Octavia and Vinyl stood at the kitchen sink in Tavi's home, the two idly chatting as they finished cleaning their dishes from breakfast that morning. Upon returning from the lake the previous night, Vinyl immediately told Octavia all about what had happened between she and Luna, how the alicorn had apologized profusely to her and promised to protect the unicorn until her baby was born. This news made Octavia practically begin jumping for joy, especially when she saw the complete change in her friend's attitude from one of melancholy to one of relative happiness. The two mares stayed up for a few hours more, enjoying one another's company for what seemed like the first time in forever. Even after they both headed off to bed, Tavi stayed up for awhile longer, positively ecstatic that she'd seemingly gotten back her best friend, at least for the time being.

When she did finally get to sleep, Luna visited Octavia in her dream and addressed the cellist herself, informing her of Warden's position at the moment, assuring her that he was completely on their side despite whatever it may seem like between he and Filthy. Tavi agreed to keep his true intentions a secret as well as to speak to Vinyl's other friends and inform them of everything she's been told. Before departing for the night, Octavia over and over again thanked the princess of the night for everything she'd done to help Vinyl and vowed to do everything she could to assist Luna in her mission to keep Vinyl safe and sound. After that, Octavia had to admit, she'd experienced the best night's sleep she'd had in a very long time.

"So, Vinyl," Tavi began, handing a pan to the unicorn who grabbed it in her magical grip and began to dry it off, "you wouldn't happen to have anything planned for today, would you?"

"No, not really." replied Vinyl, setting the pan down on the nearby drying rack, "Why?"

"Well, it's just... I was thinking," Octavia stammered, blushing a little as she turned her gaze towards Vinyl, "since you're feeling better now, perhaps we could spend the day together. Like we used to."

Vinyl turned her own eyes towards Octavia to see the gray mare beaming wide at her while blushing heavily.

"That does sound... good." Vinyl said hesitantly, setting her dish towel aside, "But... I don't know if I'm ultimately comfortable with being out in public just yet..."

"Well, we don't have to do too much, really." Octavia assured her, "I was thinking about just grabbing some lunch, and I've been needing to visit Rarity to get a new bowtie for my show next week. After that we can just spend some time at home."

Vinyl felt a slight unease as her gaze drifted away from Octavia before her and towards the front door. Though Tavi was right in saying that Vinyl had been feeling much better since meeting with Luna the night before, she was still very much worried about how the ponies of Ponyville would act towards her. After all, it had only been a few days ago that she'd been on the front page of the local newspaper for her recent admission to the hospital (a reason which was a complete and total lie, by the way), and only a few weeks ago that Josh had been sent away. The ponies of Ponyville had expressed so much ire towards she and her human before, and she doubted that a few weeks going by would be enough to change their attitudes regarding her. However, as she turned her attention back towards Octavia, she couldn't help but feel a surge of relief wash over her.

Tavi and her other friends had been there for her through everything that she'd had to endure, never once even thinking of abandoning her to join in the mobs that had so easily turned on her and her lover. Even after the dust had settled, they were always there, whether she truly appreciated them at the time or not. If Tavi was so willing to stay by my side before, I'm sure I'd be more than safe sticking with her Vinyl thought to herself quietly.

"Okay, Tavi. I'd love to go out with you today." she said finally.

"Oh wonderful!" Octavia exclaimed, clapping her hooves together happily, "I can't wait! Oh, it's so good to have you back, Vinyl."

Octavia reached out and embraced her friend tightly, with Vinyl happily returning the gesture for her exuberant friend.

"It's really good to be back, Tavi." she said, pulling Octavia even closer in their already tight hug.

After they broke apart, Tavi made her way from the sink, muttering to herself the things she needed to get done as Vinyl slowly trailed after her. The two mares made their way back up the stairs, with Octavia heading to her room to begin cleaning herself up for the day while Vinyl retreated to her own to do the same. The unicorn sat down before her own vanity nearby and immediately scooped up her hairbrush in her magical grip, running it through her shaggy, two-toned blue mane in an attempt to work out all the knots that had developed in it over the course of the night.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Octavia said suddenly, making her way into Vinyl's room, a half tied pink bowtie draped around her neck, "Before we come back home, I was thinking of picking up a bottle of wine for us. I'm afraid I drank the last one a little... faster than I'm willing to admit. Would you be alright with that, or should I just get some sparkling cider instead?"

"I'm alright with either one, to be honest." Vinyl replied, turning to face her friend, "Whatever you're feeling like is fine with me."

"I only ask because... well..." Tavi hesitated, her eyes drifting to Vinyl's belly.

"I think I'm early along enough in my pregnancy that a glass or two of wine shouldn't be too bad." Vinyl said, giggling a little as Octavia's eyes shot back upwards and she blushed bright red again.

"Yes, well..." Octavia said, clearing her throat.

"Really, Tavi. It'll be fine." Vinyl said, setting her hair brush aside making her way towards her friend, an assuring smile painted across her face.

"If you insist." Octavia replied, "By the way... have you given any thought as to your... plans for the baby? Like, what you're going to do once it's born?"

"Yeah, I have." Vinyl said slowly, "For the most part at least."

"And what would that be?"

Vinyl opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off as a loud knock sounded from the front door, drawing the attention of both mares.

"Who the devil could that be?" Octavia asked, turning and making her way down the stairs, "Derpy already delivered the mail today."

Vinyl trailed after Octavia as they both descended the stairs, making their way towards the front door to investigate who this mysterious visitor could be. Upon reaching the entryway, Tavi glanced back towards Vinyl who was standing in the middle of the living room not too far behind her. The two mares gave each other a quick nod of approval before Octavia slowly opened the door, revealing two brown-coated stallions standing before them, one a unicorn and the other an earth pony who Octavia and Vinyl recognized all too well.

"Good morning, Ms. Philharmonica." crooned Filthy Rich, a soft smile on his face as he and Warden behind him took notice of Octavia.

"Y-y-you!" Tavi hissed, her eyes wide in shock at seeing the stallion before her, "W-what in all of Equestria are you doing here?"

"I was merely in the neighborhood and figured I ought to pay you and Ms. Scratch a visit." Filthy replied simply, peering around Octavia slightly and catching a brief glimpse of Vinyl standing statue still in the living room, "Would you mind if I came inside for a moment?"

"Of course I mind!" Tavi spat, her shocked expression from before now completely transformed into one of seething anger and hatred, "After everything that you have put us through, after all the heartbreak and pain you've wrought with your evil ways, you would dare to stand on the front porch of my home and address me as if nothing's ever happened?! There is no way in bloody Tartarus that I'm allowing you in my home for even a second, whether you're the damned mayor of Ponyville or not!"

"Now, Octavia," Filthy began, clearly not at all put off by Tavi's harsh words, "I can assure you with the utmost certainty that I have not come here with any sort of ill intention for you or Ms. Scratch. In fact, I'm here as a show of good will. I have an offer for Ms. Scratch, one that can hopefully mend things between the two of us."

"You have got some nerve, haven't you?!" Octavia shreiked, standing tall and now fronting on the stallion before her she so despised, "You think that it's that simple?! You think that your so called 'offer' will do anything to make us forget what you've done? You truly are a disgusting stallion, Filthy Rich. There's a special place in Tartarus for ponies like you, and unless you get away from my home in the next ten seconds, I'd be more than happy to send you there early!"

"Now now, Ms. Philharmonica," Filthy said gently, smirking at the fuming mare before him, "let's not go around making threats like those. After all, I'd hate to see Warden here have to haul you off for something like that."

Filthy gestured behind him to Warden, who stared stone-faced back at Octavia. The gray earth pony opened her mouth as if to respond but quickly stopped herself, realizing she'd rather not say anything that could compromise Warden's position in helping keep Vinyl safe.

"Now, I'll ask you one more time, since you seem much more cooperative now," Filthy continued, realizing that he'd managed to placate the cellist, "may I come inside?"

Slowly, begrudgingly, Octavia stepped aside, allowing the two stallions to enter her home. Once they were both inside, she quickly shut the door and wheeled around, a sour look still painting her face as she walked over to take her place beside Vinyl.

"Hello there, Ms. Scratch." Filthy said, nodding towards Vinyl, "It's nice to see you up and on your hooves so soon after your time in the hospital."

Vinyl said nothing to that, bringing on a rather awkward silence between the four ponies standing in the room.

"Just get on with it." Octavia said impatiently, "We've not got all day."

"Right." Filthy replied, "I was merely exchanging pleasantries, but we should get to the matter at hoof. Please have a seat."

Vinyl and Octavia exchanged quick glances before making their way towards the nearby couch, taking a seat as Filthy stepped before them, Warden in tow.

"As I'm sure we are all no doubt aware, the last few months have been... rather tumultuous around here, for everypony." Warden began, pacing slowly back and forth before the two mares seated on the couch before him, "Tensions have been very high, and as a result I made a few critical errors regarding my treatment of you, Ms. Scratch. Unfortunately, this means I unintentionally ended up alienating you from your peers here in town, and for that I am extremely sorry."

"Really? That's what you're sorry for?" Vinyl asked, doing everything she could to keep her rage from overtaking her speech, "You persecuted my coltfriend to no end, had him arrested for attacking you after you called me a slut, had him tossed out of Equestria entirely, and you're saying you're sorry for making me look bad?"

"Ms. Scratch, you may not see it now, but I did what I did with the best of intentions." Filthy replied simply, "I will admit that I wish I could have gone about things a bit differently than I did, but it was all for the safety and security of the citizens of Ponyville and Equestria as a whole, I promise you that."

"Josh was never a threat to anypony and you knew it, you lying bastard!" Octavia suddenly screamed, jumping up from her seat, her eyes aflame with hatred and anger as she glared at Filthy, "You can feed everypony your rubbish story about wanting to protect them from him, but don't expect us to buy into your lies!"

Warden took a step towards Octavia, giving her a stern glare and silently mouthing for her to sit back down. The gray mare again prepared to retort, but quickly caught herself, retreating back to her seat on the couch, her angry eyes now locked on Warden who gave her a small nod of approval.

"...As I was saying," Filthy continued once Octavia had rejoined Vinyl, "I feel very bad that you were caught up in the middle of all this, and I'd like to make it up to you in some way."

"What exactly did you have in mind?" Vinyl asked.

"Well, seeing as I'm now mayor of this fine town, I have a bit more sway than I used to, and I've decided to help you in any way I possibly can, Ms. Scratch."

Vinyl's previously stone stiff expression quickly changed to a quizzical one, her gaze drifting to Warden nearby who gave her a small nod.

"How exactly do you intend to help me?" Vinyl finally inquired, wracking her brain to figure out what Filthy might have in mind.

"My mission is to help you truly get back on your hooves and get out there so you can start living your life again." Filthy replied, a wide, prideful smile now overtaking his face, "If you're in need of a reference for a job, I'll gladly provide you with one. If you're in need of a place of your own in the future, I'll more than willingly help you attain a space to call your own. Anything you may need, Ms. Scratch, don't hesitate to come to me, and I'll do everything in my power to see you get it, within reason of course."

Vinyl and Octavia's jaws both fell open and the two mares exchanged glances, neither one truly able to comprehend what they'd just heard from Filthy Rich.

"That's... your offer?" Octavia stammered, her voice filled with shock and disbelief, "After you did everything you could to make our lives a living nightmare, after wreaking so much havoc... you're going to go out of your way to help Vinyl get back on her hooves?"

"That's the basic idea, yes."

"You... you're a damned fool!" Tavi shouted, causing Warden and Filthy to jump a little with the sudden yell, "There is no way in bloody Tartarus that Vinyl would even consider a thing like that, and for you to even be so dense as to think that this little offer you're bringing will erase everything you've done to her is complete and total madness and you know it!"

"Ms. Philharmonica, I have made it more than clear from the time I arrived here that I have no ill intentions for you or Ms. Scratch, yet this entire time, I've been met with nothing but hostility!"

"Did it never occur to you that there's a more than reasonable explanation for that, you imbecile?!" Tavi screamed back, once again jumping up from her position on the couch and approaching Filthy Rich, "Perhaps I should spell it out for you once more, since you seem to be incapable of understanding basic English. YOU. RUINED. HER. LIFE!"

"And as I've made it known, I'm sorry for what she's had to endure." Filthy replied through gritted teeth, now glaring daggers at the earth pony before him.

"SHE HAD TO ENDURE IT BECAUSE YOU'RE A DAMN BIGOT!"

"Enough!"

A stunned silence fell in the room as the attention of Octavia, Filthy Rich, and Warden shifted towards Vinyl. She had stood up from her place on the couch and was staring intently at Filthy Rich and her friend before her.

"I'm tired of listening to the two of you fucking yelling at each other!" she said, giving her friend a stern look, "For Celestia's sake, Tavi. Don't I get a say in this whole thing at all?"

"V-Vinyl..." Octavia stammered, her voice now as soft as a whisper as she stared disbelievingly at her best friend, "You're not seriously going to listen to this maniac, are you?"

"Tavi, he's making this offer to me, not you, okay?" Vinyl replied sternly, "I'm more than capable of making my own decisions. You don't have to speak for me, and you certainly don't have to yell for me."

Octavia's deep violet eyes began to well up with tears as she looked upon Vinyl, completely aghast at what she was hearing, that Vinyl was willing to listen to the stallion who had systematically torn her apart emotionally.

"Now, about your offer." Vinyl began as Octavia, clearly in a daze, drifted back over to the couch and plopped down, her jaw hanging low as she looked on with a never ending stare, "What's the catch?"

"Catch?"

"I'm not an idiot, Mayor Rich. This clearly comes with some sort of catch, and I'm not about to agree to a single thing without knowing what that is."

"I can assure you, Ms.Scratch, there's no catch here." Filthy replied proudly, his usual smirk returning to his face as he spoke, "I'm making you this offer as a show of good will between the two of us. I'd hate to see you miss out on any opportunities you may have in the future because of what's gone over the last few months. You have just as much of a right to your life as anypony else."

Silence fell again among the gathered ponies, with Vinyl quietly contemplating Filthy Rich's words while Warden and Octavia looked on in awe at her decision to take his offer into consideration.

"Okay then, Mayor Rich." Vinyl finally said after what seemed like an eternity, "I accept your offer."

"You do?" the other three replied in unison, with Octavia and Warden glancing at one another quickly, neither pony able to comprehend what they had just heard from the unicorn.

"Uh... well then... that's... that's wonderful, Ms. Scratch!" Filthy said, clearly unable to believe what had just transpired himself, "I'm very glad to hear that you're willing to allow me to help you."

"This doesn't erase anything, just so you know." Vinyl replied, "I'm not willing to forgive you for anything just yet, but I do appreciate you offering your assistance."

"Of course. I completely understand, and I hope that one day, perhaps you and I can be on better terms."

"We'll see."

A heavy, uncomfortable silence filled the room again, with Vinyl having nothing more to say and the other three ponies unable to find any more words of their own. Warden and Octavia merely stared at Vinyl, still in shock that not only did she not shoot down Filthy Rich, but that she actually accepted his offer. Octavia felt complete and utter betrayal as she looked upon her friend, a mare who had gone through so much, who'd actually attempted to take her own life after Filthy ripped her entire world apart and who had also just agreed to let him help get her life back in order. Her vision blurred as tears welled up even more in her large eyes, slowly trailing down her face as she sat in a stunned and sad silence, unable to look away from Vinyl.

"Well, I do believe that Warden and I should be getting on our way." Filthy replied after a long while, "Thanks again very much for agreeing to see me, Ms. Scratch. If there's anything at all you need, please, don't hesitate to ask me."

"There's just one thing for right now." Vinyl replied, following Filthy as he made his way towards the front door, "There's a few things I left in my old home with Josh that I'd like to get, and I need somepony to help me gather it up."

"I'm sure that Warden here would be more than willing to assist you in that matter, wouldn't you Warden?"

"Uh... Of course sir." Warden replied slowly, finally forcing his thoughts away from his utter disbelief and following after Filthy as he made his way out of the house.

"It's all settled then." Filthy happily replied, turning back to address Vinyl, "Whenever you're ready to gather your things, just let Warden know and I'll send him with you to help."

Vinyl nodded in agreement, which Filthy returned eagerly.

"It's been a pleasure meeting with you today." he added, turning and making his way back into town, Warden following closely behind him, "Good day, Ms. Scratch."

Once both stallions had exited the house, Vinyl closed the door with her magic and turned back to Octavia who was now almost sobbing on the couch nearby.

"Tavi," the unicorn said softly, approaching her friend and gently beginning to rub her back with a hoof, "it's alright. He's gone now."

"It's alright?!" Tavi snapped, jumping up and glaring at Vinyl through watery eyes, "How in Equestria can you say that it's alright?! You... you agreed to that maniac's offer! After everything he put you through, after all the heartache and pain he's brought upon you, you just stood there and played his little game!"

"Well, he was offering." Vinyl said calmly, a smirk closely resembling Filthy's now crossing her face.

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Octavia, do you honestly think I don't know what he's up to here?" Vinyl replied, "I saw right through all that bullshit the moment he brought it up. He's trying to bribe me so I'll stay quiet and cooperate with him, so he can stay the mayor."

Octavia's previous look of anger at her friend vanished almost entirely as she spoke, now replaced by one of confusion.

"He sees me as a threat, since I could probably convince the ponies here to turn on him if I reveal the truth of how I ended up in the hospital. He's too paranoid about his place, so he thinks that offering to help me out will keep me silent and content. But, what that asshat didn't seem to understand is that his offer'll benefit me more than he even knows. I'll stay silent for him and play ball, but I'll see to it that I milk his offer for all it's worth while I can. Pretty smart, huh?"

Vinyl beamed wide at Octavia, who had completely stopped crying and was now staring at her best friend in absolute amazement at her genius.

"We'd probably better get back upstairs and keep getting ready if we're gonna go out today." Vinyl said, making her way back towards the staircase and back to her room, "After all, you look like you could use a new bowtie and a good hair brushing."

The unicorn giggled to herself as she disappeared up the stairs, Octavia staring after her as she went. Eventually, Tavi herself let out her own series of giggles, following after her extremely clever friend, playing the scene over again in her head and seeing how masterfully Vinyl had managed to get Filthy right where she wanted him to be before agreeing to participate in his ultimately idiotic plan. Josh, how proud you'd be of her right now Tavi thought to herself as she made her way back into her own room to continue preparing for her day out with her best friend.