//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The reuniting of two friends // Story: The Lights of Music // by Allonsbro //------------------------------// The music wound down, giving way to a chorus of hoof stamping and cheering. Neon gave the crowd an approving grin as he was changing records. “All right!” Pinkie shouted. “Way to shake it, party ponies! Do we know how to party or what?” “Aw yeah!” Neon replied. “Thanks everypony. Come stop by The Wub Club tomorrow night for more. Hope to see you there.” Placing the needle, he started the next set to play by itself and stepped out into the party. “Great job,” said a stallion on the floor as he passed. “That was awesome,” a mare complimented. “Thanks,” he replied to each in turn. Several others gave the DJ hoof bumps and words of praise as he passed, making his way over to where Film Reel stood talking with somepony. “Nice job, dude. Knocked ‘em dead!” she said when she noticed him. The stallion gave a crooked smile, leaving the borrowed sunglasses on. Film Reel’s eyes expanded, remembering something. “Oh! Hey, look who I bumped into.” Neon finally noticed the pony that Film Reel had been talking to. He smiled in greeting, thinking it was a friend of hers. The smile widened as recognition struck him. He levitated the sunglasses, placing them on his head. “You remember Vinyl, don’t you?” Film Reel asked. Both unicorns grinned as they recognized each other “Hey!” they said in unison. “How’ve ya been, Lights?” Vinyl asked. “Good,” Neon replied. “How about you?” “Not bad, not bad,” she replied. The mare’s magenta eyes examined him. “Dang, what’s it been? Five years?” “Four,” he corrected her. “Ever since Mr. Mezzo’s class in-” “In Classical Music Theory,” she finished. “Among a slew of other snooze fests that school had to offer. So, you’re the new DJ on the scene, huh?” The stallion gave a cocky grin. “Yep. What do you think?” Vinyl nodded, smiling approvingly. “Pretty solid. But I gotta say, not your best.” Neon felt the sting of her unintentional barb to his pride. “Oh?” Film Reel rolled her eyes. “Oh boy.” The white DJ realized her faux pas. “Nah, hold on, not like that. I mean it was totally off the hook. I just meant that I liked your other stuff better. Like, track three on your album. That one sounded like you were really into it.” The blue unicorn felt his pride recover. “Yeah?” “Totally!” “What else do you like?” he asked. “Well, I guess the thing I really like is that the louder I play your music, the better it sounds,” she replied. “Careful,” Film Reel cautioned her. “If you get him talking about his music, you might not get him to stop.” Vinyl chuckled. “Got it. I’ll be careful.” Neon gave the photographer a glare. “Anyway,” he said, turning back to Vinyl, “What are you doing these days?” “Pretty much just the club in town. Gotta give these party ponies a place to party at.” The white mare’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Been working on a new album too, when I have the time. It’s gonna be sick! I’ve had a ton of really good ideas for music.” “Cool. I’ll have to get it when it comes out and add it to my collection.” Vinyl’s excitement faded slightly. “Well, I haven’t had as much time to work on it as I’d like. Things at the club have been pretty busy lately. It’s a good thing I’ve got Sky or I’d go batty.” Film Reel’s journalistic instincts kicked in, her blue eyes widening as she subconsciously leaned forward to hear more. “Ooh, who’s Sky?” “Down, girl,” Neon teased. “Careful,” he warned Vinyl, “If you get her gossiping, you might not get her to stop.” The photographer gave him a death glare. Vinyl chuckled and explained. “Sky’s a friend who works at my club. Helps me with the books and keeping stuff organized. Nips a lot of my headaches in the bud, too. The only ones I get now are because my bartender makes a cosmo that’s too good for my own good.” Film Reel perked at the word cosmo. “Hmmm. I may just swing by and put that to the test.” Neon ignored her. “Cool. So, I guess you and me will be working together, huh?” “Yep,” Vinyl replied. “That all right? Figured you’d be a solo act?” “No, I was told there was another DJ. I just didn’t know it was you,” the stallion replied. Vinyl chuckled. “That’s how we planned it. Seems like everypony and their mom wants a piece of me these days. Sky thought we’d be more likely to get what I’m looking for in a DJ if it was just a gig, not a gig working with DJ P0N-3.” The DJ shook her head. “But, hey, we can talk about the gig tomorrow. What about you? You been keeping busy?” The other DJ smiled, puffing his chest out slightly. “Well, yeah. After I put out my album, gigs just started popping up. I want to start working on another one, but I got pretty busy working at Ebony for a while.” Neon’s ego got a boost as he read the look of impression on Vinyl’s face. “Ebony? Wow. Pretty rad gig. So why come to a town where the price of a drink at a place like that could buy you a house?” Neon’s eyes shifted nervously. He stalled having to give an answer by grabbing a glass of punch from the nearby table. “The, uh, owner and I didn’t really see eye to eye on a few things, y’know.”  “And you weren’t exactly ‘eye to eye’ with his daughter, either,” Film Reel mumbled. Neon elbowed her in the shoulder. “Ow.” If she’d heard what Film Reel had said, Vinyl didn’t let on. The white mare perked an ear, listening to the music for a moment. “Hey, I think your set’s about to end.” The blue stallion listened. “Oh yeah. Be back in a minute after I change the record.” “You performing again? I only caught the last part earlier and I’d kinda like to see what you’ve got.” Neon turned to look back at her, giving her a wink just before the sunglasses levitated over his eyes. “Get ready for a show.” ~~~~ The following morning brought a beautiful sunrise. At least that was what Film Reel told Neon when he finally emerged from his room later in the day. The blue stallion yawned as he poured himself some coffee. “Did you fall asleep on your decks again?” Film Reel asked. Neon smiled, taking a gulp from his mug. “How do you always know?” “Journalistic omnipotence,” she replied with a sly smile, knowing he wouldn’t be awake enough to use a mirror until the marks on his face had faded. Neon ran a hoof through his hair blearily. “I just got lost working on this song.” The mare propped her head up on her elbows. “Was it that one you’re trying lyrics for?” “No. This was a new one,” he replied, taking another gulp. “But thanks, I almost forgot about that other one. It’s probably time to drag that out again.” The stallion started rifling through drawers and cupboards, pulling out supplies to make a sandwich.  “How long have you been trying to write words for that one? The older one,” Film Reel asked. Neon thought a moment. “I don’t know. Off and on for a while now, I guess. I just can’t get the words right. All I’ve got is a couple lines. Something about dancing or whatever, I forget how it goes.” “Why are you trying to write stuff with lyrics anyway? Most of your other stuff is fine without them.” The stallion shrugged as he began spreading mayonnaise on some bread. “Dunno. I guess I just want to write a song. Like, a real song with words and stuff. Call it something to cross off the bucket list.” Film Reel nodded. “So, you excited for your first day?” Neon smiled, piling on the ingredients he had gathered. “Hell yeah! I get to work with DJ P0N-3.” The orange-maned mare chuckled. “I figured. Hey, while we’re here, we should talk about roommate stuff. Do you think you’ll be home for dinner most nights?” The stallion took a bite of his food.  “Probably not. I’m heading over a little early today, but most nights, I’ll need to be there about five or six to set up. I’ll probably just grab a quick bite or eat on the way.” “Kay. How do you want to divvy out house stuff? I was thinking we could have a rota-” “Dibs on not doing the bathroom!” Neon shouted. “Neon,” Film Reel groaned, “I’m trying to be reasonable about this. Can we please just alternate?” The blue stallion took a victory bite of his sandwich. “You’re just bummed that I called dibs first,” he said, talking around his food. Film Reel leveled Neon with a glare. “The deed to the house is in my name, I could just pull the ‘my house, my rules’ card.” Neon’s eyes shifted back and forth as he reconsidered his options. “Alternating weeks sounds fair to me.” Film Reel smiled. “Glad to see you can be reasoned with.” She pulled out some scrap paper and a pencil from a small drawer. “Now, about dishwasher duty…”   When the issue of household chores had been settled to Film Reel’s satisfaction, Neon returned to his room. After a quick shower, he stared at his decks and keyboard, undisturbed and waiting quietly from where he had left them the night before. Several sheets of paper were strewn about over them, containing half-finished bits of songs and strings of notes; notes hastily written in the late hours of the night as his mind had run a losing race, pitting its creativity against its need for sleep. Illuminating his horn, the DJ collected the papers and placed them to the side.   He glanced at the clock on his wall. One forty five. He had around two or three hours to kill before he needed to get to the club. His eyes moved around the room, dancing on a line of indecision between the pile of papers already at his workspace and another pile he knew lay hidden in a box in the closet. After a few moments of thought, he headed for the closet. Finding the correct box, he pulled the flap open, revealing the many notebooks inside. He pulled the first few out without a thought, searching for the one he needed. There, near the bottom, with the electric blue cover. Carefully, it was pulled from the box, carried and placed on the music rest of his keyboard. He flipped the book open, flipping through the pages, past old songs that had been finished or ditched some time ago. About halfway in, he found what he was looking for. The space devoted to the work done on the piece took up about four or five pages. However, the only areas that were not crossed out only occupied a dozen lines or so, scattered across the sheets of paper. The blue stallion exhaled, his cheeks puffing out as air escaped slowly through his lips. Humming thoughtfully, he pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil and began copying down the bits he had decided to keep. Magic in the air Dancing everywhere The rest of what he had decided to keep were small strings of a few notes each, just little bits of melody he had written down. He played them out on the keyboard, testing them out one by one and then copying them to the new sheet. When he finished, he closed the old notebook and set it aside. The blue stallion stared at the music for a long time, trying to add something to it. He replayed the notes he already had, experimenting with tweaks to the little bits of melody. When he finally glanced at the clock and saw it was time to go to work, all he had to show for his time was yet another page of scribbled paper to add to the notebook. He should have known better than to try to force the song to happen. Sighing in defeat, Neon put the notebook back in the closet and got dressed for work, putting on a black button-down shirt and grabbing his shades as he walked out the door. The walk to the club wasn’t long and he soon arrived at a greyish-white building. At first glance, the stallion mistook it for a warehouse. If not for the large, unlit neon sign above the door proclaiming it as “The Wub Club,” he might have looked it over entirely. “Yo, Neon!” Vinyl greeted him, shouting from the stage as he entered. The DJ removed her headphones, placing them on the decks and jumping off stage to the floor. “Ready to get wild?” Neon smiled at her. “Only always.” “Cool. C’mon, I’ll introduce you to everypony and we can get you set up.” The white mare lead Neon to the bar where three earth ponies were gathered. “Hey, guys,” Vinyl called, getting their attention, “meet the new guy. This is Neon. Neon, this is everypony.” She pointed to the first two ponies sitting at the bar, a light tan mare with a blonde mane that had light streaks through it, and a grey stallion with a spiky light blue mane. “This is Quake, and that’s Sky. They’re the bouncers. If anypony’s bothering you, they’ll take care of it.” Quake said nothing, merely smiling a big, toothy grin and offering a wave in greeting. “Hey,” the grey stallion greeted, getting up to give Neon a hoof bump. “Nice to put a face to the letters you sent about the job.” The firmness of the hoof bump surprised Neon. Sky wasn’t very big, but he was still pretty wiry. Moving on with introductions, Vinyl pointed to a brown stallion with a light blonde mane behind the bar, polishing a glass. He wore a bright yellow tie loosely around the neck and a pinstripe black vest. “And that’s Coco Crusoe. He’s the bartender.” The brown stallion nodded, setting the glass down on the counter and reaching under it to grab a bottle. “Just call me Crusoe.” Vinyl took a seat on one of the stools and padded the one next to her. “C’mon, we’ve got some time. Have a drink. Try to keep it non-alcoholic, though. Can’t have you performing drunk.” “What are you having?” Crusoe asked, sliding a now-prepared drink to Sky. Neon thought a moment. “A soda, please.” Vinyl rolled her eyes. “Come on, I told you earlier how awesome his cosmos are. He’s got a really good virgin spin on it.” “Sorry, not really my drink,” Neon replied. “Your loss. I’m having one, though. Crusoe, do the thing.” Vinyl spun in her stool, facing out to the club and leaning back against the bar. “You’re in for a show. ” The brown stallion rolled his eyes and smiled. “If you insist, Miss Scratch.” He began by pulling a shaker from below the counter along with a scoop of ice. Smiling, he tossed the ice into the air and caught the cubes one by one in the shaker. Then, he pulled three bottles up, juggling two of them in his right hoof as he poured club soda from the third bottle into the shaker. Placing the soda on the counter, he tossed one of the other two to his other hoof and poured the cranberry juice. Swinging the forehoof holding the last bottle down, he flicked it into the air behind his back and over his shoulder, catching it with the other hoof and pouring lime juice into the shaker. He shook the drink, tossing and spinning it from hoof to hoof as he grabbed a glass, then poured. After adding a slice of lime to garnish, the bartender slid the glass across the counter, having spilled nary a drop of liquid. The unicorn stallion whistled, impressed by the show. “Whoa, I’ve never seen an earth pony flair before.” The bartender smiled. “It’s harder without magic, but they eat it up in Canterlot. I only know one other earth pony that can do it.” The white DJ pushed the glass to Neon. “Sure you don’t want a sip?” The blue stallion relented, taking a sip from her drink. “Mmm. That’s pretty good.” Crusoe took a bow, smiling. “Glad you approve. Excuse me,” he said, moving farther behind the bar to prepare for the evening. Neon and Vinyl finished their drinks and set up on opposite ends of the stage. Together, they went through sound checks and the new hire paperwork. The last t’s were being crossed when Sky announced that opening was in five minutes. The two DJs went backstage. Vinyl set a simple song playing, the bass thumping loudly for clubbers to dance to until she and Neon made their appearance. “You nervous?” she asked, peeking out as the noises of ponies mixed with the sound of her music in increasing measure. “Nope,” Neon replied, slipping on his sunglasses. The white mare looked at him like he was selling boats in the desert. “OK. Well, however nervous you’re ‘not,’ don’t be. Just have a blast out there and they’ll love you. We’re almost up. I’ll do a song first, then you come out on my signal.” The blue stallion nodded and Vinyl slipped her sunglasses on as the song ended. A loud sound boomed over the speakers, echoing across the club. There was a pause and all the ponies in the club began to cheer, knowing what was coming. The sound repeated, blasting through the speakers and sending vibrations through the floor. A synthesized voice was heard...          Spin that record Vinyl Scratch and never stop the music.          …and the beat picked up, a fast tempo that had the ponies on the dance floor moving the second it started. More came to the dance floor, seeing that the party was beginning.            Spin that record.          Some danced wildly, rearing up and jumping on their hind hooves or bucking as they moved. Some danced with a partner, rubbing flush against each other’s sides or facing each other. Those that did not really know how to dance either just moved side to side or danced in their own crazy, and mostly bad, fashion.          Spin that record tonight.          Spin that, spin that record. Spin that record. Spin that record tonight. Spin that record. Spin that, spin that record. Spin that record. Spin that record tonight. Vinyl’s head bobbed gently, the mare smiling as she still waited in the wings. As the last line was spoken, the mare herself stepped out on stage to the cheers and adulation of her fans. Spin that record Vinyl Scratch and never stop the music. And the music stopped. Time seemed to slow in its wake as the speakers hung silent over the club, leaving the air buzzing with anticipation. But Vinyl was far from finished, and the song continued again with different lyrics.          Vinyl Scratch knows how to get the feeling all right.          We are gonna dance and party tonight.          Tonight is the night that we’re gonna lose it,          So spin that record Vinyl Scratch and never stop the music.          Vinyl pumped her hoof in the air and was mimicked by most of the ponies on the dance floor. The chorus repeated and the song launched into a different beat. Neon watched Vinyl carefully, taking note of what she did, how she danced while managing the music. It was mesmerizing, seeing how enraptured she was. She hardly looked down at her decks to see what she was doing. Sliders, knobs and buttons moved seemingly by themselves, Vinyl using her magic to make adjustments to the music as she went on staring out into the dance floor. The dancers seemed enraptured too. They moved as if they were connected to her. Every bob of her head and pump of her hoof pulled at them like puppets on strings, all dancing differently, but as if they had a single mind. They followed her direction, moving like a great rolling sea As the song ended, the crowd was bouncing up and down as one as the beats and blasts from the speakers vibrated through the room. The last blast reverberated through the room and a wall of sound blasted from the club goers as they stamped their hooves, screaming and cheering. Vinyl just stood up there, panting and reveling in their praise. When the applause began to die down, she picked up a microphone.          “Heeeeeelllooooooooo Ponyville!” Vinyl shouted into the mic, a sheen of perspiration glistening on her forehead. “DJ Pon3 is in the house!” She paused, letting the cheers and shouts of her fans echo through the club. “Got some fresh meat for you tonight. New guy all the way from Canterlot. Lemme hear a big Ponyville welcome fooooor...Rising Star!” Neon ran across the stage to his decks, stopping hard halfway there and skidding to a halt just behind them as the club patrons cheered. “Let’s show the new guy how things work here,” she said, spinning a record on her hoof. Soon the floor was thrumming with the pulse of a dropped bass. Neon watched with interest as the white mare proceeded to freestyle. Her hooves flew over her decks, her magic aiding them in guiding the music and adding the right sounds. The dancers went wild, provoked to dancing with her crazy, hypnotic hold over them. The freestyle was short-lived and followed with the roar of applause. Vinyl glanced at Neon across the stage over her glasses. Her eyebrows flicked up, eyes glowing red and issuing a challenge as she lifted her mic. “Beat that, newbie.” Neon felt his heart jump. He was not expecting there to be a mix-off. “Aw, come on!” Vinyl shouted, taunting him. “Don’t tell me those spires on the mountain are the biggest thing Canterlot has.” She pumped her hoof, egging the crowd on in a chant. “Rising Star... Rising Star... Rising Star...” The stallion set his jaw, grabbing a record. The audience murmured with recognition as one of DJ-P0N3’s first songs came over the speakers. Neon looked across the stage at Vinyl just as she smirked at him in disappointment. He smirked back and punched a button, the song dying down after the first few notes. A few more controls toggled and it came back on. As the club listened, Neon’s hooves and magic flew over his control panel, changing the song’s speed and adding elements to it, bending it to his will. Neon’s horn flickered, his magic reaching out to the lights shining brightly into the club. Colors shifted across the floor, altering the coats of the dancers. The stallion’s horn glimmered again, adding laser lights to the mix. The audience ate it up, the stamping of their hooves reverberating to the rafters. Neon took another glance at his rival DJ. Her face was neutral and she just stood at her decks, watching the crowd. The white mare didn’t move until the new and improved song had ended. Slowly she picked up her mic and looked across the stage at Neon. A small smile crossed her face. “Not bad rookie. But we ain’t done yet!” She started another song, shouting to the crowd. “For you will know that I am the DJ when I lay my sick beats down on you!” ~~~~ The club grew quiet as the last few patrons were encouraged to the entrance by the bouncers. Neon removed his headphones, letting out an ‘oof’ as Vinyl slapped him on the back. “Pretty great first day, huh? They couldn’t get enough of you,” she complimented, moving her glasses behind her horn. The stallion chuckled. “Only ‘cause you tried to serve me out on a platter,” he quipped in return. Vinyl grinned impishly, moving past him to step off the stage. “Yeah, sorry about that. Just seeing if you could handle yourself.” Neon followed her. “Satisfied?” She nodded. “I gotta ask, though; did you remix my song on the fly or did you have that hanging around just in case?” “Sort of both,” he replied, following her into the club proper and sitting next to her at the bar. “I’ve thought about it before, but never really put it down or anything.” “The usual, Crusoe,” Vinyl called out to the bartender. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Half my stuff just swims around my skull most of the time. Then, I’ll see something or hear some stupid little jingle and bam!” Crusoe passed her a freshly made drink and she took a swig. “New song.” “You want anything, Neon?” the bartender asked. “Just a cider, thanks.” Sky and Quake joined the group a few moments later. “So, did the new guy pass?” Sky asked, Crusoe already sliding him a rum and coke. Vinyl smiled. “Like beans through my uncle Hondo.” The grey stallion smiled. “Cool. I heard bits and pieces when the door opened and what I heard sounded pretty good. Heard some of that new mix you did too, Vinyl.” “Actually, that was Neon,” Vinyl corrected. “We had a bit of a mix-off and he pulled something out on the fly. Gotta say, I liked the light show, too. But I have a bone to pick with you about our equipment.” The grey stallion took a sip of his drink. “What’s the problem?” “When did we get laser lights? I never signed off on that.” Sky quirked an eyebrow. “Uh, that’s because I’ve never bought any.” “I’m not mad, Sky,” the white mare assured. “In fact I think it’s pretty awesome that we’ve got ‘em. I just wanna know how the newbie got to them before me.” “That was me,” Neon clarified. “Yes, I know that was you using them, but-” “No, Vinyl that was me. It was a light refraction spell. I’ve always had this thing with them and I thought the laser lights made a nice touch.” The other DJ stared at the blue stallion. “Heck yeah they did. Light refraction spell, huh? You’ll have to show me how to do that.” “Only if you teach me how you hypnotize everypony like that,” he replied. “You had a real pied piper thing going up there.” “Sorry, man. Nothing there to teach. That’s all P0N-3. Just pure awesomeness and mad skill.” The blue stallion clopped his hoof on the counter. “Darn. Well, I can still hope for awesomeness by osmosis, I guess.” Crusoe scoffed. “Hah! I wish. The four of us have worked together for a few years now. I can’t speak for Quake and Sky, but I sure as heck don’t need a stick to beat the mares off away.” Vinyl swallowed a sip of her drink. “Why would you want ponies to like you for something they already like about somepony else anyway? Let them like you for the awesome stuff you do yourself.” Crusoe jokingly glanced at the white mare’s glass. “OK, Vinyl’s had enough. She’s starting to sound deep.” “Pfft. Dude, I can be however deep I want.” “It is getting late, though,” Sky commented. “I should be getting home if you want me to finish placing that order tomorrow.” “Kay,” Vinyl replied. “Night. Or morning. Whichever.” His coworkers bid the grey stallion goodbye. Crusoe took out a broom to start sweeping and passed a wide push broom to Quake. “I think I’m about ready to head out too,” said Neon, finishing the last of his cider. Vinyl finished her drink as well. “Mind if I walk with you? I have some stuff to ask you.” “Sure.” “Cool. Got everything covered for the night, Crusoe?” Vinyl asked the bartender. The brown stallion nodded, draping his tie and vest over the end of the counter as he began sweeping behind the bar. “Yeah, we just need to sweep and tidy up a little.” “Want any help?” “Nah. I think we’ve got it. You can go if you want to.” “OK. Thanks, Crusoe. See you tomorrow.” The two unicorns left the building and started walking down the street. Neon removed his sunglasses, placing them in the breast pocket of his shirt. The streets were dark and quiet, almost eerily so, and the blue stallion couldn’t help but cast a light spell. His horn gave off a soft light blue glow, pushing back the darkness. He felt a slight embarrassment until Vinyl followed suit, her darker blue glow joining his. “Not quite what you’re used to?” the white mare asked. “The streets are darker out here than in the city. You can see a lot more of the stars, though.” Neon looked up, confirming the presence of a multitude of twinkling lights. “Sorry again about throwing you to the wolves,” Vinyl apologized as they started their walk. “It’s fine,” Neon replied. “It worked out, didn’t it?” “Yeah, it did,” said Vinyl. “Better than I thought, in fact. I was kinda thinking it would make a good gimmick.” She held her hoof out in front of her, envisioning the idea. “Picture this: Saturday night, DJ P0N-3 vs. Rising Star in a mix-off battle of epic proportions.  To the death!” Neon laughed. “Vinyl, it was a music contest, not a caged grudge match.” The white mare gasped. “A caged mix-off grudge match! You’re a genius! I know where we can get some leotards.” Neon’s smile fell. She could not possibly be serious. “Whoa, there! Uh-uh. No way. Forget it. You are not putting me in a leotard,” he objected. Vinyl stuck her tongue out at him. “Aw, you’re no fun.” The stallion chuckled. “I think I can see why Sky does the business end of things at your place.” “Yeah,” Vinyl agreed. “But you like the other part of my idea, right? We do a little trash talk, throw some beats back and forth, the crowds will eat it up.” “Sounds pretty solid,” Neon replied. “A little competitive tension might make things more entertaining.” The white mare nodded. “Yep. And that, my friend, is why I’m the boss lady.” They continued walking, exchanging various taunts and jibes they could use against each other. A little ways into a more residential part of town, Vinyl looked down the street to her left. “Looks like this is my street,” she said. “So, last question. You think you wanna take the job? You’ve seen pretty much all of it. It’s probably kind of a letdown compared to Ebony, but it is what it is.” “No, it’s great,” Neon said. “I’d love the job. I have a few gigs in Canterlot and Manehatten, so I’ll need a few days off here and there.” “Got it. We can definitely work that out. See you tomorrow afternoon.” She turned down her street, then stopped. “Oh, and Neon?” “Yeah?” “Welcome to Ponyville.”