Broken Record

Chapters

Skipping Tracks
Replay
Mono Stereo
Let it Rock
Heart Beat
Mix Tape
Off Key
Old Strings on an Old Guitar
Hitting All The Right Notes

Skipping Tracks

The night was bitterly cold, the wind howling through the streets. The shutters on the windows shuddered. Vinyl tossed and turned under her blanket, breathing fast and churning her hooves as if trying to run from an enemy in her sleep. She moaned and opened her eyes, kicking the sheets away and taking big gulps of the icy air.

Fever burned at her head and her extremities. Groggily, the white mare staggered out of her room and into the darkness of the kitchen, focusing on her rapid breathing. She staggered into the bench and hissed with annoyance. She spat into the sink and turned the tap on, then leaned forward and took a long sip from the streaming water.

The clock ticked from somewhere in the murky darkness. Vinyl stroked her hooves up and down the wall until she felt the light switch, and she flicked it down. The lights flickered a few times before steadying. She squinted at the brightness, then turned her head to face the clock. It was 10pm. It took a few moments to register in her head, but not many heartbeats had passed before panic began to flood her.

"I'm going to be late!" She squealed and fled from the room, bucking out her legs to hit the light switch.

She stumbled through the house, pulling her saddlebags onto her back and wrapping a scarf around her neck. She kicked the door open and pushed herself out into the strong wind, closing the door behind her and setting out into the night.

The streets of Canterlot were empty, save for the occasional drunkard staggering through. Though Canterlot was high society, the time many of its residents spent in the local pub took up most of the night and the following daylight hours. Vinyl shivered against the sharp biting cold, keeping her distance from the stallions that tottered around the roads, roaring profanity and slurring things under their thick breath.

Moonlight glinted against the title on the door of one of the buildings. The Barn Mug. Vinyl placed one hoof on the door and pushed, stepping into the humid room within. The air smelt heavy of spirits and tobacco. She narrowed her red eyes and slipped around the edges of the establishment, keeping her distance from the stallions and mares that sat at the tables.

Heavy laughter rocked from the customers. They bashed their hooves on the tables and howled for more liquor. The mares leaned heavily on the stallions, and Vinyl looked away, wanting to gag into her mouth. She stepped up gingerly onto the stage, wincing as it creaked under her weight. It felt like the whole bar turned to look at her with hungry eyes.

"Aye, what's this pretty lady doin' up ther'?"

There was the sound of a hoof striking across the speaker's face, and a hiss of pain. Vinyl flinched and stepped behind the DJ's area, her eyes tracing the detailed knobs and levers. There was silence from the crowd as they stared at her. She gulped and lifted her forehooves onto the records, then slowly lowered her glasses over her eyes and let it turn.

At first the tune played at regular speed, not much of a show-stopper. She slowly adjusted some things with her hooves, sweat beginning to drip down her face. The heat of the room was getting to her, and she felt the urge to cough rising in her tight chest. Focusing on remixing the track, she continued to shuffle the beat around, slowly turning up the volume. She began to nod her head with the beat, but the drunk Canterlot citizens didn't seem to be amused.

She could slowly feel the song reaching its peak, and she scraped one hoof on the record gently, taking a sharp breath. "Let's drop that bass!"

The beat changed rapidly, and she cranked up the volume. The ground trembled a little under the booming bass. She swayed her hips to the shuffling beat, tapping one hoof against the ground.

"Boo!" Someone at one of the tables sneered, throwing their empty beer mug in her direction.

It shattered against the wall behind her, and she gasped, ducking as a second glass was hurled at her. Shards began to explode violently around her, and she fled from the stage. She kicked out to stop to music, her hooves hitting the setup and causing the tune to spiral away. She fled for the exit, escaping the muggy bar and out onto the cold street.

She collapsed in the middle of the street, gasping for air, salty tears burning at her eyes. She quickly wiped her face with a hoof, glancing back at The Barn Mug, feeling heavy as stone as the large black stallion from earlier sauntered out, flanked by two other male ponies.

"Won't be earnin' no bits tonight, lassy." He taunted.

She growled and skid away from them, but wariness weighed her down, and her vision began to falter. The three males surrounded her, smirks spreading across their drunken faces.

"Get away from me," She growled, flattening her ears to the back of her head.

The black stallion chuckled heartily. "Come on, lass, you look like you need a few bits. Make my pals 'appy, and maybe earn yourself something."

Anger boiled within Vinyl and she kicked out violently, her hooves impacting with the face of one of the smaller stallions, sending him reeling backwards with a screech of pain. She held herself up tall, staring across the bridge of her glasses at the last two.

"Feisty, are we?" He growled again, placing one heavy set hoof closer to her.

She started to reverse away from them until she felt her rear end press against a cold wall. The third pony had regained his bearings, and all three surrounded her like a wall of sweaty stallion. She snickered angrily when the lead stallion leaned forward and snuffled her neck.

"Don't touch me you brute!"

He walked as close to her as he could, cramping her against the stone wall. She could smell his heavy musk above the scent of alcohol. She squeezed her eyes shut, knowing trying to escape would be feeble. He suddenly rose up, turning her around and placing his forehooves on her shoulders. She tried to let out a wail, but it was cut short as he began to grind his body against hers.

He let out a muffled groan as his fur brushed hers against its lie. She struggled meekly against him, but his strong grip held her fast. She could feel the gazes of two others on her and her mount, and she wanted to snap out at one of them and drag them to the ground.

The stallion atop her began to grind faster, and she just wanted him to get it over and done with. But he wasn't ready to mate her yet, just sliding his warm body over hers.

There was suddenly a sharp, barking voice. "What in Equestria do you think you are doing?"

A loud thud and the stallion stumbled off Vinyl, and something swished past her. It swished back, clipping the stallion on the head with another loud thump. He snorted angrily, but it swiped again, smashing him in the face. He let out a roar of pain and galloped away, his two skinny comrades fleeing after.

Vinyl turned, shaking all over. "D-did you just hit him... with a cello?"

She stared at the pony that stood in front of her, a musty gray mare with very elegant dark hair. She had a cello leaning against her, and she crossed her front hooves with content.

"Yes, yes I did." She smirked.

Vinyl couldn't help but laugh, but on the inside was shaking with fear. "Thank you so much. I don't know what I would of done without you."

The friendly mare rubbed up against her. "Follow me, you can get cleaned up at my place if you like." She offered.

Vinyl leaned around to see that her fur was clumped with sweat. "Oh... yes, please." She forced a weak smile.

The two mares trotted confidently back down the street, the cold air soon cooling their warm bodies. Vinyl glanced at her savior a few times, unsure how to show her utter gratitude, but the mare didn't seem to mind either way.

"My name is Vinyl Scratch." She said finally, pushing her glasses up behind her horn so they wouldn't slip off.

The earth pony smiled as she unlocked the door to her home. "I'm Octavia, but you can call me Tavi."

Replay

Warm water streamed off Vinyl's fur as she doused herself under the shower. She quickly rid her mane of tangles, then shut off the water and stepped out into the cold, misted bathroom. The tiles clicked under her hooves, and she raised her head to look into the mirror. Her reflection stared back, looking tired and withered. She sighed and grabbed a towel using her magic and began to rough up her wet fur.

"Vinyl?" Octavia called through the door. "I've put new sheets in the guest bedroom if you want to stay the night."

The towel slumped to the ground as she looked up, losing her focus. "Oh.. I... sure!"

The sound of Octavia's hooves retreating faded, and Vinyl gave her hair one last shake before walking out of the bathroom. As Tavi had said, the tidy guest bedroom had been recently changed, and Vinyl's scarf and saddlebags were folded neatly at the foot of the bed. She smiled gently and sniffed them before sitting on the edge of the bed, staring around the posh room.

I've never met someone from Canterlot who is so kind. She thought, then she let her gaze trail to the ground. She felt bad that she couldn't pay Tavi for her kind services. Slumping against the bed, Vinyl closed her eyes and drifted into a dark, restless sleep.

"Wakey wakey," Octavia was leaning over Vinyl, her gentle eyes glowing.

The white unicorn shifted against the soft mattress and looked up at the gray mare, then stretched out her legs. "Morning."

Octavia set a tray on the edge of the bed. There were a couple of plates, one with pancakes, the other with bread and salad. She smiled and blinked at Vinyl, who was clumsily getting to her hooves and looking down at the breakfast laid out for her.

"For me?" She breathed, looking over the selection. Never in her life had Vinyl seen such nice food. She'd usually eat porridge in her flat, but nothing fancy.

"Of course."

As soon as Tavi had left the room, Vinyl ate as fast as she could, her stomach groaning with hunger. She'd never tasted anything so delicious in her life. She licked her lips and swallowed the last scrap, looking around as if expecting Octavia to wheel in a trolley full of food. She let herself sigh with content at the feeling in her belly, then she hopped down from the bed and pushed her way out into the hall.

Octavia's home was elegant and tidy. It looked as if she cleaned it every day. Vinyl struggled to find a single flaw through the rooms. She eventually bumped into Tavi again, who was sitting in the kitchen, staring down at a picture frame and a wrinkled old letter.

"Tavi?" She called gently, not wanting to intrude on the mare's privacy.

She jumped with shock, and the frame slid out of her hooves and hit the floor, the glass in front of the picture shattering into several pieces. Vinyl flinched and stared with horror as Octavia stared down at it, then slowly placed the letter on the table and slowly looked up.

"I'm so sorry!" Vinyl gaped, rushing forward to pick it up, but Octavia gently pushed her back, eyes full of emotion.

"No... I'm letting go." She breathed, pushing the frame away from herself. "Forget it."

Vinyl looked down to see a pony that looked like Tavi, just with different colors smiling at the camera. She was hugging a very young Octavia close to her chest. Tears burned at the edges of Vinyl's eyes.

"Is that your mother?"

Octavia nodded and picked up a sweep and began to dust the shards away. She didn't say any more, just cleaning up, then folding the letter neatly and putting it up in a cupboard that was almost out of her reach. Then she turned to Vinyl, smiling.

"I had to leave her to find my own destiny. I was never going to earn my cutie mark on the farm." She sighed, rubbing her flank gently with a hoof.

Vinyl glanced at her own cutie mark, then back at Octavia's. "So you like music?"

"I play the cello for many of the Princess' occasions." She said gently, eyes glittering with a hind of pride. "What music do you perform?"

The words seem to lodge in Vinyl's throat, and she turned away, nerves pricking her all over. "I'm a DJ..."

"That is amazing!" Octavia's eyes filled with wonder. "How do you do it? Is it weird not having an instrument? Or is like controlling them all?"

She blinked, opening her mouth to speak but Octavia over-rided her and kept flooding her with questions. "Do you have a DJ name? You should be DJ Ponypower! No no! DJ Pon3!"

Warmth ignited within Vinyl like a flame as she stared at the excitable gray mare, and she nodding, rushing forward without thinking to hug Octavia tightly. "Yes! DJ Pon3 is the best name ever!"

Tavi went stiff for a moment, then she relaxed and hugged Vinyl back. "I'm glad you like it!"

"I don't like it." She said, red eyes suddenly serious. Tavi stared at her with confusion, then Vinyl grinned. "I love it!"

Mono Stereo

Vinyl Scratch set off in the afternoon when the sun was at the highest point in the sky. She had bid Octavia a fond farewell, promising to meet up with her at some point in the latter. She trotted along the streets of Canterlot, a new skip in her step, a new beat in her heart. She hummed a tune to herself, clicking her teeth together to keep herself in time.

The citizens of Canterlot paid no attention to her as she steadily made her way home. She was grateful for that, for she had no time to lose. She knew she had to get down some new beats as soon as she got home. Her career depended on it, and with Tavi's help there was a business to be blooming.

Vinyl turned the corner, but as she looked up, the smile across her face faded, and a sudden cloud of dread seemed to fall over her. A very important looking pony was looking up at her flat through his narrow spectacles, then he pulled a ring of keys from his waistcoat and locked her door, as if he'd been inside already. She hurried up to him, eyes wide with terror.

"Excuse me?" She wimpered, trying to find her voice.

He glanced at her down his nose, and he grunted snottily. "Just the mare I was looking for." He said thickly.

She shivered. "Why did you lock me out of my house?"

"Your rent is far over due Ms.Scratch." He licked his lips slowly, looking bored just talking to her. "I'm afraid this is the final time I'll let you come this scathingly close to not paying me a single bit."

She stared up at him with horror, her eyes burning and she took a shaky breath as if she could burst into tears. 'But I have no bits! I'd pay you if I did!"

He was already turning away from her and trotting away, the keys jingling in his pocket. She stared after him, mouth gaping, a few loose tears escaping down her cheeks. She took a glance at her door and the sign he had hung on it that read "Vacant", and turned and fled away as fast as she could carry herself.

With her head down and her blue mane hanging over her eyes, she just relied on where ever her hooves were taking her. A choking feeling rose deep in her chest, and she pulled in a strangled sob. She found herself at Canterlot gardens, the scowling gazes of the horty ponies burning into her. She slumped against the edge of the path, resting her head against one of the bushes.

"Get out of the way," A mare said as she shoved past, glaring down at Vinyl as if she was a rat.

She scooted off the path and lay on the bark around the flowers and bushes, dirt smeared against her white legs. More ponies that passed her sneered rude comments about her as they went by. There were an awful lot of them coming into the gardens, to Vinyl's despair. She tried to close her eyes and block them out, but soon her ears were full of chatter and gossip from nearby.

There were dozens of grand looking ponies gathered in the gardens, eating tiny morsels from toothpicks and sharing itty bitty glasses of champagne. Vinyl stared around, noticing banquet tables had been brought in and laid out with large mounds of salads and cheeses and other gourmet looking cuisine. A stage had been wheeled in, and a few ponies were setting up on it.

Fancy Pants must be hosting some sort of posh party. She thought darkly, pulling her legs under herself and sitting up a little, watching from afar.

Her gaze scoured the crowd, but the ponies all pinned up in their elegant dresses and suits were nothing familiar to her eye until she returned to look at the stage again. A stunningly familiar mare was standing there now, her gray almost slate brown fur smooth and shiny, her dark mane combed back, and a cello in her hooves. Octavia!

Vinyl wanted to leap to her hooves and race over to her and scream out everything that had ruined her day, but she knew that she wasn't invited to this party, and Octavia wouldn't enjoy her interrupting her performance. With a resigned sigh, Vinyl lay her head on her forelegs and closed her eyes, just listening to the almost violin sound that vibrated from the strings of the cello.

The night seemed to wind on forever until it was pitch black and the only light was that of candles that had been lit around. The music still droaned on lazily to a slower tune than before. Vinyl imagined herself cranking up the beat, bringing in a deep bass solo to shake the ground. But that wasn't the music the posh ponies listened to, or enjoyed. She ground her teeth angrily, tail twitching.

It seemed like hours until a voice spoke close to her. "Vinyl? Is that you?"

The white unicorn looked up groggily, then smiled at Octavia, who was staring down at her with concern. "Tavi." was all she managed to neigh.

"What are you doing in the dirt? How long have you been here?" She sounded worried, and she leaned down to help her friend to her hooves.

A lump seemed to rise in Vinyl's throat. "I haven't been able to pay to keep my flat, and when I went back I wasn't allowed in. I'll have to go back tomorrow to get everything of mine before they shovel it out on the streets."

She felt Tavi's warm fur pressing against her as she lead her out of the gardens and onto the path. "You can sleep at my place again. It'll be no trouble at all, and you look awfully sick."

Vinyl wanted to argue with that fact, but she knew it was true. She still had a fever which hadn't been aided by the incident at The Barn Mug, and her head was pounding with pain. She rested her weight against Octavia, feeling her hooves trace the same route to the Earth pony's home.

"I can't thank you enough," She sighed as Tavi unlocked the door and lead her inside.

Octavia said nothing took her straight to the guest bedroom. It was dark, but Vinyl could faintly remember where everything was. She leaned against the bed and pushed the blankets back a bit, then turned to Tavi and smiled.

"I'm forever in your debt," She said, eyes glowing.

She was about to say more, but Octavia took a quiet step forward, pecked Vinyl on the cheek, said goodnight under her breath, and disappeared from the room. Vinyl stood quite rigid, unsure of how to react. She slid into the bed, unsure if she was blushing from Octavia's sudden affection or her fever. She blinked, then closed her eyes, dismissing it, thinking it was probably just a kind goodnight of a high society pony, and drifted into the darkness of sleep.

Let it Rock

Vinyl look a long, deep sip of her soda, then focused on the clock, her eyes following the second hand around in circle. She tapped one hoof on the bench to the ticking sound. She seemed to drift into a dreamlike stance, just her eyes and hoof moving, but after a long time, she slowly began to hum to the beat.

"I picked up some supplies, just enough food to last the both of us." Octavia reversed into the house, the bright morning sunshine falling in through the doorway.

Her saddlebags rustled in the sounds of paper bags inside, and she began to unload onto the counter. She looked dreadfully tired, and her mane was messy and ungroomed. Vinyl glanced at her, her voice catching in her throat as she lost the beat. With a small mutter of annoyance, she trotted over to the other mare, eyes wary.

"I owe you so much, Tavi." She breathed, looking down at her hooves.

"No, you don't Vinyl. You pay me enough with your friendship."

She smiled widely and looked up to see Octavia grinning too. She helped get the groceries away quickly, then they both went outside to enjoy the fresh air. It was warmer than the previous days, and Vinyl purred like a cat as the sunshine warmed her pale fur. She turned around and around in circles, then hurried after Octavia before she lost her.

Shouldering her lightly, she smiled. "Thanks a heap, Octavia. Really. I couldn't ask for a better friend."

Octavia blushed at Vinyl's praise, and she chuckled, setting her eyes back on the path. New doors were finally opening in her life, and Octavia was the one she wanted to go through them with. There was a twinge of pain inside of her when she wondered if Tavi felt the same way, and even more so at the feelings she was gathering.

I haven't even known her that long, yeah she is really nice, but I shouldn't feel this way! Specially about a mare... She sighed and shook her head clear, putting a skip back into her step as they walked. They passed the Canterlot gardens, and Tavi stopped to chat with a few of her other, posher, musical friends.

Vinyl lingered at the side, not enthusiastic about talking to the tartly Canterlot citizens. They soon passed them by, and stopped at the bakery for a treat. She munched into her cinnamon bun, staring off into the distance. Her mind was alive with thoughts of Octavia beside her, her breath and warmth so close.

"It's a wonderful day," Tavi's voice broke her concentration.

She blinked, then nodded. "Yes, it is. Much nicer than the cold."

"I wonder why the Pegasus ponies decided to make it warm today. Winter Wrap Up isn't soon, is it?"

"No... it's not." Vinyl found herself feeling less and less alert, and she rubbed her eyes, setting the other half of her bun on the plate. She felt Tavi staring at her inquisitively, and she laughed nervously.

The walk home was calming, but Vinyl could feel her stomach turning over and over restlessly. She groaned a little under her breath, feeling her fever sicken her deep down. Once back at Octavia's, she hurried for the bathroom and splashed cold water in her face.

Looking up at the mirror, she focused on making her breath even. Her reflection look bedraggled and exhausted, so she made a getaway for her room. She lay on top of the sheets, tossing from side to side from how hot she felt. Later into the night, she slipped down to a cool sweat, then dozed off into sleep.

The next morning woke Vinyl with a start. A beam of light was escaping from between the curtains straight into her eyes. She muffled something into her pillow and turned over. She felt cold all over, besides a strong heat between her legs. She bit her pillow and growled, thrashing her tail.

"Good morning, Vinyl." Octavia said, trotting into the room, smiling down at the groggy white mare.

Unable to even say hello, Vinyl rubbed her hind legs together and pushed herself up. Tavi was opening the curtains, and she squinted at the bright light. Her legs continued to tingle, and she pressed her knees close together. Please don't tell me I'm on heat!

"You okay, DJ Pon3?" Tavi mused, giggling to herself about the nickname.

Vinyl forced herself to laugh a little. "Yeah, I'm fine."

As soon as the mare was gone, Vinyl arched her pack and slid a hoof across her sweaty stomach, down to her crotch for the slightest moment, then placed it back on the floor. She was damp all over, and sticky and hot between her legs. She hurried for the shower and cleaned herself off in cold water, leaning against the glass and breathing in the moist air.

She dried herself off roughly, trying to place the twinging feeling in her loins at the back of her mind. She stepped awkwardly down the hall and into the kitchen, when Octavia was making sandwiches for them both. Vinyl smiled and sat down by the table, grateful for the cold lino under her fur.

They sat together quietly, just the sound of their chewing on the bread and tomato breaking the silence. Vinyl finished first, in a hurry to leave and find out how to quieten her body's calls. Tavi noticed how edgy she was, and kept glancing at her. The gray mare seemed less enthusiastic, her tail constantly flicking.

Vinyl rose to her hooves and walked stiffly past Octavia as she did the dishes, hoping to leave the scene without a trace. But she paused as she passed her flank, feeling a familiar heat radiating from the mare. She snorted with content, glancing at Octavia's rear and noticing how she twitched ever so often as he forehooves worked on the dishes.

"Vinyl?" She hissed, turning to glare at the white unicorn, disturbing her from staring.

"S-s-s-sorry!" She yelped.

She expected Octavia to lecture her about being rude, or be insulted and storm off, but she simply shrugged and allowed a small smile. "You too huh?"

Vinyl's eyes widened, then she breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "It's the worst feeling."

"I know right? I wish I could control it."

She nodded, still smiling from how open Octavia was with her. At least they could relate, and she wasn't just off with the fairies. Tavi looked up, eyes swirling with a mix of emotions. She looked as if she was about to jump off a bridge, scared, yet full of adrenaline.

"And you know... the only way to make it feel better is do what it is telling you to do." Octavia suddenly put her hooves on either side of Vinyl, then closed her eyes and kissed her.

Heart Beat

Vinyl's eyes stretched wide, and she pushed out her front hooves, resisting Octavia and pulling away from her. The gray mare stared at her, mouth gaping, the tiniest tendril of saliva bridging between their lips. The emotions in her eyes were enough to make Vinyl want to crumble into ashes.

"Please, Tavi. I don't want you to do something you will regret." She breathed.

She swallowed and turned away from Vinyl Scratch, sniffling gently. "I've ruined it all haven't I... our friendship."

"No!" She burst out, red eyes wide. "Octavia, I've been battling with my feelings ever since we met. I know that seeing that you want this as badly as I do should make me feel good, but we're letting our hormones do the talking rather than what we see is right. We need to take this slower, when our minds aren't just trying to find the easy way out of our discomfort."

Octavia smiled at her, eyes sparkling with respect. A warmth flared inside of both mares, and they pressed their heads together, enjoying the closeness and shared warmth. Then Vinyl leaned away, stretching gently.

"How 'bout we go to the Canterlot Spa? We can cool down in the water there." Tavi suggested, blinking softly.

Vinyl nodded, imagining the cool lapping water around her aching thighs. It would be good to remove some of the heat winding up in her body. She followed Tavi out onto the street, her stomach mumbling as it digested her breakfast. She skipped cheerfully after Octavia, ignoring the looks of distaste she received from the posh Canterlot citizens.

Octavia seemed to be a little nervous, as if she didn't want to be seen by her upper class friends if she was hanging out with Vinyl. The thought pricked the white unicorn, and she ground her teeth a little and slowed her cheerful pace, mocking the ponies around her by strutting after Tavi with her head held high, only looking at ponies down her nose.

The spa was rather regal. The marble walls stretched high on each side, and delicate carved sculptures dotted every corner and table. A large fountain rose from the ground in the entrance, spouting water quietly. Vinyl had never been somewhere so hoity toity. She bent her head to drink from the fountain, but Octavia poked her painfully in the ribs.

"It's not for drinking." She hissed under her breath, looking desperate, almost regretful.

Embarrassment flooded Vinyl, but she didn't see much point in having a fountain of fresh sparkling water if she wasn't allowed to sip from it. They talked politely to the spa ponies, who had their manes in delicate styles. A blue mare with a feather behind her ear led them to the private bathing area, pushing open the stable-like doors.

Vinyl slipped in beside Octavia, listening to the doors shutter closed behind them. "If you didn't want to be seen with me, you could of just told me." She said sourly.

Octavia winced and looked away. "It's not like that! These ponies just expect a lot of great things from me. They expect me to be posh, and delicate, and well-mannered. There had always been a part of me that is that. But I was born on a farm, and there is also a part that wont be replaced. The care-free side."

Mouth half parted to speak, but the words lodged in her throat, Vinyl watched Octavia step away, towards the large open bath in the ground that resembled more of a pool. Steam rose from the water, and she wasn't sure that she was in the mood for more heat, but Octavia slipped into the hot water, beginning to draw her wet hooves through her mane.

Vinyl found it hard to tear her eyes away as she watched Octavia wade around in the water, slowly drenching her mane so it hung heavily over her shoulders. Summoning all of the courage she could muster, Vinyl tested the water with a hoof, then let herself slide into it. It was strangely pleasant, the feeling of the jets somewhere underwater gently shooting more warmth in her direction.

Tavi was leaning against the edge, smoothing tangles out of her tail. Vinyl swum towards her, legs gently moving against the water. She rolled onto her back and kicked around a bit, then used her magic to grab a bottle of soap from the side and pull it over. She unscrewed the lid, then began to dump the thick liquid soap into the water.

"What are you doing?" Octavia exclaimed as Vinyl used her unicorn magic to get the last drops of soap from the bottle.

Discarding the plastic, she began to kick and thrash around, laughing as Octavia looked more and more dumbfounded. Bubbles and foam began to churn into the water, rising to the surface until Vinyl had created a massive bubble bath. She scooped up a pile of the downy, crackling foam in her hoofs, then chucked it at Octavia. Most of it just floated into the air, but a splash of soapy water hit the gray brown Earth pony.

"Hey!" She giggled, turning around and bucking the water in Vinyl's directions.

Soon the whole room was filled with floating bubbles and cheerful laughter, the tiles were soaked from the splashing water, and both ponies were drenched, their manes messy and their fur brushed in all directions. They splashed around in the warm water, smearing soap into each others pelts.

Octavia pinned Vinyl down in the shallow end, bubbles dancing around her. The water lapped around the white unicorn as she stared up at the Earth pony. The sound of the crackling foam around them was the only sound above their breathing. Octavia leaned down and kissed the fellow mare, and that time she was returned the favor.

They locked in an embrace, their lips rolling together in harmony. Vinyl found her hooves sliding up and down Octavia's slippery coat, still keeping contact with her warm lips. Tavi's tongue pressed into her mouth, sliding against her own tongue and exploring the base of her throat.

There was a sweet pop as they broke their kiss, eyes locked. Red and violet eyes connected, and they held each other, steam rising around them. Water dripped from Tavi's mane onto Vinyl's forehead. Vinyl suddenly reared up, changing their positions drastically, pushing Octavia down into the water with a sloshing sound. The water rose up just to her jaw, and she giggled like a filly as Vinyl began to kiss her all over.

The unicorn's lips planted kisses down Tavi's neck and shoulders, along her collar bone and her chest. She ground softly against the other mare, a squelching sound coming from their wet fur rubbing together. Octavia let out an aroused giggled, leaning her head right back until the tendons in her neck tightened. Vinyl licked along it gently, eyes sparkling.

Vinyl wrapped her hooves around Octavia, then pulled her towards the corner that all the froth had receded to. They kissed each other again, then they both sank into the soapy bliss.

Mix Tape

The pages of the news paper fluttered in Vinyl's hooves as the wind picked up. Several days had passed since the experimentation at the spa, and since then the gap that had bridged the mares had been crossed. There were no more longing glances and heated thighs. The uncomfortable setbacks were replaced with hugs and the brush of each others fur without any prior warning, and the occasional passionate kiss.

The white unicorn stilled the thrashing paper with her magic, turning the page softly, listening to the crinkle as it passed. Her eyes constantly scanned the job listings. She sighed, setting it down on the table and pressing her hooves into her cheeks. Everything that was mentioned in the Canterlot news was nothing to the aid of a DJ pony like herself. Jobs that involved music were looking for those with talent over an instrument, and a higher class manner than Vinyl could ever muster.

She was unfortunate to be in a town such as Canterlot, the capital of Equestria, filled with rich ponies and snarky business partners. Vinyl never imagined that the residence of the Princess who strove to understand friendship and kindness would be full of such selective personalities.

Octavia trotted inside, heaving a gusty sigh as she closed the door with one rear hoof. She clasped a rolled up newspaper between her teeth, and she dropped it onto the table and shook out her fur. "I don't know why we get those papers one a week. They're full of things from all over Equestria. Like we'd need to know, right?"

Vinyl nodded, but she was only half paying attention, her hooves sliding through her hair as she thought. She suddenly flicked a glance at the newspaper, then threw herself towards it, the chair legs grinding against the floor as she shoved it backwards. She dragged it towards her and started flipping through the pages, eyes scanning the print as she skimmed by.

She halted somewhere near the end, hooves slamming down on the table as she leaned so close that her warm muzzle almost brushed the page. Tavi pushed her out of the way, frowning deeply. She cast one glance over the page, a look in her eye that almost resembled the skeptical critiquing of all the other Canterlot folk, then scrunched up her nose.

"What's so great about an article on Ponyville? It's such a vulgar town..." She said bitterly, flicking her smooth mane out of her eyes.

Vinyl hissed, eyes wide. "Read it, Tavi! Sugarcube Corner, a place that normal, fun-loving ponies gather with the pony who is the best at parties!"

"What are you trying to say?" She exclaimed, narrowing her eyes.

"You know I don't mean that, Octavia! This could be my chance! Maybe if they let me DJ for them..."

The Earth pony turned away sourly, tears burning in her eyes. She strutted away and stood by the window, her breath clouding up the glass. "I thought we were going to accomplish our dream together?"

"Ponyville is my last chance, Tavi." Vinyl breathed, eyes pleading. "The ponies there will appreciate my music more than Canterlot."

"So you're just going to leave me, go chasing your dreams with the low ponies because I'm too posh for you?" Octavia spat, hanging her head so her hair fell over her eyes.

Fury rose inside of Vinyl, and she snarled, smacking the table with a hoof. "Low ponies? If you don't recall, Octavia, I am one of those ponies! I'm not a Canterlot mare! I don't care for fashion, or manners, or etiquette. Being regal and fancy, and demanding and prude, is not the pony I was born to be!"

"Are you trying to say I'm like everypony else? Just a snob, is that all I am to you?"

"This isn't about you!" Vinyl cried, storming out of the door, the newspaper pulling apart and fluttering all around her. "We promised we'd follow our dreams, and my story does not end in CANTERLOT!"

The door slammed violently behind Vinyl as she fled from the home. The sound of her hoofsteps fading into the distance of the bustling streets gripped at Octavia. The silence that followed seemed to scream at her, and she backed away, tearing into her bedroom and flopping down on her bed, curling into a ball and letting out a strangled wail.

She screamed into a pillow and kicking her legs out feebly, messing up the blankets and roughing up her mane. Pulling the covers tight over her face she grumbled over and over, a cold heavy feeling gripping her heart. Tears began to blotch heavy and warm down her face, causing the fur on her face to clump and ruffle. She groaned and lay against the mattress, heart beating solidly in her chest.

Vinyl sat in the pouring rain at the train station, the water tugging heavily onto her hair and pelt. She looked bedraggled and thin as she waited, thick snobby glares meeting her with every pony that passed. The rain steadily got heavier and colder, the hard droplets pelting her skin. Soon the train pulled up along the tracks and let out a long horn, and the doors shuttered open.

Streaming ahead of the ponies getting aboard, she clambered on, water streaming from her fur like droplets on duck feathers, and galloping straight to the back and sliding into a seat with a squelching sound of her fur against the leather. The soft idle of the of train below her calmed her a little, but inside she was squirming with fear. She regretting storming out on Octavia already, but her view on what she had to do had altered very little.

The doors on the train closed again as soon as everyone was on board. Ponies kept their distance from her, and for the first time she was grateful of it. As the train eased off and began to gain speed on the tracks, she let a few tears escape as she stared out into the rain.

Soon her window had fogged up, and she had to wipe it with her hoof to see back through at the land whizzing past her. Ponyville was in her sights, and it was steadily getting closer, even though there was quite a time before they would arrive. She closed her eyes for a moment, leaning against the glass. The wind rattled the train gently as they plowed along.

The train horn bellowed suddenly, and Vinyl awoke with a jolt, realizing that she had dozed off on the ride. They were at Ponyille station, and the rain had slowed to a drizzle. Shaking her fur out, she stepped out with one other pony, who was wearing a tight rain hood. The pony who had also gotten out of the train hurried off, and Vinyl stared after her.

"Excuse me!" She called, shaking all over.

The pony halted, then turned very slowly to face her. The hood shadowed the mare's lavender purple face. "Yes?" She smiled.

"D-do you know where Sugarcube Corner is?"

The mare smiled, pushing her hood back with a hoof so Vinyl could see her navy mane and unicorn horn, a strip of purple and pink through her hair. "Yes I do! Would you like me to take you there?"

"Yes please!' She breathed, smiling weakly, hopping up to the kind mare. "My name is Vinyl Scratch."

The pony headed off towards the small town, violet eyes shining. "I'm Twilight Sparkle."

Off Key

Octavia cried loudly, holding the broken picture frame of her mother in her hooves. She let tears stream down her face as she remembered the night Vinyl had startled her into dropping it, and the glass had broken in a few places. Setting it down on the bed, shaking all over violently, she let out another anguished wail and curled up into the messy sheets.

Her eyes strayed across the room to where her cello was leaning across the wall, abandoned after many failed attempts at her latest harmony. Taking a shaky breath, she scrambled out of bed and across the room, hair knotted and sweaty, tied back into a bun. Taking the instrument into her hooves, she rose onto her hind legs, grasping the bow and pressing it to strings.

She drew it back slowly and listened to the sound produced ring in the empty air, then slid it forward again across one string, then fell into rhythm, sliding across the strings like a second nature, her face scrunched in concentration as she tried to master the gaining speed of the tune. Her other hoof almost seemed to stroke the hoof-board as she swayed gently, the tail pressing against the ground.

Tears began to form at the edges of her eyes, and the tightness in her chest was almost unbearable as she drew the song to a close with one long, solemn note. She let the bow tumble to the ground and she thrust the cello away to bang dully against the wall as she fled from it, diving back into the mess of blankets with a wail.

Regret throbbed deep inside of her like a stone bruise, burning like salt in a paper cut. Why was I so selfish? Now I've lost Vinyl... the one pony who I could trust... the one pony who understood me. She curled her hooves around the corner of the sheet and clutched it like a teddy bear to her chest, eyes on the door, a tiny thread of light falling through the crack between the door and the frame.

Exhaustion wracked her body, and she knew that she would be performing for a very high society gathering in the dawn hours. Anxiety began to flood through her, and the more she thought of it, the more she thrashed from side to side, her head screaming with pain. Her song repeated loudly in her head constantly, followed by the sound of the crowd yelling at her to get off stage for stuffing it up. All left behind with the image of Vinyl furious with her, and she fell into a restless slumber, chased by nightmares through the night.

Vinyl Scratch followed Twilight with a confident skip in her step. Today is the day you change history, Vinny. She though, smiling wide as she sped up to trot beside the kind purple unicorn.

"So where have you come from?" Twilight asked, turning to blink her soft round eyes at her acquaintance.

A wedge seemed to be driven into the white unicorn's heart, and she looked away, gritting her teeth. "Canterlot. But I'm never going back there, I have no reason to."

A frown passed across Twilight's face as they came to a slow halt beside a house that almost seemed to be made of gingerbread and icing. She searched Vinyl's face for emotion, then sighed as if she could read minds and she had found the deep guilt and longing that was growing like an infection in the pit of her stomach.

"No family, no friend?" She pressed, eyes narrowing a little.

"Not at all." Vinyl swallowed hard, trembling with nerves.

For a moment it looked as if the unicorn would press the issue, but she simply shrugged and swayed her behind in the direction of the door, horn glowing as she pulled it open with her magic. The scent of freshly baked goods and sugar wafted from inside.

"Mr and Mrs Cake own this place, but Pinkie Pie lives here too. Either one of them should be able to help you."

Vinyl dipped her head, then stepped gently past and through the doorway, taking a gulping breath of the cinnamon tinted air. Inside it was mildly humid, a pleasant warmth that clung to her fur. She looked around, eyes sparkling at the sweet treat themed decor. A blue mare with a bob of pink mane on her head was at the counter, a very thin wrinkled smile on her lips.

Trotting forward, Vinyl dragged her eyes away slowly from the selection of cupcakes and lollies, avoiding the menu, and dropping her crimson gaze on a loose leaflet on the bench. It was similar to one in the newspaper she had read, advertising the place as more of a party venue for Pinkie Pie than the cafe it had always been.

"May I help you, madame?" The mare said with a strong voice, blinking her overly long eyelashes.

Vinyl looked up, startled by the sudden voice directed at her. "I was here about the parties? I mean, I would like to make an offer to help?"

"You'd have to see Pin-"

"Me!" A bundle of bouncy playful pink pony came leaping out of the kitchen, hooves scattered all over the place, her hair in the curliest mess, and the brightest sparkle in her pretty blue eyes.

Vinyl giggled as the pink pony leaped right over the bench with a single bound, landing beside her with a comical blow of a party horn. She danced around, kicking out her legs and making an array of silly faces, cheering for joy, and overall creasing a frown into the blue mare's face.

"Hello new pony of PonyVille!" She sang. "I hope you like it so far! There's plenty of cake here, and lollipops, or even a chocolate bar! I'd love to be your friend, you're friend until the end, I'd love to make you feel at home, I like to make you feel well-known!"

The mare shook her head and sighed, looking very apologetic. "I'm sorry. This is Pinkie Pie, she's rather... excited."

"Of course I am, Mrs.Cake!" She pouted, blowing her party horn again. "I haven't met a new pony in ages!"

Vinyl Scratch giggled, eyes glinting. "I'm Vinyl Scratch, but you can call me DJ P-" She bit her tongue, a flood of hot guilty emotions washing over her. She looked away and pushed her glasses down over her eyes to hide the tears that suddenly raced to her eyes.

"DJ Puh?" Pinkie Pie said, tipping her head on one side. "Puh-lease!" She laughed, leaning back and clutching her stomach.

"DJ Pon3." She corrected herself, pushing away the memories in her mind.

Pinkie Pie beamed wider than Vinyl thought possible. "You're a DJ! I suppose that's why your here then! Yay! Every good party needs music!"

"S-so you'll hire me?" All her thoughts about Octavia vanished in the dust, her eyes lighting up at the thought of a new job in a new city, the doors were already seeming to open up for her.

"Of course! I couldn't turn down a DJ!"

Vinyl beamed and bounced up and down with Pinkie Pie, laughing with good cheer, the warmth of new friendship glowing inside of her. She happily chatted on to the excitable pony about her music and her need for the job, and how she was looking forward to meeting everyone in the small town of Ponyville. The hours droned on, and Vinyl found herself in the kitchen making colorful cupcakes, the whining voice in her head pleading her to return to Octavia long forgotten.

Author's Note

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIg8Vs-MVZA What Octavia was playing if anyone wanted to listen to it. :) I love it ♥

Old Strings on an Old Guitar

Tight under the hood of her parka, Octavia stood close to Rarity, the white unicorn constantly fussing with her own hair and making the odd statement about ponies who walked by. There was obvious excitement in her voice as she looked around under her parasol, which was just thick enough to keep the light drizzle off her dry coat. Canterlot was enough to get her hopes high, but the prospect of a new fashion line with Tavi's hair sent her wheeling.

"You'll adore Fluttershy," She went on, fluttering her long lashes. "She's positively sweet, darling."

Octavia nodded, her eyes on the train tracks, not quite listening to the blabber. She wasn't interested in this talk of Rarity's friends and job right now, any other time and she would of delved into the gossip like a seapony to water, but this simply wasn't the time or place to be chattering. She had to find Vinyl if it was the last thing she did. Oh Vinyl, I hope you forgive me.

The train appeared in the misty gloom, slowly getting brighter as the lights of the station reflected on its shiny paint, and it's headlights beaming the path ahead. The rain glinted around them, then the train came to a slowing halt and the horn called, a static voice coming from a speaker phone somewhere telling the ponies to board. The doors shuttered open, and Tavi let Rarity step on first, then hopped on after her.

The cabin of the train was well lit and nicely furnished. It was mildly warm, enough to comfort Octavia but not such a contrast to the outside that it would make her sweat into her already damp fur. She pulled her parka off and folded it neatly, ducking away from Rarity closing her parasol, then slid into a seat beside the Ponyville unicorn.

"Tell me, Octavia, would you mind me meddling with your hair a little?" She said, leaning her chin on her hooves dreamily as she stared at her.

Octavia swallowed nervously. "Not at all. Do whatever you want, as long as I get to go to Sugarcube Corner."

"Like sweets do you?" She said, blinking endearingly.

Tavi suddenly started to feel very uncomfortable under her admiring blue gaze and she turned away to stare out of the window, eyes on the world whirling past at speed. She felt very nervous about leaving Canterlot. The last time she had ever left her home was when she told her mother that she must leave to find her own destiny. Suddenly her body when very rigid, and she stared out the window with eyes as round as moons.

She thought to a time long before now, when she was just a young filly with a blank flank. She'd watched her mother play the fiddle, who had said that by doing so would make the apples sing, and apples who had sung would taste nicer. She'd tried to play the fiddle, but the small instrument wasn't something she had accustomed to very well. She had grown flustered as her mother seemed to look sadder and sadder at the prospect that her daughter was not following in her footsteps.

When she was old enough to leave the farm, Octavia had written a note telling her mother that she had to leave and find her true destiny with music, and that the country life was not the life for her. On Vinyl's first day staying she had made Octavia skitter and drop the framed picture of her mother and herself. With that one movement, Octavia had found the hope to stop brooding over her lost family relationships.

It also seemed that that movement had caused Octavia to forget her destiny seeking altogether. When Vinyl had told her that her destiny didn't lie in Canterlot, all Tavi had done was overreact as if nopony should do something like that. She looked down at her hooves, a few hot salty tears streaming down the sides of her face.

"Octavia darling, are you alright?" Rarity said, smiling sweetly and tipping her head to one side.

Tavi looked up slowly, eyes watering. "No... I threw away my best friendship for somepony doing what I did long ago, but I only just realized that now..."

We both wanted to find our destinies... and we drifted apart.

Nurse Redheart waved a hoof in front of Vinyl's face as she blinked her eyes open sleepily. The nurse mare smiled and blinked, setting her hoof down as the unicorn regained consciousness. The room was bright white, and there was a curtain on one side of her bed, but it was drawn over. There was a faint pain in Vinyl's head, and she tried to sit up, but the nurse pushed her back down.

"Please, you need to stay still." She said gently, eyes soft.

Vinyl groaned and rubbed her sore head with a hoof. She could feel bandages all over one side of her head on the right ride up to her horn. She sighed bitterly and wriggled a bit, staring with dismay at her hospital gown. She watched as the nurse left, then looked around. There was a little trolley at her bedside with a tray on it. She could smell the fragrant food, but it looked more like slop to her.

Leaning over with a wince as her back twinged, she pulled the trolley closer and picked up a glass of water and threw her head back, taking it like a shot. With a refreshed sigh, she leaned back and stared at the ceiling, enjoying the brief moment of silence as she pondered what had happened. Obviously taking a wide step backwards on a narrow stage wasn't the best idea. Her back felt bruised but nothing severe, but her head was throbbing now that she had awoken.

"SURPRISE!" Confetti jetted into the air along with streamers and other colorful bits, and Pinkie Pie leaped up from the base of the bed, blowing a toy horn as loud as she could. Vinyl let out a scream of fright and skid back, ignoring the splitting pain in her head from the movement.

"Pinkie! You scared me!" She screeched, breathing heavily.

Pinkie Pie giggled and cupped her hooves to her mouth. "Oopsie woopsie! It was a surprise silly, not a scare!"

"I almost jumped out of my fur." She hissed, then smiled gently as the friendly pony skipped around to her side, a few loose bits of confetti in her wild pink hair.

"They only let in one visitor at a time, and only for a itty bitty bit." She pouted, sitting down with a thump.

Vinyl blinked, leaning against the bed head and crossing her fore-legs. "Who else wants to see me?"

"Some pony who got off the train and ditched my friend Rarity," She said angrily, making a face. "She really wanted to see you but I came in here first!"

Tavi? No... "Well, I don't know any ponies from anywhere else." She said stubbornly. "Just my friends in Ponyville now."

Pinkie looked suspicious for moment, then she grinned and nodded. There was a trotting sound outside the door, and it swung open, letting in the ghostly white light from the hall. A stallion walked in with a white surgical cape around his neck, spectacles sliding down his nose.

"Your time is up, Miss Pie." He said, wiggling his muzzle to get his glasses back up by his eyes.

She sighed, then glanced at Vinyl. She muttered a goodbye, then gathered her usual cheer and hopped out after the doctor, going on to him about how Vinyl should be let out of the hospital and how he should come and buy some of her cupcakes from SugarCube Corner.

As the excitable mare made her way down the stairs and out into the foyer, a brownish gray mare ran into her way, her eyes wide with worry and hope. Pinkie leaned back and looked her over, making a small noise in her throat at the damp, teary eyed Earth Pony. She was pinned up in a dress covered in Rarity's ribbon, lace, and jewels, and she'd had lots of makeup on her face, and her hair was decorated with jewels and feathers.

"Vinyl doesn't know any ponies from Canterlot!" She snapped, bobbing her tail. "So give those things back to my friend Rarity! You hurt her feelings by leaving!"

The mare stared back at her, eyes full of burning tears. "But I had to leave! I came here to see Vinyl! She does know me!" She watched Pinkie strut past and back to her group of friends, which consisted of Twilight and Applejack. "She loved me..."

Author's Note

Yes, in my view, I have Fiddlesticks as Tavi's mother, not her cousin/sister. *shrug* :D

Hitting All The Right Notes

The air was filled with the clink of glasses and the drone of toasts and speeches. There was gallant laughter and snooty comments all through the night. Octavia stood on the small stage overlooking the spectacle, gently drawing her bow across the strings of the cello to the tune she had feverishly practiced. She let her soul play freely instead of screwing herself into a nervous knot, and she found herself able to make the tune flow with a great deal of ease.

One particular unicorn in a regal dress watched her all night, her white fur neatly groomed, her purple mane curled and gently lying over one shoulder. When Octavia drew the song to an end, less violently as the night before, the unicorn cheered and clapped her hooves, eyes sparkling like sapphires.

"Oh, darling, I simply adore your hair!" She beamed as Octavia stepped off the stage, beads of sweat on her brow.

She smiled, dipping her head. "Thank you, miss."

"The pleasure is mine," The pretty mare went on, trotting after her with her dress trailing on the ground. "I must try it out on someone in Ponyville."

"Ponyville?" Octavia repeated, eyes widening as she she stopped in her tracks.

The mare suddenly looked very nervous, but she seemed to put a very determined look on her face, and she pouted. "Yes, Ponyville. I live there, I'm simply here for the occasion. I'll think I'll try your hair out on my dear friend Fluttershy."

Octavia's heart skipped a beat, and she stared into the mare's blue eyes, breathing shallowly. Though all she wanted was to go home and sleep like a bear hibernating, the adrenaline that released in her veins at the thought of Ponyville, the place Vinyl had left to, prickled her like stinging nettles in her chest.

"I'll be taking the last train back there tonight, I simply couldn't leave my dear Opalescence for much longer, she'll be missing me." The mare was babbling on.

"Did you say... the last train? Do you think I could board it with you?" She asked nervously, resting her cello on the ground.

The mare batted her eyelashes. "Of course you could darling! All the better for me to replicate your hair on Fluttershy."

I'm not coming with you for Fluttershy! I'm going to find Vinyl... and I'm going to tell her how much she means to me.

Ponyville was alive with music that Canterlot ponies turned their noses up to at the sight of. SugarCube Corner was full of dancing ponies, and the air smelt thick of icing and frosting. Vinyl bobbed her head up and down, standing right behind the DJ set. Her glasses moved a little with each bang of her head, and the whole room appeared purple through the lens.

"Great party, Pinkie Pie!" Twilight called, holding up a glass of juice with her magic.

The pink pony was dancing erratically. kicking out one leg and swinging her hips, bouncing her tail and spinning. It wasn't quite stylish, but she was having fun and that was all Vinyl wanted to see. Pinkie grinned and paused, taking a sip of her own juice.

"Don't thank me- thank DJ Pon3!" She beamed, her teeth sparkling.

Vinyl blushed as Twilight turned to her, then focused on keeping the beat solid. She could barely hear the lavender ponies praise above the music, but she still felt like she was glowing inside from it. This was the first time anypony had thoroughly enjoyed what she did for a living. Her hooves gently scraped the records, and she changed a few levels, then changed the song. It was the same one she had played at The Barn Mug, but this time she was ready to make the crowd cheer.

The song slowly got faster, and everypony almost looked exhausted from dancing to it, but it was exactly what she had wanted. Build their energy up so slowly until they were almost too worn out to keep going, then she flung her head back so her glasses rose off her face and hit her horn, her red eyes glowing.

"Drop that bass!"

The ponies around her were jumping up and down to the remix, screaming with delight and rearing onto their hing legs to reach for the sky. Some ponies linked together with friends and twirled each other around with leaping and bounding. Vinyl danced from side to side, headbanging until her neck hurt.

"Vinyl!" Pinkie Pie called, lengthening out the last syllable of her name. "That was awesome!"

A wide smile stretched across Vinyl's face as she watched the pink Earth Pony dance away, leading a rather queer conga line across the room. Mrs Cake was dishing out more and more plates of snacks and sweets, her eyes glittering with the prospect of more customers. Warmth spread through Vinyl like nothing else she had felt before. The shifting lights of the disco ball, the shapes of everypony seemed to merge into one big black and white wave.

Suddenly, Vinyl found herself back at the spa, her hooves rooted to the ground. She was staring at head at the foamy scene, Octavia smiling in front of her, soft purple eyes filled with love. Vinyl's chest suddenly felt very heavy, as if weighed down by a huge stone. She gasped for air and staggered back, suddenly being flung back into present time. Her hind hooves slid off the back of the stage and she squealed as she reeled back.

Her back hit the ground with a thump, and she stared up at the ceiling, pain raging in her head where it had landed. Her skull felt like it was throbbing, and as everypony started to gather around, Pinkie's face right in front of hers, the world suddenly seemed to start spinning rapidly, and everything in Vinyl's vision went pitch black.