Not All can Act in the Show

Vinyl and Octavia rushed into their little flat. Octavia shut and locked the door behind them while Vinyl ran into the kitchen to grab as much food as the two ponies would be able to carry, but not so much that it could weigh them down if they needed quick escape. Octavia ran around the flat and grabbed things that could be suitable weapons, finding a long, wickedly sharp letter opener; a dented metal baseball bat from Vinyl's playing days; a long sword they had bought for a cosplay, but had really only used for decoration; and Tavi's set of throwing knives from her college years.

The earth pony ran back to the kitchen and grabbed a frying pan and a few butcher knives for good measure to add to the pile of weapons that she laid on the counter. She divided the pile to play to each mares' strength before turning her head to assess the food they'd be taking.

Tavi was surprised how efficient and thoughtful Vinyl was being about the food. There were a few chocolate bars and small bags of chips, but there were also canned beans, packs of lettuce, carrots, and beets.

"This is all we can carry for now, but go ahead and have an apple before we leave. We'll need the stamina." Vinyl said, tossing Tavi said apple. Tavi caught it and took a bite, mumbling around the food, "Whaddabout you? Y'gonna eat, too?"

Vinyl grinned, "No worries, I just wanna check out my pile of weapons. This one, yeah?" She pointed to the pile containing the bat, frying pan, and sword. Tavi nodded and swallowed, "Yes, and if you like I can give you two of my kni-"

"No way, I couldn't throw those at Cerberus and hit it!" Vinyl said, laughing, "No, you should keep the knifey things. I'm cool with these." She picked up the sword and set it around her stomach, sheathed and within easy grasp if she should need it, and settled on her saddle bag (packed with two beets, three carrots, half the bag of lettuce, two small bags of chips and three chocolate bars; half of all rations) before tucking her bat and frying pan into the right bag, careful not to crush the chips.

"Hey Vinyl?"

"Yeah Tavi?"

"What was that box abo-"

Thud thud thud.

Tavi's mouth clamped shut and both mares' eyes swiveled towards the door.

Thud thud thud.

Tavi and Vinyl exchanged a brief glance, filled with fear and apprehension.

Thud thud thud.

Somepony was knocking on the door.

Vinyl motioned for Octavia to put on her saddle bag and grab her things before turning to the door and pulling out her bat with her magic. She wrapped tendrils of magic around the door lock, click, and then around the door, ch-chick, and counted to three, one, two, three! Before flinging open the door and raising the bat, ready to swing.

"Vinyl? Tavi?"

Vinyl's bat fell to the floor as the unicorn mare raced to the door and dragged in Parish Nandermane, a periwinkle earth stallion with an aqua blue mane and a lyre cutie mark. He was covered in blood, and Vinyl was unsure if it was his or not, but she pushed him towards the kitchen and shut and locked the door again.

"Parish?!" Vinyl heard Tavi scream, her knives tinkling as they hit the floor. Vinyl trotted into the kitchen to see Octavia with her hooves around Parish's neck, questions streaming from her mouth, "What are you doing here, how'd you escape, are you hurt, did they bite you Parish?"

Parish gently pushed Tavi away a few inches, resting his hooves on her shoulders and Tavi doing the same, and chuckled, "I came here to see if you were hurt, I escaped by running very fast, yes I am hurt, and well, yes, they bit me. How'd you know?

The kitchen fell deathly silent and Tavi pulled away from Parish's hooves and grabbed her throwing knives from the floor, suddenly fearful. Vinyl quietly picked up her bat with her magic from the front door and focused very hard to make it snake through the front hall quietly and hover through the kitchen door, around and in front of her, until finally…

THUMP.

AN: Parish Nandermane is a canon background pony, and played with Octavia at the Grand Galloping Gala.