When Vinyl and Octavia become friends, Octy begins to wonder why she's never seen Vinyl without her infamous purple shades. What is the reason behind them? Will Octavia ever get to see the eyes of her only friend?
She had no idea where she was headed, but one thing was certain; she had to find out today. Using her magic, the white unicorn adjusted her purple sunglasses and sighed. So much for a great eighteenth birthday...
With each step, her two-toned blue mane grew limper, the heavy rain plastering it to her head. At least there was one good thing about this day. The young mare had always enjoyed the rain. And so, with an extra swing to her step, and a slight bobbing of her head, she smiled. There was no way she would let her parents ruin her birthday simply by threatening to sell all her belongings if she didn't find another place to live by midnight. As much as it angered her, her good for nothing parents had a point; She needed to find a new place to live.
Didn't Chalk say The Manehattan Apartment Association was able to find him a cheap place? He said he even got a roommate! Finally decided on where to go, she started to speed up her trot. So with added vigor, her white hooves carried her in the direction of the MAA.
Along the way, she found herself thinking about her new place. I hope I can get a roommate! How sweet would that be? OOH! Especially if it were somepony who loves music as much as I do! She looked down at her flank, adorned with two bridged eighth notes. They don't call me Vinyl Scratch for nothing!
Sooner than she had expected, Vinyl arrived at the MAA building. Her smile grew excessively wider as she looked through the purple tint of her shades at the window, plastered with adds for apartments for rent. She found that quite a few were from ponies looking for a roommate. Aw yeah, this is gonna be AWESOME! Finally, no more parents to tell me to turn down the wubs!
With a big, goofy smile plastered across her face, Vinyl opened the doors and stepped inside, slightly disappointed that she was no longer in the rain. But it didn't really matter to her, because she was already picturing her new home. Her new home, hopefully including an awesome roomie.
The grey earth pony set down her mane brush and sighed, looking into the mirror one last time to check that everything was in order. She had just been informed by the MAA that somepony was interested in meeting her in regards to the room she had available. It was all very short notice, and she was told that they would be here shortly. As she fixed one last minor detail in her charcoal mane, there was a buzzing sound as the inevitable pony pressed the button for her room.
With a large smile and a bounce to her step, she trotted to the intercom and flipped the small black switch. "Octavia Philharmonica speaking, how may I help you?" she asked, already certain of the answer.
A few seconds passed in silence, then with a slightly coltish undertone, a mare's voice answered. "Yeah, I'm s'posed to talk to you about that room you got for rent. Say's on the paper they gave me that you're a musician, so I thought you would be the best choice." The mare paused for a moment before continuing with her somewhat rough voice. "My name's Vinyl, by the by. Vinyl Scratch."
Octavia was taken aback by her voice. She sounded like one of the ponies from her old school that used to always talk about getting 'crunk'. Shaking her head to both dispel her of her thoughts and fix a loose strand of her mane, Octavia replied with, "Yes, come on up," and pressed the door unlock button.
In approximately two minutes, there was a pounding on the thick wooden door of the spacey apartment. Octavia opened the door, and held out a hoof in invitation, slightly taken aback by the water-logged unicorn. She hadn't even noticed it was raining, but she wondered why anypony would walk around outside in this weather without at least a rain coat.
Instead of the expected hoofshake, the alabaster mare took the opportunity to give her a hoof-bump. Octavia was already starting to regret this. She sighed inwardly and stepped aside allowing the 'musician', as she so called herself, inside. Hopefully, she would be able to get this over with as soon as possible.
Vinyl stepped back, and smiled slightly. "Hey, Octy? You uh, might wanna duck and cover." As she noticed that the grey earth pony was not going to move, the mare decided that she might as well just show her why. With a violent shake starting from her ears, the white pony shook herself free of the rain water weighing down her coat. Octavia had to cover her face with a foreleg, fending off most of the water sprayed her way.
With a disgusted groan, Octavia moved out of the way for her visitor. Oh, please let this be over soon so I never have to see this...ruffian again! "Well, Miss Scratch, welcome to my home. Would you care for a beverage?" Octavia tried to keep her tone as inviting as possible, but the goofy smile on the mare that just very nearly ruined her mane put her off.
Scratching the back of her neck for a moment, Vinyl shook the goofy smile off of her face. "Uh, yeah, thanks Treble-clef." Octavia didn't notice the blush slowly creeping its way onto the young mare's face as she lead her into the kitchen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (A few minutes earlier)
Happy that she was able to get to meet her potential new roommate on such short notice, Vinyl found herself trotting downtown at a fairly brisk pace. She had made sure to put the MAA in her contacts on her new cellphone, just in case this interview didn't turn out so well. With a small map and some info on the place and pony, Vinyl made her way, not bothering to make sure she wouldn't bump into anypony else. She got a few mean looks from those she did happen to run into, but she payed them no heed as she read the information sheet, magically laminated to keep it dry.
Blah blah blah...three bedroom apartment...bay windows...come on, let's get to the stuff about this mare! In almost no time at all, Vinyl was surprised to find out that she was already at her destination, and that without thinking she had buzzed up.
"-you?"
She shook her head violently as she was snapped out of her thoughts. "Uh... Yeah, I'm s'posed to talk to you about that room you got for rent. Say's on the paper they gave me that you're a musician, so I thought you would be the best choice." Oh great, I must've sounded like a total idiot...Your name! Give her your name! but be smooth, don't mess this up, you retard! "My name's Vinyl, by the by, Vinyl Scratch." Was that smooth? What the buck is wrong with me today? I can't even think straight...
With a cautious tone, the mare replied with, "Yes, come on up," before unlocking the door to let Vinyl in. She quickly let herself into the building and, not patient enough to wait for the elevator, ran up the stairs, counting to ensure she wouldn't miss the tenth floor. Two, three, four...eight, nine, ten! With a fresh burst of speed, Vinyl reached the door of the apartment and stood there panting, still dripping wet from the rain. She took a second to gather her wits, and knocked with a powerful hoof.
A striking, ash coated mare with a long, flowing charcoal mane answered the door, and held out a hoof. Instinctively, Vinyl put her own out and hoof-bumped the obviously high-class pony. You idiot! That hoof was held out to shake, and you go ahead and bump it?! What is wrong with you? This obviously isn't somepony you met at a party! Ugh!
When the mare stepped aside to allow the water-logged unicorn entry, she instead stepped back and, with a smile and a remembered name, spoke up. She wasn't about to walk into the apartment dripping with rain water. "Hey, Octy? You uh, might wanna duck and cover." When she didn't comply, Vinyl shrugged a bit and shook herself off, doing so in such a way as to minimize the amount directed at the posh mare.
She used a leg to protect her mane, then again she stepped out of Vinyl's way with a groan.
"Well, Miss Scratch, welcome to my home. Would you care for a beverage?" Octavia asked, smiling politely. The somewhat uninviting undertone was lost on Vinyl as she processed her words, again snapped out of her thoughts. Vinyl shook her head clear and scratched her neck, nodding slightly.
"Uh, yeah, thanks Treble-clef," she responded. Octavia turned and led her to the kitchen, a blush making its home on the young mare's face as she followed, her gaze straying over the perfect form of the mare Vinyl hoped to share an apartment with.
The interveiw went quite a bit better than expected, and Octavia had agreed somewhat reluctantly to allow for the young mare to become her new roommate. The cellist had, after all, been wanting one for quite some time. She just...hadn't expected it to be somepony like Vinyl.
So, the unicorn had moved her stuff in and, learning that it was her birthday, Octavia had for some unkown reason, taken out a bottle of Jura whiskey to help her celebrate. An action that she would soon be regretting. But, she reasoned, it is her birthday, and she was kicked out of her parents' house today, so she deserves to be able to relax with some liquor.
As soon as the alabaster mare saw the bottle, however, she had a different idea in mind "Shots!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, a huge grin on her muzzle and a hoof being thrust upwards. This made Octavia jump, causing the bottle to slip out of her grasp. She stared at the descending bottle in wide-eyed horror as it made its way towards her white carpet.
Realizing her mistake in time, Vinyl grabbed the whiskey just as it was about to hit the floor and, smiling sheepishly, set it down on the counter. "Heh, sorry 'bout that, Octy..." she chuckled, adjusting her glasses. She stood up from her seat on Octavia's over-sized couch and, with unnecessary caution, softly walked over to her new roommate's home bar.
Still recovering from her near-heartattack, the ash colored mare waved it off dismissively, a forehoof clutched to her chest. Holy crap, that pony is loud... "It's really no problem, Miss Scratch. I'm just glad you were able to catch the bottle before it hit the floor..."
"Yeah, what a waste of booze that would've been!"
"That Jura would've stained my carpet, and you're talking about a waste of liqour?! Do you realize how expensive this carpet is?" the mare yelled, when the only response was for Vinyl to law her ears back like a foal caught drawing on the walls, Octavia continued. "For Celestia's sake, Scratch! One would think you're an alchy!"
"I...I-I'm not an alcoholic..." the downtrodden mare whispered to herself. As Octavia was now starting to calm down from her reprimands, she realized just how much like a puppy Vinyl looked at the moment. She is rather cute when she's done something wrong. Perhaps I shouldn't yell at her...
"Vinyl, I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have had a paroxysm... I don't know why I assumed you would know that this carpeting costs one hundred bits for a square foot," Octavia said softly, trying to mollify the cowering pony. "Um...how about we go out to a bar, and I'll buy the drinks. You can have the Jura as a welcoming present.
Ceasing her shaking, Vinyl raised her head and peered at the mare who just moments before had been terrifying. She seemed to look a lot younger than Octavia had first thought, but she knew the unicorn was eighteen.
"You're not going to yell at me?" the frightened pony asked, finally sitting up from her cowering position. It was quite a sight, she had to admit, to watch as Vinyl went from what seemed like her normal self to a cowering little filly with so little confrontation. But as much as Octavia found it adorable, she did not want her new roommate to be afraid of her.
"No, Vinyl," she sighed as once again, the white mare adjusted her glasses tight to her head. "I am very sorry for yelling at you, and I want to make it up to you by treating you to some drinks.
Vinyl brightened considerably at this, and her mouth contorted into a goofy grin once again. With a swish of her tail the unicorn launched herself at the unsuspecting mare, wrapping her forehooves around her in a bear hug.
"You're the best friend ever, Tavi! Now lets get this night started! i know this amazing pub a short trot away that is bound to have you wake up in socks and a saddle!" She threw the door to their apartment open and excitedly started to lead the way, swaying side-to-side in the fashion of a golden retriever that had just received a treat.
Octavia, not too thrilled about going to a bar with such a description, followed slowly behind, the only protest a sarcastic mutter of "Oh,joy..." as she followed closely behind the rough-and-tumble unicorn.
Vinyl stared intently at her sixth shot of rum, watching as the thud of the bass caused the honeyed liquid to ripple. With each deep tremor of the floor, a single drop struggled to break its hold on the force connecting it to its brethren, only to join them once again as gravity did its job.
This was her element. The pounding music, the drunk ponies. She noticed every detail from the washroom doors to the tiny imperfections in the cherry wood tables. She had been here before, despite the illegality of it, and Octavia had nearly caused a scene when the bouncer had informed her that her usual booth was unoccupied.
However, tonight something was different. Not the ash grey mare slowly sipping her third tequila sunrise, nor the new pink coated bartender. She knew all aspects of the normality of Pony Feathers, and the small amount of rum added to her perceptiveness, but she was having trouble placing the object of her suspicion.
"Miss Scratch, you have been staring at that shot for well over five minutes! Either you're that much of a lightweight, or there is something bothering you," the voice of her new roommate rang out, only to die before its time as the blaring music swallowed it whole. Her concentration had been shattered, and her unease slowly dissipated under the amethyst stare of the pony she hoped to call friend.
"Huh? oh sorry, Octavia..." Vinyl stated before rapidly tossing the liquid down her gullet. As the liquid let go its hold on the small glass, she noticed how a single drop managed to go astray, landing on a decidedly new gouge in the tabletop. one that she was certain she had not seen there this night. "There's just something weird about the bar tonight..."
"Perhaps," Octavia sighed, "it is simply the fact that you're now of legal drinking age..?" She smiled encouragingly, placing a hoof on the edgy unicorn's back.
It didn't help. Vinyl knew that wasn't the reason for the chill that ran down her spine. She adjusted her glasses and motioned a waitress over. Then she saw it.
With the flashing strobe lights, and the colored patterns dancing on the floor and walls, she had almost missed it. But there, standing by the bar counter masked in shadows stood a mare. Drink in hoof, the pony was stark still, her eyes locked on the booth. Locked on the two ponies sitting within its confines. More importantly, Vinyl noted a bit sourly, on Octavia.
She didn't like this one bit, even if she was unsure as to the reason. Vinyl could vaugly see the outline of wings folded at her sides, but her vision was obscured when the waitress returned with the drinks.
"Here ya go, girls. Three more shots of rum, another tequila sunrise, and a bottle of 98 proof Germane Vodka," she stated, levetating the drinks carefully onto the table. Vinyl sighed, losing her concentration as she was blocked from her thoughts by a stark realization.
"Um, we didn't order any vodka, Silver..." the white unicorn cautiously articulated, staring at the expensive bottle. A bottle of the high-grade vodka would cost 30 bits at the liqour store, let alone at the bar. And as much as Octavia said she would pay for the drinks, it wouldn't be right to take advantage of the pony who had just undoubtedly saved all of her worldly possessions.
A sly smile spread across the muzzle of the sleek grey waitress and she swished her tail a few times, trying to decide whether or not to tell the agitated white unicorn who had been a regular here for well into a year. Polished Silver had remembered the day the boistrous teenage mare had come in here, flaunting an obvious fake ID. But now was not the time for reminicing, she chided herself.
"Well, sweetie, I know that," She chuckled easily, her voice coming out as smooth as her name implyed. "A young mare wanted to give the 'happy couple', as she put it, a gift." She lowered her voice to a whisper that anypony would have to be sitting at the booth to hear.
"Also, she wanted me to ask about a drinking challenge...much like the one that got your adorable little flank access to the bar." She backed up a step and tapped her hoof on the dark mahogany floor, waiting for the aspiring DJ's quick reply.
Vinyl had trouble grasping the hushed statement at first, but within a few seconds, realization sparked in her eyes. Nopony would have seen it under her purple tinted lenses, but her smile betrayed at least some of what resided in those orbs.
"What the BUCK do you mean, 'happy couple'?!" the charcoal maned rearth pony quietly shouted-if that were even possible, but nonetheless, the high-class musician managed. Looking over at her companion, Vinyl's smile turned sheepish.
"Well, you see, Octy-"
"Don't call me Octy," the now sour-mooded mare huffed, no doubt thinking of the pet name being responsible for the misguided proclimation.
"Octavia, I don't think think this filly was onl-" Once again the white unicorn was interrupted, albeit from a completely foreign source.
"Messing with you? By that smile i'd think you were a lamb," she poked a hoof at Vinyl. "And your eyes would suggest that you found my humor to be outrageous. Am I correct?" the pony smiled at Octavia, her golden flecked eyes portraying that she found the reactions amusing.
She was the pegasus from the corner, Vinyl realized with a jolt. "Who the buck are you, fancy eyes?" she retorted, her smile altogether evaporating in the presense of the pony that had been causing her unease the entire night.
The ultramarine pony apraised her, then Tavi, and finally looked to Silver. She smiled languidly at the blue eyed waitress before returning her attention to the two sitting at the booth. "A friend," was the drawn out, low-pitched reply.
"Well, um...friend...I accept your challenge! So, what is it? who can drink the most before vomiting, who can knock back the most shots the fastest, what flavor of alco-" Well, it would appear that nopony is going to let me finish a bucking sentence!
"Oh no, Miss Vinyl Scratch. I did not come her to challenge you to a drinking challenge; I came here to go agaisnt that hot little filly you inched closer to just a moment ago," the blue pony grinned, flipping her copper colored mane out of her eyes.
"WHAT?! Why the buck aren't you challenging me? think you can't handle a DJ?" Vinyl ranted, slamming her hoof on the table and sending the pricey bottle of vodka flying towards Octavia. Her eyes went wide and her mind refused to allow the unicorn to get a hold of the bottle with her magic. Stupid shock!
However, just before the vodka inevitably hit the cowering pony, a voice rung out, stopping the flying bottle in its metaphorical tracks. "Be still!" it shouted, somehow being both ear shatteringly loud, and as quiet as the flutter of moth wings on a still night. It was only after a few seconds that anypony realized the only thing they were able to move were their eyes, and that even the drops of alcohol and the small floating dust particles were frozen in place.
Then, as if on cue, the strange pegasus stepped forward, picking up shot glasses and using them to catch the rum standing in the air, that had been knocked out ofthem by the force of a white hoof comming down on the table. once the rum was back in the glasses, she quickly scooped up the tequilla sunrise, and then started towards the bottle of vodka and the grey mare it was about to hit.
This was beyond Vinyl's level of comprehension, and as she saw the stranger grabbing Octavia, her mind went into a defensive mode. She began to charge up a spell to disable the mare's own seemingly impossible one as the world stood still. Vinyl wasn't sure why, but for some reason she was the only other pony who was able to move at all, and among further trial, she found that while extremely slow, she was able to move the rest of her muscles.
With grim determination, Vinyl began to cast a disabling web, her horn glowing with an opalescent blue light. The strange Mare's ear twitched and she turned her eyes towards the faint sound of magical buildup emanating from the horn of the white unicorn. With a shocked expression her eyes flashed realization and she quickly turned back towards the amethyst-eyed mare still frozen in the booth.
With a light shove, she moved octavia out of the way, and repositioned the ponies at the booth in a ducking position. with one last move she watched as the angered unicorn's horn began to fire off the spell, bringing the world crashing back as the pony shouted "DUCK!"
Suddenly the world started its vividly quick motions once more, and Vinyl stared as she realized that this stranger had just placed herself where less than a second ago her new roommate sat. She ducked under the tabletop just in time for the bottle to shatter against the pony's neck, severing the coroted artery. In a shower of blood glass and vodka, debris was flung directly into the space where moments before stood the suddenly confused unicorn.
"Oh sweet Celestia, what just happened?!" the familiar voice of Polished Silver rung out as she let her serving tray clatter to the ground. Vinyl nervously peeked her head over the table and nearly vomited when she saw the steady flow of blood pouring out of the mare's neck. Glass was stuck in her left eye and her jaw was hanging limply from its socket.
She turned and with her undamaged eye seemed to smile sheepishly at everypony. Putting a hoof to her rapidly draining neck, she positioned her artery and seemed to completely fix it, stopping most of her blood loss. The purple eyes of Octavia were still wide with terror, only this time she was focused on the blood-soaked pony.
The mare flinched against to sting of glass and alcohol as she took the brunt of the bottle, glass embedding itself wherever it could find purchase. The white pony had just managed to disable the web of frozen time she had hastily placed, somehow skipping over the young mare and allowing her to slip into the timeless pocket that was the teenager's web. She reprimanded herself against the sting, the mistake hurting worse than the injuries she sustained.
She had had just enough time to move herself in front of the line of fire, not being able to stop the oncoming motion. Better I than Miss Philharmonica she thought to herself as she let her eyes portray a sheepish smile, her mouth being incapable at the moment. Without much thought, she brought her hoof up and repostitioned her artery for easier reattachment.
Her eyes lingered painfully on the guilt-riddedn face of the young blue-maned musician. With a stuttering squeek, the unicorn began to apologise, but was cut short when Silver rushed over levetating a damp rag in the air, and began to wipe blood off of her coat.
"HOLY SHIT, SILVER! What is on that cloth, acid?!" her voice managed as she fixed her jaw. With every dab of the wet cloth, stabbing needles of pain raced through the battered nerves from her chest up, white hot and sharp, feeling as though her whole torso was being torn apart.
"Lyca, hold still! The less you squirm, the less this will hurt."
"There's glass stuck in me! at least let me expell it, and then you can kil;l me," she whined, trying to get away as Silver kept dabbing at the blood and glass on her coat.
"Fine, but make it quick, and then dont bother fixing the small stuff!"
Scratching the back of her neck in confusion, Vinyl raised her voice, the terror still evident, if lesser at this point. "Um, am I the only pony here who doesn't understand what the crap is going on here?" She looked to the impatiently waiting unicorn mare, who only gave Vinyl a glance before turning back to the stranger who caught her eye next. The pegasus looked over at her and opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted as Silver dabbed the cloth at her neck once more, elicting a sharp yelp from the teenager.
Next, she turned her head in the direction of the grey earth pony mare, who had a look that said she was just about ready to gallop away and hide. upon seeing the scared purple eyes, Vinyl turned back to the strange blue pony who was now whispering something into Silver's ear, causing the mare to blush and set down the rag.
Near fuming with angry confusion, the unicorn reached out with her magic and tugged on a wing, bringing the now purple-faced pony's attention to her. "Okay, Missy, what the buck is going on, and who are you?!"
(ATTENTION EVERYONE! Those last chapters weren't cannon to this story, in case you were wondering. Vinyl and Octavia actually haven't even gotten to their location, and they aren't visiting that bar...this time. XD)
Initiating reality sequence...
"So, if you're a cellist...why is your cutie mark a treble clef instead of a base clef, Octavia?" the white mare asked, as she walked waving a hoof in the other pony's general direction. Only after the words escaped her mouth did she realize that she probably made herself sound like she had been looking at the mare's flank.
Luckily as Octavia answered, she seemed not to have noticed the slight social blunder. "Well Miss Scratch, as you saw when you moved your, uh, musical equipment into the spare room, I am well versed in many of the string instruments, from the double bass, to even the harp on occasion. However, I did not become particularly fond of the two largest orchestral instruments until my mid teens," she smiled wistfully as memories began visibly crossing her vision, before continuing, "Actually, I was strictly a violinist for my School's music program when I figured out my joy in life.
"My sister and I were holding a makeshift concert for my whole family at the time, and of course, I was playing my violin. Therefore, it makes complete sense that my cutie mark would be the treble clef, as that is the clef used for the violin," she concluded, smiling sideways at her new roommate. The bright smile and brilliant eyes of the mare were infectious, and Vinyl could not help but smile as well.
Adjusting her sunglasses, Vinyl slowed to a stop when she realized she didn't recognize the area at all. Her smile faltered as she looked around, her vision scrolling over the unfamiliar, unwelcoming scenery. The street was littered with pot holes and garbage, and there didn't seem to be a single wall on any of the buildings untouched by graffiti. Even the sidewalk was scrawled with the messy hoof-writing of countless teenagers.
"Oh crap..." she muttered, swishing her tail nervously as her eyes found the street sign. Why did it have to be Gaskin Street..? she thought to herself, now watching the approaching ponies whom she suddenly recognized. This was not going to be pleasant.
"Did you say something, Miss Scratch?" the grey mare asked as she turned around. Her eyes trailed over her surroundings and she sighed. "Let me guess; you've gotten us lost?"
A meek nod was her response as Vinyl walked up beside her. "And you see those ponies coming our way..?" "...yes" "Well...they don't exactly like me..."
The ponies, four unicorns and a pegasus, all stopped when they noticed the white mare. The lead, a slim green mare, smiled cruelly. straight white teeth shone through the darkness of the night, and she resumed her walking. Who exactly was she? Only the cruelest pegasus alive, Pine Needles.
"I thought I told you to stay out of my territory, Staccato," the mean voice rung out through the otherwise empty street. Vinyl cringed at the sound of the painful voice.
"S-sorry, Needles..." She rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof. "I uh...I guess I wasn't looking where I was going..."
"Damn right you weren't." she started circling the two ponies. "You're as dumb as an ox. And who might this little trinket be?" Needles now stood still, sizing up the lithe mare. She let out a small growl in the back of her throat. "This you're fillyfriend, you little dyke?" She let out a scary chuckle. "She's obviously blind if she's into a mule like you, but she sure as hell ain't bad on the eyes."
"Um, excuse me Miss...Needles," Octavia shook her head, "but I must say that as much as my acquaintance here has her flaws, you have no right to speak to her as if she were dirt." Her amethyst eyes hardened. "And you definitely should not speak of me as if I were an object."
"Listen here you little bitch," the pegasus snarled, "Nopony uses that tone of voice with me!" The four other ponies surrounded the grim Octavia and now cowering Vinyl. "Restrain the bitch, but leave Shades here to me." Her gruesome smile widened. "I'll deal with her next..."
The four unicorns dragged the defiant a few yards away as Needles circled the petrified mare. "You shouldn't have come here, Scratch."
Vinyl shook her mind free of the fear that gripped her, locking every muscle in her body. She couldn't believe why this was happening. Tonight was not going as planned, and now Octavia was going to get hurt, just for being near her. It was always the same. Needles would hurt anypony close to Vinyl, and then they would always set the blame on her.
Her heart was racing in her ears as the green mare stalked forward, preparing to strike a solid blow to the alabaster unicorn's temple. It was the move she always made to start the pain; she would leave Vinyl's head ringing as the concussion began to take its toll, then begin with the rest of her well-practiced routine to cause her as much pain as possible.
But Vinyl had long ago become numb to the pain, both physical and emotional. The cruel mare could hurt her no more than a nightmare, she had long since awoken from. The only part of her that Needles could never break was her mind, that one part of her had been shredded long before her.
Despite the lack of pain, Vinyl's body still let out a sharp yelp at the hoof-to-head contact. The useless vessel lurched a few feet into the air and skidded as it hit the cobbled road. Her glasses managed to stay on through the landing, and she absently reached a hoof up to fix them before standing up to allow her attacker further damage to her worthless body.
"Vinyl..!" She heard as blow after blow rained down upon the soft white torso.
"T-tavi..?" she questioned as her eyes searched, her blurred vision unable to focus on anything. "I'm sorry, Octavi-AHH!" her words were cut off by another involuntary sound when the pegasus threw her full weight against the weakened mare.
She sure is strong for a pegasus she thought to herself as she blacked out, a small smile forming on her face. well, bedtime...
Octavia was not about to let this happen. Every fiber of her being was against such things. There was no way this scrawny little mare would get away with hurting an innocent pony. Especially not this young, white unicorn, who showed no sign of even considering to defend herself; which would not have been very hard on her part, considering her muscular frame.
Four ponies had her in their grip, and there was another one throwing a hoof into Vinyl's face, who seemed to completely zone out from the attack to her temple. She's pretty strong for a pegasus... as Vinyl's limp form hit the ground with a sickening thud, Octavia snapped.
Rage.
The four unicorns had no idea who they were now dealing with. Octavia was not one to just sit there complacently-oh no-she knew very well her capabilities. A hoof in the face of the colt behind her made a gut wrenching crunch as his muzzle was crushed with the force of a brick wall hitting him at twenty miles per hour. He fell back, unconscious, but not in desperate need of an ambulance. The mare on her right, however, was much less fortunate as a front leg made painful contact with her throat, cutting off vital air supply. The remaining two backed off, staring at the lightning fast damage.
"You'd best get her to the hospital, you worthless sacks of shit!" she spat, as she raced towards the green mare beating up the innocent unicorn. "Vinyl..!" she screamed as she barreled towards the two.
A weak voice cried out Octavia's name as the white face searched. Despite the glasses still managing to cling to the pony's face, Octy could determine that Vinyl had no hope to see more than flashes of movement at this point as she began to black out.
Octavia's vision narrowed as she leapt at the assailant. She hit Needles hard, and the two tumbled to the ground. Vinyl screamed at the sudden weight and went limp, her breathing steadying. oh, In hope she's okay... The slender mare yelped as her wing hit the ground, crumpling in an unnatural manner.
"You little bitch!" Needles yelled at the grey ball of fury on top of her. Octavia barely heard it as she slammed a forehoof into the glaring green face. It felt so good to release her years of frustration onto this well-deserving mare. Seeing those yellow eyes fill with terror somehow satisfied her while at the same time made her terrified as well.
There was a reason Octavia never let her temper rise as much as it was now, and that reason made her sick to her stomach as she released the battered pegasus. Pine Needles immediately ran, leaving Octavia and her unconscious roommate alone.
Well, there goes my chance of having a relaxing drink with my new roommate... Octy thought to herself as she used her muzzle to scoop the white filly onto her back. Huh. She's pretty light for her size.
The disgruntled grey mare began retracing her steps back to the apartment, oblivious of the ponies she passed on the streets that gave her odd looks. Until, that is, they seemed to recognize the bloodied unicorn she was carrying.
Vinyl awoke to the cold touch of an ice-pack coming into contact with her temple. She let out a sharp yelp as the frozen object touched a small gash as sent a head-splitting pain through her spine. "HOLY CRAP, MOM THAT"S FREEZING!" she screamed, batting the grey hoof away. Her breathe caught in her throat and her heart sped up as she realized something. "Wait..."
Bright purple eyes stared kindly down at her. And then she remembered. She remembered waking up for a few seconds as the posh grey mare carried her broken body home. Those shimmering amethyst eyes had turned back to greet the stirring pony on her back as Vinyl shifted herself to drape her hooves around the slender neck of her new friend.
"Oct-tavia..? You're okay..? And you...don't hate me?" but just as quickly as she had awoken, Vinyl again passed into unconsciousness.
"I can understand your confusion, Miss Scratch, but I am not your dam," the grey mare chuckled lightly. "But I'm sure you're used to your mother waking you up in such a manner, considering you seemed to know exactly what was happening with that green pony."
A devious smile lit up Octy's face as she revealed her next piece of information. "You may want to know that she should not be bothering you anymore..." Her smile wilted. "Though i must say that I am not proud of myself for my outburst..."
Vinyl shook her head in confusion. Was she hearing things, or had Octavia actually said that? "W-what? but there were four unicorns restraining you! How-you-GAH!..My brain hurts..." She put her hooves over her face and took a few deep breaths. There was still something nagging at her, and now was probably the only chance she would receive.
"Octavia, you are the only pony who has ever cared enough to help me...So why don't you hate me like everypony else..?"
The question caught Octavia off guard. She opened her mouth to speak, but shut it when she realized that she didn't have an answer. Why would she possibly hate somepony for getting beat up? It made absolutely no sense to her, until she remembered what that mare had said just before she started laying in to Vinyl: Restrain the bitch, but leave Shades here to me. I'll deal with her next...
"Vinyl, I'm guessing that anypony unlucky enough to be near you when you ran into this...Pine Needles character got roughed up just as bad as you?" Vinyl nodded. "I seriously doubt they hate you, but they would be afraid of being associated with you." Octavia smiled. "I, on the other hand, am not one to scare easily. Besides, I would never let some self obsessed bitch attack my friend and get away with it."
The white mare on the bed smiled happily as she raised her head from her hooves. "Thanks, Tavi. That really means a lot to me," her rough voice choked out. She once again batted the ice-pack away as Octavia tried to press it against the swollen head-wound. Octavia only smiled at the broken mare. She would be fine with a good night's sleep.
"Well, Vinyl," she stated as she stood from her seated position beside the bed, "I'm going to sleep, and i suggest you do the same. Your concussion is not severe, so there shouldn't be much of a problem, but you do have a few cracked ribs. If you need anything, don't hesitate to wake me up." And with that, she walked out of the room.
It was hopeless: no matter what she tried, Vinyl could not get to sleep. She had even tried taking off her sunglasses at one point, but to no avail. Something just didn't feel right. And it wasn't the fact that any movement she made hurt, as by now she was used to such things. No, something was definitely wrong...
"Ugh, this is pointless!" the white mare muttered to herself as she hopped out of her bed, her blue comforter falling to the floor around her. She winced as her hooves contacted the ground. This was not what she had expected her birthday to be like.
With a burst of magic, Vinyl Flung off her purple sunglasses, setting them on the small nightstand beside her queen-sized bed. Maybe I'll be able to sleep after a shower... she thought, her frustration cooling at the prospect of warm water.
With every miniscule motion Vinyl winced, her two-toned blue mane bobbing slightly on her head. She opened the door to her room and looked across the hall, checking to make sure that Octavia was infact in her room, then silently made her way to the Bathroom down the hall.
She closed the door carefully behind herself before turning on the bright LED lights that rested along the wall. She did not want to disturb the posh grey mare down the hall. Turning to face the door once again, the white unicorn cast a soundproofing spell, the blue aura surrounding her horn moving to cover the small doorframe with a soft wir of sound.
She then dissipated the holding spell she had placed on her mane for the day and looked into the mirror at her battered appearance. Wow...I guess Octavia really did stop Needles from causing all that much damage... She thought as she brushed a hoof over the cut at the corner of her mouth. Her smile hurt, causing her to lose it.
With a sigh and a burst of magic, Vinyl turned on the water to a measured temperature and entered, the gentle flow of warm water washing away her pain and frustration, leaving a very relaxed mare. It was almost as relaxing as a walk in the rain to the tired pony.
After about a half hour in the shower, Vinyl turned off the water and shook herself dry. She considered replacing the holding spell on her mane, but then decided against it as she was planning to go back to bed soon anyways.
She looked at the small clock above the bathroom door and her eyes opened wide as she read the time. "How the hay is it already 3am?!" she muttered, cursing under her breath as she opened the door, breaking the soundproofing spell. Well, no point going to sleep now. She sighed.
After a quick stop into the spare room to get some of her music and her headphones, Vinyl vanished back into her room, the soft click of the door the only sound.
Octavia awoke to the soft sound of a shutting door, her eyes shooting open in momentary fear, before she remembered Vinyl in the next room. The poor pony probably hadn't been able to get to sleep the entire night. Octavia sat up and stretched her cramped limbs as her silk sheets fell around her. Her purple eyes glared at the black bangs in her sight, and she reached for the brush on her nightstand and ran it through her bed-mane.
After a few minutes of brushing, Octavia tied on her signature pink bow tie and smiled at herself in the mirror. It was not long, however, before she realized that the sun hadn't even broken the horizon. She glanced to the large analog clock hanging on her wall and raised an eyebrow. Wandering around the house at 3am? I hope this won't be a common occurrence...
Just then, a loud clanging sounded from the kitchen, causing the mare to flinch in surprize. She could have sworn the little white unicorn had gone back to bed. Immediately, Octavia opened the door to her room and stepped out, colliding with Vinyl, whom was coming out of her new room.
Both ponies let out a yelp and jumped back. The first to recover, Vinyl shook her head and muttered a phrase Octavia couldn't understand, as it wasn't in English. She assumed, however, that based on the tone it was something about pain.
"What was that noise?" the grey pony groaned, rubbing her head where it had collided with Vinyl's. The mare in question shrugged, adjusting her shades. Octavia looked quizically at her, wondering how in Equestria she could manage to see with those things on.
I mean, honestly. It is 3 in the morning, the moon is still out, and the first thought she has is 'I'd better put on my sunglasses before I go see what that noise was'?! another loud crashing sound snapped her out of her own mental rantings. So it wasn't her...
"Octy..?" Vinyl whispered from somewhere behind her. "Do you by any chance have a dog you forgot to mention?" She sounded genuinely terrified, and after what had happened only a few hours ago, she had cause. Octavia made a dismisive sound before creeping ever so slowly forward into the darkness.
She could barely see her own hoof in front of her, but thanks to her having lived in this apartment for well over a year, she didn't need much light to navigate the tidy surroundings. Whereas it sounded like whatever was lurking in the dark was hitting something every few steps.
Vinyl, on the other hand, was following her closely, getting hit by Octavia's swaying tail every two paces. The sound, she had determined, was coming from the kitchen. She headed for it in a bee-line, stepping gingerly around a lamp that Octavia assumed Vinyl had brought.
Vinyl, however, collided with the thing and let out an oomph as her and the lamp both toppled to the floor with a thud. Only a few more paces left until the kitchen, she didn't bother to stop and wait for her roommate to get up.
Once there, she listened for any signs of movement. Nothing except breathing coming from the den, That would be Vinyl. Holding her breath, she switched on the light. And then she saw it. Her pantry door was ajar.
She cautiously inched herself closer and reached a trembling hoof towards the handle. As she pulled the door open slowly, something started to move, emerging from the depths. It was horrible. It was frightening. It was...It was.
A stuffed dragon fell out, hitting the linoleum floor with a soft squeek. Red and purple fuzz adroned it, giving pattern to the small toy. Plush horns and claws, whilst looking sharp, bent at odd angles as the dragon lay there, the fabric creasing.
There was only one way this plushie could have come to be here, and Octavia's blood ran cold at the thought. It always creeped the hay out of her how talented this pony was at breaking and entering, but luckily she still couldn't make a quiet entrance.
Again her train of thought was interupted. This time, however, it was by the sounds of a struggle taking place. She rushed out into the den and pulled the two mares apart forcefully, as they were each trying to subdue the other.
"Octy-"
"Tavia-"
"I found a burglar!" the two ponies shouted simultaniously. The grey mare only chuckled as both ponies pointed at the other, still trying to strike out.
Then Vinyl did a double take. The mystery mare sat there, blue eyes fixed on her target, equally deep blue hair tangled but nevertheless in a very familiar hairstyle. Her butter yellow coat was adorned with a blue treble clef, and she was wearing a red bandana around her neck. A white stetson lay upside down a few feet away.
"Vinyl, meet my twin sister, Fiddlesticks," She stated formally, gesturing towards the yellow earth pony. "Fiddles, this is my new roommate, Vinyl Scratch." She pointed with a hoof to the white unicorn in turn. They both sat, staring slackjawed at the cellist.
The cool autumn air drifted in through the small crack in the dusty window, and the last rays of sun glistened in the colt's teary-eyed expression, for he knew her time had come. His little filly had been sick for years, and a few weeks ago she had been stricken into bed.
Nopony. Not the doctors, nor the zebras could give any knowledge on why this was happening. She had been examined by both magic and science. Even Celestia herself had come to visit at one point, but she had given up hope. Maybe she would finally get to see her mother again.
Oh, how she ached to see her mother; a mare whose face was only a vague memory. But it was her father whom ached most. Her father, the stallion who had given up everything to marry the pegasus of his dreams. He had forsaken his noble bloodline and renounced his name, all for that same mare that had mothered the worthless yellow filly who lay dying before him, her breathing shallow and laboured.
As the fiery yellow orb was being laid to rest, Ochre sang, for the first time in many years.
"You are my Sunshine..."
Golden eyes opened to gaze up at the pained face, remarkably bright for somepony so weak.
My...Only Sunshine,"
A tiny yellow hoof reached to grasp the worn out brown of her father's, and a small pained voice made a nearly silent, happy sound before her eyes closed once more.
"You make me h-happy, When skies...are grey."
He closed his eyes in a pained expression and inhaled a shaking breathe of the cold air as the small foal rested her head on her pillow, soft orange locks crowning her smiling face as a tear rolled down it.
You'll never know, dear...How much, I love you...
His words were for both the little replica before him, as well as the long lost mare he loved, and as the hoof holding his loosed, the tears flowed freely down his grizzled and greying snout.
Please dont take my Sunshine away..."
By now her color had faded, leaving her bright yellow coat with a dusty looking pall, as if an old shade of paint, and as Sunshine Songs exhaled her last breath in a blissful sigh, Ochre let out a sob.
His head fell to rest on the limp pony before him, and his red mane, riddled with grey hairs, covered his wet face. His little girl was free from the sickness that had for so long hindered her, finally able to fly; so why was he so sad? After all, she would get to see her mother again, and there was no pain in elysium.
Perhaps, it was the sad truth. That he wished to go with his daughter. He had nothing left now...He had denied his family, and the two lights of his life were gone, leaving an empty house. He could not live here, not without them.
Kissing Sunshine's forehead, Ochre stood. "I'll be there to guide you soon, little one..." He left the room, and closed the old oak door behind him, the starry night softly illuminating the room.
...And so, I have informed the morgue. They will be here to pick up our bodies soon. I'm deeply sorry Brother, that I never got to say goodbye. Was written on the note found the next morning, next to a hanging corpse, the soul already departed.