In Loving Memory
----------------------

>You didn't want to be there, but you were.
>God, your heart--
>No, your fucking soul was ripped by what you'd been told.
>
>But she was right there.
>Curled up, like she was sleeping.
>Her goggles had been placed around her neck, like she used to do when she needed to see regularly.
>
>You were looking down on her form.
>She looked so peaceful, lying there in the red velvet.
>Like nothing had happened.
>Like she was frozen in time.
>
>A part of her was.
>She would be forever one of the best friends you'd ever had.
>She'd impacted so many lives.
>
>Why the hell couldn't you have done something more?
>It had just been a couple of drunk brawlers at one of her raves.
>She was rocking out like she usually did.
>Driving the crowd wild.
>
>Unknown to you, a couple of ponies had snuck some spiked cider into the show.
>Vinyl's bouncers got to them once they started causing trouble.
>Shoving other ponies around.
>Boasting.
>One pony in particular was going out of his way to try and stop the show.
>
>Well, he fucking succeeded.
>He'd gotten up on stage before anypony had time to react, and smashed his bottle into Vinyl's face.
>
>God, just thinking about what had happened dreged up the rage inside you.
>The dumbfuck pony that hit Vinyl probably wouldn't walk again.
>Her bouncers had made sure of that.
>It was just a few cuts and bruises for Vinyl.
>She should have been fine.

-------------------

>The doctors had done all they could.
>They were just too late.
>
>A stray shard of glass from Vinyl's goggles had gotten shoved into her brain.
>It didn't kill her instantly.
>No, it dragged out her death.
>Twelve hours.
>Twelve fucking hours she was in that room.
>
>Rainbow had since convinced you to sleep.
>That cyan pony took care of you, thats for sure.
>
>After agreeing to sleep, you awoke the next morning, and went through your motions.
>
>Right up until breakfast.
"Any news on Vinyl?"
>Rainbow stopped eating.
>You looked at her, and she had tears in her eyes.
"No."
>"A--Anon..."
"No!"
>She choked out what the doctors had told her through sobs.
>Vinyl was gone.
>
>The damage finally took its toll.
>The only comfort you had, was being told that she died in her sleep.
>With no pain.
>
>
>
>
>"She really meant a lot to you, didn't she?"
>That voice.
>You'd heard that voice before.
>You looked over to where the voice had come from, and sure enough.
"Octavia?  What are you doing here?"
>She looked over at Vinyl's corpse.
>"I didn't choose to come.  I was required to come.  Apparently, I'm mentioned in her will."
>Octavia never liked Vinyl.
>That much you knew.
>You'd met her a couple of times before.
>She wasn't the nicest of ponies, but she wasn't a bitch either.
>"You're avoiding my question."
"Yes.  Yes, she meant a great deal to me.  I appreciate you showing your respects, I know it must not be easy for you."
>She sighed.
>"We never got along.  I hated her even.  Her music, her raves, her running on attention."
>
>"But I miss her."
"We all do."

-------------------

>The burial didn't lend to well to your emotions.
>
>Nor did the long walk back to Vinyl's auditorium, where the reading of the will was to take place.
>You and Octavia went together.
>You'd told Rainbow to head home.
>She'd been up nearly 18 hours trying to help you.
>You didn't need to stress her out more than she already was.
>She'd been allowed to head home, seeing as wherever she was mentioned in the will, you were too.
>As a couple.
>
>So, you walked to the auditorium with Octavia.
>It was a silent walk.
>
>And it was a long walk.
>The auditorium only reminded you of Vinyl.
>It brought tears to your eyes when it came into view.
>
>When you and octavia finally made it to the main room in the auditorium, the reading of the will proceeded.
>Only yourself, Octavia and one other pony were present.
>Princess Luna was reading the will.
>
>"Now that you are both here, I shall proceed in disclosing Vinyl Scratch's will."
>"If you're reading this, then know I died happy.  Why?  Because I died before I had to witness any of your deaths."
>"I don't know that I'd hold up that well at a funeral.  At any rate, I've got a few things for you guys."
>"I leave my entire auditorium, and everything in it, to Princess Luna, with the following exceptions:"
>"To Rainbow Dash and Anon - you guys were awesome friends.  I can't tell you how happy it made me when we'd hang.  So, that being said, I leave you each a pair of my goggles."
>Princess Luna used her magic to grip a box and moved it over to you.
>"I also leave you my entire collection of records, save for one."
>"Octy, I leave you this golden record, on the condition that you play it.  Anon, make sure she does."

-------------------

>Again, Luna used her magic to move a sleeved record over to Octavia.
>"I know it doesn't seem like much, but once you play it, you'll understand."
>Octavia took the record with a quizzical look on her face.
>"Anon, make sure she plays it.  Princess Luna, I thank you for reading this if you did, and I ask that you let Anon and Octavia use the auditorium to play this record."
>"I know it's not much, but it's what made me think of you guys."
>"That's all she wrote.  I'll leave you now.  My condolonces for each of you.  This loss was unnecessary."
>With that, Princess Luna left.
>You looked over at Octavia, who was still lost in though.
>"Why would she leave me a record?  She knows I hated her music!"
"Just play it.  It's her dying wish, Octavia."
>She sighed.
>"Fine.  Let's just get this over with.  Would you mind?  I don't know how to work her... instruments."
"Sure."
>You took the record out of the sleeve.
>You held it in your hands.
>Both you and Octavia had to stare at it for a minute.
>It was gold plated.
>
>You took the record, and carefully placed it on the turntable.
>You started the player, and placed the needle onto the record.
>Silence.
>"I figured as much.  She would do someth--"
>Vinyl's voice boomed out over the speakers.
>"Oh!  Sorry guys, wasn't paying attention.  Anyway!  Anon, you've heard this before, but you're the only one.  Octavia, I figured you should have this song."
>"I know we've never seen eye to eye, and that I could be a bit annoying at times, but there are more than a few things you don't know about me."
>"That being said, I'll let my music tell the rest.  I hope you guys like it, it was my first time with what Octavia would call a 'real' instrument."
>More silence.

-------------------

>Once you flipped the record, you placed the needle in its appropriate position, and let the record play.
>It started out with a low bass sound, a couple of Vinyl-style beats, and you could see Octavia start to cover her ears.
>"Turn it off.  TURN IT OFF, I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"
>Before you flipped the switch though, the beats stopped.
>"Oh sweet Celesita, THANK YOU!  I was starti--"
>"This one is for you, Octavia.  Lets drop this beat."
>Vinyl's voice again.
>
>A bit of silence, and you and Octavia looked at each other.
>"Was that it?"
>As if on cue, a cello started playing.
>It was a song you recognized.
>A song that Octavia had gotten you to play from your phone when it was working.
>The song was performed by a single cello.
>Nothing more.
>
>The song ended.
>Octavia was silent.
>You were silent.
>You'd heard that song before, but it had been remixed.
>This.
>This song was her original, unedited performance.
>Well, aside from the intro.
>The record finished, and you cut power to the table.
>"I...  I don't know what to say..."
"If you don't want it, don't destroy it.  Please."
>She was silent again.
>She walked over to the table, and placed a hoof on the turn table's arm.
>She moved the needle back to the starting point.
>"One more time, if you please."
>
>And so you played it again.
>Octavia moved to the center of the stage, and sat down.
>You went over and sat down next to her.
>Once the song finished, she started crying.
>She reched over, and took you in a hug.
>You returned it, your eyes starting to water.
>"I miss her, Anon."
"I do too."

-------------------

>It was that day again.
>Three years had passed since Vinyl's death.
>It had left a gaping hole in you.
>But you visited her grave each year.
>
>This time though, something stopped you.
>It was music.
>Music from Vinyl's golden record.
>You stopped once you saw what was producing the music.
>
>It was a cello.
>A cello, being played by Octavia.
>
>You read the tombstone to yourself.
"Here lies Vinyl Scratch.  May her and her music never be forgotten."

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###Last Edit: 7/24/12 1150