It's Over Scratch

Chapters

Inability
Choice
Mistakes

Inability

“She said she'd be here so she will.”

The mare stared at the entrance to the concert hall with a growing frustration. Violet eyes staring past the crowd, past the world, waiting for what was unlikely to happen as each second ticked by. Octavia broke her gaze momentarily to glance up at the large gilded clock that rested on the second floor's private box resting on a balcony across from the stage. 8:57PM. Vinyl had told her, had promised her, that she would be here to support her.

Suddenly, the edge of the curtain she had been holding up to peer past the audience was yanked from her grip. Octavia huffed in frustration, turning to give the pony a piece of her mind. Beauty Brass stared right back at her, face somewhat stiff, though at Octavia's unimpressed frown, relaxed into an apologetic expression.

“Octavia, I know you're nervous-”

“I'm not nervous.” The cellist shot back without thinking, cutting her friend off. She subsequently felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment, silently admitting she wasn't at all like her usual self tonight. “Sorry.” she added after a quiet moment, eyes lowering back to the stage. She wished she could just melt into the curtains for the rest of the show and stay hidden there, so to not face the disappointment so intricately linked with her partner's absence.

Brass turned her eyes toward the small gap in the curtains between her and the stage, then turned back to Octavia. “I don't want to tell you I told you so, so I won't.” She whispered more quietly, as to not bring attention to themselves from the rest of the musicians, backstage technicians, and Celestia help them if he did hear them, the producer. “Let's just get ready alright?” She held out her hoof to the cellist, motioning toward the center stage where their instruments were resting for the coming show.

Octavia watched the hoof for a notable pause, refusing to give into her impulse to snatch the curtain aside and search for Vinyl once more. Taking a deep breath, her expression hardened somewhat, before a smile forcefully stitched itself across her mouth.

“You're right.” Octavia finally admitted, the words carrying a finality so that even she had to come to terms with this. Vinyl probably wasn't coming.

II||♫♫||II II||♫||II II||♫♫||II

Halfway across the city, a certain DJ was not on her way to the Canterlot Concert Hall. The thundering bass around them, Vinyl Scratch and Neon Lights were at the bar in Club Canterlot, the premier spot for ravers and drinkers alike in the city to gather and party the night away for as long as they'd like, whenever they'd like. The bartender, a jovial stallion with dark shades, white Mohawk and a goatee kept a long line of shots going for the two, who were surrounded by a crowd of screaming ponies, cheering on the latest drinking game the two had devised in their drunken stupor. The objective? Seven shots of vodka followed by shotgunning a can of the club's famous energy drink, Quickflare. As the name suggested, it had a quick energy boost that would send even quiet mares and stallions into a party frenzy. Added to a challenge like this however, and it was a risky endeavor that both unicorns looked at with gleams in their eyes.

The stallion eyed the already tipsy pair with a grin, raising his hoof above his head momentarily to bring silence to the crowd, proceeding to shout so that they could hear him over the music.

“Now, I present to you, these two brave souls.” Vinyl and Neon exchanged smirks, hooves slowly moving closer to their shots. “Who have bet two hundred forty two bits, and one tiny umbrella.” He lifted the bag of bits for all to see, a tiny neon blue umbrella sticking out of the opening. “for a drinking challenge featuring our famous number seven knockout!” Several cheers from the onlookers proceeded, and while he waited for their silence, the stallion pulled out his stopwatch, glancing up at the neon green digital clock that rested above the shelves behind him.

“Oh please, I'll drink her under the table!” Neon shouted cheerfully, eyes locked on Vinyl's.

Vinyl shook her head playfully, determination beginning to straighten her previously unfocused gaze. “Yeah right Neon, I'll have you beat in no time flat!”

“On your marks.”

Both Neon and Vinyl leaned over the bar, looming over their drinks like tigers stalking their next meal. Vinyl had to steady herself, nearly tipping over to the side, but managed to pass it off as taking up a bit more space on the counter.

“Get set.”

Vinyl felt her focus waver, sitting up a bit. Everything felt wrong all of a sudden, something she couldn't place. It was as though some force that had been long forgotten had gripped the back of her mind and refused to let go, an ugly sensation beginning to form in the pit of her stomach that felt like chilled ice. She brushed the side of her hoof past her lips, trying to focus on the shot glass of clear liquid resting on the counter before her, but for the life of her she couldn't do it.

“Go!”

Vinyl saw Neon's hoof fly by her head to grab the first of seven glasses out of the corner of her eye, but didn't move herself, her magenta eyes continuing to scan the room for the source of her unease. 'What was it?' She thought desperately. Nopony had immediately noticed however, yet by the time Neon had slammed his glass down in a resounding thud that was lost in the force of the concussive music, all eyes were on Vinyl, ponies shifting closer as though something were wrong.

“You alright Vinyl?” He asked, leaning in close to grip her shoulder.

Vinyl had nearly jumped out of her skin at the contact, smiling awkwardly. “I feel fine.” She paused, then added. “Not sick anyways.”

“Need me to pause the time?” The bartender asked, eyeing her as though she was ready to topple at any moment.

Time. Vinyl lurched forward, knocking her chair aside to the misfortune of many of the onlookers behind her. She heard a shout, followed by swears but it wasn't important. Panic flooding her insides, her eyes flicked to the digital clock resting just below the ceiling above the bar. 9:10PM.

'Oh fuck.' The words sprung in her mind with little to no effort, and were the first of a long stream of swears that soon were no longer just in the back of her mind. “Fuck, fuck, FUCK!” The mare was already back on her hooves, trying to push through the crowd with haste, most of which eyed her with bewildered expressions and stares of disappointment.

“V-Vinyl?!” Neon shouted, unable to keep the surprise off of his face as the DJ shoved through their spectators, straight for the front door.

“I'm sorry Neon, I've got to go, like right now!” She shouted hastily. “Cover the tab please, I'll pay you back, I swear!”

Soon out the door, she streaked through the darkening streets, some slow moving carriages lit up by the glowing streetlamps and hiding in the shadows being the only real signs of life. Vinyl didn't pause to look however, sprinting hastily across the nearby road, pausing to look up breathlessly at the nearby street sign. She squinted to make out the lettering on the green sign, which soon she observed to be 'Mane St.' Canterlot's Concert hall was some distance away still, and with an audible groan of disbelief, she resumed her hasty gallop in that direction.

How had she forgotten Octavia's Debut with the Canterlot Symphony? Though it was true that Vinyl didn't particularly go with the classical music style that Octavia composed, she had promised to be there to support her partner. She mentally kicked herself for being so stupid as to forget this of all things. Praying to Celestia she wouldn't be too late, Vinyl quickly made her way down a nearby alley, knowing the shortcut between the two streets would thankfully shave off some time on the way there. The darkness unforgiving of her plight however, she felt her front hoof connect with a nearby garbage can, and was subsequently sent sprawling on the pavement, the ground now littered with trash of all sorts. Within moments, adrenaline flowing through her veins and heart thudding so loud she could almost hear it, she was back on her hooves, pain stinging sharply in one of her back legs.

Finally arriving out of the other side of the alley moments later, she paused at a nearby window to catch her breath, her chest heaving with effort similar to an Olympian having finished a marathon. Her breath caught in her throat however as a nearby television featuring the Channel 14 news was on. Something about a big fire in Manehattan, but it wasn't the story that caught her attention. 9:20PM. She couldn't believe it, it was as though time were mocking her, speeding up the clock to forever doom her chances of arriving to see even a glimpse of this show.

Hooves carrying her faster than she'd ever run in her life, she could feel her breath sobbing in her throat, begging for a break that her mind refused to give into. The constant gallop was beginning to seriously tire her, and her legs were beginning to feel like bags of wet sand. She wasn't the most physical mare in the world for sure, but overall her DJ performances had contained little to no running, merely staying up late, drinking, and downing energy drinks like bottled water. These abilities of hers were unsurprisingly hindering her progress. Soon however, the concert hall began to loom in the distance to which she began to hope beyond hope that she'd made it. Sure she'd be a bit late and all, but Octavia couldn't get too mad at her for that right?

Her final strides bringing her to the entrance of the hall, she smirked triumphantly, and ruffled her mane a bit, the further spikiness seeming to jazz up her current appearance. With a final deep breath, she repossessed her calm, confident demeanor that had won her many battles on and off stage, and her hoof grabbed the handle, twisting.

Locked.

Vinyl stared at the door handle, puzzled for a moment. Was the door broken or something? She tried again, with no positive results. Had they locked the doors before the show? That was possible. Leaning against the glass, a curious expression on her face, she rapped the doors hard, pressing her face against the glass.

“Hello?” She called out, rapping the door harder. Frustration soon began to grip her mind as no one seemed to be coming. Now openly agitated, she banged with all of her might, a stream of insults prepared for the lazy staff member that locked the door to the building while the show was still going on.

After a minute, a ruffled looking old stallion donning a brown coat and wide brimmed hat lumbered out of the hallway on the right, approaching the door with daggers in his eyes as though Vinyl had personally ruined his day. Vinyl narrowed her eyes at his approach, steeling herself for this brief moment of conflict before he'd let her in to see the show. The stallion opened the glass door, widening it just enough so that he could address Vinyl properly.

“What in the hayfeathers do you need? Did you leave something in the seating area?” he asked, his tone far from cooperative.

“Wait, what?” Vinyl asked, brow raised at this statement. “No I'm hear to see the show. You know, classical music or whatnot? My marefriend's playing tonight. Octavia melody, heard of her?”

At this the stallion only seemed to grow more annoyed, as though Vinyl were some ignorant toddler knocking on his door the day after Nightmare Night. “What, do you need a watch or something? The show ended ten minutes ago!”

Vinyl's blood ran cold at this statement, a pregnant pause silencing her as she took this information in. She'd missed the show? There was no way, even at a slow trot, she still could have caught Octavia on her way out. She shook her head, believing he had to be lying to her. There was no question about it. He was messing with her.

“No, wait- hold on a second. Didn't the show start at nine or something?” She replied, her tone disbelieving.

The stallion cackled loudly, Vinyl feeling her cheeks burn with indigence at it all. “Yes lass, the show started at nine, and ended promptly at nine thirty.” He replied, lifting his hoof to examine the stainless steel watch on his free hoof. “It's Nine forty one right now.”

Vinyl took a step back, and what felt like a large rock had settled in at the bottom of her stomach, chilling her insides. Tonight was not going to be pleasant, and she knew it, Celestia help her when she got home. After apologizing to the staff member, the unicorn began a much slower pace than she had run sprinting to the hall in her panicked state. She didn't fancy the conversation, if she could call it that, that would occur once she took her first step past the threshold of their house. Instead she stared at the sidewalk, eyes unable to look ahead, wandering aimlessly in the general location of their house, stores with blinking lights and loud sounds that echoed throughout the streets of Canterlot. As most of Canterlot's night scene was devoted to the party life in the several clubs throughout the city, she didn't see many ponies on her way back.

Though she stalled as much as she could, walking ever slower as the house neared even closer, it was inevitable of course that she would end up on the front lawn, nervous expression on her face as she watched the door, fearing Octavia would burst through at any moment and unleash a wrath upon her never before seen in the lands of Equestria.

Next she was at the door. 'It's no big deal, right?' She thought to herself lamely, scenes of disappointment and anger flooding her mind. 'It wasn't my fault! I mean, Neon totally shouldn't have dragged me out tonight.' She thought. 'I made that promise just yesterday anyways. It was short notice!' These thoughts didn't seem to encourage her however. Octavia never understood her reasons. Things just happened, didn't they? Vinyl couldn't help it if she'd gotten caught up doing stuff.

With a monumental effort, she opened the door wide and stepped in. The first odd thing she noticed was that everything was quiet. The lights were on, but there wasn't any noise. Vinyl steadily made her way toward the kitchen, controlling the rise and fall of each hoof as carefully as she could to avoid making noise. Poking her head around the corner of the dining room however, Octavia was nowhere to be seen. Feeling free to stand up straight, she approached the refrigerator. With still no hoof steps to greet her presence in the house, Vinyl tried to tidy up her appearance. Looking into her reflection in the nearby window, she saw nothing too horrible. Mane a bit untidy, but she was fine over all. Raising a hoof to her mouth, she breathed quickly into it and sniffed. Gagging quietly at the strong scent of alcohol, she reached into the refrigerator and tried to find something she could eat or drink quickly to mask the smell.

Rummaging through the assorted items that you would expect; Water, cream cheese, cheese slices, a bag of lettuce, butter, some leftovers from last night's whole wheat lasagna. She then spotted the carton of milk sitting in the back, lifting it up off the shelf and bringing it closer. She examined the expiration date for a moment, uncapping the container and sniffed. Satisfied that the contents weren't spoiled, the shut the door. Her heart skipped a beat, eyes widening as the angry face of Octavia Melody rested behind moments before where the refrigerator door had been. Vinyl yelped in surprise, dropping the carton hastily. There was a nasty 'Splat' as it hit the floor, milky contents spilling onto the carpet. Vinyl didn't dare look away though, trapped in Octavia's glare like a mouse before a hungry snake.

“H-Hey Octavia! It's..been a really long day for both of us I'm sure.” Vinyl said, hoping her voice sounded steady enough. Octavia didn't reply, she didn't even blink, her unimpressed glare locking Vinyl down like an uncomfortable invisible cage pressing her on all sides.

“Octavia I- Look I'm sorry. I got caught up in some stuff with Neon, and you know, we're good buds and all, and I was pretty sure I could make it off to the show on time but-”

“But what?” Octavia finally spat out, her words like venom, making the atmosphere even more unfriendly. Vinyl swallowed, trying her best to choose her words carefully. Though intoxicated, the atmosphere was bringing a startling clarity to her mind as she tried to formulate a proper response. She felt like a wanderer before the Sphinx, and nothing she could say would satisfy the question that would inevitably ruin everything.

“Things got busy...and.” Vinyl couldn't find the right words to make the earth mare understand her properly, the noose already wrapped around her throat as she awaited the executioner.

“Things got busy?” She replied, taking two rapid steps forward that caught Vinyl off guard, the unicorn's ears dropping quickly to the sides of her head. “More like you two got drunk! I'm fairly certain that would be a much more accurate statement.” She hissed quietly, furious eyes burning like coals that solidified her argument further. Vinyl's silence spoke volumes, and the cellist only seemed to advance further until their muzzles were inches apart. She then sniffed. Vinyl tried to step back, attempting to keep the scent away from her, but the damage was already done.

“It's not like this is the first time. When was the last time you ever showed up in the past year?” Octavia yelled, Vinyl nervously glancing around as though someone were watching the pair.

“I know I've had a bit of a problem getting to places on time-”

“Oh, you think?” Octavia retorted. “Last week's dinner date with Fancy Pants and that mare of his, oh what was her name.” She clicked her hooves impatiently. Vinyl was going to answer, but she waved a hoof dismissively. “That's not the point. Twenty minutes late, you smelled like garbage, and I had to endure complete embarrassment, struggling with whatever excuse I could come up for you, while you practically drooled on the table!”

Vinyl felt an even stronger pang of guilt at the mention of this. “Look Octavia, I said I was sorry-”

But Octavia would hardly let her get a word in edgewise. “Sorry? You didn't even care! What about the time before that at the Canterlot Socialites Anniversary? I know you don't get along well with them, but I asked you to hold your tongue, for me Scratch. For me. And what did you do?”

Vinyl bit her lip, trying to recall exactly what happened. She realized too late it was a rhetorical question.

“You went off on that mare because she called you uncouth, and barbaric. Do you think I was happy with her attitude toward you, yet instead of letting me handle it in a civil manner, you just blew your top in front of everyone!”

Vinyl vaguely remembered this also, the brief clarity of mind bringing memories of her yelling at that one stuck up prick next to Octavia, snidely commenting on her lifestyle until she lost her cool completely.

“Yeah I get it, I overreacted a bit that time. But what about the wine party? I was on time then!” Vinyl replied confidently, as though this would end the argument with her getting out of this mess.

“Vinyl that was three months ago, and ponies are still talking about the incident with the fire alarm.” Octavia said. Her voice was eerily calm, unnerving Vinyl even further as she silently tried to come up with anything so that Octavia would understand her.

The uncomfortable silence that followed was the most awkward for Vinyl, as Octavia's angry gaze watched her expectantly, demanding explanations for every wrong she'd done her in the past year, which Vinyl regretted was a bit longer than she'd ever want to admit. Yet Vinyl kept her face straight, silently staring back at the cellist. After ten or so seconds however, Octavia's expression softened, though a frown still creased her lips, one hoof raising to rub her temple gently.

“Vinyl.” She started, her voice beginning to shake now, trying her best not to look at the disk jockey. ”Do not get me wrong. I...I do love you. But...” Vinyl could see tears brimming at the corners of the mare's eyes, and reflexively took a step forward, but Octavia stopped her, hoof pressing gently against her chest. “I try so hard to stick up for you. I have never spoken ill about you to anyone. Even if you can be rough around the edges, you are fun to be with, sweet when you want to be, and you do care at times.”

These words should have cheered Vinyl up, had her dancing for joy and cheering to the outside world with cries of victory. Vinyl wasn't breathing however, jaw slightly agape as she tried to process the darker subtext in front of her. Something was still wrong, something still coming. The tears flowing now like leaky faucets, Octavia could hardly not her gaze with Vinyl any longer, a short sob escaping her throat. It was like being in a horrible nightmare in which all you could do was watch, rooted to the spot while everything unfolded and toppled around you like a long line of dominoes.

“I asked you to be there for me tonight. Just this once. You knew how long I had been waiting for this event, my first formal performance with the Canterlot Symphony, and how it's made me a nervous wreck these past few days.”

Vinyl silently agreed, having watched the mare jump from her sheet music, to the cello, to pacing around the living room so often that it seemed like some erratic dance between scenes of a movie. Once again these thoughts were short lived as Octavia's shaking voice cut the pause like a serrated knife through wood, sawing slowly, threatening to rip it apart.

“You promised you would show up for me. I don't ask a lot Vinyl, I just wanted you to be there for me. I waited patiently. When the show started, I searched for you constantly in the crowd. You weren't there.” Vinyl felt a deep shame burning in her chest, face burning in embarrassment. Even while staring at the floor, Vinyl could still hear the mare bite back her sobs with no avail, tears hitting the carpet only to disappear into the fabric, as though the house wanted to hide any trace of Octavia's sadness.

Vinyl tried to step forward once more, drop to her knees and beg for Octavia's forgiveness, tears brimming in her own eyes as she finally realized how much she'd been hurting her, even if she hadn't meant it. Vinyl hadn't ever wanted this, emotions rumbling throughout her that shook her deeply, each tear from Octavia like a knife through her heart, aching painfully. Octavia once again held her hoof out, shaking her head with a deep, calming breath. When she spoke next, her voice still was shaken, but more firm now.

“Vinyl. I can't keep doing this. I'm sorry, I know you want to party. I know you want to have fun with your friends, and I'm sure deep down you don't mean it. I can't take it anymore though. It's just one disappointment after the next, and I just. Can't. Do it.”

“Octavia.” Vinyl spoke softly, still pushing herself gently forward, the little filly inside of her whimpering loudly, trying to ignore the inevitable. “What are you saying?”

Octavia didn't answer at first, instead proceeding to stare at Vinyl quietly. Vinyl couldn't believe this. Octavia couldn't possibly mean she was leaving. There was no way. Against everything Vinyl willed to be so however, Octavia lowered her hoof from Vinyl's chest, turning to head for the stairs that lead to the second floor, Vinyl slowly following her like a lost puppy, eyes brimming with tears.

“Octavia, please!” Vinyl cried, her voice cracking with a pleading tone that sounded nothing like the cool, confident deejay who performed in front of hundreds, thousands even. Panic adding into the mess, she added. “Tell me!”

Vinyl paused at the bottom of the stairs as Octavia took two steps up, before turning her head to watch Vinyl once more. There was pity in her eyes, mingled with sadness, and even some of the anger that had been in the beginning of the argument. Vinyl watched her expectantly, eyes wide with disbelief, legs shaking in a manner that clearly had nothing to do with her alcohol consumption, this overwhelmingly depressing sensation darkening everything she'd dreamed for.

“I'm sorry, I really am. But you need to grow up. I can't deal with you like this.” She finally replied.

“So you're..leaving me?” Vinyl asked, her voice much higher, almost foal-like.

The next sentence plunged the unicorn's world into a type of chaos that not even Discord could have dreamed up in all of his spite.

“Yes, I am. It's over Scratch.”

Author's Note

Reviews are appreciated.

Thanks for reading!

Choice

Octavia was gone by the following evening.

Vinyl tried repeatedly, time and time again to speak to the mare, to try and talk some sense into her, explain to her, tried anything to stop her from leaving. Vinyl hardly got the chance for such opportunities however, and when the cellist wasn't available for these conversations during the few minutes she could spare, she was either packing her things, or out of the house for reasons lost on the unicorn. Vinyl sat on the porch for most of the day, running the previous twenty four hours in her head over and over, wondering what she could have done to prevent such a catastrophe, and firmly put her belief to the front that the world must be out to get her, and that Octavia was being irrational about the whole situation.

Staring at the street, the the sun slowly dipping toward the horizon which plagued the sky with warm colors of haphazard red, orange, and yellow that had her cursing everything under the sun for mocking her with such happy looking scenes. In her grief ridden mind, the world should be falling apart, thunderstorms swamping Equestria in torrential downpours, fires riddling the neighborhood, mares, foals, and stallions alike screaming in the streets. Though the world went on, right past her, as normal as it ever had been.

A scene of alcohol bottles littered the grass to her left behind a small bush, the mare attempting to drown her sorrows in a fury of alcohol, but nothing helped, the grief clinging to her heart like a blacksmith's vice. As the sun began to sink behind the horizon, a carriage rolled in front of their lawn, pulled by a burly looking stallion with a blue work's top and baseball cap. Vinyl looked up with a sour expression on her face, before the door opened, a stiff looking mare taking a cautious step onto the sidewalk. Vinyl easily recognized the brown mane and light blue coat of Beauty Brass, one of Octavia's close friends in the classical world. She began her slow trot up the lawn, giving Vinyl a frown.

“Vinyl.” She said in acknowledgment.

Vinyl nodded in response, though the action was less friendly, and more of a curt gesture, eyes avoiding the Beauty as she walked straight up to the front door and, to agitate Vinyl even further, stepped inside their house, as though she owned the place. The thought bought tears to her eyes, which she furiously brushed away in an effort to keep the world in the dark on how she was feeling right now. It was just her house right now, as Octavia was leaving her, supposedly to stay with Beauty for a few days, before only Celestia knew what. No less than ten minutes passed when Beauty Brass stepped from the confines of the house, followed by Octavia, tugging along a sizable suitcase. She kept to the other side of the blue mare so that Vinyl couldn't see her face as the mare followed the tuba player with elegant strides that befit her well, each step a visual art the deejay could hardly break her gaze from. One detail was certainly inescapable; Octavia wouldn't even look in her direction. Beauty Brass helping her along, Octavia made her way to the carriage, before putting her luggage inside, following it in herself a second later, with Beauty right behind her.

There was no final goodbye, no lingering stares, no small verbal exchange between cellist and deejay as they pulled away. The stallion merely tugged the carriage along, the two mares in the back keeping together, Vinyl struggling to catch even a last glimpse of dark mane or gray coat. Time was no friend to her at all, the carriage soon lost around the next corner and out of sight.

Vinyl didn't move from her spot, merely staring at the solid path of paving stones in front of her that led to the street. Seconds passed to minutes, which turned into hours as darkness fell over Equestria and the full moon's rays cast a glowing blanket over the city, the chill of the night's air brought with it. In the end, she wasn't sure how long she'd just sat there, thinking about things. Well, specifically one thing. In the end, it wasn't her that broke the silence, but a hoof gently resting on her shoulder. She jumped stiffly, shock in her eyes as the moonlight reflected off of her magenta gaze, which leveled on the stallion whom was now sitting next to her.

“Hey Vinyl. You alright? You haven't spoken all day to me. Or anypony from what I can tell.” Neon said, the expression on his face supposedly reassuring as he let his hoof drop back to the edge of the porch.

Vinyl turned back to the road, letting out the breath she'd been holding since he'd held her. “Sorry dude. I've just been so preoccupied with...” Her voice trailed off, as she couldn't bear to bring back the painful scene before her in such sharp relief. Neon didn't respond at first, his understanding silence speaking plenty for itself.

After a while, such silence had to be broken of course, her friend standing up slowly. “Well, I won't ask about it.” He took two steps until he was in front of her, kneeling so that he was eye level with the white mare. “But if you come with me, maybe we can take your mind off it? It's the least I can do for a friend.” He held out his hoof to her, an encouraging smile on his face. It helped to bring even the ghost of a grin back to her own, as she nodded, reaching out her own hoof to grip his.

“You're right. I need to get past this.”

“I know just the thing too.” He replied confidently, a suave tone in his voice as the stallion tugged upward, Vinyl soon back on her own four hooves with one smooth motion.

“Alright, you've got me guessing.” She muttered, forcing herself into a more positive posture, chest out, head tilted somewhat skyward as her eyes locked onto his own.

“How about a rematch?”

Less than an hour later, the familiar scene of the inside of Club Canterlot around her, surroundings fuzzy as she tried to keep her balance, the euphoric feeling growing as the 'number seven knockout' took it's effects, spreading a grin across her face. Faces danced past her as she moved deeper within the crowd, the pounding music in her ears setting her pulse on a frantic, never ending race, she wanted to dance, cheer, scream and shout as a feeling more intoxicating than a dozen bottles of vodka could ever supply. The rush. The rush that kept her alive and free. The rush that kept her going, filling the void temporarily with a feeling of pure ecstasy. Faces continued to dance by, much faster, cheerful expressions all on her, cheering with her. Liquid hit her lips, the cold glass of a bottle with it. It burnt as it went down, but it was comforting all the same. She wanted this. Anything to get her mind off of...

Everything spun around her, colors blending into one another. Vinyl felt the bile rise in her throat, a feeling of something rushing for her. Faces now devoid of happiness, only worry and fear. Voices filled with panic that drowned out the bass. She tried to speak, tried to ask what the matter was. Weren't they having fun? Was something wrong? The rushing only seemed to increase as the floor rose up to greet her. Pain. Darkness. A disgusting taste filled her mouth, the disgusting scent of her stomach's contents splattered the floor, her face pressed into it.

“Voynel yooooew awrayght?” A voice, distorted yet familiar, though she couldn't understand it. Focus deserted her, and she tried to reclaim it, a chill running down her spine. Whatever efforts left she could summon, it was far from enough, the world growing quiet, her senses going dark. What was it she was so worried about? For the life of her, she couldn't remember. She did feel tired though, very tired.

Then, somepony else.

“Are you alright?”

Movements sluggish, she opened her eyes slowly. Momentarily taken aback by the darkness, she squinted, and found it was just the outside world that was dim, rather than her own eyesight just being poor. She sat up slowly, eyes finding a pair of hooves in front of her. She followed them up to the face of a rather stiff looking guard, bending over to her as if to examine her.

“I'm fine.” She said with difficulty, pressing her front hooves against the ground and pushing up, standing up slowly as a rather agonizing pain throbbed inside of her head, the mare leaning against a nearby wall for support.

“Ma'm? I'm sure you should be heading back home.” She couldn't see, her eyes shut reflexively against the glare of a nearby streetlamp, and she wondered for a moment where her shades were, but quickly left that train of thought as concentrating on anything was painful.

“Don't worry.” She muttered, nodding in approval at his words. “I'm..going. Where am I? What time is it?” She groaned, pulling herself into the cover of a nearby shadow provided by one of the two buildings on either side of her.

“Ah, been drinking eh?” he paused, before relenting, his tone calm and placid. “Corner of Symphony and fourth street. It is four in the morning. Anything else?” The guard's louder speech was like a nail driving into her skull, but she kept her mouth shut politely, nodding as he replied.

“Y-Yeah...” She grumbled, leaning heavily onto the wall of the alley. “I uh..have you seen a unicorn? Stallion. Black mane. Bit spiky and short?” She asked with a tone of mild concern, using the wall to hold herself up as her other three legs made their way to the street at a sluggish pace.

“No, I haven't.” He replied matter-of-factly. “However, If you need assistance, I can see if there's a carriage nearby willing to take you home. Wouldn't need you wandering around in the dark.”

Vinyl replied with her thanks, the guard soon having hailed down a cab and with plenty of effort on his part, helped the deejay struggle her way into one of the seats. As she managed to sit upright, she looked outside the window, offering him her best impersonation of a smile, which seemed to express anything but joy in her words. “Thanks. I really uh- Appreciate it an all.”

The guard nodded stiffly, offering her a small grin of his own.

“Just make it home safe will you? And try and lay off the alcohol. Some problems are too big for it.”

Vinyl found this statement a bit disconcerting, the statement giving her the perception that he likely knew more than she was comfortable to explain. Or was it just that obvious she was trying to drink away the love that burned in her chest so painfully, she felt she might die? The guilty expression on her face was as easy to read as an open book, the guard eyeing her for several moments, before turning the opposite direction to continue his rounds. Losing sight of him to the darkness, the gruff cough of the chariot driver got her attention, the mare sluggishly turning her head in response.

“Well?” He asked.

“Uh..right. Just drop me off on Mage's and Court. My house is pretty close to there.” She replied vaguely, the back of her head hitting the seat.

It was at this point she was left in her thoughts again, the drinks bringing that dreaded sensation of depression that threatened to have her bawling in the back of this carriage like some pathetic little filly. Though tears flooded her eyes, sadness was overtaken by anger, pressing her face into the glass window. She tried to forget it all, and focus more on the recent events. Where was Neon? What had happened over the night? With no answers to satisfy these questions, and her destination unlikely to provide her with them, she was unable to hold her attention to the subject. Octavia was still on her mind.

Curse whatever sadistic deity that pulled the strings behind such horrible actions against her, letting her hit dead end after dead end until she not only hurt her marefriend, but pushed the cellist from her life unintentionally. The carriage hit a sudden bump, the mare falling on her left side with a quiet groan, the rattle of metal on metal grabbing her attention. She felt her side, a small bag of what seemed to be bits tied down to her midsection. Well, at least she knew one thing, she'd certainly won that rematch, the hefty feel of it putting that observation beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Lights glaring into the carriage, she squinted to her left, a neon sign passing by slowly as the carriage moved along. The sign proudly bore the name of the building behind it 'Riski's Tail' , from which bright warm lights lit up the nearby parking lot. She stared at it, her expression of longing from earlier replaced with a rather lewd grin.

“Hey..hey dude! Stop here” She muttered, tapping the seat roughly.

The driver turned to look at her, then the building. “Ya know, we've still got ten blocks 'til Mage street. Unless you plan on-”

Vinyl didn't want to hear what he had to say, climbing out of the carriage hastily, nearly tripping face first into the curb, before she grabbed a nearby street sign, pulling herself upright, grinning for the first time that day, but the familiar cough of the driver brought her attention back to him.

“Whatever gal, your money. Twelve bits for the ride.” He told her, holding out his hoof with an cocked brow.

She reached into the bag, drawing out a small hoof full of coins. She tried counting them out, but as her head throbbed, she slapped the whole hoof full into his awaiting hoof, not wanting to bother with the struggle of basic math. “W-Whatever..keep the change.”

The driver eyed her uncertainly, but she didn't have time for him. She turned, moving for the door to the establishment, an eager expression painted on her face. The pain burning in her heart, she may have sought comfort, but the cellist was too painful a hole in her heart to ignore. She had to fill it; with a bag full of bits on her, how hard could it be to find that in this place?

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“Well hun'~? Going to tell me more, or are you just going to gawk?”

Vinyl shuddered, that sultry tone in her ear getting her warm in very familiar places. Amber locks of mane fell over her shoulder as the mare pressed her chest against the deejay's back, charcoal colored hooves running down her forelegs. Vinyl wanted to lunge at her, pinning her to the floor and giving her everything the party mare had. That however, would bring down the proverbial hammer on the nail, earning her a one way ticket out of the club in no time. Fighting her urges, she gripped the shot of Haymaker's Whiskey that she'd ordered at the club's bar, and downed it in a single, burning gulp that was meant to keep her occupied long enough to reclaim her voice around this succubus of a stripper.

“I don't really want to talk...'bout her. You know?” Vinyl finally mutters, quietly shifting her hooves together, she tries to put on a casual grin for the mare. “I just want to forget about all that.”

The mare whines in her ear quietly, rubbing her shoulders gently as she continues to whisper. “And for forty more bits, I'm sure we can keep that going for the next, oh I don't know” She pauses coyly, before finishing. “Fifteen minutes?”

It hardly took Vinyl much time to think before money exchanged hooves, before Vinyl was graced with the pleased purring of her, for a lack of a better word, 'entertainer'. The charcoal mare planted her plot firmly in the Deejay's lap, grinding her ass into the mare's crotch as she slid further back into the chair with Vinyl, leaning back to rest against the unicorn. Vinyl, relaxing back into the chair herself now, raised a hoof to grip the mare's shoulder, who quickly slapped it away. Vinyl gave her a puzzled expression, as if she'd done nothing wrong, and earned a cocked brow from her.

“No touching dear, that's my job.” She replied sweetly, one of the bouncers across the room, a gruff looking stallion donning the stereotypical black shirt and shades, was now eyeing Vinyl as though she were a problem waiting to happen. Vinyl dropped her hooves quickly, a nervous grin spreading over her lips in the attempt to assume a more natural look. 'Stay calm.' she thought to herself casually. 'Just don't. Do anything stupid.' After a few moments of this, the bouncer broke his gaze and satisfied himself with watching one of the other mare's whom was on her way to giving a private show for one of the other patrons. Vinyl breathed a quiet sigh of relief, before shifting uncomfortably in her seat. That heat was beginning to grow, and damn she felt needy right now. Devious thoughts were burning in her mind, and the need to satisfy them was intensifying right along with that.

Enjoying the mere contact and suggestive grinding her money was now earning her, Vinyl shut her eyes, letting her imagination creep into reality. Her back pressed into soft sheets, she grinned widely at the ceiling, rolling over to her left. A picture of beauty, a snoozing Octavia pressing her face into the pillows, mane spilling all over, giving the impression of her form floating over a lake as calm as glass. Vinyl felt her breath catch at the sight. She felt her heart thump, her chest aching horribly as she tried to look away. Her wish quickly becoming a nightmare, she suddenly lurched away, swearing loudly. Torn between the need to hold onto her marefriend, and scream in agony at the thought of it all, it just seemed like a sick joke to her, and she wanted out and away from it all before reality caved in on her.

The chair crashed to the side, the mare in Vinyl's lap screaming loudly as the two tumbled to the floor, Vinyl scrambling to get back onto her hooves like the devil himself was in on the game. Face contorted into an ugly glare, she fought back the tears that were trying to overcome her. It wasn't fair! She couldn't even try to enjoy herself now, that image of her heartache burned into her mind like a fiery brand mark. She then stopped dead, everyone was staring at her, the mare groaning quietly as she tried to get back onto her hooves. Vinyl's frown deepened, regret building up inside of her. She hadn't even known the mare's name and she'd just done this. Without even really thinking, all because of...

“I'm. I'm so sorry!” She cried out gently, disbelief strong in her voice as her hoof struggled to wrench the bag of bits from her side. “I didn't mean it.”

Vinyl dropped the bag of bits on the floor in front of the mare as though for compensation in some way, before hastily taking backward steps for the door. The bouncer was on his way, but the threat of being violently thrown out wasn't necessary. Feeling sick to her stomach once more, the deejay flung herself out of the front door and into the early morning light, short sobs echoing into the streets. Early birds of all types were already out and about, some for morning trots, some for work, some for one reason or another. All abruptly stopped to watch the unicorn as she bolted through the street, ragged breaths ripping through her chest as though the blade of a knife were twisting her insides like some horrifying blender.

It seemed to last forever, her body begging for her to stop this mad dash down the street, but she kept on going. It made her feel better. Running from her problems, whether wrong or right, certainly staved off the need to feel like she deserved it all. It was crazy to think that before this, she'd never felt sad. Well, excluding the post drunk hangovers that usually plagued her every other night, that was the truest thing she could have ever said to anypony. It just wasn't her to feel unhappy like this; she was the heart and soul of Canterlot's night life for Celestia's sake!

Stopping several blocks down the road, she broke into a short coughing fit as she tried to breathe, air filling her lungs in hasty gulps like a fish above water. Celestia damn it, she felt so pathetic right now, crying like a foal in the streets, practically throwing a fit at Riski's, drinking herself to unconsciousness at Club Canterlot. Another pang of guilt flooded her as she realized she still had no clue where Neon was, and he was the one who had invited her out to forget all of this mess. He was probably having a cow right about now trying to find her. All in all, it was going to be a long walk back home without the bits for a cab, which she'd left back at the strip club. Cheeks burning red at the indignity of it all, she made her way home slowly, her headache from this morning only growing fiercer, growing claws and fangs that raked the inside of her skull with every passing moment in this outside word of blinding light and ear shattering noise. The irony of that particular fact only nauseated her further.

After a long and painful trot home, it was unsurprising that Neon had been waiting for her on the front steps, a look of worry etched onto his face at the sight of her. She made her way over, intent on apologizing to her friend for having ditched him last night, even though she couldn't remember for the life of her why she'd even done it in the first place. Instead he closed the distance halfway, gripping her gently. For that she was thankful, as she felt like she'd fall over at any moment after her ordeal of making her way through Canterlot's heavy morning traffic.

“Vinyl! What the heck, you ran off last night and didn't come back!” He rambled off quickly, giving her a more stern look than she was normally accustomed to seeing on his face. “You weren't even making sense, what happened-” He stopped mid-sentence, watching Vinyl with a nervous expression. For all of her reservations about not having any issues to really speak of, she couldn't help but blame him.

“Neon. I'm sorry. I just can't talk about this right now. I just want to go inside.” said Vinyl flatly, finally breaking the silence between the two. Neon gave her a look that screamed frustration, but the mare wasn't having any of it at all. She was tired, she was in pain, and she wanted to sleep.

“Fine. But I'm staying over until we talk about this.” He replied begrudgingly, as though Vinyl had obviously made the wrong choice in the matter. 'Add it to the list' She thought, shrugging indifferently, then stepped around him politely to make her way to the front door. She wasn't looking forward to the coming conversation with him, but she knew she owed him that at least. He was worried, and who wouldn't be?

Getting up the stairs was a struggle. Her legs were heavy, her resolve was moot, apathy growing. What was the point of going all the way to her room? She'd climb under cold sheets, lay beneath a blanket of darkness, and be constantly reminded of what was supposed to be there. What should have been there. Was it really her fault? She'd admitted to herself she wasn't the most respectable of mares at times, and certainly not that big of a role model, but she tried her best. Or she thought she did. Entering her room, these thoughts only threw more on the burden pressing down on her mind, threatening to crush what little drive she was struggling to muster just to keep going. Laying down in her bed, sleep was a swift release from the ugly reality that had slapped her in the face so suddenly in these past two days.

Buck it, she thought. Just buck it all.

Author's Note

Hope you enjoyed it!

Mistakes

*Click*

“Vinyl? I know you're there. I'm not mad at you, I just feel like we need to speak more. This endless work you've been having as of late has been... growing out of hoof. Can you please see me after work? I understand you've been busy composing your latest projects recently, and it takes up plenty of your time, but I just wish you'd come over. Neon can survive a night without you, can't he? Listen, all I'm asking for is just us, a dinner date. Sounds fun, right? If you don't mind, just get back to me when you can. I love you Vinyl. I'll see you later.”

*Click, bzzt*

“-can. I love you Vinyl.”

Hoof steps.

*Click, bzzt*

“I love you Vinyl.”

*Click, bzzt*

“Vinyl, cut that out.”

“I love you-”

“Vinyl!”

Vinyl sat up suddenly in her chair, eyes flashing in the direction from which her name was called. Neon was standing just inside the front door, grimacing at her as though he'd eaten worms for breakfast. She exchanged a similar look with him, dropping her eyes back to the answering machine in front of her. It was just a voice message, but it made her feel better. The time stamp was from a year ago, just before she and Octavia moved in together. A sad grin played across her lips at the memory of seeing Tavi after she'd heard this message for the first time. Vinyl had been working nonstop on her first album to get her hoof in the door of Canterlot's social graces, and the attitude she'd been getting at the time from the more elite members of the city's population wasn't exactly welcoming, per se. Octavia had understood, even if Vinyl wasn't exactly the most grown up mare in the world.

Relationships changed things like that.

Neon took a seat on the couch next to her chair, leaning forward, and pulled the machine ever so gently from her grasp. For a hesitant moment she didn't want to let go, but in the end, she let him move it, her hoof resting on the cold oak nightstand now. She raised her gaze, magenta pools watching him, annoyed. She hated it when he tried to play big brother, and of course, he'd been true to his word, staying over for the past three days, going so far as to bail on a gig in Fillydelphia that he'd been planning for the past two months. Vinyl had called him crazy, but inwardly appreciated the gesture; Her silence on the subject of the breakup remained as resolute as ever though.

“You going to talk?” He asked, taking off his shades and resting them on the table.

“About what?” Her ignorance wasn't fooling anyone, especially him.

“Vinyl.” He fixed her with a hard stare that she had a difficult time looking away from. Escaping her was impossible, and here he kept bringing up the worst part about it. She mumbled unintelligibly at her name but didn't really give him a response. He must have taken that as a 'Go ahead', because to her aggravation, he began his preaching.

“I know it's been rough and all, but have you considered talking to her? I mean, she's had a few days to calm down and all, maybe she'd be willing to go over it with you. I know she loves you, I could see it in her eyes every moment she was around you! You just going to give up?”

Tears threatening to fall once again, she forced herself to be angrier. It helped stave off the sadness. She knew Neon was only trying to help, but that couldn't stop her from silently hating his ignorance on the subject. She had tried. She had begged. Octavia wouldn't budge... at least not then. His words began to infect her with a bit of hope, however, would a few days really change her mind?

“I doubt it.”

“You doubt it? Is that really the best you've got? Because if I had to say it, I'd say you've given up on her.”

'Resist the urge to punch.' She thought to herself furiously, hoof twitching. 'It's Neon for crying out loud.'

“You're not helping.” Vinyl muttered darkly, turning her head so that she was looking out a window in the opposite direction.

“I'm-” He groaned out loud, sulking into his seat.

“What?”

“Don't you see it?”

Feeling like her life was a broken record, she tried once again to remember what she could be missing now. Racking her brain, which altogether had no answers for her either, she bit back the urge for a sarcastic retort. He was the only one willing to stick with her now, and she'd be in hell if he left now.

“Vinyl. You've been in the house since you got back. You barely leave your room, and when you do it's just to do things like this.” He remarks, tapping the answering machine to emphasize the point. “You either need to talk to her or move on.”

Leave it to her living conscience to bring her up to speed quickly.

“I don't know man... I mean. You should have seen her face. You should have seen the tears.”

“Would you rather just give up and let her go?” Neon questioned, the now skeptical expression on his face painting the truth to his words for her in bright vivid colors.

Vinyl herself wasn't really as into the idea as Neon was, and with good reasoning, but his words had merit. Of course Vinyl didn't want to simply let Octavia walk out of her life! But if it had been as easy as talking to get the mare back, Vinyl likely would have solved this problem on their first night. But what if she had been too angry to deal with Vinyl that night? It wasn't really a leap of logic to find a glimmer of light in these words, but she'd promptly snuffed it. The deejay regrettably had a funny feeling that said she'd already had plenty of chances to talk about this before, squandering them like garbage littered in a park.

“Are you at least willing to put your doubts to the side and try it, like once?”

This was a rhetorical question if Vinyl had ever heard one, having plenty of experience with this. For a moment she tensed. She was angry. He knew what her answer would be, and was using the conversation to push her into a corner, so to speak. Spite at him only seemed to grow, her impatience forcing her to stand up, angrily glaring at him.

“Don't play me like that!” She growled, moving to the door. Neon suddenly stood up, moving after her.

“Vinyl, come on! You know I'm not trying to hurt you. It's just so hard to see you like this.” He explained quickly. “I know I sound a bit... harsh. But this is real! This is Octavia!” Her heart was set ablaze as he mentioned her name, as though he understood the aching pain in her chest better than she did herself. She couldn't help herself.

“Oh, I'm sure it's so difficult to sit and watch the suffering I'm going through.” She hissed back venomously, wrenching open the front door with enough force to slam it into the wall.

“Wait- where are you going?” Moving closer, he would have shifted in her way, but she wasn't having any of that. Horn glowing a bright blue, she gripped him in her magic, lifted him clean off the floor, and put him right back on the couch. A shocked expression on his face, he sat up as though to continue. She hated herself for it, but she pushed him right back down.

“I'm going to get this over with.” She muttered angrily. “Obviously you won't leave me alone about it, and I'm sick of hearing it. I just want to forget it, but the world just wants to keep bringing it back!”

She never gave Neon the chance to reply, stepping out the door and slamming it behind her. Mane a mess, no real destination, it was just an unbridled fury that kept her from turning back and crying in his hooves. However much she wanted to cry, she couldn't seem to bring herself to tears, the unicorn instead turning to the thing that drowned everything else out, Alcohol; Haymaker whiskey in particular as of late.

That sounded like a plan.

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So much for that.

Apparently the bartender at Club Canterlot had been requested that Vinyl shouldn't be allowed on the premises for a while. For a little while at least. This was the excuse that greeted her as she stepped through the door to grab the first drink of many in this late morning when the club was nearly empty in itself. He offered his apology that he had to turn down one of his favorite customers, yet all Vinyl could think was that Neon really needed to stop being such a worrisome meddler, good intentions or not. Storming back out, it had been a brief trip before she'd realized how tired she still was, exhaustion tugging at her eyelids. Oversleeping had been a common issue for the past few days, seeing as she'd barely left her room and for the moment, entertainment options had been scarce, if not downright unsatisfying.

So for the moment, she was sitting at one of the booths in one of Canterlot's more prominent coffee chains, Starbits. The familiar tan walls, plush velvet seats, the familiar scent of pastries and espressos lingering in the air, and familiar conversation making a pleasant ambiance, Vinyl sat there, waiting for the coffee, two creams one sugar, and chocolate doughnut that she'd ordered. The tone of the world seemed a bit brighter since she'd left the house, and though she regrettably wished she hadn't been so rough on the poor stallion, she did resolve to properly apologize to him when she got back. If he was still there.

A velvet pegasus with a short turquoise mane donning the signature outfit of the shop trotted over to her booth after another minute carrying a tray in her mouth, which she gently rested on the table, before giving Vinyl the practiced smile most prominent among waiters, bartenders, and several other similar jobs.

“I have your medium coffee, two creams one sugar, with one doughnut, just fresh out of the oven!” She informed the unicorn, her strained, yet jovial tone bringing very little concern to the unicorn, who merely nodded her head in thanks before lifting the cup of warm liquid with her magic, bringing it closer to her lips. She was a hair's breadth away from her first sip, before noticing the pegasus was still there, watching her expectantly like a dog about to do a trick. Vinyl gently rested the coffee back onto the table, eyeing the mare with confusion evident in her expression. What else did she want?

“Uh... thanks. That will be all.” Vinyl finally told her, grinning sheepishly at the slightly disturbing amount of attention she was receiving from the mare, who's cheeks shifted to a bright red.

“Oh um, sorry. But I just thought I recognized you.” The pegasus admitted. Admittedly this cracked a smile out of Vinyl, the deejay leaning forward with mild interest.

“Really now? I don't get that much lately.” She remarked casually, running a hoof through her mane to ruffle it up a bit rather than attempt to tame the spiked up hair that was a blue and cyan striped explosion from her scalp.

The mare giggled, Vinyl's cheeks tainted with a faint pink tinge before that cocky smile sprang back up to life for the first time in days. Already having figured that the mare knew her from her music (And rightly so, thought Vinyl), the deejay, however, was not used to ponies giggling with excitement at the sight of her, especially mares. More often than not, her appearance before fans was greeted by a chorus of cheers and requests from fans, including, but not limited to 'Here, have a drink on me!', to 'Fuck yeah, it's DJ-PON3!', or admittedly, her personal favorite 'Can you sign my flank?'. It was a fairly crazy fan base, but she would be lying if she had said those types of crowds weren't the most fun stallions and mares Equestria had to offer.

“Seriously? I mean, I totally have your first two albums!” She said in an undertone so their conversation couldn't be overheard by the patrons at the other tables, who hadn't really paid them much attention either way. “You're like a pioneer in music! I've listed to all your songs from A-Z, and let me tell you. Mind. Blown!” Vinyl couldn't help but chuckle at the giddiness painting the mare's face before she leaned in and whispered. “Do you think if... maybe I could grab one of the disks I have in the back you could maybe.” She paused nervously. “Sign it?”

Vinyl quickly agreed. The mare leaping with glee, she seemed to race to the back of the shop, passing by her confused manager, an older, somewhat larger mare with a long blonde mane, who seemed to watch her with a clueless expression, before turning back to the next customer in line. Vinyl kept herself content for the moment by turning to look outside of the window, watching ponies and carriages pass by on the street, the clear blue sky stretching out like an endless blue ocean above them. That was until the carriage pulled in front of her window, blocking most of the view outside the window, to which she groaned in aggravation. Even the view couldn't last more than a minute or so at this point.

When the carriage moved, her heart seemed to stop. Rolling from view, the breathtaking sight it revealed sent her heart in flutters, that luscious, silky black mane pouring down like a fountain, gray coat seeming to shine in the afternoon sun like a picture straight out of a five-star movie. She shivered, scooting closer to the window with interest before heartache and longing began to loom in overhead like dark clouds before the deluge of rain.

Vinyl's train of thought was broken by the mare resting a disk case right in front of her, her own image printed on the front cover. Her head turned to look at the pegasus, before turning back to look at Octavia. She was walking away, further and further. Mild discomfort on her face, she hastily searched for a pen. The Lavender mare noticing such a plight, she frowned, beginning to search her uniform for one as well. Another hasty look and Octavia was further away, across the street. The crowd was growing thicker, and Vinyl stood up, moving to get out of the booth, The mare taking a step back, confusion riddling her face.

“Listen, I've got to go. Right now, like-” She turned back. Only a glimpse of Octavia's head was visible now above the crowd. Heart thumping against her chest like a jackhammer. “It's an emergency!” The sudden commotion brought the eyes of everypony in the shop on her, but Vinyl wasn't paying attention. She stopped at the door, the disappointed expression of the mare looking back at her with a weak grin, to which at the sight of, Vinyl paused.

“I'm sorry.” She echoed lamely, before galloping outside after the cellist.

Galloping across the road, a nearby carriage driver halted barely a yard away from her, followed by two more who hurled insults at the unicorn as she hastily made her way through the busy street in a fashion that would have made a frog jealous, practically bouncing over and dancing around ponies, carts, and carriages that had the misfortune of getting in her way. Eyes searching for Octavia, she caught a glimpse of her as she walked around a nearby street corner, and out of sight. Knowing she'd likely lose the mare if she didn't speed up. She disliked the necessity of doing so, but it became apparent that the crowd was growing too thick on Canterlot's busiest sidewalks to navigate quickly, so with a great effort she began pushing her way through the wall of ponies, occasionally using her magic as well to gently push someone to the side so that she could pass. Shouts and cries of anger followed in her wake, one earth stallion going as far to try and hit her, but she deftly avoided the blow, before finally resuming a strong gallop as the crowd began to thin. Turning the corner, she spotted Octavia continuing to trot down the sidewalk, though thankfully much closer now than she'd previously been.

Vinyl was weaving in and out of passing groups of ponies in her way, trying to get within a good distance to grab Octavia's attention. The opportunity was quickly lost however as the mare turned, opening the door to the building ahead, and made her way inside. 'Well.' She thought 'At least I know where she is now.' Picking up the pace, she approached the door and was about to open it, when she read the sign above the double doors.

Canterlot Symphony Hall.

Complications soon began to become much more obvious now.

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It was safe to say Vinyl scratch wasn't very welcome within the walls of the building, and not simply because of the issue between her and Octavia. In fact, her very presence within the hall outside of such matters was treated as though it were a sacrilegious act within the confines of a temple. Dirty looks following her throughout the rooms, her attitude was quickly put on edge after her first attempt at asking somepony where Octavia was.

“I hardly believe ponies such as yourself need to be interrupting our musicians while they're here. This is our place of work, not a party house you hooligan.” The stallion replied stiffly, straightening his collar as though her very presence had diminished his outward appearance. “Now leave! Bother somepony else!”

Unsurprisingly this only darkened her mood further, the now aggravated deejay pushing past him gruffly, following the directions on the sign stating the main auditorium was straight ahead, to which she was welcomed by a graceful composition that brought her to a halt, magenta eyes locking on the only well-lit area in the dimmed room. Center stage, reared up on her hind legs to support the cello with her left hoof, Octavia's bow crafting an endless stream of notes that Vinyl herself remembered with ease. She'd sworn to herself that tears were beyond her now, but she wiped her eyes hastily to keep them away, memories the only thoughts now keeping her company in the dark room. The endless rows of seating seemed to slide away into the distance all around her, darkness claiming endless lines of velvet chairs, the stage was gone, curtains pulled into nonexistence. It was just her and Octavia. Black and white. Two things that have never been more different, yet Vinyl's mind began to mull over what she'd said that night after her show.

“I... I do love you. But... I try so hard to stick up for you. I have never spoken ill about you to anyone. Even if you can be rough around the edges, you are fun to be with, sweet when you want to be, and you do care at times.”

Octavia did love her. She said so. Yet... Was Vinyl the bad guy here? It wasn't as though she'd purposefully ignored all of the issues that Octavia pointed out to negatively impact their relationship. But was it all as really bad as it seemed? Was there really no hope at all? Vinyl refused to believe this.

“What the hell are you doing here?” A voice hissed behind her. This distraction ripping her eyes from Octavia, she turned to face the owner of the voice, a furious Beauty Brass who was flanked on either side by security guards.

“What's it to you?” Vinyl grumbled quietly. “Last time I checked this is a public building.”

“And last time I checked, the sign just inside the door says no loitering. Do I have to ask again?” Vinyl stared at her in amazement. What the hell was her problem?

“Look, if you really need to know, I came to talk to Tavi.” Vinyl admitted,

“And you think that's a good idea?” Beauty replied sarcastically.

Vinyl couldn't help but pull a face at this. “Well, I'd like to..you know. Talk about it. We're grown mares, right?” She replied, Neon's words beginning to unravel into a sensible argument. Oh, she was definitely apologizing when she got back.

“I don't want you near her. In fact, I don't even want you here.” Beauty shot back, raising her voice. The music paused.

“What? Come on, It's not like I'm trying to drag her back or something. I know I'm not, you know, the greatest pony ever but-”

“And you've never said anything truer!” She growled, tapping Vinyl's chest for emphasis. The deejay's insides began to boil once more as she gave the tuba player just as nasty of a look as Beauty's contorted face of rage brought down on her. “You've been a misfit from day one, and I never got what she saw in you. You're a bad influence, now get out before you make things worse!”

“Beauty? Is that you? What's going on?” Octavia's voice was like a soft silk blanket of music hanging in the air, to which Vinyl turned to look at her. Beauty however, gripped her shoulder, turning her back around.

“What the fuck?” Vinyl really did not like ponies putting their hooves on her without her consent. Trying to hold back her rage, she swatted the hoof from her shoulder. The guards watched impassively, but they twitched at that. Fuck them too.

“Leave. Right now. Don't you dare even speak to her.”

“Keep your fucking hooves off me.” Vinyl spat back.

“Then go!”

“I can't. I love her.” The words leaped from her mouth without her thinking them. This was the liberating truth that had sunk her lower than the deepest depths of the ocean, and yet now, they seemed to raise her higher than the sun and the clouds, as if she'd grown wings and transcended into enlightenment. “And she loves me.”

Beauty gave a mirthless chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief. “And that's why she left you then, is it?”

Vinyl hadn't meant to do it. It obviously wasn't the right thing to do. She'd followed Octavia here with intentions bordering on saintlike, and yet now they were soiled. A loud smack cracked through the air as Vinyl's hoof slapped into Beauty's face, sending her sideways into the row of chairs, both security officers watching in stunned disapproval.

“How fucking, dare you?” Vinyl snarled, her body visibly shaking as she fought tooth and nail to prevent herself from lashing out further.

Vinyl was barely standing for much longer as the two guards gripped her under her fore hooves and pushed her roughly into the wall to subdue her, the mare struggling violently to be free of them.

“Let go of me, she fucking deserved it!” Vinyl shouted, back hooves flailing as they dragged against the carpet floor.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Octavia, quickly heading over with an expression of mild shock on her face. Oh thank Celestia, Octavia could help her sort all of this out.

“Vinyl, what are you- Oh dear. Beauty, what happened?” She didn't approach either of the two, deep concern in her expression, lavender eyes searching for what couldn't be easily discerned.

“I tried to get her out but-”

Vinyl cut the blue mare off, as the guards continued to roughly press her into the wall. “Octavia! Please, I just wanted to come and talk to you!”

Octavia took several hurried steps toward the two, shaking her head in disbelief. “Please don't hurt her, I hardly believe all of this is necessary.”

“Oh you bet it's necessary.” Beauty said, rubbing her cheek with a free hoof. “She just assaulted me!”

Octavia gasped at Vinyl in astonishment. “Vinyl? No, I can't see her simply hurting anypony like that-”

“She smacked me!”

“Oh please, you kept putting your damn hooves on me and insti...insta..” She groaned quietly, unable to think of the word. “You started it!”

“Just get her out!” If there was ever a time to smack somepony, Vinyl couldn't help but believe now had to be the time.

“Now wait a moment-” Octavia started.

However, the guards were not content with waiting, beginning to drag the unicorn to the door, while she continued to struggle. Vinyl didn't want to resort to magic for confrontation, mainly because she didn't specialize in those types of spells, however, that didn't stop the mare from continuing to struggle with everything she had.

“Let go of me! Now!” Vinyl continued to roar. Despite both her own pleading and Octavia's, the mare was quickly dragged from the auditorium, doors slammed shut behind them.

Author's Note

Feedback is always appreciated!

Thanks for reading!