“Miss Sassaflash, staying silent definitely won’t help your case. Why did you cause trouble in the restaurant and attack the staff when they asked you to leave?”

The turquoise pegasus glared at the blue unicorn in the typical golden, royal guard armor, but didn’t say a word.

“Alright. We can’t keep you here, but you are not allowed to enter that restaurant ever again. You will be informed if the owner wants us to charge you for the incident,” the stallion said before standing up and opening the door.

Without a word, Sassaflash stood up and left the guard post. She was outright pissed, but not at Vinyl. Rather, at the snobby earth mare.

She’s tainting my Vinyl. Why else would Vi wear a dress and go to such a fancy restaurant? Sassaflash was sure that Octavia was somehow controlling Vinyl.

Her heart clenched uncomfortably in her chest. Just thinking about Vinyl hurt her. Yet, Vinyl was all she could think about. The white unicorn was simply everything to her. The rope that held her whole life together.

That rope was about to unravel, leaving Sassaflash alone with a lonely and broken life.

She had never learned anything besides music and wiring. It was her life; the life she had chosen for Vinyl all those years ago. She had dedicated herself to the mare she loved more than her own life. The mare that dumped her for a new partner.

Sassaflash sighed, loudly, and then made her way home.

The pegasus mare tried hard to not think about Vinyl, yet the more she tried, the more the white mare came unbidden into her mind. The beautiful white unicorn ruled over her mind, over her dreams, and her body. There was nopony in Equestria, or indeed the world, that understood her like Vinyl did, nopony she loved like she loved Vinyl. And now… now it was all over..

Head hung low, Sassaflash kicked a hoof at a stone sitting by itself. She let her hooves decide which way to take home. That was, until she noticed two familiar voices. Looking up, there were the exact two ponies she didn’t want to see. Another look up also told her what street she was on.

“Oh you gotta be kidding me,” she moaned silently.

Hide and watch, see what they’re doing, her head told her, much to her displeasure. Maybe you’ll see something you can use against them.

That was logic she couldn’t deny. After all, she wanted Vinyl back with all of her heart.

Settling into the shadows, Sassaflash watched the chariot move to the side and she watched both mares getting off. Vinyl quickly paid the driver before joining Octavia, their coats pressed together as they walked up to the apartment complex.

“Today was simply wonderful, Vi,” Octavia said.

“Trust me, this wasn’t all I had planned for us. I just hope you like what comes next,” Vinyl said with a chuckle.

Octavia leaned a bit more into the white unicorn. “I can’t wait for it.”

That was all Sassaflash could hear before they went inside, but she had another idea as the chariot turned and headed back her way. Immediately, she stepped forward and stopped it.

“Can I help you, miss?” The driver asked politely.

Sassaflash grinned and pulled a few bits out of her pouch, giving them the driver. “Yes, you could tell me where those mares went.”

The stallion eyed her suspiciously before sighing and taking the bits. “Alright, it’s not my business why you want to know that so… I picked them up at Celestial road around thirty minutes ago. It’s on the other side of the town, the newly built area.”

“Could you take me there?”

“Of course, miss.”

Sassaflash hopped in and the driver started off. This was outrageous and probably a waste of time, but it wasn’t like she had anything better to do today. She just hoped whatever she found wouldn’t destroy her dreams. She had no intentions of giving up, but there was only so much a heart could take, and she knew it.

“Oh you’ve GOT to be kidding me!” Sassaflash cursed as she inspected the building the driver described to her. The sign in front of it didn’t help her in the slightest.

“The Celestial Tower: Enjoy a beautiful view over Trottingham,” she read and snorted. “Great, any more surprises for me?”

Looking up at the building she sighed, before steadying herself and going in. I’m going to find out everything!

Upstairs, she confirmed her worst fears were true. It was a romantic, beautiful view over Trottingham. She had no need for the imaginary in her head that implied what had happened. Yet, she wanted to be sure.

Sassaflash walked to the bar and smiled at a yellow mare with a straw-colored mane. “Hi, my name is, uh, Swift Write, I’m from the Canterlot News and I would like to ask you some questions.”

The mare looked at her, seemingly nervous. “My name is Fruit Mix, how can I help you?”

“Around an hour ago, there were two mares here. One a white unicorn with a two-coloured blue mane and the other…” Sassaflash bit back an angry curse. “a grey earth pony with black hair. Did you see them by any chance?”

“Oh, the lovely couple? Yes, yes I noticed them,” Fruit Mix answered with a smile. “They were just so cute.”

“Wow, that’s interesting,” Sassaflash forced herself to a fake smile. “Is there anything you could tell me?”

Fruit Mix hummed in thought. “They were really interesting. The unicorn, I think her name was Scratch, ordered a few drinks. Then, a bit later they both were at the railing enjoying the view.”

Sassaflash was disappointed in that answer. “Nothing else?”.

“Oh, let me think. Yes, there was something else!” Fruit exclaimed, her front hooves clapping together. “Scratch showed the other pony something in a small, long case. I couldn’t see what it was, but the grey mare nearly fainted.”

“Could you describe the case to me?”

“It certainly looked like some real expensive jewelry case. It was bordered with silver after all,” Fruit said. “I’m sorry, but I have work to do. I hope I was able to help you.”

Sassaflash grinned. “Yes, thank you Fruit Mix.” And someponies say there aren’t naive ones in our world anymore.

What she heard gave her something to think about. Slowly, she made her way out of the building, her mind more than busy. I doubt it was something to propose her. It’s not enough time, not even Vi would be that straightforward.

Still, it left a weird feeling in her stomach and she couldn't forget it, not even as she called a taxi and leaned back on the way home. Sure, flying would’ve been easier, but she knew herself. With all those thoughts rumouring in her, she was more than likely to hit a wall.

A lengthy case, so it wasn’t a hoofring or a horn ring. The only thing fitting that kind of case for a proposal would be a pegasus feather, but she’s a unicorn. Groaning, she tried to clear her head of the thought and to think clearly. No, it was definitely not a proposal, but surely a gift of some sort.

“This will drive me nuts,” she said, much to to the amusement of the driver.

It wasn’t a long way home. As soon as the chariot let her off, she dashed into her apartment, startling Cloud Kicker. “Sassaflash, what the hay?”

“Cloudy? What in tartarus are you still doing here?”

“I helped you?” Cloud Kicker replied. “I did everything you said… I stayed in your bed.”

“So?” Sassaflash asked.

“You just kick me out?!”

Sassaflash sighed, “We both know Vi is the only mare for me. That’s what we agreed on yesterday, if you remember.”

Cloud Kicker seemed close to her tears, but instead of crying she freaked out. “Oh, so for a fling I’m good enough, but not even as a friend? Maybe I should tell your friends and your boss that I lied for you and what a horrible mare you are!”

“Cloudy…”

“Don’t Cloudy me you cheaty fool! Everything is fine as long you get everything you wants. But oh Celestia, we should all worry if something doesn’t run along with your plans!”

“Cloudy,” Sassa tried again, reaching for the mare.

Cloud Kicker kicked her hoof away. “Buck you, Sassa. Buck you and your sick games. I’ll take my stuff and leave. Go find a bucking psychiatrist to help you!”

The turquoise mare was left speechless as Cloud Kicker took her things. Sassaflash tried to hold her back before leaving, but all she received was a door in her muzzle.

Sighing, she looked into the mirror. Her reflection looked tired. Used. Horrible.

Maybe I do need help?

She shook her head. No, if somepony needed help it was Vinyl. Help to escape from that snobby mare, help to come back to her usual self. And she would be the pony to help her do exactly that.

No matter the cost.

“You want my help to do what?” Neon asked, eyes narrowed.

“I want your help to get Vinyl away from that earth pony. She’s not good for her, she’s destroying her!”

Neon sighed and laid back in his chair before snorting. “No.”

“No what?” Sassaflash asked.

“You don’t want to do this to help Vinyl. You want to do this only for your own good. It’s not right. And about you saying that Octavia isn’t good for her, you’re wrong.”

“How can you say that?” Sassaflash burst out. “She’s wearing dresses, going to fancy restaurants and even acting hesitant and weird lately!”

“No. What I saw today, was the improved Dj Pon3. What I saw, was a mare that started to love her life again. All thanks to a wonderful mare named Octavia.” Neon leaned forward, looking straight into the pegasus’s eyes. “You missed the last show, but she was wonderful, even more than that! She worked harder and better than ever before, all thanks to Octavia. She really rocked the club.”

“I don’t really believe that.”

Neon laughed. “Ask anypony! I saw it, Silver Wings saw it, Berry saw it, everypony. Even Baritone looked over, and he was quite stunned. Especially if you consider that he’s got a classic stick in his flank.”

“But…”

“Listen. I already told you I don’t believe that you’re doing this for Vinyl, and I know that you know this. Now I’m asking you again. Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to make their lives so miserable?” Neon glared at her. “And don’t you dare try lying to me.”

Sassaflash sloughed down in her chair, but copied the glare. “That stuffy mare is no good for her. She deserves something better, and that’s me. I want her back, Neon. She. Is. Mine.”

“And for that you’re making her life miserable?” Neon shook his head. “She loves Octavia. Let me give you some good advice.” His voice was full of venom now. “If you destroy her life, I’ll find you. And you really don’t want to know what I will do to you then. Now get the buck out of my club.”

The pegasus was left speechless. She wanted to say something, to answer this threat. She found nothing to say. Nothing that would’ve been satisfying at least.

Neon looked up from his papers. “Did I bucking stutter? Get out of her or I’ll get Silver Wings to get you out.”

Sassaflash turned around to retreat from the office and the club as fast as she could. She had no idea where her hooves would take her, but she didn’t care. Tears built up in her eyes as she ran faster than ever.

Why do they all hate me?

They might all hate her and love Octavia. But there was one thing she was sure about. Sassaflash would rescue her Vinyl. She would rescue her from that earth pony’s grasp, no matter the cost.