Vinyl whistled happily on her way home. In her magical grip was a roll of parchment, on her back, a sack full of bits. She knew Octavia needed her rest and she wasn’t done anyways, so she decided to go home. The theatre wasn’t ready anyways and she wanted everything to be perfect for her mare.

I did it, Vinyl grinned. Now I just need somepony to renovate the building.

She was pretty sure that that couldn’t be too hard to find. After all, she knew there were a few companies specializing in building and restoration. The only thing left on her mind was if the rest of her bits were enough.

“If it's not enough, I have to find a new way. I can’t let Tavi down,” Vinyl said to herself. “I’m not going to let her down!”

Easier said than done. Neon surely won’t lend you more bits.

“Shut up, brain, I know what I’m doing,” Vinyl growled silently.

That would be the first time ever.

Vinyl chose to ignore her inner voice, not wanting to look like an insane mare to anypony around her. Still, she knew the voice was somewhat right. The stallion at the city hall told her it would cost several hundred thousand bits if she was unlucky, yet she didn’t think much of it.

Without knowing, and deep in her thoughts, she reached the apartment complex. She blinked before sighing and entering, taking the elevator to her floor and her apartment. She blinked again at the sight of the grey mare dusting around.

“Tavi, your home already!?”

“I’m sorry, dear, but Octavia has to stay in the hospital,” Valeria chuckled sadly. “But I thank you for still mistaking me with my daughter, even at my age.”

Vinyl cocked her head. “You don’t look old.”

Valeria’s chuckling turning into full size laughter. “Oh Vinyl, I’m far, far older than you think. How old do you think is Octavia?”

“Uhm. Twenty?”

“She is twenty-six, and I had her in my twenties. Now think.”

Vinyl’s jaw dropped. “You’re over forty? No way!”

“Yes, way,” Valeria sighed. “But once your life goes on for that long you don’t feel the age anymore. I stopped really celebrating my birthday when I got forty.”

“Oh. Well, maybe it is time to celebrate with your family again.”

Valeria smiled and shook her head. “Maybe. What do you got there?” she asked then, pointing at the scroll still in Vinyl’s grip.

“Look for yourself,” Vinyl grinned and levitated the scroll on a table near the mare.

It took some time, but as the seconds passed, Valeria’s eyes grew wider and wider. “You really did this? For Octavia?” Before Vinyl could answer Valeria rushed to her and hugged her, nearly crushing Vinyl. “Thank you.”

“Too. Tight,” Vinyl sputtered out and Valeria quickly let go while the white mare sported a blush. “Tavi is my everything, I would go to Tartarus and back for her. There is just one problem with the building.”

“And that would be?”

“It’s not safe and has to be renovated,” Vinyl sighed and took the parchment back in her magical grip before continuing. “I should find somepony that can turn it into a gem, but I barely have a hundred thousand bits left.”

Valeria looked at Vinyl and saw that it meant everything to her, that she wanted to do it no matter the costs. Smiling, she remembered the time when she first met her husband. They weren’t that much different. “Let me tell you something,” she started, her mind already settled. “Give me the parchment and let me take care of everything. You take those bits to the bank and save a bit for you and my daughter.”

“But… I can’t accept this! The renovation could cost several hundred thousand bits. It’s too much!” Vinyl complained.

“Shush! You helped me, and especially my daughter. Accept it as a small thank you,” Valeria smiled.

“Rather a big thank you…”

“Give me the parchment, Vinyl.”

“Octavia will kill me.”

Valeria chuckled. “No, she won’t, because we will both say that it was you and you alone.”

“Valeria…”

“Vinyl, accept it. I won’t give you any other choice,” Valeria smiled. “Now be a dear and give me the parchment.”

Vinyl growled for a while before sighing and levitating the parchment to Valeria. “Alright. Now what?”

“You let me take care of everything. I’ll tell you once it is done.” Valeria paused before looking Vinyl straight into the eyes. “I trust that you’ll look after Octavia while I’m busy doing this.”

“I will.”

Valeria smiled as she took the parchment into her mouth and walked out of the apartment, leaving a stunned and thoughtful Vinyl behind her.

Octavia blinked her eyes slowly open, letting loose a small yawn. As soon as she took in her surroundings, she knew something was very wrong. She was on a grey leather couch; the very same couch she had in her old house.

But she wasn’t in her old house anymore, was she? She was in the hospital with her mother and Vinyl at her side.

The grey mare hit her head slightly with her hoof. Besides a quick, sharp pain, nothing changed. It was still her old living room with the grey couch. Before she could start to think everything over, a loud knock from the hallway startled her.

Before she could see what was wrong, the knocking came again, this time much louder. “Octavia, what are you doing that is taking so long?! We are going to be late!”

This is way too familiar…

“For Celestia’s sake, Octavia, please get out here!”

She slowly made her way to the hallway. This was very familiar. It was just months ago, but she still could see it clearly. Just that, at that time, she was in her bathroom, not on the couch in the living room.

There was another loud knock and this time she heard the sound of the poor wood from the door being nearly smashed she remembered so well.

“Octavia, where are you? Is everything alright?” Toe-Tapper’s voice sounded more concerned now, which she remembered as well.

Nearing the door, she carefully asked, “Toe-Tapper, is that really you?”

“Please, open the door, Octavia! We’re going to be late!”

That’s not exactly how I remember it.

Quickly grabbing her Cello from a stand she opened the door to reveal Toe-Tapper with a very worried expression. “There you are! Let’s go, we’re late!”

The quiet walk was exactly the same from her memories. They walked quickly without much words, reaching the Concert Hall in a matter of minutes.

Wait. There is no Concert Hall anymore. Father bought it… What is going on?!

Octavia was starting to panic slightly, but still followed Toe-Tapper into the building, right into Baritone’s arms.

“What took you so long?” he asked annoyed. “Toe-Tapper, you were supposed to get her over an hour ago!”

Feeling the urge to step in Octavia sighed, “Please stop it, Baritone. It is not his fault, it is mine.”

“Well, how could I be mad with you, Octavia?” Baritone suddenly smiled. “Now hurry up, on the stage!”

Octavia was scared. Everything went like somepony had decided to rewind the tape in her head and play her biggest fear over again. At that time of the past she wasn’t ever about to admit it, but she feared the moment that could come after the concert.

Her fear reached its apex as they bowed in front of the publicum, the piece at its end. She had no intention of going home, but she still silently packed her cello up as Baritone went to her side.

“I’ve known you for six years, Octavia. I have seen you playing, crying and thinking. Every time you play, you concentrate on your cello and you become fully focused on it. This time it… it was different.”

“Huh?” she asked, a bit surprised.

“You smiled. At one point you even cried while playing! Something’s bothering you Octavia, isn’t it? Whatever it is, it must be quite a big deal.”

Octavia hesitated before smiling sadly. “I better go home. I don’t feel so well, Baritone. Have a nice evening.”

She practically runned out of the concert hall, trying to avoid everypony on her way. Outside, she stopped and as the first flake hit her nose, she shivered.

Oh no, please no, she silently begged, but continued her way.

Her heart beat a mile per hour as she walked the way home she took over a hundred times in her life, familiar with every street. As soon as she was near the small alley she remembered so well, she heard it. The quick, laboured breathing that was barely hearable.

Her heart stopped as she followed the sound, walking into the alley. She noticed everything, Vinyl completely covered by the snow while just the blue of her mane poked through it.

She couldn’t think anymore. Vinyl was so cold. The love of her life, freezing to death. She didn’t want to think anymore as her vision blurred. “No, Vinyl, no! Please, don’t go! SOMEPONY HELP ME!”

Everything was silent as the breathing slowed, more and more until she couldn’t hear anything anymore. Poking and embracing her mare, she tried to wake her up, but to no use. Her tears flowed freely as she snuggled into her mare, feeling the heartbeat growing slower, frantic even as if her heart wanted to continue, then nothing anymore.

“Vinyl… no, please no. Don’t leave me, I love you!” Octavia sobbed as the snow covered her and her world turned black. “No…”

Vinyl was lost in her thoughts on her way to the hospital. After deposing the bits at the bank, only one thought left her without peace. She was worried about Octavia and their future. It was more than clear that Legretto wouldn’t leave them alone. And now that Valeria was on their side he would only grow worse.

Why can’t life be easy for once?

It was a question she had no answer for. Ever since her birth, life threw rocks into her way, trying to stop her one way or another. School, her mother, her career. Everything gone until she met Octavia.

Tavi, she smiled. She turned everything around. Giving her a chance, a place to live even if she was unbearable at first. She gave her love; more than she ever hoped to get.

Now everything seemed to reset to start with Octavia’s father coming into their lives. Vinyl knew that he would do more than just throwing rocks in their way, and she also knew he had the bits to back everything up.

The question is, how can I protect us from him? I doubt that Valeria can do much against him.

Her thoughts wouldn’t leave her alone until she reached the hospital, going up to Octavia’s room. What she found there, shocked her and stopped her heart.

Octavia was squirming in her bed, hooves thrashing around and her eyes fluttering.

“No, please, don’t go. I need you,” she mumbled in her sleep, her expression full of pain.

What is she dreaming? Vinyl asked herself as she walked closer. Her answer came soon.

“Vinyl, don’t go! You can’t leave me here! Don’t die, please!” Octavia suddenly sobbed, tears making their way down her muzzle.

Vinyl didn’t waste any time. She went to her side and shook her, “Tavi, wake up! You’re dreaming!”

Octavia trembled more and more in her grip until her eyes shot open. “What?! Vinyl! You’re alive!” she cried, hugging the unicorn to her with all her might. “I thought you left me,” she sobbed.

“I would never leave you, Tavi,” Vinyl calmly said, nuzzling her marefriend. “You just had a bad dream, that’s all.”

“Oh Vinyl, it was all like those months ago. You in the alley… I found you, but this time you died in my hooves!” Octavia cried, clinging on Vinyl.

“I’m here,” cooed Vinyl, “I won’t leave you, you are my everything, after all.”

“Please, never go,” Octavia whispered as she slowly broke away from the embrace. “I can’t live without you anymore.”

Vinyl chuckled. “As long as I live, I will never leave you, and give you all the love I have.”

“So poetic, who are you and what did you do to Vinyl?” Octavia asked with a faint smile.

“As I said, as much as I’m rubbing off on you, you’re rubbing off on me too.”

“You should still never change.”

“As you wish, my lady,” Vinyl replied before leaning in for a kiss. One Octavia was all too happy to lean in.

Octavia poured every single emotion, every drop of love she had into the kiss, making Vinyl coo slightly. Before the unicorn could react, her tongue pushed forward, teasing Vinyl’s that soon replied with a gentle care.

They had no idea how long the kiss took, maybe it was an eternity, but still too short for both mares. Octavia smiled before looking around the room and blinking confused.

“Where did my mom go?”

“She had to take care of a few things, she will be back later,” Vinyl smiled, guilt creeping over her. “But I maybe found a place where you and the orchestra can play.”

“Really?” Octavia asked. “That would be wonderful! You truly are the best!” she said before leaning in for another kiss. “What would I do without you?” she asked after they broke again.

“You would still play at the concert hall, just without a distraction like me,” Vinyl said.

“Don’t.”

“What?”

“Don’t think that of you,” Octavia growled. “You are a wonderful mare. Yes. You have flaws, but so do I and so does everypony! Before you, I never had a life. I didn’t go out much, stayed in my home, drank tea and coffee and did nothing but go to the rehearsals and plays. You changed it, you gave me a life,” she stopped to kiss a tear from Vinyl’s muzzle away. “You gave me a life full of hope, love. Thanks to you, I feel cared for!”

Vinyl had no idea what to say, so simply hugged Octavia closer again. “Thank you, Tavi. You are my beautiful star in this cruel world.”

Life might have plans. And life might not be easy. But both mares knew that as long as they had each other, everything would be possible. And no matter what life would throw at them, they would shield and love each other until death decided to take them from this world.

Author's Notes:

Here it is *chuckles* This road is slowly approaching it's end, but I'm glad ya'll stayed with me!
Only three to four more chapters to go
The next chapter will be a special character once again, but I won't tell you more
See ya next week!