The sweet sound of a violin echoed its way through Canterlot station. Onlookers watch a beautiful young mare dance and play her heart out. Stepping, twirling, the young unicorn moved like flowing water. Never missing a beat, she tapped her hooves. Her violin matched her jet black coat. Her mane, a monochrome blue, seem to float under her graceful movement.

From across the platform a teenage dragon watched the performer with awe plastered upon his face. Celestia's sun shone brilliantly off his lavender scales. Transfixed by her, the sweet tune was heaven upon his sensitive hearing. It had the added bonus of silencing voices as well, since many others were also transfixed by the sound. However, it was not to last. She began to pack as the nine o'clock express screeched into the station, much to the dismay of others who still had to wait. She retrieved her fedora from the ground, pouring the bits into a small brown bag. Bag placed in her case along with her instrument, suitcase in hand, and fedora firmly upon her brow, she filed into the line to board the newly-arrived train.

Mid-train, she found an empty compartment on the right side of the car. Stuffing her ticket into the band on her hat, so as not to lose it, she stored her violin and suitcase in the storage rack above the seats. Her precious instrument and belongings safe from harm, she flopped upon an entire bench. Stretching out like a cat, she arched her back. It fell good as the joints popped. Turning over, she rolled her head back to look out the window.

"Everything is perfect." She whispered to herself with a cocky grin and a gleam in her eyes. "No thanks to you, Mom." She sat up as the conductor yelled. "All Aboard! Final call to the Crystal Empire!" The car shook as the engine started to pull. The whistle screamed out, marking the train's departure. She watched the scenery turn to a blur, the train picking up speed. Her growling stomach, however, pulled her away from the view, standing up she trotted out into the hall. Turning left, she briskly made her way down the corridor to the dining car. She sighed as she look upon all the tables. The full ones that is. The only open seat happened to be with a purple dragon wearing a plain blue t-shirt and jeans.

Dragon? She froze solid, her mind raced. The urge to run screamed at her. The last dragon she meet hadn't exactly been very friendly. That one had been more like the burn to ashes kinda sort. Then again, she hadn't exactly been all that nice herself, but she hadn't exactly been in a good mood either. She had still been tense after escaping from her mother. Well, maybe tense wasn't a good way to put it.

All I did was sleep in a random cave. How was I supposed to know a dragon lived there? Well maybe he, or she I'm not sure, will be nicer. I mean it is on a train surrounded by ponies, she reasoned with herself.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself, her hunger pangs helping along as well, to ask him or her if she may sit. One hoof in front of the other, she approached the table.

"E-e-e-x-xcuse m-m-m-me." Her chopped-up words were barely louder than a whisper, her nerves failing her. Funny how she could play all day in front of a crowd, but she couldn't talk to a single dragon without stuttering. The dragon looked up to her from the menu it was reading.

"Yes?"

His jade eyes seemed to stare into her very being. She could tell by the ruggedness of his face and the deep voice he was male or a really ugly female. Nervous, she didn't know what to say. Words were like butterflies and she didn't have a net. Instead her world went dark as she hyperventilated, passed out, and smacked her head upon the table causing his cup of coffee to jump into his lap.

She awoke with a throbbing headache. She brought her hooves to her forehead, easily finding a sizable lump. "Ow..." She groaned the moment she touched it. In the dark and still dazed, she clumsily felt around for her hat. She panicked when she couldn't find it. She wasn't worried about the hat but more so about the ticket on its band. She had lost her ticket before and it cost her a lot. She missed dinner for two nights because of it. Fully awake and alarmed, she blindly threw her head up, trying to get into a sitting position. Pain raced through her every fiber as her horn made contact with the top of the bunk she now realized she lay in. She nursed her injured horn as she stifled the urge to scream. Blinded by light as the door to her bunk opened, she closed her eyes.

"Are you alright, Miss?" A husky voice filled with concern asked obviously to her. Completely embarrassed she blushed, lucky for her, her dark coat hid it quite well.

"Yes I am. I banged my horn on the top bunk. A little bruised, but I'll live, thank you."

"No big. I take pride in helping others, in fact would you like a hand getting up?"

"My name is Melody and I would appreciate it, my eyes haven't adjusted yeeeeEEEEET?" She yelled the last work in shock as a pair of powerful arms hoisted her up and off from the bunk. Clinging to him for dear life, he set her back up her hooves and she took a moment to gather her balance.

"Thank you, Mister...... Wait, how rude of me I never asked you name, did I?"

"My name is Spike."

"That's an odd name for a....." She opened her eyes. "D-d-d-d-d-r-r-agon..." The same one from the dining car, infact.

She felt herself hyperventilating once more. She swayed, the threat of fainting looming on the horizon once more. Spike was quick to act, however, and she found herself scooped up and seated down upon a chair at a small table. A drink was placed in front of her and he began to fan her. Her breathing slowed as she calmed down, and her fear subsided.

"Better?" He asked politely.

"Y-yes." She managed to get out, still fighting the urge to run. "But how did you know?"

"I have a friend who is afraid of everything. Over the years I've picked up a few tricks." Guilt over her fear at such a gentlecolt, well drake ate at her.

"I'm so sorry for the trouble I cause you earlier, you weren’t hurt were you?" He smirked with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

"How would a little hot coffee hurt a dragon when we bath in lava?" A small laugh escaped her lips.

"Actually I didn't know that. The only experience I have with your kind is the orange one that chased me all the way to Dodge City."

"You live far away, don't you?"

"Well... lived. I had a bit of a falling out with my mother. So I decided to finally meet my dad on my own. He doesn't even know I exist so this may not be easy."

"Oh before I forget, here." He handed her a white box. "I ordered you a meal to go so you could eat something when you woke up." She stared at the box, stunned by the kindness he was showing a complete stranger.

"Why are you treating me so well?" She asked, wolfing down the pasta in the box.

"Just my nature, I suppose." She munched on the food as they talked.

"I don't really have much of a way to pay you back other than a few bits. I could play a song, though. Oh no." He followed suit as she bolted from the car. The empty food box was skillfully tossed into the bin as she yanked open the door frame Her sleek frame and precise movements that made her dancing a spectacle also allowed her to move at a dangerous pace down the train. Spike soon found himself falling behind. Lucky for him, she was still in sight when she made a hard right and disappeared. Rounding the corner himself a few moments later, he found her holding the dark instrument. Her suitcase surrounded by an awfully familiar pink glow, she checked the contents of her luggage.

"Good, it's all here." She confirmed with a smile. She closed the suitcase and placed it back in the storage rack. The large violin case, however, stayed out on the left bench.

"Wow, you're fast..." He panted, trying to catch his breath. She turned to face him, her blush still hidden under her dark coat.

"Sorry, I don't like leaving my stuff unattended so long." She apologized as he sat down next to her case. His face contorted in confusion as he gazed up at it. Curious, he poke it with a claw.

She gasped. "Please don't poke at it!" She exclaimed in alarm.

"Why does your violin case have speakers on it and why do they have Vinyl's logo on them? Also, why is it so large when you play the violin?" With a devilish grin, she sat down opposite from him as she levitated her case into her lap.

"’ll show you.” Undoing the latches, she opened it to reveal the inside, brimming with electronics. She locked the case in the open position. From the corner, near the instruments neck, she pulled out a picture and handed it to him. The picture was of her, Vinyl, and Vinyl's roommate, Octavia.

"I met her and Octavia in Canterlot while I was trying to earn some extra money. We kinda just hit it off and became friends. After I heard an electric guitar for the first time, I decided to try the same with my violin. In exchange for bits and sound samples of my playing, she outfitted one of Octavia's extra cases with one of her mix boards, an equalizer, an overdrive, and a few other parts." Setting the case on the ground, she took the black instrument and rested it under her chin. A cord levitated up from the mixer. It connected to a port near her neck that faced towards Spike. Her horn glowed and switches flipped. A soft beat reverberated around the compartment, her bow flew across the strings as the song began. Spike noticed the touch of Vinyl’s style in the beat, but the melody was like nothing he had ever heard before.

The fast paced melody complemented the soft beat. Her hands flew over the fret board, keeping perfect pace with the lightning fast bow. Spike took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he listened to the soothing music. She watched him as she played. She was glad he was enjoying her music, but he frightened her as well, truth be told. He was magnetic. It was odd to her with how little she talked about herself to even her friends and it puzzled her that she would spill so much to a stranger.

He opened his eyes when the song stopped. "That was amazing. Even better than what you played in the station."

She watched him as she returned the violin to its case with a false smile upon her face. Something about him worried her. The thought had eaten and gnawed at her as she played. It was like he was forcing himself to be happy.

"Thank you. It’s harder to play when moving. Also, it’s kinda hard to use the changers when I have to plug into it." She laughed. "Just imagine if I tried to twirl and ended up lassoing myself and falling."

"Ouch." He turn away, trying to hide the smile on his face.

"Indeed." She picked up case and placed it back to storage compartment before taking a seat next to the young drake. He was looking out the window at the night sky and was a bit surprised at the sudden intrusion to his personal space. She leaned in, touching him on his forehead.

With a sharp breath of pain, she withdrew. She gingerly brought her hand to her face, brushing away a single tear. The confused dragon found himself even more so as she wrapped him in a hug. She looked him dead in the eye.

"You shouldn't hold your in emotions like that."

Blushing, Spike found he couldn't look the mare in the eyes. "Excuse me?" Her eyes narrowed and her nose scrunched up. Wow, she is cute when she is mad. Wait, what the hell was he thinking? She broke the embrace and rubbed her forehead furiously.

"Is it off yet?"

"I don't get it."

"The big bold Stupid on my forehead." He couldn't help but look up and laugh at her antics. He knew she was right, but how did she even know? The mare before left him with more questions than anything else. A cup was thrust under his nose, bearing the scent of wine. He looked to her, she was corking a dark blue bottle. A second glass levitate next to her.

"Alright, you win..."

A knock on the door of her compartment woke her. Still half asleep, she spoke. "Door is open. Come in." In came the conductor.

"Miss, we’re here. It's time for you and your coltfriend to get off." Wait. Coltfriend? She tried to get up, but was held down by powerful force. She looked to her waist, which was embraced by a set of scaly purple arms. She lit up bright red to the point it showed through her coat. Melody threw a quick reply to get him to leave so she could rectify the sleeping dragon clinging to her midsection privately.

Heartbreak or not, waking up cuddled like a teddy bear was unacceptable, even if he did buy me dinner. She choked on the thought. Why did you have to go there, o’ brain of mine? Struggling to escape the iron grip of Spike quickly proved futile. Her wiggling did, however, wake him up and she dropped to the floor as he released her. His scales turned magenta as he quickly tried to apologize.

"I'm ......" She stopped him mid sentence with her hoof in his face.

"Just drop it. I kinda started it anyway."

"But still." A nervous chuckle escaped his throat.

"Just grab your stuff, we need to get off the train. We're here." He stopped at the door and turn his head to her.

"Thank you for last night. I really appreciate that."

She face-palmed, the awkward situation getting worse. "Then prove it by getting you stuff and showing me around town. I'd probably get lost anyway. Also, my hat. Don't forget it."

"Right on it." She could hear his heavy footsteps move down the train. She grabbed her stuff and made her way of the train. She gazed over the sparkling city so full of life.

"This day is going to be perfect. I'm nearly there, I'll prove mom wrong, and I'll finally get you meet you, dad." Spike walked up behind his bag on his shoulder, her hat in his claws. Placing it on her head, he asked.

"So... where to?"

"Duh, breakfast first."

Author's Note

I had this idea at work the other day and decided to go with it. Any suggestions leave em in the comments I love to improve. If you wanna hate leave your tears as well for they are delicious. Also i hope to have my other story finally updated as well but ive just not had alot of time, plus the fact i've rewritten it like 4 times cause i just haven't liked it.

Well have fun tearing this apart.