Drag the Needle

Chapter One

Big Mac glanced over at the Unicorn that had been standing outside the club for the past five nights.  He exhaled through his nostrils, sending a cloud of steam into the night air.

"You can go in, you know."

"I know.  But I'm putting it off as long as possible.  Know the feeling?"  The Unicorn took a drag from the cigarette he was holding.

"Eeyup."  Big Mac returned his attention to the non-existent line.  By this time everypony had already entered the club, but he wasn't the type to push the issue.  

The Unicorn tossed his cigarette on the ground and crushed it out.  "Buck it.  Waiting longer isn't going to change anything."

As he walked past, Big Mac couldn't help but sneak a closer look at the Unicorn's horn.  It was little more than a jagged stub protruding from his forehead.

Shake looked up as a Unicorn that he was sure he'd never seen, but appeared strikingly familiar slid onto a stool.  Usually newcomers didn't show up this late and even the club's veterans were starting to trickle out, so the appearance of this stallion came as something of a surprise.

"Can I get you anything?  First drink's on the house for newbies."

"Thanks, but I need a clear head for this.  Would it be possible to speak to the owner?"

"That could probably be arranged.  Big Macintosh will be getting everyone out in about half an hour, I'll tell her that ... "

"Beatmatch."

"That Beatmatch asked to see her, and we'll see what she says."

"Well in that case I'll take a water, if it's not too much trouble.  At least I'll be entertained if she's not interested."

As Shake slid the water over the bar, he shot a look at Beatmatch's forehead, and his face grew pale.

"Your... Uh... Um..."

"Get it out of your system.  If you don't do it now, you'll never be able to look past it."  Beatmatch shot him a glare that was DEFINITELY familiar.  And then it struck him.  Beatmatch looked a lot like his boss...

"You... you... you look like her."

"Yes I do.  Now kindly go tell her that Beatmatch is here to see her."

Shake scurried off, glancing back at the grey Unicorn.  He really did look a lot like Vinyl.  Grey fur instead of white, black and red mane instead of the two shades of blue, different cut to the tail, and that horn... but their faces were nearly identical.  The glare was certainly the same, and coming from someone other than Vinyl hadn't diminished its power in the slightest.

It might be the end of the night, but to Vinyl that was no excuse to slack on performance, so she was rather irritated when Shake slipped onto the stage and tapped her shoulder.

"What is it, Shake?  We're a half hour from close, couldn't it wait?"

"Um. There's a Unicorn here.  Wants to talk to you.  Over there, at the bar, that's him."

"And this couldn't be put off half an hour because?"

"He... He has your glare."

"Shake, what the buck does that even mean?"

"He looks like you.  And when he glared at me, his face looked exactly like yours. Exactly.  Other than color, but that's beside the point."  Shake glanced nervously at his friend, not sure what to expect.

"Interesting.  You're forgiven.  Tell him I'll see him."  Vinyl turned back to her equipment.

Shake made his way back to the bar, back to the Unicorn with the broken horn.

"She'll see you."

"Excellent."  Beatmatch turned back to the stage and took a deep breath.  His confident tone wasn't reflected in his features as he watched the mare pumping up the rapidly dying crowd.  He was afraid of what he had to say.  He was afraid of Vinyl Scratch.

The music stopped.  The last ponies were ushered out by Big Mac.  The room was lit by fluorescent tubes, revealing the worn wooden floor.  Vinyl walked over to the bar where Shake stood cleaning his glasses and slid onto a stool next to the  unfamiliar Unicorn.  She glanced down at his cutie mark.  A single vinyl record.  He turned to look at her, his piercing blue eyes gauging her reaction to the sight of his horn.  Knowing she was under scrutiny, Vinyl did her best to hide her reaction and stare straight back.  Once she got past the horn, she realized that Shake was right, they looked very similar.  Identical.  Their manes even fell the same way, his red and black divided exactly the same way her two shades of blue were.

"Shake said you wanted to talk with me.  I'm Vinyl Scratch, and as you probably gathered, this is my club."

"Yes.  I'm Beatmatch.  There's a matter I would like to discuss with you, but I was hoping for a more... private location."  He motioned his head towards Shake.

"Alright then.  Shake, go get some sleep.  We both know your glasses won't get any cleaner."  She laughed.

"Um... But... What if..."

"I'm sure I can handle myself Shake.  If he was going to assassinate me, he probably wouldn't have used the front door and asked to see me."

"Fine, fine, I'm going.  But if I don't see you here tomorrow then I'm loosing Big Mac on this town until you turn up!"  With that, he turned and headed towards the door.

"Come on back."  Vinyl stepped off the stool and walked to a stairwell tucked away behind the stage.  As they reached the top, Vinyl motioned for him to be quiet and slipped through a thick door.  He peeked through to see a small room with several chairs, and Vinyl nuzzling a grey pony sleeping on a couch.

"Wake up sleepyhead, everypony's gone and we have a guest."

"Huh... Wha... VINYL! How could you bring somepony back here without giving me any warning?!  Just LOOK at my mane!  And my bow tie!  I look atro..."  Vinyl halted the rush of words with a well placed kiss.

"Relax, Octy, you look fine.  This is Beatmatch.  Beatmatch, this is my marefriend Octavia."

"Octavia Sharpe, right?  I use some of the symphony pieces during my sets.  Pleased to meet you, but please don't ask where I got recordings.  That would be telling, after all."

"Likewise."  Still looked rather flustered, Octavia sat down on the couch and motioned for Vinyl to join her.

"So."  Vinyl tossed her glasses onto one of the chairs.  "You wanted to see me."