//------------------------------// // Waking to a New Life // Story: Fame is not Friendship... // by Lady Spider //------------------------------// Waking a Dream “...Wake me up from this dream that never ends, Haunting me, haunting me ‘til my bitter end, Wake me up from this nightmare that I live, Something inside of me keeps on giving in...” My eyes opened and that tingly feeling that one gets when something big is about to happen overcame me. Today was the day. I was going to go outside, (in the daytime!), and hopefully come home a new pony. I stretched and nearly fell out of bed. The sunlight was glowing around the edges of the black curtains of the house. It felt wrong and dangerous but strangely exciting to be up with the sun. I brushed through my mane quickly and bounded to the front door, eager to get started. The door opened and the sunshine nearly blinded me. I blinked and turned back to the dark house. I somehow found my shades on the table and nestled them onto my face. Again I tried to leave the house. The bright sun was tolerable now. I took a deep breath and stepped onto my front step. The sun was warm on my fur and almost seemed to bathe me in comfort. I took another breath. The air was crisp and cool unlike the hot, muggy, alcohol-scented air I was accustomed to. "Come on, Vinyl." I muttered to myself. "You're outside. Now, do what ponies do." I froze. What did ponies do? Yesterday I remembered seeing a little cafe type of bakery that ponies had been socializing at. That seemed a good place to start. I stepped down my walkkway and wobbled, feeling weak under the warmth of the sun. Ponyville was bustling with ponies, many who didn't notice me thankfully. I reached the bakery in no time and read the sign in front of the step. Sugarcube Corner Hearts and Hooves Day Goodies Get Your Orders in Today! Days left until Hearts and Hooves Day: 3 I examined the words carefully. Three days. I vaguely remembered a Hearts and Hooves Day from my filly days. Mares and stallions out on romantic dates and young ponies giggling over bouquets of flowers. The days before my life of a famous DJ were fuzzy and difficult to remember. Since my claim to fame I had not celebrated a birthday or a holiday. "Hmm." I shook my head and walked into Sugarcube Corner. "Hello! Welcome to- OHMYGOSH IT'S VINYL SCRATCH!!" My eyes widened at the sudden excitement. "Eh?" A blur of pink came from behind the counter and began bouncing in front of me. "Oh! Vinyl Scratch! In Sugarcube Corner! Oh yay! I just loooooooove your music! I see you all the time when I go to your club!!" The blur was beginning to become clearer. A pink earth pony with a frizzy hot pink mane was smiling widely at me. The ponies at the tables were watching. "Um. Hi. Who are you?" "I'm Pinkie Pie!" She swept me up into an awkward hug. "You're my new best friend!" A chuckle was heard from one of the tables. A stallion stood up and my heart pounded in my chest. He was a well-built unicorn with a rich brown coat and a two tone red shaggy mane. "Pinkie, this is Vinyl Scratch. Not your common pony friends. You think she wants to hang out with you and your baby parties?" Pinkie released me and gaped at the stallion. He stepped toward me and looked me right in the eyes through my shades. "Now, I can show you how real ponies party and have fun or you can stay here and waste time with these... fillies." I didn't even think to look at the poor pink pony. There was something about this unicorn that seemed wondrous and thrilling. He caught the look in my eyes. "Let's go then." He walked past me, leading me out the door. Behind us I could hear Pinkie complaining to the ponies in the bakery. "Did you see that? How dare he! I'm not a filly!" "I'm Rave Storm." Said the stallion, as he led me farther from the center of Ponyville. "Everypony just calls me Rave." "Just Vinyl for me." Rave glanced over at me. His eyes appeared orange through my shades. I blushed and looked away. Celestia, he was attractive. We reached a large building on the outskirts of Ponyville. The shades were drawn on the two windows in the front, but the front door was open. Rave entered first, looking back to see if I was following. The inside was one open room that was dimly it by the open doorway. Three stallions,two pegasi and a unicorn, and an earth mare were standing aroud the only table in the room along the far wall. Rave went over to them with me trailing behind. The smaller pegasi was scolding the bored looking mare. "...and I've told you before, don't be touchin' the blue switch! Sup Rave?" "Cyclone, Gall, Frost, and Strobe, Vinyl Scratch here will be joining our little party tonight. Personal invitation from me." Rave stated, nodding his head toward me. I stepped forward and raised my shades so I could see everypony clearer. The pegasus who had been scolding the mare was Cyclone. He was smaller than the other pegasus. His coat was a dull gray color with a white and dark gray mane. The second pegasus was bigger than Rave. He was introduced as Gall. Gall had a blue-gray coat and his mane was a deep blue. The unicorn, Frost, was staring at my red eyes which unnerved me. He was a pale blue, almost white, color with a silver and teal mane. The mare who was addressed as Strobe did not look happy. She was very pretty with a light purple ccoat and a blacck and pink mane but she glared at me the whole time. The stallions, on the other hand, welcomed me with smiles and hellos. After itroductions Rave ecame very businesslike. "Cyclone, how is the sound system doing?" "Just fine, when Strobe isn't touching everything." Strobe turned and glared at the pegasus. "I didn't do anythin'." She snarled. Rave glancced boredly at her. "Chill Strobe. Vinyl, you can use your music system specialty to help Cyclone. Gall, how are our lights?" The pegasus nodded his head towardd the dark corners of the room. "Just switch up a few things and we'll be set to go." "Good. Frost, our..." Rave glanced at me slyly. "...refreshments?" Frost smirked. "All good." The two stallions shared a look I didn't understand then smiled warmly at me. Strobe rolled her eyes. "This will be the best party in Equestria! Strobe and I will go spread the invites." Rave winked at me. I nodded dumbly as he and Strobe exited the building. Strobe was sure to glare at me as she passed. Gall flew up to the rafters and began testing all sorts of different colored lights. Frost slipped out the back door saying something about kegs of alcohol. Cyclone went under the table which I could now see clearly. An old soundboard and set of giant speakers were set up on the table. I glanced under to see Cyclone hooking up a bass amp. "Hey Vinyl it really is way cool to meet you. I spend a good chunk of my ti- .. weekends in your club." "Thanks." I didn't remember ever seeing him in the club. Maybe the lights just made it difficult. It was always crowded too so... "What can I help you with?"