//------------------------------//
// Chapter Two: University Days 
// Story: DJ P0N-3 vs. Symphonia 
// by DoctorSpectrum 
//------------------------------//

BEEDLY-BEEP! BEEDLY-BEEP! BEEDLY-BEEP! BEED-CRUNCH!
            Hitting her alarm clock with enough force to shut it up, Octavia followed through on this action by rolling over in bed and trying to force her head deeper into her pillow. However, just as she started to drift back to sleep, there was a knock on the door.
            “Octavia? Are you awake? You should probably get up soon, you have a lecture in half an hour!”
            Blearily, Octavia reluctantly lifted her head from the pillow and looked at her alarm clock to confirm. Yep, it was eight-thirty already. She slowly dragged herself out of bed, and, after putting on a bow tie and giving herself a quick brush of her mane, she opened the door.
            “Oh good! You are awake!” Colgate said cheerfully. “I’d hate to think what would happen if you missed your lecture!”
            “Urgh… Colgate, what are you doing up so early?” Octavia asked, yawning as she did so. “I thought that you didn’t have class until ten o’clock on Monday.”
            “I do! But today’s not Monday – today’s Wednesday!” Colgate reminded Octavia.
            “It is?” Octavia replied, now rubbing her eyes with a hoof. Note to self: stop staying up so late looking for crime in Manehattan. Walking past Colgate and to the small kitchen the two mares shared, Octavia started making herself breakfast. A moment later, Colgate came in and followed suit.
            “So where were you last night?” Colgate eventually asked, breaking the silence.
            “What?” Octavia asked, still somewhat half-asleep.
            “Last night. After dinner you went to your room to study, but when I knocked on your door to ask if I could borrow one of your books you didn’t answer.” The unicorn pony’s tone wasn’t accusatory, merely curious. It was one of the things that Octavia liked about living with Colgate; the other mare never pried too deeply into Octavia’s affairs.
            What was I doing last night again? Octavia wondered. Oh, yes, that’s right: I went into the city as Symphonia to try and find more information on that DJ P0N-3 character, but ended up getting into a fight with my old foe, Shrouded Mask. I wonder how he broke out of jail after I put him in there last time. Octavia slowly chewed her muesli to stall as she tried to think of a good answer to Colgate’s question.
            “I suppose that I, uh, fell asleep whilst studying,” Octavia finally answered, choosing the simplest response. “So I didn’t hear you when you knocked on the door.”
            “Okay!” Colgate replied cheerfully, accepting Octavia’s explanation at face value. It wasn’t that she was naïve; she just trusted her friend not to lie to her. “Hope I didn’t make too much noise knocking on your door then!”
            “No, not at all,” Octavia said. “Believe me when I say that I didn’t hear a thing you said or did last night.” Changing the topic, she said, “It’s a pity that I did fall asleep; exams are coming up soon. How goes your own study?”
            “Urgh, horrible!” Colgate said. “You have no idea how hard the study of dentistry can get! You miss one class and all of a sudden everypony’s talking about plaque and halitosis and you have no idea about the science behind it all!”
            “That does sound fairly complex,” Octavia agreed. She finished off her last spoonful of muesli, and continued to speak as she got up and started rinsing out her bowl. “But I’m sure you’ll do fine, Colgate. You’re one of the smartest ponies I know! Remember when we first met and agreed to move onto campus together, and you were telling me all of those interesting facts about teeth? Just remember all of those and you shall excel at the exam!”
            “Thanks, Octavia,” Colgate said, feeling a little more confident. Octavia came and sat back down at the table to keep her friend company whilst she finished off her breakfast. “Speaking of when we first moved in here, do you think that you’ll stay here on campus next semester? I remember you mentioned the other week how you were a bit annoyed with how expensive it was.”
            Octavia grimaced. “I still haven’t fully decided,” she admitted. “It is expensive… but at the same time, it is also very convenient in terms of location. I shall have to think on it further. I suppose that you’re going to stay here regardless?”
            “Yep!” Colgate said cheerfully. “I love it here on uni campus! There’s always something going on, and it’s great being able to get home just five or so minutes after class finishes! I’d hate having to come in all that way from the city every day, like what some ponies have to do!”
            “I suppose that that is certainly true,” Octavia agreed, smiling. She glanced at a clock on the wall. “Speaking of getting to class, I had best start getting ready for my lecture. I’d like to arrive a few minutes early so that I can ask my lecturer about several things I didn’t quite understand last week.”
            “Sure thing!” Colgate said, finishing off her own breakfast after she finished speaking. “I’d better get ready soon, too.” Octavia left the room and grabbed some books for class, stopping only to brush her teeth, lest Colgate lecture her on the importance of dental hygiene, as she had in one of the first weeks the two had been living together.
            “Okay Colgate, I’m off to class!” Octavia called out a few minutes later. “My last class is at one o’clock, so I should be home before you finish your classes.”
            “Sure! See you when I get back from class!” Colgate called back. A moment later, Octavia left the house and headed to class.
 

==============

 
            Meanwhile, in a cheap, one-pony apartment in downtown Manehattan, a certain unicorn pony was just waking up. She started to slowly open her eyes, before clenching them closed as hard as she could. A hoof of hers fumbled around on a small bedside table before finding a pair of oversized purple glasses. Only when they were covering her eyes did the unicorn open her eyes fully. Naturally, it was Vinyl Scratch.
            Slowly crawling out of bed, as if in great pain, Vinyl dragged herself down the hall of her small apartment and to the bathroom. If anypony had been staying over or listening in on Vinyl, they would have heard the sound of her throwing up a moment later. This sick affair went on for about a minute, before Vinyl emerged from the bathroom, wobbling slightly.
            Urgh – how much did I drink after the show last night? she wondered. Gotta stop doing that- I always forget that the hangover hurts like all buck. As Vinyl made her way into the kitchen in search of a glass of water, she spotted a note on the small card table which doubled as a kitchen table. Curious, she picked it up with a hoof, feeling too queasy to levitate the note at the moment.
            Hey Vinyl, it read, Neon Lights here, in case you couldn’t tell.
            To save time, I’ll just answer the questions you’re gonna ask me next time we meet now: yes, no, no, yes, yes, it was a massive hit and everypony still loves you, yes, a little bit, five shots of vodka and three bottles of cider.
            As you can tell, I got you home last night after you nearly passed out. Good thing I did too, there were some stallions that were hitting on you and I don’t think they would’ve taken to rejection too well. I doubt that you can remember, though.
            Hope that you’re feeling okay – it’s been a while since you’ve gotten that drunk. Try not to vomit in your bed again; last time was a real bitch to clean up.
            Neon.
            P.S. Oh yeah, and I asked you this last night, but I should probably ask now that you’re sober and more likely to remember – interested in coming to a party in a few weeks with me? It’s a bit out of the way, but one of my friends has told me about it and it sounds pretty badass. Downside is that it’s technically an after-party so we’d have to sit around bored for a few hours beforehoof, but other than that it sounds like it’ll be a seriously awesome party. You sounded pretty interested last night when I gave more details, but I thought I should double check.
            Vinyl’s grumpy grimace slowly changed to a small smile as she read through the note. Good old Neon, she thought, he’s always got my back. She read over the postscript again, trying to work out what details she could from the little Neon Lights had given. Hmm, this party sounds alright, she thought, but I guess I’d better check with Gadget before I can confirm going. He might have another job for me to do.
            As Vinyl poured herself a glass of water and took a sip, her train of thought continued. Come to think of it… wasn’t I going to visit Gadget today? Especially after my success the other day? Vinyl slowly drank the rest of her water, closing her eyes behind her glasses in a vain attempt to dull the headache which had been plaguing her since she woke up. As she finished her water, her eyes snapped open.
            Well, buck it – I might as well go visit him now, if he’s in. I finished my latest song the other day, and I’ve got nothing else to do for the rest of the day. Vinyl placed her glass in her (very messy) sink and then took a few steps into the hallway and towards the door leading out of her apartment. Then she stopped walking as a sharp pain stabbed into her head, and she got the urge to throw up once more.
            “Urgh- maybe I’ll wait a little while before I visit Gadget,” Vinyl said out loud to herself, slowly walking over to her bed and collapsing on top of it.
 

==============

 
            Back at Manehattan University, Octavia was attending a lecture. One of the great things about lectures was that they would teach students all sorts of critical information they would need to use throughout their years of university and in their chosen careers – unless the name of the student attending the lecture was Octavia. In her case, it was much more likely that she would spend her lecture sleeping, as she was now.
            “Psst! Octavia!” one of Octavia’s neighbours whispered to her as the lecturer started walking up the aisle, looking for a student to pick on with a sample question. Octavia, who was sleeping with her head on her hooves, merely yawned and twitched an ear slightly. “Octavia!” The lecturer was getting closer.
            “Young lady!” the lecture spouted as he passed Octavia’s seat, which was unfortunately right next to the aisle. “Are you sleeping?!” He was wearing a monocle and had a greying mane which would have originally been blonde. From the expression on his face as he looked at Octavia, it was clear that he was only teaching at university for the money, and had little to no respect for students whatsoever.
            Octavia yawned and lifted her head slightly, roused at last by the lecturer’s sharp tone. Is the lecture over alrea- Oh. “…Yes?” she asked, trying not to sound meek.
            “As you were so clearly paying attention, perhaps you would like to explain to the rest of the class what a deceptive cadence is?” The lecturer stared down at Octavia, as though daring her to get the answer correct.
            “Oh, um, a deceptive cadence is…” Octavia began, thinking as hard as she could. I’m certain I was reading something about it the other day! she thought. “… It is… something to do with the timing of a musical piece?” she half-guessed, half-remembered.
            The lecturer’s eyebrows raised even higher than they already were. Then, instead of replying to Octavia, he spun around and started heading back to the front of the lecture theatre. “As you all heard from the young lady there, a deceptive cadence is ‘something to do with the timing of a musical piece.’ To be precise, it is…”
            Octavia returned her head to her hooves, allowing the lecturer’s voice to drift off into the distance and fade into white noise. Bother, she thought as she allowed her heavy eyelids to close, I really do need to cut down on the crime-fighting and concentrate on getting more sleep… and studying more. I’m smart enough that I am still scraping by in the majority of my units, but I really should concentrate on my studies more.
            Octavia’s thoughts were interrupted a moment later as the lecturer’s voice managed to pierce the veil surrounding her brain. “… with that, the lecture is over. Remember to do the revision, all of you – exams are coming up soon!” Yes! Feeling much more awake now that the lecturer’s voice wasn’t lulling her to sleep, Octavia got out of her seat and exited the lecture theatre.
            Outside, the Manehattan University campus was swarming with other students around Octavia’s age, whom, like her, had just escaped from the dreary hell that was the university lecture. Looking for a place to eat her lunch, Octavia spotted a nice-looking patch of grass in the sunshine, which she was soon laying upon. Before Octavia could start eating her delicious lunch (a daffodil sandwich and an apple) though, a white-furred figure detached itself from the crowd of students heading to their next classes and approached her.
            “…Octavia, right?” the pony asked as she approached the grey mare.
            “Yes, that’s me!” Octavia confirmed, smiling. “What would you like, Double Bass?” Octavia recognised the pegasus whom had approached her as the head of the university’s orchestral band.
            “Just spotted you there and I thought I should confirm – you’re still good to play at the end-of-semester ball, right?” Double Bass asked.
            “Naturally,” Octavia said. “I have been practicing for weeks, and I’ve learned almost all of The Wrapping Up of Winter on my cello – I just need to –”
            “The Wrapping Up of Winter?” Double Bass repeated. “Didn’t you hear? The main song we’re playing has been changed – it’s now The Gala Theme.”
            Octavia cringed. “The Gala Theme?! But that’s… that’s… that’s the Grand Galloping Gala theme! How are myself and the rest of the university’s band supposed to learn something on that sort of level? Or are you suggesting that I am somehow skilled enough to play at the Grand Galloping Gala?”
            “It was all explained at last night’s band meeting,” Double Bass explained, frowning slightly. “As a matter of fact, it was explained at the last three meetings. You have been attending, haven’t you?"
            Octavia’s mind flashed back to what she had been doing each night of the meetings – fighting crime as Symphonia, naturally. “Um… I was… ill?” she suggested weakly. In response, Double Bass facehoofed.
            “Urgh! Whatever! Look, the important thing is that you know now – you’d just better make sure that you can play The Gala Theme by the time of the ball!” Double Bass started flapping her wings to gain height, from which she could pass over the crowds easier. “Don’t screw this up, Octavia – I’m counting on you!” With that, the dark-maned pegasus took off, heading to wherever her next class was.
            Octavia watched the pegasus until she was out of sight. Only then did she perform a facehoof of her own. “Oh great!” she muttered to herself. “Now I shall have to spend every night for at least the next week learning the damn Gala Theme when I should be studying and catching up on what I’ve missed in class due to going out as – Symphonia! Damn! I’ll also have to fit in time to fight crime – but I still have to study and learn the Gala Theme, and also-”
            Octavia stopped herself and took a deep breath, realising that she was rambling. Then she took another breath to help clear her mind. “Why must life be so complicated?” she sighed. “I’ll bet that DJ P0N-3 does not have to worry about any of this damn time-management-identity-balancing-multitasking-losing-sleep-business!”
 

==============

 
            As Vinyl Scratch prepared to leave her apartment, feeling completely sober by the late afternoon, she debated wearing her DJ P0N-3 costume, complete with the change of glasses. In the end, however, she resigned herself to sticking to her casual attire – there was no need to go around flamboyantly parading her alter ego, after all. Before leaving the apartment to visit her mysterious acquaintance Gadget, Vinyl did, however, grab a saddlebag. As she levitated it, something within jingled quietly.
            I kinda hope that Gadget does have another job or two for me, Vinyl thought nonchalantly, as she exited her apartment building and started heading down the busy Manehattan street. Robbing that bank was kinda fun, but at the same time it’d just be stupid to commit crimes that aren’t related to Gadget’s plan.
To the ponies she passed by, Vinyl appeared to be nothing more than another of Manehattan’s citizens, with nopony even suspecting that she was the supervillain whom had terrorised the First Manehattan General Bank the other week. She took pleasure in this, satisfied that she could walk amongst the ponies without fear of being arrested. After all, it’s not like I’m going to be a criminal all of my life, Vinyl thought. I just need to carry out jobs for Gadget from time to time, and then once he’s finished doing what he needs to do, I can return to just being a DJ!
Vinyl’s path through the busy streets of Manehattan had led her to a small alleyway by now. Double-checking to make sure that nopony was spying on her, she levitated the cover of a manhole to the side and then entered it.
“Urgh! Gotta remind Gadget to get himself a better hideout sometime!” Vinyl exclaimed, wrinkling her nose. The manhole had, of course, led to the sewage system of Manehattan. Currently, Vinyl was standing high above a system of dirty, fast-flowing water, which led to who knows where.
“Now, lemme see… I think Gadget’s base was the fourth path on the right,” Vinyl said out loud, following the small pathway she was standing on. After a few minutes, she had reached the aforementioned path, which she followed through until she reached a small room, occupied by nothing but a few pipes. Although the room seemed to be empty, Vinyl turned a small valve on one of the pipes, causing an entire wall to swing to one side like a door. Casually, Vinyl walked through this entrance as though everypony knew about it.
            Vinyl found herself in a large room filled with all manner of devices and tools lying around. There were several blackboards around the room, upon which a large variety of equations and sums were written. Overall, the place looked like the home of some sort of eccentric inventor who could afford to spend their entire life indoors.
            “Man, this place always gives me the shivers,” Vinyl said out loud, picking up a pile of what appeared to be oversized nails, examining them, and then placing them back down on the table.
            “Hey Vinyl,” a voice came from another room. Vinyl turned around to see the owner of the voice entering the room. Like her, he was a white-furred unicorn. He had a soft lilac mane, and his cutie mark was of a gear and a spanner. “What’s up?”
            Vinyl’s mouth broadened into a grin as she levitated the saddlebag she had brought with her over to the other unicorn. “I’ve got that money I stole for you,” she said. “What’s next?”