> Octavia Crashes a Party and Wins a Roomate > by ChaseTheChangeling > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Vinyl Bus is Coming! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sounds of a feather quill scratching away at parchment could be heard from a small nook holding a young grey earth pony mare with a long charcoal black mane; her name is Octavia. She sat focused at her desk, her hooves working feverishly at the papers before her as she wrote down notes for the next ensemble. The room she was stashed away in was quiet, almost too quiet, save for the clock above her ticking away time as if it was nothing. The sounds of wood creaking from the neighbors could be heard, and their annoying dog. Octavia hated when it was this quiet. So silent she could hear the lives of others around her. What she would give for a muse, something that would move her enough to play more often and enjoy it. She sat back in the large black swivel chair and hummed a tune to get the ever growing blanket of silence away from her. The sorry little town home she locked herself away in was large, and much too empty. The ceiling was too high, the bathroom too spacious, and the colour of the walls too bright and lively. Her dinner table was too large with its four chairs, and her living room was almost too free of clutter with a large television. Octavia sat back up and looked around her bedroom, the little area she called her study, which was really just a little nook in her closet, was a mess with ink spots and paper dust everywhere. "I should get out more..." Octavia mumbled to herself as she lifted away from the chair. Her flank ached as she stretched her tired legs, the long time she spent sitting down finally catching up to her. Perhaps there was something to do outside? Octavia turned and trotted down her stairs, stopping to look at her pristine white front door. It was clean, it was neat, and there was never a mess leading from the doorway into the house. Mostly because Octavia never needed to leave; she never really liked to leave. The windows in the sweet picturesque home let in sunlight to illuminate the walls of yellow and white, and brush the carpets and hard wood floor with a sparkling shimmer. It was early, very early, and Octavia still hadn't done her routine. Basic things, cleaning, eating, reading the local paper. Octavia opened the door and the bright sun greeted her eyes with a vengeance, obviously getting back at her for being locked away in the dark for quite some time. Octavia quickly grabbed up the paper and walked to her kitchen, the long hallway like room seemingly made of white pearls. Everything shone, all metal was clean, ponies would swear she never stepped hoof in here. They would be half right, as she only put instant food in her home, something that never needed to be cooked past a microwave or a toaster. The young mare swung open her fridge door to reveal a large jug of milk and grabbed it, flinging it to the counter, and soon moving on to a cabinet holding a large box of overly sweetened cereal, slamming the box down and preparing her breakfast. 'It isn't much, but who cares? I don't care, I'm so busy doing other things!' Octavia thought to herself as she poured the milk into the bowl first, she reached for her cereal next and dumped the contents into her bowl, 'I don't have time to be bothered with time consuming cooking and other luxuries'. Octavia slumped down a bit as she thought about that. She had absolutely nothing going on. She was bored and lonely. If only something cool would happen that she could be involved in! Octavia quickly finished her sub-par meal and stood to get cleaned up, she would deal with dishes later today... or tomorrow... maybe this weekend... but she would get it done at some point. But of course there was plenty of other things to do in the meantime. Like finishing her routine and then... well... looking for more things to do. ----------------------------------------------- "Oh my girl, you're gonna love this party!" A tall yellow blue maned diva was shouting over the phone, disturbing her travel partner who would much prefer there be a little more quite after long days of work. "Oh yes! Invites need to be out as soon as you can, you got that, baby?" Her voice rang again, this time followed by an almost too hearty laugh. "Oh yes boo boo, I'll see you there!" The mare put down her phone and walked to her travel partner, a young, very quite white unicorn mare with a spiky blue mane and purple shades resting on a table beside her. The two mares had been on tour for a while, and it would reach its hiatus in Ponyville where they would rest up and enjoy a two week break from the roads. The two mares were pop sensation Sapphire Shores, and the famed DJ P0N-3. Not many ponies knew her real name, as she rarely every spoke, but those who weren't in on the secret called her DJ, and those who were very close to her knew she was named Vinyl Scratch. Sapphire stood beside the poor DJ as she lay there, her fore hooves resting under her head against the plush purple felt couch in their tour bus. It was large, it had instruments, a bar, TV's, jukeboxes, a small kitchen area, two couches, and two large beds, one was behind a curtain, and that was where Vinyl slept at night, during the day it was this couch that held her comfortably as she slept. "You okay there sweetie?" Sapphire asked as she ran her hoof over Vinyl's mane. Vinyl just looked up at her and shrugged. "Well don't worry about it, we're almost in Ponyville, and then we can turn up!" The last few words coming out as a shout making Vinyl wince. She wasn't feeling good mainly due to her tour mate being a loud obnoxious party animal. Vinyl would never turn down a good party, but if Sapphire expected her to join this one, she had better be more respectful to her ears and peace of mind. The bus gave a sudden swerve as the driver turned the wheel hard, causing Vinyl to roll off of the couch with a loud 'Oof!' "Oh geez! Don't you know how to drive!" A voice shouted from the driver's pit. A yellow head popped out from a curtain in the front of the bus, atop that head was what looked like fire made of hair, accented with bright orange eyes. "You guys alright back there?" Vinyl nodded and decided it best to just stay on her hooves for now until they reached town. "Oh, Spitfire!" Sapphire said, her hips swaying as she trotted over to the shorter pegasus mare, "I do hope you and Sorin stay long enough for the party!" Spitfire looked back at the blue furred, blue maned stallion humming away as he swung the wheel around recklessly. "Sure, if he doesn't kill us on the way there!" Spitfire's rage was directed straight at Sorin as he swung the wheel again. "Come on!" He chuckled teasingly, "I'm the best bus driver this side of Equestria! I wasn't motor cross champion for nothing!" "I'm guessing it wasn't for bus driving..." Spitfire continued to mumble as she moved further back into the bus headed for the bar. Vinyl was already there, mixing something up. Spitfire took a seat at a small stool in front of the bar watching as Vinyl mixed another drink for her. "You know me too well Vinyl." Spitfire said quietly. Vinyl simply nodded with a grin and passed Spitfire the small martini glass filled to the brim with a yellow liquid, a small lemon slice on the side. "Narcissist," Vinyl chuckled quietly. It had been the first word she had said in two days, she was doing well with communicating. But she never really needed a lot of words. Spitfire raised a brow and gave a condescending smile. "So I'm narcissistic because I like a good spitfire cocktail every now and again?" Spitfire took the garnish and sucked away the lingering juice, placing the now dried fruit on a napkin. Vinyl took her time to share a nod and grabbed her glass of U-Boot and sat down beside Spitfire. "You ready for this party Sapphire seems so stoked about?" Vinyl shrugged and rubbed one of her ears. "Oh, yeah loud noises bug you. You haven't had much of a break from sound then, huh?" Vinyl sighed and shook her head, a tired look soon overcoming her youthful face. It was getting to her. The loud noise, the techno (although she loved it), the screams of fans, the constant need to talk to ponies, the flashing lights. She loved her job and what she did, but it would be nice to take a break someplace more relaxing, calming and bright with the scent of fresh flowers and lemon cleaning soap. Not sweat, beer, and loud pounding in her ears. The constant sound was one of many reasons why she never liked to talk more than a few words at a time. Vinyl's eyes drifted to the window, an almost mournful look in her eyes as she watched the streets of her hometown come zooming back almost to fast to look at. She couldn't catch any small detail until they reached a crossroad. A small cottage on a corner, the roof emblazoned with music notes and white paneling sat snugly behind a few bushes. It was Vinyl's old place, she wondered what it looked like inside, and if anypony owned it. It looked clean enough, somepony must have bought is by now, it had been a few years since she left. Vinyl took the last few dregs of her beer cocktail and laid her head on her hooves with a huff. "Don't worry guys!" Sorin's voice echoed through the small bus as he shouted much louder than necessary, "We're in Ponyville, and at out final destination!" Vinyl's head shot up as she heard the loud voice. Her body aching from the fall, her head aching from the noise, if this day got any worse, she wasn't sure she would be able to keep up her cool. ------------------------------------- Another morning routine complete, and another afternoon to waste away. Octavia plopped down on her couch and stretched her hooves, letting her belly lay against the soft cushions of the seat and her hind legs come up so that she would swing them back and fourth idly. The newspaper sat neatly rolled up on the couch, waiting patiently for Octavia to pick it up and read. The grey paper crinkled and fed a satisfying sound to Octavia's ears as she turned the pages. Smiling as she read the headlining news about a tour for her favorite musicians. She could never tell her ensemble mates about her love of pop music, especially one that relied heavily on a mysterious DJ who made loud and blaring techno. Surely a group of classical musicians would never understand the allure of such a pony, or their work. Octavia thought about how nice it would be to have her home filled with the ever lasting thump of bass waves, the sound rocking her floors, to finally drown out the uneven noises of the outside with music she liked. "My life is much too quite..." the grey mare hummed as she swung her legs, her body rocking a bit as she did so. Octavia let a lazy hoof move over to her small glass topped coffee table, a small crystal jar sat atop it's surface holding hundreds of tiny hard candies she had collected for occasions like this, which was quite often. Octavia ate so much candy, so much food in general, she worried she would get fat, although it never seemed to happen regardless of how much she stuffed her muzzle. "I'm blessed with that much at least..." she mumbled as she popped a small mint candy into her mouth and turned the page. Another headline in bold with a picture of a bus with three shades of blue and a few white and yellow pixel like streaks along the side, it said "Stop Planned in Ponyville for the Famous DJ P0N-3, and Sapphire Shores!". Octavia idly sucked away at her hard candy as she continued to read along the article. "Surely they won't be staying long..." the mare continued and was soon proven very wrong. To the ponies of Ponyville, we hope you enjoy pop and techno, because two of the most acclaimed musicians in these fields are coming to visit for a few weeks before they continue their tour! So Ponyville will be treated to this special event: DJ P0N-3 and Sapphire Shores are said to be planning a party at the vacation home of Fancy Pants down by the lake! What an honor to be able to attend that party! As far as we've heard, admission is 200 bits unless you have been invited by one of the celebrities, or you are somepony's plus one for the event. Get down to this address and purchase a ticket today! Octavia let her mouth fall a bit slack, the candy she held in her mouth falling out and rolling onto the couch. Her two favorite musicians are going to be at a party? In her home town? Octavia thought it would be too easy! Just 200 bits and she would be allowed into the party? Putting down the paper, she jumped from her seat and rushed for her phone. Surely the bank would be able to let her know about her overflowing bank account! > Like an Episode of Stablez, But Without the Rappers > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "One hundred-fifty bits?!" Octavia shouted as she paced her floor. There was nothing to use there! She still had to pay her rent, and a flurry of bills, and she hardly had enough to cover that! Octavia stopped her pacing and sighed as she heard a loud banging at her door. The dark haired mare huffed a forced sigh as she trotted over to the door, swinging it open and trotting back to her spot on the couch without checking, already knowing it would only be one of three ponies, Harpo, Beauty, or Fredric. In the doorway stood three ponies, and it was exactly who she expected. Fredric Horseopin, a tall and straight faced tan stallion with a platinum blonde mane, Harpo Parish Nattermane, his even blue coat blending with a very dark blue short cut mane, and Beauty Brass, a small pale blue mare with a long and slightly wavy brown mane. The trio sauntered into the home, plopping down onto the couch, Harpo had closed and locked the door as he was the last pony in. He climbed onto the comfortable couch and sighed as he sunk back with a smile. It was quiet, the three could see in Octavia's shifting eyes she was panicking over something, but she would talk about it soon enough. Beauty knew this better than the boys, if you asked too early, she would shout and get angry, but if you waited, she would grow impatient and just pour it out. "It was a very nice walk over-" Harpo began to say before begin cut of by a flurry of tumbling words dropped by the young cellist he sat beside. "This is terrible! DJ P0N-3 and Sapphire Shores are coming to town for a party but I can't get in because I'm broke and I don't know anypony in the party, but I really want to go and meet the DJ!" Octavia slapped her hooves over her mouth as the words slipped out. Now she had done it. They didn't know about her obsession with techno, but now they would, they would all freak out and ask her why she would listen to such rubbish and ask why she would want to meet that DJ, and call her a ruffian no doubt. But that didn't happen. What did happen, was a small silence as the other three sat mostly unfazed. Beauty nodded and smiled. "Yes, I heard about that." Beauty reached over to the glass top table and plucked a candy from the jar and began to eat it as if she were talking about the most recent sheet music. "Freddy, have you been keeping up with it?" "Eeh, well, I'm not much of a Sapphire Shores fan, but I know of her work. I much prefer BABBA, you know that group from Sweets Land?" Fredric scratched at his chin and smiled, "It would be nice if they went on tour... what about you Harpo? Do you know anything about the party?" Harpo looked up from his hooves, he had been reclined back with the fetlocks of his fore-hooves resting on his belly. He gave a small knowing smile. "I was planning on crashing it tonight." Octavia's jaw dropped. Was he serious? Crashing the party? Octavia closed her mouth and tried to concentrate. "Harpo, what do you mean by crash the party?" "Well, we get in without paying, or invitations, and then we enjoy it, eating food, drinking the beer, and then we wreck it somehow and run off like rebels!" Harpo clapped his hooves together with a silly grin. "I've always wanted to crash a party, seems like something my parents would never let me do!" Fredric smiled as well and shrugged. "Well, it isn't Broncway, and it isn't BABBA, but crashing a party does sound rather daring doesn't it?" Fredric let out a little squee as he thought of the possibilities. "Well, it sounds unanimous!" Beauty shouted with a wide smile, "We're crashing the celebrity party!" Octavia tried to shake her head, tried to think. Well it wouldn't be too bad, she could just break in, and enjoy the party, and leave early before her friends decided to do something crazy. 'Of all the friends I could have made in school, I had to make friends with the craziest group of musicians!' Octavia put her face into her hooves before feeling her body being pulled in the direction of her stairs. "Octavia," Harpo whispered as he pulled her closer, "you'll need to look nice for the party, go get fancy and we'll be back around ten to get you." Octavia said nothing, this was all happening too quickly. She should have known; although they had been friends for years, she was never sure what ridiculous stunt they would pull if they had the chance. It was a severe downfall after being pampered and raised by strict parents. You wanted to do all the things you couldn't at that age, like eating pop rocks with cola and staying up all night, playing hooky (with work of course as they were too old for school now), exploring dark caves in the woods, and drinking until you passed out. It made Octavia feel like she was hanging with foals, even though she would often partake in the madness. "Alright," Octavia sighed, and she trotted up stairs, her friends moving towards the door and leaving. This wasn't absolutely horrible, she would still be able to attend the party. But what had possessed her become friends with this group of ponies? They were really weird, even for her. Octavia chalked it all up to just her being a filly and wanting friends no matter what. They just seemed to be the nicest and most excepting of the school ponies. ------------------------------------ Vinyl bit her lip, the party was that night and the ponies would be pouring in by the pairs to meet her and Sapphire. Vinyl wasn't a fan of getting into crowds on a personal level, being above them in a club, that was fine, no need to remember how to be social in that situation, but having to speak to them, and agree with them. It was dumb, it was fake, and above all, it was BORING! What Vinyl wouldn't do for the party to be livened up a bit with some faster music choices and better drinks. Something sweet, unlike the bourbon and whisky crap they had on the bar. Ponies rushed around, pulling together the party, putting up lights, polishing instruments, and putting the food out for the guests. The waiters and maids dressed up in new clothes, for that party in particular, sure to discard of the clothing after, as it wouldn't match anything else. The lakeside home the party was meant to be in was like something out of Cottage Magazine, that fancy magazine with all the best homes on display, like Stablez, but without the rappers, and it wasn't a TV show. The outside was a large, two story building with white sides, the roofs made of straw and hay, but it looked as if it were built to look vintage. It was all fake building materials, plaster and such, but behind the plaster would be concrete, metal and wood holding it together. The Front of the home had a large window for the first floor, showing off the large lavish living room, and to the side was a grand archway that lead to a large ballroom (at least that is what Vinyl had been told it was) the ballroom wide and went on a length that seemed much too far for any normal party to be held in. The back of the living room had a large sliding door taking up most of the wall that lead to the back yard. A backyard that had a large swimming pool, a hot tub, and a grill and patio. The backyard was almost as large as the ball room. Vinyl rolled her eyes at the excess and continued to wander, taking note of the extra beds, the bathrooms, the master bedroom, and a few closets. Vinyl let a grin slip over her muzzle as she thought of how nice it would be if she could use one of those guest rooms to entertain any guest she found more interesting than others, but she knew she had to be civil. A loud thud was heard as Vinyl stomped her hoof on the ground. What kind of a party would make it so that ponies as awesome as herself couldn't get laid? She would be drunk, and surely, if anypony knew about Vinyl when she was drunk, she was also fun. Vinyl thought about all the times her adventurous self had gotten drunk and gotten with somepony. She'd like to think she was a magnet of universal attraction and pleasure, but in reality, she was shy until she hit the bottle, and the times she did get jiggy with the drinks and her company, that company was Spitfire. The only mare that would put up with her silence, and her sudden need to seem cool as a DJ. Vinyl wasn't fake, but she played up the cool DJ thing as her agent said it would be for the best. "You alright?" the sound of a posh voice came cascading down the hallway of the large lakeside home. As Vinyl turned around, she noticed it was the owner of said home that had called her, the famed Fancy Pants. Vinyl simply nodded and approached, reaching out a hoof to shake. The white stallion gladly shook hooves with Vinyl and gave a warming smile that complemented his well quaffed mustache. "I do hope you will be enjoying the party tonight, I have wanted to throw one with you and your partner for quite some time." Vinyl smiled and nodded again. This was an easy conversation, just talk at her, no difficult questions, and the whole thing would blow over ideally. "Well, your friend miss Spitfire says you are a big fan of strong but fruity sweet drinks, so I made sure to add those to the bar tonight. Please be sure to make yourself at home, and should you need a guest room, feel free to take one." Fancy Pants smiled and tapped his chin, "It would be for sleeping more than likely, but if somepony should strike your fancy, you'll find all you could need in the nightstand and dresser." Vinyl gave Fancy a slightly surprised look, her mouth in an almost "ooh" shape. "Haha, yes, I was young too you know! I know how you DJ's and young punk rockers get, you see somepony nice and you must seize the chance before it slips! So rambunctious, such a high labido, wish I still had it!" Vinyl's eyes widened as she heard the unicorn continue, it was much more than she wanted to hear. The stallion trotted off, seemingly humming some sort of tune. Vinyl shrugged and went on to look for the kitchen. ------- Octavia was feeling pretty good right now. She had picked a lazy set up, but it was better than going in just her bow tie. Her man was brushed, still down, but better than what it was, and she wore a black rave shirt with a few band and DJ names and signatures, if she was lucky, Octavia could snag P0N-3's as well, and a pink highlight in her mane. Octavia fiddled with the small necklace she had put on, it had a piece of sapphire, unpolished, wrapped with a small gold wire, and attached to a little woolen string. It looked garish to most ponies, but it was an expensive collector's item, a part of a pair, the other was a ruby, also unpolished, wrapped and tied exactly the same. A knock at the door. It was nine fifty, and Octavia stood in her living room looking over herself once more before going to the door and greeting her pose of less than proper friends. Harpo trotted in first, his mane still combed back, but he had a leather coat, and a few glow sticks over his hooves, a leather spiked collar on his neck, and a few fake piercings in his ears. Octavia laughed as he trotted in snout in the air, boasting such a crazy outfit. Fredric came in next, he was sporting a white beater and a long, super thick, fake golden chain, a black beanie that sat at the far back of his head, a large gold watch, and a band aid on his snout. His mane was brushed forward so that the ruffled white tufts of mane came out from under the hat. Beauty sauntered in next, a short black skirt, laced with white frills, and a black and purple corset, a pair of skull earrings, and a her mane was brushed back and curled, a black headband over her mane. "You guys look like parents attending a concert," Octavia snickered. The three looked around and noticed they did look a bit goofy. "Well.. you look..." Harpo covered his mouth with a hoof and scrunched his face, "really good actually, I can't insult that..." Octavia smiled, a small blush on her muzzle. "Well, we should get going, there's no need for us to be hanging around here when there is a party to attend!" Beauty shouted. She rushed off out the door, the others following behind in a steady pace. It was time to wreak some havoc! > Panic! At the House Party > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Octavia stood at the side of the large building, the lights flashing as ponies swarmed and gathered to enter the party. At the front door, there was a large stallion guarding the party from any unwanted ponies, and he wasn't going to break for some pretty mare batting her eyes, Octavia would know too; she tried. Since sex appeal didn't seem to work, the next best thing was to commit a crime. Octavia and her friends would commit a felony under the title "Breaking and Entering" on the home of a billionaire stallion. "Are you guys sure there isn't a chance we could just... you know... sneak into the home a normal way?" Octavia asked, her hooves shaking as she watched her friends look around for a place to break in, "Like through a door?" "Come on Octavia," Harpo said as he pulled a ladder out from a small bush, "this is nothing but a little detour before the reward of the best night of our lives! You're not going to let a little bit of law get between you and that payoff, are you?" Octavia's mouth fell agape, well she did want to see DJ P0N-3, and she was sure this would only be a small deal, nothing too bad. But still, as a sheltered and spoiled filly, she was not sure if this plan should fail, if she could hold up in prison. "Are we going to be climbing that to the second floor window?" Beauty asked Harpo as he made his way up. Octavia huffed and opted to look into a ground floor window, the room inside being slowly filled with ponies as they sat at the large bar, one of those ponies being the mysterious DJ, ever eluding, ever charming. Octavia sighed as she rested her head on her hooves. She was so mysterious and distant, it was odd, and Octavia just wanted to know more about her, but in a non creepy fan way. How did DJ P0N-3 handle fans? Did she like them? Would she even acknowledge them? Octavia watched as a stallion trotted up to the DJ, giving her a fist bump and smiling. He seemed to change his expression from that of casual chatting, to flirting. Octavia felt a small pang in her chest, as all fans would, she never liked the thought of P0N-3 dating, why she didn't like it, Octavia was not one to tell. The stallion, still giving the DJ a winning smile, seemed to be flexing now, his large rippling muscles working under taught, and strong skin. The DJ nodded and felt his arms, smiling, but never once saying anything. "Are you coming or not?" Fredric called from the window. Octavia looked up to see her friends had climbed into the window on the second floor with the ladder and were waiting for her as she was staring at the white mare inside. Octavia sucked in a deep breath and climbed up the ladder, sliding into the window as her friends yanked her through. The pull, however was a bit strong, causing Octavia to fly past, and her trio of friends sprawled about on the carpet. "I think we're in a hallway..." Harpo whispered. The party was quiet, the only sounds coming from a few ponies talking. "Well we should get to the party before anypony comes up here and sees us..." Beauty responded as she dusted herself off. The four friends trotted down to the party, there was a little music, but it was low, and seemed to be classical playing from a small stereo. "You would think a party for musicians would have good music?" Fredric scoffed as he looked around the room. They had made it to the living room, the stairs ascended from above before a wall and lead sideways, the front door being to their left, the back window to the backyard opposite. There were only a few ponies, maybe thirty, and they were paced well. The area looked as if it could hold over a hundred ponies, but Octavia was sure the owner of the house didn't want his home filled to the brim with music loving party ponies. Fredric pushed ahead and began to look over the crowd, his eyes set for a mare more than likely. "We should get moving, staying up here is going to make ponies suspicious." Harpo whispered just loud enough to be heard by the two mare beside him. Harpo then quickly shuffled past, making his way to the center of the room and struck up conversation with a random pony. Harpo seemed very good at doing things like this, Octavia often envied him. "Harpo is right, we should get out there and make ourselves look normal," Beauty said, her hooves making quick work of the stairs. "Why don't we find that DJ you're so interested in?" Octavia huffed and followed. She wasn't one for social, she was bad at it, often it was talking too much. "I really don't want to make a fool of myself in front of DJ P0N-3!" Octavia shouted in a whisper, "What if she doesn't like me? What if she doesn't like any of her fans?" Octavia's eyes soon grew wide as she gasped, "What if she doesn't notice me?" Beauty laughed and continued her trot as she listened to her friend's hysterics. "I'm serious, Beauty!" "You sound like a raging school filly, Octavia," Beauty said extending a hoof to stop her friend, in front of them was a large stallion, and from the looks of it, seemed to be the same one Octavia saw talking to the DJ earlier. Octavia bit her lip as he turned around and spotted the two mares. He was a large green pegasus stallion with a long blonde mane and a little brown stripe in it, and a rusted gear for a cutie mark. "Wudda ya'll want?" the large stallion asked, apprehensive and a large seer on his muzzle. Octavia was sure this guy didn't want to be bothered. Before Beauty could answer the brolly stallion, he was pushed to the side by a white hoof, revealing a curious white unicorn mare. It was DJ P0N-3! Octavia could only just register that she had a huge goofy grin, her mouth dropping open and her ears drooping, Beauty, however was much more content to just snicker at her friend's strange gaze. "Y-you're..." Octavia tried, her heart beating faster, it was so cool to see her idol, right here! She was only a few feet away, this had to be a dream! "P0N-3," Vinyl added quickly. 'Let's hope this is the last time I'll have to speak...' Vinyl thought. "Wow, you're much smaller in person," Beauty spared another light chuckle as she said this. Vinyl just gave a shrug and hopped down from her seat, trotting up to Beauty and silently offering her a drink. Octavia gasped, why was P0N-3 so much more interested in Beauty? Octavia was a much better match! She was a real fan, she even had the shirt! "Uhm... are you offering me a drink?" Beauty asked unsure. Vinyl nodded and pointed to the drinks above the bar with a wide grin. 'Oh, this one's cute,' Vinyl thought as she waved over the bartender. The mare behind the bar was a light green unicorn, her yellow eyes scanning over the three mares and she shook her head. "What do you want? The usual?" The mare knew this white unicorn all too well, always the same thing, a strawberry kiwi iced margarita with a small lime garnish and a sugared rim. Vinyl nodded and pointed to Beauty, the blue mare looked around and seemed almost scared, as if she had no clue what she had gotten herself into. The bartender just huffed, it was a normal night, DJ would try and bed a mare and fail, her nerves would get her before anything, she knew it all too well. "Hey there, name's Lyra," the mint green mare held out her hoof to shake, and smiled, "Looks like P0N-3 likes you if she's willing to buy you a drink and hasn't said more than a single word yet." Beauty shook Lyra's hoof, and pulled back, trying for a smile. "What would you like?" "Do you have any light beer?" Beauty asked quietly. Why did P0N-3 have to like her? She didn't even swing that way! Octavia grit her teeth as she watched the pair order their drinks. What kind of a friend would do that? Just up and take her... her.... her idol! Yeah! Octavia soon felt odd, like, it wasn't normal to get this worked up over it. So what if P0N-3 liked another mare that wasn't her? It's not like Octavia was married to her. A sudden feeling of giddiness ran over her. That would be something. Being married to the best DJ in Equestria. "Well, be sure to enjoy your night," Lyra said with a smirk, "If you're lucky, you might get more than an autograph!" That was it! Octavia couldn't take this! With a loud thud, Octavia slammed her hoof on the bar and growled. "Give me the strongest whiskey you have, and give me four of them!" Lyra's eyes went wide at the sudden outburst and nodded, quickly pouring four shots of Applejack Daniels and sliding the glasses to the stewing grey mare. Octavia didn't pay much mind to the look of fear on the bartender's face, or of that same look of sheer confusion and fear Beauty's as P0N-3 pulled her to the dance floor as the music picked up a bit. The only thing that mattered was the drink in front of her, and how she would deal with Beauty's betrayal later.... ---------------30 Minutes Later-------------- Everything was beautiful! Everything was fun and interesting and lively! Ponies were pretty, and some of them seemed worthy of taking back to her home, although she, even in this state of mind, would be weary of whom. The ponies fell into a blur of bodies, their vapor trails and tracers mixing into one large speed line, and their smiles spreading from ear to ear. The rush was intense and why wouldn't it be? Octavia had never been happier than she was now, no worries about guards, or even that DJ that had snubbed her would kill her mood.... well, she as still a bit hurt about her idol just leaving her there, not even looking her over once. That wouldn't do.... Vinyl danced clumsily with Beauty, the latter mare trying her best to move to the beats. Even being such a rowdy mare, Beauty would admit she was never one for the lively dance style that was associated with dubstep, although she knew how to head bang better than most. The music was pulsing and the two mares continued to dance. There was very little talking, and Beauty couldn't help but be nervous about it. "You don't say much do you?" Beauty called over the music. The fidgeting DJ tried to shake her head, but it seemed more like dancing. "Do you have a real name? Or do you just go by DJ P0N-3?" Vinyl began to feel a bit irritated, maybe this wasn't such a good idea, too many open ended questions. Vinyl gave a smug smirk as her answer, hoping that would suffice. "So you do or you don't? No wonder Octavia is so into you, so quiet and mysterious...." Vinyl shook her head as if to dislodge a thought. Who was Octavia? "I'm sure she must have been really pissed about you running off with me instead of her... although I mean, you could always sign her shirt later. I don't think she has a crush on you or anything." Before Vinyl could signal a response, a loud thud was heard. It was a young grey mare bustling her way over to the dancing couple, a large glass of bourbon in her hoof, and a sour look on her face, as if she had walking in on a spouse cheating on her. "I can't b-believe you!" Octavia slurred, her words were only a little above a yell, so it wasn't bothering anypony unless they were next to her. "I come.... all the way-hic- here to see you.... all I wanted was to see you! Then y-you just... just.... run off! With my besht.... b-besht frrriiieeenddd..... BLASHPHEMY!" Octavia was drawing a small crowd by now, the ponies amused by her shouting and pointing at the shocked DJ. "Octavia!" Beauty started to run to her wobbly friend and put her hoof on her shoulder, "What in Equestria are you doing?" Octavia shoved her concerned friend to the side before stumbling up the the DJ, her white hooves trying to find a good grip on the floor as she tried to back away. "It'z like y-you're leadin- hic- me on and then just leavin' m-me! Weeeeelllll, I won't have any of it! I refuse! Y-you... you liar! I like you more than her anyway!" The crowd began to whisper as the mare went on her rant, leaving Vinyl confused and worried. It would be best if she were somewhere less... populated. Vinyl put her hoof on the mare's shoulders, attempting to steady her before a loud bang, followed by smoke made the room fall still. It was the sound of a speaker blowing, just one out of the four, and two stallions standing by the microphone where the instruments had been set up. A blue earth stallion grabbed a microphone and began to make a beat with his mouth, a smooth steady beat, one that others tapped their hoof to. "Yeah!" Another voice called from the second microphone, it was a tan earth stallion, dressed like a mix of 50 Bit and Tubuck. "We the B Coltz, and we here to drop some sick lines on ya!" Beauty gasped at the sight of Fredric and Harpo, both obviously tipsy, in front of the crowd of ponies, making a huge scene. The bouncer looked over, his stone cold eyes locking with the duo and he sneered. Beauty was sure this wouldn't end well, even if the song was well received. "This song is called... Fuck Shit Stack," Harpo said between beats, his eyes focused on the mic. He went on into a more solid beat, and it soon took form as he stopped once more to add, "This song was thought up while we were drinking a cold ass glass of cider on the rocks... because that shit makes the brain work!" A loud smack sounded across the room as Beauty face hoofed, and she face hoofed hard. Vinyl pulled Octavia by the shirt, getting her out of the now distracted group of ponies, and pulling her towards the stairs. She knew she wanted the extra room for "Super fun times" but this seemed a bit more important. The sounds of ponies cheering from the overly offensive song down stairs could be heard, although the sounds of an overly offensive grey mare were also able to be heard, maybe more than Vinyl would like. "All I wanted.... was a signature on my shirt!" Octavia squirmed again making Vinyl flinch. What a lousy mare, bothering her, and making a scene like this, although Vinyl had to admire her determination, it was something not many ponies had. Vinyl kicked open the bedroom door, the dark room was much cooler than the dance floor downstairs with the ponies dancing and rubbing against each other. The grey mare gave little resistance as Vinyl engulfed her in her pink magical glow, lifting her into the soft bed. Vinyl sighed and leaned against the side of the bed as she just lay there, a sour look still on her face. "This doesn't excuse you for being a total ass..." Octavia mumbled sounding a little more sober. Vinyl looked up and gave a small pout. "Don't give me that, I was looking forward to meeting you, and I went so far out of my comfort zone!" Silence feel again. Octavia didn't ask Vinyl any questions, and she didn't pester her further. This was something Vinyl was actually pretty happy about. Before long the sounds of light snores could be heard from the grey mare, her face still angry, but at least she wasn't yelling anymore. Vinyl sighed and leaned back, her shoulders relaxing as she listened to the mare sleep. She had a melodious snore, and seemingly on beat. Turning to get another look at her now much more peaceful fan, Vinyl noticed a little little necklace... however this necklace had a stone holder, and no stone. I've seen that necklace before! Vinyl thought as she looked it over, her hoof moved slowly to the little string, the golden metal bent in a specific way. Yup... I know this necklace... and the stone is missing.... > She Brought Me The Horizon > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Octavia tossed in the soft sheets as she snorted, the sudden sound jolting her into a slightly awake state. There was a strange swimming in her head, no harsh pain, and she felt drunk, but not in a good way. Octavia's hooves wandered, feeling the soft thread of her fluffy comforter. She was home for sure, but she hadn't gone home last she remembered. A pang of pain finally reared it's ugly head as the thoughts tried to enter. If Octavia wanted to remember more about last night, she would be fighting a painful battle with her head first. Grey hooves clapped against wooden and tile floors, the sound thundering into the mare's ears as she navigated her nearly immaculate home. Aside from dirty dishes strewn in odd places, bow ties far from their home in the hamper, and papers lost amongst furniture, the rooms were spotless. Inside the kitchen where Octavia would make some toast and get a black coffee, was a small note. The note was hastily written and placed lazily on the counter, with a candy bar keeping it from falling over. Well, at least it was Octavia's favorite candy bar, it must have been one of her friends who had brought it. Grabbing the treat, Octavia looked over the note still sitting atop the marble top. It wasn't written by an earth pony, Octavia knew that for sure, it seemed more... smooth, and not as big as earth pony writing: Your friends helped me get you back to your house, and they got you this candy bar. I think this kind is really gross. I will be over again later. don't freak out too much -DJ P0N-3 Octavia scowled at that letter. What a horrible letter. She didn't see an apology for the DJ's behavior anywhere. Idol or not, P0N-3 was becoming more like a pain than an admirable musician. It was time she started to make her toast and coffee. It didn't take long, however, in those few moments it took, there was a loud knocking. Octavia let out a low groan as she looked towards the living room door. There was silence, and then another set of knocks. "Who is it?!" Octavia shouted, her head soon reminding her why she wanted to be quiet in the first place. There was no response. What a pain.... ------------------------------------ Vinyl stood grumbling at the door. It was afternoon, but Vinyl still ached to be in bed. Even those light drinks from last night was enough to leave her in a slight haze. Her glasses felt heavy and sticky on her face as she sweat from the sun high above her, and her mane itched from the perspiration. In the pink glow of her horn was a small stone, blue in colour, and uncut, almost matching the stone in her own necklace, except her stone was red. Her stone being held up with a gold wire held in place with a braided string. Vinyl knocked again, hoping her number one fan wasn't still asleep. There was a sound of clashing and hooves thumping around before a loud sigh was heard through the door. Vinyl guessed this meant she was awake. The door swung open harshly, the grey mare on the other side gave an almost deathly glare before falling back and shielding her eyes. "Must you wear those?" Octavia's voice came out in almost a harsh whisper as she covered her sore eyes, "They're reflecting sunlight!" Vinyl only looked down, giving the mare a blank expression. "What do you plan to just sit there?" Again, Vinyl just looked down, as if waiting on something. Octavia wished she could just look the DJ in the face, and give her a stare to shake her from her "too cool" attitude. "Are you going to invite me in or...." Vinyl stayed still as she spoke, not a single hoof moved. "What are you a vampire?" Another moment of silence. As nice as the break from noise was at this moment, it didn't make it any less awkward. "Yes.... yes, come in, sit down, make yourself comfortable." Octavia turned and trotted into the living room, Vinyl following close behind. What did this pony want? Octavia knew she wouldn't be able to hold onto her anger for long, although she wished she could. The most famous DJ in all of Equestria was in her home! The grey mare shook her head, there was just too many mixed feelings! Should she be upset? Or maybe she could just act indifferent? P0N-3 would feel like such an ass if Octavia just sat back and stayed quiet. "Uhh.... here...." the calm voice of the DJ broke silence once again as Octavia noticed a small blue stone float before her, uncut. Blood rushed to the cellist's cheeks as she realised it was the small stone from her necklace. Where had it gone? Did she lose it? Did P0N-3 steal it? "How did you get this?" Octavia asked, burying her queries about how P0N-3 could have gotten the precious stone. "Found it." "Where?" "You dropped it..." "At the party? How did I not notice?" Octavia turned quickly facing the straight faced DJ as she held the stone in her magic. The little string that would have held the stone was sitting lazily thrown on the glass topped table. "I don't know... that's a question for you." "Why you...." Octavia's words caught as she noticed a similar stone hanging from the DJ's neck, on an identical string. "You... you have the other stone?" Vinyl nodded and began to mend the busted necklace. "I doubt a pony of your popularity would even enjoy a show like Daring Do Aventures!" Vinyl looked up, finished with the necklace and smiled at her work. "Why wouldn't I?" "Well... you're a celebrity... so you wouldn't watch such a childish program as Daring Do?" Octavia was obviously becoming more aware of her words, and for some reason, she couldn't help but love the look on the DJ's face. She was adorable, pure star material, not to mention, there was a freakin' celebrity in her living room. The situation was catching up a little faster than Octavia would have liked. "I'm a normal pony just like anypony else," Vinyl said as she played with the necklace in her white hooves, "I can like anything I want... and I like the Daring Do Adventures series as much as the next guy. I also like to eat cookies... and I love ice cream... why is that so odd?" Vinyl soon noticed how much she spoke, and how little it bothered her. The horrid mood she had been in before walking into the nicely air conditioned cottage melting away with the now averted heat stroke that threatened her moments ago, but Vinyl felt like there was a bit more to it than that. "I've never heard you talk so much..." Octavia said quietly. Vinyl only shrugged at this and walked up to the grey mare, gently placing the necklace over her head and gently pushing her long jet black mane from her shoulders and over the threaded string. A small blush formed over Octavia's muzzle. Her idol, a pony she had always wanted to meet, was standing in her living room, and was touching her.... TOUCHING HER! Octavia regretted it immediately after, but a small squeal made it's way past her lips, startling the unicorn before her. "Y-you okay there?" Vinyl asked backing away slowly. She wouldn't be able to handle it if this mare passed out again. "YES!" Octavia took a breath and fixed her mane, "I-I mean.... yes, I'm perfectly alright!" Wait, she hadn't even told P0N-3 her name, in a whole night and through this ordeal, Octavia never told this awesome DJ her name! "Well.... if you're sure..." "Octavia!" That was wrong. Octavia face hoofed as she realised how broken that sounded. Vinyl scrunched up her muzzled a bit as she was bombarded with the sudden outburst. She had almost forgotten that this mare was one of her fans, and would behave like one, her best bet was to stay quiet. "I meant to say... um... my name is... Octavia." Well there wasn't anything to make this moment any more awkward, so Octavia reached out her hoof and gave the DJ a winning smile. Vinyl gave the mare's hoof a solid bump and returned the smile. "That's a nice name." Octavia's smile grew as she let the situation sink in deeper. She had her favorite DJ, in her home, just... here! She wouldn't have stopped by if she had things to do today, and Octavia felt much better after having such a chance encounter, why not see how much better this could get? "You aren't doing anything today are you?" Vinyl tapped her chin in thought and shook her head, her electric mane swaying. "Would you like to hang out? I mean, I could show you around, and we could get some food, just... you know... normal... stuff?" Octavia felt like this would end in a no. There was no way a pony of such high standing would agree to leave with an overly happy fan girl like- "Sure, is Sugarcube Corner still here?" That was it! She said yes! "Uh, yeah it's still here! It's my favorite place to eat!" Octavia nearly squealed. "Cool, mine too." Vinyl paused and smiled. "Well, it was when I lived here anyway." Octavia quickly grabbed a bow tie from her coat closet and strapped it on, leading the way from her home, the whole while hoping the DJ didn't notice the huge grin on her face as she almost skipped along. "I'm sure you'll just love the new additions to the menu, P0N-3!" Octavia said turning slightly to see the mare following close behind. "...You can just call me Vinyl..." With those last few words lingering, Octavia let it dawn on her, that the mysterious DJ had just given her permission to use her first name. A privileged not given to fans.... > Wacky Wack Attacks and Butt Tattoos > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ponyville was rather still today. At least in the eyes of a regular resident. The sky was clear, the breeze was gentle, there were no sounds of screams or crashing buildings as monsters attacked. Nope, it was all peace in Ponyville today. The picturesque little town's grass glistening with everlasting dew drops, and the trees rattling with life as air pushed past resistant leaves, the crunching of dirt as ponies past by chatting away, their voices distant like forgettable ambiance, not a single word made out by the ever listening ears of the two mares trotting along their path. The sound of her hooves thumping rhythmically against the stone path made Octavia hum, the sounds filling her ears with music and her head with inspiration. The mare behind her, however, was more than happy to enjoy the sights, the large cottages that had made up most of her adolescence, and the happy ponies she had once known in some seemingly distant past. Vinyl hardly recalled what the layout of the town was, as there were more important things to concern herself with, like money, and charts. Soon, however, something else eased it's way into the DJ"s mind. The ever swaying hips of the grey mare in front of her, as they picked up on some rhythm Vinyl could hear in her own head. That was new... Octavia continued, her eyes locked on the large building only a few more blocks ahead, the large ginger bread top making it's way into sight above a few stray homes. They were almost there, but Octavia had been enjoying the walk. Well, until she noticed there hadn't been a single word exchanged between the two of them. That would have to change! "So, Vinyl..." Octavia began, her head turning as she continued her practiced path. Vinyl's eyes shot up from the round rear of her companion to meet hers. "You're staying for a whole week?" Vinyl nodded. Thank goodness, these would only be yes or no questions. "I read in your biography that you used to live here. Is that true?" Vinyl responded with another slow nod. Where was this going? "How long ago was that? It just said foalhood, but I couldn't be sure." Vinyl began to wonder if she hadn't jinxed herself with her last thought. "I was born here, moved to Canterlot when I was 17." "I'm sure that was an intense move, being so young." "I guess." There was silence again as Sugarcube corner was before them. Time had flown like the fastest Wonder Bolt in Equestria. It was still as awkwardly quite as the two mares trotted into the store and up to the counter, a pink pony in the back mixing some strange dough and bouncing about with more ingredients for her concoction in her arms. Vinyl looked over the counter, its yellow surface shone with fresh polish, and a large silver bell lay on its top. Vinyl tapped the tiny button atop the bell and loud thud echoed from below the counter. "OUCH!" A purple pegasus mare came up from behind the counter, rubbing a spot on her head Vinyl could only guess was the cause of the loud noise. The mare gave a small smile brushing her long black mane back and fixing her bang. "S-sorry about that..." "You don't have to be sorry," Octavia tried to sound encouraging, "is your head okay?" The pegasus looked up as if trying to see the spot on her head and her smile grew. "Yeah, it's fine, I've done worse." The mare had a little badge on her apron, the badge was black with white letters spelling J-E-S-S-I. That must be her name tag. "What can I get for you guys?" Before Octavia could say anything, Vinyl pointed out a menu item with a little green sticker that said "NEW!" "Is that ice cream?" Vinyl asked. The young server turned and looked at the menu and chuckled. "Yeah, it's my very own creation!" Jessi brushed her mane back again as she spoke, "Chocolate, cookie dough, and peanut butter cups! It's been selling like hot cakes! I don't blame ponies for buying it, it's awesome." Apparently that was all the convincing Vinyl needed as she threw several bits on the counter and requested that and a rootbeer float. "Coming right up, and what about you?" Octavia looked around and set her eyes back on the smiling pegasus. "I'll have what she's having!" Jessi shook her head and chuckled writing down the order quickly and ducking back down under the counter. It hadn't taken long before the mare came back up from under the counter and place the order on it's surface. "There you go, enjoy yourselves!" Back under the counter she went, and seemed to stay. Vinyl grabbed their orders and trotted outside as Octavia tried to look over the counter to see what was behind it. Had the mare just disappeared? "Is there anything you need?" Octavia jumped back as Jessi had popped back up from the counter only a few inches from her snout. "Wh-what? How?" Octavia rushed back over and tried to look over the counter again, but to no avail. "That's really cool..." "You're cute." Was Jessi's only response before dipping back under the counter. "Come on!" Vinyl shouted into the door. Talking was getting easier, but it wasn't any more fun than it was a few days ago. There was still a lot of time until she felt like she even wanted to hear more music. Octavia trotted out, confused, but happy with the bizarre encounter in the little bakery. The patio for Sugarcube corner was well furnished, the large wooden tables where painted a bright and almost obnoxious yellow, with large red parasols held up by poles reaching from center of the table and mounted in the ground below. The large bushes were alive with flowers and little bugs buzzing around them. Birds flew over head and there wasn't a cloud to be seen. It would have been a great day for the beach. Vinyl sat down at a table, far off in the corner away from prying eyes. Octavia was soon to join her as she placed the food and drinks on the table releasing them from her magical grip. "Are you okay?" Octavia asked after a short while. "Yeah, why?" "You look really irritated about something... anything you want to talk about?" Vinyl only shook her head in response and took a sip from her rootbeer. "There must be something bothering you?" Vinyl only turned her head away and distracted herself with the scenery. "Whatever..." Octavia grit her teeth before trowing back her mug of rootbeer, followed by a grimace. The drink was a bit strong, although Vinyl seemed fine with it. Octavia looked back over at the DJ, her shades still reflecting what little light was left from the sun as it began to set. Vinyl was so cool... and photogenic. Octavia wished Vinyl wasn't being such a child, but that's what happens, your idols are never what you expect them to be. Although the mysterious silent type was the image Vinyl had been going for, and it seemed to Octavia that the charm of a mysterious and stoic musician was wearing off, and began to seem more bothersome than anything. Well at least Vinyl wasn't being rude. "You lookin' to get lucky tonight?" So much for not being rude... "Excuse me?" Octavia tried to sound offended, although it was interesting that Vinyl had asked her of all ponies. "It's just yes or no..." Octavia huffed and turned her head, arms crossed at her puffed out chest. "I hope you don't really think I'll jump in bed with you if you ask!" "No, that's why I bought us food and fixed your chain." "So your 'apology' was just a way to get me into bed?" "No, it was sincere." "I don't think someone would think saying sorry would get them laid..." Vinyl heaved another sigh and finished her ice cream. She still had to walk this pony all the way home... ------------------------------------- "-And then I punched him in the face! He had to get one hundred stitches in his jaw, and they said I broke a few bones in his legs and maybe punctured some important organ, but it was worth it!" Vinyl stayed quite, her eyes wide behind her shades as she listened to Octavia's story, something about buying a record and a large stallion trying to take it first. She had been talking since they left Sugarcube. Octavia's home was still a ways away, but it was peaceful, even with Octavia constantly talking. There was nothing there to look at as they walked, as the sun had fully set, and the only thing worth noting were the nats that clung to sticky fur and flew too close for comfort. The two mares stayed collected through the barrage, as a simple spell kept them at bay. "Do you have any stories?" Octavia asked swishing her tail to catch Vinyl's leg. Vinyl looked away and thought for a moment, the action of her leg being touched throwing her off. "I don't think so..." "What about your cutie mark? Does that have a story? Or your glasses?" "I'm on vacation, that means no paparazzi." Vinyl said flatly before turning and snickering. Octavia raised a brow and smirked at the joke. "Ah I see, you won't even answer for a poor little fan?" Octavia batter her eyes once Vinyl's laughing had slowed. Vinyl stumbled, her face turning a light red. "Heh... d-don't do that!" "What did I do?" "That thing with your eyes..." Octavia blinked a moment trying to comprehend. Vinyl was that distracted by her just batting her eyes? "Um.. I guess I can tell you about my cutie mark," a short pause as Vinyl tried to fix her glasses, "but I warn you, I'm no good at telling stories." Octavia just looked one waiting for Vinyl to speak. She seemed nervous, and licked her lips, her eyes looking up to the sky as she tried to remember the story that occurred so long ago. "Well... I'll start about a week before...." ---------------------------------------------- I was a quite filly, I didn't like to talk much, I didn't see a point in it. I loved music though, so my dad, he was a bassist for a traveling jazz band, decided he'd get me something. Something about music. He saved up and got me a keyboard, and a microphone, so I got it, and I loved it! I was on it all the time, and it was a lot of fun, and you would think, that you know, after all of that I would get my cutie mark? Nope, I still had a ways to go. I went to school this one day... and like, a friend told me about this thing happening, it was a battle of the bands. I wasn't planing to join, but a friend of mine needed some more ponies in her group. She played like... the cello or something, and there were three others, one played drums, and the other one played guitar, and the last one sang. We're all still friends now, actually. You know Sapphire Shores, Sorin, and Spitfire? Yeah those three, the cello player was an old friend Frolic. She runs a bar now. Uh... well anyway, she asked if I wanted to play for her band, and I said sure. So we all just tried to work on a song for a few days, and we decided it was too hard. Spitfire thought is was a good idea to start from scratch, but yeah, like I said, too hard. We didn't even know what we wanted the song to sound like. Frolic wanted something fast to show off her cello skills, Spitfire wanted something heavy with distortion, Sorin wanted a drum solo, and Sapphire wanted it to be poppy and and techno. So I thought, you know, why not combine it? It sounded horrible, and I guessed it would be best if we just stop. We all took a break, and it lasted a day. My father came back and asked how my music was going. I said it was going pretty bad, so he suggested I do something called a remix if I can't think up something original. He said, a remix is like adding your own flair to a song that is already written. I thought that sounded cool, so I got the group back the next day at lunch and I took one of my dad's old songs from when he was writing and playing his own compositions, and we decided it was good enough to play. We played it a few times and I heard it, and thought it needed a heavier beat. So I kept tweaking it by ear until it sounded just right, and I added my keyboard in with synthesized basses and stuff, and we felt like the song was perfect. We go to the battle of the bands, and all the other ponies had groups that looked really good, like they had instruments that complemented each other, like a band with a viola, a guitar, an upright bass, and a mandolin, and a band with two guitars, a bassist, a drum set and a singer. We had the weirdest band, with our guitar, cello, drums, and keyboard. The other ponies thought we would never make it, but I was sure we would win, we had the best song! The other kids did covers... it was bad, like, they all did the exact cover, no flair or anything. I was bored to death it was like listening to the radio but less fun. Soon my band was up, and we set up and began to play. Some ponies thought it was great! Sometimes ponies would dance to certain parts, but most sat still or covered their ears complaining. The judges said we lost, but I didn't care. There was something about watching ponies dace to my songs that made me feel good. I wondered what it would be like if they were all dancing? If I could make a song that all ponies enjoyed enough to dance to, and if I could make the song better? I asked around about what could have been different, and it was mostly the way the cello got drowned out under the drums, and how the sounds tend to clash. My dad heard about the show, and he asked if I wanted to continue to make music, and I said yes. So he got me a mixer and a few amps from an old show. Frolic, Sorin, Spitfire, Sapphire Shores, and I would all get together regularly to make more music, and we would learn to mix the sounds so we could hear the cello over the drums, and the guitar wouldn't sound weird with the synth's bass. I wanted to try out the song again, we had tampered with the sounds and changed the notes, the lyrics had changed too, and we felt like it would be perfect! I offered to be a performer at a party at this other school, and although we were very young, and it was a high school, they thought it would be funny, so they hired us. I guess they planned to laugh about what we would play, might have thought a few fillies and a colt would get up there and play twinkle twinkle little star on recorders. You should have seen their faces when we set up. They thought it looked crazy cool, but they still seemed skeptical of what we would play. I got up on my keyboard and looked over the crowd as a few snickered in the back. The others got up on stage and Frolic counted off. It was crazy how when she played that first note made everypony shut up right then and there. She sped it up and let the music ride through the silence, only to have a shaking bass rumble through the amps as well, too low to disrupt the cello, but enough to vibrate the ground. Then there were the drums, Sorin pounded them to death as the beat picked up, the techno sound of my synth preparing for the drop. And when it dropped, it DROPPED! Everypony was shaking their flanks and shouting, they were smiling and thrashing about, and I felt like a god at the reigns of their primal outbursts, their were ponies grinding and twerking, ponies sweating and the smell of nothing but party and beer filled the air. I loved it, and soon I felt this tingling. It wasn't until after the party that Spitfire told me that I had something on my butt, and it was a cutie mark! I was so happy! I got home and my parents gave me this look, like they were angry at me. I had Spitfire and Frolic with me, and I guess we smelled like we were in a bar fight at a strip club, because my parents scrunched up their noses. They freaked out and asked where I had been and what I had been doing. I explained and they didn't seem impressed. I told them I got my cutie mark, and their jaws dropped. ------------------------------------------------- "-And that's how I got my cutie mark..." Vinyl took a deep breath as she saw Octavia's house in the distance. She was glad she could go back to silence for a while. "That's a really cool story! Why don't you tell more ponies that?" Octavia asked grinning wildly. Oh boy, she had just gotten a secret story never told to anypony about her favorite DJ! "I really don't like talking that much." "Why not? You have so much to say!" "It's normally because I already hear so much noise, but aside from that, I just don't like talking, there isn't a point in it." Octavia left it at that, and let a short silence fall between them. It wasn't awkward, it wasn't bad, it was just a break from all of the talking. Octavia opened the door to her little home, the feeling of air conditioning rushed over her sticky fur as she trotted in with a smile. She turned to Vinyl who was standing outside on the door mat. "Are you going to invite me in?" Oh right, Vinyl's being weird again. "Sure thing, come on in, Vinyl." Vinyl walked in and enjoyed the air, shaking her mane. "So... you doing anything?" Octavia just raised a brow, well she obviously wasn't planning to do anything beyond a shower and sleep. Was Vinyl just going to stay over? "Um, not really, are you planning to stay?" "I mean... I could leave?" "NO!" Vinyl jumped at Octavia's sudden outburst, "Uh.. I mean you don't have to go, it's much more comfortable here..." A famous DJ staying the night at her house? Sounded scandalous, even if she wasn't planning anything, well maybe she could get a signature for her shirt. That would be nice. Vinyl closed the door and went to sit on the sofa, patting the seat beside her for Octavia to join. Octavia gladly jumped up onto the sofa. A few more minutes wouldn't hurt her. The two sat quietly for a bit before Vinyl sighed and removed her glasses, tossing them to the glass table and laying on her back, her head on Octavia's lap. This was the first time she had ever seen the DJ's eyes. "What?" Vinyl asked, a small smirk spreading. Octavia knew that Vinyl knew exactly what she was doing. They were a beautiful shade of red, so why not humor the unicorn a bit? "My, Vinyl, your eyes..." Octavia sighed with a suddenly changed expression, "You know... I've never seen them..." "Yeah, ponies don't usually get to see them unless they're very very lucky..." "Ah yes, I'm sure this is quite a privilege," Octavia's eyes were now half lidded and she let her hoof trace circles on the tuft of fur protruding from Vinyl's chest. Vinyl's eyes darted back and fourth as Octavia got closer, "any other privileges that I can get from you?" Vinyl said nothing, only gulping as Octavia changed from just sitting to standing above her, her legs on either side of Vinyl and her tail swaying. "A-and what would that be?" Octavia took a mental note that Vinyl's charisma and daringly cool attitude seemed to have dropped. "Well... I have always wanted a...." Octavia's hoof traced from Vinyl's chest to her belly before stopping, "autograph on my rave T-shirt...." Vinyl' eyes seemed to shoot up and open from looking at Octavia's hoof that had now left her body. "An autograph?" Vinyl repeated before taking in a deep breath. Well, at least she wouldn't have to embarrass herself with her nervousness. "Y-yeah... sure." "Was I any good?" Octavia asked innocently before jumping from the sofa. Vinyl only stared, her mouth open wide. "I'll take that as a yes." With that, Octavia trotted to her room to grab the shirt she wanted signed. 'Dammit, Vinyl, why can't you just not be a total dud?' Vinyl sat back in her previous position as she re-imagined the feeling of that mare above her. Oh how odd this feeling was, it was like a mix of what she felt with her friends, and when she made music that ponies liked, but ten times better. > Insert Clever "Morning After" Title Here > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vinyl stirred as her body told her it was time to wake up. But why? It was so comfy! The feeling of little feathers covered her body, and in her mouth... eww. Vinyl tried to turn her body, but failed as she realised she was unable to move. That's odd. Vinyl squeezed the soft mass that lay in her arms and sighed. It was so soft... and had some odd mass of tiny webs on it? Whatever. Her body began to come to terms with its own tired mind, and settled back again, preparing to drift to sleep. What happened last night? Vinyl's mind began to try and think, breaking the urge to sleep. "No..." she mumbled as she hugged her pillow closer, "bad brain... sleep now..." That was all that was needed as Vinyl drifted back to a peaceful slumber with a soft smile. On the other side of dream world was an irritated grey earth pony cellist. She wriggled again to no avail as Vinyl pulled her closer. Octavia could only sit back and look about her room with mild annoyance at the exploded pillows and broken furniture from last night's random events. It was so clear to her, although she doubted Vinyl even recalled how they got to that point, let alone what had happened after. ----------------------------------------- "Do you want me to sign it with my magic?" Vinyl asked as she looked over the shirt that hung loosely over Octavia's frame. Octavia grabbed her favorite black light paint pen and trotted over to the waiting unicorn. "Uhm... actually, if you could sign it with you mouth?" "Alright." Vinyl leaned over to grab the pen from Octavia's mouth before being pushed roughly backwards onto her rump. "Oof! Geez!" Vinyl rubbed her sore tail, "What the hell was that for?" "You can take the pen from my mouth with your magic can't you?" Vinyl only huffed, and smirked. "Somepony's blushing..." she chuckled. Octavia growled as Vinyl rolled over laughing. Picking up the largest pillow and chucking at the scoffing pony. Another loud shout of surprise as Vinyl lifted the pillow from herself. "I'm sorry, Vinyl, what was that?" Octavia asked with a mischievous grin. Vinyl only returned the grin and lifted the pillow in her magic. Octavia followed suit and grabbed another pillow in her dexterous hooves. Vinyl charged, her hooves shifting as Octavia swung her pillow and missed the DJ's face. Without a warning, Octavia felt the soft fluffiness of a goose down cotton pillow make contact with her shoulder and cheek, exploding into a mess of feathers. Her body tumbled a bit to avoid the rest of the impact, her leg outstretched and kicking a chair across the floor, a sickening crash could be heard, but that didn't matter now. Octavia turn over onto her belly below Vinyl and seeing the white hooves of the DJ as she tried to regain her balance from her swing. Octavia quickly swung what was left of her pillow again catching the DJ and sending her down too. Except... well, Octavia sent Vinyl down on herself! With an "oof!", Vinyl tumbled down onto Octavia's soft back, taking a short time to gather where she was at. Octavia shifted beneath the confused DJ, a low groan escaping her mouth as Vinyl lifted herself from her back her own pillow stuck to her horn and feathers drifted from its mortal wound. Vinyl smirked pulling the pillow from her face, a devious idea popping into her head as she looked back at the earth mare, still writhing beneath her. "V-Vinyl... are you going to get up or what?" Vinyl chuckled quietly and turned to the mare's exposed back. "Or what..." Octavia shifted again as she began to register her vulnerable position. Oh no... Vinyl wouldn't.... she wouldn't! "Vinyl d-don't you dare!" Octavia gasped as she tried to move again. Her shoulders were pinned beneath the unicorn's legs, and her legs were stretched out flat on the ground, unable to lift from their angle. Before Octavia could gasp another plea, she felt Vinyl's hooves dance lightly across her sides and back. Octavia sucked in a deep breath, trying to keep quite to no avail, her body shook with fits of broken laughter, and her tail swished to try and get the mare off of her back. "V-Vinyllll! Vinyl no! Hahahah! Stop!" Octavia gasped pathetically under the unicorn. Her legs kicked about again, knocking more things and the sound echoing through the room. "I think I can do better than this..." Vinyl chuckled as her horn began to glow. Octavia could only watch in horror as one of her drawers opened, several large feathered quills wrapped in a pinkish aura began to circle and find any sensitive spot on her body. "Any last words, Tavi?" Vinyl asked, her hooves had stopped for Octavia to catch her breath. "Y-you... you are pure... eviIIILLLLLL!" The last syllable a scream as Vinyl let the quills tickle her with full force, Octavia's body shaking again before she began to kick her legs around. A pair of feathers at her bottom hooves tormented her as her laughter devolved into gulping gasps, her mouth agape trying to keep air in her lungs as Vinyl sat on her back. "V-V-vvvviiinnnnyyylllllll!" Octavia whimpered before she felt a sudden rush, her body lifting from the ground, leaving the unicorn airborne for a few seconds. At that moment, time seemed to stay still, as Vinyl flipped from the sudden movement, and Octavia stood on her hooves, her long legs shaking from the strain on her body as she watched the unicorn above her. That was enough time to evaluate the situation. Vinyl came crashing down with a yelp, knocking her head against the floor, only to lift up and rub her head. A quiet creak as Octavia looked up, noticing a large vase above Vinyl teetering about. "Uhh... Vinyl..." "What?" CRASH! ------------------------------------------------------- Octavia sighed once more as she felt the unicorn snuggle into her tighter. This wasn't so bad, it would be more bearable if she were not awake and being squeezed to death. Octavia settled back down, and decided to sing a little song to herself to get back to sleep. Vinyl more than likely slept until noon, seeing as she was a DJ, and her sets were usually at night. Octavia sighed, although all of this seemed to surreal, Vinyl coming to her home, hanging out with her, and now the DJ sat snuggled in the bed, although this was much more than she had asked for. "I mean, I really love this DJ as a DJ," Octavia thought to herself as she looked over the mare beside her, "but not like this... she's so close... and warm... and... cute. Has anypony ever gotten a picture of Vinyl sleeping? This is too sweet... that face so soft and..." Octavia gasped for a moment and turned her head. "Nope! Nopenopenopenopenopenope! Don't think like that!" Shifting again to lay more comfortably in the DJ's arms, but in a totally not romantic way, she set and thought of a song to sing. Her nose itched as it rubbed against the white fur on Vinyl's chest. This might not have been the best position. She ignored it for now and took another breath, singing her song sweetly: "Over in Killarney, many years ago, my mother sang a song to me, in tone so sweet and low, just a simple little diddy, in her good ol' Irish way, and I give the world if I could hear, that song of hers today... too ra loo ra loo raa, too ra loo ra la..... too ra loo ra loo ra.... hush now don't you cry...." "Too ra loo ra loo ra, that's an Irish lullaby," came the groggy voice of Octavia's bed mate. Vinyl finally stirred and looked down to Octavia from her pillow with a small smile. "Hmm, good taste..." Vinyl mumbled again ignoring the almost shocked stare she was getting from the mare in front of her. Octavia was no less enticed by the colour of Vinyl's eyes, although she hadn't gotten as good a view of them until now, as they were mere inches away, shimmering in the morning sunlight before her, above one of the most charming grins ever. "Y-you know it?" Octavia squeaked. Well, if Vinyl didn't think Octavia was being weird before she would think she was being weird now. Vinyl only gave a half chuckle as she moved the stray bits of mane from her face. "Yeah, I'm of an Irish decent? That and Scottish, you know, unicorn?" Vinyl poked the tip of her horn, only to wince at the touch. "Woah... geez, what's up with my horn?" "I think..." Octavia began. She lifted herself up and climbed a bit over Vinyl to get a good look at the floor. There was an ocean of feathers, and one spot, a small hole in the woodwork, surrounded by a large dent. "I think you rammed it through the floor...." Octavia leaned back, her eyes wide and shaking with unspeakable rage. Vinyl caught on and tried to calm her down. "Eheh... um... Why don't we just, lay back down, and we can freak out over it another time?" Vinyl whimpered as she wrapped her hooves back around the scathing mare. Octavia relaxed her muscles and nodded. "Alright, but you had better pay for repairs... the vase was cheap, the furniture was fine, but my floors.... those are..." Octavia began to grit her teeth, a gentle hoof rubbed her mane as Vinyl hushed her. "No tears," Vinyl began as she tried to move Octavia back to her laying position, "only dreams now..." Octavia only gave a blank stare off into the distance at the poor choice of words. "That's better, you feel better, right? Mussaaaaa musssaaaaa....." "Vinyl..." "Calming waters and fresh air....." "Vinyl...." "You and your spirit animal are having a picnic on a sandy beach... just... just... imagine...." Vinyl's voice began to drift off a bit as she continued. "Vinyl, please..." "Yeah yeah... I've got the drinks and sunscreen...." "What?" "What's that Tavi?" Vinyl asked tiredly, she was obviously on the edge of sleep. "Y-you... want me to rub the sunscreen on you? Heh... suuurreeee....." a loud snore escaped Vinyl's mouth followed by an obnoxious whinny. Octavia only rolled her eyes as she wriggled back down into the sheets. Vinyl moved her hooves back around Octavia, hugging her close as her snoring died down into a simple hum. It hadn't taken long before Octavia felt sleep taking her over, the sweet feeling of warmth and sompony's arms around her body calming her down again. CRASH! THUNK! Octavia growled as she tried to ignore the intrusive noise. It couldn't have been Vinyl, she was still in the bed, must be some really vivid dream. The sound of hooves moving around and clapping against the floor echoed as whomever it was began to stumble about. Another loud bang and Octavia began to think that this dream was sounding much too real. More hooves rustled about and the sounds of hushed whispers could be heard. That couldn't be a dream.... "Ugh... Octy... shush... tryin to sleep..." a groggy Vinyl said as she tried to move into a more comfortable spot. Her eyes grew wide as she looked over her sleeping friend. "Uhh... Octy... w-wake up..." Octavia didn't want to think there were ponies breaking into her house, but it seemed like she would have to face facts. Octavia reluctantly turned over to see three other ponies had not only climbed into her window all dressed in black, but they had broken a small picture, and knocked over her cello case! Whoever these ponies were, they were going to get throttled, and thoroughly. > One Night Stand... Was Left Unharmed > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Octavia clambered from her bed, her mane falling about her shoulders as she tried to get her footing. The three ponies looked up, seeing the now red eyed tired pony looking them over, her face that of stoic poise and calm... she was almost too quiet, and eerily calm. She stood straight with and flicked her mane from her face as she took a deep breath and spoke. "You three had better have a damn good reason to be in here..." The smallest of three ponies looked around nervously before backing away. Octavia silently approached her anger more apparent in her eyes rather than her face. "I suggest you speak up..." Octavia almost cooed before backing the pony into a wall, tower over the now cowering pony, her eyes cold. The pony only raised a hoof to protect herself before one of the larger ponies spoke up. "Gee, Octavia," the largest murmured, "we didn't think you would take a prank so hard..." Octavia's eyes widened as she looked up from the pony below her. Turning to see the two other ponies had removed their masks and revealed Fredric and Harpo. The poor pony below her was still shaking, her eyes wide in horror. "Yeah," Harpo said, his voice slightly higher in volume as the tension seemed to wane, "you looked as if you were about to kill us..." Octavia stood bewildered, her mouth working but no words coming out. "You alright there...?" Fredric ventured after a short while. "A PRANK?" Octavia finally shouted. She screwed up her nose and furrowed her brow as she tried to calm her now boiling anger. 'If there was ever a time for Vinyl to step in, now would have been a good time', Octavia thought as she grinned her teeth, but there was no sound coming from the bed. Octavia turned to see Vinyl was bent over the opposite edge of the bed. It seemed like she was looking for something. But Octavia had no time for any of that now. She had to focus on the problem at hoof. "Well, it seemed like a good idea when Harpo told us about it." Beauty grumbled rolling her eyes. "What?" Harpo reeled as his eyes darted between Octavia and Beauty, "I- This- I didn't come up with this! This was YOUR idea!" "I hope you plan to fix this!" Octavia cut off the bickering before Beauty could retort, "Look at the mess you've made!" "Now Octavia," Fredric added stepping forward as he looked over the room, "you can't possibly blame us for this horrendous wreck you've made. Our contribution to this room is dwarfed in comparison to what we walked into." Octavia turned and looked around the room again, letting the memories of last night replay once more before groaning. Vinyl had since gotten back onto the bed properly, her eyes covered by her trademark shades as she continued to look at the conversing ponies with little interest. "Friends?" Vinyl asked flatly. Octavia nodded and pointed them out as she introduced them all. "This is Fredric, Harpo, and Beauty... although I think you know Beauty pretty well." Vinyl nodded to the two stallions and blew a kiss to Beauty. Octavia looked between the two and took a deep breath. 'Oh who cares if Vinyl blows a kiss to her?' Octavia thought, 'It's not that serious, she's just being friendly.' "So let me get this straight..." Harpo began with a smirk, "When we came in, you were in the bed with P0N-3... so that means-" "No..." Octavia said almost under her breath hoping the other would leave it alone. If only her friends were so considerate. "Oh!" Fredric shouted as he caught on, "Oh Octavia! I had no idea! Well! There goes my plans for Hearts and Hooves day..." "I just wanted to say, Octavia," Beauty said putting a reassuring hoof on Octavia's shoulder, "I always figured, but I didn't know you were one for flings with celebrities, that seems more like a thing I would do." Beauty allowed herself a soft awkward chuckle. "It doesn't matter to us, Octavia," Harpo added quickly, "we still love you, and we promise not to tell anypony about you sleeping with P0N-3... unless you want that type of publicity? Imagine what the tabloids would say!" The rest of Octavia's friends began to converse about what this would mean for the ensemble and their beloved cellist and DJ. "What if paparazzi finds out?" Fredric asked. "Who cares!" Harpo interjected, "Paparazzi is fine, but what about the retaliation? Ponies are very... traditional in our field of entertainment." "They won't find out," Beauty chuckled with a wave of her hoof, "remember that time with me and Neon? Well, we just kept our mouths shut and nopony ever found out!" The other stayed quite after that almost completely dazed by the revelation. "Look, what is said in this room stays in this room!" "We were just sleeping!" Octavia finally said after trying to figure out the situation. At this point she would have much rather dealt with an intruder, at least they wouldn't embarrass her like this. "There was nothing going on, I'm not even into mares!" "You sure?" Vinyl asked with a smug look. Octavia turned and delivered a glare that could curdle milk leaving Vinyl to cower into the sheets. "Now..." Octavia took a breath, "is there any reason why you decided to BREAK into my house instead of using the door?" "Well," Fredric said with a nervous laugh, "we came to invite you to lunch and a concert later, but it seems you're in no mood for going anywhere, and you can get your own personal concert." Beauty Brass gave Fredric a sharp lab in the ribs. "Oh! I'm terribly sorry about that, I mean to say you already have a DJ in bed with you." Another hard jab. "Ouch! What is it that you want me to say? There is literally nothing that can be said about this that doesn't hint at there being... well you know." "We're sorry, Octavia," Beauty huffed, "I guess we did go a bit far with this prank, and we'll clean your room, your whole room," Beauty gave Fredric a glare as she said this, "as a way to make up for our mistake." "Thank y-" Octavia began but was cut off by Beauty's hoof on her lips. "But," Beauty continued with a grin, "you have to come out with us for a night on the town, and you have to bring the DJ with you!" Octavia blanched, starring at her friend for a moment and then turning to Vinyl who had since preoccupied herself with something in the nightstand. Octavia growled at the invasion of her property but left it at that. "Well, I guess we could go hang out... it would all be up to Vinyl if she wanted to go..." Octavia answered turning back to her friends who seemed confused. "Vinyl?" Fredric asked. "Yes, that's her name." "She told you her real name?" Beauty said stepping in front of Octavia only inches from her muzzle, "I heard her name was some sort of secret from the public." "You seem much more familiar with pop culture than you let on," Harpo quipped. Beauty only stuck out her tongue, receiving a very flat but oh so satisfying 'How rude' from the stallion. Octavia gave a light smile as her friends bickered and rolled her eyes. "Vinyl?" Octavia asked over her shoulder, "You wouldn't be adverse to having a night out on the town would you?" "Sure." Octavia turned back to her friends, soon noticing a strange look on their faces. A look almost as if they were trying not to laugh, although their mirth was very evident in their eyes. Confused she looked back to see Vinyl was holding something in her hooves, and something else in her magic. Neither was an item Octavia was fond of admitting she owned, and a blush formed on her face as she heard Vinyl laugh a bit louder than what she was sure Vinyl had intended. "Heh... found Bob..." Vinyl continued to laugh. Only for a moment however, as she was abruptly stopped by a large cello case to the face, the casing now not only adorning a dent from a still scratch-less nightstand, but a large dent shaped like a horn. Octavia quickly turned to her friends whose expression turned from one of mirth to one of fear. Octavia relished in the new behavior and gave a devious smile as she turned and trotted from the room, being sure to step over the groaning DJ and shouting over her shoulder. "Clean up Vinyl while you're at it..." > Rock Down to Electric Avenue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sun had long set behind the horizon, the moon raising slowly and taking its place blanketing the the cityscape in it's cooling blue glow. The ponies of the small town of Ponyville, the younger ponies, yet old enough to enjoy the ever flowing endorphins of youth and alcohol, gather together. The ever well known Electric Avenue, its narrow streets crowded with dancing and drunken ponies smiling and shouting in joy as they shuffled through the roads. The flashes of cameras and the sounds of mugs clashing as they met in overly giddy cheers. The sounds of music echoing from the large buildings surrounding the streets, all of them playing a different track at a different time, the bass of each sound trembling below the earth, shaking and blending with the thunderous hooves of drunken club goers. Octavia took in each little sensation as she traveled the little streets with her group, all of them seemingly blind to the wounder that took place around them, the tiny details that only she seemed to get. Well her and Vinyl, as she watched the DJ's head swivel, taking in the scene with a grin. The smell of sweat and sticky booze clinging to the young ponies as they stumbled past, their faces all displaying a smile from the fun that had past, and hours of fun to come. Their bodies still swaying with confused rhythm as the music racked them from every angle, but no distinct beat to direct their joyful ambitions. It was something Octavia was almost new to. The key word was 'almost'. Octavia smiled as she watched all of the ponies, and the long road that seemed to lead to a large circle, the center of the little clubbing district known as Electric Avenue, a small gem in the back water town of Ponyville. It seemed to be a Deity-send for the town, as there was nothing much else for the young ponies to enjoy. But as much as Octavia had always wanted to enjoy the rumored party town, she had always felt a little shy. The large groups of ponies, the dark streets, lit only by the glow of neons and sparse street lights spread across the long sidewalks, those of which you would seldom see, as the crowds moved about them in masses unbroken. Octavia, although she was always one to party, and always looked forward to a club with flashing black lights, the streets bathed in the red of the neons, she never liked going without friends, and she had never, before this, imagined her friends to be the party type. Well, this kind of party. "You okay, Octavia?" Beauty asked as she nudged the awe struck cellist. Octavia finally pried her eyes from the dancing of the masses to focus on her friend who seemed worried. Octavia gave a reassuring smile. "Yes, I'm fine Beauty, thank you," was all Octavia said before turning her eyes to look at something else. In her mind, she thought, perhaps it was just to be sure she wasn't getting lost, but her eyes instinctively followed the unicorn mare beside her, the bobbing of the mare's mane as she enjoyed the meshed beats of clashing club music, and the hooves slapping against concrete, the shouts and cheers of the ponies seemingly making a song only she could hear. Vinyl turned to the cellist beside her and gave her a brash grin as if to comfort her. Octavia took it as a reassuring gesture and smiled back, her tail playfully swiping at the DJ's. Vinyl lost a bit of footing, her hoof nearly slipping from under her, but recovering before anypony noticed. Well, almost anypony. Vinyl looked up to see Octavia giving her a worried look. Vinyl only tried for another grin, coming off more sheepish than sure. Octavia kept her stare for a moment before turning back to the road ahead of her, focusing on the crowded path ahead of them. 'Smooth, Vinyl,' the DJ thought to herself, wanting so badly to facehoof, but avoiding the action lest she make another scene, 'real smooth...' "-So then I said, 'you mean whom let the dogs out!" the sound of Fredric laughing at his own joke reached Octavia's ears. "Freddie, I do believe you are incorrect," came Harpo's rebuttal, "It is actually, who let the dogs out." "You just don't understand humor!" Fredric huffed. "You get it, don't you, Beauty?" The pale blue mare he had addressed remained by the side of Octavia, her eyes trained on the mare as they walked side by side. "She looks worried," Harpo pointed. Fredric only rolled his eyes, about to respond before running into the back of the three mares before him, sending Octavia forward with a loud thud. "Oh! Sorry about that!" the pianist rushed over to lift the fallen mare up, her mane now a mess of fly away hairs and her freshly combed coat slightly messed with dust from the sidewalk. "Are you alright?" Octavia just gave a light sigh as she tried to smooth her mane with her hooves, giving the worried stallion a small smile. Fredric backed off as he saw that she was fine. The group of ponies shuffled about awkwardly awaiting an order from Vinyl. The DJ pointed out squat building up a little further, the seemingly brick building was very different from the others. It wasn't blasting loud beats, the walls didn't shake with bass, the crowd wasn't thick, and there were small windows allowing the group to see inside. The lighting was warm, not like the lively red that covered the ponies in the streets, or the cooling blues and greens from the strobes that would peek from the swinging doors of the other clubs. Vinyl pulled open the door to the small building, the sign above it had unlit letters in the fruity pink magenta making it read "BEAR". Upon closer inspection, the letters read out "BERRY'S BAR", a simple name for a simple looking place. The inside was just as cozy at it looked from the window. The warm wooden floors against dark cherry wood tables and the booths lined with a black pleather, and in the far back, was a small stage, only a few inches above the floor, a mic and a few amps and stools. Aside from the sound of a few ponies chatting, there was little sound to be heard. "Vinyl, this place is awful quiet..." Octavia noted as she turned to see the DJ head off towards the bar to their left. Fredric walked up beside Octavia giving her a nod and trotting off to a booth, the others following behind him. Beauty stopped short and turned to Octavia with a wink, pointing to the DJ that still stood chatting with a magenta pony with a fluffy mane. "We'll be over here," Beauty whispered, "she's fun, but a bit quiet for our taste, she seems perfect for you it seems." Beauty gave a soft chuckle before getting a nudge in the side from the disgruntled cellist. "You know I don't like quiet..." Octavia huffed. "Well, you sure had me fooled. I don't understand how you can put up with somepony who doesn't talk!" "She talks plenty." Octavia deadpanned. "What, telepathically?" With that, Beauty gave a hearty chuckle before giving her friend a slap on the back. "You guys are cute." Octavia raised a hoof to protest, but was cut off by a hoof on her other shoulder. Octavia turned quickly to see it was Vinyl, giving her an adorable smile and pointing over to the bar. Octavia turned to see that Beauty had long since left to sit with the others, although her eyes flickered over every now and again at the pair. "Uh... yes, Vinyl?" Octavia asked ignoring her strange friend. 'Beauty is just being a trouble maker like usual, trifling in others problems and melding in their lives.' Octavia wasn't given a straight answer, instead, Vinyl pointed at the bar again, her face showing that she was obviously eager to go. Octavia heaved a trying sigh before giving an exasperated smile and following Vinyl over to the bar. Beauty watched as the two moved over to the bar, her face bearing a warm smile as the two sat at the bar, and for once, Beauty saw the DJ's lips move more than before. "That's odd isn't it?" Fredric said suddenly, snapping the blue mare from her stare, turning to address the stallion before her. "What is?" Fredric waved over a waiter, a tall green stallion with a black mane. As the waiter made his way over Fredric gave Beauty a devious smile. "You know, that those two seem to be awfully close?" "Now Fredric," Harpo began with a stone expression, "don't you dare start, Octavia is free to do as she pleases." Fredric raised his hoof to stop Harpo. "This isn't about Octavia..." Fredric said in a hushed voice. The waiter made it to their table, his cold blue eyes looking over the trio, but his face never broke into a smile; as if he could sense the tension at the table, he made his business quick. "My name is Buzzer," came the chilling voice of the unicorn stallion, "I'll be your waiter tonight. Do you know what you would like to order?" Harpo sighed and gave a weary smile. "Yes, um," tapping his chin, Harpo smiled and looked over the table and back at the waiter. "Three large bacon burgers with a side of steak fries, a large chocolate shake, and two glasses of your finest bourbon." Harpo quickly looked back to his friends with a smile. "What would you two like?" "I'll have a fudge sundae with strawberries, a little whip cream, just a dab, if you could." Fredric stopped for a moment to consider a drink. "And a Pink Raspberry Cosmo." The waiter, Buzzer took down the orders with his magic, the pencil enveloped in a slimy green aura, although his expression had been one of stone the whole time, he soon began to show a slight sign of disgust and confusion as the orders were made. It was now Beauty's turn to order, she still seemed deep in thought. "And you ma'am?" Buzzer asked cautiously. "If you could, a large rack of ribs, don't be stingy with the sauce, and if you can, add a nice side of Mad Dog 357 hot sauce, and for a drink, you can just get me a Stinger, stirred please." as Beauty finished her order she turned back casually to see Fredric sweating, his eyes wide. "Are you upset? You never get a Stinger stirred." Fredric's voice shook as he tried to focus on the mare's eyes, they were giving him no clues as to what she was thinking. "No, I'm not upset," began the emotionless answer, "just disappointed." Fredric worked his mouth in response, although for a while, no words came out. "W-well, why?" "Because you're in that poor girl's business again, you know better!" Harpo scolded lightly with a playful slap to the stallion's arm. "Octavia has every right to run off with her idol, she deserves it! We all know she's had it harder than the rest of us." "Don't start this again..." Fredric said rolling his eyes, "I know the story, I was there." "Not the whole time!" Beauty finally snapped, her voice an angry whisper, "You don't know how much she just wanted to run away and join a band! Be something else and live the life of a groupie, just go traveling and being free!" "You say that as if you always knew she liked this DJ character!" Fredric said between gritted teeth. "We only just found out about her interests! How would you know?" "She has a diary..." Beauty huffed laying back in her seat. "I-I always knew, but I wouldn't say anything, I thought it was some stupid phase, I never had that feeling. I never liked mares. That was all Octavia, and I didn't understand it. She was always the rebellious one when we were young. Now look at her, just trying to be happy, but not weird." Beauty forced a sigh and leaned back into the table. "She was always my best friend, better than any other, and then you guys came along, I thought she would be fine, but now... now she seems different, like she's aging backwards." "Or perhaps we're aging backwards." Harpo said waving his hoof at Buzzer as he brought the food on several trays. "Think about it, we're all immature and we have horrendous habits, we broke into a party, got drunk and crashed it, and the whole time, Octavia just wanted to meet a DJ and get an autograph. She didn't even want to break in. She's the most level headed of all of us. We should look up to her, she enjoyed youth, she still does, but she's being cautious about it." "I guess you're right." Fredric finally said with a huff. "It doesn't change how I feel about this whole... thing with Vinyl. I don't care that Vinyl is a mare, I just think... what if Vinyl isn't right for her?" "If you're trying to say you're better for her," Beauty began with a flat tone, moving as the food was set down, "then you would have known years ago. You are obviously not what she wants." Fredric let out a long sigh, his hoof propping his head from the table. He turned to see Vinyl and Octavia sitting at the bar, Octavia laughing as the DJ waved her arms about making wild expressions. The conversation the two musicians shared silent to the table of three. Fredric would try every now and again to see if he could make out any words from the two mares, although it seemed, despite Octavia's giggles, there were no other words being shared. It was something Fredric couldn't understand. 'I guess... as long as you're happy, Octavia > Thunder Rolls > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The night was colder and quieter the farther away from the Avenue the group went. The cold air brushing through sweat soaked manes and coats, their hooves aching from dancing, stomachs aching from food and booze, and heads swimming in euphoria. It had been a great night, and one that the five friends would remember fondly, if they could remember anything after all of the drinks, that is. There was little sound aside from loud cheers and laughing from the friends, the sound of their hooves stumbling about unevenly, and doors locking and windows shutting as sleeping ponies heard the rowdy young ponies going past. It had to have been around one in the morning, but they didn't care, it wasn't their problem, and they weren't going to bed anytime soon. "S-so then I s-said-," Beauty huffed out laughter as she tried to speak, "'Why don't you take that tuba?' and he took it-" another bout of laughter before she was cut off by a hoof on her shoulder. "Oh! It must have been a right mess!" Harpo chuckled alongside her, putting his hoof down to keep himself steady as another, stronger force of laughter shook his body. Although the group was mostly shouting and laughing, two ponies remained relatively quiet. The two, Fredric and Vinyl, stayed towards the back of the group, watching the other three enjoy joking and laughing, and although Vinyl was smiling and bobbing her head, she seemed to have her ears perked, awaiting a sound to come from Fredric. Fredric clumsily stumbled over a crack in the sidewalk nudging the aware DJ slightly. Vinyl simply countered his drunken stumbling with a slight push to keep him upright. The action was greeted with a light snarl from the disgruntled stallion. Vinyl only shrugged and continued, her ears still listening out for him to say something. "So you think you're big shit, huh?" Fredric grumbled, his head hanging low as if the hangover was setting in. Vinyl only shrugged, her smile not dropping an inch. 'Not better than anypony else...' "Yeah, you do... you think you've got her? Yeah, I bet you do..." Vinyl only looked down at him for a second, a small look of worry on her features as she saw this guy wasn't going to get any better. 'What is this dude going on about anyway?' Vinyl thought as she slowed her pace a bit. "I've liked Octavia for years," Fredric only half murmured, just loud enough for Vinyl to hear, "I never had the guts to tell her. Every year it was me telling the others, 'Look! I bet I can get her this time! She'll love me now!' and every time.... every time I chickened out..." Vinyl stayed quiet, as usual, although this time she had nothing to say. There was an estranged silence between the two, the sounds of the three other ponies seemed almost distant. Where were they headed? Vinyl sighed and looked at the stallion beside her, opening her mouth to speak, she was stopped by him uttering something else, likely unaware of Vinyl preparing to speak. "She always seemed so worried and angry," Fredric tried to speak up a little, "S-she... she was always so spirited, but she always recoiled as if she was trying not to hurt herself while she was having fun. We were always so sheltered as foals, and even as teens. We didn't get true freedom until we were adults. Octavia... she seemed the same all the time, like... like she never truly tried to have any fun. As if her parents constant sheltering kept her from venturing out of her comfort zone, but..." "Hmm?" Vinyl's quiet sound only just made it to the agitated stallion's ears. Fredric didn't think much of the sound, it still wasn't a word. How odd of anypony to not truly speak for so long. "Ugh..." Fredric shook his head, "just... just the ramblings of a heartbroken dunk, worry not." Fredric faked a smile, the pain in his head started to wane, but that festering anger, that had stayed, and it grew with every second he looked at the DJ. "Mhm..." was all that Vinyl said as she turned forward to see that they had made it back towards Octavia's little town house, the home bathed in the gentle blue light of the moon. "So," Harpo tried to say, his giggles dying down a bit, "Is this where we split? Or are we enjoying an after party at your place?" Octavia scratched her chin, the thought of going to bed seemed very enjoyable, but she felt the need to stay up a bit later, enjoy herself a bit more, when would be the next time she would have this much fun? "Well, considering my options..." the grey mare said with a devious grin, "I say we enjoy a SECOND PARTY!" The small group cheered and yelped in joy, laughing as they heard the disgruntled neighboring ponies slamming their windows shut and swearing. The group huddled into the house, the quiet building echoing the sound of their hooves, their mouths shushing as they stumbled in, the keys to the apartment falling to the ground, and the sound of straps from bow ties being pulled and thrown, and in one case, a pony falling over and knocking his purple head into a wall. ----------------------------------------------------- "Dare!" Beauty shouted as Fredric smiled a devious grin. The night had its moments, the drunken buzz had yet to wear off, as they had a case of cider and some light wine, and they were drifting further into an almost out of body feeling, euphoria still clouding their vision. At some point, Harpo convinced the group that one of the candy bowls on the table (the one with the butterscotch candies, they were his favorite) told him that that should play "Truth or Dare". The others agreed and set up rules and seats. There was really only one rule: You can't go back on a dare, and if you did, you had to chug a glass of vinegar. "Well," Fredric scratched his chin, "I dare you to.... kiss Miss Vinyl!" Fredric pointed a drunken hoof at the DJ who took her place beside the grey cellist. Octavia's expression changed from that of relaxation to mild surprise. Octavia wasn't sure if she was upset with this or if she was curious.... and interested. Octavia pushed the thought from her mind, although it seemed to creep back in every now and again, and what was worse, Octavia began to wonder what it would be like if the positions were switched. "Just kiss her?" Beauty regretted the words as soon as she said them. She knew this was going to end horribly. Or hopefully it would end wonderfully with everypony happy the next morning laying in Octavia's bed, but chances were slim that would be the case. She quickly shoved her naughty thoughts back into the depths of her mind. "Now that you mention it," The brown stallion said leaning forward, "Prench kiss, with lots of tongue." Beauty only grimaced as she saw the seemingly hungry look in the stallion's eyes. Beauty chalked it up to him getting her back for earlier in the bar. "Fine," Beauty shot with a grin as she trotted over to the DJ, "but no pictures, and no trying to join!" Harpo chuckled as he heard Beauty say this, despite the blush on his muzzle suggesting it was a though that had occurred to him. Vinyl sat up straight as the mare came over to her, un-phased and unimpressed as the mare clambered onto the couch beside her. Octavia watched closely, much to the amusement of Fredric. It seemed like hours before Beauty pressed her lips to Vinyl's, her mouth parting to let her tongue explore every inch of the DJ's own, and the feeling of the mare's breath on her fur. Beauty wasn't into mares, but she could see the appeal. The taste was nothing special, the touch was nothing special, but it was nice. But that was it; nice. The two parted, Vinyl letting out a long sigh before laying her head back onto Octavia's shoulder and motioning for the game to continue, a sly grin on her muzzle aimed right for Fredric that seemed to go unnoticed by everypony else but him. "Looks like it's my turn!" Harpo cheered, his face still red, "Now... who's next? Oh! Fredric? You're next aren't you?" Fredric gave a reluctant nod. "So truth or dare?" Fredric stopped to think for a moment, he knew Harpo, a sly introvert with a sociopath's way of thinking. He had to be careful, if he picked truth, he would have to spill serious beans, but if he picked dare, there was no way he would be able to do it, whatever it was. But he could always lie.... "Truth!" Fredric finally said, his face bearing the look of somepony planning something. Harpo, however, kept a straight face the whole time, the only thing disturbing it was a mischievous grin more diabolical than that of Discord. "Are you jealous of Vinyl?" It was a simple question, with a simple answer. Yes, or no. Fredric didn't need to complicate this more than he had to. Fredric swallowed a lump in his throat and flicked his ear twice, a bead of sweat dripping down his brow. "Don't bother," Harpo interrupted with a raised hoof, "your answer is no?" Fredric nodded. "Alright, whatever you say." Harpo took a leisurely sip of his cider, waiting as he watched the seething stallion grow red in the face. "Well!" Fredric finally shouted, standing from his seat, "I'm offended you would think I'd feel the need to compete with her." The last word slipping from his mouth, dripping with disgust and venom, his muzzle wrinkled. "Why wouldn't you be jealous of Vinyl?" Beauty piped in with a smirk, "She kissed me, and she's leaning up on Octavia, while you and Harpo are sitting over in your sad little corner, awaiting a mare to give you attention." Fredric stayed silent, his heavy and angered breathing the only sound coming from him. The room was silent, all of the ponies in their own minds, and Fredric wishing he knew what they were all thinking. "I guess I'll just go then...." Fredric finally said seeing nopony move. "I know when I'm not wanted." With a haughty huff, Fredric flicked his tail and trotted out of the home, sloppily grabbing his tie form the floor and throwing it over his back. The silence from the room remained before Beauty rolled from her seat with a heavy sigh. "So I guess I'll go and see that Fredric doesn't go crazy while he's walking home." With that, Beauty gathered her tie and gave a small kiss on Octavia's cheek, the grey cellist returned the gesture, although the fatigue and drunken haze made it a bit difficult. Harpo gave a small wave to Beauty as she trotted past. "Oh, you're coming too." Harpo shook his head quickly in protest. "B-but why? Can't I stay here? There's still so much alcohol left!" His complaints fell short as the blue mare bit down on his tail and pulled him from his seat. Harpo gave a pathetic whine as he tried (and failed) to claw his way back to his seat, a mug of cider still in hoof. "You're just as responsible, if not more, for this problem, so you better come out and help me!" Beauty shouted as she dragged the stallion out of the room. Vinyl and Octavia watched quietly as they two left the house, the door closing behind them. "Well... that was a thing...." came the slightly confused voice of Octavia. Vinyl simply shrugged and got up from her seat, trotting over to the door, her horn glowing and levitating her signature glasses back to her face. "Vinyl... are you about to leave?" Vinyl only stopped and turned back to see Octavia giving her a pleading look. "Did you want me to stay?" "Well... I don't know...." Octavia tried to find her bow and fiddle with that, but her neck was bare, as her tie lay neglected and forgotten on the floor far from her. "You don't have to lie..." Vinyl turned around, walking over to the visibly distraught Octavia. There was a look in her eyes that Octavia couldn't really put her hoof on, she seemed to sway her hips, flip her mane, and bat her eyes. Was this normal? "B-but Vinyl..." Octavia stammered as the alabaster unicorn climbed up to the couch, her usually giddy expression changed into that of burning desire, but desire for what? Octavia had only a second to react before feeling a surge of adrenaline, a strong feeling she hadn't experienced since she was young. Something similar to the first concert she had ever been to, the feeling of the bass from the speakers in that club when they played, the bass dropping after a long time waiting for it, the tension, the waiting, the anticipation before the long awaited release, the thing she knew would come finally breaking her and leaving her in a state of euphoria, but in this case, instead of a long awaited bass drop, it was the feeling of the DJ's lips, Vinyl's soft flesh upon the cellist's own. Oh and how she had waited, how Octavia had longed for such a feeling, and how sweet it was that it occurred. But there was something amiss.... "Octavia..." Vinyl whispered as their lips parted. Octavia could feel the DJ's heart beat, it was fast, strong, or was that her own? "Y-yes, Vinyl?" Octavia asked, her eyes drifting open as if in a dream. Vinyl hadn't moved far from the cellist, their muzzles still only mere centimeters away from each other. "Octavia.... you might want to wake up..." "What?" > Last Friday Night > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- With a slight stir, Octavia sighed and hugged close the warm mass that lay snugly on her belly, her back cradled by a large plush cushion. It was foreign, she never had any stuffed animals in her home.... well none that she ever had in her bed. Then again... this wasn't her bed. With a small groan, they grey mare turned her head and slowly cracked open a heavy eyelid to observe her surroundings. Well, it was dark, and that was to be expected. But there was something else. There was a smell. The smell that permeated her home was that of sweat and booze. As her eyes adjusted to the lack of light, she could make out two figures well. There was a purple and blue stallion snuggled up in an armchair diagonally across the coffee table form her, a large crystal jar of candies in his hooves. Above the cellist on the other couch was a sky blue mare, her brown mane tossed about wildly, snoring lightly under a blanket of newspapers. But on the love seat directly across from the mare, there was a woolen blanket that had been abandoned. Who had been there? Who all was here last night? Beauty, Harpo, and.... Fredric? Yes... he had been here.... but where was Vinyl? "Mornin' beautiful..." came a groggy whisper from the soft mass. Octavia looked down to see Vinyl looking back at her, glasses off, and her smile small, but cocky. "Oh hush you... what happened last night...." Octavia's voice trailed off as she looked over the room, and quickly back at Vinyl, "Did I do something I'm going to regret?" "Aside from pass out in the middle of a heated game of Truth or Dare? Nah.... well.... you did almost get into a fight with Fredric over something... uh... a kiss I think." Vinyl chuckled, "That was pretty funny...." "Don't laugh!" Octavia whined, a petty blush on her muzzle. How could Vinyl just make fun of her like this? "Ugh... let me think...." Vinyl tapped her horn, shuddering from the feeling. It was always a weird feeling, touching a horn after sleeping, like being exposed to noise after hours of silence. "Hmmm....." "I'm not going to ask what you're doing.... or why you've decided to do it while laying on me...." Octavia's tone was slightly dangerous, but more cautiously annoyed than angry. "It's nothing weird." Vinyl said quickly before adding more slowly, "But you wanted to know what happened right?" Octavia gave a simple nod at Vinyl's question. "Well, we should go grab something to eat and drink first... I'm a bit...." Vinyl stopped to let out a strong belch, "yup..." "Well... I guess." Vinyl lifted from the soft warmth of Octavia's chest and belly, her body becoming cold after abandoning it. Vinyl snickered lightly as she saw that Octavia's fur was slightly matted from sweat and the small writhing that had occurred during their slightly restless sleep, likely due to the growing heat of being so close for so long. The thought made Vinyl shudder a bit a tingling in her legs, and a small blush that tickled her nose, but it could have been the cold of her belly being exposed, her own sweat chilling in the dry air, and missing the embrace. 'Keep tellin' yourself that, Vinyl,' the disheveled unicorn mumbled to herself as she turned, following the cellist around the eerily silent house. All was silent aside from the sounds of ponies snoring, their heavy breathing not synchronized with anything in particular. Chances they were in time to their corresponding dreams. Vinyl then wondered what other ponies dreamed about. What had Octavia dreamed about last night? Vinyl felt slightly giddy as she thought about Octavia dreaming about her, but that thought was, again, quickly shot down as soon as it came. There were more important things to worry about. Besides, that would be a bit narcissistic to think Octavia would dream of Vinyl. "You look deep in thought..." Octavia began groggily, her own voice causing her to wince from the sudden volume from silence. Vinyl shook her head quickly, holding her hoof out to signal Octavia to lead. The grey mare just shrugged and lead the way to the bedroom. The two mares quietly moved about the home, avoiding loud floor boards and walls, their hooves dancing seamlessly about the halls until they finally reached the bedroom. Octavia gathered a few things, being mindful of the hole left in the floor by Vinyl's horn. Vinyl, however, stopped to look at the hole and winced, a low groan escaping her despite her efforts to hide it. "What is it?" Octavia asked quietly, not turning from the dresser as she fished out a nice clean pink bow. "I'm just trying to remember how much that must have hurt..." You hitting your horn and plowing it through my wooden floor?" Octavia stopped to put on her tie before continuing. "If unicorn horns are anything like I've read in my roman-..." a small blush overcame her muzzle as she thought about a cover for her obvious fluke. "...Text books.... then it must have hurt a lot, especially considering you passed out after the fall." "Yeah...." Vinyl wasn't sure if Octavia knew that she had heard what she intended to say or not, but it would most likely be best if Vinyl just acted as if it had never happened. "Well, we should be going... it's... noon?!" "Is it? Well, let's go!" Octavia grabbed hold of Vinyl's forehoof and rushed out the door, disregarding the sleeping ponies in the living room who stirred angrily at the sudden noise, Beauty even threw a rather harsh swear their way before being cut off by the front door slamming. It was only a short walk until they would reach Sugar Cube Corner. -------------------------------- "Are you going to tell me now?" Octavia asked again. It had been the tenth time since they left the little town home that Octavia insisted on asking this repetitive question. Vinyl only shrugged, her eyes looking tired and dark from behind her purple shades. The town was about as dead as Vinyl felt, the streets mostly bare, and the vendors all staying quiet, almost as if they had all known that the unicorn was hungover. The sun sat high in the sky, not a single cloud blocking it, and it seemed odd that such a lovely day was so quiet. Not a single sound could be heard. As if they were in purgatory, but there were NPC's just standing around. It was surreal. Vinyl finally lifted her gaze a bit more, seeing the lively bakery off in the distance, about a few yards away. "Well.... how about now? It's as good a time as any, right?" Octavia tried with a sheepish smile. Vinyl only sighed, her brow sagging heavily over her eyes, pricked with beads of sweat, and her skin seemingly turning read. Octavia's exasperation for Vinyl's avoidance soon waned as she observed that in this heat, and with the light reflecting from the sweat, Vinyl's body seemed to sparkle under the sunlight. Octavia didn't bother to mention anything about it. It would be for the best to just not say anything. As the pair finally made their way into the front of Sugar Cube Corner, Vinyl did not hesitate to dodge the sunlight and dip into the cool building and shaking the sweat sticking to her fur. Octavia followed un-phased by the display and trotted into the shop, going up to the counter and giving a slightly tired smile. The smell of freshly made ice cream and sugary sweets radiated from the kitchen, Octavia was sure it was due to the mid day rush, they would have to restock every so often, especially any of the really good stuff. From behind the counter, a blur of purple sprung up, a wide smile on her muzzle. The purple pegasus was still here, her name tag reading "Jessie" just as it did during their first encounter, however, there was a last initial on it. The name tag now read "Jessie N.", instead of the simple first name Octavia had learned the previous visit. "What does the 'N' stand for?" Octavia queried, receiving only a small chuckle from the smiling mare. "Don't worry about it, were you planning to order anything?" Jessie had procured a note pad and pencil from under the counter, a place that Octavia decided was nothing but Hammer Space at this point, and stood by, ready for the order. "Uhm... How about a simple coffee and a muffin?" Octavia said slowly, her hoof to her chin. Vinyl finally made her way over to the counter, her eyes moving over the menu that hung above the pegasus. Jessie didn't bother to ask, instead waiting for the unicorn to point something out. Vinyl soon proved the mare right by pointing to a root beer float and a cupcake called the Sugar Rush. The cupcake was pink and had large candies in it, anything from gummy worms to crumbled cookies, and beside it was a complimentary shot of something almost worse than the cupcake. The shot was called "A Salted Battery". "You want the A Salted Battery with that?" Jessie asked scribbling away at the paper. Vinyl nodded and rubbed her hooves eagerly. "What exactly is the A Salted Battery?" Octavia asked, sure that she was going to get an answer she wasn't ready to hear. "It's a drink that is served in a metal shot glass, the rim is salted, and the drink contains pure sugar melted and mixed with corn syrup, another layer of sugar caramelized, and candy sprinkles with three concentrated shots of espresso." "Celestia help me...." ------------------------------ "So... Vinyl.... aside from the events of last night... I did want to ask you something." Octavia and Vinyl had found a seat outside, the sun still peaking out and laying the town in a layer of drastic heat and dry air, but the two mares sitting at the table couldn't care less. Vinyl lifted her eyes to meet with the perfect purples of the cellist, her grey fur glowing in the sunlight. Vinyl was nearly drooling as her eyes scanned over the beautiful mare, her long jet mane laying over her shoulders and brushing past in the light breeze. "-That's why I'm worried about last night... and about next week." Vinyl soon realised that she had missed all of what Octavia was saying. 'Was it something important? Should I ask? Would she be upset if I wasn't listening?' "Vinyl, my eyes are up here..." Octavia's voice cut through Vinyl's focused gaze, that gaze that was heavily focused on her chest and trailing slowly down to her hips. Vinyl looked back up to see Octavia was sporting a very annoyed looked, quickly defied by the huge blush on her muzzle. "Uhm... sorry..." was all Vinyl had to say in her defense. "Anyway... as I was saying; what's going to happen when you leave next week? I mean, well, I want to know what happened last night too, but what if something happened that's really important? Like... I admitted something that could make you leaving more difficult than it already will be?" Vinyl didn't move. What was Octavia trying to say? "What would be so important that would make leaving any harder than it will be?" Vinyl asked, neglecting the food items before her and staying focused on the cellist. "Well... I mean... what if I said something like...." 'Shit, Octavia! Look what you've gotten yourself into!' "Like... that I wanted you to stay with me? In my home?" "What?" "Like... like a roommate? I'm always so lonely, and I love all of your music, and you're so much fun! I just want to... you know... maybe have you around longer..." Octavia heaved a sigh, glad that she had finally been able to let out how she felt. Sort of. Vinyl on the other hoof sat looking almost confused behind her thick shades. "Is there something wrong?" "I can't live here," Vinyl stated flatly, "That's not possible with a career like mine. I have to move around, you know? All these tours and concerts, they're never in the same place at once, so I have to keep moving." "But you can't just... you know. Stay with me?" "How am I going to live with you when I live my life out of a bus and suitcase? I don't keep anything around with me that's bigger than me. I don't have a home, babe, I'm a rolling stone." Vinyl motioned her arm as if showing the vastness of the horizon. Octavia bit her lip, deep in thought. "So you've never once in your travels met a pony you wanted to stay with? Never just thought about playing in just one spot? Or leaving when you're needed?" "That would be hectic, and would waste all of our funds. But no, I've never met a pony like that. They were never worth my money, my job... my passion. This is what I've been destined to do! I can't just up and leave it. That would be like trying to get a new cutie mark because you want to share a profession with somepony else." Octavia only sighed, defeated and knowing that nothing she could say would change the DJ's mind. "I guess you're right... would you just tell me what happened last night then?" Vinyl shifted in her seat, knowing Octavia must have been upset not being able to have her idol living with her. But Vinyl knew her fans well. They would have her around, love her for a little while, but when new music caught their interest, or Vinyl just wasn't what they hoped, they would just up and leave her alone. There was no point in going through it in her home town too. 'Guess that's the beauty in groupies. They follow you, and you can leave them whenever, never causing issues, and always having fun.' "..Vinyl?" Octavia repeated before the DJ jolted from her thoughts. "Oh! Yeah, yeah, last night... um..." Vinyl took a quick bite from her food, the first, and likely last bit of food she would have for breakfast. "Well, Fredric was dared to kiss me, or something, and you uh, I guess you were tired or something, but you heard the dare and got upset and yelled at Beauty for coming up with such a horrible idea-" "That's not how I remember it!" Octavia interrupted, her hoof falling heavy on the table. "Well, of course you wouldn't remember it like that, you were drunk and half awake." Octavia grit her teeth, but sat back down knowing that arguing wouldn't do much for her now. "Anyway, you got upset and yelled at Beauty, and she teased you for it, but she was just trying to lighten the mood, although you stumbling about yelling at her was pretty funny. Um, yeah, and then you tried to swipe a hoof at Fredric and missed, so I pulled you back and laid you down again, because, you know, you were being crazy." Vinyl stopped for a moment to think again. Octavia took note that Vinyl wasn't lying about how she was bad at telling stories, but there was a charm to it. Octavia just wanted to lay in her bed, Vinyl right next to her telling her a whole story about absolutely anything. "But I pinned you to the couch and you just blushed and passed out. That was it." "What?" "Yeah, you like, passed out under me. So I just snuggled up and went to sleep." "Y-you didn't...?" "Didn't what?" "Nothing." Octavia sat back in her seat confused. Well at least it was a dream, that way there wouldn't be anything awkward going on between them. But then again... 'No!' Octavia's thoughts rushed from their temporary silence, 'She already said she didn't plan to stay here with me, there's no point in trying to force her. She would have been a good friend.... maybe...' "So we going back to the house? I've got a few things to pack for a little show tonight." Vinyl was pushing her seat in, balancing on tired legs and looked up to give a reassuring smile. 'Might as well enjoy her while she's here...' Octavia thought, her chest tightening at the thought of Vinyl leaving for any reason. Leaving her seat, the grey cellist trotted up to her friend, brushing the other mare with her tail. Vinyl caught on, and with a goofy grin accepted the offer, allowing Octavia to intertwine their tails. It was a small, normally friendly gesture, something that ponies did to show off a flourishing friendship, but this felt better than that. Almost perfect. Vinyl ignored it again, trying her best to keep her mind on the moment, and not the future. But that was proving a bit hard. "You doing anything tonight?" Vinyl asked suddenly. Octavia didn't turn to face the mare to her side, but her ear twitched at the welcomed voice. "I don't know, I might." Octavia said slyly, a small grin on her muzzle. "You... um... wanna come to this gig?" Vinyl tried to cough out, but she seemed more nervous than she wanted. It was such an easy question. Vinyl soon grew even more nervous as the silence fell between them. The DJ wouldn't be half surprised if Octavia had said no, especially after having told her she didn't want to stay here in Ponyville with her. However, Vinyl's thoughts were put to a halt as she received her answer. "I'd love to." > Club Can't Even Handle Me Right Now! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The scene was something she would have only imagined in her dreams. The loud music rocking her body, the silence shot from her and slaughtered brutally, then beaten and given a boot party in a dark alley. Yup, that was her ears, just a punching bag for the righteous fists of the music. The smells were something else too, a mix of cigarettes, booze, sweat, spit, and faint smell of weed. That was the only thing that really matter to Octavia anyway, as she swore to avoid cigarettes. The heat was wet, sticky ponies writhing in pleasure, their bodies caught up in the music that continued to blast out of the speakers, their smiles wide and hooves beating the poor ground senseless. The Pitz was all it was called. A building of a large black brick variety, squat and leading underground from the doorway, a large bouncer at the front, a solemn look on his face as he looked over the ever growing line. The room Octavia stood in was basically the whole building, save for a backstage area, and a bar, but other than that, it was all seating and dance floor. However, above the dance floor was a platform, the neon running through the sides glowing electric blue, and the large speakers rising from the back also glowing a similar hue, held a DJ, a special DJ. Vinyl stood above the crowd, her hoof punching the air every now and again, Octavia guessed it was whenever a beat mended with another to form a new sound, or when the bass would drop. Especially when the bass would drop. Vinyl's face was that of the purest joy, the look of somepony in their element. "I wish you looked like that all the time..." Octavia whispered to herself. Not that she needed to, as the music nearly made it hard for her to even think, but what she did think about, seemed almost influenced by the music. Octavia stood near center of the floor, her hoof tapping to the current song, for, although it was a nice rendition of an old piece done by another okay artist, it wasn't one of her favorites. "Hey there pretty lady!" A stallion called over to Octavia as the song drew closer to its end, "You here by yourself, or what?!" "Or what!" Octavia shouted over the music with a chuckle at her "wit". "So you do have somepony with you? Who?" "Her!" Octavia pointed out the DJ happily sending the song off and mending the beat with a new one. The stallion looked up and grinned. "Woah! Hahaha, you're kidding right? You don't look the type!" "What do you mean?" Although the music was blaring, Octavia felt herself get quieter as she tried to speak with the stallion. "Nothin'. Just aside from the well combed mane, the bow tie, and that accent, you just don't seem the type!" "Who's to say I can't let loose a bit every now and again?" Octavia said with a challenging tone. "Hmm, how about you come join me and my buddy? We're only in town for a little bit, but we're always looking for more ponies to hang with!" Octavia considered it, her eyes looking around to see this "buddy" of his, likely another stallion. Octavia couldn't find anything wrong with it, the stallion seemed nice enough. With a nod, she was lead to a booth table, empty aside from a single... mare? Stallion? Well, they had the face of a mare, but very... stallion-like hooves. The pony was a relaxed brown earth mare... maybe... their black mane ending in purple and a pair of red shades balancing on their muzzle, and a black vest with a blood red collar. Octavia went up to the relaxing pony and smiled, the pony in response lifted her head and gave an excited gasp. "You're Octavia Philharmonica!" The pony shouted. Octavia just assumed this was a mare, there was not doubting those eyelashes. "Y-yes I am, I'm guessing you know of my... music?" "Hell yeah!" came the excited response, "I'm a cellist myself, I stopped by to see my friend play before I head back to Baltimare." "Your friend?" "Vinyl! She and I were in a band together. Oh man, those were the days... oh! Geez, I should have introduced myself!" The strange mare put out a hoof and offered it to a puzzled Octavia. "My name is Frolic Stylus! I play cello, draw, animate, and act! I really just like to make stuff. Uhm, anyway... what's a Canterlot pony like yourself doing in a dive like this? Come to scope out some ruffian stallions for a scandal?" Frolic wriggled her brows suggestively, making Octavia giggle nervously. Frolic was a lot different than she had imagined. "Pleasure to meet you, but um, no I'm not here for any other reason to watch Vinyl as well. She's told me about you, but I didn't think I'd meet you so soon... or ever for that matter!" "Aw, she's a real sweetie, isn't she? I hope she's been saying nice things." "Nothing but." "Good! Well, Miss Philharmonica-" "Octavia is fine." "Hmmm, Octavia then? How long have you known Vinyl? "Roughly a good few days." "She tell you any stories?" "Many." "Is she any good?" "Good at what?" "Telling stories?" Octavia stopped for a moment, wondering where this was headed, but continued anyway. "Well, no, but I love how she tells them, I'd love to just hear her tell me about everything ever, all at once. I just like the way she speaks. It's different." "Hmmm.... Do you own a sapphire?" "The necklace?" "Yeah." "Yes I do." "Perfect." "What's perfect?" Before Octavia could get an answer the mare jumped from her seat and wrapped an arm around the other earth pony, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. "You are, go on that dance floor and have fun, I have a feeling your song is on." Octavia was confused now. With a quick turn to see Vinyl switching disks, the beat kicked in and a new song played, a song she loved. However, the strong hoof of the earth mare beside her was gone, and in a second, Octavia was alone. The stallion that had introduced the two was behind the bar washing cups, but looked up to give her a wink. Octavia turned to see Vinyl looking down at her with a smile, mixing the music just how she liked it. It was weird. Vinyl was playing a remix of her favorite song, but the remix was old, very old, not likely something any normal DJ would play, as ponies tend to enjoy newer music. Octavia swayed and moved to the beat, soon letting it take her, the sweet feeling of music guiding her body as she danced. There was nothing, as if she were the only pony on the floor, and nothing would obstruct her, or at least that's how it felt as her body avoided even the slightest chance of impact with another pony or object. It was euphoric, the event, magnificent. -------------------------------------------- "So you got to meet her? When did she leave?" Vinyl asked, sweat on her brow and a large drink in her magic grip. That bottle of water stayed at her side, likely for hydration, but Octavia was still nervous about it. Vinyl had completed her set, the whole thing a massive success, and the following three songs, all favorites of the grey cellist, all down to the simple half notes. After the show, Vinyl had ordered three rounds of drinks and had them all set on the table in front of them. Octavia didn't say anything to oppose this, despite the likely hood of them both getting too drunk to walk home. "She just... disappeared! Like she vanished!" "Yeah, she'll do that. Anyway, what did she say?" "She asked me a bunch of questions and, said I was perfect, and that you were going to play my song." "Yeah?" Vinyl began to smirk scratching the back of her head. "What is she? Omnipotent?" "No, she's sneaky. Must have seen what I was going to play when, and set this up. Remember, she and I are friends, so you know...." "But... wait, you planned those songs out?" "Yeah?" "But that playlist..." "Was all your favorite music? I know." Vinyl sipped at her lingering water, a cocky look on her face as she did. "But-" "How did I know?" Vinyl interrupted, leaving Octavia to nod. "When I was looking through your nightstand I found a little list of songs on paper. It read Favorites List on the top, so I just guessed the music at the bottom was your favorite." Octavia's confused face turned to that of sheer giddy joy, the sound of her squeaking "thank you" repeatedly. Reaching her arms out, the cellist wrapped the poor DJ in a tight embrace, only loosening her grip to give the lovable unicorn a kiss on the tip of her snout. "So...." Octavia began, a blush on her own muzzle, but a more feverish energy about her, "What should we do now?" Vinyl's face flushed from the new display of affection and the ever radiant confidence. Vinyl managed a smirk and licked her lips before giving her daring response: "Let's get crazy." -------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a blur. All of it, and it still was. The smearing of colours and sounds, ponies moving too slow to see with the naked eye. 'What?' Octavia's thoughts escaped her. That was it, all of it was over! The world was ending in a mudslide of effects! But something seemed to be bringing her back, but who knew what? What was that feeling? Warmth. That was it. Where was she? In the house. The house was a mess. How did she get here? Oh! Again, another warm feeling, but where was her head? Her hooves? Were they accounted for? Maybe... what if she was missing one? Would that be bad? 'Maybe so... don't loose track of your hooves!' Again, another shudder and Octavia knew there was something touching her. A sharp turn revealed a drunken, high, and evidently excited, Vinyl Scratch, to her side, her hooves groping everywhere. That can't be good. "V-Vinyl! Have some classss!" Octavia slurred. Surely eating those Celestia shaped candies was a bad idea, they didn't even taste all that great. "Aw babe! You gotta loosen up!" Vinyl laughed, tackling the cellist to the ground. Octavia chuckled, almost too loud, a silly snorting sound coming from her over exerted lungs as she went into her laughing fit. However the fit only lasted for a minute, as the DJ had thrown her glasses to the side, opting to stare the cellist straight. Octavia fell silent, her eyes searching those of the DJ. They were a normal magenta, but for some reason, they seemed to be captivating either way. Then it happened. It! Not just some sloppy messy crap, it was... good, at least it was good to Octavia. The feel of soft lips against her own, the feeling sending sudden tingles run down the grey mare's body. The initial... kiss... as it would be called-- 'It was a kiss...' Octavia reassured herself, her mind focusing on one thing now. --was sudden, but soft. The next one not so soft, but more demanding and rough. Octavia writhed in pleasure under the unicorn, her heart rate growing, her body sweating from more than just the candies. 'She's... actually kissing me!' Vinyl lifted from the mare, her eyes piercing and sure, Octavia's own eyes shaking and unsure. Vinyl only bit her lip. "Nothing you don't want to do..." the DJ whispered uneasily. "Yes." "What?" 'Deep breaths, Octavia' "Vinyl.... take me." > My Chemical Romance > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was early morning... maybe. The room quiet save for the sound of steady breathing, and a clock ticking impatiently on the wall. The neighbors had been quiet, the whole place was silent. But it wasn't wrong, or even bothersome this morning. It wasn't cold here either. Not like it normally was. The sheets tussled about the room, the window open and circulating cool morning air, and the warmth of another pony. 'Wait... what?' Octavia lifted from her spot in her bed, the large depression in the mattress likely from her sleeping like a log the night before, but she still felt exhausted this morning. Everything seemed in place, her room was still disheveled, her mane even more so, and her fur twisted and matted from sweat and a restful sleep. Beside her, however, lay a unicorn mare, her arms searching for the pony that once lay in them only moments before. Octavia sighed; there was no trying to deny what had occurred. She still remembered faintly. The night out, the drinks, the "candies", then the dancing, the talking, the walk to the house. But then there was the kiss. If there was ever a reason to remember last night, it was that kiss. The feeling of having another mare on her lips, a mare she actually liked. "I guess I like her...." Octavia whispered. Her legs shook slightly as she thought about the events. Vinyl had done something nopony had ever done before. "But... does she even like me? Does this mean she wants to be with me or... or am I disposable? I am still just...." A small break in Octavia's voice as she tried not to think about what she wanted to say, "...just another fan." Another rustling in the sheets, and the groggy unicorn mumbled something unclear and sat up lazily, her mane matted and tossed over tired eyes. Octavia had to admit, at this moment, Vinyl was just adorable. The DJ's nose scrunched up irritably as she scratched the back of her mane, her ears twitching as she fussed with her hair and her other hoof scratched eagerly at some itch that seemed to be moving around on her back. As Vinyl's vigorous scratching was done, she reached up a hoof and tapped her horn gently, causing a shudder down her spine as the magic from her horn sparked to life. But as soon as it had started, the interesting display of half sleeping unicorn shenanigans had ended, leaving Octavia to look on to the mare beside her in silence, with honestly, no other reason to keep staring at other than because it was nice. "Soo... uhh..." Vinyl's words came out muffled and groggy, despite her upright position. Her arms came to rest on her legs as they curled a bit under the thick covers, the warmth soon leaving her spot as she continued to shift from her previous resting place. Vinyl didn't make it obvious that she was upset that the cuddling had ended, but Octavia had a feeling she did. Mainly because Octavia herself was missing the contact. "Y-yes... Vinyl?" Was all that Octavia could say. Now that they were both awake, basking in the hazy cloud of what happened last night, talking about the evet was not avoidable. However, that's all Octavia wanted. She wanted to talk, to understand what this all meant, and what this meant for them. Not to say that she wanted to be a couple or anything, that would be stupid, why would Octavia even dream of asking a celebrity like Vinyl to be with her? "You hungry?" Vinyl's voice had quickly pierced the thickening silence. A pause. "What?" "Are you hungry? I have some bits left from my spending money before I leave for the rest of the tour, I was wondering if you wanted to get like... a pizza or something?" "Vinyl... aren't you worried about last night?" "What about it?" "We... we uh..." "Banged, rutted, fucked, slept together, went to dinner, did the do. Pick one, this isn't a Canadian kids show, you don't have to censor yourself." Octavia let out a heavy sigh before finally working up her courage 'But for what? We've already done what is most sacred, why would I have to worry about it?' "Vinyl... we... slept together, for lack of a better term, don't you want to talk about that?" Octavia gave an encouraging smile as she watched the mare beside her look forward, little emotion on her face as she shrugged. "So you have nothing to say? What am I not special to you? You just sleep with anypony that buys your albums and it doesn't matter?" Vinyl's ear twitched at this. There was no point in arguing with Octavia, regardless of how wrong she was. Vinyl soon regretted her image of a party pony. Vinyl planned her thoughts, the words she would say to make this all okay again as the endless drone of Octavia going on and on about something buzzed in her ears. Something about friendship, and being close, something about first kisses and time spent, another sentence was about her liking somepony and being confused for a while. "-but you won't be with me will you? This doesn't matter to you does it?" "I can't." "But why?" 'My career won't let me, I'm stuck, I would love to just stay here, but I can't' Vinyl wished her mouth had moved that moment, but it had set in, the sound was too much, the movement was too much, everything was too much. "I just can't... okay?" "Get out...." "What?" "I said... get out, Vinyl Scratch...." "But..." Vinyl's words died on her lips, not there was much for her to say at this point. Vinyl turned to see Octavia looking almost spent, her eyes red and puffy, tears streaming down ash grey cheeks, and a red face from anger. "I-I can-" "NO!" Octavia shouted, standing quickly in her bed making the unicorn scramble from the sheets to the floor in fear. There was no mercy from the angered earth mare, her ears back and a tooth baring snarl snaking across otherwise tame features, it was scary to say the least. Vinyl only stood, her legs shaking, and her eyes averted from the cellist's. "Get out! You don't even care!" Vinyl flinched as Octavia threw a pillow at her, tears welling in her eyes. "Were you even listening?" Vinyl didn't answer. "YOU WERE MY FIRST YOU SELFISH ASS!" Vinyl only bit her lip, knowing now this was too much for her to even try and defuse herself. There was no helping it, and Vinyl tucked tail and ran, an angry mare on her heels launching pillows, cups, bow ties, feather quills, anything the grey mare could get her hooves on went flying. Vinyl bee-lined for the door, her concern for her own health leading her to disregard that of the door, slamming it to the wall before darting out. Octavia stopped at its threshold, her eyes watching as the DJ disappeared past the streets, other ponies looking on in awe and shock at the sight of the frightened celebrity. "And to think I was just...." a long sigh fell from Octavia's exhausted lungs, followed by light pants, and soon, sobs, as she dragged her body, feeling as if it were a ton of lead bricks, into her house, up the mountains of stairs, and into the empty sea that was the lonely sheets of her bed. The silence that had once enveloped the room was now mixed with the sounds of gentle sobs. But the silence never left. It only grew worse. "Trust me, this one's going to be a winner, I swear!" Spitfire's began with a huge smile on her face, Soarin and Sapphire Shores all crowded at the bus's small bar table with half grins and awkward pity laughs on the ready for the punch line of every "joke" Spitfire had to tell. "So a scientist, a priest, paleontologist, and a rabbi all walk into a bar-" BANG! The door to the bus opened quickly, the force slamming the door into the wall. In the door's threshold stood Vinyl Scratch, her mane a mess, and her face red and covered in sweat, her breathing heavy as she shook the clinging beads of perspiration from her face and a pair of shades, broken, clenched in her teeth. The other ponies stayed still, their eyes glued to the disheveled mare, and two ponies shuffling out of the bus, leaving Vinyl and Spitfire. "I think.. um... I have some chores to do outside..." Soarin mumbled. "Yeah, me too, uh, lawn mowing and stuff...." Sapphire added in half heatedly, knowing that nopony was listening. Vinyl moved out of the way, leaving space for the other two to make a quick exit. Vinyl dragged her hooves to the bar, grabbing a beer and sipping it slowly, her eyes seeming heavy on something past what her eyes had set on. "You need to talk about something?" Spitfire asked, her worried eyes searching those of the DJ. Vinyl's only movement was a slow, dreadful turn, her face and expression one that she hadn't seen on the unicorn in many years, tears welling and a cocky grin, trying to hide the obvious sadness. Vinyl took a shaky breath before letting out a sigh. "I think I screwed up... big time...." > Don't Speak > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So what's wrong?" Fredric asked, the three of the four ensemble had traversed from their homes into Ponyville once more, their faces bearing a look of concern as Fredric had just broken the long and respectably established silence between them. Beauty and Harpo trotted ahead, their faces staying forward, focusing on anything but their thoughts. Harpo had feared the worse, Fredric remained clueless, but Beauty had a heavy load bearing on her shoulders, gifted with the damned "blessing" that was knowing the situation. Beauty only sighed and looked back at the stern faced stallion, he looked as if he could care less, but Beauty knew him well, he was always thinking behind the solid eyes, that stone face of his hiding the immature hot headed and easily jealous brain of a master composer. "Well, she and Vinyl had a falling out this morning, so I guess she just wants to be with her friends?" Beauty trailed a bit towards the end, hoping Fredric wouldn't question her, or ask for more details. "Well, what happened?" Beauty sighed again, she knew hoping Fredric would leave it alone would be a long shot that would never be made. "I guess Vinyl just made Octavia upset or something, that's really all I can tell you." "Why?" "It's her story to tell..." "Why not tell me, and then I'll act like I never knew about it when she tells me?" "Because she'll know that Beauty told you, trust me, I know how you get." Harpo added quickly. His head turned and he gave Fredric an exasperated look. "She hasn't been this upset since her father found out about her love of dubstep." Fredric bit his lip. He had heard stories about her times as a teen, how her father had been upset about her choices in life, and how horribly she was punished for even dabbling in the idea of dubstep. If it weren't for her father, Beauty had said Octavia might have become an instrumentalist in a dubstep group. But dreams die, you get older, and you grow out of phases. Although this wasn't much of a phase as it was a heartbreaking tale of a poor pony not allowed to follow her dreams. "It must have been pretty bad... are you sure you can't tell me?" "Yes I'm sure, besides, we're here, just ask her when we get inside." Beauty growled. Harpo and a scowling Beauty began to grow more agitated as Fredric had pestered them. 'I hope I don't end up snapping about this with Fredric being such a child....' Beauty's mind was snapped back into reality after the door to the town home swung open. However, instead of Octavia being there with a little grin, the little grin she made when she saw them, preparing herself for a day of mischievous fun, the cellist was disheveled, her mane a tousled mess and her coat almost worse. She had dark matted lines down her cheeks, despite the tears that made them having long since dried away, her eyes were red and glassy, and under them were bags large enough to pack away the contents of Carousel Boutique. Beauty gasped lightly, leaving silence to reign once more around the group. "Hey guys..." Octavia's voice was scratchy and tired. The voice of a mare that had been sitting up crying and contemplating. Fredric pushed the others aside to reach Octavia, his hoof reaching out to lift her head, however Octavia pulled back quickly to avoid the contact. "Fredric, leave her be, she's not well..." Harpo whispered. Fredric turned to see the Octavia was still looking down at the floor, her eyes seeming to look past the ground itself. "You guys can come in.... it's just been.... really quite lately..." Octavia finished and turned to let her friends in. It was odd, it had only been a few days since they last saw her, but it seemed like their friend had changed so much in that little bit of time. The entire ensemble gathered together, taking their favorite seats; Fredric in his little ottoman seat, Harpo in the arm chair, Beauty in the love seat, and Octavia on the three man couch opposite the arm chair and ottoman. The four friends sat in silence, the room's foreboding menace pierced them. Had it always been this dark in here? Was it always this creepy? Who long has Octavia been living in this kind of silence? "So what did that vile DJ do to you?" Fredric had once again shattered the silence, his voice nearly blowing away the shield of the other's ears. "Whatever it was, I'm sure I could help rectify it." "Fredric! Don't pester the poor girl!" Harpo shouted in seething anger. "Don't you dare make me the villain! I know you're just upset because I'm brave enough to ask!" "Brave or insensitive and ignorant?" "How dare you! I try to be a good friend and you insult me? What's wrong with me wanting to help her?!" The two stallions continued to argue, their voices having broken the silence, but to Octavia, the silence was still there, looming over her. "It's so strange," Octavia began quietly, her words attracted the attention of Beauty who had since tuned out the other two's bickering. "What is, Octavia?" Beauty asked, her face bearing the look of a concerned mother. "Well, even though Vinyl didn't talk much, everything seemed so much more... lively, and, well, better. Now that she's gone, it's like no matter what I hear, it's always quite compared to being with her? Does that make sense?" "She was keeping your attention?" "Yes, but... now I don't know..." "Did you... like... like her or something?" "I don't know..." Octavia wasn't about to reveal to Beauty if she was really into Vinyl. Not like that anyway. As far as Beauty was going to be concerned, Octavia had a moment of weakness, and she slept with a pony she really enjoyed being around. Not that being a fillyfooler was some big secret, but what would they think of her being in love with Vinyl? They would likely scold her and tell her she was being crazy, that she shouldn't have fallen for a pony like Vinyl. She was a DJ, and DJ's were known for being loose and sleeping with fans. "I'm going to take that as a yes..." "Please don't." The two stallions had not once taken a break from their arguing. The both of them now standing and shouting at each other, although it wasn't quite clear about what, it sounded like they were arguing about Vinyl being a heathen or something, but Octavia didn't feel like getting involved. Regardless of it were true or not. Beauty and Octavia sat in silence as they just watched the two stallions bicker. Octavia soon began to regret calling them all over at once. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So you just left?" Spitfire asked, her drink balancing in her hooves as she juggled it between them. Vinyl sighed and nodded. "She seemed so upset, I didn't want to make it worse." "But you could have spoken up?" "Yeah right, half of the conversations you and I share are a game of charades, not like I would shout... especially with her." "So what do you plan to do?" "Move away, never look back?" "That's not an option." "Why not?" Spitfire sat back in her seat and sighed. "You like this filly, right?" Vinyl nodded, still looking past anything in particular as she listened. "So you just wanna, get up and leave? Like, just up and go away, leaving her here to wonder where you went? Maybe she liked you too, and you're just going to leave her and break her heart?" "That's what being a DJ's all about, right?" deadpanned Vinyl as she pushed her drink away from herself. "Wrong! You're supposed to make ponies happy, get them dancing and making friends!" "I don't know... I just need to think..." "About what, Vinyl?" "About what I should do, you know? Like I don't even know...." "What would help you think?" "Playing a set usually gets me thinking..." Spitfire gave Vinyl a small grin. Taking a quick swig from her glass, Spitfire stood up and walked towards the door of the bus, leaving Vinyl confused. Spitfire only turned to give Vinyl a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Vinyl, I've got a plan, and I know just the stallion to help us make it work..." > Nails for Breakfast, Tacks for Snacks > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spitfire trotted briskly into town, her eyes scanning the area diligently until her eyes set on what it was that she wanted to see. Her wings beat eagerly to speed up, reaching a tall pale white stallion who sipped peacefully at a glass, his rump planted firmly on a bale of hay. Vinyl was impatient, the whole walk, Spitfire had said nearly nothing as she urged the unicorn to follow close behind her. The day, although and clear and bright, didn't manage to ease the DJ's pain. Instead, Vinyl stayed and stewed in her anger and guilt, frustrated by the pegasus's weird antics. The place Spitfire had lead them to, was none other than the "highest class" restaurant in Ponyville. The building a cozy wooden one with mushrooms for tables and hay bales for seats, small vases with flowers for appetizers, and a single waiter trotting along with practiced skill as he balanced dirty plates on his back, and fresh entrees on a single hoof, the other three sending him along without a single wobble in his step. But these things were all missed by the somber DJ, her eyes focused on either the pegasus leading her to the place, or her hooves, carrying her halfheartedly along. "So," Spitfire said with a small smile as Vinyl trotted up behind her, "you ready to play a set that'll set you straight?" Vinyl shrugged and gave a sigh. It would help to think, but this didn't seem like it would be easy to answer. Spitfire only shook her head and turned to the stallion sitting only a few paces away, his head since moved to greet the two mares, a gentle smile on his lips. "Hello, ladies," Fancy Pants waved them over with a hoof, "what is it that I've done to be blessed with the presence of such lovely company?" "Vinyl here has a crush, but she messed it up and wants to think about it." Spitfire blurted quickly. Fancy tapped his chin with a fake thinking face. "Now... this pony.... was it one of the ponies that came in and made a scene at my last party?" Fancy asked with a stern face. Vinyl shrugged and looked away. Spitfire rolled her eyes. "I think so, she's like, a grey earth pony... right Vinyl?" Spitfire turned to see Vinyl looking off into the distance. Spitfire turned back to the white stallion and gave a sheepish smile. "Let's just get some plans down and see if we can't make something happen?" Fancy chuckled and turned back to his drink before responding, his eyes fixed on the swirling liquid in the cup. "Well then, miss Spitfire... tell me what you had in mind....." ----Next Morning---- Octavia stirred, her head heavy and her face numb. After she lifted herself from the hard surface she had nodded off on, she noticed something obscuring her vision, and clinging to her face. A swipe and a shake of the head later, Octavia noticed a pile of papers at her fore hooves. She had been writing music before she went to sleep. But there was very little on any paper. Maybe a few notes her and there, but nothing good, nothing that could be worked on. Octavia only sighed and placed her face into her hooves. The "relaxation" was short lived, as she heard a harsh knock on her door. Hesitantly, Octavia dragged her heavy and sad body over to the door and swung it open. It was no surprise to see her friends Fredric, Harpo, and Beauty all standing there, but Beauty was smiling with a large pamphlet in her mouth. "What's going on?" Octavia asked tiredly before waving her friends in. Beauty simply trotted in and went for the kitchen, rummaging through drawers and pulling out a sharp knife. The others followed into the kitchen and sat down on the floor with curious looks on their faces. Octavia trotted in after them, her face annoyed at the lack of an answer from her friends. Beauty simply looked over to the grey mare and winked. "Look at this!" the blue mare shoved the paper freshly freed from its envelope binding into Octavia's reaction-less face. Octavia took it and looked it over with disinterest. "Read it aloud, silly!" With a forced and annoyed sigh, Octavia read the letter aloud, her eyes scanning the paper seamlessly. To The Rowdy Bunch That Crashed The Last Party! Octavia made a face at this, it was likely a court hearing. She could almost think about how much silence she would be "graced" once she was sent to the moon for such a social taboo. You have been invited to a second party by Sir Fancy Pants and his comrades. You are to attend when the moon reaches its highest point in the sky (or midnight if you prefer). There is no dress code, and you will have all of the amenities free, as well as an open bar, and music being played live! There will also be, if you should need it, open rooms for overnight board, and other activities, such as hot tubs, pools, and games. This party is not an option, it is mandatory or legal action will be taken against you! Thank you -Sir Fancy Pants Octavia dropped the letter on the ground, the rest of the group all feel silent, that is until Fredric spoke up with a cough. "Looks like we're going to a party tonight guys...." > Please Don't Stop the Music! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The house was packed again, a group of ponies walking in each minute, all with bright smiles and bright eyes. Fancy Pants had sent out invites to a large group of lower class locals who failed to attend the last party, giving the event a whole new face compared to the last one, where almost everypony was gussied up in some way or another. Today, however, most ponies settled to attend in the nude, or with a single hat, some had a necklace or small tie, but nothing too crazy. Fancy Pants stood looking over the set on stage, his hooves tapping eagerly on the polished wood and his eyes wandering over the bundles of wires that were strewn across the stage. "Miss Scratch," Fancy began as he looked back to see the unicorn fiddling about behind a large black chest holding her "set" as she called it. Vinyl lifted her head to regard the other unicorn. "Uh... yeah?" Vinyl muttered half interested. "How long, exactly, is it going to take you to set this up?" "I don't know, shouldn't be longer than a few minutes..." "Well, I don't want to rush you, but I think you should get it up quickly before the masses get all in. I mean, I wouldn't want you to be up here setting up in front of all those expecting guests." "I guess..." Vinyl just continued at her pace, her hooves aimlessly bumbling about the box until her hoof touched a familiar rustic rope. The twine material feeling almost foreign to her now. Vinyl sighed as she pulled it out to find a little stone attached to the end. Her necklace had gone ignored for so long, and rightfully so. There was no point in keeping it around anymore. It reminded her too much of that lovely grey mare she had hurt. "I should have just... stayed..." Vinyl mumbled to herself halfheartedly, knowing now more than ever before, that her choice was indeed selfish. But it was likely too late for that now. -------- Octavia walked slowly behind her friends, their excitement beginning to wane at the not so enthused cellist that dragged along as if she were mucking through tar. "Come one, Octavia," Beauty began with a roll of her eyes, "I know it was rough, but I mean, you can always just find another pony here to spend time with? Vinyl wasn't that special, was she?" "Perhaps," Harpo began with a smile, "you could find a stallion to pass the time with?" Harpoon gave a sharp laugh as he saw the disgruntled look on Fredric's face. His muzzle had scrunched into a satisfying twist and his eyes narrowed in what was supposed to be intimidation, but fell very flat. Octavia ignored her friends words and trudged along with a sigh. "Do you think she'll be there? I mean, she is a DJ?" Octavia mused sadly. Beauty shrugged, despite her worry she seemed flippant, and simply continued their short walk down to the large rustic and appealing home of the rich and ever famous Fancy Pants. -------- The set was complete, the crowd happy and drinking, enjoying their time there, sure to try and remember this night to tell their friends, bragging about being able to attend the party featuring the ever famous DJ-P0N3. However, the DJ didn't quite seem herself. The loud and happy stage pony seemed more somber. Vinyl knew they were waiting for her shout and put on the face, the face that ponies paid hundreds to see, ponies that would wrap around buildings in long lines to get into any venue that featured her name, regardless of the event. Instead, Vinyl stood on the short stage before her crowd, a shadow seemingly over her face and hiding her eyes more than any shades could. She raised her hoof and hit play on the set, a CD already placed in the tray and a playlist ready to be mixed on the fly. As the beat kicked in, Spitfire walked up the stage with a smile, a microphone in hoof. "Ladies and gentlecolts!" She began in a slightly commanding voice, hoping that the confused ponies would perk up a bit with the change in mood, "We have a special event tonight! The legend DJ-P0N3 will be playing a special set for you! Instead of playing her pre rehearsed chart toppers, she'll be playing a live, freestyle remix!" The crowd cheered in excitement. Not only had they been able to attend the party that most would kill to be within five feet of, they were privileged to watch a freestyle remix performance, something very few have seen the DJ do. Vinyl started the songs, the simple beat fading into a melody, and the bass melting in with the crowd, falling onto them like waves and rocking their bodies. Spitfire placed the microphone down with a grin and trotted off stage to mingle with anypony that had managed to not be hypnotized by the rhythmic beats of the DJ's music. -------- Beauty trotted in, her hooves began to mindlessly move to the beat, her walking following the rhythm of the music being played, she swayed like the ponies in the crowd as a melody kicked in heavier than before, and a lighter synth came into fruition. Octavia had hardly noticed her friends growing increasingly more and more entranced by the music until a sudden rumble shook the home, the ground below her vibrating from the immense bass being sent through it. "Beauty, do you notice something..." before Octavia could finish, she noticed her friends all swaying and moving to the beats, the synths moving their heads and rhythm moving their hooves, as if the music had chained them down. With a fluttering blink, Octavia looked over the crowd and noticed they had all been doing the same thing, all of them moving and dancing in eerie synchronization, as if all feeling the same beat at once, wanting to move to it the same way, at the same time. Looking around more, Octavia noticed the bartender, the host, Fancy Pants, and even the muscle bound pony from the last party, all swaying like zombies. "This party is hella dead! Well... living dead, amiright?" a familiar voice said accented with a firm pat on Octavia's back. Octavia turned to see that the pony that had snapped her out of her curious stare was Frolic, the strange brown earth mare from the club. One of Vinyl's dear friends. She had her signature red shades and black collared vest, however, she held on her back a large familiar case, balancing ever so carefully as if she had been doing so for years. However, the large case was not the first thing that was on the grey mare's mind. "What's going on? Are they under a spell?" Octavia asked with a shudder. Frolic simply shook her head with a laugh so loud, another dancing pony turned and shushed her, then turned to resume his swaying. "Nah, they're feeling Vinyl, and her music. Through her music." "What do you mean?" "You ever play a piece that made your heart sink in sadness, or fly with a happy flutter?" Frolic asked with a small smile. "Well, yes, bu-" "Ah-ah-ah" the brown earth mare interrupted with a wave of her hoof, "There's no sure way to explain it, but there is a sure way to tell why." "Then why?" "She's hurting... for you." Octavia turned to see Vinyl still up on the shallow stage, although it seemed like she was further away, shrouded in darkness, eating away at herself with guilt. "What should I say to her?" Frolic just handed her the large case she had on her back and smiled, backing up a bit to let the grey mare look over the item in hoof. Octavia looked it over and turned back to see Frolic had once again vanished into the crowd. But seemingly not well enough as Octavia saw the mysterious mare tip hoof slowly and carefully to the bar, waving for a drink as the swaying pony poured and served her. Octavia looked at the mare and gave her a confused look, only to be given a mouthed "shoo" and a dismissive wave. Octavia simply turned and looked at the sullen DJ who had since mixed a new track, but left the crowd in a similar state, swaying in time, heads down, eyes closed, and hooves moving to the beat. Dragging the case close behind, and leaving in her wake a herd of disapproving dancers, Octavia managed to make it to the stage and stand near the pony in charge of the rhythmic and organized chaos. Vinyl was sitting there, focused on her music and her hooves moving almost mechanically, her eyes glazed over from what she could see, and her head swaying as she poured what seemed to be left of her soul and consciousness into the track. Octavia looked on, as the pony she cared for, the pony that made her feel less silent, played a song so void of energy, and moved a whole crowd. "Vinyl-" Octavia began, only to notice her words did not reach the DJ. Instead, Vinyl played on, her eyes watering now. "Vinyl, please... I need to-" Vinyl only turned up the volume a bit and brought in a more aggressive bass. "Vinyl, I mean it I need to talk-" Louder faster bass, the movements of the ponies grew faster and more aggressive with the music. Octavia looked over the crowd as she watched them head bang and shout their frustrations. "Vinyl, stop this at once! We need to talk!" Again, the alabaster unicorn ignored her words and instead responded with a pitched synth upwards scale and a suspension that left the ponies breathless and the atmosphere without air to breath, Octavia's heart fluttered and with instinct reached for the case flinging it open with a single motion, and in her arms did she manage the large worn cello that had lay inside it, the bow entwined with the strings and falling effortlessly into her hoof. Vinyl dropped a bass so heavy and a beat so savage the the floor shook harder than before, leaving the ponies in a primal state of lust and frustration, and creating mosh pits in every corner. Even Frolic had succumb to the immense music, tearing off her jacket and dancing on the bar top, her glasses chipped and her body dancing and writing in primal pleasure known only as the release of emotions through dance. Octavia only responded with a heavy pull of the bow over her strings, the screeching noise didn't seem far out of place for the genre, and she continued with a combating piece she had never read, or even played. Instead, she played from her chest, whatever feeling she had, it came out through the bow. It was uneven, it was nasty, but most of all, it felt good. Octavia's bow began to shred as she ravaged the cello with it, Vinyl combating with her, until soon their music became one, and the beats and flurries became a heated mess of high and lows, the music was no longer combat, it was ardent, passionate, but mostly, and likely to leave a blush on the face of a certain grey cellist, concupiscence. Vinyl's brow held bead of sweat that threatened to trickle into her eyes, her heart beating harder and harder as she tried to fight the music Octavia had provided her, but she couldn't, in a last ditch effort, Vinyl cranked up the base higher, pushed the beat faster, and growled her frustrations as she lead up to another up scaling synth that had lingered a tad too long, leaving the ponies a second to break free of their grasp, and see the two, sweating, blushing musicians that had been playing, only to be violently thrust back into a frenzy again by the drop, their bodies taking control, and their minds a blacked out blur, before the cello picked up and tamed the ravaged track. Vinyl closed her eyes trying to escape the inevitable, her music was slowly falling back into rhythm with the cello, a pleading, crying cello, that Vinyl had no choice but to surrender to. As the cello calmed, and its music slowed, so did the beat, Vinyl finally stopping it completely, and falling into a heap on the ground, the ponies in the audience slowly coming back from their daze. Dropping the cello and rushing to the fallen unicorn, the grey cellist wrapped her hooves around her fallen DJ and brushed her mane aside. "You alright, Vinyl?" she asked, her eyes looking over the mare before her. Vinyl simply smiled and nodded. "Yeah, babe, I'm better than fine." -------- "What the actual HELL do you think you were doing?!" Fancy had a mess of a mane, his tux was ruined, and he was covered in sweat (whether it was his own or another pony's was a curious question), hie eyes were wide as he looked around his home frantically, ponies hindering him as they lay haphazardly across his filthy floors, blocking broken doors, and some having smashed themselves out of windows, their bodies hanging out, and the bar covered in vomit, booze, and other mysterious liquids. Most ponies were bruised or scratched, others were badly beaten with black eyes and lumps, bits of mane pulled and bloody snouts, and while quite a few were passed out from either double hoofing their drinks to bar fights, to mosh pits gone awry, other were staggering out of the disheveled and disgusting home. "My home is a WRECK! I sure hope you weren't planning on leaving any day soon!" Vinyl stood with a sheepish grin and shrugged as she heard the stallion yell at her. "I don't think she meant for all this to happen, sir," Octavia butted in quickly. Fancy only scrunched his nose and shook his head. "No, of course not, but it was not only her wrong doing that caused this mess to occur," Fancy began with a snarl, "Oh no, Miss Octavia, you get a nice dose of punishment as well, the two of you will be fixing this place up until it's done! No leaving the town! I will let the local guard to keep you within city bounds until you've finished, and I want no back talk about it!" Fancy stormed off to his bathroom on the second floor, his hoof steps echoing as the creaky floor boards screamed in painful sore agony as he marched along them. "Oh Vinyl, I'm so sorry, you have to stay here, I know how badly you wanted to leave..." Octavia began with a small sniffle. If there was anything Octavia wanted at this point, it was for Vinyl to be happy. Surely even after that "argument" they had earlier, Vinyl didn't want to stay with her in Ponyville for long. "What do you mean? This is great!" Vinyl said with a smile. Octavia looked up shocked at the response. "What? What about the touring? Your future?" "Can all wait, if I have a reason to stay here, I'm sure my fans can handle a few weeks without me." "With a mess like this, it might take months..." "Or even years," Vinyl's grin widened as she looked at the mare beside her, a grin just as big and goofy adoring her face. With a sudden leap, Octavia clasped her arms around Vinyl, squeezing her tightly as they stood amidst a scene of utter chaos and destruction so vile and intense, Discord himself would flee in fear. Sadly enough, the homeowner was not having as sweet a moment as the two musical mares, as his bathtub gave way, his body falling down with it through the floor boards and to the first floor near a few still hungover ponies who groaned at the load noise, his face growing ever red as he watched as the two happy mares trotted off into the sunset. ~~~tetelestai~~~