I Will Break The Silence

Octavia had long ago given up trying to guess where Neon and Vinyl were taking her. Every time she thought she had figured it out they would either drive passed it or turn down a different road. Now they were nearing the edge of Canterlot City and she was well and truly out of ideas. Even so, when they arrived at their destination she found herself perplexed. There were many cars, vans, and even some motorcycles but they were at a junk yard of all places. As Neon killed the engine Vinyl once again neglected the door as she hopped out. Still she must have seen the confused look on Octavia's face since she grinned wickedly as she pulled out her phone.

"We're here Octy!"

"We're at a junkyard?"

Vinyl nodded, her smile only growing.

"I'm afraid I don't understand?"

The DJ typed furiously, clearly excited.

"It's a junkyard raid! Amature bands from all over the city come out and perform as loud as they can while everybody either dances and listens to the music or loots the place for whatever they want! People bring food and drinks and just cut loose, it's awesome! You haven't lived until you've been to one of these!"

"Is this legal?"

Vinyl scratched the back of her neck with a nervous grin.

"As long as we don't get caught."

Octavia paled a bit, if her parents learned she had been here for this they would be beyond furious but...she felt it again. She felt excited, sick and naughty all at once! She was breaking rules, it was Taboo, and even though she felt like she could vomit, at the same time she felt...alive. She was pulled from her thoughts when a hand waved in front of her face and she saw a concerned looking Vinyl holding her phone out for her to read off of.

"Are you ok with this? If it's too much or your uncomfortable I can ask Neon for the keys and take you home.

The Cellist thought for a moment. On the one hand she had an out now, Vinyl had offered and she could leave. She could go back to town and pretend this never happened and if she was lucky her parents wouldn't even know she'd skipped school. On the other hand though, she was already here and didn't want to ruin Vinyl's and Neon's fun either. On a final note she had to admit that breaking all these rules was giving her a sickeningly good rush, like she had drunk a dozen cups of coffee on an empty stomach! Cracking an excited and nervous smile she gave her answer.

"I'll follow your lead Vinyl, I trust you."

Vinyl's heart skipped a beat at those words. She felt fuzzy and warm like the first time she had downed a shot of Whiskey, strangely enough it was at one of these raids. She felt high on life and in a moment of adrenaline she flung open the car door and pulled Octavia out by her hand and rushed passed the junkyard gate with the Cellist in tow.

As they hurried through the place, passing mountains of scrap metal and other forms of debris, the sound of electric guitars and makeshift drums began to get louder and louder. The pair could hear it growing, and their hearts sped up both from the running and the growing intensity of the music. Once they rounded the final pile of stacked old cars a glorious sight for Vinyl and a new one for Octavia came into view.

In a large clear area of the Junkyard was a makeshift stage crafted from old car beds. All kinds of people were about jumping, dancing, head banging, and even a few pairs dancing in provocative, suggestive manners. There were people with dyed hair and black clothes adorned with bracelets, rings, chains and all manner of gothic clothing that jangled as they danced. There were people with long braids, dreadlocks and tie-dye, wool and plaid shirts and even others who looked completely normal. In fact Octavia was sure she could see a familiar black and yellow leather jacket and a two toned head of sunset hair.

On the stage the current players were saying their thanks to the crowd and making way for the next performers who were dressed in black paint and leather clothing of the same dark shade. While they did this one of the members from the group taking the stage was setting up gear where they removed. Drums and guitars all made from hashed-together materials! On the drums were old trash can lids and the bodies of the drums were old cut up oil drums. Even the electric guitar was covered in salvaged matierals for a junk yard look as was the microphone on stage.

To say that Octavia was experiencing culture shock was an understatement but at the same time she was invigorated. Her blue haired guide to this strange new world was smiling at her watching as her friend took all of this new place in.

"Vinyl this is...I don't know what to call this!"

The pale girl gave a toothy, beaming smile before flipping out her phone again to respond.

"It's bitchen right? The first time I came to one of these I had so much fun I got an adrenaline rush and threw up!"

"What am I supposed to do though?"

"Whatever you want! There's no limits here, we're free to do anything! That's the whole point of these things, we tell society to leave us alone and make our own! Don't worry, stay close to me and Neon and we'll keep you out of too much trouble."

Vinyl winked as Octavia read the last part before grabbing her hand again and pulling her through the crowd. Octavia held on firm, while she was trying to be adventurous she would be lying if she said she was completely comfortable. This place, while exciting, was entirely foreign to her and she would be lost without a guide and someone to help her. As a result she found herself incredibly happy that Vinyl was making sure to keep her close at hand.

When they finally found Neon he was at the front of the crowd with a surprisingly familiar face that should have been at the same place Octavia and Vinyl we're supposed to be.

"Sunset Shimmer?" Exclaimed Octavia.

"Hey! There you two are, Neon was just telling me that you guy's were here too!"

Vinyl quickly reached out and high fived Sunset before typing a quick question.

"I never knew you were into these kinda things! When the hell did this start?"

"You kidding? I love these raids! I haven't been able to make one since freshmen year though."

"I thought you were reformed now though?"

Said Vinyl teasingly. Sunset laughed loud enough to be heard over the crowd.

"I may be reformed but I never quite stopped being a bad girl, you've got to live from time to time right V?"

Vinyl gave a happy and approving nod but before she could type anything more there was a great noise from the stage.

"How is everybody today!" Yelled the performer into the microphone.

The crowd cheered.

"Great to see you all here today! We just need a few more minutes to set up then we're gonna rock this junk yard till it falls down!"

The crowd, that at Octavia's best guess made at least fifty in all, cheered at the top of there lungs. The Cellist had to clasp her ears at the sheer volume. Turning toward Vinyl she saw the girl had an excited look on her face but somewhere within that smile she still saw...sadness? Sorrow? It was strange, it was both a sad and happy smile at the same time. Vinyl was unaware of Octy's observations, all the same though, unknown to the black haired Cellist, they were right.

While Vinyl loved the crowds and the music it was impossible for her to be in a setting like this without being a bit sad too. While others would cheer, she had to be silent. Where others would sing, she had to be silent. Where others would laugh, she could only cough. Her smile was slowly turning to a frown as she continued to think of the same thing she always thought at times like these. No matter how bad she wanted to she would never be able to do the things the others could. She would never find a voice to call her own.

Just when she was about to lower her head to hide her frown she felt a hand on her right shoulder. Turning to look she saw the soft purple eyes and calm grey skinned face of Octavia looking at her with concern. Leaning foreword she spoke directly into vinyl's ear. "Are you all right Vinyl?" Unknown to the Cellist Vinyl's heart sped up, her pupils dilated and her skin got goose bumps. Octavia was touching her! She could feel the beautiful girls breath on her ear and the touch of her finger tips on her shoulder. She was having to fight not to hyperventilate or worse still get over excited. With a deep gulp and flushed cheeks she hurriedly fumbled out her phone and pecked with anxiety at the keys on the screen.

"I'm fine Octy don't worry just thinking a bit."

"What about?"

"Its not important, don't worry, we're here to have fun and cut loose!"

Vinyl followed up the message with a reassuring smile. Octavia didn't quite believe her but before she could say so the sound of a guitar rang out from the stage. The croud cheered and the band started playing.

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Suddenly the stage erupted with the sound of loud drumming and screaming guitars. The lead grabbed the mike practicaly stratling it. Howling like a wolf with his heart in the song the crowd gave way to the passion in the bands music. Right now the were free, no one owned them and no one could tell them what to do. The music only got louder and the cheering only doubled.

Everyone in the crowd cheered, danced, and screamed, jumping, howling, and singing along. Everyone, Octavia noticed, except Vinyl. The DJ had her eyes closed as if she was in a world of her own, then as if out of nowhere Vinyl's eyes shot open and she moved foreward out of the crowd into an open space. Then she began.

Vinyl would be lying if she said she wasn't unhappy about not being able to sing along and cheer the band on. But something happened when Octavia touched her shoulder and spoke with concern. The Cellist was worried for her, like a friend about another friend, yet they had only hung out together for two days, counting this one too. The girl must have stepped incredibly far out of her comfort zone to be here and she was doing it because Vinyl had asked her, she was doing it because they were friends.

If Octavia was willing to do that, then Vinyl figured she had nothing to complain about by contrast. That meant in her mind she had two choices, she could either continue to fuss or do something bold like Octavia had. She opted for the latter. In front of the crowd, between them and the stage, she took her place. She started small with basic arm and leg movements but as the music claimed more of her she got more adventurous more bold.

One moment she was dancing upright the next she had flipped onto her back, using the momentum of the flip she rolled towards her head and ended with a handstand. From there she fell foreword, landing again on her feet before rolling off them, keeping up the momentum to make it a backflip. Move after move, motion after motion, she continued break dancing and before long the crowd was not just cheering for the band but for her as well. Sunset let out a loud "You go girl GO!"  and Neon swung his hand around above his head as he cheered for her. Through it all Octavia stood amazed at the display.

"She's gone her whole life bullied for being different and never being able to speak but she doesn't let it hold her back! She pushes on and lives like no one I've ever seen! She wont let her problems keep her down, she lives for life!"

Octavia continued to watch as the song came to an end, mesmerized by the world she had stepped into. She had taken a huge chance today and she was glad she did. It had paid off well.