She shot awake, her eyes opening up to a room darkened by a pair of aquamarine curtains hiding a sliding glass door. Even if the mare were to trot over and fling them open, the pitch-black clouds would block any sort of moonlight from shining into the hotel room.
The mare glanced to the other side of the bed she lied in. Though obscured by the lack of light, she could still make out the figure of a light silver, nearly white-coated unicorn stallion. The covers were lazily draped over him; he didn't seem to care, as he slept like a little colt, murmuring something about baseball cards.
Sighing quietly, the mare clambered off the bed and made her way towards the bathroom. The door’s hinges creaked as she used magic to open it, and she was greeted by a small, yet welcoming night light. With her horn still glowing a cyan color to illuminate the small room, she glanced at herself in the mirror.
Vinyl, this is the third time tonight, she thought to herself. Why do you keep having nightmares? Why won’t you just go to sleep? Vinyl Scratch glared at her reflection as her piercing red eyes seemed to burn through the mirror’s glass. If you could just figure out exactly why you’re having nightmares, then maybe-
“Scratchie?” Vinyl’s heart skipped a beat as she turned to the doorway. The unicorn she shared a bed with had woken up, giving her a confused look. “Why are you awake? I thought we agreed we’d actually sleep for more than four hours for once.”
Vinyl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I-I’m sorry, Ace,” she responded, “I just... I keep having nightmares, and-”
Ace Spade’s eyebrows shot up. He asked her, “Wait, you’re still having nightmares?” She nodded in response, as the stallion’s ears drooped downwards. “Vinyl, this has been, what, a week now? I thought this would be over by this point...” He slowly trotted over to her, wrapping a foreleg around her neck. “What happened this time? In your nightmare, I mean.”
Vinyl trembled a bit, and swallowed nervously. “I-I died... and I became a ghost, and I went to m-my own funeral... nopony was there.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “N-not even you...”
“Why would I not be there?”
“I-I don’t know... but... you weren't there, Tavi w-wasn't there, Neon wasn't there...” She was interrupted by Ace gently kissing her on the lips. This calmed her down a little, but didn't stop her slight trembling.
As Ace broke away, he reassured Vinyl, “Look, Scratchie, if - Celestia forbid - if you did die, I’ll be the first to tell you that the only way that nopony would come to your funeral was if you didn't have one. I would be there, Tavi and Neon would, all your half-brothers and sisters...” He hugged her warmly, sensitively stroking her wild blue mane. “I love you, Vinyl. I’ll never let anything like that ever happen to you.”
Slowly, a grateful smile came across Vinyl’s lips. She hugged her coltfriend back. “I love you too, Ace,” she whispered.
After a good thirty seconds, Ace released his grip. “Come on, let’s get some rest. We've got a show tomorrow... I mean, it’s a small nightclub, so it isn’t exactly the Mega Bowl’s halftime show... but a gig is a gig.”
Vinyl nodded. “I’d like some rest, too,” she replied. Ace led her back to the bed, and they both climbed back in, draping the covers over themselves and falling asleep in each other’s embrace. Still, in the back of her mind, Vinyl couldn't help but think of exactly why she was having such terrible nightmares.
Bee-bee-beep. Bee-bee-beep. Bee-bee-beep.
Vinyl’s head slowly rose from her pillow. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, looking to the side of the bed. She turned off the alarm clock, which read 8:45 AM, with her magic and rolled onto the eggshell-colored carpeted floor, landing on all four hooves.
She walked around the bed to Ace’s side. Upon reaching him, she shook his shoulder a bit. The stallion stirred, opening his eyes slightly and gazing directly into Vinyl’s eyes. “No nightmares?” he asked.
Vinyl smirked. “Not a single one.”
“Fantastic.” Ace hopped out of bed and immediately cantered to a desk, upon which lay two things; a Whinnyapolis Timberwolves cap and a couple dog tags. He placed both on, and looking up at the hat, told himself, “Gotta rep whatever city we play in.”
Vinyl chuckled, and stated, “I’m gonna go take a shower.”
“A’ight, Scratchie.” As Ace looked himself over in the television’s reflection, Vinyl headed into the bathroom and started up a warm shower. She climbed in, taking a bottle of shampoo and lathering it into her mane.
As she washed herself, she couldn't help but wonder what was causing her nightmares. Was it her and Ace’s roleplay in bed? No, no, that’s ridiculous, she thought to herself, shaking her head. We've been doing that for a decade... why the hell would I just get nightmares about it now?
Was it stress from the upcoming show? Can’t be that... we've been at this for nine years now. Besides, this is just a tiny little club. So what if we screw up a bit? C’mon, Vinyl, think...
However, the DJ couldn't come up with a definitive answer. She groaned in frustration, placing a hoof against her horn. It’s gonna be cool... if you just forget about it, it’ll go away, and this’ll just be a tiny speck of your life. Sighing, Vinyl finished rinsing off a few soapy remains of body wash and killed the shower head. She jumped out of the shower, quickly drying herself off with a magical gust of cold air, and came back out into the main room.
Ace, who was sitting on a couch watching the news, turned to her. “You wanna go get breakfast?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure. Let’s go.” Ace turned off the TV as Vinyl grabbed her shades off a counter and threw them on, and they headed out of the room and hotel.
As they walked along the Whinnyapolis sidewalk, the duo discussed trivial things such as sports, urban legends, and each other’s appearance. After a while, though, Vinyl couldn't help but break the question she had been wrestling with to Ace. She questioned, “Ace... why do you think I’m having nightmares?”
The rapper became silent as he contemplated the question. “I’m... not entirely sure, Vinyl,” he answered. “But then again, why are you even worrying about that?”
“I don’t know, it’s just that I don’t like having loose ends without them being tied up, you know?”
“You mean like with your wrists?”
Vinyl scoffed, and playfully punched him. “Ahh, I guess I walked right into that one.”
“You bet you did, babe.”
As they continued to walk, the couple were confronted by a teenaged pegasus stallion, wearing a gold chain and a Ponyville Swashbucklers cap. “Hey, y’all are The High Rollers, ah?”
Vinyl chuckled a bit. “Yep, I suppose that would be us.”
A wide, almost coltlike smile came across the teen’s face. “Holy crap, it really is! Y’know, my friend and I were just listenin’ to ‘Big Shots,’ and I gotta say, that’s gotta be the sickest song ever.”
“Oh, cool!” Ace excitedly replied. “That’s great to hear!”
“Yeah, I like how ya raps ain’t really only ‘bout money an’ bitches. They actually mean somethin’, and that’s a nice way to mix it up compared to ev’rypony else. ‘Ey, Ace, can I have ya autograph?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, why the hell not?” The pegasus took off his Swashbucklers cap and presented it to the rapper, also holding out a pen in his wing. Ace took the pen and etched his signature onto the cap’s bill.
The teen tossed the cap back onto his hat. “Yo, thanks, dawg!” he called as he glided off.
Vinyl let out an annoyed sigh. Ace turned to her, cocking an eyebrow in confusion. “What’s wrong, Scratchie? You didn't like ‘im?”
“Didn't even notice me,” she muttered. “And that happens a lot; whenever a fan walks up to us, they always focus on you and forget that I exist.”
Ace shook his head. “Hey, you can’t blame me for that,” he commented. “S’just some fan. Personally, me, I think you and me, we’re equals.” He put a foreleg around her. “We always have been...”
“...And we always will be,” Vinyl finished. “Alright, let’s get breakfast. I think there’s a Burger Queen just around this corner.” The High Rollers headed off down the sidewalk once more, ready to eat.
As the day went on, Vinyl and Ace tackled such non-exhausting activities as eating fast food and having yo mama smackdowns. While they only stopped to eat twice before heading to the nightclub, the smackdown continued.
The duo was standing on stage, setting up a few speakers for that night’s concert. Only a few ponies besides them were in the club; a bartender, the club owner, and a couple of “those ponies” who came to a nightclub during the day. As they worked, Ace casually remarked, “Yo mama’s so fat that when she goes to the movies, she sits next to everypony.”
Vinyl gave him a condescending look as she shook her head. “Oh, is that so?” she replied. “Well, yo mama’s so stupid, she starved to death in a grocery store.”
The rapper grunted. “Yo mama’s so hairy that Mane Goodall uses her bathroom as base camp.” This was met by a short period of silence between them.
“...Okay, you win,” Vinyl finally admitted. As Ace pumped his hoof in triumph, she added, “Hey, I’m gonna go set up my stuff.”
“A’ight, Scratchie.” The blue-maned mare nodded, cantering towards her setup. As she fiddled with it to make it perfect for the night’s show, the two ponies who came early hopped up onto the stage.
Vinyl didn't pay much attention at first. Probably a couple fans who wanted to chat with them pre-show. Standard stuff for a small venue. Soon, however, her ears twitched as the DJ overheard a conversation between the two and Ace.
“Ace, you've gotta be one of the best wordsmiths in the history of hip-hop!” one of the early-goers, a bright green pegasus mare, gushed.
The rapper humbly chuckled a bit. “Nah, nah, I ain’t the best. I mean... sure, I’m probably up there, but I ain’t the best.”
“Are you kidding?!” an indigo earth stallion chimed in. “All those songs you've done... how can ya do all of that in two-year intervals?”
Vinyl continued to eavesdrop on the conversation, waiting for any mention of her name. It came from Ace. “Hey, why don’t ya go talk to Vinyl over there?”
The DJ’s excitedness almost immediately turned to utter anger when the pegasus responded, “Nah, we gotta get a drink before the show. See ya!”
There it is again! Vinyl began to rant in her own mind once again, in a mix of jealousy, frustration, and pure rage. They don’t give two flyin’ fucks ‘bout me! It’s always Ace who everypony wants to meet! Why does he always have to be the star?! Why can’t I have the spotlight for once?!
It hit her like a freight train on rocket skis. As a fantastic idea came to her, her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth curled into a devious smirk. That was exactly what she needed to do. I’m gonna have the spotlight for once...
She peeked out from behind her setup at Ace, who was simply tapping his hoof on his mic. And I know exactly how I’m gonna do it.
Ace diligently hummed a guitar riff into his mic to test it. However, he couldn't even finish “I should be callin’ collect from jail each night for the-” before he felt somepony tap him on the shoulder. The rapper spun around to be met by Vinyl.
“Oh, hey, Scratchie!” he greeted. “Whassup?”
“Ah, nothing, babe...” The DJ simply looked down onto the stage, tracing a figure eight pattern with the edge of her hoof. She seemed to almost be in a trance.
Ace cocked an eyebrow in slight worry. “Um... Vinyl? Are you feelin’ alright?”
Her gaze shot directly towards him. “Of course I’m fine, hon. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I dunno... you seem a bit... off.”
“Of course not...” She brushed her mane back with a hoof. “Hey... can I talk to you backstage about something? It’s about later tonight...”
Ace chuckled a bit. “Sure, babe.” Smirking, Vinyl led her coltfriend behind the backstage curtains. “So, babe, what were you planning for-”
The rapper doesn’t finish his sentence. He’s knocked out cold after getting whacked in the back of the head by a steel pipe. Vinyl looks down, evilly smiling at his unconscious form.
My turn, Ace.
“Finally starting to wake up, I see.”
Ace’s eyes were immensely blurry when he first opened them. He attempted to rub them, but he couldn't. In fact, he realized he couldn't move his wrists at all. As the rapper’s vision cleared, he found he was tightly bound with ropes in a dark equipment room. Looking up, he saw a gleaming carbon magic nullifier fitted snugly around the base of his horn.
“Mmrrrhmhmmh?!” The only way Ace could express his anger and confusion was muffled. His mouth had been firmly shut by a few strips of duct tape, including one wrapped around his muzzle. He continued to struggle and growl through the gag when he heard her voice again.
“Aww, what’s wrong, baby? Don’t like being left in the dark?” Ace furiously glared at Vinyl, who victoriously stood above him. “Don’t worry, Ace, I’m not going to leave you here forever. The thing is... I realized how much spotlight you were getting and how little I was getting... and that isn’t really fair, now is it?”
“Grrrhhrrmmmph!” The rapper attempted to protest against the DJ’s claims, but the sticky barrier over his mouth didn’t allow him to.
Vinyl smirked. “You’re so cute when you’re struggling, you know that?” She playfully slapped his left cheek with her hoof. “Anyway, I’m only going to leave you here for the show. I’m going to go out there, and I’m gonna have my time to shine. Until then...” She removed her violet-tinted shades and menacingly glared at him. “...You will not get on stage.”
The DJ slid her shades back on, and turned to leave the room. After she slammed the door shut, Ace noticed an electrical lock attached to said door, set to be locked as evidenced by its blood red glow.
"Ghhd dhhmmhhgh..." he grumbled. Something was terribly wrong with Vinyl, and he knew it.
After hours of preparation and waiting around, the nights in the nightclub dimmed. The crowd, packed in like sardines, began to cheer loudly. As they turned their attention to the stage, smoke was seen rising from machines on each side. Through it, only Vinyl emerged, stepping up to the mic. While she did get greeted by cheers, a few confused murmurs went out through the crowd.
“Good evening, everypony!” Vinyl shouted out. “I’m really happy to be playing in Whinnyapolis, it’s one of my favorite cities to-”
She was interrupted by a pony near the stage asking her, “Hey, where’s Ace?”
The DJ looked the pony over, squinting her eyes behind her shades. “Ace is... unable to perform tonight...” she replied. “I’m going to be playing by myself for this show. So, without further ado, let’s get started.” She turned and trotted over to her setup, swishing her flank a little to please the crowd. She stepped behind the table, and began to play her music for the crowd.
At first, the crowd didn't pay any mind to Ace’s absence. They danced and partied just as any crowd would at any of their concerts. This lasted a while, until about eight songs in, they started to become bored.
When Vinyl finished a song and the crowd didn't react, she walked to the mic once more, a bit annoyed. “Aww, what’s wrong?” she questioned. “I’m not good enough for you?”
The same pony from before was the one to answer that. “It’s just that... you’re really good and all, but without Ace’s rhymes, it just... I don’t know, it loses its feeling.” Some other crowd members nodded and murmured in agreement.
Vinyl growled in anger under her breath, closing her eyes. Vinyl, it’s just one pony, she thought, you’re still getting work done here. The DJ opened her eyes again, only to be met with the sight of some ponies heading for the doors. She was horrified and disgusted that they disrespected her so much they left in the middle of a show, and realized she had to do something.
A magic aura sparked from Vinyl’s horn as she launched a beam at every one of the nightclub’s doors. When one unicorn tried to open the main door, it didn't budge. He continued to try, even attempting with magic, but the door stayed shut.
Other crowd members looked towards him struggling to leave, and tried the other doors. Same result; not a single door would set them free. A wave of anger spread through the club, reaching a fever pitch as a pegasus hovered up to Vinyl and yelled “Let us go!” right in her face.
“QUIET!” The DJ’s sudden scream startled the ponies in the nightclub so much they all became silent. All eyes were on Vinyl as she ranted, “NONE OF YOU GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ME! EVERY SHOW, EVERY INTERVIEW, EVEN WHEN YOU UNGRATEFUL BASTARDS SEE US ON THE STREET, IT’S ALWAYS ACE YOU’RE INTERESTED IN! I WORK MY ASS OFF AS MUCH AS HE DOES! I SHOULD GET SOME TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT, DON’T YA THINK?!”
“Vinyl, stop.” Infuriated, the DJ’s ear twitched after hearing a voice come from the side of the stage. Turning her head in its direction, she was utterly shocked to find herself glaring at Ace.
“A-Ace,” she stuttered, “h-how did you...”
“Vinyl, follow me.” The rapper trotted over to her and past her, going backstage once again. Vinyl hesitated at first, but eventually followed him.
Once they were out of the crowd’s vision, Vinyl threw her shades to the side, her red eyes seemingly peering into Ace’s soul. “Okay, first of all, how the fuck did you escape?” she demanded.
“Vinyl, you've been tying me up for ten years. You should probably know that I can get out of such a weak tie like that.”
“And the lock?”
“Vinyl, what kind of magic do I specialize in again?”
It only took a second for the DJ’s hoof to meet her face. “Electricity,” she begrudgingly answered.
“That’s right.” Ace took a deep breath. “Okay, now... what in the blue hell has gotten into you?!” The rapper’s sudden rage startled Vinyl, who stepped back a bit. “Vinyl, why did you kidnap the entire crowd?! Or, better yet, why did you lock me in an equipment closet, bound and gagged, and play a show yourself?!”
“Because you’re always in the spotlight!” the DJ roared back.“Nopony ever cares about me, it’s always you! It’s always about Ace! I think it’s high time it’s my time in the spotlight, you think? And maybe you should stay locked in that closet until I play another concert in this city!”
Ace simply stood there, stunned. His face was blank for a full minute before he took yet another deep breath. He placed a hoof on Vinyl’s shoulder gently. After what seemed like a hundred eternities, he softly spoke, “This is because of your nightmares.”
Vinyl raised an eyebrow. “How is this about my nightmares?”
“Because,” the rapper continued, “you've told me about them, and they all connect together. First it was you losing your senses and nopony trying to help you or even figure out why, then it was the roller coaster derailing and you landed right in front of me and I just left, then there was that weird one about the monorail, and just this night, your funeral nopony came to. Vinyl, something - I don’t know what - is trying to delude your mind through nightmares that nopony cares about you... and that is entirely wrong.”
The DJ’s furious glare began to fade away. Her tear ducts broke as she began to sob, hugging Ace tightly. “I’m so sorry... I’m so, so, so, so, so sorry I kidnapped you...”
Vinyl felt Ace’s strong forelegs wrap around her in return. “Apology accepted, Scratchie,” he whispered. “And... I probably was hogging the spotlight, and I didn't know you were so upset, but... I still think you’re my equal. So... I’m sorry, too.” After the two broke apart, the rapper gestured his head towards the stage. “Maybe you should apologize to the crowd.”
“I think so.” Ace nodded, and headed back on stage, Vinyl following him.
The club’s crowd was in chaos. All throughout the room, the only sounds were those of unrest as the patrons continued their futile efforts to escape. Some unicorns used magic, some pegasi tried to fly right through the doors, and some earth ponies tried to buck the doors down. However, not one attempt was successful.
As this continued on, Ace and Vinyl trotted back on stage. The crowd began to look their way. Vinyl turned to Ace in nervousness, the rapper nodding slightly. The DJ sighed, and took the mic with her magic.
“I-I’m really sorry,” she apologized, trembling. “I just... I’ve been having nightmares for a week or so now, and... they really all have this central theme that... n-nopony cares about me in them...”
Ace placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Can I see the mic for a sec?” he asked. Vinyl nodded, and handed it over. Ace turned to face the crowd. “You all think Vinyl does as much work as I do, right?” The nightclub was filled with cheering as Vinyl’s eyes widened.
They do think I work hard, she told herself.
“Y’all respect what she does to entertain you?” Another uproarious response.
They... respect me...The DJ’s eyes watered, but not from sadness. Instead, she was beginning to shed tears of joy.
“And you think Vinyl and I are equals, right?” As Ace gave the mic back to his marefriend, the crowd cheered and clapped in agreement.
Vinyl hesitated a bit before speaking. “I... I don’t... t-thank you all. I was letting my nightmares overcome me... and, well... thank you for reassuring me. See, I realize now that it isn’t Ace’s spotlight... and it’s not my spotlight, either.” The DJ turned to face him, smiling warmly. “It’s our spotlight.”
Vinyl turned back to the crowd once more. Her horn fired up again, as she sent another magical charge at each door. One pony tested the main door out, and found she could finally open it again. The DJ left the crowd with, “Until next time, Whinnyapolis.” The audience left the club in droves, some waving goodbye to Vinyl and Ace as the two waved back.
Ace turned to Vinyl, brushing the DJ’s mane with his hoof. “Come on,” he spoke, “let’s get back to the hotel.”
“Yeah... let’s go.” They quickly put their equipment away, and left the club, trotting back down the sidewalk to their hotel.
It was a long, quiet walk back to the hotel. Nopony stopped the couple for pictures, no fillies asking for autographs... nothing. In a way, the silence was deafening to them. They were so used to attention that not getting any felt... wrong.
Eventually, they ended up back at the hotel they were staying at, and proceeded to head to their room. Going inside it, Vinyl shut the door behind her and sighed. “Thank Celestia we're out of there...” she murmured.
Ace absently nodded. He stumbled over to the bed, putting his things down next to it before climbing in. Vinyl soon joined him, cuddling up to him. After what seemed like forever, the DJ finally whispered in Ace’s ear, “I-is it over? Are the nightmares over?”
The rapper closed his eyes and took a deep breath, something that had become a habit of him. Placing a hoof on Vinyl’s chest, he assured her, “Vinyl, I think that you got it all out of your system tonight. It should be over now, but... I don’t know. We’ll see.”
“O-okay...” Vinyl held Ace in her hooves, as did he. She met his gaze, smiling warmly. “Thank you for saving me.”
“Thank you for letting me save you.” They met in a passionate kiss. After nearly a full minute, the two musicians broke apart. “I love you, Scratchie,” Ace proclaimed.
Vinyl brushed his mane with her hoof, something the rapper always did for her. “I love you too, Ace.” They both fell asleep smiling, and Vinyl didn't have any nightmares that night. Not a single one.
Author's Note
I had some fun writing this one. I liked exploring Vinyl's little bout with sanity slippage, and the ending, I think, was really touching. Thanks for reading, and tell me what you think!
-Jimmy
