Like a Spinning Record

Music Will Never Die

The legendary DJ Pon-3, Vinyl Scratch, has finally hit rock bottom. You couldn’t tell at first glance, but when you take a minute to observe all the details, you start to notice things you missed before. You notice the dark circles beginning to form underneath her eyes from countless nights of partying. You notice that she cringes from the pain in her neck every time she bobs her head to the beat of the music. You notice her sky blue mane, wild and tangled from being far to busy to take time to fix it. Though, through all the torment she puts herself through, she will continue to party.

It’s been two weeks since Vinyl had a decent nights sleep. She usually gets around two to three hours of sleep every other night. Her mind refuses to stop and take it easy. Instead it continues to stress about the club or it wonders how Octavia is doing. Vinyl didn’t have the slightest clue as to when the last time she had a full meal was. The only fluids she’s consumed were a couple of drinks at the club. They definitely didn’t help quench her thirst.

This week, at the club, had been busier than Vinyl had ever seen in all her time working there. Today was going to be worse. Today was Friday.

Vinyl could barely make it through the entrance of the club to get inside. There must have been hundreds of ponies in that building. Pegasus ponies were flying about the room above the crowd of ground dwelling ponies. Some were swinging from the rafters while other struggled to maintain balance mid-flight as they meandered between the restroom and the bar. Most of the unicorns were levitating some sort of alcoholic beverage a few inches from their faces, occasionally taking a sip out of their red, plastic cups. Nearly all the earth ponies were on the dance floor. The ones who weren’t, occupied the stools lining the bar.

Vinyl squeezed through the growing mass of ponies and found herself face to face with and all to familiar sight.

“Well, if it isn’t my most frequent customer,” the bartender looked up from the counter he had most like just cleaned vomit off of, “What’ll it be tonight?”

“The usual,” Vinyl said with a sigh, “actually, make it double.” She added as she sat on one of the many stools.

“Expecting company or you just having a bad day?” the bartender asked with a raise of his eyebrow.

“Bad day,” Vinyl said as she looked down at the counter.

“Alright, two extra strong shots coming right up!” the bartender pulled out two shot glasses and filled them with a clear liquid.

Vinyl levitated the first one in front of her and kicked it back. The liquid burned as it slid down her throat. She picked the second one up with her teeth. This time letting the liquid slowly pour down her throat. Her head almost instantly felt lighter and she could begin to feel the muscles in her neck begin to loosen up.

“DJ Pon-3!” a voice called from behind her, lost in the sea of ponies.

“No autographs today.” Vinyl called back half annoyed and half shocked somepony wanted her autograph.

“What? No, it’s me.” the voice said again, this time from right behind Vinyl.

Vinyl spun around, “oh, hey boss.” she said nonchalantly. Her beverage had already washed away all her troubles from earlier.

“Shouldn’t you be up in the booth?” he asked motioning over to the large DJ booth overlooking the mob of party goers.

“Yeah,” she lowered her head. The thought of being in that booth for one more minute made her sick to her stomach.

“Hey,” her boss put a hoof on her chin and lifted her head until their eyes met, “is something wrong?”

“No, I’m fine. Every thing’s just fine.” she looked away breaking their gaze.

“Then get up there and make some music! I’m not paying you to sit around and drink all night.” he said and with a slap on the flank, sent Vinyl on her way to the booth. Vinyl hated when he did that. Her only retaliation was to glare back at him and walk away.

It took all Vinyl had to climb those steps up to the booth. It took even more to say what she was about to say.

“Are you ponies ready to party?”

4:00 a.m.

Vinyl decided that she would finally leave this hell hole and go home. Besides, the club had slowed down significantly since she got there earlier that night. The only ponies that were left were the hardcore rave ponies. Security would have to escort them out in a few minutes.

On her way out of the club, no pony said goodnight to her. No pony even acknowledged her leaving. No pony cared about her.

The long walk back to Vinyl’s house was more tedious than previous nights. She had way too much on her mind for her to be alone. The streets were dark and deserted. Vinyl always thought the streets were beautiful at night. The streets alive with activity during the day were so barren at night. It was easier for Vinyl to get lost in thought while under the influence of the dark, hypnotic streets.

It wasn’t long until Vinyl began to think about her life and when exactly things got out of hoof. Was it when she came home drunk one night and her parents kicked her out of the house? Was it when she dropped out of school because she would rather be out partying than sitting in some room doing work all day? Or was it when Octavia ran away? Tears welled in Vinyl’s eyes. She missed Octavia. More than anything.

Vinyl didn’t even bother to turn the lights on when she finally reached her dark, depressing home.  She simply walked into her kitchen and returned with a stool. Vinyl then wandered over to the utility closet, pulled open the door with her magic, and levitated a thick rope out of it. The rope then tied itself into a noose and hung itself from the ceiling. From there Vinyl did the unthinkable. She got onto the stool and put the rope around her neck.

“You can do this Vinyl,” she said in a low voice, tears still in her eyes. “after years of debating, you can finally do this.”

For the past couple of nights Vinyl found herself in the same position. Wanting to finally end her torment yet terrified of what might happen afterwards. Frustrated, Vinyl slid her head out of the knot and ran to her room. She collapsed on her bed, buried her face in her pillow, and began to cry. She wept for a few minutes. Until she felt something touch her back.

Vinyl looked up from her pillow and couldn’t believe her bloodshot eyes. Octavia was sitting on the bed with her hoof on Vinyl’s shoulder.

“T-tavi?” Vinyl said, unable and unwilling to believe that her life long crush was on the bed right next to her.

Octavia smiled down at Vinyl who jumped up and buried her muzzle in Octavia’s mane as she surrounded her in a monstrous hug.

“I thought you were gone forever,” Vinyl sniffed and began to cry on her friend’s shoulder.

“I thought I was too,” Octavia said softly.

Vinyl had been looking forward to this moment for years. She was now in the arms of the mare she loved and she wasn’t about to let her get away again. She pushed Octavia away and held her at a distance while she stared deeply into her eyes.

“You can do this.”

Vinyl wrapped her forelegs around Octavia’s neck and pulled her in close. The moment the two friends’ lips touched was the best moment of Vinyl’s life. The moment Vinyl had been dreaming of ever since she laid eyes on Octavia was finally coming true. Vinyl could finally be happy again.

Vinyl opened her eyes.

At first there was only darkness. Moments later Vinyl could begin to make out objects in her room. Everything was where it should be. Except there was no Octavia. Vinyl had experienced the greatest moment in her life and it turned out to just be another dream.

Vinyl got out of bed and walked to her living room. The rope and stool still in their places from the night before. She stood up on the stool and assumed the position from earlier.

“She’s not coming back.” Vinyl said to herself, tears streaming down her face once again, “she’s never coming back.” Vinyl was visibly horrified. She was shaking uncontrollably but she was determined to finally end it. So she kicked the stool away.

Vinyl’s Life flashed before her eyes as the rope tightened around her neck. All of the good times she had with Octavia before she ran away. She would miss her more than anypony else. Vinyl’s vision began to fade, This is it, she thought to herself. Then through the thick haze, she heard the phone ring.

“It’s me, your friend, I was wondering how you’ve been all these years.” Vinyl’s eyes widened when she heard the voice over the answering machine.

Tavi? Was the last conscience thought Vinyl had before her entire world went black. Her lifeless body hung limply from the ceiling.

“I decided to come back home. We should catch up sometime. I’m sure you have a lot of stories to tell. Call me back.”