Vinyl Scratch a hard partying pony who enjoys life to the fullest. But how did she get to where she is now? Join Vinyl as we take a walk down memory lane.
Vinyl Scratch a hard partying pony who enjoys life to the fullest. But how did she get to where she is now? Join Vinyl as we take a walk down memory lane.
We all know the slob and party bum personality that has slowly become synonymous with Vinyl. Well here is a different look on the unicorn. This is an over view of her life.
Vinyl sat at the bar a glass of hard cider between her hooves, she stared into the mug thinking. Why did everyone always assume that she was some druggy or alcoholic? Just because of her choice in music and her love to all out party didn't mean she spent her entire life partying and drinking. Despite what most people thought, Vinyl was a hard working moral mare, she hadn't been introduced to the music through the lifestyle but rather the opposite, the music had lead her to the wild side and she knew exactly where the line was.
Only an hour ago some mid upper class stallion had been at the apartment with Octavia, discussing something about the orchestra, Vinyl had come back around nine from having gone out to set up for a gig at four am. “Oh so the 'Electronica Queen' is back from the slums. Honestly Miss Melody I don't see how you could stand to live with such a degenerate junkie.” the stallions nose was so high in the air that he could have drowned in the rain.
Vinyl hadn't waited for Ocatvia's reply, she simply put on a grin and went up to her room to grab her demo disk before heading out again. Now here she was at The Luck Clover, the best pub around, she wasn't upset by the stallions words, just really miffed. Everyone made that mistake, why? She was careful not to get drunk-unless on a special occasion-, she refused to be anywhere where drugs were allowed, if a stallion wanted her he better have a ring and she only went to the nightclubs and bars that had a clean bill and a good atmosphere.
Yet despite all her actions ponies nearly always took one look at her mane and her genre before branding her an irresponsible party animal. Vinyl thought back to her child hood, maybe if they knew her story things would be different. Or maybe they would just find justification for their thoughts.
“STOP THAT FOAL!”
Vinyl ran as fast as she could her hooves dancing across the concrete sidewalk, in her magic she held two shiny apples. Dodging ponies, she tore through the streets of downtown Manehattan. She heard sounds of pursuit, and felt some hooves and magical auras try to grip her, but she broke away and dove down an ally, when the pursuers followed she was gone.
Vinyl watched the ponies leave from on top of a nearby brick building, she took a bite of one of the apples before moving on. She skillfully made her way through the city, picking up a few useful scraps from alleys. Winding over roof tops and and down fire escapes she eventually arrived at a run down warehouse. Half the windows were shattered, the others no longer see through due to the grime.
She walked over to door with a padlock, concentrating on the screws that attached the lock to the wall she quickly took them out before passing through the door and re attaching them. The warehouse held old machines used for cart production, Vinyl wove through them and arrived at the open floor of the building.
A few dozen cardboard boxes, makeshift tents and even piles of bedding took up a majority of the space. Foals anywhere from the age of five to thirteen milled around, rearranging their areas, talking or more often arguing.
“Yo scratch! Did you get any food?” A blue Pegasus colt asked. “You need to reach your quota if you want to keep being a member of the gang.
Vinyl levitated a bag for him to see before hoofing it over. “Enough for my share?” she asked walking towards the rest of the group. The colt nodded and vinyl made a bee line for her box. A large cardboard refrigerator box that she had hauled in from an ally served as her home in this make shift mini town.
She pushed on the door she had cut out and went in, shaking up the jar of fireflies that lit her home she proceeded to pull her bit jar out of it's hiding spot and dumped in the hoofful of coins she had earned from helping ponies carry their groceries to their carts.
She levitated a second bag to her hooves. It was filled with odds and ends, she added another threadbare pillow to her makeshift mattress and a few discarded carpet samples to her floor.
Grabbing a torn magazine from a stack Vinyl lay down on an a pile of old pillows and began to read.
That night Vinyl dreamed of her earliest memory.
She was running, tearing through the streets of a city trying to get away from... from.... she couldn't remember, it had been something important, why couldn't she remember, she had known just a second ago. She kept running, she may have forgotten what it was she was running from but she knew what ever it was, she wasn't away from it yet.
Her hoof falls rung out against the stone roads, she had to keep....to keep... what was she doing again? That nagging feeling like she should remember what she was doing and why, it kept itching, what ever she was doing it was important and she was going to keep at it.
Her frenzied running slowed gradually as she tried to save energy, what was she doing? Was it really that important? Well she knew one thing she wasn't one to give up, she was.... she was... She slowed to a stop. She looked down at a puddle, staring back was a white unicorn filly around the age of five....
Who am I again?
It was a few weeks later when the gangs 'fearless leaders' got their bright idea. The group of urchins had managed to get enough respect from the local adult gangs to keep the warehouse as their turf. However the leaders wanted more, they wanted to gain status as an actual gang.
They had found out about a party for the local gangs and had decided to drag over half the group down with them.
When the group arrived Vinyl immediately went on red alert. The old train station where the party was being held reeked of something foul, none of the original walls were visible through the layers of graffiti and trash was strewn about.
The other ponies who were present were mostly rough looking stallions, who were either drinking and complaining about the quality of the music, or drunk off their heads and shuffling around in some semblance of a dance.
By the end of the first hour the leaders of the small gang were drunk and trying to hobnob with the gang elite. The rest of the members stayed in the corner trying to keep from being noticed.
The previously drunk stallions were now even more drunk and Vinyl was not liking the predatory look they were giving herself and the other fillies. The stallions began to nudge each other and gesture in the direction of the kids. Vinyl desperately began to look around for something to distract them with.
Her eyes landed on the turntables which were currently spewing out a mess of sounds that apparently was considered music. Moving quickly but calmly Vinyl made her way up to the stage, once there she quickly looked the device and the collection of records over. Well here goes nothing she thought and changed out the discs before placing both her hooves and magic on the turntables
What came out was nothing like she was expecting... It was better. The ponies perked up at the sound of actual music and began to dance in earnest. The stallions who had been eyeing the fillies found there attention drawn to the stage.
Vinyl played for hours until the party finally ended. She was so relieved that everyone got out safe that she almost didn't notice the music note that had appeared on her rear.
SCHOLORSHIP AUDITIONS FOR CANTERLOT ACADAMY FOR THE PREFORMING ARTS
OPEN TO ALL MUSICIANS UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock,Blues, and more, instruments provided.
Held at Starswirl Square in Central Park August 4th
Vinyl had spotted it on a lamp post when she was staking out a hotdog vendor's stand. She had told herself that she was only going because there would be lots of pockets to pick. Honestly though she wanted to hear the music.
The crowd was massive, as was the line of auditioners. Most of the people in front of the stage were parents of the performers, though a hoofull were there just to spectate. Vinyl made her way to the front pushing between ponies, sometimes slipping a few bits out of their pockets, a girl had to eat.
She had just gotten comfortable when the announcer came onto the stage and introduced the first pony for the Classical genre. Vinyl appreciated all kind of music but her feelings about classical were the same as the performers came and went. It felt dry, empty, she couldn't feel the soul of writer like she could in other types of music.
Pop, Rock and Blues all passed by and Vinyl was enjoying every minute of it, when Jazz came she had to exert self control to not just bust out dancing. Last came Electronic, Vinyl was mesmerized, she could hear so many types of music all flowing together like a symphony, carefully guided by the musicians movements over the synthesizer table.
The last pony of the day took the stage, the young colt walked up to the synthesizer and set in the sounds he would need. The crowd went quiet as his hooves reached for the play button.
What came out of the speakers was possibly the most auditory offensive combination of sound that Vinyl had ever had the displeasure of hearing. Ears all through the crowd became pinned to their owners heads. Vinyl resisted the urge to cover her ears, how could some one be so terrible at this. Something welled up in Vinyl, she couldn't ignore this atrocity, it needed to be corrected.
Before she knew what she was doing Vinyl scrambled up onto the stage and pushed the colt to the side. Her horn lit and her hooves descended, instinctualy she began to use the colts presets to craft a song. The sound soothed her ears and soon all she could feel was the instrument under her hooves and the music flowing from her heart and out through the speakers.
She couldn't tell how long she played but when she was finished she opened her eyes to see a crowd with tears in their eyes. Vinyl started at a voice to her right.
“I never thought it was possible to show such real passion through artificial sound.”
The silence now broken the crowd began to roar with applause. Vinyl grinned, she felt more content then she ever had.
The auditions were over and Vinyl was about to leave for her cardboard home when she was stopped by a stallion. “Young lady your music was brilliant, if a bit rough, I can tell you have the soul of a musician. I can also tell your life isn't the kindest.” Vinyl became wary at those words, there was no way she was getting dragged off to an orphanage.
”Do you know what this event was for?”
“Auditions for scholarships to some fancy-shmancy canterlot school.” Vinyl answered.
“Correct. I have a proposition for you. I would like to offer you a scholarship to study music at that fancy-shmancy school with free room and board. Would you be interested miss....”
Vinyl was shocked, she knew she was pretty good but she had never thought she would ever be able to go to school, let alone a rich kids music school. She thought over his offer for a moment before speaking.
“Scratch. I call myself Vinyl Scratch.” A grin crept onto her face as she reached out her hoof.
Vinyl stood at the iron gated entrance that led to the courtyard of the massive marble academy. It looked like a mansion to the young white coated filly. Due to the lack of information available about her, and her inability to remember anything before the rough estament of five, a lot of documents had had to be made and a visit to the doctor gave an idea of her age.
The now officially existing ten year old Vinyl Scratch took a deep breath before walking onto the grounds of her new home. The stallion who had offered her the scholarship had taken time to explain her situation.
She was now a ward of the state and if she were to leave this school before the age of 18 she would be taken to an orphanage. However as long as she provided acceptable enough grades to keep her scholarship she would be allowed to live here at the school with the rest of the boarding students and would receive a general education along with her music classes.
Vinyl didn't have any possessions worth keeping and so had no bag to carry as she made her way towards the dorms office. All she had to do was get her room assignment and meet her new roommate and she would officially be a student at Canterlot Academy of the Preforming Arts.
Vinyl turned the key in her magic and opened the door to room 33. It was a cozy room with gray carpeting and white walls, two beds were situated on either side of the door and next to each was a desk. A window in the far wall let sunlight in and gave a nice view of the courtyard.
“So your my roommate.” A voice with a trottingham accent spoke from behind her. Turning Vinyl came eye to eye with a grey earth pony with a treble clef cutie mark.
“Yeah, the names Vinyl.”
The earth pony raised an eyebrow before holding out a hoof. “Octavia Melody, my family is from trottingham, I'm here on a scholarship.”
“I'm on a scholarship too, I guess I'm from manehatten, though I've got nothin there now so I guess I'm from here now.” Octavia gave her a slightly confused look before turning back to the hall and pulling in a suitcase.
“Which side do you want?” She asked around the suitcase handle. Vinyl shrugged and Octavia moved to the left side, placing the suitcase on the bed and opening it. She pulled out a picture frame with a photo of Octavia and two ponies Vinyl assumed to be her parents. Placing it on her desk, Octavia asked “I'm assuming your here to study music going by your cutiemark. What genre are you interested in?”
“Well I like Jazz and Pop a lot but I really love Electronic.” Vinyl said with a grin, flopping onto her new bed. It was sooooooo sooooooft.
Octavia's nose crinkled “Ugh Electronic really? That fake garbage? I can't see how it can be called music, unlike classical.”
Vinyl's eyebrows shot up. “It's synthetic not fake, and I don't get how you could like classical, It's sooo boring.” That wasn't exactly true, Vinyl appreciated Classical but it couldn't hold a candle to the more peppy genres in her opinion.
Octavia glowered at the white unicorn filly. “Hmph, just my luck to get some ruffian as a roommate.” Vinyl gagged.
“Ruffian? Really? Drop the fancy act sister it's easy to see you were raised in a lower class home so do yourself a favor and don't put on airs. If you actually want to act all classy use better research material then crappy romance novels.”
Octavia growled “At least I have parents! You look like you grew up in a gutter, at least the school doesn't have to worry about me stealing the silverware.”
Vinyl hopped of her bed and got right in the earth ponies face. “So what if I grew up in the gutter? I was good enough to get a scholarship here. Besides if I was going to steal something I would steal food or bits, silverware is only any good in the movies.” She paused for a moment. “Not that I'm going steal anyway.”
The two fillies glared at each other before breaking off in a huff. Vinyl jumped onto her bed and faced away from her roommate. Of course I get the aristocratic wannabe as a roomy, if this is supposed to be a joke from fate, fate needs a new sense of humor.
The clock ticked of the seconds left in final period as Ms.Overture continued her lecture on musical theory. A now sixteen year old Vinyl Scratch sat attentively at her desk, using her magic to take notes. Sparing a quick glance at her best friend and roommate she couldn't help but snicker at Octavia's drooling.
Tavi might be whiz when it came to the classes on how to act like a canterlot elite or when it came to actually playing an instrument, but put her in any class not involving looking classy and she completely zoned out.
The sound of the bell rang crisply through the air and Vinyl swept up her papers and shoved the sleeping earth pony, effectively waking her up.
Octavia groaned as she got to her hooves and followed the white unicorn. Both looked quite different since there first day at the school. Vinyls blue mane had changed from the ratty street look to a short yet elegant cut that made her look a lot more mature then her friend. Octavia's long black braid now was a short bob cut that was all the rage among the young mares in the upper district that the school resided in.
“My neck hurts.” Octavia grumbled yawning as the two ponies made their way down the maze like corridors of the academy.
“Maybe it wouldn't if you payed attention in class.” Vinyl chuckled “Remember were on scholarships, we need good grades or its back to the trottingham grocery for you.” Octavia's reply was an unintelligible mutter with an accent.
As they reached the courtyard she perked up. “Hey, Lyra and some of the other students are heading to one of the clubs in the entertainment district tonight, care to join us?” Vinyl thought of their mint colored classmate, she was a lot crazy and not the brightest bulb but she was a good friend and a brilliant lyrist.
“I can't tonight, exams are coming up soon and I need to study.” Vinyl choked out the words. She knew it was the right thing to do but it didn't mean she had to like it. As much as she would have loved to go goof off with her friends she was not going to waste a bit of her scholarship. She had to work hard so she could party harder. “Maybe after there over though.”
Octavia pouted, Vinyl just chuckled and the two said goodbye as Vinyl headed to their room to hit the books.
“A C! I GOT A C!” Octavia was gaping at her exam paper.
“Hey cheer up Tavi, I got a D.”
“Yeah but your parents are paying for your schooling Lyra. I'm on a scholarship!”
Vinyl couldn't help but smirk a little at her friends distress. Luckily the C was not enough to ruin Octavia, but it would mean she would have to work her rump off for a while.
Lyra tried to cheer up Octavia by coming up with some weird explanation as to why a C was a lot like an A that some how included hands and the imaginary letter Zygat. However this only ended with Tavi chasing the Mint unicorn around the hall way in a rage.
Vinyl was glad to have Octavia as a friend, even if they were opposites they worked well together. Vinyl was an ideallist, Octavia was a realist. Vinyl was mellow, Octavia was hotheaded. Vinyl wanted to be herself no matter what and Octavia wanted to be a socialite.
“ARGH! Now I'm going to have to spend all week catching up in Instrument tech to balance out my G.P.A! Vinyl this is awful.” Octavia whined.
“Yeah sucks for you Tavi, maybe you should have tried preparing.” Vinyl cracked as she stopped leaning on the wall and began to walk off. “Well have fun in the library you two, I've got a club calling my name.” Vinyl disappeared out the doors leaving her friends to gape after her.
It was the beginning of spring of Vinyl's senior year. Tavi was back in trotingham spending spring break with her parents as were most all of the students. Vinyl roamed the empty halls that had become her home in the past seven years. Opening a door she found herself in one of the music rooms used to practice and compose.
Walking over to the racks of instruments she levitated down a saxophone and a music holder. Taking a seat on one of the many cushions Vinyl placed some unfinished music sheets. Most of the song was planned out already however one instrument had yet to be added. Vinyl levitated the sax to her lips and began to play.
Fragments of music came out and she jotted down the ideas as the came on a piece of note paper. She would choose what she like best later but now she was brainstorming. After a while she stopped taking notes and started playing a jazzy sounding song.
“L is for the way you look at me. O is for the only one I see. V is very very, extraordinary, E is even more then anyone that you adore can love.” The voice was a gentle tenner that Vinyl knew well. She kept playing the song as Mr.Serenade entered the room, he was the same kind hearted stallion who had offered her the scholarship and so happened to be the head of the music program.
“All that I can give to you. Love is more than just a game for two. Two in love can make it take my heart and please don't break it, love is made for me and you.” Vinyl finished with a flare and put down the sax.
“That is a good song Miss Scratch, though personally I think you can do better.” Vinyl smiled at her friend.
“I think it's impossible for one piece of music to be better then another. Each one is unique therefore it can only be different not better or worse. It all depends on personal opinion.”
Mr.Serenade smiled and leaned over to look at Vinyl's sheet music. “Well then it's my opinion that you still got it.”
Vinyl smirked. “What exactly pray tell is 'it'?”
The stallion gave a simple smile. “Passion. That is what sets you apart from most musicians out there. You have a rare ability to pour your soul into your music, making every song into a story carefully and lovingly crafted in your hooves.” He straightened up. “There is a difference between a person who plays music and a musician. Passion is the driving quality and with it comes persistence and ability.”
He looked Vinyl in the eyes. “Each one is different and so can only be different not better or worse.” He said grinning. “However I believe you have what it takes to be the one that shines.”
He strode to the door stopping just outside. “There is a student showcase coming up next month. I would love to see you preform Miss. Scratch.” Sending one last smile back her way Mr.Serenade left Vinyl to think over his words.
The auditorium was packed with ponies both from the school and from elsewhere, the sheer sound was enough to turn the more nervous performers into anxious wrecks. Vinyl killed time by moving her synthesizer table around and checking her presets. She had spent the past month working out the kinks in her song until she was sure it was perfect.
This was going to be the first time she had ever played a song that she wrote herself. She had preformed in front of large groups before but had always played someone else's work or remixed another song. For a brief moment Vinyl wished she had someone out in that crowd for her.
“Next up Miss Vinyl Scratch”
Taking a deep breath she stepped out onto the stage, her synth table tailing behind her. Putting it center stage she took her place behind it. Alright Vinyl. Time to let it loose. With out another thought she flipped the on switch and began to play.
When she finished she opened her eyes, which she had apparently closed some time during her performance. The audience was silent, she wasn't sure whether that was a good or bad thing.
Vinyl smirked. “Well whadyall think?”
Slowly the sound of hooves hitting the ground began to appeared, until the entire auditorium was filled with the cacophony of applause. Vinyl felt ecstatic, she knew this wasn't quite like what is would be like when she was on the stage as her own musician but it was pretty darn close.
Vinyl laughed “Well alright then”
It was after the show and Vinyl and Octavia were squeeing like fillies at the success both of them had achieved. A tan and blue pegusus mare approached the two.
“Hello. I was wondering if I could talk to Vinyl Scratch for a second.”
The mare in question turned. “Uh sure, what can I do ya for?”
“I'm with Shooting Star Records a relatively new label owned by Mr. Fancy Pants.” Vinyl coughed to disguise her snicker. The mare handed her a business card. “Please, consider us when you graduate. We could use some one with your talents.”
It was graduation day! After nearly eight years at the academy, five of those on the honor role, Vinyl Scratch was about to graduate. As she stared out the window of her and Tavi's room, the walls now bare of the posters that once covered them. She could see the gate she had entered all those years ago.
She had come in those gates some ratty street filly who could barely read or write. However she would be leaving an accomplished mare with a degree from one of the finest schools in Equestria.
Octavia entered the room. She had changed too over the years, the once wannabe socialite was now and refined mare with a wonderful gift with the cello and long black hair that hung neatly down her neck.
“Vinyl, the ceremony is in an hour. We need to go down to the stage.” She said in her clipped trottingham accent.
Vinyl turned and got down from her perch on the windowsill “Yeah yeah.” She hesitated before speaking again. “Hey Tavi?”
“Yes Vinyl?”
“I got you something. To celebrate your graduating, off a scholarship I might add.” The last part was said with a grin. Vinyl reached under her bed with her magic and a small package floated out and into Octavia's hooves.
Octavia looked down at the package before carefully unwrapping it.
“Oh come on Tavi, can't you just rip it open like a normal pony?” Vinyl said impatiently. Octavia smiled and proceeded to peel off the paper even slower.
“Not cool.”
Finally the paper was off and Octavia lifted the lid of the box. She gasped, inside lay a pristine white collar and a soft pink bowtie.
“Every proper classical musician needs to look sharp. Besides you look terrible in a jacket.” Octavia looked at her best friend and roommate for the past eight years. The cocky white unicorn wore her trademark grin. Octavia gave her the kind of hug only and earth pony can give.
“NGH, Tavi if you don't like it there’s no need to strangle me.” Vinyl cracked. Octavia pulled away, a smile on her face.
“Actually I got you something too.” She quickly went to her desk drawer and pulled out a package of her own before handing it to Vinyl.
Grabbing it Vinyl grinned.”Allow me to demonstrate the proper way to unwrap a present.” Octavia rolled her eyes as scraps of silver wrapping paper flew in all directions.
Inside the box was a pair of purple shades. Octavia took them out and placed them on her friends face.
“If your going to preform that electronic atrocity you call music.” Octavia simply grinned at the glare she received. “Then you might as well look the part.”
Vinyl was not a overly proud mare but she was not the type to do anything uncool.
Nope not going to get sappy........
Ah what the heck. Vinyl tackled her friend in a hug.
Vinyl wasn't panicking. She was just looking for a bag to breath in. This was it, her first real gig. She was opening for the one and only Sapphire Shores.
After graduation she and Octavia had stayed roommates, though this time they each had their own room in a comfy apartment and no longer had to share a bathroom with twenty other mares.
She had signed a contract with Shooting Star records under the stage name DJ Pon-3 and her new agent had quickly lined her up a performance. There appeared to be perks to working for a company with big connections and small numbers.
“Ms. Scratch your on in two.” A stage hand said eying the unicorn. Vinyl was wearing her glasses and had gelled her short hair into a more punk look. Tavi said it looked like a saw blade that had a run in with a can of blue paint.
Vinyl wished her friend was here backstage with her. Unfortunately still being a new face in the music world she had no strings to pull and so Octavia was forced to take her seat in the crowd.
Vinyl looked embarrassed.”Yeah I’m cool, just a tad nervous.”
Sapphire laughed. “This is your first real performance right.” Vinyl nodded. “Trust me honey, everyone gets first time jitters. All you got to do is make it out on to the stage, the music will do the rest.”
Vinyl paled a little at the thought of walking out onto the stage, though it was hard to tell with her coloring. “Heh heh, yeah I guess that’s true.”
Sapphire looked thoughtful for a moment. “You got anybody you know out there?”
Vinyl nodded “My best friend.”
“Then when you go out on to that stage I want you to find her in the crowd and focus on her until you start playing.”
“Ms. Scratch. It's time.”
Vinyl's heart stopped beating for a second.
“You heard the mare. It's time to get moving.” Sapphire winked. “Don't worry, your going to be sensational.”
Vinyl swallowed and got to her hooves. Making her way onto the stage she took care to walk confidently even though she felt like running clear back to her bedroom several districts away. Once she made it to her mixing table she turned to the audience.
The stadium was huge. Much bigger than the auditorium in which she had first debuted her music. Vinyl's heart flopped as she scanned the crowd. There about ten rows back was a familiar grey earth mare. Vinyl's eyes locked on to Tavi like a life preserver.
Octavia gave Vinyl an encouraging smile. The musician took a deep breath closing her eyes behind her shades for a moment, when they opened so did a big grin.
It was noon in the apartment of Octavia Melody and Vinyl Scratch. Octavia had been up since seven am and was currently practicing her cello in the living room. As the grandfather clock -that Octavia had insisted on buying- rang noon Vinyl stumbled out of bed.
“Hngug. Hanower.....”
Octavia stopped playing and looked over at her roomy. “Pardon.”
This time Vinyl put her hoof up to her mouth before mumbling. “shhh tavi I got hangover.”
Octavia blinked, she knew Vinyl liked a good lively party but she rarely ever got anywhere past buzzed.
“Why do you have a hangover?” Octavia whispered, she would be kind. At least until she figured out if Vinyl did something stupid.
“cuz I drank somfin.” Vinyl said teetering over to the sink and filling a glass of water, wincing at the sound of the rushing liquid.
Octavia rolled her eyes.”Why did you drink 'somfin'”
“Cuz muh agent told me an' the crew tha 'we I jus' won a gold record award for our las' record. So we had a party. Woo hoo.” A smile spread on vinyl's face as she recounted to good news. Octavia beamed
“Congratulations, that's quite an honor.” She carefully placed her cello in its case.
“So's becoming first chair cellist for th'uh Canterlot Phillharmonic.” Vinyl said grinning at her friend.
“How's about I get 100% sober and you and I go get somfin to eat.”
Octavia raised an eyebrow. “Why not just celebrate here?”
Vinyl looked sheepish “I kin'a forgot to go shopin.”
Octavia sighed. “Alright then, but you be fully alert.”
Vinyl saluted. “I'll go take a freezing shower right now.”
As she made her way to the bathroom Octavia headed to her room to run a comb through her hair.
“COOOOOOLD!”
Octavia smirked, Vinyl would always be Vinyl.
The two sat down at a cozy booth in their favorite Italian restaurant and after a waiter took their orders began to converse.
“So then one of the recording technicians plays it back to me and he's cranked up the bass so much that the whole room begins to shake.”
“Let me guess you thought it was 'awesome'?”
“No I thought it was.... Yeah okay so it was awesome. I was thinking maybe it would be possible to clean dishes with wubs!”
“I think they would just shatter Vinyl.”
“I geuss your right..... Hey Tavi.”
“Yes Vinyl?”
“What about a bass cannon?”
Octavia was just about to answer when a pony walked up to them. “Hey aren't you Octavia Melody? A cellist for the philharmonic?”
“Why yes I am.”
The pony continued by asking Octavia questions about playing in an orchestra. A second pony showed up. “Hey arn't you DJ Pon-3?”
“The one and only”
“Can I have your autograph?”
One by one more ponies began to filter towards them, some coming in from outside the restaurant. The hazards of getting a window booth. Soon the two musicians had attracted a rather large crowd.
“Uh Tavi, maybe we should head home.” Vinyl said beging to inch out of her chair and towards the door.
“Yes lets.”
It was a rough journey from their booth to the door and when they two finally got into open air they wasted no time in retreating to their apartment.
Once back at home Vinyl settled in on the couch. “Hey Tavi, I've been thinking-”
“Oh dear Celestia help us.” Octavia joked from her wing back chair.
“Now that we're both well known we have a lot of fans. And while that's awesome and all, it can be a real pain in the plot.”
“Mmhm” Octavia hummed in agreement.
“So maybe we should consider moving to a smaller town.”
Octavia looked at her roommate.
“I mean take Lyra for example. She moved to a small thatched roof town and she commutes to Canterlot when the Canterlot Symphony is touring.” Octavia snorted at the mention of the rival orchestra.”The philharmonic does the same thing and I am either touring or recording, both of which could be done while living elsewhere.”
Octavia thought it over. She did make a good argument. “I'll think about it.”
The moment of silence that followed those words was broken by the sound of two stomachs growling.
Vinyl placed the last picture frame on the hook in her new bedroom wall. They were officially moved in. Their new apartment in Ponyville was the same size as there one in Canterlot and cost half the price. It had taken some persuasion but both Octavia and vinyls agent had agreed to the plan. Now at age twenty two Vinyl and Octavia were Ponville's newest residents.
“Vinyl, where is my records of Bethooven?”
“In the waste basket with the rest of the trash.” Vinyl snarked admiring her new abode and making sure it was spotless, a habit picked up from her days at the academy.
Octavia angrily stomped over to the waste basket and was relieved to see that Vinyl had taken out the actual trash, leaving her record in the clean white bag.
“Must you always tease me?” She huffed pulling it out and adding it the the collection in their living room.
“Aw but its so much fun.” Vinyl said smirking. Octavia simply glowered.
“Hey Tavs I was going to head down to the market place to do some grocery shopping before a go to check out my new studio. Care to join me?” Octavia thought it over for a moment before nodding and following her friend out the door.
As the two strode down the cobblestone street they admired the cozy little town. Both were satisfied with the choice they had made.
“Oh my gosh, new ponies!” A pink blur whooshed past them from behind and came to a stop in front of the two friends. “HI my name is Pinkie Pie the official town party planner well not official I don't have a card or something oh I should totally get a card then I can just hand ponies my card instead on introducing myself but then I wont get to introduce myself so maybe that's not a good idea but anyway that doesn't matter because I just came over here to introduce myself and ask you your names so.” The pink pony took a very long breath. “Hi I'm Pinkie Pie who are you?”
Octavia blinked.
“Hi Pinkie my names Vinyl Scratch and this is my roommate and best friend Octavia. And you can introduce yourself and have a card as well.”
Octavia turned to her roommate. “You understood that? How could you, she talked so fast.”
Vinyl shrugged.”I once made my coffee with redbull, I think I gained some kind of sixth sense, As well as killed about half my taste buds.”
Octavia just shook her head.
After a brief discussion about greeting parties and what kind of cake they wanted for it the two parties parted ways.
“Heh if ponies around here are all like that this is going to be a blast.” Octavia silently prayed to Celestia that they weren't
They were passing by a candy store when a green projectile shot from inside. “LYRA HEARTSTRINGS!!! WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT ENTERING MY KITCHEN!”
The green projectile, in reality a mint unicorn, laughed out loud.
“Lyra?” Both Vinyl and Octavia questioned in unison. She turned
“HEY! It's you guys. Long time no see.”
A yellow sponge sailed through the air narrowly missing Lyra. “Aw come on Bonnie, if your going to be mad at me at least throw straight.” The next one hit her straight in the muzzle. “Better.”
The mint unicorn turned back to her old friends. “So what are you two doing here in ponyville?”
“Just moved down here, we took a page from your book and are trying long distance careers.” Vinyl said watching for any more soft projectiles.
“We were feeling too crowded.” Octavia added.
Lyra got a evil grin on her face. “So have you two finally gotten together?”
Both ponies looked at each other before turning back and answering in unison “Never going to happen.” They both said with finality.
“Lyra get back in here and help me clean up your mess.” The voice from inside of the candy shop called.
“Well it was nice seeing you guys again, maybe later we can get together and I can introduce you to my sponge hurling friend.” With a wave Lyra headed back into the shop.
Vinyl looked up at the clock tower that was visible from this side of town. “I'd better head to the recording studio, I don't want to piss them off this early on.” Parting ways with her roommate the white unicorn hummed a cheery tune to herself as she made her way to her new work place.
Entering the simple building she grinned at the ponies inside. “Hey you all ready to make some music!” She settled in on a couch and was beginning to talk with the recording technician when a crash resounded through the room. A grey and blonde head stuck through the door.
