Vinyl Scratch gets caught tagging a building... again. But this time it appears that there is no way out of her punishment. When she meets the pony that owns the building she tagged she hatches a plan to avoid getting punished.
Vinyl Scratch lives to feel free! She feels trapped in society and the bland routine of every day life. She discovers that graffiti art gives her the same sense of freedom and danger that her music does. With a troubled past she longs for this feeling, doing almost anything in her power to grasp it. Even tough the activity is considered illegal she still finds herself in the streets every night after dark, tagging long abandoned buildings, feeling like she's leaving her mark for everypony to see. After deciding to try and tag one of the biggest buildings in Canterlot she gets caught again, this time facing severe punishment.
But when she discovers who the pony that lives in the building she painted is, she concocts a devious plan to get herself out of the trouble shes in.
She's willing to try anything to get back out on the streets!
Authors notes: Light comedy, nothing to cause any ROFLing. This is my first official fic and I really hope you enjoy! I am looking for someone to edit for me and would be very grateful to whoever wants to help! That being said if you have any tips for me and my story please comment or message me with them! I'm not new to writing but i'm new to writing in this setting so I would love a bit of feedback. Now read my story you silly fillies!
Hey Guys! Just a quick word! Don't get turned off by this first chapter. My writing improves dramatically from this chapter to the next! I'd appreciate it if you gave it a chance as I have already put in quite a few hours to this fic! Ok get to reading you silly fillies!
<('.')>
As the smell of paint entered her nose a wonderful sense of euphoria hit her once again. She loved this feeling, she dreamed about when she entered the world of sleep, and lived that dream when she re-entered reality. Other than the sweet sound of the scratch of vinyl, this was the only thing that truly made her feel alive. It’s as if she’s been trapped her whole life with no way to express herself, no way to leave her mark. But she finally found it.
The snow white unicorn was in her element, a mid-toned teal aura, matching one of the two blue streaks that made up the artists short hair that hung just below her head, covered her horn with a can of spray paint on the receiving end, looping in all directions. It slowly covered the large brick wall she decided to tag tonight. This one was different from all of her other works. Not only was it momentous in scale but it wasn’t placed on some abandoned building in downtown Canterlot.
No, this one was daring, this was her most risky tag to date. She was leaving her mark one of the biggest mansions in equestria. The large brick house that sat atop a hill separating the city and the suburbs where all the rich ponies resided. It faced away from the city and was visible by most that went into the shopping district.
Normally this area would be crowded by ponies but after several stakeouts the white mare determined that between 3:30 and 5:00 AM all the shops had been closed and activity within the house tended to come to a standstill. Still she had to work fast in order to cover the entire back of the house with her trademark creation.
As she added her watermark to the bottom left corner of the art, she stepped back to take one final look over her creation. A giant rectangular prism standing tall with a curve about midway down causing the rectangle to form a backwards lowercase r shape. the side was a dark black, almost invisible as it sat against the night sky. The front, being a bit brighter, had two circles carved into the rectangle. It had a small circle at the top center of the rectangle and another larger carved circle at the bottom center. The Both circles had circles within them leading to a solid colored red circle in the middle. The circles appeared to be vibrating and a trail of music notes trailed across the building. A trademark pair of purple sunglasses sat at the bottom left of the wall, distinguishing this as her work. It was done, her giant amp spreading the sweet sound of bass was done.
Great, now all thats left is to run! The artist picked up her cans of paint and began to gallop back down into the shopping center. Taking one last look at her creation she noticed something weird in the corner. It was a dull red light, weird, there's no windows on the back of the house. Just as she went to turn around she felt the weight in her body leave her. Ohhh no she thought as the realized that she was trapped in somepony's telekinetic grasp.
Not again. This would be the third time this month the mare has been caught. She was able to bribe her way out of any harsh penalties with the little money she had and promises of never committing the “devious” act of graffiti art ever again. If she’s brought in again this could be it for her.
“Well thats an interestin’ piece of art you drew there little lady.” A muscular middle aged blue stallion with short fire red hair covered mostly by a ten gallon hat and a badge hung around his neck stood with a red aura engulfing his horn speaking in a light country accent, the same red aura that engulfed her. “I'm gonna’ need you to accompany me for a while.”
Unable to talk the mare just sat there, eyes closed and mouth emotionless, showing no sign of regret or worry. She was carried to an old rickety looking carriage with a small shed on the back, closed off to the public eye.
As vinyl was placed in the small shed a cone made of some form of black crystal was placed on her horn, restricting her magic, and chains hung from rings in the four corners of the shed around her hooves. Sitting motionless the red aura disappeared. Still the face of the unicorn showed no emotion.
“Say aren't you that DJ Pon3 that my sons’ been listening to lately? i jus’ bought him a pair of those glasses you got there.” The mare sat there and stared at the stallion. The corner of her mouth rose ever so slightly as a plan formed in her head. She then decided to speak
“Ohh so you’re sons a fan huh?” A smirk came over the DJ as the cart began to slowly roll forward, being pulled by the stallion.
“I guess so, i reckon yer the one that makes them headache inducing wubbidy sounds my son can’t stop listening to?”
Wow what a giant sack of “Yea thats me, say you said you just got your son a pair of glasses right? Well… why don’t i just give you the pair i'm wearing now, signed of course, if you just remove this cone from my head and turn around for a few seconds?”
The stallion was quiet for a moment before speaking in a deep voice once again. “Thats a very interestin’ offer yer maken... only one problem though. I don’t give a rats flank about my son. He may be the most annoying thing to ever walk the face of the equestria. So i will have to decline your little bribe Missy.”
Well i guess this is it than, jail time and community service. All because I wanted to make ponies feel something. To brighten their boring every day lives with a bit of excitement and wonder, just like my dubtrot. Its made for one reason, to make ponies feel. Vinyl was now laying down with her legs stretched out. She had one last thing she could try.
“You know being tied up like this is rather… kinky. Its giving me a warm feeling like...”
“Shut your mouth young lady I’m married!”
Drat, whelp jail time it is!
“How long until were at the station?” vinyl deadpanned, obviously feeling defeated.
“Bout’ another thirty minutes, better make yourself comfortable.”
OK well I have been up all night; a little shut eye couldn't hurt… Trying to get comfortable was nearly impossible with her legs being held by the chains. The white mare sat down on top of the thin layer of hay covering the floor. I guess this is the price I pay to feel free. To feel like i'm actually doing something that matters. Vinyl closed her eyes still hidden behind her trademark lenses, and began to dream.
This dream was different... normally she would dream a vivid dream of her spinning a record in front of a huge crowd or painting the brick canvases that would be seen by thousands. But no, this one felt void. Everything was still. The normally happy mare saw herself from the third person, laying in the middle of a grassy field. The grass stood tall, rising above the height of a normal pony, the grass that the DJ occupied was flattened. Peculiar enough, there appeared to be a spot next to the DJ that was flattened also, as if there was a pony there. Dream DJ looked up and her glasses were non-existent. Instead vinyls eyes were black, completely black, pupil and whites and all. But even more striking than that was the single tear leaking out of her left eye. Right before Vinyl forced herself awake the manifestation of herself spoke up. A high-pitched, raspy voice sounding all to familiar spoke in place of the dream jockeys voice.
"Its time Vinyl, please stop hurting me."
The real vinyl began to tremble "I... no you're gone, you can't be here GO AWAY"
the voice projected again, this time much clearer than before. "I'm not gone Vee, i'm just a part of you now. Why did you do it? Why did you do this to me?"
"I... I.. didn't mean to OK? I was young... JUST GO AWAY, I FINALLY FORGET ABOUT YOU AND YOU HAVE TO COME BACK. LEAVE!" Vinyl was now bawling, head lowered in her hooves.
The same voice spoke, sounding much colder than before "You were never worthy, why i even looked at you was a mystery. It's time you paid for what you did you street trash." The voice than projected itself and deepened tremendously, thundering as if a tremendous bolt of lightning had struck and this was the thunder that followed shortly behind. "IT'S TIME YOU PAID FOR WHAT YOU DID"
Just then the dream went black, and a flash of light crowded her vision.
"Alright were here, get up so i don' have to carry you again." The sheriff stallion said as he opened the doors to the mobile jail cell.
Vinyl rejoined the world of the living, glad her glasses were covering her eyes. She knew her eyes were glazed over from crying in her sleep, and didn't want to know show weakness to the stallion. To shaken up to say anything she got up and followed the stallion into the brick building, walked past the all to familiar front desk and made a left turn into a room containing a few holding cells. Slowly she waddled into the small cell in the corner, laid on the hard concrete bed, and stared at the ceiling tracing the lines naturally carved into the marble ceiling with her eyes.
She wanted to think nothing of that dream, wanted to think nothing of the cell, nothing at all.
Hey guys i just wanted to say thank you for reading chapter 1 of this fic! It means a lot to me that someone has seen it let alone several people! With that being said I made some pretty drastic changes to the end of chapter 1, so you may want to reread the ending starting when vinyl falls asleep! Now you let’s get to the actual chapter shall we?
<(‘.’)>
The gray mare slowly rejoined the world of the living after maybe one of the most peaceful slumbers she has ever experienced. Her long black mane, usually styled to perfection, was sprawled across the bed, knotted up and frizzy from the peaceful rest she had received. Her cello sat in a stand next to the bed, and a small oak table sat in the corner, piled with sheet music. Other than these few objects her room was utterly empty.
As the mare laid in bed, not caring about the time or her hair or anything really, the sound of a harp hit her ears.Play. It was slow and peaceful, serene but not boring. It began to lull her back into the world of sleep.
No Octavia, you mustn't sleep any longer, you have a busy day ahead of you! The harp continued to drag her further and further into slumber. I shouldn’t sleep any longer; I’ve just been accepted into the Fancy Pants orchestra and should show him that I’m not some inconsiderate lazy sloth! But this bed is ever so comfortable… What is this? Is this cloud? I can’t be, I’m lying right on top of it. A giggle sprang from Octavia’s lips. Normally I’d fall right through. Unless it was enchanted… Yes! This must be the case! I wonder if the enchantment wears off, maybe i should keep laying down and see if it will... Just as her thoughts began to find back into peaceful slumber the door to her room swung open.
“TAVIA ITS TIME TO GET UP FREDERIC IS MAKING HAY SMOOTHIES” The magenta eyed, sky blue earth pony mare with a medium length curly mane colored light brown like milk chocolate barged in, yelling loud enough to dislodge Canterlot from the cliff it was set atop and send it spiraling down the mountain.
“GAAHBAHASAB” The gray earth pony mare projected, nearly jumping out of her grey fur, landing on the floor beside her bed with a hard thump. “Dear Celestia you scared me, are you always this loud beauty brass?”
Beauty Brass spoke again, this time slightly less booming. It was now just a mild roar. “My apologies but the brass instruments tend to mess with my hearing, by the way did you enjoy the bed?”
“Why yes it was heavenly! What is it?” Octavia had a mild Canterlot accent, obviously present but not too distracting.
“It’s a mix between feathers and cloud. You see birds can stand on cloud, ponies can lie on feather, so they just throw the feathers on top of some cloud and sell them to unicorn and earth ponies. Expensive but Fancy pants wants nothing but the best for his orchestra”
Just as beauty finished her sentence a thud was heard from down the stairs, followed by the unpleasant ring of a sour harp note.
A raspy voice bearing a deep Manehatten accent yelled up the stairs. “Beauty would you be ever so kind as to SHUT UP AND LET ME PLAY MY HARP? Thank you and hurry move your flank, breakfast is almost ready.”
“Yea whatever you say harp-ho. Sorry about that, can we continue this talk over breakfast? I THINK IT’S SOMEPONIES TIME OF THE MONTH AGAIN” Beauty Brass turned towards the stairs, annoyed by the harp player’s antics.
Octavia stood up from the surprisingly soft and comfortable hardwood floor and trudged towards the bathroom to get cleaned up. After a quick splash of water to the face and her usual 200 combs of her mane, a brush of her teeth, a scrub of her hooves, a short shower to wash of the dirt from her fur, and the fashioning of one stylish pink bowtie (Okay so maybe not so quick), she began her descent down the stairs.
She was greeted by the other three residents of the house playing a rigorous round robin of rock, paper, hoof. Harpo Nadermane was a tall stallion with a light purple coat. He had the most ridiculous green eyes and his mane was a sky blue, slightly darker than beauty brass’s coat, short, messy, and obviously uncombed. The other musician, being the pianist, Frederic Horseshoepin, was a very light brown stallion, not as tall as Harpo but definitely more defined. He had the same green eyes as Harpo but they seemed to fit him better. His blonde mane was parted in the middle of his head, stopping about an inch from his eye. It gave him a very regal look. Beauty being the first to notice Octavia spoke up.
“Oh hey Tavia glad you could make it!”
“Is this a tradition in the household? Daily games of rock, paper, hoof?” Octavia stated sounding slightly disgusted by the foal’s game.
“Nope were out of hay and somepony needs to get more for the smoothies, care to join?”
“Why don’t i just run down and grab them? There’s a food store at the bottom of the hill, yes? I’ll be back in an eighth note!” Octavia was giddy at finally getting to do something to help out around the house, and end the very improper game of rock, paper, hoof going on. After taking a few bits from the grocery money jar she made her way out of the brick mansion that sat atop a hill, facing towards the house of nobles and away from her destination, the market.
Octavia loved walks, they gave her a chance to think. Well this ensemble sure seems like a fun group of ponies, but where do i fit in? It seems as if they have known each other forever. I hope they don’t think I’m intruding! … Nonsense Fancy said i would fit in just great with the rest of his group.
Octavia had just rounded the back of her new group-home and began walking down the path to the market.
Is that pony staring at me? Surely he can’t be I’m not famous…yet. Wait why is that whole group of ponies staring? Is it something I’m wearing, the bow tie? Do i have toilet paper on my hoof? Is my... Just as Octavia was formulating her next thought she slipped on a mysterious can of spray paint, crashing against the ground. A resounding thud was created. How embarrassing, that can of paint did it on purpose! To sabotage my chance at the spotlight! The crowd of ponies didn't seem to care, which made the gray musician to realize they weren't looking at her but behind her. As she looked back she noticed something off about the house. It was either the light bouncing off of it at just the right angle or the giant graffiti amp and purple sunglasses but something was off.
Well… Horsefeathers. She got up and in a full gallop headed back to her enormous, freshly painted house. Octavia burst through the door at a full gallop and headed straight for the kitchen where she could faintly here one Beauty Brass.
“Honestly i think she’s a little uptight, I mean who sleeps in a bow tie? That’s just plain… Oh hey Tavia!”
Octavia couldn’t help but cringe at the nickname. She really didn’t care this morning but now that she was awake and alert it bothered her. Nicknames were just so improper. “Did you just call me uptight? I’ll have you know that I once quite the rebel.” Beauty Brass couldn’t help but snicker at this comment. “Please Octavia, if i put a grain of sand in your plot I’d have a diamond by next week.”
“That’s…” Octavia was trying to find the proper response.
“Kinky?” Harpo hastily said, receiving a punch on the arm from the angered cellist.
“No, i was going to say vulgar and uncouth.”
Harpo budded in once again “Octavia that’s domestic abuse, i should know I’ve been arrested for it three times.” At that Beauty gave a wicked smile, and decided to speak up again.
“No offense Octavia, but you couldn't let your mane down if your life depended on it.”
“That is so not true! I can be very…” She dreaded the next word, knowing that it can only lead to trouble “fun at times!”
“Oh Yea?” Beauty had that same mischievous smile on her crooked face once again. She casually trotted over to Octavia, and planted a sloppy wet kiss on her check. As soon as contact was made Octavia jerked her head away in disgust and shock.
“What the hay beauty? I’ll have you know that is sexual assault and borderline rape!” Octavia was now backed up against the wall on the opposite side of the room, looking absolutely furious at the “rapist” that had just assaulted her.
Beauty shrugged and spoke once again “Yea whatever priss, did you get our hay?”
It now just dawned on Octavia that she hadn't told the three about the new paintjob added to the house. “Well um you see, i was on my way down when i noticed somepony might have…” Octavia dreaded her next sentence, knowing it could only cause trouble “Spray-painted a giantampandsunglasses alloverthebackofour… house.” She looked at two shocked faces, and one forever unchanging expression from Frederick.
After a short trip to the back the four musicians stared at the back wall. Harpo was the first to speak.
“Well Beauty, why don't you and Octavia head down to the station? See if they caught the artist that did this.”
“More like street rat” Octavia muttered under her breath.
Beauty was quick to rebuttal to Harpo’s earlier comment. “Hay no, I’m going to get some hay and eat, Tavia can go to the station alone, i think she’s old enough to handle this one.” She gave a quick wink to the furious cellist and began her descent to the market.
“Wait Harpo what are you going to do?” A very confused grey mare asked.
“I’m going to nap, i was up to late on YouHoof checking out this wonderful DJ”
“DJ’s can’t be wonderful, they can be lower class, loud, and obnoxious, but never wonderful.”
Harpo glared at Octavia obviously unhappy with her opinion. “Listen i don’t care what YOU think but this mare gives away all her music for free. She practically invented a new genre, and comes from the upper class. Now please, go punish the thug that painted our wall.”
Firm on her opinion Octavia didn’t say another word but instead began her descent down their hill towards the market, destination police station.
She began humming a tune. A very beautifully composed version Beethoofen's 5th.
<(‘.’)>
“Listen miss i would love to help ya but ya got to speak to me.” The blue stallion spoke through the cold steel bars that separated her from the the mare inside, who after a morning of listening to the stallions sad attempt to get her to explain her reasoning for her art, began to become slightly irritated.
“Why are ya stayin so quite? Well i can’t help ya if ya don’t want to be helped!” At that the stallion cantered out of the room in fury.
Finally, i thought he would never leave. Ok well you got yourself in this mess you can get out. Let’s see can i… She tried to squeeze through the bars but even her limber frame wouldn’t fit. Ok no what about… She then tried to pick the lock with her tail, only to have one of her hairs get caught and pulled out. Ok ow! Well i guess there’s just one thing to do, sit and wait.
About an hour was spent staring at the wall, sitting on her flank, humming a distorted version of sapphire shores “I believe i can fly”. It was really a shame what happened with sapphire and that foal, she was a great artist. But some activities just shouldn’t be videotaped. For some reason as soon as fame hits you have to go and molest a foal… anyway i wonder how my new wub is doing on YouHoof. This one is sure to knock the socks off of anypony who hears it. Wait, who would be wearing socks? Well vinyl you're not one to judge, I’m probably one of three ponies who wears glasses, or anything at all on a normal day. Anyway if i don’t get out of here fast i may be late for work. I don’t think Fancy likes his ponies being late, especially when said pony has been late almost every single day of her life. And even if said pony is only a janitor but still, I’m important! As she began to lose hope on her waiting strategy a bell was sound and hoofsteps were heard.
“Hello I’m here to see if you caught the pony who so rudely painted the fancy pants orchestral home?”
Vinyl sat in a small room with a single lamp hanging from the ceiling, swaying slightly as the guard stallion sat across from her. A rickety old desk separated them. The room contained three white walls and one directly to her right covered in a mirror, which doubled as a window to the viewer on the other side. It was made obvious, although it was not hidden.
This may have been the best situation she could have possibly been in. She had a classical musician making her fate, if she would be jailed or released back into the streets. Her cutie mark may have been for music, but she could be a damn good actress if she chose to be. Clearing her throat she decided that this was a situation speech could not be avoided.
“I’m gonna ask one more time, say yer name and what ya did!” The stallion was demanding, slamming his hoof down on the table.
“Save it, I’ve heard it before buddy. Now i am Vinyl Scratch and i spray painted a wall.” Her head began to droop a bit. Time for the show to start... I wish i had some popcorn, with butter, and salt, and sugar, but no I’m here, not for long.
“Care to explain why ya defaced a wall? And don’t give me none of that self-righteous pony-shit i normally get.” The stallion sat with angry eyes and a vein popping out of his temple. Vinyl wanted to snicker. She knew how big of a softie this stallion was and the fact that he was trying to act all tough was hilarious.
Vinyl began making her voice sound disappointed and shaky, as she was the victim. “I… I… I had no other choice. You see my mom has been addicted to… she’s been addicted to buck for almost a year now.” Vinyl allowed a carefully placed tear to leak out from behind her glasses. “I want her to stop but she won’t. SHE JUST WON”T. She ran out of money a few months back and i moved in with her to keep her afloat. I forced her to quit and she… she was in so much pain. She was sweating and shaking and i couldn’t stand to see her like that! You know how hard it is to watch your mom in pain?”
Vinyl looked up for a split second at the officer, and then turned her face away in mock pain. Her face now faced the mirror allowing the mare that sat on the other side to get a lock at the tears streaming down her face. She then returned her gaze to the ground and continued her story.
“I bought her some, not much, just a little so she could feel good again. Well sure enough the feeling wore off and she was… she was in pain once more.” Vinyl quieted her tale to a mere whisper. “So i bought her more… and more… and i never stopped. A few weeks ago i was fired from my job and now i have no way to pay my rent and I’m still trying to buy my mom that STUPID drug.”
Vinyl’s face fell between her hoofs as she sobbed on the table. “So that’s why i did it. I did it to feed my mom’s addiction. I did it because it’s the only way Shade was going to give me more buck. He said if i did this small job for him he’d feed my mom’s addiction for a while. I shouldn’t have done it and i know that. But i had no other choice….”
Vinyl’s story finally ended with tears leaking scattered on the table. If this was a movie, she would have just won the hoofy over Leonardo Dicloprio. She slowly raised her head to the stallion who had a look on his face. It wasn't one of anger or disgust, but rather one of confusion. How can someone who was so tough just break down?
“Well if you will excuse me miss i do believe i have some business i haveta attend to.” The stallion took his leave of absence and slowly closed the door behind him.
Bravo Bravo. Another wonderful performance miss Scratch! A smile stretched across vinyl’s face. Looks like you're home free.
<(‘.’)>
Octavia sat on the other side of the window staring in. Her eyes were burning from holding back tears from this poor, white unicorn’s story. There is no way I can send this mare to jail! Have a heart! She did all of this for her mother. Poor thing looks starving to! Ok its settled.
The guard stallion rounded the corner of the watching room and opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off by a very determined cellist. “I want her to clean the graffiti off of my wall, and i want to meet with her once… nay twice a week at a location of her choosing to check up on her.
The midnight blue policeman looked even more confused than before. “Umm, ok if this is what ya want i guess we can give her the community service and probation, that is if ya decide not to change yer mind.”
“Nope, i am no evil pony and neither is she” Octavia raised a hoof and pointed it at the unicorn in question.
“Ok i guess I’ll break the news to her…” The stallion at this point gave up on concussion and decided that sometimes, it’s better to just go with it.
Octavia watched the stallion walk out of the door to the viewing room and after a few short seconds, back into the room the room with the poor artist. She watched as the stallion slowly spoke the terms and conditions of the deal offered by the classical musician. The white mare lit up with what seemed to be excitement and looked like she was thanking the kind officer of celesta’s grand kingdom. Octavia was going to help this mare!
<(‘.’)>
“Is she out of her fucking mind? What the hell! Who meets the mare that vandalizes there house and offers to buy them lunch TWICE A WEEK”
Vinyl sat angrily looking at the policepony.
“I couldn't agree with ya more mam, weirdest filly i have ever met. Well ya will need to fill out a bit of paperwork but after that there’s done i don see no need for a judge. Just follow her terms for a while and when she wants to let you go she can.”
“Fine but I’m not responsible if she gets stabbed at any of the restaurants i chose.” Vinyl agreed as she was hoofed over some papers. She signed them with her very neat, horn written Vinyl Scratch. Vinyl hoofed the papers back off just to receive a very disappointed look from the stallion.
“Mam, I’m gonna need you to please write down yer REAL NAME” He handed vinyl a fresh sheet of papers. Why he had a fresh sheet of papers, the world may never know. Vinyl breathed out of her nose with anger. She NEVER used her real name. She caved and figured it was better than jail. It was hell for unicorns in jail. They had a certain phallic shaped body extension on the top of their heads that automatically made them some oversized earth pony’s bed buddy. And you want to do whatever it takes to stay out of bed with an earth pony; they tend to be a bit rough.
Vinyl placed her real name along the dotted line. Vincenza Staccato. She handed the papers back the the stallion who looked over the name for a minute. He then got up, trotted to the door, and spoke in his ‘I’m a man but I can really be sensitive’ voice.
“Ok, yer free to go. In a month you and the mare you’ll meet outside this building will be back to discuss how things are going. Try to remember this mare is doing you a favor and you owe her at least a thank you.”
“Will do chief but i can’t promise she’ll like me next time were in here, let alone com with me in a months’ time.” Vinyl began to walk past the stallion has she felt a hoof stop her movement.
“Listen i told ya i was a daddy right? If there is one thing i know it is when two youngins are gonna get along, and you two; He gestured to the cellist waiting by the door that was barley visible at the end of the hallway; are gonna be good friends. Now i suggest you scurry outa here before i arrest you for loitering, I gotta perfect mailmare waiting for me at home, and she made muffins!”
Vinyl laughed at the stallion’s observed remark about her being friends with a classical musician. Is he serious? Me and a classical musician getting along? The day i admit i like a classical musician I’ll kiss his... or her flank. Vinyl stomped towards the exit door and looked back at the cellist holding the door for her. She was almost done speaking for today, all she had to do was say five more sentences and she was done. Her words could no longer cause her or anypony else harm.
“Listen MS?”
The gray musician perked up a bit at the mare’s willingness to talk “Octavia! Ms. Octavia Melody.”
“Yea whatever, ‘Ms. Melody’ let me give you a bit of advice. When somepony claims her mom is addicted to buck to fool a snob musician and get out of jail time, don’t believe her. Oh and I’m Vinyl, but you can call me DJ P0N-3.” At that, vinyl turned to take her leave.
Octavia wasn't mad at the DJ. No she wasn't mad at being lied to, she wasn't even mad about the side of her hoof painted house. She was absolutely furious.
She was watching the smug arrogant unicorn walk in the opposite direction from her, swaying her shapely hips as she went, practically mocking Octavia. Here the cellist stood, having bailed this thug out of jail, this worthless street scum that took her kindness for granted. This is why she was better than them, the lower class citizens in this city, why she deserved to be where she was.
She wasn't born into riches like most upper class ponies. No, she was born into a family that had long been shamed by the Canterlot nobles. Do you know why they are called Canterlot nobles? Think about it... NOBELS. During discords reign there were the families that stayed noble to Celestia and Luna, noble to the crown. No matter how hard they fell they stayed with the crown, suffering pain, suffering death for the rebellion. But my family never did.
The philharmonics. A once powerful family that stood hoof and hoof with the crown, almost as powerful as the Bloods who were relatives to the crown. Near the end of the war Discord offered a very large amount of land to the philharmonics to start their own country away from his reign. My ancestors believed that they could start a country of their own and make it peaceful, bring the princesses with them and be free of the god of chaos. All they had to do was bring Discord the element of magic. Well, long story short, the princesses were able to catch my ancestors and talked them out of it, promising the the Chaos God was lying as he always did. They gave the element back but were shunned. Not by the crown but by the other nobles. Other nobles that would have done the same thing had they received the offer. Soon the philharmonics were cast out into the pit of civilians and demons that coexisted at the time.
After so many years the Philharmonics had a daughter, a Mrs. Pristine Philharmonic who married a wealthy noble by the name of Dynasty Blueblood; after being conceived with his foal. It was a loveless marriage at first but the two found a way to love, found a way to care. That was of course until Dynasty was caught fooling around behind Pristine’s back with not one, not two, not three, not… ok you get the point. He had many a mistress. He left Pristine and her adolescent foal in a small, two story townhouse on the edge of the suburbs. Her foal, Octavia Blueblood, finally got the chance to rid herself of not only the philharmonic last name but also the Blueblood’s name as well. Because Octavia was no longer the son of Dynasty Blueblood she could legally change her name, and that she did.
That’s how Octavia earned her name of Melody. That’s why Octavia was so worried about her political stance. She had to bring her new name into the light, and that she did! After planning at the Grand Galloping Gala and the royal Canterlot garden party, she made a name for herself. Such a name that she made it into one of the most exclusive ensembles in all of Equestrian! The Fancy Orchestra!
Octavia called for the escaping mare, creating quite the scene. She galloped over to the street-trash DJ and said but a few words. “Listen, you expect me to give up on you, you expect me to walk into the police station and cancel our meetings. But that, Gutter-skank, won’t happen. You will be at my house tomorrow at 9 AM to wash the wall, than we will go to lunch at… Actually i don’t know any places that serve your kind. I’ll let you choose, where to Miss P0n3?”
This was it, the last sentence of the day. “Sizzles pub and grill, Mane Street.”
Octavia cringed at the ‘pub and grill’ title, knowing it would most likely be a smoke infested spit-bucket. “Fine. And then we will discuss our next meeting there, do i make myself clear?”
Vinyl just nodded her head towards the sky, then down towards the floor, and repeated several times before turning and cantering off the scene to avoid further conversation. She was free, and needed now more than ever to mix a track, now more than ever to forget about the world, now more than ever to forget about that stupid gray cellist, and now more than ever to forget about… her.
Octavia watched as the DJ power trotted her way off the scene, and then headed towards her own humble abode to take a much needed nap.
Blissful sleep. Octavia awoke and wiped the crust from the peaceful night's sleep with her fetlock. She peered out of her window and noticed the sun peeking past the horizon. The baton was being passed from Luna's beautiful night to Celestia's equally exquisite day. A masterpiece made by the two most respectable ponies ever. And this day had to be ruined by a certain streetwise DJ.
It was nearly time for the white unicorn to arrive so Octavia rolled herself out of bed and crawled into the bathroom. After squirming herself into the shower she turned it on the feel the rush of cold water instantly spring her to her feet. As she enjoyed the jolt of cold that woke her up she began to shampoo her body. She took pride in her soft fur and bouncy hair. Standing on her hind legs did a thing or two to tone her flank. She was rather skinny with a muscular backside, creating what many believed to be the perfect figure for a mare. She turned the shower off after rinsing her tail and plot and peered into the mirror. She smiled at the mare staring back at her. Her mane and coat was wet and hugged her body. It left the soaked gray musician with a weird, almost erotic feeling.
"Well hey there beautiful."
Octavia turned in shock to see a still very loud Beauty Brass starring at her. Octavia rushed to grab a towel and dry herself off, only to realize that she was now flashing the snickering Tuba player. She blushed a deep rose red, embarrassed from what she had just done before she began to frown. "What they hay are you doing in my bathroom Beauty?"
"Sorry! But your girlfriends here to see you."
"You mean the street-thug DJ? I'm going to finish up in here, tell her to wait for me." Octavia finished toweling off and began to brush her hair.
"GOTCHA!" she galloped downstairs to tell the Artist what she heard.
Octavia finished with her comb, and brushed her teeth. As she headed down the stairs she saw the DJ and Harpo sitting beside a computer, watching what appeared to be a cat dancing to some electronic trash.
"Octavia, why didn't you tell me that THE DJ p0n-3 was the one who painted our house?" Harpo had a glint in his eye and a strange optimism in his voice.
Octavia walked over the over-exited harpist and closed the laptop. "She is here to clean, not to socialize." Octavia gestured towards a bucket, latter and sponge sitting by the door. Vinyl got the hint and without a word picked the supplies up in her magic and headed out the door.
<('.')>
"Vinyl!" Octavia called the mare that was hard at work, furiously scrubbing at the wall. The white mare looked over a little surprised at hearing her first name. She saw a large pitcher of lemonade in the cellist's fetlock and a glass in her hoof. Vinyl hopped of the latter and quickly went to the sweet liquid being poured from the frosty mug. Vinyl tried to grab the glass in her magic just to remember she was drained. She instead grabbed the glass and gulfed it down. With a nod of her head she cantered back over the wall and continued her work.
"Still not talking? Ok then that’s perfectly fine, we can talk at lunch. Speaking of which, i will be back in an hour so you can grab a shower and then we will go to the pub you suggested. Now back to work please." Octavia set the lemonade down on the pavement in case the unicorn got thirsty. She trotted back inside to continue her cello practice.
She had been at it all morning. Fredrick needed to know what her range was so he could compose accordingly. She didn't mind. Her cutie mark was a treble clef after all. This didn’t really make sense now that she thought about it. You don’t use a treble cleft in cello scores. Shaking the thought from her head Octavia hoisted herself onto her strong hind legs and met the cello. Their intricate dance. If the cello leaned slightly left or right than Octavia was sure to fall. This is why Octavia has trained herself in this dance. In the ability to sway with the cello to stay up and continue making the blissful music that drew the fans in by the thousands. She lost herself playing a piece she loved more than any, the Sonic Rainboom. This intricate piece was actually written by Fredrick himself in his early teens. He saw the most amazing rainbow flow across the sky and filled him with inspiration. A bountiful, inspirational, fast paced song was the product of this phenomenon.
After realizing she had just spent nearly an hour and a half playing she dropped her cello and began to trot outside. She was stopped by a white unicorn sitting on the floor, watching the cellist.
"Wha... why aren't you working on the wall?" The cellist was more puzzled than she was mad. In fact she was quite... surprised that the white mare didn't interrupt the playing. The unicorn tapped the zoned gray musician on the shoulder and gestured towards the door.
"Ok you ready for lunch?" Vinyl nodded her head, trying to resist the urge to talk. Vinyl didn't talk not because she was sad, or mad, or even just being arrogant. She stayed silent because she was scared. She believed that her words only brought pain.
"Ok let’s go then. I don't really know where were going so i guess i will just follow you."
The two mares walked down the street, past the police, through the middle class town houses scattered through the city, and into the area of the city nopony wanted to go. Octavia sped up a bit and planted herself firmly against vinyl. Octavia wasn't used to the city, and the city was most likely not used to her either. The pair walked down the street, every now and the getting stopped by a fan of vinyl’s saying 'Vinyl my little homey, wassup' or 'Yo DJ, digged the last track. Keep it up!' Most encounters ended in a casual hoof-bump and then the passer byes went on their way.
The pair finally reached the pub and vinyl nodded her head at the cook. He threw what looked to be a pile of beans and peas mashed into a patty onto the grill.
"Ok now please talk to me if you will, i need to know why you did it. And why aren’t you speaking?" Octavia sat ready for an answer. Instead she received a sigh from the eighth note marked mare sitting next to her.'
"Fine. I am a DJ. My name is Vinyl Scratch. I did it to feel, and i don't talk because it only causes pain. Good enough for you?" Vinyl spoke as if she was forced to, saying the lines like she had just read them off of a script.
"Please miss scratch, i know we are not really friends but you have a rather enjoyable voice to listen to. Why would it hurt anypony?" A small blush crept up on the cellists face. She wasn't used to giving compliments, especially to street mares whose company wasn't really wanted.
"Listen I’m not going to spill my guts out to you... let’s just say I’ve done things with this voice I’m not proud of. Please, I’ll answer your questions but don't expect too much musicbutt." Vinyl gave a wink to the cellist who looked away in a blush. Why she was blushing? The world may never know.
"Here you go girls, to mean greens." The rather untrimmed stallion handed the pair of mares there concoctions. They looked greasy, with a bun on the bottom, a dark green patty in the middle, a slice of lettuce on top and a slice of spinach on top of that. Guacamole was spread across the top portion of the bun.
Octavia looked in disgust at her 'Mean Green'. She wasn't used to lower class food. After looking across the table vinyl appeared to be done with hers. "My Luna Vinyl, how did you eat that so fast?" Octavia was absolutely puzzled at the mare who was dabbing her face. This was the first time shed seen vinyl use magic and it was positively stunning
Vinyl had a mixture of dark and teal blue for her aura. Octavia couldn’t look away. Normally an aura was dull and boring but this mare’s was vibrant and lively and beautiful... Wait, no this isn't right. I shouldn't be thinking positively about this mare. She painted my house. Granted it was an amazing work of art for... NO OCTAVIA STAHP, STAHP RIGHT NOW.
"Hmm yea sorry for eating so fast. I kinda haven't eaten for three days." Vinyl looked at Octavia apologetically. She seemed lost in thought, and was rather cute like that... She seems to be blushing. No vinyl. Not again, Never again. "Try yours, the burgers here are amazing!"
Octavia looked at her burger in a mixture of disgust and intrigue. She took a bite and OH MY CELESTIA THIS IS GOOD. She ate a few more chunks before she finally took a breath. Vinyl had a grin across her face, one that screamed 'i told you so' Octavia spoke up with her mouth full. "Oh shut it this is the best tasting 'burger' I’ve ever had."
Vinyl immediately broke into a hearty laugh at Octavia’s pronunciation of the word 'burger'. "Oh look at miss prim and proper! You have a bit of something right there." Vinyl gestured her hoof towards a smear of guacamole placed on Octavia’s cheek.
"Here?" Octavia attempted to wipe off the greenery on her cheek but missed. Vinyl just watched, laughing at every missed swipe. "Here Octavia, I’ll get it!" Vinyl used her magic to pick up a napkin and wipe the cheek of the cellist.
"Thank you." said the cellist through a slight blush. "See you are a nice mare, why are you painting houses?" Octavia took another bite of her burger waiting for a response from her fellow musician. Fellow musician? Sense when have DJ's been musicians?
"Fine I’ll tell you, but you’re buying lunch!" Vinyl mockingly glared at the cellist who was still consuming her burger.
"Deal, but no leaving out any details! I want to venture into the mind of a graffiti artist."
Vinyl began with a sigh "Ok, well i guess the best way to express this is by example. Remember back at the house when you were lost in your music?" Octavia returned a startled nod, her attention still engrossed in her delicious 'Mean Green'. "Well that feeling you get listening to the music you've made, i get that to. Whenever i make a new beat i feel this sense of freedom, this euphoric sense only matched by sharing that beat with ponies. I get to escape life, my problems, and my past troubles just for a few minutes of nonstop hoof pumping and thundering applause. I get a feeling of freedom, a feeling of absolute bliss. I gave up preforming at clubs after the ac... After i had fallout with one of the owners. I got blacklisted at most the big clubs and i slowly lost my sense of music. Well i missed that feeling of freedom; I didn't want to be controlled by society any longer. One night i went out with a friend and tagged a building with... well those sunglasses that were on your wall." The white unicorn gave an award chuckle as Octavia finished her burger and glared at the storyteller. "Well one thing led to another and i discovered that graffiti art gave me that same sense of freedom i longed for... so I kept going and tagged almost every abandoned building in mane row."
Octavia interrupted "I'm sorry where is mane row?"
"It's, well, it’s the area where all the abandoned war factories were converted into apartments or abandoned. Well now you heard my story, happy Tavi?"
"I'm sorry did you call me Tavi?
"Yes mam."
"Can you please restrain from doing that any further?"
"No sire i can't! You are from now on Tavi and will always be Tavi! So any idea what time it is?" Vinyl was trying to avoid eye contact with the earth pony, which was staring daggers so sharp at the street DJ she could feel it entering her skin and exiting through the opposite side.
"It is around 2, and i have practice in about an hour so as enjoyable as this soirée has been i must be on my way. You did well today vinyl. I suggest you come and finish up in two days’ time and we can have our second lunch then. After we can rid ourselves of each other for a few days before we will meet again. Sorry for how demanding I’m being but i feel that in this particular case it is quite necessary." Octavia took a deep breath after her ramble.
Vinyl shook her head in agreement before speaking in a fake Canterlot accent, sounding more as if her I's are E's and her r's are non-existent. "Ok Tavi, but i do say i shall walk you back to the police station as to help you avoid getting shanked."
"No, vinyl, it’s quite alright i think i can make it back on my own." Octavia stood up and took out a bag full of bits out of a pocket on the back of her Bow tie. She takes a few bits out and leaves them for the lunch before placing her bits back in her bow tie.
She then gets about half way out of the shop before she feels a cold hoof on her flank. She looks at a tall muscular stallion with a black coat and dark blue mane. “Ur a pretty mare you know that. How bouts I take you home and show you what it’s like to ride a bronco.”
“I… I” Octavia was now shaking. She spent about 15 seconds away from vinyl and already was in trouble.
“Common now pretty mare, let’s get outa here” The stallion pushed Octavia forcefully towards the door before a bottle of ketchup floated in front of the stallion surrounded in a beautiful blue aura. The bottle squeezed and the stallion covered from head to toe in ketchup.
“Well all i wanted was a simple no…” The stallion ran out of the door with tears in his eyes.
“You’re welcome! Now I’m going to walk you to the police station and you're going to keep your virginity.” Vinyl smugly walked next to Octavia and began pushing the shaken up earth mare.
“Hey you don’t know I’m a “
“Please Tavi, you walk like a virgin, talk like a virgin, and even eat like a virgin. I bet if i put a grain of sand up your flank I’d have a diamond in a week.”
“Oh, how original. Is it really that hard to come up with a new gag?” Vinyl stared at Octavia awkwardly for a few moments before the dam of curiosity finally burst.
“What are you staring at Tavi?”
“No one important, can we head to the station now? I really must go.” Not sure who the cellist was addressing VINYL decided to take her leave of absence, dragging the crazy uptight cellist with her. The two mares made their way down the street before either spoke up.
“Hey that’s rude!” Vinyl stopped for a second to stare at the crazy cellist. After a moment of confusion Vinyl decided to drop it and continue towards the police station to drop of her fri… her parole officer so she could get back home and make a new beat. She was feeling rather inspired for some strange reason.
A short walk and some idle chit-chat later and the mares went their separate ways. One back to the harsh inner city, and the other to her life of excess and luxury.
The moon was beginning to set, preparing the dark skies to enter into beautiful pink morning light. An intricate transition of the sun and moon swapping. The dance between the princess of the night and the ruler of day. And at this ungodly hour, one very sleepy grey cellist could not drift into the world of dreams.
Instead she found herself on the first floor of her brick house, browsing videos on YouHoof. She wasn't looking for any videos in particular, mainly just videos of dancing cats and surfing squirrels. Animals in general are adorable. As she surfed the web for more cat videos one particular clip located in the popular section caught her eye. Out of curiosity, and nothing else, she decided to click on the video called 'DJ P0n3- Against All Odds'
The first thing she noticed was a slider containing likes and dislikes. The bar was covered mostly green with only a hint of red at the end. The next thing she noticed was the amount of views that had accumulated over the two hours it was online. It had nearly 4 million. 4 MILLION Views, in two hours. That was ridiculous! Some videos don't get 4 million views for years if at all. And this mare, one she just had lunch with not but 12 hours ago, racked in 4 million views in two hours! She hit the play button and braced herself for the screech that called itself electronic music.
What she heard shocked her. It was a cello. Not just any cello. It was her cello. The very same song that she had been playing today when she got lost in her music. The same song that she had replayed over and over for an hour and a half. The same song Vinyl had sat and listened to... and apparently recorded. And put on YouHoof. Octavia should probably have a talk with Vinyl tomorrow.
As the song drew on just her cello was heard for about fifteen seconds. Her cello slowly faded as if she was walking down a hallway. It was replaced by a deep bass that thundered for nearly ten seconds before the song completely went silent. The cello returned accompanied by a series of bass thumps, high-hat tics, and what sounded like an electric guitar. They played along with the cello adding a mysterious and rather ominous background before a bass guitar joined. The song sounded dark and gloomy, but was still very pleasant to the ears. Octavia was tapping her foot against the ground ready for her favorite part of the song.
The song cut out for a moment of silence before the cello returned. This was Octavia's favorite part of the song. This is the part that simulated the sunrise in music. The cello played solo for a bit before it was replaced by pair of guitars, one electric and one bass, a kick drum, a snare, and some form of electric, synthesized piano that seemed to be making a wub sound. It matched her notes perfectly. The group of instruments switched in and out with her cello for the entirety of the middle section of music.
The ending was coming up. A normally peaceful string of notes that drew the song to a close. It was intensified by the electronic sounds Vinyl added to the background. It was less of a peaceful melody and more of a promise of better times. Weird how the change in tempo seemed to speak to Octavia.
The song was coming to a close with nearly 45 seconds of long notes to give the listener time to wind down. But Vinyl appeared to have a magic touch. She made the last bit of the song the most invigorating and intoxicating. An electronically synthesized voice began to sing in the foreground; over the cello, bass guitar, and the weird-techno-wubby-instrument.
Against all odds, you got me to say hello Against all odds, you got me to just let go Against all odds, you made me see the light When all I’ve seen is darkness for a while
Against all odds, you dragged me out of my shell Against all odds, you made my heart swell Against all odds, you got me to be me And I want to see the real you if you please
Anger and darkness have taken control You’re the beacon of light that drove it back so I could finally see the light of day It’s a feeling I do not want to push away
Against all odds You are my Friend
The song ended on a long cello note. Octavia must have been really tired because her eyes were burning. After a rub of the eye sockets Octavia could feel moisture in her fetlock. It dawned on her that she wasn't tired, she was crying. Gentle tears. Tears of uncertainty, yes. But tears of joy nonetheless. This couldn't be happening. Octavia Melody, classical musician wonder, was now crying over a silly club song.
She was uncertain why this was, but if there was one thing she could be sure of, one thing at all, it was that she could not wait to see the extraordinarily unique white DJ unicorn. The same mare that she hated just a few short days ago. The same mare that painted her house. The same mare she considered unworthy street trash. But she didn't care about any of that. She knew now that Vinyl was more than that. And most importantly, she was Octavia’s new friend.
"I told you Beauty, do not call me Tavia! And I’ve been up!"
"Well your DJ buddy is waiting at the door!"
"Ok I shall go get her!" The grey earth pony galloped over to the door and welcomed her guest with a bright smile. "Hey Vinyl."
"Hey Tavi, you seem like you’re in a good mood." Vinyl stood at the door with a goofy smile on her face. It was one that she hadn't worn in years. One that could only signify one thing for the unicorn DJ. Things were looking up.
"How come she can give you a nickname?!" Beauty Brass was standing next to the cellist with a surprised look on her face.
A slight blush crept across the cellist's face. Beauty was right; she did not allow her to give a nickname to the cellist. Well this is rather awkward. Think fast Octavia... Think fast... "The only reason I allow her to call me by any sort of nickname is because I do not believe she could process a word over 3 syllables." Nailed it. Octavia you deserve a muffin.
"Och Tavi... that’s cold. True. But still very cold." Vinyl and Octavia chuckled at this.
"Oh why don't you kiss already?" A very irritated beauty brass than took her leave of absence to give the two mares some privacy.
"So, um, i heard your song on YouHoof last night..." Octavia was kicking at the ground. She followed her swaying hoof with her eyes to avoid look at the DJ. She wasn't sure if the song was about her and Vinyl or if it was just another random club beat with no meaning like so much modern music seemed to be.
"You... You did? I didn't know you knew how to work a PC. Did you... did you like it?" It wasn't the question Vinyl would have liked to ask but it was the safest bet she had.
"Vinyl, I am a classical musician, not a cave pony. And yes, i actually did like it. A lot. Do you... i mean... what’s the meaning behind it?" Octavia looked up to meet the eyes of the blushing unicorn that stood across from her.
"Well, to be honest, i just kinda put my feelings into a song. I didn’t have a 'meaning' behind it per say. It was just pure emotion." Vinyl finished by dropping her head to the ground, breaking the eye contact that the DJ and the Cellist held.
But that was all Octavia needed to hear. Vinyl felt weight on her shoulders. She also felt heat, fur, and something rubbing against her neck. It's been a while since Vinyl received a proper hug. It felt good, felt refreshing, and felt right.
It ended more abruptly than Vinyl would have liked. Octavia pulled away and stared at the DJ. "Thank you Vinyl."
"I didn't do anything Tavi... it just did what felt. Now, i believe i have a masterpiece that needs some scrubbing." Vinyl floated the bucket of cleaning supplies over to her. She gave a goofy smile to the cellist turned tomato from the velocity of her blush.
"Yes, you might want to get scrubbing. I will come get you in about an hour, okay? We will go grab another 'Burger'." Octavia gave a sweet smile to her new friend. Vinyl immediately began cackling over the Cellists pronunciation of the word burger. She never used her r's when she spoke but for some reason decided to use them for the word 'burger' It may be one of the cutest... funniest things Vinyl has ever heard. It was pretty obvious that whoever invented the burger didn't mean for the upper class to indulge in its deliciousness.
"Hey! Sometimes Vinyl... I just, you can't, i mean... ugh!" Octavia turned away with her nose held high and a smug frown spread across he lips.
"Whoa Tavi i was just yankin your chain, relax. I'm going to go finish up cleaning and I’ll come back in when imp all donzo." Vinyl flinched at the grunt she received in return than went out to finish her scrubbing.
<('.')>
After only a short 15 minutes of scrubbing vinyl was done. It made a huge difference that she could use her magic at full this time around. The delicious greasy sandwich vinyl had enjoyed with Octavia the day before left her with enough left in her tank to finish off the wall. Vinyl didn't usually eat on her own. She didn't see the need. She didn't mind the feeling of starvation. She only ate when she could barely walk anymore and then it was only enough to get Vinyl back on her feet.
She didn't do it to harm herself. Self-harm is never ok. No, she did it because she didn't deserve to eat 3 meals day. She didn't deserve the feeling of a full belly, the euphoric taste of a basket of hay fries, the delicious crisp of a filly cheese sandwich bun. She deserved to be hungry; it was the only way she could make herself feel better for what she's done. Because of Vinyl, SHE will never get food again, so why should Vinyl get any?
The white DJ picked up her cleaning supplies and trotted inside.
"Yes Vinyl, may i help you?" Octavia looked up from her sheet music to peer at the new entree of the household.
"I actually just finished, and seeing as we still got some time before lunch... why don't you show me around your house or something?"
"Well to be quite honest I just became a residence of this household myself! I barley know where everything is myself." She gestured to the kitchen "That is the kitchen." She pointed her hoof to the current room she was in "This is the living room" she then pointed her hoof up the stairs "And my room is just up there! There you are, tour done! Enjoy?" Octavia smirked and began to work on her sheet music once again. She noticed a white blur out of the corner of her eye.
"Watcha writing?" Vinyl spoke up. "Sheet music huh? i didn't know you Composed." Vinyl's eyes scanned the sheet of paper for a few seconds before speaking up again. "Hm, fast paced, energetic, and uplifting! Seems like someone’s writing a happy song!"
"Vinyl can you please close your mouth and let me... wait, how do you know how to read sheet music?"
"Have you looked at my flank?" Vinyl wiggled her double eight noted plot around in front of Octavia’s face, sending the cellist into a deep blush.
"Vinyl stop! You have no class."
"And you’re no fun! Looks like we were meant to be!" Vinyl immediately regretted the words that left her mouth. She made that sound way more lovey-dovey than intended. "Um, meant to be friends... yea... totally!"
"Ok then... you never answered my question. How can you read sheet music? You are supposed to be a DJ. You know, you take other peoples music and add more music to it with some dials." Octavia's voice slowly died down as she realized it was starting to get offensive.
"Nonono, it’s not like that sweet tavi, its more... i don't know. I can't really explain. I guess i could just show you? My place is right around the corner from Sizzles" She paused at Octavia’s confused expression.
"I am sorry but what is a sizzles?"
"It’s the 'Burger' joint we ate at last time." The DJ pronounced 'burger' like he cellist in spite. Vinyl’s stomach than began to rumble. "And where we're headed now. You know what they say; when the stomachs a wubbin, the foods a comin." Vinyl winked at the cellist before trotting towards the door. She wasn't necessarily hungry as much as she just wanted to avoid talking about her past. She knew where the conversation was headed. She would explain why her cutie mark is an eight note ant why she is a DJ. She would then explain what drove her to quit her special talent for... well... her special talent. Apparently a pony can have several special talents without it matching what is depicted on their flank.
"Fine let us go, i did skip breakfast this morning." Octavia trotted behind vinyl as the headed towards the restaurant. Little did the cellist know that vinyl had also skipped breakfast, and last night’s dinner as well.
<('.')>
Vinyl ordered two more burgers, this time one 'sizzle special' and one 'red dead'. The corn patties were hurdled onto the grill and the sizzle began nearly immediately. One was left to cook while the other was coated in a red sauce that looked to be made from crushed peppers, flour, milk, and maybe an egg or two. The two mares watched there meal being cooked in merriment while the stayed silent and enjoyed the show. After a while the burgers were nearing completion. The sizzle special was stacked high with veggies of all types, and even a few fruits! The stallion cooking the food topped the burger off with a pineapple and handed it to the cellist. He then went to work on the second red burger. It looked like it was coated in liquid heat and was topped with heat, heat, and more heat. Peppers, green and red, ghost chilies, and a sprinkle of cumin topped of the flaming menace of a meal. The burger was given to Vinyl and she bit in immediately, acting as if the heat did not affect her in the slightest. Octavia, finding this strange, spoke up.
"How can you possibly eat that without spontaneously combusting?"
"Well its simple Tavi, I love things that are hot. Hot makes the world go round." Vinyl gave the cellist a seductive wink.
"I am sorry but are you trying to call me hot? If so thank you but no thank you." Octavia winked back at the DJ who looked about as confused as a mare who accidently flirted with her parole officer could be. She then turned her attention away from Grey musician and back to her almost finished Burger. In one more bite, it was done.
"Vinyl you eat like a mal-nourished stallion."
Well your half-right "So listen, you wanna come back to my place after this so i can show you why a DJ is a real musician?"
"I will not get stabbed or robbed, will I?"
"Nope, i promise. How can you eat that slowly? I have seen turtles eat faster."
"I eat slowly because i like savoring every bite, not just scarfing the food down until there is nothing left like somepony i know."
"Aw you’re thinking of me? How sweet." Vinyl’s comment was rebutted be a punch to the arm. Not a hard punch, but fellable.
"I will have you know that is sexual abuse Tavi! Help! RAPE RAPE!" Vinyl received a much harder hoof the chest.
"OUF... ok i get it no more rape jokes."
"Thank you. Now why don't you tell me how you got that cutie mark of yours hmm?"
"Ha you said don't"
"I did not!"
"Did too! Its like two lines up!"
"No it is not, wait what do you mean two lines... WHO CARES just tell me how you received your cutie mark already will you?" Octavia glowered at Vinyl who gave a sharp exhale.
"I'm sorry Tavi but i just don’t really want to share that if you don't mind. It... I will when i can but it's just not something i want to talk about."
"Oh, well ok then." The atmosphere went dreary for a second. Normally talking about how you got your cutie mark is a happy topic, usually used to lighten the mood. Octavia had not expected the answer she received nor that it was painful for Vinyl to think about her cutie mark's origin.
"Why don't you tell me how you received yours Tavi?" Vinyl broke the tension.
"Ok then, well I will skip some of the nitty-gritty but i grew up with only my mom. My dad was a bit of a jerk so we cut him out of our lives when I was young. I always loved music; since i was young i couldn't fall asleep without it. My mom was an avid violinist and it was my foal hood dream to play with her. I wanted to play something that would sound good while played along with my mother, and wanted something that resembled her violin. Sure enough i discovered the cello and it was perfect. If was beautiful and tall, strong and elegant, and sounded absolutely soothing. It had the ability to drag my emotions with it. When it played a happy tune, i mirrored the emotion. When it played a sad tune, I also would feel lonely and scared. So i began playing the cellist. At my first recital everything fell apart. My cello broke a string on stage because i poked it with my hoof. Everyone began laughing and the rest of my class ceased playing. But i did not. I continued on and played without my snapped string. Granted it was not my greatest but it was still a brilliant rendition of 'hay in the morning' performed by and earth pony. I gained my cutie mark during their standing applause."
"Wow that is quite the story you got there. I thought you would have gotten it some high class way by snorting caviar while playing or something."
"I will have you know i am not a high class mare... or at least i was not a high class mare. Back when i was a filly i used to be lower-middle class."
"And you never had a burger?"
"We lived near the upper class, which i guess is where my more refined habits come from." Octavia finished the last bit of her burger. "I cannot make eating these a habit, i will get chunky! How do you stay so trim?" Octavia raised an eye at the question with her full attention on the DJ
"Um yea, trim, ha, let’s go to my place!" Vinyl got up and galloped out of the store after throwing some bits on the table.
The stallion cook picked up vinyl’s change. Octavia than began trying to hand him her half.
"No need mam there is enough here for the both of ya'" The stallion returned to the cooking corn patties.
"Vinyl... paid for me? I did not know she had a generous side. I will have to do something nice for her!" Octavia headed out the store and took her place next to the DJ.
"Took you long enough! So how long have you been a part of the Fancy Pants Orchestra?"
"Oh well only... wait how did you know i wa-"
"I am a jack of all trades fair Tavi! Now answer thy question wench!"
"You are... what are you? And I just joined. I have my first performance in about a month at the, get this, Grand Galloping Gala! I preformed there a few years back but that was for free... and just because nopony had seen an earth pony play a string instrument like the cello before. It tends to draw a crowd which is why almost all the musicians in my ensemble are earth ponies."
"Yea that’s cool. I performed for the royal wedding." Don't talk about the past Vinyl; it can only lead to questions!
"YOU WHAT???"
"I DJ'ed at it and they danced and the element of magic sand and it was cool and why do you look like you want to strangle a foal?"
"Why... ho-.. what? You... wedding.... words!"
"Octavia? Hello? Shoot I think I broke her..."
<('.')>
"TAVI WE ARE HERE!!!"
"I am sorry what?" Octavia shook her head and focused on the door to the apartment they were standing in front of. Apparently they had walked down a hallway and taken a left, walked down that hallway and were facing the last room in THAT hallway.
"Was i really that out of it?"
"Yes, yes you were. For about 10 minutes actually."
"Oh... hm. Well what did you want to show?" Vinyl pushed on the door and entered the apartment. It was a mess. There was sheet music everywhere, her bedroom door was blocked by a large amp and there were clothes covering nearly every surface that could have clothes on them.
"Sorry it’s a bit of a mess, do you mind?" The disgusted look on the cellists face answered her question for the cellist. And that was all it took for Vinyl to completely clean her room. A surge of power from her horn and everything shot into the air surrounded in Vinyl’s aura. It than floated into either the trash can, cloths hamper, bed, or on the coffee table. Her room was spotless.
"How did you do that Vinyl? Why are you surprising me so much today?"
"I don't know i guess I’m just that awesome! And being a DJ has strengthened my ability to multi-task so i guess i just got everything done at once.”
“That’s incredible! Speaking of DJ i do believe that somepony has to convince me that a DJ counts as being a real musician.” Octavia raised an eyebrow at Vinyl as if to challenge her in a way.
“Ohoho challenge accepted fair Tavi! But this is a challenge you're gonna lose treble clef.”
“Treble clef? Why the nicknames? Octavia. say it with me.” She mouthed the words slowly to Vinyl to show how easy saying her name actually was. “O-C-T-A-V-I-A. It is not that hard Vinyl.” the DJ shrugged off the sarcasm from the classy mare and took her place behind the turntables. Opening her laptop with her magic and adjusting the dials at the same time she turned on ‘Wrecking ball’ By Marley Cyrus.
“Really Vinyl? This horrid excuse for a song?”
“Wait for it Tavi, let the Pon3 perform her magic will you?” She paused her previous song and put on ‘Grenade’ by Bronco Mars and after a few seconds of tinkering with the audio she unpaused both songs and started sliding a dial placed in the middle of her turntables back and forth. It was magic. Two songs that were nothing but pop garbage (according to Tavi) were transformed into something with so much more emotion behind it. It turned from two songs of depression. One being a stallion expressing his love and another of a broken mare. It turned into a wonderful ballad that was actually bearable. The two mares listened in silence as the song panned out.
“Vinyl that was-”
“Awesome? Incredible? Vinylicious? Yeah I know. I had a feeling those would go well together.”
“But your song with me cello in it, that was an original piece, no?” Octavia looked at the DJ in nothing but pure amazement. In a matter of seconds Vinyl had shaken up what it meant to be DJ. No. Actually she only changed her opinion on one DJ. One Beautiful DJ. ‘Whoa Octavia where did that come from? She’s a mare, you are high class, drop it. You saw how badly Fillyfoolers get treated around here! Look what happened to the old member of the ensemble and her candy making girlfriend. They were chased out of town!’
“Yes it was… sorta. You see that was more Dubtrot. Dubtrot is where you build of off another piece of music to make it original and unique. You have heard Radioactive by Imagine Dragons right?”
“You mean the song with the griffon singer?”
“Exactly! Well i made this a few days ago.” Vinyl dropped her headphones on her head and turned on her music. Again something amazing coursed through Octavia. She felt energy radiate from herself. She felt like dancing, running, screaming, and getting bucked up all at once.
“Vinyl this is great! Do you have more perhaps?” Octavia took a step away from turntables, swaying her hips with the song.
“Yea, does somepony feel like dancing?” Vinyl shifted the song to a much more energetic one. She then stepped out from behind her tables and began dancing.
“Vinyl this is ridiculous...”
“Don’t talk Tavi! Lose yourself in my wubs!” She pulled Octavia up and grabbed her hoofs. She then began bouncing energetically and methodically up and down. The cellist watched the display for a few seconds before giving in and bouncing alongside the energetic DJ.
The two swirled together bouncing, tails swishing and occasionally intermingling. Their manes were messy and swaying side to side. The nearly hit each other a couple of times while swaying their heads back and forth. Bass pumped and shook the mares as they danced. Octavia not quite used to the fast paced dancing ended up tripping backwards, bringing Vinyl along with her.
Vinyl sat atop of Octavia. The two mares stared each other down as the music pumped. Breathing heavily the mares glared happily at one another, smiles adorning both of their faces. Octavia eventually snapped back to reality as she shook her head.
“Um Vinyl, as fun as that was you are kind of crushing me right now…”
“Oh right, my bad!” Vinyl rolled off and turned the music off with her magic.
“I have to say Vinyl this has been absolutely lovely. I do have a practice in about an hour so I’m afraid I’ll have to go now. Thank you for the great time.” Octavia gave the DJ a quick hug before turning towards the door.
“Hey Tavi?”
Octavia turned back around to address the DJ. “Yes?”
“Thank you for, well, everything. Lunch again tomorrow?”
The Cellist winced at this. “About that Vinyl, I have a meeting with Fancy tomorrow addressing my position in the ensemble, than lunch with my mom shortly after that so… Lunch in three days? We will meet back at Sizzles!”
“Sounds good Tavi. Do me a favor will ya?”
“Sure what do you need?”
“Can you check YouHoof later? I have a song that I want you to hear.” Vinyl packed up her laptop and put her headset back on its appropriate perch.
“Sure Vinyl, I would be glad to.”
“Ok be safe.” Vinyl felt a little guilty about not walking back with the Cellist but she knew that Octavia would not let her go. She was too kind for that.
“Don’t worry about me, there’s nothing a couple of stupid thugs can do that i can’t handle.” Octavia sounded much more nonchalant now that she warmed up to the DJ. At that she shot a reassuring smile at Vinyl and walked out of the door.
<(‘,’)>
Octavia began walking down the hall as she reached the turn to head back out into the open. She turned the corner and heard a door creak open behind her. ‘It’s okay Octavia. Probably just some nice pony who wanted some fresh air. No need to get all worked u-’
At that she felt a sharp pinch in her side that made her immediately fall against the opposite wall. The pinch began burning more and more before she felt it twist. It dawned on her at that moment what was happening. She just got stabbed, she was getting mugged. She felt the blade withdraw from her body as a cool rush of air replaced the string pinch with an insufferable sting. She immediately fell over from a mixture of a lack of strength and a need to put pressure on her new wound.
Octavia’s vision began to blur, she felt her bowtie get ripped as a stallion spoke up; jingling the bit pouch she kept on her collar.
“Bingo, bye mi-” The stallion was interrupted by a voice coming around the corner of the hallway.
“Hey Tavi i couldn’t let you-” Vinyl stared at the stallion who looked menacingly back at Vinyl. The Black unicorn was covered in a black snow suit with a hood covering his mane. She saw a dagger in his dark grey aura and the glint of his Carmel eyes before he ran. Her attention was then turned to the hurt Cellist lying on the ground. She then saw the large pool of blood leaking from Octavia. “YOU DARE HURT HER” Vinyl charged the fleeing unicorn. He through the dagger he was holding in his magical grip at Vinyl. It made contact with her arm slowing her down for a second. After a few more steps she realized that there were more important things to deal with.
She quickly began yelling “HELP” at the top of her lungs. A bright green earth pony with a purple mane opened her door before retreating back inside. She immerged seconds later with a blanket and a phone. The green mare handed the towel to Vinyl who immediately rolled Octavia over. She received a faint grunt from the cellist. The grey mare spoke up
“What happened?”
“Thank you, i don’t know what happened. I turned the corner and saw my friend on the ground.”
“Well there’s an abula-”
That is all Octavia herd before her eyes closed and everything went silent.
"Can somepony please turn off that insufferable beeping?!" Octavia remained laying with her eyes closed. She felt a knot in her back where she had been sleeping. The cellist couldn't help but feel just a little spoiled at that point. She had gotten so used to her feather and cloud bed that she felt like she was sleeping on a rock.
"Tavi? You’re up!" Octavia opened her eyes as she slowly started to snap back to reality.
“Yea why ar- Why am i in the hospital!?!?" The cellist scanned the room she was in. It was a private room with white washed walls. She was lying on a thin spring mattress covered in white sheets and laying on a Carmel colored wooden mattress holder. There was a small nightstand beside the bed that held a lamp with a red cap on the top of it.
"Do you really not remember? Tavi... you got shanked."
"Oh, ok then. I do believe i am going to have a mental breakdown."
"Really? That doesn't sound good. Need any help?"
"I think some sedation would be much obliged."
"Alright, I gotcha. I’ll go grab a nurse."
"Sounds wonderful, i shall have that breakdown now." At that Octavia began to scream at the top of her lungs as she studied the large bandage placed around her body. Pausing to take a breath she lifted up the bandage slightly to see the area of shaved fur around a large, stitched up gash on her side. She began screaming again as a nurse dressed in rather provocative white scrubs with a pink bow tied around her midsection just above her plot ran back into her room. One very dazed DJ trailed her into Octavia's room. The nurse ran over to the blood bag connected to the IV cord attached to Octavia’s foreleg. She replaced the bag with one filled with a clear liquid and hung it in place of the blood bag. The blood in the IV cord was immediately replaced with the clear liquid. Octavia then turned her attention to Vinyl who was sitting by her bedside, teardrop lines making themselves evident in her fur. Vinyl Stared at Octavia for a second before wrapping her forelegs around Octavia’s neck.
"I'm so sorry Tavi, this is all my fault. I should have never let you go alone. You should never have come to my house in the first place." Vinyl chocked through her own tears as she finished her sentence. She immediately started sobbing into Octavia's neck.
"Octavia, i swear to you i will make this right."
"Thank you Vinyl, thank you for everything. And I regret absolutely nothing. I had the most fun I had in a while at your house. But can i ask just one thing of you?" Octavia began sobbing alongside Vinyl. At that point Vinyl placed her head on top of Octavia’s allowing her neck to become a temporary tear tissue.
"Anything Tavi."
"I want you to be strong for me; I am scared, and hurt. I just..." Octavia began sobbing harder. "I need the shoulder of a good friend to cry on right now."
"Shh Tavi, I’m here, and I’ll be here when you wake up. Just chill and breathe." Vinyl continued to whisper reassuring sayings into Octavia’s ear as she cried into the DJ's neck. Vinyl began rubbing her hoof through the Cellists mane and down her back. Octavia's breathing became steady as she fell asleep holding the DJ. Vinyl set down Octavia and turned her attention the nurse.
"How long will she be out?" Vinyl began walking towards the door.
"She will probably wake up in 10 or so hours. Would you like me to fetch you a cot to sleep on? It’s getting pretty late." The nurse began to head out the room behind Vinyl.
"No, i need to go do something. Will you leave the window unlocked please? I need a way back in later." The nurse stared at the DJ with a confused look on her face. Vinyl handed the nurse a few bits and the nurse shook her head.
"Will do sweetie, now if you will excuse me i have a beautiful mare waiting for me at home." The nurse turned her head in shock realizing what she had just said.
“Get home to her then! Don’t stare at me like I’m gonna kill you.” Vinyl gave the nurse a warm smile and then trotted down the hall to the stairs. 'Don't worry Tavi I'll be back soon.'
<('.')>
Vinyl stood on the street of Mane Row. It was late at night and all the trouble makers were out. She was not out to deal with them. She was out for Tavi. She was to make things right. And she was going to do it the only way she knew how. She was out to paint.
Vinyl stood in front of a large abandoned factory. The wall was littered with spray-paint. She started off by covering most of the previous works of art with a sheet of white, consuming nearly most of the wall. She then lifted a can of dark grey paint. She painted the face of the pony that was plaguing her memory. A grey stallion with a cut placed just under his eye. It was a scar, most likely from a bar fight and a hoof to the face. The then covered the stallion’s eyes in pure Carmel. She didn't paint the whites of his eyes or his dark black pupil. Instead she just painted the Carmel color of his eyes. She switched her paint from dark grey to black and painted the hood that covered the stallion’s mane. She painted his horn sticking out. Next to him she painted the handle of a dagger to the right of the stallions face. She switched back to her dark grey color and painted an outline around the stallion’s horn, as if it is surrounded in an aura. She then switched to a midnight blue and painted a blade on the end of the dagger. Switching back to the dark grey she painted the same dark grey aura around the dagger. Finishing up her creation she took out a vibrant red paint and coated the dagger with it. The blood dripping of the dagger stood out. It was the brightest and only warm color on the creation. Vinyl took out a medium grey and began writing above the stallion. The text was written in graffiti text but was rather easy to read. She began scribbling down text below the stallion's face next. She took a step back to study her new creation. It was a dark looking piece of art, her turmoil put into one of the mediums she was most comfortable with. A grey stallion in a hood, with a dagger held in his aura, fresh blood dripping off of it. Above him read 'He hurt someone close to me' and below him it was written 'Find him; let him know what he has done'.
Vinyl walked across the street to the next building. She began painting yet again, the same mural, over and over, building to building, until the sun came up.
Several hours and countless cans of spray-paint later she finished her task and was on her way back to her friend, who needed her more than anything right now.
<('.')>
The sun infiltrated Octavia’s vision as she began to open her eyes. After a few minutes her vision returned to normal and the gunk was wiped away from her eyes. A quick check of the room confirmed Octavia’s worst fear. Vinyl was not there. Vinyl had left her when she needed the DJ the most.
Octavia rested her head on her pillow and turned it so she was staring at the sun. 'It is such a beautiful morning. The sunrise is something a pony can look at forever without it ever getting old. I wish nearly every day that i could put the feeling given to me by the beautiful transition of the sun and moon into a song but alas that seems to be nearly impossible for anypony but Fredrick...' Octavia blinked a few times before staring at the mixture of pink and orange that covered the sky once more. 'I wish that i could go up there in get lost in the colors. I wish that i could- Is that Vinyl?'
Octavia spotted Vinyl's head pop up in the window of her room before the window shot open. Vinyl hopped from the fire escape back into Octavia's room before shutting the window.
"Hey Tavi sorry, i had to take care of something"
"Vinyl... just hug me you idiot!" Tavi wrapped her arms around Vinyl and dug her face deep into the crook of the DJ's neck. "I thought that you left. That you didn't want to have to deal with me."
"Tavi that’s ridiculous! You know I’m here for you. I-
"Vinyl why do you smell like paint?"
"Tavi why did you have to ruin the moment?" Octavia pulled back keeping her hoofs on the DJ's shoulder. She looked Vinyl directly in her eyes glasses.
"Tell me please, why do you smell like paint?"
"Um it’s because I have paint scented shampoo and"
"Vinyl."
"I slept with a stallion who was a painter and"
"Vinyl!"
"Also I went for a run and i ate something paint scented and sweat it off and"
"VINYL! The truth."
"Fine! I was out spray painting...." Octavia looked hurt. She didn't look disappointed or disgusted, just purely hurt. Vinyl continued her reasoning in a much more frantic tone. "It isn't what you think Tavi the only reason i did it was to help us find the stallion so we can turn him in for what he did to you because i have dealt with waaaaayyyy to much death in my life to lose you because i don't think i could go on anymore if i lost another person i care about... especially you. I don't know why but you’re the first person i allowed in after the accident." Tears began leaking from behind the DJ's glasses. She paused as her breath became uneasy.
“It’s ok Vinyl I’m here for you. I’m not going anywhere.” The cellist continued to coo into the DJ’s ear. “You don’t have to tell me anything, just wait until you feel comfortable enough to reminisce with me.”
“No, i should tell you now. First i need to tell you something. Please don’t get the wrong idea or anything from what I’m about to say.” She received a nod from Octavia and took a deep breath. “Octavia, I’m a fillyfooler.”
Silence. The only sound that remained was the beep of one of the miscellaneous medical machines. Tension. Nearly enough to choke a grown Stallion.
“I do not really care. Love is love, no matter who you love right?” Vinyl stared at Octavia with her mouth agape. The cellist gave a weak smile before being pulled into a bear hug so tight it could have killed, well, a bear.
“Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!” Vinyl stopped only to take a breath. “Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthanky-” She received a hoof in the mouth.
“Vinyl i have done nothing!”
“You didn’t hate me. And that is more than i can say for most ponies.” Vinyl looked away and took yet another deep breath. “Octavia, i am going to tell you about me. Why i am who I am. You have to make me one more promise ok?”
“Anything Vinyl.” Octavia began to nuzzle the DJ to give her a bit of reassurance.
“Ok. No matter what i tell you, you have to look at me the same. Your opinion of me will change but i still want to be your best streetwise fun-loving DJ friend ok?”
Octavia smiled, it wasn’t a reassuring one but rather one of the biggest, most genuine smiles a pony could muster. “Always”
Vinyl sighed and pulled away from the Cellist. She sat down beside the bed and opened her mouth. “I was a sophomore in my second year at Manehatten College. It was where i met her.”
When Text is separated by a line of <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>, the story is switching from first person to third person.
<(‘.’)>
Vinyl had just begun her sophomore year at Manehatten University. She was attending the large college on a full ride scholarship.
She made a name for herself straight out of high school when she produced the hit song “Children of the Night” with Sapphire Shores, a classmate of hers at the time. It quickly captured the number one song in the country. About a month after the release of “Children of the night” she was invited to perform a song with Neon lights. Neon was synonymous with the greatest DJ’s back then. He had accumulated more fame than even deadpone, the forerunner of all DJ’s. They ended up making “Pony Rock Anthem” which featured the premiere party pony in all of Equestria, Pinkie Pie. The song shot past children of the night and stood tall at number one. Seeing that this young white mare had both of the top spots on Ryhorn Seacreast’s top 100 songs list, many recording companies threw contracts at her.
She instead chose to further her knowledge in her technology and her understanding of music fundamentals. She decided to take up Manehatten University’s offer of a four year; all tuitions paid college experience as long as she brought her music to the campus. She had quickly made a name for herself as the best DJ in school. If there was a party, Vinyl was manning the turntables.
It was sophomore year for Vinyl and there wasn’t a single pony on campus that didn’t know her name. She would dap nearly every pony that she walked by. It would be impolite not to. As the days grew on the fame grew as well. Campus life had quickly grown on Vinyl and she never wanted to leave.
The only problem Vinyl encountered with her whole college experience was that she could never have a second to herself. It was party at night, sleep in the morning, class in the afternoon, and party all night yet again. She got in the habit of skipping out on parties around 12:30 so she could take a walk and think about her situation, new music, and her classes. Or think of obscure movie references and go on long tangents of thoughts that never really made sense. Mostly the latter.
It was during one of these walks that Vinyl met somepony who would change her life. She was on her way back from one of her more interesting parties at around 1 when she ran into her.
That party was… something. I probably should have slowed the tempo down a bit after pony rock anthem. It’s not my fault ponies can’t handle their shots. I didn’t know it was going to turn into a big orgy in the middle of the dance floor. Disgusting!... but at the same time kinda kinky? Whatever! So what will I do if my DJ’ing doesn't work out? I could always go into being a talent scout. They never hurt anypony. Oh wait yes they, all the bucking time. ‘You’re gonna be a star kid!’ and in three weeks you're broke and homeless. Well let’s see, my minors are classical music theory, modern music theory, psychology, and computer engineering. That’s a pretty well rounded pony if you ask me. I could be like… like a… uh… teacher or something. Yea… The great teacher Vinyl Scratch! That could work! Or not, i would probably buck it up by falling in love with a student or something like that. And then right after it gets really good i could just… stop the story all together? Nah I’ll just go into producing for a children's show or something like that. Fill a water cooler full of vodka. It would be sublime! Sublime? Is that even a word? How do i know these strange words? Maybe i was abducted. Oh my gosh did they probe m- Ouch!
“I’m sorry filly i didn’t see you the-hubahubahu.” Smooth Vinyl. You’re giving away your secret… play it cool. But look at her!
“Are you alright? I really hope i didn’t hurt you.” She is gorgeous! Look at her pale white coat and those grey eyes! So mysterious… And her hair! Her short, black that fades into red-ish color thingy hair! It’s like someone created the perfect mare, and here she is!
“Yea, I’m fine.” Wait, is she crying? “Are you ok? Did i bump you that hard?”
“No it’s… its nothing.” Her voice is so heavenly…
“No please tell me what's wrong filly. I’m here to make sure everyone is having a good time, and you look like you're lacking the good part.” That’s right, real her in.
“Well me and my marefriend broke up and i jus- “
Did she say marefriend? “Oh so you're a fillyfooler huh?
“Please don’t tell anyone i swear i meant coltfriend it just slipped my tongue.”
“Yea, right. Listen, i kinda swing play for my own team to.”
“You mean you’re”
“A flaming gaybe? Yeppers!”
“But you’re Vinyl Scratch!”
“So you know my name do ya? Well why don’t we even the playing field shall we?” She’s giggling! Vinyl 1, broken heart 0.
“I'm Ruby, Ruby Rose. It is a pleasure to meet you!”
“Likewise. Why don’t you come back to my place so we can talk? You look like you have a lot you need to say.” Smooth Vinyl, ‘talk’.
One long talk and crying session later, Vinyl and Ruby had learned a lot about each other. Their first ‘experiences’ with mares, their first marefriends, hiding it from the world, and all romantic stuff that went along with their relationships.
They agreed to meet again at the same time tomorrow night. Vinyl awoke the next morning with a little bit of pep in her step. The last night was a near perfect night for the DJ. Her set was so good it caused an orgy, and she got to cuddle with beautiful mare, one of whom she actually had a chance with!
She spent most of her day daydreaming about this new mare. This beautiful creature forged by angles to cause any stallion to lose blood flow to the head. And she could be Vinyl’s.
Vinyl ended up skipping the party she was supposed to play at that night completely. She instead decided it would be a much better idea to pamper her and make herself look as good as possible for the incoming mare. Around 1:00 in the morning a knock was heard on Vinyl's door.
<><><><><><><><><><>
"Hey Rose! Howya doing?" OH MY GOD LOOKS AT HER SHE IS ABSOLUTLY PERFECT!!!!! Her mane is styled much nicer than the night before. Well to be fair she had spent most of the night before crying her eyes out. She seems much happier. Maybe she got back together with her marefriend? Hope not... that would kinda ruin my awesome plan.
"I'm great Vinyl, guess what i did today?" That voice... simply orgasmic.
"Shock me!"
"I told my ex-marefriend off. I told her what she was missing and that she was going to miss a catch like me. She asked for me back." Oh there it is. Knife to the face. Goodbye world. I leave my turntables to my... ah who am i kidding? Just bury me with them. Maybe wubs are the secret to immortality. I should ask Celestia about that.
"Oh... really? What did you do?" Give me the answer i want... common me me me me me.
“Well Vinyl, because you are so eager to know, i didn't take her back. I told her a met a new mare, a wonderful mare." Did she just...
"I... you... we... how... whosamawhatsit now?"
"Yes Vinyl, i know it is a bit fast but... I want you to be my marefriend." There it is. I would like to thank my mom and dad for bringing me into this world. I would also like to thank that one mare in 8th grade with an experimental mindset and overactive sex drive. I just can't believe this is happening to me!
"Yea, this is happening, can we sit down so we can talk?" That sounded way to negative Vinyl.
"Yes we can. I'm sorry i shouldn't have rushed it like this it's just you seemed so happy with me yesterday i figured you wanted this to." Ok I’m sitting, no chance of falling now.
"It’s not that, you are amazing. I barley know you but i feel like i do. And i want to get to know you. So yes, i will be your marefriend, bu-" Ok she’s hugging me. I can get used to this. She’s so soft... and she smells so fresh. Like... well... roses.
"So Ruby, what do you do? You smell like roses."
"Exactly" Stop nuzzling its tickling.
"So you’re a gardener? That’s why you have a pettle-plot?"
"Yep! I specialize in Flowers. I mainly do crystal flowers from the crystal empire but i can do normal flowers to! The crystal is kind of my thing though, it explains my single crystal rose petal cutie mark though. I just love the way roses look in crystal form. That is why my name is Ruby Rose! Although my friends usually call me Rose. Some call me Ruby. Some Both!" Well. She wins. She makes crystal flowers. I make the sound of machines humping... that unsurprisingly leads to more humping.
"Well I’m a DJ. You may know me from around campus. If there is a big party than I’ll be there! Steering it in the right direction. Making sure everything’s straight." Why is she giggling?
"Sorry, you said making sure everything’s straight. And, well, you’re not."
"Oh ha gay jokes."
<><><><><><><><>
Vinyl and Rose chatted throughout the night. Rose returned to her room at around 5 in the morning so she could get a few hours of sleep before class. They continued this cycle for several weeks.
They could not be happier. Rose would bring Vinyl flowers with the excuse that she was bringing them home for study. Vinyl would make love beats for Rose claiming that she was 'experimenting' with different kinds of music. Their relationship was going perfect until one faithful night...
<><><><><><><><> “Hey Vinyl! I thought of a stage name for you!”
"Vinyl? is something wrong babe? You look sick." Well Vinyl it's now or never. Might as well get the heartbreak out of the way now!
"Rose... your... i mean I..." Just say it Vinyl
"What is it? You can tell me my DJ." NO! Stop with the pet names!
"Fine. Rose... I love you" Is that shock on her face?
"Oh Vinyl..."
"I'm sorry i shouldn't have said anything I was just trying to get it off my chest ya know?"
"Shut up you stupid fool!" Well that was mfffmmmmm... She’s kissing me, this is good.
"Vinyl I... love you to, with all my heart."
"That’s nice, can we get back to the kissing now petal?"
"Anything for you, my love."
Kissing is nice, really nice. I swear if everyone who had a disease received a kiss like this than there would be no sickness. I like the way she move her mouth when kiss is happen. That was weird. Blood out of brain. Stahp body, Stahp!
*CLICK*
Was that the door? And we are still kissing. Ok Rose time to get off of me.
"What the hell is going on here?" Ugh it’s him? I hate this douche. He throws the worst parties... He must be here to ask why i bailed from his tonight. I hate him. His stupid short blue hair and stupid brown coat and stupid Pink eyes. What type of dude has hot pink eyes anyways? He’s such a douche. He and his frat, no matter how many ponies are in it. How he became the head of the largest frat at the second largest college in Equestria is beyond me. Look at him... douche.
"Every heard of knocking, dumbflank?" Wow, such language Rose!
"You... a fillyfooler? The Vinyl scratch? And with Rose!?!? Wow I would have never guessed it. Vinyl Scratch... a faget. Wait till the school hears Vinyl, no one would want a Fillyfooler as a DJ. You might contaminate the turntables."
"Shut the BUCK up Ink. No one is gonna give a shit. I am still the coolest DJ at this school regardless of who I love." That feels good to say. Love. Is that... Rose kissed me on the cheek! She's backing me up! This is Awesome!!!
"I'll make you two a deal. How bout you give me a little something to keep my mouth shut."
"You want something."
"Rose what are you doing?"
"Here you go, big boy."
*Clunk*
Did Rose just buck him? I think she broke his nose!
"And stay out!" Well she's looking at me now, time to speak my mind i guess.
"That... was so hot!"
“Vinyl?
“Yes?”
“Your stage name, it should be DJ Pon-3”
“What? No! Than nobody would know who Vinyl Scratch is!... Fine, I’ll think about it! Back to the kissing now!”
<><><><><><><><><><>
Two weeks went by since that night. Two loving weeks. Rose practically lived in Vinyl's room. She began sleeping with Vinyl every night. Not like that you perves. Their relationship could not have been any more perfect.
They had made it two weeks since they were caught by Ink Note. He broke his nose 'falling down a flight of stairs' that very same night. Go figure. Vinyl had begun to start making a new song she was planning to release. It would be her first since college and her best since... well ever. Rose was late showing up to Vinyl's one night so out of curiosity Vinyl went out looking for Rose.
It was around 1:45 in the morning. The temperature was cold, but not to the point that it stung. Vinyl enjoyed walks like these. Ones to clear her head. But what she found wasn't to calming. A crowd of stallions were gathered in a circle around something. She ran into the crowd and of stallions attempting to see what they were gathered around. That is when she heard the scream.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
What the Buck is going on here? Why are all these pon-
"VINYL! SOMEONE HELP!" Was that Rose? That was diffidently Rose. Time to go help her. MOVE OUT OF MY WAY.
"Rose in here! why are you tied up? What’s going on?"
"Well it’s the other half of this disgusting abomination of a relationship." Why are they gasping? What did i do?
"You see Vinyl, two mares are not meant to be together." He just kicked rose. Time to kick him. Here we go! Missed! He’s fas- Ow! My bucking leg! How? Lucky shot… Time to lie down now...
"Vinyl you disgust me. You are pathetic. You see why two mares can’t be together? Who will protect her now? You are too weak to." He just kicked her again. Time to get up!
"You don't understand Ink. Rose and I, we love each other. It doesn’t matter that we only half the package. It doesn't matter that we will never be accepted. All that matters is love." There we go Vinyl show him.
"I love you Vinyl... you will always be my pon-3" Did she just faint?
"Rose? Don't talk! Save your energy. Stay awake Rose!" Got to hug her. Just a short stumble and... Nope! Leg is in too much pain. Time to sit.
"Aw how touching. You two are nothing more than a disgusting excuse for a couple."
*Whap*
That hurt. Vision blurring... "I love her Ink, nothing will change that."
"Well Vinyl, sometimes love isn't enough."
Vinyl fainted watching Ink Note beat the life out of her marefriend.
<><><><><><><><><><>
“I’m sorry Tavi I have to stop” Vinyl was crying uncontrollably at the foot of the Cellists bed. “It’s too painful from here.”
“Vinyl i am so sorry. That is terrible! Did anything happen to Ink Note?” Octavia tapped the bed next to her, a clear signal for the DJ to come and take a seat. Vinyl did as directed.
“He got a life sentence.” Vinyl wrapped her arm around Octavia and placed her head into the Cellists Chest.
“Thank Celestia, that Prick deserved it.”
“Wow Octavia, such language.” Vinyl snickered at her own joke before closing her eyes once more. She was exhausted from crying and didn’t feel like opening her eyes.
“One last question Vinyl, what happened to Rose?”
“She spent the next week in the hospital… and she” The tears began once again “she died of a complication with her head.”
“That’s awful Vinyl i am so sorry. I am here for you whenever you need me. Just ask.”
“Just… hold me Tavi.”
“Will do Vinyl, will do.”
Vinyl slowly drifted off to sleep in the arms of the Cellist. To the normal eye they looked like two terrified and saddened mares looking for comfort in each other's grasp. But to Vinyl, it was much more. It was a second chance. It was salvation from the memories that plagued her. It was… dare she say... more than a plutonic affection. Vinyl had to admit it. She liked Octavia. Like, Like Liked Octavia. Needless to say that this one-sided affection could only lead to two things at this point. Vinyl would either find salvation in her beautiful, grey, earth pony cellist friend, or she would find heartache. And at this point Vinyl didn’t know how much more heartbreak she could take in one life.
“Hey Vinyl...” Octavia had finally awoken from her the troubled slumber she slipped into the previous night. She did not dream, nothing good, nothing bad, just a neutral sleep. The room was quiet and the blinds drawn to give the two mares laying in the bed some privacy. The bed still showed signs of dampness from the previous days crying session. The room was left with a melancholy vibe that had a bumming feeling. The warmth Octavia felt around her waist reassured her the mare who had cried herself to sleep in her arms the previous day was indeed still located in her bed. She began to wonder who had closed the curtain in there room? Vinyl had been in the same spot all night. Octavia stared at the white mare wrapped in her embrace. Thoughts began to stream wildly into her head.
‘Why was I the one comforting Vinyl when i was just stabbed but a few days ago? I almost died and yet here i am, embracing this DJ. This DJ that has proven herself to be so magnanimous, so kindhearted and loyal. I just feel warmer around her that i should… this… this isn’t right. It can’t be right. Do i… do i like her? Like… like her?!?! I cannot be a fillyfooler can i? I mean i have never had a coltfriend. I do seem to only unwind around other mares… but that is just purely coincidental! No, i can’t lie to myself. I want Vinyl as more than a friend. I want to hold her and… what am i saying? These pain meds must be getting to me head. I feel like-’
“Psst, you awake!” A feminine voice called from around the curtain that separated Octavia and Vinyl from the outside world. Lost in her thoughts and unprepared Octavia gave a faint squeak and shot upright, pushing vinyl onto the floor with an astounding thud.
“Celestia damnit! You scared the hay out of me! What’s your problem?” Octavia pointed accusingly at the nurse standing in the traditional provocative scrubs with the bow tie wrapped around her waist. The bubblegum pink nurse had a light blue mane and a matching light blue heart cutie mark placed on her flank.
“Hey, I’m not the one getting all cuddly with my marefriend in public. You’re just lucky I was the first one here this morning or you would have a lot more than a blade wound to worry about!”
“Hey me and Vinyl are not… i mean we haven’t… you know what? Thank you! This may have been just a bit detrimental to my career…” Octavia averted her gaze from the nurse to her lap where her hoofs were dancing around each other, creating an interesting distraction from the conversation at hand.
“Speaking of your marefriend,” The nurse gestured to the White unicorn who was sprawled across the floor, eyes still closed.
“OHMYGOSHVINYL! Octavia tried to get out of bed but was restricted from any further movement by the IV chord hanging from her wrist. “OWWWWW!”
“Alright calm down I’ll check on her.” The nurse trotted over to Vinyl and nudged her on the shoulder. “Time to get up!”
Vinyl muttered out a barely audible phrase. After another nudge from the nurse Vinyl tensed and shot up. “Where am I?”
“You’re making sure your friend mare over there is ok.” The nurse raised her hoof and pointed it at the wounded cellist lying in the bed.
“Oh yea… howya holdin up tavi?” Vinyl stood up. Amazingly her glasses had stayed in place perfectly throughout the whole night. It was just then that Octavia realized she had never actually seen the DJ’s eyes. Octavia began to ponder what was hidden under those glasses. Vinyl had been beaten once because of her fillyfooler-y, something could have happened to her eyes. Or she could just really like glasses. Probably the latter.
“I am fine Vinyl, how are you?”
“Nononono we have focused on me way too much recently. I am not laying in a hospital bed right now, I didn’t almost die a few days ago, and i sure as hell will trot again!” A shocked looks of aw appeared on the Cellists face.
“I… Will never trot again?”
“No, I’m just bucking with you.” Vinyl swiftly dodged the punch sent her way from Octavia.
“Whoa Tavi chill out will ya? I was just kidding.” Octavia kept a stern look on her face as she began
“That’s not funny Vinyl! You know that some ponies are handicapped and cannot help it” Vinyl’s expression changed from a mocking smile to a neutral expression.
“Your right, been a while since-” Vinyl was interrupted by the sound of her stomach grumbling. At that point the nurse decided to cut back in.
“The cafeteria should just have opened for Breakfast. You can go get your marefriend some breakfast and snag a bit for yourself as well.”
“She is not my marefriend!” Octavia expressed her non-feelings for Vinyl by turning away from the DJ and holding her nose high in the air.
“Don’t be that way Tavi… Who’s my little cuddle-buddy? Who’s my little-” She was interrupted by a very firm elbow to the the face. “Ow, ok fine, no pet names until after we bang!”
“Vinyl if you do not get out of my sight right now i swear i will… UGHBCSBIBCB” Vinyl galloped out of the room snickering. “And you,” Octavia pointed her hoof at the nurse “please refrain from encouraging her. What is your name by the way?”
“Oh why thank you for asking, my name is Daisy Noob!” What a strange name…
“What a... pretty name? Anyway thank you for being so polite to us. You reacted very rationally and allowed us to explain why we were cuddled up instead of immediately jumping to conclusions. It was very nice of you.” Octavia smiled warmly at the nurse standing in the doorway. The nurse looked slightly puzzled before realizing what Octavia’s intent was.
“Oh you think I’m against fillyfooling?” Octavia perked up a bit at the tone of Daisy’s voice. It was harsh but at the same time light-hearted. “Sweetie I’m in love. I used to be like you. I was naive. You have never had a coltfriend have you?” Octavia froze for a minute before shaking her head in a firm no. “Exactly honey, you don’t know what you like. But what i know is the way you look at your friend is the same way i look at my mare.”
Octavia turned to face the nurse before staring at her lap once again. After an awkward few seconds of silence she finally spoke up. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying don’t let other ponies opinions get in the way of love. You know damn well that you feel something for that mare. No matter what anypony tells you, don’t give up. Not on that mare and not on your feelings. Please.” The nurse glowered at Octavia for a moment. Her firm voice hid a bit of determination mixed with what sounded to be regret. The bottom line was she knew what she was talking about, and that was obvious. She had some wisdom on the subject. But should Octavia follow her advice? Should she change everything she has come to know for this one mare?
“I… i need to think. Do you think you could leave me alone for a while?” Octavia voiced her question then met eyes with the nurse.
“Sure thing honey, tell me if you need anything.”
“Thank you… For everything.” Octavia stared at her lap once again. She had to make a decision. She knew she liked Vinyl but right now it wasn’t a matter of whether she wanted Vinyl or not. Now it was an internal debate. It was mind vs. Heart.
<(‘.’)>
Vinyl ascended the stairs back to the floor Octavia’s room was on. She held two trays of food in her magical aura. One held a crisp apple salad garnished with cucumber bits and carrot shavings. The other had a plate full of pancakes. The stack of delectable flapjacks was easily the height the average mare. It had a huge slab butter melting along the top and sweet apple butter syrup dripping off of the top of it. She grabbed such polar foods so Octavia could choose what she wanted. Vinyl didn’t really care what she ate as long as Octavia was happy.
‘She shouldn’t be in here. She would never have gotten stabbed if i just went with her. I don’t deserve to be friends with her. I… I have to tell her.’
Vinyl reached Octavia’s room and stood at the door for a brief second before opening it up and trotting inside. She pulled aside the curtain and received a very adorable squeak from the grey mare lying in bed.
“Holy Luna Vinyl! Why so many pancakes?” Vinyl set the two trays down onto a table and exhaled. It felt good using magic again but it did take a lot out of a pony.
“I figured you may be hungry! I mean you haven’t eaten solid food in like… three days! And i haven’t eaten at all in three days!” Octavia immediately looked worried.
“Vinyl why not? i could have survived on my own for a few minutes.” She looked at Vinyl obviously expecting an answer.
“Well, I couldn't have.” Vinyl flashed Octavia a quick smile before something clicked in Octavia’s mind. A huge smile came across her face. It was so simple, the solution to her problem was right in front of her this whole time.
“Vinyl, i need you to come over here really quick.”
“Are you going to hurt me?” ‘Damnit Vinyl! Just come over here!”
“No just… do it!” ‘Vinyl hurry before i lose my nerve!’
“Fine…” Vinyl trotted beside Octavia before coming to an abrupt stop next to the Cellist. “What did you want?”
“Close your eyes Vinyl.”
“Bu-”
“Close your eyes!”
Vinyl shut her eyes. The cellist couldn’t tell through Vinyl’s glasses so she had to ask. “Are they closed?”
“Yea but i don’t see wha- mmmmmmfmfmfmmm” Octavia’s muzzle met Vinyl’s. It was a quick, abrupt kiss, but the meaning it held was momentous. Octavia lingered beside Vinyl’s lips for a few seconds afterwards. Hot breath tickled the DJ’s lips who had not yet processed what just happened.
“Tavi?” Vinyl said still inches away from Octavia’s lips.
“Yes?”
“Does this mean were…” Vinyl waved her hoof back and forth, switching off pointing at the cellist than herself.
“Yes.”
“Yay!” Vinyl jumped up in the air and began bouncing around the room. She began singing some strange show tune about smiles.
Octavia giggling at the display spoke up. “But…” Vinyl stopped midair and turned her attention back to the Cellist. “You have to take of your glasses. I can’t date someone if I don’t even know what their eyes look like!”
Vinyl felt sick. This was it. She finally got a marefriend, finally opened up to someone after Rose, and she was going to lose them.
“But Tavi…”
“Nope! No buts Vinyl! I want to see your eyes, and that’s finally.” Octavia flashed a reassuring smile at Vinyl.
“Umm, I… I… can’t.” Vinyl averted her gaze from the cellist and began to study the floor. There are so many tiles, all uniform, all white. Even floors didn't accept individualism. If there was one tile that was a different color it would stand out like a sore thumb. This was the DJ’s problem. Not many people know this but when Vinyl was younger her hair was white. It was only after she had decided to become a DJ in high school that she decided to get a permanent dye through magic. The process involves switching the pigment of our eumelanin and pheomelanin or something like that. Who knows, I’m not a scientist.
People used to be drawn to Vinyl because of her eyes. Her look was so uniform. White coat, white straightened hair. The only thing that ever stood out on her were her eyes. Here magenta eyes that provided a contrast from the rest of her bland appearance. People were drawn to her. But from a very young age Vinyl learned that when she began to care about something, it would get taken away from her. That’s why she decided to dye her hair. Originally it was only supposed to be one tone of blue and still straight but a little magical fluctuation caused a two-toned mane with a spiky appearance. Looking back on it that was probably a good thing. It made her what she was today. Not the mask she wears in society but the mare she really is. The sarcastic, energetic DJ she hid. The hardcore partier that seems to be coming out of her shell recently. The caffeine-addict jockey that was finding herself again finally. The unicorn musician that has one mare to thank.
It’s only been a few days, but no one has ever put a timestamp on love, now have they?
Days had passed since Octavia asked to see Vinyl’s eyes. Days have passed since Vinyl refused. And days have passed since the two had spoken more than a few words to each other. Vinyl continued to stay at the hospital with Octavia. The first few days of Octavia’s hospitalization were extremely painful for her. Earth ponies are strong, naturally resistant to a lot of different ailments. They don’t become as sore as the other types of ponies. However when they do get injured the don’t heal nearly as fast as pegasi and unicorns. Unicorns naturally use the flow of magic in them to heal quicker. Pegasi have adapted to lower healing times due to the high number of injuries they get from falling out of the sky.
Octavia had little to do. This being said she slept most of the day due to the drowsiness side effect of the pain medication given to her. Today, though, she was up bright and early. She was going home. Back to the mansion of musicians, back to her cello, and away from the awful smell that always seems to linger in hospitals.
Octavia stared at the roof. She noticed that all the many panels that made up the roof holes in them. Approximately 465 on average. She had counted three of them at this point.
Octavia sat up in bed. She felt a slight pain from her wound but nothing too bad. They had removed the stitches yesterday night and gave her one finally x-rays to make sure everything inside her was in place. It was. She stared at the snow white blob wrapped up in a red comforter resting on a cot in the corner of the colorless room. Octavia wasn’t mad that Vinyl didn’t show her eyes, just irritated. She felt like the unicorn didn’t trust her, as if Octavia would make fun of Vinyl for her eyes.
<(‘.’)>
Vinyl was walking. The hallway she was in was dark, almost too dark to see anything at all. Her hoofs were cold. She waked slowly to assure herself that there was indeed ground where her hoofs stepped. The only sound was the clopping of hooves on stone. Just then a flash of light illuminated at the end of what looked like a long, rugged stone hallway. The light lingered and Vinyl began to walk towards it. That’s when she heard it. A giggle, the giggle. The one that drove Vinyl mad every time she heard it. She turned away from the light to see Octavia, giggling with a hoof covering her mouth.
“Tavi! I’m so glad to see you! What is this place?”
Octavia didn’t answer. Instead she turned and began to trot into the darkness. Soon all that was left was her silhouette. Vinyl was left with a choice. She could follow the mare into the darkness, or head into the warming light. It didn’t take Vinyl very long to make her choice. She galloped after the mare she loved.
“Tavi wait up!” Vinyl continued galloping towards her mare. They light faded away and she could no longer see anything. She was alone again. She looked back towards where she believed the opposite end of the hallway was. She saw nothing. Alone and scared Vinyl began to sob. This always happened. She would chase her heart and end up alone yet again.
“Vinyl are you ok?” The sweet voice echoed through the hallway. Everything began to shake.
“Wake up please, wake up!”
<(‘.’)>
Vinyl shot up in her bed. She peered around the room and noticed the nurse, Daisy, standing by the door and Octavia out of bed, shaking her. Octavia was out of her hospital gown making the bandages that covered her wound very seeable. She had one arm around Vinyl and the other placed on her face.
“I… I’m sorry just a nightmare. No need to worry.” Vinyl flashed a smile towards Octavia. Immediately Octavia could tell it was not sincere though. Octavia turned her attention to the nurse still standing next to the door.
“Do you mind giving us a moment Daisy?”
“Sure thing Hun.” Daisy exited the room after giving the pair a warm smile.
“Vinyl what's wrong with you?”
“Nothing’s wrong Tavi just don’t worry bout’ me kay?” Vinyl looked pleadingly at Octavia. Of course Octavia could not see behind Vinyl’s shades therefore had no idea of the desperation hidden in them.
“I cannot just stop worrying about you! You mumble in your sleep and then wake up crying!!! If this-” Octavia waved her hoof back in forth between Vinyl and herself “- is ever going to work then you need to open up. Who are you?”
Vinyl paused. She grabbed her glasses in her magical aura and took them off. She spoke keeping her eyes closed. “You want to know who I am? Fine. I am a bucked up mare from a bucked up family. My real name isn’t Vinyl, its Vincenza. Vincenza Staccato.”
Octavia looked shocked. The Staccato family was infamous. A once grand grand piano playing stallion whose scandalous marriage to a drugged up, no-talent pop singer nearly ruined his career. The pair started to release songs of their own. The Earth mare, named Vibrato Pitch, was infamous for her less than classy ‘stage dances’. She sold music through sexual appeal therefore her music was considered trash among the high society. So when she married one of the most famous, and stuck up, pianists of the time, Triton Staccato, ponies were surprised. Well… less surprised and more outraged. They released three albums called ‘Universal Love’, ‘Earth and Magic’, and ‘Things change’. The three albums reached top of the charts a matter of days after their initial release. They still hold the record for ‘most songs in the top ten at one point in time’. After that they disappeared out of the public eye everypony kind of forgot all about them.
“You’re a Staccato? Like a Staccato Staccato? Ohmygoshiloveyourparents!” Octavia proceed to shove a hoof in her mouth at the rather uncouth display.
“Yeah Tavi, those are my parents. Buckin’ awesome…” Octavia could immediately see the distress hidden on Vinyl’s face. Vinyl still held her eyes closed tight, afraid to reveal herself to her marefriend. The pair sat in silence for a few moments. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, rather one of understanding. Vinyl needed a moment and Octavia was happy to supply the time. She could talk to Vinyl later, right now she needed comfort. Octavia lowered her head and nuzzled Vinyl. Vinyl jerked back at the unexpected contact but the welcomed it, taking all the warmth and comfort the cellist had to offer.
“My dad was a dick, to put it nicely.” Vinyl finally spoke “He would constantly come home with other mares. He wasn’t the nicest pony either. He would scream and yell at me and my mom for doing absolutely nothing. He blamed the fall of his career on my mother, as if she was some temptress that seduced him into loving her. I love my mom. She’s the closest thing to sanity I had as a child. I was constantly getting shit about my eyes and my appearance. Hay, I looked like a cotton ball before I got my hair dyed. She refused to leave him, which was the funny part. She would get so much shit from him, day and night. She would watch him cheat on her and wouldn’t do anything. Before I ra… moved out during high school I asked her why. Why is she doing this to herself?” Vinyl finally took a breath. After her rant she deserved one. “She answered plain and simple; she still had love for him. She said he was a good pony who was just making some bad decisions.”
Vinyl stopped. Tears burned her eyes. She finally opened them to reveal their magenta coloration made redder by the tears dripping out. She looked at Octavia and winced when Octavia gasped. “Vinyl… as cheesy as this may be, your eyes are… something else! I feel as if I could get lost in them. There is no reason to hide those Vinyl! Why ever do you cover them with your goggles?”
Vinyl had a smirk on her face. She was terrified of what the cellist would think. Luckily for the jockey, Octavia reacted the way the jockey thought she would. She liked them. But the worrying wasn’t done. People liked her eyes before, but they only liked her for her eyes. Nopony knew, but that was the reason for wearing the glasses. She wanted people to get to know Vinyl, not her eyes.
“Thanks Tavi… I still would prefer to wear my glasses though.”
“That’s fine; I just want you to be happy.” Those words made Vinyl’s heart flutter. The sentiment was immediately followed by the cellist wiping the tears away from Vinyl’s eyes with her cheek, damping her fur. She gave Vinyl a peck on the cheek and pulled away with a fierce blush covering her face. Vinyl cracked a smile and looked up at the Cellist. She floated her glasses back onto her face, covering her eyes and stood up along with her marefriend. The two trotted to the door.
“Vinyl?
“Yes Tavi?”
“What do you do for a living?” Vinyl stopped dead in her tracks and shook her head.
“Well currently I don’t do anything. I used to DJ but then… you know. So recently I ran out of the bits I had saved up and I started working as a janitor for Fancy Pants. Didn’t really work out… Now I’m unemployed.” Octavia gave her a warm smile. One that said everything she needed to say. She didn’t care that Vinyl was unemployed, well didn’t care all that much.
“You two leaving already?” They both jumped at Daisy’s voice. Turning to address the nurse, Vinyl spoke up.
“Yeah were out. Um, thanks I guess, you know, for everything.” Daisy trotted up to the pair and wrapped her forelegs around them.
“No, thank you. You don’t know how hard it is to love. Nopony seems to understand what love is anymore. But you Vinyl, you supported me that first night. I was tired and I let my secret slip… But you supported me. I went home to my marefriend feeling proud of being the way I am. I got a counsel with the princess. I know that a signature on a piece of paper saying that people like us are supported isn’t going to solve all our problems, but hay, it’s a damn good place to start.” Daisy pulled away and gave the DJ and the Cellist a warm smile. Octavia flashed a smile of her own back while Vinyl averted her gaze to the tiles below. Vinyl cleared her throat and decided to speak.
“You know Daisy? You are more brave than I could ever be. I wish you luck-” Vinyl looked at the cellist then back to the nurse. “We wish you luck. Now I think Tavi should get home and get some rest. Also I’m sure her roommates are terrified right now.” Octavia immediately dawned a face of absolute terror.
“I completely forgot about them. Do they know what happened to me? Where I was? Do they know if I am ok? I hope I did not make them worry too much. Do you know if-” Octavia’s rambling came to an abrupt stop when Vinyl shoved her hoof into the cellist’s mouth. Daisy gave a chuckle at the display before trotting away down the hallway. She turned and waved at the two before turning into another patient's room.
“Tavi chill will ya? They came by two days ago. You were asleep so I told them you’d be released today. They said to give you their best regards and then they left. No biggie.” Octavia’s eye twitched. “Are you telling me somepony stopped by to see me and you neglected to tell me? What, pray tell, is wrong with you?” Vinyl gasped in mock hurt.
“Tavi, after all we’ve been through! I can’t believe you would say something like that!” Octavia grunted and cantered in anger past Vinyl and out the doors. After Vinyl recovered from the fit of laughter that hit her she chased after her marefriend.
“Tavi wait up! Is it all good if I walk you home? I kinda need the exercise. Being in that hospital kills!”
“Of course you may Vinyl. I will have to ask that we part ways at the police station though. You would already have gone much too far out of your way for me.”
“Nonsense filly, It’s no trouble at all.” Octavia gave the Jockey a puzzled look.
“Did you just call me a filly?”
“Yea, problem?”
“Yes problem. I’m no filly; in fact I am much more mature than you are.” The wall Vinyl had put up finally broke as she burst into a fit of laughter. “Oh very mature.”
“You’re expecting a DJ to be mature? Really?” Vinyl raised an eyebrow at Octavia whose mouth twitched slightly upward. The two continued their chat, slowly drifting towards each other as the walk. Eventually they reached the police station. Octavia turned to Vinyl who removed her glasses.
“I just wanted you to know Tavi… I’m really glad you decided to give us a try.”
“Not as glad as I, Vinyl.” Vinyl cracked a huge smile and wrapped her forelegs around the stunned cellist. “Bye Tavi, be safe will ya?”
“Sure thing, now go get some rest. We both could use a real bed for once.” Vinyl backed away from Octavia and gave her a nod. She turned in the opposite direction and began trotting back towards her ghetto bungalow. Octavia smiled and watched the jockey’s hips sway back and forth as she headed in her own direction. She snapped out of the trance Vinyl’s vibrant tail had put her in and headed home. Home. Bed. Oh sweet Celestia the bed! It’s a real shame Vinyl won’t get to experience it.
<(‘.’)>
Octavia trotted up to her door and knocked twice. Exhausted and in pain, she wanted to take some meds and take a nice long nap. The door slowly creaked open after the cellists knock. She poked her head in the door and looked left and right, making sure the house wasn’t trashed. Slowly pacing into the house the lights flashed on revealing a group of three musicians and a banner that read ‘Welcome Back Tavia!’
“SURPRISE!” Harpo and Beauty bellowed out a loud, obnoxious call while Frederick blew on a zoomer that rested in his mouth. Only he could keep his stoic expression throughout the whole show.
Octavia jolted backwards. “Please don’t stab me I have foals!”
“WOAH CHILL OUT OCTAVIA, WE JUST WANNA WEL-” Harpo shoved his hoof into Beauties mouth.
“Please loud-mouth, let me do the talking. We wanted to welcome you home Octa-” Harpo flew across the room and crashed against the piano, causing the keys to make a rather unpleasant sound. Beauty stood in the space Harpo previously occupied with her hind legs outstretched.
“I told you once Harp-ho, never stick ANYTHING in my mouth!” With that she trotted towards the groaning harpist still lying on top of the piano. Harpo was the only one that had not moved. Instead he took another blow into his zoomer and trotted into the kitchen. He came back holding a tray piled high with cupcakes and a glass of water. Setting them down on the table, Octavia quickly cantered over to the water glass and took a pill out of the small saddlebags full of medication and bandages received from the hospital. She popped a pill and swigged the water.
“Thanks Harpo.” Octavia trotted over to the stairs and cleared her throat. “Listen, I am incredibly grateful for you guys going through all this effort to make me feel welcomed back but I am afraid I shall call it a night. It is so hard to sleep on the hospital beds… they feel like rocks.”
“OH THAT’S NO PROBLEM, WE'LL SAVE SOME CUPCAKES FOR YOU!” Beauty returned to kicking the fallen harpist while he was down. Harpo was absorbed in a blue and yellow colored cupcake, twirling it in his hand as if he was studying its shape to make sure it was good enough to eat. Octavia shook her head and trotted into bed. The pain meds kicking in, the pain in her side melted away and the world began to spin. Octavia enjoyed the ride, closed her eyes and drifted off into the world of slumber.
<(‘.’)>
Vinyl slowly paced. Down the street towards her apartment building. Her mind was wandering as she hummed a melody that had been going through her mind for the past few days. It started slow. Filled with long notes packed with emotion. It built into an arc. Quick, frantic notes that ended in an echoing pause. Seconds tick by without any sound, the notes play again. Long notes that put Vinyl at ease. The notes, however, were sour. They left plenty of room for questions. What will happen next? What will happen do the notes? Why do the notes have to fade?
Vinyl chuckled as she saw one of her many art pieces which found its home on the side of an abandoned building. People responded to what she made. Below the dark stallion with his bloody blade was writing. Everything from ‘We got your back, bro’ to ‘Welcome to the street’ could have been found. She didn’t stop to read all of the responses as to not draw attention to herself. She instead turned the corner and passed a familiar Burger shop. A sign was hanging from it that read ‘Now Canon!’ Probably some obscure food term to symbolize fresher vegetables or something.
Vinyl began humming her same familiar melody again. She lost herself in the music and almost passed the turn down the corridor to her apartment. She began walking down the hall and took a deep breath when she saw the dark spot that rested on the floor. Nobody even bothered to clean the blood. It was now a dried remainder of the incident that happened a few days ago. After a cold exhale Vinyl continued towards her apartment.
She passed door after door, wondering who lives behind them. She may live in the same 200 yards as these people, but they were still a mystery to her. She arrived at her door and went to open the door. After a firm jiggle she thought it was probably locked. She went to magically grab the key she kept on the other side of the door but she couldn’t reach it with her magic. Something… someone was blocking any magic from entering. That’s when she noticed the note hanging on her door.
‘Dear occupant of this apartment,
We regret to inform you that no payment has been made on the particular residency in the required time period. The room will be seized by Canterlot’s finest motel and the possessions that rest within pawned off on March 4. If you wish to retrieve your possessions before the pawn you will be required to pay a moving and holding fee. We are sorry for any inconveniences caused. THIS HAS BEEN AN EVICTION NOTICE. ANY ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE ROOM WILL BE CRIMINAL BREAKING AND ENTERING. Thank you for your time.
Canterlot’s finest motel’
Vinyl stared at the note, trying to process the fact that she was homeless and possessionless. When it finally hit her she folded up the note and tucked it behind her ear. Then she stared at her ex-home.
“Good bucking riddance.” She gave a hearty chuckle and turned to walk out of the building. It wasn’t the first time she found herself bitless with no place to stay.
She cantered out of her housing complex and down the road. She passed the burger shop and the police station, passed the market and the Musicians household that divided the rich from the poor, and the home of her marefriend. She walked the streets of downtown Canterlot. Big buildings and suited ponies filled the streets. The air smelled of big business and fresh ink. The richest of the rich lived here. The closer to the princesses, the closer to the nobles. The closer to the nobles, the closer to the wealth. The closer to wealth… well you get it! She walked down the street. The sun had set on her walk and Luna’s beautiful moon rose high. The jockey passed many closed shops and overpriced apartments void of any light. That is until she came across a building similarly resembling a warehouse. Above the building housed a bright neon sign. It read “Neon’s Euphoria”. Bypassing the huge line of ponies that stretched long down the sidewalk, Vinyl came to a large orange stallion with a green crew cut.
“Name?” The large stallion nearly grunted when he talked.
“DJ Pon3, move tubby.” Vinyl brushed past the bouncer who was left with a look of shock on his face. Tubby Biceps had not heard that name in a while.
“Hey why the buck can she go in?!?!” A navy blue stallion with a white man and a chinstrap beard complained from the front of the line. Tubby proceed to pick the stallion up with his wing and propel him through the air towards the back of the clubs line.
Vinyl walked through the hallway and opened the door. A feeling of bliss came over her as the fast paced wubbing of the bass hit her. She loved this place, she helped build it after all. Vinyl trailed along the edge of the wall avoiding the huge crowd of ponies culminating on the dance floor of flashing tiles. She passed the bar and looked longingly at the bottle of Jameson whisky that sat on the shelf of drinks. No time for that though, she gave up drinking a while ago.
She trotted to the door next to the stage and pushed it open. It took a surprising amount of force to open the door but behind the door was a soundproof lounge filled with computers, all queued up to play Dubtrot of different nature to match the mood. A door on the other side of the room swung open and a light blue stallion with spiky black hair came cantering in. Not even noticing Vinyl, he walked up to one of the computers and hit play. The stallion looked up from his computer and paused when he noticed the invader standing at the far end of the room.
“Celestia’s shit, hey Pon-3!” Neon Lights flashed a smile and his horn lit up.
“Sup Neon. Listen man I got kicked out of my cardboard shack and kinda need some bits. Mind if I cover a set here in the next few?” Vinyl and Neon’s relationship was always like this. Very blunt. Vinyl looked to neon as a mentor almost. Vinyl’s first hit was performed with Neon before he moved to Canterlot. Vinyl gave all profits from the song to Neon to help him make the very building they were standing in.
“Wait… You wanna spin again? The great Pon-3 is making her comeback? Buck yea! You can perform here! When do you wanna spin Vee?” He floated over a bottle of whisky and two glasses.
Vinyl cringed at her old nickname but kept a calm demeanor “Asap, not many bits left in the bank. Oh and no drink for me, I quit.” Concern spread across Neon’s face.
“Really? The great Pon-3’s sober? The same mare that took 20 shots and still beat me in a game of beer pong? Wow… Well listen bro, if you need a few bits I can help you out. After all, you do own half this place.” Neon gestured to the club spread around him. “Anything you need Vee I can help.”
“Dude please stop calling me that!” Vinyl snapped. Immediately she regret it. “Sorry it just… brings up some bad vibes ya know?”
“Yea… yeah I completely understand. Listen if you need a place to sleep tonight there’s a soundproof room with a couch through the door to your left. I use it as a dressing room but… you can stay as long as you need.”
“Thanks man, that be really chill.” Vinyl smiled warmly at the entrepreneur and began trotting towards the room.
“Hey Vinyl, how are you?” Vinyl stopped dead in her tracks and turned towards Neon.
“Better man, Better. Got a new marefriend. Well… we’re complicated. We kinda jumped into this thing ya know? Now I know I want to be in this relationship. I REALLY like her. But I don’t know if she wants what comes with this relationship. The pain, the ridicule… It’s all a lot to take in and… I just don’t know man.” Neon took a swig of his drink and turned away.
“Vinyl you always did overthink things. Five bucks says that mare is lost without her marshmallow.” Neon flashed a wicked smile and turned away towards the door to the stage. He took a swig straight from the Jameson whisky bottle and exhaled. Setting the bottle down he trotted onto the stage with his same cocky douche bag attitude.
Vinyl sighed and walked into the dressing room. There was a long couch with comfortable enough looking pillows. It had a blanket hanging across its back. Obviously Neon intended to sleep on it some nights. Vinyl laid down and stared up at the ceiling. Sighing and thinking about the day’s events she laughed. All she wanted was to embrace her marefriend one last time. There was no way Vinyl was getting any sleep.
She got up and went to the closest computer in the room. Closing out of the three or four graphic pornography sites Neon had left open, she went on YouHoof and opened up EIM (Equestrian Instant Message). She hadn't been on it in nearly a year...
<(‘.’)>
Octavia tossed and turned on her overly comfortable bed. She couldn’t seem to find sleep. She felt empty. She didn’t know if it was the lack of activity that she had gotten used to at the hospital or the lack of one mare in particular. She wanted to hear vinyl’s sweet voice one last time. She wanted to feel Vinyl’s forelegs wrapped around her neck. She wanted to feel Vinyl’s lips on hers. She wanted to nibble on the jockey’s ear. She wanted to slowly kiss down her neck and across her chest all the way to her...
What was that? Octavia felt hot and flustered. She wanted so bad squeeze the DJ until she turned purple. Wanted so badly to tell her goodnight. What was happening to her? She had never felt this way before. She had never been attracted to, well, anypony before. She needed a glass of water.
She walked down the stairs and grabbed a glass from one of the cupboards. She proceeded to fill the glass to the brim and walked over to the computer. Sitting down she noticed that somebody had left their EIM open… interesting. She hadn’t been on there in forever. She made it back in college, or rather her roommate made her one. Octavia was a bit of a social recluse in her younger days and this was her roommate’s way of getting her to talk to, well, anypony at all.
She logged out of ‘Harp Stud’s’ profile and logged onto her own. She had one friend… her roommate. Her cursor lingered over the search bar wondering whether Vinyl would have a profile or not. Of course she would! She’s a DJ! She’s on the computer, like, 24 hours a day! She typed in the name Vinyl Scratch and one profile appeared. Master Spinner. She sent him a friend request. She then went on YouHoof and clicked on one of the many cute kitten videos it had to offer.
About a minute in the EIM icon lit up on her taskbar. She opened up the EIM window. On screen was a popup that read ‘Friend Request Accepted’.
Octavia sat at her computer, mousing over her new friend on EIM. The picture shown in the top left of the page was a blurry picture of Vinyl surfing across the crowd with a red solo cup in her hand. That was a completely different Vinyl than Octavia had seen. Still classy as ever, but she looked like she was having so much more fun… so carefree. She wish she knew this Vinyl, this Vinyl seems fun. As Octavia clicked the text box to type a message, she instead received one from none other than Vinyl herself.
“Hey Tav, I didn’t think u knew how 2 turn a pc on. U have an EIM?”
“Yes, I made one in college. My roommate said I did not get out enough.”
“Well obviously. I mean u just discovered like what, 2 days ago u digged mares?”
“I do not think I typically like mares. There is just a single individual that caught my eye.”
“Aw, thanks treble-flank!”
“Treble-flank? I would much rather you call me ‘Tavi’.”
“So u do always have it in there.”
“Excuse me, but have what in where?”
“That stick hanging out of ur plot. I mean u even type uptight. Who uses half parentheses in a casual conversation anyways.”
“Are you, by chance, talking about apostrophes?”
“Yea, those thingies.”
“Did you receive a proper education?”
“Sorta! I finished high school and went to college for a bit. Does that count?”
“I guess. So tell me, what are you working on right now? I figured that you would be on the line because your music uses the computer.”
“Did u just say on the line?”
“Why yes, yes i did. Why? Is that incorrect?”
“No its just ridiculous. Its online. 1 word.”
“Sorry I am new to this whole interwebs business.”
“What u don’t like? I thought thatd be right up your alley.”
“YOU SHOULD NEVER EVER DO THAT WITH A LYRE, AND WHY CAKE BATTER?”
“I think her marefriend is a baker. And Tavi, its kinda hot…”
“NO IT IS NOT! IT IS BOTH DISGUSTING AND MORALLY WRONG!”
“Okay there tiger, lay of the caps key.”
“I CAN NOT SEEM TO TURN IT OFF. HOW DO I TURN IT OFF?”
“Thats too bad, once its one u can never turn it off.”
“VERY FUNNY. HOW DO I FIX THIS? I FEEL LIKE MY TONE IS CONSTANTLY AT A ROAR.”
“Lol”
“WHATS A LOL?”
“You’re kidding right? It means laugh out loud. You say it after something funny.”
“Found it! Vinyl theres a key you can press to turn the capital characters off.”
“Good job, you’ve reached foal status on a computer.”
“Says the mare with an elementary school vocabulary.”
“U bitch.”
“Vinyl!!!!!!”
“Its a joke babe, chill.”
“You just called me… well a female dog. How is that supposed to be considered offensive?”
“I have no idea. I guess it just was ment as a burn.”
“You spelled meant wrong.”
“And?”
“And fix it.”
“I cant. Its already all the way up there.”
“So? Just go back.”
“U cant just go back u silly filly.”
“Please stop with the nicknames.”
“You stop with the nicknames.”
“What is that even supposed to mean?”
“U read me.”
“Ok then… New topic of conversation… When would u like to meet up again?”
“Actually im glad u asked. I need you to come and watch me perform tomorrow.”
“You’re performing? Vinyl that’s terrific! Sure i will come and watch you preform. Do I need to buy a ticket?”
“Holdup Tavi im loling to hard… Its a club. Have u ever been to a club?”
“Well… No?”
“Ever been to any college parties?”
“No I barely stepped out of my room except to perform and sometimes eat.”
“Really? Damn Tav we need to go out and have some fun. Im sure ud loosen up after some hard drinks.”
“I do enjoy a nice glass of wine every now and then. What do you prefer as an alcoholic beverage?”
“Actually I had a drink named after me. It was a mixture of whisky, gin, sprite, and Blue Kool-aid. You drop a glow stick in that mix and you get the SHOCKER.”
“That sounds… terrible.”
“Nah its actually good. I dont drink anymore though.”
“Really? I would think that you of all mares would enjoy a nice glass of alcohol now and then.”
“Thats one of the reasons I quit. I hate when people can judge me. I want to be an individual. I want to be Vinyl Scratch. Not another alcoholic DJ. I guess thats sort of what I live by.”
“Thats very respectable Vinyl. You would rather not conform therefore you walk a seperate path from the rest of society.”
“Yeah, whatever that means sure. Thing is ponies hate when u try and be different. Look how society treats us.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Us… FillyFoolers.”
“Oh, I see. I hate that term, it leaves a disgusting taste in my mouth.”
“Are u sure u want this?”
“Want what?”
“We can try to keep us secret, but if word gets out. If ponies find out about us… am i really worth the label?”
“Of course you are Vinyl. I know we have not been acquainted very long but… you mean the world to me. I do not quite know what it is about you that is so special, but you are.”
“Aww thanks. Wait did u just call me special?”
“Yes, yes I did.”
“Oh, ok then. It was still sweet I guess. I mean im not good with all the sappy stuff. I guess the best way to explain how I feel about u is...”
“Its ok Vinyl, you’ll get it out eventually. I warms me plenty just to know that you want to be with me too.”
“But its not that simple. I don’t just want to be with you. You’re more than just another pony. You’re beautiful, talented, smart, caring, generous, kind. I hope i can add loyal to that list eventually.”
“Vinyl stop, my face hurts.”
“From what?”
“Smiling so enormously. Listen it is already after midnight… I think i should try and grasp a bit of slumber.”
“Yeah me too. Can I come by tomorrow?”
“Sure, I don’t see why not?”
“Alright, see u then u cunning stunt.”
“Cunning stunt?”
“Don’t worry bout it. Night!”
“Goodnight, Vinyl”
Octavia got up from her computer after signing out of her account and walked groggily up the stairs. She fell into bed with a smile on her face and drifted into a very content asleep almost immediately.
<(‘.’)>
Vinyl closed the laptop she was using and dropped it onto the floor next to her. She looked up at the ceiling, her thoughts moving a mile a minute. She didn’t know how to handle herself on stage now. She didn’t have the fire or passion to bring joy to the ponies that rejected her a few years ago. How could she do it? She wasn’t going to play for them. There would be one pony she would be playing for. One pony she would try and impress. One pony she would try to please. And she was going to do it.
With a determined smile on her face she closed her eyes and exhaled. The DJ felt content for once. She felt good… a feeling she had long since forgotten.
Octavia slinked out of bed. It was so comfortable… so feathery. The cellist felt like she was literally trapped in a bed-bear hug. She crawled over the bathroom and looked in the mirror.
“My sweet Celestia!” It was almost as if the past week and a half had hit her in the face like a ton of bricks. Octavia looked terrible. She had a small cut just below her cheek and her fur was matted nearly all over her back from laying in bed for so long. The cellist had a bandage wrapped around her chest and her hair was messy and out of place. She removed the bandage to reveal a red gash and a small area of shaved fur. She turned on her shower and began brushing her hair while waiting for the room to steam.
“I’ve spent my entire life inside, staying completely safe. I spend a week with Vinyl and I get stabbed and find I’m a homosexual. Huh.” The cellist checked the temperature of the water and slowly got into it, letting the water drip down her coat and mane for a bit. She grabbed the body wash and began scrubbing to work the mats out of her fur. After a few minutes of scrubbing her fur regain its same familiar grey shine.
She grabbed the shampoo and began scrubbing her raven colored hair down. After a good fifteen minutes of scrubbing her hair looked presine once again. She stopped the flow of water stepped daintily out of the shower. The room had been filled with steam at the point that it was nearly unseeable. The cellist grabbed a towel and dried off till she was at a comfortably warm level of dampness. She spent a solid five minutes tying her bowtie back around her neck. It was hard to tie it considering the fact that she was an earth pony. Once she finished her morning process she stared at herself in the mirror. “Much better!” She took a clean pink bandage, one that matched the color of her cutie mark, and wrapped it around the scar on her chest. Stepping out of the bathroom she saw who she wanted to see most in the world.
“Hey there, come here often? I did miss you while I was hospitalized. Come here!” Octavia trotted forward and wrapped her hooves around the neck of her one true love. She picked up the bow laying on the stand next to her cello and began to play. She didn’t have a particular song in mind. No sheet music, no pattern to rhythmically fall into. Instead she played with her heart.
The song was slow; It started as a simple high note drawn out and fading into another high note, this one being a little bit lower toned. Octavia cracked a wicked smile as she dragged the bow across her strings once more, creating a note just a little bit lower than her previous one. Now this is where the fun begins. The master cellist began rapidly pumping her bow back and forth across the strings, changing the tone with every swipe. The notes the earth pony was creating were low and forceful, demanding and fast-paced. She kept the process going for a bit before she began to slide her hoof, the one rested on the neck creating the tone, up and down along the cello. This caused a rapid change of notes happening all in a single drag of her bow. She reached a high note and held it out as long as she could. Panting Octavia opened her eyes and noticed a very suprised Beauty Brass standing in the doorway.
“WHAT THE LUNA WAS THAT?” Octavia gave a sheepish smile before placing her cello comfortably back onto her stand.
“I am terribly sorry Beauty, I just played what I felt like playing. I guess I was trying to get back into the swing of things…”
“NO, DON’T APOLOGIZE! IT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE SWEET! LIKE ROCK AND ROLL WITH A CELLO!” Beauty gestured over to the stairs. “BREAKFAST IS READY. BY THE WAY, THE ROOMS ARE SOUNDPROOF. JUST CLOSE YOUR DOOR!” Octavia removed her hooves from her ears. She could still hear Beauty when they were plugged, she was just dulled to a mild roar.
“Ok, expect me down in a few. I need to polish my cello!” Octavia gave Beauty a smirk and walked over to her cello. She began scrubbing it vigorously with a linen cloth to remove the dust that had collected on it. Once she could see her reflection she nodded her head and exited her room, shutting her door with a loud thump.
<(‘.’)>
“She’s a mane-iac, MANE-iac, on the floor.” Vinyl sang and swung her hips in a rhythmic motion as she scrubbed the floors of the night club she was staying in. Neon told her she didn’t have to clean, but she insisted. She might as well do something for him; he was staying in his dressing room for Celestia’s sake!
Neon and Vinyl had been through a lot together. Other than the stallions from college that were most likely still behind bars, he was the only one that knew Vinyl batted for her own team. They met when Vinyl was in high school. Neon had called her backstage expecting to get a little alone time with an over energetic fan; Instead he found this DJ was different, unique in a way. She showed emotion in an industry that was built of lust. Her songs were revolutionary. Unfortunately most ponies couldn’t see that; They were too focused on finding a nice plump pair of swaying hips to mount, a rather disgusting dance really. Two ponies rubbing their most intimate parts together when they don’t even know each others names.
Together they made Pony Rock Anthem, the biggest EDM hit ever. After that Neon pulled a few strings and got Vinyl into his old college. Vinyl decided to go against her better judgement; she kept meeting Neon weakly and learn more about what Neon did. If the older DJ did anything well, it was maintaining a flow behind the tables. He could keep ponies interested for hours by fluctuating the pace of songs, giving time to rest and for strangers to mingle. He was demanded by nearly every club in Manehatten. Although he was so popular, it was rare to see him perform anywhere. He never felt a good vibe from clubs; They were all too showy. That was why he decided to build his own club, his domain.
“And she’s dancing like she’s never danced BEFOOOOOOOOOORRRREEEEEEE!”
“VINYL SHUT THE TARTUS UP!” Neon dragged himself out of his office as Vinyl shot around, dropping the broom in her magical grasp.
“Sorry...it’s a good song!” Vinyl picked the broom back up to finish the job she was doing. Neon’s door that led into his apartment above the club re-opened. A canary colored pegasus emerged from the ajar door. She had a long, flowing, multicolored mane of teal and and baby blue. It was wild, messy, and long. She looked clean though, unlike most party goers. She gave Neon a quick peck on the cheek and flew speedily out of the doors.
“So, still at it I see? Please tell me you at least ask their name’s now.” Vinyl smirked at Neon as she lowered her headphones to her neck and placed the mop in its sudsy abode.
“Well, I’m not always a sleazy scumbag! Her name is Misty Fly. And fyi we’ve been dating for nearly a year.” Neon gave a confident smirk and walked over to the bar. He poured two tall glass of water and floated one over to Vinyl.
“You… settling down? No way!”
“Yeah, she’s a wonderbolt. We met last year when they were on tour. She’s… just amazing!” Neon exhaled as if he was a teenaged pony obsessing over a celebrity crush.
“Woah there, Equestria to Neon! I’m headed to the market, want anything?”
“Nah I’m good, thanks though. Just don’t get stabbed!” Vinyl winced.
“Ohh Neon, so meta…” Vinyl grabbed a small pair of saddlebags and slung it around her back before trotting out of the club door, down the hallway, and into the sunny streets.
<(‘.’)>
“Where are you headed Octavia?” Harpo flipped another pancake off his griddle and onto the plate stacked high with warm, fluffy disks of syrupy goodness. He poured more batter onto his pan and redirected his attention back towards the cellest adorning a pair of saddlebags.
“I am headed out to the market, would you like anything?”
“Sure, can you grab some more butter? I used most of it.” Harpo removed a few bits from the grocery jar and placed it onto the kitchen counter.
“Certainly, I will be back in just a few minutes.” Octavia picked up her bits and put them into her saddlebag. She trotted out the door keeping a brisk pace to keep her promise. She cantered behind her house and into the raising sun that covered the winding path to the market. The market was one of Octavia’s favorite places to go. It was filled with stands, some thrown together with wood, others cleverly crafted with metal and magic. Most vendors set up stands instead of buying shops because there was really no monetary gain from owning a shop, just more expenses. She passed fruit and vegetable stands until she reached her favorite stand of all. ‘Prestine Notes Music Emporium’; a fine establishment. It was made of metal and had different musical notes cut out. Behind the counter was a case full of different instruments to choose from, and on the counter was different necessities like guitar picks and music sheets.
The cellist was making her normal run through the market, stopping first at the music stand and buying some sheets designed for writing music. She had a certain melody stuck in her head she needed to get down. Her next stop was the rickety looking wooden cherry stand. One left! How lucky. After she went over to the dairy stand and got a few sticks of butter. Delicious butter. She then decided to go get some celery, which happened to be in the completely opposite direction from what she was traveling. Celery was delicious… why wouldn’t you eat celery? Its nutritious, flavorful, and green! She passed by a dispute between two ponies at the music stand she had just visited. Wait…
“No, buck you! What do you mean you don’t sell to ponies ‘like me’!” Yep… thats definatly Vinyl…
“I mean, there are plenty more respectable and… straight ponies I can sell to.”
“Buck you!”
Time to intervene. “I am terribly sorry but what is happening here.” Octavia pushed her way through the crowd and stood in between Vinyl and the shop owner.
“Oh, Tavi!”
“Oh, Octavia!” The two said in unison.
“Octavia, you know this uncouth street varment?”
“Tavi, you know this sexist store pervert?”
Octavia was lost. “Can someone explain what is happening!” Vinyl and the shopkeeper stepped back and both opened their mouths to speak. After exchanging a glance Vinyl let the shopkeeper go first.
“This street trash was attempting to buy supplies from my establishment. I will not have it! Not NOW, not EVER. My supplies are for the finest musicians, like you madam. Not… whatever she does.”
“Wow. Just wow. Okay Vinyl, your side if you will.”
“I just wanted some sheets for my gig tonight. I wanted to make a new wub but this dick called me a lesbian and refused to give me any shit.”
“Okay Vinyl, calm down. Prestine, mind explaining why you called her a lesbian?” Octavia redirected her attention at the store owner.
“Because, well, look at her! So uncouth, so unladylike. Completely unlike you milady.”
“Such flattery. You mean to tell me you called her a lesbian because she is… uncouth? Simply ridiculous. Now, sell my dear friend Vinyl some supplies so we can all go our separate ways please?”
“I am terribly sorry but I can not do that. And it’s not because she is uncouth, it’s because they are uncouth.”
“Then I am terribly sorry but I will no longer be coming to your stand for musical supplies. Good day, Prestine Pitch.”
“But Octavia, I-”
“I said good day!” Octavia turned to Vinyl and tilted her head slightly to signal to the DJ that she was making her escape. Octavia trotted and Vinyl fell in behind her, a huge smile on her face. Vinyl turned back to the shop keep who looked dumbfounded at the scene that just unfolded. Vinyl stuck her tongue out at the defeated shop owner and continued after her marefriend.
“So Tavi… that was hot!”
“Vinyl! Watch yourself, we are in public.”
Vinyl began mocking Octavia’s accent very crudely “Well I say! I am a prude! Vinyl, Vinyl? Where is that insufferable pig? VINYL! I NEED YOU TO REMOVE THE STICK FROM MY RUMP!”
“Vinyl shut up!” Octavia stopped moving suddenly. “Wait, where are we going?”
“To the clothes shop! We need to get you some more suitable clothes for my gig tonight.”
“Oh yes, when and where is your performance? I forgot to ask last night.”
“Its in Neon’s club… You don’t know where that is do you?”
“No idea”
“Ok then.” Vinyl pondered how she was going to get Octavia to the club. “Why don’t we just get you some clothes and you can go home and we can hang out there for a bit, then we can go over to the club and I can show you how everything works! Then the party can start.”
“That actually sounds… quite wonderful. So what does one wear to a ‘club’?”
“Well, mesh, socks, saddlebags, tassels, tight pants, or panties… those work too.” Octavia stopped her trot towards the clothing store and stared at Vinyl.
“You said this was a club correct? Is that code for orgy?”
“Only if your down babe.” Vinyl stepped back from Octavias jab with her hoof. “Ha! You’re becoming too predictable!”
“And you to agile. I will have to find a new way to attack you.”
“Tavi… maybe you should get some help.”
“That was a rather abusive thing to say, wasn’t it?”
“Yep! Here we are.”
“You must be joking… right?” The two mares stood facing a store that was covered in glowing red with neon lights. There were a few mannequins placed in rather provocative positions facing out of the window. The mannequins were colored a milky white and all wore different articles of clothing, designed to direct the attention of an observer straight to the models plot and cutie mark. They were sporting everything from leather socks to latex bodysuits covered in zippers.
“Nope, this is the place! Come on!” Vinyl grabbed the hoof of the of her marefriend and dragged her inside of the shop. “So what do you want?”
“To leave?” Octavia’s tone was almost pleading.
“No way! Now… how bout some latex?”
“Celestia help me…”
<(‘.’)>
Vinyl and Octavia were trotting towards Octavias home discussing the attire they had just purchased. They made sure to get Octavia a saddle that's strap covered nearly up her wound so she could cover her bandage. The less people asking about the traumatic experience, the better.
“Are you sure you didn’t want anything more revealing?”
“Vinyl, we’re naked like… all day! What does some socks and a saddle add?”
“I don’t know! It just makes it more fun! Shows off the curves… adds a level of mystery to the whole thing.”
“What thing? Whats more fun?”
“Really Tavi?”
“You know what, forget I asked.”
They arrived on the Musical Mansions front step and knocked on the door. After a few minutes of waiting they decided just to barge in.
“I am quite glad no one is home, I will not have to explain the saddle to them…”
“Or the socks!”
“Or the socks…”
They pair walked up the stairs in the middle of the living room and entered the cellists sleeping quarters..
“This is it Vinyl, ma maison! What are your thoughts?” Vinyl trotted over the bed and hopped on it.
“Tavi… this bed is… orgasmic! Can I live here?”
“The beds are quite nice… fluffy! Now, how about explaining what I have gotten myself into tonight!”
“Sure thing! Come, take a seat!” Vinyl patted the bed next to her and waited for the cellest. After a short period of though the cellist decided she wouldn’t mind a bit of cuddling right now. Octavia trotted onto the bed and closed the space between her and her marefriend. She placed her muzzle in the crook of Vinyl’s neck. Vinyl tensed up at the contact but soon relaxed into it. It felt good, felt right. They sat there for a while in complete silence just enjoying the close proximity they couldn’t otherwise share. Octavia, still rested in the crook of Vinyl’s neck, broke the silence.
“You never told me what a club’s like.” Vinyl giggled at the warm air brushing against her neck.
“Oh yeah.. Sorry. I got kinda distracted. It’s… well… Imagine a tight space with a bunch of ponies jumping up in down to the sound of wubs. Add complete darkness and flashing lights. Now add a sexy mare up on stage spinning records. That’s a club.”
“Sounds… Atrocious. Except for the sexy mare of course.”
“Some times its a stallion.”
“Back to being atrocious.”
“Oh, Tavi… You know what?”
“Whats that?”
“I finally feel happy. Its been so long since I felt like this.” Octavia felt a damp feeling running down the top of her head. “I… I normally don’t show emotion. I just want to make people happy, you know? But with you… with you I feel like no matter what I do I’m safe. I…” Vinyl choked up, unable to continue her speech. Octavia lifted her head and looked at Vinyl. Her glasses were off and her eyes were bloodshot. The only thing that seemed out of place was the smile on her face. Octavia wrapped her forelegs around Vinyl and squeezed her tight.
“Vinyl… I keep asking myself why do I like you. Why have I fallen for a mare, let alone a DJ. It’s because you're different. Most ponies expect me to be this high class musician with no blemish on her record. A clean slate that’s ready with a cello in a moments notice. But not you. No matter how I act you still look at me the same as you did a moment ago. And that’s what makes you so special. You make me feel special.”
Octavia stared Vinyl in the eyes for a moment before quickly closing the gap between them. She placed her lips gently against her partners and poured all of her passion into her marefriend. She was certain of one thing now, this felt proper. Octavia pulled away for a moment.
“Vinyl, it hasn’t been long but… I think I love you.” Vinyl wrapped her forelegs around her the cellist and gave her a peck on the neck.
“I love you to Tavi.” Their lips met once again, this time as Vinyl being the aggressor. She rolled on top of the cellist and forced her forelegs against the bed. They stayed locked like this for a few moments before Octavia felt a poke on her lips. She opened her mouth to allow the invader access. Vinl swirled her tongue with Octavias, like an intricate dance between lovers. *Click*.
Vinyl began to bite at the cellists lower lip, causing a moan of lust to escape. The DJ started kissing down the Cellists cheek until she reached her neck and slowly added pressure to it, swirling her tongue as she inhaled. Wait… was that the door?
“My word, what is going on here!?!”
“Oh my!” Octavia threw Vinyl into the air and she landed beside the bed with a loud thud.
“Owwwww Tavi!”
“Octavia! Explain yourself!” Harpo looked furious, almost betrayed.
“Why must I explain myself? Is it really so bad? I love Vinyl, she loves me. Why is it so wrong?”
“Because your both mares! I mean, next we will have intermarriage between donkeys and ponies! It’s preposterous!” Harpo stomped out of the room as Octavia got up from her bed.
“Vinyl are you ok? I’m sorry about this. Don’t worry please… We’ll… I don’t know.” Octavia helped Vinyl off of the ground.
“Ow ow ow my leg!” Vinyl jerked her left foreleg off of the ground.
“Are you ok?”
“Yeah… go talk. I’ll be down in a second.” Octavia hesitated before giving her marefriend a kiss on the check and galloped out the door.
She trotted out the door and down the stairs. Harpo was explaining what he saw to the other two musicians that were unpacking goods they bought at the market. The room became quiet as Octavia walked in.
“Octavia… we need to have a talk.” Vinyl trotted down the stairs still limping from her landing. “She needs to be there to.” Harpo finished. Octavia sighed and cantered over to the couch.
“Since when are you the boss of me?” Vinyl protested.
“Since I can now have you arrested, or worse.” Vinyl’s ears flattened at this. The Jockey had experience the ‘or worse’ and never wanted it to happen again. She followed Octavia and rested on the couch next to her. The other musicians continued their talk before the three trotted into the living room with Vinyl and Octavia. Octavia wrapped her tail around Vinyls, which caused a small smile from the terrified DJ. No matter what happened now, no matter what the other musicians decided to do, it would be The DJ and the Cellist until the bitter end.
