The next few days passed relatively quickly. Moondancer offered to help set up the stage for Vinyl’s show and the DJ agreed, Octavia thanked her for the help. It was a small venue, thankfully, so not all of Vinyl's rig was necessary. She knelt down, connecting some wires when she heard a hollow thud, she turned to see Octavia setting up a rather large speaker. “Did...you bring that in alone?”
Octavia tilted her head. “Well, yes. I carry my cello every day. Vinyl's speakers aren't that bad.”
“I...see.”
“Vinyl!” Another voice called out.
The DJ stepped out from behind the curtain, an eyebrow raised at the new voice.
Moondancer spotted Sunset and Twilight walking down the aisles toward the stage. “We got the prototype working like a dream.” The lavender haired girl said excitedly.
“It was tough, but not impossible.” Sunset added with a proud smirk.
“Is this what you've been so excited about, Vinyl?” Octavia asked, looking at the box Twilight handed her.
Vinyl nodded, opening it up and staring into it with excited awe.
“Do you have the projectors set up?” Sunset asked. “We can start wiring them up while we're here.”
Vinyl nodded, turning to the spots on the stage and pointing out the overhead projector.
“Hang tight and we'll give it a run through.” Sunset smiled before setting to help Twilight. “Hey Moondancer.” She added in passing.
Vinyl appeared on her other side, showing her the box excitedly. “What is it..?” She asked.
“Its a pair of gloves that will work with the projectors to add hologram soundboards in front of Vinyl's hands. Making her more mobile on stage.” Twilight explained.
“That's...really cool, how'd you come up with that?”
“Vinyl wanted to perform along with play. She's a pretty good dancer, dunno if you knew.” Sunset offered. Vinyl slipped on the gloves, testing the bends at each finger.
“Here. You're gonna have to wear a battery pack until we can get the power figured out.” Sunset said, connecting a cord to the hands and leading them back to a small battery that she attached to the DJ's belt. “The gloves alone can project the soundboards, pressing the corresponding button on the hologram will play the accompanying sound effect.” She explained. “The projectors around the stage are to show the videos Vinyl has prepared...and also make the holograms visible to the audience.”
“Fascinating…” Moondancer said. “I can't wait to see it in action.
A small board appeared under Vinyl's palm, she pressed several buttons, ultimately creating a beat. As she experimented, her head began to bob as her body moved. Each step and sway matching the tone of the beat she added. The song slowed as she stopped nodding her head before it started picking up slowly. And when it returned, she raised one arm with the synth sound, her fingers dancing over the buttons as if they were a keyboard momentarily before spinning back, tapping her foot to the beat, bobbing her head until the beat faded out.
Vinyl jumped up and down excitedly before staring at the gloves. Octavia tapped Moondancer's shoulder. "We have to test the videos. So you should go. They're a surprise."
"Oh right. Wouldn't want to spoil the concert." Moondancer stood. "I can't wait to see it, Vinyl."
The DJ gave her a thumbs up.
***
Lightning punched the sandbag again, her arms were sore...her body ached...but she kept striking left, right, left. The music in her headphones urging her to keep going. Good beats mixed with a quick witted rapper. A guilty pleasure? Nah. Lightning loved rap music. Not many knew about her taste in music...since she really only listened to it when she worked out. Vinyl probably knew. She's inconvenient like that.
She took a step back, the head trainer glancing up from his work. "Light, you've been at it for a while… wanna call it?"
"No."
"Having those issues again..?"
"Yup."
"I'll grab the kick pads. Your arms are probably tired by now." He chuckled.
"Thanks."
She wasn't being short with the man because she was mad...exactly... She always had anger problems...and venting them on inanimate objects seemed more useful to her than any other target. She looked down at her hands. They've done their fair share of damage.
***
As she lost herself in her thoughts, her gaze became distant...remembering the times she'd had no other option than to listen to that voice in the back of her head...the one that told her she was nothing but a violent thug...nothing but a mistake.
Lyra was laid out on the ground behind her, a group of girls surrounding them. In a flash she was back there.
She ducked one punch, hitting the aggressor in the side, immediately knocking the wind out of her with her right hook, her left landing right across her jaw. The girl crumbled to the ground. She turned and got a punch to the face, another catching her arm as she reared back. She was ganged up on. The numbers game was clearly against her. A kick to the stomach.
'You deserve this.'
Several minutes, she struggled to escape as the two girls in front of her mocked her. "Some hero." One spat, punching her in the side of the head.
"I say we rob 'em, beat 'em and leave 'em for the boys." The one behind her said.
"Hmm, maybe we could make some cash off them. Gotta tie this one up. The other will probly be submissive." She turned away from Lightning and walked towards Lyra.
Her eyes shot open and she rammed the girl holding her back into the wall of the building nearby. As she gasped in pain, Lightning brought her elbow back and heard a gross crack.
With one fluid motion she took a step and decked another, her body hitting the ground hard, no attempt to catch herself. A complete knock out.
Her eye was swollen and her lip was busted. Her ribs ached and her nose bled… She must have painted quite the intimidating picture...the last of the girls backed away before taking off.
She took a step toward Lyra, who was sitting up, holding her head.
'You'll just hurt her too. All you do is cause pain.'
***
"Lightning." The man spoke again. The blonde jolted out of her thoughts, turning to face him. "You should call it a day." He suggested, patting her shoulder.
"No I-" her voice was watery...was she? She reached up to wipe her eyes.
"Maybe it'll help you to get some rest. Okay?"
She took a deep breath before nodding, turning to head to the showers.
That voice. It'd been some time since it reared its ugly head.
As she walked from the gym, hands in her pockets she replayed next few days after that fight. Lyra took her to a doctor… She didn't have any way to pay for treatment… Her foster family helped. Guilt weighed heavily on her for that. Despite the reason...she cost them more money.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. She slid it from her pocket and answered.
"Yo."
"Excuse me, Lightning? ...are you free? I figured we could attempt to 'hang out'." Moondancer's voice said over the phone.
"...Sure. I could use a distraction right now."
"Great! Um...can we meet at the library?"
"Yeah, I'll head there now."
They hung up and Lightning turned the corner to meet her.
'Another life you'll ruin. She has potential, why do you only harm those with promise?'
Her heart stopped at the voice again. Her steps felt heavier.
"Shut up...I'm not what you say I am." She told herself under her breath.
'You're talking to yourself, you crazy bitch. You know how this is gonna turn out. She'll like you. You'll hurt her and she'll become a recluse. The only thing you're good at is ruining other peoples lives.'
She shook her head in an attempt to shake the thoughts away.
'Bet she'll end up just like mom.'
Her body stopped, ice filling her veins. Her eyes went wide as she tried to calm her breathing. Passersby took note of the hyperventilating girl and she quickly ducked into an alley, holding onto the wall for support as she tried to calm herself...tears starting to well up in her eyes again. She pressed her back against the brick wall, sliding down to hug her knees as she tried to become as small as possible. Maybe no one would catch her having an episode..?
Her pocket buzzed again, she tried to ignore it, but she took it out anyway. Moondancer of course.
'Look. You're already causing undue stress for the poor girl.'
"Shut up!" She growled, answering the phone luckily moments after.
"Hey Light, are you-"
Lightning tried to suppress the sniffling...but she couldn't get past Moondancer's uncanny perception.
"Are you crying? Lightning Dust, are you okay?"
"No."
"Where are you?"
"Next to the deli...in the alley."
"I'm on my way. Please don't leave there." She heard shuffling as the girl was undoubtedly walking. "Tell me about your day."
"H-Huh?"
"I'm attempting to ease your mind as I travel there. Leaving you alone would not be optimal for this."
Lightning chuckled. "Dork." She looked down as she recounted the morning events.
It took about ten minutes for Moondancer to make it to her, and the poor girl was out of breath.
"Your cardio sucks." Lightning teased, looking up to her.
Moondancer rolled her eyes before taking a seat beside her. "Take your time...but I'm here for you." She said, hugging her knees.
"Thanks."
They sat in silence for a bit, Moondancer feeling a little pride in knowing she was helping Lightning like she had helped her...having someone to be with when they needed it.
After a little while, the athlete sat up straighter. "I think I'm good." Lightning said, wiping her eyes on her sleeves.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Let's go before I get all sappy." She pushed to stand, Moondancer following her. "I'll tell you sometime...just...not yet. Okay?"
"I understand." She nodded.
"You hungry? Because I could do lunch…"
"Oh, yes actually. I'm quite famished."
"Let's go." The taller turned to lead her out.
***
Lightning had some kind of a breakdown today, I wonder why? She's always seemed the collected yet broody type. One who didn't always speak with her fists, but had no issue 'throwing down', as it were. Treating my new friends as case studies still feels weird...but it helps me to get to know them.
BonBon and Lyra's relationship, interests and lifestyle...Vinyl's music and performance her trust in Octavia, note: need one on one time with them for further context. And I haven't had the chance to interact with Derpy outside of the group. She seems the most likely to dismiss conflict and brush off negativity. Likely from facing hardships before. Note two, probably from the torment she's likely endured from her unfortunate eye situation...I must ask how they came to be like that, but how do I broach the subject without being rude?
And then we come back to Lightning. The first to step up to my side. I must admit...I may feel more towards her than the others at the moment...that may just be because she protected me. Or perhaps some part of me finds her attractive. Lyra may suspect the same thing...perhaps I should gauge her interest...she isn't against the idea, but is she interested in the fairer sex as well?
Moondancer pushed away from the paper she groaned. 'What am I doing? Writing down things like that only leads to embarrassing situations when someone finds the diary.'
She sighed, looking at the clock. 10:07 pm. She turned back to the page.
Life has changed for the better for me since she came into it. I've...left my home for more than the library or school. Seeing her like that hurt. Deep inside. Like...feelings aside, I don't want her to hurt like that any more...but this is her personal issue to deal with...the most I can do is give advice and guide her if she asks. I told her to call me if she ever needed my help and that it never mattered the hour she called.
She sighed again. "I think Lyra's right…" she spoke as she wrote the words.
I need to see if this is just an infatuation or a crush...the way she shut down this afternoon indicates she's clearly had issues in her past. Having to move through trauma on your own is not healthy, though I don't wish to open a wound I had no idea was there. But for now, I must sleep, I'll update as the days progress.
She pushed away from her writing desk, yawning as she grabbed clothes to head to take a shower.
***
Lightning sat against the wall of her bedroom, her headphones playing one of her favorite songs. She quietly bobbed her head. The lights were off, she didn't need any more distractions. Eyes closed, music playing. She lost herself in a calm in the darkness.
She mouthed the lyrics as she thought over the afternoon. The thoughts of the music video to this song played through her thoughts...she imagined herself in the same spot...the female voice that acted as the chorus claiming how she was friends with the monster. Wincing slightly at the mention of voices in their head.
The idea of coming face to face with that part of herself she tried to bury deep within. She pictured herself, disheveled, gaunt, dirty...how she looked when she lived on her own. Thin, dangerously so. Her hands were loosely wrapped, she remembered the pain, unconsciously rubbing her hands together. She fractured multiple fingers and her right hand...and only had an ace bandage to wrap it.
This became how she pictured 'the voice' and her eyes shot open as the demented Lightning turned to face her. Her eyes dangerous. The song changing as she tried to catch her breath. Sitting in the dark, her eyes scanned the room as she wondered if giving it a face was the wisest decision.
Her heart raced as she took deep breaths. Her hand fumbling for her phone.
'Aww, call your girlfriend, ruin her sleep to complain about something she can't help with. Make her feel useless. Go ahead.'
Lightning stopped, her thumb over the 'call' button. "She…"
'Show her how crazy you are. You're a lunatic. Maybe she's smarten up and get away from you.'
"Why...why can't I have a normal life..?"
'Because you weren't supposed to exist. Nothing about you is normal. You were an accident, remember? Then come to find out...it was out of revenge. Our father was no one special and our mother was just a petty bitch looking to get back at her husband.'
"I...I couldn't help that…" She sniffled. "I'm...I've worked to not be a fuck up...can't you let me have something..?" She pretty much bargained as her resolve crumbled.
'You would be normal… If you weren't the reason she killed herself.'
She hit the button, ripping the headphones off as she hugged her knees, bringing the phone up as a groggy voice answered.
"Hello..?"
"I need help." Lightning said shakily.
***
Moondancer pushed up as she held the phone to her face. "Of course, I'm here." She reached for her glasses. "One sec." She slipped on her sweater, grabbing the phone to ask her what happened as she covertly got dressed.
"I got this problem…" Lightning explained vaguely. "Whenever I have a good day I have this voice that tears me down…" She admitted.
"We should set up a visit to a therapist...it would help if you had a professional listen to you as well. But that doesn't mean I'm any less interested." She grabbed her keys. "I'm on my way over...I won't be long."
"Wh-What? No, don't-"
"Lightning. If the roles were reversed, what would you do?"
"...Probably run over there… it's late…" She said quietly.
"I'll get a ride there. Dad works late." Moondancer said cheerfully. "Now, give me your address."
Lightning sighed, telling her and Moondancer thanked her before muting the receiver.
"Okay, I'll be over soon."
"...Thanks."