The overcast skies slowly became orange as the sun set.
The four mages found a clearing in the woods. “Here. This should be suitable for the night.” Twilight said as she used her holding spell to retrieve the tent she had purchased earlier. She and Trixie began to set it up as shelter while Lyra and Vinyl worked towards gathering firewood.
“Funny how it turns out that two of Trixie's friends turn out to be fillyfoolers.” Trixie said under her breath.
“I don't see why that's a problem.” Twilight replied.
“I- It's not a problem.” Trixie said quickly.
“Are you sure there aren't some issues you still have to work out?” Twilight asked.
“No! I don't!” Trixie almost shouted.
“I think you do, Trixie.” Twilight replied as she hammered the last of the pegs in. “C'mon, sit down and we can talk about it.”
“What if I don't want to talk about it?” Trixie replied.
Twilight sighed. The two had finished with the tent, so she sat down in front of it. She patted the ground next to her.
“A no is a no,Snarkle.” Trixie said, a bit annoyed. “Maybe, If I'm feeling generous one day. But not right now. Besides, I think they're coming back.”
The black mage turned to see two returning mares, each holding armfuls of branches and twigs. She immediately stopped talking, much to Twilight's disappointment.
Vinyl and Lyra set the firewood down into a pile in the center of the camp site. Trixie stood up, rubbed her hands together, and pointed one of her palms at the pile. A fireball shot out, creating an instant campfire.
The four mages sat around the fire.
“So, Vinyl... Your fillyfriend is the personal bard of the Queen of Canterlot?” Lyra asked.
Vinyl nodded. “Yeah. Octy's pretty cool. One of those real high-class types. She's a real prideful type. Not boastful, mind ya, but she has high standards.”
“Then how did you get with her? Er, no offense.” Trixie asked.
“Offense taken.” Vinyl replied deadpan. She then cracked a smile. “But yeah, I'm just as surprised as you are. She's always been really talented with her violin. Ponies mostly know her for the cello, but she only plays that in Canterlot. She actually owns this really cool violin made of metal. It's enchanted, and has the most beautiful tone I have ever heard. As far as I know, she has only played it for two ponies: Yours truly, and the Queen herself.”
“Where did she get such an instrument, exactly?” Twilight asked.
“I dunno.” Vinyl said with a shrug.
“When did you meet her?” Lyra asked.
“Oh, that was many years ago. Octy and I go way back. It was back in-”
There was a rustle in the bushes. “What was that?” Vinyl asked.
“Not sure, could be goblins.” Twilight said, unconcerned. “We should finish this story later.”
Each of the mages stood up, ready to fight. Trixie readied an ice spell, Twilight prepared a slow spell, Lyra held her hammer and Vinyl unsheathed her blade.
After ten tense seconds of silence, five goblins rushed out of the bushes and towards the mages, each holding small swords and intent to kill.
Twilight fired off first, hitting two of the foes. Their movements slowed to a crawl as time dilated around them. She strolled forward casually, and smacked them with her staff several times.
Trixie next shot an ice spell at one goblin, freezing it solid in seconds. She leaped forward, and shattered it with her rod.
Vinyl leap-frogged over a goblin and slashed at it five times.
Lyra smashed the last one's face in with her hammer.
The whole battle lasted less than a minute.
“So, where was I?” Vinyl asked as she placed her sword back into its sheath. She and the other mages sat around the campfire like nothing happened.
“I think you were talking about how you met Octavia.” Lyra replied.
“Right, right. So, I was just a young Summoner, going to Canterlot...” Vinyl started.
- - -
“Hnnnnnng!” A young Vinyl grunted as she concentrated.
She stood behind the Black Magic bookshop, on the grass that was still green back then. Blue energy started to focus on her palms, sweat started beading down her face.
“...Um, excuse me?”
Vinyl yelped, startled. The magic folded in on itself, giving her a shock as her mane stood on end. Her horn crackled with magic energy for a minute before smoking.
“Oooowwwww...” Vinyl whined as she rubbed her now aching forehead.
The girl who startled her rushed to her aid. She was an earth pony about her age, in a simple black frock. She had gray fur, a long and cleanly styled black mane, and striking violet eyes. She spoke in a sophisticated accent that betrayed her status.
“Are you alright?” She asked.
“I'm f... fah...” Vinyl stuttered, utterly captivated by this mare.
“Hm?”
“Fine! I'm fine.” The suddenly bashful Summoner said with a blush. “Just a backfire, that's all.”
“That looked like it hurt. What were you doing?” The gray mare asked, curious.
“I wanted to ride a Chocobo. Never got to ride one before, so I thought if I summoned one...” Vinyl explained.
“...Do you need help getting up?” The mare asked.
“Sure.” Vinyl lied.
The mare offered her hand, and Vinyl didn't hesitate to take it. Curiously, the hand was actually rather cold.
Both ponies stood up.
“What's your name?” The mare asked.
“Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch!” The Summoner said proudly.
“Octavia Philharmonica.” Octavia replied with a soft smile.
- - -
“We were good friends ever since. Well, for a few years. Then we totally became an item.” Vinyl explained. “But that's a story for some other time, I want to catch some Z's. We should be rested for when we take this evil knight guy on.”
“Good idea.” Twilight said with a nod. “Let's get some sleep.”
Trixie used a quick ice spell to put out the fire. The four walked into the tent, which was of course larger on the inside. Dimension magic is handy like that.
Each rolled out their sleeping bags, and rested for the night.
Except for Vinyl.
After two hours of restlessness, she left the tent.
She stood still, staring off into the distance.
“...Octy...”