The alarm went off, buzzing it’s non-existent brains out. Vinyl groaned as she turned over and slammed her clock with her hoof, shutting it up. She blankly stared at the flashing clock. She had about 3 hours until her train departed and she had to be at the station at least an hour before it left. She closed her eyes for a few minutes, planning her next actions. She sighed then lifter herself off her bed and proceeded to walk into the bathroom. She shut the door out of habit, and slowly made her way over to the shower. She turned on the hot water, then tested it with a hoof, waiting for it to warm up, her mind drifted.
“What if I’m not welcome in Ponyville? What if I don’t make friends? What if no one likes what I do?” The thoughts suddenly stopped as scalding hot water hit her hoof and she puled it away.
“Ow! Bucking-A! That’s hot!” She waved her hoof in the air, trying to cool it down, then turned up the cold water, making the water the perfect temperature. She relaxed a bit, then stepped inside, shutting the curtain with her magic. The water pulsed on her body, relaxing the unicorn even more. She closed her eyes and tilted her head up, allowing the water to rain down on her forehead, soaking her to the bone. She made a small, pleasurable moan as the water made her mane go flat. She lowered her head again and opened her eyes. She then used her magic to bring over her shampoo and she lathered it up in her hair.
“Might as well look good for a two day trip.” She muttered to herself. One rinse and repeat later, she stepped out of the shower into a foggy bathroom. She shook out her tail, while it was still in the shower part of the room, and it instantly poofed into her signature look, although still dripping with water. She grabbed a hanging towel with her magic and wrapped it around her lower body. She then took the other towel that was next to the first and wrapped her mane in it. She opened the door and the fog vapored into the hallway.
“Making her way into the Apartment hallway, please Welcome DJ P0n-3!” Vinyl announced herself as she stepped into the hallway. She made audience cheering noises, and smiled.
“Yeah, that’ll happen one day.” She told herself, then went back into her room and finished drying off. She finished packing the big stuff, including her bed and her shower items. She then placed her glasses on her face and used her magic to place the items on a cart she rented for a few hours. She sighed at the sight of her packings: not a bunch of boxes, but it was still going to be heavy. She shook the thought out of her head and used her might to pull it the few hundred blocks to the train station. She arrived and fell over, exhausted.
“Well, at least I have about an hour to rest up and wait for the train.” She huffed, trying to catch her breath.
“Um, excuse me, did you say you still had an hour to wait for the train? Are you perhaps heading to Ponyville?” Vinyl looked up to see a light grey mare, looking down at her. She had a long dark grey mane and tail, and beautiful purple eyes. She was wearing a white collar held together with a pink bow. Her cutie mark resembled a pink treble clef.
“uh, why, yes, yes I am.” Vinyl quickly rose to her hoofs. “Names Vinyl Scratch.” She held out a hoof for a hoof-bump, but the grey earth pony muttered something and shook her hoof instead.
“I’m Octavia, charmed I’m sure.” She returned her hoof to the ground.
“Octavia huh? Nice. So why are you heading to Ponyville?” The unicorn asked through her shades, smiling. The grey mare looked at the ground.
“I’d rather not talk about it.” She said in a hushed tone. Vinyl dropped her smile.
“Oh. Well I see you have a musical..mc-thingy as your cutie mark. You good with music in any way?” Vinyl searched to find something to continue talking to the earth pony, for some reason, she found her interesting.
“The musical term for my cutie mark is a treble clef, and yes, I play the cello.” Octavia raised her snout.
“That, big violin looking thing?” Vinyl noticed the pony’s luggage, a large case, possibly holding her instrument inside. The cellist sighed.
“Yes, the big violin looking thing.” She took the cello out from her case, and carefully stood on her hind legs. That alone amazed Vinyl, she had never seen anypony stand like that.
“Wait, before you do anything, can I ask a question?” Vinyl looked up at the grey mare.
“Certainly.”
“How long did it take for you to learn to stand like that?” Vinyl sat, still at awe at the amazing stance of the cellist. Octavia smiled.
“It took roughly a month and a half. I realized I could use the cello ever so slightly to balance myself.” She said with a hint on accomplishment.
“That’s bucking amazing.”
The cellist took her bow in her wrist and slowly played a note. The note turned into five notes and pretty soon, she had an elegant song flowing. Vinyl cringed up, then covered her ears. A crowd gathered around the cello playing pony, all in a relaxed state, enjoying the harmony created by just one instrument. That is, all but one pony. Vinyl grunted in discomfort.
“Uh, Octavia, not to be a jerk or anything, but stop. That’s not music.” The cellist stopped at once, then glared down at the white unicorn.
“What in Equestria did you just say?” She gritted her teeth. Vinyl shook her head.
“I said that’s not music. Well, ok it IS music, but it’s like, old and out-dated.” Vinyl shifted her mane out of her face. Octavia continued to glare at Vinyl as she got down from her stance, placing the cello in it’s case once again.
“First you compliment me, then insult my musical taste? How DARE you! I would LOVE to see what YOU call music.” Her gaze slowly dissipated, as she turned her nose. “I bet it’s nothing but a bunch of garbage anyway.” Vinyl snorted at the remark.
“Well, at least everypony who’s anypony knows how music today should entertain folks, not put them to sleep.” Vinyl lowered her shades slightly, not too much to give away her eye color though. “Apparently YOU missed the memo.”
“Why I NEVER!” Octavia turned and walked away as the crowd dispersed.
“Never understand what music is, that’s for sure.” Vinyl shook her head., then turned to look at the station clock, still about half an hour till the train shows up. She sat on a bench and waited patiently for the train to arrive. Suddenly about ten minutes into her wait, Vinyl started feeling guilty.
“You know Vinyl, she appreciates music as much as the next pony. What happened between you tow was just unfair to you both.”
“I know, brain. Shush.”
“But listen for a sec.” Vinyl sighed. “You like music, right?”
“I can’t believe I’m talking to my own brain. Yes, I like music.”
"And that pony, Octavia, she seemed like she liked music too. Even though it was an older generation of music, it’s STILL music.” Vinyl flattened her ears. “You understand what I mean?”
“Yeah... Oh man, I feel horrible. I should find her an apologize.” Vinyl mumbled to herself. Right then the train pulled up, fifteen minutes early. “Oh man, now I’ll never see her again and she’ll think I’m some sort of douche her whole life.” Vinyl sighed, as she lugged her luggage to the holding car and carefully placed her things in. She then found a car, gave the train pony her ticket and sat, wondering about the grey pony. She lowered her head and waited patiently for the train ride to end.
About an hour or so into the train ride, Vinyl looked up to see Octavia looking at her, causing her to jump in surprise.
“Look, I’m not too thrilled about this, but there aren’t any seats open, other than the one next to you.” Octavia kept a blank stare as she talked to the white pony. “So, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to sit for this two day ride.” Vinyl nodded.
“There’s actually something I wana-” Octavia held up a hoof.
“I don’t want to hear anything stupid from a pony like you, so if I could, I’ll sit here in silence.” The grey earth pony took her seat next to Vinyl and they sat there in silence for hours. It wasn’t until about sundown Vinyl finally spoke.
“Octavia, I’m sorry for what I said.” She said quietly. Octavia turned to the unicorn.
“I’m... Sorry, what was that?” She asked, holding back a yawn.
“I said I’m sorry for what happened back at the station. I... I was wrong. What you played was, in fact music.” Vinyl slowly looked up at the grey pony. “It might be old music, but it’s music nonetheless, and I was wrong for saying what I said.” Octavia looked at her with surprise.
“And, I was wrong for calling whatever you listen to garbage. I don’t even think you told me what you listen to Ms... Oh I’m terribly sorry, I’ve forgotten your name in that fit of rage.” Vinyl gave a small smile.
“Vinyl Scratch.” He held out her hoof again, this time for a hoof-shake. They shook hoofs. “Charmed, I’m sure.” Vinyl mimicked Octavia, and they both giggled.
“So, tell me more about yourself, Ms Scratch.” Octavia returned a smile.
“Well, first of all, you can just call me Vinyl.” Vinyl replied. “And, I’m a DJ, maybe you’ve heard of me. I go by...” She looked around the train quickly, leaned in and whispered in the grey mare’s ear. “DJ P0N-3.”
“I’m sorry, I haven’t heard of you.” Octavia frowned. Vinyl returned the frown.
“You go clubbing at all?” Vinyl asked. The earth mare shook her head.
“I mainly stay inside, and practice my cello.”
“Oh, so that’s how you got so...” Vinyl choked up. “Good.” she slowly said. “You know you and I aren’t that different, because I also stay inside most of the time practicing.”
“Oh? What do you play?” She asked, intrigued. Vinyl scrunched up her face a little.
“Everything?” She squeaked out. Octavia gave her a confused look.
“I’m, sorry?”
“Well, I’m a DJ so I make my own music.”
“Using?”
“A computer, mostly.”
“Do you play an instrument?”
“Is mayonnaise an instrument?” Vinyl asked cheekily. Octavia gave her a blank stare. “Sorry. It seemed fitting.” they both shared a small laugh. “Actually I have been learning to play the Triangle.” Vinyl joked again.
“You’ve GOT to be kidding, Vinyl.” They laughed again. Vinyl then yawned.
“Yeah, I don’t really play anything, only records and make my own stuff and stuff.”
“Stuff and stuff. Must be getting tired, Vinyl. Here.” Octavia leaned over and pulled out a travel pillow and handed it to Vinyl. The unicorn used her magic to hold it.
“Are...are you sure?” She asked. The other pony nodded.
“Think of it as an apology from me.” She said with a smile. Vinyl smiled back and rubbed her hoof over Octavia’s head.
“Thanks, but what about you?”
“No problem, I can sleep without one.” She said, smile dropping a little.
“You’re sure?” Vinyl asked again.
“Vinyl, I insist.” Vinyl smiled, placing the pillow behind her head and leaned back against it.
“Thanks, friend.” Vinyl mumbled before falling asleep.