A Rising Moon

by Metal Squirrel Chaos


Of Nightlights and Soundwaves - Part 2

Of Night Lights and Sound Waves - Part 2

By: Metal Squirrel Chaos

The club was silent. The rough yet haunting music had ceased. All of the club patrons had stopped moving (a few had even stopped breathing) after the song had come to it’s conclusion. None of them had ever witnessed anything like what had just occurred.

Even when DJ-Pon3 had turned up the heat by changing the entire style of the song, the Midnight Maiden had adapted to fit her powerful voice right into it. The two had mixed, reaching a form of harmony the patrons of the Nightlight had never imagined possible.

For the Princess in question, her own silence was because she was too busy catching her breath. The Starlight Seamstress’ chest rose and fell rapidly as she sought to regain her necessary oxygen intake. Even a goddess of night could run out of breath.

“So?” she huffed, grinning wide at the awestruck patrons surrounding her, “How many points do I receive?”

Luna’s voice shattered the silence, and in a giant uproar the crowd cheered wildly. Their chorus of voiced howled in applause. Every hoof in the club was joined in unison in congratulating their Nightbringer in her performance. Even her own royal guard, Equinox and Morningstar, could not help but cheer in triumph.

Princess Luna blinked. “You...liked it then?” she asked, a wide smile crossing over her face.

“Of course they did,” sneered another voice, the room coming quiet again as the Queen of Sound spoke up again through her loudspeaker. “That was more than impressive, Princess, if a bit old school for my normal taste.” Her constant, impossibly wide grin shone even in the dimmed lights of the club. “Come on back stage, and we’ll discuss who won.”

With that, the DJ raised her hoof to the crowd. “Colts and FIllies, it’s been a heck of a night, but this DJ is o-u-t out!”

There was a nearly unanimous moaning from all attendants, but their dismay was dismissed with another wave.

“Hey, hey, don’t be like that.” The Mistress of Music grinned even wider, somehow. “I’ll put this machine on shuffle for you guys. Now before I go, I say we give a shout out to the Princess who made this night possible, in more ways than one. Let’s hear it for Princess Luna!”

There was an uproar of approval, all of the ponies turning to the younger of two rulers, and giving her the applause they felt she deserved.

The Moonlight Defender was stunned to silence, a rare feat in itself. When her voice was found, Luna smiled wide, trying to hide the single tear that went down the side of her face. “Thank you, thank you all. May you have a fantastic night!”

With that, the DJ booth shield began to lower again, as once more a blaring sound emulated from the speakers surrounding the room. The DJ was gone, but the music played on.

***

“Wow,” the white and blue mare spoke as she slid her own forearm across her horned forehead, “I haven’t felt energy like that in a while.”

“Are. You. INSANE?!” screamed the other, darker coated mare in the stairwell as both descended the stairs from the DJ booth to the backstage area. “That was the Princess of the Night! That was Luna! You can’t just challenge a Princess like that.” The grey earth pony  shoved the DJ in her side. “That was incredibly reckless, even for you.”

“Oh come on, Octy,” the Queen of Beats kept her grin going full force, “you know as well as I did that she enjoyed it. She looked like she needed a bit of fun...I’m just surprised it was that easy to get her to play along. Also, that she can sing like that.”

Octavia Philharmonica, also known as Octy or Tavi depending on Vinyl’s mood, facehoofed a bit harder than intended. She once again tried to figure out how she, one of Canterlot’s most prestigious and celebrated cellists, had somehow found herself in a rif-raf nightclub such as this. She had long given up trying to figure out how she became best friends with an insane DJ with a habit for power tripping. “You will be the death of me, I swear to Celestia.”

“It’ll be fine. We’ll meet Princesses. It’ll work out great,” Vinyl’s ever present confidence did not even waver at her best friend’s less than optimistic view of the situation. “Look, it’s simple. I’m going to ask Luna to hang out with us.”

Octavia’s eyes widened as she looked back up. “First of, Vinyl dear, it’s Princess Luna. Second off, what are you thinking!?” she only barely avoided shouting, which did not mix with her normal soft and smooth voice. “She’s the Princess of Night. Have you ever heard the stories of her?”

“Yeah,” Scratch chuckled. “That’s why I’m doing it. I want to see if she’s as wild as they say.”

“They don’t use the word ‘wild’, Vinyl,” Octavia pointed out. “They use the words ‘dangerous, unpredictable, and incredibly scary’, but not ‘wild’.”

“You can be a real stick in the mud, Octy,” The DJ Dinamo chuckled with a poke to her fellow musician’s side. “Trust me, this’ll be awesome.”

“That’s what you said about the Hoofington fiasco,” the cello player shot back. “Did you ever finish paying that chiropractor off?”

The answer never came, for at that moment the backstage doors shot open, and the Dream Walker entered. “We have come, DJ Pon3, to claim our victory!”

“Haha,” Vinyl laughed. “I can't say I wasn't put-”

“Can say you were,” Octavia interjected. She grinned as her contrast glared at her from behind the shades. “That was a double negative. Do try to use proper grammar in front of our most esteemed guest.”

Luna, followed by her two guards, walked deeper into the club’s less party centric side, leaving the noise of the ever pounding nightclub behind them as the door shut. “Who is this young mare?”

Vinyl Scratch tore herself from the intense scow she shot her companion to smile at the Princess. “This? This here is Octavia Philharmonic, the famous cellist, as she is so eager to remind me.” The DJ flashed her friend a grin at her quib. “She’s my ma-”

“Friend!” the Gray Lady shouted loudly as she stuck a hoof in her contrast’s mouth. “Best friend. Who is a mare. We are the very best of friends, your highness.”

Behind their ruling diarch, Equinox and Morningstar shared a communicative glance between each other.

“Please,” The Starlight Sorceress smiled and dismissed with a hoof wave,” call us Luna. Though has earned it after dropping such sick beats upon us, as your generation seems to say.”

Spitting Octavia’s hoof out of her mouth, Scratch spoke up again. “Luna, I was wondering if you’d like to hang with us tonight? You know, cruise around the city, hit up some nice places, just have fun?”

The Princess gasped, before a huge, beaming smile spread over her face. “Really? Does thou...I mean, do you truly desire ou-my company?”

“Heck yeah” The White Wubmancer yelled. “ I've never gotten to hang with a real princess before. This will be awesome.”

“Then lead on, DJ Pon3,” The Night Whisperer announced. “You seem to be the most, um, happening pony here, so you shall lead us.”

“No problem,” Scratch said, “But two things. First off, the name is Vinyl Scratch. DJ Pon3 is just my stage name, and when I’m off of it, call me Vinyl. Or Scratch. Second, we’re going to work on your lingo as we walk, kay?”

“Exuberantly,” Luna bounced in place a moment. “Where shall we go first?”

“I would suggest an eatery,” Octavia chimed in. “Somewhere sophisticated, as befitting-”

It was Vinyl’s chance to interrupt Octavia for once. “Nah Tavi, nothing like that. Let’s just go to Donut Joe’s place. He has the best cream filled in Canterlot.”

“Donut Joes?” Octavia sighed. “Really?”

“I have heard that his establishment is quite excellent,” Luna chimed in. “Lead on then, for we are famished.”

“Princess,” came a voice from behind the three newly acquainted ponies. They looked back to see Morningstar raising his hoof for attention. “Sorry to interupt but, may we speak to these two before we go? In private?”

“Of what?” the Dream Defender raised an eyebrow.

“Just some personal things,” Equinox chimed.

“Hm,” Luna though for a moment, before shrugging. “If you wish. We have to use the little Princess’ room anyway.” She turned toward Scratch again. “Directions?”

Vinyl pointed down the hall and nudged her hoof leftward twice.

“We shall return then.” Luna quickly trotted down the hall to her destination. As she did, the two Night Guard approached their guides for the evening.

“Forgive us for questioning such a private matter,” Morningstar started, “but, are you two...you know...”

“Dating for the last few years yes,” Octavia said, straightening her hair. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“Yeah, what’ gives?” Vinyl glared through her glasses. “That sort of thing’s been acceptable in society for centuries, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, but...” Morningstar thought for a moment. “Princess Luna is...older than centuries, if you catch my meaning. She was from a time before such a thing was as socially acceptable.”

“No offence,” Equinox noted. “We don’t want to freak her out.”

Both mares of music looked at one another. Octavia nodded, “I thought as such.”

“Sorry,” Morningstar said. “Just...try and keep it subtle?”

“That may be a bit difficult,” Octavia noted, glaring at her partner, who was currently trying to mine for precious minerals in her own ear. “But we shall persist for our royal guest.”

“Yeah,” Scratch agreed. “No problem bro. We’ll be real quiet about it.”

“Good,” Equinox smiled.

“Yeah, now let’s go pick up Her Majesty before anything-”

“CONFOUNDED CONTRAPTION! YOU SHALL NOT HALT OUR PROGRESS THIS NIGHT!”

“...happens.”

        ***

One rescue mission and toilet related near disaster later, the five ponies were on their way, walking through the streets of Canterlot.

“So mom tells me ‘Fraulein, your hair, what have you done to it?’” Vinyl told her story with an outstretched hoof and a perfect Germane accent, “and of course I’m all panicked because I’m a little foal and my mom looks like she’s ready to stomp my flank and-.”

Princess Luna half listened, stretching her consciousness around her to observe the expansive city. She could not help but marvel at the ponies who now all walked the streets far after their precious sun had set. Several had even waved to her, greeting her with sincere courtesy and grace. A bright smile spread over her dark lips.

“I still have yet to meet your parents. Your mother sounds so foreign, if you’ll forgive me for saying so,” Octavia said, finally breaking Scratch’s long streak of words, as well as Luna’s trance.

“Well it’s not something I talk about a bunch,” Scratch turned red behind her bright smile.

“You two have known each other a long time, then?” The Dream Weaver interrupted, curious about her current escorts.
“Why yes,” the only earth pony amongst the group spoke. “We met in college.

“Long story short,” She Who Brings the Beat interrupted, “we didn’t care for each other when we first met. Too different musical and personal tastes, ya see, but we were sort of forced to hang around one another due to seating arrangements. Also our teacher was a know it all jerk. Anyway, we talked to each other more and more, and eventually we became the best of friends..”

“Yes, Scratch, thank you for the abridged version,” Octavia glared. “But she is correct. It seems opposites do truly attract, as our professor predicted.”

“Indeed,” Luna beamed. “It does my heart well to see such a pair.” She looked between the two, still smiling, when suddenly she started to stare at Octavia. “Hmm...”

The cellist shied away slightly. “Is there something wrong, Princess.”

The alicorn of the group tapped her chin with a hoof. “I feel as if I have seen you somewhere before, within the last year or so.”

“Oh, yes, well...” the grey mare blushed pink as she scratched her dark mane with a hoof. “We have met, though only briefly. It was just before last year’s Grand Galloping Gala.”

“Ah yes,” the Night Bringer exclaimed. “You were among the troupe of  musicians that my sister hoof picked to play during the ceremony.”

“I was,” Octavia sighed. “I wish to once again extend my apologies for-”

“Say no more,” Luna raised a hoof. “We neither attended the event, so no apology is needed for us personally, nor do we really mind the incident, from Celestia’s telling.”

“Why weren’t you there, anyway?” Scratch interjected.

“Oh,” Luna looked stunned by the question. “Well, the Grand Galloping Gala, despite it’s reputation, is not nearly as fun as one would think. It consists mostly of a gathering of nobles and upper class ponies who play out grand wars with snide comments and hurtful acersions. I simply did not feel like dealing with such things that night. Apparently not everything changes in a thousand years time, politics least of all.”

Scratch tilted her head, staring right into Luna’s eyes. The Bringer of Starlight found it odd that a normal unicorn’s gaze would carry so much weight.

“Oh?” Octavia broke the silence. “You truly despise the Gala so much?”

“Well,” Luna began,” not truly, but we-OH we have arrived!” she suddenly shouted and pointed with her hoof.

Before the five pony's eyes was Donut Joe’s shop, easily identified by it’s huge donut shaped sign hanging above it.

“Awesome,” Scratch bounced in place. “Let’s eat. What are you thinking, Tavi? Filling, glazed, topped, give me a clue?”

“Calm down,” Octavia pushed her blue manned companion back to the ground. “We will decide when we look at the menu.”

With growling bellies, the five hungry ponies entered the delicious smelling buililding ready to sate their cravings for sweets. Not a one of them saw as a brown earth pony poked his head out from behind the side of the building, watching them enter.

“Maybe teriyaki sauce? No no, what am I thinking?" He gave a gentle sigh. "I really am getting old.”

With that, the strange stallion disappeared into the alley once more.