//------------------------------// // The Day Music Died // Story: Of Wubs and Men // by MoltenXKid //------------------------------// It's surprising how quickly things can change in a small amount of time. Whether it be laws,buildings, the status quo, people,technology, musical tastes, or even yourself, the change is imminent. You just gotta be ready for it. “Listen to me…Electronic Dance Music is dead!! Nobody wants to listen to that mess anymore. It’s old. It’s boring.It’s repetitive. And it’s not making us any money! Do you understand?!” “…yeah…” I replied. “I’m sorry, but the people don’t want it anymore. They moved on and have gotten new tastes. I’m sorry, Mason, but if you want to stay on the people’s good side, you gotta make what they want to hear. It has been years since any EDM song has been on the top of the charts” “What they want to hear is garbage. I won’t shovel that into their ears.” My name is Mason…and I’m a top DJ. Well, I was a top DJ until the musical taste of the masses switched from what I made to some two frequency trash. It’s not even music, but apparently people want lucid thoughts, over sensitive feelings, and other drug side effects. They can have them, but they won’t be getting them from me. Anyway, I was hanging with my bros when my producer video called. One of them kept trying to Netflix My Little Pony. “Do you remember your first live show? You only had about a thousand show up and stream in. After that, you exploded. Twenty- five thousand, fifty thousand, a million! Your numbers kept growing, but now look at it. A year after your biggest concert and you’re swimming with the small fish again.” “Look, Percy, what if I…worked with an artist to put out a song.” I tried to come up with some option to get him off my back. “That may work. For a little while. I’ll see if I can find any willing artist. For now, enjoy the little circle jerk you’re having with your buddies.” He ended the call, and I went back to my friends. Somehow, they all settled on watching that damn pony show on my television, and playing a fighting game that came along with it. They seemed to be having a good time, so I joined in. Apparently, the show “My little Pony: Friendship is Magic” had a huge following some time ago. I could see why. It’s pretty good. Though, I wouldn’t have joined it the “fandom”. "You see the way Rarity almost fought that dragon, " One of my buddies said, "That's why she's the best pony." "Whoa! Obviously Rainbow Dash is the best pony. Don't forget it!" replied another bro. We ended up watching a lot of the episodes that day. Talk about binge watching. My brain was full with ponies. All those colors swirled in my head; I felt like I went through night of drink and needed to barf. At the end of the day, my buddies left and of course left my place trashed. It wasn’t too bad. I could easily clean it up myself, but I wasn’t going to. A simple voice command and my home cleaned itself. (Man, I love the future. ) As the house cleaned, I returned to watching the pony show. I wasn’t addicted, but I was in the middle of a two-part wedding episode. I can’t miss that, right? It was pretty cool. Changelings, shape shifting, deception, mind control, and taking over empires. I was starting to think this wasn’t a kid’s show. The episode ended with the pink one- Pinkie Pie- somehow summoning a DJ. I like the way that DJ pony looked. Especially her shades. “Yo, Tesla!" I yelled the name of my house's automated system. It was connected to everything in my home. "Look up that white unicorn. Not Rarity; the other one. She looks cool enough to get wasted with.” I shouted. Within seconds my TV screen split in two, and a Google search appeared. It searched for awhile before the results appeared. “The pony’s name is Vinyl Scratch or Dj Pon-3. She appeared in three separate episodes and movies, yet had no speaking lines. All other information about her is fanbased.” The computer responded in its female voice, “The fandom took full grasp on this character and gave her a personality. Along with many fans taking her name and creating songs, animations, and even accessories.” “All that for one background pony... What’s she like?” “She’s a laid back, easy going, spontaneous, and a adaptable pony. She’s the life of any party, loves to make music, and messes with her marefriend ,Octavia.” “Mare friend?” “Girlfriend, sir…oh and you received an email.” My TV screen darkened, and an animated portal opened up on the screen. Out of it came a suited pony like in the show. She smiled before bowing and then talked. ““Imagine that perfect someone, or in your case a somepony. Imagine them being ready for you, waiting for you, loving you from the day they see you till-“ “Whoa there, Partner...If you're trying to sell me one of those helpmates then I'm not interested.They creep me out. Plus, I am in a relationship already.” Those help mates...I don't know. I have nothing against them, but they are sort of creepy. Seeing a character from a fictional show in real life. It gives me the willies. Fiction and reality should stay separate. More or less. “I suppose our targeted advertisements thought you might be a potential customer since you seem to have watched a lot of My Little Pony today. Sorry for disturbing you. Have a wonderful day and a happy relationship.” The pony turned to step back in her portal, but I could not to let her go. Something told me not to. My interests were piqued, and I had to know why she was here. Of course it had to be pony related, but I didn't care. Besides, this was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. Probably. “Wait…” I sighed, “Tell me what you have to offer. I’m interested…but make it snappy. I have to get started on the next season of this show.” “What we are offering is a dream sort to speak. Imagine, if you will, any character from your favorite show in the flesh. Breathing, sweating, eating, bleeding, crying, and laughing. Except, it’s not a dream. It’s realty. The pony of your choosing will be by your side. She or he won’t fade, won’t disappear…they'll be real.” “To tell the truth, I’m not really into the show that much to actually want all that. I just started watching the show today. Plus, I’m sorta busy too take care of one.” “Sir, these are sentient beings. They think…talk…just like they do in the show. Just like you and me.” The pony smiled a little at my ignorance, “ Our 'products' our different from the others;They can take care of themselves.” “Oh..." I sat on the couch thinking to myself. Yeah, I found the helpmates creepy,but it wouldn't hurt to have a look. "In that case, do you happen to have a pony named Vinyl Scratch?” “Of course, sir!” The pony stepped aside, and on my screen appeared the white, disheveled mane having, sunglasses wearing pony. She had a smirk of her face showing slight arrogance. She knew she was the best. She rocked her head to a beat I couldn’t hear, yet by the way she was doing it, it must have been amazing. Then, in a flash, she changed. Vinyl was standing on her two legs, her arms swinging to the same beat, and her smirk still in place. She still looked like a pony, yet with some human features and clothes- some white sweat suit with blue trim. Definitely cool enough to have in one of my performances…maybe even to collaborate with. I began thinking how this could elevate my career…or destroy it. Collaborating with a Vinyl Scratch. Yes. I could see it. This could be the rocket back to the top. It was a risk I had to take. “That’s uh…” “Amazing. Yes, thank you. We at Vogon Biotech pride ourselves on making our products as life-like as possible.” Replied the suited pony on my screen. “Cool…add her to my account. Just tell me when she gets here.” “But, sir…there’s other stuff you need to…” “Yeah… I don’t care. Just do whatever.” “We can’t complete the order without you selecting from options-her personality and clothes.” “Look…I’m not really sure how this work, but I do want that pony. How about this: You and your company put in the basic stuff any “brony” might want with their Vinyl Scratch.” “Uh…okay, sir, but there aren’t any other Vinyl Scratches. You are ordering “the” Vinyl not “a” Vinyl. She’ll be ready in two months.” The pony told me before jumping back in her portal. The pony and her portal disappeared, but in her place appeared a human-like discord sitting at a desk. He simple smiled before pulling out a scroll which rolled over the desk and into the black void of the television. He noticed my confused expression and shook his head. "Look, do you accept the charges and other things that come with this purchase?" I simply nodded before returning to the show. The next season was calling my name. You know, not that I was interested or anything. I just wanted to see what happened next. You just can’t start a show and not finish it. That would be wrong on so many levels, right? The next two months passed in a blur. Nothing really exciting happened. I had a couple small gigs here and there, some meetings talking about my next “Big hit”, a date with my girl, and a trial about a DUI I had gotten, which I may add wasn’t my fault. I was the least drunk out of my group, so I took it upon myself to drive. Too bad the courts didn’t see it the way I way. So, I sat in my home with an ankle bracelet around my leg waiting for Vogon to deliver the Vinyl.( In hindsight, I should have asked the price because that twenty-two thousand credits sort of put a dent in my account. It didn’t matter much; I’m still well off. ) The worst part about these bracelets is that they put them on so tight that you can’t reach the itch underneath them. I had to sit in torture. Even watching that blasted pony show didn’t bring me any relief. Then I heard it. A delivery truck was pulling into my driveway. I couldn’t see the words on the side, but I was fairly certain who it was. The vehicle stopped halfway up, and two men stepped out. They walked to the back, pulled two levers on the side in sync, and the back doors opened. A ramp descended down from the back. Down it walked the pony I had ordered. Though, something seemed to be off. Like she wasn’t herself. She was meek, shy ,and didn't have on her shades allowing her scarlet eyes to be shown…just not the pony I saw on my screen. The two men,one holding a suitcase, then began guiding her up to my front door, yet were being very careful not to make physical contact with her. I went outside to try and meet the three, but my ankle bracelet began to go off. Immediately, I stepped back inside. The men and Vinyl reached my door. I was expecting to have to sign some paper work, but as soon as Vinyl stopped in front of me, they turned to leave. “Ummm…Don’t I have to sign… or something…maybe get an instruction booklet…maybe?” I yelled. Either they didn’t hear me or chose to ignore my words, it didn’t matter. They both climbed into the truck and drove away. I could only sigh as I turned back to the frightened looking pony. I took her hand within mine and spoke, “I suppose I should bring you inside-Crap!” I released Vinyl’s hand after an electric shock came from it. My hand was alright. Perhaps a tad numb. I looked from my hand to Vinyl who seemed to have changed. Her smirk was back and so was her smug sense of arrogance. She no longer seemed frightened or anxious; she seemed to know that she had the whole situation under her control. “Mason! Buddy! Long time, no see!” Vinyl said as she hugged me. “Thanks for letting me crash here. Celestia knows I’m too broke to afford my own place. I spent all my bits just to get here.”