//------------------------------//
// The Badlands 
// Story: The DJ and The Keyboard Player 
// by SolidFerret 
//------------------------------//

	{A/N} People, when you sag your pants and show your ass to the world don't be surprised when everyone kicks it for you. Next chapter.



Opening my eyes slowly, I felt a pounding in my head. I was a bit delirious too. I felt like I had the flu or a cold or something.

Taking a look around and observing my soundings, I saw that I was in a cave. 

'What the hell?' I thought. Where the hell am I? I quickly got up, shooked my mane from my eyes and began to trot along to see if there was an entrance/exit out of here. 

Suddenly I realized where the name Chrysal came from. She was The Changeling Queen. Why is it that when I suddenly remember things that sound familiar, I'm always to late? 

I began to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Picking up my wings, I took off towards it. When I got out I saw nothing but a desert with several rocks. The cave looked like it ran deep underground. Flying above the entrance, I could just make out with what appeared to be Canterlot. I realized that the Changelings were planning an invasion. They had to be, if their queen was in Los Pegasus then Clearly their next stop was Canterlot.

I had to think of a plan to stop them but how? The only thing I could possibly do is do a rainboom (Or as the mare in Ponyville called it. A synte-boom{play on the word synthesizer}). Then the gears in the back of my head began to work. I realized that if I got the very back of the cave and did a synthe-boom, I could easily clear out the entire cave.

Thats when another thought came in my mind, I if didn't get out of there in time then I would surely be killed. But I had to do this. Sure Canterlot sucks but the princesses are there. I can't let them invade and said that I just stood by and watched.

Flying back into the cave, I wasn't ready to just take off on an attempt I had look for and end to the cave. So I flew at a fast but steady pace. It wasn't that hard to see in the cave since probably wasn't that long to begin with.

Turns out that It wasn't that long to begin with. I came to an opening in the cave, when I looked in I saw a hive of Changelings. That's when I heard a melodic voice.

"My children. The time has come. The Time for us to strike back. Ever since the Royal Wedding I have been plotting for us to strike back at Canterlot. Now is that time. I have grown even stronger since the royal wedding."

That's when I looked up towards the ceiling and I saw a cocoon. It didn't take a glance to know who was cocooned.

"Vinyl." I said softly. That might have been the reason why I never saw her again after the incident in Los Pegasus. The Changelings must have gotten her. Even if they didn't she still wouldn't have bothered looking for me.

I analyzed the cave and saw the perfect spot for the boom. A little spot towards the bottom that looked a bit caved in. I also had to time the turn right. The wind would surely blow away the cocoon. I could easily catch Vinyl and fly us out of here. 

I began to fly off but before I did I turned to Vinyl and sang a small tune. If I don't make it out the last thing I wanted to do was to sing to her.

'I'll be there watching from way up high. The shadow you can't see with the sun's in the sky. Wondering eyes have no disguise. It's obvious that this love never dies. Never dies*'    

I took off flying fast. It wasn't long before I reached the entrance to the cave. I knew what had to be done. I'm gonna miss this world, its snobish ponies, the crazed griffins, and soul sucking changelings.

Taking one last breath, I took off flying towards the end off the cave. Dodging the rocks, I saw the changling were already moving out. Quickening my pace I could already see a cone form around me. Soon I saw the opening. Flying in I realized that I wasn't fast enough to get a synthe-boom going. I was going to have to fly around to get some speed going. That was going to be a problem since the queen was chasing after me.

The game of cat and mouse continued until I saw the cone become sharp. She stopped chasing me and was in a hurry to get out. That's when I found the spot to set it off. Speeding towards it, I could feel like the boom would go off soon. I felt like I was holding a time bomb. 

Just before I crashed straight into the wall, I quickly flipped my body around so my back faced the ground. The moment I flipped and took off the boom went off. A loud deafening sound rang throughout the cave. It wasn't even audible on how loud it was.

I could see Vinyls cocoon flying apart and soon she began to fall. I quickly caught her and began to fly out of the cave. She was out cold when I caught her.

As flew through the cave I could see changelings fleeing desperately. I was passing all of them. Suddenly A sharp pain cut my back. When I looked ahead I saw that rocks were being tossed around at high velocity. A simple pebble coulg become a bullet.

By the time I could see the entrance my body was heavily cut and I was already bleeding badly. I was to tired to even fly. Thats when realized that I wasn't going to make it out of the cave. As I slowly slumped to the ground I huddled over Vinyl to make sure she doesn't get hurt.

When I hit the ground I rolled forward, loosing my grip on Vinyl. The boom had passed over us. When it went out the cave it sent whatever changeling that was lucky enough to make it out flying back to the Badlands. A long series of Synthesizer notes rang through the air.

I laid there smiling, I had saved Canterlot and Vinyl. Looking over I saw Vinyl lying there breathing safe and sound.

"I did it" I said out loud. Soon my vision began to fade and I was pulled into blackness.

DJ PON-3 P.O.V.   

I woke up laying on a cold, rocky floor.

"Ugh my head" I pressed a hoof to my head. I looked around and saw cave that looked like a giant wind gust went through it. That's when I looked over and gasped when I saw Electronic Notes lying on the ground.**

He was bleeding badly with several cuts on his body. I began to weep. I just couldn't believe after how badly I treated him, he stilled saved me from the Changelings.

"No, please... don't go....please" I could barely speak. I should have known that bitch was the Changeling queen.

"Why... why you..." I said as I buried my face into his chest.

Electronic Notes point of view.

"Where am I?" I called out. It only seemed to echo endlessly.

"Am I dead?" 

"Your time is not yet come" I heard a soothing, majestic voice call out.

"Who are you?" So many questions were on my mind.

"Relax young one. You are just resting."

"So this is a dream?"

"Not a dream. An experience."

"So who are you."

"Don't worry about me. Only worry about the living." 

"When do I wake up."

"You will awaken from you slumber soon. Don't worry, my daughter shall take care of you."

"Wait. What?"

Soon I felt like I was falling into oblivion.





I could hear birds chirping. I could see rays of the sun shining into the room I was in. I was in the hospital at Canterlot. I could feel numbness on my cuts. I looked and saw that they were bandaged.

I glanced over and saw Vinyl sleeping in a chair next to me. Usually I would let her to sleep but I really wanted to talk to her after a day or two of not seeing her.

"Vinyl wake up." I said quietly. "Come on I'm awake wakey-wakey." I said quietly.

She began to stir around before finally opening her eyes. It what seemed like a split-split second, she rushed over and squeezed the life out of me with the tightest hug I have ever gotten.

"Vinyl *Wheez* can you loosen up"

"Sorry" she whispered to me. 

When she looked up at me I could tell that she was crying, I put my hooves around to tell her that everything was alright.

"No I should have never left you there." We both realized that I was in a trance when I was kissed so that was out of discussion

"Vinyl, you were mad. You had every right to run."

"But if I haven't ran you wouldn't be hurt."

"If you hadn't ran then I wouldn't have stopped those Changelings."

She then buried her face into my chest and began to sob more. Thats when I thought of something to comfort her.

'Baby don't cry don't scream. Baby don't cry don't scream. Just close your eyes and pretend this is a dream.'***
She looked up at smiled and said the three words I have been wanting to here from her since I fell in love her,

"I love you"

I this point I wasn't shocked to here it.

"I love you too" I stuttered out.

She then leaned in and I did too. I felt her lips against mine as we finally shared our first kiss. It was a dream come true for me. I felt any pain I had go away. It was just this moment that made me forget about anything I had to deal with later.

"Well well well, what do we have here." 

My head jerked towards the doorway. Standing there was both of our managers and Vinyls friend Octavia.

"Who would have thought sharing a bed together would have left to this." He said in a tone made for embarrassing me.

"Yeah I knew it was you who did that. By the way I'm hurting like hell thanks for asking."

"Enough about that. Notes, you're being named a hero for what you did to those Changelings."

I wasn't really in the mood. I wanted to be alone with Vinyl. But alas, I knew that would be a while.

"You know, Ponyville is throwing a party to celebrate. The princesses will be there you know."

"When is it?"

"Today" a voice said. I saw Princess Celestia herself walk into the room.

"Princess it is an honor but I can't make it today."

"Allow me to help." She responded by using her magic. Soon I was glowing the same color as her horn. I could heal any cuts and bruises on my body heal and the feeling of injections gone.

"How's that?" She asked.

"Better." I answered.

"Come along you two." Referring to me and Vinyl. "I shall escort you to the party."

Getting off the bed, I felt good as new. I almost ran out of the hospital. When I did get out I saw the Princesses carriage out in the front with two guard ponies.

"Come on Notes don't want to be late." The princess said as she walked behind me. Vinyl came out after and called to her to just give us a few minutes.

"I forgot to ask but what were you going to tell me at Los Pegasus?"

She giggled and gave out something. It was the picture she left behind at the alley.

"I already told you."

That's when she leaned in and finished the kiss we began in the hospital.

"Come on lets go." I said as I ran to the carriage.

Today was the best day of my life.



The End




* Guardian Angel by Abandon All Ships

** A short nod to the ending to Tron: Evolution. (The Game)

*** When dreams become nightmares by the same artists.


{A/N} Hope you all enjoyed this. Will start on my next story soon. Need to write in a 3rd point of view. Till next time, I'm Sol1dF3rr3t and I don't own My Little Pony or the references I've made