//------------------------------//
// Meet The Mess (Part II) 
// Story: Baleston Days 
// by LordOfTape 
//------------------------------//

	The dorm door shut behind the hurried pegasus as he rushed outside. Blurred visions melted together as he shook his head from side to side. He couldn’t find any trace of his friend Zeko. Levol took in a deep breath. It had to be at least a little while before the battle began. After all, he hadn’t even eaten dinner yet. 
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.
The food-less college pony tilted his head to his stomach. On second thought, he hadn’t eaten breakfast or lunch either. Normally he would consider this a poor choice for the day, but food wasn’t exactly plentiful these days. The pizza from Nom would have been a treat, but Zeko’s well being was far more important.
Levol tried to think of all the places that his friends liked to hang out around campus. He knew Zeko wasn’t around the dorms and didn’t think he’d leave for the city, so he knew there weren’t many places to check. After some light internal back and forths, Code Levol decided to head straight for the Backbeat.
The Backbeat was the campus’ underground hangout. The students used it for partying, concerts, and just plain hanging out. It was a rather large building, taking the place of the old West Wing Dorms. Unicorn crafted, it was the standing paragon of architectural beauty. Modern in design, it had a large portion of its walls made from glass panes. These were arranged in such a way so that as the day passed, they would shine different colors onto the interior, effectively making a rainbow clock. 
Large curtains waited anxiously at the sides till night would arrive. When the parties would start, the curtains would close off the window walls and allow for the intricate lighting system to illuminate the dance floor. To the side was a fully operational snack bar that the students swore did not sell alcohol at their parties. At the back rested several stacks of amps, a large DJ’s turntable and soundboard. This epic arrangement of musical amplification was the pride and joy of the Backbeat. Here, the brightest aspiring DJ’s could show their stuff at one or more of the club’s many parties. 
Other musicians and bands were welcome to take to the adjacent stage. Practices were held at the Backbeat every day, and small concerts were always welcome. Local and student bands reveled in the chance to play in front of an audience, however large or small. 
But these were not important to Code Levol. He was far more interested in the other use for the stage. Yes, the only thing on his mind at the Backbeat was the lone microphone, resting on the edge of the stage. That microphone was the only reason Levol even bothered to show up to the Backbeat every Friday night. 
Friday night had a reserved line up for the students at Baleston U. It started with free speaking, anypony could grab the mic and talk about whatever they wanted, so long as ponies were interested. Then came poetry, if you really wanted to. And finally, the rap battles. Oh how Levol loved the rap battles. 
As a foal growing up in the Baleston City outskirts, Code Levol had a very tumultuous life. Both of his parents worked constantly every day, sometimes not even making it home before he had gone to bed. Little Levol learned fairly early on how to take care of himself. From cooking to cleaning and everything in between, the little blue pegasus had to teach himself. This self dependency morphed Levol into a hardened and distant adolescent. 
He did what he could to manage his family situation. Levol knew that his parents cared for him, despite their constant absence, and because of this he made sure to keep the house looking proper for them. If he could get through a day of school, keep the house clean and still get to sit down for a few minutes, he considered it a good day.
With all of this work, it was hard for the growing colt to make any friends. He had a few classmates that would stop by every once and a while, but never had anypony that he could really talk to. Without any pony interaction, Levol left himself very open to other forms of communication. This opened him up to the world of music.
Levol’s experience with music was enlightening to say the least. Having a house to yourself for a whole day would be quiet boring if it was silent. The radio helped alleviate that problem. Each day after school, Levol would walk home, open the door, and immediately flip on the radio. 
As soon as the button clicked into place, the young pegasus could feel his entire body relax. It was as if all the tension he had built up in his muscles just evaporated. His gate would settle to a slower, more casual pace. His movements would flow more fluidly, and his dark blue coat would shine a little brighter. 
A daily dose of radio could only get Levol so far. His true relationship with music was fostered after he turned the radio off. You see, the genre that the ostracized colt could associate with best was rap. Artists from places all over Equestria could rap, and rap well. Unfortunately, rap music wasn’t suited for the radio and had to be played via CD. Levol didn't mind though. The thought of having his favorite songs at his hoof tips only made his smile bigger.
And so he listened, every day after chores. He listened, he repeated, and he learned. Each song was a new story to absorb, a new life made known to the young pegasus. Be it the story of the filly who lost her parents in an earthquake, or the old stallion who got killed in a robbery, or even of the failed marriage that would never work, Levol took it all in. 
Eventually, Code Levol started writing his own raps. Listening to the beats of his favorite artists, he would try to create his own stories and tell them through rhythm and rhyme. Years of practice added up and eventually Levol was able to make full raps and freestyle. It was the beginning of a long road for the troubled colt; a long road in the right direction.