//------------------------------// // Interlude: When Wub and Cello Collide // Story: Dovahshy May Cry // by Draconis187 //------------------------------// Dovahshy May Cry Interlude: When Wub and Cello Collide Author: Draconis187 A gray pony with a dark grey mane with a purple treble clef Cutie Mark was standing at Canterlot Station with her friend: a blue Earth pony with two eighth notes for a Cutie Mark named Noteworthy. Noteworthy was carrying Octavia’s cello in its case. “Remind me again: why are we going to Ponyville?” Noteworthy asked, a small bead of sweat running down from his dark blue mane, struggling with the cello’s weight. “I wish to see if a friend of mine is still alright. I have been worrying about her for ages and it hasn’t helped my rehearsals. I need to focus and I can't do that if my mind is not on my music.” Octavia responded with a dignified tone in her voice. “Okay then. The train is about to leave, after you.” Noteworthy responded. The two of them got onto the train and headed for Ponyville. **** ******** ******** **** A white unicorn with a two toned blue mane was slowly getting out of bed, her head pounding as if somepony used a jackhammer on it. She had been partying harder than usual since Fluttershy had killed all of the Changelings in Ponyville. As she stumbled into her kitchen she spotted her partner in crime: a pale blue unicorn with a black mane. His black shades were laid on the floor and his white could be seen lying over a chair’s arm. Vinyl Scratch gave a small snigger as she made breakfast for the two of them. Ever since Neon’s house got destroyed in the initial attack, Vinyl took him in since they worked together on gigs. Vinyl heard a mumble coming from the couch, “What happened last night?” “You drank too much and collapsed again. I really need to show you how to hold your liquor.” She replied with a devilish grin. “Come on now and eat breakfast.” There was a sound Neon’s body colliding with the floor as he tried to get up. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a plate of flapjacks with his mouth since his head hurt too much to use magic. The two walked into Vinyl’s dining room to eat. The mahogany table had cost Vinyl quite a bit of bits but since Neon was paying for half the rent, she could afford to decorate her home a little. “I still don’t get why the Changelings destroyed the club.” Neon remarked, eating his flapjacks with a knife and fork in his hooves while Vinyl levitated them. Vinyl put down her fork and looked into Neon’s pale blue eyes with her dark purple ones. “Honestly dude? I don’t have a clue. I mean they liked my jams and yet they destroyed the club during their attack. I was busy getting drunk for Celestia’s sake! Now I have to go to and get from Berry Punch instead of my own bar whenever I want a drink.” Vinyl said with a small frown. “Where were you though? I was far too busy running around in a stupor to see clearly.” She sniggered. “32 shots of vodka and half a bottle of whiskey will do that to a mare.” “I was by the turntables, making sure the beats kept coming while you we- wait… 32 shots of vodka and half a bottle of whiskey?!” Neon shouted while Vinyl nodded her head. “Damn, you can really drink. Well, long story short I ran off and tried to find you once I got out of the club. I didn’t succeed since I only saw you the next day with those Changelings.” “Yeah, well now they're gone and it’s all thanks to a particular yellow mare with those cool weapons!” Vinyl cried, finishing her last flapjack. “The only question for me now is: how are we going to repair the club? I had an assessment done and it’s going to cost a lot more than what we have and we still haven’t finished paying back the bank for the loan we took to build the club in the first place!” “I don’t know Vinyl, but I think we will manage. I just know it.” He said, finishing his flapjacks. **** ******** ******** **** Octavia and Noteworthy arrived in Ponyville Station. They got off the platform and made their way to Vinyl’s club, passing some old acquaintances of hers who waved at her. “How do you know these ponies Octavia?” Noteworthy asked. She blushed a little with embarrassment. “That’s because I used to live here. I made that story about me being from Manehattan up so the other ponies would give me the chance to prove my musical talent. I had lost my parents when I was just a young filly and instead of winding up in an orphanage, a unicorn family took me in. They had a filly of their own as well. She was white with a dark blue mane. Shortly after she got her Cutie Mark she dyed her mane and tail with highlights that were a lighter shade of blue.” As they walked over the bridge to Town Hall Noteworthy saw she had began to cry softly. “I laughed at it but then she did too. She was always the rebel in the family while I tried to be dignified whenever possible. Back in music class I tried every instrument you could possibly imagine because something about it talked to me. It wasn’t until I played the cello or specifically that cello.” She said, point to the one on Noteworthy’s back. “That I discovered my passion for the classics.” They were now walking down one of Ponyville’s many streets. There were a great many ponies that would either wave to Octavia and some that talked in hushed voices as she walked by. “Eventually Vinyl’s family moved to Fillydelphia to retire, leaving the two of us on our own. As musicians we did what we did best: make music. She became a DJ for a local radio station while I contributed some of the music. Soon our tastes in music began to cause friction, especially once I heard how many ponies here didn’t really like classical music. When I found out… we fought.” She had tears streaming down her eyes as she recounted the pain of her fight with her best friend and sister. “In the end I left for Canterlot and applied in the College for the Musical Arts. My entrance exam had me play one of Ludwig Manezart’s incredibly difficult symphonies. As I played they asked me questions, asking where I was from, why I wanted to apply, where my parents were and a variety of others. I knew they did it to break my focus and make a mistake but I was determined to prove myself to them and to Ponyville. I needed to prove that classical music wasn’t dead.” Noteworthy nodded his head, understanding the amount of dedication she had. They were now getting close to Vinyl’s club: Wub Rock. As the duo arrived they saw the place in a huge shamble. There was paint stripped off by what seemed like fire, there were chunks of the brickwork missing and a wall had a huge hole in it. When they entered they found table broken or overturned, broken glass everywhere and some of the overhanging lights had fallen and broke apart. “Sweet Celestia, what exactly happened here?” Noteworthy asked as he looked at the broken building that was once Vinyl Scratch’s pride and joy. “It must have been during the Changeling attack.” Octavia stated. “We should try her house. Follow me, I think she may still be living there.” Noteworthy nodded his head as Octavia continued. “Needless to say I passed my exam with flying colours. I graduated top of my class of talented cellists and was asked by Princess Celestia herself to be a part of the Canterlot Royal Orchestra. Sadly I tired of being part of a crowd after a while, I didn’t want to fade into obscurity and with Princess Celestia’s permission and help I organised the Octavia Quartet band. I never heard from Vinyl again after I got a message two years back saying she was building a club to ‘rock Ponyville so hard they would think they were back in the Stone Age’ as she put it. Here we are.” The two had stopped just by the door of Vinyl’s house. Octavia was visibly shaking. After all it had been a while since they last had contact. Noteworthy put his hoof on her shoulder and smiled. She smiled back nervously and knocked on the door. Vinyl answered and saw her old friend staring back at her. Vinyl’s eyes went wide as she opened her mouth. “’Tavi!! You're back! I'm so happy to see you, how have you been?!” She screamed, causing Neon to come running to the door. “Come in, come in. Hey Neon, get out the good bourbon! I feel like celebrating!” Neon rolled his eyes and walked off, muttering something about ‘any reason to start drinking before 10’. Vinyl and Octavia sat down next to each other on the couch while Noteworthy placed the cello against the wall. “So how was Canterlot and the Octavia Quartet eh? I'm sure- why are you crying ‘Tavi?” she asked. “Two years, two years and that’s all you can say? I thought you would be mad at me for not responding to your letter.” She said. She got startled as Vinyl hugged her. “I could never be mad at you ‘Tavi. We’re sisters and sisters have to stick together, no matter how big a fight they have. So what brings you and…?” “Noteworthy, miss.” Vinyl laughed so hard she fell of the couch with a thud. Neon arrived with the bourbon and four glasses. He was levitating the tray since his headache felt a bit better. “I am Neon Lights, pleasure to meet your acquaintance.” He said, putting the tray down on the coffee table and shaking Noteworthy’s hoof. “Likewise Neon. What’s up with her though?” He asked, pointing to Vinyl who was getting up again. “She finds it funny whenever somepony calls her ‘miss’. It’s a recurring joke to her ever since fillyhood.” Octavia said, shaking her head. “But I am glad to see you haven’t changed Vinyl.” “You too ‘Tavi.” They exchanged a hug. “Back to my question though: what brings you two here?” “I wanted to make amends. Ever since the Changelings took over Canterlot all I could think of was never being able to see you again to say how sorry I was for yelling at you all those years ago. We parted on such a sour note I-I thought you may have never wanted to see me again. When I saw the club destroyed I feared the worst.” “’Tavi, my club may be gone but our friendship… that will never fade for as long as I draw breath.” Vinyl said with a smile. “That’s pretty deep of you Vinyl.” Octavia remarked. “That’s because I've just had two glasses of bourbon while you were talking.” Vinyl laughed. “The only problem for me right now is that neither Neon nor I have the bits repair the club.” “Well, I may be able to help out there. I had made quite the small fortune during my time in Canterlot. I never spent my bits on very expensive dresses and outings. Between you and me though… I ordered my dresses from Rarity under an assumed name. I will gladly help you with the reconstruction. I just need a place to stay though.” “Well my house is your house… literally! Your old room is still vacant if you want it.” Vinyl said. “Oh and ‘Tavi? Thank you.” “Thank you Vinyl.” The two hugged each other, silently crying. Two weeks later… The club had finally been rebuilt and fully refurnished. Vinyl agreed to open the club in three days since Neon wanted to give the lighting a test run while Noteworthy wanted to check the acoustics. Octavia wanted to get some practise in and Vinyl was dealing with promoting the club’s re-opening by asking Pinkie Pie to help. They renamed it: The Wub and Cello. Octavia was going to play every second day while Vinyl played every first day. On the third day the two of them decided to combine their music together. “Well then ‘Tavi, you nervous?” Vinyl asked as she rechecked the bar stock. She needed to make sure that would be enough for opening night. Pinkie said the whole town and Canterlot were buzzing with talk over the club. “About as nervous as I was during my entrance exam. I think I’ll manage.” She replied with a smile as she played a slow tune. “Thanks again ‘Tavi. I want you to know that no matter how much we may fight, I will always love you as my sister.” “I love you too sister.” They hugged as Neon finished his testing. Both he and Noteworthy looked at the scene with a smile on their faces.