Vinyl sat, alone, in a dark musty corner of the Cornerside Cafe. A cup of coffee floated just in front of her face, held in the air by a light blue aura that seemed to support it indefinitely. A copy of Equestria Daily sat on the table in front of her, opened to page sixteen.
She brought the cup to her lips, taking a small sip from it, as not to burn her tongue. The hot coffee sent a chill down her spine, flooding her body with warmth and energy. She set the cup down on the table and levitated the paper up to her face, letting it float within reading distance
The sound of the bell that hung over the door clanging caused her to lower the paper, and she peered over the top of it curiously.
Voices filtered in from outside, one masculine, and one very clearly female.
“... Are you sure this is the place? It seems very drab, Trixie does not like it."
"I assure you Trix-"
"The great and powerful Trixie."
"-Ah, great and powerful Trixie, this is the place."
"Humph." An azure unicorn entered the small coffee shop, followed closely by a brown stallion. She glanced around, taking in first the small bar, then the musty tables, and finally Vinyl's location. She smiled and began to walk in Vinyl's direction, but was promptly stopped by a bustling waiter who hurried past, a drink balanced precariously on her head. She bumped into the unicorn, sending the drink that she was carrying flying into the unicorn. Alcohol splattered over her, and she flung herself backwards in disgust.
"Watch where you are going, simpleton," cried the mare, glaring at the waiter. "Now you've gone and soiled Trixie's coat."
"I-I'm so sorry ma'am, it w-was an accident." The waiter fumbled around, trying to pick up the fallen glass whilst apologizing profusely.
"Save it." The unicorn whipped her head back, lifting her chin up. "What's done is done. Just let it be known that the great and powerful Trixie shall never dine here again!"
The coffee shop's other inhabitants rolled their eyes and turned back to their papers, satisfied that the fuss had been dealt with. Trixie stalked passed the waiter, knocking her with her behind as she did so. The waiter collapsed onto the table, sending the empty glasses and plates that sat on top shattering to the ground. Trixie approached Vinyl's table, a look of annoyance evident on her face.
She pulled out the table's other chair and sat down, tossing her mane slightly as she did so.
Vinyl introduced herself, "Name's Vinyl Scratch, A.K.A DJ PON-3." Vinyl held out a hoof for the other pony to shake. Trixie ignored it, instead turning away from Vinyl and looking back over the chaos she had caused in the restaurant.
"Trixie," she said, still not looking at Vinyl. "Is the great and powerful Trixie. The most entertaining pony who ever lived, and the greatest magic user in Equestria."
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Trixie," Vinyl paused for a moment, taking another sip of her now warm coffee. "Now, I under-"
"-Why did you choose HERE as a meeting place?" Trixie finally turned to look at Vinyl. "Trixie means, the service is terrible, and the coffee looks horrible."
"I didn't," Vinyl huffed, slightly upset about being cut off in the middle of a sentence. "Your ASSISTANT chose the location."
"Oh he did now, did he?" Trixie turned in her seat to look at the pony who she had come in with. Filthy lowered himself slightly, trying to hide from the intimidating glare that Trixie was giving him. "Well, Trixie may just have to have a word with him after this little, uh, 'get together'."
"Yes, perhaps you will, maybe I should have a word with him as well." Vinyl winked in Filthy's direction, causing him to blush and lower himself even closer to the floor.
Trixie, oblivious to the exchange, turned back to Vinyl. "Now, Trixie is getting bored, and she wants to go home. Let us get this over with quickly."
"Yes, let's." Vinyl didn't exactly like Trixie, and yet there was something about this mare that kept her interested. She was strong, this 'Trixie' was able to pull her own weight, work and live on her own. This wasn't something most ponies could relate to, but Vinyl could, and did. "I understand you have a 'business opportunity' for me?"
"Yes, Trixie was at your show. It was very..." Trixie paused for a moment, as if deciding a word to use. "... Interesting. Trixie was wondering if you wanted to 'collaborate'"
"You make music?" Vinyl was surprised at this. She had received a very good view of Trixie's cutie mark, and wasn't sure how a magic wand would help make music.
"No you idiot, Trixie is an illusionist," Trixie stood up, sending her chair flying backwards into the waiting flank of the waiter, who sprawled over yet another table. "She uses her magical ability to astound and amaze ponies with her beautiful lights and spectacular colours."
"Uh huh, and this is going to help with my music how?"
"Trixie can time the lights to flash when a particular part of the song," Trixie said, her horn glowing softly. Lights began to fade in from nowhere, forming a blue circle in the air. Vinyl, intrigued, leaned in closer, trying to get a better look. The headphones that hung around her neck suddenly lifted and began to float towards Trixie.
"Hey!" Vinyl shouted, standing up, you can't touch those!" The shop's other occupants turned once again away from their papers to see what all the commotion was about.
"Trixie is not sorry," Trixie pulled on the rest of the headphones, causing Vinyl's iPod to pop out of it's restraint. "But, if they mean that much to you, Trixie promises that she will not break them. She merely needs an example. Now," Trixie's tugging caused the headphone's cord to disconnect from the iPod, letting the music that had been playing quietly through the headphones play out.
A soft melody filled the room, causing Vinyl to hum. She liked this song, in fact it was one of the first songs she had ever made. The blue circle that hung in the air began to shimmer and vibrate, sending small pulses of light outwards. The melody began to speed up as the percussion kicked in, adding a sort of 'bite' to the song.
Regular pulses of light began to emanate from the circle, floating out in time with the drum sounds. Vinyl found herself strangely entranced, and she stared, letting the familiar melody wash over her. The music suddenly stopped, and the circle disappeared, leaving the room feeling slightly empty.
"Hey, why'd you stop? I liked that," Vibyl asked, turning to Trixie.
"Trixie grew tired of the song," Trixie said simply. "So, do we have a deal?"
Vinyl looked across a Trixie, who stared back at her. "Fine."
"Good, I believe these are yours." Vinyl's headphones and iPod hung in front of her, surrounded in a slightly pinkish glow.
Vinyl snatched them from the air with a grumbled "thank you."
"So, where shall we meet next? Trixie certainly hopes it's not HERE again."
Vinyl lowered her headphones back around her neck. "We'll meet at the Nightingale club, it's number four one oh. That's where well be doing the gig."
"Yes, well," Trixie said, turning towards the exit. "Trixie will see you at this 'gig' then." Without another word, she tossed her head upwards and marched out, closely followed by Filthy. He paused at the door, turning his head towards Vinyl, an apologetic look on his face.
When he too, left, the small cafe sat in a state of silent shock. The waiter turned to Vinyl, his eyes hard.
"What a bitch!"
****
Vinyl’s headphones pumped loudly, blasting loud bass lines into her ears. She bobbed her head along in time with the music as she walked, causing her headphones to slip back and forth across her head. The pavement beneath her hooves was rough, and yet she did not falter or trip over any of its cracks. She had walked this path since before she could remember, so she knew each and every twist and turn like the bottom of her hoof. Carriages whisked passed, pulled along by some poor fellow who was just trying to make a living.
Ponies bustled passed her, paying her no heed as they did so. She rounded a corner onto the main street, only to be greeted by the increasingly aggravated face of Trixie.
“Woah!” Vinyl took a step backwards, her headphones sliding off of her ears.
“You are late.” Trixie stamped her hoof. “Why?”
“Hey hey, take it easy. I had to grab a bite to eat before I headed out.” Vinyl levitated a bag of rubbish towards Trixie in proof. “Anyway, the door’s don’t open ‘til-”
The doors to the club swung open, pushed by a grey stallion, levitating a clipboard in front of him. “Ladies,” he said, glancing up. “So, we have a miss Vinyl Scratch?”
Vinyl raised her hoof. “That’s me.”
“Good.” He turned his eyes back to the list. “And a miss... Trixie?”
“Present,” Trixie huffed.
“Good good. Alright, if you’ll just follow me.” He turned around and lead them inside. They entered a large room, filled mostly with a flashing dance floor that pulsated through every colour of the spectrum. A platform stood raised slightly above the ground, a set of turntables balanced on top, as if waiting for Vinyl. An alcove led off to the right, secluded from the rest of the nightclub by a large wall. In the center of the room stood a bar, its shelves lined with hundreds of different alcoholic beverages. The walls and roof were lined with a velvety red carpet, which seemed to reflect the colours from the dance floor in quite well.
Vinyl stared around in awe, not quite sure if to believe her eyes. “We’re playing here?” She asked in disbelief, turning to face the smug bouncer.
He grinned. “Yup, this here’s your stage,” he said, gesturing towards the turntables.
“Humph,” Trixie humphed. “Trixie supposes it will do.” She turned to face the bouncer. “Where are our dressing rooms? Trixie needs to practise.”
“Uh, right this way Trixie.” The bouncer turned towards a door just left of the stage, taking off in a brisk trot. Trixie tossed her head in Vinyl’s direction as she moved to follow.
Vinyl rolled her eyes, muttering something about “some mares”. She turned back to the stage, her look of awe instantly returning to her face. Large speakers crowded around a small desk, their cords running around and underneath the turntable’s legs. Two records already sat on their respective needles, as if waiting for Vinyl to play.
She reached out with her magic, grasping the on switch with a faint blue aura. The speakers buzzed and crackled into life, sending a blast of static outwards. Vinyl leaped backwards, lifting her fore-hooves to her ears in an attempt to stop the screaming white noise that threatened to deafen her. She grasped the volume switch with her magical fist and wrenched it downwards, effectively cutting off the noise. Vinyl’s ears popped and crackled as they adjusted to the new sound of silence, causing small spasms of pain to shoot into her mind.
Mentally cursing herself, she reached out with her magic again, pushing the left record’s needle down until it made contact with the vinyl beneath it. A soft synth lead began to play, mixing itself between the lower and higher registers as it moved through its set instructions. A grin stretched across Vinyl’s face; she was in her element. The right needle dropped down with a flick of her head, and the percussion kicked in, sending a heavy dance beat blasting outwards. Vinyls heart began to pulsate in time with the music, causing her to nod her head every time the kick drum was, well, kicked.
A shimmering circle appeared in front of her, smaller circles spread evenly throughout the inside of the first, larger one. Vinyl turned to her side, noticing the pale azure mare that stood next to her. Vinyl smiled at her, but Trixie just turned her head high and concentrated on her magic. Vinyl, slightly upset, returned back to her turntables.
The grey bouncer stallion stood alone on the dance floor, nodding his head to the beat. Vinyl smiled at the lone pony, surprised that he liked her music. From what she knew of her fans, they all seemed to be the crazy, meth-heads, not well-respected bouncers. Still, she could feel the build-up in her song beginning, cutting off the percussion. The synth lead began to rise in pitch, with the snare drum placing down a hit on every beat. The climax hit, and the entire room fell silent.
The bass dropped, and Trixie’s circles began to fluctuate wildly with colour.
Tonight was going to be awesome.
****
The club was packed, filled with ponies dancing and jumping wildly around to the songs that Vinyl blasted from her turntables. Trixie bounced along to the beat too, smiling a weak smile. She was happy, for the first time in a long while. She glanced over at her DJ counterpart, who had a pair of headphones strapped to her head. She rocked backwards in crazy swinging motions, her glasses slipping on and off of the bridge of her nose.
Trixie pushed into her head, forcing more magical illusions to spill forth, filling the room with colourful hexagons that danced and rotated along each wall. This seemed to excite the dancing ponies even more, as they began to scream even louder. The ponies that sat at the bar turned towards the dance floor, their eyes and mouths open with shock. As one, they all got up from their seats and headed for a spot on the floor. Vinyl noticed and bumped the volume up a few notches, letting the speakers screech in protest.
The crazy mare then kicked off her headphones and leaped onto the top of her turntable, raising her fore-hooves into the air. “DJ-PON3, in the house!” She screeched at the top of her lungs, her voice still managing to be heard over the din of the club.
The crowd responded in turn, with heartfelt cries of “DJ-PON3!” Vinyl jumped forward from the top of her turntables, flinging herself at the crowd. Trixie stifled a gasp, leaping forward to peer into the crowd. She was greeted by the grinning face of Vinyl Scratch as she lay, back facing downwards, on top of a hoard of hooves. The dancing ponies underneath had lifted themselves onto their hindlegs to catch Vinyl, and were now passing her along to other waiting hooves.
Was Trixie really... scared for Vinyl Scratch? Trixie looked back out over the crowd, before snorting and turning her head to the side. She thinks not! She was just worried that if her ‘partner’ were to come to harm, then she would not receive payment, that’s all.
Wasn’t it?
Trixie looked back towards the floating Vinyl Scratch, who had managed to pull a sombrero from thin air and was now marching atop the dancing ponies, a huge grin stretched across her face. Trixie felt her own smile widen a bit as she watched, her sadness washing away.
She would remember tomorrow, of course, but for now, she would dance.
****
Vinyl and Trixie stumbled out from the back door of the club, each with one fore-hoof over the other’s neck.
“Woah Trixie,” Vinyl slurred, the alcohol making itself present on her breath. “That was some *hic* party.”
Trixie replied, her own speech slightly slurred by the affects of too many aplletini’s. “Yes, Trixie *hic* agrees.” The two stumbled towards the mouth of the ally, and towards the waiting city outside.
The cold night air buffeted against Trixie, causing her to shiver. “Vinyl,Trixie is starting to get cold, do you know of a place where she can stay?.”
Vinyl Scratch looked towards Trixie with shock. “My, you’re certainly a lot nicer when drunk, arn’t you?” Trixie scowled at Vinyl, before smiling again. “Hey, why don’t you stay at my place?” Vinyl asked, turning to face Trixie. “It’s not to far from here, just up that road.” Vinyl pointed to the road that the two had just entered onto.
“Well-”
“C’mon, it’ll be fun. Just like a slumber party!” Vinyl took off in front of Trixie, not waiting for an answer.
“Yes,” Trixie said, scowling. “Fun.”
Next up, Slumber parties one-oh-one!
Author’s notes: Hey guys, sorry about not having a chapter ready sooner, I only got back from Japan on Wednesday, and school’s been hectic. My desktop PC screwed itself over when I customized the set-up (12 gigs RAM FTW!), So I’ve been writing on my crappy laptop.
The next part isn’t really going to be a chapter, instead it will be kind of like an intermission. It’s just... You’ll see.
Anyway, if you haven’t already, make sure to rate, comment and check out my other stories, it makes me feel all snuggly-wuggly* inside. Any errors? Make sure to point out the ERROR** of my ways.
That’s about it, hope you guys like where this is going.
Taranasaurus out!
*Actually a real word. Scientifically proven.
**See what I did there?