Vinyl Scratch awoke with a start, her head was pounding and she heard something playing that sounded like classical music. Ugh, she thought to herself simply as she looked at the mixing board her head was resting on. Her hoof was stuck on 'play' and the last thing she was playing happened to be something by her friend and musically talented pony Octavia, something she was attempting to implement into her latest song. Fat chance, she couldn't change perfection, she wouldn't change perfection. This music seemed to sum up Octavia in every way; it was slow and powerful, thoughtful and beautiful. Everything that mare was, with her flowing gray hair and luminescent, purple eyes.
Vinyl shook her head and all but slapped herself around the face. Her shades flew off her eyes and landed somewhere in the darkness of her basement/recording studio. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and fumbled for a coffee cup, glancing into it to make sure the contents were not rancid, before she downed the lot inside and sighed heavily, placing her heavy head in her hooves and massaging her temples. She couldn't think things like that, especially not about the gray mare that held her fancy; unlike so many others that had simply been one night flings.
She was Vinyl Scratch, and she wasn't obscure to promiscuity, and for that reason she could not broach her perfect friend about the thoughts that ran rampant inside her head. She would not ruin their fragile friendship by confessing feelings that she shouldn't have. She was a street-wise disc jockey who played techno at a bar at night, and Octavia was an upper-class Canterlot pony who came here last year because, in her words, she wanted a 'change of scenery' and a 'muse for her work'.
Everything had changed then. Vinyl never had an appreciation of classical music, finding it too boring and not upbeat enough for her tastes. Until she saw Octavia play at the NightMare Night celebration.
They had talked before then, mostly fleeting conversations on the street, mostly arguing about which genre of music was the better, presenting evidence for their selected genre and against the other's 'inferior' genre. Despite this ongoing feud, they had still become friends; having a weekly get together at a café to discuss what they were working on. This almost always led to a debate about music, and Vinyl would be more than insistent that she would never listen to classical music in her entire life.
And then she heard Octavia play. Granted it was the fiddle, but Vinyl saw a different side to the mysterious Canterlot pony, a side that she hadn't seen before. She got into the hoedown type thing and even started laughing at a few moments during the performance, she had played a tune that, whilst designed to be a hoedown, still retained the class that Octavia was best known for. Vinyl slowly slipped into a light day-dream, that particular memory coming flooding back to her. Was it then? Yes. It was then. The first time she heard those sensual, sweet notes caress her ears.
Octavia tapped her hoof impatiently on the tiled floor of the Café. Vinyl had said 4 o'clock, but obviously she had a prior engagement. Octavia sipped the coffee she had ordered for herself; a de-caff for her and a mocha for Vinyl. She had [NO1]and looked around, she was about to give up before she heard a call. "Yo, Tavi!"
Octavia smiled at the pet name and turned to see the alabaster unicorn with the unkempt blue mane trotting over to her with a smile on her face. She reached the table and sat down, puffing and panting. "Sorry I'm late I had a wave of inspiration and I guess I lost track of time," she said with a blush colouring her cheek and rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. Octavia smiled at her and set her coffee down on the table.
"It's fine. I may not appreciate your music, but I can understand getting lost in music" she said and Vinyl smiled. "So what held your attention so much that you lost track of time?"
Vinyl waved her hoof. "Oh you don't wanna hear about my techno music" she said, and Octavia smiled.
"No, I do" she said, and the funny thing was that she truly did. So long as it meant she would see Vinyl smile again. Wait, where did that come from?
Vinyl smiled and the question evaporated from Octavia's mind, lost into that smile. Granted she couldn't see Vinyl's eyes, she didn't think she ever had. Has anypony ever seen Vinyl's eyes? She briefly wondered before she thought about how they might sparkle when she smiled.
"Well, I was experimenting with a new sound and it was just not working, so I decided to add a few piano solos, and everything fell into place" she said as Octavia's eyes widened.
"Wow Vinyl, you think you may be coming around?" she said teasingly and sliding next to her, prodding her side with her elbow. Vinyl blushed and tried to avoid thinking of how Octavia’s voice teased her so and being in such close proximity with this beautiful mare...
She shook her head and smiled. "Naw, I was just desperate," she said with her trademark daredevil grin. She picked up her mocha and took a long sip, sighing appreciatively. Octavia shook her head and flicked her mane, sipping a bit of her coffee and leaning forward. Vinyl was struggling really hard now, trying to destroy those feelings that had apparently doubled when Octavia had flicked her mane.
"Vinyl, are you sure you're okay?" Octavia asked and Vinyl grinned again, and… was that a blush?
"I'm fine Tavi, just me and the sun don't mix" she said, and Octavia laughed. Well, it explained the blush, partially. She decided to change the subject in case that was what was making Vinyl uncomfortable, and if it wasn't, well; it would take her mind off of it.
"So, NightMare Night's tonight, what are you doing?" she asked and Vinyl shrugged.
"I have a gig at Jive-Hut. You should come, maybe it'll blow the dust off your eardrums" she quipped playfully and Octavia glared at her. For a fleeting moment Vinyl thought she had gone too far until Octavia smirked.
"Well, unfortunately I have a 'gig', as you say, to play at the actual celebration. They asked me to wear something... festive... so I've decided to become a scarecrow," she said.
Vinyl choked on her mocha and nearly doubled over laughing. "Well it was only a matter of time," she said and felt an impact on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Octavia trying to give her a stern glare, the small grin on her face defying her attempt at seriousness.
"Vinyl, be quiet. It's bad enough that I've had to spend all my bits at Rarity's Boutique to get mane and coat dye that will wash out" she said and Vinyl only snickered louder. She received a light slap on the shoulder for that and they both burst out laughing.
"Tell you what Tavi, I'll do my gig later so I can come watch you play. Then if you want, you can come with me to Jive Hut," Vinyl said and Octavia smiled.
"Oh you wouldn't want to keep your... fans waiting, especially not for a 'dusty ancient musician' like me" she said and Vinyl flinched.
"Ouch, did I say that?" she asked and Octavia nodded.
"I believe it was when you were drunk" she said calmly, taking another sip of her coffee.
How can she be so calm about it? Vinyl thought to herself, if she had taken a comment like that they would never find the body. She smirked at that.
"Well I'm nearly always drunk Tavi, don't listen to me. I really want to hear you play, who knows, you might even convert me," she said with a wink and Octavia blushed and smirked quickly to cover it.
"Now that I would like to see," she said and Vinyl smirked again, raising her mocha.
"To NightMare Night," she said, and Octavia chuckled.
"To NightMare Night," Octavia concurred, and two mares hit their cups together lightly.
Octavia glanced behind Vinyl at the clock and her eyes widened. "Oh shoot, I was supposed to meet Rarity so she can put the dye in!" she yelped and got up, nearly knocking the table over. The table hit Vinyl's hoof and the mocha spilled out all over her. Vinyl yelped as the semi-hot liquid burnt her, but only for a fleeting moment. Octavia covered her mouth with her hooves. "Oh my gosh! Vinyl I am so sorry!"
"It's fine, it was an accident. Just go, I can get this" she said with her trademark smile.
Octavia took a step away. "Are you sure?"
"Positive, you know what it's like to keep Rarity waiting, you're in enough trouble as it is," she said with a smirk and Octavia chuckled.
"I'll see you tonight then" she said as she sped off. Vinyl watched her go and sighed, shaking her head and sitting back down. She noticed a few ponies in the café were giving her weird looks.
"What?" she asked, rather abrasively, and they just resumed their meals and conversations. She sighed and motioned for the check so she could have a shower and get ready for the night.
Octavia ran away from the Café. If she had it her way she would have stayed behind to at least get the check. That mare was sure being nice today. Too nice. A thought quipped in her head. Although she was loathe to agree to it, Vinyl certainly had been more than nice today. Any other time if Octavia spilt coffee on her she would be dead, or at least sprouting a black eye. She came to the quick conclusion that there was something the alabaster unicorn wasn't telling her, but what could she hide from Octavia? One of her best friends?
And only friend. That voice stated and Octavia scoffed at herself in disgust. Where the hay did THAT come from as well, she was having a lot of thoughts that were seemingly not hers today. Wanting to see Vinyl smile, wanting to hear about her music, and then insulting her for being nice?
Maybe a makeover at Rarity's was just what she needed, even if she was going to wash it out that same night. It would help her relax. She had only paid for a coat and mane dye, but she knew Rarity, and she knew that the fashionista would most likely want to give her a full makeover.
She slowed her pace as Rarity's Boutique came into view. She saw the white unicorn with the flowing purple mane waiting outside tapping her hoof on the ground as she leant against the wall of her shop. Octavia smiled at her when she got close and Rarity raised an eyebrow. "And what time is this?" she asked and Octavia chuckled weakly.
"Um, yeah, sorry I'm late, I was with Vinyl, she and I were just grabbing a coffee"
"For an hour?" Rarity asked incredulously and Octavia stammered.
"W-well she was late" she said and Rarity raised an eyebrow.
"Alright then, I guess late is better than never, come on in" she said and walked indoors. Octavia followed and shook her head. The Boutique never failed to stun her, even with the fact that she had been in there before. It was just as stunning now as it was the first time she had visited. The dresses in the window, the overpriced jewels attached to them, the way that even the projects that were in progress were stunning, all of it assaulted Octavia's senses and she truly felt like she was in Canterlot again.
Octavia sincerely hoped that she wasn't back in Canterlot, but a brief look out the window confirmed that she was still in the town that had truly grown on her since she arrived. Granted there were a few choice stallions and mares that she did notwant to meet again, but her friends greatly outweighed her enemies, and she found her thoughts wandering to a certain white unicorn with unkempt blue hair, shades adorning her eyes and a daredevil grin on her face. How friendly she had been when the musical pony had come to Ponyville. A smile played on her lips and she thought again about her smile, her mysterious eyes and how they would capture her even though they were locked behind glass.
Octavia shook her head hard to clear those thoughts. If she didn't know better she'd say she had been placed under the influence of somepony who was learned in mind control. But still, that thought had come from her, but she pushed it from her mind. She was brought back to reality by the fashionista unicorn watching her curiously.
"Is everything alright dear?" she asked and Octavia nodded.
"Yes, everything is fine Rarity, I was just... thinking," she tried to explain in one word. Rarity opened her mouth and nodded, a slight smirk on her face.
Octavia furrowed her brow in confusion. "What?" she asked and Rarity shook her head, moving further into the Boutique, motioning for Octavia to follow her.
"Just make yourself comfortable and I'll prepare the mane dye" she said and turned. "So do you want something festive, or conventional?" She asked and Octavia only grew more confused. "Oh you're right, festive is the only way!" she all but sang and then disappeared into the curtained off room. Octavia sat in the chair in front of the mirror and waited for Rarity to return with the mane and coat dye. She couldn't believe she was doing this.
She sighed and leaned her head back against the back of the chair, closing her eyes for just a moment. Her breathing soon became deeper and she found herself slipping into the realm of dreams.
The door was slightly ajar, and Octavia pushed it open gently with her hoof. Sitting inside was Vinyl Scratch, head in her hooves, crying. Octavia's heart suddenly broke into a million pieces; all she wanted to do was comfort the crying mare. She slowly walked up to her and put a hoof around her shoulder. "Vinyl, what's the matter?" she asked.
Vinyl shook off her hoof. "Like you don't know," she said.
Octavia blinked. "I really don't."
"How could you not? Everypony else knows" she said and Octavia moved in front of her.
"What does everypony else know?" she asked, but Vinyl just sobbed into her hooves. Octavia grabbed them and pulled them away. Vinyl kept her eyes tightly closed. "Vinyl if you don't tell me what's wrong I can't help," she said reassuringly and Vinyl sniffed and looked up. Octavia saw her eyes, but she couldn't see what colour they were. They were surrounded by a bit of a cloudy haze, blocking the colour. Octavia thought she saw them for a fleeting second, but then they were gone.
Vinyl sniffed again and her mouth gaped open. "I... I can't..." she said, before she broke away from Octavia and ran out the door.
"Vinyl! Wait!" she yelled after her, and the dream shattered.
Her eyes opened and she sat bolt upright in the chair. She was dimly aware of something in her hair and when she looked in the mirror, her coat was a vibrant yellow and her mane was turning blue. Her mouth nearly hit the floor.
"Oh good, you're awake, um, yes, well there was a slight... mishap... with the dye..." Rarity said and Octavia scoffed.
"A LITTLE mishap? I look like a CUPCAKE!" she nearly screamed, and Rarity chuckled nervously.
"Uh he he, well, um, you did ask for something festive..."
"As in NightMare Night costume festive, not Hearth's Warming Eve candy cane festive!" she said, getting out of the chair. Rarity, for the sake of her own cool and to try and calm Octavia down, remained calm and composed as her mother had taught her.
"Now remember," she said, "you did ask for a dye that will wash out. If you leave it for tonight it should come out in the wash tomorrow"
Octavia sighed and put a hoof to her eyes in thought. Vinyl would never let her live this down. "Oh Celestia, Vinyl is so not going to let me forget this" she said and Rarity smiled.
"Oh don't worry, it's not that bad, she'll forget it and soon you'll be able to laugh about it" she said and Octavia sighed again.
"Not likely, this is Vinyl Scratch we're talking about," Octavia said and Rarity chuckled nervously again, and although Octavia couldn't see it, Rarity's eyes widened as she processed that statement. Rarity knew then what Octavia would only find out later.
The reason why Octavia only worried about what Vinyl thought of her. Rarity fought back a giddy school-filly type urge to force her friend to spill the beans on the crush that was so obviously bubbling just below the surface.
"I, uh, I will of course refuse any payment, I think it's only fair" Rarity stuttered and Octavia took her hoof away from her eyes and smiled.
"Well thank you," she said, only intending it to be a little sarcastic. She turned around and gazed at her coat in the mirror, it was completely yellow. Save for her cutie mark, which still retained the stoic purple of its normal colouration, and it was seemingly untouched, every swirl of the Treble Clef was still in its natural shape as it was before she went into the Carousel Boutique.
"Well, colour disaster notwithstanding you did an excellent job with the dye," Octavia said as she twirled around, observing the way her blue mane caught the reflection of the jewels in the light. She smiled to herself. "Actually, I could learn to like this..." she muttered to herself.
Rarity laughed then, a genuine laugh, and Octavia joined in. Their laughter filled the Boutique and for a while they just shared it. Rarity had been right; she was able to laugh about it.
As Octavia came down from her laughing fit, she thanked Rarity and walked towards the door. As she made her way towards the exit, a stark realisation hit her. "Oh Celestia, I'll have to walk home like this!" she said, fear overcoming her eyes. Rarity's eyes went wide as well and she grabbed a coat from the nearby racks.
"Here! Put this on, then run home, get ready, and then tonight, wear this to the festival and then you can return it whenever. No, in fact, keep it. Call it penance for my screw-up" she said with a cheery smile. Octavia's eyes went wide again, this time from shock rather than fear.
"Oh, Rarity, I couldn't do that" she began, but Rarity cut her off.
"You can and you will. Now go! Quick before anypony sees!" she said, and Octavia slipped her hooves through the coat, wrapping it tightly around herself and opening the door. She could see her house, a tiny blip at the top of a hill on the horizon, but not very far at all.
She crept back inside, taking a look around for the crowds. There wasn't really anypony out at that time, as they were all getting ready for that night. Still it didn't stop her from taking another cautionary glance before she readied herself. Bracing against the floor, she pushed off the ground and ran. The scenery flew by her as her hooves thundered on the stone path. She could see her house slowly coming into view, she could make out the thatched roof and the simple design of the beams on the front.
Her breathing was coming in shallow gasps now, and she was sure she was running so fast that Rainbow Dash would take notice. She ran and ran; focusing only on her house, not noticing somepony walking in front of her.
Vinyl took a deep breath as she moved from the Café out to the centre of town. She had lost track of time and didn't know how long she had been sitting there thinking and drinking. She had cleaned out her saddlebag of bits and now it was time to go home. And wash that damn coffee out of her coat. She smirked to herself as the memory of earlier of that day took her over. She had just moved out into the centre of the town square when she heard something strange, somepony was running. But who?
She was cut off mid-thought by someone slamming into her at full speed and sending her sprawling on the ground. She groaned and looked up, coming face to face with a pair of purple amethyst eyes and a vibrant yellow coat, framed by blue hair. She knew this colourful pony. Was it, no..... it was, It was OCTAVIA!
The yellow pony's eyes went wide and she gasped, getting up and running again full throttle towards her house. Vinyl stopped and watched the pony go, blinking several times after them. If it was Octavia, oh she'd have ways to tease her friend for years!
A sly grin escaped her serious demeanour as she began walking towards her own house. But then a disturbing thought overtook her. She didn't want to make fun of Octavia. She sighed when she thought about that, she really hadn't been herself as of late, she had been having a lot of thoughts like that, wanting to see her smile, reveling in her laugh, buying her drinks (when she wasn't late of course, and ONLY coffee, Octavia had made that quite clear) and then she would pick up the check. She never picked up the check for anypony, especially not one that she had only met a few months ago.
She shook her head slowly and tried to think of how she had been thinking of Octavia lately. Certain aspects had become clearer to her, she always had an appreciation for the... ‘other side’, and she had indulged more than frequently. But they were flings, nothing more; the most serious one had been for two days before she had run off with all of Vinyl's money. That had been when she had first come to Ponyville to get away. She still had the mental scars. She didn't want to remember her. It was a long time ago.
She reached her house, a decrepit old thing with peeling paint, cracked windows and a door that was held by a single hinge. It was nothing. But it was home, and it was hers.
She opened the fragile door carefully and walked indoors towards the couch, taking her time because, well, she could. Her gig wasn't until later that night, and even then it wasn't important. Not as important as watching Octavia play anyway. She slowly let herself be lulled by the couch until she was at the foot of it. A small, childish grin spread on her face and she leapt into the air, letting herself fall back down on the only thing that could've possibly been more comfortable than her bed at the end of a long day. She quickly found herself falling into a deep sleep.