I thought my heart was about to explode as I raced down the hallways. I was no athlete, but I definitely wasn’t in a bad shape either. That only raised another question: why did my heart pound faster and my vision become blurrier every second?
Crazy fans were nothing new to me. Running from them was also a pretty common thing. Lazy bodyguards? Well, I couldn’t blame them considering I used to sneak away from those big oafs. That was actually one of the ways I learnt to hide from the fans too. After all, when you’re as famous as me everypony wants a piece of you.
I had had many conversations with my boss about what we’d have to do about my bouncer and bodyguard. He had let the fans get past him far too many times. Neither of us had the heart to fire him though. The best option seemed to be sending him to advanced training in an attempt to salvage his career.
That wasn't important right now. What mattered was finding a way out of this mess. I guessed I could only make it past another couple of corners before I ran out of breath. Usually I would’ve run straight home, but usually the fans weren’t this crazy. So I figured that the safest option was shaking them loose in this apartment building before crashing at my second place.
Another corner was rounded in a flash. I could feel my breath running low. There was no way I could keep this up much longer. As if a sign from above, a door opened about halfway down the hallway. I charged inside without hesitation.
It should have been expected, yet it came like a shock: there was something, or rather somepony, in my way. Because of the speed I was galloping, there was no chance I could’ve stopped. In the moment before impact I focused all my thoughts - and with them my magic- on the door and slammed it shut. Shortly after everything went black.
The first thing I became aware of was the splitting headache and the fatigue. It was a little like the hangovers I’d gotten so very used to over the years, only instead of the lack of hydration, it felt like my very life-force had been drained and was slowly refilling. It scared me more than I would ever admit.
Luckily, the headache lifted quickly and I could feel my energy return from its absence. When I finally opened my eyes, panic rushed through my veins and my breathing quickened. Everything was unfamiliar. My basic instinct screamed at me that this was bad, very bad. That was until I heard her voice. Her oh-so very soft voice.
“Oh, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”
That voice. It didn’t sound anything like what I had imagined. It wasn’t the voice of a crazed fan, nor the one of a rapist. At least not how I imagined one. Rather, it was the voice of a calm and composed Canterlot mare. Not like the rest of the stuck up ponies, but something unique.
“I-I’m good. At least I think so.” I tried turning my head towards the source of the voice, but quickly found it to be a challenge beyond my limits.
“Try and lay still, you’ve been out for quite a while.” There was something about the voice that made it only seem natural to obey.
“Where am I?” I asked through dry lips, blinking to clear the sleep from my eyes.
“You don’t remember?”
“Nothing after leaving my set at Wubfest.”
“That would explain the horde of ponies racing by my door,” the pony said with a giggle.
There was no blinding flash where some supernatural being gave me a revelation, neither was there a cloud of memories blocking my vision. The memories simply laid there, like nothing had happened. The only thought that occupied my mind was an apology. After all, I had stormed into a mare’s house, knocked her over and fainted in her hallway.
“Sorry for knocking you over and fainting in your hallway. I kinda announced my hiatus from both Club de Evora and my production. When I told them this was the last time I would sign autographs in a while they went nuts and all I could do was to run for my life.” I let out an awkward laugh and turned my head to flash her a sheepish smile.
The mare in front of me was nothing like anypony I had ever seen. While she definitely looked like an upper class pony, she didn’t have that stuck-up air about her that ponies like her usually had. Where most ponies would think a grey coat would seem boring, something about hers enthralled me. The coal black mane and tail elegantly laid on her in such a natural way it almost caused a second of jealousy take over my mind. On her neck was a small pink bowtie that highlighted her eyes in a way that made everything else seem so irrelevant.
To say for the least, I was stunned.
“Your eyes, they’re so beautiful,” the words slipped out of my mouth in form of a mumble. I realised what I’d said too late. “Eh- I mean, thanks!” I could already feel the heat flushing my face. I cursed my white coat.
If she’d noticed, she didn’t show any signs of it. Instead she took a seat in a chair opposite of the couch I was slumped down on. It was at this point that I noticed her cutiemark. A treble clef. So, a fellow musician? This raised the most natural question in my still groggy mind: What kind of music did she play?
Before I could let my mind wander too far her voice snapped me back to reality.
“There’s no need to thank me, I’m sure anypony else would have done the same.” Once again I found myself lost in those eyes. “Would you want some tea? Coffee, maybe?”
I’d never been comfortable in a stranger’s house. I could never shake the feeling I had overstayed. This time was no different and all things considered the urge to leave was taking over. I tried pushing myself into a sitting position but quickly found out that it was a challenging task.
“I’m sorry, but I have to go. Y’know, stuff to do and all that.” With high effort I got to my hooves and started wobbling towards the door. Admittedly my brain was not fully working. Otherwise I would have questioned the way the walls were spinning, the sudden wave of dizziness and the shadows forming in my vision. I could feel my hooves starting to give in. Once again I fell.
“I think you’re staying here tonight.” I woke up to the voice of the earth pony. “And tomorrow I’m taking you to the doctor.” I felt her hoof tugging at me, trying to get me back up. Luckily it seemed I’d only been out for a few seconds this time. I was not satisfied with her suggestion though.
Before I could open my mouth to protest she continued. “Before you tell me that you have more important things to do. You said yourself that you’re on a hiatus. So now I will help you get back to the couch, and you will stay there. This is not a suggestion, are we clear?”
All I could muster was a weak nod. I could not tell whether it was the authority, the soft layer behind or the good arguments, but there was something about her that made me obey with no further protests.
With some help from the mare I got back to the couch safely once again. Once she had made sure I was comfortable, at least as comfortable as I could be in this situation, she walked into what I assumed was her bedroom. After a minute she returned with a pillow and a blanket.
“I’m gonna go to bed now. Don’t hesitate to shout if you need anything.” She stopped for a second before slamming a hoof into her face in a most unfashionable way. “I can’t believe I forgot to introduce myself.” She let out a small sigh. “I’m Octavia Philharmonica,” she said, followed by an elegant bow. All earlier frustration seemingly disappeared again.
I let out a giggle at the motion.
“I’m Vinyl Scratch, but most ponies know me as DJ Pon-3. I really can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.” An idea sparked in my still ever-so-groggy mind. “How about I take you out for lunch tomorrow?”
“That sounds lovely, but for now try and get some sleep okay? Good night, Vinyl Scratch,” she said with a warm smile.
“Good night, Octavia,” I replied, feeling exhaustion take over. Before sleep one final emotion crossed my heart. Regret.
