Octavius the Britbong, Part 6 [Octavius, Vinyl Scratch

>The smell of brine fills your nostrils as you and Vinyl trot down the promenade of the local seashore
>Ponies excitedly whisper to one-another as they see the two of you, backing away slightly as you pass
>Turning towards your friend, you find your eyes wandering along the hemlines of her clothing
>A strap of bright pink cloth wraps around her chest, tied into a tight double-knot on the top
>Further back, a pair of white-and-blue floral boardshorts conceal her hindquarters from your wayward gaze
>They're actually a fairly similar design to your own, now that you think about it
>Granted, yours are more green than blue, but the point remains
>Your eyes shifting upwards, you almost feel hypnotised by the back-and-forth sway of Vinyl's tail
>Fortunately, however, a gull swoops in mere moments later, its piercing screeches snapping you out of your trance
>Hastily, you turn your attention towards Vinyl's face before she notices you looking... elsewhere
"So, uh... Vinyl."
>"Yeah, 'Tavius?"
>You look around the promenade and note the various stalls and attractions around you, including the big, green Ferris wheel in the distance
"What'd you wanna do first?"
>Your friend's eyes wander about for a moment before seemingly locking onto a nearby ice cream parlour
>"How about there," Vinyl asks, pointing excitedly
"What, the ice cream place?"

>"No, dude," she explains, doing her best to suppress a chuckle, "the place next to it."
>Looking slightly to the left, you spot what looks like a hybrid between a stall and a large wagon
>Beneath its shade is a boisterous, red-and-white maned mare in a straw hat, calling upon passersby to "roll up, roll up!"
"Eh, s'pose we could check that out."
>Cautiously, the two of you approach the mobile stall
>Before you can get a decent look inside for yourself, you're intercepted by the mare from before
>"Hello, good sir," she says, greeting you cheerily. "Welcome to Shim and Sham's Amusements and Enhancements!"
>You look at the pony, perplexed
"Wait... Enhancements an' Amusements? You what, mate?"
>"It's no joke, good sir," the mare insists, taking you by the hoof. "Amusements AND Enhancements!"
>Another mare pops her head out over the stall's counter, this one with a much longer mane. "We've got all sorts of pick-me-ups in stock over here in Enhancements, don't we sis?"
>"That we do, Shim," the one next to you answers, freeing you before slipping inside and behind the counter to join her sister
>"Need to be at the top of your game for your next sports match?" Sham levitates a black bottle in front of you as she speaks. "Try our Shim Sham Co. Guarana Blast! Only ten bits!"
>"Guaranteed to contain at least one percent real guarana!"
>You and Vinyl stare blankly at the pair, neither of you able to verbalise an adequate response
>"Oh Shim," Sham says, gesturing to your and Vinyl's flanks, "I don't think these ponies are the sporting type!"
>Shim squints at the two of you for a second before giving a quick nod. "I do believe you're correct, sis!"
>Quickly, the two put away the energy drink before coming out with a yellow bottle, this one filled with something fizzy
>"Perhaps you'd care to try our All Natural Hearing Protection Solution! Perfect for concerts and raves alike!"
>"Ooh...!" Vinyl reaches out, grabbing the bottle to take a closer look. "What's in it?"

>"Bananas," Sham explains, "mostly pureed bananas."
>"And distilled folic acid," Shim adds
>"And tomatoes and carbonic acid!"
>"Colouring agent E161..."
>"Rutabaga jui-"
>"Dammit!"
>Vinyl grumbles as she levitates the bottle back to the salesponies, clearly frustrated
>"Allergy, I take it?" Shim shakes her head, tutting as she puts the bottle back. "That's a shame, ma'am. A darn shame."
>"Perhaps we've got something else you two might like," Sham adds, searching through the shelves. "Ah-ha!"
"Oh, bloody hell. What now?"
>"Well, if we can't help you have fun on the dance floor," Shim begins
>"...maybe we can help you have fun at home," Sham finishes, hiding something behind her back. "Tell me, how is he, you know..."
>The salespony whispers something indistinct into Vinyl's ear
>Immediately, your friend turns a bright scarlet in response. "Uh..."
>"That bad, huh?" Shim only smirks in response as she backs away, revealing the blue-and-white bottle she had hidden earlier. "Well, you won't go back once you let your boyfriend have a bit of this!"
>You squint at the bottle as you read the label, blinking in disbelief as the words register in your mind
"Stallion Enhancer...?"
>"Yes indeedy," Shim says, grinning. "Guaranteed to enhance strength -and- stamina!"
>"Might make you 'bigger', too," Sham adds, raising her eyebrows suggestively at the pair of you. "Only thirty bits!"

"Mate, if I were any fuckin' 'bigger', me swimmin' cossie prob'ly wouldn't fit."
>The two salesmares immediately fall silent, their jaws hanging slack
>After a few awkward seconds, Sham breaks the silence with an emphatic clearing of her throat
>"...Well, Shim," she says, putting the bottle away, "it seems these ponies aren't very interested in our Enhancements..."
>"I'd say you're right on that one, Sham," the other one answers, reaching under the counter. "Perhaps they'd prefer the Amusements?"
>"Perhaps indeed!"
>A booping noise sounds out as Shim touches what you assume is some kind of button beneath the counter, causing the walls behind the two to rumble and shudder
>Slowly, they rotate about
>Gone are the shelves and rows of so-called Enhancements, replaced with an array of classic carnival games
>Large plush toys of popular characters and celebrities dangle above, tempting any and all who might be looking in to try their hooves at the games below
>"What do you say, my good mare?" Sham levitates a baseball towards Vinyl as she gestures towards an old milk can in the back of the stall. "Two bits a toss! Get the ball in the can, win a prize!"
>Smirking, Vinyl draws a pair of coins out of her top before tossing them down onto the counter. "You're on!"

>As the vendors accept her cash, Vinyl grabs the ball with her magic, holding it just in front of herself
>She squints as she lines the ball up with the jug, aiming carefully
>With a final magic burst, the ball goes flying, cruising through the air towards the jug
>And missing it completely
>"Ooh, tough luck, ma'am," Sham says. "Care to try again?"
>Vinyl furrows her eyebrows, growling softly as she brings out a ten-bit coin
>The sisters grin in response as they bring out five more baseballs, laying them out on the table
>"Good luck~!"
>Ignoring the mares, Vinyl grabs the first ball, catapulting it much like before
>It hits this time at least, but bounces wildly off the rim immediately after
>"Dammit," she mumbles, going for the next ball
>You silently observe as your friend tries a couple of low-speed, low-angle tosses
>They enter the rim briefly before rolling straight back out, the momentum apparently too much to let them settle in the hole
>Vinyl lets out an irritated snort as she throws the fourth ball up high
>It almost skims the ceiling of the stall before coming straight down onto the jug's opening
>Still, even with what seems like perfect alignment, the ball bounces straight out off of the rim regardless, falling to the floor with a dull thud
>"Oh come on," Vinyl shouts, exasperated, "that was totes in!"

>"Not quite, ma'am," Sham counters, gesturing to the final baseball. "But you're so close!"
>"One or two more shots," Shim adds, "and you'll have it for sure."
>Vinyl sighs as she picks up the final ball
>Before she can hurl it, however, you decide to intervene
"Hold on a tick, Vinyl."
>"'Tavius?"
>You place your hooves up on the counter, leaning forward
"Be honest, mates..."
>Your voice quietens to a near-murmur as you speak
"This game feckin' rigged?"
>The two mares gasp in perfect sync, horrified by your accusation
>"Is he accusing us of being charlatans, Shim?"
>"I do believe he is, Sham!"
>You shrug, shaking your head
"All I'm sayin' is that I've seen these kinda games get rigged b'fore. Just show me you can actually win, mates, and I'll drop it. Alright?"

>Shim backs off, glaring at you. "Well, good sir, if you -insist- upon a demonstration..."
>"Then we shall provide," Sham offers, drawing out another baseball from below the counter
>You squint your eyes, staring intently at the new ball
>Carefully, you scan over every stitch and scratch on its surface as it hovers before you, ensconced in a pale green glow
>Though you can't quite put your hoof on it, something about the ball seems a bit... off
>Wonky, even
>Nevertheless, with a flourish, Sham launches the ball high, much like Vinyl did just a few moments ago
>This time, however, it passes straight into the milk can with a clean 'shoonk'
>The salesponies confidently bow, smiling at you and your friend
>"You see? All it takes is a bit of practice!"
>"Which you'll get plenty of, -if- you keep trying..."
>Scrunching your face slightly, you look at the milk can, then at the salesponies, now grinning with bit-signs in their eyes
>Then down at the baseball, still right in front of Vinyl
>Again, your eyes run across its surface, noting the dents, the scratches, the stitching pattern...
>It's at that moment that it hits you
>Ideas and strategies buzz in your head as you lean in towards your friend
"Vinyl."
>"Yeah, dude?" She tilts her ear towards you to better hear your whispers. "What's up?"
"I figured it out."
>"You mean they're actually cheating?"
>You nod once, your expression stern
"Yeah, mate. And I reckon I know how they're doin' it, too."

>"So, we can't win, then," Vinyl mutters, giving a defeated sigh. "There goes 12 bits..."
"Hm..."
>Looking back at the milk can once more, your stern facade gives way to a sly grin
"I never said that, mate. I got an idea, but..."
>"But...?"
"You reckon you can go for a low throw again, but put a smidge of backspin on it and aim square for the back of the rim this time?"
>"Okay, but..."
>Vinyl grabs the ball with her magic as she gives you an uncertain look
>"Didn't they just go for a high throw?"
"Yeah, but their ball's smaller, innit? That's how they're bloody fleecin' us. We have to be more clever 'bout it, see."
>"Wait, wait... Their ball was smaller? How'd you-"
>"Are you going to take your shot, ma'am," Flam asks, growing impatient, "or are you and the good sir just going to whisper sweet nothings to one-another all day?"
>Biting your lip, you suppress the urge to drive a hoof into the pushy salesmare's face
"Urgh... I'll explain later, mate. Just remember."
>You point at the can one last time as you lock eyes with Vinyl
"Low throw. Back of the rim. Backspin."
>"Got it, 'Tavius."
>With that, Vinyl takes aim again, inhaling deeply as she focuses on her target one last time
>As she braces herself, the ball starts spinning backwards in midair
>"Here goes..."
>A flash of blue marks the ball's launch as it careens from Vinyl's magic grip, cruising straight for the target

>It slams into the back of the can's rim, dead-on
>Instead of rolling straight back out, however, the backspin keeps it skidding against the can's edge, sapping its momentum
>With its energy drained, the ball's spinning comes to a standstill before finally rolling back in towards the chamber's opening
>Yet, instead of a satisfying 'shoonk', the ball becomes stuck in the rim, plugging the container as its top half remains clearly visible
>A shit-eating grin spreads across your face as you look at the salespony sisters, relishing the horrified looks on their faces
"I'm sorry, mates, but... what was that about this game not bein' bloody rigged?"
>"Um..."
>"Uh..." The two look at one-another, desperate. "Wha-"
>"Can it," Vinyl says, cutting off the pair's stumbling attempts at an explanation as she points a hoof towards the top row of prizes. "I want the big blue griffon."
>"Ma'am, that's, uh... that's a top-shelf prize," Sham stammers. "You need to win at least thre-"
"What -she- needs t'do?"
>You stare long and hard at Shim, utterly indignant
"How 'bout we look at what -you- need t'do, eh?"

"What -you- need t'do, y'bloody bint, is remember that makin' a game like this physically fuckin' impossible to win is fraud, plain an' simple. Give her the griffon, and maybe, just -maybe-, we won't let the local bobbies know 'bout your little scheme here."
>The sisters look at you, confused. "...bobbies?"
>Vinyl rolls her eyes, glancing towards you before looking back at the pair. "He means the cops. Also, while we're at it," she adds, "I want my money back!"
"Good thinkin', mate."
>You give your friend a quick smile before clearing your throat, returning your attention to the scam artists before you
"Yeah, uh, give her the dosh back, too."
>You crack your neck for emphasis as you speak, your expression as deadly serious as ever
"Or else."

===

>Several minutes and one rapidly-fleeing pair of salesponies later, you, Vinyl and the oversized griffon doll are sitting at the table at the nearby ice cream parlour
>"So," Vinyl says, nomming a spoonful of her strawberry sundae, "I'd say that went pretty well."
"Too right, mate. So, uh..."
>You look over to Vinyl's new stuffed toy, still taken aback by its ridiculous size
"What're we gonna do with ol' Snowy here, anyway?"
>Your friend shrugs at your question. "Meh," she answers, "I was just thinking we could stick him in the cart when we go back to get our towels."
"That works, I guess. So, uh, wanna hit the surf after this, then?"
>"Sure, dude."
"Brilliant."
>The two of you eat in peace for a couple minutes, content to enjoy the pleasant sea-breeze and the pure deliciousness of your desserts
>Vinyl's eyes begin to wander before long, though, looking back to where Shim and Sham's mobile emporium had been just a short while ago
>"Hey, 'Tavius?"
"Yeah, mate?"
>"How'd you figure out their ball was smaller, anyway?" She props her head up on her hoof, genuinely curious. "I mean, you didn't exactly line them up side-by-side or anything..."

"Well, I just noticed y'ball had a smidge more stitches on it than theirs."
>"You... counted the stitches?" Vinyl's eye twitches as she processes your explanation
"Vinyl, mate, don't get the wrong idea. I mean, I'm not the bloody Rain Stallion or anythin'. I didn't actually count 'em individually; it's just..."
>You gesture with your hoof as you speak, racking your brain for a clearer way to get your point across
"The ball just... looked like it had more stitches?"
>Eventually, you give up trying to articulate yourself, instead opting to just grumble
"It's hard t'explain."
>"Oh, okay. Still think you're a bit of a freak, dude," Vinyl says, smirking at you as she takes another spoonful of her sundae. "The good kind, I mean."
"Thanks... I think."
>As you look down and get ready to dig into your own pudding again, you feel a tap on your shoulder
>"Hey 'Tavius," Vinyl says, pointing to something just behind your left shoulder, "check that thing out!"
"Check what out, mate?"
>You turn your head to the side, trying to get a clear view of what Vinyl's trying to show you
"Wait, what am I even lookin' fo-"
>Your train of thought is immediately derailed as you feel something cold and wet pressing upon your cheek
>Turning to look back, you see Vinyl smiling coyly at you, her face now mere inches away
>Your mind goes haywire as two and two slowly start adding together up there
"...what."

>You feel your heart pounding in your chest as your breaths grow shallow
"Did... you just...?"
>You slowly raise a forehoof to your cheek, gingerly touching the spot Vinyl just kissed
>"Sorry, dude," Vinyl answers, settling back in her seat. "Just thought that was the perfect photo op just then."
"Photo op? You... what, mate?"
>Puzzlement replaces light-headed excitement as you scratch the back of your head
>"What," Vinyl asks, quietly chuckling to herself, "didn't you notice the camera guy over on your nine o'clock?"
>You turn to look at the bushes over towards the side, only for Vinyl to press a hoof against your cheek to stop you
>"Wait," she whisper-shouts, "don't just look!"
"But y'just-"
>"You don't want him catching on, do you?" She shakes her head at you, more amused than frustrated. "Dude... You're always so -intense- when you look at stuff, you know that?"
>Scrunching your face a bit, you raise an eyebrow at your friend
"Intense? Mate, that's just how me face works, alright?"
>"I know, I know. I just mean..." Vinyl sighs as she gathers her thoughts
"I'm sorry, Vinyl. Didn't mean t'go off like that."
>"Hey, it's okay," your friend answers, her tone sincere. "It's just... 'Tavius, dude, all I'm saying is that you gotta be more subtle sometimes. Look without looking, you know?"
"Look... without lookin'?"
>"I guess it's easier with the shades," Vinyl reasons, levitating her sunglasses off of herself before floating them over to you
"Mate..."
>You take hold of the sunglasses, frowning as you check them out
"These are girly specs."

>"And? Just put them on, dude."
"Fine..."
>Reluctantly, you slide the shades on, taking a moment to get used to seeing the world tinted purple
>"Alright. Now," Vinyl explains, leaning forward once more, "just keep your head forward while you check out those hedges."
"Righto."
>You mimic your friend's forward lean, keeping your head in place while scanning the shrubbery out of the corner of your eye
>At first, it just looks like a typical shrubbery
>After a few seconds of looking about, though, you catch a glimpse of something out of place
>A strange spot gleaming in the sunlight
>A camera lens
"Well, bugger me dead."
>"Yeah. Dude's been there for like ten minutes now," Vinyl explains, nonchalant. "Oh, by the way," she adds, giving you a smirk, "those shades make you look -fabulous-."
>You quickly slip the shades off, grimacing at your friend as you pass them across to her
"Get stuffed."
>You engage in a staring contest of sorts with her, putting your 'intense' visage to work
>This lasts for all of five seconds before the two of you crack, simultaneously breaking out into a chuckle
>After a moment, you take a breath to settle yourself, sitting back down in your chair
"Seriously though, mate, I don't think I can rock those specs of yours -nearly- as well as you can."
>"Yeah..." Vinyl leans back, nodding in agreement. "You look more like a teashades kinda stallion to me."
"Teashades?"
>"You know, teashades..." Your friend gestures around her eyes in a circle pattern as she speaks. "Those round kinda shades, like what Dock Lennon used to wear?"
"Oh! Those have a name?"
>Sheepishly, you look away as you rub the back of your neck
"I always just called 'em roundyspecs..."

>"Roundyspecs."
>Your friend snorts as her lip quivers, barely able to contain her laughter
>"Roundyspecs? Are you serious?!"
"Oi, mate, I don't exactly keep up t'date on all things sunglasses related."
>In an effort to avoid Vinyl's judging eyes, you look over towards her new stuffed toy
"Actually, now that I think about it, there's a lot of things I don't keep up with. Like... what's the go with ol' Snowy here, anyway?"
>You stretch out a hoof, poking the plush creature in the beak
"Why'd you want him? He from somethin' on telly?"
>"Oh, yeah," Vinyl answers, nodding. "He's from this new cartoon on Channel 2, 'Three Friends and Snowy'. He and and his three pony friends get together and try to take over the world," she explains, her face beaming with enthusiasm, "but their schemes always end up getting foiled. It's pretty funny."
>Raising an eyebrow, you give Vinyl a quizzical look
"So, what, it's some kinda... kid's show?"
>"Well..." Your friend shrugs at your question. "Kinda, yeah. But," she insists, "it's got great writing!"
>Your face deadpan, you blink once at your friend, thoroughly unconvinced
"Riiiiight."
>"Hey," she shoots back, scrunching her face at you, "don't act so high and mighty, Mister-I-watch-Doctor-Whooves!"

>You squint your eyes at Vinyl, frowning deeply
"Oi, don't you talk shit about the Doctor, mate. And it's not a kids' show, it's wholesome family programmin'. There's a difference!"
>"Sure there is," your friend answers, her voice thick with sarcasm. "Just like that Disneigh movie you dragged me to last year."
>She smirks, leaning foward onto the table
>"Admit it," she adds, smiling coyly at you once more, "you like kids' shows, don't you 'Tavius?"
"Lies. Lies an' slander."
>"I bet you'd like Three Friends and Snowy, too!"
"Oh, as if, mate!"
>"How about this," Vinyl suggests, pulling back as she gestures with a hoof. "You watch an episode with me sometime. Just one. And if you don't like it, I'll never talk shit about Doctor Whooves again. Ever."
"...seriously?"
>"Totally," she answers, nodding. "Promise. But if you -do- like it," she adds, "you have to watch the -whole- series with me!"
"Hmm..."
>You pause, considering the idea for a few moments before making your decision
"Alright, mate. You're on."
>"Awesome!"
>Taking a break from the conversation for now, you look down at what's left of your dessert, now little more than a puddle of melted cream and sugar
>Undeterred, you grab the bowl between your hooves, raising the whole thing to your mouth before drinking the leftovers down in one shot
>You lick your lips as you place the bowl back down on the table, smiling contentedly
"So, uh... y'almost done too, Vinyl? Was thinkin' we could be gettin' a move on sooner rather than later..."

>"Dude," Vinyl answers, "I was done like five minutes ago."
>You look down at your friend's bowl, confirming it is infact completely empty
>How that mare manages to put food away so quickly never fails to baffle you
"Oh. Well then."
>You rise from your seat, looking expectantly at Vinyl
"So, should I get the tip, or...?"
>"No," Vinyl says, lighting up her horn, "we'll split it."
>Before you can respond, you hear a rustling coming from the other side of the table
>Turning to face the noise, you see Snowy levitating out of his seat, his plush claw grasping a pair of one-bit coins
>"I'll chip in too, 'Tavius," a tiny voice squeaks as the plush toy shakes its fist at you
>Sighing, you roll your eyes at Vinyl, shaking your head as the slightest of smiles creeps onto your face
"Very funny, mate."
>"Heh, yeah," Vinyl answers, snickering
>As 'Snowy' drops the bits onto the table, you reach into your pocket, drawing out a pair of coins before doing likewise
>With that, the two - or rather, three - of you swiftly make your way to the exit

>Some time and one safely-stowed plushy later, you're heading down the stairs to the beach sand itself
"So, Vinyl..."
>You look over to your friend, slipping your newly-purchased teashades on your nose as you speak
"How d'you reckon I look?"
>Vinyl tips her shades down to look at you directly. "Well, pretty cool," she says. "But you'd probably look a lot cooler if you took the pricetag off."
"What."
>You take the shades off, looking over them carefully
>Sure enough, there on the edge of the lens is the price sticker
"Bloody hell..."
>You grumble as you clumsily try to peel the sticker off, to no avail
>Even Earth Pony dexterity has its limits, after all
>"Chill, 'Tavius," Vinyl says, taking your glasses with her magic. "I got it."
>In less than five seconds, she returns the shades to your face, now price sticker-free
"Thanks."
>"No prob, dude."

>Soon after, your hooves make first contact with the beach itself
>Though it's technically not even summer anymore, the heat from the ground still does a number on your hooves
>Wincing with every step, you and Vinyl lift your legs high as you gallop across the sand
>Not wanting to waste time, you throw down your towel the moment you find a decent enough spot to do so, flopping down upon it immediately after
>Vinyl does likewise, breathing a sigh of relief as she cradles her now-crispified forehooves
>"Ow..."
>You grunt, blowing air across your own hooves in a futile attempt to cool them down
"Really shoulda brought me clip-clops t'day..."
>Vinyl rolls onto her belly, her eye twitching in pain behind her shades as she casts a glance at you. "I know, right?"
>She grumbles as she shuffles about on the towel, facing towards the ocean
>"Man," she muses, "it's been ages since I've been swimming."
"Same here..."
>You close your eyes, laying back as you think about the last time you went to the beach
>As far as you remember, it was about three years ago
>It was a simpler time - a time before you 'hit it big', so to speak
>A time you could walk out your front door without the paparazzi stalking you or fans asking you for autographs...
>Before you can go much further down Memory Lane, however, your train of thought is interrupted by a sharp pain in your hindleg
"Gah!"
>You inhale sharply, clutching your cannon bone to your chest as you look around for the culprit
>Immediately, you find it - or rather, him
>Your eyes lock onto a midnight-blue unicorn stallion sprinting along the beach, a buttery-yellow pegasus with a mint-green mane flying in tow

>The two seem completely oblivious to you, lost in one-another's eyes as they flit playfully across the sand
>Vinyl lowers her shades, looking over towards you as she props her head up
>"Dude," she asks, concern clear in her voice, "you okay?"
"Yeah, mate..."
>You wince as you rub your leg, trying to alleviate the pain
"I'm alright."
>"You sure don't look like it, 'Tavius," Vinyl quips, looking closely at your leg. "It's already bruising."
>Taking a break from your rubbing, you look down at your leg to confirm it
"Hmm... That bastard's 'eavier than he looks, I reckon. A LOT 'eavier..."
>"Hey..." Vinyl casts a quick glance over towards the young couple before giving you a smirk. "Maybe he's a Changeling?"
>After a second of thought, you quickly scoff at the notion
"If he is, he's a bloody podgy one, I'll give him that much."
>"Heh, yeah."
>Slipping off her shades, Vinyl places them beside herself before rising to her hooves, giving her legs a stretch
>"I'm gonna hit the waves," she says, looking down at you. "You down for a swim, dude? Or you think your leg's gonna give you trouble?"
>You slip your own shades off as you get up, careful not to put too much stress on your leg
"Nah, mate."
>You shoot her a confident grin as you speak
"She'll be right."
>"Well, if you say so..."
>She gestures over to the sea as she takes her first step off of the towel

>With that, the two of you sprint towards the shore
>Vinyl makes it to the water first, turning around to watch you catch up
>You breathe a sigh of relief as you make it a few seconds later, the ice-cool feeling of the first tiny waves rolling over your hooves a welcome relief from the burning sand
>The two of you spend a few minutes getting used to the temperature as you slowly inch forward into deeper waters
>You shudder as a wave passes by, lapping at your thighs
"Brr... I don't remember the ocean bein' so bloody cold..."
>"It's not that bad, dude," Vinyl insists, giggling at your half-frozen state. "Just gotta take things slowl-EEEEEEE"
>Vinyl squeals as a higher wave passes, her tail shooting bolt upright as her whole underside becomes soaked
>You would be laughing quite hard at this if not for the fact that the same wave hit you, chilling a most sensitive spot on your body
>Sheepishly, the two of you avert your eyes from one-another soon after, looking for anything to distract yourselves from that awkward moment
>This quickly proves unnecessary, however, as a distraction finds you instead
>A distraction in the form of a seven foot tall wave coming right for the both of you
>At the last second, the two of you jump, your heads remaining just above the water as the wave passes below you
>Your hooves touch the seabed as you come back down, the wave now crashing onto the shore
>"Whoo," Vinyl cheers, grinning excitedly, "that was fun!"
"I dunno, mate..."
>"What do you mean, 'Tavius?"
"Well..."
>You scratch the back of your head as another minor wave passes by
"Last time I came to the beach, I liked t'buck the really big waves."
>"Buck... the waves?"

"Yeah. Y'know, mate, like buckin' a tree. 'Cept with a feckin' two or three metre wave instead."
>"No, dude," Vinyl answers, shaking her head, "I know what you mean by -bucking-, I just don't... why?"
"Well..."
>You shrug, unsure of how to answer
"Strength trainin', I s'pose? And, well, uh..."
>You trail off as you look wistfully towards the shore
>"...y'know how I used to come to the beach to do buskin' years back?"
>"Yeah, of course I do!"
"Well, it's just that, sometimes, if I had a bad day buskin', I'd blow off me frustration by splittin' waves."
>"What," your friend asks, giggling, "you couldn't afford a stress ball back then?"
"Very funny, mate. Nah, it's just... standin' against nature itself like that, it's cathartic in a way. Make sense?"
>"I guess..."
>Vinyl shrugs at your explanation before looking out towards the ocean once more
"Mind showing me?"
"What, buckin' a wave?"
>"Yeah!"
"I would, but..."
>You look down at your hindleg, the bruise now twice as large as before
"Me bloody leg's still knackered. Sorry, Vinyl."
>"Aw..."
>Vinyl pouts, clearly disappointed

>"So wait," she asks after a few moments, turning around in the water before bracing herself, "is it something like this?"
"Yeah, just like that. But, uh..."
>Sternly, you examine Vinyl's bucking stance before looking out into the sea
"Just be careful, alright? I'm not sure a unicorn'd handle buckin' somethin' like a wave very well."
>"What, you saying I can't do it?"
"No, mate, I'm just sayin' be careful, savvy?"
>"I'll be fine, dude."
"Well, I'd bloody well hope so, 'cause here comes a big one!"
>As the wall of water approaches, Vinyl stands fast as you get ready to jump
>At the last second, you push off of the seabed, riding the wave with ease
>Coming back down, you look over to where Vinyl was, finding only empty space
"Oh fuck. Vinyl?"
>You look around, not seeing her anywhere
"VINYL?!"
>"Over here, 'Tavius!"

>Looking over to the source of the voice, you see a white hoof sticking up from the water, waving weakly at you from right on the shoreline
>It seems the wave knocked her back a bit further than you expected
>As quickly as you can manage, you charge through the water towards her
"Vinyl, mate, y'alright?"
>"That was -awesome-..."
>Taking this as a yes, you offer a hoof to her, pulling her upright
>"Thanks."
>Taking a moment to look you over, she glances away, her bright expression fading
>"Sorry I made you worry. I... I just-"
"It's fine, mate; really."
>You slap a hoof onto her shoulder, giving her a warm smile
"Don't worry 'bout it. No harm done, eh?"
>"Yeah... But dude," Vinyl answers, looking out at the ocean, "you gotta show me how you do it next time we come here."
"What, like, on another of these fake-date things?"
>"Sure," Vinyl cheerfully answers, "why not? I'm free this time like two weeks from now."
"A fortnight? Well, it's just, uh..."
>"Yeah?"
"I have this thing in Canterlot happenin' then. S'posed to be playin' at the Canterlot Magic University. Some kinda fancy do goin' on."
>"Like, a ball, or a wedding or something?"
"Yeah, somethin' like that."
>"Oh, okay..."
>Vinyl sighs, despondent at this turn of events
"Y'know, mate, I never said y'couldn't join me."
>"Wait, what?" Vinyl looks at you, her expression incredulous. "But, wouldn't a ticket to that kind of thing be like, crazy expensive?"
"Me ticket's for two, mate. You could be my, er..."
>You pause, clearing your throat before continuing
"...'date' for the evenin'. If you want, I mean. I know you're not exactly the type for fancy stuff..."
>"No," Vinyl insists, "it's cool. You probably need somepony around who won't bore you to death anyway," she adds, shooting you a smirk
"Ain't gonna argue with that, mate."

>The two of you continue to discuss future meet-up plans as you wade towards the shore, bouncing with the occasional incoming wave in the process
>Making it to the shallows, Vinyl looks down at her pink top
>It seems the ocean wave managed to fill up its pockets with water, giving her chest a bloated appearance
>"Hey, 'Tavius," she calls, rearing up onto her hindlegs
"Yeah?"
>Her horn flares up as she unleashes her magic, using it to mould her now-soaked mane into a pair of bull-like horns
>"Check it out, dude. I'm a minotaur!"
>You stifle a chuckle at Vinyl's antics as she trots around on her hindlegs
>"Us minotaurs don't take no guff from nopony," Vinyl says in a creaky, strohbass voice. "And we can teach you how to not take no guff either, for a low special price of your entire life savings!"
>You let out a chortle as Vinyl's act continues
>"Hmm," she muses, looking around, "I'm feeling lonely. Somepony fetch me a billygoat!"
>Unable to contain yourself any longer, you laugh uproariously, your eyes shutting tight as you press a hoof to your forehead
>"Uh... 'Tavius?"
>You take a deep breath, calming yourself
"Hm? What's happenin'?"
>"Check your ten, dude."
>Casting a quick glance to the left, you see a minotaur approaching through the waves
>A very pissed-off, female minotaur in a pink bikini top
>"You mock my race," the minotaur booms, "I break your face!"
"Oh bollocks."
>"Run!"

>The two of you make a mad dash for your towels, gathering up your possessions before sprinting along the beach
>Unfortunately, though, you find yourself falling behind Vinyl, with the Minotaur still in hot pursuit
>"Hurry up, 'Tavius!"
"I can't; me leg's buggered!"
>Not wanting Vinyl to get herself in harm's way again under your watch, you stop dead in your tracks
"Just keep runnin'; I'll hold 'er off!"
>"No way, dude," Vinyl shoots back, running back to your side and grabbing your hoof. "Come on!"
"I ain't movin', mate. Run!"
>Growling in frustration at you, Vinyl wraps her hooves tightly around your waist
"Vinyl?"
>She remains silent, her only response the intensifying glow from her horn as the minotaur draws ever closer
>Immobilised by Vinyl, all you can do is brace yourself as you close your eyes
>"You talk shit," the biped bellows, "you get hi-"
>Suddenly, your pursuer's voice cuts out as a blinding flash of light pierces the darkness of your eyelids for a split second
>After a brief moment of silence, you hear the familiar noise of a crowd's dull roar
>With trepidation, you crack your eyes open, taking a peek at your surroundings
>You're back on the promenade, surrounded by ponies going about their business and with the minotaur nowhere in sight
"What the... Vinyl?"
>You look around to your back to find your friend's body barely clinging on, limp with exhaustion
>"...'Tavius," she wheezes, her grip on you slackening
>Quickly, you shuffle back
>You shift one of her hooves over your shoulders, letting her prop herself up on you
"You right, mate?"
>Coughing, she manages a nod. "I'm okay..."
"Good to hear. Now..."
>You scan your surroundings for a few seconds before you notice the ferris wheel from before, now less than a hundred yards away
"Let's find someplace safe t'sit down, eh?"
>Slowly, you start hobbling towards the ferris wheel, urging Vinyl to follow suit
"I reckon we both need it."

>You and Vinyl arrive at the queue of the wheel soon after
>Thankfully, it's not that long - at this rate, you figure, you'll only have to wait a minute or two
>As those in front of you shuffle forward, you turn to look at your still-exhausted friend
"Vinyl?"
>She glances at you out of the corner of her eyes in response. "Hm?"
"Thanks. For, uh, teleportin' me earlier. I mean, y'didn't have to, but-"
>"Shut up," Vinyl mumbles, her curt interjection cutting you off
"What?"
>"I said," she reiterates, raising her voice, "shut up! Yes, I did frickin' have to do that! If I didn't," Vinyl adds, her shouting escalating to a near-screech, "that bitch would have broken you in half and jammed your balls down your throat! What the fuck were you thinking, dude?"
>She huffs and puffs at you, more from fury than exhaustion at this point
"Mate, I... I just-"
>"Wanted to play the hero like a dumbass," Vinyl answers, her grip around your shoulders and neck tightening, "am I right?"
"I just didn't want to see you in the hospital again! Alright?"
>"You ever think I want to see you laid up in hospital either, dude? Or worse, the morgue?!"
>You think you notice a hint of wetness seeping from behind her shades before she turns away, shaking her head
>"Sweet frickin' Celestia, dude."
>She sighs, the back of her head still turned to you
"Vinyl, it... it seemed like the most sensible thing at the time. Really."
>"Most sensible?" Scoffing at your suggestion, Vinyl tips down her shades, glaring at you. "Bullshit."
>You feel yourself shudder under your friend's frigid gaze
>And though you open your mouth to counter, no words come forth
>Even if they did, you're fairly sure that Vinyl wouldn't be in the mood to listen at this point
>With that in mind, you silence yourself, looking down at the ground as you both shuffle forward with the queue again

>Reaching the front of the line, you quietly slip the operator a ten bit coin before moving forward towards the ride itself
>As you and Vinyl get yourselves seated in the cabin, she seemingly does everything she can to avoid eye contact with you
>She stares down at the cabin floor as the door closes,
>As the wheel begins to move and you get yourself settled in the chair, you take a moment to think
>In all the years you've known her, you've never seen her this upset about something
>And maybe she was right
>No, not maybe
>Of course she was right
>She doesn't deserve to see you maimed or dead because of some stupid play at being the hero, does she?
>And now that you think about it, you'd have been able to outrun that minotaur if you'd just let her help you in the first place
>Sweet Celestia, you feel like an idiot right now
>Taking another look over at her, you decide there's only one thing to do at this point
"Vinyl."
>Your friend continues staring at the floor, apparently lost in her own world
"Vinyl, mate. I'm sorry."
>You sigh, thinking about what to say next
"You're right. I was bein' friggin' daft on the beach earlier."
>"Nah, dude," she finally answers, her voice wavering as she barely tilts her head towards you. "I'm sorry."
>She looks down at the floor of the cabin again, her lip quivering
>"You really were just doing what you thought was right... weren't you?"
>You nod once, your face stern
"Yeah. I was. Doesn't mean I wasn't bein' a pillock about it, though."
>"Dude."

>Vinyl slips off her shades as she looks up into your eyes
>"Even if you -were- being dumb," she says, "I shouldn't have yelled at you for it. I mean, as stupid as that was, you still risked your life for me. And what do I do? I scream at you and call it bullshit!"
>She blinks away a tear as she speaks, turning away once more
>"I'm just the worst, aren't I?"
"Nah. Course not."
>You give Vinyl a gentle smile as you pat her on the shoulder
"You're me best mate. And y'always will be."
>"Same," she answers, sniffling sharply
>Vinyl pauses for a moment, wiping her cheeks
>"You know, dude," she remarks, "I don't think I'd have it in me to do something like that for you. I mean, that was ballsy as hell, what you did."
"Nah, mate."
>You shake your head, your hoof still firm on her shoulder
"I'm sure you'd have done the same for me if our roles were flipped."
>Pausing for a second, you reconsider your wording
"I mean, that is, assumin' you were as daft as me. Which you clearly aren't. But, uh, that's not to imply you can't be both smart -and- brave, of course. I'm just sayin' th-"
>"'Tavius, dude, I get it," Vinyl interrupts, giggling as you continue to dig yourself deeper. "Chill."
"Right... thanks."

>With that load off both of your minds, you finally take the time to appreciate the view from the cabin windows
>Looking outside, you can see everything
>The ocean shimmers and sparkles in the afternoon sun, lighting up the horizon
>The sandy shore traces a thick, golden dividing line between the infinite sea and the concrete promenade
>Meanwhile, on the pavement, ant-sized ponies trot about in massive crowds, flitting between shops and stores
>A thoroughly pissed-off lady-minotaur trudges through the hustle and bustle, searching in vain for somepony
>You breathe a sigh of relief as you watch her finally give up before wandering over to a nearby park bench
>Turning your attention elsewhere, you spot the ice cream parlour from before
>A certain clumsy blue unicorn enters the establishment, another certain lovey-dovey yellow-and-green pegasus in tow
"Oi, Vinyl."
>You point your hoof towards the parlour as the couple disappears from view
"Didya see that? Vinyl? It was that bastar-"
>Your friend lets out a snore in response, interrupting you
>Looking down, you see her leaning into your shoulder, fast asleep
>Thinking quickly, you bunch up a towel, wedging the driest portion of it carefully between your shoulder and her head to serve as a pillow
"Rest easy, mate."
>You smile softly at Vinyl, shifting slightly to make sure she's comfortable
"You deserve it."