//------------------------------// // Some Dreams Aren't Meant To Be // Story: Meet Me In Ponyville // by BrushyBill1881 //------------------------------// Vinyl had found a cheap motel to stay while waiting for Fishy Deal to get her new place. She woke up when the sun hit her face and practically jumped out of bed. 'I gotta get to Fishy's, hopefully he has my place' Vinyl jumped around excitedly before grabbing her headphones and leaving the motel room. Her door opened directly onto the strip and she ran down it to get to the property management office. Like before the area got worse and worse, but she didn't care. Vinyl was ready to start living like a famous DJ. She got to the building and tried to opening the door. The knob didn't turn. Thinking it was just stuck like before she turn it harder. Still it didn't move. When she stopped trying she finally noticed something...fishy. The letters on the outside of the building were now all gone. Not even the F was left. The blinds were still busted but she could see no light inside like before. Vinyl finally looked at the door which had a piece of yellow note book paper taped to it. She got closer to read it. "Hello all loyal customers, After 2 years in the property management business I have decided to close up shop and move down south for the sake of health and sanity. All security payments are non-refundable. I am sorry about the inconvenience this may cause. If you have any complaints or questions please direct them towards the HR director. Goodbye Las Pegasus." At the bottom of the page was an arrow which point to the right side of the building for the HR director. Vinyl couldn't believe what she had just read. "Complaints?!" she shrieked "Of course I am going to complain! You took my 1,500 bits and split!" She followed the arrow "I am going to complain so-" She stopped when she realized the arrow was pointing at a dumpster. She wanted to yell, scream cry, but what good would that do. She hung her head and slowly made her way back to her motel room. Vinyl sat on her bed, she had been there all day. "I could call the cops, but what good would that do. Fishy is probably long gone, and when I tell them 'Hey I'm stupid and gave a dude 1,500 and he took it and ran,' that isn't much to go on. I should've made a contract, that's what Octavia would've done." There it was again. The thought of Octavia. "Was it a mistake coming here?" she asked tears streaming down her face. "No, this is what is going to make me. Octavia made her choice and I made mine." She looked at the clock on the wall. It was near dinner time. She wiped face and shook her head to rid the thought of Octavia. But it stuck around. 'What was she doing right now? Was she living it up, or was she sad too. Maybe I should write her.' Vinyl shook her head again. "I've gotta to get out of this room. She grabbed her headphones and walked out the door. The sidewalks were packed with everypony else trying to find dinner. 'I better go somewhere to eat before they all fill up,' she thought as she threw on here headphones. Wandering the strip the past few nights had been very eventful, it was full of street performers all trying to show off their skills in hope to be noticed and maybe perform in the most famous venues in Las Pegasus. Vinyl laughed to herself, 'No way am I starting here on the streets, I'm sure my rep will be enough to at least start in a club if not bigger.' She continued down the strip looking for somewhere to eat. While staring at a few signs, trying to decide what sounded good, Vinyl bumped into a tall stallion. He had a gold earring, wore a suit jacket and sun glasses. "Oh I'm sorry, guess I was lost in-" She stopped talking when the stallion turn around revealing he had one of her flyers in his hooves. "Ah I found you! Are you DJ P0N-3?" he asked in a thick accent that Vinyl couldn't quite pin down. "Uh yes I am." She smiled "Wonderful!" boomed the pony "I found your flyer early this morning and have been searching since." He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a business card. "The names Sly Alley, I own Sly's Place her in Las Pegasus." Sly boasted as he handed Vinyl his card, "I'm sure you've heard of it." "Of course!" Vinyl lied behind a polite smile. "Anypony who is anypony goes to my place, and I think you could be somepony." Sly pointed aggressively at her. "How would you like to perform tonight at the club?" Behind her glasses Vinyl's eyes widened. "Really? Yeah, yes definitely!" Vinyl was so excited she kind of yelled. "Wonderful, the address is on the card. I'll schedule a set for you around 10 tonight. How does that sound?" "Sounds great," She almost yelled again. "I'll be there." Sly nodded and walked the up the strip as Vinyl skipped down it. Things were looking up for her. Sure she was robbed 1,500 bits, but hey if this gig goes well, she'll earn that back in a night. Now she was really hungry. She eventually found a quieter restaurant modeled after diner's that were popular 70 years ago. "This will do." The inside the diner was exactly what she expected. The floor was in a black and white checkered even in the kitchen. There was a bar with swiveling stools, 5 along the front and two on the end. They had a chrome outer and the cushion was covered in a deep red leather. No chairs, just booths with the same leather cushions. The bright lights bounced of the chrome and white tiles making the diner very bright despite night falling outside. The diner was packed minus a single bar stool and the end. Vinyl walked up and sat. An older waitress walked over to Vinyl and poured her a cup of coffee. "Hello, my name is Sassy Broad, welcome to S&S's diner," the mare said in a tired monotone voice. "Thank you, uh what does the S and S stand for?" Vinyl questioned. "Short and Sassy's Diner" the mare responded flatly. Vinyl couldn't help but chuckle to herself. "But you're not short," the old mare sigh before hollering. "Short!" The door to the kitchen swung open revealing a short old colt in a cook's apron. "Quiet down! I'm busy!" the stallion yelled before closing the door again. "That's my husband, Short Order." "Gotcha," Vinyl chuckled again. Sassy began to smile and placed a order pad on the counter. "What'll you have young one?" "Um what would you recommend?" Vinyl asked hoping for some more fun banter. However, before Sassy could respond an older voice came from the right. "I would recommend the green chili omelet." Vinyl turned to the pony seated on the stool next to her. He was dark green with a long white mane, with a beard to go with it. He wore a red bandana around his forehead and had a guitar strapped to his back. "It has a spicy kick and wakes you up for the night." He smiled at her. "Ok, miss Sassy I'll have the green chili omelet." Vinyl nodded to the old stallion. "Hash browns or fruit?" Sassy scribbled illegibly on her pad. "Hash Browns" "Biscuit or toast?" "Uhh biscuit," Sassy stopped her writing and took the ticket to the window to the kitchen. "Short! I need a green bomb with potato hay and a rock!" She shouted. "I hear ya Sassy!" Short yelled back. Vinyl giggled and turned to the old pony next to her. "Thank you for the recommendation Mr. uh?" she asked him as he sipped his coffee. "Nelson," he took another sip of his coffee, "Whinny Nelson." Vinyl's jaw dropped and she raised her glasses. "Whinny Nelson? Like THE Whinny Nelson," she asked. "I don't know of to many others," Whinny chuckled. "What's someone like you doing here? Shouldn't you be in a fancy restaurant, or getting ready for a show at Luna's palace?" Whinny took another sip of coffee. "Nah, I'm too old for those places anymore." "Whinny Nelson is never too old, you're timeless." Whinny smiled. "Thanks kid, but I much prefer these quieter places now. You know the first place I performed in Las Pegasus was here at S&S's." Vinyl's jaw dropped again. "This place is special. I realized what I wanted to do here." He smiled and turned to Vinyl "Now what are you doing here uh?" Whinny asked. "Oh um I'm Vinyl Scrath." she answered, "And I am here to become a famous DJ." "Interesting, you performing soon?" "Yes actually," Vinyl bounced excitedly "I'm performing at Sly's place tonight." Whinny just nodded slowly and returned to his coffee. Soon Sassy returned with her order. "Hear you are hun" "Thank you," Vinyl started in on her dinner, hurrying a little hoping to make it to her gig on time. Sassy filled Whinny's cup and went back to the other customers. The omelet was delicious. 'Octavia would love this,' she stopped before taking another bite. Whinny took notice. "Sorry if you don't like it kid. It warms my old bones and reminds me of home." "Oh no!" Vinyl waved her hooves back and forth frantically. "The omelet is wonderful." her gaze fell to the flow. Whinny chuckled. "Oh I see, girl troubles." he set his cup down. Vinyl's head shot up. "How did you figure that?" "Kid, I'm 89 years old. I've seen it all. Now I know it ain't boy troubles because boy troubles often mean going somewhere loud with lots of people. It's not parent problems, that involves running to nature or a close friend, and I know its not friendship problems because then the princess would show up or something crazy like that. Girl troubles on the other hand, often entail a quiet diner with a cup of coffee." Whinny laughed. Vinyl smiled at the old stallions laughter. "Thank you Whinny, just you noticing helps a lot." "I ain't going to bug ya about, one because not my place, but also," he looked up at the clock. "I do believe you have somewhere to be." Vinyl looked up at the clock. "Oh my gosh!" she gasped. Quickly she got up and starting looking for bits. "Don't worry about in Vinyl. It's on me. But before you go, just let me tell you, girl troubles can often be fixed with just a talk," Whinny winked at her. "Thank you Mr. Nelson. I'll pay you back." She called as she ran out of the door. Vinyl was in a full gallop on her way to Sly's Place. With all the ponies on the strip at the time it proved difficult, but her excitement helped her manage. A big clock on the outside of a building titled Time Zone showed it was 9:40. "I have to get there at least by 9:50 if I want to be professionally on time." She began running again. Eventually she made it to the address. The building looked like it may have been a theatre at one time, but now it had flashing neon lights dancing all over the outside. A big red vertical sign read Sly's Place. She went into the building and found the front to be an open casino floor with the club to the left. She could hear the ponies cheering to the music and pulsing of the bass from the massive speakers. As she walked to club she saw Sly Alley by the door. "Hello Sly, I'm here for my set." she said with a big smile. "Huh?" Sly turned around and saw Vinyl, "Oh, oh yeah uh DJ P0N-3. Um listen kid, tonight's not good. You see I've got a huge crowd tonight and I really don't need an amatuer going in there tonight. Gotta keep the crowd happy you know," he chuckled to himself. Vinyl's smile slowly faded. "Amatuer? I was the biggest name in my home town." she explained. "Yes I'm sure you were" Sly rolled his eyes, "But I am running a business here. It's just good business to have a more experienced and talented to run in these situations. Come back in a month when we're in a lull." Vinyl was furious, first her money was stolen and this guy was stopping her from her lifetime goal. She got on the train all the way from Ponyville to get here only for everything to go wrong. It all started with Octavia, 'Octavia,' that thought angered her even more. "But this is my dream!" she screamed. "Some dreams aren't meant to be" Sly spat back. She took a step back. "That's the truth kid, don't blame me." Sly straightened up. "Now Miss P0N-3" he said in a condescending way "You can either join the crowd in there or get out of my club." And with that Sly turned and walked into the club followed by two large bodyguards. Vinyl didn't know what to do. She just stood there. Unable to think or move. Slowly she slouched. "This isn't how it was suppose to be." Tears began to stream down her face. "How did it come to this."