//------------------------------// // Off Key // Story: Broken Record // by Scourgeous //------------------------------// Octavia cried loudly, holding the broken picture frame of her mother in her hooves. She let tears stream down her face as she remembered the night Vinyl had startled her into dropping it, and the glass had broken in a few places. Setting it down on the bed, shaking all over violently, she let out another anguished wail and curled up into the messy sheets. Her eyes strayed across the room to where her cello was leaning across the wall, abandoned after many failed attempts at her latest harmony. Taking a shaky breath, she scrambled out of bed and across the room, hair knotted and sweaty, tied back into a bun. Taking the instrument into her hooves, she rose onto her hind legs, grasping the bow and pressing it to strings. She drew it back slowly and listened to the sound produced ring in the empty air, then slid it forward again across one string, then fell into rhythm, sliding across the strings like a second nature, her face scrunched in concentration as she tried to master the gaining speed of the tune. Her other hoof almost seemed to stroke the hoof-board as she swayed gently, the tail pressing against the ground. Tears began to form at the edges of her eyes, and the tightness in her chest was almost unbearable as she drew the song to a close with one long, solemn note. She let the bow tumble to the ground and she thrust the cello away to bang dully against the wall as she fled from it, diving back into the mess of blankets with a wail. Regret throbbed deep inside of her like a stone bruise, burning like salt in a paper cut. Why was I so selfish? Now I've lost Vinyl... the one pony who I could trust... the one pony who understood me. She curled her hooves around the corner of the sheet and clutched it like a teddy bear to her chest, eyes on the door, a tiny thread of light falling through the crack between the door and the frame. Exhaustion wracked her body, and she knew that she would be performing for a very high society gathering in the dawn hours. Anxiety began to flood through her, and the more she thought of it, the more she thrashed from side to side, her head screaming with pain. Her song repeated loudly in her head constantly, followed by the sound of the crowd yelling at her to get off stage for stuffing it up. All left behind with the image of Vinyl furious with her, and she fell into a restless slumber, chased by nightmares through the night. Vinyl Scratch followed Twilight with a confident skip in her step. Today is the day you change history, Vinny. She though, smiling wide as she sped up to trot beside the kind purple unicorn. "So where have you come from?" Twilight asked, turning to blink her soft round eyes at her acquaintance. A wedge seemed to be driven into the white unicorn's heart, and she looked away, gritting her teeth. "Canterlot. But I'm never going back there, I have no reason to." A frown passed across Twilight's face as they came to a slow halt beside a house that almost seemed to be made of gingerbread and icing. She searched Vinyl's face for emotion, then sighed as if she could read minds and she had found the deep guilt and longing that was growing like an infection in the pit of her stomach. "No family, no friend?" She pressed, eyes narrowing a little. "Not at all." Vinyl swallowed hard, trembling with nerves. For a moment it looked as if the unicorn would press the issue, but she simply shrugged and swayed her behind in the direction of the door, horn glowing as she pulled it open with her magic. The scent of freshly baked goods and sugar wafted from inside. "Mr and Mrs Cake own this place, but Pinkie Pie lives here too. Either one of them should be able to help you." Vinyl dipped her head, then stepped gently past and through the doorway, taking a gulping breath of the cinnamon tinted air. Inside it was mildly humid, a pleasant warmth that clung to her fur. She looked around, eyes sparkling at the sweet treat themed decor. A blue mare with a bob of pink mane on her head was at the counter, a very thin wrinkled smile on her lips. Trotting forward, Vinyl dragged her eyes away slowly from the selection of cupcakes and lollies, avoiding the menu, and dropping her crimson gaze on a loose leaflet on the bench. It was similar to one in the newspaper she had read, advertising the place as more of a party venue for Pinkie Pie than the cafe it had always been. "May I help you, madame?" The mare said with a strong voice, blinking her overly long eyelashes. Vinyl looked up, startled by the sudden voice directed at her. "I was here about the parties? I mean, I would like to make an offer to help?" "You'd have to see Pin-" "Me!" A bundle of bouncy playful pink pony came leaping out of the kitchen, hooves scattered all over the place, her hair in the curliest mess, and the brightest sparkle in her pretty blue eyes. Vinyl giggled as the pink pony leaped right over the bench with a single bound, landing beside her with a comical blow of a party horn. She danced around, kicking out her legs and making an array of silly faces, cheering for joy, and overall creasing a frown into the blue mare's face. "Hello new pony of PonyVille!" She sang. "I hope you like it so far! There's plenty of cake here, and lollipops, or even a chocolate bar! I'd love to be your friend, you're friend until the end, I'd love to make you feel at home, I like to make you feel well-known!" The mare shook her head and sighed, looking very apologetic. "I'm sorry. This is Pinkie Pie, she's rather... excited." "Of course I am, Mrs.Cake!" She pouted, blowing her party horn again. "I haven't met a new pony in ages!" Vinyl Scratch giggled, eyes glinting. "I'm Vinyl Scratch, but you can call me DJ P-" She bit her tongue, a flood of hot guilty emotions washing over her. She looked away and pushed her glasses down over her eyes to hide the tears that suddenly raced to her eyes. "DJ Puh?" Pinkie Pie said, tipping her head on one side. "Puh-lease!" She laughed, leaning back and clutching her stomach. "DJ Pon3." She corrected herself, pushing away the memories in her mind. Pinkie Pie beamed wider than Vinyl thought possible. "You're a DJ! I suppose that's why your here then! Yay! Every good party needs music!" "S-so you'll hire me?" All her thoughts about Octavia vanished in the dust, her eyes lighting up at the thought of a new job in a new city, the doors were already seeming to open up for her. "Of course! I couldn't turn down a DJ!" Vinyl beamed and bounced up and down with Pinkie Pie, laughing with good cheer, the warmth of new friendship glowing inside of her. She happily chatted on to the excitable pony about her music and her need for the job, and how she was looking forward to meeting everyone in the small town of Ponyville. The hours droned on, and Vinyl found herself in the kitchen making colorful cupcakes, the whining voice in her head pleading her to return to Octavia long forgotten.