//------------------------------// // Explanation // Story: The Science of Music // by Majin Syeekoh //------------------------------// “Hey, Vinyl?” Vinyl looked over at Twilight from her fold-out lounge chair. “What?” “The music is terrible.” Vinyl chuckled as she looked at the throng over her turntables. “It’s a kid’s birthday party, what did you expect? Classical music?” Twilight shook her head. “No, I just wasn’t expecting the music to be so—” “Look, I get paid to play what the filly wants to hear. Besides, I like all kinds of music.” Vinyl used her magic to manipulate the turntable to fade into the next record. Twilight looked out at the crowd. They did all appear to be enjoying themselves, especially a young filly who was zipping around to each guest and talking animatedly. “Who’s that?” Twilight asked as she pointed  to the filly “Um...” Vinyl sat up and looked at where Twilight was pointing. “That’s the birthday girl. Zippo… Zippo something, I don’t know,” she said as she laid back down. Twilight glared at Vinyl and raised an eyebrow. “You don’t even know the name of the birthday girl?” Vinyl snorted. “I have it written down somewhere.” “Then why don’t you know her name if you’ve written it down?” “Because not all of us have photographic memories.” “The proper term is eidetic, Vinyl, and I don’t have an eidetic memory. I just remember what I write down.” Vinyl buried her face into her hoof. “Look, will you get off my case?” “I’m not getting on your case, I’m just pointing out that you should remember what you yourself wrote down—” “Which is getting on my case. Lay off.” “It just seems unprofessional, is all.” Vinyl sat up, removed her sunglasses, and glared at Twilight. “Listen. I don’t tell you how to be a Princess, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell me how to do my job. Do you under—” “Hi!” a hovering cream pegasus filly said. “Are you Princess Twilight Sparkle?” Both mares turned to look at the interloper. Vinyl slid her sunglasses back on and  leaned back into her lounge chair. Twilight smiled and nodded. “Yes, I am. And what’s your name?” “My name’s Zipporwhill!” “Well, hello, Zipporwhill! This is a very nice party you have here!” Zipporwhill nodded. “I know, isn’t it great? It’s even better that you’re here!” “Oh, no, it’s no big deal,” Twilight said, blushing. “I’m just accompanying my marefriend here,” she added,waving a hoof at Vinyl, who raised her hoof in response. Zipporwhill looked at Vinyl, then back at Twilight. “Why didn’t you bring your other marefriends?” “Other… marefriends?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Yeah! You know, like Rainbow Dash or Applejack.” “Yeah, why didn’t you bring your other marefriends, Twilight?” Vinyl teased with a smirk. “Um, well… you see...” Twilight looked down and twiddled her hooves. “They may be mares who are my friends, but they’re not my marefriends. Vinyl is my only marefriend.” “I don’t get it,” Zipporwhill replied. “How aren’t they your marefriends?” Twilight’s face burned a shade of roseate. “Uh… uhm…” “Ask your parents,” Vinyl said. “Okay!” Zipporwhill shot off. Twilight glared at Vinyl. “I had it under control.” “Oh, yeah,” Vinyl said with a chuckle, “you were a real smooth operator there.” “I was just about to explain it, thank you very much.” “Knowing you, you would have ended up accidentally explaining the birds and the bees to her. Or in our case, the birds and the birds… or would it be the bees and the bees?” Twilight snorted. “I got my information from a textbook. I never learned that euphemism.” “Yeah, I never got it either. Seemed like a lot of nonsense to explain something simple, really.” Twilight nodded. “I concur.” Twilight and Vinyl sat in silence, Twilight watching the party going on and Vinyl laying back with her eyes closed. Twilight noticed that the guests were still having a good time—even the adults, despite the horrific music playing. “So her name’s Zipporwhill?” Twilight facehooved. “Yes, her name’s Zipporwhill.” “‘Kay. Just checking.”