The Friendship Express rolled towards Ponyville late at night. The moonlight shined into the train and the trees passed by with great speed.
A white unicorn with purple sunglasses sat on the train, looking out the window.
Vinyl, I am afraid that Caramel and Neon are going to be going to my parents next.
The unicorn's face became one of anger as she remembered a thought.
The train pulled up to the station, and ponies started filing out. Once the unicorn was on the platform, she looked around in hopes of finding the pony she had been looking for.
"Bingo," The unicorn whispered to herself as she spotted two stallions, seemingly waiting for a train. She then took off her glasses and started walking towards them.
"Hey, can you go get us some coffee?" Neon asked.
"Sure, I'll be right back," Caramel replied, walking towards the inside of the station.
"You," Vinyl growled, walking up to Neon, "What the hell are you two doing?"
"Oh hey babe," Neon greeted with a grin, causing the unicorn to shake slightly in rage, "I am going to that earth pony's house with Caramel,"
"Why?" Vinyl asked sharply, almost as soon as Neon finished his response.
"To help Caramel," Neon replied, nonchalantly.
"But why are you helping him?" Vinyl asked, getting more and more frustrated.
"Cause, I think we should be back together," Neon explained, "I mean, we used to be the king and queen of the DJ world! Everypony envied us,"
Neon paused to grin, causing Vinyl to glare harder at the stallion.
"And the sex was pretty sweet too,"
"I should punch you right now," Vinyl said, her voice full of anger.
"Why don't you?" Neon asked, his grin growing, "Maybe it's because a part of you still likes me,"
Neon chuckled, "You're almost like a dog, always coming back to its owner,"
"Buck you," Vinyl yelled.
"Whatever," Neon replied, "I know you'll be back soon,"
At this point, Vinyl looked like a bull. Her breathing loud, her body shaking, and her red eyes full of rage and anger.
Vinyl was ready to unleash onto him, until she looked around, and found everypony looking at them.
So Vinyl, let out one last big breath, before turning and walking away towards the next train to Manhattan.
After a few minutes, the train rolled into the station, and Vinyl practically bolted into it. Once inside, she found an empty area and sat down, only to start crying.
"Hey, are you okay?" A voice asked, sounding full of concern.
"Go away," Vinyl growled, not facing the pony. She then put on her glasses again, not wanting the pony to see her eyes.
"Well, this is the last empty area so I can't," The voice replied.
Vinyl could make out the voice as a stallion's voice, which made her even more angered due to her past experiences with them. Vinyl then heard the stallion sit down on the seat in front of her.
"Hey, you look familiar," The stallion commented.
"Of course, I do," Vinyl replied.
"Hey, hey. Calm down. There's no need to get hostile," The stallion responded.
"Whatever," Vinyl said.
After a moment of silence, the stallion's eyes went wide, "Are you DJ PON3?"
"Yeah, I am. But I swear to Celestia if you ask me for anything I will punch you,"
"Well... Can I ask a question?" The stallion asked, hesitantly.
"If it has to do with why I am upset, then no," Vinyl replied.
"Are you dating Octavia Melody?"
Vinyl's head snapped towards the stallion. For the first time, she finally saw what he looked like. The stallion was light gray with a jet black mane and tail.
Vinyl's eyes narrowed, "Who the hell are you?"
"My name's Lucky Streak," Lucky Streak greeted, putting a hoof out to shake, "Nice to meet you Vinyl!"
Vinyl hoof bumped Lucky Streak, "You're Caramel's friend, right?"
Lucky Streak cringed, "More like ex-friend...... He and Neon just came to my house about an hour ago. They asked me if I wanted to help them but I said what they did was wrong and then we kind of got into a fight,"
Vinyl grinned, "You're alright Lucky Streak. You're alright,"
Lucky Streak smiled, "Thank. So why were you crying? If you don't mind me asking,"
Vinyl sighed, "I just spoke with Neon,"
"Ahhh," Lucky Streak said in understanding, "I get it now. What did you two talk about?"
Vinyl then told Lucky Streak about the conversation between her and Neon, including what had happened the day before with her mother.
"Octavia told me your mom came over. Why did you think talking to him would help anything?" Lucky Streak asked once Vinyl finished her story.
"I honestly don't know what I was expecting," Vinyl replied, sounding defeated.
"Is it true though?" Lucky Streak asked, "Do you still like Neon?"
Vinyl sighed, "I... I guess a part of me still remembers how he was before. I don't like him, though, Octy is way better than he could ever be,"
Lucky Streak raised his eyebrow, "Octy?"
"Yeah," Vinyl said, perking up, "I like to call her that. I also call her Tavi,"
"Made it up all by myself my ass," Lucky Streak mumbled angrily.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!" Lucky Streak replied, nervously, "So, what are you going to do now?"
"Well, I don't know what I am going to do but I think Tavi is planning on making me meet her parents,"
"That makes sense, she wants to get ahead of Caramel," Lucky Streak said, nodding his head.
"So," Vinyl said after a moment of silence, "Why are you coming to Manehatten?"
Lucky Streak grinned, "Oh, you don't know? I was invited to have dinner... With Octavia,"
Vinyl started to glare, "You're not planning to do anything to Octy... Are you?"
Lucky Streak laughed, "No! I thought you were coming. I mean, everypony else is going to be there,"
Vinyl gulped, "Everypony else?"
~•~•~•~•~
"I wish you told me about this earlier," Vinyl said, slightly annoyed.
"Sorry, I wanted to get this out of the way before you would have to meet my parents," Octavia replied, picking some empty beer bottles from the floor.
"Why are you here again?" Vinyl asked, "I mean, don't get me wrong I love it when you are here but... Why are you here?"
"I was going to continue cleaning yesterday but I never got the chance, remember?" Octavia replied, looking up at Vinyl who was sitting on the couch.
Vinyl gave Octavia a confused look and Octavia sighed.
"Of course, you don't," She said, annoyed before she continued cleaning.
"Sooooo," Vinyl said after a second of silence, "Where are we all eating dinner?"
"I made reservations to a very fancy restaurant," Octavia replied, "So you better wear something nice,"
Vinyl grinned and got off the couch before walking over to Octavia, "I think you just want an excuse to see me in a dress again,"
Octavia smiled, "Whatever you say Vinyl,"
"Well too bad for you, I am going to wear a suit," Vinyl said, puffing her chest out, "Cause I am the stallion of this relationship,"
"That may be true," Octavia replied with a grin, "But I wear the pants,"
Vinyl deflated slightly, "Wha- Hey!"
Octavia giggled while Vinyl just glared at her.
"I'm just kidding Vinyl," Octavia said as she nuzzled the DJ's cheek with her muzzle, "This is more of a shared relationship, that being said... If you were the one in control of this relationship, it would burn to the ground,"
"Since when has today been tease Vinyl day?" Vinyl pouted.
"Oh Vinyl," Octavia replied in a soothing voice, "That's every day,"
Vinyl glared again at Octavia again causing the cellist to laugh.
"Yeah yeah, laugh it up Tavi," Vinyl growled before sitting on the couch.
"Aw," Octavia said, giggling slightly, "Look at the bright side love. This will be the first time you'll see me in a dress,"
At this, Vinyl's ears perked up and her eyes went wide. Her head tilted slightly at Octavia, causing the cellist to smirk slightly.
After a moment of silence, the unicorn bolted out of the room in a flash.
"I am going to start getting ready now!" Vinyl called, failing at hiding the enthusiasm in her voice.
Octavia chuckled, "The dinner's not for another few hours Vinyl,"
But the DJ didn't listen, and the sound of the shower turning on was heard, causing Octavia to shake her head, giggling.
"She is such a silly mare," Octavia whispered to herself with a smile.
~•~•~•~•~
"Hurry up Tavi! We are going to be late," Vinyl called, "Not that I care,"
Vinyl was wearing a dark blue suit and a red tie.
"Alright, Vinyl, just one second!" Octavia called back from the other room.
After a few minutes, Octavia came out of the other room. What Vinyl saw, caused her glasses to fall off her face, her mouth to fall agape, and make her eyes wide.
Octavia came out from the other room, she was wearing a black dress with gold earrings.
"Are you alright Vinyl?" Octavia asked, slightly concerned.
"Uh... Yeah, yeah! I'm good," Vinyl stammered, a blush forming on her face
Octavia smirks slightly, rolling her eyes, "Come on, we don't want to be late,"
With that, Octavia kissed Vinyl on the cheek, practically making the DJ putty. Octavia walked out of the apartment, followed by Vinyl but only after she spent a few minutes standing there, love struck.
~•~•~•~•~
"I thought I'd never see the day," Lyra remarked with a grin, "The day when I would get somewhere before Octavia,"
"Hello Lyra, hello Bon Bon," Octavia greeted as her and Vinyl walked to the front of the restaurant.
Bon Bon was wearing a dress that was the same color as her coat but it had a pink and white stripe going down the sides.
Lyra was wearing a suit like Vinyl but her suit was black. She also had a turquoise bow tie.
"Hello Octavia, hello Vinyl," Bon Bon greeted, shaking Octavia's hoof.
Vinyl and Lyra just looked at each other for a moment before hoof bumping.
"Yo,"
"Yo,"
Bon Bon giggled and Octavia just shook her head at the way the two greeted one another.
"I'm so glad that you two were the first ones here," Vinyl said, sounding relieved.
"Really? Why's that Vinyl?" Octavia asked.
"Because I feel like everypony else is going to judge me," Vinyl replied.
"Well not everypony," Lyra said, making everypony look over at her. In response, Lyra pointed a hoof behind them. As the ponies turned, Octavia was brought into a bone crushing hug.
"Hello, Octavia!" Beauty Brass greeted as she broke the hug.
Beauty Brass was wearing a dark blue dress with small white dots all over it. The white dots almost looked like stars.
Once Beauty broke the hug, she took a look at the other mares there, which caused her to frown slightly.
"Why are you two wearing suits?" Beauty Brass asked, pointing at Vinyl and Lyra.
"Because, suits are cool," Vinyl replied, causing Octavia to facehoof.
"Yeah!" Lyra agreed.
"You two are impossible," Bon Bon commented, shaking her head slightly.
"Yeah, but that’s why you guys love us," Vinyl replied, moving up next to Octavia and putting her hoof around the cellist. Lyra copied the action but with Bon Bon instead.
"This night is already terrible," Octavia said, rubbing between her eyes.
"And it's all downhill from here," Vinyl replied, causing Octavia to glare at her and also causing everypony else to laugh slightly.
"Geez Beauty," Harpo said breathlessly as he finally caught up to his marefriend, "Could you have slowed down at least a little?"
Harpo was wearing a light brown suit with a red bow tie.
"Harpo, this is Vinyl, Lyra, and Bon Bon," Beauty Brass introduced, pointing at the three mares.
"Oh! Hello, nice to finally meet you three... Other than just seeing you for a few seconds," Harpo greeted, putting his hoof out to shake.
Vinyl and Lyra hoofbumped him while Bon Bon actually shook it.
"Harpo, why are you wearing your work bow tie?" Octavia asked, pointing at the tie.
"Because, bow ties are cool," Harpo replied.
"Yeah, they are!" Lyra cheered, and the two hoof bumped again.
"Well at least they're getting along," Bon Bon commented.
"I would prefer if they didn't," Octavia said annoyed.
"Don't ponies here normally go into the restaurant to wait for their friends?" Lucky Streak asked as he walked up to the group.
Lucky Streak was wearing a black suit and a red tie.
"Hello, Lucky Streak!" Octavia greeted, hugging the stallion.
"Sup Lucky," Vinyl greeted, hoofbumping the stallion.
Lyra and Bon Bon shared a confused look. Harpo looked over at Beauty Brass for some insight but the mare was too busy introducing herself.
"Hello, Lucky Streak!" Beauty Brass greeted, shaking the stallion's hoof.
"Oh! Uh, hello Beauty Brass," Lucky Streak greeted, slightly surprised by how the mare actually greeted him.
"Wait a second," Beauty said, a smile forming on her face, "You're single, right?"
"Oh no," Harpo said in a fearful whisper.
"Uh... Yeah?" Lucky Streak replied confused.
"Perfect!" Beauty Brass said, putting her arm around the stallion, "You can be the pony I help next! If you need any proof of my past jobs well just look at the DJ and cellist,"
"Technically, we helped," Lyra commented.
"Lyra, please don't. I don't want to get sucked into... Whatever she is planning," Bon Bon begged.
"Hello Fredric," Octavia greeted with a smile as she noticed the stallion walking up towards them.
Fredric was wearing a white suit with a red tie.
"Hello Octavia," Fredric replied, shaking Octavia's hoof.
Once the stallion had made his presence known, Bon Bon noticed that Beauty Brass seemed to deflate and hide behind Harpo. Harpo didn't even seem to notice.
Fredric had a smile, but it quickly changed to a frown and glare as he noticed the white unicorn.
"So, you're Vinyl," Fredric said.
"Yep," Vinyl replied, "And you must be Fredric, Octy's told me lots about you. Mind if I call ya Freddy?"
"I do mind actually," Fredric replied, still glaring at the DJ.
"Alright then, Fred it is," Vinyl said enthusiastically. This caused Fredric's face to show more anger.
"Why don't we go inside now?" Bon Bon said quickly as she sensed a fight starting.
And with that, the ponies walked into the restaurant, but not before Bon Bon stopped Beauty Brass.
"May I speak with you alone in a few minutes?" Bon Bon asked, Beauty Brass smiled and nodded her head. Bon Bon returned the smile.
~•~•~•~•~
The group of ponies took their seats at a large table, after a few minutes the ponies made their orders and began waiting for their food.
"So," Lyra started, "Lucky Streak, I've heard you've been friends with Caramel for a long time,"
Lucky Streak sighed, "Is that seriously what everypony remembers me for? Anyway, we were fillyhood friends but I stopped being his friend this morning when he tried to get me to help him ruin Vinyl's life or whatever,"
"Does he even know that they are actually dating?" Beauty Brass asked.
"No!" Octavia said, her voice rising slightly, "So if we weren't then this is totally out of line!"
"But you are," Fredric reminded, "Speaking of which, how are you and Vinyl's relationship?"
"Well I think it's going good," Vinyl replied with a smile, "Do you think so Tavi?"
Octavia sighed, "Yes, I do, but it would be much better if I didn't have Caramel watching over me like a hawk,"
"Well, can you blame him?" Fredric asked, "You are cheating on him,"
Beauty Brass started glaring at Fredric, though only Bon Bon seemed to notice.
"Well yeah," Lucky Streak agreed, "But he doesn't know that, he is doing this entirely off what he thinks! What if he thought you and Octavia were dating? Then he would do the same thing,"
"He's got a point there," Lyra agreed, taking a sip of her water, "Besides, who the hell contacts somepony's ex stallionfriend?"
"Nutcases," Vinyl mumbled, angrily.
Octavia chuckled, "I can agree with that Vinyl,"
"Are we just going to talk about Caramel?" Harpo asked, "I came here to see drama! I thought we were like going to interrogate Vinyl,"
Fredric nodded his head, "I agree with that,"
"Yeah!" Lyra agreed, before getting close to Vinyl, "Did you eat my chocolate bar in high school?!"
"Oh Celestia Lyra, will you ever let that go?" Bon Bon asked, slightly annoyed.
"I ain't talking," Vinyl replied with a Manehatten gangster accent.
"You better talk," Harpo said in the same accent, getting into the game, "Or the lady gets it," With that, Harpo pretended to hold a gun up to Octavia's head.
"Fine! I'll talk, I'll talk!" Vinyl replied.
"You have got to be kidding me," Octavia said, facehoofing again. Meanwhile, Beauty Brass and Bon Bon were attempting not to laugh while Lucky Streak snickered. Fredric however, looked unamused.
Beauty Brass then felt somepony tap her shoulder. Beauty turned to find Bon Bon, tilting her head towards the bathroom.
"We'll be right back," Beauty Brass said getting up from her chair, "Bon Bon and I are going to go powder our noses,"
"I'll come as well, I need to get away from this," Octavia said as she started to get up from her seat.
"Sorry Octavia," Bon Bon apologized, "but you're stuck on foalsitting duty,"
Octavia sighed in annoyance, "Of course I am,"
And with that, the two mares made their way to the bathroom.
"What did you want to talk about Bon Bon?" Beauty Brass asked once they were inside the restroom.
"Well, it's just that you seem to be acting strange around Fredric, why is that?" Bon Bon replied, her voice full of concern.
Beauty Brass frowned slightly before sighing, "Well, Fredric is just... Being over protective of Octavia. He believes Vinyl is going to break her heart like Caramel. The only problem is, Fredric won't give her a chance so I am afraid that Fredric will make a scene, and knowing Vinyl she will probably fight back,"
Bon Bon's eyes went wide, "Oh.... Well then I guess it is up to me and you to make sure that doesn't happen,"
Beauty Brass smiled and nodded her head, and with that, the two mares made their way back to the table, where their food awaited them.
~•~•~•~•~
The ponies had finished their food, and as the night went on the ponies became closer and closer. Everypony that is, except Fredric, who seemed to be extremely distant.
"I'll be right back, I am going to go get a quick drink," Vinyl said as she got up from the table.
"I'll go as well," Fredric said almost as soon as Vinyl got up.
Octavia smiled, maybe this could finally be the chance for the two of them to become friends.
Bon Bon and Beauty Brass shared a look before they snuck away from the group and followed after the two ponies.
"I'll get a shot of whiskey please," Vinyl ordered as she sat down at the bar.
"I'll just have some wine, thank you," Fredric said as he sat down as well.
"So, Fred, tell me about yourself," Vinyl said after a moment of silence.
"Well, I am a pianist, I am a part of an ensemble, and I hate being called Fred," Fredric replied.
Vinyl waved her hoof, "Yeah yeah yeah, I already know all of that! Tell me something new!"
Fredric rolled his eyes, "I am not a very interesting stallion, why don't you tell me about you? I would love to know more about you and Octavia's relationship,"
"Well," Vinyl stated, "I am a famous DJ by the name of DJ PON3, my brother is Long Play, and I have weird eyes,"
"Okay," Fredric said with his eyebrow raised, "Could you tell me more about you and Octavia's relationship?"
Vinyl shrugged, "What is there to tell? She's a cellist, I'm a DJ and we date, the end,"
Fredric's eyes narrowed, "Do you love her?"
Vinyl's eyes went wide and panic spread throughout her, "Well... Uh.... Love is kind of a strong word Fred,"
"Not that strong, I hear Beauty and Harpo use it all the time," Fredric replied, "I even heard Lyra and Bon Bon use it from time to time,"
"Well yeah, but they have been dating much longer than me and Octavia," Vinyl responded.
Fredric just examined her for a minute before asking, "What would you do if Octavia left you?"
"Wait what?" Vinyl asked, taken aback by the question.
"What would you do if Octavia left you," Fredric repeated.
"Well..... I guess I would continue my life," Vinyl replied before drinking her shot of whiskey.
"Would you try to keep her," Fredric asked, his voice getting a little more accusing, "Would you force her to stay with you,"
"What?!" Vinyl asked her voice rising, "Why would I- wait... Are you trying to compare me to Caramel?! Why the hell would you do that?!"
"Because, you act like him, who knows if you will end up like him," Fredric replied.
"Just because I act like him in some ways, doesn't mean we are the same pony!" Vinyl yelled slightly, getting up from her seat.
"Hey, guys! You two should probably calm down," Bon Bon said, getting between the two.
"I bet you are just dating Octavia because she's vulnerable!" Fredric said, his voice rising as he got up from his seat as well.
"And I bet you don't like me because you still like Octy!" Vinyl yelled back.
"Fredric! I told you to not do this!" Beauty Brass said as she got behind Fredric.
"Uh, guys," Lucky Streak said from the table as he noticed the fight that was starting, "I think they need some help,"
Everypony else at the table turned to find Fredric and Vinyl glaring at once another, Bon Bon in the middle with her hooves against the two and Beauty Brass behind Fredric.
The four ponies that were at the table got up and quickly galloped over to the others.
"You're probably just as bad as you're ex stallionfriend!" Fredric yelled.
"And you probably just lost your marefriend because she saw how much of a stuck up asshole you are!" Vinyl yelled back.
"What has gotten into you, Fredric!?" Harpo asked Fredric.
"Vinyl, I swear to Celestia, don't do what I think you are going to do," Lyra commanded.
Fredric and Vinyl looked about ready to fight. Their friends, however, were trying to stop it to no avail.
Lucky Streak and Octavia watched from a little further away.
"What do we do?" Lucky Streak asked, only to get no response.
"Octavia?" Lucky Streak asked, turning to where the mare was standing only a few minutes prior but found the mare walking towards the exit of the building.
Everypony heard the door shut, but no one paid any mind to it except Lucky.
"Hey guys!" Lucky Streak yelled, finally getting everypony's attention, "You idiots just made Octavia storm out of the restaurant!"
Vinyl's face completely lost all anger at those words and in a second, she was galloping out of the restaurant. Lyra, Bon Bon, and Lucky Streak followed quickly behind. The other three ensemble members watched as they left the restaurant.
Beauty Brass turned to Fredric, "I hope you're happy,"
And with that, Beauty Brass and Harpo galloped after the group.
~•~•~•~•~
"Give me something hard," Octavia demanded as she sat at a nearby bar.
"You don't look like the drinking type," The bartender commented, "What's eatin' ya filly?"
The bartender passed Octavia a judge full of cider and the mare started drinking.
Once she finished, Octavia sighed, "My life has gone from me being a trapped bird to me being on a roller coaster of emotions,"
"Why's that?" The bartender asked.
"I am married to a nut case, narcissistic, emotionally abusive husband who has made my life a living hell for fifteen years. I got a new job where I fell in love with my boss and started having an affair with her. Although most of my friends are supportive, one of them is being rude to marefriend. Not only that but now my husband is going around trying to ruin my marefriend and my life with the help of my marefriend's ex stallionfriend,"
The bartender stared at her with wide eyes before speaking, "Actually you do seem like the drinking type,"
Just then, they heard the door to the bar open, and multiple hooves walk into the place.
"I need to speak with her alone," A voice said, which Octavia recognized as Vinyl's voice.
The cellist then heard the hooves walk back out of the bar before she heard a single pair of hooves walk towards her.
"I'll have a cider," Vinyl commanded and the bartender left the two.
There was a pause and a moment of silence. The bartender brought Vinyl her drink but left the two alone immediately after.
"I'm sorry," Vinyl said after a moment of silence.
"I know," Octavia replied, not facing the unicorn, "And I know Fredric is too,"
"So, you're not mad?" Vinyl asked.
Octavia sighed, "No. I just wish that my life could be normal. That I could have a dinner with all of my friends without something happening,"
"Oh," Vinyl replied, "I'm sorry,"
Octavia chuckled, "I know Vinyl. I understand where you two are coming from and I am not mad,"
With that, Octavia laid her head down on Vinyl's shoulder. In response, Vinyl laid her head down on top of Octavia's.
After a long period of silence, Octavia spoke, "You know that I am going to force you and Fredric to have a long talk to one another about this, right?"
Vinyl chuckled, "Yeah,"
There was another period of silence before Octavia spoke again, "Everypony is outside staring at us, aren't they?"
Vinyl chuckled again, "Yep,"
Octavia sighed, "Of course,"
After the third period of silence, Vinyl spoke, "We have some awesome friends,"
"What makes you say that?" Octavia asked.
"Well, they support us and are always trying to be there for us," Vinyl explained, "Even Fredric, even though he doesn't like me, he does care for you,"
"Yes, they are pretty amazing," Octavia agreed, "And so are you,"
With that, Octavia kissed Vinyl.
Their kiss lasted a few seconds but once it broke they heard everypony in the bar say,
"Awwwwww,"
Octavia blushed and Vinyl chuckled.
And with that, the two ponies went back outside to greet their friends.
~•~•~•~•~
"Hey Vinyl," Octavia said, closing her book.
The two of them were laying in bed together. Octavia was reading while running her hoof through Vinyl's mane, causing the DJ to purr. Vinyl was laying down close to Octavia.
"Yeah, Tavi?" Vinyl asked.
"Would you be alright meeting my family?" Octavia asked.
"Of course Octy! Why wouldn't I be!" Vinyl exclaimed.
"Good," Octavia replied, "because we are seeing them this tomorrow,"