> The Formative Years > by Lonepone > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > How Rude > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I sit down on my bed, half falling asleep while my music plays through my earbuds. My heart rate slows down and matches the beat of the music, and even my breathing slows down to match. I lay there, chin on my chest, music playing, for who knows how long. At one point I become slightly more conscious then usual, and turn up the volume to the point where it hurts my ears. I smile, constantly amazed by the quality of my headphones. Most other pairs would just produce an electronic buzzing for the bass at these levels, but mine are custom made with extra large drivers to eliminate that problem. A whole 12 millimeters. I slip back into almost uncouncessness. I'm awoken some time later by somepony saying my name. I'm not to sure since my music is still playing. I take one earbud out, and listen for a while. Yup, definetly somepony calling me. I pause my music and take out my earbuds, while still keeping my eyes closed. "What?!" I shout at the top of my lungs. "Be quiet, Vinyl" chastises the voice that woke me up. "I'm right here, there's no need to shout" I open my eyes, and see my dad standing on the door way to my room. "Whadya want?" I ask him, annoyed that he woke me up. He tosses an envelope onto the foot of my bed. "The mailmare delivered this for you" I sit upright, and take a swig from the 2 liter of Montain Dew that sits on my table 24/7. "Who's it from?" I ask him. "The University" he says. I snatch the letter off my bed, and look at it, or more specifically, the return address. And sure enough, it's from The University for Gifted Musicians. I rip it open, and pull out the enclosed letter so fast I almost rip it in half. I force my trembling hooves to be still enough so that I can read it. "Well?" My dad asks from my doorway "are you accepted?" I drop the letter, and start jumping up and down in excitement. He smiles. "I'm gonna take that as a yes" "YES, HOH MAH GAWD! IM IN!" I shout, practically screaming. "Calm down, Vinyl. No need to blow my eardrums. Your music does that already" "Sorry dad. I'm just so excited! And we get to see our dorms as early as tomorrow!" "We'll go in the morning, how does that sound?" I jump up and hug him. "Thanks dad!" "Let go, your gonna suffocate me!" He gasps out. "Sorry" I let go. "Hey, what time is it?" "About four o'clock. Wanna go out for dinner, to celebrate?" He offers. "Yeah, sure. Let me fully wake up first" I grab the 2 liter off my table, and look at how much is left. About a liter. "Should be enough" I say to myself. I pick it up, and chuck the whole thing at once, and then toss the empty bottle in my garbage can. "Good grief, child. Your gonna have an interesting 21st birthday..." My dad mumbles as he walks out of my room. I grab a mirror of my table, and look at my reflection in it. My hairs all messy, like it should be. I put the mirror down, put on my glasses, and walk out. Me and dad are walking the sidewalks of Manehatten when I ask "so where we going?" "Surprise" is all I can get him to say, however. We walk on for ten more minutes before we walk up to my favorite restaurant. The Apple Orchard Eatery. It's a really nice place, plays good music, and has amazing food. We walk in, sit down, and have our orders taken. It's a nice meal, but one event stuck out in particular. My favorite song comes on when I hear somepony at the table behind us start to talk. I'm very proud of my eavesdropping skills. "Ugh. Mother, why did we come here?" Says a high class voice, which sounds to be around my age. "Because I thought you would enjoy it, dear" says another high class voice, who must be her mother. "Who can enjoy this place. The lighting is terrible, the food is much to..." The voice pauses, searching for the right word "Cajun, and, oh, this sound that they call music!" Says the prissy voice. "I know, dear, this is a little to urban for my tastes as well, but I thought you, being younger, might enjoy it" says the mother. "Must I remind you, mother, that I am not like the other hooligans that I'm unfortunate enough to be in the same generation as" "I know, dear. I'm sorry, alright?" "Apologie accepted, mother" the voices pause as they eat a little more. My mind starts to focus on the music again, when the prissy voice speaks up again. "Hmph. I can't believe they have the audacity to call this music. Who even makes this stuff, anyways?" I can't hold my self back any longer. I turn around in my chair, and join their conversation. "Called Deadp0ny, you ever hear 'bout him?" I say. The mother and daughter look at me in surprise. I look back at them, more spicifically at the daughter. Grey coat, black mane, and a little pink bowtie. "Excuse me miss, but who are you, and why did you so rudely but into this conversation?" Asks the daughter. "My names Vinyl Scratch. What's yours?" I ask with a smile. "Hmph. Octavia. And I wouldn't dare give you my last name. And you still haven't answered the rest of my question" "Well, I heard you ask who makes dis stuff, so I answered you. Deadp0ny" I then turn back around in my seat, and continue eating. "The audacity of some ponies these days. How rude" the daughter, Octavia, says. "I know. I can't believe it" the mother says. The waiter comes and picks up our plates. My dad leaves a 5 bit tip, and I add 10 more to it. On the way out, I turn and say to the earth pony "oh yeah, nice bowtie" before chuckling and walking out of the building. > First Impressions > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vinyl,wake up" my dad says, shaking my shoulder. "Idonwanna geddup" I mumble. "Come on. We're gonna go see your dorm, and possibly whoever your sharing it with" "Wadtimeisit?" I say, slowly waking up. "7 o'clock. You're gonna have to get up at this time for classes" "Eerrgh. Fine. Ahm geddin up. Where my dew?" I ask, blindly swiping at my table, trying to make contact with a non existent montain dew bottle. "You finished it yesterday" he says. "Celestia dammit" I drag my self out of bed, and shuffle over to my mini fridge. I swing open the door, squint in the light of the fridge, and look at my selection of sodas and energy drinks. I eventually grab a Khaos Monster, pop it open, and take a large swig. I shake my head, messing up my hair. "So when we leaving?" I ask, still fighting off the effects of sleep. "Soon as you're ready" he says. "Then lets go" I say. We arrive at the on campus dormitory building, and walk in the front door. There's a lady standing in te entrance way, giving ponies directions to there dorm room. "Hello. Name please?" The lady asks us. "Vinyl Scratch. A.K.A Dj Pon3" I say proudly. "Yeah, yeah" she checks her list. "Third floor, suite 312. Go up the elevator and take a left" she gives us a key. We walk forward, find the elevator, and go up to the third floor on the top. We get out, take a left as directed, and walk along until we find my room. I fit the key in with my magic, and open the door. It's a lot better then I was expecting, but not as nice as I was hoping. There's three rooms, a dining room/living room combo, the bedroom with two beds, and a full bathroom. We spend most of the day moving in what I'll need, and by 6 in the evening where done. I sit in the coach in the living room, playing my Xbox I just hooked up to the TV, drinking more Montain Dew, when the door opens. Without looking up, I say "hey dad" A familiar yet unknown voice talks. "I think that's your room mate, dear" "Well of course it is, mother, who else would be in this room?" Says the prissy voice. No way. I pause my game and look at the newcomer. Same black hair, same grey coat, same purple eyes the same shade as my glasses. And then she sees me. "Mother, what is she doing here?" "You know, I'm right here. You could ask me directly" I saw, slightly annoyed. "Fine" she says, almost spitting the word out. "What are you doing here?" "Well, after I saw you last night, I decided to stalk you home. I found out you where going here, so I decided to get here early and set everything up for you" I look at her seriously. "Excuse me?" "I'm kidding. I'm going to college here. And it seems like your the lucky person that gets to room with me!" "I would hardly consider that lucky" she says. "Whatever" I say, as continue playing my game. Over the next couple of hours, they start moving all of her stuff in. I then see her dad, who likes slightly like her, just like her mom. Towards 8, after her parents left, I hear a loud crash come from my room. I pause my game, and rush in there too see what happened. Earlier in the day, I set up a 5.2 surround sound sound system. Which, because of them, has just lost the back right speaker. "What did you do?!" I shout. "I don't know! I was putting up a picture frame, and my hoof must have bumped it." She replies. I set the speaker upright, and plug my iPod directly into it. It's broken. "YOU BUCKIN BROKE IT!" I scream at her. "Oh well, just buy a new one. I doubt they're that expensive" she says calmly. "'Just buy a new one, its not expensive'" I mimic her. "Does 200 bits per speaker sound cheap to you?! You're lucky I got a spare at home. If I didn't, you'd be paying for a new one!" I stare at her, thinking of a way to get revenge. "Why are you staring at me?" She asks me. "I get the larger bed" I say. "What?" "You heard me. The larger bed. It's mine. You owe me" She throws a hoof in the air. "Fine. You want to be childish, go ahead" I stare at her evilly for a little while longer, then stalk out of the room, as sit back in front of my game. At about 1 in te morning I fall asleep in front of the still on TV. "Really?" "Huhh?" I ask sleepily. "I don't even know why I'm waking you up" Octavia says. I smile sleepily at her. "Then why you doin it?" "Because I'm tired of your games main theme playing over and over" she answers smartly. I turn the system off using the controller. I take a drink from my ever present Montain Dew. "Your going to have a heart attack from all that caffeine you know" she informs me. "Aw, your so cute, getting worried about me" I say jokingly. "As if. I'm actually looking forward to that day" "Ouch. So what do you play?" "Stringed instruments. Mainly my cello, but I'm capable with any similar stringed instrument. And I'm doubting you have ever touched an instrument in you life?" "Nice try. I played mainly trombone for a few years in high school, along with a collection of other instruments. I then quit because I'm not a huge fan of classical" "How can you not love classical? The requiems, the aires, the symphony in whole?!" "Boring. This" -I start up my laptop- "is what I call" -I pull up my music program- "music. Get your cello" "What?" "You heard me. Get your cello, and play something" "Alright" she walks into our bedroom, and comes out carrying her instrument. She takes the bow, and slides it across the strings of her instrument. I flick on the record button. She plays low, sad notes; high, soaring notes; ad everything in between. It's beautiful. Why did I ever give up playing the cello, my first instrument, in the first place? I click off the record when she's done, and then play it back for her to hear. I then add a simple drum line, along with a simple wub pattern. I add a synth, along with a symple piano sample loop. By the time I'm done, I have a basic, crude, song. "See?" I ask her. "This is horrible! You completely defiled the sound of my instrument!" She says in horror. I'm shocked at her reaction. "No, I've added to it" I say stubbornly. "But all those mechanical sounds. They're horrible!" "It's called synth sounds, dude. And its a part of music now. Whatever" I saw to kill the argument. "You play any games?" "I have no need for them. I read, I like storys" "Games have stories. Role playing games are your type of game" "No type of game is my game!" She insists. "Stubborn, eh?" I chuckle. Somepony knocks on the door. "Who is it?" I shout. "Me, Vinyl. I got the speaker for ya" I walk to the door and let dad in. He carries it back into our room, and leaves it there for me to hook up. "So this your room mate? She looks kinda familiar" my dad asks me. "Yeah, her name is Octavia. I talked to her last night at the restaurant. She was the one complaining about the music, remember?" "Oh yeah. So what instrument do you play, Octavia?" "Cello, although I am proficient in a lot of stringed instruments, sir" "Sir?" He laughs. "Have fun you two" he says. "Definetly will" I say. "I really doubt it" says Octavia. "I'll give you two some privacy" he says, winking at me. I roll my eyes. He then leaves, shutting the door behind him. "So..." I say, not wanting an akward silence to develop. "I have to leave. I need to get groceries" Octavia says, then she also leaves after grabbing her bit bag. "Yeah, have a nice day while I'm out shopping, Vinyl" I stop and think for a moment. "Celestia damn it, I'm talking to myself" I say out loud. "And yet your still talking to yourself out loud to acknowledge the fact that your talking out loud" I say back. "Celestia damn it!" I walk back to my room, and start setting up the new speaker in the corner of the room. It takes a few hours since I have to calibrate as tune it due to lack of use. At about three I finally finish, so I lay on my bed and play a new track I got. I've almost fallen asleep when a voice startles me. "Well, you've gotten my attention, now what?" Says a handsome black stallion pagasus standing in my room. He's got a blue and black spiked main, a short blue tail, and a Beats headphone set around his neck. And the brightest blue eyes ever. "How did you-" "You know they got this magical invention called locks, right?" "Damn it, Octavia forgot to lock the door. What are you doing in my room? "Well, I was walking down the hall and I couldn't help but hear scary monsters and nice parasprites. So I decided to check it out. Names Hard Sound. You?" "Vinyl Scratch..." I say, still shocked. "Well, me and another guy are in the room next door. Come and say hi sometime" with that he turned around and left. And while he was turning around I got a good look at his cutie mark, a white subwoofer. After he left and the song was over, I went and tried to push him out of my mind by playing some Midnight Club: Los Pegasus, but to no avail. I hear someone try and open the door, only to find out its locked. "Who is it?" Octavia answers me "It's me, Vinyl, let me in" I trot to the door and unlock it, then go back to my game. "Vinyl, get over here and help" Octavia commands. "Fine" I turn the system off, and help unpack all the groceries. "Did you get me anything?" I ask hopefully. "No, just because your dad shops for you, doesn't mean I will. You have to get your own stuff, but I'll share the basics until you get your own" Ouch. That hurts because its true. But I hide the pain. "Ok" is all I say. After we're done, I check the clock. 8 o'clock. I know it's early, but I got class tomorrow so I want to be ready. "I'm gonna sleep. Night" "Aren't you going to at least shower?" "No. I've done nothing but sit around and play video games all day. I don't need to" Octavia gives me a disgusted look. "That's nasty. You should shower once a day, at least" "Whatever. I'll shower in the morning before class" I turn around and walk into our room. Eventually Octavia starts playing a beautiful peice on her cello. The sound of it gently lulls me to sleep > First Day (that I should be) In Class > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I stretch out in my bed, enjoying the fact that for once I got a full nights sleep. I sit up, and for once I don't have the need to consume large amounts off caffeine to get started. I slip out of bed, and walk into the bathroom to shower, as I said I would last night. I turn on the speaker system I've installed, and set a good trance mix playing. I turn the heat up all the way on the water, and then step under the hot flow. I whimper a little as the hot water unknots some of the tension in my muscles. I stand there for a few minutes, leaning my head up against the wall, and let the hot water run over me. I finally go to grab my shampoo, only to realize I don't have it. I instead grab Octavia's, flip open the cap, and take a tentative sniff. Coffee beans. Delicate, yet seductive. Not mine exactly my style, but it will do for a day. I step out of the shower, and give my hair and body a quick pat down, leaving my hair to air dry to get my normal look. I go into the kitchen, when I notice the time. It's 2! How did I sleep in so late? I throw on my saddle bags, check the class I'm in, grab my laptop, and dash out of the room at speeds worthy of a little blue hedgehog. I arrive in front of the class room door, and put my laptop in my saddle bags. I look, and notice that Octavia is sitting next to the only open seat in the class room. Thats my goal. I enter the class backwards, and start walking backwards to the target. The entire class is now staring at me, but more importantly, the professor is looking at the board. I keep an eye on him as I walk baskwards, and as soon as he turns around I start walking towards the door. "And where do you think your going? Sit back down" he snaps at me, and then continues his lecture. "Sorry Mr." -I glance at his desk- "Noteworthy. I'll go sit down". I then walk non chalanty to the chair, and sit down next to Octavia. A couple ponies laugh in appreciation when they realize what I just did. Not Octavia though. Musical History. I snort to myself. Who needs to know about the past? There's a reason that these ponies where left behind, and that's because better ponies came along to replace them. Octavia seems to just be eating this up though. I scan through the rest of the classroom, staring at other ponies manes, since we're in the back of the class. There's a lime green pony with green and white hair that's sticks out, as then just a classroom full of bland manes, since the green one seems to be the only one with a sense of style. Or a modern one at least. And then I see a familiar spiked black and blue mane, and a black coat underneath that. Maybe this class won't be so uninteresting after all. I conspicuasly slip an earbud in my ear and tune out what the professor is saying. Who cares about once great now forgotten ponies from ages past? They're not relevant any more! I spend the remaining hour of the class like that, tuning out whatever the professor says in favor of what Deadp0ny has to offer my ears. Before I know it, he dismisses the class. I'm the first one up and out the door, despite the fact I'm in the back of the room. I have to strongly resist the urge to shout 'seeya, bitches!' as I walk out. "Hey Vinyl, that was pretty cool what you did" I look over at my new companion. "Hey, Sound. I'm just awesome like that. Why, you want me to teach you my secrets?" "Maybe" he laughs as he walks off. I walk bac to my dorm, Octavia trailing behind me. I walk in, throw my bag on my bed, and walk back out intending to turn on my Xbox and chill out to some 'MienKraft!'. But we don't always get what we want, do we? There's a very angry Octavia standing in the door way. I try and walk around her, but she repeatedly blocks my path. "We'll, excuse me, princess" I say, stepping aside, and geusturing her into the room. "What is your problem?" She asks in that prissy whiny voice. "Hohoh my god, your worse then Rarity. Right now, my problem is you, standing in the door way, seperating me from my Xbox. So..." I pause for dramatic effect before shouting "MOVE!" "We have a 1000 word assignment, and you want to play some stupid game?" "We have an assignment?" "Yes, about the 5 great composers from the classical age! Where you even listening?" "Nope. Had my earbuds in the whole class. Why lie?" "I should just report you! And so your going to waste all the money you spent on going here, only to sleep in for two classes, miss all but the last hour of the third, and the zone out for that hour?" "Actually, sweet heart" I say sarcastically "I'm here on grants. Not all of us have a rich mommy and daddy like you do. So now stop being an arrogant little bitch, and get outta the way" This has the desired effect on her. "Good" I say, and sit in front of my game for the next couple hours, eating some ramen for dinner. Towards nine I slip into bed, staring icilly at the mare in the bed next to mine until I fall asleep. > Suit yourself > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Vinyl, wake up" says a voice as it shakes my shoulder. "Eh?" "Vinyl, come on, wake up. I'm determined to make sure your at least up in time for class" says Octavia. "Celestia dammit, why does every chapter start with me waking up somehow?" I mumble. "What?" "Ah yahm!" I mumble loudly. "Did you at least grab my Mountain Dew?" "What? No" "Problema número uno" I say under my breath. "Problem number two" I say louder "is why your doing this" "Well" she says in her annoying prissy voice "I felt sorry for our argument last night, so I did your assignment for you, and I'm determined to wake you up in time for class. Hopefully then you'll be willing to apologize" "So your doing this hoping I'll apologize?" "Yes. Last night was your fault" "Problema número tres" "Speak English please" "Fine. Problem number three. Your such a stuck up brat that you insist that it was my fault. But you know what, I'll drop it since you did my assignment" She seems to take this as a step forward, and so starts to walk out of the room. "I knew you'd see it my way" "Although you know what works better then anything else?" Personality wise, not my type. "What?" She says exasperated. Although she's kinda cute when she's angry. "Come here and I'll show you" And it'll be more much more exciting to have something, or somepony, to look forward at the end of the day. She walks towards my bed. I quickly look at the clock. We got a little time. When she's within range, I bring a hoof around the back of her neck, and try and pull her down for a kiss. And she reacts strongly. She pulls back, and I let go. "Vinyl, I hope to Luna that was a joke, and a bad one" "Never done it with another mare before? Used to big, handsome stallions in bed?" She blushes a bright red. Damn, she's cute when she's upset. "My. It. You. Why? Does" she stammers. "My personal life in that area is my own. And how could you even think about something like that right now?" "Well, I saw that we had some time on the clock, so I decided I would wanna have a little fun" "No, that... Uugghh. I'm a mare. You're a mare" "That's the point" I have a feeling that I know where this is going. "That's not right!" And it went there. "Suit yourself. I'll find somepony else then. New rule then: sock on the door handle, don't come in, no matter what you hear" She stares at me. "I'm gonna go take a shower, if you need anything, don't knock" I brush past her, and walk into the shower. I can just see her going to write a letter home to mommy and daddy about how her room mate is a terrible sin upon Celestia's Equestria. But this isn't just Celestia's planet. While Celestia may oppose ponies like me from basic rights, we do have a champion from royalty. Luna. She has been the largest supporter of equality in equestria. I push the politics from my mind. I'm not planning on marriage, so why bother. And with her viewpoint, I won't be trying again at anything within the next 100 years. I turn on the hot water, and just stand there, thoughts blank. I pop open the shampoo bottle, and the smell of coffee beans waft over me. How nice it would be to be smelling it directly from her hair, not the bottle. My mind wanders, envisioning what could be happening right now. Octavia, instead of pulling back, leaned forward. How, at first, we would kiss slowly, exploring, and then more passionately, as our hooves roamed each others bodies. I could've turned off the clock, and not worried about classes today... My mind snaps back to myself, with one if my front hooves dangerously close to being in between my back legs. 'No' I tell myself. 'But why not? Your a 19 year old mare, you have every right to' I counter. 'Because I live with her, and that could get odd' 'But your the great DJ Pon3, surely you can handle a little crush. Go ahead' 'No. Not only am I living with her, but I'm sleeping in the same room as her. I'm sure I can find some mare or colt friend to be with' I walk out of the shower, pat myself down, and hesitantly walk into the main room. Octavia has already left. The assignment is nowhere to be found. I'm glad she's left. I need a little time away from her, and she probably would be in full bitch mode anyways. And so would I, I think. I pull down a box of cereal, and look at my full schedule. First up, I notice I got two rotations, red days and blue days. Three classes each day, each class three hours long. Yesterday was a red day. Basic Musical Technique first, then General Fitness, a lunch break, and then Musical History last. Today is a blue day, which are gonna be my favorites, I can tell. Basic Music Suites first block, and then Drums next. I got lunch, and then DJing for beginners next. I'm not a beginner, but the school procedure is that no matter what, you cannot skip to more advanced classes unless your teacher moves you up. I grab my laptop, and head out the door for my class. > Roll Call > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I walk out the front door of my dorm, and check my class list. Basic Musical Suites up first, with a certain Doctor Edit Track. I walk along the hallways, lookin for the correct classroom. 311... 312... 313... 314... Hold up a sec. I check my list again. Room 314. I moonwalk backwards to the classroom door, and open the door. I walk in, and take a look around me. First one in. "FIRST BLOOD!" I shout, the gamer inside peeking out. This wakes up the teacher, who I hadn't noticed. Colt, unicorn, short, brown coat, a sound line as a cutie mark, brown eyes, brown spiked hair, and some odd red hat. He looks at me. I look back at him. "How's it goin' teach?" "Good?" He replies questioningly. "And who might you be?" I take a second look at him. He's not that old. Maybe only a few years older the I am, four at a max. "Vinyl Scratch, teach" "Ah. So..." He trails off. I notice him give me a quick look over. I might have a little fun teasing him. "So what's that red thing, teach?" I'm so fascinated by it that I'm not even checking out the computers in the room, a first for me. "This? It's called a Fez" "Oh, wonderful, I know what it's called. Now I totally know what it is, don't I, teach?" I stop staring at the thing, the fez, just long enough to look at his face. I'm surprised me calling him teach isn't getting on his nerves. He chukles. "Well, this class isn't gonna be boring. It comes from Saddle Arabia, I was off having an adventure there, helped a guy out, and he gave me this" "So why do you wear it?" Is that guy and him... I mentally gesture. "I wear a fez now. Fezzes are cool. As for that guy, Vinyl, he was a complete stranger" I think he knows what I'm doing. Time to find out. "So you gotta home life, Edit?" He takes me using his first name in stride, as if students hit on him all the time, although he seems slightly off balance. "No, Ms. Scratch, I do not" He's almost visibly sweating. As if calling me Ms. Vinyl would have an effect. I get up from my desk, and walk towards him, over exaggerating my hip sway. "Well, you gotta get that fixed, don't you, Mr. Tracks?" I say softly as I siddle up to him. The door bangs open. "Hey, am I late?" Says a male voice. I take a few backwards steps, and turn around. I can hear Edit Tracks sigh in relief. Standing in front of me is an average stallion. Nothing unique. "No, your a little early, in fact" I say a little iritated He looks at me, mouth wide open in shock and surprise. "No way" "What?" "Is it really you?" "Who?" "Are you the DJ pon3?" Time to fuck with his head a little. "Nope. That's my sister" "Woah, what's that like?" I can hear bits of a surfer dude accent creeping into his voice. "Fucking with you. Yeah it's me" "For you, anytime" it takes me a little while to get what he's saying, but I eventually do. And Edit Tracks reaches the same conclusion at the same time as me, but he laughs. I turn around. "Aw, shut the hell up. As for you" I turn to the stallion "no. Just no" I turn around to sit in my seat, but I catch Edit's expression, which is priceless. I'm still laughing as I slip my headphones over my ears, shut my eyes, and wait for class to start. I can just hear the stallion tellin one of his friends about me. I just grin with my eyes closed. I hear the class around me fill in, but I keep my eyes shut, even as I hear whispers about a certain DJ pon3 sweep the classroom. So who is this DJ pon3 that everyone's so hyped about? I ask myself. "Alright, everypony, class is starting. Roll Call" Edit Tracks announces. I slip off my headphones, even though they're not playing, and open my eyes. "Musical Masterpeice?" "Here" A green mare says. "Technical Audio?" "Right here" says a red colt. "Visual Audio?" "in da howse!" Shouts a purple colt. "Lone Pone? Did I pronounce that right?" "Nuh uh" says a black stallion. "You pronounced it loney pony. It's loan pown. Oh, and here" "I see there's another smart ass in the room" I say to Lone Pone. "You have no clue" He replies with a wide grin. "Metal Flare?" The teacher continues. The classroom is silent. "Metal Flare?" He asks again. "Wub? I mean, what?" Says a bright red stallion. Edit Tracks rolls his eyes. "Harmonic Synth?" The stallion that walked in first replies. "Rebel Bass?" The classroom is silent. Eventually, a kid quietly says "Sir, I've found the Rebel Bass" "So your Rebel Bass?" Edit Tracks asks. "Yeah. You could call me that" "Fucking kids" Edit tracks says in an undertone. "And last but not least" he seems to blush, just a little "Vinyl Scratch" "I'm not here" "Well hahaha, Vinyl. So" he looks at all eight of us "small class. You all know the basics of using single instrument track line editors?" We all respond in a positive way. "Good. For the first day of class, I've always tried to judge how talented my students are. Since I'm no fan of tests, what I do is just let you have free reign over the first class period to create a song, or at least a simple beat. You must use one of the computers provided, since we're all using the same program, but you can use your personal computer to create tracks. You have two hours. Go!" I sit down I front of a computer, and go to the program I need. Frootyloops. What an interesting name. I've never flat out made my own song, the most creative I been is doing remixes. The software is like what I use at home, just slightly out of date. I add some drums, cymbals, and high hats, and just build the song from there. Before I know it, I'm done, and so is class. "Alright, everypony, leave your computers on, save the song to the desktop of the computer, give it your name, and your free to go" I do as he says, and I'm the first one out the door. If I walk fast, maybe I can stop at the dorm and grab a snack. And some pop. I'm walking down the hall way when it hits me, the blackouts I've had. I can feel myself shake a little, then stumble, and then just hit the ground hard. I grit my teeth, and wait for it to pass. It eventually does, and I go about my day as if nothing happened. > Fresh Start > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- And here it is, room 216, the drums room. I walk in on a full classroom. "Look who decided to show up, our celebrity student" says the teacher menacingly. She's an older mare, probably ten years older then dad. "You missed roll call" "You missed me? How sweet" I say. "As if. I was just about to get class started when you rudely budged in. Now, sit, unless you want detention" I back off slightly, and take a seat in the back. "No no no, I think the seats up here in the front are much more comftorable, Vinyl" "Nah, this one is much better then the ones up there, I think" I say. "Vinyl. Front seat. Now!" She shouts the last word. "Whatever you say, teach" I pick my bag up and sit in the front row. "Now, as I was saying before we where do rudely interrupted, is that for the first day I give out a 100 question pop quiz" The entire class collectively groans. The teacher walks around, handing out one test to each student. My guess is that this is a full class, about 25 other ponies. Eventually she reaches my desk, ad hands me my test. "Now, lets see if there's any brains behind that famous face, or if that's all you are" she says. I look down at my test, and I realize just how out if my depth I am. I never even touched an instrument in school, and here I am, hoping to be some huge, bad ass DJ? I take a quick look around me, looking for someone to leach off. Found one better. There's Hard Sound, sitting one seat in front of me to the left. I slowly start copying his answers. It's the end of the class period, and we give our tests back to the teacher. I walk out the hall, and try and catch up with Hard Sound. No luck though. I walk back to my dorm, when I realize how much of an idiot I am. "Idiot!" I shout at myself, and then laugh. I walk back out into the hall, and go one door down. And the door is unlocked. I walk in, not knowing if Sound is here. "Hello gorgeous" somepony says from right behind me. I slowly turn around, and look at Hard Sound. "Hello handsome" I say. "Your either buttering me up, or your just really desperate. Which one?" "Neither. Came here to say thanks, and if there's anything you need, ask" "And why are you thanking me? This isn't an everyday occurrence, normally all I do is piss ponies off" he says with a smile. "That test in drums. I had no clue about any of it, so I stole your answers" "Ah, wonderful! I have a student" "Nah, you got a friend you unknowingly helped" "So, as it turns out, I do need your help. I got a job for you" This grabs my attention. "Details. Now" "I got a party going on Friday night, but my DJ can't make it. Any good? Set will be provided" "You bet your wings I'm in. What time shouget be there?" "Get here at around 7, and maybe we'll have some time for the pre party. And as for your payment" "What?" "You can take the set home. I'll help you carry it, but"- I cut him off. "THANK YOU! Oh my god thank you! All of the mixes I've done online used a virtual set on my laptop, but now I got a real one! Thanks!" "Hehehe. Glad to see your excited. So yeah, I'll help you carry it, but see if your friend can help" "My friend?" "Yeah, your room mate, that earth pony" "Not my friend. She's a she-demon I have the bad luck to be trapped with" maybe that's a little bit of a stretch, but I don't think so. "That bad? Well, I'll get one of my guys to help" "Sweet. See you Friday night" "See ya" I walk out of his dorm, and go back to mine. I grab a sandwich out of the fridge, and start munching on it, absent mindedly staring off into space. And space is staring back. "AGH! What the hell, Octavia?!" "So your back" "Nope. What you see is a halographic representation of me" she gives me a look. "Yes, it's me" "Well, I would like to sincerely apologize for the way I conducted my self this morning. It was explicitly rude of me" Damn, is she trapped in the Middle Ages? "So your saying sorry?" "Yes. I regret how I acted. I was shocked by how you acted, as no one has ever shown any interest in me before other then when they need help with something" she looks as if she said to much. "I was simply not expecting your behavior, and I reacted without thinking" "But isn't that what makes life fun?" "But I was rude and impolite" "Forget about it" I know I won't. "So could we start over?" "Yeah, I guess. A few ground rules if your living with me though. Fridge must have food, Xbox must have power, and don't tell me what to do. Deal?" I hold out my hoof. "I suppose that is a reasonable request. All I ask of you is that you don't touch my cello" we shake hoofes. I go back to eating my sandwich. "So what is your family like?" Octavia asks me. "Listen, Octavia. We're not friends, and we don't have to be. And unless you enjoy Dubtrot and clubbing, it will be almost impossible for us to be friends. Lets just keep a respectful distance" "Alright. I agree, it would be rather difficult to maintain a healthy friendship when our likes and personalitys vary so much from each other" she walks out the front door, leaving me with my sandwich. "Dude, her English is so wierd, it sounds so old fashioned" I tell my sandwich. > Your Student, DJ Pon3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I look at the clock on the wall. Time to be heading off to my next class, DJ for beginners. I arrive at the class room a few minutes before class starts. I walk in to find the classroom about half full. "Take a seat" a male voice says from the front. I look, and see a stallion that looks a lot like Lone Pone. Interesting. And then the stallion looks at me. "Hold up, what's your name?" "Vinyl Scratch, yours?" "Mr. Pone. Your voice sounds familiar. Have I seen you before?" I sigh. While its cool to be well known online, it can be a pain in the flank in real life. "Yeah, probably because of the music you son listens to. DJ Pon3" "No way, your DJ Pon3?!" He says loudly. Loud enough that the entire class hears it. All at once, all chatter ceases, and all their heads swivel to me. God that's creepy. "Class, stay calm. In sure miss Vinyl wouldn't like to be rushed" "Got that right" I say, and the class goes back to whatever they where doing "how did you know I had a kid?" "I had class with him this morning" "Ah, Music Suites?" "Yup" "Well, alright. Keep an eye in him, alright?" I laugh. "Not the best idea to tell me to keep an eye on him" He looks at me. "Good point. Go take your seat, class is gonna start" "Alright" I go and willingly take a seat in the front. "So, how's everypony doing?" He asks the class, which mostly replies positively. "That's good. Lets go around and say our favorite song. I'll start, and mine is Wub and Tolerate, Pon3 remix" he says, looking at me with a smile. The class goes around, saying everything from Deadpon3 to Boargore. Eventually my turn. "Scary Monsters and Nice Parasprites, Neon Sky Remix" a mare by the window looks up. "What?" She says absent mindedly. "I was saying my favorite song" I tell her. "Don't like it?" "No... That's my song. I'm Neon Sky" "That's awesome! I've always wanted to meet you!" "Oh my Celestia, that's"- she's cut off by Mr. Pone. "Sorry, girls, but it's not socializing time. There'll be plenty of time while I'm lecturing" he says jokingly. We get the point, though, and stop talking. The class continues on with a ride variety of EDM songs, and I look at neon sky. She looks a lot like that Rainbow Dash, if Rainbow Dash was neon colored and a unicorn. Her cutie mark is a pair of green and orange glow sticks. Before I know it, everyone has said their song except Neon Sky. "Raise Your Weapon, Madeon Extended Remix" "Interesting choice" Mr. Pone says. "Alright class, what do you want to do know?" He looks at us for answers. "No takers? Well, I've compiled a playlist of your songs, so lets hit play, shall we?" I can hear a faint British accent in his voice. He twirls around, taps a key on the keyboard of his computer, and the music starts playing. "Well, about 30 minutes of the class block left, do whatever you want as long as no one gets killed, or anything like that" I walk over to Neon Sky. "Hey" "That's so awesome the great DJ pon3's favorite song is one I remixed!" "Yeah, great. So..." Now that I'm here to talk with her, I don't know what to say. "Can I have your autograph?" Someone asks from behind me. I turn around to see Mr. Pone holding a picture of me. Me, headphones over my ears, eyes closed. When was this taken? "My, my, Mr. Pone. Keeping pictures of your students?" "No, it's not like that" "Alright, I'll trust you on this one" I say with a smile. I take the pen he's offering, and sign in big looping letters: Your Student, DJ Pon3. "Thank you! My son will love this" "Whatever. I better not find any more pictures of me" He laughs, and walks to another group of students. "Are you always like that?" Neon Sky asks me. I turn to her. "Like what?" "Like... That. Like your flirting with everyone, but not meaning any of it. And your attitude towards everyone" "Yeah. How I normally act. Why, problem?" "Not really. I'm just a little bit more reserved" "Alright. So you in a dorm, or you renting a place?" "I prefer the dorm life to renting" "Yeah, I'm in a dorm too. What you doing this Friday, from 7 to, oh, I don't know, the next morning?" "Nothing. Why?"she asks suspiciously. "I'm DJing for a party. I could use an assistant, hint hint" "Oh my gosh that would be so cool. Yes. Definetly yes" "Cool. Where's your dorm?" "Second floor, right across the hall from the main flight of steps" "Alright, see you then" The bell rings, and I shoot out the door, heading for my dorm > Letters To And From Home > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey Dad. It's Wednesday night, and I decided to send you an email. School is going great, and I've made a few friends. There's Hard Sound, he's in the dorm next to me. He's a lot like me, same music tastes, likes the same stuff, all that. He's a black Pegasus, with black and blue hair. Do you remember when I showed you that remixed song by Neon Sky? Guess who I have class with. Neon Sky. It's so cool. Hard Sound 'hired' me as his DJ on Friday night, and so I'm bringing along Neon Sky. I can't wait. Classes are fun, I've got two rotations, red and blue. Red days (today) I got Musical Technique, General Fitness, a lunch break, and then Musical History. I don't like red days, there boring and I have Octavia, my room mate, in all those classes. I love blue days though. Musical Suites, Drums, lunch, and then DJing for Beginners. Not like I'm a beginner though. My room mate, Octavia, is as opposite from me as possible. She's old fashioned, very conservative and uptight, and just different. Hope everything's good at home. Lots of love, your daughter, Vinyl Scratch Hello, Vinyl Nice to know your making some friends. If you come home this weekend, bring Neon Sky or Hard Sound with you. I'd really like to meet them, espicially since Sky is your favorite artist and Sound is supposedly just like you. I think this is the first time you have ever considered something educational fun. Who are you, and what did you do with my daughter? Remember, Vinyl, there are a lot of ponies out there that don't like what you like. Always keep an open mind. Everything is going good here, although the house is quiet and lonely with our you here. Lots of love, Dad Hello Mother, Father, I am writing to you as I said I would on Wednesday night. Classes are educational, as they should be. There are a few other exceptional musicians here that I am getting to know rather well. I would love for you to meet them some time. My room mate, Vinyl Scratch, is as different from me as possible. She got in on grants, and only because she can hit play on discs that plays the noise children call music now adays. On top of that, she tried kissing me yesterday morning! The nerve. I hope all is well with you and the kids. Octavia To our dearest Octavia, Stay away from that mare. She is no good, and will only cause trouble.We tried talking to the headmaster to get you a room with a proper musician, but to no avail. We are sorry. We are glad the classes are good, and joyful that there are still other musicians like you. All is good here with the two children. Mother and Father > Come And Get It > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- My alarm clock wakes me up with its harsh beeping. "Fuck you" I growl, sending a blast of magic at it and making it explode. "You must control your anger, young one" Octavia tells me. "Aw, fuck you too" I tell her. "That is hardly an appropriate response" "Whatever" I get up, and walk into the bathroom. It's 6:39 in the evening. Friday. Why did I set my alarm? Oh yeah, DJ night, and I gotta get Neon Sky. I walk into the kitchen, as grab a 1 liter of my Montain Dew. "That foul sludge you drink is going to kill you, you know" "Yeah right" "It will. Mark my word, Vinyl, your kidneys will one day give out, you'll be in critical condition in the hospital, and I shall laugh. Not very lady-like, but I shall" "Okay, Octavia" I walk out the door. "See ya" "Don't come back" "Don't bother leaving the door unlocked" I walk down the steps, and arrive at Neon Sky's room. I knock. "Who is it?" She calls out. "Me, Neon Sky. Ready?" "Not quiet yet. Come on in, doors unlocked" "Coolio" I open the door, and let myself in. She's got a nice place. Same floor plan as mine. "In the bathroom. Make yourself at home" she calls out. "Don't mind if I do" I walk into the kitchen and start snacking on some chips, then walk to the living room and flop on the couch, chips in my magical field. "Alright. Done. Ready to go?" She says from the bathroom doorway, steam still issuing from it. "Yeah, follow me" I lead her up to Sounds room. "So, Neon Sky, you ever done a live event before?" "Call me Sky. And nope" "Wonderful. First for both of us" we're I front of my door. "Hey, want a Montain Dew?" I ask, geusturing to my own. "Yeah, thanks" "No prob" I try opening the door. It's locked. "Octavia, lemme in" "I'm sorry, I didn't happen to hear a please" "Octavia, can you please unlock the door?" "No, I don't think I can" "OCTAVIA, CELESTIA DAMMIT, LET ME IN OR ELSE" I pound on the door. "It's no problem, really" Sky says. "Fine" I stop hammering on the door. "She always like that?" "Yup. 100% grade A bitch" "Wow" I knock on Hard Sound's door. "Come on in, Vinyl" I open the door, and me and Sky walk in. The living room is covered in floor to ceiling poster. Mares, famous ponies, mares, various types of speakers, and more mares adorn them. "Nice place" I tell Sound, who's sitting on a couch, watching some animated show. The only two characters on screen are a young stallion and a mare in tight clothing. "Who's your friend?" He asks, not even looking up. "Neon Sky" she introduces herself. "I'll be DJing with Vinyl tonight" "Cool" "Yo, Sound! Do I hear female voices?!" A voice shouts from the room. "No, Blare, you hear nothing. Shut up and stay in your room until I leave" he shouts back. "DICK! I know that's your girlfriend!" "Fuck you, Blare, fuck you" "I dunno bout fuckin you, but I'd probably fuck her" "Both of us?" Sky says. He falters a moment before replying. "Come on in, ladies" "Tomorrow night. We got other places to be tonight" I say. "I'm sure we got time for a quickie, right?" "Not really. Later, Blare" Sound says. "Follow me" he lead us out of the building. "We're going to a warehouse my friend is renting. We've got a bunch of people there, so be prepared. I've got two guys to help carry the set, but we'll do that sometime Saturday. And here we are" He stops in front of a normal looking warehouse. He walks up, and opens the door. The noise of lots of ponies talking escapes into the early evening air. "Come on" We walk behind him, into the building. There has to be at least 100 ponies here. Along one wall is a snack and drink bar, and alon the other... There it is. The set. It's up on a raised podium, with more equipment then I could ever imagine. A turntable, and so much stuff I don't recognize. "You gals know the equipment?" "I do" Sky says, but I just slowly shake my head no. "I'll show you" Sound tells me, and pulls me onstage. "That" he says "is a 4track turntable. You got four panels of controls. You can"- "I know how it works. I just don't know what everything is because I use my laptop" "I'll help in anything she don't know" Sky says. "Alright" he says "you got a drum pad, a laptop with a large library, and I'll let you figure out the rest on your own" he says with a smile. "Alright. Sound good, Sky? "Let's go!" She shouts. "Alright! Get up there and do your magic" he jumps up stage "lemme introduce you two. DJ pon3 and Neon Sky, right?" We nod. He grabs the mike. "Alright, everypony. You ready?" The crowd cheers. "Tonight, we have, NEON SKY" he shouts, Pointing at her with a hoof. The crowd cheers louder. "And, DJ PON3" he cries, pointing at me. The crowd goes nuts. "Let's go!" He says, and steps off stage. "Ready?" I ask Sky. "Let's do this" she agrees. She starts us off with Scary Monsters and Nice Parasprites, a crowd pleaser. She does most the mixing, while I manage the setlist, adding and taking out songs depending on the crowd. Ours fly by with out me noticing. A familiar stallion comes up on stage. "Do I know you? You seem familiar" I ask him. "Lone Pone. Class. Got you something" he says, levitating a bottle of cider to me. "No no no. I don't drink" "What, afraid I spiked it?" He takes a large drink. "There, see? At least try some" I give in. "Fine. One sip" I grab the bottle in my magic, and look at the label. Crisp apple cider. 10 proof, so 5% alcohol. At least it's not vodka. I raise the bottle to my lips, and hesitate. 'Its not too late to back out' I tell myself. 'Why? Scared?' I reply 'No, of course not. I just don't think it's right. I'm 19. The drinking age is 21' 'Bok bok bok' 'Shut up! I'm not chicken! I'll show you' I take a large drink. It's really good, tastes slightly like apple juice, but more... Flavorful. It's got a tartness to it that juice doesn't have. I take another drink. 'See, it wasn't so bad' 'Your right. It's pretty good' "This stuff is good!" I tell Lone. "Knew you'd like it. I'm hardly wrong. Yo want another?" He asks, noticing my bottle is empty. "Two" he raises his eyebrows "for Sky" I explain. "I don't think she'll drink it" he says. "Just get me two, alright?" "Alright" he leaves, and comes back with two bottles. "Thanks" "No prob" he says. It might just be an early effect of the alcohol, but he seems to disappear as soon as he enters the crowd. "Hey Sky!" I shout. "Yeah?" She says with a smile. "Try some" I float a bottle to her. "No. And don't try convincing me. No" "Alright. More for me" I crack open the next one, and finish half of it in one drink. I'm halfway done with my third when a certain tune comes on. Something about it grabs my attention. I grab the mike in my magic, and float it to me. "What are you doing?!" Sky asks. "No clue!" I shout. I wait, and catch the beat. When I'm focused, there is nothing except for me, the mike, and the song. And the lyrics. I start out slow. Pull my heart out of my chest I gain confidence Train my mind so I forget I sing louder, more sure of myself Sink your teeth into my bones I pause Dig me out then fill the hole I pause for effect Tear me apart Tear me apart and watch it burn Tear me apart Tear me apart and watch it burn All thats left is a window to my soul Falling faster you made my heart your home Come and get it one more time If you wanna lose your mind Come and get it one more time If you wanna lose your mind Mouth to mouth I breathe you in Swallow down your jagged sin Let it drown inside my veins The sweetest poison I could take You make it an art The way that you scar with every word But before we reach the end Strip me down again Come and get it one more time If you wanna lose your mind Come and get it one more time If you wanna lose your mind Come and get it I open my eyes that I didn't know I closed. The crowd, and Sky, and Sound are all staring at me, jaws hanging open. Sky snaps out of it once the crowd starts cheering, and hits a new track playing. Someone buys a round of drinks for us, which we accept, and then another round, and a third. We stop after that. The buzz i get is wonderful. The night blurs together, and I before I know it, the party is over. Me and Sky walk along the streets, both of us drunk, and talking and laughing as if we've been friends since we where fillys. We get to the dorms, and Sky walks me up to mine. I pound on the door. "TAVI!" I shout. No answer. I try again. "LEMME IN TAVI, IM TIRED" she doesn't answer. "Hush, you'll wake every one up" Sky says. "So what am I going to do? Sleep in the hall?" I start to sniffle, the alcohol amplifying my emotions. "You can sleep with me. My beds comfy" Sky comforts me. "Th- thanks Sky" I stutter. "It's nice to have a g-good friend like you" "I'm sure you'd do the same for me" We walk to her room, arms around each other. We walk into her bedroom, and crash on the bed, dead to each other and the world. > Voices > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The pounding. For Celestia's sake, make it stop. I open my eyes to the blinding light. It takes me a while, but finally I can see. I can especially see Sky, sleeping next to me. Little snippets of what happened last night come to me. Lone offering me cider. Singing. Me and Sky drinking. After that... Blank. What was it that dad would do when he use to drink? I was just a little filly. Come on, think. 'Worthless price of shit' I tell myself. 'Just watch. Just watch' I focus, concentrate. I can't though, I'm to focused on my dry mouth. I go to the sink, and am about to grab a cup when I see it. The coffee maker. Dad use to make coffee. I get the machine started. 'Way to go, you made coffee. Anything else in that wasted brain of yours?' 'Shut up! I can still remember it, can't I?' 'I doubt it. With how much you drank last night, I'm surprised you're not puking you guts out' 'Im tough' 'Tough, yeah right. Your a little girl, in an adult world. Your not tough, you where lucky. But not much longer. If head to the bathroom if I was you' I heed my own advice, and stagger into the bathroom. Even though my stomach is empty, I can feel it rebelling against me. I manage to keep it down. I see the shower stall in the mirror. 'Showers. Cold showers. Dad did that when he drank too much, right?' 'Congratulations, I think you've passed the IQ level of a rock' 'Shut up' 'Oh, really? Shut up? Your the insane one, talking to yourself' I ignore anything else I say, and step into the shower. I turn on the water, and turn it as cold as it will go. I gasp. My very heart seems to be frozen. 'And it must be. Risking yourself like that, without thinking of anyone else. What if something happened? Did you even think of how your dad would feel if he had to visit you in the hospital? You stupid little'- 'Stop! Please, just stop. I can't take this, not now. Please' I beg myself. 'Oh, alright, I'll give you mercy. I'll just remind you every waking second how you had to beg yourself for mercy' 'Just shut up! Your not helping my headache' I stay blissfully quiet. I stand under the cold spray for what seems like ages, until someone knocks. "Vinyl, can I come in?" The glass on the shower door is fogged. "Your house. I'm in the shower" The door busts open, and Sky staggers in and vomits in the toilet. And again. And a third time. 'Look at what you did, Vinyl' 'No, please stop' 'No. No mercy now. Because of your recklessness, one of your own friends is severely alcohol poisoned, and so she's puking her guts out' Sky stops vomiting. 'There, she's better know, no harm done' "Oh, I feel like crap. How you holding up?" "I feel the same" I say. 'I feel worse' I tell myself. 'Why did you do this? Wanted to live a little? Wanted to be reckless? Dangerous? Cool? Yeah, real cool, Vinyl, real nice, making one of your only friends sick, and making yourself feel horrible. Way to go. Way to fucking go. You happy?' I try not to cry. I hold back the tears until Sky leaves the bathroom, shutting the door behind her, until I let them out. 'You weak, pathetic excuse for a pony. Look at yourself. Crying because a voice in your head is insulting you. You fucking disgrace' I try to stop crying, but I can't. My salty tears mingle with the cold water. 'Im done. I'm so fucking embarrassed by you I can't even talk anymore' the voice goes away. I regain control of myself, and turn off the water. I step out, and look at myself in the mirror. Wet, tear stained, dye washing out of my hair, streaking my coat, hair matted down, bags under my eyes. 'Your hideous' the voice whispers in my mind. I look at my hair, see the natural black starting to show through. 'Look at yourself. Can't even control your own hair, so how do you expect to be a famous DJ? Just throw away your dreams now, and run home to daddy. No one hear cares about you, and Octavia couldn't care less if your dead. I look away. I don't bother combing my mane. Styling or dying it. I don't even dry myself off. I just walk out the door, and collapse onto the sofa. "You alright?" Sky asks me. I try and say yes, but I brake out into tears. She rushes over to me. "Shh. It's alright. What's wrong?" How to put it into words? "Everything" I pause. "Me" "No, there's nothing wrong with you. Why would you say that?" "I m-made all th-this happen! I was ir-risponsib-ble and caused all th-this" "No, it's fine. This morning is good, not bad. You woke up, and made coffee! Good morning in my opinion" she levitates a cup to me. "Drink up. It'll make you feel better" she watches me until I start drinking. "Good" She returns to the kitchen. "You want breakfast?" 'So your not content with giving her a hangover, but she needs to feed and comfort you like a child? And you call yourself an adult' "No thank you" I say dejectedly. I walk to the door. "I don't want to intrude" "Vinyl. I slept with you. You wouldn't be intruding by eating breakfast with me" "Thank you, but no thanks" "Alright. Listen, come back here anytime. I'll always be here" 'If you come back here, you'll have lost all my respect' "I'll remember that" I try to smile, but it comes out a grimace. I walk up the steps, ignorant of the ponies around me. I make it to my door. It's still locked. "Octavia. Can I come in please" "You expect me to let you in after last night?" 'You are such an inconsiderate bitch, causing pain on all those around you' "No, and I'm sorry. Please? I'm tired" the door clicks, and swings in. "Your a mess" "Please, not now, Octavia" "Oh, so now it's 'Octavia'. What happened to Tavi?" "I'm sorry, I wasn't right last night" "Right?! You were drunk, and I know it! I should report you! 'Your own recklessness will get you expelled' "No! Please don't! I'll do anything!" "Anything?" "Anything! Just let me sleep first" "Dishes" she points at the massive pile of dishes by the sink. "Without music" "Okay, okay, thank you, Octavia" "And first, we're going to have a small discussion, just you and me" "Okay" I ask confusedly. "With how you called me Tavi, people might think we where... A couple. Do you know what could happen?" "No, not this discussion. Not now" "Alright, I can go talk to the headmaster while you take your nap?" "Fine. Fine. Lets talk. So what if other ponies think your bi?" "Everything! It could ruin my whole career!" "Why?" "Because, ponies in the orchestra are much more conservative then the ponies you know" "Alright. I'm sorry" She pauses. "Octavia?" "Apology... Accepted" she steps aside to let me in. "Oh, thank you" I walk into my room, and fall asleep again. Although I keep a bucket next to me. > Vaffanculo > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Vinyl?" Octavia wakes me up. "What?!" I say grumpily. "There's somepony at the door asking for you" I pull myself out of bed, and walk to the door. I open it. "Party hard enough last night? You look like a mess" Hard Sound tells me. "Wonderful. I'll add you to the list of ponies that think I look like a wreck. Waddya want?" "Just wondering if you still want that set" "Yeah, sure" I yawn. "How late were you up last night? It's like 3 in the afternoon, yet you’re still tired?" "She has a hangover" Octavia injected from the living room. "FUCK OFF, OCTAVIA!" I shout at her. Sound just laughs. "So, I'll have my friends get here in about an hour with all the equipment. Just tell them where you want it, and they'll set it up and everything." He changes the subject ,"How many beers did you have last night?" "No beer. Cider. I had about 6 I think, and Sky had 3" "Dayum. That's a lot, even for me. I'll be back in an hour." "Alright" I shut the door, and walk into the kitchen. I look at Octavia, sitting there, reading a book. "Are you going to stand there and stare at me, or are you going to be productive?" She asks, somehow knowing I was looking at her. "How do you read so much? That's the third book this week, ain't it?" "Isn't. Ain't is not a word." "Ain't ain't a word and I ain't gonna use it." I can see her suppressing her anger at me. "I can read this fast because, unlike you, I'm slightly intelligent." "Hey, no fair! I are smart! Just not with words" "Then with what?" I stop and think. "Technology. Something you'll never be good at." "Exactly. I do not require a fancy computer to make myself sound good. My cello takes skill and practice to master." "Oh yeah? It takes skill to use my programs!" "I highly doubt it. Have you ever touched an instrument in your life?" "Yeah, in fact, I have. I used to play a bunch of stuff. Mainly the cello, in fact." Octavia looks surprised at that, although I don't have long to enjoy the look before her face goes blank again. She puts the book down, and grabs her cello case, takes it out, and prepares it. She hands it to me, saying only one word, a command. "Play." I pick up the cello and the bow in my magic, and try to remember all my old lessons. I hold down a few of the strings, and bring the bow back. And the cello rewards me with a shriek. I can't stand the smug look on her face. "It's been forever since I've played." I grab my laptop, pull up my main remixing program. It isn't made to make true songs, but anyone with a slight amount of skill can make the bare bones of a song using it. I say one word, a command. "Play." She looks at the screen for a while, and then pushes it back to me. "See? Not so easy, is it, smart ass?" "I admit, it is more formidable than I thought" “Told you” I say. Someone knocks at the door. “Come in, doors unlocked!” I shout. Three muscular stallions walk in, carrying a bunch of equipment. “What the hell is this?” Octavia shouts, surprising me. “Well, I didn’t know you were capable of saying swear words, Octavia” “Oh, just shut up” “Then go back to your book” She shuts up, and starts reading again. “There, peace and quiet” I say, earning a chuckle from the stallions. “Where you want it miss?” asks the biggest one. I look around the living room, and see an empty corner against the far wall. “Set it down there” I tell them. They get to work, and I leave them with Octavia. “Have fun, Octavia. Don’t fuck them all while I’m gone, leave some for me” I shout behind my shoulder. How much I would give to see the look on her face right now. I walk one door down to Sound’s room. I open the door without knocking. “Yo, Sound, you here?” I shout to the seemingly empty dorm. “Well, if it isn't the elusive mare that was here yesterday” comes the reply from Blare. “You here for the promise I made yesterday? Decided to have a little fun?” “ As if. I was gonna see what Sound was up to” “Ah, he’s gone. No clue where, neva tells me nothin” “Brilliant” I mutter under my breath. I walk down the hall, and step into the bedroom. Its dark, with the shades pulled and only a solitary lamp, a computer screen, and an assortment of blinking lights to provide illumination. This room is also adorned with tons of posters, but instead of being mares in provocative poses, its more mechanical and technical stuff. More speakers, cars, a few planes, some posters from some show, and two ponies wearing some weird, black and white smiling mask. Underneath the picture is the caption: ‘We are Legion. Expect us’ I look at Blare. “What’s that?” “Two Anons” He says, as if it was obvious. “And what the hell are Anons?” “Anon? File 34? Anonymous? Any of this ring a bell?” I shake my head. “There a group of hackers. No leadership, no command, just a group of unknown size of hackers, doing whatever the hell they feel like. Doing Denial Of Service attacks, and stuff like that” “Okay... And the mask?” “Colt Fawkes mask” “Not even gonna ask. So what do you do?” “Computers” He says, gesturing to the glowing computer screen in front of him. He flicks a light switch, and I see tons of computer components scattered all across the floor, and a computer half way through dissection. “More specifically, coding” “Wonderful” “So, how about it? wanna start off with a little kiss?” He asks pulling closer to me. I grip his muzzle in my magic, and push him back into one of his beloved computers. “In your dreams” We hear the main door open. “Hey bro!” Blare shouts out to it. “Waddya want, Blare?” comes back Sound’s voice. “Guess who I got in here?” He says. “Hey Sound” I say, as I walk out of the bedroom. He looks at me. “Where you two just...?” He gestures. “Why, jealous?” I ask him. “Maybe a little” “No. we weren’t” “Ah. Knowing, him, he couldn’t. Two words are the only explanation I’ll give. One inch” I snort as soon as he says that. “Not true!” comes the shout from the bedroom. “I’ll have you know I'm a healthy 7 Inches!” “Whatever. Like I care” “Bring me some pop” “Yeah, I will. So watcha want, Vinyl?” “Dunno. I was bored, so I came over to see if you were doing anything interesting” “Nope. So you got family?” “Yeah. My dad. You?” “Me, my parents, and a younger brother” He tells me. Blare pipes in. “I have a family too!” “Nopony cares, Blare!” Sound shuts him up. “So whats up with your friend Neon Sky?” “I dunno. Why?” “I have a little unfinished business with Blare” He says, hitting one hoof against the other. “Dont kill him, alright?” “Alright, get outta here” He says good naturedly. I comply, and walk to Sky’s dorm. I knock on the door. “You around?” “Come on in, Vinyl” I walk in, and flop onto the couch. “Hows it going, Vinyl?” “Better then this morning” I say. I can hear her sit down on the recliner. ‘Thats good. Although have you seen your hair?” “Not really, no” I look up at the small amount of hair that is visible without a mirror. It looks fine, although a little faded. “Why?” She tosses me a mirror. I look in it, and I’m rendered speechless by what I see. It’s gray. “It’s gray” I mumble. I lay there speechless. The voice in the back of my head starts to whisper. ‘What a pathetic waste of unicorn magic. You can’t even control the color your hair is’ ‘I can, it’s just I didn’t notice it’ ‘Excuses, excuses. Thats’- i shut the voice up by sheer force of will. “I gotta fix that” I say. “I’ll be right back. Oh, before I go, you play Xbox?” “Yeah. Why?” “Screw my hair, I’ll go get it done somewhere professional in the morning. Tonight, game night!” “AW YEAH!” “I’ll go grab my controller and my flash drive. Be back in a bit” I run upstairs, and have gotten my controller when Octavia interrupts me. “Now what are you doing?” “Hanging out with Sky. Why do you care?” “So are you two a couple now? You spent last night there, and I’m guessing you're going to do the same thing tonight. Am I right?” “Were not a couple. And last night doesn't count, I was drunk” I look at the clock. Its 5 PM. “Yeah, I’ll probably crash on her couch” I rip my flashdrive out of my system and walk out. “"Vinyl?" Octavia wakes me up. "What?!" I say grumpily. "There's somepony at the door asking for you" I pull myself out of bed, and walk to the door. I open it. "Party hard enough last night? You look like a mess" Hard Sound tells me. "Wonderful. I'll add you to the list of ponies that think I look like a wreck. Waddya want?" "Just wondering if you still want that set" "Yeah, sure" I yawn. "How late were you up last night? It's like 3 in the afternoon, yet you’re still tired?" "She has a hangover" Octavia injected from the living room. "FUCK OFF, OCTAVIA!" I shout at her. Sound just laughs. "So, I'll have my friends get here in about an hour with all the equipment. Just tell them where you want it, and they'll set it up and everything." He changes the subject ,"How many beers did you have last night?" "No beer. Cider. I had about 6 I think, and Sky had 3" "Dayum. That's a lot, even for me. I'll be back in an hour." "Alright" I shut the door, and walk into the kitchen. I look at Octavia, sitting there, reading a book. "Are you going to stand there and stare at me, or are you going to be productive?" She asks, somehow knowing I was looking at her. "How do you read so much? That's the third book this week, ain't it?" "Isn't. Ain't is not a word." "Ain't ain't a word and I ain't gonna use it." I can see her suppressing her anger at me. "I can read this fast because, unlike you, I'm slightly intelligent." "Hey, no fair! I are smart! Just not with words" "Then with what?" I stop and think. "Technology. Something you'll never be good at." "Exactly. I do not require a fancy computer to make myself sound good. My cello takes skill and practice to master." "Oh yeah? It takes skill to use my programs!" "I highly doubt it. Have you ever touched an instrument in your life?" "Yeah, in fact, I have. I used to play a bunch of stuff. Mainly the cello, in fact." Octavia looks surprised at that, although I don't have long to enjoy the look before her face goes blank again. She puts the book down, and grabs her cello case, takes it out, and prepares it. She hands it to me, saying only one word, a command. "Play." I pick up the cello and the bow in my magic, and try to remember all my old lessons. I hold down a few of the strings, and bring the bow back. And the cello rewards me with a shriek. I can't stand the smug look on her face. "It's been forever since I've played." I grab my laptop, pull up my main remixing program. It isn't made to make true songs, but anyone with a slight amount of skill can make the bare bones of a song using it. I say one word, a command. "Play." She looks at the screen for a while, and then pushes it back to me. "See? Not so easy, is it, smart ass?" "I admit, it is more formidable than I thought" “Told you” I say. Someone knocks at the door. “Come in, doors unlocked!” I shout. Three muscular stallions walk in, carrying a bunch of equipment. “What the hell is this?” Octavia shouts, surprising me. “Well, I didn’t know you were capable of saying swear words, Octavia” “Oh, just shut up” “Then go back to your book” She shuts up, and starts reading again. “There, peace and quiet” I say, earning a chuckle from the stallions. “Where you want it miss?” asks the biggest one. I look around the living room, and see an empty corner against the far wall. “Set it down there” I tell them. They get to work, and I leave them with Octavia. “Have fun, Octavia. Don’t fuck them all while I’m gone, leave some for me” I shout behind my shoulder. How much I would give to see the look on her face right now. I walk one door down to Sound’s room. I open the door without knocking. “Yo, Sound, you here?” I shout to the seemingly empty dorm. “Well, if it isn't the elusive mare that was here yesterday” comes the reply from Blare. “You here for the promise I made yesterday? Decided to have a little fun?” “ As if. I was gonna see what Sound was up to” “Ah, he’s gone. No clue where, neva tells me nothin” “Brilliant” I mutter under my breath. I walk down the hall, and step into the bedroom. Its dark, with the shades pulled and only a solitary lamp, a computer screen, and an assortment of blinking lights to provide illumination. This room is also adorned with tons of posters, but instead of being mares in provocative poses, its more mechanical and technical stuff. More speakers, cars, a few planes, some posters from some show, and two ponies wearing some weird, black and white smiling mask. Underneath the picture is the caption: ‘We are Legion. Expect us’ I look at Blare. “What’s that?” “Two Anons” He says, as if it was obvious. “And what the hell are Anons?” “Anon? File 34? Anonymous? Any of this ring a bell?” I shake my head. “There a group of hackers. No leadership, no command, just a group of unknown size of hackers, doing whatever the hell they feel like. Doing Denial Of Service attacks, and stuff like that” “Okay... And the mask?” “Colt Fawkes mask” “Not even gonna ask. So what do you do?” “Computers” He says, gesturing to the glowing computer screen in front of him. He flicks a light switch, and I see tons of computer components scattered all across the floor, and a computer half way through dissection. “More specifically, coding” “Wonderful” “So, how about it? wanna start off with a little kiss?” He asks pulling closer to me. I grip his muzzle in my magic, and push him back into one of his beloved computers. “In your dreams” We hear the main door open. “Hey bro!” Blare shouts out to it. “Waddya want, Blare?” comes back Sound’s voice. “Guess who I got in here?” He says. “Hey Sound” I say, as I walk out of the bedroom. He looks at me. “Where you two just...?” He gestures. “Why, jealous?” I ask him. “Maybe a little” “No. we weren’t” “Ah. Knowing, him, he couldn’t. Two words are the only explanation I’ll give. One inch” I snort as soon as he says that. “Not true!” comes the shout from the bedroom. “I’ll have you know I'm a healthy 7 Inches!” “Whatever. Like I care” “Bring me some pop” “Yeah, I will. So watcha want, Vinyl?” “Dunno. I was bored, so I came over to see if you were doing anything interesting” “Nope. So you got family?” “Yeah. My dad. You?” “Me, my parents, and a younger brother” He tells me. Blare pipes in. “I have a family too!” “Nopony cares, Blare!” Sound shuts him up. “So whats up with your friend Neon Sky?” “I dunno. Why?” “I have a little unfinished business with Blare” He says, hitting one hoof against the other. “Dont kill him, alright?” “Alright, get outta here” He says good naturedly. I comply, and walk to Sky’s dorm. I knock on the door. “You around?” “Come on in, Vinyl” I walk in, and flop onto the couch. “Hows it going, Vinyl?” “Better then this morning” I say. I can hear her sit down on the recliner. ‘Thats good. Although have you seen your hair?” “Not really, no” I look up at the small amount of hair that is visible without a mirror. It looks fine, although a little faded. “Why?” She tosses me a mirror. I look in it, and I’m rendered speechless by what I see. It’s gray. “It’s gray” I mumble. I lay there speechless. The voice in the back of my head starts to whisper. ‘What a pathetic waste of unicorn magic. You can’t even control the color your hair is’ ‘I can, it’s just I didn’t notice it’ ‘Excuses, excuses. Thats’- i shut the voice up by sheer force of will. “I gotta fix that” I say. “I’ll be right back. Oh, before I go, you play Xbox?” “Yeah. Why?” “Screw my hair, I’ll go get it done somewhere professional in the morning. Tonight, game night!” “AW YEAH!” “I’ll go grab my controller and my flash drive. Be back in a bit” I run upstairs, and have gotten my controller when Octavia interrupts me. “Now what are you doing?” “Hanging out with Sky. Why do you care?” “So are you two a couple now? You spent last night there, and I’m guessing you're going to do the same thing tonight. Am I right?” “Were not a couple. And last night doesn't count, I was drunk” I look at the clock. Its 5 PM. “Yeah, I’ll probably crash on her couch” I rip my flashdrive out of my system and walk out. “Vaffanculo” I mutter under my breath. “Lets get started” I say when I get to Sky’s dorm. We each crack open a cider. > That Night > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “So, Sky, where do you live?” I ask as I try and scope an enemy player. “Canterlot. You?” She replies as she tomahawks somepony. She’s rewarded with angry shouting from the enemy team. “I live with my dad on the other side of town” I pick up the enemy flag. “Cool, what’s he like?” She assassinates an enemy player. “Really laid back. He’s cool. Your family?” I release a MOAB. “Eh, I live with myself” She takes a swig from the bottle of cider. “I moved out first chance I got, hated my family” I take a drink from my bottle. “Aren’t you lonely all by yourself?” “Obviously. One of the reasons why I was so excited to get accepted to this college. Meet somepony, you know?” “Yeah, one of the reasons I was lookin’ forward to comin’ here. You got a special somepony at home?” She laughs. “I hardly ever left the house. Only reason I ever went out what to get a weeks worth of frozen meals and pop” “What about a job?” She laughs again, but this time a little more evilly. “My parents ‘lost’ there bits. And one day i ‘found’ a handsomely large bag of bits sitting on my front door. My parents are rich, it’s not like they’d miss it” “Nice” I take a breath, steeling myself. “So, mares or colts?” “What?” ‘It’s not too late to back down’ The voice whispers to me. ‘No need to back down. I got guts” “Which do you prefer, mares or colts?” I ask. My mouth all of a sudden feels dry, so i take a long drink from my cider. “Well, I mostly stick to colts, but if certain mare is extraordinary, I might swing the other way. I’m just surprised by your lack of foreplay, Vinyl” “Well, I thought I’d just cut to the chase” I say smoothly. “Do you consider me ‘extraordinary’?” I already know she does, but I just gotta hear her say it. “Possibly. Depends though, on how good are you” Damn. Not what I was expecting. “So who’s lacking in foreplay now, Ms. Sky?” “Mm. I like how that sounds. You’re definitely good at talking” Time to go in for the kill. “Of course I am. Why don’t we turn the game off, and I’ll show you what else my mouth is good for” I say seductively. “I think I’ll take you up on that offer” She clicks off the console. “So, are you all just talk?” She looks at me. “Well, get over here then if you want some action” She scoots over towards me on the couch, and leans heavily on me. I look into her eyes for a brief moment, and then lean in for a kiss. The cider leaves a nice taste on her lips. We break apart. “You taste good” She says. “You too. I want a longer taste though” I say coyly. “Mm, me too” She puts an arm around my neck, and pulls herself up too me. This time, we don’t separate until we need to come up for breath. And then we dive back down again. “Think we should turn some music on so we don’t wake anyone up?” She asks quietly. “Mhm” I hit play on my Ipod, not caring which song it is, and plug it into the stereo system. We kiss again, but this time more aggressively, I can feel her lean body pressing into mine hungrily. I run a hoof through her hair, savoring the feel. One of her hooves starts wandering downwards. “Moving a little fast?” I say. I fall back on the couch, Sky on top of me. > Mom > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I open my eyes up, and look at Sky, her head resting on my shoulder. I lay there, just looking at her, not wanting to wake her up. I start absentmindedly stroking her hair. She opens her eyes, revealing her bright green eyes. We lay there, taking each other in. “Morning” I eventually say. She laughs. “A little late” She springs up out of the bed. “So what are you doing today? Mind if I tag along?” “I was going to go into a salon or something, get my hair fixed, and visit Dad. Come along if you want” “Cool. Can’t wait to meet my marefriend’s parents” The fact that she already considers me her marefriend surprises me, but not too much. “Parent. Just my dad” “What about your mom?” she asks innocently. “I’ll tell you later. All you need to know right now is that since almost forever, it’s been just me and Dad. But first, let’s get my hair back to it’s normal color” “Aw, I kinda like the gray. Looks nice on you” “Thanks, but I like my blue messy look, not this so much” “Alright. I’ll pay for it. After all, how else am I gonna prove how awesome last night was?” “Hey, you were pretty good yourself. No one else has such a”- “Quiet. I don’t think the author wants to go in that direction yet” She says. “Alright. Let’s go” We walk out of the dorm building, and into the streets of Manehtten. We walk into the nearest high quality salon. Sky pays, and I go back and sit down in a chair. “So what do you want today?” Asks the stylist. “Well, my hair dye is fading out. Its a dark blue base, with neon blue stripes. You can tell it you look at the end of my hair” I tell her. “Alright” She gets to work, massaging the dark blue dye into my hair first. “So who’s the mare with you?” “My really good friend Neon Sky” “Mhm. So are you two ‘really good friends’ or a couple?” She asks. “Couple” I say, an edge creeping into my voice. “Does it matter?” “No, of course not, darling” She drawls. “I’m bi myself. I was just wondering” My hair is done. I stalk back into the reception area, Sky pays, and we leave. “So to your Dad’s now, right?” “Yeah. He’s a really cool person, wait till you meet him” We walk along the streets. We get hungry, so I buy us a pair of apples. We munch on them on the way home. before I know it, we’re home. I le tus in, and we walk into the living room. Dad’s there, cradling his head in his hands. Something is wrong, seriously wrong. “What’s wrong dad” He looks up at me, and by that look alone, I know I don’t want to hear what he has to say. I turn and run, but you can’t outrun sound. “It’s your mother, Vinyl” > Hurting her > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I poke miserably at my ramen. I’m still down from the events of today. I can still hear Sky calling me a freak when she found out who my mother was. We tried telling her how she wasn’t like the others, how she went against the Queen, how she was unique, with only Torrok being like her. But she wouldn’t listen. She was convinced I was one of them. That I was a monster. I tried showing her I was a normal pony, but she thought I would change right in front of her eyes. ‘Maybe she’s right’ the Voice tells me. ‘Maybe you are a monster’ ‘Now what are you going to bring against me?’ I think to myself. ‘Nothing, nothing yet. I shall wait’ It says menacingly. ‘What does that mean?’ I ask it. ‘Only that you’re insane. You’re keeping secrets from yourself. Talking to yourself. That not all of you is under your control. I’m not under your control’ My eyes widen as I understand what the voice is suggesting. ‘You will never control me. Even though you may be my other half, I am stronger’ ‘Then silence me’ It says, knowing I can’t. I ignore it until it goes away. The door opens. Octavia walks in. She has a smug look on her face. “And what’s that look about, princess?” I ask vehemently. “Oh, nothing. Just that I was right. Did this one get scared and run away?” She says. This rubs me the completely wrong way. ‘Get her’ the Voice says. ‘Show her not to mess with you. Teach her a lesson’ It says. I stand up from my chair. I turn toward her, head down. “Shut up, Octavia” “Ooh, it looks like I hit a nerve. Did this one see you as a monster? Did you scare her?” ‘Show her how much of a monster you can be. Tackle her. Hit her. Hurt her’ It whispers. I let out a low, rumbling growl. My hair falls over my eyes. I place my hooves apart, putting my center of gravity low to the ground, ready to spring, and attack. I might not be able to see where she is, but I can still sense her presence, her gloating, and a newer emotion, a touch of fear at my odd behavior. ‘That’s right, she should fear you’ the Voice whispers. She should. She should fear me. I coil up my muscles, feel the compact power in my limbs, and then I leap towards her, hanging in the air then should be possible without wings. I land right on her. She lets out a short scream of surprise, and I clamp a hoof over her mouth, silencing her. With my other hoof, I grab her shoulder, turn her around, and slam her back into the wall. My hair moves, letting me see with my eyes again. Octavia looks at them, and hers widen in fear. I see my own reflected in hers, and they’re green. Bright green. I take my hoof off her shoulder, and punch her once in the gut, hard. She tries to scream. but my hoof is silencing her. She tries to curl up around the pain, but I grab her shoulder and straighten her out. I bring back my hoof to strike again. I let go of her. I take my hoof of her mouth. I walk to the couch, and collapse. Sobs rack my frame. “I’m sorry, Vinyl” Octavia says, knowing she crossed a line. I laugh heartlessly. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. How’s your stomach feeling?” “You have a strong arm. So what where did that all come from? And why did your eyes flash bright green?” “What do you expect from the daughter of a Unicorn and Changeling?” I ask. I take a deep breathe, silencing my crying. “You don’t believe me, do you?” “Honestly, Vinyl, I don’t. How could you be half Changeling?” “I’ll tell you the story. My father met her a year before I was born. She was shapeshifted at the time, and stayed that way until I was one year old. She was in the spare bedroom, and she changed back. Since we were in Canterlot, the Royal Guards detected the energy spike she caused by changing back. A squad of five burst into our house, and apprehended her. On the way out, she told my father who she was. That she was different. Once they were out on the she managed to escape. We moved to Manehatten. Two years after we moved, she showed up, and explained some things to my father. She said good bye to me” My voice cracks a little. I clear my throat, and continue talking. “Then she left again. Yesterday, the Royal Guards contacted my father, and told them they found her, and that her only request was that she was able to meet with me and him. Then she would do whatever they wanted her to do. The meeting is tomorrow” I finish. A solitary tear slides down my cheek. Octavia sits beside me. “Alright. I believe you” I look at her, and see truth in her eyes. I believe her. “Are you sure you’re okay? I hit you pretty hard” “I’ll be fine” She says unconvincingly. “Whatever” I warm up my magic, and focus where I hit here. I send a jolt of energy at her, and she jumps when it hits her. “There. A simple healing spell. Now you’ll be fine. So you’re not afraid I’ll go monster at some point and attack you again?” “Well, I’m a little nervous. I don’t know what I’d do if you did” All of a sudden, I want to make sure I’ll never hurt her. Yesterday, I would have relished the thought of hurting her. “I’ll never hurt you. I promise” I say. She hesitates, then nods. “So do you want someone to go with you tomorrow? I got nothing better to do” “I’d love you to” I say. I pull myself off the sofa, and crash in my bed. I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow. > Retaliate > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I grind through my classes like a machine. I go through the motions, not putting in any thought in anything. I finish third block, and feel utterly drained. I pull myself to my dorm, and find Octavia waiting for me. She sees how I look. “You all right?” “Why would you care?” I ask with an edge. “Sorry” She goes on the defensive. “You just looked... Beaten. You look beaten Vinyl” “Great. I’ve been looking like crap a lot recently, and you’ve noticed” “I’m sorry, Vinyl. Are you ready to go?” I sigh. “Yeah” I’m normally energetic. But now, I have to dredge up the energy I need from the bottom of my soul. I try to grab a Mountain Dew from the fridge. My magic, weak and gray, grips the door. ‘So weak you can’t even open a door. How shameful. If your mother could see you know’ The Voice says. I grit my teeth. ‘Not now. Not. Bucking. NOW’ I shout to myself mentally. I clench my eyes, and focus. I feel the door in my grip. I try pulling it open, but I don’t have the strength. ‘You don’t have the strength? You’re in a college dorm. There’s plenty of energy sources around. Use them’ It tells me. I open my mind, and feel the minds, the emotions of everyone around me. So much raw energy. So much untapped potential. I open my eyes, and grip the fridge again. My magic flares a bright blue, brighter than ever. Using the energy of others around me, feels good. Not in a moral way, but it feels empowering. ‘This is the power you have. This is your mother’s inheritance’ It says, and fades away. Still hyped from the buzz my magic gave me, I slam an entire can of Mountain Dew. I can feel the caffeine kick in almost right away. This feels good. A grin spreads across my face. “Let’s go” I say, walking out the door. Me and Octavia walk along the sidewalk, on the way to the Lightrail. “So, Octavia, why are you all of a sudden being nice?” I ask. “Because. I knew that you were having a rough time, so I decided to cut off my behavior” “Can you say it differently?” “Because I wanted to” She says simply. “Ah... Thanks” I say. She nods. We get on the train, and we shoot of to the complex my mother is at. We walk into the building, get through the security checkpoints. We get our guest passes, and were escorted to the room she’s being held in. I siphon a little energy off of everyone as we walk. The guard stands outside the room. Me and Octavia walk in the room. She’s sitting at a chair. She looks just how I remember her. “Hello. Who are you?” She asks. “Hello. Mother” I say unemotionally. “Vinyl? Is that you?” She says thickly. She stands up, and walks towards me. “Yes, mom. It’s your daughter, Vinyl Scratch” I take a step toward you. She looks at my face, taking in every feature of it. “You’ve changed” She says. “You haven’t” I say with an edge. “Who is this?” She asks. “Hello. I’m Octavia, a friend of your daughters” “You must be a good friend to be with her right now. Vinyl, I can feel how you feel. Tell me, how have I changed you?” Her wording is off, but I know what she means. How have I made you different? I take a breath, steadying myself. Should I tell her about what has been haunting me my whole life? No. Not yet. “I can siphon energy from other’s emotions” I state matter-of-factly. “Don’t apologize. It’s usefull” She looks relieved. “Nothing else? No blackouts? No voices?” “No. Why?” “Because. That means you don’t have the issues being a half-breed would give you. Did you know you're the second pony-changeling mix? There’s been only one other. He was insane. He said he had this voice, that would whisper in his ear, telling him things. Threatening that he could seize control at any time” I can feel my mother has genuine concern for me. “Well, I don’t have any voices” All of a sudden, I feel a sharp pain in my head. “Are you hiding anything?” She asks. Her form starts to flicker, and she changes into a changeling. The pain in my head grows sharper. I fall to my knees, the pain blocking out all thought. She’s doing this. ‘Retaliate’ The Voice says. ‘Retaliate’ I grasp her mind. It feels so different. I grip it hard with my mind, and squeeze. The pain instantly vanishes. Along with any feelings I might have had for this Changeling. “You’re not my mother” I say with quiet fury. “I am motherless” I squeeze her mind harder. She falls to the floor. “Don’t try that again” I tighten my grip. “Don’t contact me again” I twist her mind, causing her to cry out in pain. “Never talk to my father again” I release her. “Let’s go, Octavia” I say, walking out. Octavia follows me. “Wait! I have to tell you something!” the Changeling shouts. I send a powerful spear of mental energy at her. I slam the door. “What happened?” Octavia asks me once we’re out on the street again. “She tried reading my thoughts. So I mentally attacked her” “Did you do this for the same reason you attacked me? Gut action?” “Yes. So what? She deserved it” “Vinyl, you only hurt the people around you because you want to inflict pain on others, to show them the pain you’ve suffered. Until you stop and find closure, you’ll be no better than her” “I don’t understand” I say. But I do. I’m glad Octavia can’t read my emotions, and see the turmoil. > I am Changeling > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I run along the trail, two tall hedges bordering me on each side. I’m not sure why I’m running. There’s someone ahead of me. I have to catch up to her. I speed up, trying to catch her. She looks behind her, sees me running, and picks up speed. I catch a bit of laughter from her. “Wait up!” I shout. “Speed up!” Comes the reply. I push myself harder, and I’m slowly gaining on her. She takes a right at an intersection with another path, and keeps making twists and turns. I lose her. I walk along the path. I’m in a giant hedge maze. I come to a small cliff with a steep, although not vertical, angle. I can see her coming along the path at the bottom of cliff. I jump on the slope, and slide down on my hooves, landing right in front of her. She halts, and then reverses direction, running the other way. I take off after her, sprinting. up ahead, there’s another cliff face. She looks back, and in that second, she runs off the face off the cliff. And just like that, she’s gone. I run towards the cliff face, and fling myself off. She’s below me. I make myself as aerodynamic as possible, and fall towards her. I gain on her. I reach out towards her. I fall past her, and just manage to catch her. I say my last words. “I got you, Oct”- Someone shakes my shoulder. “Are you alright, Vinyl?” Octavia asks. I groggily lift my head, and look up at her. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why?” “Because, you were eating some of your instant ramen, and then you just collapsed. Passed out. Your head made a loud and hollow thunk when it hit your ramen, then the table.” I look at what I was laying my head on. The foam cup. I'm glad I drained all the water out, so it didn't make a mess. “I don’t remember that... Ah. I see. I’m fine, just worn out” I lie. “Are you sure?” “Yeah, just tired. I’m gonna hit the sack” I say, a little zoned out. “Vinyl, It’s morning. You’re eating breakfast, getting ready for class. You just woke up” “I knew that” I say unconvincingly. “Off to class then” I say, getting up. “No, you're staying here. You’re not fine” I walk to the door. “Try and stop me” She stands in the doorway. I grip her with my magic, but I’m weak again. I quickly siphon energy off of the others around me, and my magic flares that bright blue again. I pick her up, and sit her down at the table. I walk out to my first class. I burn through the week of class, getting to every class on time, and having massive amounts of energy. A few things are off, though. 'Like me?' The voice asks. 'Yes, you, ya lil shit' I say. 'Vinyl, Vinyl' it admonishes 'that's no way to talk to yourself. For that matter, you shouldn't be talking to yourself at all' 'Not this again. You're not scary, your just fucking annoying' 'Why do you have so much energy?' It asks, changing course. 'Luck' I tell it. 'What if I told you' I get a vague image of a black human, wearing narrow black glasses 'that it wasn't luck? What if your changeling powers weren't completely under your control?' 'Honestly, I don't really care. Nopony is getting hurt' before it even speaks, I know it will contradict me. 'Nopony? Haven't you noticed that Octavia seems to be a little...' It pauses for effect 'worn thin?' 'What? She got a new gym membership. I mean, look at that ass' 'You have a point, Vinyl, she does have an amazing plot. But it's more then a physical tired' 'She's seemed fine to me. And even so, she was a bitch to me before, so she can suck it up and work through it' 'Before this week she might have been a bitch, but what about this week? She's been rather nice, hasn't she? And why is she nice? Has she warmed up to you being a halfbreed? Is she getting a little attracted to you?' I focus on the voice, trying to make it stop It laughs, a dark and evil chuckle. 'Nice try, Vinyl' a sharp, but insignificant pain blossoms in the back of my head 'now it's my turn' the pain blossoms to a full migraine, focused behind my left eye. I jump up from my chair. The world does a single full rotation around me, and then rights itself. Then a blackness seeps in from the edges of my vision, and covers everything. Even though all is black, I can still tell where things are. I don't exactly see everything, but I can just feel where things are. 'So there's more of me in you then I expected' says a voice next to my right ear. I whip around, expecting for someone to jump me. But there's no one. All of a sudden, the blackness shifts, and I can see through walls. I can see my classmates within their so called privacy. But they don't look normal. All of them blaze a certain color. I look through the wall to the dorm nest to mine, the one housing Blare and Sound. At first I only see one large red blaze, but it resolves itself to reveal two blazes in extreme proximity. I don't have time to ponder this before the voice speaks again. 'So you have changeling vision' the blackness recedes, but the migraine doesn't. I look at my hoof for conformation, but it isn't my hoof. It's all black, and riddled with holes. I try to look away, but a force keeps my head locked in place. A bright blue fire swirls around it, and it's replaced with a normal ponies hoof, only orange. The fire returns, and changes my hoof back to white. The force moves my head until I'm looking at my flank. At my cutie mark. It changes to a blue, yellow, and red lightning bolt. Then a game controller. Then a speaker. 'Change it' the voice demands. I focus on it, and change it back to the customary eighth note. 'Good. Now to the bathroom' The voice moves my limbs until I'm standing in front of the mirror. A blue flame flares around my head, and my horn is gone. I'd cry out in shock, but I have no control. Fire flares around my midsection, and wings appear. At first normal pony wings, but then they morph into a more insect form. The blue flames engulf my entire body. The pain from the migraine is like no other pain I've felt before. The flames recede, and I stare at the changeling in the mirror. My hoof waves, and the changeling waves back. I look closer, and realize I'm not like other changelings I've seen. My horn is whole. My eyes, instead of being blue, are red. Instead of a jet black shell, it's a dark blue. My wings are blue, not green. And I still have my cutie mark. I am a halfbreed. The flames return, and change my body back to normal. The pain recedes. 'Use my gift well' the voice says, returning command of my body to me. Darkness creeps up on my vision. Not the darkness from before, but the darkness from my blackouts. Before I know it, my vision is obliterated. I bump into things, trying to find my way to my bed. I don't make it. I pass out in the hallway. And that's where Octavia finds me when she gets home. > Sleep is for the Weak! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I wake up in my bed. This isn’t where I collapsed. I turn my head to the side, and am rewarded with a resurgence of blackness and pain. I wait for the throbbing to pass, and open my eyes. It’s dark. There’s an indistinct blob not far from my bed. The shades are pulled. I stand up. I’m a little sore, but I stretch it out. After that, I feel surprisingly good for having just passed out. A snore from the blob interrupts my thoughts. I step towards it before I realize it’s Octavia. Odd. She looks up, awake. “Ah, good. You’re awake” “No shit, really? I had no fucking clue I was up. I thought this was all just a hallucination” “Vinyl, that language is very rude” She says. “Shits given: zero” I reply “Why were you watching me sleep?” “When I got home you were passed out on the floor. I picked you up, put you in your bed, and then waited until you awoke, so you could tell me why exactly you were passed out on the floor” I think of how to explain this to her. The only way I can is by scaring the shit out of her. sounds fun. “Watch this” I say. I focus on what she looks like. The blue flames erupt around me, and when they dissipate, Octavia is looking at a mirror image of herself. “Tada” She jumps in shock. “Vinyl, is that you? But... How... You... What?” She stutters. “Half Changeling, remember? I guess I got more than I bargained for. I can shapeshift” “Oh...” “Yeah, oh. I can shapeshift” The conversation hits an anti climactic point. “So...” I say. Someone knocks on the door, saving me from an awkward moment. “I’ll get it” I walk to the door, and open it. Hard Sound is standing in the doorway, grinning ear to ear. “You have a job?” Is all he asks. “Nah. Why?” “I work for a radio station here in town. We need a new DJ for the night shift. Feel up to it?” “Who is it, Vinyl?” Octavia calls from the living room. “No one you need to know” I cut her off. “I interrupt something?” He asks. “No. So tell me more about this job” I say. “Well, you’ll be on from about 9 P.M. till about 4 in the morning. You don’t get a lot of requests at that time, so you’ll be free to play just about anything. Pay is about 10 bits an hour” I do the mental math. 7 hours a night, which means 70 bits each night I’m on air. “I’ll take it. When can I start?” “Two days from now, when our current DJ is signing off for the last time. Oh, and try to think of a name before then, alright?” He leaves, and walks down the hall. I walk in front of the tv, and turn my xbox on. “What was that about?” Octavia asks. “You can be really annoying, you know that? A job offer” “For what?” “Why do you care? I’ll be DJing for the night shift at the radio station” “Alright. I’m getting some sleep. You should too, It’s almost ten o’clock” “Meh, sleep is for the weak” I say, referencing my favourite internet meme. “I’ve been passed out for a few hours, so I don’t need it. Anyways, I gotta get used to no sleep for the job” “One day, all this pop drinking, partying, and sleep deprivation will catch up to you” She says ominously. I snort. “Partying? It was only that one time” “Yes, and you got completely wasted, and where hammering on my door at three in the morning. “You can be really annoying, you know that?’” She says, mimicking my voice so well that it’s scary. “Meh, still only one time. Anyways, if I’m going to be a world famous deejay, I need to get used to all this” Octavia shakes her head. I shapeshift into her, and mimic her shaking her head. This pisses her off, as expected. “Vinyl, stop acting childish” the first Octavia says. “Vinyl, stop acting childish” I say. “Ah, fine. You feel weird, anyways” The blue flames flare up around me, and I try to shapeshift back to myself. “I’m not kidding, Vinyl. Go back to yourself” I look down at myself. I’m still her. “Ah! What the hell?” I focus on myself, on how I look. The flames flare up, again. I check myself. I’m an interesting mix between her and me. Her hair style, my hair color. My eyes. Her body color, my cutie mark. My tail, her color. “Well, this is interesting” I say. “Vinyl, bloody hell. That looks...” Octavia says. “Fucking awesome” I finish for her. “I wonder...” The blue flames flare up. I’m me, but a little different. I laugh. Octavia shakes her head. “There is something seriously messed up about that. You know what, I’m done. I’m going to sleep” She walks off to her bedroom. “Guess I’m too awesome to handle as a guy” I say I sit down in front of my Xbox, and start playing call of duty. > Changeling in the Window > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I open another Mountain Dew, and slam the whole thing. 'Lot of caffiene there, Vinyl' The Voice says. 'Wondering when you where going to come back. Been silent for a while' I say. 'Aw, you miss me? Check the news' 'What? Why?' 'DON'T QUESTION MEEEE!' It says. 'Alright...' I pause my game, and pull up the news station. "Breaking news!" The newscaster says. "There has been a prison break the local Changeling Holding Facility. It is suspected the Chrysalis played a role in this" I turn off the TV. 'Say hi to mommy' The Voice says. I run into the bedroom, and wake up Octavia."Why in the blazes are you waking me up at this hour?" "Changeling brake out. I think my mother might seek shelter here" She says nothing, but the look on her face says it all. There's a sudden knocking at the window. A green magic field encases the lock, and opens it. "Hello, daughter" says the Changeling in my window. > The Wizard of Oz > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some pony banging on the front door wakes me up. I drag myself up out of bed, and check who it is. "Hey, Lonepone. What time is it?" "5 o'clock. May I come in?" He asks. "Yeah, sure" I yawn as I let him in. "What's up?" "Have you talked to Neon Sky recently?” He asks with a little smile. “No, why?” “No one has seen her for days. Ever since you and her went to see your dad, she’s just disappeared. She lives alone in her dorm, and the doors locked. I think you should talk to her” “How am I supposed to get in?” I ask suspiciously. “A pony like you, of course you can get in” “What do you mean, ‘like me’?” “You know what I’m talking about. Anyways, the reason the classes aren't being written anymore is because Lonepone finds them boring. Thought I ‘ought to let you know” “Yeah, thanks. How much do you know about me?” I ask. He just smiles, grabs a Mountain Dew of mine, and walks out of the room. "Bitch stole mah Dew" I say to the seemingly empty room. "Vinyl, that's not nice" Octavia says "Up all ready?" "Obviously" "Well, I'm off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz!" I finish in a singsong voice. I look at her confused, and walk out the door laughing. > Her story > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz!" She shouts in a singsong voice. "Vinyl, there's something I want to ask you" I say. She looks at me. As always, I'm enchanted by the hue and color of her eyes. "Yeah, Octavia?" "Well, what was it like to grow up knowing you where..." I pause, looking for he right word so I don't hurt her feelings. "A halfbreed. No need to mince it" she sighs, and reclines on the couch. I sit down on the other end. Watching her. The way her blue hair falls, almost but not quiet covering her left eye. The long, thin scar on the inside of her right for hoof she's been trying to hide ever since I might her. She starts her narrative with what her mother looked like while in pony form. Long, straight blue hair. Simple, brown body. Straight blue tail. A bag of bits for a cutie mark. Her mother spent a year living with her and her dad. Her father found out what she was shortly after giving birth to her. He was okay with it for the most part, as she had broken the grip The Hive had on most changelings. In that one year, however, the royal guards began to crack down on Changelings residing in Equestria. Equestria for the Equestrians was the motto. She lived in the south side of Apploosa when this 'purge', as she called it, happened. The Griffins had it the worst. 'Griffers' as they were called. She was playing outside when the neighbors, a family of respectable Griffons, were deported. The child ran back inside the house to grab a favorite toy, something completely innocent. One of the guards killed him on the spot, claiming the child rushed him. Her mother tried to defend the child. In her anger, she forgot to stay in her pony form. She was immediately locked up. No trail. After that her and her dad left. They bounced around different towns, looking for a new home, staying no more then a year at each place. She tells me of her year on Ponyville. It was the worst for her. She was in her junior year of high school. She got through half of the year, managing to conceal her dirty little secret. She even managed to make a friend. Then, someone found out, and it spread like wildfire. She couldn't walk down the halls without insults being hurled at her like rocks. Her one friend, who she trusted, abandoned her. Instead of submitting to depression, which consumed her briefly, she turned to music. More specifically, the drums, which is how she got her cutie mark. Weeks passed. She managed to hold up under the pressure. She came home one day to find her dad packing up. A blue and red Pegasus had managed to threaten her father into leaving. And then they had moved to Manehatten. And she's been there since. She finishes her story. Ever since I met her, I was awed by her looks, knowing I could never compete with that. But know its the strength she shows that surprises me. I use to think she had it all perfect. I look at her. Her chin is on her chest, eyes closed. Her breathing is slow and rhythmic. She almost appears to be asleep. "Vin-" my voice cracks from not saying anything recently, and from nerves. I clear my throat, and try again. "Vinyl?" "Yeah?" She says, not even opening her eyes. "I misjudged you. I thought you had everything perfect, but I see that's not how it is. I'm sorry" "No prob. Just don't do it again, or I might have to punish you, eh?" She says suggestively. My mind screams 'yes, please teach me a lesson!'. What comes out, however, is "Really, Vinyl? I thought we were having a great bonding moment, but you go and ruin it" She just shrugs. "Just sayin. The offers there. Anyways, I should probably head to class. See ya" I almost reach out to stop her, to take her offer, but I don't. What would my parents think? What would I think? I've never felt this way about a mare before. I wait until she's out the door, then take a can if her pop from the fridge. I've never tried one of these before. I crack open the top, and take a tentitive sip. I love it. I drain the entire can, and open another. I skip class all that day, drinking her pop and playing her games. > Is this Fanta-Sea? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1 Week later) "Bye, Octavia" I shout into the living room as I walk out. I don't wait for a response. First official night by myself on job. The last week I've been working with Hard Sound, him teaching me the tricks to live radio djing. He even got a little nickname for me, one I really approve of. 'His sexy little deejay bitch'. I can almost hear him saying good luck with a kiss tonight, before he leaves me in the booth alone. I walk along the sidewalk, breathing the crisp night air. I'm walking into a slight breeze, nothing major, just enough to raise the hair on the back of my neck. I walk in and out of the pools of light cast by the street lamps. With the last week just a blur, it's nice to take a step back, and feel the wind in my hair. Up ahead is the building the booth is in. I walk in the front doors, pass the guard, and back to the area devoted to my station. As I walk down the hall, I can hear all the other ponies talking for the station their on. I walk through the door to my booth. Hard Sound is there as usual, but I got a surprise guest. Lonepone. Sound is sitting in a chair, but Lonepone must've decided chairs are to mainstream, since he's leaning up against the sound board. "Whatcha doin here?" I ask. "Yeah, nice to see you to" Lonepone says in mock annoyance. "Break it up you two" Sound says. "He decided to spend a night in the booth with you. Sound good?" "Yeah, sure. I get bored anyways" "Fantastic" Sound gets up to leave. "No stealing my girl now, got that?" Lonepone opens his mouth to say something, but I bump my flank up against him, and say to Sound "who said I'm yours, anyways?" "Hey man, don't be jealous that she's ditching you for me" Lonepone says with a smile. "I'm just that awesome. I get all the girls" "Hey now, don't make me regret letting you in" Sound replies jokingly. He's in the doorway, almost gone. I wave him out, and close the door behind him. I sit in his chair. "So, just me and you. Me and a relative stranger in a confined space. Anything could happen" I say. He pauses to fake consider. "No" I punch him on the shoulder and laugh. "Knew it. To scared to do anything" "Yeah, right. So, you two officialy a couple now?" "What? No, just friends. Why, jealous?" "You two look like your alot more then just friends. And no, I'm not the one that would get jealous" I open my mouth to offer a retort, but I never get the chance to. The mix Sound had prerecorded was just finishing, so it was time for me to go on air. "Ready" I ask him. He nods. I hit the pause button with my magic, and then grab the mic. I hum a moment, warming up my on-air voice. "How's it goin', every pony? It's me, the DJ-Pon3, here in the booth with you tonight. I got my good friend Lonepone here next to me, and we got a stellar Drum and Bass mix coming up, featuring some Skrillex, some Savant, and some Datsik & Excision. After that, I'm gonna play the highlights from Daft Pony's latest album, Random Access Memories. And then, we have our goodnight shout out. If you got a special some pony out there, call me up and tell them good night on air. Alright, enough talk. Time for the mix" I click the mic off, and hit play on the first track. Lonepone listens to the music for a bit, then asks a question. "Uhm, hate to argue with the DJ, but this ain't really Drum and Bass. This is just your basic Skrillex. None of those artists, except possibly Excision, match Drum and Bass. Explanation?" "The majority of the little shots who listen to this station can't tell the difference between Killbot and Daft Punk. So, a little trick I learned from Sound, is to make it sound all fancy, and just play tracks" "That's an underhanded trick" "Meh" I get up out if the chair, and grab two energy drinks from the fridgein my magic. "Want one?" "Toss it here" I throw the can at him in a high arc, giving him plenty of time to catch it. And yet, he manages to be a clutz and drop it. "DAMMIT" he shouts. Without thinking, he picks it up and opens it. The spray of carbonated drink hits him full on in the face. I stand off to the side, trying not to laugh. "You got -snort- it all over the carpet, you -snort- idiot" "Aw, shaddup already" he says. He grabs a rag, and wipes the fuzz off of his face. He throws the rag on the ground, and tries to wipe it up. I sigh, and wipe it up for him. "So, how's Tavi?" He asks. "Octavia? Didn't know you two where on a nickname basis. Fine, I don't know. Why?" I can't figure out why he would care. "Just wondering" He says evasively. "I know you tried hitting on her when you first dormed with her"- I cut him off. "How the hell do you know that?!" I ask, blushing slightly. "I get all my info from the man with the keyboard. But anyways, try talking to her some. Not flirting, but just talk with her. She could use a friend, you know" "So, if you know all, see all, can you see the future?" "Future? You're breaking the tone of this story, you know. And the future can quiet litterally be rewritten. There could be tons of spinoffs, alternate endings, and such" "Fine. You going to stick around all night?" "Nah. I'm gonna go and write some stuff. Night" he walks out the door. 'What an odd person' the Voice says. 'God, I really didn't expect you to appear until the next chapter or so' I say. It laughs. 'I think we've broken the fourth wall enough this chapter. So, you going to talk other like he suggested?' 'Not sure. Possibly. And I know what you are know' 'Oh really? What am I, the voice of god?' 'The Hive Mind. I'm not going to fall for any of your tricks' 'Really? You have no choice but to trust me, especially since I can make your perception of reality change however I like' The room infront of twists into itself, and I'm deposited in my dorm. 'How?' 'Is this real?' The room twists again. I'm left standing on a beach. The ocean stretches away infront of me to the horizon. Except instead of water, the liquid is orange. It's Orange Fanta soda. 'Or is this Fanta-Sea?' The ocean twists, and I'm deposited into the sound booth again. Same black walls, same red carpet. 'How will you tell the difference?' 'Ill figure a way out' I tell it defiantly. The door opens. Lonepone walks back in. 'Touch his mind. Feel for his emotions' It tells me. 'I don't trust you. Why should I?' 'You shall do what I tell you to do, or else I'll twist your reality again. Except this time, I'll put you in a nightmare of yours. Now do as I say' I feel for his mind, but it's not there. The hopes, dreams, emotions, that a living thing should have aren't there. 'Why is he empty?' 'Thats how you'll tell if what you experience is real' 'So you just defeated yourself' 'That's what I want you to think' 'What?'' It doesn't respond. It's gone again. The empty Lonepone is gone. I look at the clock. My shift is almost over. And yet, I didn't feel the time passing. I walk home, and collapse on the couch. I'm asleep before my head hits the cushion. > Vinyl's a Pastafarian! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I sit at the table, tapping my pencil rapidly, concentrating more on the song in my head then the math in front of me. I stop tapping for a moment, and enter some digits into my calculator. I check my text book, and write down a random number onto my sheet. “Are you even trying?” Says a familiar naggy voice. But maybe what I see as naggy is just concerned on her part. Only the Great and Powerful Spaghetti God knows. “Nope. Why, you gonna help me?” I ask hopefully. She just gives me a look. “And why would I do that?” “Because I don’t want to do it. And your nice” “The sheet is on my bedside table. You can copy it” She says grudgingly. “Thanks, Tavi!” “What did I say about calling me that?!” “You know you like it” I say, giving her a bear hug. “Agh?” She shouts out in surprise. She tries to struggle out of my grip, but to no avail. “Let- Me- Go!” “Never!” I squeeze her tighter. “I’m not kidding Vinyl, I’ll tell the dean on you!” “You think I care? I’m an all powerful Changeling halfbreed!” “I’ll break your glasses!” She threatens. I immediately let her go. “You wouldn’t” I say, legitimately scared. “No, I wouldn’t” A sly smile creeps onto her face. “It worked, though, didn’t it?” “Yeah. Don’t do that again, I love my glasses” “Talking about your glasses, where did you get them? I’ve never seen a pair like them before” I sigh. “Looks like it’s story time again” “I got them from my dad as a little kid. We had just moved from Ponyville into Los Pegasus. You remember me telling you about how I moved around alot as a kid, right?” Octavia nods. “Yes. Someone would find out your secret, so you’d move” “Yeah, so anyways, I just got through one of the toughest years of my childhood ever: Ponyville. Despite the fact that it’s the home of the Elements of Harmony, it’s not a very harmonious town. One of the big things I got picked on was my red eyes. ‘The eyes of a monster’ they said. Even though one of the lead bullies, this Rainbow Dash, had reddish-pink eyes, they still insisted mine where evil. Now, remember, this was all when I was eleven. If this happened now, I could shrug it off, ‘cuz I’m a tougher mare now than I was then. So, we moved, but I had a really low self image. The center of that self image was my eyes. I was worried about starting school in Apploosa that year, so my dad was thinking about homeschooling me. Now, my birthday is about a month before the school started. My dad was out at a thrift store, and saw a pair of beat up purple shades. As a child, my favourite color was purple. He spent Celestia knows how much money customizing then. Then, for my birthday, he gave them to me” I sit quietly, my story having come to an abrupt end. Octavia is the first to break the silence. “You had a lot tougher of a filliehood then I ever did. Mine was all spent in Canterlot in the lap of luxury” “Yeah, I was growing up in the hood while you were here doing... Whatever it is rich people do” “In the hood? I’m sure that’s just an exaggeration, Vinyl” “Oh how wrong you are. Remember, except for a year in Ponyville and a year in Apploosa, I grew up in a big city. Each year the city changed, but, for the most part, a city is a city. My dad ain't Filthy Rich, so we always rented a low end apartment. And who am I to turn down the chance to explore a city? How else would I be the pony I am now?” “And what kind of a person are you exactly?” She asks me. “What?” “What are you like? The bit I’ve seen of your personality is rather shallow” “I’m not shallow!” “Really? Can you prove that to me? Or should I prove my point, instead. First day here, and you made that suggestion to me. Why? Not because you liked my personality, but because I was the most available one. Rather Shallow” “Wow, and I was just maybe starting to like you as a friend” I say, slightly offended. *Octavia’s point of view* Damn it! You just had to go and mess it up, didn’t you? “Sorry, I have a habit of speaking my mind” I tell her, trying to apologize. “Oh, now you’re trying to defend yourself by saying you saying the truth?” She says, looking truly angry. “No! I meant I occasionally don’t have a filter between my head and my mouth” “Oh” Like a switch, she no longer appears angry. “So what was it like for you as a kid?” “Well, I always did what mother and father wanted me to do. I was-” “Let me stop you right there” Vinyl says. “You did whatever your folks wanted?” I nod yes. “You have no sense of adventure, do you?” I give her an annoyed look “Alright, I’ll be quiet for a little while longer” “Oh, you think I’m little miss perfect?” “Well, duh, of course I do, dude. Prove your not” I think back, trying to find a moment when I went against my parents wishes. I can’t think of any moment I did so. “Alright, I concede your right. But is that a bad thing?” “Weeeellllll” She says. “Well what?” “Well, that’s a pretty boring life then, eh?” “No, it’s been rather fulfilling for me. I have a caring family, what more could one want?” “Maybe a life. Friends?” She looks me right in the eye. How did she know? “I have friends” I say. I can’t even convince myself that. “Sure you do. What do you do for fun?” I sit in silence. “I play my cello” I say defensively. “Sounds real fun. Tell you what. You come with me and Sound to a club one of these nights. Then you’ll know what fun is” I roll my eyes. I don’t want her to think this will be easy. “Do I have to?” “Yes. I’ll drag you there kicking and screaming if I have to” “Fine. I’ll come with. Does it play your music the whole time though?” “Wouldn’t be a club I like if it didn’t” “Alright” I say. I’m that much closer to her now. > A Silver Box > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I sit on my couch. He should be here any moment now, if my memory is correct. And it always is, despite a couple thousand years of memories crowded in there. A vworping sound fills the room, and a large steel box fills my living room. Just on time. A man steps out. A real man, not a pony. “You have some cahones showing up here” I tell the man. “Aren’t you going to come home?” He asks me. I look at the man, taking in his looks. Messy blond hair. Bright blue hair. Jeans and a trench coat. “I see your wearing his trench coat” I comment. “Well, Doctor certainly didn't need it anymore” I close my eyes, remembering our mutual friend. If only. If only. “Your going to come to regret what we had to do to him” “Don’t ruin my life for me. No spoilers, that was his big rule when our timelines got funky, remember? Anyways, when are you coming home? Why do you even stay here?” “Because this universe has so much potential for good then ‘home’. I’ve come to love this place, with it’s ceaseless wonder. The people here, they’re so kind to each other. Not nearly as destructive as your humans are” “My humans? They’re yours too” “Not know. You’ll see what I mean in a few centuries. I still look young, yes?” “Yeah, why?” “Because on the inside I’m old. we’re not made to live this long. I’m tired” I tell the relatively young man in front of me. “But we’re half Timelord. We don’t age” “Our bodies don’t, no. But our minds do” “Fine. But still, why don’t you come back?” “I’m 27,923,037 years old. I’ve been here for about three fourths that. I’ve watched this world grow. I’ve shaped it. I’ve made this world as it is” “So you have a god complex” “I have every right to have it” I say defensively. As I remember me saying it all those years ago. “Am I not a god here?” “You’re not. But I won’t argue with you, we would accomplish nothing” “Good, you’ve already grown up a little” “I came here for one reason, and one reason only. Is it worth it?” I remember when I asked this question. It’s amazing how something with such an innocent sound can have such heavy consequences. I know the exact lie I need to tell, as it’s the same lie I was told. “Yes. Traveling through time and space is worth it” He nods, looks around at my dorm, and walks back into his box. It disappears with a vworping sound. Another vwopring sound fills the room. The box reappears. I don’t remember this one. After all, I should remember my own past. A pony that looks exactly like me steps out. “Who are you?” I ask. I know the answer already. Only one person in all the universes that has a silver box and looks like me. “I’m you. Except from the future this time. I came back here at this exact moment becuase this point in time is already rather weak. Tonight, Vinyl will die. She’ll need someone to save her” He says calmly. I stand up, completely serious. “Where?” He tells me an address. “Go save her. She must die, but a tiny spark of life will remain. Revive that spark” I walk out the door, determined to bring the dead to life. She can’t die yet. The universes still need her. > Chatrooms > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- /Dj_Vinyls Online Dj_Vinyls: Anyone on? /Pinks Online Pinks: Hiya, Vinyl! What's up? Dj_Vinyls: Nm. U? /Lones online Lones: What's going on? Pinks: Just chatting with my friend bestest bestest friend ever, Vinyl! Lones: Sounds fun Dj_Vinyls: So, you want in on this story, Pinkie? Pinks: Vinyl, it's my job to break the fourth wall Dj_Vinyls: Whatchya gonna do 'bout it? This Dj Vinyls is Offline Lones: What did you do? Pinks: Forced her computer to shut down. She should be back on... Dj_Vinyls Online Pinks: Now Dj_Vinyls: What the **** Pinkie?! Dj_Vinyls booted for profanity. Lones: Did you do that on purpose? Pinks: ;D Lones: Lulz. Good job Pinks: Don't worry, she'll be back in a bit Dj_Vinyls: IF I EVER GET MY HOOVES ON YOU!! System: Dj_Vinyls has been muted Pinks: So, lone, how's the story been coming along? Lones: Pretty well. Although if you could unmute Vinyl, I'm sure the readers would enjoy the chatlog more System: Dj_Vinyls unmuted Lones: Thanks. So, Vinyl, what you doin? Dj_Vinyls: Just plotting a murder out in my head. Lones: Now, now, Vinyl. Let's keep it PG Dj_Vinyls: but this story is anything but PG Pinks: Come on, Vinyl System: Hello Lones: Wtf? Dj_Vinyl: Wtf? Pinks: Hiya! Dj_Vinyls: Who's hacked the system this time? Neo: What if I told you, that your all in a computer program called the Matrix? Lones: Sorry, stranger. That's one of the things I won't crossover in this story. Author: Listen, yall. If you could hurry it up, that would be great. I gotta run Dj_Vinyl: Wtf? Blare: Sorry, it's me. I'll leave Blare Offline Lones: It's amazing how the readers have no trust in the author, isn't it? Dj_vinyls: Yeah. You think that if he can write me being half changeling, and all those other things that one guy mentioned, he'd be able to handle one more detail Lones: Me being a crossover character Pinks: But no. Let's start questioning his ability to do the thing he loves Author: Amazing, isn't it? Dj_Vinyls: Well, I gotta head out. Me and Octavia got some stuff do to. Told her I'd take her to a club Dj_Vinyls Offline Pinks: You still gonna go through with saving her? Lones: Would you let the most important character in the series die? Of course I'm going to. Unless the readers want the entire last chapter to not be cannon Pinks:We'll leave it up to them Lones Offline Pinks offline > Hello, Master > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Hey, Tavi, ready to go?” I hear a groan from the room. “What did I tell you about calling me that?” I laugh. “Sorry. So, ready to go?" Octavia walks out of the bedroom. "Do I look good?" Im at a loss for words for once. "Nice bow tie" I finally say. "Thank you. May we pick up a friend before we go to this club" -she almost spits the word- "of yours?" "What, got yourself a little date?" "Yes, in fact, I do" she sats defensively. I laugh lightly. "Alright" Elswhere I slip into my trenchcoat. Sweet Spaghetti God I love these things. It’s the feel of the fabric brings back unpleasent memories. Things I had to do, and things that will haunt me for the rest of my eternity. I push the thoughts from my head, and walk into my room. I pick up my device from my bedside table. I click the switch on, and it emits a weak buzzing. As if it’s angry at me for not being used. “Oh, knock it off, you” I flip through all the settings, and hit the button. It emits a more vibrant buzz this time. “Good girl” I tell it. I slip it into a special pocket made just for it. I grab a golden key, and slip it around the thin metal necklace chain I wear. Always go prepared. Although it’s been centuries since I’ve flown. Someone knocks on my door. I cover the chain up with the collar of my trench coat, then greet my visitor. Vinyl, and Octavia, right on time. I smile. “How’s it going?” I ask them, in mock cheerfulness. It’s hard to smile and mean it when someone’s life is at risk. The three of us walk out of the building, and into the evening air. I take a deep breath of it. “Can’t breathe right, Lonepone?” Vinyl asks me. “Nah” I say. “Just breathing in the air. Been a while since I’ve been out on such a nice night” A shrieking noise fills the silent air. I know that sound. But I’m the only one who has one of those, and I don’t remember any past versions on myself visiting me. A blue box appears about ten feet infront of me. Mine’s silver, not blue. And the doctor doesn’t go outside his native universe. That means there’s only one person who can be in there. A renegade Timelord. “Get back to the building!” I tell Octavia and Vinyl. The doors to the box swing open. I run towards them, and tackle the human walking out of the box. He falls back in, me on top. The human recognizes me. So it’s this version of him, then. “Hello, Wanderer” He says. “Hello, Master” I say, using his self-given title.