Passio Patefecit Est Novella

by SenoritaDeLaNieve

Vinyl Scratch, known for... promiscuity amongsth the ponies of ponyville, has fallen in love. How with Vinyl deal with this? And will the mare of her dreams share her feelings? Chapters 1-5

Vinyl Scratch awoke with a start, her head was pounding and she heard something playing that sounded like classical music.

Ugh. she thought to herself simply as she looked at her mixing board her head was resting on. Her hoof was stuck on 'play' and the last thing she was playing happened to be something by her friend and musically talented pony Octavia, something she was attempting to implement into her latest song.

Fat chance. She thought to herself. She couldn't change perfection.

She wouldn't change perfection. This music seemed to sum up Octavia in every way, it was slow and powerful, thoughtful and beautiful. Everything that mare was, with her flowing gray hair and luminescent, purple eyes...

Vinyl shook her head and all but slapped herself around the face. Her shades flew off her eyes and landed somewhere in the darkness of her basement/recording studio. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and fumbled for a coffee cup, glancing into it to make sure the contents were not rancid, before she downed the lot inside and sighed heavily, placing her heavy head in her hooves and massaging her temples. She couldn't think things like that, especially not about the gray mare who held her fancy unlike so many others that had simply been one night flings. She was Vinyl Scratch, and she wasn't obscure to promiscuity, and for that reason she could not broach her perfect friend about the thoughts that ran rampant around her head. She would not ruin their fragile friendship by confessing feelings that she shouldn't have. She was a street-wise disc jockey who played techno at a bar at night, she was an upper-class Canterlot pony who came here last year because, in her words, she wanted a 'change of scenery' and a 'muse for her work'.

Everything had changed then, Vinyl never had an appreciation of classical music, finding it too boring and not upbeat enough for her tastes, until she saw Octavia play at the NightMare Night celebration. They had talked before then, mostly fleeting conversations on the street, mostly arguing about which genre of music was the better, presenting evidence for their selected genre and against the other's 'inferior' genre. They had still become friends, having a weekly get together at a café and discussing what they were working on, this almost always led to a debate about music, and Vinyl would be more than insistent that she would never listen to classical music in her entire life.

And then she heard Octavia play. Granted it was the fiddle, but Vinyl saw a different side to the mysterious Canterlot pony. A side that she hadn't seen before. She got into the hoedown type thing and even started laughing at a few moments during the performance, she had played a tune that whilst designed to be a hoedown, still retained the class that Octavia was best known for. Vinyl slowly slipped into a light day-dream, that particular memory coming flooding back to her. Was it then? Yes. It was then. The first time she heard those sensual, sweet notes caress her ears...

Octavia tapped her hoof impatiently on the tiled floor of the Café. Vinyl had said 4 o'clock, but obviously she had a prior engagement. Octavia sipped her coffee she had ordered for herself, a de-caff for her and a Mocha for Vinyl. She had and looked around, she was about to give up before she heard a call.

"Yo, Tavi!"

Octavia smiled at the pet name and turned to see the alabaster unicorn with the unkempt blue mane trotting over to her with a smile on her face. She reached the table and sat down, puffing and panting.

"Sorry I'm late I had a wave of inspiration and I guess I lost track of time" she said with a blush colouring her cheek and rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. Octavia smiled at her and set her coffee down on the table.

"It's fine, I may not appreciate your music, but I can understand getting lost in it" she said and Vinyl smiled.

"So what held your attention so much that you lost track of time?" Octavia asked and Vinyl waved her hoof.

"Oh you don't wanna hear about my techno music" she said, and Octavia smiled.

"No, I do" she said, and the funny thing was, she DID, if it meant she saw Vinyl smile again. Wait, where did that come from?

Vinyl smiled and the question evaporated from Octavia's mind, lost into that smile. Granted she couldn't see Vinyl's eyes, she didn't think she ever had, had anypony ever seen Vinyl's eyes? She briefly wondered before she thought about how they might sparkle when she smiled.

"Well, I was experimenting with a new sound and it was just not working, so I decided to add a few piano solos, and everything fell into place" she said and Octavia's eyes widened.

"Wow Vinyl, you think you may be coming around?" she said teasingly and sliding next to her, prodding her side with her elbow. Vinyl blushed and tried to avoid thinking of how her voice teased her so and being in such close proximity with this beautiful mare...

She shook her head and smiled.

"Naw, I was just desperate" she said with her trademark, daredevil grin. She picked up her mocha and took a long sip, sighing appreciatively. Octavia shook her head and flicked her mane, sipping a bit of her coffee and leaning forward. Vinyl was struggling really hard now, trying to destroy those feelings that had apparently doubled when Octavia had flicked her mane.

"Vinyl are you sure you're okay?" Octavia asked and Vinyl grinned again, and, was that a blush?

"I'm fine Tavi, just me and the suns don't mix" she said, and Octavia laughed. Well, it explained the blush, partially. She decided to change the subject in case that was what was making Vinyl uncomfortable, and if it wasn't, well, it would take her mind off of it.

"So, NightMare Night's tonight, what are you doing?" she asked and Vinyl shrugged.

"I have a gig at Jive-Hut, you should come, maybe it'll blow the dust off your eardrums" she quipped playfully and Octavia glared at her. For a fleeting moment Vinyl thought she had gone too far until Octavia smirked.

"Well, un-fortunately I have a 'gig' as you say to play at the actual celebration. They asked me to wear something... festive... so I've decided to become a scarecrow" she said, and Vinyl choked on her mocha and nearly doubled over laughing.

"Well it was only a matter of time" she said and felt an impact on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Octavia trying to give her a stern glare, but failing because of the grin on her face.

"Vinyl, be quiet. It's bad enough that I've had to spend all my bits at Rarity's Boutique to get hair dye that'll wash out" she said and Vinyl only snickered louder. She received a light slap on the shoulder for that and they both burst out laughing.

"Tell you what Tavi, I'll do my gig later so I can come watch you play, then if you want you can come with me to Jive Hut" Vinyl said and Octavia smiled.

"Oh you wouldn't want to keep your... fans waiting, especially not for a 'dusty ancient musician' like me" she said and Vinyl flinched.

"Ouch, did I say that?" she asked and Octavia nodded.

"I believe it was when you were drunk" she said calmly, taking another sip of her coffee. How can she be so calm about it? Vinyl thought to herself, if she had taken a comment like that they would never find the body. She smirked at that.

"Well I'm nearly always drunk Tavi, don't listen to me, I really want to hear you play, who knows, you might even convert me" she said with a wink and Octavia blushed and smirked quickly to cover it.

"Now that I would like to see" she said and Vinyl smirked again, raising her mocha.

"To NightMare Night" she said, and Octavia chuckled.

"To NightMare Night" she said, and hit their cups together lightly.

Octavia glanced behind Vinyl at the clock and her eyes widened. "Oh shoot, I was supposed to meet Rarity so she can put the dye in!" she yelped and got up, nearly knocking the table over. The table hit Vinyl's hoof and the mocha spilled out all over her. Vinyl yelped as the semi-hot liquid burnt her, but only for a fleeting moment. Octavia covered her mouth with her hooves.

"Oh my gosh Vinyl I am so sorry!"

"It's fine, it was an accident, just go, I can get this" she said with her trademark smile, Octavia took a step away.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive, you know what it's like to keep Rarity waiting, you're in enough trouble as it is" she said with a smirk and Octavia chuckled.

"I'll see you tonight then" she said as she sped off Vinyl watched her go and sighed, shaking her head and sitting back down. She noticed a few ponies in the café were giving her weird looks.

"What?" she asked, rather abrasively, and they just resumed their meals and conversations. She sighed and motioned for the check so she could have a shower and get ready for that night.

Octavia ran away from the Café. If she had it her way she would have stayed behind to at least get the check. That mare was sure being nice today. Too Nice... A thought quipped in her head. Although she was loathe to agree to it, Vinyl certainly had been more than nice today, any other time if Octavia spilt coffee on her she would be dead, or at least sprouting a black eye. She came to the quick conclusion that there was something the alabaster unicorn wasn't telling her, but what could she hide from Octavia? One of her best friends?

And only friend. That voice stated and Octavia scoffed at herself in disgust. Where the hay did THAT come from as well, she was having a lot of thoughts that were seemingly not hers today. Wanting to see Vinyl smile, wanting to hear about her music, then insulting her for being nice?

Maybe a makeover at Rarity's was just what she needed, even IF she was going to wash it out that same night. It would help her relax. She had only paid for a coat and mane dye, but she knew Rarity, and she knew that she would most likely want to give her a full makeover.

She slowed her pace as Rarity's Boutique came into view. She saw the white unicorn with the purple mane waiting outside tapping her hoof on the ground as she leant against the wall of her shop. Octavia smiled at her when she got close and Rarity raised an eyebrow.

"And what time is this?" she asked and Octavia chuckled weakly.

"Um, yeah, sorry I'm late, I was with Vinyl, me and her were just grabbing a coffee"

"For an hour?" Rarity asked incredulously and Octavia stammered.

"W-well she was late" she said and Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Alright then. I guess late is better than never, come on in" she said and walked indoors. Octavia followed and shook her head. The Boutique never failed to stun her, even with the fact that she had been in there before. It was just stunning, the dresses in the window, the overpriced jewels attached to them, the way that even the projects that were in progress were stunning, all of it assaulted Octavia's senses and she truly felt like she was in Canterlot again.

Octavia sincerely hoped that she wasn't back in Canterlot, but a brief look out the window confirmed that she was still in the town that ad truly grown on her since she arrived. Granted there were a few choice stallions and mares that she did NOT want to meet again, but her friends truly outweighed her enemies, and she found her thoughts wandering to a certain white unicorn with unkempt blue hair, shades adorning her eyes and a daredevil grin on her face. How friendly she had been when the musical pony had come to Ponyville. A smile played on her lips and she thought again about her smile, her mysterious eyes and how they would capture her even though they were locked behind glass.

Octavia shook her head hard to clear those thoughts. If she didn't know better she'd say she had been placed under the influence of somepony who was learned in mind control. But still, that thought had come from her, but she pushed it from her mind. She was brought back to reality by the fashionista unicorn watching her curiously.

"Is everything alright dear?" she asked and Octavia nodded.

"Yes, everything is fine Rarity, I was just... thinking" she tried to explain in one word. Rarity opened her mouth and nodded, a slight smirk on her face..

Octavia furrowed her brow in confusion. "What?" she asked and Rarity shook her head, moving further into the Boutique, motioning for Octavia to follow her.

"Just make yourself comfortable and I'll prepare the mane dye" she said and turned. "So do you want something festive, or conventional?" She asked and Octavia only grew more confused. "Oh you're right, festive is the only way!" she all but sang and then disappeared into the curtained off room. Octavia sat in the chair in front of the mirror and waited for Rarity to return with the mane and coat dye. She couldn't believe she was doing this.

She sighed and leaned her head back against the back of the chair, closing her eyes for just a moment. Her breathing soon became deeper and she found herself slipping into the realm of dreams.

The door was slightly ajar, and Octavia pushed it open gently with her hoof. Sitting inside was Vinyl Scratch, head in her hooves, crying. Octavia's heart suddenly broke into a million pieces, all she wanted to do was comfort the crying mare. She slowly walked up to her and put a hoof around her shoulder.

"Vinyl, What's the matter?" she asked and Vinyl shook off her hoof.

"Like you don't know" she said and Octavia blinked.

"I really don't"

"How could you not? Everypony else knows" she said and Octavia moved in front of her.

"What does everypony else know?" she asked, but Vinyl just sobbed into her hooves. Octavia grabbed them and pulled them away. Vinyl kept her eyes tightly closed.

"Vinyl if you don't tell me what's wrong I can't help" she said reassuringly and Vinyl sniffed and looked up. Octavia saw her eyes, but she couldn't see what colour they were. They were surrounded by a bit of a cloudy haze, blocking the colour. Octavia thought she saw them for a fleeting second, but then they were gone. Vinyl sniffed again and her mouth gaped open.

"I... I can't..." she said, before she broke away from Octavia and ran out the door.

"Vinyl! Wait!" she yelled after her, and the dream shattered.

Her eyes opened and she sat bolt upright in the chair. She was dimly aware of something in her hair and when she looked in the mirror, her coat was a vibrant yellow and her mane was turning blue. Her mouth nearly hit the desk.

"Oh good, you're awake, um, yes, well there was a slight... Mishap... with the dye..." Rarity said and Octavia scoffed. "A LITTLE Mishap? I look like a CUPCAKE!" she nearly screamed, and Rarity chuckled nervously. "Uh he he, well, um, you DID ask for something festive..."

"As in NightMare Night Costume festive, not Hearth's Warming Eve Candy Cane festive!" she said, getting out of the chair. Rarity, for the sake of her own cool and to try and calm Octavia down, remained calm and composed as her mother had taught her.

"Now remember" she said "you did ask for a dye that will wash out. If you leave it for tonight it should come out in the wash tomorrow"

Octavia sighed and put a hoof to her eyes in thought. Vinyl would never let her live this down. "Oh Celestia, Vinyl is so not going to let me forget this" she said and Rarity smiled. "Oh don't worry, it's not that bad, she'll forget it and soon you'll be able to laugh about it" she said and Octavia sighed again. "Not likely, this is Vinyl Scratch we're talking about" Octavia said and Rarity chuckled nervously again, and although Octavia couldn't see it, Rarity's eyes widened as she processed that statement. Rarity knew then what Octavia would only find out later.

The reason why Octavia only thought about what Vinyl thought of her... She fought back a giddy school-filly type urge to force her friend to spill the beans on the crush that was so obviously bubbling just below the surface.

"I, uh, I will of course refuse any payment, I think it's only fair" Rarity stuttered and Octavia took her hoof away from her eyes and smiled. "Well thank you" she said, only intending it to be a little sarcastic. She turned around and gazed at her coat in the mirror, it was COMPLETELY yellow. Save for her cutie mark, which still retained the stoic purple of its normal colouration, and it was seemingly untouched, every swirl of the Treble Clef was still in its natural shape as it was BEFORE she went into the Boutique.

"Well, colour disaster notwithstanding you did an excellent job with the dye" Octavia said as she twirled around, observing the way her blue mane caught the reflection of the jewels in the light. She smiled to herself. "Actually, I could learn to like this..." she muttered to herself.

Rarity laughed then, a genuine laugh, and Octavia joined in, their laughter filled the Boutique and for a while they just shared it. Rarity had been right then. She was able to laugh about it.

As Octavia came down from her laughing fit, she thanked Rarity and walked towards the door, then a stark realisation hit her. "Oh Celestia, I'll have to walk home like this!" she said, fear overcoming her eyes. Rarity's eyes went wide as well and she grabbed a coat from the nearby racks. "Here! Put this on then run home, get ready then tonight, wear this to the festival and then you can return it whenever. No, in fact, keep it. Call it penance for my screw-up" she said with a cheery smile. Octavia's eyes went wide again, this time from shock rather than fear.

"Oh, Rarity, I couldn't do that" she began, but Rarity cut her off. "You can and you will. Now go! Quick before anypony sees!" she said, and Octavia slipped her hooves through the coat, wrapping it tightly around herself and opening the door. She could see her house, a tiny blip on a hill on the horizon, but not very far at all.

She crept back inside, taking a look around for the crowds. There wasn't really anypony out at that time, as they were all getting ready for that night. She took another cautionary glance before she readied herself, bracing against the floor, then pushed off the ground and ran. The scenery flew by her as her hooves thundered on the floor. She could see her house slowly coming into view, she could make out the thatched room and the simple design of the beams on the front.

Her breathing was coming in shallow gasps now, and she was sure she was running so fast that Rainbow Dash would take notice. She ran and ran, focussing only on her house, not noticing somepony walking in front of her...

Vinyl took a deep breath as she moved from the Café out to the centre of town. She had lost track of time and didn't know how long she had been sitting there thinking, or drinking. She had cleaned out her saddlebag of bits and now it was time to go home. And wash that damn coffee out of her coat. She smirked to herself as the memory of earlier of that day took her over. She had just moved out into the centre of the town square when she heard something strange, somepony was running. But who...?

She was cut off of her thought train by someone slamming into her at full speed and sending her sprawling on the floor. She groaned and looked up, coming face to face with a pair of purple amethyst eyes and a vibrant yellow coat, framed by blue hair. She knew this colourful pony. Was it, no, it was, It was OCTAVIA!

The pony's eyes went wide and she gasped, getting up and running again full throttle towards her house. Vinyl stopped and watched the pony go, blinking several times after them. If it was Octavia, oh she'd have ammunition for YEARS to come.

A sly grin escaped her serious demeanour as she began walking towards her own house. But then a disturbing thought overtook her. She didn't want to make fun of Octavia. She sighed when she thought about that, she really hadn't been herself as of late, she had been thinking a lot of thoughts like that, wanting to see her smile, revelling in her laugh, buying her drinks (when she wasn't late of course, and ONLY coffee, Octavia had made that quite clear) and then she would pick up the check. She never picked up the check for anypony, especially not one that she had only met a few months ago.

She shook her head slowly and tried to think of how she had been thinking of Octavia lately. Certain aspects had become clearer to her, she always had an appreciation for the... other side, and she had indulged more than frequently. But they were flings, nothing more, the most serious one had been for two days before she had run off with all of Vinyl's money. That had been when she had first come to Ponyville to get away. She still had the mental scars. She didn't want to remember her. It was a long time ago.

She reached her house, a decrepit old thing with peeling paint, cracked windows and a door that was held by a single hinge. It was nothing. But It was home, and it was hers.

She opened the fragile door carefully and walked indoors towards the couch, taking her time because, well, she could. Her gig wasn't until later that night, and even then it wasn't important. Not as important as watching Octavia play anyway. She slowly let herself by lulled by the couch until she was at the foot of it. A small, childish grin spread on her face and she leapt into the air, letting herself fall back down on the only thing that could've possibly been more comfortable than her bed at the end of a long day. She quickly found herself falling into a deep sleep...

Vinyl was running, dodging the rocks thrown by the others. She had hoped to get home WITHOUT sustaining mental, or physical injuries. She kept on running out of the school grounds and towards her house somewhere in the distance, she smiled and began softly panting as the physical exertion became too much. She forgot to wear her shades today, so now she had to endure the six hours of school without them, and it had almost become too much.

A rock sailed through the air and clipped her forehead, sending her down. She tripped over her hooves and landed on her nose. Nopony was around besides her, and them. She doubted anyone cared what happened to one more filly in the big city of Manehatten.

She curled up in a ball and began to wait for the blows to come, and they did. The rocks that they didn't get to throw were now thrown at her now as she lay on the floor, they impacted everywhere, on her ribs, her legs, her head. She heard a crack, a sickening loud crack followed by a sharp feeling of pain. She refused to scream. She refused to cry.

They began to rain blows down on her with their bare hooves now, she just curled into a ball and took it, the verbal and physical. She was used to it. She closed her eyes and blotted it out, taking the pain.

"Witch!" one screamed, kicking her sharply in the ribs. She exhaled explosively.

"Devil!" another said, punching her in her face, that she thought was well covered, but evidently was not.

"No pony wants you!" another jeered.

"You're worthless! No-one cares!" yet another screamed in her ear and punched her fiercely in the ribs, right where she had felt the crack from before.

The blows and insults kept coming until they were satisfied with her apparent lack of consciousness, though she was awake and heard everything they said. "That ought to teach her to show those evil eyes in public!" one sneered, followed by jeering laughter as she heard the retreating hoofsteps. She opened her eyes and gazed around at her surroundings.

She was being watched by a few ponies who looked eager to see how she was doing, but kept their distance. Maybe the fillies and colts were right. Maybe nopony did care. She got up and sniffed once, wiping the blood away from her mouth as she casually limped toward her home. The ponies that watched couldn't believe how nonchalantly she walked away, how casual she seemed, like this was a normal, everyday occurrence.

She just hobbled along the cobblestone towards her house, gently pushing on the door she opened it and stepped inside. There was the stench of home. The stench of alcohol and cigars, and she heard a crashing in the kitchen that could've only been her mother trying to fend off her 'father's' drunken rage.

She overheard him shouting at her as she got closer to the stairs that led to her room.

"I DON'T GIVE A BUCK WHAT THEY SAY! YOU CAN'T SEE THEM ANYMORE AND THAT'S FINAL!" he yelled and she heard her mother put up a small smidgen of resistance.

"But, they're my only friends, it was only one night, I swear it won't happen again..." she began, only to be cut off by the sound of a hoof connecting with a face.

"YOU DAM'N RIGHT IT WON'T" He screamed before storming out of the kitchen and past the little white maned filly. He stopped to look her in the eyes before grabbing her face and inspecting the wounds almost viciously.

"How Many?" he asked and she sniffed. "E, eight, sir" she stuttered, and a smirk parted his lips.

"Good. Might knock some sense into that dumb head of yours" he spat, before throwing her towards the stairs and heading out the door, no doubt to get even more drunk. He slammed the door behind him so hard the crack from where he had done it once to many times widened with a splintering sound.

She heard sniffing behind her and turned to see her mother, a unicorn mare with flowing brown hair and the cutie mark of Piano Keys. Oddly enough, that was her name, Keys. Her eyes were a once vibrant yellow, now, they had lost their spark. Vinyl knew why...

"Hey, Vinyl. How was school?" she asked, sobs breaking her words. Vinyl could see her black eye, and a thin trail of blood that ran from her mouth, and that was the last straw. She galloped upstairs, leaving her sobbing mother behind her. She blocked out the noise. Her mother was her idol, her rock if you would, and seeing her like that, well, it didn't help. If anything it only served to remind her that anypony who was nice got crushed in an instant.

She flopped down on her bed and buried her head under the pillows and duvet, letting out a wail of tears. Blood soaked the mattress from a cut on her side, and the pain in her ribs wouldn't go away.

After a few minutes, she had formulated a plan in her rage/sadness. She would go to the Metroponytan Police and leave an anonymous tip about her father, then, she would... she would...

She re-buried her head and sobbed once more. She didn't like the prospect of running away, it was weak. It was cowardly. In fact, if anypony caught her crying she would never hear the end of it.

She got up and walked over to her draws, taking out a picture and a stallion she never knew, her REAL father, Kite Runner. He was a Pegasus Pilot for the Equestrian Air Force, he was sent away on a covert mission, and he never came back. This was when she was just a little filly, and all she remembered was him leaning down and kissing her forehead before stroking her mane and whispering; "I'll be back, little one, to watch you grow"

She let a tear fall onto the glass of the picture as she stroked it with a hoof. She put it in a bag that she got out from under her bed just in case she ever had to run. She packed a few coats to survive the nights, and then she packed up some pencils and her diary. She didn't know why she even kept one, she hadn't written in it for so long it had become almost a novelty to her...

As she rooted through her cupboard for something to wear during the long winter nights, she happened to look at herself in her mirror as she closed the door. Her face was mashed up beyond recognition and she had one black eye above a swelled lip. The metallic taste of blood was in her mouth and she still felt the pain in her leg.

She gazed into her own eyes and had to look away, the ghost of a tear travelling down her cheek. She felt her anger grew and smashed a hoof against the mirror, cracking it and causing the shards to travel into her hoof.

She gritted her teeth in pain and took one last look at herself in the fractured glass and shook her head, lifting her case onto her back with her magic and setting it on her back. It was heavy, but it wouldn't be a problem. She limped down the stairs and got near the front door before it opened and there stood her 'father', reeking of alcohol and stale cigar smoke. He paid her no mind as he walked into the living room. Vinyl cast him a furtive look that literally oozed hatred before she walked out, closing the door behind her...

The memory was unwelcome, the vivid dream that accompanied it, more so. Vinyl sighed and got up off of the couch, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and fumbling around for her glasses so that she could fool everypony into believing that she was normal like them. She didn't like to do it, but if it meant that she could at least pretend to be normal, then she would take it.

She found the shades that blocked anypony from seeing her eyes, but allowed her to see the world, albeit a distorted view. She put them on and ruffled her mane into its signature style before she adopted her daredevil grin and looked in a mirror.

Lookin' good Scratch she thought to herself snidely, before she glanced at her clock and saw that she was late. Her eyes widened and she flung open the door and closed it, not even bothering to acknowledge her rumbling stomach. The night was well underway, and the decorations for NightMare Night had been put up already. She headed towards the town square, where the Celebration would be taking place, and where Octavia would be playing a piece. She didn't know if it was as a solo act or part of a group like she had told Vinyl about when she played at the Grand Galloping Gala.

Just then the sound of music drifted across the air and into her ears. It was definitely a group. A wave of disappointment washed over Vinyl as she was looking forward to watching Octavia play by herself.

She nearly grinded to a halt then and there. Where the hay did THAT come from? Just then she saw Octavia from afar. Vinyl didn't know whether to be astounded, or just laugh. Octavia was Yellow! YELLOW!

So that was Octavia she saw earlier. A small chuckle escaped her lips, but then Octavia's music hit her full force. At that precise moment a wind began to blow through the town and blew through Octavia's blue hair. It fluttered in the breeze and caught the moonlight, flickering like sapphires. Vinyl's jaw dropped and the lively music hit her, full of class, yet, appealing!

Vinyl was never one for classical music, brought back... memories... But, hearing Octavia, she couldn't care about anything save for Octavia's hooves moving the bow across the strings and producing the wonderful music. As the song finally came to a close, a round of applause was heard, and Vinyl clapped her hooves together harder than any other pony, but no one noticed, save for Octavia, who opened her eyes and looked at her, eyes going wide.

Octavia had been slightly relieved when Vinyl had at first not shown up, so when she shed her cloak she didn't really care about the strange looks she got, but now, Vinyl was there, and Octavia had nowhere to hide.

Vinyl simply waved her over and walked forward, and Octavia took her leave, saying to the group that she would be right back after she saw to a friend.

As Octavia approached, something strange happened, like a little school filly Vinyl's throat seized up and her heart began to flutter in her chest. She took a few deep breaths as Octavia walked towards her.

"Hey Tavi, that was amazing!" she said and Octavia blushed. Having the new colouration didn't do much to hide it either.

"Thanks, usually I'm not used to playing a fiddle..." she said, and Vinyl scoffed.

"Really? Because the way you were playing that it was like you'd spent your whole life practicing, if that's how you play something you think you're bad at, I just gotta hear you play your cello" she said, and Octavia blushed some more, her face now retaining the same pink as Fluttershy's mane.

"Usually, I, I don't play in front of ponies..." Octavia said, she didn't know where this sudden bought of shyness was coming from.

"Now that's a lie isn't it Tavi?" Vinyl stated and Octavia blushed again.

"How about tomorrow at my place, you can play something, and if I like it, then I'll record it. OH! I know! I'll see if I can put it into one of my songs!" Vinyl said with a smile, and Octavia smiled as well. Both mares knew Vinyl was ranting and, let's be honest, gushing, but Octavia wasn't complaining. It wasn't often she got praise, ponies just didn't appreciate classical music like they used to, but, if she could get through to Vinyl, she would consider it a massive triumph.

"Okay Vinyl, if it'll get you to shut up then I'll do it" she said jokingly and Vinyl fixed her with a stare, or, at least, what Tavi thought was a stare but was blocked by the glasses.

Suddenly, Vinyl's stomach gave out a rumble and she blushed.

"Hey, I didn't get much to eat, you wanna grab something from Sugarcube Corner or something?" Vinyl asked, and Octavia blushed again. Was she asking her out on a date?

She shook herself mentally, she couldn't THINK those things about her. It was wrong. Wasn't it?

"I... I.." she was taking too long to answer, and they both knew it. Vinyl started to feel dejected so she just shook her head.

"Never mind Tavi, you got your gig to get back to. Perhaps some other time then" she asked, and Octavia nodded.

"But-" Octavia started to say, but Vinyl was already walking away. Octavia sighed and walked back to the stage. She did notice that Vinyl had not once said anything about her dye mishap, and that brought a smile to her lips. Perhaps she was more gentle and sensitive than Octavia first thought...

Stupid Stupid Stupid! Vinyl thought to herself as she walked. She was almost slapping herself with the thought, repeated over and over like a mantra to keep her thoughts in check. A momentary slip of the tongue, a momentary slip on her control of her thoughts and she nearly blew apart their fragile friendship. She sighed. Maybe this was more than a school-filly crush, maybe it was something more...

Her heart pounded at that thought, and she couldn't help but think what it would be lie to go on a date with Octavia, to see her in a formal dress, flowing gracefully as Vinyl escorted her into a restaurant...

Then she DID slap herself, sending her shades flying from her face. She gasped and fumbled for them on the ground, hearing a crack of glass. She sighed as she brought them up to her face and looked through them. One was cracked and the other was scuffed beyond recognition. Great.

Although she had nearly a dozen more identical pairs at home, that means her plans for dinner at Sugarcube Corner would have to wait, or, she could just go home and cook something.

She couldn't think that with a straight face.

Her thoughts then drifted to Octavia once again, how they would be meeting in a day. OH CELESTIA! She thought and ran home. Octavia couldn't see her house the way it was! She needed to do some serous cleaning, and FAST...

With that particular memory, came a set of uneasiness for Vinyl. She should've known then what she knew now, but she was in denial, and denial was a powerful thing.

She sighed and finally got up, not bothering to retrieve her shades from the darkness, opting to go upstairs to her, for once, clean house. She smiled, but it quickly turned into a frown. She had done this for HER. For the mare she could never get, the one which she could not get over no matter how she tried, no matter how much she drunk, no matter how much she actually tried, all that invaded her mind were the images of Octavia, the Cellist, flowing dark gray mane, stormy grey coat, and sparkling purple eyes the colour of Amethyst. She could get lost in those eyes...

She shook her head for what seemed to be the millionth time in such a short space of time and flopped on her couch. It had been so long since she had cried, and she refused to let it overcome her now. But, try as she might, the tears came, and they soon turned to wracking sobs in her system, her soul cracked and leaked through the tears, her heart, shattered and broken, threatened to tear holes in her chest as it beated. It wasn't hers anymore, it belonged to Octavia, whether she knew it or not.

Octavia watched Vinyl Scratch leave as she sullenly cast a glance behind her. Truthfully, she didn't want her to go. She wanted her to stay, and if the stubborn mare had waited she had might even CONCEDED to go and have something to eat with her.

She sadly got back up onto the stage and resumed her music, but her heart wasn't in it anymore. Even when Princess Luna walked through the ceremony she barely noticed, she just kept on playing the tune she was paid to play, but her music was flat, and someponies who knew her well enough, like the rest of her group, noticed, and some even asked her what was wrong. To them she would just give a fake smile and say she was fine.

About halfway through the ceremonial night she bid her fellow band members a farewell and packed up the fiddle, handing it over to the Mayor before she dejectedly walked home, eyes fixed on the cobble. She couldn't understand why she felt so sad, was it because Vinyl had left, was it because she didn't play as well as she thought she would, or was it because she saw Vinyl upset?

She didn't know. Even as she partook in the ritualistic walk back to her house on the outskirts of Ponyville. She eventually made it to the oak door and gently pushed it open, taking a deep breath of the Lavender infused air. She enjoyed Lavender. It always made her think of home. Her parents. Her life before Ponyville.

And then she would grow sad.

Add that to the near overwhelming feeling of guilt and sadness she already felt, she could do nothing more than to stand on the doorstep as a faint tear traced down her cheek. To say she had secrets would be an understatement worthy of notification in the history books. She sighed heavily and trudged into the kitchen, grabbing herself an apple and a glass of water, before settling down on the couch and picking up a book.

It was a romance novel, and, although it was as predictable as Beethooven's Fifth it was nice, and she couldn't help but read it even though she thought she knew what was going to happen. She flipped open the page she had marked with a Red Lace bookmark and read;

The leaves were soft in the evergreen trees, the snow falling around the pair that danced in the middle to an unseen melody, like piano music composed by nature itself only for the two now residing in the clearing.

As Octavia read, the words activated thoughts in her brain she had never thought, about a certain alabaster white mare...

As the two danced together, a contented sigh could be heard emanating from one of them, though who it was, was unclear. They stood, locked in each other's embrace, not caring for the cold that should have otherwise assaulted their very core. They shared the warmth, the beating of their hearts as one. Gray hair flowed around blue and joined together...

Suddenly, the book's couple was replaced by thoughts of Vinyl and her in the clearing, the snow fusing to their coats, becoming one with Vinyl's natural colour.

Two pairs of eyes locked with each other and their lips moved closer together, one fishing for a kiss that they would remember forever, as their lips locked together, one whispered the other's name...

"Octavia..."

Octavia's eyes snapped open and she dropped the book like it burned. She was panting heavily, the memory of the kiss, the faint ghost of a memory against her lips. It never happened of course, but it seemed so real...

She controlled her breathing before she picked up the book and looked at it dubiously before setting it on the table. She sighed and covered her face with her hooves. She didn't NEED those thoughts to run around in her head.

Laying her head back she just stared absentmindedly at the ceiling before remembering quite suddenly that she was meeting with Vinyl tomorrow. She sat up immediately and got up off the chair, rushing towards her bedroom and grabbing her cello and the bow. What was she going to play?

She could play something by Bach, but she preferred to play something original if Vinyl was indeed going to put it into one of her songs...

Any other time she would have shuddered at the thought of her music being tainted in any way, but now, she thought of it as a triumph that Vinyl was willing to broaden her horizons to a more... she hated to say more tasteful, so she opted for classical.

She hesitantly drew her bow across the strings, and a hauntingly beautiful note played out across the silence. She shivered and smiled, playing whatever caught her fancy, the notes flew out of the cello and into the world as leaves would on the wind. Soon, it turned into an upbeat melody that had her nearly dancing along with it, but she composed herself, and kept a firm grip on the cello.

She stopped suddenly and sighed. Why did she care what Vinyl thought about her? She had been fine before when they had been fighting, why was she all of a sudden so picky about what Vinyl thought of her when she didn't care before.

She sighed again and smiled, not willing to dwell on those thoughts. Tomorrow would be a good day indeed. Maybe she would see what colour Vinyl's eyes were after all...

Vinyl surveyed her handiwork as she stood, panting, from being down on her knees and scrubbing away at the carpet furiously, eliminating the stains of various spilt drinks and food that had been left for who knew how long. She smelled the house and noticed the musty smell was still there, so she returned to the draw and got out a can of Lavender spray and spritzed a load in the air to cover the smell.

She smiled to herself as she righted the shades on her face. She had found the spare pair in a draw that she never went in anymore. It was her equivalent of a Stallion Draw that held everything a Stallion needed. It contained her glasses, a torch, a tool set, cleaning supplies, and a few other non sequiturs that she didn't need anymore. After eliminating all of the clutter and the dirty washing, she started on the stains. That had been five hours ago. She hadn't slept all night because she wanted the house to be spotless. Now, it seemed like it was, and all she could do now was wait and... get some food in her before she died of starvation!

She set the cleaning supplies on a coffee table (that had until recently been a washing/everything table) and trotted into the kitchen, deciding on a light breakfast of an apple and two pieces of toast. She lifted her shades and rubbed her eyes, yawning profusely. She leant on the counter being propped up by her elbow as she fumbled with two slices of bread, putting them into the toaster and waiting. She didn't drift off, the toaster didn't let her. As soon as the toast popped up she was startled and her head hit the counter. She groaned and grabbed the toast and walked back into the living room, flopping on the couch and waiting, idly munching on her breakfast.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and she was startled for the second time that day. She gulped down her bite of breakfast and left it on the coffee table as she scrambled towards the door. She had just enough time to set her shades right on her face before she opened the door to see Octavia's smiling face. Her mane and coat colour was back to normal.

"Hey Tavi!" she said cheerily, and Octavia smiled at her, although she was a bit confused as to why she was wearing those shades inside.

"Hey Scratch! I heard you wanted to hear me play" she said, flexing her back to emphasize the cello, and Vinyl smirked. Externally she tried to remain calm, inwardly her heart was fluttering profusely and she felt a blush kiss her cheek.

"Well, I don't know who told you that" she quipped and they shared a chuckle before Vinyl stepped backwards and lifted the Cello from Octavia's back and beckoned her inside. Octavia walked in with a smile and a "thank you"

Her eyes widened at the sight of her house. It was... CLEAN! Despite all outward appearances, it was actually clean. And it smelled of... Lavender.. she thought to herself with wide eyes. Vinyl set the Cello down on the couch before she turned back to Octavia, who was looking at the room with wide eyes and... Was that a tear?

Vinyl stepped closer, getting her attention.

"Tavi, are you okay?" she asked and Octavia smiled.

"Yeah, I'm fine V"

Vinyl arched an eyebrow. "V? Seriously?" she asked before Octavia shrugged.

"Well you call me 'Tavi', why can't I give you a pet name, hmm?" she asked, batting her eyelashes and suddenly, all Vinyl wanted to do was agree to anything the mare said. She shook her head.

"Fine, you can call me V, doesn't mean I have to like it though" she said and Octavia chuckled. There was a period of silence, not awkward, but not entirely comfortable either.

"Do you want anything to drink Tavi?" she asked, putting emphasis with a smile on her pet name, and Octavia smiled and just shook her head.

"No thank you V"

They both shared a laugh and Octavia looked towards some stairs that seemed to lead underground. She walked towards them and looked back at Vinyl.

"Your recording studio I presume?" she asked and Vinyl nodded.

"Yeah. My home away from home, but, inside my home" she said with a sheepish grin and Octavia laughed again. Oh how Vinyl loved to hear her laugh.

"Well, shall we get started then?" she asked and Vinyl nodded, picking up the Cello with her magic before Octavia could and heading towards the stairs. As they got to the top of them, Octavia briefly wondered how dark it would be down there. She was going to be alone with Vinyl Scratch in a darkened room...

She shook her head as she descended the staircase. Where the hay did that come from? She needed to get her thoughts in check before she played. It was bad enough that her audience was somepony who was new to classical music, but she had to stave of her sudden... desires for the mare who was in front of her, swaying her hips almost provocatively as she half carried the Cello half lifted it with magic.

They entered the studio and Vinyl switched on the lamps, illuminating her mixing board that stood in front of a soundproof room containing several microphones and chairs in front of them. Looking around, Octavia was surprised to see a Grand Piano stuffed into the corner, gathering dust and half covered with a sheet. Octavia couldn't help but be pulled towards it.

Vinyl noticed something, a change in the air. She turned to see Octavia walking towards her piano and gulped nervously, blinking back tears.

"A Square Grand..." she said, caressing the wood and pressing a key. It rang out across the air and echoed back, surprisingly, still in tune.

"Vinyl... I didn't know you owned a piano" she said, looking back at the white unicorn who gulped nervously. Had she been able to see Vinyl's eyes, she would've seen the tears threatening to spill. Whereas Octavia's eyes were positively sparkling as she once again caressed the piano casing.

Vinyl took a step closer and gulped, she couldn't control her next words as she appeared next to Octavia, staring wistfully at the piano.

"It was my mothers. She gave it to me as a... Present. I never got around to playing it. I keep it in tune though, always saying to myself that I'll play it. I never do though" she said, speaking in half truths towards Octavia, who pressed down on another key after she was talking.

"It's in very good condition you know, I wouldn't have guessed it to be more than fifty years old" she said, and Vinyl laughed.

"It's a bit older than that" she stated solemnly, which wasn't lost on Octavia. She glanced at the mare and briefly wondered what secrets she had tucked away. Suddenly, Vinyl's eyes trained on the mare and a smile parted her lips.

"Anyway, let's get down to business. I brought you here to have you play something, so let's do it" She said, and Octavia smiled at her and picked up her Cello.

"So do I just go in there and play?" she asked and Vinyl smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, then I'll turn on the Microphones and you can play and It'll record" she said and Octavia nodded, stepping into the soundproof room.

"Can you hear me in there?" she asked as she turned on the Microphone and Octavia nodded.

"Just about" she said and Vinyl nodded, switching on the Mic and giving her the sign to go.

"Okay, whenever you're ready" she said, and Octavia nodded, getting the Cello out of its case and setting it on the floor, picking up the bow and drawing it across the strings once experimentally, then, she played.

The song was upbeat and catchy, and soon, Vinyl found herself gently swaying to the music as Octavia played with gusto, letting her hooves go across the string and the bow to conjure the notes from within the Cello. After a while, hours, minutes, or even an eternity later, she picked up the pace and began to put choruses and bridges into it, making it a fully fledged song. After she was done she took a bow, and Vinyl didn't realise, but her mouth was agape and her shades had fallen down slightly.

Octavia looked up just in time to see Vinyl right her shades and clap her hooves. Octavia blushed and smiled at her, and Vinyl turned off the Mic and Octavia stepped out of the door.

"That. Was. FANTASTIC!" She yelled, scooping the mare up into a hug. Octavia let out a shriek of surprise before she started laughing. Vinyl put her down and locked eyes with her, rather, her shades locked with violet and they stood there still gently smiling at each other.

"You really liked it?" she asked and Vinyl nodded. "Yes! Of course. I think you might've converted me to Classical Music, though, can I ask one more favour?" she asked bashfully and Octavia nodded. Vinyl felt a blush kiss at her cheeks and rubbed the back of her neck.

"Could you, uh, play something a bit slower?" she asked and Octavia blinked before a self-satisfied grin appeared on her lips.

"Of course" she said, and stepped back into the room. After the first note, Vinyl was lost. The music was powerful, washing at her senses the way waves do at a shore, and after about half an hour she re-appeared to Vinyl wiping tears from her eyes. She arched an eyebrow and stepped closer to her.

"Vinyl, are you okay?" she asked and Vinyl put her shades back on quickly, turning to her and nodding. "Yeah, that was just really good is all" she said and Octavia nodded, smiling to herself. Vinyl pretended to busy herself with shutting down her equipment, and the lights shut off in the room Octavia was just in. She closed the door as Vinyl pulled a CD out of the mixer and smiled, picking up a pen she wrote on it; "Tavi's Symphony"

Octavia chuckled lightly and Vinyl shrugged, setting the CD down on the mixer. "For later" she said with a wink, and turned to hide the blush as that conjured less than pure thoughts. Octavia was also blushing, albeit more profusely than Vinyl.

"Well, after all that playing, I'm feeling a bit hungry" Octavia said, and Vinyl turned to face her, the blush gone from her cheeks.

"What do you say we go and grab a bite to eat" she said, and Vinyl giggled.

"What?" Octavia asked and Vinyl just laughed harder, trying to speak but not succeeding very well.

"Your accent doesn't really fit that way of speaking" she giggled out and Octavia took on a stance of mock indignation and feigned royalty.

"Well, would one expect a Canterlot mare to speak in such a way as to put herself above such phrases?" she asked jokingly and Vinyl burst out laughing again, nearly collapsing onto the floor with laughter, and soon Octavia joined in. After they stopped laughing Octavia put her Cello away and lifted it onto her back.

"I'll just go home and put my Cello away, then I'll meet you at Sugarcube Corner okay?" she said and Vinyl nodded.

"Actually, why don't you just meet me here? That way I get a sneak peek if you decide to wear anything" she said slyly, and Octavia chuckled.

Both of them walked upstairs and into the living room slowly, but still too quickly for Vinyl's tastes. On the way up the stairs, Vinyl tripped and nearly fell, had she not been caught by Octavia.

"You know, it would be a lot easier to see if you didn't have those sunglasses on" she said, and Vinyl shook her head, pushing Octavia away.

"I don't like taking them off" she said quietly, and Octavia shrugged, not pressing the issue. If V wanted to tell her then she would. Besides, Octavia had secrets too...

They reached the door and Vinyl opened it for her and Octavia stepped through with a look of thanks. Octavia stepped out of the door and turned around, poking Vinyl's shades. Vinyl retracted and secured her shades.

"When we go out I'll be expecting you to take them off" she said, before she turned and began to walk away. Vinyl just stood at the door and watched her go, looking forward to their date.

Wait, was it a date? No, it was just two friends going out for dinner, or lunch. She looked up into the blue sky and noticed the sun was near its apex. She had been round her house for a good hour or so. She sighed and closed the door. Octavia would soon be back to pick her up, then they had to decide where they were to go. And then came the arduous task of keeping her desires in check, or else...

Who knew what could happen? Octavia's thoughts echoed Vinyl's own as she walked away from the house, casting a furtive look back just as Vinyl closed the door. She sighed and headed back towards her own house.

Vinyl opened her eyes and sat up on the couch, letting the final tears fall as she rubbed her eyes, freeing them from the tears. She heard somepony walking up to her house and knock on the door. She shifted herself from her seat and walked to the door, opening it and coming face to face with startling purple eyes, and a flowing gray mane...

Vinyl Scratch waited at her house tapping her foot impatiently. She had been waiting for a good half an hour. What was Tavi doing precisely? Putting on makeup? She didn't need it. Doing her mane? She didn't need to.

Was she putting on a dress?

Vinyl gulped and couldn't help but imagine a flowing purple dress to match her eyes, graceful, yet, teasing, showing off her curves in all the right areas yet leaving much to the imagination, teasing anypony who looked with only the briefest of glances...

Vinyl shook her head as she heard footsteps, and she saw the mare herself. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped to the floor nearly. She was wearing a dress! Exactly the way Vinyl had imagined it!

It was flowing like water, hugging her gracefully, yet not too tightly, it was beautiful, and it matched her eyes perfectly. Vinyl still held the look of shock on her face, even as Octavia giggled and swirled, which didn't help her break out of her trance.

"Like it?" she asked, and Vinyl blinked, though Octavia couldn't see this.

Suddenly I feel very tacky Vinyl thought, and Octavia looked hurt.

"You don't look tacky Vinyl" she said, and Vinyl's eyes went wide, she had said that out loud!

"How could I not?" Vinyl asked and Octavia scoffed.

"Vinyl, you don't give yourself enough credit, you look fine just the way you are" she said and Vinyl blushed.

"Still, you're gonna be like a goddess wherever it is we're going, and I'm gonna look like a ruffian that just came along for the ride" she said dejectedly, and Octavia just shook her head.

"Vinyl" she said slowly, and walked up to her, nuzzling her cheek affectionately. Vinyl just froze as she nuzzled her cheek affectionately and pulled away.

"Trust me Vinyl, okay?" she said and Vinyl just nodded as she pulled back. Octavia smiled and turned around, walking away and beckoning for her to follow, which Vinyl did.

"Oh, but, you will have to something with your mane" Octavia said with a smile and a playful poke, Vinyl just scoffed.

"There is nothing wrong with my sexy look, okay?" she asked and Octavia laughed.

"Sure, and I'm Beethooven" she said, and Vinyl smiled at her.

"Well, the way you play you could be" she said softly and Octavia raised an eyebrow.

"What was that?" she asked, although she heard her perfectly, Vinyl just blushed and looked away, murmuring something about it being 'nothing'. They continued to walk in silence, unless somepony happened to wave at them or check them out. Rather, check out Octavia in her jaw-dropping dress.

"So where are you taking me?" Vinyl asked and Octavia just smiled and waggled her eyebrows.

"It's a wonderful place that's very under visited, and the wine is just to die for" Octavia gushed, and Vinyl chuckled, her signature grin spreading on her face for what seemed like the first time in forever.

"I hope they serve something stronger than wine" she said and they shared a brief laugh. Vinyl sighed and walked close to Octavia, who stiffened in surprise.

Easy, it's just a friendly gesture. It's no worse than you stopping one step short of kissing her for Celestia's sake! Octavia thought to herself, until Vinyl leant her head on Octavia's shoulder.

Then Octavia gulped, a blush just beginning to touch her cheeks as she felt her breath on her foreleg. She tried to regulate her breathing, and her racing heart that was pounding so hard that it felt like it would burst from her chest.

Vinyl just stayed leaning against Octavia, and seeing as how she made no attempt to get her to stop, she just stayed there, until Octavia nudged her and she opened her eyes, looking towards a small, yet well-lit and grand Café, the sign above it read; "Equine Eatery"

Vinyl chuckled at the name. "Cute" she remarked, and Octavia chuckled.

"Don't let the name fool you, this is a very nice café"

They walked through the door and it was, indeed, a very nice café. Crimson walls offset by orange lamps framed the wall, and pictures next to the lamps gave the place the feel of home, it was cosy, yet it wouldn't be out of place in Canterlot.

The waiter behind the desk smiled at them as they came in, rather, he smiled at Octavia, and regarded Vinyl with a look she suspected he reserved for the lower-class ponies. Or the garbage.

"Hello, we would like a table for two please" Octavia said, and the waiter nodded, motioning with his hoof towards a table in a booth, residing in the less crowded part of the restaurant, granted, the restaurant was secluded at best, with only the occasional couple having a romantic night out, but the place they were currently being led to was completely sealed off.

Octavia sat down first, and Vinyl got in across from her, flashing her a smile as the waiter gave them the menu's and cleared his throat.

"The special today is a Caesar Salad served with a dry Provence rosè wine..." he said, but Vinyl didn't pay attention as he waffled on about some kind of wine list and the specials, Octavia listened half heartedly until she nodded to one of the selections of wine and ordered it, and turned to face her. She was saying something but, Oh Celestia Vinyl was just lost in those eyes. She knew her face must've had a look of complete adoration on her face because Octavia furrowed her brow and looked behind her, that gave Vinyl just enough time to bring herself to reality.

"Vinyl, are you okay?" she asked and Vinyl nodded with a fake smile.

"Yeah I'm fine" she lied, and Octavia narrowed her eyes at her and arched an eyebrow. That look was known to get somepony to break and Pinkie Promise about keeping a secret, she had known because she had succumbed to it many numerous times before. Vinyl, however, held her own quite well. Octavia was just about to say something when somepony across the restaurant at another table caught their attention.

"Well, well, well. Octavia. I never thought I would see you here, otherwise I wouldn't have come" he said Jokingly, and Octavia smiled and scoffed, turning to look at him.

"That's rich coming from you, you dusty Violinist!" she quipped at the shaggy blue coated, red maned colt, who stood just next to them. He laughed as well and scooped Octavia up in a hug, which she returned fondly. Vinyl fought down a stab of jealousy at the sight.

"Oh my, what are you doing in Ponyville?" she asked and he put her down.

"Well, all musicians need a change of scenery once in a while, and you got yours, so I thought I should get mine!" he said and Octavia laughed.

"So, Canterlot finally proved too much for you then eh?" she jibed and he waved his hoof dismissively.

"Nah, I was too much for them, they had to kick me out" he said with a wink and, despite the jealousy overtaking her, Vinyl smiled. This colt was a lot like her, and, under different circumstances, they might've even become friends.

"So sis, you want to introduce me to your lady-friend here or do I just assume she's a vagabond you're treating to a night out?" he asked and Vinyl scoffed.

"I may be a vagabond, but at least my hair makes me look presentable!" she quipped and the colt chuckled again, extending a hoof. Vinyl suddenly caught wind of what he just said as she shook his hoof.

"Wait, you're Tavi's brother?" she asked incredulously, and the colt nodded, then exchanged a glance with Octavia.

"'Tavi', eh? Well that's one I haven't heard before" he said, and laughed at Octavia's blush. He turned back to Vinyl and took his hoof away, taking a bow before the two mares.

"Tempest Strings, at your service milady" he said in a fake Butler's accent and Vinyl chuckled again. Strings stood up and pulled up a chair, looking at the two before he sat down.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked and they both shook their heads, so he took a seat.

"So, you're Vinyl Scratch I presume?" he asked and Vinyl nodded. "Yes I am, and how did you know that?" she asked, and Strings smiled.

"Oh, TAVIhere has been writing to me while I was in Canterlot, she never included a return address though so I had to guess where she was or use a personalized messenger to deliver letters back to her, anyway, she always seemed to mention you in her letters" he said with a smile, otherwise oblivious to the blush that spread on Octavia's and Vinyl's cheeks. Vinyl chalked Octavia's up to the use of her pet name.

Tempest Strings seemed to notice this and quickly changed the subject, but already the analytical gears in his head began to turn, looking between his sister and the Alabaster Unicorn across from him.

"So, Vinyl, I hear that you're a DJ..."

After a long conversation and a delightful meal, they just sat, all three of them, and talked, mostly Strings brought up embarrassing stories from their childhood, but skirted around the issue of their mother if they could. Vinyl made a note of this and thought about asking either one of them when they were alone. Vinyl didn't answer any questions about her childhood, saying it was no different than anypony else's, which wasn't technically a lie once she made it to Ponyville and found work as a Performer during some plays and concerts.

After one too many wines, Octavia needed to visit the little filly's room, and once she was out of earshot, Strings turned onto Vinyl with all the ferocity of a lion protecting his cubs.

"Listen to me Vinyl, and listen good, because I am only going to say this once" he said pointedly, startling Vinyl with his seriousness and how he could switch between the happy colt who had sat with them, to this.

"Octavia has had some serious trouble before, colts and fillies, her childhood wasn't exactly the most normal, and underneath your calm, cool exterior, I'm guessing it wasn't normal for you either" he said, and Vinyl blinked, wanting to say something witty, throw him off, but a hoof to her lips silenced her.

"But Octavia has had heartbreak before, I've seen it destroy her. It's actually why she moved away. Some jerk called Noteworthy used her, badly, and she was devastated. She ran away, not telling anypony where she was going, not even me. She trusts you Vinyl, so if you break her heart, I will kill you" he said with the touch of a smirk just to let her know he was half joking. She nodded.

After a period of silence, with Strings gently sipping his wine, Vinyl sighed.

"I actually thought I hid it quite well" she said dejectedly, and Strings perked up.

"Pardon?" he asked, and Vinyl looked up. Even with the shades Strings knew she was having a hard time not crying.

"I said I thought I did a pretty good job of hiding it" she repeated, but Strings was still confused.

"Hiding what? Your feelings for Octavia or your past?" he asked and she sighed.

"All of it. Now I know that I'm see through"

Strings lay a hoof on hers comfortingly. "Nah, I'm just too smart for my own good. I'm not gonna be all cliché and say 'Oh it's obvious and if she doesn't know she's dumb' because that stuff only happens in books. But, I think she likes you too" he said, and hope flared within Vinyl's chest. She was about to question it further before Octavia returned and took a last gulp of her wine before calling for the check.

"So what now sis?" Strings asked, and Octavia raised a hoof, wobbling as she did. Her voice was, sort of slurred, but she wasn't drop-dead drunk. Yet.

"I *hic* was about to try and convince this a-one" she said, pointing at Vinyl "to take off those damn glasses" she said, and Strings raised an eyebrow and looked over at the nearly panicking Vinyl.

"All right then, why not? C'mon Vinyl, take 'em off" he said, and she just shook her head.

"No, she said 'try and convince' doesn't mean I'm gonna do it"

"What's the matter, Vinyl? Is the sexy DJ chicken?" Octavia asked, and Vinyl fought down the blush with the anger. Then, resignation.

"Yes" she answered, lowering her head. Both of them were shocked, how could Vinyl Scratch, one of the most confident ponies in Ponyville, be scared of such a small thing as taking off her glasses? Sure Strings hadn't known her for long, but she was the mirror image of him when it came to confidence and wit, so how could she have this whole other aspect of a personality that even Octavia seemed shock to see, and she had been in Ponyville a lot longer than he had.

"Why?" Octavia asked, suddenly sounding much more sober than she was a minute ago. Vinyl shrugged.

"I don't like showing my eyes in public" she all but whispered, and Octavia decided to do something then that would change their friendship. She scooted over the booth and sat next to Vinyl, and cupped her face, turning it so that Octavia looked at where her eyes were. She offered and gentle smile before she took the glasses in her spare hoof and removed them. To Vinyl's credit, she didn't try and stop her, what she did do however, was keep her eyes firmly shut.

Octavia sighed.

"Vinyl, please, let me see them" she asked softly, and Vinyl shook her head. Octavia put the glasses on the table and once again took her face in her hooves.

"Please?" she whispered again, met with the same shake of the head and a quiet "no"

Strings watched intently, almost feeling like a voyeur watching this unintentional display of affection. After about five minutes Octavia sighed again and lifted the shades from the table, opening them up and placing them on Vinyl's face again. Vinyl offered her a smile and Octavia returned it warmly.

"Someday" she said, and Vinyl nodded.

"Someday, but not today"

Strings paid for the meal even though all he had was a salad, and, much to Octavia's persistent attempts to get her to do otherwise, Vinyl paid for the most expensive wine. 30 bits just for a bottle, oh, but it was worth it in the end.

At the door Tempest bid them farewell with a fond hug from both of them. As he hugged Vinyl, he pulled away and smiled.

"Take care of my sister" he said with a smile, but the look in his eyes said something different; Don't break her heart.

Vinyl nodded as he left and then looked to Octavia who smiled at her and started walking. Out of some sense of manners or common decency Vinyl walked with her, catching her if she stumbled as she was till a bit tipsy.

After her third stumble she began to giggle like a school filly, and after a while, Vinyl joined in too. Anypony watching them would've seen two drunk mares, when in reality it was only one tipsy and one very love struck one.

Vinyl kept on walking with Octavia, the pair making idle chatter until they reached the door of Octavia's house. Vinyl opened the door for her and Octavia stepped inside, turning to Vinyl who stood on the doorstep.

"Thanks for walking me home" she said with a smile and Vinyl nodded.

"No problem" she said, and Octavia cocked her head to the side.

"You know, I think I'm starting to like this New Scratch. Before you were, well, kinda distant, but now you're actually willing to HELP me" she said smiling, and Vinyl laughed.

"Okay, that's the wine talking right there" she said, and Octavia just leant on the doorframe.

"No I mean it, you have the manners of a Canterlot mare now, and yet the persona of a country hick" she said, then covered her mouth with her hooves. They shared a slight laugh.

"Okay, I'm going to overlook that statement" she said, and they grew silent, but the smiles were still on their faces. Octavia once again cocked her head to the side slightly, and furrowed her brow.

"Vinyl, what's wrong?" Octavia asked, and Vinyl furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?" Vinyl asked, and Octavia took a step forward, echoed by Vinyl taking a step back.

"You seem sad" she said, and Vinyl sighed. If only you knew she thought to herself.

"I'm fine Tavi, just a little tired is all"

"Liar" Octavia stated pointedly, and Vinyl shook her head. Octavia just grabbed her in an embrace and hugged her tightly.

"V, you can tell me whatever it is that's bothering you, you know" she said, stroking her mane gently and tenderly, the way a mother would a foal, or a lover would a traumatised life mate. The last thought brought a blush, and tears to her eyes, and she lifted her shades to wipe them away, sniffing as she did so.

"I knew it. Something's upsetting you!" she said, pulling back and barely giving Vinyl enough time to get her shades back into place. She fumbled with them, and Octavia huffed irritably and grabbed them, throwing them off into the darkness. Vinyl watched them go, then turned back to Octavia, closing her eyes as she did.

"Tavi! What in Equestria is wrong with you?" she yelled, and Octavia sighed. "I want to know what's upsetting you. And unless you look me in the eyes without those damn things I don't know if you're lying or not. So open your eyes and look at me!" she said, and Vinyl shook her head violently.

"No!"

"Why?"

"Because you'll see me like them!" Vinyl said, and Octavia hugged her tightly again. A period of silence washed over them, until Octavia broke it.

"Like who?" she asked tenderly, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Vinyl opened her eyes to the real world, seeing it without the distortion of the nearly opaque glasses. Octavia did not see. Vinyl sniffed again.

"Get me a pair of sunglasses and I'll tell you" she said, closing her eyes once again as Octavia nodded and brought her back out of the embrace.

"Okay" she said, letting her go and walking back inside. Vinyl felt empty without her by her side, she felt hollow without the mare's embrace. Only then, and only then did she want to truly recognize the deep seated yearning in her heart that threatened to overcome her soul as Love.

She heard hoofsteps and felt a pair of glasses being put onto her face. She opened her eyes and saw the smiling face of Octavia.

"Can you see them?" she asked and Octavia shook her head sadly.

Vinyl smiled a bit before she walked into the house. Octavia shut the door behind her and they both sat on the couch, as Octavia listened to Vinyl's story.

"I wasn't born here in Ponyville..." she began, and went on to tell Octavia almost everything...

After Vinyl had told her about her father, her step father, the beatings she got and her mother receiving abuse, Octavia looked ready to cry, but Vinyl wasn't done.

"I promised myself that I would tell the Metroponytan Police about my step-dad, and I did. He was put in jail, and, according to the papers, he was serving a sentence of twelve years. He got out during a prison riot, and, well, he..." she stopped, tears falling down her muzzle as she buried her head in her hooves.

"He killed my mother!" she wailed, and Octavia gasped, unsure of what to do then. She knew she should comfort the mare, so she put her hooves around her and let Vinyl just lean on her for support.

"But, the piano..." Octavia began, and Vinyl sniffed.

"Left to me in her last will and testament. My step father was killed by a Police Colt when he was involved in a bar fight. The Police Colt got prosecuted, but I feel it was justice" Vinyl said, and Octavia held her close.

"My step dad told me he only started drinking because of me, because I was a freak, just because of my eyes. I was a Witch, a Devil, a demon, you name it, I was it. And the ponies at my school..." she paused, breaking away from Octavia's embrace to part her hair, showing her a scar where a rock had hit her on the head from an eternity ago.

"They weren't afraid to show me how much they hated me" she finished, and Octavia did cry then, tears flowed freely down her ace as she held Vinyl close again, kissing the mare's head right where the scar was.

"There" she said, stroking up and down her mane gently. "All better" she said, and Vinyl laughed.

"If only it were that easy" she said, and Octavia sighed, leaning into the embrace.

"My mother died very early on too. I never knew her, after that my father, he became overprotective of me and my brother. When I first brought home my boyfriend, Noteworthy, He didn't like him. Thought he couldn't be trusted. I should've listened"

"What happened?" Vinyl asked, and Octavia smiled. "He used me to get back together with his ex marefriend. Enough said" she said and Vinyl sighed, leaving an air of comfortable silence between them As Octavia's hooves stroked through Vinyl's hair.

"But, no offence to you Vinyl, but this is all in the past. This is not what got you upset tonight, was it?" she asked suddenly, and Vinyl sighed and shook her head.

"No, it isn't, but it's a small part. Because of the bullying, I got it into my head that I was good for nothing. And because of this, I feel I can't exactly approach ponies about how I'm feeling, one mare in particular" she said, and if Octavia was fazed by this, she gave no indication.

"I love her Tavi, and she doesn't know it, I don't know how to approach her because I don't want to ruin what we have" she wailed, and Octavia just held her closer than ever, ignoring the pain and the jealousy she felt.

"Who is it V?" she asked, and Vinyl sniffed.

"You" she said, and time froze, for just a split second, blending into an eternity, there was silence, shock became etched on Octavia's face as she pushed Vinyl away, not violently, but not entirely gently either, misconstruing this as an act of hatred, Vinyl looked away and began crying again.

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry Tavi!" she wailed, and glanced at the door, then at Octavia again, who had tears running down her face still. Vinyl made a half choked sob and dashed for the door, throwing it open and running into the night.

Vinyl got to her house and slammed the door, throwing herself down on her couch and letting the tears freely come. She then got up and went down the stairs to her recording studio, nearly slamming her head on the console. She picked up the CD she had made earlier, and sighed as she put it in the machine, pressing play. If that was all she had left of Octavia, then so be it...

PRESENT DAY:

Vinyl was shocked, why was Octavia there? Didn't she hate her? Didn't she never want to see her again? She was watching her, those violet eyes holding such depth, such emotion, that Vinyl could hardly stand it. Octavia sniffed once, and Vinyl realised she had been crying. Vinyl was glad she was wearing shades, otherwise Octavia would've known she had been crying too. She had picked them up off of the floor just before she opened the door. She may have been broken, but she wasn't stupid.

"May I come in?" she asked, her voice shaking, and Vinyl nodded, stepping aside and watching as the mare walked inside and took a deep breath. It still smelled vaguely of Lavender. Octavia turned and Vinyl watched as she smiled.

"V, we need to talk" she said, and Vinyl's heart plummeted to the floor, shattering into a million pieces. She knew what was coming. She was a heartbreaker herself, anypony could've told you that.

"Tavi, I know what you're going to say. How we can't be together and how it's better we remain friends, but, I can't do that" Vinyl said pre-emptively, and Octavia just stood there, brow furrowed in confusion.

"So, before you say anything about us remaining friends, know this, I love you. And seeing you everyday, and knowing that you know, would just eat away at my soul, until there would be nothing left. So before you break my heart anymore, go" she said simply, and sat on the floor. Octavia wanted to say something, but no words came.

Nothing.

Just a blank mind.

So she walked out the door. As soon as she left, the door closed and she heard sobbing, and hooffalls as Vinyl walked away.

Vinyl dejectedly walked down to her basement/Recording studio, once again submerging herself in the darkness. She glanced offhand at the piano in the corner and sighed, walking towards it.

"This is for you mom" she said quietly to herself, and for the first time in many years, she sat at the piano, and played...

Octavia was about to begin to walk away when she heard something, music, not just any music though, Piano music. It was beautiful, and she knew instinctively that it was played by none other than Vinyl Scratch.

As she listened, something clicked in her mind, she was going to say no to the mare, despite what she wanted and believed. But now, hearing the music, she could hear the hurt, she could hear the emotion, the love, the frustration, the pent up guilt that she must have felt.

And it hurt her to hear it.

She decided then, something that would end their friendship entirely, and push them over the threshold of Love. She turned away from the door and drew up her hind legs, pushing them out violently. The door was bucked open, but the music didn't stop playing. Octavia ran to the top of the stairs and walked down, hearing the music intensify.

She turned the corner and saw Vinyl playing beautifully, her hooves moving across the piano keys with grace and poise. Octavia silently walked up to the pony and wrapped her hooves around her, Vinyl jumped and struggled, until she was turned and came face to face with a pair of intense violet eyes.

"Vinyl, I love you" she stated, and Vinyl's mouth dropped, before her lips were sealed in a kiss, Vinyl mustered all of her self control before she could become lost in it, and pushed her back.

"Why?" she asked, before Octavia moved closer and began to kiss her neck passionately. Vinyl moaned out loud and felt her knees buckle, and knew she would've fallen were it not for the piano stool.

"Because you are kind... Beautiful... Caring... And I've been in Love with you for a while now" she said, punctuating each word with a kiss.

"But.. But... Oh Celestia... Why would you love a freak?" she asked, and Octavia stepped back, anger on her face, but not at her, at the glasses that blocked her eyes. Annoyed, Octavia grabbed them and crushed them in her hooves.

Vinyl's eyes were shut, yet again, and Octavia sighed. She leant in for a kiss and kissed her passionately, snaking her tongue between the alabaster Unicorn's lips and eliciting a moan from her. Their tongues danced and Octavia pulled away suddenly.

"I won't kiss you, until you let me see your eyes" she whispered in her ear, and Vinyl shuddered as she felt the hot breath caress her ear.

"Promise me you'll still Love me..." she asked, pleaded more like, and Octavia smiled.

"I promise, I will Love you no matter what" she said, and Vinyl slowly opened her eyes, revealing two, sharp, brilliant eyes that were crimson, the colour of rubies. Octavia gasped at the sight. They were beautiful.

Octavia reached up a hoof and caressed her cheek.

"They're beautiful V" she said, and Vinyl smiled.

"Really?" she asked, desperately wanting to believe her, and Octavia nodded, smiling, kissing her on the lips.

"Really"

Vinyl threw her hooves around Octavia and kissed her forcefully, all tentative thoughts ceased to exist. Octavia picked her up and knocked over the piano stool as she sat her on the keys, a monotone sounded out as the perfect way to celebrate their union as the two tongues battled for dominance. Octavia's surprisingly won as her hooves snaked through Vinyl's hair and lifted her head so Octavia could kiss the supple flesh of the neck. Vinyl moaned out in brilliant resignation that was as much music to the grey mare's ears as the piano Vinyl was playing earlier.

For the next half an hour the two celebrated their Love, and I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

One Year Later:

Vinyl Scratch sat at the piano, the quill firmly grasped in her hoof. She jotted down the latest few notes and sighed in appreciative contemplation as she pressed some more notes on the piano, then wrote them down. Ever since she and Octavia had moved in together, the basement was no longer where she kept her piano. She had got it out of there, placed it at the corner of the room next to the window so she could firmly watch the sunrise and the full beauty of nature, and ever since then she could play all day long.

She altered her shades on her eyes and set the quill down, going back to the beginning of the melody, playing the opening notes slowly, then picking up pace as the song dictated. She once again lost herself to the music as she always did, then came to a gentle close as the melody cut off mid-stream, but then she knew what to play and played it, picking up the quill as soon as it was over to put down the notes that were fresh in her mind.

But the very best thing about having the piano next to the window was that she could see when her love would return, and she saw her, the sparkling gray hair that always seemed to be in pristine condition, even as the unforgiving winter wind blew around it and the snow threatened to mat it to her face, it still remained perfect. Those violet eyes she could spot from a mile away, especially against the cold backdrop of white winter snow. She jumped up from the piano and opened the door just as Octavia was raising a hoof to knock and pulled her inside, giving her a long, passionate kiss that had Octavia nearly collapse.

Octavia wasn't complaining in the slightest, she felt deathly cold, and Vinyl was, oh so warm. She surrendered to the infinite pleasure and all-consuming passion. She moaned into it and threw her hooves around Vinyl's neck as she deepened the kiss, if that was even possible. Vinyl backed her up against the now closed door and drew away from her mouth, going along her jaw and kissing tenderly.

Octavia sighed with a smile and leaned her head back against the door as Vinyl moved onto her neck and shoulder.

"Vinyl, oh, not that, ah, I'm complaining, but, oh, what's gotten into, ah, into you?" she asked between kisses, each one drawing forth another gasp or moan of pleasure. Vinyl stopped her tender ministrations and leant her head on Vinyl's shoulder, sighing contentedly.

"I just missed you Tavi" she said, her hoof idly tracing her lover's chest. Octavia sighed and held Vinyl close, whispering into her ear.

"I missed you too V" she said, and finally looked down, taking note of the glasses Vinyl wore. She shook her head.

"Vinyl, how many times have I told you not to wear those infernal things in the house?" she asked and Vinyl shrugged.

"More times than I can count Tavi" she said with a smirk and Octavia gently pushed Vinyl away, taking in the smirk and reaching out a hoof, giving Vinyl a chance to pull away if she wanted. She did not, and Octavia gently, tenderly stroked her cheek and took off the shades, setting them beside the door and turning back to her lover.

Thankfully, Vinyl didn't try to hide the ruby red irises that Octavia loved to see, but displayed them almost proudly. Octavia stroked Vinyl's cheek again and smiled warmly, reflected by Vinyl.

"You can hide them in public if you really want, but not here" she said and Vinyl smiled as well, nodding as they stared deeply into each others eyes. Octavia's gaze slowly drifted to the piano and the sheets of music and she arched an eyebrow.

"Why Vinyl, have you been playing?" she asked and Vinyl blushed, moving over to the piano and gathering the sheets, putting them inside the piano where she normally kept the piano sheets she was working on.

"It's not finished" she relented as she turned back to Octavia, blushing under her knowing gaze. Octavia smiled.

"What's it for? Or were you just working for the sake of working?" she asked and Vinyl smiled.

"It's a present" she stated, and that got Octavia's gossipy side into full swing.

"Ooh, for who?" she asked and Vinyl smiled wider, pointing a hoof towards Octavia.

"It's for you Octavia, or have you forgotten what day it is today?" she asked and Octavia smiled as well.

"Of course I know. It's the day before our anniversary" she stated with a smile and Vinyl smiled too.

"I still can't believe you fell in Love with me" she said with a smile and Octavia walked forward, kissing her almost chastely and pulling away before Vinyl could respond, effectively leaving the white mare stunned into silence.

"Could you believe that?" she asked coyly and Vinyl blushed again, and cleared her throat. Octavia giggled and sat on the couch, motioning for Vinyl to do the same. She did and curled up next to her and Octavia wrapped a hoof around her.

"So what did you do today Tavi?" Vinyl asked and Octavia sighed.

"Well, that new musician in town, Lyra? We got to talking in a café and it turns out, she has a thing for Bon Bon" she said excitedly and Vinyl gasped, sitting straight upright.

"No! She does not have a thing for Bonnie!" Vinyl said and Octavia nodded, giggling profusely. Vinyl started as well and they dissolved into fits of laughter.

"Oh, all joking aside though, they do make a very cute couple" Octavia said as she finally managed to quell her tears of laughter, and Vinyl smiled and nodded. "Almost as cute as you and me" she added and Vinyl sat straight up, arched eyebrow and a smirk etching her face. She pointed a hoof at her.

"Tavi, you can call me sexy, hell, you can even call me beautiful, but I draw the line at being called 'cute'" she said, and Octavia smiled, gazing into her Crimson eyes and batting her eyelashes. Vinyl gave a nearly imperceptible shudder at the look that always got her to agree to anything the gray mare said.

"Oh yeah, and what're you going to do to stop me?" she asked jokingly, and Vinyl smirked wider.

"Nothing at all, only this!" she said, then launched herself at the mare, tickling her mercilessly. Octavia giggled uncontrollably and tried to squirm out of the mare's grasp, but to no avail. Vinyl kept up the onslaught and Octavia dissolved into laughter again. They both fell onto the floor and Octavia sensed a way to get out, but Vinyl just tightened her hold and resumed the tickling.

"Stop! Stop! Okay, I give!" Octavia managed to shout and Vinyl managed to stop. They just lay there for a while, gazing into each other's eyes until Vinyl kissed Octavia suddenly and tenderly stroked her hooves through her mane.

"I love you Tavi" she said and Octavia giggled.

"Like I didn't know that. I love you too Vinyl"

They sat there in silence, punctuated only by the soft rise and falls of their chests in perfect sync and the gentle thumping of kindred hearts. The wind outside blew softly against the window pane and Vinyl looked up, out the window with a smile. She got up and offered a hoof to Octavia, who accepted it and lifted herself up.

"Tavi, can we go for a walk?" she asked, and Octavia furrowed her brow.

"In this?" she asked, and Vinyl nodded, shrugging.

"Why not, I love the snow" she said and Octavia smiled.

"Only for you V"

The leaves were soft in the evergreen trees, a blanket of snow covering them, the ground was white with a soft winter hue, almost radiating and shining like millions of diamonds strewn about the floor. Standing in the middle of the clearing, engaged in a lover's embrace, dancing to an unseen melody composed by nature itself, stood two figures. They danced to the swaying breeze as the snow fell around the pair that danced in the middle to an unseen melody, like piano music or a soft cello solo.

As the two danced together, a contented sigh could be heard emanating from one of them, though who it was, was unclear. They stood, locked in each other's embrace, not caring for the cold that should have otherwise assaulted their very core. They shared the warmth, the beating of their hearts as one. Gray hair flowed around blue and joined together to create an entirely new colour that one could not distinguish.

Two pairs of eyes locked with each other and their lips moved closer together, one fishing for a kiss that they would remember forever, as their lips locked together, one whispered the other's name.

"Octavia..." Vinyl whispered as their lips locked again, the snow seemed to pick up then, swirling around them in a miniature tornado as the kiss was deepened, their passion fully opened and flowing freely into each other wherever their hooves caressed, where their lips joined, and their tongues fought for dominance.

Kindred spirits locked as one, heartbeats fully synced, like a beat to the melody nature played, and tears flowed freely in happiness as they embraced in the snow. The song reached a crescendo, only to wash down like a tsunami over a shore, and they were both left breathless by its intensity, finally allowing their lips to separate as they gasped much needed air.

They stood for a while as the tornado around them dissipated and the snow came to a halt, their foreheads touched and Octavia smiled, sighing appreciatively as Vinyl's hooves caressed her mane once again.

"This was a good idea" she said, and Vinyl nodded, a smile of her own etched in her alabaster face. Her ruby red eyes opened and found a pair of violet intently watching her and the smile grew on both their faces.

Love can be an ethereal experience, it cares not for difference in class or limitations of Time, what matters is whether or not your love can stand the tests that Time throws at it, and Vinyl's and Octavia's Love is so pure it transcends even the heavens should they pass away. Vinyl told this to Octavia the next day, their official one year anniversary, as she handed over the sheet music she had made for her. Octavia's eyes filled with tears as Vinyl explained why she wrote it. It was a memoir to her past, the first verse being especially crafted, like clay, from a tune her mother had once taught her. The chorus, emanating how she felt the first time she met her, the second verse about her growing Love, and the bridge about how that Love had been cemented that fateful day when Octavia had kicked down her door and 'consummated' their relationship, taking her Love on the piano.

Octavia blushed profusely, stating that she hadn't been able to control herself when she saw those eyes of hers and how it was Vinyl's fault for having such beautiful, emotional, transcendental, ethereal...

She cut herself off before she could go on about how beautiful her Love truly was, and Vinyl blushed as well as she took the music from Octavia and set it on the piano, getting ready to play it in front of her for the first time.

"Are you ready?" she asked and Octavia nodded, standing behind her expectantly, and Vinyl sighed, pressing the first few notes gently, a repetitive rhythm before the main melody began. If Octavia ever had a rival, it was the alabaster unicorn across from her. Known best for techno and hard rock, Octavia found it almost disconcerting when she heard her play on a properly tuned piano, as the only time she heard her Lover play before was on a piano that had been kept in tune yes, but not entirely as it should have been.

Vinyl lost herself to the music, closing her eyes and letting her hooves roam freely over the memory of the music she had memorized completely. Octavia thought that this couldn't be more beautiful. Now she understood why Vinyl liked to see her play, you could nearly see the musicians soul poured into the music itself, and as the song came to a close all too soon yet at the same time an eternity later, Octavia didn't realise the tears were flowing freely down her face until Vinyl turned and wiped them away, kissing the residual stains on her fur and whispering sweetly; "Happy anniversary"