//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Dragon in The Pantry // Story: Behind Her Purple Glasses // by Lyca //------------------------------// It was hopeless: no matter what she tried, Vinyl could not get to sleep. She had even tried taking off her sunglasses at one point, but to no avail. Something just didn't feel right. And it wasn't the fact that any movement she made hurt, as by now she was used to such things. No, something was definitely wrong... "Ugh, this is pointless!" the white mare muttered to herself as she hopped out of her bed, her blue comforter falling to the floor around her. She winced as her hooves contacted the ground. This was not what she had expected her birthday to be like. With a burst of magic, Vinyl Flung off her purple sunglasses, setting them on the small nightstand beside her queen-sized bed. Maybe I'll be able to sleep after a shower... she thought, her frustration cooling at the prospect of warm water. With every miniscule motion Vinyl winced, her two-toned blue mane bobbing slightly on her head. She opened the door to her room and looked across the hall, checking to make sure that Octavia was infact in her room, then silently made her way to the Bathroom down the hall. She closed the door carefully behind herself before turning on the bright LED lights that rested along the wall. She did not want to disturb the posh grey mare down the hall. Turning to face the door once again, the white unicorn cast a soundproofing spell, the blue aura surrounding her horn moving to cover the small doorframe with a soft wir of sound. She then dissipated the holding spell she had placed on her mane for the day and looked into the mirror at her battered appearance. Wow...I guess Octavia really did stop Needles from causing all that much damage... She thought as she brushed a hoof over the cut at the corner of her mouth. Her smile hurt, causing her to lose it. With a sigh and a burst of magic, Vinyl turned on the water to a measured temperature and entered, the gentle flow of warm water washing away her pain and frustration, leaving a very relaxed mare. It was almost as relaxing as a walk in the rain to the tired pony. After about a half hour in the shower, Vinyl turned off the water and shook herself dry. She considered replacing the holding spell on her mane, but then decided against it as she was planning to go back to bed soon anyways. She looked at the small clock above the bathroom door and her eyes opened wide as she read the time. "How the hay is it already 3am?!" she muttered, cursing under her breath as she opened the door, breaking the soundproofing spell. Well, no point going to sleep now. She sighed. After a quick stop into the spare room to get some of her music and her headphones, Vinyl vanished back into her room, the soft click of the door the only sound. Octavia awoke to the soft sound of a shutting door, her eyes shooting open in momentary fear, before she remembered Vinyl in the next room. The poor pony probably hadn't been able to get to sleep the entire night. Octavia sat up and stretched her cramped limbs as her silk sheets fell around her. Her purple eyes glared at the black bangs in her sight, and she reached for the brush on her nightstand and ran it through her bed-mane. After a few minutes of brushing, Octavia tied on her signature pink bow tie and smiled at herself in the mirror. It was not long, however, before she realized that the sun hadn't even broken the horizon. She glanced to the large analog clock hanging on her wall and raised an eyebrow. Wandering around the house at 3am? I hope this won't be a common occurrence... Just then, a loud clanging sounded from the kitchen, causing the mare to flinch in surprize. She could have sworn the little white unicorn had gone back to bed. Immediately, Octavia opened the door to her room and stepped out, colliding with Vinyl, whom was coming out of her new room. Both ponies let out a yelp and jumped back. The first to recover, Vinyl shook her head and muttered a phrase Octavia couldn't understand, as it wasn't in English. She assumed, however, that based on the tone it was something about pain. "What was that noise?" the grey pony groaned, rubbing her head where it had collided with Vinyl's. The mare in question shrugged, adjusting her shades. Octavia looked quizically at her, wondering how in Equestria she could manage to see with those things on. I mean, honestly. It is 3 in the morning, the moon is still out, and the first thought she has is 'I'd better put on my sunglasses before I go see what that noise was'?! another loud crashing sound snapped her out of her own mental rantings. So it wasn't her... "Octy..?" Vinyl whispered from somewhere behind her. "Do you by any chance have a dog you forgot to mention?" She sounded genuinely terrified, and after what had happened only a few hours ago, she had cause. Octavia made a dismisive sound before creeping ever so slowly forward into the darkness. She could barely see her own hoof in front of her, but thanks to her having lived in this apartment for well over a year, she didn't need much light to navigate the tidy surroundings. Whereas it sounded like whatever was lurking in the dark was hitting something every few steps. Vinyl, on the other hand, was following her closely, getting hit by Octavia's swaying tail every two paces. The sound, she had determined, was coming from the kitchen. She headed for it in a bee-line, stepping gingerly around a lamp that Octavia assumed Vinyl had brought. Vinyl, however, collided with the thing and let out an oomph as her and the lamp both toppled to the floor with a thud. Only a few more paces left until the kitchen, she didn't bother to stop and wait for her roommate to get up. Once there, she listened for any signs of movement. Nothing except breathing coming from the den, That would be Vinyl. Holding her breath, she switched on the light. And then she saw it. Her pantry door was ajar. She cautiously inched herself closer and reached a trembling hoof towards the handle. As she pulled the door open slowly, something started to move, emerging from the depths. It was horrible. It was frightening. It was...It was. A stuffed dragon fell out, hitting the linoleum floor with a soft squeek. Red and purple fuzz adroned it, giving pattern to the small toy. Plush horns and claws, whilst looking sharp, bent at odd angles as the dragon lay there, the fabric creasing. There was only one way this plushie could have come to be here, and Octavia's blood ran cold at the thought. It always creeped the hay out of her how talented this pony was at breaking and entering, but luckily she still couldn't make a quiet entrance. Again her train of thought was interupted. This time, however, it was by the sounds of a struggle taking place. She rushed out into the den and pulled the two mares apart forcefully, as they were each trying to subdue the other. "Octy-" "Tavia-" "I found a burglar!" the two ponies shouted simultaniously. The grey mare only chuckled as both ponies pointed at the other, still trying to strike out. Then Vinyl did a double take. The mystery mare sat there, blue eyes fixed on her target, equally deep blue hair tangled but nevertheless in a very familiar hairstyle. Her butter yellow coat was adorned with a blue treble clef, and she was wearing a red bandana around her neck. A white stetson lay upside down a few feet away. "Vinyl, meet my twin sister, Fiddlesticks," She stated formally, gesturing towards the yellow earth pony. "Fiddles, this is my new roommate, Vinyl Scratch." She pointed with a hoof to the white unicorn in turn. They both sat, staring slackjawed at the cellist.