//------------------------------//
// Where Am I In My Life? 
// Story: Something More 
// by GhostieToastie 
//------------------------------//

The shiny alarm clock sang out several high-pitched decibels before being smothered by a pillow. 
A startlingly white unicorn rolled grumpily onto her side, and glared at the source of her awakening. She blinked her red eyes at the wall, trying to focus her vision. The sight that became clear wasn't entirely welcoming. 
Bottles were strewn casually on the floor, accompanying sheets of lyrics, layers of clothing, streamers, and glitter. 
The walls were covered in paint, with writings like "HAI VINYL" printed in a drunken scrawl, and crude artwork. 
Vinyl slowly sat up, painfully aware of her throbbing headache. 
"Sweet Celestia.." 
She murmured, cautious of the pain in her head. 
"What the hell happened here?"
Suddenly, music rang throughout the destroyed room. One of Vinyl's newest songs blasted from her white cell phone, equipped with her 8th note cutie mark keychain. With a howl of disapproval, Vinyl hurriedly smashed the talk button. 
"Whaddyuh want?"
She snarled, massaging her temple. A ludicrously loud voice popped through the speakers, 
"Vinny! Guess what?" 
Wincing, Vinyl wrinkled her muzzle and spoke into the phone. 
"Lyra, would you PLEASE lower your voice? It's-"
She blinked at the alarm clock. 
"Celestia damn it, it's only 7:30! What could possibly be this important?"
There was a pause on the line, clearly Lyra was gathering herself. Vinyl lifted the phone into the air with her horn, and stumbled through the clutter over to her bathroom. 
"Okay."
The voice on the other side of the line was considerably softer, though it held the same bubbly excitement as before. 
"I proposed!" 
Vinyl dropped her mane-brush in shock. 
"You.. You what?" 
She stared at her grinning reflection. Lyra repeated, 
"I proposed. I finally did it! And she said yes!"
Vinyl lifted the brush again, and magically pushed the phone away from her head as the expected squeal of delight poured through the line.
"I'm so happy for you two!" 
Vinyl gave up trying to brush down her unruly mane, and splashed cold water on her face. 
"I'm just.. Oh, Vin, it feels like I might explode! Bon-Bon and I, married!" 
Her head bobbing in time to a beat only she could hear, Vinyl surveyed the room around her. 
"I truly am happy for you, Lyra. I know how important this is to you both, but.. It's early, I'm hungover, my house is a mess, and I have to be at the studio in a few hours. You understand, right?" 
Another pause from Lyra. 
"Of course, Vinyl! Do you need our help cleaning up? You know how Bonnie is.. She's such a perfectionist!"
Vinyl smiled. 
"Nah, you guys go enjoy your engagement. I'll be fine." 
She could almost feel Lyra nodding with concern. 
"If you say so. Talk to you later, V!" 
The click of the receiver snapped Vinyl back to the present. She sighed, and opted to ignore the mess and clean later. Vinyl stepped into the shower, and she let her thoughts wander. 
Her best friends were getting married. She couldn't help but feel a bit of resentment for them. Where was she in her life?
Her house was eternally messy, her appearance fell by the wayside, she was drunken and partying every night of her life, and her one night stands were simply that, one night stands. 
Vinyl had the perfect alter-ego, she was the famed disk-jockey,  DJ P0N3. She had both mares and stallions lusting after her, music industries begging for her to sign with them, and more friends than she knew what to do with. 
Yet, she couldn't help but feel like she was missing out. Was there more to be found in her life? No matter how many ponies she surrounded herself with, Vinyl felt a constant emptiness in her heart. 
With a sigh, she turned off the faucet and stumbled over to the towel rack. Glancing at the clock, Vinyl gasped. 
"Damn!"
She hissed, 
"I have to be at the studio in 40 minutes."
Vinyl quickly fluffed her mane and tail dry, and she tore her way through the filth on the ground. Triumphantly, she held up her iPod. Picking up sheets of paper as she went along, she shoved her mane behind her ear. 
Finally, she grabbed her dark blue glasses with the thick lenses. Vinyl wore her glasses wherever she went. She wore them not only to preserve her identity as the powerful DJ, but because of her unusual eye color.
As a young filly, Vinyl was constantly mocked for her red eyes, leaving her with deep emotional scars.

 "Demon filly!" The foals chanted. They laughed at her, and pointed in the halls. "Look at her eyes!" They'd whisper just loud enough for her to hear. Vinyl was confused and hurt. She'd never seen any other pony with eyes like hers, but her mum had always told her that she was just special. Until she started school, Vinyl had never realized just how different she was.

Vinyl shook her head, the memories slowly fading. She trotted out the door, swinging her saddlebag over her flank as she left.
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Vinyl sashayed into the recording studio, flashing a dazzling grin at the secretary. 
"Ms. Scratch!"
She smiled pleasantly. 
"Hello, Mareian." 
Vinyl politely nodded. 
"You'll be on your usual floor, darling." 
The secretary waved her off kindly with a hoof, turning to help the next pony in line. Vinyl skipped up the steps to yet another tune nopony else could hear. She flung open the door, and sang,
"He-lloo, Notey! Did you miss me?" 
Noteworthy spun around, and glared. 
"Shh!"
He hissed, gesturing over at the recording box. Vinyl looked aghast.
Who's in my section of the studio? Am I being replaced?Is this new DJ even any good? How could they outdo me!? 
Vinyl's mind raced as she slowly stepped over to the glass separator. A small gasp escaped her mouth. 
Before her, in the box, stood a thin, gray mare with a flowing black mane. She had a classy pink bow-tie, and a look of utter tranquility. Vinyl's eyes drifted casually to the mare's purple octave note of a cutie mark. 
Vinyl was enthralled by the beautiful mare's presence, and she couldn't tear her eyes from the grace she exerted as she pulled her bow over the strings of an equally beautiful cello. Noteworthy looked up, and saw Vinyl's trance-like state.
"Here,"
He whispered, handing her the headset. 
"Listen."
Vinyl's hooves trembled as she placed the headphones to her ear.
An overwhelming feeling of completion filled Vinyl's very being as the music swirled around inside her. She was a master of music that spoke without words, yet here, she felt as entirely subdued by the melody. How could such simple notes control her so strongly? The mare's lilac eyes opened slowly as she swayed back and forth. Vinyl, for the first time in her life, was at a loss for words. Is this what it is like to feel complete? She wondered. 
Suddenly, the music stopped. The happiness Vinyl felt flooded out of her, leaving her disappointed, and desperately wanting more. 
The gray mare slowly set down her cello and bow, and waited calmly for Noteworthy's signal. Noteworthy smiled, 
"You did wonderful! Come out now, Octavia."
Octavia. 
The name swirled through Vinyl's mind. It was graceful, beautiful, and sophisticated. Just like her.. Vinyl thought. 
Suddenly, Vinyl's head shot up. What was wrong with her!? She couldn't be falling for this mare! Or any mare, for that matter!
Sure, she'd kissed a filly or two back in her younger days, but, slept with or fallen in love? Ridiculous! 
She tried to brush the thought away, but was unsuccessful. 
Then, before she could process the situation, Octavia stood before her. She met Vinyl's eyes boldly, and wouldn't break away. Shyly, Vinyl turned her head. Noteworthy spoke up.
"Octavia, this is Vinyl. Vinyl, this is Octavia." 
Octavia smiled lightly. 
"Vinyl, hmm? Never heard of you." 
Indignant, Vinyl raised her head. Shyness disappearing, she snorted. 
"Maybe you've heard of DJ P0N3?" 
Octavia shrugged lightly. 
"I don't believe so."
Vinyl's mouth dropped faster than the bass. Everypony had heard of her! Ponyville was a small town, and news traveled fast. Celebrities everywhere at least knew of the great DJ. Who did this snobby mare think she was? 
Octavia smirked. 
"I do hope you've not been offended by your fame, or, lack of?" 
Vinyl snapped her mouth shut. 
"No, I have not. It simply strikes me as odd that someone who seems as knowledgeable as yourself has the social awareness of a rock." 
Octavia sniffed.
"How uncouth. What sort of musician are you, anyway?" 
Vinyl flashed a grin, and she swung past the dazzling mare into the recording box. 
"I'll show you." She sang. 
The door slammed behind her, and she spun to see Octavia outside the glass with Noteworthy, watching with a half-smile on her face. Vinyl sat down behind the records and speakers she used to make her music. 
Positioning her microphone, she nodded to Noteworthy, who passed the headset over to Octavia. 
Vinyl took a deep breath, and let the music take her away. 
She pushed the sound-levers, and spun the records. When the beat felt right, she opened her mouth a spit out words that melted into the music.
"Their words may haunt you, You have to make it through, Don't let them hurt you anymore, Just lose your mind on the dancefloor.." 
The inspiration slowly faded, and Vinyl slowed the music to a stop.
She looked up, afraid to see the reaction on Octavia's muzzle. Octavia stood there, perfectly still, with her eyes closed. They soon snapped open though, and she flushed slightly, catching Vinyl's gaze.
As she walked out, Vinyl spoke up. 
"So?" 
Octavia shrugged.
"I suppose that was.. interesting. But it's not my cup of tea." 
Vinyl glared at her, and Octavia merely grinned.
"Perhaps, though, we could expand your music tastes someday. If we could only get you away from this.. 'Wub Wub' music, you have quite the talented singing voice." 
Vinyl blushed. 
"So, Octavia, why don't we go and get some coffee, and you can explain to me all I'm missing out on?" 
Nervously, Vinyl looked questioningly at the graceful mare beside her. 
Octavia smiled,
"You won't regret changing preferences, 'DJ'." 
Vinyl felt her face tinge pink again, and she thought of the irony of the comment made by the intelligent female. As she followed Octavia's exiting flank, she smiled slightly. 
Music might not be the only preference she changed.