> Bass and Double Bass
>  by Solent Spray
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Running Late
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Today was not a good day decided Octavia as she all but ran towards the Canterlot bus depot found outside Canterlot station. She had been late getting on board the train from Pointville to Canterlot, then the train itself was late getting into Canterlot station; something about the train from Winnipeg having priority on the tracks over her train. Octavia snorted; priority my left foot just because those stuck up idiots who had more money than common sense couldn't be bothered to wait a couple extra minutes....

But Octavia had to stop herself from getting worked up over strangers, even though those strangers were complete and utter morons but whatever, she refused to get worked up over the issue. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind as she ran up to the bus counter. Well, tried to run; in her defense she was lugging quite a heavy double bass strapped to her back. (Don't ask how she got on or off the train.) Octavia looked back at the massive clockface behind her on the top of Canterlot station, 10:28 it read. Oh, thank goodness she thought Even with all the delays, I'm still 10 minutes early for the bus to the Culture Square

Octavia slowed her jogging pace down to a walk as she approached the counter for bus tickets. After a couple of minutes Octavia had her ticket for her bus and was walking towards the respective bus stop, mentally going over a check list Double Bass, Check. Music Notes, Check. Bowtie, Check. Octavia wasn't paying to much attention on where she walking or who is was just about to walk into, going face first into the person in-front of her and successfully smashing both their heads together. Octavia's once carefully arranged music notes dropped from her hands to the floor and went all over the place. Recoiling back and clutching her head in her now free hands, Octavia blinked several times to try and get the ringing in her ears to stop. Looking in her front of her, she noticed that the person she had walked into was doing the same thing.

She was female, around the same age as her, she was wearing baggy clothes, she was also wearing a necklace with what looked like a beamed musical note hanging from it, a set of headphones were around her neck but what stood out on her the most was her hair; it was a two-tone neon blue with both light and dark shades highlighted in equal measure.
All in all she didn't look like the sorta of person that Octavia would ever associate on any kind of level, but she had just walked into her so it at least common courtesy to give her an apology.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. I do hope that that I didn't hurt you." Octavia asked with genuine concern.
After stopping shaking her head to rid of the obvious ringing noise that was still plaguing Octavia as well, the other girl merely shrugged, then proceed to make a series of complicated hand movements that Octavia didn't understand.

The first three fingers of her right hand tapping across her left palm then tapping her index right finger to her left index finger then swiping her right palm across her left.
[Pause] She tapped her right index and middle fingers into her left palm then tapped her right index finger to her left ring finger. 
[Pause] Her three fingers of her right hand swiping across her left palm again then index right finger to her left ring finger then making her right index finger a crook in the palm of her left hand then touching her index right finger to her left index finger. 
[Pause] Her right index finger touched the base of her palm then again she swiped her right palm across her left then she tapped her right index finger to her left thumb then tapping her index and middle fingers into her left palm. 
[Pause] Tapped her right index finger to her left little finger then crooked her right little finger into the gap of her left ring and little fingers then tapped her right index finger to left little finger again then tapped her right index finger to her her left thumb then tapping only her right index finger into her left palm. Finally she shrugged in a nonchalant manner.

Octavia, just looked at that display in complete confusion trying to grasp at what she just saw.
"Ok then, if your fine......" she trailed off, not even sure of how to address the girl in front of her anymore. Desperately Octavia looked around for some kind of help unfortunately what she saw was no she had hoped for, as her bus was just pulling into its stop. Looking back the girl — who was now looking non-plussed at Octavia — then down to the floor to where her music notes had ended up with what looked like the girl's open satchel. Various notes, bits of paper, a set of purple shaded sunglasses, even a laptop were strewn across the floor
The entire scene looked a mess but Octavia had no time contemplate it, quickly gathering her notes with as much grace as she could muster; a extremely hard thing to do bearing in mind she still had a very large musical instrument strapped to her back. She grabbed all her music sheets that she could see and then hurried off towards the bus, but halfway there she paused and looked back towards the strange girl.
"Ummm.... it was.... nice meeting you...."

Octavia made the bus just in time lunging through the closing door to make it on. Handing her ticket to the driver; who had probably seen the late manoeuvre used so many times by passengers that he didn't even blink twice. Huumph....He is probably just disappointed that I didn't slammed face first into the bus door. Octavia thought, taking a twin seat. Her double bass needing a seat of its own, she turned to look out of the window back to the bus station.
Huh...Why is that girl I walked into waving at me?
> Need Coffee
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	09:00, her watch read. How was it only 09 O' Clock???
It was way to early for Vinyl to be wake let alone walking around Canterlot at this un-godly early hour, especially after playing one of her best sets yet last night. But, seriously that rave was off the chain!!!
Arghh....I need coffee.
Heh, the one time I'm looking for a LunaBucks and there's none in sight. Figures......
Vinyl Scratch, one the best DJ's in the Canterlot Underground music scene had just left her place after a quick shower, a change of clothes and after grabbing her trusty satchel and was now currently walking out from the underused Canterlot Industrial Sector, in her opinion anyway. 
Her opinion was obviously biased though; as she had pretty much lived in this sector for the past three years after her parents had kicked her out. But even so Vinyl had done well for herself especially considering with her 'disability'. Her small apartment (that she rented out to other DJ's in the underground music scene that usually needed a safe place to sleep during their respective downtimes), her music studio that she shared with Heavy Drop (also rented out to other DJ's) and their main underground scene which switched between disused warehouse to disused warehouse every other week.
It was rough and tumble lifestyle, but Vinyl loved every second of it and wouldn't trade it for the world.

Vinyl paused in her searching for said overpriced coffee chain, and looked around to her surroundings. Large to small warehouses and office buildings slowly petered out into the Residential Area of Canterlot. Overall, not a bad area but then again even with Vinyl's untrained business eye it was no place for coffee shops.
Argghh. Think Vinyl where is the nearest place to here that I can go get coffee?
Town Center? Too Far.
Music District? Again, Too Far.
Ummm....Train Station? ......That'll do.
And with that Vinyl changed her course from her pointless meanderings to a new destination of the Canterlot Train and Bus Station.





Awww yeah, that hit the spot...
Slumping back in the chair, Vinyl had a moment of pure bliss. Not as great as she usually had whenever she took to the decks, but still, it was close. Vinyl needed this coffee, it was overpriced, overly complicated to make and still didn't taste like the perfect coffee, as they so advertised; but right now Vinyl didn't care. Coffee was coffee, after all.
Pushing aside the errant thought in her head that was saying that she had paid too much for a cup of hot liquid, Vinyl reached down for her satchel to pull out her laptop, which predictably was at the bottom of her bag; so after pulling a couple sets of headphones, her launchpad and a couple of notes for future songs she finally managed to gain access to her laptop. Vinyl packed everything back up in the satchel except for the laptop and a set of headphones. Even her tinted sunglasses went into the satchel, since she needed to actually see the laptop screen to do work.

Locking the satchel flap back up so the bag was closed so that it would be hard to steal from. Vinyl had learnt that lesson the hard way; back when her 'friend' Meltdown had stolen her launchpad from her DJ set during a gig then tried to sell it off as quick as possible, luckily for Vinyl while she hadn't noticed, Heavy Note had. From the information Vinyl had learnt after from Heavy and Passion Stripe, Meltdown had looked decidedly the worse for wear after Heavy had 'persuaded' him to give Vinyl's launchpad back.





After half an hour of work on her laptop, Vinyl was just about ready to give up. She hadn't really done anything more than just go around in circles with a couple of new songs.
Meh, they're ok. But not really up to the Scratch standard......There is just something missing from these, but I can't quite pin it down...
Deciding she wasn't going to get anywhere and thinking she had probably leached enough of the LunaBucks free wifi to last today, Vinyl packed up and left the store.
Maybe a walk around here would give me inspiration.
The Canterlot Train Station was always a good source of hustle and bustle from various types of people using the station, it was a easy place to just sit back and take in the sights; to Vinyl it was one of her favourite places in the entire city. The environment of so many people going about their daily lives and just the very idea of catching a train to anywhere in Equestria always made Vinyl content to watch. Striding across the forecourt of the Bus depot outside the Train Station, Vinyl drifted back into her musings.
I'll get up to the viewing gallery, maybe I'll spot something interesting. Shame that Canterlot doesn't have a underground tube, like Manhattan or Lond-ARRGGHHH!!!

Vinyl's head was ringing like someone had turned her up to 120BPM and she was seeing quite a few stars or maybe they were strobe 	lights, she couldn't really tell. Shaking her head and blinking to try and get rid of these before it lead her to start throwing up, she could vaguely make out who she had walked into. Her vision cleared a little more to reveal the stranger in more detail, Vinyl saw that she was female, she looked to be a little older than Vinyl, although that could be the outfit she was wearing; formal threads. Really!?!?!? This girl has no dress sense at all! I'm mean; just look it!!! Dig the bowtie though......
Vinyl looked her up and down again, this time noting new details from her appearance, she had long dark brown hair and she also appeared to be wearing a bracelet sporting a treble clef symbol. Huh, musician??? Then Vinyl saw what she carrying on her back; a very large leather case that could only house one thing. Urgh...one of those stuck up 'classical' musicians. Give me strength and solid bass beat any day.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. I do hope that that I didn't hurt you." the girl asked with what appeared to concern. Huh, she actually cares??? Maybe she isn't stuck up at all.
Luckily the ringing in Vinyl's ears had subsided a little, but she did feel a slight headache coming on. On the reflection of the situation that it was neither of them at fault, at least not on purpose, Vinyl decided to play nice. Hey she had endured worse, way way worse.
"Meh, no more than usual." Vinyl responded, then shrugged.
The girl looked at her, with utter confusion in her eyes. Typical......Does anyone actually bother to learn sign language anymore!?!?!?
"Ok then, if your fine......" the girl trailed off in a slight weaker voice, still clearly confused. 
She started looking around for help, then her eyes widened in shock. Vinyl looked at her non-plussed as the other girl stared back towards her then looked down, Vinyl followed her line of sight to the floor. Awww, Crap......

Both the girls' stuff had fallen to the ground after colliding with each other. Her satchel had fallen to its side and opened onto the floor. Various music notes (both Vinyl's and the other girl's), bits of scrap paper, Vinyl's purple shaded sunglasses and even her laptop were strewn across the floor. Man, I hope nothing is broken. Especially my sunglasses, Passion Stripe would kill me!
But before Vinyl could make a move to clear up the mess around both them, the other girl was already bending down to retrieve as many of the music sheets as possible. Ok, now I'm impressed. She's still got a double bass strapped to her back and she can do that, I know skill when I see it.
Again before Vinyl could protest, move or interrupt, the girl had stood back up and was jogging away with as paper as she could carry towards the nearest bus. Halfway there she paused and looked back at Vinyl.
"Ummm.... it was.... nice meeting you...."
Then turned and kept going in her direction.

Vinyl shook her head and set about cleaning up the mess on the floor and recovering her things, but as soon as she picked up her satchel, she noticed something under it. A bow for a string instruction, maybe perhaps a double bass? Vinyl looked at in shock then in the direction the girl had left. She needs this! I, of all people should know how important musical instruments are. Gathering up everything from the floor a lot more quickly this time, Vinyl headed after the girl direction. She could see her on a bus as it pulling out of the depot. Vinyl started waving to her to draw her attention but it was too late as the bus was too far away already, Vinyl didn't know if she had actually seen her or not. Looking down at the string bow sticking out of her satchel.
Awwwwww...........Crap............
> For Want of a Bow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Stress; Octavia had that in abundance at the moment, unfortunately that seemed to be the only thing that Octavia had a abundance of at all. She was had just arrived to the Canterlot Music Academy located in Celestial Square and surprise, surprise; she was late (again). Her bus had predictably had gotten stuck at every single traffic light possible on its journey.
I-i'm o-on-only h-ha-half a-a m-min-minute l-la-late
Practically running through the Academy's atrium and straight up the large staircase towards the main hall, causing some of the staff milling about to raise their eyebrows and tut disapprovingly as well as getting a few curious stares from other auditionees in the process. Octavia ignored them completely as she whizzed past all of them only focused on her destination in front of her.

"I-I'm h-h-here!!!" Octavia cried, as she burst into the room; in a state of complete disarray and gasping for breath.
"You're late." A sharp female voice said dripping with contempt and disdain, sounding out from Octavia's left hand side. "And I'm sure that you do know that I certainly do not appreciate tardiness from anyone, especially someone who has a 'promising' career in music"
Octavia turned towards the sound of female's voice, then froze upon seeing who it was. The voice was coming from a music professor who Octavia had known from reputation only until now. Unfortunately that known reputation consisted of too many musical students being chewed up and spat back out by this professor, Octavia had even heard rumors of students refusing to play any instrument after having a 'interview' with this professor. Standing before her was Professor Virtuous Songnote, one of the most high standing Professors in Canterlot; as well as the entire country of Equestria. A high-standing Professor meant high expectations for pupils and students. And for Professor Songnote; high expectations meant perfection and nothing else.
Octavia suddenly wished she hadn't of turned around now.

"Well now, I am still waiting. I do not appreciate being gawked at by a so-called music student from some low-class village outside of Canterlot either. You show up late to an entry audition, you don't appear to have made any effort towards the formal dress and then attempt to pretend you are either mad, idiotic or trying to have a joke at my expense." "I, for one, am not pleased."
Thankfully Octavia managed to regain some senses after that sharp comment from Professor Songnote.
"I'm sorry, Mrs Songn-"
"Pro-fess-or" snarled Songnote
"Professor! I'm sorry, Professor Songnote, but if you just give me one chance I'm sure that I could impress you."
Songnote snorted and curled her upper lip with disdain.
"Oh, I doubt that very much Ms Melody. But I'm feeling generous today, so go ahead and 'impress' me."
Octavia had to ignore another comment made about her and her abilities, her future as a musician was on the line. Everything will be fine Octavia, all you have to do is play for one of the most demanding and hard to please music professors in the entire country, no pressure what so ever......help......

Moving over to the stage, Octavia unpacked her instrument and equipment, all the while she could feel the hard eyes from the Professor boring into her. While Octavia was unpacking two things became apparent very quickly. One; she seemed to have more music sheets than she remembered bringing and Two; her bow for her double bass was missing. Octavia was ready to have a panic attack, already taking in quiet shallow breaths as not to alert Professor Songnote that Octavia was now even more prone to collapsing on the ground in some sort of seizure/coma. 
She looked back at the excess of music sheets she had bought, Octavia didn't recognise half of them; some of them where hers definitely but others looked like a complete mess; notes were everywhere, scribbles, crossings out, one music sheet looked like it had been entirely used for doodling and what looked like several games of Tic-Tac-Toe. The accident at the Train Station......that girl......she must have my music bow and I have her music sheets......that's must have been why she was waving......she wanted my attention......she was trying to...to...to......help...
Gulping, Octavia turned back to Professor Songnote.
"P-P-Professor, I don't appear to have my string bow. W-Would I be able to borrow another?" asked Octavia, knowing the answer before she had even asked the question. It would be a no straight away. 
Well maybe not straight away, probably be given a lecture first and then a flat-out no. Songnote looked at Octavia incredulously, as if Octavia had asked her whether or not she liked to the music genre of dubstep. 
After what to Octavia seemed like an eternity, Songnote spoke.
"You're telling me that not only do you arrive late and under-dressed and make this serious music audition into some kind of personal joke. You have not even bothered to bring the necessary equipment in which to play!?"

It would have been better if Songnote had shouted but instead she had chosen to lace her voice with a much contempt and belittlement as humanly possible.
"And pray tell, if I was to give you a bow, what would you 'grace' me with Ms Melody. With a performance of 'Yakety Sax' in G Minor, perhaps?"
"I was going to perform one of Mozart's compositions." answered Octavia, trying desperately to recover the situation.
Professor Songnote looked like Octavia had just spat in her face.
"Was I not clear on the rules? Only musical compositions from outstandingly well-known Canterlot-born composers are valid to be auditioned. I expected you to do classical music some justice. I expected you to work hard, be bold and to have wowed me"
"B-b-but I thought that Mozart was a well-known Canterlot composer......" Octavia stuttered quietly, the only part from that lecture she could grasp at.
"Canterlot-Born!" Songnote snorted in disgust. "Expressly in my opinion; your 'experience' in such matters, I find quite lacking. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was originally born Salzburg before moving to expand classical music in Canterlot with such performances as his 'Requiem Mass in D minor', 'Piano Sonata No.11' and his 'Symphony No.41' to name but a few."
"But that is beside the point, any 'real' student of the classical arts would have known that! I ask for professionalism from any student willing to study music, I asked for a well-known Canterlot-BORN composer! Am I making myself absolutely, one hundred percent, crystal clear?"
"yes......" squeaked Octavia from the barge of abuse she was receiving. Octavia was even reduced to trying to hide behind her double bass.
"I doubt that very much; as what I find from you is-"


BANG!!!
> Vinyl's Rule
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Ok.....now maybe I'm lost.....
Vinyl was underestimating the situation that she had found herself in; she was completely lost. It had been a very long time since she had been to the Music District. Hell usually Vinyl had a rule; stay actively away from the Music District but this was probably the exception that proved her rule and there was no turning back now. And here she was in the center of the Music District just outside of the Celestial Square where Vinyl's bus had dropped her. It was her fault (well, partly) that the other girl had dropped and lost her music bow, and to Vinyl a person's belongings always belonged to them; no matter what, even if stuff got misplaced or stolen.
But Vinyl had lost time and ground on her bowtie wearing classical musician, having failed to wave her down on her own public transport Vinyl was forced to then try and communicate with the very uncooperative staff member; who didn't even seem to know what sign language was, let alone be able to use it. In the end Vinyl just wrote what she needed on a piece of paper that she had left from her collision. Thankfully that had worked and now that Vinyl was in the Celestial Square she had no idea where to go. Vinyl knew that it would be no point to ask for help, that would just lead to more time wasting and confusion from others.
Come on Vinyl think! There has to something you're missing. Umm...Ok, can I ask for help or information? Nope. Are most people here stuck up and self-absorbed? Yeah, probably..... Have I got any chance of finding Bowtie? Again, N-Wait.....

Vinyl was looking at the misplaced string bow in her satchel again, well more accurately she was looking at the leaflet beside the misplaced string bow.
That's not mine......
Pulling it out, it was a wonder that Vinyl hadn't seen it before now. But after her collision back at the train station and the running off of her quarry Vinyl had been hard pressed for time so she hadn't checked everything before stuffing it into her satchel.
It must have been moved to the top of my bag when I needed something to write on for the public transport staff.
To say the leaflet looked gaudy would have been a understatement, with excessive amounts of gold writing everywhere on it Vinyl could barely make out where one sentence ended and another started. But though it all Vinyl could make out the address.
Canterlot Music Academy? Well, that's right in front of me.
Hardly believing her luck Vinyl moved off towards to the Academy almost opposite her across the square. Vinyl finally felt that she was getting somewhere.
Now, all I need to do is find Little Ms. Bowtie, give back her bow. Ask what her name is, add on her on Social Media then go back to bed!





As Vinyl entered the Canterlot Music Academy, she could definite change in atmosphere to the hustle and bustle of the square outside, it was more subdued. Even more than what Vinyl thought it would be like but then again she didn't really have much experience with this type of crowd (a urban warehouse packed with people hungry for Dance/EDM/Dubstep music was more her scene), so shrugging Vinyl continued.
I don't see her anywhere, maybe in the next hall/room/or whatever this place has next?
Walking up the large staircase to what Vinyl presumed to be a concert hall, Vinyl noticed that she was getting a few stares from what looked like other classical music students that milling about around the place, none of them really caught her eye until one pair shouted out to her.
"Hey Electro-Buzz, nice haircut!"
Vinyl looked over to what appeared to be a pair of girls, both with two-tone hair like herself except one girl had long blue and light pink curls, the other had a rough cut of grayish blue hair with white highlight streaks. Both of them were now giggling at their joke at Vinyl's expense. Surpressing a growl and a few choice signings towards them (one of them consisting of just both Vinyl's middle fingers), Vinyl instead forced herself to calm down and communicated the following towards them.
"Hey, I'm looking for someone. Tall, long dark hair, double bass strapped to her back, maybe in a bit of a rush?"
"Hey look Bonnie, she's trying to psych us out with some weird hand thing." The girl with the white streaked hair commented to her friend.
"Ly-Ly, I doubt she'll be competition for you." The curled haired girl replied back.
"HEY! Just because I'm mute doesn't mean I won't take you down verbally!" Vinyl signed angrily back at them.
Reactions infront of Vinyl was almost instantaneous; the girl with the rough cut continued laughing but it was more a confused laughter now like she didn't know if Vinyl was crazy or not but the girl with the long curled locks of blue and pink looked mortified like she had just killed someone.
"Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry, I didn't know that you had a disability. Errr...The girl your looking for ran past about five minutes ago, up to the main hall." To Vinyl's surprise, the girl with the curled hair replied back in sign language. This actually stunned Vinyl for a few seconds, seeing as pretty much everyone she met apart from Heavy Note and Passion Stripe didn't know sign language.
"Thanks, and thanks for apologising. You seem to have more sense and dignity than your friend."
Her friend was now ironically looked at the girl (which Vinyl assumed was called Bonnie) like she had gone crazy as well.
"Err...Bon Bon, what did you just do?" Asked the girl (Vinyl was assumed she was called Ly-Ly, as previously stated by 'Bonnie')

But Vinyl didn't wait for a reply from 'Bon Bon' as she had already diverted her attention back upstairs, continuing her walk up the staircase she could vaguely her voices coming out from the the double set of doors at the top.
"And pray tell, if I was to give you a bow, what would you 'grace' me with Ms Melody. With a performance of 'Yakety Sax' in G Minor, perhaps?"
Vinyl knew that voice, but she couldn't think where she knew it from.
"I was going to perform one of Mozart's compositions." answered another voice, one Vinyl could instantly place, it was the voice of the girl from the train station. The one she had collided with.
"Was I not clear on the rules? Only musical compositions from outstandingly well-known Canterlot-born composers are valid to be auditioned. I expected you to do classical music some justice. I expected you to work hard, be bold and to have wowed me"
Vinyl definitely knew that voice. It wasn't from recently, maybe from a quite a while ago?
"B-b-but I thought that Mozart was a well-known Canterlot composer......" Vinyl strained to Melody's voice again. Was she getting quieter?
"Canterlot-Born!" A disgusted snort was audible. "Expressly in my opinion; your 'experience' in such matters, I find quite lacking. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was originally born Salzburg before moving to expand classical music in Canterlot with such performances as his 'Requiem Mass in D minor', 'Piano Sonata No.11' and his 'Symphony No.41' to name but a few."
Where do I know that voice from, the beginning days with Heavy Note??? Or before......
It clicked, Vinyl knew. 
Vinyl knew who that voice belonged to. Vinyl knew how much she hated and feared that voice and the person that belonged to it. Vinyl knew she had to leave. She had to go. She couldn't stay.

But what about......
No, run just run. Another part of herself was telling her. Just go, don't worry you don't have to see 'her' again. But Vinyl paused, listening to what was being said on the other side of the door. Inside Vinyl was torn between running away and confronting what she knew would be a painful experience for her either way. Vinyl wished she was still back at her apartment, She wished she was with Heavy Note or Passion Stripe, She wished she was back to last night at her decks in the club, Hell she wished she was infront of the twin rulers waiting trial for being to awesome for the sake of music. She wished she was anywhere but here.
"But that is beside the point, any 'real' student of the classical arts would have known that! I ask for professionalism from any student willing to study music, I asked for a well-known Canterlot-BORN composer! Am I making myself absolutely, one hundred percent, crystal clear?"
Silence, then a barely audible.
"yes......"
Something in Vinyl stirred back towards when she was spoken to like that from 'her' voice, it was demeaning, it was cruel and it was...unacceptable.
No, Vinyl had enough, she wasn't going to let 'her' bully around others like she had been. No, Vinyl was going to put a stop to this right now!
"I doubt that very much; as what I find from you is-"


BANG!!!
> Canterlot Music
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Vinyl had kicked the the door open with such force, she was honestly surprised that it hadn't come off it hinges. All the shock and fear that she had felt from hearing 'her' voice again was gone, Vinyl knew what had replaced them with though; pure white hot fury.
Looking around in the hall she had just entered, she noticed there was only two other people in the hall, they both expressions of complete shock (though seeing as Vinyl had quite literally kicked her way into the room, that was to be expected). Both of them she recognised; the first person Vinyl saw was on a slightly raised platform as the girl she had walked into from earlier she looked worse than before, even close to tears and she seemed to be trying to hide behind her instrument and the other Vinyl recognised the woman who had turned her back on Vinyl 3 years ago.

Vinyl had expected her to be different, to change over the missing years but she hadn't. She hadn't changed not in appearance or in her attitude of self-superiority and entitlement over others, in Vinyl's eyes she was exactly the same she since the day she kicked Vinyl out to live on the streets. Vinyl had made a promise to herself 3 years ago to never forgive this person for what she did and how much it had affected her. The person standing before Vinyl was her mother; Virtuous Songnote.
“What do you think are doing!? This is a closed audition!” Songnote snarled at Vinyl.
Huh, figures that you would forget your own daughter. Vinyl thought as she ignored Songnote’s question. Walking straight past her without even a glance towards her mother, Vinyl approached the stage towards the girl from earlier.





Octavia had just experienced the shock of her life when the entrance had been slammed open and the girl with blue highlighted hair had marched through, it was the girl from the bus station! She’s here!?!? Did she come back to help me!?!?
“What do you think are doing!? This is a closed audition!” Songnote was snarling the question at the girl. Who had promptly ignored Songnote and walked straight passed her onto the stage towards Octavia. The girl stood next to her on stage, Octavia tried to find her voice.
“Umm….hello again?”
The girl replied by opening her satchel and withdrawing what Octavia hoped she had in her possession; Octavia’s string bow. Octavia’s eyes widen as she saw it she couldn't believe it. Octavia was on autopilot as took her possession, as her mind was thrown into a loop of disbelief. How!? Why would she help me!?
Octavia noticed that the girl was scribbling something down a piece of paper, as soon as she had finished she past it to Octavia.
“Are you ok??? You lost this back at the train station, and I wanted to give it back to.”
“Thank-You, I don't what I would have done without it.”
The girl took back the paper, wrote something down again, then past it back.
“Hey, I know what it's like to misplace music instruments.”
“I said that this is a closed audition, and I am telling you to leave!” Songnote shouted at the pair. The girl scowled and rolled her eyes.
“Ignore her, she's always been a bitch.”





“Umm….hello again?”
Vinyl pulled out the girl’s string bow from her satchel. Vinyl watched slightly amused as the girl’s eyes widen in surprise as she recovered her bow. Vinyl’s anger was directed at her mother not towards Miss Bowtie.
Wait, she still doesn't know sign language. I’ll have to write to talk to her, Vinyl pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from her satchel she scribbled down her 'words' down and passed the paper over the classical musician.
“Are you ok??? You lost this back at the train station, and I wanted to give it back to.”
“Thank-You, I don't what I would have done without it.”
Vinyl took back the paper, wrote her next reply then past it back.
“Hey, I know what it's like to misplace music instruments.”
“I said that this is a closed audition, and I am telling you to leave!” Songnote shouted at the pair. Vinyl scowled and rolled her eyes.
“Ignore her, she's always been a bitch.”
The girl chucked at that, then posed a question quietly to Vinyl so the Professor (who was eavesdropping) wouldn't hear.
"Don't suppose you know a Canterlot-born musician? Professor Songnote won't accept anything else."
Vinyl resisted the urge to roll her eyes again instead she turned to look at her mother incredulously. A trick question, seriously!?!?!?
"Sorry, but there isn't one. None of the old classical musicians where ever born in Canterlot."
"Ohh....." The girl looked crestfallen. But an idea has just struck Vinyl, she wrote a question for the girl and pass the paper over.
"Were you born in Canterlot???"
"Well, yeah. Canterlot General. But I don't see how will help.....Ohhhhh...Now I get it" "What should I play?"
"Play naturally, lead and I'll follow." Vinyl wrote, then withdrew her laptop and launchpad.





I know that girl but where from......





"Don't suppose you know a Canterlot-born musician? Professor Songnote won't accept anything else." Whispered Octavia, so Professor Songnote wouldn't hear Octavia asking for help. I'll take any help I can get at the moment!
But the girl turned to look at Professor Songnote incredulously. She seemed to be asking a question towards her, but she didn't say anything instead the girl re-wrote and pass the her paper back to Octavia.
"Sorry, but there isn't one. None of the old classical musicians where ever born in Canterlot."
"Ohh....." Octavia's hope that her audition could be salvaged had just been crushed. But the other girl was writing furiously on her paper again, then passed it over.
"Were you born in Canterlot???"
"Well, yeah. Canterlot General. But I don't see how will help.....Ohhhhh...Now I get it" Octavia had just been given a miracle, Songnote had asked an impossible question for Octavia and the girl had given her an answer. Octavia could just start playing notes from her music sheets like she had planned but then she had too switch it up from there or just completely make something up on the spot.
"What should I play?"
"Play naturally, lead and I'll follow."
The girl wrote, then withdrew out her satchel; a laptop and an electronic pad. That looks like that has way too many buttons on it, but right now I'm not going to complain about anything. Octavia was going to question what the girl had wrote, but she didn't time, seeing that Songnote was now glaring at the pair on stage Octavia chose to trust the girl next to her in that she knew what she was doing. She's going to help me perform!?!? Umm..... music notes won't help then, I'll have to improvise.

Octavia let her mind go blank. Then she pulled her bow across the D string of her instrument; a low note rumbled a crossed the hall, transferring to A string; a second lower note sounded out, back to D string; repeating the first note but of less time as Octavia immediately switched up G string; a higher note, back to D string then to A string then down to E string. E string again, A string, E string, D string, G string, A string, D, G, A, E, G, E, E, G, D.......
Then as she reached the height of her note, a C Note suddenly sounded out from behind her, quickly followed by an C sharp, an F sharp note, then an F sharp rapidly followed,. Octavia could only take a quick glance behind her to see her musical partner join in the performance. The girl was playing the electronic buttoned square, but from what Octavia could hear; it sounded like a full grand piano. The music from her partners machine was blending perfectly with Octavia's own instrument. It sounded heavenly.






Who is she???





Octavia's hands were flying across her double bass is if the were possessed, but still she kept in time and in tune with the strange girl, she was preforming with. She risked a glance at Professor Songnote, and what she saw surprised her so much Octavia nearly lost rhythm with her instrument and the whole song; Songnote wasn't looking at her but at the other girl, the one Octavia was performing with. The expression that Octavia could read was a clear as day from Songnote, it was a mixture of disbelief, pride and guilt.
Octavia couldn't explain it, but saw knew in that instance that Professor Songnote knew the girl that Octavia was playing with.


------


Vinyl played her heart out; not for her mother who was listening, not her music partner who was surprising able to keep up with Vinyl's tempo, but Vinyl played for herself and herself alone. Determined in her goal of..................
......Vinyl didn't know anymore, she didn't care anymore. All that mattered was the music. Her's and her partner's music. Blended seamlessly into one perfect song. The clash of two musicians who should never ever mix, who should never ever meet. But somehow did, and was now making the most out of this one impossible chance.





No, it can't be......





As the duet between Octavia and the girl finished; the last note for the improvised song playing into the background finished. All three of people stood in the hall waiting on baited breath for one of the others to say something. After a couple of minutes (which seamed like hours to everyone) Songnote finally spoke. But not in her usual direct to the approach aspect, not in her scathing demeanor or tone, not even in her body language could anything be seen of the previous impenetrable impervious Professor Virtuous Songnote.
"V-v-v-vinyl......" Virtuous croaked.
Songnote's voice was complete gone, if it had been complete robbed of it power (of which it had). Octavia didn't know what to say, she didn't what to do, she didn't know anything of what just happen between her and her partner finishing their performance and Professor Songnote choking out a name that Octavia didn't recognize. Octavia suddenly felt a poke in her shoulder as 'Vinyl' had written down another sentence.
"Please read this aloud: A performance from V. Scratch and (Your Name); TWO Canterlot-born musicians!"
"A performance from V. Scratch and O. Melody; TWO Canterlot-born musicians!"
Octavia packed up her equipment and followed her music partner out of the double doors leading out of the hall. However on the way on her out, Octavia could hear briefly Professor Songnote, completely break down into the start of tears.
> Coffee and Explanation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"So, ummm........." Octavia begin, but she couldn't think of anything to say. Well, she could think of one subject but Octavia didn't really what to talk about it. Octavia had seen how much anger had been her music partner's expression when she saw Professor Songnote back in the music hall.
Octavia and the girl; who she was pretty sure was called 'Vinyl' by now, were now sitting in a LunaBucks store off the main square in the Music District trying to start a conversation. Two cups of coffee were on the table between them along with 'Vinyl's' notepad and pen. Octavia's instrument was rest up against her chair, and 'Vinyl's' satchel was slung up against her own chair as well.
"Look, just say it. I won't hold it against you seeing as you have a right to know by now."
Octavia swallowed the lump in her throat and asked the question that had been on her mind since leaving her audition.
"So, ummm.........." Octavia started up again. "...You and Professor Songnote?"
'Vinyl' rolled her eyes.
"Before I start my story of how I know Songnote, it would be easier if we actually knew the names of each other. My name is Vinyl Scratch and I apologise for crashing into you at the Bus station earlier."
"Ohh, I had completely forgotten about that. Sorry and don't mention it, there has been worse things that have ever happened to me."
"Really!?!? What about???"
"Umm....well this one time I decide it would be a good idea to annoy Pointville's librarian by rearranging all of the music section's literature into other sections so she would have to go through the entire library to find everything."
"That doesn't sound too bad."
Octavia snorted with laughter.
"You are from Pointville are you? The librarian Ms. Sparkle pretty much loves everything to be order and I know she spent an entire week to sort everything thing out. After that she banned me from the library for eight months or until a got hold a copy of Star Swirls 'Extremely Advanced Extreme Theories for the Advanced'."
"......what???"
"Yeah, I know. It doesn't sound like a real book to me either. But in answer to your previous question: my name is Octavia Melody and I never really got chance to thank you properly before. So, umm....thanks."
Vinyl snorted with laughter, and wrote back.
"Hey, look lets call it even."
"Done, ummm...your story about you and the Professor..." Octavia prompted.

Vinyl's mood soured slightly, but sighed. Vinyl, just get this over and done with!
"Basically......she is was my mother."
Octavia read Vinyl's sentence, then re-read it, then re-read it again. Finally she looked back Vinyl, her face full of confusion.
"...was?" Octavia finally managed to say weakly
"Songnote hasn't been my mother for about three years."
"Ummm...what happened three years ago" Octavia asked suddenly regretting opening this old would for Vinyl, clearly it wasn't a happy experience for her. But so far everyone who had experienced dealings with Professor Songnote, had never come away from it happy.
Vinyl signed again, but this time out of frustration, sadness and slight hint of anger.
"She and my father kicked out to fend for myself on the streets."
"Ohh Celestia, I'm so sorry, Vinyl. I didn't know, w-we don't have to talk about this if you don't want to." Octavia was trying to backtrack, but Vinyl already had the plaster in her metaphorical fingers, she just needed to rip it off.
"No, no it's fine. I kinda of want to talk about, you're only the third person who knows."
"Ummm, ok. Third?"
"My friends, Heavy Note and Passion Stripe. Without them I wouldn't be here."
"They sound like good friends."
"Yeah, they are. I first met them about a month after being kicked out to fend for myself, I met Heavy first and well..." Vinyl chuckled at an inner joke. "It wasn't the best of first impression I could have made, but he saw past that."
"What happened?"
"To be honest, I don't really have a very good memory of that time. Well, for obvious reasons, but apart from that I was half delirious from dehydration and hunger. I think I tried to steal his mobile so I could get something to eat"
"Well, a phone call for some help is never a bad idea."
"Octavia.....I tried to eat Heavy's mobile." Vinyl replied, while staring at her deadpanned.
"Ohh..." Octavia expressed, getting the reasons behind Vinyl's meaning. "Well, at least its a good thing that its hard to chew through plastic."
Vinyl snickered.
"Ok, I'll admit that was a good one!"
"Thanks, what happened after you tried to eat your friend's mobile?" Octavia chuckled moving the topic back to Vinyl's history.
"Well, I suppose that's why he took me in and help me. He saw me in such desperate need that I was willing to do anything to survive, he took me back to his apartment here in Canterlot and that's when I first met Passion as well." Vinyl chuckled again. "The first time she saw me, I was completely dishevelled and probably smelt pretty bad. You should have heard her shouting at Heavy, hell I think all of Canterlot heard Passion Stripe."
"After Passion quite literally shouted herself hoarse at Heavy Note, she took me to get cleaned of all the muck and grime that I had 'acquired'. Passion also cooked the decent meal I had in that month, and trust me when I say that nothing beats a home cooked meal especially after scourging out of bins."
"Both Heavy and Passion had difficulty with my......disability but with time and patience from all three of us we had managed to communicate with each other. After that I tried everything to help them out and repay them, which lead me to music and performing. Heavy Note listened to me once and signed me up for the music event I would agree to, he said 'I've never seen anyone with that amount of natural talent you have, V!'"

Octavia looked impressed at this. But Vinyl was already scribbling down her next sentences'.
"Wait, it gets better. Immediately after that Passion Stripe smacked him around the head and started shouted at him again, saying that he never gave her compliments like that. She held that over his head for roughly two weeks before he apologized with a candlelit dinner for Passion and him complete with 'tone setting' background music from me!"
Both girls fell into laughter; Vinyl's still silent, while Octavia had even gone as far as to have tears in her eyes. After they had finished, Octavia moved their discussion onto a different topic.
"I've been meaning to ask you, how did you get so good with music? It can't be all natural, could it?"
"Most of it is natural I think, but I was taught grand piano when I was around 10 years old."
"Was that with......"
"Yeah, it was with my mother. Probably the only good thing she ever did for me......"
"Again, I'm sorry Vinyl."
"Nah, don't be. I finally faced her and proved her wrong. But to answer your previous question, I think my talent at music is all natural, at least with classical music."
"What do you mean?"
"I mentioned before that Heavy Note got me into performing right?"
"Right."
"Yeah, it wasn't classical music. The songs and music I usually play is with the Underground Canterlot Music variety, you know; Modern House, EDM, Drum&Bass as well as Dubstep."
"Oh, well I guess that explains the hair then. I didn't think that blue was a natural colour."
Vinyl smiled at that comment, pulling at her hair to illustrate her next point.
"What this? Yeah, I got it done with Passion Stripe after living with them for about six months. If you want I could get yours done.....I'm thinking orange highlights would be good!"
"Uhh, thanks but no thanks Vinyl, believe it or not this isn't my hair's original colour." Vinyl raised an eyebrow at that, but Octavia continued. "It used to be half the length it is now and coloured a natural blonde."
"Ok, I can see that happening....how about blonde hightlights then?"
".......maybe....." Octavia said shrewdly.

Octavia looked at the clock on the store's wall; 13:00
"Vinyl, I'm going to have to catch a train back to Pointville."
"Awww...."
"But I'll be in Canterlot in two weeks time, would you mind if we met up again?"
"I'll do one better"
Vinyl scribbled down two different notes and passed them to Octavia; one had a phone number, the other had an address.
"When you next come around stop on by. I'll introduce you to Passion Stripe and Heavy Note."
"Thanks, I'll like that."
Both girls got up and left the store chain, stopping outside then separating; Octavia back to the Bus and Train Station and Vinyl back to the Warehouse District. But before either of them where out of sight of the other, both turned back and waved goodbye.
> Musical Friends
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Well, I think that this is the place.
Octavia was standing in front of a slightly run down apartment building in Canterlot's Warehouse District. It had been two weeks since her and Vinyl had met each other and a lot had changed, even though she hadn't seen Vinyl since then both been in constant communication through both social media and texting. But that wasn't the biggest shock that had happened over the past two weeks for Octavia; that was Professor Songnote showing up at Octavia's house out of nowhere begging to speak to Vinyl.
It hadn't been easy for Octavia to explain to Songnote that Vinyl 'wasn't within reach' for her to contact and to talk down her parents from calling the police. Eventually the Professor had been convinced to leave the Melody’s household with the promise that if Songnote wrote a letter for Vinyl, Octavia would deliver it, it may have just been in her mind but Octavia was sure that Songnote had made a point of following her over the couple days after her sudden appearance in Pointville in the hope that Octavia would lead her to Vinyl.

But Octavia couldn't dwell on that now, taking a deep breath in Octavia walked into the apartment building and up towards where Vinyl had texted her room was. After reaching Vinyl's apartment room she knocked on the door. Octavia got no answer, puzzled Octavia knocked again; this time more forcefully.
Again, no answer. She couldn't even hear any signs of movement or life inside the apartment, now more confused and slightly annoyed Octavia looked at her watch, it read half past nine in the morning. As much as Octavia wanted to stand in an dilapidated apartment's hallway for the rest of the day (which she didn't even in the slightest), Octavia needed to see Vinyl again. So giving up all pretense of subtlety Octavia started pounding the down the door in the hope that Vinyl or someone would open up.

The hammering of Vinyl's apartment entrance lasted around about two to three minutes before Octavia finally heard movement on the other side, and the door was finally opened by......someone. Octavia had no idea who person was. She was female, a head taller than Octavia, she also looked like she was around 26-27 years old, her hair was draping down to her shoulders with two coloured lines going through it (bright orange and soft yellow) and was in complete bed-head mode, her eyes half-lidded with sleep were a nice shade of emerald staring blearily at Octavia, she also appeared to have a tattoo of a microphone twinned with a clipboard on her left wrist, Octavia couldn't see anything else of the girl as she was currently wrapping a blanket around herself. The blanket also appeared to be the only thing the girl was wearing.

"Ummm......"
"Look, as I told you last night Meltdown, F-Off before I get Heavy to make you F-Off!" The girl pointed as much as she could with the blanket around her at Octavia. Octavia was stunned for a moment both to the current state of dress of the girl and her accusing tone.
"Who's Meltdown?"
The girl blinked, then tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.
"Oops...errr, sorry wrong person. Wait...why are you banging down my friend's door then?"
"I'm looking for Vinyl Scratch. I'm Octavia Melody, you would be?"
Sadly the only part of what Octavia had said that had registered with the stranger was her name…
"Octavia??? The classical musician, Octavia???"
"Yes, why?"
Again sadly Octavia's question went unanswered, as the girl finally realised that she was wearing nothing but a blanket. She squealed and blushed, embarrassed.
"Errr, why don't you come inside."
Octavia hesitated.
"Look we got off on the wrong foot, I'm Passion Stripe. Would you please like to come inside?"
Passion Stripe! Octavia knew that name, Vinyl had reference her name in a few of her texts.
"Ok, ummm...Would you like me to wait outside for you to get changed?"
“No, no. I’ll show you the kitchen.”
Passion turned back inside and allowed Octavia to follow her. The apartment itself was normal and basic; three doors lead off from the main room (presumably to two bedrooms and a bathroom), however the main room which was itself had seeming everything else an actual house would need such as a small dining table off towards the side, a couch in the middle, a desk complete with chair in the near corner and a kitchen area stuffed at the back of the room. It was actually amazing to Octavia how all of it had been arranged into such a small room.
“Help yourself to anything in the kitchen, I’ll just be 15 minutes. Ok?”
“Alright, thank you”
And with that Passion Stripe disappeared through one of the closed doors, a minute later the sound of running water could be heard from the room that Passion had just entered. Octavia meanwhile took a look around the apartment. Huh, could use some flowers But with nothing else to do, Octavia put the kettle on and went to go search the cupboards for a couple of coffee mugs.

After a while Octavia heard one of the doors open behind her. Presuming it Passion coming back, she turned around to face her.
“Passion, I made a couple of coffee’s for-”
But it wasn't Passion Stripe who was standing in the room with her; the stranger was male, roughly the same height as Passion Stripe, he looked slightly older than Octavia, his black hair was cropped short and similarly to Passion’s was in complete bed-head mode, he had a tattoo of headphones imprinted on his right shoulder, yawning with his eyes closed he made way towards the kitchen unaware of Octavia. But the most eye catching detail of him was that he was complete nude.
Octavia let out a small eep, blushed and covered her eyes all at the same time.
“Hey Passion, smells like you put the coffee on. I hope that you made two cause you took all the blanket again!”
It was after that, the stranger finally opened his eyes to look upon Octavia who had her hand over her eyes and supporting a heavy blush. Through Octavia couldn't see it, the male performed a double take on who had thought was Passion Stripe.
“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!!!” he yelled at Octavia.
Luckily before Octavia could respond one of the doors opened at that point for Passion Stripe to walk out, her hair was still damp from the shower but thankfully she was wearing clothes this time.
“Heavy, stop shouting at our guest! And put some damn clothes on!” Shouted Passion at who was now presumably Heavy Note. With all the commotion happening in her apartment, Vinyl came charging out of her room expecting the worst.
“What’s going on!? Heavy, put some damn clothes on!!!”

> Amending Bridges
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Wait, what’s happening here???” Heavy Note said seriously confused at the entire situation he had found himself in. But before his question could be answered, Heavy found himself kicked into the bathroom by Passion Stripe.
“CLOTHES!!! NOW!!!!!” Shouted Passion, even though she was literally next to him.
“Ok, ok. Damn it Passion.”
Whilst this was happened, Vinyl moved over into her kitchen to Octavia who still had her eyes covered. Vinyl turned Octavia around so her back would be facing the bathroom door (just in case Heavy wanted to get beaten up by Passion again), she then removed Octavia’s hand from her eyes so could Octavia could see again.
“Vinyl! It's good to see again, ummm I've met your friends, they seem interesting.”
Vinyl quickly grabbed a notepad and a pen, left on the kitchen counter by Passion Stripe.
“It's great to see you again as well, Tavi! I'm sorry about that, usually Heavy is a little more discreet……”
“Don't worry about it, it's nothing I haven't seen before.”
Vinyl smirked, while Octavia just realising what she said, blushed deeply.
“Ooo, Tavi. I didn't know you had a wide side!!!”
“Shut up, you know I didn't meant it like that!”
“Tell me, Little Miss Innocent. Long board or short board?” teased Vinyl.
Octavia blushed even harder, and turned her head away from her smirking friend.
“I’m not answering that.”
“Long Board and Vinyl stop teasing Octavia. I think that she doesn't need you to be...well to be you.” Passion Stripe’s voice floated across the room to Vinyl and Octavia, thankfully she had returned from abusing Heavy Note, Vinyl pouted in mock sadness.
“Boo! Booooo! Passion, Boo!!! No fun, Booooo!!!!!”
Passion Stripe rolled her eyes and ignored Vinyl in favour of getting two more coffee mugs out of the kitchen cupboards and putting the kettle back onto boil.
“I do have a question through: Octavia, why are you here so early? It's not like we are ungrateful but I thought that Vinyl said that you two would be meeting around ‘bout 2ish?” Passion asked thoughtfully.
“Yeah, I was kinda of wondering that myself.”
“Ummm, well I wanted to make sure that I wasn't followed.” Replied Octavia, a little sheepishly.
Passion and Vinyl looked at Octavia, both with equally confused expressions, Octavia sighed.
“Look, it's a long story…” Started Octavia.





“I can't believe that Songnote would stoop so low as to try a follow you, Tavi. Oh, wait….no I can believe that!” Vinyl wrote angrily. Her temper had slowly risen as Octavia had explained what had happened over the past two weeks, but Vinyl’s anger towards her mother had spiked considerably when Octavia had said that she had been followed by her for roughly three days.
All four of them were now sitting around a table with mugs of coffee for each of them, Heavy had come back (this time with clothes on) and apologised to Octavia. Octavia herself had just finished explaining, Vinyl looked like she was ready to kick something while Passion looked sympathetic and Heavy was deep in thought.
“Vinyl, by the sounds of it. Songnote is pretty desperate to contact you.” Replied Heavy Note.
“I don't care. She left me to die. She is a heartless bit-“
“Do you really want to finished that sentence?” Heavy said while raising an eyebrow.
Vinyl’s hand shook to write the last two letters, then deciding against it Vinyl threw the pen down in disgust.
“Vinyl, I don't expect you to forgive her just like that but she is your mother.” Passion Stripe spoke up looking straight at Vinyl.
“WAS! She was my mother!”
“Vinyl, when Songnote arrived at my house she wasn't the same as she was back at the Music Academy, the Professor hadn't slept in days and it looked like she had been crying for longer, I barely recognised her.” Octavia replied.
“Good! She deserves it!”
“Please, Vinyl……” Asked Octavia as she reached out to Vinyl from across the table.
Vinyl expression was one of anger and annoyance, but even she could see that Heavy, Passion and Octavia had a point. God, damn it……
“Fine, fine. I'll give her a chance, but one chance and one chance only!”
Vinyl sighed and looked back at Octavia.
“Tavi, you mentioned that she wrote a letter for me?”
Octavia nodded and retrieved Songnote’s letter from her bag and past it over.
“Could you guys give me a minute. I want to read it alone first.”
Passion and Heavy both moved over back to the kitchen, but Octavia hesitated.
“Tavi, I promise that I won't rip it up before reading it”
Octavia still didn't look convinced, but gave Vinyl the table anyway as she followed Passion and Heavy into the kitchen.
Vinyl looked at the letter addressed for her, in short it was a mess. The handwriting was nothing like what Vinyl remembered from her mother’s calligraphy, there were words crossed out and scribbled over and the entire thing was littered with dried watermarks; Vinyl guessed that those were her mother's cried tears.



Dear Miss Scratch Vinyl Scratch Vinyl
I know that I don't will never deserve contact you or see you again.
I know that I will never deserve to call myself your mother.
I know that I will never deserve another chance.
I was am was wrong.

But I want need you to know is that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I failed you. I was a terrible truly-god awful mother to you, I didn't accept you for how you were are. I was so concerned about my own reputation that I didn't consider how far I pushed you away. That's what lead to the worst decision I have ever made in my entire life, leaving abandoning you.
What's even worse is that it took me two months after that to finally realise what I did. Two months!!! It took me two months to realise that I was the worst parent in the world. I tried begged your father to help me search for you, eventually he left with his mistress that I didn't even know about, another thing that messed screwed up. He took everything and moved to San Francisco, he left me with nothing. Because that's what I deserved; nothing.

I thought that you were dead. I thought that our my decision had killed you. My stupid fucking decision! For the past three years my life has been a joke hell; my cheating husband and my lost daughter. When I saw you again, I couldn't believe that me of all people had been given a second chance.
I don't ever deserve a second chance with the way I treated you, but please all I want need to know is that you are safe!!! Even if you never want to see me again, please Vinyl I'm asking begging you!

I love you, even though it took me a long time to realise it but I still will always love you.
You were are my daughter.
I am sorry.

Sincerely
Your Mother
Virtuous Songnote




Fresh tears hit Virtuous’ letter to mix with the ones that had long since dried. Vinyl couldn't read anymore but it didn't matter she had reached the end, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up through her red tear-strained eyes; Octavia had moved back to comfort Vinyl. Vinyl stood up and hugged Octavia for comfort as she cried silent tears in her shoulder.
“It's going to ok, Vinyl.” Octavia said soothingly.
In the moment Vinyl knew that Octavia was right; everything was going to ok.

> (Post-Chapter) Sweet Music
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Damn it Lyra! Stop bumming on my sofa all day and do something!”
“I am doing something. I'm watching a re-run of the Crystal Maze, I think this team could actually win!”
"That re-run is 30 years old by now! Lyra, it's older than you by now."
Bon Bon had just gotten back from her Psychology lecture at Canterlot University dropping her bag down next to the sofa. Lyra shifted around from her laying position on the sofa to gaze up at her roommate, who was at the moment shouting at her. She had to think about some witty retort back at Bon Bon so she could be left in peace.
"Yeah, well you're 30 years old by now!"
Smooth Lyra Smooth......
Apparently Bon Bon thought so too.
"Ok, that's it! Lyra if you don't anything constructive today I'm going to kick you out!"
With that Bon Bon turned and stomped angrily into the rest of their small apartment, Lyra meanwhile had paled at the news of Bon Bon's decision. True, Lyra hadn't really done anything since failing and dropping out of her degree in Flight Mechanics at Canterlot University, but that wasn't her fault that was totally down to Solar Wind and him not understanding that she didn't work well in teams especially teams that Lyra herself wasn't leading.
Thinking fast and diving into Bon Bon's bag for inspiration; (it was also a good source of 'Get Out of Jail Free Cards' especially considering that knowing Bon Bon pick ups every campus leaflet under the sun on the way back from her lectures) Lyra picked the first campus leaflet she came into contact with.
"Hey, you don't have to worry about that seeing as I was going to participate in......" Lyra quickly squinted at the leaflet in her hand. "...The 'Canterlot University Music Advanced Auditions'."
Silently Lyra was cheering as it seemed that fate was on her side today. This also seemed to gain Bon Bon attention, as her whole expression relaxed in a improving manner.
"Really Lyra?"
"Yep, and I'm totally serious about it as well, I've been practicing with my lyre and everything!" Lyra bragged/lied, Bon Bon seemed impressed.
"Well, good for you! I mean if you really want to do this then I support you and knowing the rumours around this subject you are going to need as much practise as possible."
"Why's that, Bonnie?" asked Lyra puzzled.
"Oh, didn't you hear there is a rumour going around that Professor Songnote is going to be tutoring this class personally this year." answered Bon Bon cheerfully. Meanwhile Lyra gulped silently, while music had been a hobby of hers it didn't mean that Lyra hadn't heard the reputation of Professor V. Songnote. Suddenly Lyra wished that she just finished watching Crystal Maze instead, apparently fate wasn't on her side today......





Crap, Crap, Crap, Crap, Crap
"Lyra, is something wrong?"
"No!!! Nothing's wrong!!!" Lyra answered Bon Bon slightly shrilly.
Bon Bon for her part merely shrugged and put Lyra's odd behaviour down to nerves. Meanwhile Lyra was quietly cursing to herself. It was the day of the CU Music Auditions and unfortunately the rumors hadn't been wrong, not only was Professor Songnote tutoring in the subject but she was also overseeing the auditions.
I'm screwed! I'm screwed! I'm screwed!
I didn't study enough to pass this, then Bon Bon's going to mad, then she is going to kick me out, then...
Lyra was interrupted in her sporadic thoughts as a girl with long black hair with what appeared to be a cello on her back burst into the hallway and sprinted like her life depended on it up the staircase and then through the double doors at the top. That event seemed to give Lyra a moment of clarity.
Well, at least I arrived on time... She thought to herself.
And with that Lyra went back to curse at herself again.

Five minutes past with Lyra still trying to find a way out of her current predicament until she started getting poked by Bon Bon.
"Hey! Quit it!"
Bon Bon ignored her outburst, nodding her head at a new arrival in their hallway, that Lyra hadn't noticed until now. She was roughly their age, she also seemed to be carrying a satchel but neither of those facts drew their attention like her hair, her two tone electric neon blue hair. Now Lyra admitted that her own green hair was perhaps not the best, but that girl's; that was something else entirely!
"Hey Bonnie, watch this" Lyra whispered to Bon Bon, a idea forming in her head.
"Hey Electro-Buzz, nice haircut!" shouted Lyra towards the newcomer.
That caught the girl's attention, as while as a giggle from Bon Bon. The girl scowled at them, then seemed to surpress it moving her face in a passive state. What she did next caught Lyra completely off-guard, she stated making odd gestures with her hands.
Ok......That's slightly weird...
"Hey look Bonnie, she's trying to psych us out with some weird hand thing." Lyra commented back to Bon Bon.
"Ly-Ly, I doubt she'll be competition for you." Bon Bon replied.
With this, the newcomer seemed to switch back to anger again, and increased the speed of her hand gestures.
Ok...now it's beyond weird. Why doesn't she just say something?
Lyra looked over towards Bon Bon, who face had just paled as she stared that the weird girl. Just as things couldn't get any weirder today, Lyra was about to ask Bon Bon on her opinion on the weird girl when Bon Bon started moving her hands in a similar way to the strange girl.
WHAT THE HELL!?!?!? BON BON!?!?!?
A moment passed between all three of them; Bon Bon looking extremely apologetic, the girl who was strangely stunned and Lyra who's brain had just decided to give up on her. The girl made a couple of hand gestures towards them then turned and left up the stairs. Lyra was still in a stunned loop.
"Err...Bon Bon, what did you just do?" Asked Lyra tentatively. 
"Sign Language, Lyra. It's umm... used for people who can't speak."
"......what......"
"She was mute, Lyra! We just made fun of a mute person!" Bon Bon shouted at Lyra.
Realisation suddenly dawned on Lyra like a slap to the face. Oh.......
Then Bon Bon slapped her in the face.

Another five minutes passed, this time with a extremely cold silence between Bon Bon and Lyra. The former extremely anger with the latter and the latter now nursing her right cheek. Suddenly Bon Bon spoke up to berate Lyra again.
"I can't believe you!"
"Sorry..."
"Of all the times you shot your mouth off!"
"Sorry..."
"Do you realise that this is exactly the same situation of when you tried to make a fool out of Solar Wind and Sunset Shimmer!"
"Sorry..."
"It's your turn."
"Sor- wait what?"
"It's your audition, Lyra move it. Before I kick you in there!"
Bon Bon sounded serious, so Lyra decided not to push it. But as she moved up the stairs Bon Bon followed, confused for a moment Lyra hestiated.
"Umm..."
"I'm going to apologise for the both of us." answered tersely Bon Bon, nodding her head towards her left hand side, indicating towards the girl with the blue two tone hair who was with strangely enough the other girl from before; the one with the long dark black hair.

Lyra couldn't waste anymore time as Bon Bon was glaring daggers at her again, so she move rather hurriedly up the staircase towards for Lyra what was going to be the second chewing-out of the today. But as she passed through the double doors at the top of the staircase, Lyra was greeted with a sight that noone could have predicted; Professor Songnote crying.
Songnote looked up in some sort of vague hope towards the entrance way when she heard them open. But seeing Lyra she re-doubled her efforts to crying her eyes out.
"Umm..." said Lyra, not having a clue on how to approach this situation. Of everything that Lyra had imagined; being chewed out, laughed at, her lyre been broken into pieces in front of her. Professor Songnote crying her heart out was not ever a scenario that Lyra had considered not to mention being able to deal with.
"It's all my fault." whispered the Professor, barely audible.
"Pardon?" asked Lyra, she was still not sure if this was actually happening or not.
"It's all my fault." repeateded Songnote. "I drove her away. I thought that I kil-"
Songnote couldn't finished her sentence and broke down into tears again. Starting to believe that this was happening, Lyra considered her options; go back through the doors and present this never happened or stay and to comfort her. But hearing the woman sob her heart out Lyra knew that there was only one choice. Crossing over to the Professor, Lyra pulled her into a hug and let her cry into her shoulder.
"There, there..." Lyra said sort of questioningly, her only experience in such matters coming from movies.
"I-I t-thought that she was d-d-dead." Songnote sobbed into Lyra's shoulder, while trying to take deep breaths to steady herself. "I-I t-thought that I k-k-killed her."
"Umm...It's ok. Everything is going to ok..." answered Lyra still bewildered by the Professor's demeanour. "Umm...this person do they have a name?"
"V-v-vinyl" wailed Songnote
"Vinyl? Well, it's a very nice sounding name." Lyra was struggling to come up with ways of maybe helping Professor Songnote. "Errr...Professor Songnote it sounds like this 'Vinyl' is ok, right?"
"S-she is. N-no thanks to m-me." Songnote broke down again.
"Well...then maybe all you have to do is say sorry to her and maybe she'll forgive you, maybe...?"
Lyra was stabbing in the dark for this one. Songnote choked and stopped crying in fact Songnote stopped doing anything including breathing, for one horrifying moment Lyra was afraid that she had somehow died in her arms. But thankfully Songnote started back up again, dying her eyes and looking up with hope to Lyra.
"Thank-You." Songnote whispered to Lyra.
"Ummm......anytime..." answered Lyra, still not completely sure on how or what had happened.
"Thank-You...ummm...sorry but I catch your name?" inquired Songnote.
"Oh! Lyra, Lyra Heartstrings."
"Thank-You Miss Heartstrings for everything. It's high time I turned over a new leaf in life." Songnote's voice was gaining confidence and control with every word that she said.
With that she turned and moved to collect her belongings, Lyra was still stunned by as Songnote passed Lyra on her way out, she paused.
"Ummm...consider yourself passed the music audition with flying colours, Miss Heartstrings."
Professor Songnote didn't allow Lyra to respond as she walked out of the music hall in a complete different state to the one Lyra had found her in. A couple of seconds later Bon Bon burst into the hall (she had obviously been waiting right outside the door waiting for someone to exit), looking around to spot Lyra.
"Ohh, Lyra don't worry about her. You're ten times the musician she could ever hope to be!" Bon Bon said slightly frantically.
She had been under impression that Professor Songnote had torn Lyra to pieces. Bon Bon only just now realised that wasn't the case.
"Ummm...Lyra what's wrong???" asked Bon Bon, still slightly worried.
Lyra looked her best friend in her eyes.
"I-I think I passed..."
> (Post-Chapter) 3 Years Before
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Damn, I really hate winter...
It was the only beginning of November and in Heavy Note's opinion it was already too cold. He was standing outside of a disused warehouse in the warehousing district of Canterlot, the underground music scene had pretty much finished for the year as pretty much everybody would be thinking about the upcoming holidays such as Christmas and Hearth's Warming. Heavy Note was scouting out a couple of places for the events coming in the new year; the main one being the New Year Eve raving party which last year ran for 15 straight hours. It was one hell of a party.
Ok, Heavy focus. Only a couple more places to check out.
Taking another look at the warehouse, Heavy contemplated.
This one doesn't look to bad. Easily reachable, looks like a large space inside. I'll take a walk around, try to get a feel for the place...

One quick trip later and Heavy Note was satisfied.
Yeah, I think that this should be good enough. Maybe then the organiser will finally let me date her hot assistant. God, Passion Stripe is gorgeous...
Heavy Note was too busy fantasising about Passion Stripe that he didn't notice a small movement close behind him. Someone was coming up Heavy; sizing him up looking to see if he had anything of value, slowly and very careful a small hand inched closer to his jean's back pocket where he kept his wallet. The hand had almost lifted Heavy's wallet out of the pocket until it caught on a loophole, a brief tug and it was free but not without Heavy finally realising what was going on.
Heavy whipped around his hand reaching down instinctively to his now empty pocket, looking up he saw a small figure running away from him at full pelt towards the warehouse's alleyway.
What the fu! He has my wallet!!!

Heavy gave chase towards the figure sprinting away, he was gaining ground on the person with step. The chase oddly went around the outside of the warehouse, not once did the thief try to run completely away from the building. Heavy had caught to a mere five steps behind the thief until they rounded a corner. The thief had made it around and Heavy set to follow until he misjudged how much he had to slow down by, with this Heavy went skidding past the turn and then tripped, swearing profusely Heavy picked himself back up and tried the turning again. To look down a deserted alleyway.
What the f...
Even with the lead he had just giving the person he was chasing down, he still should be able to see them running down the alley. Which meant only one thing; whoever they were was now hiding somewhere in the alleyway.
Gotcha, Bitch!!! No where to run now.
Slowly, watching and listening to any movement or sounds Heavy Note proceed down the alleyway in search of the thief, he had gotten roughly halfway down the alley when he came across his wallet lying on the ground. Picking it up, Heavy immediately became puzzled as he noticed something his cards, his money both paper and coins; none of it was missing, everything was still there.
Why would someone go to the trouble of stealing a wallet then to be chased down to then drop it with everything still inside?
Heavy then noticed movement in the corner of his eye, looked down to his right, he spotted a small pale white hand lifting a piece of tarp next to the warehouse, crouching down he stared in the direction and was greeted with a pair of shocked red irised eyes looking back at him. The eyes and the hand immediately vanished.
"Hey, Wait!" Heavy called out to the disappearance.

Pulling back the tarp in search for the person, slightly surprised Heavy Note revealed a concealed small entrance into the warehouse being curious he crawled in. Heavy expected an empty warehouse to greet him but he was wrong, slightly off to the entrance that Heavy had crawled through was a small (for lack of a better word) camp; but it was really a just a small messy collection of blankets popped up by few pieces of wood, small trinkets were scattered here and there and in the middle of the mess was the unsuccessful supposed thief of Heavy Note's wallet. Heavy Note had been wrong when assuming that that the person had been male.
The 'thief' was female; she was small and mousy, she looked to Heavy Note like she was barely even 14 to 15 years old, her dark auburn hair framed her face even though it was unkempt and dishevelled beyond belief matted with dirt and grime of living rough it looked like it hadn't been properly washed in weeks, her clothes looked like that they were very fashionable a long time ago were effectively rags covering her (they also looked like it was the girl's only outfit after Heavy had glanced his eyes around her 'tent'), she was virtually skin and bones even so her white gaunt hands were clutching desperately to a deflated mud brown satchel in her hands like her life depended in it, but what struck Heavy the most was her eyes (the only colour on her that looked like it didn't come from the streets); her wild red irised eyes looking at Heavy in complete and utter fear. Heavy Note took a step back subconsciously and the girl relaxed, but only slightly.
Think Heavy think! You just caught a thief who turned out to be a girl who is now scared to death of you. Umm.....I got nothing.
"Ummm.....hi?" Heavy Note responsed to the girl's defensive position.
The girl flinched and tried to recoil back into her makeshift camp pile.
"Woah hey, look I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm just looking for...answers..." Heavy finished rather haphazardly.
The girl shook her head furiously, then pointing at Heavy then to back to the entrance to which both had come through. Heavy quickly glanced at the entrance and briefly considered his options; leave and don't look back or...... 

His mind was made up, he would not abandon this girl whoever she was. Shaking his head, looking back towards her Heavy readdressed the girl.
"I'm sorry but I can't do that."
The girl shook her head with renewed vigour pointing at Heavy then to the entrance/exit several times, she looked like she was beginning to hyperventilate.
"Hey, what's your name?" Heavy asked trying to stop from the girl from crying.
The girl responded with yet more head shaking.
"Woah, hey I'm trying to be a friend here."
Yet even more violent head shaking.
"Look I'm trying to help you here! The least you can do is talk to me!" Heavy cried somewhat exasperatedly.
The girl pointed to her throat then opened her mouth and tried to pronounce a couple of words, yet no sound came out. Heavy sighed, his patience had just worn out.
"Ok, I'll leave you alone."
Heavy made to get up but stopped as soon as he felt a pull at his jeans, the girl had reach out one of her hands to the bottom of his jeans and her other hand was scribbling in the dust of the mostly disused warehouse to form a sentence.
"No please don't go!"
Heavy paused, she was looking up at him with hope filled begging eyes.
"Ok......"
"I'm mute I can't physically talk. I'm sorry..."
"Right then, why did you take my wallet?" Heavy asked, finally he was getting somewhere.
"I was am hungry, please I didn't to cause any trouble!"
"Well, you did cause me trouble!" Heavy's temper was getting the best of him. "And now because of you this entire warehouse is now unuseable!!!" He shouted into the girl's face, she cringed at his tone and taking her hand off of his jeans drew back into her shell of a campsite clutching her satchel for comfort. Heavy knew immediately that he had gone too far; as he had systemically scared the poor girl to death with his entrance to then giving her hope when he had tried to talk only to be snatched away from her when his temper had flared at her.

Heavy Note sighed in resignation.
"What's your name?" Heavy repeated to the girl.
The girl drew in a deep breath to try and steady herself and then shakenly wrote.
"Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch"