//------------------------------//
// I-I can also shine too! 
// Story: The Benefits of Music 
// by Ashardu 
//------------------------------//

"....And I said, 'Okay. Open mind, zipper down, cellphone, money, let's Go!'" said Quarter. The room was soon filled with laughter in the dinning room. In there were Vinyl, Octavia and Quarter having a nice breakfast. Vinyl was having a nice and delicious chocolate milkshake with some waffles, Octavia had a warm cup of coffee and Quarter.... well, he had a sandwich. Something simple. Just like he wanted. Just like home. As for the table, well, it was covered in tiny bits of food. You can guess what happened exactly.

"Man!" replied Vinyl as her laughter died down a bit, "It's been a while since I laughed this much! Dude, where have you been all this time?"

"Hiding in my basement, thinking how did the monk found me." joked Quarter, which caused another laughter of the same magnitude. Somebody better get a maid to clean this up.

"I have to say," spoke Octavia, still giggling a bit, "You are quite a comedian!"

"Thank you, thank you. I'll see you next week!" gloated Quarter. The group snickered and sighed in content to their hearts. A small silence proceeded to enter the room. Octavia looked at Vinyl, showing a grateful expression for helping her cheer up.

"I have to say Vinyl, I thought your idea of having breakfast with him was an awful idea, but you have proven me wrong. Thank you." gracefully thanked Octavia with her eyes closed.

Vinyl smiled wide and giggled after hearing Octavia's praise. "It was nothing! I couldn't just leave things just the way they were! It would have been way too awkward for me." said Vinyl after she looked at Quarter and he nodded back.

"Besides," supported Quarter, "I get to enjoy a nice breakfast with two beautiful mares!". This comment actually stopped the talking, causing Octavia to blush a little. As for Vinyl, she scratched the back of her head which looked like she was grateful for the praise. Quarter didn't catch up at first, but then he realized what was going on.

"Oh shoot, I did it again, didn't I?"asked Quarter. Both nodded and looked away. Quarter knew he had a melodrama personality inside of him, but this was getting out of control.

"Sorry girls. I guess my inner drama queen is trying to have some fun. Ignore completely what just happened, please." said Quarter, taking another bite of his sandwich. It looked like a Subway Sandwich though.

"Easier said than done." thought both Vinyl and Octavia. The room suddenly fell into a normal, yet particuliar silence as they were eating their breakfast. 

A nice morning went suddenly to a weird and uncomfortable situation. It didn't seemed that way, but each one that were in the room, or were witness of what happened before was obviously hiding the awkward feeling buliding inside. The red eyed (yes, her glasses were on top of her head) mare suddenly remembered something important about Quarter that he hasn't show yet.

"Should I ask him... that? Hmmm, I'm not sure..." thought Vinyl finishing the last piece of waffles off her plate. A few more throughfully consideration about the idea, she decided to give it a try anyways, "MEH, what do I lose?"

"Yo, Quarter." she called.

"Hmm?" 

"Yesterday-, I mean, earlier this day, you said you were a musician as us?" said Vinyl trying to recall those words he said.

"Umm, yes, I am a musician like I said." he replied.

"'Moment of truth Vinyl, don't back out!',  Do you.... Would you mind playing something for us? You know, like a gig or something similar?". Quarter didn't know what to say. Sure, he knew a solo or two in his sleeves, but the question completely took him off guard. Composing himself, he replied.

"Sure, I wouldn't mind." he replied, but something was bothering him. "Umm. before I do that, would you lend some things? I need certain things if I want to do one of my good solos."

"Sure! Just make sure you blow our minds!", Octavia wasn't completely convinced by that comment. Octavia may have remained silent during the conversation, but if some things were required, she knew for sure it was going to get loud. The idea slowly seemed to be less appealing as they prepared the performance......


That does it!



The stage was prepared. A couple of speakers were next to him, a carpet as well, a stereo with a CD inside labeled as 'Deus Ex, Solo removed' and in the middle was Quarter with his trusty guitar Nixus, ready to play. He was actually nervous, but getting nervous wasn't going to help. 

He sighed and calmed down. Once he was mentally prepared, he wanted to say one more thing before beggining.

"Okay... I haven't done this before, but... well..."

"C'mon dude! Chill, you got it." Octavia wasn't sure if he really had it.

"Okay," he said as the stereo slowly started reading the CD, "Here goes nothing!"



Quarter had just finished playing one the songs he practiced a long time and his mind was on focusing to perform well. It wasn't until a minute or two that he managed to snap back into reality, looking where Vinyl and Octavia were sitting, listening. 

Vinyl's eyes were sparkling with intensity as if she just heard an awesome band play in front of her. Octavia, well, she was quite the opposite. She was unamused by his performance and she giving him an annoyed face. Quarter couldn't help but feel uneasy to her disapproving stare. 

"Oh boy. Did I mess up?" he thought still worried about Octavia's stare. Hopefully, Vinyl was there to back him up.

"Dude, that was incredible! First you were like MENGGGG, and next you were like PANANA-PANANA-PANANA! You have a lot of talent!" said Vinyl, amazed by his performance.

"Hehe, thanks!" thanked Quarter bashfully. Octavia was still in the same position. It wasn't long before Quarter thought her stare was slightly starting to weird him out.

"Uhh, Octavia? Why are you looking me like that?" he asked.

"Awful." 

"I'm sorry?"

"I didn't like it." those words were like arrows towards Quarter's heart. Harsh, but an opinion is an opinion. But it wasn't an opinion, it was a critique.

"Y-you... didn't like it?" he repeated.

"That's what I said."

"W-why?" he stuttered a bit after hearing that.

"Your music has no spirit. You think you play with your heart, but all we hear is a bunch of notes being randomly played." she critized. 

Quarter never had a critic like that before. Especially from another musician. All of his 'supposed-to-be-friends' never actually heard him play. He used to play with an old guitar in his room the songs he liked until he finally managed to perfect them. This critique was something that reeeaaaally hurt him, but he wasn't going to let his pride as a musician being ripped just like that. He was planning on fighting back.

"OCTAVIA! Why would you say something like that?" complained Vinyl, looking at her friend with discomfort, "The kid did it very well!"

"I'm just saying the truth." she defended herself. "Actually, I can't still understand why do you people like so much the noise." The comment  didn't just cause Vinyl to get upset with her, but it also managed to switch on Quarter's fighitng spirit.

"Huh, so you didn't like it?" he replied, looking at her with annoyance, "Okay then. Let me try something different. Another song. I'll prove you my music is not trash!" he dared to Octavia. Vinyl wanted to argue, but after what she said, this couldn't go unattended. Octavia was unaffected by his comment. 

"Okay. I'll give one more try. Don't worry, you won't change anything." she replied, standing firm to her convictions as a classical musician.

"Oh great, she doesn't like my music. I'll give her something new, something she hasn't heard before! Just... try to keep it cool, Quarter..." he thought to himself as he played the next song on the stereo.



A small silence filled the room as the last chords echoes subsided. Quarter knew he nailed that song perfectly and he was proud of it. However, Octavia wasn't as pleased as he was. Instead, she was complaining to the song. She seemed to enjoyed relaxing music apparently, since she was covering her ears from the music he was playing a few minutes ago.

Quarter was sweating a bit after playing another fairly long solo. He recovered his energy and spoke. "So, what do you think of that?"

"My statement stands still." she confirmed and kept her eyes closed.

"WHAT?"

"This music doesn't move me at all. Unless you have something better to show me, you better stop." Quarter was frustrated that Octavia didn't budge at all, well except for covering her ears. "Which I believe it would be the case, am I wrong?"

Quarter was against a wall now. He threw at her some of his best covers and solos he has done before. If he tried to pull another solo on his own just like he did before, it would end in the same result. 

"Darn it! Why is she so stuborn!? If there was a way to involve her.... something other than sitting there listening... AJA!" he thought as an idea came to his mind. It was risky, but other than proving another genre was trash, he wouldn't give up without a fight.

"Fine, you asked for it. Octavia," he called, which took her attention, and pointed at her like if he was planning on having a music battle. "I challenge you to a music battle!" 

Now that was just crazy. He could seem like he was desperate, but deep down inside him resided a powerful will to protect the things he loves and one of those things would be the music he has dedicated to.

"Are you serious? You DO realize the difference in experience we both have, right?" stated Octavia, trying to avoid a fight. 

"I know the differences, but that is not going to stop me from beating you!" he said. On the outside, he was daring a very experienced musician and on the inside, he was like this. "Oh Celestia, Oh Celestia, Oh Celestia! I am out of mind!? This is crazy! Now I can't back down!"

Quarter actually thought it twice and decided to do the challenge, "....Okay, what I did was stupid, but I can do this. C'mon! Pull yourself together!"

Meanwhile they were having a heated conversation, Vinyl once again dropped her jaws, barely touching the floor. She thought he was desperate, but somehow she felt like it was the right thing to do(?). "I hope you know what are you doing..." she hoped as she saw her roommate get up from the sofa.

"Okay then. I'll gladly accept your challenge. Prepare to feel the strength of a true musician." This battle was no longer to prove another genre wasn't a bad thing, it suddenly turned into a battle where the pride of each musician was on the line. Whoever wins this battle is crushing immensely another musician's pride. There was no going back and Quarter asked Octavia one more thing.

"Octavia." he called, "Do you play the piano by any chance?"

"..... Yes, I do play the piano as well.". Well, there goes another secret Vinyl didn't know about her roommate, "It's one of my most preferable instruments besides the chelo. Why do you ask?"

"Use it please. I saw one before and I request you to use it for this battle." Octavia wasn't sure if this was a trap, but she wouldn't back down a challenge despiet being a fine lady and everything.

"Okay. You win. I'll use the piano." She approached a nearby door, almost like a closet and pulled it open to reveal a piano inside. How did it fit and how did it got there? No idea. But it was there. Vinyl was amazed as you are. Not because of the piano, she saw it before and questioned to herself why it was there in the first place. 

The reason why she was surprised was because Octavia finally opened the closet that she hides from her roommate all the time. She was leaping with joy in her mind after knowing so much new stuff from her roommate.

She sat on the piano's chair and pulled a sheet of notes on top if the piano's cover. She gently placed it on the front panel and prepared for her battle against Quarter, whose determination was admirable, but foolish. Octavia finally got ready and spoke.

"Are you ready, amateur? Let me show you what music really is!" she said, increasing the volume of her voice.

"I was born ready! Bring it on!" he replied. "AAAAAANNNNDDDDD GO!!!!"



The show was over. Vinyl was looking in amaze to the performance she just witnessed. She, as a musician herself, has saw a lot of music battle. She even has battled his friend and rival Neon Lights. But never has she seen her roommate and best friend have a music battle against anyone, especially against a guy with quite a talent for music, despite being a rookie.

Octavia and Quarter were resting from the battle they just had minutes ago. With a significant panting, tired from the battle, they kept staring at the stage floor. None were moving, almost like if they were waiting for something to happen. 

A considerable falling sound was the next thing to be heard. Quarter had just fell to his knees. With this incident, it was clear who won the battle in the end. The battle was something more than just a challenge by now. It was duel to prove something and to keep their musician's pride. Octavia defeated Quarter and crushed his musician pride along with it.

She composed herself after hearing Quarter fall to his knees and spoke to him, still giving him her back. 

"It seems that I have won." she confirmed closing her eyes, "Your feeble attempt to beat me has achieved nothing but sadness to your heart. If you really wish to beat me, you need to wake up and face the REAL world of music!"

He didn't answer back. Quarter seemed to be completely of the world, probably thinking of his first defeat and his pride as a musician being ripped away just like that. He gave his best and yet he lost. The guitarist didn't seem to be budging at all. Octavia glimpsed at him and looked away. Vinyl just didn't know what to say or do.

Octavia got up from her chair and proceeded to put away the piano. As she hid the piano, Vinyl was still looking at Quarter, looking at the floor holding his precious guitar, Nixus. She wanted to help him, but there was nothing that could help a musician after losing its pride. That was something everyone had to recover in their own way. Perhaps he knew this, but it still completely shocked him losing. Vinyl bit her lower lips and felt a bit powerless to this.

Octavia finally hid the piano and headed to her room. After a couple of minutes, she was holding a peculiar box, in shape of a chelo. She moved to the door and just when she was about to leave, Octavia stopped and spoke to Vinyl.

"Vinyl, I have an appointment with some royal people. I'll be back by night, okay?" she said as she looked at Quarter. She sighed and turned to the door once more. The grey mare left the house and everything went into a completely silence. A silence so overwhelming that it could break anyone's mind if they remained for too long, well at least they would be mad.

Quarter suddenly moved, just a bit. He slowly turned to see Nixus on hand, giving it a deep stare. He returned to his original position and got up. 

Vinyl wanted to comfort him, but it wouldn't help anyways. She just saw how Quarter started walking towards the door without saying a word and left, leaving the door opened. Vinyl remained silent and looked at the stage. 

This experience may be harsh, but he was going to face it one way or another. Sometimes, the life we choose to walk on try to teach us that everything isn't daisies and pretty flowers. We must accept that fact and move on. She thought it was the right thing to do, but the price may have been too high. No, it was something that needed to be done. An amateur finally realizes the world he is living in and the way of living the hard way.

".....I hope he is okay..." she said as she walked to the door and closed it.



Vinyl just had lunch half an hour agop. Octavia was out in a performance, so she took the train. When leaving she said the same thing again. Same instructions, different day. It was normal day, just like any other. The gentle breeze flew through the window as the heat made its way towards everyone's home.

Vinyl has also done some performances as well, since the house wasn't going to depend on one girl after all. Her performances were still popular as ever and the beats never seemed to get dull. 

If there is one thing she loves the most is her music. Of course, that's something every musician experience. Who was worrying her was none other than his new friend who arrived a week ago. It was Quarter.

Quarter has kept a low profile after the battle and a few people managed to see him a few times. Vinyl was one of those. 

Wherever he was, if Vinyl had a chance to talk to him, she wouldn't. She simply didn't have the enough courage to talk to him. It was too awkward for her. So did Quarter thought. They haven't spoken for quite a while and things didn't seem to be doing good for Quarter, at least that's what it looked like.

The magneta eyed girl was biting a piece of chocolate and she proceeded to enter the living room. She was gladly enjoying her snack until a knock was heard coming from the door. She didn't expect any guests, so she slowly walked towards the door in order to open it. What she saw was something she never thought she'd see. Someone awfully familiar. A male wearing a black hood on top of his head.

"Hi there Vinyl. It's been quite a while, hasn't it?" said the guy with his face covered.

"Uhh, yeah. It's been a while... um.... nice to see you!" she expressed.

"Likewise."  said the male, "How have you been doing? I've heard you got some performances lately."

Vinyl could tell he wasn't at his best, so she decided to interrogate him. "Yeah, I have. And you?"

"Nah, I've been working with Pinkie in the Sugarcube Corner. The pay isn't the best, but the desserts are delicious!"

"'That I didn't expect.'. And where have you been living?"

"On a nearby hotel to Ponyville. It takes a 20 minute walk to get there." he explained, "Also, that's one of the reasons I'm here...", Vinyl knew something was going on. She might have a clue of what he may be here for.

"You...still have that room rent?", Vinyl's suspicions were correct.

"Yes, why?" she asked knowing what was about to happen.

"Would you.... mind if I give it a try? I want to give it a shot..." said the guy as he removed his hood, revealing his identity. It was none other than Quarter. Things were going to be complicated from here on out...

Vinyl scratched the back of her head and sighed. "Sure, go ahead man!'Oh man. This is going to be a long day....'"


NEXT TIME, ON "THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC"


CUTENESS...

"I'm sorry, but I was desperate. Now can you please accept it? Please?"

"No"

"Pretty please?"

"Still no"

"With sugar on top of it?"

"No, no, no!"

"Pleeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeeeeeeeee???" pleaded Quarter.

"My point stands firm! If you try to convince me one more time, I'll buck the life out of you!"


BETRAYAL!

"Oh yeah... I forgot to tell you that, didn't I?" replied Vinyl, placing her hands on her chin while thinking.

"Quite true" said Quarter while nodding in an awkward way, "Don't worry, I'll tell you later what it felt like,"

"Felt wha- OH! REALLY?" yelled back Vinyl, barely holding back her excitement, "WHEN?"

"Never."


MYSTERY....

"What am I doing on the floor?"

AND A RANDOM COMEDY BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN BORN

"Yakety Sax.... Aha!", she pushed the button play and looked outside, as she looked at Quarter running away from a furious Octavia, "Ha! This is pure gold!"


TO BE CONTINUED