Octavia must protect Vinyl from a secret serial killer and nurse her back to health in secret. But by protecting Vinyl, Octavia might have put herself in danger as well.
It has been ten years since Octavia has seen her mare friend Vinyl Scratch since they parted ways for their careers. But when the cellist meets Vinyl again she noticed something was very off about her. It turned out her fears were true after receiving a call for help from the DJ. Only thing is that seeing Vinyl again just unlocked a hidden trail of a murderer. Octavia must find out who the pony is and what was his motive for hurting Vinyl. But sniffing around might lead to more trouble for both Octavia and Vinyl. She won’t be alone of course, she’ll have old friends helping her including, Lyra Heartstrings, Bonbon, Apple Fritter, Beauty Brass, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and Ditzy Doo.
Can Octavia and her friends uncover this murderer’s plot in time or will her efforts to save the mare she loved come too late?
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (c) Lauren Faust & Hasbro
Chapter 1
Reunite
“Are you certain we should do this?” Octavia asked at least the tenth time that morning as she gathered her things. She turned to the white unicorn to see her lounging on their bed. With her magic, the unicorn floated the soda can up to her lips. The DJ grinned after a carbonated sip.
“You worry too much, Tavi. Come on, this is your chance, and mine too. I heard this dude can grab the bucks, you know what I’m sayin’?” Vinyl chuckled as she took another sip from her soda, tipping it back to let a drop land on her tongue. She made a pout tossing the can to the small waste basket near the bathroom.
Octavia bit her lip with worry. Not worried about her dear obnoxious friend but mostly this special agent Vinyl just met. Octavia didn't even know anything about him- she didn't know his name, or his recent clients, or even what he looked like, let alone what type of pony he was. Neither did Vinyl and that was the cause of Octavia's worries.
“I’m just concerned for you,” Octavia said with concern. “I’ve never heard of this stallion before and... I don’t know.”
Vinyl sat up and walked over to the edge of the bed and reached over to ruffle Octavia’s hair. “Aw come on Tavi, no need to worry you’re pretty little head. I’ll be fine.”
Octavia quirked her eyebrow at her, her signal for “Really?”
Vinyl got that look a lot. She sat back on her haunches crossing her legs over her chest. “Besides you have your group to play with. I think I should be worried about that Beauty Brass. Are you sure she’s an old friend of yours and not an Old friend?”
Octavia blushed harshly at the statement. Back in college when Octavia started to realize she had feelings for other mares she and Beauty Brass, a very close childhood friend, became intimate, only for a few months. But Octavia had to break it off all because of her snooty mother and the links she had to higher ponies and threatened to ruin any pony she had a problem with. Beauty Brass was one of those ponies her mother disliked.
Octavia swatted at Vinyl to quit her jokes.
Vinyl dodged the attack, laughing. She stood on her back hooves then made a stance like a ninja.
Octavia smirked at her. “You’ve been watching too many of those ninja movies again, haven't you?”
Vinyl sat down with a snort. “I’m the best ninja, right?” She asked making another pose kicking at invisible foes.
Octavia reached for a shirt and threw it at Vinyl’s head making her yelp in shock. She sat down to pull off the shirt from her head. Octavia couldn’t help but giggle at her mare friend’s face.
“I’m really going to miss you, Vinyl,” Octavia said softly.
Vinyl frowned, turning to the window. “Yeah, I’m going to miss you, too. I just wish we could you know... act like old times?” She asked making a small smile.
Octavia sighed. “I know... five years went by so fast and we both did well with our careers up to this point. But we both-”
Vinyl threw the shirt back at Octavia, who ducked, watching the shirt fly into the closet.
“That’s enough with the sappy talk! I hate it when we get so sappy!”
Octavia sighed, trying hard not to cry again. She had just gotten herself under control earlier that morning. Vinyl sighed and leapt off the bed to hug the grey pony.
“Hey, listen to this, if our tours end up at the same town, I’ll watch your concert and then you watch mine, dig?” Vinyl asked stroking Octavia’s cheek. “Come on Tavi, don’t cry before heading out for the world. A'right?”
Octavia chuckled with a sniff. “You always make the bleakest of moments cheerful again.”
Vinyl grinned. “There we go, that’s the spirit! Now, let me help you pack the rest of your things and we’ll head for the train station,” Octavia let Vinyl help her pack up her things then they headed for the main room where the cello case was sitting, ready to go. Vinyl used her magic to levitate the case so Octavia wouldn’t have to carry it. The two walked out of their apartment, down the elevator, and then headed for the train station. Once there, the waterworks fired back up again.
Beauty Brass was already there and grinned seeing Octavia walking over with Vinyl.
“Oh there you are, darling, I was afraid you'd miss the train. Oh, and Vinyl Scratch is it?” Octavia smiled sadly. She nodded none the less. Beauty Brass was always so busy with her training in college that she hardly ever joined the rest of the ensemble in parties and never had the chance to actually meet Vinyl in pony.
Vinyl set the case down nearby checking out this light blue earth pony wondering if she’s really going to take care of Octavia, no matter what stories Octavia told her. “Yeah, and you’re Beauty Brass, right?” She asked with a scrutinized eyebrow.
Beauty Brass smiled and nodded. “Why yes I am. It’s nice to finally get to meet you; Octavia has told me so much about you.”
Vinyl grinned in spite of the blush working on her cheeks. "They better be good things." Vinyl joked as Octavia blushed.
Beauty Brass chuckled at the joke as she reached for Octavia’s things. “I’ll give these to the conductor so you two can have some time before we go. Oh, and Octavia, we’ll be roommates just like in college! How fun will that be?”
Octavia sniffed with a smile. “Oh yes, it will be grand. Oh, and thank you, Brass.”
“It’s no trouble dear. You have a few minutes left,” Brass and the conductor took Octavia’s things to the train.
Octavia sighed turning back to Vinyl. The two stood there in silence trying hard not to cry.
Vinyl sighed. “Look, Octavia, we’ll see each other again, I know it.” She said watching as Octavia bowed her head sniffing. “Hey come on, we still have our old numbers remember? Those old cell phones we had back then are now gaining back popularity. I still have my old number.”
Octavia looked up at her smiling. “You’re right; we still have a way of talking.” She sniffed wiping her eyes.
Vinyl nuzzled her cheek then wrapped her in a tight hug, feeling tears begin to form in her eyes.
Octavia hugged back strongly. “I’m going to really miss you.” She whispered. Vinyl didn't say anything for a long moment.
“All aboard!” The conductor called out. Octavia jumped at the surprise call.
“Not yet!” She whispered. "It's just too soon!"
Vinyl pulled away from her with a half-hearted cocky grin. “Well, it’s time.”
Octavia groaned and kissed Vinyl on the lips. She kissed back making sure it would be remembered forever if possible.
When they parted Vinyl smiled warmly at her, taking off her glasses so she could wipe the tears from her rosy eyes.
Vinyl sniffed, watching Octavia trot to the train. “Hey, Octavia!”
Octavia turned to Vinyl to see her smiling. “We never say good bye unless it’s final,” Octavia watched her in awe. “I’ll see you when I see you!”
Octavia grinned as new tears flowed out of her eyes. “Same old Vinyl,” She whispered as she ran into the train right when the doors shut closed.
Vinyl Scratch sat down hard on the ground watching the train as it slowly gained speed then disappear into the mountain. She let her glasses float back to her face with a heartfelt sigh as she watched the tunnel into the mountain. She let out another sigh trying to control her emotions.
“I’ll see her... Yeah, she’ll be back in no time and then we’ll...” she shook her head starting to cry. “Who am I kidding? She’ll love another pony then... No!” She shook her head again this time hard. “When she’s done she’ll want to come back and so . . . I’ll wait for her. Everything will be back to normal in no time.” Vinyl grinned up at Celestia’s sun feeling its warmth on her face. She turned and start trotting back to the apartment and finish the paper work to sell it off. Tomorrow she’ll be gone too. Her career is finally blasting off.
* * * * * *
Ten Years Later
Octavia opened her eyes after another a long, dreamless night. She sighed turning to see a picture of Vinyl on her night stand. She grinned at the picture. “Hello, Vinyl.” She whispered sitting up, groaning and stretching her sore back. “Ahh, I’m getting too old for this.”
She heard a knock on her door. The door opened with Beauty Brass peeking inside. “Octavia, the boys bought us breakfast. It’s on the table.”
Octavia nodded. “Okay, thank you, Brass. I’ll be up in a minute.” Brass smiled and closed the door behind her.
This was normal routine when the ensemble stopped in another city. This month they had returned to Canterlot for the third time this year. Octavia and Brass would share a room while the stallions took another. Then for three weeks they would stay and play in certain events. Then they would pack up and head for another city or town to play in for another three weeks, then move again. And Octavia had been doing this for ten years and wondered if it would ever end.
Octavia was getting tired, and being tired in this case meant homesickness. She ached to go back to the apartment she shared with Vinyl, but of course she remembered that she and Vinyl agreed to sell the old place because they wouldn't need it anymore. But the thought of that bed or that couch and having that DJ lying next to her made her long for it. But of course she had a job and a career.
She sighed remembering that last kiss they shared at the train station; she shivered closing her eyes, trying to have that memory again. But when she tried to re-envision that memory it felt so stale and stagnate. It was like she couldn't feel those lips on her own anymore. It was nothing but empty air. She turned her head back to the picture of Vinyl grinning with a wink, her shades perched on her forehead. Octavia stroked the glass wishing to hug her again. She shook her head, keeping the tears back. She had to get ready for practice.
She got up and slowly lumbered into the bathroom and started getting ready. Once done with her shower she stood before the mirror to fix her mane, which was starting to become even more grey than she would've liked.
She looked at her face to see lines forming by her eyes and mouth. She sighed shaking her head. Perhaps she could ask her ensemble if it’s not too much to request retirement. She knew she’s not the only one thinking it’s about time to retire and rest.
She grabbed one of her signature bow-ties and clipped it around her neck. She sighed again, shaking her head and turned away from the mirror.
She walked out of her room then into the small kitchenette and saw a bag of donuts. She really didn't care who got what as long as she got her morning breakfast. She could hear the radio playing the gossip of Canterlot. She rolled her eyes, hearing things about Celestia's weight, which was no surprise since that was the most popular topic she heard on these radio shows, but Beauty Brass loved juicy gossip shows like this. Octavia only listened to them hoping for news about Vinyl. Once or twice she heard something but it wasn't enough. Somehow Vinyl was able to keep her private life private from reporters. She shrugged, thinking that Vinyl’s agent must be the reason.
Octavia took the donut sack with her to the couch and sat with Brass as they listened to the radio. Brass noticed how Octavia sat down with a sigh.
“Dear, is everything alright?” She asked concerned.
“Do I look alright?”
“No, you look old and cranky,” Brass said giggling trying to get her friend to smile.
It didn’t work. Octavia took a large bite from a chocolate donut and chewed with a soft sigh though her nose.
“So, we get to play at the gala this year. Aren't you excited?” Brass asked trying again to get a small grin or a smile from her downcast friend.
Octavia gave her a flat look. “No. Not as before. We've played there like how many times?”
“Uh... I lost count after four.”
“Precisely; we've played there four times and now a fifth time.”
Beauty Brass watched her roommate for a moment then pushed the radio remote to mute the sound. “What’s wrong Octavia, you’re acting more cranky than usual.”
Octavia sighed rubbing her forehead from a growing morning headache. “I’m sorry for being blunt but... I’m tired Brass. I just want to go home and be with Vinyl, again,” Brass looked away to wipe her mouth with a napkin.
“Darling, you know Vinyl has a job, too. From the reports I snagged she’s doing well and selling records with her own music. I don’t think she’ll quit any time soon.”
Octavia sighed. “I know... I’m sorry for acting like a spoiled child.”
“No dear, let it out, that’s what I’m here for.” She paused seeing Octavia bow her head, not touching her donut. “If you wish I’ll tell the others that you are not up for practice today.”
Octavia sat up to voice her protest but Brass shook her head. “No Octavia, you deserve a break today. Go to the spa and relax and come back and enjoy the radio. We have already had our days off but you hardly ever rest. It’s no wonder you are cranky and old, you have no rest.”
Octavia blushed brightly from the statement. “Am I that bad?” She asked looking away from her friend.
“Oh, no dear, you just need it, that’s all. Trust me. Now you just sit here and enjoy yourself. I’ll go tell the boys that you are under the weather.”
Octavia watched Beauty Brass trot to the door. “But Beauty Brass I can’t let you-”
“Perish the thought, dear! Go on and take the day off. Get a drink.” Octavia blushed at the comment. “I know you’ll feel better after a good drink at a bar. Have a good rest.” Beauty shut the door before Octavia could react.
She sighed, lying on the couch staring at the donut and took another un-lady like bite, thinking of what to do. She washed her face of the sprinkles then grabbed a coat to keep warm then headed outside into the cool autumn day.
At first, walking through the streets of Canterlot, Octavia started to feel at ease. Beauty Brass was right, she just needed a day off with no stress of perfection or anything. Just a simple day off with the light autumn air blowing through her mane, the smell of food at street vendors, the chattering of ponies talking about the upcoming holidays and parties. It felt refreshing and now Octavia's depressing frown has turned into a happy grin.
She soon walked into the shopping district of Canterlot where the fancy boutiques, liquor stores, and cafés all sat. Octavia sat down on the sidewalk to think about what to do on her day off. She turned to a boutique to see a new autumn line created by the Element of Generosity herself.
Octavia made the decision to go window shopping . Down the sidewalk she walked, looking at the window displays of toys, games, clothing, and food. She just smiled as she watched ponies talking or looking at the displays. She walked past a music store smiling at the display in the window. She glanced up at a colorful sign and turned away. She gasped stopping at mid stride and ran back to the window to see a large poster.
The top of the poster in popping red letters read, DJ-PON-3. Octavia looked at every inch of the poster to read about Vinyl’s latest CD on sale now. At the bottom she could read times for a concert. Vinyl is here in Canterlot debuting her new album at a charitable concert for the homeless. Octavia grinned and looked up at the crazy expression of her frozen mare friend’s face.
“You haven’t changed a bit have you, Vinyl?” She whispered. Vinyl always liked to use her music to help ponies in need. Something to do with her past that Octavia didn't really know about, sadly. Just thinking about that made her wonder about Vinyl's past. The only thing she knew about Vinyl was her old addictions to certain drugs when she was in high school and that her parents were horrible ponies that kicked her out at the moment she turned eighteen. But Vinyl didn't give up and made a promise to help ponies who were like herself, kicked on their flank with nothing.
Octavia's earlier dark thoughts soon vanished, replaced with an idea. She grinned and walked into the music store. Inside she could hear the beat of a song playing on the intercom as she looked around. Sure enough she saw many stallions, mares, fillies, and colts running around the store. Some ponies were listening to music, while others were looking at the different albums and the newest, smaller form of records, the Combat Disc.
Octavia sighed remembering one of Vinyl's dreams. She always dreamed of opening a music store somewhere in Equestria after she was done with being a DJ.
Octavia looked up to see a standing cardboard Vinyl with glow sticks on a string around her neck posing as if frozen in a dance. She smiled imagining Vinyl dancing like that on stage.
Octavia looked to her left to see the Combat Disc version of Vinyl’s album on a shelf. She looked at the price to find the price at twenty bits. She gulped then noticed on another shelf there are Combat Disc players each at least one hundred bits a piece. She smiled and decided to buy Vinyl’s disc and a new Disc player to play it on. Better keep up with the times.
After paying the cashier for the two items, Octavia rushed outside and opened the case to stick the disc into the player. “Okay, now, how do I turn this thing on?” She whispered to herself looking at the object. It's supposed to be a simple device to work with, said the ponies on the radio.
She pressed the triangle button that was supposed to be the play button. Suddenly she heard the player working. She reached for the small headphones and sat down on the sidewalk with her back against the wall, listening. She scowled not hearing anything through the headphone speakers. She looked at the player again trying hard to figure out how to make the sound work. She found a dial that read VOL. She used the scroll wheel and pushed it too much to one side then the music blasted into her ears making her scream pulling off the headphones.
One pony was startled by her scream giving her dirty looks. Octavia groaned rubbing her sore ears.
“So much like Vinyl to blast music right away.” She groaned. She pressed the play button again and notice the song paused. She fixed her headphones again and used the scroll bar to lower the volume. She found the play button again and sighed in relief. There, the volume was perfect for her to listen.
Later she decided to stand up and continue window shopping as she listened to the music. As she was listening to an interesting rock ballad remix, Octavia walked to a small park and sat on a bench in the park. She smiled, resting her chin on her arms, closing her eyes and letting the music transport her into her imagination.
She could see Vinyl playing the remix for all to hear on her mix table playing the tracks, bobbing her head up and down, and an occasional yell for the crowd to get wild as she dropped the bass. Octavia bobbed her head to the beat and bass enjoying the sound. She never really was a fan of this loud stuff but living with Vinyl sure made her consider certain songs and sets she played. As the song came to an end, she could hear the crowd in her imagination cheering. She watched as Vinyl turned to her in her dream with a look of bewilderment.
“Octavia?”
The voice was so close and so real that Octavia blinked out of her trance and sat up staring at a pony with a hood over her head standing in front of her. Octavia blinked. “Oh excuse me... Wait, do I know you?” She asked pulling off her headphones staring at the unicorn. It took her a moment to actually see the electric blue mane and the glasses... the unicorn used her magic to lift up her shades to reveal those rosy magenta eyes.
Octavia’s mouth dropped open.
“V-vinyl?” She squeaked.
The unicorn grinned walking up to her. “I knew it was you.” She said in that old voice that Octavia yearned to hear for years. She leapt off the bench to hug her but Vinyl stepped back. “Not here!” She snapped looking around. Octavia sat down hard on the ground with a look on her face as if she was scolded by her mother.
“Why?”
“We can’t talk here. Come on,” Vinyl bit into Octavia’s coat and pulled her to a hiding spot behind some thick bushes that bordered the park.
Once Vinyl was sure no pony saw them she threw back her hood, stuck her sunglasses in her hoodie pocket, and grinned at Octavia. Octavia smiled back then felt Vinyl’s lips on hers and the two kissed passionately. It was a fiery kiss, not slow and controlled like they had long ago. No, this was sloppy, long-awaited, and most importantly, steamy.
“Oh Vinyl, I missed you so much! Ten years was too long,” She wrapped her arms around Vinyl’s neck hugging her. Vinyl returned the hug tightly.
“I missed you too,” She whispered. “You don’t know how much.”
Octavia wiped her tears away, looking at Vinyl to see if anything had changed. Same marshmallow coat, same cobalt and cyan blue mane, and those rosy eyes that stare back at her for real, not in her memories or dreams.
“You don’t look like you’ve aged a bit,” Octavia whispered with awe. Vinyl chuckled silently.
“That’s what you get with a white coat, no pony can tell you had aged,” Vinyl reached up to stroke Octavia’s ageing face. “You on the contrary seem older than me.”
Octavia only laughed in return happy for the first time in years. Vinyl sat down by the brick wall. Octavia sat down next to her, feeling Vinyl’s arm around her pulling her closer.
“What are you doing here?” Vinyl asked.
“Oh, we’re here for three weeks performing. I never really thought I would see you here of all places. I just saw a poster about your show in a couple of days and I was thinking of surprising you there.”
Vinyl turned away in a vein attempt to hide her frown.
Octavia noticed the look and sat up. “Vinyl is something wrong?” Vinyl jumped up on her hooves. “Vinyl?!”
Vinyl moved in and kissed her swiftly. Octavia yearned for more but Vinyl backed away ending the feeling, levitating her glasses to her snout. “I’ll have to see you again later.”
“What?” Octavia whispered sitting up confused. “But where? When? Why?”
“I can’t really explain right now.” Octavia furrowed her brows noticing Vinyl is avoiding eye contact with her; she never does that. Even behind those shades, Octavia can just tell the way her head turns away slightly. “Um, there is this bar um... The Cider Barrel, I’ll meet you there tomorrow at lunch. I’m buying.”
“Vinyl,” Octavia tried again walking closer but Vinyl backed away with each of Octavia’s steps.
“Love ya, Tavi, see you there!” Vinyl then disappeared out of the bush.
“Vinyl! Vinyl, wait, please!” Octavia jumped through the bushes in chase but soon realized Vinyl had disappeared without a trace. She looked around the park to see no white unicorn running. She only saw children playing and several lovers walking with coats and scarves keeping them warm from the chill. Octavia sat down hard trying to understand what had just taken place.
“You've seen her?” Beauty Brass asked in shock, getting her take out spaghetti into a plate. Octavia was sitting on the couch with tears pouring from her eyes.
“Yes but... I just don’t know what I should feel right now. I don’t know if I should be happy or... confused.”
Beauty Brass took the first plate and set it before Octavia. “Now, I’m sure there’s a reason why she ran off so quickly.”
“Something is wrong.” Octavia whispered.
“Why do you say that darling?” Beauty Brass asked getting herself a plate full of spaghetti and sauce.
Octavia remembered how twitchy Vinyl was and how she avoided eye contact. “Vinyl was avoiding something or somepony. When she knew it was me she dragged me with her to some bushes to hide in.”
Brass raised her brow looking at Octavia. “Maybe she’s with another mare or a stallion and can’t afford to be seen with you.” Octavia felt her heart break as she hid her face into the couch pillow. Brass winced.
“Oh dear, um . . . or she’s hiding from the paparazzi! You know there are rumors spreading about Vinyl Scratch staying in the dark. Many are saying she’s doing drugs.”
Octavia sat up staring at Brass as if she was a changeling. “What did you just say?”
Brass shook her head. “You know I listen well to the radio and read all the gossip magazines. They’re just rumors, Octavia. There is no evidence surrounding that claim.” Octavia sighed turning away.
“Vinyl would never do that to herself... drinking yes, but drugs, no. Not again.” Her ears perked up. She turned back to Brass with fear. “You think she would?” Brass shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t know, dear. I’m just repeating what I’ve heard and read. It wouldn’t hurt to ask her yourself.”
Octavia gasped and face hoofed. “How silly of me, you’re right! I can ask her about these rumors and figure out what’s going on.” She smiled and hugged her roommate. “Thank you, Brass.” Octavia bolted into her room. Brass grinned.
“Glad to help, darling.”
The next day Octavia made it to the Cider Barrel and found a secluded table in the far corner. She was just given her drink when the bell above the door rang telling the bar tender of a customer. Octavia recognized the hoodie jacket and waved. Vinyl grinned and made a small wave trotting over with her head down. She took the seat opposite of Octavia pulling back her hood with a sigh.
“I’m happy to see you, again.” Vinyl said silently pushing her shades up the bridge of her nose. “Sorry about yesterday, for running off like that.” Octavia grinned.
“It was startling, but I am curious.”
Vinyl raised her brow watching Octavia. “Curious about what? Thanks,” She said to the bartender as a glass was set before her. Octavia sighed turning to the window seeing the fall leaves flying by the window.
“It’s been so long, Vinyl and we haven’t really talked in what seven years?” Octavia turned and noticed how Vinyl was staring at the drink as if the cup was a giant spider.
“Vinyl?” She asked. Then she noticed Vinyl started to jerk and tremble. “Vinyl!”
“Huh?” Vinyl looked up at Octavia then she started looking around the bar.
“Vinyl... Something is wrong with you.”
“Wrong?” Vinyl scoffed. There was a tremor in her voice as she chuckled. “Please Tavi you’re worried about nothing. I swear I’m fine.”
Octavia glared at her. “You are not fine. Don’t lie to me Vinyl Scratch. Unlike your own mother, I know when you tell a lie. What is wrong?”
Vinyl suddenly jumped when her cell phone buzzed causing her to yelp. Octavia jumped at the sound and watched as Vinyl used her magic and grab her phone to stare at it. Octavia wasn’t sure if it was possible for a white unicorn like her to turn any whiter. She reached for her arm.
“Vinyl?”
Vinyl jerked away from her hoof. “I got to go, I’m sorry!” Vinyl leapt out of the booth and ran away.
“Vinyl! Wait a second!” Octavia ran after her out the door. She bumped into some ponies passing the bar. She leapt away apologizing then stopped in the middle of the street. There was no sign of her DJ marefriend.
“Vinyl?” She screamed out looking around. Many ponies gave her looks as she desperately searched for her marefriend. She sat down hard on the cobble stones rubbing her eyes. She turned around and went back inside the bar. She pulled out her purse from her saddle bag and paid the bartender.
“I’m sorry about that, here’s the payment.”
The bartender snorted. “Hmmph, I thought you were thinking of running off without paying.”
Octavia made a sheepish grin then had a thought. “Excuse me... um who ordered my friend that drink?”
The bartender stared at her as he cleaned a mug. “Oh some stallion walked in earlier and paid for a drink to give to your friend who ran off.” He shrugged. Octavia looked around seeing no single pony in the bar. There are couples or friends chatting or playing cards. She gulped.
“What was it?” She asked. The bartender gave her a look. Octavia raised her hooves at him showing she meant no offence. “Just asking, I just want to know.”
The bartender pointed at a sign behind him with a picture of the same drink. Desperate Love. Octavia blinked staring at the name. “Uhh... Interesting name for a drink.”
“Yeah, my grandfather made the drink. It’s a powerful shot of goodness to make you mourn the ones you love for leaving you for dead with a nice tiny chocolate rose perched at the side for sweetness. You want one, sweet heart?” Octavia shook her head.
“No thank you, sir. Thank you for the drink.” She smiled and left the bar completely confused.
She returned to the hotel and entered the room. Beauty Brass was sleeping on the couch as the radio played soft melodies. Octavia grinned at her friend and found a blanket to cover Brass up. Once that was done she started pulling off her coat and her saddlebags.
“How did your date go?”
Octavia squeaked in surprise turning to see Brass siting up on the couch. “Brass, Sweet Celestia, you almost gave me a heart attack!”
Brass chuckled. “Was it that good?”
Octavia glared at her. “No... I mean,” she paused biting her lip. “It was great seeing her again but, she ran away before we even began to talk.”
Brass had a confused scowl on her face standing up. “She ran away again? Why?”
Octavia sighed hanging her coat on the hook on the wall. “She... A drink was ordered for her and she completely changed before me as if that cup was going to attack her. She started shaking then her cell phone went off and... I’ve never seen Vinyl that scared before. She ran away after that.”
Brass sat down before Octavia and hugged her. “I’m sure everything is fine.” Octavia shook her head.
“I’m not so sure any more. She’s hiding something and... This isn't her!” Octavia pulled away from Brass’s embrace. “She’s never afraid of anything! Well maybe one or two things but she always swatted that away with her humor. Why is she afraid?”
Brass sighed unsure of what to say to her friend. “Hey, get some sleep Octavia, you had a stressful day. And we have a concert tomorrow afternoon and we have to practice.” Octavia sighed wiping her eyes.
“You’re right... Maybe she’ll come and see the concert.” Octavia smiled hopeful. “She did promise seeing my show ten years ago.” Brass grinned.
“There you go. Now go on to bed. I’ll have to clean up my mess before sleeping.”
Octavia nodded and left her friend cleaning the kitchen and closed the door to her room. She sighed, feeling tears in her eyes. She walked to her bed and plopped into it landing on something hard and cold. She stood up to find her new disc player and Vinyl’s disc case next to it. She moved the two items and grinned. She pulled on the headphones and pressed play hearing the music playing in her ears. She pressed a button to make the disc player play the whole playlist continuously.
She placed the disc case on the night stand, making sure it’s propped up so she can see the picture of Vinyl which she stared at for long moments hearing the music. The picture is of Vinyl in a hoodie with those large headphones around her neck looking up at the sky. Octavia could see the title of the album, Treble Cleft. Faded in the cloudy sky background was a purplish pink treble cleft. She smiled, feeling tears forming again. She grabbed the case again and flipped it to the back.
She blinked seeing a picture of a music sheet with treble clefts as bullets showing ten different tracks. At the far left corner she could see a picture of Vinyl winking and on the bottom right corner, practically hidden, was a picture of her. She felt her lip quiver smiling. She can see a track that catches her eye. It was a bonus track, The Cellist Bass. Octavia never really heard every single track. So she skipped the tracks to the tenth track and listened. Suddenly she heard talking. She blinked realizing it was Vinyl’s voice.
“Oh come on Tavi, just play a little more, please!”
*sigh* “Alright only for you, Vinyl.”
Octavia gasped hearing her own younger voice. There were sounds of tuning and rummaging around things.
“Um Vinyl?”
“Yeah?”
"What is that? What are you doing?”
"Oh this thing? It’s for an experiment I’m working on. Just play your cello and this thing here will record your music.
Octavia remembered this moment; this was about fifteen years ago when they were first starting out living together. Vinyl was so intrigued of Octavia’s playing that she wanted to try something on her computer. It didn’t work out so Vinyl claimed that it’ll be worked on later. Octavia’s heart started to pound, her breathing quickened wondering if this was Vinyl’s experiment.
"Are you sure about this?
"Come on Tavi, just play to your heart’s content. Play!”
"Oh alright,”
There was a pause then the sound of her cello was heard. Octavia gulped listening. Suddenly there were other instruments playing.
Violins?
Violins!
How?
Octavia scrolled the volume up higher to where she can’t hear anything but the music. Suddenly there was a dull bass beat, it was subtle, but you can still hear it. Then there were sounds of an electric keyboard being played along with the strings. It was beautiful. It was smooth and gentle of everything. Then suddenly she heard Vinyl’s voice and she was rapping.
Rapping?
Vinyl never does that... she might for the sake of an audience of ravers but on this . . . Her words. She spoke of her past with a Treble Cleft. Octavia knew for sure that Vinyl was talking about her.
There was another voice with Vinyl, a stallion’s voice rapping with her. The beat and the keyboard blared out as the stallion took the lead of rapping of lost love with this Treble Cleft. Octavia could tell those were Vinyl's words, straight from her heart. She could heart the duet no between them singing the chorus with other voices that Octavia had heard from the radio.
The electro and vocals suddenly stopped, but the cello and violins continued to lay their mournful tune. More instruments began to lightly play, adding more feeling to the wonderful sounds of the cello and violins. The keyboard continued playing with a light bass beat. Octavia could hardly breathe from the beautiful majesty of the music. The other songs of Vinyl’s that Octavia had listened to had been loud and chaotic. But this piece... This piece was crafted so wonderfully, and sounded just like a calming orchestra.
Suddenly the electro and the voices stopped, but the cello and violins continue to play the mournful tune. Lightly more instruments began to play adding feeling with the strings. The keyboard played lightly with a light bass beat. Octavia could hardly breathe at the power of the music. Vinyl’s other works she listened to on this disc were loud and chaotic but this piece was sewn together so well and sounded like a calming orchestra.
The singers sang again with harmonious voices, then Vinyl’s voice popped up again slowly speaking. Octavia listened carefully to her words as if she was truly talking to her.
“Treble Cleft, if you hear this now... I want you to know this... Where ever you end up being placed... I will find you and we will continue making beautiful music together.”
The singers’ belted out the chorus with the stallion repeating the last line Vinyl spoke. Suddenly the beat faded away, leaving the keyboard and voices playing. Slowly the voices died away as the last line continues to be sung. Then the violins and cello were still playing. The violins faded away leaving the cello playing mournfully. The sound of the cello played softly until the sound faded away. The song was over.
Octavia pulled off her headphones, staring at the disc case at the track title The Cellist Bass. She reached inside the case to pull out the small booklet that was inside. She opened it to see actual pictures of Vinyl and some of those pictures had Octavia in them, but only pieces of her; like an arm, or her tail, and one of them had her headless. On each page there was a description of the musical piece. On each page there was a new picture depicting the two mares together. To Octavia’s surprise most of the pictures of her were either cut out or had her hidden. Then she reached the page where the bonus track was. There was a message under the bonus track description.
This piece was made so long ago. I thought about making an awesome bit of music with my lover's music. At the time I was impatient and didn’t have a clear ear as I do now. Treble Cleft, this is for you. Though we might never see each other again at least you’ll have a piece of our past with you. I wish you luck and pray to the goddesses that I’ll see you again. I hope you loved this music; it took five years to make this and it’s all for you.
Octavia started to cry seeing Vinyl’s printed signature under the message. She placed the disc case on the night stand with a shaky hoof. She placed her headphones back on and decided to play the piece again and pressed the repeat single button so she can listen to the song all night in her sleep. She nuzzled her face into the pillow dreaming the pillow was her.
* * * * * *
The battery died in the player. It was luck that the player died, because Octavia heard her phone ring on the night stand. She pulled off the headphones reaching for the phone without looking at the caller ID. She flipped it open and pressed it to her ear.
“Hello?” She grumbled yawning. There was no answer just breathing. “Hello?” She said louder getting angry. “Who is this? I just woke up from the most wonderful of dreams-”
"Tavi?” Octavia paused hearing the familiar voice.
“Vinyl? Vinyl is that you?”
There was labored breathing on the other line. “Tavi... I need your help.” Her voice sound strained. “Something’s horribly wrong...” Octavia’s now wide awake as she sat up in her bed.
“What’s wrong? Tell me what’s wrong?”
Vinyl took a long time to respond. She coughed on the other line. “He’ll be back and... Tavi help me.” Octavia sprung out of bed and hobbled with one hoof with the phone to her ear as she grabbed a hoodie from her suitcase.
“Where are you Vinyl?” She said pulling it on.
“At... Great Luna street. There’s an apartment complex to the left of the sign.” Her voice started to strain. “Octavia... I can’t-”
“Hush up now, I’m coming. What room?”
“T-t-twelve... room twelve. The key it’s under the neighbor’s mat.” She breathed hard and started coughing and the sound of vomiting was heard. “Shit, Tavi-”
“Vinyl... Vinyl! Can you hear me! Vinyl!” She screamed into the phone and pressed it against her ear to hear nothing. “Sweet Celestia! Just hold on Vinyl, I’m coming!” She kept her phone on and attached the headset that connects to her phone so she will be able to talk and listen to her without hanging up her phone. She stuck her cell phone opened in her hoodie pocket and ran out of the room bumping into Brass.
“Octavia, what’s wrong I heard you screaming.” Octavia noticed Brass was dressed in her night shirt. Brass noticed Octavia is dressed in her hoodie. “Where are you going?”
“Vinyl’s in trouble I got to go get her. I’ll be back soon!” Octavia pushed past her roommate to the door.
“Octavia, it’s raining outside!”
Octavia ignored the warning as she ran down the stairs. She busted through the hotel doors, taking a left turn knowing where Great Luna street is. She ran past the closed stores as the rain fell all over Canterlot. She pulled on her hood and bit the string to tighten her hood. She heard moans and whispers for help from her phone. Vinyl’s phone was still on!
Octavia slid in a puddle and took a turn and ran to another intersection. She looked up at the sign on the sign post, she stopped seeing one sign pointing right, Great Luna Street. Octavia took the street and sure enough she found the small apartment complex. She ran to the gate to see glowing buttons. She pressed each one trying to get inside.
Then a voice yelled out, “WHAT!”
“Please, I need to get inside to help my friend who’s sick! Please, let me in!” She begged.
“Fine!” The voice barked back then there was a buzz. The gate was released.
“Thank you,” she called to the speaker as she ran up the stairs.
Octavia reached the third landing and there was room twelve. She tested the door knob, it was locked. She reached room eleven’s door mat and found a silver key. She unlocked twelve’s door and opened it and gasp to see Vinyl laying still on the floor, covered in unnaturally dark colored vomit. She ran over then gasped at the horrid smell. The vomit had this horrible odor and it’s all over Vinyl’s chest. Octavia grabbed a kitchen towel and wet it in the overly full sink. Once wet enough she ran over and cleaned off Vinyl’s body. She looked down to find Vinyl’s phone a few feet away. Octavia closed the phone ending the call, pulled off her headset, and stuck it in her pocket. She turned to run to Vinyl’s aid.
“Vinyl! Vinyl, please say something!” She begged feeling around her for a pulse. Vinyl suddenly coughed a couple of times very weakly. She looked up, her frames are broken and one of the lenses is shattered.
“Tavi? How did you get here?” She whispered weakly shaking.
“You called for me remember?” Octavia said smiling stroking Vinyl’s forehead, she was slick with sweat.
“I did? I thought he,” she retched and vomited to the side away from Octavia. Octavia covered her mouth seeing blood come up with the unnatural colored vomit.
“Vinyl, what’s wrong with you?”
Once she was done, Vinyl groaned wrapping her arms over her head squeezing her eyes shut. “Make him stop!” She whimpered. Octavia knew something was terribly wrong. She pulled out her cell phone and pressed a number for speed dial to Brass’s phone.
“Please, please, have your phone with you.”
“Octavia? Is everything alright?”
Octavia sighed in relief using the towel to clean Vinyl again. “No, everything is not alright. I need your help.”
“Say the word!”
Octavia looked around hobbling to what appears to be Vinyl’s room. The room was a mess, it is normal for Vinyl to have a messy room, that’s just her nature, but the contents on her floor were shattered bottles of alcohol, broken discs, crumpled up beer cans, and some sharp objects left on the floor. Octavia dodged through most of the broken glass to the closet. She grabbed a gym bag out of Vinyl’s closest and started putting things inside that Vinyl would never leave home without; flash drives, discs, records, she even found some clothes and stuffed them into the bag hoping the clothing would cushion the small devices inside.
“I need you to meet me at the corner to Great Luna Street. As quick as you can.”
“Why? Is your friend alright?”
Octavia zipped up the gym bag swinging the sling around her neck as she limped to the door. “No, she’s very sick and I have to get her out of here.”
“Why are you calling me?” Octavia found the hoodie Vinyl wore earlier that day and quickly grabbed it. “Should you be calling the hospital?”
“I don’t know how much time Vinyl has. She called for my help she didn’t tell me to call the hospital. Look, just get here as fast as you can alright.”
“Okay, I’ll be there as fast as I can.” Octavia hung up sticking her phone into her pocket. She reached Vinyl to see her passed out.
“Vinyl? Vinyl, you have to stay awake, dear.” She called shaking Vinyl by her shoulder.
Vinyl groaned closing her eyes tightly. “Stop it.” She weakly groaned.
Octavia started to panic. She sat Vinyl up and pulled on her hoodie and making sure her hood is over her head. Vinyl’s glasses fell off her face landing in the vomit. Octavia knew the glasses were of no use right now. She would have to get Vinyl a new pair later.
She held Vinyl up and then lowered her down, allowing the unicorn to slump on her back. Octavia strained as she lifted Vinyl up. She sighed and started walking out of the room. She turned to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Nothing, except something caught her eye. It was a newly opened bottle of whiskey on the kitchen counter and on the floor there is a shattered shot glass with whiskey on the floor. Octavia gulped then trot out of the room shutting the door behind her and made the hard climb down the stairs, straining with Vinyl’s weight.
“Geez, you need to lose some weight filly.” She said using Vinyl’s nickname for her. Vinyl just groaned in response. Octavia reached the bottom of the stairs then opened the gate door to the outside, she then heard hoof beats.
“Octavia!” Octavia let out a sigh of relief seeing Brass running over dressed in a hoodie jacket.
“Beauty Brass, thanks goodness, take her bag.” Brass nodded and grabbed the gym bag that’s hanging around Octavia’s neck and slung it on her back.
“Hurry, the storm’s getting worse. Oh my!” Brass exclaimed seeing Vinyl half dead on Octavia’s back.
“I know, hurry, we have to get back to the hotel.” Brass nodded and started trotting ahead as Octavia slowly lumbered forward hearing Vinyl groaning then she vomited in the gutter. Brass turned and gasped seeing the same thing Octavia saw. Blood and vomit.
“Make it stop!” Vinyl begged crying after vomiting. “Please Celestia, it hurts!”
Octavia felt tears of her own. “You’re going to be fine Vinyl, you’re with me.” Vinyl opened her eyes they were turning yellow.
“I won’t let him hurt you Octa... via.” She went silent again hanging limp on Octavia’s back. Octavia started forward again.
“Nopony's going to hurt me Vinyl, everything is going to be fine.” Brass ran ahead to the next street waiting for them.
They reached the hotel when lightning started to flash in the sky. There were no ponies at the register desk so nopony noticed the sick unicorn on an earth pony’s back. Brass ran to the elevator and pressed a button to open the door. The door opened as the two mares walked in. Brass pressed the button to their floor, waiting anxiously. She sniffed the air and stiffened.
“Oh, Great Luna! What is that horrible smell?” She turned to see Vinyl groaning and drooling. Octavia scrunched her nose smelling the odor.
“Something was in her drink.” Octavia answered meekly. “I think something was in her drink that’s causing her to look like this.”
“What do you mean?” Brass asked flicking her ears back on her head.
“Before I left I saw an opened whiskey bottle and a broken shot glass on the kitchen floor. Her body is reacting to it.” Brass gulped then shuddered reminding herself to watch what she drank.
The bell rang and the doors open. “Hurry, open the door.” Octavia urged as Brass ran ahead to their room and opened their door. Octavia grunted with effort trying not to fall over with Vinyl on her back. Brass closed the door and locked it.
“Get my door open I’m taking her to my bathroom.” Brass nodded running to Octavia’s bedroom and open her door for her. Octavia nudged her bathroom door open and deposited Vinyl to the cold tile floor.
“There,” she panted. “Now, um,” she reached for her bathtub and turn it on then she pulled a lever and then the shower came on. Octavia turned the water to a medium level in temperature. Not too hot and not too cold, just in the middle. She nodded getting the right temperature and pulled Vinyl’s hoodie off of her. She took in a breath, preparing herself to carry Vinyl again.
“Okay,” she started pulling Vinyl by the scruff of her neck to sit up so she could get her on her back again, then carefully slid her off into the tub letting the cool water rain on her.
Vinyl opened her eyes looking at the white tub feeling the water but not caring. She turned slowly to Octavia as she talked to Beauty Brass. Vinyl couldn’t even hear, her ears were clogged up. Octavia turned to smile at her.
“Vinyl... can you hear me?” She asked stoking Vinyl’s now wet face. Vinyl looked like she was not even in this world. She tilted her head to the left. Her eyelids so heavy. Brass returned to the room with several wash rags. Octavia dunked a rag into the water and proceeded to washing Vinyl’s sweat coated face. Vinyl closed her eyes laying her chin on the edge of the tub with a slow sigh.
Octavia pressed her lips on top of Vinyl’s head and kissed her, hoping to lift her spirits. Vinyl opened her eyes again, slowly looking at Octavia with no emotion. Octavia felt tears in her eyes.
“You’re going to be okay, Vinyl. I’ll get you help.” Vinyl coughed once and spit into the tub. Octavia used the rag to clean her chin where the mucus dribbled over. Vinyl just stared at the cabinets under the sink as Octavia hugged her, stoking her mane. Vinyl closed her eyes and sighed, nuzzling Octavia's shoulder. She closed her eyes and fell into a restless sleep.
The next morning, Octavia woke up from sleeping on her bathroom floor. She sat up rubbing her sore back. She turned to see Vinyl with her chin still on the edge of the tub sleeping silently. She gulped and leaned over to Vinyl’s snout to hear irregular breathing.
She’s still breathing! Octavia let out a sigh of relief as she scratched her head thinking of what to do. She heard a knock on her door.
“Octavia are you decent?” A stallion’s voice asked. Octavia blushed looking down at herself to see the very damp hoodie she still wore from hours before. She sighed.
“I’m decent Fredrick.” She said waking Vinyl by accident. Vinyl didn’t jerk awake but her eyes opened making Octavia stare. Her eyes were very yellow and her rosy irises didn’t shine like before, they were dull and lifeless. A tan earth pony stallion with a white mane and tail walked in the room then took a sniff and balked covering his nose.
“Brass is right, phew what is that smell?” He asked. Octavia gulped.
“Whatever Vinyl vomited earlier I guess.” Octavia said wearily.
Frederick walked in looking quite shocked at Vinyl as she slowly looked up at him with no emotion on her face. “Oh my, she looks terribly sick.”
“I know, so far the water is cooling her down some.” Octavia said reaching to Vinyl’s burning forehead to feel heat. Vinyl let out a moan and turned away from Octavia. She closed her eyes and lay down in the tub.
“Brass told us what had happened last night. And the three of us came to a conclusion that it’ll be best that you should take care of your friend.” He gave her a kind smile. “We all know how much you care about her and it is only fitting.” Octavia gasped.
“The concert!”
“Now, don’t worry about it Octavia. We all know of your plans for retirement already and we all agree. We believe that probably after our tour here in Canterlot we’ll call it quits and retire happily.”
Octavia let out a sigh feeling an enormous weight fly off her shoulders. She smiled and turn to Vinyl only to see her drooling in the tub again. Octavia groaned, rubbing her forehead. Fredrick gulped.
“I’ll, um, leave you two alone for a while. We’ll be in the other room if you need anything. We’re making breakfast.” He paused turning to Vinyl. “Does she need anything?”
Octavia gulped worried. “Please bring some water, she’ll need it.” He nodded and trotted away. A few seconds later he returned with a large glass of water. Octavia thanked him as she reached down to Vinyl and pulled her body towards the edge of the tub. Vinyl let out a painful moan and looked up at her.
“Here, Vinyl, you need to have some fluids.” Vinyl numbly took a sip of water then rested her chin on the edge again. Octavia started to think fast. Should she take Vinyl to the hospital now?
No, Vinyl keeps saying something about a He. Whoever this He is, Vinyl must know him well. He might have done this to her. Her mind keep tracing back to the scene she saw last night. Vinyl on the floor vomiting, her broken glasses, and the shattered shot glass on the floor and that opened bottle of whiskey. Octavia knew Vinyl can be a drinker at times but could drinking like this really be killing her? Octavia stroked Vinyl’s messy mane, trying to piece together what she felt and what she had witnessed. She watched as Vinyl’s nose scrunched up. She started to cough weakly and then spat into the tub.
Octavia exasperated loudly, thumping her forehead. “Think Octy, Think!” She smacked her forehead again trying to jog something, anything. Suddenly a thought popped in her mind.
“That’s it!” Vinyl moaned out from Octavia’s loud voice pressing her ears to her head.
“Sorry,” Octavia whispered. She grinned reaching into her hoodie pocket to find her cell phone. She leaned over kissing Vinyl on her sweaty forehead. “I’m going to be outside this room. If you want me call me.” She didn’t wait for an answer as she quickly ran to her bedroom searching her call IDs for a particular number in her phone. She grinned finding the number and tapped her hoof on the floor waiting for some pony to pick up the phone.
* * * * * *
The phone rang loudly in the candy shop. It was a busy day today so the earth pony mare couldn't reach the phone. She opened her mouth to scream but another voice made her pause.
“I got it!” A female voice called leaping on the cleaned glass of the viewing window just to reach the phone. The mare gasped.
“Lyra, I just cleaned that!” She scolded out trying to balance one toddler colt and a sack of candy.
The mint unicorn she was talking to scoffed waving her hoof at her. “I’ll clean it later Bonbon!” she called back and decided to use her magic to float the phone to her grasp.
“Hello, Bonbon’s Candy shop, what’s your order?” She said with practice ease reaching for a notepad and quill with her magic. Bonbon shook her head, scolding the colt by patting him on the rump for punishment shooing him away then handed the bag of candy to a customer.
“That will be five bits.” Bonbon said with a cheerful smile. The pegasus customer handed her five bits then left the counter. “Come back soon.” She turned seeing a pink pegasus filly reaching for a jar of peppermints. Bonbon opened her mouth to scold the filly for eating too many sweets but she heard an exclamation from her partner.
“What?” Bonbon turned to see Lyra’s shocked expression. “Is she okay?”
Bonbon could hear the gravel from the phone from her position. She placed a sack of taffy to the next customer in line watching Lyra’s face. Lyra pushed the pad and quill away nodding at the phone. “Of course, you are always welcome with us.”
Lyra turned to Bonbon to see her mouthing the words, “Who is that?” Lyra shook her head at her, listening intently to the phone. She nodded at the phone using her magic to write on the notepad.
“Uh-huh,” she said floating the notepad to Bonbon. “When are you coming?” Bonbon took the pad and gasped to see the word, OCTAVIA! Bonbon looked up in shock. Lyra gave her a look of concern then turned away again talking.
“Of course, I’ll meet you.” There was another pause and Lyra smiled chuckling. “It’s no trouble at all. We have an extra room in the basement for you two.” Lyra paused licking her lips and gulped. “How bad is she?”
Bonbon wrote on the notepad, “Who are you talking about?” and held it up for Lyra to read.
Lyra placed her hoof over the speaker and mouthed, “Vinyl,” Bonbon covered her mouth in shock. The urgency on Lyra’s face made her worry more.
“What?!” Lyra blurted out, scaring the three young foals from what they were doing. They never heard their second mother yell like that. The filly turned to see Bonbon biting her hoof. She didn't do that except when she was scared or about to cry. The three young ones walked over and sat down on the floor watching their mothers carefully.
Lyra slumped against the wall with the look of shock on her face. “Well she’s still... alive right?”
“What?!” Lyra turned to Bonbon after hearing her shouted whisper. Lyra placed her hoof over her lips and shushed. She jumped.
“Oh no, not you, Octavia. I was talking to Bon. But yes, don’t worry I’ll meet you at the train station. Are you leaving now?”
Bonbon sat anxiously by Lyra, swallowing a hard lump in her throat waiting with nerves. She felt a head butt her side. She looked down at the youngest of the three foals, a blue unicorn with a green mane; she hugged the unicorn colt to her. Lyra nodded.
“Mm-hmm. Alright, I’ll be having Star to go and help you when you get here.” Bonbon turned to see the oldest of the three foals a filly unicorn. The filly is a teenager in age; her coat is a pale orange with a candy apple red mane. Her cutie mark is that of three peppermints. The filly called Star nodded noticing Bonbon’s look.
“Okay, have a safe trip... No worries... I’ll tell her... Octavia, tell Vinyl that her pal Lyra will be there for her too. Oh, and um, Bonbon is there for her too. Bye.” She hung up the phone sinking to her haunches on the floor. Bonbon walked over to her nuzzling her cheek feeling wet tears on her muzzle. Lyra sniffed turning to her.
“Vinyl’s... she’s very, very sick Bon.” Lyra closed her eyes crying. Bonbon held her in her embrace. She turned to the three faces watching them.
“Star, take Rain and Racer home.” The unicorn filly nodded. She nuzzled the colt and filly towards the door.
“What’s wrong with Mom and Momma?” The colt called Racer asked.
Star levitated the two young ones on her back. “They just got some bad news from some friends. Don’t worry, everything will be fine. Let’s help them make the basement comfortable for our guests.” Star turned to see Bonbon smiling nodding. Star winked then trotted for home.
Bonbon patted Lyra on the back. “What happened?” Lyra sniffed pulling away from her embrace.
“Octavia thinks Vinyl was poisoned in her apartment.” Bonbon blinked in shock. Lyra sniffed and started to cry again. “She’s been throwing up blood Bon. Octavia is planning to bring her here to Ponyville.” Bonbon was shocked.
“But shouldn’t she be taking Vinyl to a hospital?”
Lyra shook her head. “That’s the thing, Octavia said that Vinyl might have been attacked by a stallion and possibly...” Lyra didn’t need to tell Bonbon of the fear. Bonbon nodded hugging the unicorn to her.
“Everything will be fine.” Bonbon said trying to sound cheerful. But of course it was stale coming out of her mouth. She kissed her on the head. “Come now Lyra, we need to get the basement room cleaned up for Vinyl and Octavia. And we need to make sure Vinyl has everything she needs.” Lyra nodded sniffing.
“Yeah you’re right.” She used her magic to swing the open sign to CLOSED. She burst out the door leaving Bonbon to lock the shop.
* * * * * *
Octavia struggled in drying Vinyl, she was unresponsive to her throughout the whole thing. Once that was done she reached for Vinyl’s hoodie and pulled it over her head. Vinyl suddenly opened her eyes and ran to the toilet to puke. Octavia turned away and left the room feeling sick herself. She leaned against her wall, sitting down trying hard not to cry. Brass entered her room to see Octavia crying. She turned to the bathroom hearing Vinyl vomiting. Brass hugged Octavia to her. Octavia smiled at Brass then reached for Vinyl’s gym bag and her suitcase. She groaned seeing her large cello case.
“Don’t worry about it.” Brass said patting the case. “Once you are settled, I’ll send it to your place at Ponyville. Just worry about getting Vinyl there and getting her help.” Octavia nodded.
“Thank you so much, Brass. I don’t know how to repay you for all the help you’ve given me all these years.” Brass smiled and shook her head.
“Please Octavia, you’re like my sister. I will do anything for you and I know you’ll do the same thing for me if I was in your shoes.” Octavia sighed nodding.
“I would, but I am serious about repaying you.”
Brass sighed shaking her head again. “Octavia, take care of Vinyl first, then worry about repaying me. Keep us informed.” Octavia nodded hearing a crashing sound in the bathroom. The mares ran in to see Vinyl out cold again, the glass that was used for Vinyl’s water rolled to Octavia’s hooves. Octavia sighed and flushed the toilet and bit on Vinyl’s hood to get her to sit up so she could get Vinyl on her back. With help from Beauty Brass she put Vinyl in her bed for now as she continued to pack. Once she was finished packing the important things she walked to Vinyl on her bed stroking her mane.
“Vinyl dear, you have to wake up.” Vinyl groaned opening her eyes slowly. Vinyl turned away closing her eyes again. “Vinyl you have to be awake and walking. I can’t be seen carrying you on my back, ponies would question why and we can’t have that and you know why.” Vinyl opened her eyes again and sighed looking at Octavia with a very small smile. Octavia smiled back stroking the strands of blue hair from her face.
“There we go. Don’t worry, Brass is going to help us get you to the train station.” Vinyl frowned looking at her. “We’re going to Ponyville.” Vinyl blinked opening her eyes wider. Octavia grinned. “Lyra and Bonbon are giving us a place to stay until you feel better, aren’t you excited?” She asked nuzzling her cheek.
Vinyl only grunted an answer, smiling. Octavia nodded. She looked over at her nightstand to take the picture and the disc case. She found her disc player and stuck it in her hoodie pocket to listen to later. She placed the disc case and her picture into her suitcase and closed it. She walked outside to see Brass waiting for her, dressed casually since she was not expected for practice for a couple of hours.
“Ready?” She asked. Octavia nodded setting her suitcase by Vinyl’s gym bag by the door. Standing there is a unicorn stallion waiting for them. He was dressed as a bell hop.
“You’re carriage is waiting miss, are these the only bags you’re taking?” He asked. Octavia nodded.
“Yes and thank you, we’ll be down stairs in a minute.” The unicorn nodded and used his magic to float the two suitcases and the gym bag in front of him out the door. Octavia used a chair to keep the heavy door open then trotted to the bedroom. Brass was sitting by the bed, waiting. Octavia let out a sigh and walked over to Vinyl and shoved her slightly.
“Vinyl dear, time to wake up.” Vinyl groaned opening her eyes as slits. “We have to go now. The train won’t wait.” Vinyl numbly pushed herself off the bed then crumbled on the floor landing face first on the floor causing Brass to make a strangled laugh. Octavia groaned in annoyance. Brass smiled but noticed Octavia’s glare.
“I’m sorry... I shouldn't have laughed but...” She stifled her laughter from the scene. Octavia shook her head trying hard not to smile. Instead she sighed.
“Vinyl always made the bleakest of moments humorous.” She said hearing Brass chuckling. Octavia leaned down kissing Vinyl on the head hearing a grunt. “Alright you had your fun, now get up.” She scolded. Vinyl shakily started to stand up. Octavia was there on one side while Brass stood close to the other side to keep Vinyl standing as her legs shook.
“Alright dear, just one step at a time.” Brass said soothingly taking one step with Octavia. Vinyl limped forward with them. Octavia pulled the hood over Vinyl’s head to hide her mane and face from the public. She definitely didn't want any paparazzi to catch them.
It was a very slow walk, it took them ten minutes to walk from the room to the elevator then out to the carriage waiting outside. The stallion sat up ready then noticed the hooded pony coughing and spitting to the side.
“Is your friend alright?” He asked with concern. Octavia grinned.
“She’s fine for now, we just need to get to the train station and get her home.” She lied. He nodded.
“Alright,” he said watching as the three mares climb into the carriage. Octavia had to use her hooves to help Vinyl climb in. Once that was done the stallion pulled the carriage to the train station.
Once there Brass rushed ahead to get the tickets while Octavia asked for a unicorn stallion to help with the three bags. He kindly helped as he magically floated the three bags to the conductor to pack away. Octavia had to keep Vinyl leaning against her so she can walk to the station.
“Hope you’re friend feels better, miss.” The taxi stallion called.
Octavia nodded to him. “Thank you.”
The stallion winked then trotted away to the city. Brass came running to help on the other side.
“I told the conductor you two are riding and he already punched the tickets for you and he gave you two a seat close to the doors so you two could disembark first once you reach Ponyville.” Brass said grinning. Octavia sighed with relief from that.
“Thank you Brass. I greatly appreciate your help.”
The three reached the train as the conductor called out for everypony to come aboard. Octavia and Brass helped Vinyl into the train then found the closest seat to the door. Octavia helped Vinyl into a seat and let her lay down groaning and covering her face from the morning sun. Octavia trotted to the window and pulled down the visor to block the sun. She turned to Brass and gave her a hug.
“Call me when you reach Ponyville alright. We all want to make sure you are safely there.” Brass said with a kind smile. Octavia smiled back.
“I will.” Brass smiled and stepped out of the train just as the doors close. Brass watched the train start chugging past her to the mountain tunnels. Once the train was in the dark, Octavia let out a sigh of relief. She got Vinyl in the train with no one the wiser, no cameras, no reporters, it was too easy. The conductor walked over to her just as the train left the first tunnel.
“Ma’am I stuck your bags above your head just so you know.” He looked over at Vinyl with a raised brow. “Um, is she okay?”
Octavia sighed. “She’s very ill so I’m taking her back home to Ponyville to get better care at home. You know,” The conductor nodded scratching his chin.
“Well, I hope she gets better. Have a nice ride, ma'am.” He said tipping his hat walking away.
“Thank you, sir.” She sighed and sat down next to Vinyl stroking her back letting her know she’s sitting next to her. She noticed something strange on Vinyl’s coat near her cutie mark. She stroked her fur to get a better look and gasped to find scars of some kind on her flank and back. Vinyl stiffened when Octavia inspected her back. Octavia felt the jerk and looked up to see Vinyl turning to her with a glare.
“I’m sorry...” Octavia paused trying to figure out what to say. Vinyl lessened her glare and groaned, letting her head fall back to its position on her crossed arms. Octavia then noticed tears rolling down Vinyl’s cheeks. Octavia sighed, looking out the window hoping for the ride to Ponyville will be quick.
Lyra paced on the platform waiting for the train to arrive. Watching Lyra pace back and forth was her adopted daughter, Star. The unicorn watched as her mother trotted past her from left then right. Star gulped, trying to find some way in breaking the tense silence, it was starting to get awkward and it was worrying her seeing her guardians worried sick.
"So um..." Star stared rubbing the back of her head. "Who's this Octavia and Vinyl Scratch? I swear that Vinyl name sounds familiar."
Lyra stopped turning to her. Star shrugged turning away. Lyra sighed sitting down next to her wrapping her arm around her. "Vinyl and Octavia were old friends of mine and Bon’s. I knew Vinyl since we were in school together. She introduced me to Bonbon then we all met Octavia later on. Vinyl and Octavia... are like me and Bon you see, and um..." Star grinned seeing Lyra sweating trying to explain the uncomfortable subject. Star hugged her making her stop stammering.
"Okay, I get it." Lyra let out a sigh of relief. "But I'm still curious about them. How come I've never heard of them since you guys were such good friends?"
Lyra blushed with guilt. "Well Star... Octavia and Vinyl separated about ten or eleven years ago. Octavia is a cellist you see and Vinyl was an up and coming DJ so they had to split for a time to proceed to their careers. Octavia came here a few years ago for one of her concerts and such, but you were too little so you had to be with Twilight at the time."
Star sighed rolling her eyes. "And a night I would have been better off hearing a boring Cellist playing the cello than listen to another story about Star Swirl the Bearded. I mean who wants to learn about some old stallion making magic?"
Lyra chuckled ruffling Star's mane getting her to giggle. "Oh she wasn't that bad."
Star sent her a playful glare. "It was the worst night ever!"
Lyra started laughing hard, her worries forgotten. Star started imitating Twilight, talking as if giving a lecture. Lyra shook her head at how funny her daughter was acting. Suddenly there was a train whistle from the distance and the happiness left Lyra's face immediately. Star sat down watching Lyra getting nervous all over again. The train came to a full stop next to the platform and the doors opened, letting the ponies off. Lyra sat waiting on the platform watching every pony walk out of the train. Then she noticed a familiar gray mare, waving to her with a smile. Lyra grinned, trotting over. Star trailing her.
"Where is she?" Lyra asked with concern. Star sat down next to her. Octavia motioned inside. Lyra ordered Star to stay outside as she trotted into the train. Lyra turned and gulped with nervousness seeing Vinyl laying on the bench with her hood over her face sleeping. Octavia pointed to the bags at the rack above her. Lyra nodded and used her magic to float the bags to the door, calling to Star. Star nodded and used her magic to float the three bags out of the train, trotting to the gate. Lyra turned back to the seat to watch Octavia as she gently probed Vinyl to wake up. Lyra heard a groan that made her turn pale. This couldn’t be Vinyl... Could it?
Lyra walked over for a closer look seeing Octavia smiling. "Look Vinyl, it's Lyra, you remember Lyra, right?" Octavia pushed back the hood a touch so Vinyl could see Lyra and Lyra could see her. Lyra was speechless and in shock seeing Vinyl's yellowed eyes.
"Goddesses Vinyl what happened to you?" Lyra asked her voice cracking. Vinyl used her hoof to pull her hood back over her face. Octavia sighed.
"Well that's an improvement." She said flatly. Lyra stared at the mare with confusion. Octavia noticed the look. "She hardly moved through the whole ride. She's in pain." Lyra sat down dumbfounded. Octavia returned back to Vinyl stroking her head.
"Vinyl we have to leave the train. Don’t worry, Lyra is here to help you walk." Lyra watched the exchange trying hard not to cry. She had never seen Vinyl like this, never! Vinyl nodded slowly and stretched her front legs onto the floor.
"That's it, just take it one step at a time just like this morning." Vinyl's front legs started shaking as she rested her weight on them to move her back legs. Her front legs gave out, Lyra gasped and spread her magic to catch Vinyl before she crashed on the floor. Octavia sighed in relief, thanking Lyra with a smile. Lyra nodded back and started floating Vinyl out the train. Octavia gulped and followed the unicorn out. She noticed the smaller unicorn and gave her a smile. Lyra slowly lowered Vinyl on the platform to her hooves. Lyra turned to Octavia and lessened her grip on her. Octavia rushed to her right side as Vinyl started falling to her right. Lyra took her other side to hold Vinyl up. Star trotted over but Lyra shook her head.
"No Star, just carry the bags back home. We'll catch up." Star nodded looking at Octavia then at Vinyl. She used her magic to envelope the three bags in a pink aura then trotted back to the cottage. Octavia turned to see Lyra looking at her.
"The filly?"
"Oh, you haven't met her yet. That's Star, the filly I told you about the last time you were here.”
Octavia nodded. "Oh yes I remember her. Wow, she had her cutie mark and everything."
Lyra grinned as they started taking the long slow walk to the cottage. "Yep, she works with Bonbon after school now. While I'm not taking care of the little ones she does the foal sitting now."
Octavia was surprised. "Foals?"
Lyra blushed. "Oh right... um, Star was the first we adopted. Bon and I decided to adopt one more but we ended up with two." Lyra chuckled. "Wait until you meet them." Octavia grinned.
"Well, I know I already said this before; I truly am grateful for you and Bonbon for letting us stay with you. I know Vinyl had a place here but I wasn't sure ..."
Lyra nodded. "She did but she had to move with her family to Manehattan."
"Oh." Octavia said.
Suddenly Vinyl jerked and went to a bush by the trail and vomited. Lyra went pale. Octavia sighed turning away. "I was hoping to make it to the cottage."
"Wait, how many times had she done this?" Lyra asked in panic.
"This was the second time today." She reached in her saddle bag to produce a washrag that was damp and cool. Vinyl collapsed on her knees spitting and coughing. Octavia was there to wipe her forehead first then wiped her lips and chin. Lyra peeked to see red on the rag.
"What did she eat?"
Octavia shook her head. "Nothing. She only drank some broth and water but that was it." Octavia sat by Vinyl hearing her whimper covering her eyes. Lyra gulped.
"Is this from that poison you talked about?" Octavia nodded. Lyra growled. "What the buck is happening to her? Who would want to do this to her?!" Lyra exclaimed. Octavia shook her head.
"I don’t know, Lyra. But somepony wants to hurt her and so far he's succeeding." She nuzzled Vinyl's cheek. "Vinyl get up."
Vinyl shook her head whispering. "What's that?" Octavia asked gently leaning closer.
"I can't..." She mumbled.
"What do you mean you can't?"
Vinyl sniffed shaking her head. Octavia sighed rubbing her face. "Well try, please." Vinyl sniffed and placed her front hooves on the ground first then stated to struggle standing up. Once she was on all four hooves, her legs shook violently then she collapsed on the ground and started crying silently. Octavia gulped turning to Lyra for help. Lyra nodded wiping her eyes and used her magic to lift Vinyl up.
"Here, put her on my back. I'll manage." Octavia said pointing to her back preparing for Vinyl's weight. Lyra shrugged and slowly lowered Vinyl onto Octavia's back. Octavia turned to Lyra expecting her to cancel her spell, but Lyra shook her head.
"You'll carry her but I'll hold her so the weight won't hurt your back." Octavia nodded.
"Thank you, Lyra. Hurry, lead the way."
Lyra nodded and the two mares trotted. When Vinyl groaned out, "Stop," they started to walk instead of trotting. Lyra guided Octavia to a cottage by the creek. Star was already there talking to Bonbon. Bonbon trotted over after seeing them.
"Octavia, it's so nice to see you." She said with a small smile. She heard groaning and turned to Vinyl still on Octavia's back and enveloped in blue magic. "Vinyl? Is that you?" Vinyl managed to look up and made a small grin. Bonbon gasped at the color of her eyes. "Oh my... it's worse than I originally thought. Here come in, quickly. Star has already taken your bags into the basement room."
Octavia grinned at her and nodded her thanks. She followed Star to a door leading to the basement. She gulped ready to descend the stairs but felt Vinyl's body lift off her back. She turned to see Lyra wink at her.
"Here, let me." She trotted down the stairs with Vinyl floating in front to her. Octavia entered the basement behind Lyra to notice a pull out bed couch in the center of the room with fresh bed sheets and blankets already set on it. Octavia could see her two suitcases and Vinyl's bag by the wall. Octavia could see a small bathroom at her right and a radio set by the farthest wall for parties. She was surprised to see a computer near the radio. She could see two foals sitting by a computer watching them. One was a unicorn colt sitting on a chair, the second foal was a filly pegasus sitting on the floor by the colt.
"There we go," Lyra said lowering Vinyl on the bed. Lyra let out a sigh of relief rubbing her head.
"Are you alright?" Octavia asked. Lyra nodded and sat down hard with a sigh.
"Yeah I haven't used that much magic in a while." She turned seeing the kids. "Oh um ... Racer, Rain, you two go upstairs." The two made faces of disappointment then ran up the stairs to the first floor. The pegasus stopped to turn and look at Octavia then looked at her cutie mark.
"Now Rain." Lyra raised her voice making the filly blush as she ran up the stairs. Octavia watched as Lyra rubbed her head then trotted to the small bathroom rummaging around inside. Octavia nuzzled Vinyl and smiled. Vinyl just stared back with a frown.
"Here," Octavia turned hearing Lyra approach with a bucket hanging from her teeth. She set the bucket by the bed. "Just in case she doesn't reach the toilet in time." Octavia smiled.
"Thank you." Lyra shrugged. She cleared her throat turning to the radio.
"If you want you could listen to the radio or use the computer. It's not the latest faster model but it works fine. Oh and don’t mind the kids, they come down here to play. But I'll let them know not to disturb you two." Octavia nodded.
"What were their names?" Octavia asked. Lyra grinned.
"The pegasus' name is Rainbow Shine, and the unicorns name is Racer. Racer is six, and Rain is the youngest at five." Octavia chuckled.
"That little Rainbow." Octavia said chuckling. “She’s a cutie.”
"We call her Rain for short. She likes that name better it seems. She doesn't like being called Rainbow, because many fillies and colts think she's Rainbow Dash's daughter." Lyra chuckled. "So she goes by Rain instead. Racer is just starting to learn how to use magic, but he likes to move things around with his mouth and hooves rather than use magic for doing that. I starting to get the feeling that one of his parents was an earth pony.” Lyra frowned, turning to see Vinyl sleeping. She used her magic to unfold a blanket and placed it over Vinyl so she could be warm. Octavia smiled at her for a thanks then she started pulling off her hoodie.
"Oh, and if you two need anything just holler upstairs. I'm usually the one at home but sometimes Bonbon is here too, so you know." Lyra mentioned walking to the stairs. "Is there anything else you need?"
Octavia's head popped out of the tight hole of the hoodie. She shook herself then fixed her mane. "Oh uh yes, please. Water for Vinyl."
"Anything for you?"
Octavia shrugged. "I guess some tea would be nice." Lyra grinned.
"Cool, Bonbon has already made some. I'll get your tea and Vinyl's water, be right back." Lyra trotted up the stairs. Octavia could hear a young colt's voice whining then the door shut, leaving Octavia in silence. She let out a sigh and sat down by the wall thinking. She looked over at Vinyl to see her still asleep. She turned to her hoodie and pulled out her phone ready to call Brass.
The door opened upstairs and Lyra went down floating two mugs. One was steaming while the other wasn't. Lyra directed Octavia to a small table at the back where she placed the two mugs.
"Here you go, some nice warm tea and a mug of cool water. I hope this will help." Octavia nodded.
"Yes, thank you." She paused thinking. "Do you know of anypony that can keep a secret?"
Lyra sat down with a look of concern. "Why?"
"Listen to me Lyra. Vinyl does need a doctor and we need to find somepony that can help us but keep it a secret from the press." Lyra nodded.
"I'll go over to the Caring Center and talk to the lead doctor there. I've been in his care before and if I talk to him, I probably might get him to keep this hush-hush." Octavia grinned.
"Really? That's great but you saw how drained she was." Octavia said motioning her hoof to Vinyl's sleeping form. "She won’t walk. Can he come here?"
Lyra thought for a moment then nodded. "I'll try and get him to come here. Right now?"
"If that's not too much trouble."
Lyra grinned. "Sure, I'll run over there and on the way I'll grab some things. Vinyl can only hold broth?"
"Yes, so far that's the only thing I gave her other than water that she has kept down." Lyra nodded.
"Alright, Vegetable Stock is a must. Alright, I'll go and see him and bring him here." Lyra trotted to the stairs then stopped turning to Octavia. "Is there anything you need?"
Octavia gulped thinking then remembered Brass's words on gossip. "Um yes, I don't usually ask for these, but by any chance, is there a good musician gossip magazine here?" Lyra gave her a look. "I just need to be sure I get info on somepony in particular." Lyra shook her head.
"Don’t worry about that, Bonbon gets the Equestria Daily magazines, you know, the Lead Provider of Entertainment News?"
"Is it good?"
Lyra chuckled rolling her eyes. "Well yeah, that magazine was how we learned of your concert a few years back. I'll mention it to Bon then when she's done with reading a magazine, she'll give it to you. How's that?"
Octavia nodded. "Yes that will work, thank you." Lyra nodded climbing up the stairs.
"Oh and Bonbon's up here if you need anything." She called down as she disappeared past the door leaving it open. Octavia let out another weary sigh rubbing her forehead from another headache. She turned to the bed seeing Vinyl sleeping soundly. She walked over and decided to pull off Vinyl’s hoodie so she wouldn’t get too warm under the blanket. Vinyl was dead asleep and groaned from a source of pain that Octavia couldn't find. Once the hoodie was off, she folded it and set it on a chair. She crawled into the bed to lay by Vinyl, nuzzling her cheek then she too fell asleep.
* * * * * *
"Octavia?"
Octavia opened her eyes from the dream to see Lyra with her hoof to her shoulder shaking her. "Hey, sorry to wake you but here's Doctor Hoofstein. He's the doctor I told you about." Octavia turned to see the gray unicorn stallion with a syringe cutiemark on his flank. He was dressed in a jacket. On his back were his saddlebags full of medical supplies. He nodded to Octavia for a greeting but frowned staring at Vinyl as she slept.
"You must be Octavia? My name is..." He blushed and cleared his throat, "Squirt Hoofstein." Octavia made a small smile and dipped her head.
"Nice to meet you sir." She got off of the bed so she could talk to him. Lyra walked over to the radio set and sat down, watching them. The doctor used his magic to float the saddlebags off his back, he reached inside for standard equipment such as a stethoscope and a clipboard and pencil. He looked at Vinyl hard to see anything about her.
"So, Lyra mentioned to me that this unicorn is very ill, please tell me more." He stated writing on his clipboard.
"Well Doctor, last night Vinyl called me asking for my help. When I found her, she was covered in vomit with this horrid odor and she was terribly weak." He nodded writing what Octavia just said.
"Anything she had consumed?"
"Actually I had this thought. Now before I say anything, Vinyl drank a lot. I discovered a newly opened whiskey bottle opened on her counter and a shattered shot glass on the floor of her apartment. And I thought perhaps she was poisoned?" The doctor turned to her then at Vinyl, poking her with his pencil. Octavia gave him a flat look. Really? She thought to herself. Lyra snickered behind her hoof.
"Poisoned? Hmm?" The doctor wrote on his clipboard continuing his visual examination. "Anything else? Like what came up with the vomit?"
Before Octavia could answer Lyra cleared her throat causing the two to turn to her. "Blood. She threw up blood." That gave the doctor a start, turning to Vinyl with alarm.
"Blood? Oh dear, this is serious. Uh, now tell me real quick, why we can't take her to the hospital?" Octavia sighed and retold the doctor everything she pieced together and what Vinyl told her. The doctor nodded still not pleased.
"I see. And yes I do agree with the gossip. Every town, even Ponyville, has ponies that are all into gossip. But still, if you don't mind I would like to get some blood samples from her and possibly ... well if it's not too much trouble, I would like to have a fairly good sample of her vomit if she throws up again. If that's not too much to ask."
Octavia shook her head. "No, please take all the samples you need. I just hope that I'm wrong and Vinyl has a horrible case of the stomach flu." If only, she thought feebly to herself.
Doctor Hoofstein went ahead and did some exams on Vinyl, checking her breathing and her pulse. She woke up during this and did as the doctor ordered her to do without complaint. Octavia couldn't help but turn away with sadness. She couldn’t bear seeing Vinyl so... so lifeless. She doesn't seem to have emotions, she just looked like a breathing doll. The doctor packed away the blood samples and his clipboard away. He pulled on his jacket and his saddle bags.
"Alright it'll take a couple of days for me to get results for the blood tests. But as soon as I get the results I'll be back here to give you the diagnoses. But right now, make sure she drinks plenty of fluids and give her vitamins. From my examination and from what you have seen, she's loosing vital nutrients and fluids and needs to be taken care of and a careful watch over."
Octavia and Lyra nodded hearing his orders. "But at least try to make sure she eats something."
"We will give her vegetable broth and hopefully she doesn’t throw that back up." Octavia said nodding her head.
The doctor nodded. "Well this might be a failed tactic, but make sure she moves around at least a couple times a day. But by just feeling her legs, they seem fine."
Octavia nodded understanding what he was taking about. "We'll try that."
"Good, good." He nodded with a sigh. Octavia gulped seeing the look on his face.
"Anything else we should know?" Lyra asked with worry. Hoofstein sighed turning back to the two mares.
"All I should tell you is that to make sure she is ... comfortable." Octavia jumped at that. He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry. She's unresponsive and practically... I'm sorry. Just expect the unexpected of situations." Octavia turned away, feeling her heart beat and breathing quicken at his words. Lyra patted Octavia on her back then turned to him.
"Are you sure? Is it possible ... that she won't live?"
Hoofstein shrugged. "It's a very high possibility. I'll be in awe if she does live in the next two days at most by how much she has been through. I must go before the nurses wonder where I am. And don’t worry, I won’t say anything to them about this. I'll make up a name for her so that her tests would be submitted. Good day." He trotted to the stairs then paused, turning back to see Octavia biting her lip. "I'm sorry Miss. Octavia. I'll pray for you two." Octavia looked up sniffing, wiping her eyes.
"Thank you for your help." He gave her a sad smile then trotted up the stairs. Lyra gulped loudly then trotted up the stairs to tell Bonbon the news. Octavia turned to the bed to see Vinyl staring at her, her eyelids heavy, her tongue lolled out from when the doctor checked her throat. Octavia gulped, delicately pushed her tongue back into her mouth trying hard not to cry, but it was too hard not to. Vinyl closed her eyes as tears poured from her eyes too.
Octavia leaped up on the bed to lay by Vinyl again, making sure she was warm under the blanket. She curled up by her, crying herself to sleep. She couldn't bear the feeling of losing her best friend and the mare she loved. But Lyra's question did flow in her mind.
Who would kill such an innocent and highly obnoxious unicorn like Vinyl? Was it a sick gag that went wrong? Was it a dirty rivalry with another DJ that was rubbed the wrong way from Vinyl's humor? Or was there possibly an affair and Vinyl got involved and this pony tried to kill her for it?
These questions haunted Octavia all through night.
When Octavia woke up the next morning, she was surprised to see two pairs of eyes staring at her. One set was sky blue, the other was tree-bark brown. She sat up, groaning from her aching back again. She had to find something to help ease the pain of her back soon. She looked down at the pink pegasus and the blue colt.
"Good morning." Octavia said rubbing her eyes.
The two little foals didn't say anything, only stared. Rain turned to the side to see Octavia's cutie mark. She tilted her head to the side thinking. Racer only stared at Vinyl as she slept.
"Is there something you two need?" Octavia asked.
Both of their heads shook left and right for a no.
"Racer! Rain!" The two turned to see Star with a look of worry. "I'm so sorry, Miss. Octavia." She turned to her siblings. "How many times do I have to tell you two not to come down here!" She scolded silently
The colt pointed at the computer. The filly keep staring at Octavia’s cutie mark. Star exasperated, face hoofing. "No Racer, go back upstairs." Racer glared then ran back upstairs. Star turned to Rain and blinked seeing her staring. Star and Octavia both turned to the cutie mark. Star sighed patting Rain on her head.
"It is rude to stare at a ponies flank, Rain." Rain pointed up at the ceiling.
"But Mom and Momma do it all the time." This made Star blush. Octavia couldn't help but giggle behind her hoof as Star tried to find a reason to not stare at pony’s flanks.
"That's because um..."
"Star is right," Octavia said helping the young mare. "It's considered rude to stare at another's flank." Rain pointed at Octavia’s cutie mark. "Oh this?" Octavia asked showing her the cutie mark of a Treble Cleft.
"What is that?" Rain asked looking at Octavia then at her cutie mark.
"This is called a Treble clef."
"What's that?"
"A treble clef tells the musician reading the music what type of notes to play. In this case, in the treble clef.”
Rain was intrigued as she continued to stare at the purple mark. She grinned then turned and ran up the stairs. Star let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks." Octavia grinned.
"It's not a problem." Octavia sat up rubbing the back of her head. "What time is it?"
"It's about lunch time."
"Lunch time?"
Star chuckled at Octavia's face. "Don’t worry, it's darker down here so you barely know if it's light out yet. That's why we often times sleep down here more than upstairs, because it's so dark and peaceful and stuff. But you looked like you needed the sleep." Octavia nodded.
"Yes, I didn’t sleep very well the other night and I was up bright and early..." She stopped to look down at Vinyl. She gulped hoping that she was still alive. She watched her side to see the telltale up and down motion of her body breathing. Octavia sighed placing her hoof over her chest to feel her heart still beating a mile a minute from the fear. Vinyl’s still alive... Still. She stroked Vinyl's mane causing her to stir and open her eyes lazily. She woke up, but not fully by the way her eyes have lost their shine. The whites of her eyes were still yellow. Star gulped then watched how Octavia lie back down and nuzzle Vinyl's cheek. Star turned to the stairs then back at the couple.
"You really do care about her don’t you?" She said with sadness.
Octavia nodded. "Just as much as your parents love each other." Star smiled and nodded at the wisdom of that.
"Yeah, I get what you mean." She stood up. "Do you need anything? Mo-, er, Lyra, is upstairs. She's making a new batch of tea." Octavia nodded.
"Thank you, tea would be nice for me and would you get Vinyl some water as well?"
Star nodded and started up the stairs. Octavia sighed and stood up deciding to get herself cleaned up. She was able to get out after a quick shower when she noticed how green and ill Vinyl looked. Experience made her run to the bucket.
After Vinyl’s was done, Octavia remembered what the doctor asked and searched for something to store some of the vomit in to deliver to the doctor. Lyra ran down the stairs with chipper smile.
"Hey... Whoa." She mumbled seeing Vinyl looking horrible. She noticed the bucket then saw Octavia looking into the drawers and cabinets in the bathroom. "Uh what are you doing?" Lyra asked.
Octavia turned to Lyra. "Oh good afternoon, Lyra. I'm looking for something to use to send Doctor Hoofstein a sample of... well you know." Lyra gulped back a bit of nausea.
"Let me get a small container for you to use, be right back." She ran up the stairs then returned with a small container.
Once the storage was done, Octavia dumped out the rest in the toilet and proceeded to clean the bucket out by using the shower. Just looking at the shower made her think. She turned to see Vinyl staring into space. Octavia, with help from Star, had to carry/drag Vinyl into the bathroom then into the tub. Star was exhausted by using more magic than what she usually used. As Star rest outside the room Octavia proceeded to clean Vinyl with a wash rag and warm water. After that Octavia went ahead and brushed Vinyl's teeth. Octavia had never done anything like this to any adult pony in her life. But from foal sitting as a teenager the chore came naturally.
Once she was done with cleaning, she and Star took Vinyl back to the bed. Octavia and Star both let out a sigh of relief and sat down on the floor to rest.
"Man, I'm suspecting when Mom’s not around I'll have to help you do this?" Star asked absently. Octavia didn’t care at the comment only nodded.
"Yes, might as well make this a chore until Vinyl gets better." She turned to see that Vinyl was cleaner than she was yesterday. Even with brushing her teeth seemed to lessen the horrible odor. She just needed a bath and had to have her teeth brushed.
The next two days, Vinyl was hanging on and to Octavia it was a nerving task to sleep hearing Vinyl's breathing then waking up to hear her breathing becoming lighter or harder to let in. Octavia was now starting to truly worry. Vinyl was still vomiting, but the vomit wasn’t discolored anymore. It's normal in a sense of what she just ate the night before or that morning. But there were still traces of blood, which was still alarming. Vinyl was sleeping more and more and this worried Octavia to no end. She feared that if Vinyl slept too much she wouldn't wake up again. But her chest moving up and down was a sign of life.
Most of the time Star would go down to the basement to talk to Octavia and give her company and learn more about Octavia and Vinyl's relationship. Rain would be down there too sometimes and ask about treble clefs or what music was. Then a few minutes later, Racer would go down, only to pout since he wasn’t allowed on the computer. Of course it freaked them out when Vinyl got sick, but afterwards everything went back to normal with stories or help with homework or just a place to talk.
Finally on the sixth day, Octavia woke up and got ready for the day. When she got out of the bathroom, expecting Star to be waiting for her to help her get Vinyl in the bathroom, she saw Lyra with the doctor. They were talking when she exited the bathroom.
"Oh Doctor, I wasn't expecting you this soon."
Hoofstein nodded, he looked grave. "Well the results came in from all samples. Blood and the vomit you sent me."
"And?" Octavia asked. Lyra turned away and ushered the children upstairs. She didn’t want the children to hear the news. Octavia sat down before him looking at Vinyl.
"You were right, we had found some chemicals and traces of poisons mixed together." He turned to her shaking his head. "It's a miracle that she was living a few hours before you brought her here. Let alone how long she’s been alive." He pressed his hoof over Vinyl’s warm forehead. "Hmm, well her body temperature is high so that means her body is fighting." He looked impressed, smiling. "She must have been very healthy."
Octavia looked back to everything she and Vinyl did and wondered if drinking all night counted as healthy. "But," Hoofstein said interrupting her thoughts. "From her blood cell count, she has more dead blood cells than living and that's a concern." Octavia gulped at that, that's not good at all. "Not to mention according to the tests, her liver and kidneys are on the verge of failing. Other counts show that she is losing muscle tissue and with how inactive she is, she's probably losing nerve cells as well.”
"Probably?"
"That’s from a glance miss, but if we had her at the hospital..." He paused to see Octavia shaking her head. He nodded. "Then I can't tell for sure. But how is she doing with liquids and vitamins?"
Octavia told the doctor of what all was done in the last six days and what she was fed with. She even told him about how the vomit wasn’t very dark anymore but still bloody.
"Hmm, well it seems that the poison is attacking her from the inside out, by attacking the liver and, in turn, her kidneys. Causing internal bleeding in the stomach as well... Oh what about her urine or stool?" Octavia gulped.
"She hasn't done anything besides vomiting."
"Ooh, that is a concern... uh let's see." Octavia could tell by his worried voice. He blinked then turned to her. "I think I have a solution." She can see a glimmer of a smile which made her smile. A glimmer of hope? He cleared his throat ready for a lecture. She could care less as long as this was the answer to Vinyl's problem.
"You see there is this new program out the past few years and so far it's gaining popularity. Many celebrities use this to get over addictions. Have you ever heard of a Hoof Detox?"
Octavia blinked thinking, the word Detox was familiar. "I think I might have heard something about it."
"Well a Hoof Detox is this new program out and what it is, is a sort of electrical current that goes through your body and all the junk and gunk in your body flows out of the pores of your hooves and releases it all into the water you stand in."
Octavia had the idea of electricity and water equaled death. But from his explanation it seemed to be a piece of work. "So this Hoof Detox... will this help Vinyl?" She asked turning to Vinyl to hear her let out a moan closing her eyes. He nodded.
"Well it will help get that poison out of her body faster. It'll take a long while but if you do it every other day then possibly this will be the answer you'll need. Of course, you'll need medicine to make her feel better but this Hoof Detox will definitely heal her faster."
Octavia grinned looking at Vinyl to see her asleep again. "So how can we get to this Detox thing?"
Hoofstein grinned. "Not to worry, Sandals has a machine with her now. She works at the Spa in town. She is Aloe's and Vera's niece. I'll send her a line to tell her she has a private appointment with you and she'll be here quick. Let me give her a call." Hoofstein went upstairs to borrow the phone.
Octavia grinned and turned to Vinyl. She stroked her face, making Vinyl open her eyes. "You hear that Vinyl? You're going to get better. You'll be back to yourself in no time." Vinyl didn't even smile, only closed her eyes and sighed. Octavia sighed as well, hoping the doctor was right. The doctor trotted back downstairs with Bonbon behind him balancing a tray on her back with a mug of soup.
"Good news, she's free and she's coming here with the Detox Machine." Octavia grinned. Bonbon placed the tray on the table.
"Here you go, lunch for Vinyl."
"No need Bonbon." Hoofstien said to her surprise. "Miss. Sandals will be here with the Detox Machine. Vinyl will probably eat later." Bonbon looked shocked.
"Wait a minute, you mean that new machine that's causing a buzz in Ponyville?"
"That very same."
Bonbon smiles. "Oh yes I tried it, and boy, in an hour I found the most fascinating of things in the water." She giggled. "I learned that the more that gets out the healthier you can be." Octavia felt another weight off her shoulders. If Bonbon tried it then it must be safe and good.
About half an hour later, Lyra trots down the stairs with a yellow mare behind her. This pony was an earth pony with an electric green pixie hair style. Her eyes were a popping blue and her cutie mark was a pair of beach sandals. She was carrying on her back a small black box suitcase. She's dressed in a green vest that matched her hair perfectly. "So, who is the patient you told me about?" She asked in a Manehattan accent. Octavia patted Vinyl on the back making her open her eyes. The pony blinked.
"Oh dear me! She's the one you told me about? She looks like DJ-"
"Yes, she is, but you promised me that you would keep this a secret Sandals." The mare looked shocked.
"Well yeah, but you didn't tell me this was the DJ-PON-3! I mean... my daughter is her biggest fan." She paused, noticing the looks on everyponies faces in the room. She blushed, chuckling. "Well I did promise. And I always keep my promises. I won't tell anypony... not even my daughter." She said flatly glaring at Hoofstein.
"Anyway, we must hurry. The sooner we do this the quicker she'll heal."
Sandals nodded at the urgency of his voice. "Alright just point out for me an electrical outlet then I'll get this old boy set up." Lyra unplugged a nightlight from the wall and Sandals started getting to work explaining to Lyra and Octavia what she was doing.
She unlatched the suitcase to reveal a black box with two blue screens. Sandals pulled out the box and set it on the floor and pulled out several other things. Straps, a strange cylinder object with a cord, and a little bracelet with a cord. Once she pulled them out she started pulling in the cords to the box. She lifted the box and placed it on top of the suitcase.
"So what does this thing do?" Lyra asked unsure. Sandals chuckled.
"Oh, this sends pulses of electricity through this little bracelet that will be around her arm." She said blushing at Octavia pointing at Vinyl.
"Just call her Vinyl." Octavia said noticing her blush.
"Oh alright, I wasn't sure what to call her since you know..." She noticed the flat look then chuckled again. "Right, once that current goes through her body to stimulate her body to make all the yucky stuff get out."
"And how does that work?" Octavia asked. "He said that the poison will get out through her hooves?"
Sandals grinned. "Yes and here’s the next part." She looked at the bathtub. "Vinyl must stand in very hot water for this to work. Because the hot water will open her pores in her hooves so all the gunk will escape out of her hooves." Octavia and Lyra looked at one another in surprise.
"And so this electrical current won't fry her up?"
Sandals laughed at the comment. "Oh no dear, these are very small pulses that passes through her body. And with this little cylinder here," She pointed at the black cylinder. "This here is the array that will be getting some of the electric pulses that travel down her body. This will use the electricity to change the water into colors that the chemicals and enzymes from her body that will interact with the pulses." Octavia sat there completely confused. So was Lyra. Sandals chuckled nervously.
"It's hard to explain so I'll show you. But first we need to get the tub ready. Back at the Spa she would be standing in a large plastic tub of water where you could see the results better. But since we are here with no such things, the bath tub will have to work for now." The two mares nodded.
"Now let me finish setting things up then um... Is there something on your mind?" She asked noticing Octavia's worry.
"So can't she lay in the water?" Sandals shook her head.
"No, why? Can’t she stand?" Octavia pointed at Vinyl. Sandals looked at Vinyl to see her drooling with her eyes closed. Sandals looked back at Octavia to see her worried frown. "Oh, she can’t, can't she?"
Lyra, Octavia, and the doctor all shook their heads. Sandals nodded. "Alright well, we have two unicorns so we'll have to keep her standing with magic."
Lyra let out a groan and rubbed her horn. Octavia trotted to Vinyl and shook her lightly to make her open her eyes. "Vinyl, sweetie, you have to wake up for this." Vinyl turned her head away squeezing her eyes shut. "Don’t worry, this will make you feel better. I promise." Vinyl opened her eyes again turning to her. "It's now or never." She said turning to Lyra and Hoofstein.
"I'm ready, bring her over. The water is at the perfect temperature." Sandals called from the bathroom. Lyra and the doctor both made a plan and they both used their magic combined to lift Vinyl off the bed then float her in front of then to the tub. Hoofstein nodded to Lyra. Lyra nodded back and canceled her grip so Hoofstein could walk into the bathroom, he then got into a comfortable position so that he could concentrate. Octavia walked, in watching her step between the two cables that connected to the array and the bracelet as Sandals slapped it high up on Vinyl's arm.
"There we go, now to tighten it," She tightened the strap then grinned, "There we go, now, lower her down to the water. Slowly." When Vinyl's hooves touched the water her eyes went wide and she started yelping. Octavia reached Vinyl making her turn toward her.
"It will be hot. It has to be, so this can work." Vinyl's eyes were glassy with tears from the hot pain but nodded gulping. Octavia smiled and turned to Hoofstein. "Slowly." She said. He nodded lowering Vinyl back in the ankle deep hot water. She squeezed her eyes shut from the scalding pain but didn't yell or anything. Octavia smiled stroking her back telling her everything is fine.
"She’s ready." Octavia said. Sandals nodded as she set the cylinder array into the water between Vinyl’s front hooves. After that she sprinkled salt from a salt shaker into the water and used her hoof to swirl the water. She dried her hoof to press a button on the black box causing it to beep loudly. She pressed more buttons then grinned.
"Alright, we'll put her in this for an hour. We'll go for the first thirty minutes. Then we'll start again later." Sandals noticed the doctor closing his eyes breathing deeply concentrating hard. "Now Doc, when you are getting tired say the word then Lyra will take over." He nodded shushing her.
"Please don’t talk to me." Sandals nodded.
"Alright." she turned to Octavia. "It'll be better breathing room if you sit outside." Octavia nodded with a sheepish grin as she backed away to sit with Lyra. She was surprised to see Star, Rain, and Racer peeking into the bathroom. Bonbon came down a few minutes later to see her family and friend watching the bathroom.
"How is she?" Bonbon asked nuzzling Lyra from behind causing her to jump. Lyra grinned kissing her on the nose.
"She's sleeping." Lyra bluntly answered.
Octavia laid down to watch, getting sleepy. Rain laid down next to her watching. Racer laid down on Octavia's left side, laying there with his chin on his arms. Octavia poked in to see Sandals checking the water again. She turned to Hoofstein and groaned.
"Doc, it's time to take a break, you were at it for twenty-five minutes." She turned and waved. "Bring in Lyra to take his place for a while." Lyra heard and trotted in enveloping Vinyl with her magic to take control.
"You got her?" The doctor strained. Lyra nodded.
"Yeah, let go." He canceled his magic breathing hard. He shakily stood up then let Lyra take his spot. She laid down on his spot on the floor and closed her eyes and breathed slowly, keeping Vinyl standing as she slept.
Suddenly the box beeped. Sandals reached over and pressed a button then it beeped again. She left it alone with a sigh. "Alright, the first thirty minutes is done. Just another thirty minutes." She said to everypony watching. Octavia stood up to walk in. She peaked into the water and balked at the color. Sandals grinned.
"See, I told you."
"Why is her water so black?"
"Oh well since she is a DJ she might have been the DJ in many bars possibly where smoking is quite common. And can you see how the water is brown but the parts of the bottom were caked with black flecks?" Octavia nodded.
"The brown is the color of well the gunk in her liver since she's a drinker, right?" Octavia nodded. Sandals nodded she pointed at the water again. "The black flecks covering the bottom is of course tobacco coming out of her body." Octavia gulps sniffing the water. There was that odor again.
"Does the water smell?"
"Most of the time. I've had customers say that the water smelled of beer. So yes, it's common."
"But that smell?" Octavia asked hoping that it's not that same smell she smelled on Vinyl before.
Sandals made a face shaking her head. "Nope, not this smell. What is that really?" She asked. Octavia explained to Sandals what had happened a few days ago and the odor that was from Vinyl. Sandals nodded.
"Hmm, so whatever she drank with her drink has a bad odor. Let's see,"
Octavia watched as the mare thought for a moment. Then she had a thought. "Uh, does the water look like this every time?" Sandals shook her head.
"Not normally but since Vinyl's body is pushing out that poison she might have the same color water next time you do this. But I've seen my customers have all orange water, yellow, all black one time. But the first thirty minutes is one portion then the last thirty will be another portion of the body that gets cleaned out."
Octavia nodded seeing Vinyl swaying slightly with Lyra's magic holding her in place. "So if Vinyl has to do this again, when is the best time?" Sandals shrugged.
"Well the best is forty-eight hours at least. Because her body will still try to remove all that gunk, even after this. So make sure she drinks plenty of water and I wouldn't be surprised if she has diarrhea from this. Since Doc told me that you said that she hasn't been actually releasing waste much.” Octavia nodded. "So yeah make sure she's near the toilet then for a day. The water will replenish the lost water from the detox. Oh, and make sure she takes her essential vitamins too. Because the side effects from this include hormones that might act up in the brain. A chemical that was being released during the detox."
"Meaning?"
"Well like me for instance after I do this some days I would be so irritated and angry and in a bad mood all day because of it. That's because my body was releasing that chemical in my brain and all that stuff. But knowing Vinyl she'll probably be sleeping or wide awake, one or the other." Octavia sighed and nodded.
"I better go back outside." Sandals nodded and continues surveying the water.
After ten minutes Lyra had to be switched out with the doctor for the rest of the time. Finally the box beeped the end of the thirty minutes. Sandals said that she was done for the day and pulled the string to the plug of the bathtub so all the gunky colored water went down the drain. She used a large cup to swish the water around in the tub to clean it. She asked from Bonbon to have some vinegar to clean out the tub later. Once she got a bottle of vinegar she used the cup to fill it with cold water and washed off Vinyl's hooves, waking her up and causing her to curl her legs to her body shivering. Octavia had to explain to Vinyl that Sandals was cleaning her hooves.
Vinyl reluctantly uncurled her legs, shivering as Sandals cleaned her four hooves with the cold water explaining that the cold water will close her pores keeping the gunk from coming out of her hooves. After that, Lyra helped the doctor float Vinyl back into the bed so she could rest in peace again. Octavia helped Sandals clean up the mess by cleaning the tub while Sandals put away the equipment.
"So," Octavia started. "How will this affect Vinyl?"
The pony shrugged. "Well my wakeful and not so sick customers claimed to be well. They said they feel younger, cleaner, and healthier. So though Vinyl is the way she is right now it'll probably take a couple more visits before she'll feel any better. I mean an hour can be a lot for the body but... It'll take a while for it to affect her in this state." Octavia nodded.
"But she'll be better tomorrow?"
"Maybe. Not sure. But I will be back in two days so we can do this again." Octavia nodded smiling.
"Yes I learned a lot today. I hope to watch more of this, I might put it together and uh,"
Sandals laughed sticking the black box into the suitcase closing it. "Well, how about I order another one of these so that I won’t have to carry this thing around every time." Octavia blinked in surprise.
"You could do that?"
Sandals blew a raspberry. "Of course, I have two others. I'm required to have two and I have an extra. I'll give you the extra for yourself. You can pay me later for it."
Octavia grinned. "Thank you. That will mean a lot since it worked so well."
Sandals nodded. "Yep, maybe if things weren't so dramatic I could strap you in with her and you both can have a detox. It's simple."
Octavia sat down nodding. "Hmm, sounds like a plan. See you in two days?" Sandals nodded and turned to the doctor.
"Doc you going to be here? I don’t think Lyra has the juice as you do." The doctor nodded.
"Well of course. I have to check on my patient." He turned to Octavia and sighed. "I decided that since Sandals will be doing this for you every other day, I'll be here to help with Vinyl until she can stand by herself. But while I'm here before we do the Detox, I'll have to check on her and take some blood samples. I just want to make sure that the poison is truly getting out of her system." Octavia nodded and gave Sandals a hug and shook the doctor's hoof and thanked them for their help. Lyra stood up from her position, yawning.
"I don’t know about you Octavia, but I'm tired. That magic was tough."
Octavia grinned, feeling a yawn herself. "Yes, that was an experience." She looked down and grinned seeing Rain and Racer sleeping together on the floor. "Aw, they must have fallen asleep." Lyra grinned and scrunched her face in concentration, carrying the two young ones with her magic.
"I better get them to their room before I'm out of juice. Night, Octavia." Lyra traveled up the stairs then shut the door above. Octavia yawned covering her mouth. She didn't care if it was six in the evening, she was sleepy. She stuck her head into the blanket to crawl through and lay next to Vinyl. She smiled and kissed her on the cheek before falling asleep.
Vinyl opened one yellowed eye, and ever so slowly, she made a small smile.
For the next two weeks, Octavia watched everything Sandals did while performing more Hoof Detoxes. It was hard every time, seeing Vinyl just limply hanging from the magic of the unicorns. But it seemed that Vinyl was regaining color with each detoxing. When Doctor Hoofstein checked her eyes, he reported that her eyes were clearing up. Vinyl even stopped vomiting for a time. Which was a relief and when she did get sick, Octavia paid close attention to notice that there was no blood! It seemed that the detoxes were proving to be working.
Vinyl still slept a lot, which was to be expected. She kept her food and medicine down, which was good. She still remained silent, moaning and sometimes drooling but not much, to Octavia's wonder. Even her breathing was coming out normally now. Hoofstein would check her progress with blood tests, saying that her blood cell count had increased and that there were less dead cells. To Octavia, that was the best news she could hope for.
After every detox Octavia paid close attention to the water. She could see that the water did indeed change colors every time, but the smell was still there. But this last one, there was no smell. She grinned at Sandals to see her smile too.
It had been a month since Octavia got Vinyl to Ponyville and the weather was getting colder, winter was coming. It had been a week since Vinyl had a detox, Hoofstein suggested that it’s best to give Vinyl a break and to fight off the poisons herself, now that she had gotten most of the poisons out. Octavia then started giving Vinyl the stronger medication to help her immune system fight back.
One morning, Octavia woke up and shivered from the cold, snuggling closer to Vinyl to keep warm. Since the weather was getting colder, the basement also got cold. As she snuggled into the white mass, she felt somepony's hoof stroking her mane. She enjoyed the pet but something was wrong. She stiffened at the thought. She sat up with a yelp, falling off the bed. She groaned, rubbing the back of her head. She sighed glaring at the ceiling. Suddenly the face looked at her with a small grin. Octavia sat up staring at the white unicorn seeing her sleepy, rosy eyes.
"Hey Tavi." Octavia felt tears burn her eyes as she jumped into the bed hugging Vinyl.
"You're back! Oh thank Celestia you're back Vinyl!" Vinyl weakly fell on her side with Octavia on top of her crying. Vinyl only grinned back with tears of her own.
"I thought I was dreaming of you but when I woke up I saw you there and..." Vinyl weakly hugged Octavia, crying. "I thought I would never see you again!"
Octavia hugged her back, careful of how tight she held Vinyl. "I thought... Oh Vinyl! I thought I was going to lose you!" She said sitting back helping Vinyl back on the bed stroking her mane. Vinyl closed her eyes feeling her hoof in her mane.
"Seriously Octavia. I... when I saw you back at Canterlot..." She grinned closing her eyes. "It was a dream come true."
Octavia shushed her stroking her. "Just go back to sleep, Vinyl."
Vinyl snapped her eyes open sitting up. "No, I can't! What if- mmph!" Octavia's lips were on hers, relaxing her frantic thoughts. Once they parted Vinyl smiled.
"Nothing is going to happen to me, Vinyl. You need your rest. Go back to sleep." She whispered soothingly as Vinyl laid back down looking up at Octavia with a smile.
"Are you sure this isn't a dream?"
"No Vinyl, this isn't a dream." Octavia whispered soothingly, kissing her on the head and stroking her to sleep. Vinyl's eyes soon became heavy, and she fell asleep shortly after. Octavia sighed, shakily wiping her eyes. She looked at her phone to see the time. It was only eight in the morning. She grinned and carefully left the bed to trot upstairs to tell everypony the news.
She reached the door and opened it, entering the brightly lit kitchen. "Octavia?" Bonbon exclaimed seeing Octavia in the kitchen. "Is there something wrong? You're crying!"
"Vinyl actually woke up for real!" Octavia grinned nodding.
"Really?" Bonbon gasped and smiled.
"Yes, but she's back asleep now. Where's Lyra?"
Bonbon smiled. "She's taking the kids to school. I can't wait to see her face. You know how worried she was."
Octavia nodded sniffing. "We were all worried. But she... I just can't believe it."
At lunch time, Octavia, Lyra, and Bonbon went downstairs to see Vinyl waking up from her nap. She smiled at her friends.
"Hey," She said weakly. Lyra was on the verge of tears.
"If you weren't so sick, I would beat the crap out of you for scaring me like that!" She cried. Vinyl nodded.
"I deserve it. I didn't know you took me here, Tavi." Vinyl whispered. Octavia stroked her face.
"Of course, this was your home before. I figured the best place to help you would be here."
Vinyl was silent and nodded. Bonbon carried the tray with Vinyl's vegetable soup and placed it before her. "Here you go, eat up." Vinyl made a face sniffing the soup.
"I've been eating this?"
"Yes," Octavia said sternly. Lyra floated a spoon with her magic and scooped some soup to feed Vinyl. Vinyl made a look at her.
"You're too weak to use magic Vinyl. Just eat the damn soup." Vinyl sighed and sipped the soup angrily. She licked her lips, continued her pouty glare to the ground. Octavia and Bonbon laughed at that.
"Same old, Vinyl." Octavia said chuckling.
Later Octavia was napping next to Vinyl. Vinyl begged for her to tell her what had happened so Octavia retold what all happened since she called her. Vinyl gulped after that blushing.
"Wow... I was really sick huh?"
Octavia nuzzled her making Vinyl grin. "You still are. It's just a good sign seeing you awake and talking again. You had me worried, Vinyl. I thought I made a horrible mistake in taking you to my hotel room than to a hospital." Vinyl nuzzled her back getting closer to keep warm from the cold.
"I'm happy that you didn't or He would have found me." Octavia looked down at Vinyl then looked behind her to see Vinyl's tail from the blanket remembering the strange marks on her back.
"Who is this He? I thought you were only hallucinating." Octavia paused stroking Vinyl on her back. "Did he hurt you?" Her hoof stopped over where the marks were. She felt Vinyl stiffen.
"I don’t want to talk about it." She said moving away from her hoof. Octavia found this odd.
"Vinyl... I'm just concerned for you. Can you tell me?"
"I can't." Vinyl said sniffing. "I won't." She paused turning to Octavia to see her worried expression. "Maybe in the future when I'm stronger, not now. Good night." Octavia sighed snuggling close to her side feeling Vinyl's snout in her mane.
"Good night, Vinyl."
Another week went by and everypony was impressed with Vinyl's slow recover. Vinyl was now staying awake longer and napping less, which the doctor said was a good sign, but still wanted Vinyl to get her sleep. Vinyl agreed to nap in the afternoons after lunch, and napped only an hour each day.
It was a Sunday, Vinyl was awake watching Octavia drawing with the Racer and Rain. Star was sitting at a table reading a book. Octavia smiled and spat out her pencil, showing her drawing to Racer.
"Wow Aunt Octy!" Octavia blushed, hearing Vinyl snicker at the name. Octavia could care less for Racer or Rain calling her Octy but hearing Vinyl whisper the name before bed and laughing made her blush.
"Look at mine! Look at mine!" Rain said jumping up and down holding her picture in her mouth. Octavia smiled at her drawing of a pony. But the pony looked like a huge oval with stick legs.
"Oh, and who is that?"
"Aunt Vinyl!"
Octavia couldn't help it but laughed. She fell on the floor rolling around holding her sides. Star walked over to see what Octavia was laughing at, then she too started laughing hard.
"What?" Vinyl called out knowing that they were laughing at the drawing of her. "Show me!" She called with a crack in her voice. Rain trotted over to show Vinyl the picture. Octavia and Star snickered waiting to see Vinyl's face and true enough her mouth went open with a look of shock then they started laughing harder.
"HEY!" Vinyl yelled out glaring at them. "That's not funny! I'm not that fat! Look at me!"
That just made the two mares laugh even harder tears flowing out of Octavia's eyes as she howled with laughter. Finally she got control of herself, still giggling. "Oh Sweet Celestia, I swear I haven't laughed this hard in years!" Star giggled nodding.
"Yeah, me too."
Octavia could see Vinyl's scowl. "Aw come on Vinyl, don't take it personally."
Vinyl gave the picture back to Rain pouting turning away with her thin arms crossed across her chest. Octavia smirked walking over. "You are mean, Tavi."
Octavia chuckled leaping on the bed hugging her from behind. "Aw did I hurt your feelings? How can I make it up to you?" Octavia asked with a grin. Vinyl grunted with her nose in the air. Octavia laughed then playfully bit her ear making Vinyl open her eyes blushing. "I think you are perfect the way you are." Octavia made an evil grin. "Even if you are as big as that picture portrays."
"Hey!" Vinyl yelled out glaring playfully, pushing Octavia on her back hearing her giggle.
"Ahem! Hello, little kids here!" Octavia and Vinyl both stared at Star glaring at them. "Let us leave the room at least." Star ushered the little ones up the stairs. Octavia and Vinyl looked back at one another then they started laughing. Vinyl sighed and flopped on her back next to Octavia staring at the ceiling.
"What are you thinking about?" Octavia asked breaking the silence.
Vinyl shrugged. "Many things."
"Oh?"
"Yeah..." Vinyl paused to look at Octavia from the side. "Do you really think I'm fat? Or was?"
Octavia blinked then turned to her with a blush. "I was only teasing Vinyl." Vinyl blinked and returned her gaze to the ceiling. Octavia blushed with shame. "I'm sorry if that offended you."
"Nah, that's fine I would have said the same if I saw a fat picture of you." Octavia turned to see Vinyl smirking and giggling. "Well that was a funny picture." Octavia sighed a relief.
"Well I see the feeling was mutual."
The two paused again wondering what to do now. Octavia rolled off the bed. Vinyl rolled to her stomach to watch Octavia feeling her ears fold on her head. "Tavi?"
Octavia was walking to the stairs, she turned to Vinyl. "Yes?"
"Uh... do you happen to know when I can have a sandwich?"
Octavia grinned. "I think you can have a sandwich with your dinner tonight. How's that?"
Vinyl licked her lips nodding. "Yes, please."
"Be right back. I have to make a call."
Vinyl nodded the rolled on her back to look up at the ceiling again closing her eyes, she smiled.
Octavia sat in the family room seeing Star looking at her with a grin. "That was quick." Octavia blushed.
"Oh we were just flirting nothing serious."
"Yeah, flirting."
"Star!" Octavia and Star turned to see Bonbon glaring at Star. "Now you behave. Stay out of their personal business." Star sighed and nodded.
"Yes ma'am." Bonbon nodded cooking dinner.
Octavia pulled out her phone and stepped outside on the porch to call Beauty Brass. It had been a week since she last heard from her friend. She sat down on the porch swing waiting until she heard her voice, "Hello?"
"Brass, it's me." Octavia said looking at the bag for the newspaper. She picked it up finding the newspaper and started going through it.
"Octavia, how has everything been?"
"Better, Vinyl is doing a lot better but it'll take a while to get her back on her hooves. How are you?" She asked seeing the sports section browsing through seeing the COLTS won. She smirked at that.
"Oh we have been doing great. Our group is still staying in touch. We can't really leave Canterlot for a while since the snow storm blew in." Just by hearing that Octavia shivered from the cold, brutal wind.She looked up to see the grey, snow-heavy clouds coming from Canterlot, covering the capital in a layer of white.
"How bad?" She asked worriedly.
"Oh it's snowing heavily. I'm curious if the Pegasi made a mistake. It's even sleeting here."
"Sleeting? Oh my, that is severe." She said turning the page to the tabloids, nothing that she could see being this was a Ponyville paper. She folded the paper back and stuck it back in the bag then noticed Bonbon's magazines. She shrugged and grabbed one at random.
"It'll be fine. How is your stay at Ponyville?"
"Oh it's quite peaceful actually. I pretty much enjoy it here. When I get out with Bonbon or Lyra I find the townsfolk so happy and very friendly. I might find a place here for my retirement." She looked at the magazine she caught and glared at the headline, VINYL SCRATCH IS STILL MISSING SEE PAGE 4. Octavia looked up at the title of the magazine, EQUESTRIA DAILY, THE LEAD PROVIDER OF ENTERTAINMENT NEWS. Octavia rolled her eyes and flipped the pages to page four to see pictures of Vinyl in a concert. Octavia grinned seeing her smiling waving in the crowd screaming with them. She blinked realizing Brass was talking to her.
"What was that?" She asked closing the magazine to not further her day dreaming.
"I said, have you heard the news about Vinyl's Agent?"
"What about him?" She asked flipping through the magazine again seeing more articles about stars and musicians.
"It turns out he has a ponyhunt for Vinyl." Octavia paused staring in shock at the ground.
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Well darling it seems that he’s desperate in finding her. I mean truly desperate. I listened to the night show last night and they had an interview with him. Begging that if anypony sees Vinyl, they must report to him." Octavia flipped back to Vinyl’s missing story.
The third page she flipped, she saw a picture of a unicorn stallion with his arm around Vinyl grinning broadly at the cameras. But Octavia could tell by Vinyl's forced smile that she wasn’t happy. Octavia stared at the stallion to see that he was a dull red color with a greying blue mane and tail. His eyes were the color of sapphires. For some odd reason Octavia felt chills seeing his eyes. Not the happy chill but a creepy chill.
"Hmm, what was his name?" Octavia asked glaring at the picture looking for more. It turned out that past of the story has an interview with Vinyl's agent talking about her wild ways and sometimes wild manners.
"Oh um he calls himself Flank Shark. That’s his alias."
"How do you know that?"
"Because darling, I hear many words about him over the last month and a half. I've heard rumors that Vinyl's disappearance is the reason that the police have him as a prime suspect in a kidnapping and murder case."
That caught Octavia's attention. "Murder?"
"Yes, the police can't find her body and in such they can't find hide nor hair of her. Which I believe we did a good job getting her out of the spotlight. But I fear our efforts placed her more in the spotlight."
Octavia nodded leafing through the magazine more. "I understand. But why do the police look at his as a suspect? Is there a reason?"
Brass was silent for a moment then sighed. "Octavia dear, did Vinyl ever told you about her career?"
"Well... no, not really. I never asked. What are you telling me Brass?" She asked getting worried, remembering Vinyl's sad face and her flinching from Octavia's touch on her back.
"Well... It turns out that her agent has a history."
"A history of what?" Octavia asked whispering harshly, glaring at the agent's picture.
"It turns out that the last five clients he worked for mysteriously killed themselves or died." That made Octavia jump.
"What?"
"Let me explain first, I only heard about the last three causes, especially the most famous death. Tell me, do you remember that beautiful white mare called Diamond Essence?"
Octavia nodded. "Yes, I remember her. She was a beautiful mare with a beautiful voice. How can anypony forget about her legacy? Even though it was short."
"Right. Well it turned out that Vinyl's agent was hers many years ago. You remember how she died?"
Octavia gulped feeing sweat, the cold breeze made her shiver. "I didn't really pay attention to that."
"She slit her throat they said. Left bleeding in her bathroom in her hotel before a big concert. And the police found a note with her dead body."
"What did the note say?"
"I'm afraid I didn't hear that part either, I just read about it. And his last two clients all died strangely too. A pianist overdosed with pain medication in his apartment room. Then the last client jumped out of his penthouse window. Octavia, the police checked him out every time but somehow he came out clean. Do you find this as strange and scary as I do?"
Octavia nodded shaking. "Yes I do... Brass, Vinyl is trying to keep something from me."
"Like what?"
"Remember when I told you about those marks I found on Vinyl’s back and flanks? Near her tail? I have a very horrible feeling about this. Especially when I touch Vinyl there, she flinched and moved away from me. When I ask her about it, she told me that she didn't want to talk about it." Brass was silent on the other line then she sighed.
"Octavia, you have to know what's going on with Vinyl. I'm getting bad vibes about that agent of hers. Lately the news stations are revealing his past on the radio shows and it's starting to get scary for Vinyl."
Octavia nodded in agreement looking back at the amazing picture. "Brass, tell me when you hear or find anything new that I need to know. Promise me?"
"I will Octavia. I will let you know if I hear of anything else."
"Great, thank you so much."
"Octavia,"
"Hmm?" Octavia can hear the worry in her friend's voice.
"Please be careful."
Octavia smiled. "I will, don’t you worry, I'm surrounded by good friends here in Ponyville." She was ready to say good bye when a thought came to her. "Oh and Brass."
"Yes?"
"Will you be so kind as to send my cello here to Ponyville for me?"
Brass chuckled. "I was wondering when you want the old thing back. Of course, I'll send it to you by train. It might be a while but don’t you worry. Oh and do you want that violin you kept with it?"
Octavia grinned. "Oh yes, I haven’t played that in a while, please do."
"Great, stay warm and good luck."
"You too, bye."
She closed her phone and sighed, slowly rubbing her eyes feeling herself shake with fear. She looked back down at the magazine in her lap and decided to go ahead and read it. She read the story about Vinyl at least three times. She couldn’t believe the words that were written about her. Talking about her wild ways that might have be caused by drugs. There was even a small picture of Vinyl in a black hoodie jacket trotting away from a shady alley she had a cigarette in her mouth. Octavia couldn’t believe her eyes. She even saw a picture of her drinking a whiskey bottle, upending it. She shook her head couldn't believe it. There was even talk about an affair with another mare that only lasted for a year.
There was another picture of Vinyl with another mare with a sky blue coat with a black mane smoking with her. The look on Vinyl's face was shock seeing the camera while her partner just grinned as if saying, "Ha, you caught us!" Vinyl looked spooked with that blush on her face. Octavia felt horrible seeing these pictures. She flipped to another picture showing Vinyl's top five records and CDs. She saw TREBLE CLEF and grinned seeing that it ranked number one and The Cellist Bass was number one. She could see a perfect close up picture of the front cover showing Vinyl leaning against the brick wall at the Treble Clef in the clouds.
There were questions with actual pictures taken from the CD cover showing a picture a mare playing a cello with a question at the bottom of the picture, WHO IS THIS TREBLE CLEF? WHERE IS SHE NOW?
"Hmmph, none of your business." She said glaring at the question.
"Octavia, are you doing alright?" Octavia turned to see Bonbon looking at her then saw the magazine in her lap. Octavia blushed and closed it.
"Sorry I was talking to Brass and saw this magazine talking about Vinyl so..." Bonbon chuckled.
"Please, you don't have to worry about looking at that old thing. But is there anything new in there, like fashion?" She asked peeking over Octavia's shoulder to see the top stories on the front. "Oh... Everything, okay?" She asked seeing it's about Vinyl. Octavia sighed shaking her head.
"I don't know, Bonbon. I thought I truly knew about Vinyl... I guess I'm wrong." She handed the magazine to Bonbon to look through. She could hear as Bonbon gasped or groaned or grunted with displeasure or surprise.
"Wow," She said after reading through the story. "I'm sorry,"
"No that's okay. But there is something wrong. Can I have that back when you're done with it?"
Octavia trotted down the stairs to the basement where she can see Vinyl humming a tune. Vinyl opened her eyes looking up and ginned. "Hey Tavi, how was that talk?" Octavia stopped before her to drop the magazine on the bed pointing at the cover with a scowl. Vinyl gulped seeing her picture then at the top was the name of the magazine.
"Equestria Daily? You actually believe in those crazies?"
Octavia didn't answer, only a frown was on her face. Vinyl chuckled nervously gulping. Octavia flipped the pages to the story on page four and pointed at the pictures. "Hmm, crazies huh?" She mentioned with a raised brow.
Vinyl blushed deeply seeing the picture with that mare she dated many years ago. She sighed turning away. "Alright, alright, there were some things I want to keep hidden okay. Sky was only in it for the fame which I learned the hard way, okay."
Octavia pointed her hoof at the picture of Vinyl smoking and drinking. Vinyl blushed harshly, turning away. Octavia lessened her glare then sighed. She moved the magazine to the side so she could see Vinyl's face. She was crying.
"Vinyl dear, I'm just confused. I heard of this drug problem then I pushed it away claiming that you will never do such a thing. I want to know what you have been through." Vinyl sniffed.
"Look it's been hard being alone alright!" She barked making Octavia blinked hearing her actually yelling at her. "I tried to find a way to lose the pain. So yeah I went to drinking again. And yeah I did some drugs here or there, but I quit that, alright. Then Sky... I actually thought she loved me and I thought she might fill in that space where you once were. But..." Vinyl sniffed pulling the blanket over her head crying. "Who was I kidding. I was an idiot... I wanted all the bad stuff that came back to go away!"
Octavia pulled the blanket off her marefriend's head to look into her eyes. "You don't think I went to great ends to lose that emptiness too? Brass actually found me hugging a whisky bottle one day before practice." Vinyl looked up with shock and sniffed. Octavia blushed. "I went to drinking after you stopped calling me. I thought I did something wrong, so after a night of playing at a concert, I would sneak off at night and go to the nearest pub and drink my sorrows away. Then finally Brass caught me and told me I needed help." Octavia chuckled. "I would have been a bigger mess if it weren't for her." Octavia paused to see Vinyl sniffling. "I'm so sorry."
"No... At least I know you felt the same way. There was no need to be sorry. I should be the one who's sorry. I thought for sure you saw that picture of me and Sky a long time ago and I thought for sure you would hate me for it."
"Well to tell you the truth I was a little surprised at that discovery. How long did it last?" Octavia asked with a glare. Vinyl sighed.
"Two months." Vinyl said dryly laughing. "I was stupid to think she would replace you. She was never you." Vinyl said laughing again. "She was never there to do the things you do for me all day. She never gave me hugs before leaving for the day or make the best daisy sandwiches with what was it you put on it?"
"Olive oil, red bell peppers, and tomatoes."
"Yes!" Vinyl said with a lick of her lips. "Ooooh yes, I never had that sandwich even though I try to tell the cook who made the same thing but when I ate it was never the same." Octavia smiled and nuzzled her face making her laugh.
"Well I did miss your snoring at night. The first month I couldn't sleep proper without at least hearing some kind of noise by my ear."
Vinyl blushed. "Was I that bad?"
Octavia laughed at the look on her face. "No silly that's one of the charms you have that stuck with me for so long." Octavia turned away with a sigh. "Actually Brass and I tried our relationship again." Vinyl glared at her. Octavia held up her hoof to tell her to wait. "We tried but I knew it wasn't the same without you so we requested separate rooms ever since. It only lasted for a week until I told her that we should just go back to being friends. Nothing could replace my Vinyl." Vinyl grinned patting the mattress beside her. Octavia leapt up next to her to snuggle with her.
"Nothing can replace you either Tavi." Vinyl said smiling. "I'm sorry that I did that though. Not a day goes by that I regret making that horrible choice."
Octavia kissed her on the cheek making her smile. "I'm happy that you did apologize."
"Ahem, your turn." Vinyl said with a playful glare. Octavia blinked realizing what she had to say.
"Oh, um, and I am sorry too."
"Thank you." Vinyl said kissing her back on the cheek then laid her head on her crossed arms. Octavia reached for a blanket then the two took a long nap. The snow fell heavily outside as the two mares slept on, happy to finally have peace.
The next morning after a good night rest Octavia heard something like the toilet flushing. She sat up and gasped to see Vinyl trying hard to walk back to the bed. Vinyl looked up and blushed as her legs shook under her weight. "Vinyl, why didn't you wake me up?" Octavia asked leaping off the bed so she can help Vinyl walk.
"I just wanted to try something on my own for a change. You and the others have been helping me and I don't want to be a useless foal again." She slipped and fell forward. Octavia was able to catch her before falling face first in the carpet. Vinyl blushed seeing Octavia's straining with her weight trying to get her back on all four hooves. Once that chore was done Octavia let out a sigh of relief, keeping Vinyl steady.
"Vinyl, you know you are weak and can't walk without falling over." Octavia smiled. "But I am happy that you are starting to move around a bit. That's an improvement."
Vinyl looked up at her with a grin. "Well duh! I wanted to surprise you but it turned out I was biting off more than I can chew." She blushed at her. "Uh, can you help me to the bed?" Octavia chuckled at the blush and nodded.
"Of course, that's why I'm here." With a little help from Octavia Vinyl went back on the bed.
Later that day Octavia told Lyra and Bonbon about Vinyl's recent activities. Lyra nodded at the idea.
"That's good that Vinyl wants to walk again. I mean there has to be a time where she can stand by herself without me using my magic." She groaned rubbing her horn. "And geez since helping Vinyl I've been getting stronger in Magic, yeah, but I've been getting these horrible headaches!"
Bonbon slid a mug of coffee in front of her. Lyra grinned and started drinking the brew. Bonbon shook her head. She turned back to Octavia handing her a mug of coffee too. "So she actually walked to the toilet on her own? That is an improvement."
Octavia took a sip and gasped from the heat on her tongue. She blew into the cup to cool it down. She set the mug back on the table to let it cool off a little longer. "Yes it is and I told her so, but on the way back she fell over. So she can make the walk but will need help getting back. It'll probably take a while. When will Doctor Hoofstein return?"
Lyra snorted. "Not for a week at least. That snow fall from Canterlot moved south and is pummeling us with snow." Bonbon nodded turning to the window to see the kids watching the snow.
"This is by far the worst weather we got since well... that horrible tornado that flew by two or three years ago. It took fifteen pegasi just to calm the system down. Oh my, I remember Rainbow Dash was one of them and couldn't fly for weeks on account of how exhausted she was."
Octavia looked spooked. "Wow, and who's this Rainbow Dash?"
Lyra shrugged taking another sip of coffee. "She's the leader of the Weather Patrol here in Ponyville. They made her captain five years ago and she kept this job serious. But she does the big jobs like that Tornado." Lyra perked up in her seat. "Speaking of Rainbow Dash, I just remembered."
"What?" Bonbon asked raising her brow making herself a cup of coffee.
"I told her I was going to help her move in to her new place. Pony feathers!" She turned to see the snow. "I guess she'll have to wait since the snow banks are massive. It'll take the pegasi a while to clear this up so other ponies can come out." Octavia nodded at that thinking.
"Do you really think something happened at the Weather Factory?"
Lyra and Bonbon both shrugged. "Well the pegasi do plan the weather patterns but this type of snow storm is unusual." Lyra mentioned leaning back against her chair. Octavia turned to see the kids blowing fog on the window to draw faces and smiles, giggling.
"So will the children go play?"
Bonbon shook her head. "It's too cold and the snow is too high for us to get out of the house. Two feet in the front yard while it’s like five feet in the back."
Octavia stared at Bonbon with shock. "Really? Wow, that's more snow than what I had been through as a filly. Will the pegasi be able to clear this out?"
Lyra nodded. "Yeah, no big deal. Rainbow Dash is probably doing the work right now. Then we'll help out in cleaning everything out."
Octavia nodded taking the paper that was left on the table to read through it. She just realized that this was the same paper she looked at yesterday and groaned. "Nothing new?" She asked. Lyra shakes her head.
"The papers are late today cause of the weather. Why?"
Octavia shook her head placing the paper back on the table.
"Mom, Momma!" The three mares turn to see Rain and Racer standing by them.
"Yes?" Lyra answered seeing Rain pulling out a small poster.
"Can we go this year?" Racer asked pointing at the picture of a Hearths Warming Eve picture on the poster. Octavia looked at the poster thinking she never heard of such a party. Lyra took the poster with her magic placing it on the table so the other two mares could see and read it. Bonbon gasped.
"Oh yeah! Applejack is hosting the Ponyville Hearth Warming Eve Party!" She paused to look at the two children. "I'm sorry kids, it's going to be a late party and you are still too young to join."
Racer blew a raspberry sitting down with a pout. "We never get to go!"
"That's because you are too young." Lyra said sternly raising her brow at him. Racer sighed and turned away. "I promise you Racer, once you get your cutie mark or when we believe you two are old enough, you can come. But it'll be past your bed time at the start of the party." Racer groaned and trotted to the window again with Star. Star patted him on the head. Rain sighed.
"But Momma, that will be forever! Even Star is old enough to go!"
Lyra nodded. "Yes she is, but she has to take care of you two. So she won't go either."
Star gasped. "But-but!"
"No buts. Unless you want to stay with Twilight Sparkle though she would want to go too."
Star shook her head. "Oh no! Not again!"
Lyra grinned at the mortified look on Star's face. "That answers that. You'll take care of the kids that is if we really want to go." Star nodded levitating Rain away from them, letting the adults talk.
Lyra chuckled taking another drink.
"So what is this party?" Octavia asked reading the poster.
Bonbon grinned. "Oh, it’s this special party the Apple Family hosts at Sweet Apple Acres. They have been doing this... since when Lyra?"
"They started it about six years ago. It's been a great party ever since."
Octavia nodded reading the form. "So uh, what do you do there?"
Bonbon chuckled. "Well let me tell you some history Octavia. Six years ago, the Apple family here in Ponyville planted two new fields of apples. Since then there were plenty of crops for the winter so Applejack, a close friend of ours, she decided to host a special party for the town. Since then the town loved it so much that they have been hosting the party every year on Hearths Warming Eve."
Lyra nodded. "Yes there is food, music, stories, not to mention games hosted by Pinkie Pie. Everypony in Ponyville goes there, not to mention the whole Apple family comes every other year to help with the preparation."
"Sounds fun." Octavia mentioned seeing the dates and the time for the party. "I might like to go."
"Oh!" Bonbon exclaimed getting the mares attention. "Why don't you and Vinyl go! It'll be so much fun. We will be going out like the old days! Won't that be fun?" She asked. Octavia grinned at the idea then another thought popped in. She frowned thinking.
"I don't know... What if somepony recognized Vinyl? They would tell the press and her agent would be coming."
Lyra nodded hearing the story already from Bonbon. "Yeah there is that problem. But nopony truly knows Vinyl but the town. Ponyville is where she was born Octavia. I don't think that anypony would reveal too much. She's been gone for years and hardly anypony knows her except for us." Octavia was still worried though looking at the poster.
"I'll go see what Vinyl thinks. Besides, perhaps this will probably reintroduce her back to Ponyville. Since she'll be staying here for a while yet."
Bonbon nodded while Lyra looked concern.
"I don't know Octavia." Lyra voiced as Bonbon leapt out of the chair screaming "YAY!"
Octavia took the poster and went down to the basement to see Vinyl stretching her legs uncomfortably on the bed. She smiled seeing Octavia. "Hey, what's up? What you got there?" She asked seeing the poster.
"Here," Octavia said handing the paper to Vinyl. Vinyl took the paper to read it and a grin slowly surfaced.
"What's this?"
Octavia shrugged sitting down before her. "It's a special Ponyville party at Sweet Apple Acres. You know that place?"
"Sweet Apple Acres?" Vinyl said grinning. "Wow, I haven't been there in years! Applejack is hosting a party? Sweet!"
"Settle down first." Octavia ordered. Vinyl grinned looking at her. Octavia took in a breath. "Listen to me Vinyl. Bonbon and Lyra are planning on attending and they have invited us." Vinyl frowned noticing Octavia's tone of worry. "Thought this will seem like a fun party to attend, I'm still worried about the townsfolk. They might recognize you and tell the press about us being here in Ponyville. You can tell I'm worried." Vinyl nodded thinking about that too, all her joy evaporated from the news.
"However," Octavia mentioned noticed how Vinyl's ears perked up at that. "I would still love to attend and I believe it'll be nice for you to see old friends from the town at the party. And also this will give you the excuse you need to get back to walking."
Vinyl grinned at Octavia. "Really?"
"Yes really. I figured it would lift your spirits." Vinyl nodded getting excited.
"Yes, yes, yes, Tavi! I really, really would like to go. Just thinking about Sweet Apple Acres brings back memories."
"Oh?" Octavia asked seeing Vinyl smiling looking at the ceiling remembering.
"Oh yeah the Apple family have the best apple treats in all of Equestria. The best cider, best apple jams, even their Zap Apple jam, and their cakes and snacks." Vinyl sighed with passion laying on her back on the bed.
"Man, I haven't had anything Apple Family certified in years!"
Octavia frowned. "So I'm guessing by drinking the cider you had your first taste of alcohol?" Vinyl sat up with a glare.
"No! When I tried a different cider in Manhattan which I thought was the same, that was how I got hooked on drinking okay. This Apple Family cider is made purely of apples with nothing added." Vinyl licked her lips. "Well maybe they did add something in it but it's not alcohol!" Octavia wasn't believing it but shrugged.
"Alright, so here is the plan."
"I like plans. Especially plans by you." Octavia watched as Vinyl turned back around to face her with a grin. Octavia just chuckled.
"Thank you. Yes, first of all, we need to get you to walk and stand on you own first. Then while we are getting your legs stronger I'll have to ask Doctor Hoofstein to check on you for a full checkup then we might possibly do more hoof detoxes. The party is on Hearths Warming Eve night so if you do get tired during the party, it's vital you tell me so we can get you home and rested."
Vinyl nodded rolling her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. I gotcha."
Octavia nodded with a sigh. "Since we are snowed in for a while perhaps Lyra can help us get out on your hooves."
Vinyl wakes up, walks, naps, walks, eats, walks, then sleeps then starts over in the morning. It was walk this way, walk that way, walk up, and then walk down. Everyday Vinyl was determined to get her strength back while Octavia, Star, Rain, and Racer watched her, ready to support her.
In the beginning when Vinyl first started to put her hooves on the carpet, Rain and Racer would bet with candy on how far Aunt Vinyl could go without stumbling or falling on the ground. It was a huge embarrassment to Vinyl since she tried to make it count but always being harassed by hearing the kids betting how much candy for her to stay up or fall in a number of steps. When Octavia saw that this was bothering Vinyl, she ordered the children to either be quiet or go back upstairs. They stopped with blushes of shame then they watched, calling out encouragement which helped Vinyl get her confidence back.
The snow remained for a number of days keeping everypony out of work and school. So when the pegasi were finally able to dig out Lyra and Bonbon’s porch for easy access out, the couple ran to the candy shop with worry. On the radio it turned out that several homes and businesses lost their roofs from the packed snow. It was sad to hear that Bonbon's shop did have a section of her roof collapse from the show. But it wasn’t that bad compared to other places. As Lyra and Bonbon cleaned up the candy shop, they left Octavia and Vinyl to watch the children. Star would always be there to help with her magic, claiming it was practice in teaching her how to use levitation magic to keep Vinyl from falling over. So in a way it was a win-win. Vinyl re-learned how to walk again, while Star strengthened her magic. Soon Vinyl could walk to the bathroom and back without slipping. But standing would require a little longer.
On the fifth day of being snowed in Vinyl told everyone that she was ready for another Hoof Detox. Octavia nearly choked on the coffee she was drinking when she heard Vinyl make her announcement.
"What?" She rasped coughing more. Vinyl had to pat her on the back.
"I said I'll like to do a Hoof Detox today."
Octavia turned to her. "Why?" She croaked clearing her throat. "You're not strong enough and Lyra's not here to help you stay standing."
Vinyl shook her head. "I want to stand by myself for a change." Octavia looked at her with concern thinking.
"Vinyl, I don’t think that’s a good idea." Vinyl pouted sitting up in her seat.
"Come on! I want to get my strength up. Please Tavi! Please! I can’t get myself to stand if Lyra’s there to keep me up. I want to use my own strength. Besides I haven’t had a detox for a while and I feel funny."
Octavia turned to her with worry. "You alright though, right?"
Vinyl scrunched her nose thinking. "Well I mean I feel achy in my forelegs and I don’t sleep well. Aren’t those things Sandals told you about? That there are side effects?"
Octavia nodded. "Well she did say that after a while without doing one, you're body does react to it. I guess we can try, but I'm not ready for a full detox yet. Let's just see how long you can stand in the tub for. And while you're at it, try to clean yourself for a change." Vinyl blushed at the look Octavia gave her.
"I'll try that, but can you help me?"
"If you fall down and want my help, I will." Vinyl smiled and trotted slowly to the bathroom to start her bath and test. It turned out Vinyl got tired after standing in the shower for five minutes and decided to wait for the hoof detox until later, which Octavia was relieved that they decided to test it.
Finally the snow was cleared out enough for the fillies and colts to go back to school. Star, Rain and Racer both showed disappointment that they had to go back to school.
The second day since businesses had returned to normal times, Octavia decided to pay a visit to the post office. Leaving Star to care for the foals and Vinyl, Octavia headed out with a borrowed scarf to the post office. She trotted around town saying hello to the neighbors that wave greetings to her. Octavia took in a deep breath of fresh, cold air, happy to be out of that basement. She remembered the directions from Bonbon and took a street, heading for town square where she could see Town Hall. Then from there she could see the post office where several pegasi dressed in warm blue coats fly in or out of the post office. She trotted in to see a sign with a peculiar picture. It looked like a baked muffin with wings with the words, DITZY DOO'S POSTAL SERVICE. Odd mark, Octavia thought amused. She walked into the warm building to see several lock boxes with numbers and symbols of pony's cutie marks. Octavia grinned seeing Lyra and Bonbon's cutie marks together on one box.
Octavia turned to see two large islands where ponies could open their mail then toss it into recycle boxes at the sides. She turned to see an orange pegasus with a purple mane sorting mail into boxes. Octavia walked to the sign that said, WAIT HERE FOR SERVICE. Octavia sat down on the floor looking around the homey post office. Unlike other post offices she went into nothing could compare to the feeling in this building. It felt warm and happy giving a customer a feeling of a good will and good service.
"Hello, miss how may I help you?" Octavia looked up to see one pegasus mare with an aqua blue mane and a golden yellow coat with aqua eyes that matched her lightly spiked mane.
Octavia smiled in return. "Oh yes, I'm expecting a package from Canterlot."
The mare nodded looking at a clipboard. "Well I can tell you this that there was a package that came in from Canterlot two days ago. Perhaps it's yours." Octavia nodded.
"Uh yes its a Cello case actually."
The pegasus nodded. "Right, that's what it was. It's in the back, I'll be right back." She turned to the back. "Dinky! Where's that package that came in two days ago?"
The pegasus shouted walking back into the back. Octavia stood by a door leading to the back room. The door opened and popped in a teenage unicorn mare with a very light gray purple coat and a curly golden blonde mane. Her pink magical aura held her cello case with her out the door. She grinned happily at her customer and gasped seeing her face. She lowered the case down and grinned with a blush at Octavia.
"Excuse me, I hate to be rude, but um are you Octavia Melody?" Octavia blushed herself.
"Oh well yes I am. And may I ask for your name?"
The unicorn squeed silently, jumping. "My name is Dinky Doo. I saw you a few years ago playing at the park. You were amazing!"
Octavia blushed. "Oh wow... Wait that was years ago."
Dinky nodded. "Yep, I went with my Mom and big sister and we watched you and your uh... what was that word that also means band."
"Ensemble?"
"Yeah, that's right your ensemble. Man, I wish I could play like you and your friends. But," Dinky sighed rubbing her horn. "I like magic a whole lot better and it's simple." She blushed giggling at her own joke. She looked back at Octavia then looked around the post office. "Say, why are you in Ponyville? Don’t you still play with your ensemble?"
Octavia chuckled. She is a cutie isn't she?
"Well Dinky, I'm afraid I decided to retire from my ensemble and I have been thinking of moving here to Ponyville since everypony here is nice and kind to a stranger like me."
Dinky gasped in awe. "Really? You're moving here to Ponyville?"
"Well in a way I kind of already am. You see I have an old friend of mine who was dreadfully ill. So I had been staying here taking care of her and I thought that perhaps I can stay here."
"Wow… Oh, um sorry about your friend. I hope he or she is doing well. Speaking of which, did you know about the Hearth Warming Eve party at Sweet Apple Acres?" Octavia nodded to the unicorn’s dismay. "Aw, drat you already knew." Suddenly Dinky gasped at another thought. "Hey, do you play the Fidd- I mean um Violin too?"
"In my spare time, yes." Dinky grinned brightly at her.
"You know there’s a rumor going around that one of the fiddlers that play for Applejack couldn’t play his fiddle or, um, Violin this year and Applejack is asking for us to send out flyers with everyponies mail to call out for anypony that can spend some time in playing fiddle at the party." Dinky ran over to a box by the storage door to produce a flyer and gave it to Octavia. She took the paper and placed it on the ground to read it. A chance to play for the whole town. But Octavia didn't know anything other than musical pieces for her violin. This could be fun though and she can introduce herself to the town. But there was also that fear that somepony might tell the press that she was there and Vinyl could be in trouble if that happened. But the thought of seeing Dinky and possibly others might be a good thing.
"Hmm, you know I might think about this. Thank you for showing me this Dinky."
Dinky blushed. "Aw it was nothing, really I was supposed to get those in the boxes anyways. You should attend and join their band-"
"Dinky!" Dinky cringed turning to see a magenta purple unicorn tapping her hoof on the tiles. "I thought you were going to help me with stacking the boxes for shipping. Mom will be here soon to pick them up. Chop, chop." The unicorn turned and trotted away into a room. Dinky blushed again. The poor filly would pop with embarrassment.
"Sorry, I have work to do. Well, I guess I'll see you at the party then, or maybe somewhere around Ponyville.”
Octavia nodded. "Oh, it's perfectly alright. But I have been planning to attend the party anyway. Have a good day." Dinky grinned.
"You too." Dinky leapt through the door then disappears. Octavia chuckled to herself shaking her head. Octavia turned to see the same yellow pegasus smiling at her. "She's a cute girl, eh?" She said making Octavia nod.
"Yes, a darling. How long has she been working here?"
The pegasus shook her head. "Only on days like these does she help working. You see this place is only ran by me and Dinky's mother Derp - I mean uh, Ditzy Doo. Sorry old habits die hard especially in business. Anyway, I happened to overhear that you are new here to Ponyville?"
Octavia blushed nodding. "Yes, I came here to care for my friend. And while staying here I have taken a liking here."
The pegasus nodded with a smile. "Well anyway, the name's Raindrops. Welcome to Ponyville."
"Thank you." Octavia turned to her cello case and grabbed the strap and pulled it on her back with a groan. "Geez, I forgot how heavy this thing was."
"Oh hey, do you want help?" Raindrop asked leaping over the counter flying over to grab the top of the case to keep it from falling over.
"Well um... I can't ask you to help me."
"Please let me, I can't bear to see you fall over on the ice with that monster on your back. Here I'll be right back," She flew to the counter to peek over. "Scoots!"
"Yeah?"
"Can you help me with this?" The same orange pegasus peeked over with a scowl. She noticed the problem and nodded.
"Yeah, sure." The pegasus leapt over the counter to walk on the ground while Raindrops took care of the top.
"Octavia, this is Scootaloo. Scoots this is our new resident, Octavia." Octavia grinned for a greeting while Scootaloo nodded in return.
"Sup? OWW!" She yelped after being smacked upside the head with Raindrop's wing.
"What did I tell you about greeting customers?"
Octavia giggled. "It's fine. My friend greets me the same way. No need to worry."
Raindrops nodded. "Alright, Scoots you stay there and make sure Octavia doesn't topple over. I'll stay up here and make sure the case doesn't fall off."
Scootaloo just rolled her eyes. "Sure take the high place." She snarked turning back to Octavia with a grin. "Anyway, welcome to Ponyville. Just lead the way."
Once they reached Lyra and Bonbon's place Octavia let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you. This is where I'm staying for a while. Thank you for your help."
Raindrops stood by Scootaloo. "It's not a problem, ma'am."
Scootaloo nodded. "Yep, it's our job. We hope to see you at the party or when you are out and about. I'll be helping out in cleaning up so I might give you a greeting later."
Raindrops just gave her a look, Scootaloo shrugged. Octavia chuckled.
"It was nice to meet you two and good luck."
"Same with you, have a good day." Raindrops turned with Scootaloo behind her heading back to the post office. Octavia opened the door and entered without trouble.
"Oh Octavia," Octavia turned to see Lyra standing up. "Here let me help you with that down the stairs. Star told us when we got back that you left for the Post Office.”
"Yes and by far the best place I've been in. I never seen so many nice ponies in one town before. It feels funny."
Lyra chuckled. "Yep Ponyville is by far one of the nicest towns in Equestria. Oh and Vinyl's downstairs trotting around."
"Trotting?"
"Yep,"
The two mares went down the stairs to see Vinyl trotting around the coffee table, toward the far wall, then back doing it over again. Lyra settled the cello case against the wall away from the action. "I'll be upstairs." She said walking up the stairs leaving Octavia to stare in wonder.
"Vinyl? What are you doing?"
Vinyl turned to her and grinned.
"Oh... Hey Tavi!" She said breathing hard. "Just exercising the old legs."
Octavia chuckled turning to see Racer, Rain, and Star sitting on the bed watching her. "How long has she been doing this?"
"Since you left saying you wouldn’t stop her while you were gone." Star said laughing. "But she couldn't stop herself!" Octavia started to giggle as well.
"Hey! Stop laughing this is good for me!" Vinyl yelled out tiredly panting. Octavia grabbed Vinyl by the tail making her fall forward onto her stomach panting. "Hey I was on a roll here!"
Octavia chuckled. "How about you rest. I want to talk to you." Vinyl sat up perking her ears up.
"About what?"
"Personal things." Octavia said sourly turning to the kids motioning them upstairs. Race and Rain both let out a moan of displeasure but did as they were told. Star grabbed her saddle bags and ran after the little ones upstairs. The door shut behind them. Octavia turned back to Vinyl to see her looking at the ground rubbing her hooves over the carpet.
"Why now?" She asked pitifully. Octavia sat down before her with a sigh.
"I have to know what happened to you." Vinyl stood up and turn away from her.
"You won’t like it."
"Did it have something to do with you and drugs?"
Vinyl shrugged. "I don’t think it is."
"Okay, were you in an affair?"
"No,"
"How about a rivalry that turned nasty?"
"No."
Octavia nodded thinking at anything else. "Have you made enemies?"
Vinyl didn't answer staying quiet.
"Vinyl?"
"Yeah. I did."
Octavia nodded. "Okay..." She looked down at the marks on Vinyl's back. "Who did this to you?" She asked poking her hoof on her back at the marks. Vinyl gulped hard looking hard at the ground.
"He did it."
"Who did it?" Octavia had an idea of who, but it's better to hear it from the victim.
Vinyl turned to the magazine they looked at a week or so ago. She dragged it over and flipped through the pages then stopped pushing the magazine to Octavia. Octavia sighed with a nod seeing the picture of Vinyl and her agent smiling at the camera. Octavia nodded hugging Vinyl to her.
"He did awful things to you did he?" Vinyl nodded on Octavia's shoulder crying. "How long had this been on?" Vinyl didn’t speak but whimpered, hugging her tighter. Octavia didn't need words to tell it was a long time.
"Okay... I get it." She whispered feeling tears of her own. "I get it."
They sat there in each other's embrace for a long while. Finally Octavia heard noises upstairs. She grinned with a small idea.
"Hey," She whispered looking into Vinyl's sore eyes. "I'll be right back. I have an errand I forgot to run earlier today." Vinyl blinked at her with confusion. Octavia grinned kissing her on her forehead stroking her face. "I'll be back in a little bit, okay? Go and get some rest. You did a lot today." Vinyl nodded and crawled into the bed and laid down with a sigh staring at the magazine picture. Octavia took the magazine away in her mouth and started up the stairs.
She reached the kitchen and left the door opened a crack and trotted past Bonbon in the kitchen.
"Hey, is everything alright?" She asked. Octavia stopped placing the opened magazine on the table before Lyra. Octavia pointed at the picture with a glare. Lyra sat up staring at the picture. "What's up?"
Bonbon trotted over to see the picture. Octavia glared at the picture. "I just learned what happened to Vinyl." The two mares stared at her in wonder.
"And?" Lyra asked. Octavia leaned in to whisper into her ear. When she was done Lyra stared at Octavia with shock and horror. She looked back at the picture of unicorn stallion glaring coldly. Bonbon looked over confused to the two mare’s sudden anger. Octavia grabbed the scarf she used earlier that morning then headed off out to town.
"Hey, where are you going?" Lyra called back.
"Just running a few errands, I'll be right back." Octavia shut the door before the couple ever got the chance to ask more. Lyra sat back in her chair staring at the picture with more hate.
"Bucking... bastard!" She growled. Bonbon had to hush her staring at the children watching them.
Bonbon grinned at the kids. "Go head upstairs now." Rain and Racer nodded running up the stairs to their rooms. Bonbon looked at the magazine again with tears. "What happened? What did Octavia told you?” Bonbon asked with fear.
"Vinyl was raped." Lyra growled sliding the magazine off the table, rubbing her forehead with her hooves.
* * * * * *
Vinyl struggled to sleep but the horrific and painful memories started to come through her mind, making her moan and cry. She pulled the blanket over her head trying hard to block out the noise that only she could hear. She could hear her thoughts scream, "MAKE IT ALL STOP! MAKE HIM STOP!" She felt tears in her eyes seeing the vivid visions, feeling every blow, feeling every thrust.
"Vinyl?" Vinyl gasped sitting up with the blanket still over her head. She pulled off the blanket to see Octavia standing there.
"Oh, um, hi Tavi..." Vinyl gasped seeing Octavia's neck starting to bleed. "Tavi!"
"Vinyl?" Her voice sounded distant and far away as blood started to well up around her neck then bleed out of her nose. She could see Octavia's mouth move but no words came out as blood started to seep from her mouth. Vinyl blinked to find herself in the streets seeing Octavia on the floor beaten and dying.
“She seems more beautiful in real life than in that old picture.”
Vinyl gasped turning behind her to see the source of the voice. She was back in her hotel room looking up from her bed to see her agent floating the picture of Octavia she had on her nightstand. Vinyl turned to see it gone then back at him.
"Give that back!"
"Nah, uh, uh." He said evilly taking the picture away. Vinyl fell off the bed trying to retrieve it. "No, you be a good little filly and stay in our room. I'll be taking this with me to …. What is the word I'm looking for?" Her agent paused thinking as he leisurely floated the picture over Vinyl as if taunting her to grab it. Vinyl reached for it but the frame was taken away beyond her grasp.
"Oh right!" He exclaimed. "I'll take this as punishment for your unruly behavior."
"What did I do?" Vinyl cried out trying to reach for it but he kicked her back to the bed.
"For biting my hoof last night or didn't you remember."
Vinyl growled threateningly trying to get the picture again. "Because you mother fuc-"
"Such language!" He dramatically exclaimed glaring at her.
"I don’t care, you bastard, give that back to me!"
"And why should I? I'm serious Vinyl, you need to look for a stallion or your reputation will crumble since most ponies in cities we go to look down at that sort of thing."
Vinyl glared coldly at him. "I love her and give that back to me! It's the only thing I have left of her!" He paused with a new smile creeping on his face. Vinyl noticed the smile and quickly covered her mouth with her hooves. "I mean I... crap."
"So you still like her hmm?" Vinyl gulped backing away from him. "If you don’t do as I say Scratch, I might do something to her. And believe me Vinyl Scratch, I know almost every music company in Equestria, it won’t be hard to find this…. what is it, a Clarinetist?"
"Cellist! She's a cellist you fucker!" He sighed again looking at the picture with a smile.
"Such language. Hmm, she is very cute I can see why you like her."
"If you dare touch her-"
"Or what?" He taunted making her back off. "Face it Scratch, I'll just tell the press about your ... Drug addiction."
Vinyl glared at him. "I don’t have an addiction!"
"Not yet, but the press will see you with one."
Vinyl went silent.
"That's a good filly. I'll take this so when I see a familiar gray mare with a treble clef cutie mark, I might follow her around." During that he was backing out of her room. Vinyl shook her head.
"No, just leave her alone!"
"Hmm I think I might have seen her in the market. I guess I must go to the market and maybe try to find her again."
"No!" The door shut Vinyl couldn't stop and slammed face first into the door busting her lip. She heard her own door being locked as she tried to buck her way through. "Leave her alone she has a life! Better than mine! Celestia damn you!"
Vinyl? A voice spoke clearly waking her up. Vinyl, I have something for you.
Vinyl sat up then gasped seeing nothing but darkness. "Ah! Where are the lights?" The blanket was pulled off her head revealing Octavia alive and clean of blood.
"Tavi?" She asked then noticed that Octavia’s smile turned to a frown of concern.
"Are you alright? You don’t look alright."
Vinyl looked around her to see that she was back at the basement and not in that horrible room. She sighed, wiping sweat off her brows. "I'm fine, just a dream."
Suddenly her nose picked up something. "What’s that?" She asked. Octavia grabbed a tray that was on the floor and placed it on the bed. Vinyl blinked seeing a nice toasted sandwich. Vinyl lifted up a piece of bread to find a small bed of daises, slices of tomatoes on top of the daisies, slices of red bell peppers, and there was a drizzle of olive oil on the top. Vinyl smiled brightly looking at Octavia.
"You're favorite, courtesy of Chef Octavia." Vinyl smiled and kissed Octavia before eating the sandwich licking her lips with gusto. Octavia left Vinyl alone to have her dinner too. She went ahead and made more sandwiches for the rest of their friends. She reached the kitchen to see Lyra finishing up the sandwich.
"Wow, Tavi this is great!"
"Yes, I love the flavors of it. Seriously I would never thought about putting two and two together." Bonbon said wiping her mouth with her napkin. Octavia nodded reaching for the sandwich she made for herself on the counter.
"Yes it was something I whipped up on the fly. It just sounded good so I tried it then I added the olive oil later and it worked well."
Lyra gulped back her drink. She turned to Octavia with concern. "Is she alright?"
Octavia shrugged. "I don't know but she was happy to find that sandwich on her plate. I think that made her day."
Bonbon nodded. "It sure made mine."
Later after cleaning the kitchen with Bonbon, Octavia went down stairs to gather Vinyl's tray to find her sleeping soundly. Octavia grinned hearing her actually snore lightly. Octavia shook her head. She grabbed the tray and headed for the stairs. She heard Vinyl groan in her sleep. Octavia turned perking her ears hearing her whimper.
". . . won't let him hurt you, Tavi... No." Octavia quickly trotted upstairs feeling useless. There was nothing she could do about the past but maybe somehow she could help Vinyl in the now and into the future. She was hurt bad and now living though it over and over in her dreams.
But after hearing Vinyl's words then she remembered the night she helped her, "I won’t let him hurt you Octavia." That made her pale. What if what Vinyl said was true? What if he threatened to hurt her to make Vinyl work? Was that even possible?
Octavia entered the kitchen to clean the dishes then returned downstairs hearing Vinyl snore lightly, but no more groans or whimpers were heard. She was just getting up on the bed when Vinyl stiffened. Octavia stopped moving to watch what was going to happen. She only saw Vinyl curl up groaning and whimpering again.
“Stop!" She whispered crying.
"It's me Vinyl." Octavia said softly. Vinyl jerked then sat up. She turned then sighed with relief. Octavia leaped up on the bed to lay by her. Vinyl switched around so she can nuzzled Octavia’s chest and she sighed and fell back to sleep. Octavia smiled sadly stroking Vinyl's mane. She laid down feeling Vinyl's muzzle poke her neck. Octavia opened one eye to see Vinyl wink at her then closed her eyes again. Octavia rolled her eyes then smiled as she too fall asleep.
But the thought still bugged her, even at night. She would be awake staring into the darkness wondering how in Equestria Vinyl could live like she was. How could no pony else notice that Vinyl wasn't acting like Vinyl? Just how is that possible? Then she remembered how Vinyl was trying to hide her from view when they first saw each other a couple of months ago.
Pieces started to fit together in Octavia's mind. Vinyl was trying to protect her from her agent who probably threatened Vinyl that he would hurt her. And that drink at the bar? Maybe he drank it a lot and Vinyl noticed what it symbolized. Octavia finally felt sleep taking over and left the rest of her thoughts untouched until the morning. She had to get answers.
The buzzing sound of her phone woke Octavia. She rolled over to look at the clock that sat on the coffee table to see that it was five in the morning. She groaned then reached next to the clock to pick up her phone. She opened the phone to see a picture of Beauty Brass as the caller ID.
“Do you have any idea what time it is?" Octavia whined into the speaker. She could hear Vinyl groan as she rolled over on her back, starting to snore obnoxiously loud. Octavia reached her hoof over to close Vinyl's mouth, hearing the unicorn giggle, opening her eyes.
"I'm sorry to wake you up Octavia, but I have some news that you need to hear." Brass said hurriedly.
Octavia sighed rubbing her eyes again, yawning. "What news?" She said while yawning, too tired to be polite. Vinyl groaned again watching as Octavia’s face went from tired to shock. "WHAT!" Vinyl sat up at the tone. "What do you mean he's going to court?"
Octavia turned to see Vinyl mouthing, "Who?" Octavia waved her hoof at Vinyl to be quite.
"A Will? What kind of Will?
Brass sounded frantic on the other line. "Listen to me, it turned out that Vinyl had a Will made and it seems that a story writer from the Equestria Daily Magazine got a copy of Vinyl's Will. Her agent went to court to validate that everything that belonged to Vinyl is now his."
Octavia turned to Vinyl to see her staring at her curiously. "Just one moment Brass," She pressed her hoof on the mouth piece and turned to Vinyl. "Vinyl, did you already make a Will?" Vinyl looked at her with bafflement.
"No!" She said shaking her head. "I haven’t even made one yet."
"Brass said that your agent has went to court trying to pass everything that was written in your Will to him."
Vinyl looked spooked. "I never signed a Will! Heck, I don't even have one!"
"Well you do now and it's in the news right now... Oh Brass sorry what did you say?" Vinyl started to think wondering when she ever signed a Will. She signed many things without thinking but this was ridiculous.
"Wait, what did you just say?" Octavia's voice cracked in shock. Vinyl gulped getting more worried. "Wait, wait, wait, let me get this straight." She said out loud so Vinyl could hear. "You’re telling me that Vinyl made a Will stating that everything she owns will go to him if she dies?" Vinyl gasped her mouth dropping open. "Everything? Even her bank account?"
"Everything, darling, everything! There was a big talk about it that even everything she earned from her recent CD will be his. All the money, everything! Do you even know how rich Vinyl is right now? She's a millionaire now!” Octavia turned to Vinyl with a spooked expression seeing Vinyl trying to think.
"Vinyl? A millionaire?"
Vinyl felt her mouth drop open again. "Really?" She whispered in shock. Octavia nodded pointing to her phone. Vinyl groaned falling on her back from the shock. She's a millionaire now?
"Well I might have exaggerating the amount money she has.” Octavia made a deadpanned expression with a face hoof hearing Brass chuckling nervously. “Anyway, Octavia, this is serious. Ponies are now finding this very unusual and making him the number one suspect of a possible murder trial. It turns out our old friend... you remember Gregory Gavel right?"
"Yes, he was our old friend from college, why?"
"Well he has been on that stallion’s case for years and he's the one that called out that he had done the same thing with his last five clients."
"Really?" Octavia asked patting Vinyl on her shoulder.
"Yes, it turned out that surprisingly his five clients also had written their Wills stating that all of their money, everything they own, will go to him. Many of the family members of the five clients were somehow out of the wills. There were no objections because, well, they were dead. So if anyone lived, they can revoke the will. Do you understand what I'm saying? Without Vinyl-"
"He will win and get what he wants. With Vinyl alive she can make a new Will to cancel this one and he won't get anything!" Octavia grinned at Vinyl seeing her sit up staring at her.
"Exactly my point. But this judge who liked Gregory said that he won't pass anything unless he has a body or proof of life from Vinyl. So far everypony that is working for Vinyl's agent are searching for her all over Canterlot. Equestria Daily is the only news group that's keeping a close tabs on the case. Octavia, I fear for you and Vinyl right now. There are good and bad ponies looking for her."
Octavia nodded with a sigh. "I know. Are there any clues pointing that we left the city?" Vinyl gulped at the thought.
"I don’t know dear, they might be thinking of leaving soon. But since most of Canterlot is under snow drifts it'll take them a while to do more searching, especially in this weather. Are you thinking of anything right now?"
Octavia paused thinking hard, she looked to Vinyl to see her staring back at her. Octavia sighed. "After the holidays, once this snow is under control, I'll take a trip to Canterlot and talk to Gregory." She turned seeing Vinyl shaking her head. Octavia shushed her.
"Oh no, not you, I was talking to Vinyl. But yes, I'll be there in the beginning of the New Year. I'll ask Lyra if she would come with me. She's concerned about Vinyl as well."
"Octavia..." Brass's voice was soft and worried. "Did you learn what happened to Vinyl?" Octavia blinked turning to Vinyl with sad eyes.
"Yes, I did."
"What happened?"
Octavia took a while to answer trying to think of the better way to say this. "Brass, she was taken advantage of, that's all. She was cruelly treated and if this... Stallion thinks he can get away with it then he'll have to face me in court. Because not only are we going to fight for this Will battle, but also we're going to finally put him in the open and show Equestria his crimes and locked him away for good."
She turned to Vinyl again to see her shaking her head mouthing the words, "NONONONONONO!"
"Well I better get going Octavia, we have a rehearsal today downstairs and I have to get ready. Stay warm and stay safe."
Octavia smiled. "I will, and you stay warm and tell me if anything else develops. Bye." Octavia sighed closing her phone then turned to Vinyl. "You can stop that now." Octavia said flatly.
Vinyl has her eyes squeezed shut, she was pulling her ears, and still mouthing "No!" shaking her head. She stopped to glare at her.
"Why did you do that for?" She asked with worry.
"Vinyl this is serious. Tell me the truth, did you sign anything that resembles a Will."
"I don’t even know what a will looks like, Tavi."
Octavia sighed face hoofing. "Did you sign anything?"
"Well yeah, a lot of things."
"Without reading them?"
Vinyl blushed. "Well I did, then he ordered me to just sign it, then I signed it, that's it." Octavia’s lessened her glare and sighed rubbing her eyes.
"I'm sorry." Octavia whispered with a sigh feeling another headache coming.
"No... I'm sorry. You were right about him from the beginning Octavia. I was just too naïve to see it." Octavia hugged Vinyl, kissing her on the cheek.
"Don’t worry, we'll fix this."
Vinyl sniffed. "How? I'm screwed, big time."
Octavia moved away to get a better look at Vinyl's face and eyes. "We'll figure something out. First and foremost we need to get you walking and strong again. Then we'll have that party to go to. Then by the end of winter, I'll go to Canterlot to get more information on what to do. Then by that time we'll have to reveal you to the world that you are alive and ready to fight for your life."
Vinyl gulped at the thought and nodded. "Okay Tavi. But how can I stand up to him ... he took everything away from me. Even my spirit." Octavia sighed softly, looking at Vinyl’s long mane, thinking.
"Don’t worry, we'll get you back on your hooves in no time. But first," Octavia looked at Vinyl's tail to see it in mats and dirty. "We need to get you cleaned up before the party. It’s a week away and you don’t want to look messy or you've been stuck in a basement for three months."
Vinyl made a face looking at the hairs of her mane. "What's wrong with my mane?"
"It's been a long while since you've seen a mane stylist hmm?"
"So?" Octavia gave her a deadpan look, "Fine,"
"First and foremost, let's get you walking and regain the lost muscles in your legs. Then we'll get your mane and tail groomed and fixed up then you’ll be back to your old self in no time."
Sure enough after a good trot for an hour around the basement Octavia went upstairs at eight to see Lyra and Bonbon about Vinyl's mane and tail. Bonbon recommended Rarity at the Carousel Boutique to help, but Lyra said that Rarity had problems with her shop and would be unavailable for a while at least. The snow will make things difficult so Octavia asked Lyra to help cut Vinyl's mane but Bonbon took it upon herself to help as well. In the bathroom the three mares went to work on Vinyl's messy mane and tail. To Vinyl's distaste she sat still on a stool as the three mares went to work.
"There!" Bonbon said after cutting one last cut on Vinyl’s tail. "Take a look Vinyl. You look like your old self." Vinyl opened her eyes to look into the mirror and smiled fluffing her short mane.
"Wow, yeah I guess Tavi was right." She said admiring her old look. "Man I didn’t realize that I needed a haircut that bad." She giggled happily swinging her light weight tail. "Wow, even I have more movement." She blushed turning to her three friends. "Thanks guys. I feel like a new mare." She leaped off the stool and stumbled a touch but managed to regain her balance chuckling seeing their shocked faces. "Oops."
"Vinyl!" The three mares scream out.
"Don’t scare us like that." Lyra scolded. "You’re not completely back on your hooves yet."
"Sorry," Vinyl said chuckling enjoying the feeling of a light tail and mane. Octavia chuckled.
"Continue walking around." Octavia turned to Lyra and Bonbon. "Thanks for the help."
"Aw, it's no big deal." Lyra said. Bonbon stood to find the flyer Dinky gave to Octavia and gasped.
"Are you planning on joining the band at the party, Octavia?"
"Huh?" The other three mares asked. Octavia then noticed the flyer Bonbon had on the floor.
"Oh that? I was, but up until now I don’t think so."
"What band?" Vinyl asked walking over to read the flyer. She grinned after reading it. "Yeah, why not? You're a bad ass cello player what's so hard in playing the violin. I remember you played it sometimes. Do you have it with you?" Vinyl asked seeing the cello case.
"Well, um, it's with my cello yes, but after the recent news about the court case and the Will, I don’t think it's a good idea."
"Well now wait a second." Lyra said making everypony turn to her. "I mean, isn’t the snow in Canterlot pretty bad still?"
The three mares nodded.
"And Hearths Warming Eve party isn't until next week, right? So I bet it'll be fun to hear you play your violin at the party, Octavia."
"Yeah!" Vinyl cried out smiling. "That will be fun, come on Tavi! Please play, for me?" Vinyl begged showing a puppy pout. Octavia winced turning to see Bonbon holding the flyer with her ears flat on her head with pleading eyes.
"Oh um…" She turned to see Lyra traitorously joining their puppy pouts. Octavia groaned with a sigh. "Oh alright, fine I'll do it."
"Yes!" Vinyl glomped her to the ground kissing her on the lips, getting a startled look from her marefriend. Lyra and Bonbon were laughing as Octavia pushed Vinyl off of her.
"Alright, alright, I'll play. But I don’t play like... the country types."
Vinyl scoffed. "Please Filly, you just play the same way you do at your gala parties, but make it faster and higher and well... perkier! Yeah perkier!"
Octavia sighed gain and grins. "Alright I'll do it."
"I'll call Applejack and tell her about you. Oooh, this is going to be so exciting!"
A week later, on Hearth Warming Eve, everypony at the cottage started their Hearth Warming Eve very early since the adults were going to the party that night and the kids will be at home sleeping. Octavia tried to go out to give everypony gifts for a thanks and for the holiday. It was hard to find all the gifts. Octavia gave Lyra a writer’s journal to write music for her Lyre. Bonbon was given a new pot for soups. For Star a book on magic which she adored. For Rain, a small toy flute which it didn't take long before Lyra started to teach her how to blow it properly. For Race, since it was easy to find something for the colt, a comic book which was adapted from the book series called DARING DO. Then for Vinyl, Octavia gave her some new clothes for the party, a dark hoodie to replace her old one and a scarf. Octavia could tell it wasn't what she expected. But Octavia was excited for the next morning because she had a very special present for her in the morning.
When the clock struck seven, the four mares got dressed in warm sweaters and scarves and coats to walk to the party. Lyra made sure the children were in their beds before kissing them good night and telling them to behave while they were gone. Downstairs in the basement, Vinyl was excited but nervous to be back outside after practically three months in the basement. Octavia helped her into her new hoodie and wrapped the rosy colored scarf that matched her eyes around her neck. Vinyl blushed then fixed Octavia's pink scarf for her too, to return the favor.
"Ready?" Lyra called from upstairs.
"Yeah, we're on our way up!" Octavia called. She turned to retrieve her violin when she stopped to see Vinyl holding it for her. She grinned.
"Ready?" She asked.
Octavia nodded admiring Vinyl from her position, she looked just like her old self except for one missing piece. "What?" Vinyl asked looking at herself, wondering if there was something on her hoodie.
"Nothing,” Octavia said smiling. “It's a shame that you lost your sunglasses. You look naked without them. You always wore them outside."
Vinyl stuck out her tongue at her. "Says you."
Octavia chuckled taking the violin case and started up the stairs. Vinyl gulped staring at the steps. She practiced on them before but it still tired her out. She shook her head at the scary thoughts and started to climb up one step at a time. Octavia waited at the top of the stairs smiling warmly as Vinyl finally reached the top panting.
"Made it!" She cheered. Octavia chucked and flicked her tail at her nose getting a smirk in response.
The two trotted after Lyra and Bonbon out the door into the snow. As they walked, Vinyl smiled in awe seeing that the clouds were gone showing a beautiful star pelted sky.
"Wow, I forgot how many stars were out here." She whispered with nostalgia remembering the star filled sky from her childhood.
Octavia nodded looking up to see the stars, too. "Yes, it is amazing. Princess Luna sure made a masterpiece tonight." Vinyl trotted up so she could walk beside her marefriend feeling her warmth through her hoodie. They followed Lyra and Bonbon out of town to the apple orchard. Octavia was amazed at the amount of trees in the orchard. Vinyl chuckled seeing her reaction.
"Cool huh?" She asked.
"Oh yes it sure is amazing."
There was a sign on the fence with a huge red arrow pointing to the entrance to the orchard. The four continued to walk through the trail until they could see many more ponies from Ponyville walking over saying their holiday greetings and introductions were made. At first Octavia and Vinyl were concerned about Bonbon openly introducing them to the neighbors. Many have heard the news about Vinyl's disappearance and expressed their worry. But after meeting so many ponies with smiles on their faces, their worries started to ease.
They reached the farm and they can see the lights were on inside the large barn. The four mares went inside to be greeted with warmth, light, happiness, and not to mention the smells of food! Octavia felt her mouth drop open at the amount of apple based foods at the buffet table. A lot of ponies were dressed in sweaters, scarves, hoodies; everypony dressed warm. There were some heavy coats hanging on pegs by the door with snow boots and shoes under the coats. Octavia pulled off her heavy coat to hang it on a vacant hook, she kept her red sweater on since the bar was still a mite chilly. Lyra and Bonbon did the same, hanging their heavy coats. Lyra was dressed in a dark green hoodie as Bonbon wore a red and green sweater. Vinyl kept her hoodie on with that huge smile on her face seeing the large barn.
"Howdy!" The four turned to see an orange earth mare with a Stetson hat walk up. She was dressed in a light jacket with a green scarf. "Welcome to the Hearths Warming Eve party. Nice to see you Lyra, Bonbon."
Lyra and Bonbon smiled in greeting to the mare. "Applejack, how has everything been since the storm?" Lyra asked.
Applejack sat down rubbing the back of her head. "Well the pig barn lost its roof. Luckily we had the pigs moved to this barn before the storm so nothing horrible happened. But other than that everything here is pretty well. I heard about your store, it's a right shame." She said with a frown of concern. Bonbon shrugged.
"We were just lucky that the roof only collapsed in the kitchen and not the whole shop like other places."
Applejack nodded in understanding. "Well if there is anything you need let me know, ya hear?"
Lyra nodded. "Thank you, Applejack." Applejack grinned then turned to Octavia and Vinyl.
"Hmm I don’t think I've seen you two before." She pointed at Vinyl. "You do look very familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"
Vinyl grinned. "Applejack, you mean you forgot me? Come on take a guess."
Applejack stared at the white unicorn for a while until Vinyl pulled back on her hood fixing her mane grinning. Applejack blinked in shock. "Vinyl Scratch? Is that you?"
"Yep, in the flesh." Vinyl said tapping her chest with her hoof to prove her point. Applejack pulled off her hat scratching her mane.
"Aw geez Vinyl. It's been so long. Boy and the news spreading about you being missin' and all…. Wait a minute! How long have you been gone fer?"
Vinyl sighed. "I'm trying to get away from someone, alright. I was poisoned and if it weren’t for Octavia I would probably be dead right now. We’re just trying to lie low for a while. So can't you um…. You know, not speak so much about me?" Applejack nodded with concern placing her hat back on her head.
"Of course I won't, Sugarcube. Besides, many folks here were worried sick about you. Shoot, even Ditzy sure was worried."
Vinyl snapped her attention to Applejack with worry.
"You mean Derpy? Where is she?"
Applejack shrugged. "I haven’t seen her yet. She might not be coming this year ‘cause of the storm and the mail that was backed up, you know. Or uh did you already know she's a mail mare?" Vinyl nodded.
"Yeah... Wow,"
"I hate to interrupt but who is Derpy?" Octavia asked with a blush.
Applejack smiled. "Aw that's her nickname she got at school. Her real name is Ditzy Doo she runs the Post Office in town and part time Weather patrol pegasus." Applejack looked sad as she looked at the medium sized crowd. "Actually all the weather pegasi in town are also gone." She stomped on the ground with a glare of disappointment. "Drat, I was so excited to go against Rainbow Dash in a pie eating contest. But it looks like we will have to wait until another time."
Vinyl grinned licking her lips. "Mmm, apple pie sounds great right now." She gasped. "Oh hey AJ I’ll like to introduce you to my marefriend, Octavia." Octavia blushed as Applejack blushed.
"Uh Vinyl that was a little too strong of an introduction." Octavia said flatly making Vinyl blush too.
"Oh oops." Applejack started to chuckle.
"Ma’am, Vinyl was always too strong." She blinked remembering the name. "Ah so you’re Octavia that Bonbon told me about?" She looked her up and down. "So you have some experience in fiddling?"
"Well I play the Violin but I can do some... fiddling with it."
Applejack didn’t seem like she believed her. Vinyl stepped up. "Hey AJ just let her try. I begged her to play tonight so please let her play. Put her up with any other fiddler, yeah make it a fiddle battle."
"You know, get her used to the ways and get her moving and that will make everypony want to watch. How ‘bout it AJ, come on. It'll be fun."
Applejack started to smile and then she started to laugh. "Aw shoot why not. It sounds like it'll be fun to watch and dance to. Of course if you're alright with this Octavia." Octavia looked at AJ to see her worried. She turned to see Vinyl smiling at her. Octavia sighed then nodded.
"Alright, it's going to happen anyway."
"YES!" Vinyl whooped getting looks from other ponies. "This is going to be fun!" Applejack nodded and patted Octavia on the back.
"I'll get you when we're ready. For right now drink some cider and have some treats and find a place to sit. Enjoy yourselves." Vinyl voiced her thanks and ran to the buffet table to pick her first treat.
Octavia chuckled shaking her head turning back to Applejack. "Thank you, Applejack."
Applejack shook her head.
"Nah, I should be thanking you." Octavia blinked in confusion.
"For what?" She asked. Applejack pointed to Vinyl as she sat down with Lyra and Bonbon eating with them.
"You might not know this sugarcube, but Vinyl was a very good friend of mine when we were fillies. I was sad to have left school to work on the farm full time. When she left, I never got the chance to say good luck and good bye to her." Octavia noticed the sad look in her green eyes. She smiled happily turning to Octavia. "I thank you for helping her when she needed it most. You must be a very true friend to her." Octavia nodded.
"Well of course I am, I mean I love her to death. I would be dying myself if she was dead." Octavia felt Applejack placing her hoof on her shoulder with a stern look.
"If you need anything at all, you let me know."
"Oh, um, of course Applejack. And I thank you for letting me join your um band as it were."
Applejack chuckled. "I'll go tell my cousin that she’ll have a partner. She’ll be excited to meet you. Have fun.” Applejack trotted away nodding a hello to a couple of unicorns before disappearing into the crowd, leaving Octavia to pounder on what she just heard.
After finding herself a portion of food, Octavia sat down with her friends hearing the band playing a small song. On front of the stage was a dance floor where ponies were dancing. The ponies at the tables watched as the dancers danced with the song. Dancing with a partner the couple would dance around a circle and start twirling and stomping hard on the floor with the beat. Then suddenly a yellow earth pony with a green mane styled in pigtails let out a whoop stomping hard playing her fiddle the way Octavia plays, standing on her hind legs. The dancing started getting faster and many were hooting and hollering for more.
Octavia was smiling and stomping with the rest of the audience as the music beat went faster and everypony cheering, whistling and hollering. Octavia turned to see Vinyl with her eyes closed stomping her hoof to the ground. Lyra chuckled grabbing Bonbon’s hoof and pulled her over so they too could dance with the ponies. Once they got the steps down they were soon merged with the dancers.
Octavia turned her attention to the band to see a stallion playing a small piano bobbing his head to the beat. There was a small drum set with a mare playing on it. There was another mare playing a banjo with a younger mare playing a mandolin. An older stallion plays a guitar and then the yellow and green mare played the fiddle. Octavia even can see a young colt playing with some spoons bouncing them on his knee.
"Here we go now!" The fiddler screamed out as she started a fast solo. Ponies were cheering as the music went faster. "YEEHAW!" The band cheered with the crowd as they continues stomping or dancing.
Octavia was blown away by the performance and started to shake. She couldn't play that well. She felt somepony touch her arm making her squeak in alarm turning to see Vinyl grinning. "Hey, no sweat it Tavi, you'll do great."
Octavia gulped drinking her drink clearing her throat. The fiddler pony turned to see Applejack telling her to wind it down. The fiddler nodded. "Alright boys another round, Woo!" She called playing another verse. The music went quick again then it started to slow with the fiddler pulling the bow down the strings lower and lower. The drums rolled as she goes to the lowest cord then went high holding that note making everypony cheer, drummer hit the cymbals the music ends. Everypony on the dance floor and at the tables all cheer and whoop, applauding for the performance.
The fiddler bowed to the crowd then waved her hoof to show the band and whooped as Applejack and red stallion walked on stage. Applejack patted the fiddle on the back retrieving the microphone as the large red stallion balanced a tray of drinks on his back letting the band members drink their fill and rest for a moment.
"Alright, give it up to our entertainment Filly’s and Gentlecolts." The crowd applauded as the band drank and waved to the crowd smiling. Applejack winked at the crowd only to Octavia.
"That's you!" Vinyl whispered as Lyra and Bonbon walked back to the table sweating from the dance. Octavia gulped and nodded holding her violin case close to her as she trotted to the stage.
"Tonight my cousin Red Delicious couldn't come tonight so we were one short of a fiddler her in the band. So I sent out flyer which I'm sure many of you have seen last week. Well no worries everypony 'cause I found me a pony to play. Now she's new her in town so let's give her a big Ponyville welcome to Octavia!"
The crowd applauded as Octavia leapt on the stage pulling off her sweater knowing she would get hot quickly. She decided to leave her scarf on knowing that having something around her neck will make her comfortable. She trotted over and smiled shyly as the crowd cheered for her. Applejack winked at her and motioned her to get ready. She nodded and opened her case to pull out her old violin and started tuning it as Applejack continued talking.
"Now that was a fine welcome folks. And so it's only fitting since every year my cousins battle it for fun so we're going to continue the tradition tonight on this stage. That’s right folks, my cousin Apple Fritter will play with the Canterlot Mare musician, Octavia!"
The crowd gasped and were in awe hearing Octavia's title. Octavia turned to who must be Apple Fritter to see her grinning as if excited. Octavia grinned back with a gulp pulling her scarf to loosen it a bit. "Now we're going to let these two and the band prepare for another set so get ready fillies." Applejack called hearing applauds for the two fiddlers. Applejack took the microphone and stand and took it to the side so she could talk to Octavia. Octavia gulped feeling sweat.
"You alright?" Applejack asked smiling.
"I've never played in front of this type of audience before. I was always in a garden party or a gala where nopony even looked at the musicians, just listening to it." Applejack chuckled.
"Well this is the fun for it. Here outside of those big hoity, toity cities, ponies want to watch you play. Just play and let your heart and spirit take form."
"Like I do with my cello?"
Applejack patting her on the back. "Now you got it. Play as if you're playing with your cello. But a warning though, I suggest you let Fritter play first to set the mood. Then once the beat is set the band will play but they will be expecting you to take the next turn."
"Meaning?" Octavia asked feeling afraid as she watched Apple Fritter tuning her fiddle preparing for the duel.
"Look just let the music take you. In a fiddle match one of you plays first. Since Apple Fritter’s more accustomed to this sort of thing, she'll go first. Then you should go after her when she pauses. You have to play when she makes that pause. Then well... it gets exciting after that. Trust me sugarcube no sweat." Applejack trotted across the stage to talk to Apple Fritter and her band.
Octavia snorted. "Easy for you to say." She sighed seeing Vinyl, Lyra and Bonbon watching the stage excited. "It's now or never, Octavia." She took in a breath then exhaled. She walked out on stage with a gulp and stood up on her hind legs and stood firm, ready. Apple Fritter nodded to Applejack getting a hug from her. Applejack smiled at Octavia as she took the microphone. Everypony went silent as the band ran to their positions with their instruments, sitting down ready to play. This confused Octavia. Shouldn’t it just be her and Applejack’s cousin playing?
"Fillies and Gentlecolts, it is time for the show of the season!" The crowd cheered ready for action. Octavia gulped turning to see the barn door opening as a bunch of pegasi were walking in silently. Many ponies turn and smile seeing their pegasi friends coming in. Octavia noticed a familiar teenage unicorn mare she met at the post office there. Dinky Doo saw Octavia and waved her hoof in the air. Octavia winked in response, smiling getting ready. A gray pegasus with a blue scarf ushered the young unicorn and an older unicorn to a table to watch.
"We have on this side of the stage, my cousin and the best fiddler on this side of the Everfree Forest, Apple Fritter!" Applejack pointed at the mare as everypony cheered. Apple Fritter stood up on her hind legs grinning at Octavia ready to play. Octavia gulped then smiled at the crowd.
"And on this side of the stage, a new resident to Ponyville, a pure cellist and violinist from Canterlot, give it up for Miss Octavia!"
The crowd let out a cheer, stomping for her. Octavia could hear Vinyl screaming her heart out jumping up and down. Applejack let out a cheer herself.
"Alright ladies be prepared. And don’t forget this is for fun so don’t kill each other up here." Applejack said winking at her cousin to see her wink back with a smirk. Octavia noticed this, “What are you lot planning?” She whispered to herself trying to figure out a secret she wasn’t told about.
Applejack started off the stage, but motioned for another pony to come up. A young yellow mare with a red mane ran up with some kind of flute and sat down with the pianist waiting. Octavia noticed a small bow on her head.
Apple Fritter grinned as the crowd start to calm down. She winked at Octavia then started playing slowly then she clears her throat.
"Are you ready?" She screamed out causing Octavia to jump. The crowd answered back with cheers. "I can’t hear you!" The crowd cheered louder, causing the mare to smile. "That's what I was thinking." She stomped her hoof down twice then she starts playing a fast pace song. Octavia listened carefully getting the tempo. Suddenly an old memory resurfaced, she knew this piece! Octavia listened nodding with a growing smile. Vinyl gasped and grins.
"Ha, she’s got this." She said grinning.
"Well she should," Applejack said standing by them grinning.
"Why you say that?" Lyra asked curiously.
Applejack chuckles. "Apple Fritter is playing popular song that uses the fiddle. It's called Midsummer’s Night or something like that. Anyway, most fiddlers should know this song.” Vinyl grinned.
"Wait so the band will play off of them because they know the song?" Vinyl asked smiling.
"Eeyup. By the look on Octavia's face I say she knows this song, too."
Octavia nodded a couple of times placing her chin on the violin and slowly started playing then she joined Apple Fritter into the song. The world flew away from Octavia, no worries, no satisfying people, just playing an old favorite from her childhood.
She couldn’t stop the huge smile stretching her lips as she played. She even did the unthinkable, she started tapping her hoof on the stage as Apple Fritter was laughing. Octavia looked behind her to notice that the band had started playing with them. The relaxed tones of the song were refreshing for Octavia, who would never hear them in the Canterlot Orchestra. It was an interesting and refreshing change. Octavia looked down to realize ponies were dancing to the jig. She looked down to see Lyra and Bonbon dancing too, laughing with smiles on their faces.
Suddenly without word from Apple Fritter with her eyes closed Octavia played a solo. Apple Fritter nodded watching her as the crowd cheered for her. Then Apple Fritter placed her fiddle back on her chin ready motioning the flute to play then she started playing a couple of notes letting Octavia take the spotlight. Many of the ponies started dancing again to the fast pace song and the flute player. Then she joined again, strongly taking the lead Octavia smiled seeing her wink and the two players played together as the crowd cheers again
Apple Fritter let out a yell enjoying the sound they were making together. Octavia let out a whoop with her laughing. They played the same long loop three more times with the flute, accordion, mandolin, guitarist and drummer playing in harmony together until finally Apple Fritter mouthed "STOP!" And Octavia nodded and the two fiddlers stopped on one note ending the song for good getting cheers from the audience screaming for more. Apple Fritter and Octavia looked at one another smiling. The two mares hugged, getting more cheers.
"You’re not bad for a Canterlot filly." Apple Fritter said out loud for ponies to hear. "You can sure play a mean fiddle." Octavia blushed laughing.
"Well I sure do say, I haven’t played Midsummer’s Night since I was in grade school. I had to learn that piece so I could join the music club."
Apple Fritter laughed with Octavia as Applejack trotted up the stairs. "Let’s give it up to Apple Fritter and Octavia!" Everypony cheered for more music making Applejack laugh. "Let's also give a round of applauds to my little sis on her first concert debut, Apple Bloom on the penny flute." Octavia turned to see the pony with the fife blush as she bowed to the crowd. "Well lookie there, looks like all of Ponyville wants to hear more. I sure do. But not right now folks. We have a special fun song to make you laugh till you cry. We’ll be taking a short break first so one last time. Give it up for Apple Fritter, Octavia, and the whole band here, y'all."
Once the applauding seized Octavia sat down for a second to slow her beating heart. It was amazing playing like that again. She hadn't played like that with a violin since she started taking on roles for the cello and had to forget being 'fun and perky' as Vinyl called it. She might just have to play this violin, or no, the “fiddle” again soon. Vinyl ran over to give her a hug.
"Not what I was expecting, but it awesome either way."
Octavian nodded. "I thought so, too."
"Actually," Vinyl and Octavia turned to see Apple Fritter again. "After Applejack said you were new here and probably not well known for our style of music she told me just to play slow and have fun. So yeah it really wasn't a battle but since we know you can play like us country folk perhaps next year if you want to join us we'll have that battle." Octavia grins standing up facing Apple Fritter.
"I thank you for doing that for me. I would love to have a proper duel with you next year." Apple Fritter laughed.
"Yep that would be a duel for the ages. But we are planning on playing this hilarious song and we would like you to join us. You see we need five mares with the five stallions in the song."
"Why?" Vinyl asked in confusion. Apple Fritter winked at her.
"It's a play that has to have people singing certain parts of the song."
"What?" Octavia asked in shock. "I don’t think I can sing."
"Oh it's fine, besides all us girls are going to be singing together with the boys anyway. Just listen to the song, you might know it."
"If I don't?"
"Don’t worry, I might be singing with you so no problem."
"Singing what?"
"It's a surprise silly. Don’t worry, you and I will be singing together ‘cause we're the fiddles." Apple Fritter gasped. "Oh, almost forgot, come with me and I'll introduce you to the band real fast." Octavia nodded and trotted over. Apple Fritter could see that everypony was getting the stage ready for the show. Apple Fritter started introducing Octavia to the players playing the instruments. Apple Fritter then spotted Applejack talking to a rainbow maned pegasus and a purple unicorn.
"Applejack?" Applejack turned to Fritter with a grin. "What's up?"
"Oh, I thought I'd take a gander at the song. Since I know the song by heart."
"Me too!" The Rainbow pegasus called out laughing with glee. Applejack turned to her with a glare.
"Of course you do." Applejack said sarcastically.
"Hey!"
"Girls!" The purple unicorn called out causing the two to go silent. She smiled turning back to Apple Fritter and Octavia. "That was great show you two did. Great job."
Octavia blushed as Apple Fritter said thanks.
"Yeah, you two were awesome!" The pegasus said grinning. "Well we learned from Applejack that you’re new in Ponyville. I'm Rainbow Dash. That's Twilight Sparkle."
"Twilight Sparkle?" Octavia asked. "The Twilight Sparkle?"
Twilight blushed. "Yes I am. I believe I know you, too. You're Octavia, I remembered hearing about your ensemble making a stop here, but I had to miss the show. But I heard of your music and what I saw tonight, nothing can change the fact that you are a good musician."
Octavia smiled. "Thank you. I'm happy that you enjoyed the show."
"So um," Apple Fritter interrupted looking at Applejack. "What are your friends doing here?"
"I asked them if they know the song since Core and Jump are too shy to sing so they asked to have replacement while they play their instruments."
"And you?" Fritter asked.
"Oh I wanted to join for fun. Besides I love playing this song even if Buck is singing verse two." On cue the mares turned to see a dark brown stallion with a black mane. His cutie mark was a rodeo barrel. He turned and grinned winking at them.
"Uh, coltfriend?" Vinyl asked suddenly making Octavia gasp jumping away.
"Vinyl!" She scolded getting a look of shock from Vinyl.
"What?"
This was answered by laughs. Applejack stomped on the stage to get the mares attention. "Alright girls, get ready."
Vinyl giggled and kissed Octavia on the cheek making her blush. "Good luck, Tavi." Vinyl said before running off the stage. Octavia sighed shaking her head. Apple Fritter reached for her fiddle and glanced at Octavia.
"She’s cute." She was answered by Octavia's blush making her laugh.
Applejack walked up with a microphone again with a large grin as another pony set up another microphone on one side of the stage where there were five stallions standing by grinning, fixing their clothes that look like costumes. A sixth stallion climbed up the stage and stood behind the five stallions. Octavia turned to see nothing on the mares besides a sweater or a scarf.
Octavia gulps turning back to the table to see no Vinyl. Lyra and Bonbon were giggling and waving at Octavia. Octavia quirked her brow wondering where Vinyl was and hoping she was doing okay. Applejack cleared her throat.
"Alright Fillies and Gentlecolts, time for one of our favorite times of the night. Tonight we sing a funny tune that will make you laugh till your sides break open from the laughs. So without further ado, Seven Drunken Nights."
The crowd applauded. Apple Fritter winked at Octavia as she start playing a small set of notes on the fiddle with the drums beating. Then as suddenly as it began it ended.
Octavia watched the show from behind everypony on stage were laughing at the oddball song. The six stallions sing about one of the days of the week and discovering a strange item in their house. And the song goes to a mare at the other microphone as they sing the chorus that their husband was drunk and didn’t see clearly that the object was from their mother not a second lover. Octavia couldn’t help but laugh with the audience at the hilarious stanzas the stallions sang and what the mares sing in return.
First it was a strange cart outside, second was a new coat hanging on the door, third was a pipe on a chair, and the fourth were a pair of boots.
The “wives” played by the mares would answer by saying that the cart was a cow with a yolk, the second was supposed to be a blanket with buttons, third was a tin whistle with tobacco in it, then the fourth was a pair of cooking pots.
Then Octavia was told to step up with the last stallion in the cloak. Octavia noticed Fritter taking her place playing the fiddle. The sixth stallion started his part.
Well as I came home on a Friday night
As drunk as drunk could be
Octavia couldn’t help but snicker away from the microphone hearing the stallion's cracking singing voice as he added a tongue roll to the “Friday” and “Drunk” then adding the comical swoon.
I saw a head upon the bed
Where my blue head should be.
The stallion pulled off his hood to reveal himself with everypony howling with laughter pointing at him. But Octavia's mouth dropped open seeing that the stallion was Vinyl grinning at her, singing the song! Vinyl took the microphone with her magic walking to Octavia with fake scowl on her face, but it was too hard to see it as a scowl because Vinyl was giggling and smiling as she sang her next line.
Well I called my wife and said to her
"Would you kindly tell to me?"
The stallions pointed at Octavia as they sang the next line.
"Who owns that head upon the bed?"
The stallions paused and let Vinyl pat her head emphasizing her point.
"Where my blue head should be."
Remembering the words to the chorus Octavia began to sing with the other singers.
Ah, you're drunk your drunk you silly old fool. Still you cannot see!
That’s a baby boy that my mother sent to me
When it's many a day I travel a hundred miles or more
A baby boy with his whiskers on, sure, I never saw before.
Octavia and Vinyl sang the last line together.
A baby boy with his whiskers on, sure, I never saw before.
Everypony cheered as the song ended. Octavia looked at Vinyl and gave her a hug being Applejack took the microphone pointing at them.
"Octavia Melody and Vinyl Scratch everypony!" Octavia and Vinyl laughed and hugged each other tightly as the crowd continued to cheer.
* * * * * *
Even after that performance, Octavia was called back up stage to play more with the band as Vinyl talked to Lyra and Bonbon even with other ponies who recognized her. They all swore, under the guidance of Pinkie Pie, to never tell anypony outside of Ponyville about Vinyl. Vinyl wasn’t sure but was comforted by Pinkie Pie, telling her that no pony could break a Pinkie Promise.
It was getting late and it was only Octavia and Apple Fritter playing a duet of fiddles playing a Hearths Warming Eve carol as everypony sang or hummed along as they played softly. Vinyl turned in time to see Dinky being helped into her coat by a pegasus mare. Vinyl stood up and trotted after them out the door.
Vinyl trotted after the three ponies. "Hey! Wait a second." The three paused turning around to see Vinyl running up panting. She looked at the pegasus and grinned. The pegasus looked at her for a long moment then her lazy eye started to roll up making Vinyl giggle behind her hoof. The elder unicorn was ready to confront Vinyl but the pegasus stopped her shaking her head.
"But she-"
"Sparkler, she's an old friend. You go on ahead and take Dinky home. I'll not take too long."
The two unicorns nodded, trotting away to town. The pegasus sat down with a smile. "I thought I recognized you on stage, but I thought that it wasn't true."
Vinyl blushed turning away. "I'm sorry... I didn't know-" She stopped feeling the pegasus embrace her in a hug. She smiled hugging her back. The pegasus sat back looking Vinyl over.
"Where are your favorite shades? You never take them off." Vinyl blushed turning away.
"They got broken a while back." She sighed. "Bad things were going on."
The pegasus nodded. "I heard. I look through the mail you know. And I come across many magazines showing your picture and everything."
Vinyl turned away. "You must think I'm different huh, Derpy?"
Derpy or Ditzy Doo to most, just shrugged her shoulders. "You know me, Vinyl I never judge ponies. But it was a shock reading about you. Are they all true?"
Vinyl shrugged. "I don't know anymore." Vinyl sighed looking at her with fresh tears. "I'm scared Ditzy. I'm very scared." She felt the pegasus wrap her arms around her again.
"I'm scared too."
Vinyl sniffed. "So you know what's going on?"
"Yep."
"What do you think?"
Ditzy shrugged pulling away. "I don’t know, buddy. But all I can say is that something bad is going to happen and there's nothing we can do to stop it."
Vinyl felt her ears droop on her head. "That's encouraging. You’re never wrong." She chuckled smiling. "Even when you said I'll go high you truly meant it. I did go higher than any pony could." She frowned kicking a clump of snow away from her hoof. "That all changed dramatically when things started to happen then..." She leaned over to whisper in Ditzy’s ear. When Vinyl pulled away, Ditzy was in shock staring at her.
"A-are you okay?" She asked with concern.
Vinyl shook her head wiping her nose on her sleeve. "No, I'm not. Octavia is going to court for this and I just know he's going to hurt her worse than hurting me" She laid down on the ground to cover her eyes with her hooves crying.
"He still haunts me in my dreams and I can't stop Octavia from dying!" Ditzy laid down on the cold ground with her friend and held her close letting her cry on her shoulder. "I see her, Ditzy, just staring at me and the blood... so much blood!" Ditzy shushed her softly like she does with her daughters when they were crying.
"Why do these things happen to me? Me!" Vinyl cried.
"Things happen Vinyl, you know that as well as I do."
Vinyl snorted shaking her head. "Not you... you have a great life. You have a family, a good paying job. I'm just a drunk DJ that waits for gigs and gets fucked by her own agent!" Ditzy hugged her friend tighter as Vinyl continued to cry.
After a while both of the mares started to shake from the cold. By that time they both sat up. Vinyl sniffed wiping her eyes and nose with her sleeve. Ditzy gave her a kind smile.
"Feeling better?" She asked hopeful.
Vinyl sniffed. "No." She said bluntly then sighed. "Thank you." Ditzy smiled.
"You did the same thing for me remember. When I first started doing this?" She said pointing her hoof to her lazy eye as her eye start to roll to a new position making Vinyl smile. She's the only pony in the world that laughed at that. Ditzy then made a funny face making Vinyl laugh harder with tears of mirth. Once she got control of herself, she sat up wiping her eyes again.
"You’re right and since then you always made me smile and then you would tell me to follow my dreams. I just wish I could repay you for what you taught me all those years at school before I left."
Ditzy shrugged. "Maybe someday. I better go back home with the girls." She said turning to flap her wigs.
"Ditzy!" Vinyl called. Ditzy stopped and turned to see Vinyl grinning. "Us weirdoes have to stick together right?"
Ditzy sticks out her tongue at her then laughed as Vinyl chuckled. "See you later Vinyl." She flapped her wings then off she went back to the town, leaving Vinyl sitting on the ground feeling better. It felt good to see an old childhood friend.
Octavia walked out of the barn and gasped to find Vinyl looking up at the sky. She trotted over to Vinyl and sat down by her. "Everything alright? You left."
Vinyl nodded with a sniff, wiping her eyes. Octavia noticed the tears and hugged her close. Enjoying her warmth, Vinyl snuggled next to her wrapping her arms tightly around Octavia. The couple sat there under the stars for a few minutes.
"Hey," The two jumped and turned to see Lyra and Bonbon dressed up win their coats again. "We got your stuff." Lyra said floating the coats towards them.
"Ready to go home?" Bonbon asked yawning. The yawn bug was passed to the other three mares causing them to giggle at what just happened.
"Yeah, I'm tired." Vinyl said sleepily rubbing her eyes yawning again. Octavia covered her mouth to hide her second yawn then nodded taking her sweater and coat.
After the party a snow storm hit Ponyville, causing Vinyl and Octavia to be stuck in the basement. The pegasi said that there was a problem at the weather factory that was causing the terrible weather. The best way to ward off the cold was to cuddle. Since Vinyl had gotten better she claimed to be like her old self. Octavia tried hard not to get baited into playing in bed with Vinyl, she didn't want the kids to catch them. Vinyl, acting just like her old self, just blew a raspberry and said that she could care less but being the responsible one Octavia said no.
It didn't mean that at night they couldn't have a little tumble, tickle fight, or kissing, which there was plenty of throughout that cold week in the basement. Nothing could replace the loss of those ten years they had spent apart from each other. Vinyl tried her best, she even wore her new shades that Octavia had given her for the holidays every chance she could, but claimed that her old shades were customized for her snout and the new shades felt weird on her face. Octavia would only giggle and say that she looked better without those giant shades over her eyes. Vinyl agreed by giving her a kiss and then the two went head over hooves into the bed again.
It felt like New Year’s came too quickly and Octavia and Vinyl both felt each other’s anxiety about the upcoming weeks. Vinyl tried to make Octavia forget about it by glomping her and kissing her. Octavia let her do it but knew for certain that once the snow was low enough and the train could travel, she would have to leave for Canterlot for this to work.
When the time came Octavia took her cell phone and went upstairs leaving Vinyl to snore the morning away. Octavia waved a hello to everypony upstairs, pulling on her coat and scarf she went to sit outside of the porch watching the ponies working on clearing the roads for work and school with their large shovels. The pegasi above were busy flying in the air monitoring the weather closely since there was a possible third snow storm coming. Octavia pressed on Brass's speed dial number and waited as the phone rang on the other end.
"Hello?"
"Beauty Brass, it's me, Octavia."
"Oh hello Octavia, how was your holiday?"
Octavia smiled bundling into her coat. "It was wonderful and yours?"
"It was nice and peaceful. Well as peaceful as can be." Octavia nodded and hummed as she turned watching some fillies having a snowball fight with the colts and so far the fillies were winning.
"So where are you? Are you still in Canterlot?"
Octavia grinned hearing her friend sigh. "Yes, I'm actually staying with my cousin until I can catch a train for San Franciscolt but so far no perfect available trains until most of the snow is cleared."
Octavia hummed her agreement nodding as she turn away from the playing foals and watched as a familiar blue pegasus flew above dressed in a sweater leaving a rainbow streak that gave color to the gray boring clouds.
"Octavia, are you still going to come here?"
Octavia shrugged. "I'm not sure Brass. It seems the mess at the Factory is causing the pegasi to scatter more than usual here .There are also rumors of another snowstorm. I don’t know when I can get there. Right when I say 'I'm ready to go!', another snow storm blows in and buries everything in sight. So until I know for sure I don’t think I can get out of Ponyville until spring."
Brass sighed on the other end. "I know what you mean darling. We just got everything back to normal here and we got the worst of the storms. So far the clouds are clearing but we're still not sure." Octavia sighed.
"Well until later then, I'm getting cold."
"Alright Octavia, go get warm and tell Vinyl the same would you?"
Octavia chuckled. "I will, thank you, bye." She hung up her phone with a shiver. She trotted into the cottage pulling off her things seeing Vinyl came up earlier while she was on the phone sitting by the fireplace enjoying the feel of the heat on her tail. Vinyl blushed seeing Octavia looking at her with a raised brow.
"What?" Vinyl asked. Octavia covered her mouth pointing her hoof at Vinyl.
"Aunt Vinyl!" Rain screamed.
"What?" Vinyl asked.
"Your tail's on fire!" Everypony screamed. Vinyl immediately looked behind her and yelled out some very mature words as she got up and raced out the door to jump into a snow drift. Octavia and the kids went outside to look at the hole.
"I'm okay!" Vinyl called out. Octavia looked up to find that the roof was covered with snow, she smirked at a funny joke then raised her back leg, aiming her back hoof at the post, Star, seeing what was going to happen, giggled and grabbed her siblings with her magic and swept them away just as Octavia kicked the post. The avalanche of snow crashed down in Vinyl’s hole. Vinyl poked her head out of the snow with a glare at Octavia who was giggling.
"Oh yeah?" Vinyl said deathly silent. She popped out of the snow then with her magic she grabbed Octavia floating her in the air.
“Vinyl put me down this instant!” Octavia screeched as she was floating higher over the snow. Vinyl winked.
"Oh okay," Vinyl said canceled her magic leaving Octavia to float in midair for a second as she stared at the snow. She yelped as gravity took over and fell head first into the snow drift next to Vinyl who was now laughing. She laughed so hard until a snow ball smacked her in the face. Vinyl stopped laughing to see Octavia grinning. She blinked and made a gasp of shock.
"Now who would have done that?" Octavia asked innocently, smiling.
"Snow attack!" Vinyl screamed out leaping on top of Octavia as the two wrestled in the snow shoving snow into their faces and bodies giggling like school fillies. Lyra came out rubbing her eyes. She stopped in mid-yawn to see what was taking place in her front yard.
"What's going on?" She asked with a don't-tell-me voice.
Rain giggled pointing at the mares. "They are making love on the ice, Mom!" Lyra blushed brightly while Star just fell on her side laughing at the look on Lyra’s face.
It took about a few minutes of wrestling and snow balls in the face for the two mares to start shivering. They ran into the house where hot chocolate was waiting for them. Calling a truce the couple drank back their hot cups which was resulted in both mares yelping at the heat of the drink. Lyra shook her head smiling as she took a small sip. Bonbon can only laugh.
"More marshmallows?" Vinyl nodded taking a couple with her magic. Thanks to some help from Lyra, Vinyl is now regaining her magical abilities since her sickness. Now she can levitate more objects and write again. Bonbon turned to Octavia with a smile.
"Octavia? You want another marshmallow?"
Octavia thinks for a moment then gives Vinyl a sly, seducing look. "I already have my own marshmallow here with me, thank you." Bonbon chuckled as Vinyl blushed but smiled back at Octavia.
"Eww! Not while we're in the room!" Racer complained sticking out his tongue. Getting a laugh from the adults.
When the snow was low enough Doctor Hoofstein came over smiling, seeing Vinyl actually awake and lively. He gave her a quick checkup in the basement and asked for more blood samples and urine samples. Once he got the samples he needed, he left with a farewell. With a prescription of rest and exercise.
After the doctor left, Sandals came over dressed in a heavy coat and scarf shivering. She grinned with happiness seeing her ward standing on her own and talking. Vinyl was excited to do a hoof detox. Since she was now awake and aware it was a little less worrisome as she stood in the hot water. Soon she paid attention to the machine just as Octavia used to. Star was in the bathroom just in case her magic was needed.
Octavia was surprised an hour later seeing that the color of the water was different. It wasn't black or brown like the other times before. The water came out a reddish orange with some brown flakes at the bottom. Sandals said that her joints were being detoxified since she was moving around a lot.
When that was finished Vinyl seemed like a different mare. Giggling and laughing and trotting around the room to exercise. It seemed everything was returning back to normal.
Two weeks later, Octavia got news that the train tracks were finally cleared and the trains were moving around Equestria. Since there would be no more winter blizzards until next winter, Octavia started making plans. Vinyl kept pleading her not to go, but Octavia knew that she had to leave and get this fixed.
After making plans with Beauty Brass and Lyra, Octavia started preparing herself for the trip to Canterlot the night before. Lyra was able to purchase tickets for Canterlot so they'll have a spot for the ride. Many ponies wanted to visit Canterlot to see loved ones or get info on trade or jobs.
Vinyl had her chin on her crossed arms watching Octavia getting her scarf out for easy reach. She even had a notebook with a pencil. "Do you really have to go?" Vinyl asked for the umpteenth time that day. Octavia turned to see Vinyl with pleading eyes.
"I have to, sweetie." She answered sitting before her stroking her mane. "This won’t go away."
"I don’t care what he does. He won alright! I just... I'm incognito here."
Octavia shook her head with burning determination in her eyes. "No Vinyl. We can’t let him win! He won’t win unless-"
"He kills you? Then what?" Vinyl snapped with tears. "He will hurt you Octavia when he finds out. He'll use you to get to me! He's a ... Just let him win."
Octavia blinked with shock. "That’s it? You're going to just lay here and let that monster ruin your reputation and life?"
"He already did Octavia!" She cried turning away. "He took it all from me. My life, my spunk, freedom, bravery ... He would have taken you too if..." Octavia leapt up on the bed to hug her marefriend letting her cry into her chest. "He threatened to use his power to find you and destroy your life. I couldn't let that happen. Your have a life... I didn't once I signed that contract with him."
Octavia felt tears of her own. She kissed her on her head hugging her. The two fell asleep in tight embraces, not wanting to let go of each other.
When morning came, Octavia felt Lyra probe her on the back. Octavia opened her eyes and turned to see Lyra dressed in a sweater and scarf nodding her head to the stairs. Octavia nodded turning to see Vinyl sleeping silently. Octavia kissed Vinyl on her horn then slowly slipped out of bed and started getting ready in the bathroom as Lyra grabbed her things for Octavia's plan. Octavia came out of the quick shower seeing Vinyl still asleep.
Octavia and Lyra quickly trotted up the stairs and left the cottage. Vinyl slowly opened her eyes hearing the door shut upstairs. She sniffed grabbing the pillow Octavia slept on and hugged it tight. Praying for Octavia to be safe.
Octavia and Lyra ran to the train station just in time for the morning express to leave. They took their seats and sat together. Lyra staring at the wall in front of her in a stoic expression. Octavia reached into her saddle bags and pulled out the Equestria Daily Magazine she kept. Lyra snorted making her turn to her.
"What?"
"You still have that?" Lyra asked with a glare.
"Well yes, I do."
"Why?" Lyra asked confused. Octavia shrugged. Why did she keep this magazine?
"Perhaps it might give me some clues to Vinyl's activities."
Lyra blinked and turned away to look out the window. "I thought we already knew."
"We do. There might be something we missed." Lyra snorted shaking her head. Octavia began reading through the magazine.
"Arriving in Canterlot in ten minutes." The voice on the intercom spoke out interrupting Octavia's reading. She stuck the magazine in her bag. Lyra moved to the seat across from Octavia to get a look at her.
"So, what's the plan?" She asked.
Octavia sighed looking out the window as they approach the first of many mountain tunnels the train goes through. "Well, Beauty Brass will be waiting for us at the station."
"Okay and then what?"
Octavia grinned. "I made Vinyl write me a Will to give to my lawyer who's a good friend of mine. Then we'll have a chat with another old friend of mine."
"That Gavel, guy?"
"Yes, Gregory went to Law school while I was still in college. From what Brass told me, he's well known and has a large reputation. So he will be our lawyer."
Lyra nodded. "Can we trust him?"
"Of course!" Octavia yelped in shock. "He's like the brother I never had. And he's the closest to the case. "
Lyra sat there confused. "And how did he get involved?"
Octavia grin with a shrug. "I don’t know, Brass mentioned that he was there while Mr. Flank Shark wanted to send Vinyl's "Will" into order. Good thing too, or we would be in big trouble."
The train slowed to a stop at the station. "Canterlot Station!" The conductor called out blowing a whistle. Beauty Brass sat on a bench nearby in a warm coat and scarf. She grinned seeing Octavia and Lyra trot out of the train. Brass stood up to greet the two ponies.
"Octavia dear, welcome back."
"I wish it was in better standings." Octavia joked hugging her old fired. "Oh Brass, this is my friend Lyra Heartstrings. Lyra, this is Beauty Brass. She played in my ensemble."
Lyra and Brass shook hooves. "Nice too meet you, Miss Heartstrings."
Lyra blushed. "Uh just Lyra, thanks. Nice too meet you too, Brass."
Octavia let Brass lead them out of the train station to a small malt shop nearby to get hot chocolate. Once they were settled in a corner booth and given their drinks the three mares went ahead and start talking.
"So Octavia, how is um... Vinyl?" Brass whispered.
Octavia took a lady sip from her hot chocolate. "Well she's not very happy with me doing this. From what she told me, this stallion is dangerous."
"How so?" Brass whispered turning to Lyra to see her grinding her teeth turning away to the window.
"He threatened Vinyl that he would hurt me if she didn’t do what he asked of her. A number of times by the look of it." Brass paled and pushed her drink away.
"That is serious."
"Yeah, he should be taken to prison." Lyra mumbled glaring out the window. Octavia sighed patting her on the shoulder.
"Don’t worry Lyra, we'll win this."
"How?" Brass asked. "Shark has an attorney himself and so far Gregory called himself as a lawyer for Vinyl's family. But so far there was no response from them."
Octavia groaned face hoofing. "Vinyl's parents could care less what she's doing."
"Why you say that?"
Lyra gave Brass a deadpan look. "They kicked her out when she was sixteen. Her parents are drunks and druggies. She had to live with me for a while until we went to college together. So if they learned about Vinyl’s Will in this thing, they’ll want the money sure but they will care less about their daughter."
Brass gulped turning away. Octavia sighed rubbing her eyes. "Look, I'm glad Gregory pulled out that card to stop the proceeds. But Lyra is right I'm afraid. Vinyl's parents are brutes and never cared for their daughter since they started drugs and drinking. It wouldn't take long until Shark finds this out."
"So what now?" Lyra asked.
Octavia took another sip of her drink thinking. "Well we need to see Gregory and Blue Note."
"Blue Note?" Brass asked. "You mean,"
"Yes him. He does owe me a favor. Since he works for bonds and Wills here in Canterlot, this will be quick."
Lyra nodded. "So this Blue Note is that agent you talked about?"
"The very same." Octavia looked at the clock on the wall and nodded. "Well we must get going. We want to finish everything before the evening express takes off at six." Lyra and Brass nodded taking last minute drinks before leaving the table to the streets.
The three mares walked through the slush and ice of Canterlot to the business district where the buildings look more ornate and large. Brass led Octavia and Lyra into one building. Inside the building they stopped in a lobby of some sorts. Brass walked up to the receptionist talking to her as Lyra took a seat in one of the couches. Octavia stared at how Lyra sat in an uncomfortable way. She sat with her back against the cushions. Octavia was never really bothered with the way she sat, it was just her way of being comfortable.
Brass returned with a smile. "So?" Lyra asked getting a perplexed look from the mare.
"Brass," Octavia barked making Brass shake her head.
"Oh uh, we're in luck. Blue Note is on break in his office."
A door opened and a blue unicorn stallion walked through looking around. He was dressed in a nice shirt and a sweater vest. He grinned seeing the three mares and walks over. Octavia grinned back standing up to hug him.
"Oh Octavia, look at you. Still beautiful as ever."
Octavia blushed. "Blue Note, you rascal. It's so good to see you again."
Blue Note turned to the other two mares and greeted them. "Nice to see you all. But it is a surprise to hear of you being here. Brass I knew but you... You shocked me really. You're not here for a Will already are you?"
Octavia gave him a pained smile. "Well yes, I am here to customize a will but it's not for me. It's for a dear friend of mine who... Can we talk in private? In your office?"
Blue Note jumped. "Oh of course, please follow me."
The three mares followed the stallion through the back door to a hallway filled with closed doors. Octavia could hear the talking inside each room. Blue Note reached an opened door and pushed the door allowing the mares to enter first. He went in and closed the door behind him. He point his hoof at the chairs around a table.
"Please, get comfortable."
The three mares took their seats as Blue Note retrieved a paper and pen. "So," He started sitting down at a chair writing on the paper. "Who does this Will be written for?" He asked looking at Lyra first to see her shake her head. He blinked then turned to Brass to see her shake her head too.
"Then if not three of you then for who?" He asked looking at Octavia.
"Blue Note, I'm in a fix and I need your help for this to work."
Blue Note set the pen down to listen.
"Have you heard of the court case with DJ Pon-3's agent and a will she signed?"
Blue Note nodded. "Well yes. We have records of that particularly strange will. Why?"
Octavia quickly retold what had all happened with Vinyl and her agent. She even mentioned about the recently re-open court cases again him about the five clients that were killed mysteriously with the same type of wills. Blue Note looked pained and scared.
"Oh my, that is a scary story Octavia. But...” He paused for a moment to think. He looked back at her. “So what can I do to help you?"
Octavia reached in her saddlebags to produce her notebook and pulled out a folded note. She handed it to him. Blue Note levitated the note to read it. "This is?"
"Vinyl's new and permanent will. May you use this and submit this as her will?"
Blue Note thinks for a moment. "I don’t know Octavia. I mean I can get what you are going at. But if the news finds out, and believe me there are some strange ponies sticking their snouts into places they shouldn't, it's possible that Shark's lawyer will call this a forgery since she wasn't here with an appointment to do this. I can’t do this."
Lyra growled and sat up. "Why the hell not?! This was written by Vinyl herself, I saw her do it!"
Blue Note quickly held up his hooves. "Miss, believe me when I say this. It doesn’t matter that you were there watching her write this and sign it. There has to be somepony from this establishment there and signing this to prove it is legal. If I was there it would be accepted, but no pony will believe you were there. You see?"
"But-!"
"No, Lyra," Octavia barked causing everypony to stare at her in shock. Octavia sighed rubbing her face again. "He's right. I thought this would work. But it's our word against this company's. If we brought Vinyl here and did this it'll pass, but she didn't. How could I have been so naïve as to think we would stop this."
Lyra growled and sat down on her chair with a glare at the tabletop. Brass patted Octavia on the back.
"At least you tried." Blue Note said looking at Vinyl's new will again. "Can you try to bring her here?"
Octavia shook her head. "No, weren’t you listening? She's in danger. If we brought her here Shark’s ponies will see her and try to get her back or kill her so then the will would pass and we will lose! We can't allow that. He won four times already!"
Blue Note smirks. "Then why are you here, then?"
"Huh?" Octavia asked looking up. "Excuse me?"
"I'm not in charge of the court system, Octavia. Go to court for this. Vinyl's alive right?"
"Well of course she is. Why?"
"Bring her back in the open. At least with supportive backup. Say a lawyer and a court room and it's Vinyl's words against his right?"
Octavia smiled. "I forgot! Yes you’re right."
"See," Brass said grinning. "Just like I said before. Only the dead can tell the court if the will was a lie. But because Vinyl is alive, we have an advantage."
Octavia grinned at her friend then back at Blue Note. "I better go and see Gregory. Perhaps we can put this stallion behind bars."
Blue Note nodded. "Yes, put that murderer behind bars. I might not be a lawyer, but I know he would get jail time and possibly execution for murder. I wish you all good luck." He handed the will back to Octavia. Octavia took the paper and stuffed it in her pack, giving her friend another hug then lead the mares out the room.
* * * * * *
"Is Mr. Gavel expecting you?" The annoyingly voiced earth pony mare asked. Octavia groaned.
"No, but I'm his old friend from College. Please, it's important that I have to see him."
The mare sniffed. "I'm sorry miss, but Mr. Gavel is busy at the moment. Unless you have an appointment I can’t let you see him."
Brass walked over to help Octavia. "Ma'am, please enlighten me, if we must get an appointment at the most crucial time, how long must we wait?"
The mare raised an eyebrow as she searched her calendar humming. "Hmm, next month there is an opening."
"NEXT MONTH!" Octavia and Lyra yelled out.
"Look lady, we have no time to wait for a month!" Lyra growled. "Our friend is in trouble right now and she needs this lawyer! He knows this case better than anypony else and only he can help us!"
"Listen miss, I'm running out of patience. I suggest you leave and come back next month."
Lyra growled threateningly. "I'm gonna-"
"No, Lyra let me handle this." Octavia said smoothly getting a startled glance from Lyra.
"Uh Octy?"
"Ahem, we have to act like ladies Lyra. Let a real Canterlot lady handle this." Octavia sets her hooves on the desk smiling at the receptionist.
"Miss, would you be so kind as to let us see Mr. Gavel."
"No, I already said no and when I say no, I mean no."
Octavia nodded looking away. "Well then I guess I have one more thing to say."
"Oh and what's that?" The receptionist asked with a raised brow. Octavia smiled sweetly reaching forward.
"This." She grabbed the receptionist by the lapels of her suit shaking her hard. "My marefriend was almost murdered by her agent three months ago! I'm not going to walk away and have some snooty mare tell me that I can't see my dear friend, who is a lawyer, to help me stop a murderer from walking again!"
"LET ME GO YOU CRAZY BITCH!" The receptionist screamed out stomping on a button on her desk calling for security.
"Octavia! Let her go! It's not helping!" Brass screamed out wrapping her arms around Octavia trying to pull her away as Lyra cheered.
"Yeah! You show her Octy! Show her how Ponyville ponies do it!"
Three security stallions ran in to the lobby to see Octavia practically choking the receptionist, Brass was trying to pull Octavia away and Lyra was cheering and making punches in the air. The three stallions ran in. One grabbed Brass trying to pull her off of Octavia, Lyra intervened running over to tackle the other two guards.
"What’s going on here?" A stallion’s voice called out.
All seven ponies stopped from their fight to see a tall stallion standing at the doorway with a pegasus stallion. Both stallions were dressed in suits for court. Octavia gulped.
"Gregory?"
The brown stallion grinned. "Octavia! It's been ages." He said smiling. Until he noticed the scene again pointing a hoof at her. "Uh might I be so bold to ask, what are you doing to my receptionist?"
"Mr. Gavel this crazy lady won't leave until she sees you! But I told her she has to wait until you're free next month!"
"Let her in!" Gregory called out smiling.
"What?!" Everypony yelled out in shock.
Gregory shrugged. "Let her in. I haven’t seen my friend Octavia since our college reunion fourteen years ago." Octavia grinned, same old Greg. Gregory turned to Brass. "Ah and Beauty Brass, it's been longer. How are you?" Brass chuckled hesitantly lowering to the ground. Gregory turned to Lyra seeing her strangled with the security guard. "And you?"
"Uh Lyra Heartstrings your honor. I'm with Octy, uh, I mean Octavia and Brass."
"Ah well nice to meet you too, Miss Heartstrings." He jumped turning to the pegasus next to him. "Oh and it was a wonderful lunch Thunder. See you next Tuesday?"
The pegasus nodded. "Yeah, well until we see each other again in the court room. Ladies," The pegasus bowed to the mares who stared back in stunned silence. He chuckled and left the lobby. Everypony started untangling themselves from the fight and dusting themselves off.
"Please come with me." Gregory said grinning. "Oh and Miss Sharp?”
"Yes sir?" The mare named Sharp said her face hot with a blush.
"Please cancel my two appointments today. I have an old friend to talk to."
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Ladies, please come with me."
The three mares trotted after Gregory. The receptionist started grumbling. She looked up in time to see Lyra sticking out her tongue at her with a smirk. The receptionist groaned. "Commoners."
Gregory closed the door to his office behind him as the three mares got comfortable in the room. Gregory smiled as he sat in his chair behind his desk. "Octavia, Brass, and Miss Heartstrings,"
"Lyra, please."
"Lyra... So from the looks on your faces this isn't a happy visit?"
Octavia sighed and nodded as she walked over to his desk. "That you are correct my friend."
Gregory's smile faded showing concern. "What’s wrong? Legal troubles? You know Octavia I gave you a promise that when I become an ace attorney, which I am now, I would help you any way I can. What’s the matter?"
Octavia sighed rubbing her leg with her hoof. "It's about this recent case. With a Mr. Flank Shark?" Octavia noticed the coldness in his eyes as he turned away.
"What about it?"
"I have some evidence that will help you beat him." Octavia watched Gregory’s ears perk at that statement.
"Come again?" He asked a little shocked.
Brass stepped up. "Gregory darling, Vinyl Scratch, DJ Pon-3 is alive and well."
Gregory grinned at this and started chuckling. "Wow, what do you know," His face turned serious as he stared at the three mares. "Explain this please."
Octavia went ahead and retold the story again to her friend, this time adding every single detail she could about how Vinyl acted, the evidence in the apartment, the sickness, and then the story Vinyl told her. Lyra and Brass each looked pissed and surprised at the story. Gregory's face remained calm behind his hooves as he listened intently on Octavia's story. Once she was finished he sat back in his chair rubbing his chin with his hoof.
"Hmm... wow. Where is she now if I might be so bold to ask?"
Octavia opened her mouth when Lyra hissed and stuck her hoof into her mouth. Octavia gave her a glare when Lyra leaned in and whispered in her ear. Octavia looked around pushing Lyra's hoof away.
"Gregory, have you ever thought that this room might be tapped?"
Gregory blinked and looked around with a scrutinized eye. "Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. Good idea not to say anything. Never mind don’t answer that question. I assume she is well and in hiding?"
The three mares nodded.
"Good thing too. I’ve been questioned by many ruffians working with that fellow Shark. They don’t bother me, I know the law and even though I'm not the element of honesty, I always uphold the truth in court. And loyalty to my friends. If Vinyl is a friend of yours then she's a friend of mine."
Lyra grinned. "So about this case, how did you know about it?"
Gregory chuckled. "Funny that. I was with a client who was suing a stallion for some property of his outside of the city. So while we were waiting for our turn at the podium so to speak, Shark came in before us and talked about the will written by Vinyl Scratch. Remembering my clients in another case I had years ago, I quickly called out in front of everypony, staff and clients about his history and the suspicion of his clients murders.
“Luckily the judge I knew was an old teacher of mine. He went ahead and took my words to heart and called for proof of death certificate or a body. Since then Shark had called on a lawyer of his own and sent off his lackeys to search for her and so far, no sign of her."
"Good," Octavia whispered. "But Gregory." She mentioned sitting up. "Vinyl made a new will to cancel the old one. But Blue Note, you remember him right, well he said that unless Vinyl was at the office signing it herself, it won't work. So Blue Note reminded me about you and possibly..."
"Possibly what?" Gregory asked with concern.
"I'm taking this to court. I need you to help us to fight this murderer. He tried to kill Vinyl, Gregory! Not only that but he raped her! He threatened to use force against me to get her to do what he wants. We have to put him in prison so he won't hurt anyone else!"
Gregory nodded with a growing smile. "Oh yes, I will help you Octavia. I've been waiting for him to slip up and sure enough he never expected you to stop his plans. With the proof from Vinyl's own mouth and from your Doctor's sample tests and many of those that love her, I'm sure we'll win."
Octavia grinned seeing her two friends smile back cheering silently.
"But there is one other thing."
"What?" Octavia asked frowning.
"When are you planning of bringing Vinyl Scratch back from the dead?"
Octavia sat down hard thinking. That was a good question, how can she and her friends reunite Vinyl with Equestria? She gasped with a thought. She turned and quickly dug into her bags then pulled out the Equestria Daily magazine. She smirked seeing her friends nodding along.
"I think it's time to send a tip to Equestria Daily."
* * * * * *
Octavia woke up the next morning yawning. She groaned out rolling on her back feeling Vinyl next to her sleeping. After the rip to Canterlot, seeing old, and sending and anonymous tip to Equestria Daily, Lyra and Octavia returned to Ponyville. Octavia closed her eyes remembering walking through the door to see the three foals running to Lyra and asking for souvenirs as Lyra hugged them. Octavia gave them hugs then went downstairs to the basement. She reached the foot of the stairs and looked up seeing Vinyl looking at her from her position on the bed. Octavia was shocked to see her with tears.
"Bless Celestia you're back!" Octavia was glomped by her marefriend feeling her arms around her crying. At first she didn’t know what to think or do.
"Vinyl? Why are you-"
"I thought,” Vinyl started shaking slightly. “When you didn’t get back when you said you would get back I was-"
"Vinyl, the train had a problem before departure. It took two hours." Octavia said smiling hoping her reassuring voice calmed her down. It didn’t, this seemed to have freaked Vinyl more.
"Two hours too long! What if he-"
"Vinyl!" Octavia yelled out grabbing her by the shoulders giving her a shake. "I'm alright. Look at me. Am I hurt?"
Vinyl sniffed wiping her nose with her arm. "No,"
"Do I look like I have bruises or scratches?"
Vinyl bowed her head. "No,"
"Then I'm alright." Octavia whispered smiling at her lifting her chin so she can see her smile. "See."
Vinyl smiled back and wiped her eyes. "Sorry, I was … Tavi, I was worried about you."
Octavia smiled and hugged her smiling. She felt Vinyl’s arms around her resting her chin on Octavia's shoulder closing her eyes.
"Kiss already!" The two mares jumped and looked up the stairs to see Racer grinning and Rain was giggling behind her hoof.
"RACER!" The mares screamed out running up the stairs causing the two foals to run away laughing.
During dinner, Octavia and Lyra retold their adventure to the family. Vinyl looked hopeless after hearing about her supposed will cannot be accepted. But hearing the news that Gregory Gavel will be her lawyer in the future lifted her spirits just a touch. Until she heard of the tip and immediately started shaking.
"No! Why did you do that for?" She yelled out.
"It's the only way Vinyl." Lyra said softly.
"But he'll know!"
"No, he won't Vinyl." Octavia said softly placing her hoof over Vinyl's hoof. "He won’t know you're here with us. All he'll know is that somepony told the press that Vinyl Scratch is alive and living with a friend. Healing from a failed attempt murder. Showing them the word murder will really start getting more information and soon your agent will have to start thinking fast. Cause I'm coming and I'll be raising Tartarus for what he did to you."
Vinyl stayed quiet for the rest of dinner and asked to be excused early which surprised everypony in the room. Vinyl actually asked to be excused.
Later Octavia found Vinyl in the bed under the blankets crying. Octavia patted her on the side where her head was. "Vinyl, I know it's too hard for you to do this but we have to. This won’t go away if we ignore it. You understand that right?"
Octavia heard a sniff under the blankets. "No." Vinyl answered.
"What do you not understand?" Octavia asked laying down watching the lump shudder.
"He's too smart Tavi. He'll find a way. He always does!"
"Well he has never met me." She paused then realized something important. She stroked Vinyl's body and sighed. "I will never ever let him hurt you again, Vinyl."
"I could care less what he does to me." Vinyl shook to where the blanket was pulled away from her head. Vinyl looked up at Octavia with bloodshot eyes, sniffing. "I can't see you hurt Octavia. I can't bear it! I see you in my dreams. Nightmares. You’re dying in an alley somewhere in Manehattan or Canterlot bleeding, dying! And I couldn’t do anything to save you!" Octavia closed her eyes turning away.
"Then the memories return of him threatening me. He took that picture you gave me before we separated. He took it and told me that he took it for punishment and saying you are a pretty mare and..." Vinyl crossed her arms over her eyes crying again.
Octavia felt rage in her heart but she had to wait. Once the snow is gone and the press is all over the new story, she has to help Vinyl. She's too weak hearted and minded to be out now. Emotionally she can't handle what will come next. She needs her confidence back.
Vinyl let out a moan interrupting Octavia's thoughts. She turn and wrapped her arms around her marefriend holding her close kissing her on the cheek shushing her. Vinyl stopped moaning and twitching and returned to a restful position. She opened her eyes.
"Tavi?" Vinyl turned seeing Octavia’s face close to hers. Octavia smiled gently at her stroking the strands of blue hair away from her face.
"I'm here."
Vinyl blinked then reached forwards and kissed her on the lips. Long and lustful the two kissed and held each other never wanting to let go. Octavia felt Vinyl push her to her back and went on top of her kissing.
They parted breathing hard. Vinyl had glassy eyes her chin quivering. "Promise never to leave me again."
"How so?" Octavia whispered.
"Never, ever, leave me alone. I can’t bear it another minute. It was hard Octavia, very hard." Octavia smiled gently stroking Vinyl's face. Vinyl leaned into her hoof enjoying the touch. Octavia grinned and sighed.
"I don’t think I can bear being left alone either. I guess I never thought of myself being alone for ten years. I had Brass and Fredric and Harpo." She chuckled. "I forgot how lonely you live Vinyl."
"He made me stop."
"Hmm?" Octavia asked blinking her eyes opens seeing Vinyl's blush.
"That last time I called you that was when he threated to hurt you. The first time he did..." She paused closing her eyes moving away from her. Octavia sat up watching Vinyl sitting down with her back to Octavia. "He said that if I didn’t do what he wants he would call every agency to find you and have your reputation ruined and it would be my fault for not doing what he asked. I couldn't bear to see you getting hurt over something I failed to do. You’re perfect Octavia. Prefect life, career, music." She made a sound that sounded like a mixture between a laugh and a sob.
"I would buy these musical records and when I hear a cello I try to imagine you playing in that part or solo. And the crowd would cheer and I would be sitting in that audience watching you." Octavia sat next to her with her arm around her holding her. "I wanted to see your concerts too."
Octavia opened her eyes and turned to her to see Vinyl smiling. "There were many occasions that you were there when I was. But Shark made sure I was busy on the nights you preformed or he would lock me in my room to keep me from running off to see you. He placed a chip in my phone to keep tabs on my caller IDs. Once I texted you, this was about the last time we talked and..." Vinyl flinched pulling away from Octavia's embrace. "He slapped me. Slapped me hard enough to where when I hit the table I had to be hospitalized." Octavia gulped reaching with her hoof over her mane and sure enough she could feel an indention close to her temple.
"Vinyl... Listen to me very carefully, darling." Vinyl turned sniffing. "I will make sure that he will pay for the pain and suffering he put you through. That I promise you. Once I put him away, you and I will live together here in Ponyville and retire like queens."
Vinyl blinked at her in shock. "You want to retire? Why?"
Octavia chuckled. "Vinyl, I'm tired. Not of music but playing for ponies and traveling everywhere. I just want to rest and play on my own time. And I want to be with you." Octavia looked up at the ceiling with smile. "Maybe adopt a filly or colt or two?"
Vinyl blinked at the thought and chuckled. "Wow, never thought of having foals. Aren't we a little old for this?" Her sadness forgotten she laid down on the bed again rubbing her eyes. Octavia smiled and laid down beside her with her head against her chest hearing Vinyl’s breathing and her heartbeat. She figured it was time to change the subject.
"To tell you the truth Vinyl, when I was a filly, before I knew I would be with you, I've always dreamed of marrying a nice stallion who loves music as much as I do and have a filly or a colt and live together making music and teaching our children music." Octavia sighed closing her eyes. "Of course it's every mare's dream raising a child weather it be from their own body or adopted."
Vinyl stroked her mane nodding. "Yeah... I guess. Unlike you, you had parents that cared for you well until they learned you were into mares. I guess you would want to have a kid of your own."
Octavia sat up looking at Vinyl to see her going gloomy again. "Oh right..."
"Yeah and so far I see myself as a horrible mom. I mean you... Heck you would be the coolest mom in the world!"
"Oh shut up you. You would be a great mother."
Vinyl started chuckling. "Wow, we're talking about having kids, that's interesting. Can we talk about something else that's less uh... gloomy or strange?"
"What’s so strange about children?"
"It's just weird." Vinyl chuckled with a smirk. "Oh wait, I know what to talk about."
"Hmm? What?"
"This," Vinyl leapt on top of Octavia biting her ear. Then with her hoof she started tickling Octavia causing her to laugh.
"No-no Vinyl please! AH! Stop it!" She let out a laugh trying to fight back.
The two continue to tickle then later Octavia was on top pinning Vinyl's hoof on the bed, they’re foreheads pressed together panting. "I love you." Vinyl whispered with half lidded eyes.
Octavia sighed straddling Vinyl. "I love you too." Vinyl looked around listening to anything upstairs.
"What time is it?"
Octavia turned walking away from Vinyl hearing her make a pouty moan. Octavia gave her a smirk as she reached for her cell phone. "Hmm, it's midnight. Lyra and Bonbon are probably asleep."
"When do the kids wake up?"
"At seven, why?"
Octavia felt something wet on the back of her neck causing her to shiver. She turned with wide eyes at Vinyl seeing her stick her tongue out at her. "I think we have some time to... Oh I don’t know,"
"No, I told you we can't- Mmmph!" Vinyl pulled Octavia into a passionate kiss. Octavia tried to fight back but she lost severely as Vinyl pushed her on the bed and started to kiss her with her hoof reaching for a precious place, Octavia gasped into the kiss and soon everything exploded and everything was soon forgotten.
"Do I really have to wear this thing?" Vinyl asked with a whine.
"Yes Vinyl, we must make a good appearance at court."
"But this suit and tie make me all itchy!"
"Stop scratching."
"Grrr....."
* * * * * *
One Month Earlier
When Octavia woke up a few hours later, Vinyl was laying on top of her snoring lightly. Octavia smiled stroking Vinyl's mane. She reached over to her phone and looked at the time. Ten in the morning. She chuckled, gently nudging Vinyl.
"Vinyl dear."
"Hmmph? Just five more minutes." She groaned out rolling off of Octavia snoring again. Octavia chuckled thinking of an old wake up trick she used back in the day. She looked at Vinyl's ear and grinned at the old humor as she leaned over and licked the inside of Vinyl's ear causing the unicorn to jolt awake.
"OOHH BOY! What in Tartarus!" She turned and saw Octavia giggling. "Hey!"
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist."
Vinyl grinned. "Oh yeah? Two can play at that game." She let out a roar and tackled Octavia on the bed. The movement caused the two to fall out of the bed to the floor. Vinyl's tongue trying to reach Octavia's ear as Octavia laughed trying to get Vinyl off of her. She felt Vinyl's hooves tickling her sides causing her to laugh even harder begging for help from the goddesses.
The door opens shining a light towards them. Like two fillies caught with paint and makeup all over them. Octavia and Vinyl stopped in mid-struggle to see Bonbon staring at them with an amused look. Octavia and Vinyl stared at one another then started giggling at each other.
"Well I can tell you two had a good night last night." Bonbon said chuckling. Octavia and Vinyl blushed at one another then they both sat up chuckling like school fillies.
"Octavia, we got the newest edition of Equestria Daily." Bonbon said turning away.
"And?" Octavia called as she trotted up the stairs with Vinyl right behind her. When they reached the top Lyra was reading the magazine and looked at the two mares.
"Vinyl's on the front page!"
* * * * * *
"Vinyl, there is no need to be nervous."
"I am nervous!"
"I'll be sitting next to you the whole time."
"But what about if I had to-"
"Then you will tell everypony what took place."
"But-Mmph!"
"No buts. Did that help?"
"Yeah it did."
"Good, I'll give you another kiss later. Just remember what Gregory and I told you. Tell them the truth. Every bit."
"Okay."
* * * * * *
One Month Earlier
"Wow," Vinyl said after reading the magazine with the article about her. "I guess they weren't a bunch of crazies after all."
Octavia grinned patting Vinyl on the back. "See, now everypony will be knowing about you and soon the press will be giving Shark a bad time with this. See, look at that picture."
Octavia pointing at a picture of the red unicorn stallion trying to hide from the camera. The words at the bottom in italics read, 'No comment from Mr. Flank Shark' Lyra chuckled.
"Yeah and look at the next page it reveals what everypony is now learning about."
True enough Octavia and Vinyl are reading the past cold cases of the dead stars. There was even a report about the famous signer Diamond Essence and the secret note that Brass told Octavia about. Octavia gasped reading the report.
"What?" The three mares exclaimed looking at her.
"The note!"
"What note?" Vinyl asked.
Octavia pointed at the story. "Brass told me that the police found a written note from the crime scene of Diamond Essence’s death. But there was no mention of what was written in the letter."
"Okay but what?" Vinyl asked confused.
Octavia gulped. "This was an old clipping from the case." She turned to Vinyl dreading what it might bring.
"The letter that was written was a note to Diamond Essence’s coltfriend who was a suspect in the case. The message was blotted in blood but there were words that were made out from the note. 'Make it Stop! Make Him Stop!' Was written in bold letters. It's still mystery to this day who this Him is."
Octavia turned to see Vinyl shaking again. She gulps heavily getting out of her chair.
"Vinyl?" Lyra called out concerned as Vinyl runs down the stairs to the basement. Octavia dropped the magazine and went after her leaving Lyra and Bonbon looking at one another with fear.
Octavia could hear Vinyl vomiting in the bathroom. She ran in seeing Vinyl with her head in the toilet shaking hard. Octavia went over to hold up her mane with a feeling of rage again. Once she was done Vinyl let out a sob as she covered her eyes with her hooves. Octavia didn't need words to know what she's thinking.
"Diamond must have suffered a lot." Vinyl nodded with a sniff. Octavia reached for a washrag from the bathtub, still damp and cold. She used the rag to wipe off Vinyl's face.
"But you are alive, Vinyl. Shark must have known about the note and decided to end her there. But with you Vinyl, those five souls will finally be avenged. With your help the media now sees the connections. And it's up to you and I to finally strike the nail into his coffin. You understand this?"
Vinyl nodded. She looked up at Octavia with a hard glare in her rosy eyes. "Now I know I'm not the only one that suffered. When can I go outside again?"
Octavia grinned. "I thought you would never ask."
* * * * * *
"What are you thinking about?"
"Hmm?"
"I said, what are you thinking about Vinyl?"
"It's nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"No... What if he wins?"
"He won’t win Vinyl. We have way too much evidence for him to fight back with."
". . ."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah never better... How long will this take? This court case?"
"Well... depending on the size, it'll take a long while. Possibly a couple of weeks to a month."
"A month?! Geez,"
"Don’t you ever pay attention to court cases on the news?"
"No, they bore me. And really if it isn't going to do me any harm why listen?"
"Vinyl... Oh look at the time, Gregory will be waiting for us in the lobby. Are you ready?"
"Yeah... Let's just get this over with."
* * * * * *
Day of Court
Vinyl sat restlessly in the cab as Octavia and Gregory whisper about the case. Vinyl was dressed in a pressed black suit with a blue tie around her neck. She used her hoof to pull the tie away from her neck to keep it from itching. Octavia lightly slapped her hoof away and shook her head, she was dressed in a nice lavender dress. Vinyl sighed looking out the window to see them close to the Canterlot Courthouse. Vinyl closed her eyes with a sigh remembering what took place a month prior to this day.
After Vinyl got sick, Octavia started taking her out into Ponyville to regain her confidence in front of the public. Everypony that knew Vinyl the best came out to greet Vinyl and give her luck. It made her feel better knowing she has friends in Ponyville. It was even better knowing that nopony begged for details, except for Twilight Sparkle who declared that she would be at the courthouse to give support and possibly let the Princesses know of this case. Vinyl was scared at that but Octavia did say that even the royal sisters will give the opposite side a run for their money to those that were against them.
Then they went to Carousel Boutique to get attire for the court case. Rarity was a joy to be with and Vinyl was very comfortable to talk to the pony that started her career. Rarity gave her a suit and a blue tie to match her mane. It was uncomfortable. Vinyl wanted to roll up the sleeves but Octavia and Rarity both said no. She couldn’t afford to dress like a DJ in a time like this. But Vinyl was given a comfortable, soft button up shirt so that she'll be at least sort of comfortable in her suit and tie.
On the day they were leaving for Canterlot Vinyl was wanting to wear her sunglasses. Octavia said she can wear them but they have to come off in the Courthouse.
"But why?" Vinyl asked. "They’re my symbol!"
"Symbols don’t work in court. Besides they look tacky with your suit. Look you may wear them outside but inside take them off."
Vinyl sighed and nodded. "Alright."
Vinyl opened her eyes feeling Octavia patting her on the shoulder. She turned and grinned seeing her grin.
Suddenly there were flashes of light from out the window as they neared the courthouse. The paparazzi was here waiting for them. Vinyl gulped ready to put on a show for the cameras.
"Remember," Gregory said out loud to them. "Don’t answer any questions. As your lawyer, I'll take care of the questions. Just keep silent. Your words will be used against you if you're not careful. The press that are backing up with Shark will try to reword your words to make him look good. Are we clear?"
Octavia and Vinyl nodded.
"Good," He said with a kind smile as he fixed his mane then his tie. "Let’s go get this over with."
Gregory stepped out first being flashed and pelted with questions. Two officers came out to guard the three ponies from the paparazzi as they started screaming Vinyl's name and screaming out questions. Vinyl was amazed by the attention she received. Sure she's used to this but after four months in a stuffy basement getting well this was a cultural shock. She was happy to have her shades with her to block most of the flashes. She felt Octavia's hoof on her back. Vinyl smirked turning to her to see her with her eyes squeezed shut. She must have been blinded already. Poor Tavi.
They reached the door and the cameras seized and the lights went to normal. Octavia let out a sigh as she sat down to rub her watering eyes. "I never expected this."
Gregory chuckled. "Well you are around stardom Octavia, dear. Prepare for this later at recess.
"Oh goody." Vinyl snickered at Octavia's expense.
"Well, well, well," Vinyl stiffened and turned seeing her old agent walking over with an earth pony dressed smartly in a suit and tie. Octavia noticed Vinyl's mood and stood next to her. "Vinyl, I'm glad to see you well and... with company I see." Shark said with a smirk. Octavia smiled sweetly at the unicorn.
"Ah you must be Mr. Flank Shark. A pleasure." She stated politely, holding out her hoof. Vinyl rolled her eyes behind her glasses, same old Octy to actually be civil. Shark and Octavia shook hooves politely, Octavia continued to smile as Shark kept up his smirk, looking her up and down.
"Ah yes and you are my dear? I'm sure I have seen you somewhere before."
Vinyl glared coldly at him. Of course you've seen her before you bastard!
"Oh? Well my name is Octavia Melody. I have known Vinyl for many years and a close friend of hers."
Shark quirked his brow turning to Vinyl to see her turn away. "Ah yes, I have heard of you. Vinyl has told me so much about you."
Vinyl bared her teeth growling. Octavia turned to her then turned back to the stallion. "Well Vinyl has told me way too much about you. And most of it was not pleasant." Octavia said coldly, frowning now.
"Ladies, and gents please." Gregory said quickly intervening. "Save it for the court room Octavia." Shark chuckled at that.
"And may I introduce my dear friend and our lawyer, Mr. Gregory Gavel." Octavia said as Gregory nodded his head to the two ponies.
Shark glared at the lawyer. "Yes we have met before. Then you might be happy to know I have my ace lawyer with me as well. Mr. Ace Defense." The sneering stallion shook hooves with Gregory then bowed to the mares.
"Yes, I have heard of Mr. Defense before." Gregory said with a forced smile that looked like a grimace.
"I have heard of your cases too, Mr. Gavel. I wish you luck."
"So do I."
A guard walked up to tell them that they must be taken to the Court Room A for the proceedings. Everypony nodded and went their separate ways. Gavel stood by the mares telling them what to do.
"Alright, remember this is a case between Vinyl and Shark. The judge allows you to sit with Vinyl but you cannot speak, understand. Never speak out of turn unless I call you to the stand. You'll be answering questions about Vinyl's rehabilitation. Doctor Hoofstein will be here later with Vinyl's medical records and sample results." Octavia nodded smiling at Vinyl.
"And Vinyl," Gregory said turning to her. "This will be your show. You'll have to tell your whole story. Not everything but enough to prove your point. You’ll have to answer my questions we've practiced and the question that Defense has for you. Now if it does get too much you'll tell the judge you don’t want to go that far. He understands the seriousness of the case but I advise you to only say this once, not twice or thrice, just once."
Vinyl nodded with a deep sigh taking off her shades handing them to Octavia. Octavia smiled and placed them in her purse. "Anything else?" Vinyl asked shakily, she was terrified.
Gregory nodded. "Knowing Shark, he'll use threating glances or glares, don’t pay attention to him. He'll try to break you. Don’t let that happen. And one last thing."
"Yeah?"
"Answer right." Vinyl blinked turning to Octavia to get a look from her.
"Oh, um, okay I'll answer right."
"Good, now let’s get going before the press flogs us again."
He was right, as soon as they reached the assigned room there were several paparazzi ponies there trying to get answers. They were from news stations across Equestria. Gregory went through first, Vinyl second, then Octavia at the end. The doors were shut and the noise level completely depleted. The room was filled with ponies. Many were friends of Vinyl as they grinned seeing her.
Vinyl winked back with a small smile. Not to mention friends from Ponyville were there too. Lyra and Bonbon sat nearby giving her smiles of encouragement. Vinyl was even surprised to see Twilight waving, Rainbow Dash dressed in uncomfortable attire giving Vinyl a forced smile as she fixed her tie. I can relate, Vinyl thought to herself. There was Applejack, Pinkie Pie who was sitting still and grinning from ear to ear. Fluttershy, Heck even Apple Fritter was there giving them a wave. Octavia walked over to her.
"What are you doing here?" She whispered smiling.
Apple Fritter grinned. "Well I heard from Applejack about this so I figured I give ya'll some support. You can't have too much of it here now can ya?"
Octavia grinned hugging her. "Vinyl needs it more than I. I thank you and everypony else here." She turned to see Rarity grinning towards her.
"Well of course darling, many of us couldn’t come, but I assure you they are listening on the radio."
"Radio?" Octavia asked shocked.
"Mmm-hmm," Pinkie Pie said in a loud whisper. "We got permission from the judge to have a microphone set up around the area so Ponyville can hear. Well, all of Equestria can hear." Vinyl gasped at that. Al of Equestria will hear this court case, her story, and the verdict of Shark’s actions? She gulped loudly pulling her tie out getting warm and sweaty with fear.
Everypony turned hearing a door open as a judge walks into the room.
"Good luck." Applejack whispered with a wink. Octavia winked back and trotted to her seat next to Vinyl holding her hoof under the table.
"All rise!" The guard mare called out. Everypony stood up. "Judge Smithy presiding." The judge was an elderly pegasus stallion. He sat down and waved his hoof for everypony to take their seats.
"What’s the case?" The pegasus called out as procedure, since he knew what was going on by the media attention at the back of the room where reporters were writing on their large notepads. A typewriter could be heard at the side of the room as a mare was typing every word that was being said. Octavia gulped, hoping she wouldn't slip up.
The mare cleared her throat reading the paper in her hoof. "The case Scratch against Shark. A possible attempted murder case, your Honor." The mare handed the paper to the judge as he looked through it. He nodded and held up his gavel. "The court is now open for business. Now, Mr. Defense you may start." The three ponies watched as Mr. Defense stood up walking to the jury at the side of the court room and stared talking. Vinyl ignored most of it with nerves. She turned seeing Shark glance at her with a smirk. Vinyl gulped turning away.
What if he wins? He always wins!
She felt Octavia’s hoof wrap tightly around hers making her open her eyes. She turned to see Octavia with a smile on her face. Vinyl sighed and smiled back. No, I have friends here. They’re here for me not for that bastard. Even if we did lose, he will have this case as a shadow for the rest of his life.
After his opening speech, Gregory came up to introduce their case to the jury. Octavia sat there beaming with pride seeing her dear friend captivating the jury in their story and their case pointing to Vinyl many times. Once his turn was over the judge nodded then looked up. Everypony looked up to see a small box at the second floor. Octavia and Vinyl were surprised to see more pony reporters at the second floor writing and recording this case. But what really surprised them was both Princesses are watching the case. Vinyl gulped back bile of nervousness seeing them. Octavia patted her on the back letting her know that everything was alright.
"We call Miss Octavia to the stand!" Octavia jumped at the mention of her name. She turned to Gregory to see him nodding for her to go and sit at the stand. Octavia gulped and nodded leaving her seat and walked to the chair next to the judge’s podium. Mr. Defense stood up but waited as the security pony made her say the oath to tell the whole truth. Once that was finished Octavia sat comfortably in her chair ready for the questions. Mr. Defense walked up with small smile.
"Miss Octavia, please tell the court what your occupation is?"
Octavia took in a breath. "I used to play the cello in my ensemble group. Four months ago I retired."
"Alright, what was the reason for your retirement, surly you were in your game, so to speak?"
"Well actually no. I was happy with my work and career, but sadly I was getting tired of travel. So I wanted a chance to retire. Then Vinyl Scratch needed my help and I couldn’t refuse to help her."
Mr. Defense nodded. "Alright then since you know Miss Scratch well, can you by any chance tell us about her habits that required your assistance with?"
Octavia glared at him. But she did say an oath. "Well... She was a drinker. Many times I had to... help her home and-"
"Were those times of assistance happen to be drugs? Have you helped Miss Scratch to take drugs?"
Octavia bristled at that accusation. "Absolutely not! As long I knew Vinyl, she never been in that junk!"
"Oh? As long as you knew her? But was it in her records that she was taken to a juvenile prison for several cases of her being caught with illegal drugs?"
Octavia gulped turning to Vinyl to see her pale. "Well... there were times when I did catch her with them but... that's beyond the point. She stopped taking drugs when I was with her. I never knew of her past since she kept it to herself."
"What about the recent discovery of her going back to drugs in the last uh... eight years?"
Octavia turned to Vinyl again to see her head bowed low. "She... I... She did mention about it but that was one time and she quit-"
"Nothing further, your Honor." Mr. Defense gave a smirk at Gregory as he passed him to his table. Gregory cleared his throat walking up to Octavia.
"Miss Octavia, will you answer some questions that pertain to the case?”
Octavia nodded then remembered the type writer. "Yes,"
"Alright, my friends, Jury. We aren't here to discuss Scratch’s drug habits. We are here to talk about a supposed attempted murder case. And Miss. Octavia is the prime witness to the crime." He paused as he turned to Octavia with a serious scowl. "Now please describe to the court what happened the first time you've seen Miss. Scratch in... what?”
"Ten years."
"Ten years. So please explain to us what happened when you first saw her."
Octavia quickly described how Vinyl acted and how she reacted to the drink at the bar.
"Alright and then you said that you got a phone call from Miss. Scratch. And it just so happens your honor that we have a recording of that call. The phone company does take recordings of a call."
The judge nodded. "Play it." He ordered. A radio was set at the front of the room as a tape was put inside and the radio played the exact call that Octavia had. She felt guilty of yelling at the phone.
Vinyl went very pale as she sunk into her seat hearing her own sick words. Gregory walked over and pressed the stop button. "Please Miss Octavia, tell me, what did you find in room twelve?"
Octavia sighed she can still remember that room clearly.
"After opening the door, I found Vinyl on the floor covered in the foulest of vomit I have ever seen. It was a grayish black color with blood. She was vomiting blood and hardly responsive."
"Anything else? Anything in the room?"
"Well I was in a rush to get Vinyl out of the room. But as I left I discovered her favorite Whiskey beverage on the counter. There was a shot glass on the floor shattered from being dropped to the floor."
"Hmm and this was where you got the idea of her being poisoned?"
"It's the only explanation I can think of."
"Nothing further, your Honor." Gregory said walking back to his seat as Defense came up with a smirk.
"Miss. Octavia, you say that when you walked into the room you didn't really notice anything except for the whiskey on the counter is that true?"
"Well, yes."
"Then perhaps you didn't think of looking around for possibly a needle for injected drugs? Or a pill bottle? Not to mention a pipe to smoke?"
Octavia glared at him. "No, I never seen any of those things." She blushed remembering the look of the room was a pigsty and it was dark. "Well... Knowing Vinyl she doesn't keep a clean house and uh it was dark so-"
"So you will admit that possibly she injected herself and suffered from a mixture of drugs and alcohol correct?"
"It's... possible-"
"Nothing further." Defense sneered at Gregory and Vinyl. Vinyl rubbed her forehead trying to remember anything about that night. Octavia was now started to get nervous. She watched as Shark whispered in his lawyer's ear smirking at Octavia. Octavia turned away fearing for slipping up.
Finally after another hour of questioning, the judge ordered a thirty minute recess. Octavia let out a sigh of relief, she was finished. She trotted to Vinyl and gave her a sad smile.
"I'm so sorry-"
"No, you were right... I could have taken drugs or something-" Vinyl was silenced with a kiss on the lips from Octavia as she stroked her mane away from her face.
"Don’t second guess yourself, do you understand me? Just answer the questions like we practiced."
"But what if he says something that-" Gregory shook his head.
"That’s how it works. Defense is trying to make Shark sound good and make you look bad. But like Octavia said before, we have too much evidence for him back away from. We still have Doctor Hoofstien's samples and testimony to go through. Then we have Lyra and Bonbon as witnesses as well."
"Really?" Vinyl asked in surprise, she didn't know this.
Octavia nodded. "Yes they volunteered at the last minute. So no need to worry."
After their recess Doctor Hoofstien came up to the stand to testify and to show the jury his findings and Vinyl’s blood samples from the poison which clearly proved she was poisoned, not taking drugs. Vinyl could only smirk at the blow Mr. Defense had from using the drug gig to get the jury thinking she's a drug addict. After the doctor was finished, the court was adjourned for the evening.
Vinyl never felt so relieved to get out of her suit. Once they went to the hotel Vinyl crashed into her bed as Octavia turned on the radio to hear the news. When the news switched to Vinyl’s court case the two mares heard both sides. One side believes that Vinyl was a druggie and deserves to be put away but the other side actually used Doctor Hoofstien's test results to prove that Vinyl wasn't taking drugs, sure she drank alcohol but there was a poison in the drink. One side called it luck while the other called it a miracle. The mares knew which station was sided with Shark or Vinyl.
The next morning and throughout the whole second day of court, Vinyl was having trouble staying awake. It was not that it was boring, this was serious! It was just that Vinyl couldn’t sleep the night before, she was up most of the night from nightmares. It didn't help that Vinyl turned on the TV to late night television. Vinyl blushed hearing Octavia yawn next to her. Keeping Octavia up last night didn't help her either.
Vinyl covered her mouth yawning the fifteenth time that morning. Suddenly the words she dreaded, "Flank Shark to the stand."
She coughed suddenly from her yawn to turn to see her former agent walk calmly to the stand took the oath and everything. She wished she had her sunglasses to hide away from his stern eyes. She felt Octavia's hoof on her leg patting her lightly. The questioning began.
It seemed that Shark stuck to the drug addiction and wild child role, it was horribly embarrassing
"But surly after hearing about the blood tests from Miss Scratch’s medical records say that she never had any chemicals from the drugs you have spoken of." Gregory said with a shake of his head. "I mean we understand you say she has a drug addiction but clearly the evidence was shown to you yesterday Mr. Shark. Why do you keep this story?"
Shark shrugged with an easy going smile. "I know her better than anypony." Octavia bristled hearing this tightening her grip around Vinyl's hoof. Vinyl stiffened too hearing the threat in his voice as he turned to her. "If you lived with a child like her you would see my point."
Gregory made a grimace and snorted.
"No more questions your Honor." He turned away gritting his teeth sitting down.
After another hour of hearing his lies court went into another recess for the rest of the day. Vinyl was groaning with a headache as she loosened her tie growling curses. Octavia patted her on the back as they walked past the paparazzi. Just like Gregory ordered, no talking to the press. Once they went into the cab waiting for the three of them, Vinyl finally let loose curses and slamming her hoof on her seat.
"What the fuck! He's making me sound like an out of control addict!"
Octavia took a hold of her to calm her down. "If you keep doing this then you make his accusations real Vinyl." Vinyl growled biting her lip then lets out a sigh.
"I'm sorry. But the jury can't possibly-"
"Lucky we were in here with you losing control." Gregory gave the two mares a look of disappointment.
"Yeah, he's right." Vinyl whispered with a sigh. "I need to regain control of my life when this is over."
Octavia looked up with a tilt of her head. "What are you talking about?"
Vinyl blinked realizing her slip of the tongue. "Oh uh... it’s nothing."
"Vinyl?"
"We're here." Gregory interrupted when the cab stopped in front of their hotel. The press sat there waiting and started taking pictures when the door opened. The three ponies quickly ran into the hotel lobby and headed for the elevator quickly and started up to their floor. Vinyl let out a sigh of relief.
"I need a bath and sleep!"
Octavia chuckled. "You and me both."
Gregory shook his head clearing his throat as he blushed. Octavia noticed and gave him a shove.
"You pervert!"
"What?" He asked smiling. Vinyl started laughing at what Gregory put into her mind.
Gregory escorted the mares to their room and left them alone. "See you tomorrow."
"See you." Vinyl called back as Octavia shut the door and locked it. Vinyl let out another sigh as she pulled off her tie and tossing it in her bed. She unbuttoned her suit and shirt then laid on her bed staring at the ceiling.
"How much longer?" She asked covering her face with her hooves.
"Well today Lyra and Bonbon were given testimony of your sickness, then Shark took the stand." Octavia sighed as she laid down next to Vinyl on her back. "Tomorrow, you will seal the deal. You just remember what we practiced and don't let Shark get in your head."
Vinyl sighed. "I'll try." Octavia kissed her on the cheek stroking her mane. Vinyl closed her eyes enjoying the pet.
"Tomorrow morning Vinyl, I think we will go see Blue Note and get a real will made and signed."
"Really?" Vinyl asked in surprise.
Octavia nodded. "Before court start tomorrow, we'll get this done and then if the possibility we did lose and, Celestia forbid something happens to you again, then it will keep him from winning again." Vinyl gulped then nodded at the wisdom of this.
"Then, after this is all over, we'll go back to Ponyville, find a nice cottage and live peacefully." Octavia whispered. Vinyl smiled nodding.
"That does sound nice."
Octavia sighed sitting up. "If you'll excuse me, I need to wash up. Brass asked earlier if we would have a chat and shop a bit."
Vinyl sat up smirking at her marefriend as she undresses out of her dress clothes. "You want to go shopping at a time like this? Not to mention there is a storm coming!" After Vinyl said that lightning struck outside. "The weather factory is still on the fritz." Vinyl gulped. "At least wait until later?"
Octavia looked outside and snorted. "Please, we're just window shopping and I need to talk to her. We're probably going to have a quick lunch and will be indoors when the storm hits."
Vinyl nodded still unsure. "Are you sure?"
Octavia chuckled. "I'm sure Vinyl. And maybe I might get you something special. Not to mention have a little fun tonight?"
Vinyl's ears perked up as she grinned at her nodding her head. "Aw yeah! Night with Tavi!"
"Hush you." Octavia teased entering the bathroom to get cleaned up.
Once she was finished Octavia entered the room to see Vinyl sleeping in the bed snoring lightly with her arm over her eyes. Octavia smiled reaching for a blanket at the end of the bed and placed it over Vinyl as she let out a snore then a moan of pleasure as she turned in her sleep cuddling in the blanket.
Octavia sighed seeing Vinyl acting like her old self again. Octavia kissed her gently on her horn hearing a little moan from Vinyl, "Tavi…"
Octavia smiled then carefully with her purse around her neck she tiptoed out the door and closing it silently behind her. Octavia checked the exit to see no pony there since the storm was blowing in. The clouds looked dark.
"Hmm . . . maybe shopping might be a bad idea." She trotted out of the hotel to her rendezvous with Brass. A few minutes of walking later a stiff blast of wind blew into her face with leaves and trash flying toward her. She let out a squeak and jumped into an ally as the wind blew debris down the sidewalk.
"Okay I guess shopping is a very bad idea." She yelled out to herself as the wind blew her mane crazy into her face. She reached for her phone and pressed a speed dial button for Brass. "Please tell me you have your phone." She suddenly stiffened feeling something was behind her. She turned just as she heard Brass's voice through her phone.
"Octavia?"
* * * * * *
Vinyl let out a groan hearing her cell phone ringing she looked at the time on the clock to see that it was eight at night. Vinyl pushed off the blanket and yawned. She rubbed her eyes and grabbed the blue phone to see Lyra's ID on the screen.
"Lyra? She hardly calls me." She flipped the phone open, yawning. "'Sup?" Vinyl answered rubbing her eye. She suddenly stiffened hearing Lyra's voice.
"Wait, what do you mean Octavia’s in the hospital? What happened to her?" Vinyl cried out getting out of the bed only to trip over the blanket and fall face first to the floor in a large thud.
"Listen Vinyl, we just got word from Brass. She said that Octavia didn't see her at the rendezvous and she called her. Brass heard what happened on the other line and went off to find her." Vinyl slowly pulled off her shirt that she left on as she slept.
"Is she alright?"
"I don’t know. The Docs won't talk to us."
"Where are you?" Vinyl asked pulling her shirt off ready to run.
"Canterlot General Hospital."
"Are you there?" Vinyl asked running to the door but stopped to back track and grab her card key with her levitation magic.
"Yes, we're all here."
"Good, see you in a sec." Vinyl hung up before Lyra could protest as she took the closest cab to the hospital hoping her nightmares haven’t come true.
When Vinyl reached the hospital in record time as she ran into the lobby surprising the secretary.
"Listen, Octavia was reported here please I have to see her."
The mare shook her head. "I'm sorry miss, I can't let you in."
Vinyl snarled which she rarely does. "Look lady, my marefriend was sent here and she could be dying right now! I have to see her!"
"I’m sorry-"
"It's alright," The two mares turned to see Gregory walking over dressed in a regular sweater vest and jacket. Vinyl sighed with relief.
"Gregory, bless Celestia and Luna you're here!"
Gregory gave her a gentle smile nodding. "Come with me."
Vinyl nodded following him through the halls of the hospital. "What happened to her? Lyra told me that she was here but not why."
Gregory gave her a look as he turned away. "Well it looked like a robbery but it seems more serious than that."
"Robbery?" Vinyl asked shaking. "Who would rob Tavi?"
"I don’t think it was a robbery. The fiends that did this made sure she wouldn’t get up. Brass found her, thank the goddesses."
Gregory opened a door leading to the waiting room and Vinyl gasped to see her friends sitting in chairs waiting anxiously. Lyra leapt out of her chair and trotted over to Vinyl. Gregory patted Vinyl on the shoulder.
"This is a very serious turn of events. Me and several guard ponies are in the building in case something might happen to Octavia." Vinyl stiffened when a nightmare resurfaced in her brain. The image of Octavia bleeding to death in an alley caused her to glare coldly at the floor.
"Was it-?"
"We're not sure. But rest assured, we're taking extra precautions. Now if you all excuse me I have some work to be done." Gregory dipped his head and left the room. Vinyl felt Lyra's arms around her holding her tightly.
"Are you okay?" Lyra asked.
Vinyl sniffed feeling the anger and fear in her body. "I don’t know." She answered truthfully. Lyra led her to a chair with everypony else. Vinyl looked around and sure enough, with Lyra there was Bonbon. Beauty Brass was sitting near the radio listening in. Applejack and Apple Fritter were present as well though Applejack was snoozing in an uncomfortable position on two chairs. Even Twilight was there claiming that Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash went home before the storm hit. Vinyl was happy to have support from her dear friends. Brass walked over with sadness. Vinyl swallowed with worry.
"Lyra said you found Octavia?"
Brass sniffed wiping her nose, she looked like she was crying. "It was horrible. She called me from her phone and I heard her being attacked! I was so scared then somehow her cell phone was disconnected." Brass pulled out a sack from her purse to reveal Octavia’s cell phone which was destroyed by a hoof perhaps. “I found out why.” She whispered trying to keep from crying again. Vinyl squeezed her eyes shut, turning away and rubbing her face only to realized that she didn't have her glasses. She groaned covering both her eyes with her hooves. Lyra gulped patting Vinyl on her back. Brass gulped as well fiddling with her hooves.
"I called the hospital the first moment I found her. The doctors said that she had to go into surgery immediately. She was in very bad shape."
"Surgery?" Vinyl whispered in shock.
"Yes," Twilight said softy sitting before her. "The doctors said that it was the only way to save her. She was..." Twilight shivered.
"Who ever done this," Apple Fritter threatened with a look that could kill. "I swear that I will wring the neck of the bastards that hurt Octavia. She done nothing wrong!"
Vinyl sighed rubbing her eyes again feeling burning tears. "No, I did it. If she didn't help me, none of this would have happened. She would be alive and happy and-"
"And you would have been dead, Vinyl." Bonbon said sternly shaking her head. "Don’t ever blame yourself."
"Bon's right, Vinyl." Lyra smiled patting her on the shoulder. "We would have lost you. You really think Octavia would be happy today if she learned that you were killed? No, she was there for you and now you must be there for her."
"But it was Shark, I know it was! He threatened to hurt her many times! Those dreams … It's like Deja-vu! I had nightmares of Octavia being beaten and dying in alley somewhere in Equestria and I would be locked in my room screaming!"
Twilight patted Vinyl on her shoulder. "Everything will be okay Vinyl. The best doctors are here in Canterlot and I assure you, Octavia will be alright." Vinyl looked into Twilight's eyes and saw the truth in them. Vinyl sniffed nodding. "You’re right. Thanks, Twilight." Twilight smiled back.
"Well look who’s here." Apple Fritter said leaping of her chair waking her cousin. Everypony turned seeing a doctor dressed in scrubs walking in.
"Well?" Twilight asked with concern.
The doctor, a green unicorn grinned nodding. "She's going to be alright."
There was a collected sigh of relief hearing the news. "Doctor, will she be alright?" Brass asked with concern. The doctor nodded.
"Yes, we had to remove parts of her ribs that were sticking into her lungs. She had a broken leg and a concussion. Minor injuries compared to other ponies in her state. She was very lucky to be alive."
Vinyl stood up walking to him. "Can we see her?"
The doctor thought for a moment. "Well she's asleep right now-"
"Doctor, she's a very close loved one to Octavia. Perhaps you'll let Vinyl see her." Twilight interjected smiling warmly at the white unicorn. "We will all head back to our hotel rooms and be ready for tomorrow."
The ponies in the room nodded their heads. "Good idea." Applejack slurred yawning.
Lyra nodded. "Yeah, let Vinyl stay the night. We'll see you tomorrow before court starts."
"Yes," Bonbon agreed smiling. "I'm sure Octavia will be happy to see her favorite mare in her room."
Vinyl blushed. "Thanks guys. Really."
Everypony gave her hugs and words of encouragement as they left the room. Vinyl turned to the doctor to see him smile. "Alright then, follow me." Vinyl gulped and followed the unicorn through the halls until they reached a room with a closed door. He opened the door. Vinyl stepped into the dark room to see the heart monitor glow faintly by the bed showing Octavia in a light green light. She was covered in bandages and gauze, sleeping. The doctor winked at her.
"Be gentle. When she wakes let me know."
Vinyl nodded. "Thanks doc." she whispered back as the doctor closed the door softly. Vinyl let out a sigh as she carefully walked over to Octavia’s bed. She found a comfy chair and used her magic to lift it up and carefully set it next to the bed. She had to watch the IV drip as she sat down. She gulped, from the glow from the monitor measuring Octavia's heart rate, her face looked like she was pummeled by hail. There was a bandage around her head. Vinyl paled seeing drying blood on the left side of her head. She sniffed feeling tears as she stroked Octavia’s face.
"This was my fault." She whispered to herself feeling tears. She leaned forward with her face pressed against her crossed arms as she cried silently.
It was her fault! If she never gotten into this court business, Octavia would never have gotten hurt!
But Shark would have walked and killed another helpless star that just wanted more stardom, her smarter side called out in her mind.
True... He would have and gotten more money.
Then you will be regretting how cowardly you were if he kills another victim like he tried to do to you.
Vinyl shook her head from the voice in her head. "Tavi... I'm so sorry." She whispered. "I should have made you stay... I should have kept you in the hotel."
Suddenly Vinyl felt something pet her on her head. "You were right about the storm." Vinyl gasped sitting up with tears seeing Octavia grinning at her sleepily.
"Tavi?"
Octavia smiled. "Hello Vinyl."
"Bless Celestia!" Vinyl cried taking her hoof into hers crying. "You’re alright!"
Octavia made a discomfort face. "Well alright is an understatement at what I feel right now." She grumbled. Vinyl chuckled lightly sniffing.
"Wow, you sure know a way in making a situation like this..."
Octavia smiled. "I know, I say the same thing to you." She let out a sigh rubbing her face. "How long was I out?"
Vinyl gulped. "You just got out of surgery a while ago." Vinyl sniffed wiping her eyes. "Tavi, I'm so, so sorry! If-"
Octavia pressed her hoof over Vinyl's lips and shushed her. "Vinyl, sweetie. What happened, happened. Nothing can change what occurred. But, right now, you have to be brave." Vinyl blinked then turned away. "You have to go to Court tomorrow on your own. Understand."
"This isn’t about some dumb ass court!" Vinyl snapped glaring at her with tears flowing again. "You were almost killed tonight!" Octavia closed her eyes turning away. "I should have made you stay but... I was too tired and stupid."
Octavia patting her on the arm. Vinyl looked up with a sniff seeing Octavia patting the bed beside her. Vinyl sniffed and nodded as she leapt up on the bed to lay beside the mare she loved nuzzling her neck. Octavia smiled stroking her mane, feeling tears as well.
The two laid together in that small bed for an hour. The doctor came in and smiled seeing the two mares sleeping on the bed. He smiled as he backed away carefully and closed the door.
A peal of thunder woke the two mares. The unexpected sound caused Vinyl to jump, making Octavia open her eyes. "Vinyl?"
Vinyl sighed sitting up and breathing hard from the scare. "I'm alright, it was the thunder." She chuckled sheepishly smiling. Octavia grinned back stroking her face.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
Vinyl shrugged. "I don’t know. I just don’t know anymore." She laid back down next to Octavia on her back holding Octavia’s hoof in hers. "When this shit is over... I just want to be back in the basement and be in that bed with you again."
Octavia nodded closing eh eyes. "I know. I do too."
Vinyl kissed her lightly on her bruised cheek. "I love you."
Octavia opened one eye to stare at her. "I love you too." She pat her on her shoulder. "When this is over Vinyl, I'll see if Pinkie Pie can make you something special."
Vinyl looked at her in shock. "You know Pinkie?"
Octavia chuckled at Vinyl's shocked face. "Vinyl dear, please, you don’t know where I've been while you snooze the day away in that bed. I met many ponies in Ponyville. They consider me a new member of the town."
“Did she-?"
"Throw a party? Well yes she did. It only lasted for an hour because I had somepony special to take care of." Vinyl blushed then an idea struck her.
"Oh, I was supposed to tell the doctor to see you. Uh," Vinyl leaped off the bed dashing for the door. She stopped turning to Octavia. "Do you want anything? Something to drink?"
Octavia thought for a moment then nodded. "Yes, water sounds nice."
Vinyl nodded back. "Sure, be back later, babe." Vinyl opened the door and turn to collide with a food cart pushed by a nurse. "Oops, my bad, ‘scues me!" Vinyl ran past the stallion without a second glance. The nurse grinned turning to the room. He opened the door. Octavia opened her eyes.
"Oh Vinyl, that was-" She paused when the light turned on. She opened her eyes from the glare of the white light and gasped. "You?!"
* * * * * *
Vinyl magically floated two cheap plastic cups filled with water with a happy grin on her face. She found the doctor and told him about Octavia but he told her that he had already seen the two of them. Vinyl blushed at that and told him her thanks for helping Octavia. After that chat Vinyl found the water dispenser and filled two cups of water. She took a sip of her cup floating Octavia's next to her.
She let out a sigh thinking about tomorrow. It'll be her turn to take the stand and tell the jury about her side of the story. Then Bing, bang, boom, Shark will be thrown in jail. That is if the jury wasn't paid to follow Shark through the whole thing. She gulped imagining what would happen to her. She’ll probably be taken to a drug rehabilitation place probably paid by Shark. But then Octavia and her friends will be in trouble.
She shook her head nearing Octavia's room. She let out a sigh. Worrying about the future won't solve anything in this world. She just has to go on as she practiced the last few days. Tell them the whole truth. She reached the door to find it opened slightly.
"Oh, I didn’t shut it? I thought I did." She used her hoof to push open the door with a cheerful smile on her face. She opened her eyes and gasped to discover the room light was on. But what made her gasp was seeing Octavia's strapped to her bed with a rag tied over her muzzle. Holding a scalpel against her neck was the red unicorn stallion dressed in scrubs of a nurse. Vinyl dropped the cups causing them to ding on the floor.
"Ah, Vinyl. Nice to see you again." Shark said smiling.
Vinyl just stood there frozen in place shocked and horrified. She took in a breath to scream for help but Octavia's yelp caused her to stop. Shark grinned at her as his horn glowed softly. The door shuts calmly behind Vinyl. Vinyl turned hearing the door lock. She turned back shaking badly but tried to show herself as tough and angry.
"What are you doing here?" She asked in a shaky voice.
Shark shrugged. "Oh, I only came to say hello to uh... What's you name dear?" He asked stroking Octavia's cheek causing her to flinch and try to move away from his hoof and the scalpel nearing her neck.
"Don’t you dare touch-" Vinyl yelled out but stops seeing the scalpel pressing again her marefriend’s neck.
"I wouldn't walk any closer, Scratch." Vinyl's eyes swiveled between Octavia and Shark and the scalpel. "You don’t want little Treble Clef here bleeding would you." Octavia let out a series of muffled curses as she glared coldly at him. Shark chuckled at her. "Oh please lady, you know they sharpen these every day before a surgery right? This one is exceptionally sharp. If you're not staying still, I might accidentally cut an artery."
To emphasize he pressed the sharp point into her neck causing her to make a muffled yell. Vinyl turned even paler seeing a small drop of blood slowly roll down the Octavia's neck.
"Please," Vinyl begged with tears. "Don’t hurt her. She has nothing to do with this."
Shark looked up raising a brow.
"Really?" He asked as he stroked Octavia's mane causing her to flinch trying to fight out of her bonds. "She’s way too smart for me to let her get away with knowing my schemes. I knew I should have taken that blasted phone when I had the chance." He grumbled. Vinyl gulped watching him turning to the IV drip rack beside him and the bed.
"You knew?"
"Well, I could guess. I knew that there was no way you could have escaped that apartment on your own." He reached behind him to the IV bag staring at it. Half empty/half full, he didn't care. He unhooked the bag off the rack staring at it as he continues to talk.
"So there had to be a pony you truly trusted to come to your rescue." He smirked. "I should have given you a heavier dose that way... You would have died faster." Vinyl gulped turning to Octavia as Shark was busying himself with the clear liquid bag. She inched her way toward the bed, sweat beading down her face. She just had to get close enough...
"But there is a problem, I made sure your so called friends don't call you. Except for one." Vinyl looked up seeing his glare. She stopped inches from the bed. Shark chuckled shaking his head. "I have heard many stories about you and Miss Octavia. I read all the reports kid and like I said you should have dated a stallion."
"Like you?" Vinyl spat. Shark started chuckling then started laughing hard pointing at her.
"Oh you idiot!" He let out another laugh until finally he let in a breath and sighed. "Oh that was good. Real good." He frowned. "No, not like me." He flipped the bag upside down and opened the pouch from the feed tube and blew into the bag inflating it like a balloon. Vinyl stared at him curious. Shark sighed clicking the feed tube back to the back using another stream of magic he held the bag and slip it back on the rack but kept his levitation hold on it so it wouldn’t' fall.
Octavia was stiff as a board staring at the IV bag with dread as she struggled in her bonds again. She let out a muffled cry feeling the scalpel pushing deeper into her neck.
"Now, now, now, Octy," Shark said sweetly as she started to cry. "This will be over soon enough." Vinyl snarled.
"Leave her-"
"Don’t move Scratch." Shark threatened in a commanding voice causing Vinyl to stop. "Do you know what this here does?" He asked indicating the bag. Vinyl stared at him curious. He chuckled. "Of course you don't. You don’t watch crime dramas."
"Well I don’t have time."
Shark started laughing pulling the scalpel out of Octavia's neck, blood slowly seep out of the small wound as she struggled in her bonds with tears from her eyes she stared at the floating IV bag. Shark walked around the bed leaving Octavia struggling as he approached Vinyl with the scalpel glowing in his magic. Vinyl backed away staring at him then turning to Octavia as she struggled and cries out for help. Vinyl felt the wall behind her as she looked back up at Shark.
"You can end this you know." Shark whispered pointing at Octavia. "You can save her." Vinyl's eyes started to water again from fear. Fear for her life and for Octavia’s life. "You just have to do one thing."
Vinyl turned to Octavia to see her staring at her shaking her head. Shark slapped Vinyl in the face causing her to trip over her hoof and fall near the corner. She looked up, her ears flatten on her head.
"Tell the judge and jury about your drug addiction tomorrow. Lie, and I swear by the goddesses, nothing will happen to your dear friends."
Vinyl's pupils shrank seeing images of all her friends from Ponyville flash through her eyes. Lyra, Bonbon, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, many of their faces flashed past her eyes, even the three foals Racer, Rain, and Star.
Vinyl turned away clenching her eyes shut breathing heavily. "Please... I'll do anything. Just leave them alone." She whispered.
Shark grinned turning to Octavia. Octavia stared at him with a glare. His grin turned nasty looking down at Vinyl as she cried on the floor. "Change of plans." He said turning to Octavia. He canceled his levitation spell on the IV bag and let it fall with gravity swinging against the rack. Octavia noticed the giant air bubble in the tube and started to let out muffled screams fighting in her bonds. Vinyl looked up hearing Octavia's screaming and seeing pulling against the leather straps on her bed. Vinyl saw the panic and fear in her eyes and quickly ran to action.
"No!" She screamed out making the sprint to the bed. Shark was quicker though.
When Vinyl stood up to run to Octavia Shark grabbed her around her neck pulling her back again him squeezing lightly against her throat. "TAVI!" She screeched fighting back. Shark lifted her up in the air as he stood on his back hooves holding her tightly in his arms.
"Watch and suffer Scratch, perhaps you might like to die with her?"
Vinyl started to choke feeling his strong bicep press her windpipe. She reached for Octavia as she continued to struggle watching the air bubble getting closer and closer to her arm. Octavia turned to Vinyl crying. Vinyl started to see darkness at the corners of her vision.
"Octavia," She wheezed hearing Shark chuckle near her ear.
"Don't worry, everypony will believe that you, the poor drug addict who just lost the love of her life." Vinyl struggled to stay awake puling against his arm swinging her legs trying to get out, trying to breathe. "You couldn’t take it anymore so you sliced your throat and join her in the dead. Then I win."
Vinyl opened her mouth trying to speak but nothing came out as she hung limp in his embrace. Vinyl opened her eyes one last time seeing Octavia doing the same. They stared into each other's eyes telling each other that they love the other. Vinyl smiled then closed her eyes.
"What the-?" Shark gasped.
Octavia opened her eyes hearing a rather large sound and the sound of glass falling on the floor. She watched as a gray blur zoomed over her bed. Shark screamed out dropping Vinyl on the floor as the gray blur collided into him. Shark hit the wall and yelled out seeing the gray pony attack him. Vinyl slowly sat up coughing hard getting air into her lungs. She turned and stared in awe.
"Derpy?"
Ditzy Doo turned to her with a glare and blood flowing from cuts on her face and forehead.
"Save Her!" Ditzy screamed out stomping hard on Shark's chest causing him to scream. Vinyl gasped standing up.
"Tavi!" She got up running to unhook the leather straps with her magic and teeth. Once the first strap over Octavia's chest was loosened. Octavia pulled out her hooves from under the second strap then pulled off her gag and used her teeth to pull out the IV drip from her arm and with an exhausted shout she threw the tube away seeing the air bubble gone and the rest of the IV fluids flows out of the tube to the floor thanks to gravity.
Vinyl pulled off the last leather strap panting staring at Octavia. Octavia stared back. Ignoring the pains in her chest and body Octavia let out a sob as she flung her arms around Vinyl hugging her tightly, crying into her chest. Vinyl hugged her back just as tight kissing her on the neck and face.
"You're okay, you're okay." Vinyl cooed holding her and rocking with her. "You're okay, Octy. You’re okay."
Shark let out a wet gasp after Ditzy kicked him again.
Suddenly the door was kicked down and five guard ponies dressed in black protective armor ran into the rom. The lead pony points his horn at Shark and Ditzy. Gregory ran in, glaring coldly at Shark. He pointed at the unicorn.
"Seize him!" The gauds nodded walking over. Ditzy leapt off of the unicorn to stand by the two mares as the guards quickly slap hoof cuffs over his hooves.
"Gregory?" Octavia called surprised. Gregory sighed with relief trotting over to them.
"Are you two alright?" He asked with clear worry. Vinyl nodded holding Octavia tighter.
"Shaken but fine." She answered.
Gregory pulled out a rag and wipe his forehead. "Bless the goddesses." He turned seeing Ditzy covered in nicks and bruises from her rescue. "Are you alright …. Miss?"
"Doo, Ditzy Doo."
Gregory nodded holding out his hoof. "I say, if it weren't for your heroics Miss Doo, I would have lost these two." Ditzy took his hoof and shook it. Just then Gregory noticed her wayward eyes and stiffened. Vinyl giggled a bit. Ditzy noticed his look and blushed.
"Oh uh, sorry, an eye condition." Ditzy said scratched the back of her head sheepishly. Gregory only grinned nodding as he turned away as Shark yelled out insults.
"You are under arrest." Gregory stated glaring at him. Shark spat at him.
"On what charges?"
"Two counts of attempted murder!"
Shark let out a laugh. "Oh yeah, and what proof you got Gavel?" He nodded to Vinyl and Octavia holding each other on the bed. Vinyl was glaring while Octavia hid her face into Vinyl's mane. "They’re nothing but suicide cases the both of them."
Gregory grinned at him. "Oh really? That’s the story you will hang on to?"
"Of course, Vinyl always had a drug problem!"
Vinyl opened her mouth to yell back but Ditzy beat her by plugging up her mouth shaking her head. Vinyl pushed her hoof away glaring at her ready to yell out again but Octavia grabbed her face and turned her towards her shaking her head. Vinyl stared at her with confused but turned back as Gregory takes a toppled chair and pushed it to the vent on the wall where Shark and Ditzy had their fight. Gregory climbed up the chair and reached at the vent and pulled it out of the wall. The three mares gasped in shock Shark just stared with a shocked expression.
"What is that?" Ditzy asked.
Gregory smiled. "Evidence." He said letting one of the unicorn guards levitate the camera to his hooves. Gregory climbed off the chair walking to the unicorn to take the camera. He pressed a button at the top. In the silence they can hear the muffled cries of Octavia; everything was replayed, making Vinyl shiver hearing her own voice.
“No! TAVI!”
“Watch and suffer Scratch, perhaps you might like to die with her.”
“Octavia,”
“Don't worry, everypony will believe you, the poor drug addict who just lost the love of her life. You couldn't take it anymore so you sliced your throat and join her in the dead. Then I win.”
The recording was silenced as Vinyl held Octavia tighter closing her eyes feeling tears. Shark snarled. Gregory smiled walking over to a potted plant at the corner pulling out another small camera with a microphone. Then he pointed under the bed and there was a miniature camera. Shark groaned out. Gregory made another smile.
"Oh yes, we have the evidence. Guards take him away."
The lead guard nodded. "Let's go,"
Shark struggled glaring at the mares. The door shuts behind them leaving the three mares alone with Gregory. Vinyl let out a sigh kissing Octavia' on the face. Octavia kissed her back turning to Gregory. Gregory sat down on the floor grinning.
"You knew," Vinyl whispered turning to him.
"Hm?"
"You knew this would happen."
Gregory shrugged. "It was a possibility."
Vinyl nodded pointing at the plant then at the vent. "But you kept cameras in this room to watch everything. And... But?" Octavia shushed her wiping her eyes with her hospital gown.
"Just listen." Octavia whispered, she looked miffed by learning that her best friend had set her room as a camera trap. Gregory cleared his throat seeing Octavia's glare.
"I knew that the stallions that attacked Octavia were possibly from Shark. So yes, I knew you would get the message, and Shark’s kills are well known. He would want to finish his kill, even if it meant killing a witness. A very smart witness." Gregory said, nodding to Octavia.
"You know I won't forgive you for this." Octavia said primly turning away.
Gregory shrugged. "I know. And I'm sorry about that. I couldn't tell you or you would point out that there were cameras in the room and Shark would probably do something differently. But I felt bashful for letting him go so far. Geez, the sixth floor was crowded with children." He said with a blush. "We couldn't bulldoze them over. But you ma'am," He said turning to Ditzy as she used some rags a guard gave her to pat her wounds. She turned to him with a tilt of her head. "How did you get here?"
"Yeah Derpy?" Vinyl asked. "How did you know Octavia and I were in trouble?"
"Pinkie Sense!" Derpy said proudly.
"Pardon me?" Octavia and Gregory both asked in confused.
Vinyl gasped. "But how did she get back to Ponyville so quickly? She, Dash and Fluttershy should still be on the night train back right?"
Ditzy smiled placing a Band-Aid on her cheek wincing from the sharp feeling. "Well a couple of hours ago, I was taking my daughters to Sugarcube Corner; it's Dinky's birthday. So I was waiting for our cupcakes and muffins when Pinkie Pie suddenly popped out of nowhere and you know Pinkie," Vinyl nodded blushing.
"So she grabbed me and told me that her Pinkie Sense was telling her that something would happen to you two. Pinkie already clued me in on what happened to Octavia so I told the girls to go home. Then I zoomed out there faster than Rainbow Dash to a Wonderbolt competition. So after flying for an hour or two in the storm I found the hospital and tried to get in. But the darn receptionist wouldn't let me. That was then I saw the guard ponies running saying something like somepony in the room.
"Something told me that that somepony was the doozy Pinkie talked about. So I flew out knowing the receptionist wouldn’t help me. I checked every room window until I saw you guys. I smashed through the window and then the rest is history."
Gregory blinked. "Incredible."
Ditzy blushed. "It was nothing." She smiled up at her friend. "When Pinkie's twitchin'-"
"You better listen." Vinyl finished grinning. "I have to thank her."
"What is Pinkie Sense?" Octavia asked bewildered. Vinyl chuckled kissing her on the cheek.
"I'll tell you later babe." Octavia glared at her then sighed and nodded. Vinyl used her magic to levitate one of the folded rags from Ditzy and pressed it on Octavia's neck wiping off the dried blood off her neck. "I'm so happy you're alright." She whispered.
Octavia smiled back holding her hoof.
Gregory cleared his throat. "Well, if you'll excuse us. Miss Ditzy, how about I check your wounds and get you to my office. I need you as a witness in this case." Ditzy nodded turning to see the two mares sitting so close to each other.
"I'll see you two tomorrow?" The two mares were silent as they each held each other with their eyes closed. Ditzy smiled and walked after the lawyer closing the door behind her leaving the two mares alone.
Vinyl opened her eyes to stare into Octavia’s purple eyes and smiled. "Are you alright?"
Octavia grinned stroking Vinyl's bruised neck gently. "I'm more worried about you."
Vinyl snorted shaking her head. "Being choked to death is different than what... What was going on really? Did he put something in that IV bag?"
Octavia blinked staring at her. "You really never watched crime dramas. Do you?"
"No, why?"
Octavia sighed. "Vinyl, what he did... he would have killed me."
"Yeah I noticed how you were acting so I knew it was bad."
Octavia sighed. "I need to show you when things are back to normal."
"What was it?" Vinyl asked.
Octavia pressed her mouth against her kissing her. They parted as Octavia grinned at her. "Later, sweetie. After you tell me about this Pinkie Sense."
"Deal," Vinyl whispered kissing her and the two held each other kissing.
* * * * * *
The court room sat in shock watching the newest bit of evidence being shown on the projector screen. Vinyl sat alone at the table as she watched the video with a chilled expression. The screen shown four different screens showing different angles of the fight and near death. She gulped seeing how hopeless she looked reaching for Octavia in the bed. Then there was the glass breaking and Ditzy tackling Shark into the wall. Vinyl watched herself slowly standing up then leapt on the bed pulling off the leather straps.
Gregory paused the video turning to the jury. "Fillies and gentlecolts, please think about what you have seen today. This was recent evidence from last night. At this moment, Octavia is still in Canterlot General Hospital rehabilitating after her accident and her recent attack." Vinyl turned seeing Shark wearing hoof cuff and dressed in an orange jumpsuit glaring at her. Vinyl turned away her face reaming expressionless.
The talking seem to drone on. Vinyl had already taken the stand and told everything in detail. It was hard retelling everything. But though Shark's lawyer still held to the drug story Vinyl told it clear and true that yes she did take drugs for a few months but that was it. Defense seemed pleased but she remained true.
The judge’s gavel slammed his desk waking Vinyl from her thoughts. Gregory smiled at her motioned her to follow him outside. It was recess for lunch.
Vinyl sat down on a bench outside waiting for Gregory to get their lunch. He returned giving her a burger and hay-fries. Vinyl stared at the meal feeling tears. Gregory sat down next to her, wrapping his arm around her letting her cry.
"I know it was hard." He whispered. "You were brave telling everything. I didn't expect that much detail."
Vinyl sniffed staring at the ground. "They had to know. Or he would try to walk."
Gregory patted her on the back.
"Well not after last night's evidence. I’m sure that their choice will go for our favor. Go ahead and eat something Vinyl. You haven't eaten breakfast this morning, I'm sure you're hungry."
Vinyl's stomach growled causing her to smile. "Yeah," She sniffed using a napkin to wipe her eyes. "You're right." She went ahead and ate her meal then had a talk with Lyra and Bonbon getting hugs from them. The night still haunted Vinyl. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Octavia bond to the bed screaming and trying to get out with Shark next to her and the bloody scalpel.
When court returned to session, everypony rose as the judge sat on his podium turning to the jury and ordering everypony to sit. Vinyl wrung her hooves together sweating. Shark sat there with a small smirk.
"Has the jury reached the verdict?" The judge asked.
One pony, a stallion stood up nodding. "We have your honor."
The room went dead silent. Gregory patted her on the leg to hide his nervousness. Vinyl patted his hoof in return as she gulped.
"We find Mr. Shark guilty."
Vinyl let out a sigh of relief as she heard her friends behind her cheer. The judge slammed his gavel causing the court to come to order. He clears his throat pointing at Shark.
"Mr. Shark. You are found guilty by your peers of attempted murder against Miss. Vinyl Scratch and the attempted murder of Miss. Octavia Melody. By the blessing by the goddesses Celestia and Luna, I sentence you to life in prison. You will serve your sentence in the crystal mines in the Crystal Empire. Court dismissed."
Vinyl smiled covering her eyes with her hooves as her friends cheered behind her. Vinyl looked up at the judge to see him wink. She smiled back. "We won..." She whispered. "Shark lost."
Vinyl was led out of the court room to the main lobby as photographers started taking pictures and calling out questions. Suddenly the crowd parted and Vinyl gasped seeing Octavia sitting nearby with Lyra and Bonbon, dressed only in her bandages.
Vinyl turned to Gregory to see him nod. Vinyl bolted over to her marefriend and slid on the wax floor towards her bumping to her. Octavia stared at her with shock as Vinyl smiled. She kissed her on the lips. Octavia closed her eyes wrapping her arms around her neck kissing her back. Lyra and Bonbon both grinned at each other.
Suddenly the paparazzi started taking pictures of the kissing couple. But the mares could care less who saw them. They won and that's all that mattered. The pair parted smiling at each other.
"I knew you would win." Octavia said loud enough for Vinyl to hear over the screaming crowd.
"I know." Vinyl whispered back hugging her tightly.
"This isn't over!" Everypony turned seeing Shark being restrained by four guards. "When I get out of this suit I'll kill you both! Then I'll win! I will win!" Shark looked mad! Vinyl held Octavia to her to protect her as the guards drag Shark past them. "I will get my revenge! No pony lives! No pony!"
Vinyl snorted. "Oh yeah Shark, next time I see you... Oh that's right, I won't be seeing you. Go to Tartarus!" Octavia looked at Vinyl with shock. Shark snarled back giving her a rude gesture as he was dragged away. Vinyl looked down at Octavia and blushed.
"What?" Vinyl asked.
Octavia grinned chuckling. "You sound like you're old self."
Vinyl smiled with a shrug. "Well, what happened last night... I guess it woke me up some."
Octavia smiled and nuzzled her cheek ignoring the wooing crowd begging for another kiss. Octavia cleared her throat. Vinyl looked at her then watched as she reached into her purse and pulled out her shades. Vinyl winked at her and floated the glasses over her eyes and smiled.
"Thanks."
Octavia nodded. Vinyl turned to the crowd and raised her hooves in the air. "We won!" She yelled out getting more applauds and snapshots. Vinyl took in a breath turning to the exit to see more cameras and microphones from new stations and radio shows. Vinyl walks to the podium after Gregory was finished with it. He motioned for her to take the podium. She stood up tall in front of the crowd grateful for Octavia again giving her the glasses.
The crowd went silent as she motioned her hooves for everypony to be silent.
"Wow, you know being in a basement throwing up for four months can really change a pony." She said chuckling. "But everything I said in that court room is true. I did take drugs for a time that I cannot deny. But things change, I changed for the worst under Shark's care. But... now that this is all over; during those four months in that basement where I was nursed back to health by great friends... my family." Vinyl turned seeing her friends standing to the side smiling at her, cheering her on.
"As I laid in that bed with the mare I love," She pointed to Octavia. "We talked many times about our careers and our pasts until finally I made my choice."
She sighed thinking of how to do this. She smiled seeing more flashes from cameras. "All of Equestria, hear my words. I have decided to retire from the DJing business."
The crowd went silent, many gasped and screamed out protests. Vinyl shook her head grinning.
"Listen to me, fans, friends, I have been through this living Tartarus for ten full years. Believing that I will never live a happy life with the one I love or with my friends. So when the time comes I will do it. I want to retire, live happily in a small town, or maybe open a music shop." She paused turning to Octavia with a sigh. She turned to Gregory and closed her eyes for a long moment.
When she opened her eyes, she was pacing outside the office after another training day of questions. She already told Octavia that she would meet her at the hotel later for dinner. Gregory stepped out of his office and balked seeing Vinyl, nearly tripping over her.
"Oh Vinyl! What are you doing here?"
Vinyl gulped. "I need your help."
"With what?"
Vinyl opened her eyes again walking away from the podium motioning Octavia to come closer. Octavia, confused, walked over to her. Vinyl's heart was pounding up a storm seeing her coming closer to her. Another blink.
"Gregory... before coming here, me and Octavia talked about retiring and living together." Gregory raised a brow.
"And why you need my help?"
Vinyl sighed scratching her head. Vinyl stopped, watching Octavia stand in front of her with a worried confused expression on her face.
"Vinyl? Is something wrong?"
Vinyl closed her eyes taking in a deep breath of air the let it out slowly.
"Octavia,"
"I need your help in..." Vinyl paused shaking in her hooves.
"In what?" Gregory asked noticing her shaking, getting worried.
"I want to-" Vinyl began.
Vinyl reached into her suit pocket to pull out a small box. Vinyl let out the air she held in her lungs, seeing Octavia's astonished face. Vinyl grinned hearing the excited shouts.
"Octavia..." Vinyl began shaking hard. "I remember everything you told me. In the basement before coming here. Do you remember?"
Octavia gulped and nodded, shocked. Vinyl grinned back with a sniff.
"You said that after this whole mess, we would retire as queens." She chuckled trying hard not to cry. With her magic she opened the box to reveal a beautiful chain with a small ring. Octavia stared at the necklace then at Vinyl. Vinyl pulled off her shades and folded them to hang on the collar of her shirt. "Octavia, with this token... will you be there for me, live with me."
Octavia stared at her with tears of her own. She was nodding. Vinyl grinned hearing the cameras snapping pictures and seeing the flashes. "Will you be my partner, my wife? Marry me?"
Octavia nodded and whispered, "Yes." The two mares hugged each other by the cheering of the crowd. Vinyl used her magic to levitate the silver chain and clip it around Octavia’s neck. The golden ring hanging from the chain shone brightly in the sun. A small heart shaped diamond on the band. Octavia looked down at the ring and sighed.
"Vinyl..."
Vinyl didn't want her to continue, she pressed her lips against hers feeling her arms around her kissing back and everypony cheered for more as the cameras flashed at them.
The two parted, Octavia was smiling at her. "Same old Vinyl."
"What?" Vinyl asked with a grin.
"You wanted this, put on a great show?"
Vinyl frowned at her then smirked. "The proposal is real, Tavi. But leaving the stage with an awesome finale is what I have been planning for the last week."
Octavia chuckled shaking her head. "Of course. I finally have my Vinyl back." Vinyl winked before she and Octavia hugged each other tight. Finally they have their happy ending.
* * * * * *
10 Years Later
The sun rises over the small town of Ponyville. A young mail mare, Scootaloo, was on her early morning rounds sticking mail in the mailboxes, placing packages on door steps, and newspapers at doorsteps next to boxes. She started walking over to the businesses/homes down Main Street. Doing her rounds she stuck the mail at the one way box against the wall of a music store in town. She slide the mail through the slot then placed the small box on the doorstep with a newspaper on top of the box. She trotted away to the next place whistling a happy go lucky tune.
Inside the music store on the second floor is a small home. A small filly woke up and rushed to her brothers waking them up. The three siblings start giggling as they trotted out of their bedroom and trotted across the hall. They reached a closed door next to the large family room.
Inside the room laid two mares, Vinyl and Octavia sleeping together. Vinyl was sleeping with her mouth opened snoring lightly with her arm over her eyes. Octavia was sleeping on her side with both hooves under her pillow smiling in her sleep. There was a click waking the retired cellist. She opened her eyes and smiled seeing Vinyl sleeping next to her.
"You never change do you?" She whispered silently grinning and closing her eyes again.
Octavia felt movement by her back legs causing her to reopen her eyes. She heard Vinyl let out a loud surprised snore as she mumbled, moving her arm groaning feeling no feeling in her sleeping limb. Vinyl turned to Octavia and grinned.
"Morning babe."
Octavia grinned back at her. "Good morning." She let out a yawn causing Vinyl to chuckle.
"Sleep well?"
"Yes, you?"
Vinyl rolled to her side to stroke Octavia's cheek. "Better."
They leaned in to kiss but they each felt movement by the foot of their bed causing them to stare at one another then turned seeing three lumps in their bed. Octavia reached for the blanket and pull the blanket away to see three young faces.
Two were colts, and one was a filly. The colts were twin unicorns born with the aid of unicorn magic from Twilight. One was black with a white mane while the other was white with a black mane. The colts were named Treble Clef and Eighth Note. The filly was an adopted pegasus. She was the youngest, she's sky blue with a cream yellow mane, her name was Sunny Day.
"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!" The three foals cheered causing the older couple to flatten their ears on their heads by the shout. Vinyl and Octavia looked at one another then at the children.
"Is it really?" Octavia asked reaching for her calendar as Vinyl reached for her glasses. She now has to wear a prescription lenses now from age and from the harsh lights when she was younger.
"Yep!" Sunny chirped beaming a large smile.
"Oh dear..." Vinyl turned seeing her distraught wife's face. "I totally forgot! So much work! I have to get ready!" Octavia leaped off the bed to get washed up in the bathroom. Vinyl shook her head.
"Some things never change." She grumbled sitting up to stretch her sore back. She noticed their looks. "What?" She asked yawning. Sunny was beaming while hopping in place on the bed. The twins were smiling.
"We have a surprise for you!" Sunny yelled out. Vinyl had to shush her.
"Inside voices please. I just woke up."
"Sorry," Sunny whispered. Vinyl chuckled looking at the three foals, smiling.
"What's the surprise?" She asked.
Treble Clef shook his head. "It's a surprise." His twin, Eighth Note nodded.
"Yeah, we'll wait until Mother's ready."
Vinyl sighed. "Oh alright, Tavi, hurry up! The kids have a surprise for us."
"Be out in a minute, sweetie."
Once Octavia was done getting cleaned up and dressed for the day she followed the rest of her family to the kitchen across the hall. The two mares stopped seeing a spotless kitchenette.
"Wait, wasn't this place a disaster last night?" Vinyl asked in shock seeing that even the floors were mopped up.
Octavia was speechless. "Clef, Note, Sunny?" She asked quirking her brow at her children.
The three foals grinned from ear to ear. Treble Clef raised his chin in the air his ruby eyes beaming proudly, reminding Vinyl of Octavia. "After you tucked us into bed,"
Note winked at his parents his purple eyes sparkling with excitement, reminding Octavia of Vinyl. "After ten on the clock,"
The twins turned to their younger sister as she flapped her wings smiling. "We cleaned the kitchen. We even step... Swept the floors at the shop downstairs!"
Vinyl and Octavia turned to one another with shock. "You mean, you cleaned the shop?" Vinyl asked surprised.
"Mmm-hmm!" Clef hummed. "Yeah, we even cleaned Mother's cello!"
Note nodded. "Yeah, oh and we have something else too! Sunny can you go see if Miss Scootaloo arrived with the mail?"
Sunny nodded and ran out of the kitchenette to the sitting room, then through a door leading to a staircase. She trotted down the stairs to another door with the sign, “Employees Only” hanging off the door. She ran to past the instruments and boxes of records and CDs for sale to the front door and sure enough the mail arrived. She opened the door and squealed with excitement seeing that the box arrived as well. She returned back with the box on her back. The twins used their magic to levitate the box to the table. The three foals sat on the floor anxious for their parents to open the box.
Vinyl shrugged and opened the box and gasped. So did Octavia. Vinyl levitated was look to be pictures with beautiful picture frames. Octavia took one smiling happily at the pictures.
"What are these?" She asked smiling.
Note walked forward. "We saw your old pictures in the storage room the other day."
Clef nodded. "Yeah and I remember Mom talking about how she wished she could renew the pictures but you guys don't have enough time on your hooves."
Sunny leaped on a chair grinning. "So we asked Miss Doo to help us."
Vinyl quirked her brow at them. "Really?"
"Yeah!" Sunny exclaimed beaming.
"Do you like them?" Clef and Note both asked in unison smiling. Octavia felt tears in her eyes seeing the old photos of her wedding with Vinyl ten years ago.
"They are beautifully done children, thank you." The three foals ran to Octavia first receiving hugs and kisses on their heads. Vinyl gave them love too by ruffling the manes on the colts and giving a hug to the filly. Vinyl looked up hearing the clock chiming the hour.
"Look at that, you kids need to go to school."
"Awwww!" The three exclaimed sadly.
"Can't we stay toady?" Note asked.
Octavia and Vinyl both shook their heads. "No!"
"Okay," The twins said in defeat with Sunny trailing behind them.
Octavia sighed wiping her eyes with her hoof. "I better get the tea and coffee to boil. Then, make breakfast for the children." Vinyl stared at the wedding picture of her and Octavia standing together smiling. Vinyl placed the frame back in the box and levitated the box to the counter for later.
"Here," Vinyl said as Octavia sets the coffee. "Let me whip them up a quick breakfast," She said hugging Octavia from behind kissing her on the cheek. "Happy Anniversary." She whispered kissing her down her neck. Octavia closed her eyes enjoying the feeling.
"Happy Anniversary, love." She whispered back.
When the three foals returned to the kitchen seeing their mothers having a moment, Note quickly cover his sister's mouth to keep her from speaking. The twins looked at one another, winked. Note used his snout to push his sister towards the door with Clef checking behind them watching the two mares smiling and holding each other in an embrace. Clef turned behind him to see Note and Sunny already out the door. He stepped to the door then slipped out. For breakfast, they'll get muffins at Sugarcube Corner, leaving their mothers in peace. It’s their anniversary after all.
