Music Of The Heart

I watched as she held the blade up to her throat, tears streaming down both of our faces.  I recalled every moment I had ever had with her, ever memory we shared.  Through all of those countless memories I found that there was nothing I could say nor do to help her now.  I ... I want to, dear Faust I do.  I can only watch through the blasted telly as the filly I've grown so fond of throws everything away.  The seconds become minutes become hours become days as I watch the events transpire.  It felt as though I'd had all the time in the world to gallop to whatever studio she was in and put a stop to this madness.  Truly pitiful that the only thing I could do was scream into the blasted thing, "VINYL!! STOP!! PLEASE!!!"

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5 Years Earlier

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Oh what a truly wonderful day it is here in Canterlot.  Celestia's sun is shining, the weather ponies have cleared the skies, and I'm stuck in a hospital.  How charming that I'm stuck next to that imbecile.  Try as I might to ignore her she just won't stop talking!  On and on about her mischievous nights as a DJ.  Like I should care about whether or not she hooked up with that "one dude" from "that one show".  Oddly enough she did not in fact hook up with that "dude".  At any rate I can't take this torture anymore, "Excuse me but could you please stop talking?"

"Huh, oh yeah sure.  Sorry, you're probably tired.  Oh, I don't think I've actually introduced myself yet," she rubbed the back of her head with her hoof as she laughed.  "You'll have to forgive me, I get carried away sometimes.  My name's Vinyl Scratch, it's a pleasure to meet you," she extended a hoof as if waiting for me to shake it.

Reluctantly I decided to humor her in the hopes that she'd stop her endless babbling.  So I extended a hoof as well, "My name is Octavia Melody.  You've probably heard of me as the greatest Cellist in all of Equestria, yes?"

She took my hoof and began rapidly shaking it up and down, "Nope, never heard of ya'!"  She laughed at the remark as if she'd just had a few 'zap apple brownies' to lighten her mood.

I abruptly stopped the idiotic gesture by retracting my hoof, "I don't see what's so funny, Miss Scratch.  Do you take pleasure in the mockery of my name?"

"What?" she gave the most peculiar look of curiosity and confusion.

"I'm sorry, my dear.  Perhaps I should use more common terms for you?  Do you like making fun of me?"

She shook her head, "No, I understood what you meant the first time. ... I was just a bit confused by what it was you were implying.  How'd I 'mock' your name?"

I blinked several times before responding, "You mean to say you weren't laughing at the fact you've never heard of me?"

"Well, no.  I was laughing because I was nervous.  I've been babbling on this entire time about my life as a DJ to a famous musician," she blushed.  "It was kind of embarrassing ... you know?"

Sharing a blush of even shade I found myself mentally slamming my hoof to my face, "OH, w-well I ... Th-thank you."

"For what?"

"It's just that ... I ... I'm sorry," I sighed.  "I'm afraid I've terribly misjudged you, Miss Scratch.  I made you out to be some backwoods show pony who's only interest was herself.  For that I am terribly sorry."

"You should be sorry," my heart sunk, "for calling me 'Miss Scratch'."  She laughed, "Dude, just call me Vinyl!"

"But what about-"

"Don't worry about it," she waved a hoof as if dismissing the entire thing.  "It's in the past.  You still think of me the same way?"

"Well, no," I began to feel relieved.  She wasn't like the other stuck up snobs from Canterlot.  She was a very different pony.

"Well there ya' go!  It's all water under the bridge.  If you spend your life regretting you never truly live."

My mouth became agape in awe, "That was very philosophical, Miss- Err, Vinyl."  This mare is becoming more and more sophisticated by the minute.  I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover.

"Yeah?  I got it from this fortune cookie the other day," she laughed.

So much for sophistication.  I giggled a bit before asking Vinyl, "So what are you in here for?"

She thought for minute before responding, "You tell me and I'll tell you."  She grinned.

I suppose it was only fair, "Well I tripped and fell down a flight of stairs whilst carrying my cello.  Those things are terribly heavy."

"No way!  For real?" she exclaimed like it was impossible to do.

"Yes.  It was quite painful.  Thankfully my cello managed to make it out without harm."

"That's terrible!  I mean that's cool about your cello but a whole flight of stairs!?  How long do you have to be in here for?"

"Well, they say I'll be here for another week or so.  That's to give my legs time to heal properly.  I fractured a few things here and there."

"A week?  That's like forever!  Can't you go home or something?"

I shook my head, "No.  The doctors need to run a few other tests on me as well.  You see I'm quite used to being in hospitals.  I have a mild heart condition so too much stress can lead to severe problems.  It's why I play the cello.  The soothing sound resonating through the concerto halls brings me a peace like nothing else can."

As I snapped out of my cello related daydream, I noticed Vinyl wiping tears from her eyes, "That, sniff, is like the saddest, sniff, thing, sniff, ever!  I'm so sorry!"

I giggled at her antics, "Don't worry, it's not so bad.  I don't have to come here often anymore.  I only had to come this time because of the cello incident."

She appeared to be done crying, "Hey, you think I could come to one of your concerts sometime?"

I decided to build some suspense whilst appearing to ponder on the matter when I'd actually decided the moment she asked, "Well, I don't know if you'd like it exactly.  There's a lot of snobby stuck ups who attend my concerts."

"Come on! That won't bother me! I'm used to stuck up people!  My manager is totally stuck up!"  The way she was pleading was priceless.

"Well, I think ... you're more than welcome to come to my next concert, Vinyl," I smiled at the mare next to me who's face was lit up brighter than the summer sun celebration.

"Awesome!  I can't wait.  I'll definitely be at your next concert!"

While she was cheering to herself I stopped for a moment to think.  It felt like I was forgetting something.  What could I have been forgetting?  Oh, that's right! "Now Vinyl, are you going to share what brings you here?" I inquired.

She gave me the blankest stare I've ever seen.  She had no expression whatsoever anywhere on the entirety of her face.  I bet she's good at poker.  Just as she opened her mouth to speak a nurse came into the room, "You."  She seemed angry yet calm, "What have I told you about sneaking into patients rooms.  Either get out or I'll give ya' a reason to be in here."

I gulped in fear, "I-"  I stopped, noticing a certain white coat pony hop out of her hospital bed in great stride.

She turned to me and laughed, "Hehe, sorry, Tavi.  Looks like I have to go.  I'll definitely be at your next concert, kay!"  Without having the chance to say anything, she was gone in a bright blue flash.

Left dazed and confused I turned to the nurse for guidance.  She offered a sigh before going on to say, "She comes in here every now and then.  She doesn't have anything wrong with her but she invades rooms.  I'm not sure whether she's lonely or bored.  I don't really care either way to be honest.  I just need to keep her out of here."  She turned around to leave.

Before she could make it out the door I asked, "Is her name really Vinyl Scratch?"

She stopped and began laughing, "She steal your wallet or something?"

I gazed out the window, "I just told my entire life story to somepony I don't even know.  It would only add insult to injury if I don't even have her real name."

"As far I as I know that's her name.  That's about all I know," she said as she trotted out the door.

Vinyl Scratch you better be at my next concert.