Scratched Out

Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to finally pump out another chapter. I've just been really busy with school lately.... This is where the dark tag is readying itself for its appearance. Next chapter will be where it rears its ugly head. I'm not proud of it, but it has to be done. I'm sorry, Kiana.

Chapter 5
Shattered

The carriage ride to Manehattan was boring, to say the least. Kiana did nothing but sit in the cab, waiting for the ride to end. Somehow she ended up lying down on the seat with her head hanging off the edge. The carriage bounced after hitting a nice big rock in the road and Kiana fell onto the floor.

"I can't wait to tell Scratchy!" The news that everything would be paid for in their stay at Canterlot was AMAZING! Kiana started bouncing a little, the only other things that got her this happy were snow and Scratch loving on her. Surely Scratch would be just as excited to hear they wouldn't have to pay for a thing!

But it wasn't all about the money, it was about new experiences and hopefully making new friends.... Possibly even settling down in Canterlot with her beloved....

The carriage came to a halt and Kiana rolled into the seat across from her, she hadn't recovered from her head hitting the wooden seat before the door opened and there sat a light green earth pony holding the door open for her. He had a slicked back black mane and a carriage for a cutie mark.

"Thanks..." Kiana hoofed over the bits to pay for the ride then walked up the steps to the recording studio.

"Wow..." The room was small and dimly lit. Lining the walls were gold and platinum records in frames. Down the hall a ways was the receptionist, a pink unicorn who was filing her hooves.

"Excuse me?"

The pink pony looked up at Kiana. "Yes?"

"What room is Vinyl Scratch recording in?"

The pink pony pointed to a door on the other side of the hall.

"Thanks!" Kiana turned around and rushed through the door.

She stopped after closing the door behind her; she heard nothing from the outside but as soon as she stepped in, then sounds of epic bass and computer generated sounds filled her ears. She continued her walk into the studio, quickly finding her mare friend behind a set of turntables, a laptop on a table beside her and a lot of fairly large speakers behind her. She waved to her just as she looked up. Scratch hit a few buttons then hopped down, walking over to Kiana. They smiled and exchanged a quick kiss.

"So what brings you here, Kiki?"

"Well, I was offered a job in Canterlot. A professor from the School for Gifted Unicorns wants me to come and teach for him while he takes a break!"

"Oh, cool. That all you wanted to tell me?"

"No, of course not! I want you to come with me, Scratchy! Oh! More good news! We won't be paying for anything!"

Scratch's jaw dropped at that last statement. Her shades slipped down her face a little, just far enough for Kiana to see her eyes. Kiana smiled again and kissed her lover, this time with a little more passion.

~~~~~~~~~~

They sat on the carriage bench together, snuggling each other. The two mares had gone back to Ponyville to retrieve their bare necessities before catching another carriage to Canterlot. The two hour ride went by quickly, Kiana and Scratch snuggled each other, Kiana rubbing her head underneath Scratch's chin. They landed on the cobblestone road and stopped with a small lurch. The two slid forward off the bench and landed on their rumps. They giggled a little at the expense of the other and stood up, to be greeted by a pony that looked almost exactly like the pony that had taken Kiana to Manehattan, only he was a pegasus. They had to have been brothers or something. The two mares stepped out, paid the pony, and decided to try and find their hotel. Professor Tempest said he had booked a room at The Moon and Sun Inn.

"So where is this hotel, Kiki?"

"Dunno... he said it's called The Moon and Sun Inn. Also said we'd know when we see it."

They both stopped dead in their tracks when they found a large building with a sign depicting Celestia's cutie mark of the sun on the left, and Luna's cutie mark of the moon on the right.

"Think this is it?"

"Yeah, pretty sure it is."

The two walked inside and Kiana put her hooves on the counter and rang the little bell.

A white stallion with a dark red mane hopped out from under the counter. His cutie mark was of a key with a tag hanging off of it.

"Velcome to ze Moon und Zun Inn. I am ze owner, Inn Keeper, how may I be of zervice to ze fine poniez I am zpeeking to?"

"Um... Kiana? Professor Tempest-"

"Ah, yez, mizz Kiana. Profezzor Tempezt rezerved a room juz for yoo. Yoo and yur companion.... vill be in ze Lunar zuite. I hope yoo enjoy yur ztay."

He ducked under the counter and pulled out a key. On the tag attached to it was a picture of Princess Luna's cutie mark. Kiana took the key and smiled at him. He smiled back as they walked into the elevator.

"Wow, a suite? Who was this guy again?"

"All he said was that he was a teacher.... Guess jobs here in Canterlot pay a lot more than they do in Ponyville. Sucks that we'll only be here for a week."

"Yeah. But hey, at least we'll be here together, right?"

"Yup!"

~~~~~~~~~~

The two enjoyed their stay in the Lunar suite. The room had a dark blue and purple color scheme. The ceiling was painted to look like the brilliant night sky, worthy only of Princess Luna, herself. The bedspread was dark blue with little white spots on it, the curtains hanging off the canopy of the bed sparkled, much like the Princess's mane did. The walls matched the ceiling, and the carpet was a lighter blue than the ceiling or walls. The rest of the furniture matched room, but didn't blend in so much that somepony would run into them if they weren't familiar with the room.

Kiana left her lover alone for her first day of work as a weather instructor.

Scratch walked out of the hotel and decided to walk around and find something to do until Kiana got home from work. She walked by this building that had a large dome on top and was supported by columns. The stone was an off white and looked like it had been there a long time. It matched the style of Canterlot almost perfectly. Past the front door, she heard some soft music coming forth. She stepped closer to see a lone earth pony with a grey coat and black mane. Her mane was styled off to the side a bit and her eyes were closed. She wore a pink bowtie and her cutie mark was a light purple Treble Clef.

Scratch walked inside, caught in a trance, not by the music, but by the mare creating the music.

She found herself sitting at the edge of the stage as the earth pony finished her piece. She held the cello and bow in her fetlocks. It looked.... awkward, to say the least.

The gray pony opened her eyes, they were a deep violet that Scratch lost herself in, only until the musician jumped at seeing a spectator.

"That... that was beautiful... I'm not much for classical, but just... wow..."

"Th-thank you... But, I must ask, who are you?" Her voice had a little 'high-society' accent to it. Had to be expected, considering she lived in Canterlot.

"Oh! I'm Vinyl Scratch! Best DJ in Ponyville!"

"A.... Disk Jockey...." She sighed and looked down. "It's a shame... The classical musics of olden days are slowly being replaced by.... vulgar... noise."

"Noise?! I happen to have hundreds of fans where I come from!"

"And that is why it is such a shame."

"And just who the hay are you to be saying that?!"

"I am Octavia, I would say it's nice to meet you, but this meeting has been rather...." She trailed off, searching for the best word to use.

"Unpleasant."

"Agreed."

The two mares just sat there and stared at each other for a few moments before they both let out a sigh.

"Sorry, I just get a bit.... defensive about my work."

"As do I... Will you allow me, Miss Scratch, to make it up to you?"

"Sure, what do you have in mind?"

"Perhaps lunch?"

At this point, Scratch's stomach decided to butt in and voice its opinion on that subject. Scratch blushed and Octavia smiled.

"I suppose that is a yes?"

"Y-yeah..." Scratch gave her new friend a sheepish smile.

~~~~~~~~~~

The two, Octavia and Scratch, became the best of friends that day. Every day when Kiana got home, Scratch greeted her with a kiss and they proceeded to tell each other about their day. Every one of Scratch's stories involved Octavia. This fact unnerved Kiana a little....

On the final day of their stay in Canterlot, Kiana left Scratch with a more passionate kiss than usual. Scratch sat there, dumbfounded. Kiana smiled and walked out, swishing her tail to the side, just for her lover.

"That's all for you when i get back, Scratchy~"

Scratch grinned wide at her promiscuous mare friend and watched her leave.

Scratch sat about the suite, exploring a little. This little venture rewarded Scratch by revealing the minibar. Shortly after her discovery, there was a knock on the door. Scratch went over and opened the door for her guest, who was none other than Octavia.

"Sup, 'Tavi!"

Octavia smiled and blushed a little at her nickname. "Good morning Vinyl. What did you have planned for today?"

"Oh, I just thought we could hang out here today. Don't wanna be too tired for the trip home tonight."

"That's right... you're leaving today..."

"Hey, don't be sad, 'Tavi, I'll come back to visit! Promise!"

Octavia smiled and walked around her friend's hotel room. "Wow... This is really nice..."

"Yup! Oh hey, I found the minibar, c'mon, let's have a drink!"

"But... It's awful early to start drinking, isn't it...?"

"Yeah, but you know what they say: It's five o'clock somewhere."

~~~~~~~~~~

That night, Kiana walked up to her room and readied the key. Her day was horrible; the students were particularly inattentive and unruly. She pushed the door open to something she will never forget. She dropped her room key and her jaw hit the floor.

On their bed, lay Vinyl Scratch with a gray earth pony's head between her legs.

Scratch lifted her head, her shades were off. Only Kiana could make her take them off. The gears in Kiana's head started turning, then something clicked and she finally snapped.

"WHAT THE FUCK SCRATCH?! WHO IS SHE?! AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING FUCKING HER?!"

"K-kiki... I..."

"NO! NO, SCRATCH! I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS! BUT WHY?! IS IT BECAUSE YOU GOT BORED OF ME?! IS IT BECAUSE I'M NOT MUSICAL?! EITHER WAY IT DOESN'T MATTER, SCRATCH! WE'RE THROUGH! YOUR SHIT WILL BE ON THE FRONT LAWN! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU EVER AGAIN!"

Kiana turned and slammed the door shut behind her. A painting that was hanging on the wall fell off its hook with a soft thud. Kiana galloped down the hall and down the stairs, calling a carriage. Tears were streaming down her face.

How could she...? I thought she loved me....