Shuffle

by Steel Wing

Rating: everyone
Tags: Random, Slice of Life
Length: 8002

The ponies discover the iPod Shuffle.

Some of your favorite ponies discover iPod Shuffles that are filled with songs that appeal to some of their musical tastes, while others will be surprised to learn what they like.

*Cover photo by AndreaMelody*

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-10-23 03:09:22 UTC

Hay-C/DC

Rainbow Dash was pumped!

Tomorrow was her big day, her first tryout for the Wonderbolts. The first thing she did when she received a letter a week prior from their captain, Spitfire, asking her to attend the tryouts that'll be taking place at the Cloudisseum (besides the expected merry onslaught of "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!"'s) was begin training for her big break.

She spread the news to all her friends, and they all couldn't be happier for her. They had all given her some "Congratulations!" and "That's great, Rainbow!", but Dash herself didn't expect anything less. She knew it was only a matter of time before her idols would come and ask her to be one of them.

She woke up early that morning with the goal of getting her mind, body, and soul to nailing this tryout without a single hitch. Eating a breakfast that held all of the essential vitamins and minerals to get her body ready, Rainbow Dash set up a last-day training regime in her head, planning on perfecting the routine she had been working on for years in order to impress the Wonderbolts.

"Okay, Rainbow Dash," she began to her reflection in the mirror in her bedroom of her cloud mansion, "today's the last day for practice. Tomorrow will leave no room for slip-ups, so get you're head in the game!" She made some self-motivational poses, further preparing the determined rainbow-maned pegasus. After looking into her reflection's eyes for several seconds, she said, "Right!" Dash then casually trotted out of her room towards the front door.

Upon reaching it, she opened it to reveal the perfect day for staying indoors. It was raining cats-and-dogs, preventing any sort of outside exercise to take place. Rainbow Dash stood in the door frame, her body cold with shock, her eyes tearing up with disappointment.

"Wha--? I-I...NO!" She screamed at the unfair sky. "Why the hay is it raining? Nopony told me about it, and I'm one of the hoofing Captains of the Weather Teams!"

The rain ignored her, its infinite pattern of falling unimpeded hissed into Rainbow's flopped-down ears. The cyan mare, on the other hand, continued to sling verbal abuses at the rain, the sky, and the other pegasi, who had scheduled an unexpected downpour right before Rainbow Dash could complete her final day of training.

Rainbow Dash, conceding, turned around and slammed the door at the rain outside, tears slowly making their way past the lower curve of her ruby eyes. Her head was filled with all sorts of negative thoughts.

What if I fail the tryouts, tomorrow? Oh Celestia, this rain is gonna cause me to flunk everything! My hopes, my dreams, gone! All because of this bucking rain...

She began to trot to nowhere in particular, head hung low in misery, when a knock on her door made her stop after ten steps. The pegasus slowly snailed back to the door and opened it. No one was there, except the taunting rain.

Confused, she stuck her head out and look ahead, left , and right of her. Empty. She was about to go back inside, about to mutter some more silent curses at whoever played "Knock-and-dash" with her, when her faze fell to the little brown box on the porch. She approached it cautiously, still assuming that someone was playing a prank on her, (possibly Pinkie Pie, since she loved doing stuff like that), and picked it up in her forehooves.

It wasn't very heavy. It was just a small, brown, cardboard box, slightly soaked from the spray of the rain. Rainbow Dash shook it experimentally, and something inside bounced around freely. Her guard going down, she noticed a flap on one side of it that opened to reveal the box's contents. Taking one last look around the porch, and confirming that no one was indeed around, hovered back inside, closing the door with a rear hoof upon entering.

Rainbow Dash made her way to the couch in her living room. Despite the cloud mansion's impressive exterior, climbing four stories into the sky, the interior was plain, unimpressive, something that Dash appreciated whenever she wanted some alone time. Other than the occasional Wonderbolts poster or picture featuring her and her friends, the rest of the house was filled with little furniture. The rain outside made tiny pitter-patter sounds against the windows.

Sitting on the cloud-couch, Dash flipped open the side of the box and slid its contents right next to her. It wasn't much, just a small note, a white cord with two buds at two ends that branched off one-third along the cord's full length and a metal plug at another, and a small, light-blue, cubical object. She first brought up the note to her face. It only said,

Plug the pole end of the white cord into the hole on your iPod Shuffle. Then insert the corresponding ear-buds into your ears to listen to the music. In order to play and pause the music, lightly press the center of the white ring. Press the "+" and "-" symbols to increase and decrease the volume, respectively. If you would like to skip a song, then gently press the double arrow symbol pointing to the right. But if you would like to replay a previous song, then simply press the pair of arrows pointing in the opposite direction.

Enjoy!

After studying the instructional card, (and noticing that there was no name, or anything else on the card, for that matter), Rainbow Dash followed the instructions, hoping to satisfy the curiosity that had begun to grow when she first took that box. After testing where to insert the silvery pole of the white cord, Dash finally plugged it in a hole located on the top-left side until she heard a *click*. Then, she held the opposite ends of the cord in her hooves. On either bud was a small "L" or "R", indicating which ear the respective bud be place in. After doing so, she brought up the light-blue rectangular prism. On one side, presumably the front, was a white ring with the appropriate symbols the card described. On the back was an image of what appeared to be an white apple, with a piece of it bitten off. After a bit of apprehension, Rainbow Dash's curiosity wouldn't allow any more hesitation, and she softly pressed the center of the ring.

The ear-buds exploded in a strong, yet controlled guitar riff that was backed by the sound of mimicking drums. The sudden clamor of sound made Rainbow Dash flinch, but after several seconds, her head began to nod to the music's beat and rhythm. It was loud, sure, but she didn't bother to turn the volume down. She could tell it was hard rock, something she already enjoyed, so, in her mind, it sort of had to be loud.

After several more seconds, a loud and obnoxious voice shouted,

"BACK IN BLACK!"

Rainbow Dash jumped at the aggressive male voice that came out of nowhere, and after scanning her surroundings and searching for a possible intruder, she realized the voice was in the music. She relaxed, and began to listen again, her head continuing to nod and her mane lightly bouncing off her forehead.

"Cause I'm back!

Yes I'm back!

Well I'm back!

Yes I'm back!

Well I'm ba~a~a~a~ack, ba~a~a~a~ack!

Well I'm back in black!

Yes I'm back in black!"

Rainbow couldn't help but bang her head in the air harder as the song progressed. Even though it was a little difficult to understand whatever this guy was saying, it only made her more eager to head-bang. Her heartbeat increased with every drumbeat. Her hooves unconsciously tried to mimic the electric guitar, even though she had never head this song before. But she definitely wanted to listen to it again as soon as it was over.

Around the one minute fifty second mark, as well as on the three minute thirty-five second mark, the guitar debuted its electrifying solos, something that Dash will love hearing for the rest of her days.

The song ended a little after four minutes, and Dash couldn't wait to play more. She lifted the iPod Shuffle from where it landed after it bounced to Rainbow Dash's rhythmic thrashing. But before she could do what the card had instructed in regards to playing a previous song, a totally new one began.

This new song began with a more hesitant guitar riff, something that Dash appreciated since she could warm up to this song more intimately. Close to thirty seconds, the song really kicked in with a more engaged bass and drums, and at forty seconds, the first lyrics started.

"All you women who want a man of the street,

Don't know which way you wanna turn?

Just keep coming, and put your hand out to me,

Cause I'm the one who's gonna make you burn!"

This song lasted longer than the first, and Dash loved it just as much. She had no idea who made these awesome songs, or who delivered this amazing little gadget to her doorstep, but she didn't care.

With the rain's taunting drowned out by the exhilarating music coming from the ear-buds and Rainbow Dash's earlier tragedy utterly forgotten, Rainbow continued to bounce and dance and head-bang to the hard rock for the rest of the day.

Bob Marely

Today had been a rough day for the pink-maned, light-yellow pegasus.

In addition to having to take the census of the baby bunnies that had been born in the season, (which had been exponentially more than in previous seasons, and thus took much longer) Fluttershy had to deal with an extremely stubborn Angel, who refused to eat his dinner, regardless of the fact Fluttershy even used The Stare on him, which never happened before. She was going to have to send that rabbit to discipline school, one of these days.

The pegasus lay nestled on her couch next to a small fire in the fireplace, reading a book as the twilight crept upon the outside world. As punishment for not eating, Fluttershy sent Angel to bed early without dinner. It was a decision that stood out of her nature, something that she thought she'd never do, even to him, but she simply did not have the patience for disobedience today. For the rest of the evening, the light-yellow pony wanted nothing but piece and quiet as she relaxed in her stories.

Luckily for her, for the first several hours, she received her wished, hearing nothing but the sound of her breathing, or the fire crackling in the little cottage, or the mechanical turning of the page. The rest of the woodland creatures that inhabited her house had chosen, perhaps wisely, to retreat to an early slumber, deciding that Fluttershy preferred not to be disturbed. And Fluttershy was thankful for that.

Around nine at night, just as Fluttershy had decided to turn in, a knock rapped her front door. If this knock had come earlier, Fluttershy would've been adamant to see who it was, instead just staying where she was and continue reading. But the pegasus had diluted her irritation down considerably, and resigned to see who had came to visit her in such a late hour. As she opened the door to see who was there, an unoccupied space was what greeted her outside, save for a little cardboard box.

Looking confused, the pink-maned mare gently picked up the small object off the ground and took one last scan of the area.

"Hello?" Fluttershy called softly. No one responded, excepet for the crickets that sang their perpetual tune. Shrugging, the mare turned around and closed the door behind her.

Fluttershy returned to the couch and examined the box curiously. Some of the critters that she harbored in her home had awoken and scurried over to where she sat, believing that the pegasus wouldn't snap at them or become annoyed by their presence as they previously thought.

It was a plain, cardboard box, she determined, not very large, no indications from who it was from. Not even a postage stamp, so it couldn't have been sent through Ponyville Postal Service. She shook the mysterious little box, and heard something rustling within. Further examination made her notice one side that flapped open. Fluttershy flipped open this side, and tilted the box so that the light coming off the still-roaring fireplace could reflect off the insides. The pony's brows furrowed. Most of the view was blocked by what seemed like a white card. Fluttershy then tilted the entire box upside-down and shook it a bit, letting the contents fall onto the the couch.

All that came out where three things: the white card, a small, light-yellow rectangular prism-thin object, and a white cord that had three ends. Some of the animals got a little too close, sniffing the objects like potential late-night snacks. Fluttershy shooed them away with a light beat of her wing. Returning her attention to what was in front of her, the pegasus held the white card in her forehooves and read what was on it.

Plug the pole end of the white cord into the hole on your iPod Shuffle. Then insert the corresponding ear-buds into your ears to listen to the music. In order to play and pause the music, lightly press the center of the white ring. Press the "+" and "-" symbols to increase and decrease the volume, respectively. If you would like to skip a song, then gently press the double arrow symbol pointing to the right. But if you would like to replay a previous song, then simply press the pair of arrows pointing in the opposite direction.

Enjoy!

Now Fluttershy's curiosity was really on end. This little device can play music? It looked like she could take it anywhere with her, something that hasn't even been thought of yet by anyone else in Equestria. This excited her, but she wondered what kind of music this alien object possessed. Determined to get answers, Fluttershy followed the instructions on the card until she was ready to hit "Play", or the center of the white ring. Whatever.

Fluttershy's ears where met with the melodious drumbeat of what sounded like neigh-gae. In the more foreground of the tune was the calming flow of an electric sound, yet blended with the drums perfectly. Fluttershy slowly closed her eyes and enveloped herself in this lovely little song. Whatever irritation was left by the day's hardship completely melted away as the lyrics began, accompanied by an untroubled-sounding voice.

"Don't worry about a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be alright.

Singin': 'Don't worry about a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be alright!'

Rise up this mornin',

Smile with the risin' sun,

Three little birds

Each by my doorstep

Singin' sweet songs

Of melodies pure and true,

Sayin': 'This is my message to you-ou-ou:'

Singin': 'Don't worry about a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.'

Singin': 'Don't worry (don't worry) about a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!'"

This amazing tone made Fluttershy sway her head back in forth from left to right. In time, by the end of the song, she sang along to the chorus, even though she couldn't hear herself, but she trusted mouth to form the correct lyrics. After almost three minutes, the song echoed away, leaving a slightly despondent, though very much relaxed Fluttershy to wait for the next song.

This next one was somewhat like the first, its beginning similar, though in a different pattern, with what sounded like a tiny piano playing the background for the chorus. It was just as soothing as the first, if not more. The animals around the peaceful pegasus mimicked her swaying motion with smiles on each of their furry faces, seeing that their caretaker was her old-self once again, and then some. But Fluttershy didn't take note of this. Rather, she focused on the lyrics, her voluminous light-pink mane swaying in keep with her head.

"One Love! One Heart!

Let's get together and feel all right.

Hear the children cryin' (One Love!)

Hear the children cryin' (One Heart!)

Sayin': Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right!

Sayin': Let's get together and feel all right!

Wo~wo wo~wo!"

Fluttershy lightly pressed the "+" button on the top curve of the white ring on the iPod Shuffle, drowning herself deeper into the intoxicating melody.

"One Love! What about the one heart? One Heart!

What about --? Let's get together and feel all right!

As it was in the beginning (One Love!)

So shall it be in the end (One Heart!)

All right!

Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right!

Let's get together and feel all right!

One more thing!"

The song ended, Fluttershy estimated, at about the same time as the first. She felt completely at peace with herself, all of the troubles and anxieties of the day drained away by this singer's wondrous voice. She also felt extremely sleepy, due to the music's sleep-inducing tendencies. Pressing the center of the white ring as instructed, she removed the ear-buds and opened her eyes to see the animals that had gathered to watch her. Her face reddened.

"Oh, um, I'm sorry. Did I wake all of you up?" The little animals shook their heads, not wanting their loving caretaker to become distressed like she had. "Oh, okay, well, um, you should all go back to sleep now. Go on, off you go." She gently encouraged the creatures away with a slight sweep of her wing, though sweetly and not authoritatively. They all complied without question, scurrying off to holes in the walls or miniature houses hanging from the ceiling.

Yawning, she hovered up the stairs with the yellow iPod tucked away in her wing, entered her bedroom, and slipped into her inviting bed, thinking about what other wonders this musical device held, letting her thoughts coo her into sleep.

Linkin Pony

Luna was ready for a good day's sleep.

It was six-thirty in the morning, and she had just brought down the moon to make way for her elder sister's sun. As Luna stood on the balcony outside her room on top of one of the tallest towers in Canterlot Castle, she couldn't help but admire her sister's skill with her respective celestial body. Under the rule of Celestia, the sun always look so beautiful whenever it rose or set, and this time was no exception.

Secretly, Luna was sort of envious of her sister's power. Granted, it wasn't the same animalistic envy that transformed her into that monster one-thousand years prior, but the more natural, typical sibling rivalry a little sister would feel. In her mind, she never would, or never could, do the same with the moon, no matter how many times she repeated the process, day in and day out.

The princess of the night cast out those vial thoughts that, at one time seemed harmless, eventually grew into a full-blown hatred of the sun and daytime. Luna would never let herself become...that, ever again.

Instead, she looked down upon the land, to Canterlot, and, by extension, the landscape leading up to Ponyville on the horizon. The dark blue alicorn thought about how she was saved by the lavender unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, and her friends on that faithful night years ago. Her thoughts shifted to a more recent event, on Nightmare Night. The very same unicorn had helped her feel loved by the ponies of the land. Luna was eternally grateful to Twilight, for saving her and reuniting her with her big sister, and for making her feel welcome at home again. Luna smiled fondly at the memory as she turned to go to bed in order to rest up for the next night she would have to keep watch over.

The night princess' room, in comparison to Celestia's, was still impressive and majestic. Sculpted on the ceiling were miniature versions of all the constellations in the night sky. The walls were appropriately decorated with dark-blue and indigo drapes that hung from the very edge of the ceiling to just a foot above the floor, correspondingly-sized windows placed in intervals in-between the drapes, allowing her a three-sixty degree view of her kingdom. Her bed was quite large, far too large for the slightly-above-average-height pony, but she didn't bother getting it exchanged. Valances were hung from the bed-frame on every side of the bed in order to protect the alicorn princess from the harsh sun as she rested through the day. Her sheets were, obviously, a matching dark-blue to her fur color.

Luna let a yawn escape her mouth, and she started to remove all of her regalia and shoes in preparation for sleep. She was just about to climb into her cool, puffy bed when a knock rang on her bedroom door. The alicorn turned her head and raised an eyebrow. No one visited her this early in the morning, not when she just brought the moon down for the day. Curious, she trotted to the door and opened up a generous distance. When she saw no one there, she was about to slam the door shut in annoyance when she spotted a little brown box at her hooves. Not seeing anything particularly dangerous or otherwise interesting about it, she levitated it up in a dark blue aura of magic and went back inside her room.

As she went back to her inviting bed, Luna shook the cardboard box and heard several items bounce inside in response. Climbing into bed and taking a moment to relish in the softness of the fabrics that rubbed against her being and her long, indigo wings spreading outward, she hovered the box above her. The indigo mare started spinning it in place until all of the contents had been launched out of one side of the container. The unknown objects shot everywhere, but Luna saw there were three in total. Using her magic to bring the three things she had accidentally sent flying all across her room, she studied all three of them.

One was a white cord that had three ends to it. Two of the three were plump, white buds that had either an "L" or an "R" letter on them. The third end appeared to be a metal plug. The second object was a dark-blue rectangular prism with a white ring on one side with multiple symbols all around it. It was small and thin, yet mysterious in a cute way. The final object was a white card with what looked like instructions on it. Luna, her curiosity growing with each passing second, read it.

Plug the pole end of the white cord into the hole on your iPod Shuffle. Then insert the corresponding ear-buds into your ears to listen to the music. In order to play and pause the music, lightly press the center of the white ring. Press the "+" and "-" symbols to increase and decrease the volume, respectively. If you would like to skip a song, then gently press the double arrow symbol pointing to the right. But if you would like to replay a previous song, then simply press the pair of arrows pointing in the opposite direction.

Enjoy!

Luna couldn't quite place it, but for some reason, this had "Celestia" written all over it.

Deciding to humor whatever game the solar princess has in store, she followed the cards instructions to the letter. When she was prepared, she sat back against the plethora of pillows behind her, and, levitating the dark-blue device above her with the ear-buds placed snugly where they should be, pressed the center of the white ring with a hoof.

The first sound to hit her sense of hearing was a piano. It was a slow, yet, somewhat sad tone. It was a tune that was already affecting Luna internally. She gazed up at the constellations on her ceiling when the lyrics began.

"(It starts with one)

One thing I don't know why, it doesn’t even matter how hard you try.

Keep that in mind, I designed this rhyme to explain in due time.

All I know,

Time is a valuable thing.

Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings.

Watch it count down to the end of the day

The clock ticks life away

It’s so unreal.

Didn’t look out below

Watch the time go right out the window

Trying to hold on, but didn’t even know

Wasted it all just to watch you go.

I kept everything inside and even though I tried, it all fell apart

What it meant to me will eventually be a memory of a time when I tried so hard

And got so far

But in the end

It doesn't even matter!

I had to fall

To lose it all

But in the end

It doesn't even matter!"

Luna could tell this song definitely came from someone who had gone through a tough relationship with someone else, perhaps a close friend, or an old flame. Not to mention, the aggressive nature to the song itself only made it that much more emotional, the guitar in the chorus seemed to be crying. It wasn't until the last few verses of the song finally got to her.

"I've put my trust in you,

Pushed as far as I can go

For all this, there’s only one thing you should know;

I've put my trust in you!

Pushed as far as I can go!

For all this, there’s only one thing you should know!

I tried so hard

And got so far

But in the end

It doesn’t even matter!

I had to fall

To lose it all

But in the end

It doesn’t even matter!"

It ended with a final, weeping piano riff. Luna's heartstrings were tugged as a result of that song, but she could only smile at the raw emotional component the song possessed. She didn't bother moving, allowing the next tune to play.

This one had only the mixture of several electrical noises, and Luna knew this because they were sounds that no other modern instrument could make. Several seconds in, the pace picked up greatly, and another guitar was heard making its repeated, yet energetic strum.

"Memories consume

Like opening the wound

I'm picking me apart again.

You all assume I'm safe here in my room

Unless I try to start again.

I don't want to be the one

The battles always choose,

'Cause inside I realize

That I'm the one confused.

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream.

I don't know why I instigate

And say what I don't mean.

I don't know how I got this way

I know it's not alright.

So I'm breaking the habit,

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight!"

Luna listend to the lyrics, and she couldn't help but let a tear escape the corner of her turquoise eye. These words held much more depth to them than the previous tune.

"I'll paint it on the walls

'Cause I'm the one that falls!

I'll never fight again

And this is how it ends!

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream!

But now I have some clarity

to show you what I mean!

I don't know how I got this way

I'll never be alright,

So, I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

I’m breaking the habit

Tonight!"

The song ended with fading electrical muses, along with what sounded like string instruments, but Luna couldn't, or rather, didn't, distinguish because she had released several streams of tears as the song came to its inevitable end. These song were purely amazing so far. She settled to listen to one or two more before turning in to sleep.

The next one featured a much slower piano. Soon after, the lyrics began,

"You were standing in the wake of devastation

And you were waiting on the edge of the unknown.

And with the cataclysm raining down

Insides crying "Save me now"

You were there, impossibly alone.

Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?

You build up hope, but failure’s all you’ve known.

Remember all the sadness and frustration,

And let it go. Let it go~o~o~o~o."

Luna liked this much more than the others. It sounded more positive, upbeat, regardless if the first few lyrics sounded dark. There was still a positive message in them, she could tell: don't give up. Have hope, even in hard times. This was a philosophy she could live by.

Towards the end, she heard a chorus of voices sing this first part.

"Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?

You build up hope, but failure’s all you’ve known.

Remember all the sadness and frustration,

And let it go. Let it GO!

LET IT GO!

LET IT GO!

LET IT GO!

Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?

You build up hope, but failure’s all you’ve known.

Remember all the sadness and frustration,

And let it go. Let it go~o~o~o~o~o."

Luna felt satisfied with that. She removed the buds from her ears and placed the connected musical wonder on the nightstand beside the bed. Smiling and thinking about the message of that last song, Luna's thoughts drifted to what it must've been like for Celestia after she banished her. To what Twilight must've felt like right before she used the Elements of Harmony to rid the princess of the night of the darkness that seeded itself into her heart.

After a while, thinking became more difficult for the star-maned alicorn, and her brain soon forced sleep upon her.

Three Bays Grace

Scootaloo ran through the far side of the apple orchard, away from her parents.

They had just gotten into a terrible argument about Scootaloo's crazy antics to get her cutie mark with her friends, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. They felt that she was getting more and more desperate, doing more and more dangerous tasks in order to achieve the Cutie Mark Crusaders' eventual goal, and they weren't very far from the truth.

Earlier that day, the Crusaders tried to go into the Everfree Forest and catch a certain cockatrice in order to receive cutie marks in "creature catching", something they tried before, but weren't too successful at it. However, their increasing devotion to such a goal as their's lead them off their better judgement, and they resumed this extremely dangerous venture into those ruinous trees. Thankfully, they were stopped by the zebra Zecora before they could venture too far into the forest, and she returned each and every one of them back to their families in Ponyville, despite their protest.

Soon after, Scootaloo was receiving the tail end of one of her parents' blowups, trying to reason with them, hoping that they would understand that this was something she simply had to do, for it could've been the final obstacle, and her or her fellow Crusaders may have finally gain their cutie mark.

But of course, parents will be parents, which meant they refused to understand her reasoning, and though the orange filly would temporarily resent them for it, they were only trying to protect her, like any parent should.

The tiny pegasus, however, only thought that her parents were trying to prevent her getting her cutie mark; a ridiculous notion, but the little pony believed it momentarily. So, when her parents sent her to her room to "think about what she's done", the filly dropped down form her window and bulleted off through Ponyville, racing as far away from her home as possible. She reached the apple orchard of Sweet Apple Acres in a matter of minutes of running, and when she felt that no one would see her or find her, she leaned against an apple tree, trying to regain her breath and hold back the moistening tears in her eyes.

Scootaloo wondered of Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were receiving the same treatment from their families. She also wondered if they would attempt the very same reaction she had just committed. Probably no, though, since she herself was the more daring of the trio.

"Stupid Mom and Dad..." Scootaloo mumbled. "Just tryin' to get my flippin' cutie mark, don't have to ground me for a week just for goin' in the Everfree Forest. It's not like I haven't sneaked in there before..."

A rustle in the shrubbery near by woke her from her angry stupor. She turned to see if someone had indeed found her, but her eyes met no other pony. The rustling continued, and she pin-pointed the source to a bush located a few yards behind the tree she was leaning on. Since there ween't any wild or dangerous animals in Sweet Apple Acres like there are in the Everfree Forest, she went to investigate.

The pegasus filly approached the shrub cautiously, but curiously. Upon coming face-to-leaf with it, she peered inside the tangle of branches to see whatever was hiding. After several seconds of scanning, her eyes fell upon a small object. It looked like a box, from what she could tell despite the interrupted light source. Reaching down as far as her short, orange hooves could reach, she snagged the box out of the bush and trotted back to the tree. Sitting down at the base, she went on to study the object in front of her.

It was an ordinary, cardboard box, nothing very enticing about it, other than mystery of its contents. She gave it a harsh shake, hearing several objects within jump in reply. Turning the box to one side, something fell out of the other side through a flap. Scootaloo glanced at these new objects, and she was enticed this time.

A white car, a thin, dark-orange cube, and a white cord now sat on the soft grass in front of the purple-maned filly. The side of the card facing up had words on it, and Scootaloo eagerly picked it up in her hooves and read it.

Plug the pole end of the white cord into the hole on your iPod Shuffle. Then insert the corresponding ear-buds into your ears to listen to the music. In order to play and pause the music, lightly press the center of the white ring. Press the "+" and "-" symbols to increase and decrease the volume, respectively. If you would like to skip a song, then gently press the double arrow symbol pointing to the right. But if you would like to replay a previous song, then simply press the pair of arrows pointing in the opposite direction.

Enjoy!

"Ih-pod? E-Eye-pod?" Scootaloo asked to the card.

It did not respond.

Resolving to follow the instruction, mainly because she could use something to get her mind off her parents, Scootaloo lifted the now-connected "iPod" to her face, ear-buds placed snuggly in her furry ears, and pressed the white ring that encircled what must have been the front of this device.

The first sound to come out of it was a teamed-explosion of an electric guitar and drums, causing Scootaloo to cringe at the violent burst. They then went on to play interchangeably, going on like that for a little over twenty seconds, and Scootaloo quickly warmed up to the tune. Her head slowly nodded in time with the beat, and soon the first of the song's lyrics began.

"I'll be coming home just to be alone!

'Cause I know you're not there, and I know that you don't care!

I can hardly wait to leave this place!

No matter how hard I try, you're never satisfied!

This is not a home,

I think I'm better off alone!

You always disappear,

Even when you're here.

This is not my home,

I think I'm better off alone!

Home!

Home!

This house is not a~~

Home!

Home!

This house is not a ho~o~o~o~ome!"

Scootaloo could not only feel riveted by this song's aggressive nature, but she felt that the lyrics were speaking exactly what she was feeling. Of course, her parents weren't abusive in any way, but the filly did think they abused their authority as parents from time to time. The guitar and voice of this singer were so powerful, their combination moved Scootaloo to the point of physical exhaustion.

The entire song lasted four minutes and twenty seconds, and by the end of it, the young, orange pegasus felt emotionally exposed. She hoped that no one was around to see the swelling tears in the corners of her eyes. That's when the next song blasted off.

It had an even more aggressive guitar riff than the previous, and it was quite obvious that this was meant to be an angry song.

"If you feel so empty,

So used up, so let down;

If you feel so angry

So ripped off, so stepped on;

You're not the only one

Refusing to back down.

You're not the only one

So get up!

Let's start a riot, a riot!

Let's start a riot!

Let's start a riot, a riot!

Let's start a riot!"

Before the discovery of this astounding little iPod Shuffle Scootaloo held in her hoof, she did feel angry; this song only poured oil and tossed kindling into the fire within her. The tears in her eyes seemingly evaporated from the sheer rage this song was provoking her to experience, and she didn't want it to stop. It felt good to feel angry sometimes. As the song reached the last chorus, the pegasus in the orchard pounded the tree right next to her.

"LET'S START A RIOT, A RIOT!

LET'S START A RIO~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~OT!"

As the song faded, Scootaloo panted, her heart pounding with adrenaline, her anger finally out of her system. It felt good to be angry, sure, but Scootaloo made a mental not to not listen to that song too much. It bought out a darker side of her, something she didn't want exposed to everyone.

Relaxing at the base of the abused tree like nothing ever happened, the next song had its lyrics start immediately.

"Hijacked when you weren’t looking;

Behind your back people are talking,

Using words that cut you down to size.

You want to fight back,

It’s building inside you,

Holding you up,

Taking you hostage.

Yeah, it’s worth fighting for.

They’ll try to take your pride,

Try to take your soul;

They’ll try to take all the control.

They’ll look you in the eyes,

Fill you full of lies;

Believe me they’re gonna try.

So when you’re feeling crazy

And things fall apart,

Listen to your head,

Remember who you are.

You’re the one,

You’re the unbreakable~~

HEART!

You’re the one,

You’re the unbreakable~~

HEART!

You’re the one;

You’re the one."

Scootaloo felt cleansed as she lay in the shade of the large apple tree, the music calming her down. This song gave off a feeling of smooth, relaxing rhythm after that previous, more violent tirade of a song. The song ended after three-and-a-half minutes.

These three outlandish songs made Scootaloo feel emotionally exposed, though, in a good way. She was glad she found this alien technology; whoever left it in that bush, by accident or not, must've been crazy. Then, Scootaloo, with her cleared mind, began to understand her parents' upset reaction to her recklessness.

Feeling slightly guilty about running away from home, the orange filly tucked the iPod Shuffle into her wing, and made her way back home, ready to face the consequences like the grown up her parents wanted her to become.

Equeen

Octavia drank her red wine in the warm confines of her living room.

Her roommate, Vinyl Scratch, departed earlier in the day to DJ a rave in Fillydelphia, leaving the light-gray mare to her peace. She was fond of her unicorn roommate, especially since she was kind and generous enough to offer the cellist a place to stay in Ponyville after the Grand Galloping Gala incident. However, Vinyl does, on occasion, unintentionally annoy her with her random moods for playing those death-beats that Vinyl called "music". But Octavia tries her best to not seem so in front of her, lest she seem ungrateful.

Taking the opportunity of peace and quiet, Octavia daintily chewed on a daisy sandwich whilst reading the new edition of one of her favorite novel series as Celestia's sun set on the horizon through the window. She wouldn't admit it to anyone, not even to Vinyl, but she was a die-hard fan of the Daring Doo series. Something about a pony risking her life for treasures unknown and glory world-round excited the mare.

Swallowing the last of the plate of sandwiches she prepared for herself and downing the glass of alcohol, the cellist placed her dinner ware into the sink, washed them, and arranged them neatly back in their respective cabinets. Then, she returned to the couch and continued reading.

But her mind wandered back to that fateful day it all went south for her. Everything, her credibility, her opportunity to prove her skill to the crowds of Canterlot, gone, thrown away by that insane, over-the-top, pink pony. Octavia unconsciously gripped her book harder, vexed. Realizing she was going to rip her beloved novel in half, frustratedly, she tossed it to the other side of the cushioned furniture and sunk deeper into the soft fabric, eyes meditatively shut and rubbing her temples. She couldn't allow someone so...beneath her to drive her into silly little fits of ire.

A knock on the front door, thankfully, gave the earth pony something else to occupy her stressed mind. Getting up from the comfortable position she'd just found, somewhat grudgingly, she trotted to the door and opened it.

"Yes?" But no one responded, since there wasn't anyone at the door. Not amused, she almost slammed the door shut when her light-purple eye caught the object sitting alone in front of the house. Looking around to see any sign of life, and seeing that there wasn't any, Octavia indifferently picked up the lone object with her teeth and reentered the home.

The mare went over to the coffee table that sat in front of the couch and observed the package. It was a plain, simple, cardboard box. Raising an long, black eyebrow, Octavia nearly tossed the innocent box away when, once again, her keen eye spotted a side that stuck out further than the rest. Feeling curiosity creep on her, the mare couldn't help but succumb to it. Gently lifting the free flap, the tilted the box and slid its contents onto the table. She counted three objects in total.

A white card, a white cord that had three ends to it, and a deep-gray cube-like contraption. Face remaining indifferent, Octavia picked the card up in a hoof, not knowing what else to do first, and found that there was a set of instructions written upon it. They were,

Plug the pole end of the white cord into the hole on your iPod Shuffle. Then insert the corresponding ear-buds into your ears to listen to the music. In order to play and pause the music, lightly press the center of the white ring. Press the "+" and "-" symbols to increase and decrease the volume, respectively. If you would like to skip a song, then gently press the double arrow symbol pointing to the right. But if you would like to replay a previous song, then simply press the pair of arrows pointing in the opposite direction.

Enjoy!

Music? This little gizmo could play music? This intrigued Octavia further.

Raising the little cube and cord, she studied them with a fascinated set of light-purple eyes, then proceeded to plug the according end of the white cord into the only slot available on the prism, then inserted the other two ends into each ear. She was about to hit the center of the black ring when a thought occurred to her.

What if this was a prank? What if Vinyl sent this amusing little device to trick her into playing it and then having her head explode from that awful garbage Vinyl loved so much, for some inane reason. Will she really let herself be fooled so easily by that mischievous white unicorn? Octavia looked at the object in her hoof. The temptation was too great to pass up. She pressed the ring.

The first sound to greet her anxious eardrums were, thankfully, not those dreaded "wubs". Instead, it was an orchestra, violins or violas mainly with a base in the background. The sound of a beating drum resonated through several times. The light-gray mare enjoyed it so far. She watched the outside world as it continued, until finally, the lyrics began.

"Empty spaces -- what are we living for?

Abandoned places -- I guess we know the score.

On and on, does anybody know what we are looking for?

Another hero, another mindless crime.

Behind the curtain, in the pantomime.

Hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore?

The show must go on!

The show must go on!

Inside my heart is breaking,

My make-up may be flaking

But my smile still stays on."

As a matter of fact, Octavia really liked this song. It was amazing! The vocalist was truly powerful and resonant, the orchestra's non-faltering beat carrying the tune forcefully, and the slightest hint of electric guitar was a welcome complement. She found that her hoof was lightly tapping the floor boards as the song went on.

"Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance.

Another heartache, another failed romance.

On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?

I guess I'm learning, I must be warmer now.

I'll soon be turning round the corner now.

Outside the dawn is breaking,

But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free.

The show must go on!

The show must go on! (Yeah!)

Inside my heart is breaking,

My make-up may be flaking

But my smile still stays on."

This was followed by an emotion guitar solo, one that, admittedly, rocked Octavia to her core.

"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies.

Fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die.

I can fly~y, my friends!

The show must go on!

The show must go on!

I'll face it with a grin!

I'm never giving in!

O~o~on with the show!

I'll top the bill, I'll overkill;

I have to find the will to carry on (On with the show)

On with the show. (Show!)

The show must go on, go on, go on, go on, go on..."

"...Marvelous," Octavia admitted to herself as the song finished. She didn't make another said, expecting the next song to play. The beginning was nothing mare than the sound of stomping and clapping.

Stomp, stomp, clap.

Stomp, stomp, clap.

Stomp, stomp, clap.

Stomp, stomp, clap.

Stomp, stomp, clap.

Stomp, stomp, clap.

Stomp, stomp, clap.

Stomp, stomp, clap.

"Buddy you're a boy makin' big noise,

Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day.

Ya' got mud on your face,

Ya' big disgrace,

Kickin' your can all over the place,

Singin':

We will, we will, rock you!

We will ,we will, rock you!

Buddy you're a young man, hard man,

Shoutin' in the street, gonna take on the world some day.

You got blood on your face,

You big disgrace,

Wavin' your banner all over the place.

We will, we will, rock you! (Sing it!)

We will, we will, rock you!

Buddy you're an old man, poor man,

Pleadin' with your eyes, gonna make you some peace some day.

You got mud on your face,

You big disgrace,

Somebody better put you back into your place!

We will, we will, rock you! (Sing it!)

We will, we will, rock you!

(Everybody,) We will, we will, rock you!

We will, we will, rock you!"

*Awesome guitar solo*

"...I love it!"