Octavia was one of the most famous ponies around. Being respectively musically talented, it wasn't hard to figure out why. She played from private house parties for Canterlot's elites to events as exclusive as the Grand Galloping Gala. She would play for hours, eyes closed as the bow slid across the strings of cello. Behind her was a chorus of ponies, some with expensive Stratopegasus violins, other cellists, but she was the star. She was the one that got all the fame.
Calm and reserved, Octavia maneuvered herself around the fancy after parties with grace and elegance. She'd laugh with the socialites, dance with a few of Canterlot's most eligible stallions, and just prove herself worthy.
As hoity toity as Octavia was, her flat mate was the complete opposite. Vinyl Scratch, known as DJ Pon-3 in Equestria's underground scene, was tough and edgy. The only elegance she had was with her turntables, where she blasted out monstrous beats for audience. Her loud, ear-popping music kept her up all hours of the night until the wee hours of the morning, where she'd stumble on home.
The rave scene was highly popular and known for for drug using, the biggest being Pegasty, a small pill that gave the user hallucinations, kept them awake, and warm feeling throughout their bodies. Vinyl was used to seeing ponies popping pills, injecting themselves, and snorting at her shows. It almost became common place.
Octavia had been away for a couple weeks, prepping her and her orchestra for a fancy party. Vinyl had been relaxing on the sofa with a bit of television, flipping through the channels. "Stallion vs. Food" "The Galloping Dead" A documentary on Anne Flank. Nothing good. She sighed and tossed the remote on the floor beside her on the floor. Late sunlight filtered through the sheer, girly curtains Octavia had hung up. Vinyl argued with her that the sliding blinds were fine, but she had to have it all fancy.
"Overly done up, that's what she is." the white unicorn chuckled to the empty room.
A couple more minutes of watching dust dance in the sunlight and she decided to try and put together a new track. She put her flanktop on her bed, discarded her headphones (with Octavia gone, she could blare her mix tapes), and opened a couple .wav files. Attaching a few beats here, a bridge of this or that, a bass drop, her infamous "wubs", and a new track was born. Scratch listened to it for anything she could add, remove, or tweak, but everything worked perfectly to produce a teeth grinding, ear ringing rave classic.
The venues DJ Pon-3 preferred to play at were usually dark and smokey, lit only by multicoloured strobe lights and glowstick adhered ponies. Ponies rubbed against one another, exchanging their kandi, swapping pills, helping each other to the doors of an electronic nirvana where the music became real. A point where the beats lured the ponies away and pleased them in ways other stallions and mares couldn't. A place where the music became the ultimate lover.
Vinyl Scratch watched the ponies hoof pumping ponies with avid curiosity behind her dark glasses. She never tried pegasty herself, but knew others who have had it. Many were and now addicted to heavier things like mareoine, Pegasus Dust, hoofcaine, and others were jailed for trying to sell it. She was one of the djs who tried to stay clean, except for a small percentage who only used marejuana.
But the nagging feeling of wanting to experience the acidic trip they were on never left. A few hours of vibrating beats, Vinyl was left to clean up stage. A stallion, one she vaguely remembered seeing in the crowd, slinked her way.
"I hate to tell you this, but the show's over." Vinyl said, rolling up a bright orange electrical cord.
"I know, but I was told to give this to you. A gift from a big fan." the stallion dropped a small black bag on her dj equipment.
"Right uh...Thank you." she was thankful her expressions were hidden under her glasses.
The stallion merely waved and left. Vinyl rolled up the cords, dismantled the strobes, and locked up. She worked her way back home, curiosity dying to know what her gift was. Back at home, she flopped down on the couch and opened the bag. The fan who had this delivered must haven been paying close attention to her.
A couple needles, viles, and a small pillbox laid inside. Excitement and trepidation was what she felt. When was Octavia due back? Later today? Tomorrow? Vinyl couldn't remember. Figuring she had enough time to try just one pill. She put on her favourite artist, Deadpon3, and slipped a pill into her mouth. At first, she felt nothing. Thinking she had been duked, Vinyl went to toss the bag into the trash, when it hit. Bright lights danced to the music, a fuzzy warmth filled her chest, her limbs, her flanks. Colours- red, yellow, oranges, shades she couldn't even name- painted her surroundings. The music became the greatest part for her. Each note wrapped around her like the arms of a tender lover, finding and pleasuring parts of her core she never knew she had.
The trip went on for hours, time losing meaning to her. This, being Vinyl's first time, wore her out immensely. She collapsed into a sweaty, panting heap, hugging her gift close. Her blue mane plastered to her forehead with sweat. Eventually, she was lulled to sleep.
"Vinyl! What have I told you about blaring your...music?!" Octavia huffed, her suitcases on either side of her.
Vinyl Scratch was startled awake, "Huh?"
Octavia gave a 'humph' and rolled her eyes. "You been hitting the cider again, haven't you?"
"No, I-" Scratch wanted to share this beautiful thing with with Octavia, have her experience what she had. But Octavia would never agree. She was too...fancy.
"Well?" she questioned
"I had a late night"
The grey pony shook her head, "You need a new job."
"Doing what? Being frilly and talking about the lives of ponies who I don't care about?" Vinyl smirked.
"You're insufferable" Octavia glared
"And you're a walk in the park."
The high society pony didn't reply, but took her suitcases to her room. Keeping her gift pinned to her chest, Vinyl snuck off to hers as well. 'I need to hide this...' Looking around, she eventually settled on her dresser.
"Why do I have this?" she questioned herself, hiding the black bag in the empty drawers.
Once she was sure her gift wouldn't be found, she went to Octavia's bedroom door.
"Yo Octavia...Doing anything tonight?"
No, why?" she called back through the door.
"I was wondering if you wanted to come to one of my venues."
"I suppose."
"Great." Vinyl replied, absolutely giddy.
Octavia generally tried to avoid anything that involved raves, house music, and anything inbetween. She kept away from Vinyl's company, her occupation, her music, everything, refusing to associate with what she deemed "ruffian". She was above all that. But this was her friend, the one who would dress up and go to her recitals when she could. Fair's fair, right? Plus, even though she would never admit it, the music was catchy.
Octavia wedged her slim grey body between 2 pegasi adorned with bright kandi, glowsticks, and a bunch of other odd accessories. The crowd called for DJ Pon-3 fiercely. A cyan, rainbow maned pegasus (Octavia wasn't sure if it was natural or dyed, but she heavily considered the latter) shot up out of the gathering, pumping her hoof violently, and chanting for Vinyl.
"DJ Pon-3, DJ Pon-3, DJ Pon-3" the chanting grew louder and louder.
Smoke poured on to the stage like a large creeping cat, ensnaring the audience. The dark venue came alive with flashing lights, bobbing, circling, dancing to a tune that had yet to be played. The party goers were shouting for her now.
"DJ PON-3! DJ PON-3! DJ PON-3!"
Vinyl, not without popping a pill of pegasty, walked out to her set up, ready to begin her show. The crowd erupted, the enthusiasm waving all around and drowning the room. Ponies danced and pumped to the beat, a moshpit broke out, catching Octavia in the middle. A shoulder caught her snout, blooding her nose, to which she quickly got away from and made a beeline for the exit. She felt guilty for leaving her friend, but Vinyl would understand right? The crowd thinned out the closer to the exit. Here was where the ponies shot up. Hoof on the handle, about to leave, she felt somepony touch her shoulder. A stallion was staring her down.
"M-may I help you?"
"No but I can help you." the stallion grinned, "you don't belong in here. But I can make you belong."
Octavia rolled her eyes, "No thank you, I won't be paying for any membership."
The stallion chuckled, "You're funny. The names Live Wire."
"Octavia" she said almost bored.
" The Octavia? The one who played at all those fancy gigs?"
She nodded.
Live Wire's grin increased,"Lyra, bring the specialty."
"The specialty?" Octavia repeated, stepping back as an aqua green unicorn brought up a pen box.
"Only the best for the best." Wire said, revealing a long needle with a bright purple liquid inside, "It's something new, still needs a name. I think we'll call it the Octavia, because it matches your eyes. What does everypony think?"
Several ponies nodded in approval.
"I'm going." Before anypony could stop her, Octavia was gone.
This went on for several weeks. Vinyl did her shows, popped her pills, eventually injecting and snorting. Octavia never went to another one of her shows, but Vinyl didn't care. The drugs began to cause her to lose massive amounts of weight. Octavia only assumed it was due to her sudden burst of fame. Vinyl was off at a show leaving the apartment to Octavia. She was busy packing her things up. Fancy Pants was requesting her for the opening of an art gallery. She was all packed except for her neck piece, which she couldn't seem to find anywhere.
"Where could it be?!" she growled in frustration.
She had looked everywhere but Scratch's room. Opening the door, she did a quick glance, not finding it. Her eyes fell upon a dresser in the far corner of the room, a drawer half open.
"Why does she have this?" Octavia puzzled, fully opening the drawer. Inside was Vinyl's gift, used needles, and empty pillboxes.
Realisation hit her. Her best friend had been doing drugs and she never knew it. Oh, how terrible she felt.
"I'm putting an end to this right now." Octavia resolved.
Vinyl Scratch stumbled through the front door, craving her mareoine. The front room was dark and she rubbed along the wall for the light switch. Clicking it on, she spotted Octavia sitting in her usual seat, legs crossed.
"Oh, hey Tavvy. What're you doing up?"
"Waiting for you."
Vinyl gave an odd grin, "Well that's kinky."
"Explain this." Octavia glared.
The black bag was tossed across the room, landing at the DJ pony's hooves, the contents spilling everywhere. Even under the lingering haze of pegasty, Vinyl Scratch knew she had been caught.
"Why were you in my room?" her heart pace sped up.
"That doesn't matter. Explain the drugs."
"Why were you in my room." Adrenaline met anger and fright.
"Explain the drugs."
"Why were you in my room!" Vinyl shrieked, taking charge at the concert pony.
The white unicorn lashed out, catching Octavia by the mane and tossing her to the ground. In the process, Vinyl had lost her glasses, revealing to Tavvy how bloodshot her eyes were.
"Vinyl, you need to get off the drugs! Look at what they're doing to you!" Octavia pleaded her.
"Oh you think that just because you're some hot shot in Canterlot, you think you can go into my room and then tell me what to do." Vinyl rolled her eyes.
"No, I say it because I care!" Octavia yelled, pinned by the dj.
"Pfft. All you care about is is your stupid cello. Speaking of which..." Her drug crazed eyes had a scary light, "Don't move"
Vinyl pranced her bony body down the hallway. Her bones protruded against her white coat, giving her the impression of an actual skeleton. Octavia, paralyzed by that trust she had built with Vinyl Scratch, stayed laying on her back. Moments later, Vinyl returned, wearing her neckpiece and holding her bowstring.
"You wanted me to get a new job, yeah? I think I may try and learn the cello."
Vinyl advanced toward the fallen grey pony, not without licking another pill of pegasty off the floor. Her body shivered as the familiar haze swept through her emaciated body, breaking it out in gooseflesh.
"I'm just trying to look out for you!" Octavia hollered as she rose to her hooves.
Vinyl suddenly started giggling. The pegasty made Octavia change into a variety of colours and objects. Her words were lost in the sea of hallucinations. Vinyl knocked Octavia to her stomach, straddled her back, and pulled the bowstring across her flesh, splitting it. To Vinyl, he screams sounded very much like the music she heard her play numerous times.
Vinyl giggled again, "This isn't so hard. Why haven't tried it before?"
She pulled the string back and forth, splitting muscle and tissue. Octavia screamed and hollered until she tasted blood in the back on her mouth. Her flanks were wet with her blood. Vinyl has made a deep line, exposing her spine. She kept going, drawing it forwards and back, down between the vertebrae. A fresh round of pain and screaming. The pegasty made it sound as if she were playing an impressive masterpiece. Tears squeezed out of Tavvy's eyes as all her nerves in her body were lit. The string caught on the spinous process and snapped with a hard tug. Octavia squealed. The white pony just stared at the broken item with glossy eyes.
"Well that sucks." Vinyl threw the instrument over her shoulder. She cocked her head, "Where'd Tavvy go?"
Scratch got up, stepping on Octavia in the process, and must not have heard her wails of pain as she went to go find her missing friend. Octavia laid with her legs spread out, her back bleeding, feeling as if it had just been sat on fire. Her screams were now reduced to whimpers.
Vinyl's pegasty high was slowly wearing off. After constant use, her body began getting used to it. Grumbling to herself and forgetting Octavia, she went to her room. Live Wire had hooked her up a couple days ago with a new drug they they called "PSD". Vinyl had been too high on her PXY and mareoine to try it. Now she needed a new high. She took out the bag of sugar cubes laced with PSD and placed on her tongue. Walking back to the living room, she began feeling woozy.
"V-Vinyl...Help me.." Octavia pleaded again, dizzy from blood loss and pain.
She wasn't sure why, but something Octavia had said irritated her. Her tone? Was she mocking her? Vinyl walked up along her side where she had recently tried to make music off her friend. A puddle of blood had formed under her. She extended her tongue and licked at the puddle the had formed between the cut and her nithers. In her drugged high, it didn't have a metallic taste. The PSD made it taste like something sweet, something like cherry juice.
Octavia winced as her friend's tongue danced along her aching flesh. Vinyl pressed her mouth into the slits, inciting a yelp, and lapped at the blood that had pooled there.
She took a flap of the loose skin between her teeth and yanked hard, tearing the hide from her back. The drugs made it difficult to process Octavia's pain, her screams, what she was doing. In her holed, damaged, drug crazed brain, she merely thought she had a cake of sorts.
Blood poured from her body onto Scratch's chin, mouth, and tongue. Every breath sent a shock wave across her bare muscles. A sound only Vinyl could hear distracted her. She got up to investigate, leaving Tavvy alone. She struggled up on her hooves, her core inflamed with pain. She whimpered, blinked away tears, and shakily tried to reach the wall phone to dial for help for her and Vinyl.
She grabbed the phone quickly, punching in 911 as fast as she could. Octavia held the receiver up to her ear, only getting a dead tone.
"No...No... NO! " she shouted, flopping down on her haunches despite the pain that threatened to cripple her.
She eyed the door apprehensively, terrified of what may be out there. Vinyl Scratch had a lot of friends who did drugs. She had a dealer, obviously. Could they be out there too? She was pondering opening the door when she felt a jab in her back. Vinyl stood behind her, discarding a needle.
Octavia had barely enough time to comprehend what had happened when the hallucinations began.
Dark faces laughed at her from the shadows, rodents scurried around her feet, boring holes into her hooves. One nibbled her bare back-end, making her scream, blood spewing from her raw throat. Octavia battered at her body relentlessly trying to rid these creatures. Rat upon rat assaulted her, moving to the laugh of the shadowfaces, doing a horrid little jig. The dancing rats began to gnaw at her face. She felt them claw their way into her mouth, their little sharp claws tearing at her tongue. Octavia slammed her hooves at her mouth, destroying several teeth and biting her tongue in half. Blood poured in her mouth, waterfalling down her chest. Vinyl was too lost in her own world now to notice. Incomprehensible screams of agony and pain flew from Octavia disfigured mouth. Imaginary rats continued to attack her body and Octavia continued batting them away. She cut her flesh open with her hooves, tore out patches of fur, anything to keep them off. Her entire body was mangled and bloody. Octavia's body collapsed under pain, shock, and drugs. She was in so much pain, but her frayed nerves wouldn't allow her to register it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Vinyl shooting up. A needle with a bright purple liquid, much like the one she saw weeks ago.
Vinyl's back arched, her fur stood on end, and a sigh escaped her. She tossed the needle aside and looked at Tavvy's wretched body. She got to her hooves and sauntered to Octavia. She rolled her over on her back, earned a wince as Octavia's bare back touched the carpet, and straddled her stomach, snout-to-snout.
"Enjoy your trip?" Vinyl purred as much as a pony could. Octavia was still in mid-trip and the sight of Vinyl Scratch terrified her. Her bloody, tongue-less mouth opened to scream but was muffled by the unicorn's hoof. She lifted it back up and licked the blood away. The cello pony's pale purple eyes bulged from her skull. A visible idea passed across Vinyl's eyes. She rushed off quickly again and trotted back in with another needle. Re-straddling Octavia, much to her misery, the white pony plunged the needle deep into the purple iris, popping it and causing the vitreous humor to seep out around the needle shaft. Octavia, unable to scream anymore, just whimpered pathetically. DJ Pon-3 tried to suck up what she could, but only made a raisin of the eye. Discouraged, she shrugged and shoved it into Octavia's other eye.
Her field of vision went black. Darkness only made the hallucinations worse. She felt the rats claw deeper into her flesh. She couldn't scream. All she managed was a horse gurgling. Vinyl was too busy refreshing her high, mixing her PXY, mareoine, anything she could inject, ingest, snort.
Inject. Ingest. Snort.
Inject. Ingest. Snort.
Her high was the best she had since that first night. She felt elated. She felt happy. She felt...Nothing. The amount of drugs in her body caused her heart to shut down. She slumped over sideways, leg still around Octavia's middle, dead.
It didn't take long for Octavia to pass either. Pain, fright, and blood loss eventually took her. Vinyl Scratch and Octavia were found two days later by Vinyl's manager. Fans of both Vinyl and Tavvy rushed to their funerals to pay respect to two fallen geniuses. Fellow DJs played tribute shows to Vinyl and a gala was held in memory of Octavia.
FOAL FREE PRESS INTERVIEW WITH OVERTONE, DJ PON-3'S MANAGER.
FFP: You're the manager of the late DJ Pon-3, correct?
OT: Yeah, I had that honour.
FFP: Do you know what happened exactly? They have been quite secretive with the details.
OT: Accidental overdose.
FFP: Just an OD?
OT: Yup, pretty much.
FFP: What about Octavia?
OT: Caught in a bad trip. She had drugs in her system as well.
FFP: What? Cantorlot's most elegant pony? Drug user?
OT: I'm only saying what I can say. I'm not saying anymore. Interview over.
