//------------------------------//
// Finished Things 
// Story: The Things Tavi Says 
// by shortskirtsandexplosions 
//------------------------------//

	"Wow, Vinyl.  That's... that's really nice."

"... ... ...?"  I look down from where I stand at my DJ booth inside Twilight's Castle Ballroom.  I'm maybe two hours into working on a new mix.  Although the speakers are booming, the volume's still at a very moderate level.  The crystalline walls of the chamber are enough to provide reverberating acoustics.

It happens to be Fluttershy who's standing beneath me.  Her ears twitch to the beat, and she smiles up at my booth.  "I think it's sounding very serene... and yet not overtly joyful.  Almost like something you'd listen to while it's raining outside.  Just... soft and... nice."

I arch an eyebrow.

"What she means to say is that it's very mellow," Rainbow Dash says, gliding in with Rarity trotting not too far behind.  "Perfect for her, of course."

"Uhm..." Fluttershy droops slightly.  "Is... is that a bad thing?"

"Pfft.  Not at all!"  Rainbow sticks her tongue out.  "If you're into computerized blues!"  She gives me a cockeyed glance.  "Why the sudden shift in style, Vinyl?"

I shrug, blinking behind my shades.

"We don't need sad-sounding trance!  We need... like... uppity... bouncy stuff!  Y'know... really rock it out!"  She smirks.  "We're gonna have a Gala here, after all!  And—I swear—it ain't gonna be like any of that stuffy orchestral stuff that they force us to listen to at Canterlot's party!"

"Don't forget, Rainbow," Rarity speaks.  "Octavia Melody is the other half of our hired muses, and she does her things far more traditionally than Vinyl."  She trots past the booth, carrying a saddlebag full of paper and pens.  "We'll undoubtedly have to make some concessions, especially since we'll be inviting dignitaries from all across Equestria and they'll be used to the norm.  Musically, that is."

"Euuughh..." Rainbow Dash slumps off her flapping wings.  "Fiiiine..."  She nevertheless squints at me.  "But still, you should be working on more awesome stuff, ya feel me?  At least mix it up some!"

I nod.

"I, for one, welcome a change in style," Rarity says with a smile.  "Allow Ms. Scratch to experiment.  An artist should be... artistic, after all.  Yes?"

"Mrmmff... sure thing.  I just don't want DJ-P0N3's music turning into DJ-P4TH3T1C."

"Uhm..."  Fluttershy lingers beneath my booth.  She leans up on flapping wings.  "If you finish this... this... whatever you're working on... you'll let me hear a sample, yes?"  She fidgets.  "I-I mean... if that's not too much to ask for and you don't mind sharing..."

I exhale, then nod with a calm smile.

"Oh!  Oh good..."  She giggles slightly, her cheeks rosy.  "I've been needing new tunes for cleaning the animal cages to."

"Come quickly, Fluttershy!" Rarity remarks, her voice like a rattling jar of pearls.  "We have much to discuss if we're to organize the Friendship Gala without a hitch!"

"Oh... uhm... c-coming, Rarity!"  Fluttershy scurries over.

I hear Rainbow's raspy black voice from the hallway past the nearest door.  "So, we're gonna start throwing all of our ideas into the pot and see which one sets off a spark first?"

"That's one way of putting it, darling," Rarity replies.  "Just as soon as Applejack and Pinkie Pie arrive."

"So... uh... why isn't Twilight joining us?  Organizing and planning is—like—totally her bag."

"I'm afraid Twilight is indisposed at the moment, dear."

"Oh no..." Fluttershy coos.  "Is she okay?  She's not feeling sick, is she?"

"Oh, I highly doubt that.  A princess is a busy thing to be, after all.  She's most likely off on a special meeting with Princess Celestia or Luna.  We'll be sure to compile her notes so we can share them with her when she returns."

"Say... you think Twilight would mind if we raided the royal pantry?" Rainbow's voice cracks.  "I'm starving for some hay fries or something."

"I'm sure Pinkie will bring something.  She's always resourceful in that matter."

"Oh!  That reminds me!  Rarity, we need to discuss how we should go about catering for the Friendship Gala.  This is supposed to be considerably less formal than Canterlot affairs.  Perhaps we should hire in someone to assist Pinkie Pie in the planning?"

Fluttershy's and the others' voices grow more and more distant, and here I am alone with my looping music tracks, attempting to form a mix out of inert noise.  At first, I was just fiddling around with various samples.  But now that I've drawn Fluttershy's attention, I feel pressured to come up with something thematically decent, based on the material I already have.

Usually, this isn't such a big deal.  I adore chances to challenge myself and show off.

But right now?  And especially today?

I just... don't feel quite like a royal minstrel.  When is this Friendship Gala thing?  I hope it isn't in a week or two.

With a sigh, I rotate the track back to the beginning, press some headphones to my ears, and throw myself skull-deep into the rhythm.

Just keep creating.

You don't have to focus on breathing or living.

Just... create.

It'll all work itself out into a final product.

At least some things in this world get finished...