Music is Magic
Story 5
Chapter 4: The Protégé
By: SleeplessScribe
Well, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. White just wanted to tell me that quite a few tenacious ponies have refused to give me a week of rest. He’d been getting letters and calls ever since I came to Ponyville from interviewers, photographers, and others from that crowd. My manager just wanted to talk to me about scheduling that stuff, but he did agree to let me talk to my favorite girl in the world beforehand.
However, my attention was grabbed by quite a pleasant sound. On my way back to Vinyl’s house, I heard talent itself echoing through the air as I passed by what my mare had labeled as Carousel Boutique. I followed it with open ears, being taken behind the store. There I saw a young filly with a snow white coat and a fluffy mane of pink and purple. Those tunes were coming from the young unicorn as she was doing laundry… well, trying to do laundry.
Her eyes were closed, so I had to speak to get her attention. Granted, I probably shouldn’t have started the way I did.
“That’s a very nice voice you have.” For some reason, I had an urge to add “it’d be a shame if something were to happen to it” to the end of my sentence, but since I had no idea why I wanted to, I didn’t.
The young unicorn jumped up, almost falling into the tub of water behind her. “Hey! You scared me!”
I let out a nervous chuckle as I helped her up. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to scare you, I just heard you singing, and I couldn’t resist saying something.”
She smiled at me before gasping, bouncing around me Pinkie Pie style. “Aren’t you Beat Tempo? Scootaloo listens to your music all the time! You’re a good singer!” As it dawned on her, she froze and looked at me. “You of all ponies think I’m a good singer?”
“Well, yeah! You’ve got quite the voice there… um…?”
She jumped up again with a beaming smile. “I’m Sweetie Belle!”
With a smile of my own, I patted her head. “Sweetie Belle. Yeah, you’ve got a beautiful voice for such a young girl. Would you care to sing for me some more? I’ll help you with these chores.” I gave her a quick wink, resulting in her giggling.
“That sounds fun!”
Sweetie, as I said, had an amazing voice. I didn’t really understand her words, something about crusaders, and finding her cutie mark, but the sound was what mattered. She was able to hit both high and low notes I didn’t think were possible for a filly her age, and I was blown away at her apparent lack of a need to breathe. The filly didn’t pause at all mid line, and the pauses between each line were quick. Listening to her was almost like listening to a trained professional, and I found myself hoping that she had more chores to do so that I could hear more.
Unfortunately, the laundry was all she had. “Has nopony ever told you that you could sing before?”
Much to my surprise she actually nodded. “I get told that all the time! I just didn’t think someone like you would tell me that! I mean, you’re famous, for pony’s sake. You know what’s good and what isn’t!”
I have to admit, I was really starting to like this kid. “You’re a diamond in the rough, kid. However, I really want to see what’s gonna happen when we try to cut that diamond. What do you say about taking lessons from me, Sweetie?”
Her eyes lit up as she started to bounce again. “Really? You want to teach me? Are you kidding? Of course! That’s so cool! Yay! Yay! Yay!”
It took me actually pushing my hoof on her head to get her to stand still. “Alright, silly, calm down. Now, I’m only going to be here for a week, so is there somepony I can talk to about scheduling lessons with you, Sweetie?”
She jumped up again, twirling around. “My big sister, Rarity! I’ll go get her right now!”
Sweetie scurried off just for a moment, returning with a gorgeous unicorn sporting the same white coat, but a single toned, dark purple mane. “Hello there. Is this your sister, Sweetie?”
Her head bobbed up and down in a quick nod. The mare herself held her hoof out, a beautiful smile on her face. “Hello darling. You may call me Rarity.”
I took the hoof in my own, giving it a few shakes. “I’d kiss that hoof, but I’m afraid Vinyl might not take too kindly to that.”
She drew back, staring wide eyed at me. “Wait, do you mean Vinyl Scratch? Are you the coltfriend rumors have been spreading out? Everyone in town knows that she hooked up with a celebrity!”
After a whistle, I rolled my eyes. “It only takes one to create a massive snowball. Yes, that would be me. Anyway, I’d like to talk to you about scheduling singing lessons with your little sister.”
Rarity let out a loud gasp. “Are you being serious? You want to teach my little sister?”
I nodded, smiling at her. “Indeed I do. She’s very talented. Are you telling me you didn’t hear her out here earlier? She was pretty audible, even from where I was.”
“I’m afraid I was working on my sewing machine. I couldn’t hear much of anything, unfortunately. Anyway, you mentioned scheduling?”
Another nod preceded my response. “Well, I’m only going to be in Ponyville for a week. I was hoping we could plan a certain time maybe once or thrice a week where I could pop in, and Sweetie and I could spend… oh, an hour, two hours, practicing. Your sister has a lot of raw talent, and she’ll definitely be able to go places if she can refine it.”
Rarity shrieked as she picked up her sister. “Sweetie Belle, did you hear that? Beat could make you a star!”
I threw my hooves up, shaking them quickly. “Whoa, whoa! Not a star, exactly, but she’s definitely going to shine.”
“Can we do it every day?” Being in her sister’s hooves allowed Sweetie to flail hers around like I did when Scratch licked my horn. “Can we? Can we? Can we?”
We both laughed as I ruffled up Sweetie’s mane. “Sadly, I don’t have that much time on my hooves. Rarity, do you think Tuesdays and Thursdays at… say… thee o’clock would work? Maybe for an hour each day? If you’d like, I can talk to Scratch about seeing her every day this week, since I’ll be free for the most part.”
She finally set her sister down, but she was still hopping around excitedly. “That sounds lovely. Just make sure it doesn’t get in the way of your dating.” Rarity gave me a teasing wink, nudging her sister. “Come along, Sweetie. We’ll be seeing Beat later today.”
I waved to both of them as they left. Hopefully Vinyl wouldn’t get worried about how long I had been gone. Lucky for me, she and my cousin were waiting at the door, but neither of them looked very upset. My favorite of the two ran up, wrapping her forelegs around me and planting her lips against mine, leaving my cousin to bring up the rear.
“So you two really have hooked up! Isn’t that just sweet?” She brought herself between us, pulling the both of us into a tight hug. “I can see the joy on your faces. You both look so… happy!”
Scratch and I were thinking the same thing. “We are, Tavi. You said it yourself: it’s about time. So, what exactly took you so long, babe?”
“Well, White wanted to talk to me about persistent reporters and stuff. Regardless of whether or not I’m on vacation, these people still want interviews and crap like that. However, on my way back, I discovered Sweetie Belle. I heard her singing, and now at three every day, I’m going over to be her vocal coach.”
Both pairs of eyes widened as the mares looked at each other, but Via was the first to speak. “Really? You’re going to come here every day to coach little Sweetie?”
“Oh no, just every day this week. Once I’m out on the road again, we’re going to make arrangements for me to come back on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You know, I think with her already strong talent, I could get her ready for a show by the end of the week!”
Vinyl clapped her hooves together. “I’d love to see that! Now then, what about that other thing?”
I gave her a shrug. “I told White Noise any appointments will not be prioritized over you. If we’re on a date, then they’ll have to wait. Oh ho, look at that rhyme!”
They both patted my back and hugged me again. “You’re a sweetheart, cousin. I told you he’d be good, Vinyl.”
“You did, and he is.” My mare nuzzled against my chest, her smile brighter than the sun itself. It honestly felt kind of awkward, given my cousin’s history with her, but she seemed very perky.
“I’m very glad you two finally started dating.” Octavia took one of our hooves each into hers, closing her eyes. “I care deeply about both of you, and seeing you this happy really makes me feel happy.”
Of all ponies to do it to, Via was probably the worst choice. She didn’t throw a very big hissy fit when I rubbed her head, but the smile faded quite quickly as she shot me a glare.
“Vinyl is one thing, Beat, but I put effort into tidying myself up.”
Both of us snickered at her comment. “Sorry we’re not as neat as you, Via. Come on, I was just playing around!”
“I understand, but please try not to mess up my mane. Again, I put effort into keeping it neat.”
I settled for flicking her ear instead. “Via, you and I never did see eye to eye, but let’s be honest. If you don’t pull that pole out of your ass, one day you’re gonna sit wrong and it’ll go through your brain.”
Contrary to my expectations, she flashed a grin. “I pulled it out already to make room for something… thicker.”
Vinyl’s jaw dropped before mine, but the corners of our mouths were both turned down. My brows turned up as Scratch’s face looked like a cross between disgusted conservative politician and audience member of Who’s Line.
That wasn’t all, either; my cousin’s legitimate laugh sounded more like a demented cackle. “You should see the looks on your faces! Oh goodness, I can’t breathe!”
Immediately my hooves were on Vinyl’s ears, and hers were on mine. In unison we did the greatest, most childish thing ever. “Lalalalalalalala! We can’t hear you! Lalalala! We can’t hear you! Stop talking about your gross sex life! Lalalala!”
She rolled her eyes, crossing her forelegs. “Oh, this coming from the two who lick each other’s horns! So just because I’m more sophisticated, it means I can’t try to have fun your way?”
Now it was our turn to glare. We both started stuttering, tripping over our words until Vinyl finally made herself coherent. “I don’t know how you found out about that, Tavi, but that is not what happened! Beat tickled the hell out of me, so I decided to get back at him with my own form of teasing. He just… happened to freak out and scream like a victim of sexual assault.”
I rubbed my horn gentle, still shaken by that experience. “I still say you went too far. Messing with my horn is off limits from now on.”
The white hoof met my chest with a little more force than I was comfortable with. “If that’s the case, then you tickling is also off limits!”
“Fair enough.”
My cousin smiled as she pushed us closer together. “Now kiss and make up, you two.”
“Tavi… that’s just a little weird.” We both cocked our brows at her, and she let out a nervous giggle.
“I’m just trying to have fun your way. Don’t think that, because I’m refined, I can’t get a little wild when I want to.”
All that did was getting a laugh out of Vinyl and I. “Alright, Via, you win. You can be wild if you want.”
She rolled her eyes at us, walking off. “I need to get back to Canterlot. Congratulations again, Vinyl! Maybe you too, Beat.”
Both of us waved to her as she left, and after she was gone a pair of white lips met my cheek. “You’re really sweet to give that little filly coaching, you know that? She’s a good girl, and I’ve heard her sing too.”
With one foreleg around her, I returned the kiss. “She’s amazing for such a young age. Kind of like you were in school. Don’t lie, Scratch, you were, and still are, a great singer. I’d definitely rank your voice above mine.”
It was adorable how her blushes showed right through her fur. She gave me another kiss, wrapping herself around my neck. “Oh stop, I’m not that good! I guess it’s just natural. I’ve never found singing all that hard.”
I gave her a smile as I nuzzled her cheek. “So, where am I taking my lovely lady this morning? I may be a little too eager to take you out now, Vinyl.”
She smiled as well, affectionately returning my nuzzles. “Anywhere. I just want to spend time with you right now. That’s really all I want, babe.”
Words just could not express how I felt about this mare. I honestly wish they could, because telling this story would be a lot easier. Alas, things are never that easy, and to this day Scratch is still too great for words.
“Well, how about I get that interview out of the way now, so the only thing left on today’s agenda will be Sweetie’s singing? We can go somewhere for a while, come back, and hang out more.”
Scratch rubbed her chin for a bit. “Mind if I come with?”
“Not at all.”
* * *
The stereotypical reporter, though female, was already waiting at my tour bus. Her voice kind of reminded me of Sapphire Shores, but a little higher, and with more of a twang to it. “Hello Beat Tempo! Wonderful to meet you! Name’s Inquiring Mind, and I am just so excited that you agreed to this interview!”
Her light blue hooves grabbed on to one of mine, shaking it rather violently. Through the changes the shaking made my voice go through, I managed to speak. “Nice to meet you too, ma’am.”
Her eyes widened when she saw Vinyl, her rough hoofshake transferring to my mare. “You brought your mare with you too? Hello there, Vinyl Scratch! Almost everyone in Equestria knows your name by now, and it’s wonderful to meet you, too!”
The undulating caused her voice to kinda “bounce” too. “You don’t say?” She let out a loud sigh once she was released. “Can’t say I never wanted my name to be out there, but honestly, not like this.”
Inquiring Mind-man that’s a long name, I’m just going to call her IM-gave my mare a smile. “Well let’s see if I can change that! See, I’m a reporter that wants the truth, not just a juicy story.”
Vinyl and I looked at each other for a minute. It felt like we were reading each other’s minds, and if we really were, it worked. We said, in unison, “If that’s true, than I like you already.”
The reporter pulled out a pen and notepad from under her hat, which revealed that she was actually a unicorn. “Do you mind if I ask you both a few things?”
I looked at my girl, but she shook her head. “Are we taking turns?”
IM nodded, clicking the pen open. “I’ll let you know what questions are directed at whom. Whenever you’re ready.”
“Alright, let’s get started.”
She nodded again, her eyes shifting between us. “One at a time, Beat first. How did your whole music career begin?”
Why did every single reporter I ever talked to have to ask that? You’d think after two or three, everyone would get the picture.
“Vinyl and I went to Sonny’s School of Performing Arts. We both got started when we took the same vocal and guitar classes. Long story short, we started out doing local gigs with acoustics and started experimenting with electronics a little later.”
Scratch picked up after me with a smile. Remembering those days was, admittedly, pretty great. “I started working with digital, and Beat worked an electric guitar. We started writing songs and taking the recordings to local stores. Some of them agreed to sell, and some didn’t, but after some time, Beat got picked up by White Noise and I caught the attention of Electric FM. I started DJing for them, but after a while, it kind of got boring. As for Beat, well it’s pretty obvious where he’s gone.”
The reporter grinned when Vinyl was finished. After she was done jotting everything down, she pointed the pen at her. “What was so boring about working for a big-time radio station?”
She merely shrugged. “It’s just not as fun to me when I can’t see others enjoying the music. I love being a live DJ where I can see all the dancing and partying going on. I guess it’s just more gratifying to me that way.”
IM asked a lot of questions, but very few of them were typical ones that I had answered fifty times already. She seemed very into it, too; most reporters I’ve talked with only seemed to care about making sure their lies weren’t too far away from the truth. There was a little doubt in my mind about Inquiring Mind, but something told me she didn’t twist too many of my or Vinyl’s words. By the time she was done, it was almost noon.
We were given a polite bow as she stood up. “Thank you very much for your time, you two! Things kind of dragged on longer than I would have liked, but I have everything I need now! Thank you again.”
Finally she left, and we both let out long, drawn out sighs. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be, but it still sucked. I regret not putting in my contacts to mess with her.”
I nudged her shoulder with a grin. “One day, you should wear just one of them and really mess with peoples’ heads. Everyone would be looking like ‘dur?’”
She started laughing as I raised my brow and jutted out my chin in an attempt to look as stupid as possible. We honestly had no idea what we wanted to do for three hours, seeing as how a trip down memory lane would probably take longer. Most of the places we went to back in the day were actually in Fillydelphia, and that was a much longer train ride than the trip to Canterlot and back.
In the end, we decided to try and catch up on the sleep we had lost due to my manager’s visit. Unfortunately, the only thing we managed to do was mess with each other and break our own rules. The good part was that I got used to having my horn touched, so Scratch lost a big advantage she had over me. By the time we were both completely exhausted and her bed was a mess, we found we had killed about two and a half hours.
We both stared at each other for a second before I put my glasses back on. “Did we really just spend two hours tickling and teasing each other? Really?”
She rolled her eyes, poking my horn again. “Beat, we spent who knows how long just playing random music yesterday. Are you really questioning our abilities to mindlessly screw around?”
“Eh, you have a point. Well, since we are so good at goofing off, would you like to come with me to see Sweetie Belle?”
“Why not? Not like I have anything better to do right now.”
I cocked a brow at her. “I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic or not.”
After rolling her eyes again, she stuck her tongue out at me. “Half and half. I work when I feel like it, and I don’t feel like it now. So before I decide to just be a butt and stay here, let’s go.”
Vinyl drove me crazy with how well she could disguise her voice. She could be absolutely furious with me and still sound sweeter than sugar, and vice versa, and I was unable to figure out if her calm tone was fake or not. Rather than waste the rest of my energy trying to, I just got up and opened the door for her.
“Ladies first.”
Without a word, and with an upturned nose, she walked through the door. “Look at me, I’m so fancy. I take guys up my-“
I think about half my hoof went into her mouth with how quickly I jumped to stop her. “We will never even remember my cousin said that. She did not say that. I don’t care if she actually did. As far as we’re concerned, she didn’t.”
She just nodded to me, and we made our way to Rarity’s place in an awkward silence. Once we were there, we didn’t even need to knock on the door before the pretty unicorn opened the door for us.
“Hello, Beat dear! Oh, and good afternoon to you as well, Vinyl.” Rarity held out her hoof to her and they shook. It was a little awkward being the only unicorn without a white coat, as well as the only guy around, but it didn’t bother me but so much.
I looked around, but there was no sign of my new friend. “So, where is our little prodigy?”
Before her sister could even answer me, the little filly bolted down the steps. She actually tripped on her way her, but the resulting roll made it look like she just did a summersault. “Ta dah!”
We all humored her and started clapping, prompting Sweetie to bow. “Thank you! Thank you!”
“Are you ready to start, Sweetie? We don’t really need anything except a couple of chairs.”
I hadn’t even realized she was gone until Rarity returned with cushions for all of us. Once we were all seated, I had the filly sing that song for us again, and pointed out the few things she was doing that were hurting her. She had a habit of going from extreme highs to extreme lows, and the only time that was a good thing is when the singer is in an A Cappella band. Well, honestly, it only sounded bad because of Sweetie’s voice.
Things sounded much better when her notes had a flow to them, so we practiced going from high notes to low notes gradually, and once she got that down it was only a matter of more practice. This little filly was a natural, and I was looking forward to continuing her lessons. My next goal was helping her with a unicorn milestone: her special magic.