//------------------------------// // Prologue: Part One // Story: Cool Mint // by Kumare Tanamaru //------------------------------// "Alright everypony! Get ready to get this party started!! This is your mixer, DJ M1n-T, and I'll be takin' care of all y'alls musical wants and needs! Let's get down to one of my new records: Cool Mint!" I yelled as I flipped a light green record onto my turntables. The crowd cheered and started dancing. This is the life. I thought to myself. No worries. Just me, my music, and the mare down the street. What was her name again...? I snapped out of my daze and found myself staring into one of the scariest sights I had ever seen. It was the Horse-Shoes. The most feared, respected, and loved DJ's of my time. I would have loved to seen them come in to sample my music. Only, there was one problem with that fantasy: Me. I had gotten on their bad side when I started hitting on Clef's mare. She was nice too. Slick gray mane, nice violet eyes. Never got in more than two words with her before I was ran out of the club. The Horse-Shoes told me that I'd never be a great DJ if I didn't have a face to match my music. As you can tell, I didn't stick around that joint too long. I also had to promise them something: I was never to DJ in one of the clubs surrounding the Pony Party Center. Problem: There was no way I could even dream of get my stuff out there without playing in one of those clubs. Solution: Play secretly. Current Situation: I'm up on stage, jammin' out, and have no way of leaving, except through the front door. Plus, my only copy of my "Cool Mint" record is here on stage with me. So I have two options: Option One: Ditch my record and save my hide (which I don't want turned into one of the Shoes' boots). Option Two: Save my baby, get the living crap beat out of me, and leave town afterwards. I think I'm going to choose option two. I grabbed the mic and sighed. "Alright everypony. I gotta good one for you. This one's called 'Beyond her Tomb.' Hope everypony enjoys, I'm out." The crowd gasped as I started the record. I looked up and saw the piercing scowls of the Horse-Shoes. I have to say: I've never seen Clef's expression change. Tonight must've been a special occasion, because his eyes looked like that of pure evil. I approached the group slowly and kept a close eye on the records I had in my bag. "Clef." I said calmly. "Mint." he replied without breathing. "Been a while. Still seeing that mare? What was her name?" "Synth. And no, I'm not. Not after that night." "That's a shame. She wa-" "Shut up. Just shut the buck up, and get out. I won't do anything to you unless you leave." He said. He blinked and looked at the ground. I had never seen him like this. "I don't care where you go. Just never come back. You'll never be a successful DJ. You'll never be successful in music. So leave town." I paused and stared through his sunglasses, and into his light green eyes. "Agreeable. Just let me get a few things fr-" "Tonight. You have to leave tonight." He said, taking a step towards me. "Alt, You-" "Don't ever call me that again. Just leave. Now. We'll take care of your stuff. Just get out." I looked at him with disappointment. I used to call him my friend. Now he was just competition. I walked to his side and put on my shades. "For music, for passion. For friendship..." I paused and opened the door. Forever. I walked out the door and headed down the road. Safely snugged in my pack was my pride and joy, my first and only record: Cool Mint. ***** I arrived in the next town with no problems. No henchmen following me, no one out to get my name. "This town would be great..." I said to myself. "Without the Horse-Shoes name tattooed all over the damn place." I winced at the name and nodded at the conductor, who had tapped on the glass, asking if I was staying for another ride. I closed my eyes and drifted into a deep sleep, and dreamt my dream life. The dream I have every night. My own club. My own music. A nice mare by my side, and my whole future ahead of me. "Excuse me, sir?" I heard a small voice say. I opened my yellow eyes and found a filly, not much younger than myself, staring at me with her deep blue eyes. She was pretty, slender, and shy. But of all her traits, I notice she lacked a cutie mark. "My mother and I were wondering if these other seats were taken." she said, breaking my concentration "Nah. I have no use for them but to put my hooves up. You can have them." I said, pulling my shades over my eyes. "Thank you sir." She said with enthusiasm. The filly ran out the room to find her mother, I suspect, and returned not three minutes later. "Here mother, this nice stallion said we could have these seats!" I felt the mother's eyes stare at me for a while. "I'm terribly sorry if my daughter bothered you." "She asked for seats. Who am I to say no? Take 'em. I don't mind a bit of friendly company." I said smirking to myself. "See mom? I wasn't lying!" "Hush, Elegy." "Elegy..." I said aloud. I smiled at the two and lifted my shades to see them more clearly. "Please, sit. I need some company. You're name. Elegy. Do you know what it means?" I asked softly. "No sir," she said taking the seat across from me. "What does it mean?" "It means 'An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.' Basically, you give ponies a happy goodbye gift with song. How does that make you feel?" The little filly looked at the ground and then to her mother. Tears welled up in her eyes, and I held my breath in fear of what I had done. "M-my father died when I was younger... His name was Vivace. When he died, I wrote a song for him, to celebrate his life. Here, I want you to have it." she said, scooting a folded paper across the table. It had a wax seal on it. The seal had a lyre imprinted in it, and was a solid yellow color. I held it to my chest and nodded in thanks. When I opened my eyes, I couldn't help but notice her flank was glowing brightly. "Elegy! Look!" her mother exclaimed. Elegy quickly examined her behind and tears fell from her deep blue eyes. "Congratulations Elegy." I said standing up to leave. "Oh... You're going?" "This is my stop. See you 'round." I said about to disembark. "W-wait! Can I know your name?" I pulled my shades over my eyes and chuckled a bit. "Mint. See you 'round, El." I said getting off the train.