Sorry, guys but I got hit with inspiration while I was driving home from scouring the city to find food on Thanksgiving. A lot harder than it seems. Well, this chapter is mostly about Rythm, and trust me, it'll be the only one. Warning: It might get a little dark further in the chapter.

Chapter 2: Dirge

The next day, a white unicorn mare with a black mane with and tail with pink stripes walked into the waiting room of Phillydelphia memorial hospital, and approached the help desk, smiling a shy smile. Today was the day that she was going to tell Deep Bass how she felt. She was going to tell him how much she loved him. That she had always loved him, even back when they were foals in school together in music class. As she walked, she became lost in thought. What if he doesn't feel the same? What if he does? What if he hates me? Oh, dear... He hates me, doesn't he? The moment she was at the desk, the receptionist looked up at the mare, and spoke, breaking Rythm from her thoughts. "How can I help you, miss?"

Rythm's demeanor quickly changed from her false confidence to sheer helplessness. "I uh... I'm here to see Deep Bass." She was almost afraid she'd be confused for one of the fanfillies who were trying to get in to see him the night before as she and Major Chords came to visit.

The receptionist raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Rythm, then recognized her. "Oh, of course, Miss Rythm. He checked out this morning... if you could call it that."

Rythm instantly became concerned. "Uh... what do you mean?"

The receptionist rubbed her forehead with her hoof. "Well, he trashed the room, kicked out the window, and flew out of it."

Rythm thanked the receptionist and walked out of the waiting room, and then broke into a mad dash for Bass's house. She was about halfway there when he saw a familiar gold unicorn walking down the street. She ran up to her, and yelled in her soft voice "Treble! Treeeble!"

Treble turned just in time to see Rythm darting at her, and stopped quickly, the frantic white mare slamming into the nearby building, then fall to her rump, sitting in front of Treble. "Rythm, what are you doing? Don't you have something to do right now, like finding a replacement vocalist and bassist?" Heavy amounts of pure liquid sarcasm mixed with trace amounts of anger in her tone. "Because if you need one, he's sitting on the couch, screaming wildly, cursing your names. But hay, it sounds better than anything else you'll find this side of Equestria." And with that, she glared at Rythm, and continued on in her path.

Rythm stayed where she sat, and her heart sank, almost wanting to die on the spot. "Did we really hurt him that badly? Dammit, Chords... why did you have to convince me to do that?!" She then hopped up to her hooves and continued running. "Oh no! I hope he hasn't done anything stupid."

Rythm knocked on the door, hearing loud, blasting music coming from inside the house, she knocked one more time, a lot harder, and the music stopped. "Bass, open up! I want to talk to you!"

The door cracked open, and a Teal eye looked out at Rythm, and the door swung open, revealing none other than the pale pegasus, Deep Bass, standing at the door. When he spoke, his  "What do you want, traitor?"

"I came to see you because I was worried about y-"

"Worried? About me?!" Bass interrupted the mare. "You're a damned liar, Rythm! If you were worried about me, You and Chords wouldn't have kicked me out of the band!"

The mare's big blue eyes became filled with tears. "Bass... it wasn't my ide-"

Bass interrupted yet again. "Wasn't your idea?! Horse shit, Rythm! Both you and Chords gave me the boot!"

Rythm's tears were now pouring, and she was still speaking softly, her voice lowering in volume as she cowered from Bass's anger. "I... It's not... It's not like that, Bass... I..."

Once more, Rythm was interrupted by the angry Bass. "You, what, Rythm? I'd love to hear your fucking excuse for what the two of you did to me!"

Rythm's sadness was instantly replaced with pure agony as she yelled "I love you, Bass! I always have! But I hate what you've become, dammit! You've become a monster! It's like I don't even know you! The Deep Bass I know would never treat me, or anypony in Equestria like this! The Deep Bass I know treats everypony with kindness, no matter what they've done!"

Bass yelled one last time at Rythm. "Then I guess the Deep Bass you know is dead!" And with that, he slammed the door shut, locking it behind him, and the blairing music started up again.

Rythm was back to crying, now hysterically, and speaking through sobs, quietly and to herself. "If... the Bass I loved... is dead, then... the only thing... left to do... is join him." And at that, she trudged back to her house down the street, not looking up once, and stil crying. Everypony on the street watched her, wondering what could possibly have caused this, but nopony was willing to ask her.

That same night, just after the moon had be raised and the sky painted with stars, Bass was asleep amidst all the chaos of his wrecked living room, which he, himself had wrecked in his rage. In his restless slumber, he would dream of his days in school as a foal with Rythm, and their friendship, and all the feelings he had felt for her in his days, Rythm's words echoing in his head over and over again. Then he saw a vision of Rythm smiling at him, full grown, with her beautiful smile, then he saw a gruesome image. An image of Rythm laying on the floor, an empty bottle of pills on one side, and the the empty bottle of liquor on the other. Then he shot to consciousness, waking in a cold sweat, and ran out the door, spreading his long wings, and taking off into the sky, toward Rythm's house. The cool night sky only allowed him to move faster through the cool air.

After a few seconds of quick flying, he reached Rythm's house, and saw that the light was still on, and the door cracked, light seeping out. He flew into the door, and spotted Rythm, sitting on her couch, and finishing the last bit of the bottle of Whiskey he had given her for her 21st birthday. He was too late. He sat on the couch, next to her, and placed her head against his chest. "I'm so sorry, Rythm... I was a fool, and now I'm going to lose you. I... I love you too, Rythm." He said, with tears rolling down his cheek.

Rythm looked up at Bass. "No... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for listening to Chords... I... I didn't know what I was doing... I was just such a mess after you were sent to the hospital... I never left your side until you woke up... when Chords pulled me out. And... You really mean it, Bass? You really do love me?"

Bass forced a smile, and nodded, a tear dripping onto Rythm's forehead. "Yes, Rythm... I really do love you." He then leaned down and kissed her softly on her forehead, just below her horn. She then turned her head, and kissed him passionately. Bass had never felt this before. He had never really been in love, and he wanted to savor this moment for as long as he could until it was over.

The two would spend the next thirty minutes kissing each other passionately until it happened. As Bass was looking into Rythm's eyes for what he didn't know would be the last time, she began convulsing wildly, her eyes rolling back into her head, then she fell limp.

Bass screamed in agony as he held the corpse of the one he loved in his arms. The next morning, Major Chords came to retrieve Rythm for the daily band practice, only to find the door unlocked. He walked in casually, and instantly, his eyes went wide, as he witnessed the sight of Deep Bass clutching the recently deceased Rythm in his arms, crying hysterically. "Sweet Celestia."

The funeral was three days later, and Bass, Chords, and Treble, as well as a few others were all in attendance to the procession. Bass couldn't restrain his tears behind his signature glasses as he looked upon the casket, and his memories of that night torturously played over and over again in his mind. He couldn't even feel his sister gently patting his back. As they began burying the casket, he softly murmured under his sobs "I'm so sorry, Rythm... I love you."

((Okay, guys. Not gonna lie. I even started crying writing this one. Maybe my music selection wasn't helping any, but still. Emotional stuff. I've already got ideas for future chapters, so fuck yeah.))

Next Chapter: Chapter 3: White Sparrows Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 25 Minutes