It was a wonderful night in Ponyville. Rarity was just finishing up her latest ensemble. The piece was a spectacular and colorful dress decorated with many types of gems. After several hours of working of this one piece, Rarity knew that any interruption could cost her big. Throughout the night she played classical music to keep her focused, besides she loved the simple and elegant sounds of her favorite violist.
She also had been hearing Sweetie Belle playing some music of her own for the past hour, but her sister’s birthday was coming up so it didn’t bother Rarity too much, besides she still didn’t know what she’d get for her sister as a gift.
Rarity brought her face close to the dress as she levitated the needle to make one of the final additions of ruby to the front of the dress, she got even closer as to ensure perfection and with a delicate touch pierced the fabric with the needle.
“CALL 911 NOW!”
*Rip*
Rarity slashed through almost half the dress, as she jumped at the sudden burst of loud, and she thought violent, music.
When her heart stopped racing, rarity panicked and ran to her sister’s room, where she still heard loud music coming from.
“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity could hardly yell over the sound of the music.
“WHAAAAT?” Sweetie Belle’s voice was lost in the sound.
Rarity walked over to the stereo and tried turning it off, before giving up and unplugging the dang thing. “What happened?” She put a hoof to her ears to see if she could still her properly.
“Rarity why’d you stop the music?”
“I heard you yelling ‘call 911’ and then the music started blasting.”
“Rarity, that’s just part of the song.”
“The song had the words ‘call 911 now’? What kind of music are you listening to, that was so loud.”
“Sorry Rarity, I didn’t know it’d be so loud.”
“What are you listening to anyway that they tell you to call 911?”
“Dubstep!” Sweetie Belle cheered.
“Sweetie Belle! Don’t make up words.”
“I wasn’t sis, dubstep is a new kind of music. Isn’t it exciting.”
“I’d say more like heart-stopping, why is it so loud anyway?”
“Because that’s how it’s supposed to be.” Sweetie Belle plugged back in the stereo. “Here listen to this Rarity.” She turned it to a new track, which started with very slow and steady techno noises with the occasional pop or other odd sound.
“Well this certainly isn’t the music you were just listening to, this is much quieter and softer. I can’t say I like it too much, but it’s better than that loud violent stuff you were just listening to.”
“Shh…wait, here comes the drop.”
“The drop?” Rarity listened as the music slowed down even more for a few seconds before the voice yelled out ‘I want to kill everypony in the world.’ And the loud violent music came back this time a loud techno beat that had Rarity putting her hooves to her ears, while Sweetie Belle jumped up and down following the beat.
“What is this!?” Rarity shouted, barely able to hear herself.
“This is ‘Kill Everypony’ isn’t it great?!” Sweetie Belle shouted back.
Rarity responded by unplugging the stereo again. “Did he just say ‘I want to kill everypony in the world’?”
Sweetie Belle looked down at the floor. “Uhm, yes?”
“Why would you like this music Sweetie Belle, you’re a nice young filly, you don’t want to listen to a song that tells you to…” Rarity shuddered. “Kill every one.”
“But Rarity, it’s so much fun.”
“And it’s also too loud, you made me ruin my latest dress.”
Sweetie Belle became slightly embarrassed at that. “Oh really, I’m sorry Rarity.”
“Now I’m afraid I’m going to have to take this music away from you.”
“What you can’t, I promise I’ll turn it down and keep it quiet.”
“I’m sorry Sweetie Belle, but I just can’t take that risk. Besides, I don’t want my little sister listening to music that tells ponies to ‘kill every one’.
“Fine, go ahead. See if I care.” Sweetie Belle pouted.
Rarity took several of the records and made her way back to her room, she put the records in a drawer where Sweetie Belle couldn’t get to them.
She went back to work by picking up the sewing needle and beginning the arduous task of repairing her dress. ‘Was I too hard on Sweetie Belle, maybe I shouldn’t have taken her records away, but that music was too violent for her.'
After another several hours of working on and repairing the dress Rarity was finally done. She made her way to bed and thought about that violent music that her sister was listening to.
In the morning Rarity got up and began making breakfast for sister and herself. Sweetie Belle came downstairs just as Rarity was finishing up.
“I hope you have an appetite Sweetie Belle, I made eggs, bacon, sausage and waffles.” Rarity wanted to make up for being a little rude the previous night.
“No thanks un-sister, I’m not hungry.”
“Oh Sweetie Belle, I’m sorry I got upset with you yesterday, but you have to understand that as my younger sister, I don’t want you listening to that kind of music.”
“Why what’s wrong with it?”
“It’s just uncouth Sweetie.” She set a plate of food in front of her sister. “Now come one eat up.”
Sweetie Belle looked at the food and back up at her sister. “Well how’s it any different from the violin music you’re always listening to?”
Rarity looked at her sister and giggled a little. “Really? Well Octavia’s concerto is beautiful and civil; she’s redefined an age of classical music. That stuff you listen to is vulgar and sounds like someone recorded a telephone of the hook.”
“But a lot of pony’s like Skrillex, and there’s nothing wrong with them.”
“Oh heaven’s is that his name…’Skrillex’? Even his name sound sounds vulgar, likes it’s some new drug.” Rarity’s eyes went wide. “Sweetie Belle you aren’t taking drugs are you?”
“What of coarse not, Skrillex isn’t a drug he’s just the stallion who made the music.”
“Fine, but I still don’t think you should listen to that music.”
“Fine!” Sweetie Belle shouted as she got up from the table and made her way to the door.
“You forgot you’re breakfast.” Rarity called out.
“I’m not hungry!” Sweetie Belle shouted back before slamming the door shut and making her way off the school.
Rarity cleaned up breakfast and was upset that Sweetie Belle was so angry at her. ‘Maybe that music means a lot to her.’
Rarity had to take the dress she just made to her client, and afterwards she stopped by the market to pick up some cherries.
She was at the cherry stand looking for the best ones, when a familiar voice called out to her.
“Heya Rarity.”
Rarity recognized the voice and hid her face, she didn’t want her friend to see her buying cherries. Maybe she could still pretend to be someone else.
“I said hey Rarity, I see ya over there. Why don’t you come on over here?”
Rarity thought about giving her French a shot. She spoke softly to herself. ‘Pas la Rarity Im je ne connais pas cette Rarity.’ She decided it wouldn’t work out and just made her way over to her friend.
“Oh, Applejack what a surprise to see you here.”
“You were a’ over there at tha cherry stand?”
“I swear I was just buying for a friend. Haha no, what I really need is some apples. I really need a bushel.” She chuckled.
“Great.” She loaded up the apples. “So what’cha been up to?”
“Oh nothing much, just getting ingredients for dinner. Hopefully Sweetie Belle will eat tonight, she’s been mad at me all day.”
“That sweet little filly, what did you do ta her?”
“Well last night she was listening to some awful music, so I took it away from her.”
“Ya took away her music? Shoot that’s like taking away a ponies identity, no wonder she’s mad at you. How bad was it anyway?”
“It was some weird techno, that got really loud and crazy once the guy yelled something.”
“What’d he yell exactly?”
“I want to kill every pony in the world!” Rarity shouted as nearby ponies gasped and hid their foals. Rarity blushed and turned red.
“Oh that’s just Skrillex.”
“You know him, oh please AJ tell me you don’t listen to that stuff too.”
“Well sometimes, it’s pretty exciting and helps keep me awake. But AB is really into it, I think she’s got most of the records.”
“You let your own sister listen to it?” Rarity was surprised.
“Sure, its just music for hoof’s sake. Besides if I take it away from her, she’ll just hate me for it.”
“Oh dear, maybe I shouldn’t have taken it way then.”
“Yeah she just keeps her headphones on while listening to that music, otherwise Granny Smith would have a heart attack.” AJ chuckled.
“Hey, that’s not a bad idea. I’ll get her some headphones that way she won’t bother me.”
“Well if’n you’re interested there’s a music shop just down tha road a bit, I take AB there sometimes to keep up with her favorite artists. I’m sure they have some good headphones for Sweetie Belle, and while you’re there you should pick up something called ‘Dubstep Essentials’ that’s a good way to get introduced to that music.”
“Thanks Applejack, I’ll make my way over there now. Not sure about the whole 'Dubstep Essentials’ for me, but headphones would make a great gift for Sweetie Belle, it is her birthday coming up.”
“Ya know, there’s some big concert happenin’ in a few days. I think they’re selling tickets at the music store. I’ll be going with AB and I could take Sweetie Belle if it’s ok with you.”
“I don’t know, letting my sister go to some crazy concert, without me there. I’ll have to think it over.”
Rarity began to make her way off to the music shop when Applejack stopped her. “That’ll be 4 bits.”
“Oh right, sorry.” Rarity turned red again.
Rarity made her way over to the music store, she looked out front and saw a sign for ‘Fusion Music’ followed by a neon treble clef. ‘Well this must be it.’
She made her way inside and found it to be dark, really dark. Like someone had almost turned off the lights, and there was music playing too, it was some loud obscene punk music. Rarity wasn’t a fan of that either.
She walked towards the back of the store and found a large selection of headphones. Like hundreds of different types. She stared at the wall and found herself lost, ‘Bass Boosting’, ‘On-Ear’, ‘Noise Cancelling’, Rarity had no idea what it all meant and she walked over to the register for some customer service.
“COULD YOU TURN THE MUSIC DOWN?”
“WHY I CAN HEAR YOU JUST FINE.”
“BUT I CAN’T HEAR YOU SO CAN YOU TURN IT DOWN FOR A SECOND?”
The blue stallion turned around and lowered the volume knob, of coarse the music was still loud enough, but at least she could talk.
He turned around and looked at her. “Yo.”
“Yo? Is that how you address potential customers?”
He sighed. “How may I help you miss?”
“Thank you, I’m here looking for a pair of headphones for my sister.”
The blue stallion pointed a hoof toward the back. “Headphones are at the back of the store.”
“Y…yes I know that already, but there’s so many different types I don’t know which is best for her.”
The blue stallion chuckled. “Not an audiophile I see.”
“I’ll have you know I am a dress maker, and would appreciate you to not make up words. Now which ones are best?”
“Well ponies are always asking for Beats by Dr. Neigh.”
“Fantastic I’ll take those.”
“Nah, those are 200 bit pieces of crap. Better used as a door stopper.”
“200 bits?! Who would buy something so outrageously expensive?”
“I just bought my third pair the other day.”
Rarity brought a hoof to her forehead. “Can you just tell me which ones would be good for my little sister?”
“Yea these ones.” He put a hoof on a pair of headphones that sat on the register counter.
“Thank you, look they even come in white, her favorite color.”
“Cool, anything else?”
“Hmm, do you any Skrillex. I might as well buy my sister a record while I’m here.”
The stallion smiled at Rarity “For you sister, right.” He said sarcastically. “Well I’m sure your ‘sister’ would love his latest LP.”
“Didn’t I tell you to stop making up words?” Rarity sighed. “I guess I’ll take that too.”
“Right on.” He began ringing up the items before he remembered. “Oh right, when you buy those headphones you get a free ‘Essentials’ record.” He pointed out the options next to the register.
Rarity first noticed the Dubstep Essentials, but she wasn’t sure. “Do you happen to have any Classical Essentials?” She asked still staring at the dubstep version.
“Nah bro.” He grabbed and rang up the Dubstep Essentials before she could stop him. “I saw you staring at it.”
“I don’t want that, put it back.”
He now leaned his chin on his hoof as he smiled. “Sorry ma’am, all sales are final. Don’t worry, you’ll love it.”
Rarity huffed slightly as she made her way out of the store, while the blue stallion turned back up his loud music.
**********
Rarity came home and finished cleaning the house. She waited for her sister to come home to give her the gift.
A little while after school ended and Sweetie Belle came into the house. “Rarity? Are you home?”
“Oh,” Rarity poked her head out of the kitchen. “You’re home. Great I want to tell you something.”
“Actually Rarity, I want to apologize for being so mean to you this morning. If you think I shouldn’t listen to that music than I won’t.”
“No Sweetie Belle listen, I’m sorry that I took away your records, just because it was a little loud for my tastes. So I’m giving them back to you.”
“Really?! But I thought you said that music was too violent.”
“Well, really who am I to say what is proper and what isn’t. Oh and I got you something else.” Rarity pulled up the shopping bag and revealed the new headphones as well as the new album.
“For me?! Oh thank you Rarity.” She ran over and hugged her sister. “I’ll use these all the time so I don’t disturb you.”
“Thank you Sweetie Belle. I hope you like them.”
“Are you kidding this is so cool, mind if I go upstairs and listen to the latest album?”
“Of coarse not dear, now go ahead and listen to your ‘dubstep’.
Sweetie Belle made her way upstairs and Rarity prepared dinner. She noticed the Essentials record still sitting on the table and she rolled her eyes. She did wonder however if there was anything good on the album.
After dinner Rarity made her way to her room, she tried to keep herself occupied, but with no dress orders to work on she found herself entirely bored. She looked at the record that she carelessly dropped on the table.
With nothing to do, she gave in and decided to give the record a listen.
She popped it the player and carefully picked up her own headphones. She turned it own and listened to the music.
The first track started out slow like the others, just a very smooth techno track. Rarity liked that it had a nice pace. Suddenly the music slowed down even more and someone shouted out “YES, OH MY GOD!” and the song took a nosedive into obscurity. Sounds that could really only be described as a chorus of different noises. Was this the ‘drop’ that her sister told her about.
She listened to the song several times, she didn’t necessarily like it, but she still found herself listening to it over and over. She didn’t want to admit it, but this dubstep was a nice change from her usual predictable music.
She gave the next track a listen. This one started with an electric guitar, and soon someone began saying lyrics that Rarity couldn’t make out. Were they saying ‘salsa on my boss boys’ or maybe ‘seltzer on my balls boys’, after a while Rarity figured out it was ‘shout ta all my lost boys’ and after that once again they shouted out something random, this time “Bangarang!” and the drop ensued. And once again Rarity found herself enjoying the song more than she thought she would.
She spent the next hour just listening to the record and she began to enjoy the music. Sure it was nonsense, but she thought it actually sounded good.
The next day Rarity woke up and did her usual work. Although she found herself humming the tune to some of the music on the record she listened to. She decided to go back to the music store to pick up some more records.
She reached the store and recognized the neon treble clef once again, still finding it ill fitting. She entered and made her way over to the counter. The music once again blasting.
Rarity tried to speak, but her voice was washed out by the music. The blue stallion recognized this and turned down the music.
“What’s up?” He said with his face still buried in a music magazine.
Rarity cleared her throat.
“Sorry, I mean how can I help you?”
Rarity tilted her head and looked at the magazine he was reading. She ripped it out of his hooves, closed it and put it on the table. “I’m looking for some music.”
The blue stallion managed to let out a quick chuckle. “Right on, let me guess…Beethoofen?”
“Actually I was thinking more along the lines of Skrillex?”
“Oh, so now you’re into dubstep. Guess that record did the job? Any way we got a whole selection over there.” He pointed out. “And if you like Skrillex you should try some Deadmau5.”
“Dead-Mouse? I don’t understand what that is, and I’m not going to respond to it.” Rarity made her way over and picked up a few more records. Before she made her back over to the counter. This time he put the magazine down before helping her.
“Is that all?”
“Why, yes I believe so.”
“Oh right, if you’re interested there’s a Skrillex concert soon, our store is selling tickets if you wanna go.”
“So I’ve heard, I can’t imagine what a concert would be like, and it’d make a great gift for my little sister. Yes I think I will take two tickets.”
“Sweet, oh and my band just released our latest LP so if you…”
“Not interested.” Rarity interrupted. She paid for the records and tickets and made her way back home.
After a few hours of waiting and a little planning on Rarity’s part she was ready to give her sister a gift she’d never forget.
Sweetie Belle walked through the door.
“Hello Sweetie Belle, how was school today?”
“It was okay, a pretty normal day.”
“Well are you excited for your birthday coming up?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“What do you mean you guess so?”
“Well it’s just there’s this thing that Applebloom and her sister are going to, and I was going to ask you if I could go, but i…”
“Oh right, before I forget there’s an envelope on the table for you.” Rarity pointed out. “It might be an early birthday present.”
Sweetie Belle lifted up the envelope. “Huh, wonder who this is from.” She opened it up and looked inside.
Rarity looked over at her sister and smiled. “Well, what is it?”
“Two tickets to the next Skrillex concert.” Sweetie Belle said, not believing her own words. She stared at the tickets.
“Oh really?” Rarity said nonchalantly while she prepared dinner.
“We’re going to a Skrillex concert?! And the tickets are from you aren’t they?”
“Well I wanted to make sure you had an unforgettable birthday.” She said as she gave her sister a hug.
Sweetie Belle looked up at her older sister. “But, I thought you hated dubstep?”
Rarity looked at her sister and grinned. “Oh Sweetie Belle, don’t be ridiculous.”
The End.