that you were just going to vanish into the Philharmonic’s library of sheet music for a while there.” “I very nearly did. Our conductor, in his infinite wisdom, has decided that only the most obscure peices will do for Princess Twilight. Some of these peices only have one or two copies, Vinyl, and I have to transcribe them for the rest of my section.” Vinyl winced in sympathy. Even as a unicorn, transcribing sheet music was a pain. “But enough complaining. How did your tour go, Vinyl?” “Pretty well – I’m just glad to be back home so I can sleep again,” said Vinyl, taking off her glasses, and rubbing her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, I love going out and performing for all the awesome fans, but I think I lost track of what day it is a few times while I was out there.” “I know how you feel, Vinyl. The number of times I looked up from my desk to see the sun rising went well beyond anything approaching a sane number.” It was at this point that both musicians looked up at the calender on the wall, just to check their internal clocks. In perfect synchronicity, their eyes widened, and they looked again, and then glanced around the restaurant. Couples dined together, pink flowers adored every possible surface and they could practically see the hearts floating in the air. “Tavi?” “Yes, Vinyl?” “Please tell me it’s not Hearts and Hooves Day, and we’re not having lunch together at a semi-famous Canterlot restaurant.” Octavia glanced around the restaurant, scoping out escape routes. Outside, she could see several reporters snapping shots for their various papers, and it would only be a matter of time before they discovered her and Vinyl. Octavia was unable to contain her sigh, and at Vinyl’s questioning look, she jerked her head in the direction of the reporters. “Shit,” muttered Vinyl, “Break for the door?” Octavia nodded, and on some unspoken signal, the two tossed a few bits down onto the table by way of a tip, and bolted for the front door. Vinyl didn’t even pause to open it, simply forming a magical shield in front of her, and blasted through the door, making a mental note to pay for the door’s replacement. Already, the two could hear the all-too familiar cries of ‘Vinyl! Vinyl Scratch!’ and ‘Octavia!’ behind them, as the reporters chased after the two. **** It was only once the two friends got back to their apartment that they felt remotely safe, though as the reporters began to knock frantically on the door, Vinyl magically grabbed their couch and shoved it up against the door. Two seconds later, Octavia added their kitchen table. As the pounding on the door continued, Vinyl leant against the now-vertical table. “Hey, Octy?” “Yes, Vinyl?” “Do you think they’d stop insisting we’re in love if we told them we’re actually sisters?” said Vinyl. Octavia considered the idea for a moment as she sat down next to Vinyl. “Likely not. They’d probably just claim it’s ‘forbidden love’, and keep encouraging us.” Vinyl let out a groan, and thunked her head against the table. “So, let me get this straight,” she said, “if we live in separate housing, we’ve had an argument or lover’s spat. If we live together, we are obviously having wild sex parties every night. If one of us is out of town, even if it’s for work, we’re either missing each other terribly, or we’ve had a falling-out, and get all the accompanying attempts to get us back together. If we tell them we’re just friends, they do that stupid wink, and if we don’t say anything, they take it as confirmation. We can’t win, can we?” “No, we can’t.” Vinyl and Octavia both groaned, and let the backs of their heads thunk against the table. Seconds later, they did it again, because outside their window, on the opposite roof, were Rarity and Pinkie Pie. Each was holding one side of a banner with a crudely drawn picture of Vinyl and Octavia kissing, and the phrase ‘Now Kiss!’ written on it in bright pink letters. “Why did we let them know where we live, Vinyl?” “I have no idea,” replied Vinyl, her horn lighting up, “open the window.” Octavia threw open the window, and then dropped to the floor. Two bread rolls rocketed out, thrown by Vinyl’s magic, and thudded into the two matchmakers, knocking them backwards off the roof. Fortunately, they both landed in a pile of feathers. “Stop shipping us!” cried Vinyl and Octavia. “Be quiet and kiss already!” cried Rarity, who had managed to clamber back onto the roof. The next bread roll knocked Rarity unconscious. END