//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The DJ // Story: The Beat of Their Hearts // by Silentpegasus //------------------------------// Chapter 2 The DJ Steady Beat woke up in an unfamiliar room, he heard the electronic beat’s of a heart monitor filled the room. He looked to his right and saw a white unicorn mare sleeping calmly. Beat scratched his mane as the event’s from the previous night began to appear in his mind. Beat then started to sob at the memories. “Hey!” Beat turned his head to see the white mare sitting up glaring at him with daggers in her eyes. “What the buck were you thinking?!” she yelled. Beat looked away from the mare’s gaze and stared down at his hooves. The white unicorn got out of her bed and pressed her hoof on the stallion’s chest forcing him back against the head board. “Listen pal! I just pulled your flank out of a frozen river! So I suggest you start talking!” her vibrant red eyes bore holes through his own. “I’m sorry.” he said as he looked away from the mare’s death stare. She then backed off and looked at him with sad eyes. “What happened?” she asked as she sat on his bed. “I tried to kill myself.” he said as he looked up at the mare. “Why?” she said in an angry tone. Beat began explaining what had happened the night before, by the end the mare’s expression was filled with sadness. She put her hooves around the stallion and brought him into a hug. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” she said as a tear rolled down her cheek. “It’s okay.” he said as he broke the hug and gave a weak smile at the mare. She then wiped the tear away and looked back at him. “I’m Steady Beat, what’s your name?” “Vinyl...Vinyl Scratch.” “Thank you Vinyl, I owe you my life.” he said as he put a hoof on the mares shoulder, Vinyl looked back at the stallion and smiled. “Beat! You’re okay!” the two unicorns turned to see a light orange unicorn mare with a brown mane and tail standing in the door way, she wore a pair of black rimmed oval shaped glasses over her teary blue eyes. She galloped over to the stallion and wrapped her hooves around him. “I came as soon as I heard.” Beat returned the hug. “Thanks Velvet.” he said as he broke the hug and looked back at the mare, he then lifted his hoof towards Vinyl. “This is Vinyl, she dragged my sorry flank out of the river.” the white mare was soon caught in a hug by the strange unicorn. “Thank you so much for saving my big brother!” she said as tears began to flow. Vinyl managed to wiggle her way out of the hug. “Your welcome, I was only doing what was right.” she said as she struggled to be free of the mare’s death grip. “Well thank you anyways. I would stay if I could but I need to make my train to Trottingham. I’m sorry.” she said in a regretful tone. “Sis it’s fine. Go! You need that promotion.” “Are you sure? Because I can totally reschedule-” “GO! You’ve worked your flank off for that job, I’ll be fine!” “Okay....I’ll visit as soon as I can. I promise! Nice meeting you Vinyl.” she said as she trotted out of the room. Vinyl began to rub her arms, soothing the pain she received while she was enveloped in the mares hug. “Sorry about that. My sister has a killer grip.” he said with a smile. “It’s fine, she seems nice.” the two were interrupted by an earth pony mare in a white coat entering the room. “Ah good your both awake. My name is Dr. Stable.” the two unicorns nodded at the mare. “Mr. Beat, you have a slight concussion, nothing serious.” she then turned to Vinyl. “Ms. Scratch you have a small case of Hypothermia. Nothing life threatening, but I suggest you spend a few days in bed.” Vinyl let out a loud groan. “Ugh! What am I gonna do for three days?” “That is your problem Ms. Scratch. Both of you are cleared to leave when ever you wish to.” the doctor said as she trotted out of the room. Vinyl stared back at the stallion with an angry look, he gave a weak smile. “Thanks a lot!” she said in an aggravated tone. “Sorry.....How bout I pay for breakfast?” he said in a nervous tone. Her eyes lit up at the mention of food. “Deal, I know the perfect place.” she said with a grin. The two unicorns got to their hooves, Vinyl put a white and blue scarf around her neck, Beat couldn’t help but look at the pretty mare. As she caught him he looked away with a blush on his face. “Enjoying the view?” she said in a playful tone. “Um......Sorry.” “What do you have to be sorry for? You’re single now aren’t you?” the two started to laugh. “Thanks Vinyl, I needed that.” he said with a smile. “Don’t mention it. Now come on I’m starving!” the two unicorns left the hospital and continued down the path. The two walked in silence, Beat caught a few glances coming from Vinyl, but ignored the mare’s actions for the time being. He glanced at the mare’s cutie mark. “So Vinyl, what do you do for a living?” “I’m a DJ.” “Really? That’s cool.” “It pay’s the bills and really fun, you ever been to a rave?” “No, not my type of scene.” “Well what do you do?” she asked as she glanced at his cutie mark, it was a pair of headphones around an eighth note. “Currently, working at a music shop selling instruments and sound equipment.” he said in a low grumble. “You’re into music?” “Who isn’t?” “What kind?” Beat thought for a moment. “I guess all kinds.” “What about electric or dubsteb?” she asked with a small grin. “They’re okay, not may favorite, but still good.” he said back to the mare. “Do you play any instruments?” “Yeah, I play guitar and piano.” Vinyl looked at him in wonder. “Really are you any good?” “Yeah I guess, I’ve written songs but nothing ground breaking.” Beat stopped walking at a sudden realization. “Oh no.” “What?” “My coin pouch and all my stuff is at home.” “So?” she said with a confused look on her face. “That’s where my mare.......ex mare-friend is.” he said in a grumble. “Oh.....do you have a place to stay?” she asked in a concerned voice. “Once I get my bit’s I think I’ll have enough for a motel room. Why?” “Well.....I was just wondering......If you didn’t then you could....stay..with me...maybe.” she said as her face turned bright red in embarrassment. “I don’t want to intrude Vinyl, you’ve already saved my life. I don’t want to be a pest.” he said in a low tone. “It’s fine. My roommate is doing a gig in Trottingham, she won’t be back for at least another week. Plenty of time for you to find a place.” she said with a small grin. “Thanks Vinyl. I appreciate it. Looks like I’m going have to pay for quite a few more meals then aren’t I?” Vinyl laughed at the statement. The two continued walking until they stopped in front of an apartment complex, Beat inserted his key and turned it. “Good she’s already left for her shift.” the two unicorns entered the small apartment. “This’ll only take a moment.” Vinyl followed him into the bedroom, he trotted over to the dresser and retrieved his coin purse and cell phone. As he trotted back over to the white mare, he looked down at the bed with rage and tears in his eyes. “Beat? You okay?” the unicorn asked in a sympathetic tone. The blue unicorn then looked over towards Vinyl. “Y-yeah. I-I just need to get out of here.” he said as he walked out of the room. Vinyl took another look at the bed and something clicked in her mind. She galloped after the stallion who was waiting outside for her. He quickly wiped the tears from his eyes as the mare came up and put a hoof on his shoulder. “Beat was that where-” “Yeah.” she then brought him into a hug, he gladly accepted it. “C’mon let’s get something to eat.” he said as he broke the hug. Vinyl nodded in agreement and the two made their way to a nearby cafe. It was small and quiet, the floor’s were black and white tiled in a diagonal direction. The booths’ seats were lined with red leather and sat two each. Vinyl and Beat sat down at a booth and waited for some-pony yo take their order. A waitress came to the pair and withdrew a note pad and pencil. “Okay what can I get you today sir?” “I’ll just have an egg and some coffee thank you.” the mare wrote the order down and then turned to Vinyl. “I’ll have the same only make my egg sunny side up.” “Alright just give me a few minutes and I’ll be right back with your food.” the mare trotted back into the kitchen. Vinyl and Beat then started to shoot the breeze, Vinyl tried to keep the subject of relationships as far away as possible. Soon the waitress returned with their food and the two began to eat, after they finished the waitress came back and delivered them their check. After they paid and tipped the waitress the two got to their hooves, as Vinyl did something fell. Beat picked up the object, they were a pair of violet tinted sunglasses. “Nice shades.” Beat said as the handed them to Vinyl. “Thanks.” she said as she put them on her face, as she did something clicked in the back of Beat’s mind. He started to stare at the mare like he was studying a book. “Um dude, you’re staring at me.” “Sorry, but I feel like I’ve seen-” the waitress then hurried up to the two. “OH MY GOSH! DJ PON3! I’M-” she was cut off by Vinyl putting a hoof over her lips making the ‘hush’ gesture. “Shhh! I’m on vacation, so I would appreciate it if you could keep this between us?” she whispered to the mare. “Of course I won’t say a word....but could you sign this for me?” the mare asked in excitement as she withdrew a picture of Vinyl using a turntable. “Sure, what’s your name?” “It’s Star shine!” Vinyl then levitated the pen and began to write. Star shine, You make excellent Coffee. ~ DJ PON3. “Thanks so much! My friends are going to be so jealous.” the mare trotted off giggling to herself. Vinyl looked back at the blue stallion who had a priceless look on his face. “Did I forget to mention that I’m a famous DJ?” *Squee* Vinyl said as she gave a sheepish grin and put her sun glasses away. “Um..yeah! Why didn’t you tell me?!” “I thought you already knew.” she said as the two began to trot through the cold street’s of Canterlot. “I thought you looked familiar.” he said with a grin. “So can you please not tell any-pony I’m here?” she said in a pleading voice. “Who am I going to tell?” he said as he gave her e quizzical look. “I dunno, friends and family?” “The only friends I had stabbed me in the back and I don’t talk to my family....Except for my sister of course.” he said with a low grumble. “Why don’t you talk to your parent’s?” “Just something about them having a pole shoved so far up their plot’s that you can see it in the back of their throats when they talk.” Vinyl burst out in laughter. “Yeah my folks are like that too. What do they do?” “My dad’s a banker and my mom’s a lawyer.” “Ouch!” Vinyl said as she gave small flinch. “What about your parents?” Beat asked as he looked back at the mare. “Mom’s a dentist and my dad is a psychiatrist.” “That must have been hell, having a parent that can get in your head is a scary thought.” “Ugh, you have no idea, when I was in high school my dad would psychologically analyze the stallions I would date.” she said as she rolled her eyes. “That sucks.” “Yeah, tell me about it. But your sister seems nice.” “Velvet? Yeah she’s great.” “What does she do?” “She’s the vice president of a major corporation, hopefully not for long though. The president just retired and she’s in line for a promotion. Which is why she had to leave so quickly.” Vinyl’s eyes went wide. “Wow, good for her.” “Yep, I’m the prototype and she’s the finished product.” he said in a low tone “What do you mean ‘finished product’?” She asked as she raised and eye brow. “ Well for starters I’m one year older than she is and if you compare us then you’ll find that my sister is smarter, sharper and better looking.” “Well I wouldn’t give her the credit in the looks department.” Vinyl just realized what she said and instantly blushed, Beat looked over at the red faced mare who was now avoiding eye contact. “Um...Thanks.” the two continued to walk in silence, suddenly his phone starts to ring, he answers the phone and begins to talk. “Hello?...Hey what’s up?......WHAT!.......Look man I can explain I was in the hospital.......I.....Well Buck you!” he hung up and let out a loud groan of aggravation. “What was that about?” “I just got fired.” “What! Why?” Vinyl shouted in surprise. “Because I didn’t show up to work today.” he said as he hung his head in shame. Vinyl put a hoof on his shoulder, he was fighting back tears. “Great, I have no friends, no job and no apartment. What am I gonna do now?” Vinyl wrapped her hooves around him. “You can stay with me, like I said my roommate is out of town and I’m sure you could find work in my town.” “Where is it?” he said as he suppressed his tears. “It’s a quiet town called Ponyville.” “Thanks Vinyl, for everything.” he hugged the white mare who started to hug him back. “Hey what are friends for?” “Thanks. I just have to go do something really quick.” he said as he broke the embrace. “Can I come?” “Sure, time to make a house call.” he said as he started to backtrack through the snow covered city.