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Chapter 17: Generosity
Octavia passed out after Vinyl left for the record store and, subsequently, Manehattan. Exhaustion finally hit her like the Friendship Express. It was still early morning, but Octavia didn't get any rest the preceding night. She lay awake, staring, thinking, worrying. Vinyl had shocked the cellist with her confession. She then astounded Octavia when she declared she'd abandon her feelings for Octavia's sake. Octavia had half-heartedly accepted it, but it plagued her all night. So when Vinyl finally departed, she collapsed.
And she dreamed:
----{{{{Octavia fidgeted as she stood in the storefront window. She was small. There was nopony outside the display, but she needed to look her best regardless. Her hair was sticking up a bit. She couldn't fix it because she forgot her toothbrush at home. Vinyl came up to the window and tapped on it, startling Octavia. Vinyl started to rub up against the glass and moaned, "It's perfect! I want it soooo bad!" Octavia started to sweat. 'What if she's talking about me!?' Octavia thought. Vinyl came inside the store and asked, "How much is that one!?" Octavia couldn't turn around to see if Vinyl was pointing at her. She couldn't move at all. Berry Punch answered Vinyl, "She's a discontinued model. She's on sale for 70 bits." Vinyl picked the tiny Octavia up and put her on the counter. "I'll pay 69 bits and give you a kiss!" Vinyl bartered. "Sold!" Berry Punch declared. Vinyl knocked Octavia off the counter into a bag. Octavia heard Berry Punch and Vinyl kiss and she felt sick. Vinyl pulled her back out of the bag. "Excuse me, but it's defective. It hurts me to be with her," Vinyl complained. Berry Punch picked Octavia up and frowned. "What a freak. I'll ruin her for you," Berry Punch said. She put Octavia's head between her teeth and bit. She bit and bit and bit. Pain filled Octavia's head. She still couldn't move.}}}}----
Octavia woke up in a sweat.
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Octavia stared blankly up towards the sky. If her brain had bothered to acknowledge what she was looking at, she would have seen pegasus ponies rushing around with gray clouds, placing them here and there, preparing Ponyville for a storm.
"What in Equestria am I doing?" Octavia asked herself aloud.
"...Bu- .....Buying... roses?" Roseluck answered with confusion after a brief pause.
"Sorry?" Octavia asked as a reflex in the general direction the voice came from.
"You're buying roses. That's what your doing," Roseluck, the flower vendor, answered again. She pointed down to Octavia's hoof as it held the bundle of finely wrapped flowers. Roseluck had just handed them over to her. "Unless I'm misinterpreting this situation," she added sarcastically.
Octavia looked down; she was indeed standing at Roseluck's market stall and she had indeed picked out some roses. She had also laid out some bits for the purchase. It certainly appeared as though she was buying roses.
"Oh, right! Of course... How terribly silly of me..." Octavia mumbled.
"You don't look so good. Vinyl's not dragging you around today?" Roseluck asked skeptically as she swiped the bits off her stand into a jar.
"Huh? Who? Which pony?" Octavia responded, baffled, lost in her daze once again.
"VI-NYL," Roseluck stated plainly and loudly so Octavia could understand. "You're usually running around with her."
"Oh... Oh, no. I am not with Vinyl today..." Octavia answered sorrowfully. She left Roseluck quickly and wandered down the market street. She held the bundle of roses in one foreleg and eventually stopped in the middle of the road to look at the bright red flowers. They were reminiscent of Vinyl's eyes.
'Why... did I purchase these, again?' she asked herself. She pondered hazily for about a minute before coming to a realization. 'I did not have a reason... did I?' She dropped the flowers and looked up at the sky again, still not noticing the pegasus ponies putting a rainstorm together above her.
"What in Equestria am I doing?" Octavia asked herself aloud once again. She had repeated those words and stared blankly in some direction several times that day as she stumbled around. It was now late afternoon and she had accomplished zero useful things so far. Returning her unfocused gaze back to earth, Octavia spotted Applejack minding her apple stand. She was chatting with the pegasus, Derpy, but Octavia couldn't hear a word they exchanged. Her first instinct was to run to Applejack and express all her troubles and problems to the comforting farm pony.
'What problems?' Octavia asked herself. 'What troubles? Am I not where I wanted? I am still friends with Vinyl. She has agreed to only think of me as a friend. I should be thrilled. This is exactly what I had hoped for.'
"Then why do I feel so wrong?" she muttered aloud.
'I could tell you why,' the voice in her head replied.
Octavia groaned a little, as she was tired and worn of the little voice. She picked up the bundle of roses she had let fall to the dirt. (Depression is no excuse for littering.) The market was beginning to empty as the rainstorm above it was almost finished forming. Frantic ponies rushed about, trying to get home with their wares and goods before they got caught in the rain. Octavia took no notice of them and casually went about her way.
Little bullets of water finally fell from the sky, gently tickling the earth's cheeks with their tiny, momentary dance. (Such poetry!) Some of the raindrops didn't hit the ground, but instead hit Octavia. Gradually at first, they began to fall relentlessly on the gray pony. They drenched her silky mane and coat and soaked whatever random things she had bought in her packs. Even in her daze, Octavia could at least notice she was now wet. She looked up with purpose and finally realized it was raining. She sighed and hung her head. She pressed on slowly, her hooves squishing down on the newly formed mud. As she took one step, the dazed pony slipped and fell down in the mud.
'Oh, good grief...' she thought as she got up and tried, fruitlessly, to wipe off the mud. After it became clear that it wasn't possible, she sighed again and continued on her way. She looked rather pathetic trudging through the rain, head hanging in despair, half covered in mud, which is why she caught the eye of a particular pony.
A trendy white unicorn with a gorgeously styled purple mane trotted urgently, yet gracefully, up to Octavia.
"Octavia, darling! You are getting horrendously drenched! And- Oh my! You're covered in mud!" The unicorn magically levitated her amazing, spectacular, dazzling, diamond-encrusted saddle/parasol off her own back and placed it on Octavia's.
"Huh?" Octavia looked around in her disoriented state as the unicorn shuffled her along in some new direction.
"You simply CAN'T stay out here! Come, come! My boutique is just around the corner, darling," the unicorn said with a delightful hum, as she brought Octavia up to a large pink and purple building that was (just a little) too fancy for the small town of Ponyville.
As she burst open the door triumphantly, the unicorn announced, "Welcome to Rarity's Carousel Boutique, where everything is chic, unique- actually we don't have time for that: we must get you cleaned up, Octavia! Do come along!" Rarity shoved Octavia through the front room of the store. Octavia glanced at the pale mannequins that wore gorgeous and fashionable attire and finally spoke.
"I-I'm sorry, what is going on? Do I know you?" Octavia asked as she was being pushed up a set of stairs. Her daze had begun to fade as she was now being essentially ponynapped.
"Oh, no. We have not been properly introduced," Rarity explained, "but you may have seen me at Sugarcube Corner during the party Pinkie Pie threw for you."
"During the... party...?" Octavia mumbled trying to recall anything other than the food fight. Her memory was a blur of pies and cakes. And cupcake missiles.
"We never had a chance to speak due to the uh- hmmm- 'festivities' that ensued. And dearest Pinkie forgot to mention you were from Canterlot until you had long since departed. Ahehah! Ah! Ahem." Rarity's face twitched a little at the notion she had been kept out of the loop about such juicy gossip. She opened the door to her washroom and scooted Octavia inside. "But then again, that's Pinkie for you; she'll tell you all about things you haven't the slightest interest in and won't mention the important things." With that, she showed Octavia to the bathtub, turned on the water, and poured in some luxurious bath salts and a bubble formula. "Which reminds me, I'll have to tell you all about what she did during the incident with the parasprites!"
"Um..." Octavia paused as she stood helplessly in the home of another strange Ponyville pony as her captor prepared a bath before her. "I am not entirely comfortable-" she began to interject.
"Nonsense!" Rarity turned to her after finishing the tub. "Now, be a dear and strip."
"I BEG YOUR PARDON!?" Octavia shrieked, her voice cracking.
"Your packs and your bowtie, darling," Rarity pointed out. "You don't want them to get even more wet than they already are, do you? I'll have them properly cleaned and dried in no time."
"Oh... Oh, right," Octavia mumbled as she undressed, taking what little she had on, off. Rarity magically took hold of her belongings and inspected the purple bowtie for a moment before commenting.
"Ah, yes. I recognize this from Poney des Pins' Simple Stallions collection from several years ago. He used such a fine thread I haven't been able to acquire myself. The color is bold, yet élégant at the same time. Truly magnifique! Could probably use some gemstones though... right here in the center..."
Octavia wasn't listening. Instead, she was rubbing her hind legs together nervously. She wasn't any more naked than normal, but she had begun to feel self-conscious about her body ever since she found out the way Vinyl had been looking at her all this time.
'Vinyl...' she thought with her usual anxiety.
"Oh, dear. You really need this bath for more reasons than one," Rarity said contemplatively when she saw the depression in Octavia's face. "Well, I'll give you some privacy as I need to go and, hmmm, how do I put this? Clean up that disgusting trail of mud you left in my boutique." With that, Rarity stepped out of the room with Octavia's belongings, abruptly leaving the cellist alone.
Octavia felt a bit offended before looking down and seeing that she had indeed tracked mud over Rarity's house. She was also soaking wet and the warm mist of the bubbling bath before her sure was tempting.
'Wait a moment, am I really going to wash myself in a strange pony's home?' Octavia questioned briefly. Her body answered her when she shivered and sneezed. 'Well... I guess...' Blushing and feeling awkward, she got into the bathtub. She instantly felt the warmth and comfort rush over her and wash away her original doubts.
"Ahhhh..." she moaned delightfully as she soaked up to her shoulders. 'When was the last time I had a nice long bath?' Octavia wondered. She stared up at the pink architecture on the bathroom ceiling for a few moments. "...Doesn't matter, I guess..." she answered herself aloud as she drifted off into bliss.
After several wonderful minutes of soaking peacefully, she got down to the business of scrubbing herself off. (And that's all she did.) When she was done, she lazily hung her forelegs out of the tub, too comfortable to get out completely. She casually stared at a peculiar porcelain alligator decoration sitting on the counter next to some expensive-looking conditioner bottles. As she looked deep into its mysterious wide eyes, she found herself thinking...
'What is life?'
Octavia didn't contemplate long, however, as the porcelain alligator suddenly blinked and opened its tiny toothless mouth to yawn. It was then Octavia realized that no decoration could do such things. (This led to only one possible conclusion.)
'It's alive,' Octavia thought, almost matter-of-factly. Then, with a terrified squeak, she pushed back to the far end of the tub. "A-A-lligator!" she stuttered, pointing at it. 'What's it doing here!? It's small and toothless! Is it dangerous!? Will it bite? ...Can it talk? Perhaps it is like Spike...' she thought, recalling her embarrassing encounter with the tiny dragon. The bathing cellist stared at the creature from a safe distance for a comically long time before attempting communication.
"H-hello there," she waved casually at it. The alligator blinked, one eye at a time, and turned to her. "My name is Octavia Melody, and you are?" The little green creature didn't respond. "Hmm..." Octavia continued. "Are you an alligator or a crocodile? I am afraid I do not know the difference." Still no response (of course.) Octavia blushed and sunk down into the water, embarrassed she had just tried to have an actual conversation with an animal. She sighed, giggled a little and continued to talk to it, "Well, I am not that bothered if you want to sit there and watch, but stay on your side of the bathroom, if you would please." With that, the alligator began to waddle in her direction. "Oh. Oh, my," Octavia said nervously as it grew creepily closer. "On second thought, I believe I have stayed in too long!"
Octavia hopped out of the tub and trotted over to the exit, glancing back at the alligator as it fell face-first off the counter into the water. She grimaced at the thought of being in the tub with it. Keeping a watchful eye on the little creature, she grabbed a towel with a diamond sewn emblem on it and began to dry herself off.
A knock on the door was quickly followed by Rarity bursting in.
"Are you finished in here, darling?" Rarity asked after her sudden (and kinda rude) arrival.
"Yeff, fank fou," Octavia replied, her voice muffled awkwardly by the towel in her mouth. She immediately spit it out in embarrassment. "*Ahem* Sorry... What I meant to say was: yes, thank you."
"Here, let me help you with that," Rarity said as she magically levitated the towel and wiped up the remaining water on Octavia's backside. Octavia smiled uncomfortably as the gesture was kind, but made her feel incapable.
"I must thank you. It is very generous of you to offer me shelter and a warm bath during this storm."
"No, no. Think nothing of it." Rarity smiled as she tossed the lumpy, soaked cloth into a lovely pink hamper and magically brought over a purple cotton robe. Her horn glowed with magical energy as the robe disappeared in a flash and reappeared on Octavia, fitting perfectly.
"Oh! How convenient!" Octavia said, surprised, as she admired the comfortable garment.
"One of the many perks of having fashion-based magic, my dear. Now, would you like to join me for tea downstairs?"
"That- that would be wonderful," Octavia said, her face lighting up at the prospect. The two of them left the bathroom before Octavia realized something more prudent than having a sip of leaf water. "Oh, um... before that," she started. "Might I ask why... you have an alligator in your washroom?"
Rarity turned to Octavia with a stupefied look.
"Alliga-? Whatever do you- Oh! Oh dear! I forgot about Gummy! He didn't bite you or anything, did he? Well... he doesn't have any teeth, but still-!"
"No, everything was fine. He was content to just... stare," Octavia assured.
"Yes, he does that a lot. The truth is I'm taking care of him for Pinkie Pie," Rarity explained. It made perfect sense to Octavia that the alligator belonged to Pinkie. Because Pinkie Pie. "She went out of town to visit her family, you see, and Fluttershy was too busy with a previous engagement..." Rarity continued as she peeked into the bathroom and looked around for the small green animal. "Now- now don't get me wrong, he certainly is a pleasant little... lizard... but I must confess he does creep me out a bit..." Rarity spotted Gummy poking his head up from the water in the tub. He then hiccupped a bubble that floated off. Rarity grimaced and slowly shut the door. "I've been keeping him in the bathroom because he likes it so much in there. I'm so sorry, it just slipped my mind."
"It is alright, really. Facing off against an alligator is one of the least eventful things that has happened to me in recent days," Octavia murmured half-heartedly.
"Oh! Well, we'll have to talk all about it. After all, we're friends now!" Rarity said as she patted Octavia's shoulder.
"We are!?" Octavia blurted without thinking.
"Well, of course we are, darling. You've already become acquainted with Twilight and all my other friends so it's only natural that we too get to know each other. Besides, it's still raining and I'm not letting you get your hooves dirty all over again."
"O-okay. Well, it certainly is wonderful to meet you, ...uh... oh... What- what was your name again?" Octavia asked sheepishly.
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"You designed Princess Cadence's wedding dress?" Octavia asked with interest, as she sipped her tea on a luxurious purple chair in Rarity's den. Octavia wasn't surprised by this revelation at all; she had come to accept that a group of particularly important ponies, that seemed to be friendly with all the Princesses, lived in Ponyville. (So keen.)
"Well, I don't mean to brag, but- teehee! I can't help it!" Rarity exclaimed, blushing with excitement and wiggling in her chair. "To sew a wedding dress for a Princess! Oh, it was a dream come true!"
"I would imagine so!" Octavia replied to affirm Rarity's delight. She then put down her fancy tea cup and took a few more strokes on the back of the white cat, Opalescence, purring in the chair beside her. The heat of the fire, crackling nearby, warmed Opal's fur to the delight of Octavia's touch. The two ponies had spent the last hour or so chatting casually in this comfortable setting. Rarity was a perfect conversationalist. She radiated a mixture of small town warmth and the charm of a Canterlot socialite. The den was also finely garnished in fancy décor, much to the comfort of Octavia. Vinyl's home, and frankly every other place in Ponyville, had felt so bare, she was starting to miss her own homestead.
Rarity's horn glowed as she levitated a magazine over to her guest and exclaimed, "Look, they even featured it on the cover of Pony Style Today!" Octavia took the periodical and looked it over.
"Oh my! I had not seen the dress yet. She is stunning in it, Rarity!" Octavia complimented without thinking. Rarity beamed from the appreciation, but paused afterward when she was about to take a sip of tea.
"Didn't... you say you were at the wedding? Surely you saw it there?" Rarity questioned with hesitation.
"Oh- I... I was preoccupied..." Octavia responded sheepishly as she put the magazine down.
"Ah, yes. The whole thing with Vinyl," Rarity said shrewdly. Octavia had already explained the story of how she came to be in Ponyville. The basic parts, at least. (She left out the important parts, though.) "I suppose I can understand that. She does know how to get a crowd moving! She has DJ'd my fashion shows before, you know?"
"Mmm..." Octavia mumbled as she took a few more comforting strokes on Opalescence.
Rarity noticed the change in Octavia's tone. The cellist had suddenly turned melancholic at the mention of Vinyl and it wasn't the first time during the conversation. Rarity had easily picked up that there was something of importance going on between the two.
"Speaking of Vinyl," Rarity started slowly, "she can be a bit crass at times, much like Rainbow Dash. She hasn't done something to offend you has she?"
Octavia looked up at Rarity, who was waiting with empathetic eyes. The white unicorn was fascinatingly beautiful. She could have easily earned the romantic affections of any pony in town if she willed it. Although Octavia was not entirely unaffected by this, Rarity didn't command the ability to make Octavia spill her heart out like Applejack had, so the cellist remained quiet on her troubles.
"No, Vinyl has been most polite. We are getting along fine. Although, your concern is appreciated."
"Hmm..." Rarity hummed with a know-it-all smile. "You're such a terrible liar," she whispered to herself. Octavia didn't hear her and took another elegant sip of tea.
"So, what additional ensembles have you created?" Octavia asked, trying to change the course of the conversation. "Are there any other well-known ponies I might have seen wearing your work?"
Rarity's eye sparked at the opportunity that had just presented itself. She leapt out of her chair.
"Well, darling, I could show you my past works..." Rarity began coolly, as she plotted. "After all, I have designed wardrobes for Sapphire Shores and Hoity Toity..." She mentioned this sneakily before getting to her main point. "However, I think it'd be better to show you a brand new one, because I'm going to make an ensemble for you!"
Octavia nearly did a spit take with her tea, but didn't succumb to the comic temptation.
"I can't ask you to do that!" Octavia exclaimed, scaring Opalescence off the chair.
"Well, you're not asking me! ...I'm just insisting for you. And while you are certainly free to say 'no,' I won't take 'no' for an answer. Come along, the sewing room is this way! Hurry, hurry! Inspiration cannot wait!"
Octavia protested some more as she followed Rarity, but was met with much resistance. Rarity was a very persuasive pony and, in the end, Octavia agreed.
"Well, at least let me pay your standard rate for this," Octavia said as she stood helplessly in the middle of a disorganized room filled with multi-colored fabric and sewing materials. (And gemstones. Lots of those.)
"Nonsense! I make dresses for my friends and will not accept one bit of compensation!" Rarity defiantly declared as she dropped a heap of fabric in front of Octavia. She adjusted her freshly equipped sewing glasses and took the measuring tape around her neck in her magical grip. "Besides, this'll be fun for me as well. First we'll get your measurements... Do stand still, darling."
Octavia groaned a little at being pushed around so easily as the measuring tape worked its way around her.
"Tell me, what kind of style would you like? I have several ideas in mind, but I'll take your interests... into consideration," Rarity said generously as she worked.
'So, I essentially get no say in the matter?' Octavia thought to herself sarcastically. "Well... I do not have any particular fashion interests..." she ended up mumbling. "I will defer to your expertise."
Octavia waited patiently as Rarity finished measuring. After she was done, and without a word to Octavia, Rarity began to sketch out ideas. Octavia noticed how diligently Rarity was working. The seamstress concentrated intently as she drew, constantly mumbling something in a fashion-based dialect. Occasionally she would shake her head as she scrapped the bad ideas, each time muttering about how it, "Wasn't right," or "Not a good fit for her."
"You certainly go at your work with great fervor," Octavia suddenly pointed out.
"... ...ifn ... icly put... gems... tones..... No, no! This won't do at all!" Rarity exclaimed with drama as she crumpled up her paper, not hearing Octavia, of course.
"May I ask why?" Octavia asked, not realizing she was interrupting Rarity's outburst, for she was lost in her own thoughts.
"Hmm?" Rarity poked her head up. "Because I don't think you'd look very good in yellow, darling. I must admit I haven't worked with very many gray ponies before, but have no fear! I will-"
"No, no. Not that," Octavia interrupted, trying to find the words. "Why are you working so hard on my behalf? I am no customer, I am simply an acquaintance. You have invited me into your home, offered me a warm bath, tea and company; now you are designing an entirely new dress specifically for me! Why are you being so generous? Not only you and- and Vinyl, but Miss Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash... They all gave me support in various ways! I just don't understand... I had not known any of these ponies for more than a few moments before they all became so charitable with me! Why is every pony in this town like this?"
Rarity took in all of Octavia's questions and statements. She pondered for a moment and abruptly had to hold in a laugh. She cleared her throat and responded.
"Octavia, although I adore Canterlot, I think you may have spent far too much of your time there. You see, although Canterlot excels at fashion, class, culture, regality, arts, et cetera, et cetera... they seem to lack one thing: the simplicity of friendship! Octavia, everypony's doing nice things for you because you are our friend now, and that's simply what friends do!"
"But surely making an entire ensemble, free of charge, is a burden on you?" Octavia asked. "It is certainly a bit more than doing your friend a favor!"
"Oh, I don't like the idea of favors," Rarity answered. "Favors imply that you're expecting somepony to return that favor eventually. It's like you're expecting a reward in return for your efforts. I don't think true friends need to do favors when they can just do nice things for each other simply because they are friends. And well, yes, it can sometimes be a burden or bothersome, for instance: I wasn't exactly thrilled that Pinkie needed me to watch Gummy. However, she's a good friend of mine and I love her dearly, so I didn't hesitate to say yes. Even though Gummy may creep me out, I wanted to do everything I could for my friend, despite my personal feelings." Rarity walked up to Octavia and took hold of her hoof. "I think being generous to your friends is the best way to show them how much you care and how much they mean to you."
"It... is?"
"Mmhmm!"
Octavia thought back; Vinyl had been quite generous to her. The DJ stood up for her at the wedding. She opened up the door to a world of music for Octavia. She had given her new experiences, laughter, happiness, friendship and even a place to stay. And she was always ready to give away that beautiful smile. But what had Octavia done for her? Had she ever done anything for Vinyl? She cleaned and cooked for her certainly, but that was more for her own benefit, wasn't it? To make herself more comfortable in a different home, in a strange town?
'This cannot be...' Octavia thought as she couldn't come up with anything. 'Despite everything, I'm Vinyl's best friend! Surely I've done things for her! That one time I- Or when I- When we- ...Oh... Oh, no... No, no, no!' A growing panic swelled up in the mentally strained Octavia as she remembered all she did. Every. Single. Thing. She fought Vinyl over petty things like what song she wanted to listen to. She tried to change Vinyl's life to fit her own design. She avoided Vinyl when she was uncomfortable with her sexuality. She rejected Vinyl because she wanted to just stay friends. When Vinyl confessed her feelings, Octavia only thought of how much trouble it was. When Vinyl made the painful decision to give up her own desires to make Octavia happy, Octavia only thought of how it was a relief. The sickening sensation began to overwhelm Octavia as a terrible realization came to heart. She had only been thinking of herself this whole time. She had been acting solely on her own behalf this whole time. She had been taking advantage of Vinyl this whole time.
But surely there was something good? Surely she had done something, anything for Vinyl?
She broke that strange magical gaze of Vinyl's eyes, didn't she? No. No, it wasn't for Vinyl's sake, not truly. The only reason she endured that red gaze was because she wanted to have Vinyl as a friend. Vinyl was a thing for her to acquire. She wanted to enter a new world and Vinyl was the key to that. Her reasons for every single nice thing she had done were purely selfish and had always been ever since Canterlot. And how had Vinyl responded to this abhorrent behavior? With grace, of course. The clownish Vinyl had shown more compassion and understanding in these past few days than Octavia ever did.
This devastating truth felt like a sledgehammer slamming into the wedge that was sticking out of Octavia's core identity. It cracked it wide open, like an epiphany: a realization of pain. Every single pathetic, overdramatic, self-pitying thought she had those past few days felt like nothing compared to the weight of this guilt.
"She's... willing to give up everything she is for me... and I've never even once thought about doing anything for her..." Octavia said aloud, voice stuttering with emotion. "What have I done? I'm... I'm a terrible friend... I'm a monster..."
"No, no! I-I'm sure you're not!" Rarity responded in a panic as she fumbled about. Octavia had begun to cry quite suddenly. "Whatever is troubling you, sweetness, I'm sure we can work out a solution, okay?"
"I am the most vile pony in Equestria... After everything she has done for me- I- I-" Octavia stumbled forward and fell on Rarity. Catching her, Rarity inadvertently returned the hug she found herself receiving. Octavia squeezed the seamstress tight and began to bawl out uncontrollably. "I used her! I hurt her! I yelled at her! I took everything she gave me and I spat in her face!"
"Surely you didn't do all that!?" Rarity cried out in a comedic panic.
"No! It's true! She gave me friendship and kindness and forgiveness and I returned it all with cruelty! I took her feelings, I took that love she was so afraid to show me and I used it against her! She should despise me, she should loathe me, but she loves me! She loves me when I've been so horrible to her! She loves me! She loves me! Oh, Celestia, what have I done!?" Octavia screamed out as she buried her head in Rarity's shoulder. She didn't care or even think about revealing all this to Rarity. This was no time for secrets; it was a time for facing the truth.
"Oh, dear, you are a mess," Rarity said softly as she tried to comfort the crying pony. This outburst went on for quite some time before Octavia had finally drained out all her anguish. She wiped the last of her tears away and released Rarity from the emotional hug.
"I... have... had it with this," Octavia said with hesitation, at first. She turned away and started to walk. She hobbled around Rarity's sewing room as she spoke, with no particular purpose or direction. "I have had it with this... this selfish, self-pitying coward I have become." With every step she took, her confidence slightly grew; a new sense of strength began to run through her as her direction became clear. "I foolishly did damage I was not aware of... I cannot undo what I have done... but I must become stronger. I have to be better. I must beg her for forgiveness... I am Octavia Melody! And I must make this right!"
"That- sounds like a good idea!" Rarity, who didn't quite understand the cause of all the stress, offered in an attempt to help.
"Rarity!" Octavia whisked over to the seamstress. "I must implore your aid! I regret having to ask this of you under these circumstances, but-"
"Nonsense! We just went over this! I'm happy to help with- whatever this is all about," Rarity responded giving a broad smile.
"Thank you, Rarity! I need a favor- Oh! I mean... not a favor, but can you make something for me- ...erm, I should say, not for me, but for Vinyl...?"
"You'll get the hang of it soon enough, darling," Rarity said as she giggled.
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Vinyl trudged home along the empty streets of Ponyville. It was late; everypony was asleep. She had just gotten back from Manehatten on the midnight train and she was exhausted, mentally and physically. She dragged her belongings slowly behind her, leaving a trail in the damp dirt path. The DJ wore her shades even in the darkness. A small light from her horn was the only thing illuminating the path, except for the occasional firefly fluttering by. She wasn't expecting a warm welcome when she got home; she hadn't ever expected one in her life. It's just, these past few days, she had hoped that maybe that would change. But that hope had died recently.
Sighing, Vinyl turned the corner to find her house was surprisingly well lit. She stared for a moment, knowing it must mean Octavia was still up, despite the late hour. She took a deep breath and focused.
'We're just friends. Just friends. Just friends. Just friends. Just friends.' Vinyl repeated this over and over as she smacked her head until she felt confident enough to face Octavia again. The truth was, she wasn't confident enough, but she stepped up to the house and opened the door regardless.
There was a song playing, the very same song Vinyl had played for Octavia just the other morning. It was the one she had used at Princess Cadence's wedding. Vinyl had picked that song because of what it says about love. Even though love can be crazy, sudden or blind, it can also lift you up, make you stronger, get you through troubled times together. She felt a song such as that was perfect for Cadence and Shining Armor, considering their hardships preceding the wedding.
Vinyl looked around for the source of the music. Right where her old stereo system used to be, a brand new one sat. The massive thing covered half her room. Although the volume was turned down low, it looked like it could easily blast the entire town's ears out if anypony turned it up. A couple wires with no discernible purpose were strewn about and packing material littered the once barren room.
Octavia sat with her back to Vinyl, in front of the system, messing with the buttons and muttering to herself. She was wearing something black, but Vinyl didn't notice it, she was too dumbstruck.
"Let us see now... this square stands for 'stop,' for some bizarre reason..." Octavia mused aloud, unaware of Vinyl's presence. "And the little triangle is 'start,' correct? Now, what in Equestria do two triangles together mean again?" She pressed the button in question and a squeaking noise came out of the machine, making her jump back and exclaim, "Gah!" Vinyl didn't notice her comical fiddling however, she was too mesmerized by what she saw.
Vinyl, stunned as she was, could only sputter grunts until she finally managed to yell out, "The- the FiM-9001X! OH MY CELESTIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!" It was true: the FiM-9001X stood triumphantly before her, like it was a lost piece of the universe that had finally settled into its rightful place in her living room.
"Vinyl! You're home!" Octavia spun around in shock.
After dropping all her gear, and her sunglasses, Vinyl bounded over to the machine. She carefully stretched out a shaking hoof to stroke the metal casing gently.
"This... This isn't possible... ...How? ...How did it get in here???" Vinyl asked, her eyes spinning as if hypnotized. She was entranced by the equipment. The lustrous sheen, the intricate circuitry, the magic pulse: it all called out to her inner passion for music and seriously loud noise. She caressed it intimately, as if it was her lover. (She probably would have licked the thing if Octavia didn't speak up.)
"Oh- I- Um- Well... I- I got it for you, Vinyl," Octavia laughed nervously as she tried to explain herself. "I- I had planned to have it prepared for you, but it- well, having no experience in the matter, it became a bit more complicated than I had anticipated..."
"What?" Vinyl turned her head cautiously toward Octavia, her hooves still touching the FiM-9001X. Her expression was blank; she couldn't come up with the appropriate emotion to display. She stared at Octavia as if she didn't recognize the cellist. "What did you say?"
"I- got it. For you..." Octavia said anxiously. "I intended to surprise you..."
"But- I can't have this..." Vinyl stated in her daze, somehow coming up with some sort of rudimentary logic. "I don't have enough bits..."
"What? No, Vinyl. I purchased it. I spent my own money. It is a gift. For you."
"A gift? ...For... ... ...me?"
"Yes, of course," Octavia said, giving the confused unicorn a genuine smile. "It is for my best friend."
"For- me-..." Vinyl finally took her hoof off the machine in order to cover her mouth as she welled up with emotion. She looked at Octavia in a way she never had before. And then, she cried. She cried like a child. But the tears fell like they should, with happiness instead of sorrow. "~Oct~ta~vi~a~!!" She blubbered out through gasps as she bent over. Too shocked to move, she beckoned Octavia over with a feeble wave of her hoof. Octavia giggled and trotted over, landing herself right into an affectionate hug from Vinyl.
The two friends embraced each other much like they had on many occasions before. However this time, Vinyl squeezed with much more love... and Octavia squeezed with much more sincerity.
After getting some nonsensical, incoherent wailing out, Vinyl finally started to calm down. Once she had, she realized there was something off about this hug she was in. Patting Octavia's back, she felt something frilly and soft.
Vinyl backed up and finally noticed Octavia wasn't dressed as normal. Instead of a barren back and measly bowtie, Octavia was adorned in frilly black and white maid's attire, complete even with the cap and apron.
"Octavia...!?" Vinyl started to say before she laughed and wiped away her teary face. "What are you wearing!?"
"This!?" Octavia blushed red and turned away to try to hide the embarrassment. "Rarity made it for me. You had mentioned something about... me dressing like this before. And well I- I imagined it would be something you'd enjoy..." Vinyl started to chuckle as her smile grew wider. Octavia shifted her weight uncomfortably and continued, despite herself. "My original plan was to open the door when you returned... and... welcome you back... ...as a... ...maid..."
"And what- pffft!- What would you have said?" Vinyl pried, resisting the temptation to burst into laughter. Octavia bit her lip and looked around like she was checking to make sure nopony else saw.
Octavia then lowered her head and said, "W-welcome home, master?" She looked up to Vinyl with the most blushed red face anypony had ever seen. She wore the most adorable expression of shyness and embarrassment and courage. Her eyes glimmered with hope and repentance. (It really was the cutest thing ever. Too bad you only get to read about it.)
"PWAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!" Vinyl fell to the floor kicking and flailing with great humor as she typically did when something this amusing happened. Octavia straightened up and cleared her throat, casting aside the embarrassment as best she could.
Vinyl coughed and hacked after her laugh attack before getting back up. "We can- haha! We can set it back up! I'll go outside and you can do it again! I wanna see this right!" She was practically bouncing on her hooftips from her giddiness.
Octavia smirked and responded, "No, I think the opportunity has passed us by."
Vinyl stared at her briefly.
"So... you won't do it again?" Vinyl asked.
"No, I am afraid not."
"OH CRAP!!! I just missed my chance to live out one of my fantasies!" Vinyl cried out as she fell down again. "OHH NOOOOOOO!!!" Vinyl rolled about the floor, hooves covering her face. Octavia couldn't tell if she was serious or just making a jest, but giggled anyway.
"Perhaps on your next excursion from town I will..." Octavia said under her breath, but Vinyl didn't hear.
Vinyl stopped her play-crying. After a second, she barrel-rolled over to the musical equipment and embraced it much like a pillow, and said, "Oh! The FiM-9001X! Losing the 360pV was worth it, because now I have you!" The machine was pulsing out music still, vibrating Vinyl's voice as she spoke. After more caressing, the DJ popped up and turned to her friend. "You have no idea how awesome this is, Octavia! You've made me so happy! I owe you big time for this!"
"That's not- anything you need to worry about, Vinyl," Octavia pressed, interrupting all talk of being paid back. "I just wanted- no, I needed to do something for my friend, who has been so generous with me. Which... actually brings me to the final present...."
"*GASP!* There's more!?" Vinyl squeaked excitedly.
"Yes, Vinyl... and I hope this one makes you even happier," Octavia gulped. She became red again. She had rehearsed this part for hours in preparation for this moment, but all her efforts seemed to fail her as she tried to get her speech out, so it ended up being shorter than expected. "But for this one... well, I need your help. You see... if you do this specific something for me, I will give you something specific in return. ...How does that sound?"
"O...kay..." Vinyl answered with confusion. "What's this 'thing' I need to do?"
"Take me on a date... and I'll give you a chance."