Vinyl hears about Octavia's disaster of a performance at the Gala.
Vinyl hears about Octavia's disaster of a performance at the Gala. Having broke up with her over a year ago, can things really be okay between them again, especially when Octavia is at the lowest point in her life? ~
As of 3/27/14, the fic is finished but un-edited. I'll get around to correcting errors eventually. Cover art by Emii/Lava (tumblr)
Raindrops fell from the open sky, even though the schedule had been for it to be clear. On this day it seemed like everything was determined to depress ponies across Canterlot; and it wasn’t failing. A white mare trekked down the empty rain sodden street, her electric blue mane thoroughly soaked and hanging by her side. Normally, most ponies would expect to see purple shades adorning her as well. Today however, she was feeling sentimental. Octavia always said I looked better without them.
Her name was Vinyl Scratch. A year and some ago, no one would even have suspected to see Vinyl like this. A year ago, she was upbeat, wild, and nothing could ever bring her down. Now however, things were different.
Vinyl had driven herself into a hole rather, a canyon of despair. While her DJ career remained steady and her popularity as well, Vinyl felt like she had already lost everything. She didn't remember how it had even escalated to that point or what it was about, all she knew was what happened in the end. Vinyl sighed into the rain, which had turned into a downpour. I wish Tavi was here with me.
Vinyl missed Octavia with all of her heart. When Vinyl had first met Octavia, really met her, and seen by the posh demeanor, she felt like there was something magical between them. It was an electrical spark that had seemed ever-present. In the week before they had broken up she felt that spark disappear, but had failed to act. Now, however, she wondered if that spark would ever come back.
Acting on a whim, Vinyl had somehow ended up in a bar to shelter her from the downpour, deciding she’d rather die of alcohol poisoning than hypothermia. The downtown bar was surprisingly full on a day like this; Vinyl figured it was the rain bringing depression driving ponies to drink. Chatter was at a constant murmur as Vinyl picked a seat at the bar. The bartender, a brown stallion, approached the DJ.
“What can I getcha’?” The bartender queried. Vinyl thought about it for a second,
“Vodka, Large Vodka.”
“Erm… are you sure about that ma’am?” The bartender now looked concerned.
“Did I stutter? Do your job please.” Vinyl spat.
The bartender glared at Vinyl and poured her drink.
~-~
Numerous drinks later, Vinyl stared into her once again empty glass. The rain had stopped its torrential downpour, and it was turning out to be a very clear night sky. Ponies that had been trapped inside the bar cycled out, but Vinyl remained nursing her empty glass.
Vinyl restrained herself and didn’t risk ordering another drink. Boredom soon crept over her, she was at a bar and didn’t want to drink. She looked around at the empty counter around her. The only thing of interest was a folded newspaper sitting on the counter to her right. She picked it up and read the headline, “Gala turns into a Foal’s Festival” Intrigued; she read onwards, her expression hardening.
Last night at the Gala, at a request from a childish pony, it was turned into a mockery. The quartet hired for the night agreed to play “The Pony Pokey.” At the request of the princess, the requester of the “pony pokey” shall remain anonymous. The guests at the Gala however, insist on it being the fault of the cello player, Octavia Philharmonica. Others assured us at Canterlot Daily, that the other quartet members were not responsible.
A cold feeling sank into Vinyl’s chest.
“How dare they!” Vinyl muttered. The realization that she was certainly not the only pony in Equestria feeling down brought her back to reality. She glanced around the bar. After the rain had stopped, there weren’t all that many ponies in the bar, and it was nearly late enough for the dinner rush. Besides herself, there were only two other groups of ponies in the store, the group closest to her caught her attention. The group contained three ponies seated at a circular table. The one closest to her, a blue mare with a brown mane, was laughing raucously, clearly drunk.
“Harpo! Did you even see the look on her face when I showed her it? PRICELESS!” The purple stallion to her right burst out laughing as well.
“No, No, the best part HAD to be her breakdown. ‘How could you do this to me?’” The purple stallion, apparently named Harpo, pulled back his ears attempting to imitate her reaction. “It’s not like completely throwing her under the wagon hurt her or anything...” Harpo finished while smirking.
“What do you think Frederick?” The blue mare asked. ' The brown stallion leaned back and smiled wickedly, “Frankly Beauty, I’m having trouble picking between when we kicked her out of the quartet, and when we took back her cello she was borrowing from the organization.”
Harpo grinned, “Ah silly me, I thought she took that cello and bought a replacement for it. I must’ve been mistaken.”
Vinyl had heard enough. She practically leaped out of her chair as she shouted, “What do you guys think you have, that gives any of you a right to treat Octavia like that?!?” The remainder of the quartet fell silent.
Suddenly, Beauty cracked a smile, “Hey… I remember you. You were Octavia’s marefriend, weren’t you? Vinyl Scratch or somepony?” Vinyl shifted uncomfortably. “When I last checked you weren’t high on her fan-list either. The only reason any of us tried to comfort her is so she wouldn’t buck up our next concert. It looks like she did anyway. I suppose that's what she got for always trying to outshine the rest of us.”
“She didn’t try to outshine you and you know it. You ponies don’t even deserve to be on the same stage let alone the same room as her.” Venom dripped from Vinyl’s words as she got within a foot of the table where Beauty and the rest of the former quartet were still seated. “Now why don’t you stop slandering Tavi before this gets out of hand?” Vinyl said in almost a whisper.
Beauty cracked another smile, “Make me.”
~-~
The sound of Vinyl’s hoof connecting with Beauty’s face had rivaled the noise of a Sonic Rainboom. Less than a minute later, Vinyl was on the street outside of the bar and running down a side-street. Soon later, Vinyl was panting and out of breath. Whatever happened to her in the future was completely worth it and she would deal with it later.
Now however, there was only one thing on her mind; Octavia. She could only imagine what Octavia must be going through at the moment. She wasn’t even sure if Tavi would want her back. Still, there was only one course of action in Vinyl’s mind. Steeling herself for the deed, Vinyl turned down the streets that lead to Octavia’s house. Streetlights dotted the street casting for longing shadows across the road. Vinyl glanced up at the starry sky wistfully.
Octavia leaned on the wall of her apartment’s balcony overlooking the rest of Canterlot. A light breeze blew over the city, shifting her mane. To Octavia, the sky seemed to be covered in black. The glittering light of the stars had no comforting effect on her. The only comfort was from the bottle in her hooves.
Most ponies that knew her, would’ve considered Octavia a strong pony. Before the Gala, she was under constant scrutiny (like most musicians in Canterlot), whether it was from her orientation or her most recent performance. Every time the occasional scathing article came around, Octavia had been able to brush it off rather easily. This was different however, she felt like she was being assaulted from all four sides of her brain. There was only one way to put it, Octavia felt trapped; there was no escape from this pain she was feeling in society.
Her bandmates, they had abandoned her and took away the only pleasure she had left after the Gala, her cello. The tabloids, they bashed her, constantly ranting about the Gala with only one person to blame; her. She had practically been evicted from the Canterlot Music Assosiation, like a plague that was bound to destroy everypony around it.
Her bandmates were what really hurt the most. They had supported her throughout her breakup with Vinyl. Now because of them, she was her drained and unable to do anything. If somepony had asked what she thought of her quartet a month ago, Tavi’s response would’ve been weaved with nothing but praise. Those days were most certainly gone.
What had I expected, really? Society was cruel. Ponies in Canterlot seemed only to latch on to others to gain connections, or to reap profits. Stop it Octavia, you know all the ponies here aren’t like that. She thought, mentally criticizing herself. She gulped more of the intoxicating substance in her hooves and set it down on the balcony’s edge. True, she thought, there was Vinyl… Vinyl had once represented all of the good of Canterlot in Octavia’s mind. Her parents hadn’t even surmounted to the pedestal that Vinyl had held in her mind at the time. My parents… weren’t they the cause of all of this in the first place?
~-~
“Tavi why didn’t you come to my concert? You said you would this time!”
“Vinyl, please I-“
“What, did your parents stop you again?”
“They died Vinyl. The building they preformed in was unstable. I was at their funeral, and you should’ve been there with me. Perhaps I was a bit slow in notifying you but-”
“Tavi, your parents hated me. If they were alive they would’ve evicted me from their funeral. They never even did anything for you. Especially your conceited-”
“Even if they didn't care for me, what was I supposed to do Vinyl, pretend like they were dead to me since birth like your parents?”
~-~
Octavia seemed to diminish in size, at the thought of those memories. The way it escalated to each of them breaking things around the apartment they had once shared. I can’t believe I was so childish, she thought, now sobbing deeply. What had her parents really meant to her anyway? Rarely, had they ever shown some show of affection. They only cared about my place in society… The thing that stuck with her the most of that day however, was what Vinyl had said in the end.
~-~
“Vinyl I… I think that you should go…”
“Fine Tavi, I can’t see this working out right now either. Just promise me one thing will you?”
“That would be?”
“Promise me, one day I can come home, back here, and everything can be okay again… Please…?”
“… I promise.”
~-~
Vinyl’s words had kept her going before the Gala incident, day in and day out. Now though, Vinyl’s words didn’t seem to bring the same motivation they once had. She was broken. Besides, with out her cello or anypony to turn to, she couldn’t do anything anymore.
Octavia did the only thing she could do, she drained the bottle. She felt the drink go down, warming her. “Maybe, *hic* I shouldn’t have drunk this much…” she murmured as her peripherals turned black. She fell to the floor, and passed out, her empty bottle sitting on the edge of the balcony.
~-~
Vinyl strolled down street that contained Octavia’s apartment building. She had gotten somewhat lost on the way there, causing her to take more time finding the street than she would’ve liked. Now, the building was in sight. Every step closer she felt something welling up within her.
She said she would have me back. She said she would have me back. Vinyl repeated the mantra in her head. She said it, but did she mean it? Vinyl shuddered. What if this was too soon? What if she found somepony already? The endless questions streamed on in her head as she trekked onwards. Minutes later, Vinyl stood under the overhang of the balconies above. All I have to do is walk in…
“Hey! You!”
Vinyl spun on her heels to see the same brown unicorn from the bar. “Did you follow me or something Frederick? I figured you’d be that kind of scumbag.”
Frederick chuckled, “Why, I thought you knew I lived here? Our *ahem* former association members live here as well. Which I would assume is why you’re here, yes?”
“That's none of your business. You can go inside and take the elevator up. I’m not staying in an enclosed space with you; I would die of air poisoning.”
Frederick glared at Vinyl, “Careful peasant or we may press charges for the incident at the bar.”
“Whatever…” Vinyl grumbled, her previously planned retort having fizzled out.
Fredrick his confidence regained was once again smiling. “I’ll be in my apartment. Maybe if I get interested enough i'll go down to Octavia and get you and Octavia to yell at each other again.”
“You-“but Frederick was already through the lobby door. Vinyl had been serious when she said she wasn’t going in the same elevator as him. She sat down on the curb, moonlight silhouetted around her. I wasn’t ready yet anyway. Vinyl now, was unsure of herself now more than ever.
She needs me NOW though, I know those snobs hurt her. Vinyl looked up to the sky, the moon still shining on her. Luna, Celestia, please give me the strength I need to do this. She gazed back to the ground nothing having changed, Great. That was her last thought, as something smashed into the back of her head, and everything went black.
~-~
Octavia was jolted awake by the sound of shattering glass. What…? She sat up rubbing her forehead. What was that…? She walked cautiously into her apartment. Light from the kitchen illuminated the rest of her apartment. Nothing appeared to be broken that she hadn’t broken herself. The apartment was dilapidated, to say the least. She had given up caring for it in the past week and had thrown of a lot of her furniture around that first night. The couch was still overturned in the center of the room, the coffee table smashed beneath it. She walked through the mayhem and into her bedroom.
Her bed was still next to the wall, a nightstand sitting neatly next to it. Octavia was almost forced by her habits to clean her room up daily still, as she couldn’t possibly sleep with such clutter surrounding her. Not that I’ve been sleeping well anyway. Finally, Octavia checked the window. It was still locked and intact. What WAS that noise then? She walked back through the room and out to the balcony, looking for anything out of place. That's when she realized it, the bottle! It must have fallen over the edge.
Octavia leaned over the edge of the balcony, and nearly had a heart attack. V-Vinyl? The white unicorn was splayed over the curb of the street, the bottles fragments scattered around her head. No... NO. thoughts began to race through her mind as she dashed into her apartment and out her door. How could this have happened? Why her? A voice in her head seemed to answer her, This was your fault Octavia, and no pony else did this but you. Her eyes scanned the hallway for the fastest way down. The stairs had been under construction for weeks now, that left the elevator. She pressed the call button and waited.
~-~
Frederick Horseshoepin walked into the elevator, and just stood there. Did Octavia really deserve all that we’ve done to her? It was easy for him to be sentimental like this, when there was no pony else around. It was much easier to stay mad at Octavia then to be sorry for what he had done. In regular society he had an image to maintain, and he always needed to look confident in himself. It seems everything I do these days is in the sake of my image. Frederick once again was lost in thought.
He didn’t even notice when the elevator began to move. Thus, he was rather surprised when the elevator opened to reveal Octavia. She walked in without saying a word and pushed the button for the first floor. Octavia was visibly shaking, the cause of which Frederick had no idea. He did notice however, she was continuously starting at the clock in the elevator. The doors of the elevator closed.
“So, Octavia you appear to be in a rush. May I inquire why?” Asked Frederick, glancing at her. Octavia remained silent. “Lighten up a little, there’s nothing I can do to hurt you now. You’ve already lost everything haven’t you?”
Octavia seemed to shrink in size. “Its Vinyl I, I...” The feelings of hatred from earlier flowed back into Frederick at the mention of that name. Frederick would never know what made him do what he did next. He ran his hooves down the buttons of the elevator for each floor.
Octavia exploded, “WHAT THE BUCK DID YOU DO THAT FOR?” The elevator dinged open.
Frederick stepped outside the elevator;out of Octavia’s reach. “I see no need for rush here. She was fine when she punched out Beauty.” Frederic said, as if that justified it all.
Octavia’s eyes burned with rage as the doors closed, “FREDERICK HORSESHOEPIN, I WILL FLAY YOU!”
Frederick stood watching the closed elevator doors, as if Octavia might rip through them at any second. She had no reason to get so angry. What’s a few minutes time anyway?
Frederick had no way of knowing, those few minutes might be the difference in Vinyl’s life or death.
“Frederick, I’ll. KILL. HIM!” She yelled, slamming her hooves into the elevator door. If somepony else had seen Octavia at the time, they probably would’ve asked if she had swallowed a torch. Of course, there was no pony in the elevator with her. The only response to her tirade was the repetitive ding of the elevator. The elevator music played along softly, seeming to mock Octavia current situation with its calm.
Deep breaths, Octavia. Calm thoughts.
Her mind wandered back to Vinyl, and her rage returned. Stay strong. For Vinyl. Her thoughts wrestled between calm and angry. She was angry at herself more than anything.
Octavia glanced at the meter above the buttons. Four more floors. Octavia now sat patiently, Three…*Ding* Two… *Ding* One. *Ding* Octavia shot out of the elevator like a rocket, careening near the front desk and startling the pony manning it.
“Please, call the hospital quick it’s Vinyl I-“Octavia sobbed dashing out the fronts doors. The receptionist although thoroughly confused, heeded Octavia’s instructions and dialed the hospital’s emergency number.
The night’s air was cool against fur, drastically contrasting with the burning hurt and rage she was feeling inside. Vinyl was still lying on the sidewalk, she hadn’t moved an inch. Octavia moved closer to Vinyl, huddling over her limp body while sweeping the shards of glass away with one hoof. The moonlight illuminated their figures giving Octavia perfect sight of the white unicorn. Up close, Vinyl didn’t look any better. The spot of impact was clearly visible on Vinyl’s skull.
“Stay with me Vinyl… please…” It may have been a figment of Octavia’s imagination or perhaps just the wind, but Octavia could’ve sworn she heard Vinyl mutter,
“I…you…Ta…v…” The sounds of paramedics now huddled around her quickly flooded over what chance there was for Octavia to have clearly heard Vinyl’s words.
~-~
Vinyl woke to a throbbing pain in her forehead. She tried to move her hooves and found she couldn’t muster the strength. A nurse noticing that she was awake rushed over to Vinyl’s bedside. The nurse fixed something above her head and out of Vinyl’s sight, speaking calmly to Vinyl while doing so.
“It’s alright sweetie, you just need to rest a bit okay?” Vinyl groaned at the headache that was forming,
“Where’s… Tavi…?”
“If you mean that nice mare that came here with you, she’s in the waiting room. No visitors for you right now.” Vinyl was far to tired to argue with the nurse so she simply nodded. Vinyl faded out into unconsciousness once more. ~-~
Octavia had been forced to stay in the waiting room while Vinyl was rushed into intensive care. The silence of the white tiled room forced Octavia to be alone with her thoughts. She had long since lost the ability to cry. There was only one thought revolving in her head that had been ever present since the moment of the accident. It was my fault. Everything that happens to Vinyl is a result of my carelessness.
In what felt like hours later, a grey unicorn stallion wearing a white doctor’s coat approached her. Octavia grew tense, fearful of what he might say.
“We finished our operations on Vinyl, and she’s in a fairly stable condition.” Octavia let out a sigh of relief.
The doctor continued, “She doesn’t look pretty right now, and nor is she conscious but we can let you stay with her tonight before we review her injuries in the morning.” Octavia nodded her consent, motioning for the doctor to lead her to Vinyl’s room.
Their hooves clacked along the white tiled floor of the hallway. Minutes later they reached the room that currently housed Vinyl. The stallion motioned her inside to the room. Moonlight was streaming through two windows positioned on the left side of the room. Vinyl’s bed was positioned sideways against the far wall, allowing light from the second window to be cast over her. Vinyl was clearly asleep by the steady rising and falling of her chest. A bandage was wrapped around her head, just above her horn. Octavia walked over to Vinyl’s side stroking her foreleg. The doctor, sensing she wanted to be alone, slowly backed out of the room,
“We’ll go over her injuries tomorrow once she’s awake.” He repeated just to make sure Octavia was aware of it. She nodded once again as he shut the door.
Octavia muttered as if to assure herself, “Everything’s going to be okay Vinyl.”
Octavia pulled up the armchair in the room next to Vinyl’s bed and curled up into it. Alone once again, she became the victim of her thoughts. I’ve put the only pony that cares about me in all of Equestria in a hospital bed… Octavia couldn’t get over the fact of that thought. Everything was because of her. Octavia took one last look at Vinyl sleeping form before shutting her eyes. The past day’s events catching up with her, driving exhaustion through her body, and she drifted off to sleep.
~-~
Octavia opened her eyes; she was in the hospital room still. However there was one major difference; Vinyl was awake. Octavia stumbled out of her seat, and stood next to Vinyl’s bed the heartbeat monitor beeping softly.
“Vinyl! You’re awake! I-“
“Stop it Tavi.” Vinyl snarled; Octavia took a step back.
Octavia replied, thoroughly hurt, “Vinyl?”
“I hate you Tavi. All of this is your fault. That’s what I was trying to tell you earlier on the sidewalk. I. Hate. You. What about this is so hard to understand?” Vinyl’s words were full of scorn. Octavia looked into Vinyl’s crimson eyes for some sign that she still cared for her. There was nothing, Vinyl’s eyes glared back at her with a hate that matched the words she had just spoken. Octavia began to cry, her tears streaking down her cheeks. She closed her eyes.
Octavia stammered, “I, I-”
Vinyl’s voice resonated through her ears, cold and unforgiving, “Goodbye Octavia.”
Octavia felt water welling up around her. She opened her eyes. Octavia was underwater in a fast-flowing river that was dragging her downstream. Fighting for control, her head broke the surface of the water. Upstream she could see a glowing mass of buildings that was fading was. Was that Canterlot? A tall building rushed her as she was pushed further downstream. She recognized it immediately. My apartment, Vinyl’s apartment, Our home.
She was dragged under the surface again; no amount of effort was bringing her back up. She could see a pony standing above the surface on the bank of the river. It was Vinyl. She tried to call out, but found that she couldn’t. Vinyl simply turned around, and walked off.
Octavia was dragged deeper in to the murky depths of the river. She couldn’t see the anything. It was pure black, nothing else was around her. Alone, I am completely and utterly alone. There is nothing left for me. Octavia simply floated in the black void. ~-~
Octavia jolted herself awake. It was just a dream. Please let it just have been a dream. She took a gander around the room, nothing had changed. Moonlight still filtered in through the window, growing fainter as it approached daybreak. Vinyl was still asleep; the heart-beat monitor continued its steady beeps. Octavia let out a sigh of relief. She never said those things. She wouldn’t say those things. Octavia lifted herself out of the chair and stood next to Vinyl’s bed. Octavia began to caress Vinyl’s mane,
Vinyl awoke to the pale sunlight of early morning flooding into her eyes. Her forehead began to throb once again, bringing memories of her brief period of consciousness along with it. She jammed her eyes shut, attempting to reduce the migraine that was forming.
Without the distraction of the light, she became very aware of something resting on her left foreleg. Vinyl decided to risk it. Cautiously, she opened one eye slowly. It was just enough to see a grey foreleg resting on hers, and a grey head above that shrouded by a black mane. Vinyl sucked in her breath, it was Octavia.
The sunlight that cascaded around Octavia made her look like she was emitting ethereal light. This light didn’t seem to hurt her eyes as much, as if just the added visual of Octavia made everything better. Vinyl reached out with her right foreleg to make sure she was real. Octavia’s mane felt soft to her touch, it was a texture that Vinyl had felt many times before. Right now however, it felt just like the first time she had hugged Octavia, welcoming and unfamiliar.
After reveling in the fact that Octavia was here, her thoughts strayed to the next most logical questions. What am I doing here? What even happened last night? I think? Struggling to draw answers, Vinyl gave the room a cursory sweep. She was laying blue leaden bed, her head propped up presumably by a pillow.
Vinyl continued to rack her brain for answers, and only managed to recall a few things. Definitely hit that Beauty mare, No regrets there. What happened next?
It was a real struggle for Vinyl to figure out what she had done next, taking several minutes of thought to draw a solid recollection. Went to see Octavia, and then... Vinyl couldn’t figure out the rest, letting her mind run wild drawing up wild conclusions that resulted in her current position. Oh Celestia no, did I assault Tavi or something? Did that force her to hit me or something? After minutes of shock and consideration, Vinyl dismissed that thought. If I had attacked her or something, I doubt she would content enough to sleep in the same room as me. Vinyl’s mind persisted, Then what happened?
It was at that moment that the doctor from the previous day walked in, clad once again in a white lab coat. Vinyl watched uncertainly as he approached. Lab coats should be restricted to nightmare night. As the grey stallion approached, Vinyl called out a greeting doing her best not to wake Octavia.
“Hey doc.” I think Vinyl trailed off as it occurred to her she hadn’t seen this pony before. "Time to go over my injuries then?"
The doctor chuckled seeing Vinyl’s discomfort, “I assure you, I’m a professional.”
~-~
Octavia was woken abruptly by a loud groan somewhere to her right. Suddenly, Octavia was very aware of her surroundings. She forced one eye open a crack. Through the veil of her deformed mane, she could see a very clearly distraught Vinyl to her right. Vinyl’s left eye twitched, “So, What are the chances those things could happen to me?”
The doctor replied, “Since we were able to act fast enough, we doubt that your skull fracture was infected. That is a doubt, not a certainty.” At those words, Vinyl seemed to relax a bit.
Octavia continued to watch Vinyl, filtering the conversation out. She didn’t want to move. If she moved, there would be a lot she would be forced to explain. What will she say? How is she going to react to fact that I put her here? Does she even remember anything from last night? The last thought was the one that really struck home. If she doesn’t remember what happened… Another thought popped into Octavia’s mind, SHOULD she even know?
Before Octavia could further entertain that thought, Vinyl noticed that she had awoken. Octavia raised her head slightly, brushing her mane out of her face. She stared into Vinyl’s iridescent red eyes. Neither pony spoke. The present doctor seeing that he was interrupting something, made for the door.
“Well Ms.Scratch seeing as you have your injuries’ details now, I think I can take my leave.” The doctor said, closing the door behind him. The two mares remained silent. Octavia looked out the windows; the sky had turned grey and appeared as if it was about to rain.
Vinyl chuckled awkwardly, “So… would you care to explain how I got here?” This was it, this is what Octavia had been dreading. What should I say?
Octavia stuttered, “W-Well, I um. what do you remember?”
Vinyl paused at this. Why is she beating around the bush? I guess there’s only one reason for it. Vinyl replied unsurely, “C’mon Tavi, please tell me that you aren’t mad at me still?”
“Of course I’m not!” Octavia sputtered back. Interesting, Vinyl thought, then what is Tavi’s problem?
“So why-“Vinyl started, only to be interrupted by Octavia,
“I’m just a bit tired Vinyl, all right?” Octavia snapped.
“I can see that Tavi. I’d still love it if you could tell me how I ended up in a hospital bed with a skull fracture.” Octavia retreated further into the chair she had been partially sleeping in. Octavia started nervously praying Vinyl wouldn’t correct her,
“I think you were coming to see me?” There was no interjection from Vinyl. Octavia continued,
“I was on my balcony,” drinking, “watching the sky,” crying, “when I heard glass break,” the bottle I had been drinking from. “I looked over the side, and that's when I saw you. I rushed to the elevator as fast as I could. I should have, rather, would have been down there faster if it wasn’t for that conceited pianist.”
Vinyl interrupted her, “Are you talking about that Frederick pony?”
Octavia frowned, “Yes, how do you-“
“Remember his name?” Vinyl cut in, “I ran into him and the rest of your band. They’re all jerks Tavi, all of them.” Octavia continued to stare at Vinyl, “When did you last encounter my former co-workers Vinyl?”
Vinyl reddened at this, looking away from Octavia. “I may or may not have, accidently kind of sort of on purpose smashed my hoof into Beauty’s face.”
Octavia balked, “You what???”
“It was a heat of the moment kind of thing y’know? It’s just after what they said about you.”
“They were talking about me?”
“Yea, they were Tavi. They said things nopony has a right to say to anypony, especially you.”
Vinyl’s words sparked an idea in Octavia’s mind; a way out.
“Vinyl, do you remember running into anypony on the sidewalk before you were injured?” Octavia asked, knowing fair well the answer.
Vinyl’s face scrunched up, thinking hard. “I think I ran into Frederick again. He lives in this apartment building too doesn’t he?”
Octavia’s heart began to pump faster, “Yes, he does.” At this point, Octavia began to wonder if Vinyl could hear the thudding of her heart. “Vinyl... do you think it is possible that Frederick might’ve… attacked you?”
Vinyl’s eyes widened, “I-I, I’m not sure Tavi isn’t that a bit pre...presumptrios?”
“Presumptuous,” Octavia corrected, “and I suppose it is. Still Vinyl, do you think it is possible? Revenge or something for what you did to Beauty at wherever you ran into them?” Vinyl just remained silent, contemplating Octavia’s words.
Octavia felt a wave of guilt crashing down around her. This is only right, after what they did to me… Another voice rebounded in her head, Aren’t you just doing this because you’re afraid of what Vinyl will say?
I’m not sure if I’m ready to trust anypony again…
They sat in silence, Octavia noticeably disheartened. They were saved by the doctor’s reappearance,
“I think Vinyl’s had enough time with you today miss, she needs her rest. I’ll be back later to give you medicine as well Mrs.Scratch.” Vinyl and Octavia nodded, Octavia slowly getting out of the chair.
“I’ll see you tomorrow Vinyl. Think about what I’ve said, it is possible isn’t it?” Vinyl nodded raising a hoof goodbye as she and the doctor walked out of the room.
~-~
As the doctor walked out of her sight in the hallway, Octavia remained in the hallway with nopony around her. She could think about what she’d said. Octavia trod through the hallways, past the front desk, and out on to the street. Ponies had begun to trickle into shops and their homes for the impending storm.
Raindrops began to fall, quickly soaking the sidewalk, turning to a much darker shade. Octavia leaned her head against the side of the hospital, cursing herself.
Vinyl watched Octavia close the door, listening to the hoofsteps going out of earshot. Vinyl couldn’t understand what she had just said. Her mind was a whirlwind of confused thoughts, Frederick attacked me? No, Too posh to do that I think. A voice shot back in her head, then you explain how your lying in a hospital bed with a skull fracture. Vinyl grimaced, that's what I thought Octavia would be able to do…
So what happened then? Vinyl ran through a quick list in her mind. Why did had I come to visit Octavia anyway? It was about a newspaper, something about an article? Vinyl sat up, It was about the gala. There was a disaster at the gala. Vinyl drew a conclusion; I had come to be with her when I felt she needed me most.
There was a knock on the door, interrupting Vinyl’s thoughts. It was Vinyl’s doctor. He walked into the room, levitating a pill bottle out of his lab coat’s pocket, and onto Vinyl’s bedside table.
“These are to help you sleep miss. We don’t want you disturbing any equipment or your injuries while sleeping.” The doctor stated; looking at the heart beat monitor and the wires that streamed from it and other equipment. Vinyl reached over with her hooves for the bottle, causing the doctor to frown.
“Why don’t you just use your-” Vinyl stared at him disbelievingly, “Oh, that's right! I told you not to use magic for a couple weeks didn’t I?”
Vinyl rolled her eyes, struggling to get the lid off of the bottle. “I thought you of all people would remember doc’. Can you help me with this then?” The gray aura of the doctor’s magic illuminated the bottle, opening it and pulling a pill out of it. Vinyl took it, and swallowed.
“I’ll leave the bottle on your side-table.” The doctor said. Vinyl nodded, vision fading. Her mind created one final thought before drifting off to sleep. If it wasn't Frederick’s fault, whose was it?
~-~
Octavia trod down the carpeted hallway of her apartment building. She stood in front of her door just looking at it. There was still a sizeable hole in it at eye level, which she couldn’t remember how she caused it.
Octavia clicked the latch to her apartment door, swinging it open. The apartment was still a wreck. Her mind was still reeling at what she had said. Vinyl is going to kill me… She looked around the apartment noticing the first time how dilapidated it had become. I need to get my mind off this problem anyway…
An hour or so later, the apartment was looking somewhat up to living capacity again. There was no up ended furniture, the smashed coffee table had been gathered and placed in a trash can outside. In the distraction of something to do, she had forgotten about everything.
Octavia walked into the kitchen area, opening the fridge. Oh no. The fridge was filled to the brim with beer bottles, the same that had caused Vinyl’s injuries. She gathered a hoof full of them up frantically. I need to get rid of these. Why did I lie to Vinyl? Why?!? Accursed bottles, I should've never even touched these. She placed them on the kitchen counter, opening the first one. Octavia poured its contents into the sink watching it swirl down the drain. I need a trash can or something… Octavia placed the empty bottle down, walking past her front door.
At the same time, there was a knock at the door, Octavia froze, heart pounding. The bottles were still sitting on the kitchen counter.
“Octavia?” A voice resounded. Not him. “Octavia I can see you, can we just talk?” Octavia looked up at the door, through the hole, seeing the face of one Frederick Horseshoepin.
Buck.
~-~
Frederick Horseshoepin was sorry. This was almost an alien concept to him. To be truly sorry, not just passively saying he was sorry for merely bumping into someone, or lying to the media about X event. No, this feeling inside him was a growing, nagging feeling of complete regret. He had heard the noises and commotion from the street below when he had reached his apartment and went out onto the balcony. When he looked over the edge, he had seen Vinyl, shattered glass around her head. Octavia had been right beside her.
This was why he was once again standing in front of Octavia’s apartment door, one hoof raised poised to knock. He could see clearly into the apartment through a hole in the door. He waited a few seconds, glanced down the hallway, then knocked once. Frederick looked back through the door to see Octavia frozen in place.
“Octavia? Octavia I can see you, can we just talk?” Octavia seemed to sigh. She walked down the hallway and pulled the door open, making no motion for him to come inside. That's fine, Frederick thought. “Listen, Octavia. I know you don’t like me, and I’d like to apologize.”
“Apologize?” Octavia snapped, “It is completely past the time for apologies.”
Frederick winced, “If you’ll let me speak,” he paused, waiting for a response. When none came he continued, “I’ve been acting far too childish these past weeks, and I deeply regret my actions.”
Octavia blinked, forgetting about the bottles and her apartment, “That's it?” Her voice echoed, reverberating off the hallway’s walls. “That's IT?” Her voice grew louder with every sentence, “That's all you have to say. After everything you’ve done?” She was shouting at this point, causing Frederick to shy away from the door.
“W-well, you see…” Frederick started nervously, “I’m not really good at apologizing… I haven’t really done it before.” Octavia remained silent for a while, and then spoke.
“You’re forgiven.” She proceeded to slam the door shut.
~-~
Octavia leaned her back against the door, and sighed. Can I really just forgive him like that? No consequences for him what so ever? She knew the answer to her questions already, Yes, I think I can. She wasn’t happy about it, but the truth of the matter was her inability to hold a lasting grudge.
So what do I do now then? Octavia had practically set off Vinyl in Frederick’s general direction at the hospital. Octavia slouched lower against the door. I guess I just won’t mention it, at all. Not mention it and pray she forgets.
Slowly, Octavia picked herself off the floor and walked back into the kitchen. She finished dumping the alcohol and disposed of the bottles that had caused her so much trouble in the past weeks. It felt good to know she had gotten rid of some of the problems in her life today.
~-~ Some Weeks Later ~-~
Octavia entered the hospital through the double doors, stopping at the reception desk. The receptionist looked up expectantly, “Can I help you?” The receptionist asked.
Octavia responded, “Octavia, here to see Vinyl Scratch.”
The receptionist nodded, “It’s down the hall, third room to the right. Vinyl’s doctor is in there right now as well.” Octavia thanked the receptionist and proceeded down the hall. Today’s the day they said Vinyl could be released. Octavia was almost skipping down the hall. When she gets home, we can start over again. Nothing will have changed.
She slowed down to a walk. I should tell her what really happened… She snapped back at herself, She stopped talking about that the last couple times you went to visit her. In Octavia’s last visits they had talked about other things, normal things, like they had used to.
Octavia sighed blissfully; she didn’t want to ruin it all. Am I just going to keep hiding it forever? Have I turned into that much of a jerk? Octavia was now in front of Vinyl’s hospital room door, ready to open it. I’ll tell her soon… just not today… Octavia opened the door, stepping inside. Vinyl was standing next to the bed, engaged in a conversation with the doctor from her previous visits. The doctor glanced up at the door,
“Ah, Miss Octavia was it? Vinyl here is looking a lot better and she’s ready for discharge.” Vinyl looked over at Octavia, “TAVI!” Vinyl shouted, tackling Octavia.
Octavia smiled, trying to forget her earlier thoughts, “I missed you too Vinyl.” Octavia said, nuzzling Vinyl.
The doctor coughed awkwardly, “Just check out with the receptionist when you leave today Miss Scratch.”
Vinyl rolled off of Octavia, her face a light shade of red, “Yea… Sure thing doc.” Vinyl’s doctor proceeded to exit the room leaving Vinyl and Octavia alone. “So,” Octavia started cautiously, “when you leave today, have you decided where you're going to stay?”
Vinyl still sitting on the floor scratched the back of her head with one hoof, “Well… I thought maybe I could stay with you again?” Vinyl asked hopefully.
“Of course Vinyl!” Octavia almost squealed, wrapping Vinyl in her forelegs. She had missed having another pony in her apartment with her. Rather, she missed having anypony to talk to in general.
Vinyl notice her frown slightly, “Tavi are you alright?” Vinyl asked. Octavia blinked and let go of Vinyl, “Yes Vinyl, I’m fine. I was just thinking about income. I know you didn’t exactly have any opportunities to work these past weeks, and my savings won’t last forever…”
Vinyl frowned, she hadn’t thought about work at all. Vinyl started slowly, “I have a couple ponies I could call to let clubs know I’m ready to DJ again and stuff… Business was solid enough before I ended up in the hospital that I don't think this hurt too much.” Vinyl laughed awkwardly a little, and then continued, “Anyways, we can talk more about this later Tavi. Can we focus on getting back to the apartment first? I’m kind of tired still.”
Octavia nodded, “Let’s get you home Vinyl.”
~-~
Octavia clicked the latch to her apartment door, swinging it open to reveal the rest of her apartment. “Here we are.” Octavia said, gesturing with one foreleg over the rest of the apartment. Vinyl looked at the door and the hole in it uncertainly, “So… Tavi, how’d this hole get in your door anyway? The rest of your apartment appears spotless, what happened to the door?”
Octavia shifted uncomfortably from hoof to hoof, “Well… the thing is… I don’t exactly remember.”
Vinyl stared at her, “Were you drunk or something?”
“No, no, of course I wasn’t Vinyl.” Octavia said rather hastily. “I just… can’t remember. Let’s get you settled in Vinyl, all right?”
Vinyl sighed following Octavia into the apartment, “All right Tavi, I won’t bring it up again.”
Octavia’s apartment besides the door seemed to be in a normal state to Vinyl. Everything was in the same place it had been from last year. Except… “Octavia what happened to the coffee table?”
…And she’s the one suffering from memory loss, Octavia thought. “It may or may not have been smashed by the couch.”
Vinyl blinked, “I’m getting a pretty good picture of what happened after the gala.”
Octavia blushed and said, “I could’ve handled it better.”
Vinyl didn’t respond to that, she just walked around the apartment. After a few minutes Vinyl said, “It feels like it was just yesterday when we first moved in here.”
Octavia nodded, “Now that you’re back, maybe everything can go back to normal.” Vinyl nodded as well. Things will be as normal as things can get after having feelings of hate towards each other for a year. Not to mention this unexplained injury I got from Celestia knows who.
They stood awkwardly for a while until Octavia spoke, “I think I’ll get dinner started Vinyl.”
“Sounds good,” Vinyl said. While she’s busy with that… “Octavia, I just remembered I have to go check in with Neon today about jobs and stuff.”
Octavia frowned, “When did you talk to him today?”
Vinyl panicked a little, “I uh, called him at the hospital today before you came in. See you Tavi!” Vinyl trotted out the front door, closing it behind her.
Octavia stared at the door. She must still be feeling off because of her injury… Octavia thought, and started to prepare their dinner, her good mood erasing any doubts she had.
~-~
Vinyl stood inside the apartment building’s elevator, watching the display’s numbers increase systematically. Vinyl trusted Octavia, she really did. “If I trust her then why am I doing this?” Vinyl wondered out loud. I DO trust Octavia. It’s just that Frederick might know more about what happened, right?
Vinyl doubted herself even now, but she had to get to the bottom of this. The elevator dinged, the doors opening. Vinyl stepped outside into the hallway. Which room was his again? Vinyl wandered the hallway for a couple minutes before knocking on a door. A few seconds passed, and the door swung open. It was Frederick. Is this considered good luck or bad luck? “Hey Frederick, what’s up?” Vinyl said, chuckling a little.
Frederick stared at her, “I thought I settled whatever qualms we may have had when I apologized to Octavia yesterday about the… incident in the elevator.”
Vinyl blinked, “What elevator incident?”
“You mean you don’t know already?”
“…No. Octavia didn’t say anything about the elevator besides running into you there and she stopped there. She said something about her getting down there faster?”
“I erm, reacted rather poorly when the topic of you was brought up. It had only been about a minute or two since I left you outside, looking perfectly well I might add.”
Vinyl processed this. If it was only a minute or two, and Tavi came down right away…She would have had to have seen what happened. Vinyl turned away from Frederick, “Thanks Fred, you’ve been a great help. You answered all of my questions.” Vinyl called the elevator, and stepped inside.
Frederick stood there and watched her go. “I didn't even answer any questions!” he called out.
~-~
Sunlight seeped through the bedroom’s windows and onto the bed where Vinyl had been sleeping with Octavia. Vinyl groaned loudly, pulling a pillow over her eyes. A few minutes later, Vinyl heard Octavia chuckle and then get up. She heard the door open, bringing the sound of Octavia’s humming with it, then the door being closed. She seems happy today still. Vinyl heard Octavia move into the kitchen, and the stove being turned on.
I still have to talk to her about Frederick… Yet Vinyl continued to remain still. I’m going to completely ruin the day if I do.This can wait another day, Vinyl told herself. Vinyl moved the pillow off her face, subjecting herself to the horrors of the morning sun once again. I’m just going to keep brushing it off if I don’t, I should just get it over with now.
Vinyl looked over the edge of the bed. On second thought, that seems like a bit too much effort. The smell of food cooking wafted into the bed room. I take that back. She rolled off the bed and on to the floor. Then she walked through the door and into the kitchen.Octavia was manning the stove busily, still humming a classical tune. Her good mood seemed to have carried over from yesterday, and Vinyl didn’t want to ruin it. She didn’t want to, but she had to.
“Octavia, we need to talk.”
Octavia froze, in a relationship on weak terms already; this was the last thing she wanted to hear. Octavia turned off the stove and turned around. “Talk about what Vinyl?”
I have to approach this cautiously, Vinyl thought, I am just bluffing after all… “Octavia, I know Frederick didn’t do it. I talked to him yesterday. You’re the only pony who could possibly know more than him. Please Octavia, what happened that night?”
“I-I…I…” Octavia sputtered, “…” Octavia just stood there, head hanging down. Octavia couldn’t think of anything else to say. She just said, “I lied to you Vinyl,” before tears began to streak her face and she lapsed into sobs.
Vinyl stood there, shocked. Minutes later she was gone, leaving Octavia alone.
~-~
Vinyl was on the sidewalk outside Octavia’s apartment building. How could she do this to me? Was it an accident? None of that mattered. Octavia had lied to Vinyl, and even worse she had tried to pin it on someone else.
Vinyl turned street corner after corner going further away from Octavia’s apartment. I shouldn’t be doing this. I said I would be there for her and I should be right now.Think of the things she might do to herself, she thought. A voice in her head shot back, That was when you cared for her, do you still care for her?
Vinyl didn’t need to think twice about her answer. She stopped mid-canter, paused, and turned around, heading back in Octavia’s direction.
~-~
Octavia didn’t feel anything. From the moment she had chosen to lie, this had all been inevitable, she knew it too. The last line of defense in her life was crumbling before her eyes. She had felt alone after the gala, but this was on an entirely different level. There wasn’t even a hope in Octavia’s mind of not being alone again. She had screwed up royally, and that was the bottom line.
Octavia didn’t care how long she lay on her kitchen floor crying. There was no point in moving anymore. There was no point until she felt something on her shoulders. Octavia looked up from the floor and saw salvation in the form of a white foreleg, pulling her back to life, back to their home.
It’s certainly been an interesting month here in Canterlot, a lot of things have happened. Where do I start? Normally, I would start at the beginning and recap from there. I’m not feeling all that eager to write about it though.
Earlier this month I had some problems with a certain performance. It didn’t really go as planned, the whole thing was a disaster. By the end of the week I was gone from the quartet, and shunned from society. It’s a wonder how absurdly fast things can change.
I thought I could trust my co-workers with at least sticking together in times like that. Instead I guess I was just the odd one out. I can’t describe how it feels to be thrown under the wagon like that.
I can’t say I didn’t do anything later that would’ve justified that either. There’s always the steps that make things worse, and the ones that just blow things out of any reason. I regrettably took the worst possible choice of action. Yet, life goes on, and I live with the lies I told.
Back to the present day. Life in general seems to have gotten a lot better. I’m living with Vinyl again in our apartment; our home. And I couldn’t be happier. I’m just glad she’s still here for me, even though I haven’t always treated her the best.
Inspiration has come back to me. I’m trying to compose again, trying anything to get my life back on track. I’m not sure if I’m ready to try to find a concert hall to perform in again however. I don’t think society is ready. Even if things don’t go as planned, I’m sure I’ll be fine. Just as long as Vinyl stays with me.
What is inspiration really though? Where does it come from, and where does it go? It ranges so far to the point where I can ask, “Is anything really original?” I guess inspiration is different for everyone.
Some may draw inspiration from books, music, or even the weather. I, however, find myself inspired once again by Vinyl. Whether it’s her charismatic energy, or the way she makes me feel, I’m not sure. Her mere presence makes me want to do things right again.
Speaking of Vinyl, I can hear her calling me for breakfast right now. I just hope she hasn’t burnt the food that bad.
