New Era of Music
By
OsteoidData
Octavia; a skilled earth pony cellist, stood on her hind hooves. She had a grey coat, a charcoal mane and tail, violet eyes, and a violet treble clef as a cutie mark. A few yards from her, stood Vinyl Scratch; an extremely popular unicorn DJ. Her white coat, cobalt and cyan striped mane and tail, crimson eyes, and black backwards double quaver cutie mark; offered a great contrast from the classical musician.
The air was tense. An immense fog surrounding the two. Echoes of rocks collapsing in the distance could be heard. The grey mare charged the white one. The disk jockey shot bolts of magic at the incoming mare; who responded by shuffling to the sides of the blasts. Octavia launched a sideways uppercut into Vinyl's jaw.
The unicorn counterattacked by twisting her body back and unleashing a sideways backwards kick. The cellist raises her elbow to deflect the kick. Then she leaps into the air above the DJ. Whirling her body to unleash a downward spinning elbow jab. The red-eyed mare brought up her arms to block the attack. The force of the blow rocketing her into the concrete stone below.
Landing in an explosion; sending stone and debris in all directions. The mare steadily rose to her back hooves. Tilting her gaze up to see into the rose mare's eyes.
"Tavi, your hits have started to *cough* get... *cough* FEEBLE!" The unicorn shot her head upward and unleashed a silver aura of sorcery. The magic formed a tendril that dashed towards Octavia's side. She tried to jump away as the end of the tendril started to expand into a large bubble. The transparent glow transformed into a tremendous speaker. Tavi huddled into a ball to try and protect herself from the incoming blast as much as possible.
For a split second her vision slowly shimmered. Then the massive tsunami of force ripped through her body; welding her eyes shot from the pain of the pressure pushing against her ears and sight. The huge woofer bursting unheard of amounts of force from its front. Octavia was sent hurdling off into the distance; bouncing off the hardened surface of the ground.
Vinyl rushed over to the aerial pony who was being violently torn across the ground. She leapt from the ground, hovering over the flying mare, and let loose a barrage of punches and kicks. Sending Octavia bouncing between the ground and strikes. The unicorn's body slowed as she began to gain strength. Her horn glowing a solid white; her hoof radiating waves of compressed sound waves. Then the mare discharged a strengthened jab into the earth pony's face. The cellist's head slammed against the ground; cracking it with its force.
Her body vaulting over her head from the momentum of the attack. She quickly manipulated the force into a back flip. Her back hooves skidding to a halt as she landed. Blood dripped from her busted lips and snout. She studied her opponent, who stood in front of her as she spoke.
"My, my Vinyl. Did you actually learn a spell. You can certainly color me surprised! Though I wouldn't say you've quite mastered it just yet". Octavia gave a sly smile. "But not to be un-expected of one who fancies such rubbish"
Vinyl closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and put her magenta glasses on. "It seems some have forgot proper etiquette." Tavi's eyes furrowed in fury. Her voice low, containing suppressed rage. "That was low DJ, real low." Tavi rushed forward in a blur; leading with a quick jab to the head. Vinyl leaned back and jerked her head to the right. Octavia's hoof just grazing past her cheek.
The DJ tilted her head back as she dodged an uppercut. Sending her right hoof flying towards the cellist's ribs. Tavi brought her raised hoof down to deflect the rocketing attack. Her elbow collided with Vinyl's hoof; creating a loud boom that echoed against the moonlit streets.
Octavia shifted her weight forward, and unleashed wave after wave of jabs, roundhouse kicks, uppercuts, shots to the ribs, upwards kicks, etc. Yet none were connecting. Vinyl just kept using telekinesis to slightly change the trajectory of the strikes so she could evade them easier.
On one of Octavia's sideways kicks, Vinyl back-stepped into a wall; it belonged to a local house that had been slightly destroyed earlier. The cellist gave a solid right jab targeted for the DJ's face. Scratch responded by quickly ducking; the blow slamming into the wall above her mane; sending debris of rock and dust into the air.
The electronic musician tilted her head down; aiming the tip of her horn into Tavi's stomach. Her horn glowed a dense ivory and shot a beam of wizardry into the classical musician. Octavia flew backwards into the air from the blast. She landed with a thud; smoke rising from her torso.
Vinyl stood to her hind hooves and started to approached the non-moving cellist. "You see Octavia..." Other unicorns started emerging from the dark fog; circling the fallen musician. "Your time has come. The Era of Classical Music shall perish. The days of Bass and Beats have risen to claim the throne." All the surrounding unicorns' horns started collecting magical power. Auras of different colors began to illuminate the night.
Tendrils started to form from the auras; gathering into a huge mass above Octavia. The hovering mass of arcane power started to radiate heavy vibrations which caused the air to shift. Tavi tried to rise from the ground; her muscles gave out on her from the heavy vibrations; causing her to collapse. The vibrations grew stronger and stronger until they became unbearable. The musicians body twitching from the crushing pressure.
Some of the unicorns' magic combined to create a magical field over Octavia and the mass bubble of compressed sound; trapping them inside together. Tavi tried to move, to escape her incoming demise. But she was paralyzed from the overwhelming pressure pushing against her body. "NO! MOVE! MOVE! COME ON,MOVE!"
Octavia soon found herself in despair; she was powerless. She directed a glare towards Vinyl Scratch, frustration and fear burning in her eyes. Vinyl returned her stare with a boastful smile. Her horn started glowing brighter and brighter. She was planning on detonating the mass sphere of resonance inside the dome.
"Farewell, Octavia"
Multiple lines of emerald sorcery flared from the sky. Most of the unicorns were struck by the powerful magic. Leaving nothing but arcane semblance in their wake. Some, such as Vinyl, were quick enough to evade the blasts. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the ponies let their magic slip away from them; causing the magical dome and sphere to dissipate.
They looked skyward for their attacker. They were rewarded with emerald bolts being shot from all direction of the fog. Vinyl being the only one swift enough to continuously dodge the onslaught; watched as her fellow companions were shot down. Eventually the barrage stopped, leaving the DJ sweating and taking deep breaths. She scanned her surroundings; looking for the assailant.
Her eyes came to rest on the area where Octavia laid. Standing over the fallen cellist was a mint colored pony who wore a black hoodie. Vinyl knew who she was; Lyra Heartstrings, another classical musician, and a talented one at that.
"Seems you're a little too late, Brussel Sprouts. Your leader, Octavia, has fallen. It's our time to rule. Now step aside or I shall rid of you as well." The DJ threatened.
Lyra simply raised her lyre; holding it as a bow and aiming it towards Scratch. Her words came soft and steady. "Oh Snowflake, how the madness has changed you" Her hoof pulled the last string on her instrument back, collecting potential arcane energy. "Twill be a shame ridding you from this world; your existence has brought much happiness."
Lyra let go of the string, it flung forward, colliding with the second string. Which then slammed into the third string which shot an emerald arrow that was compressed with extensive amounts of magic. The arrow ripped through the air towards Vinyl Scratch at a tremendous speed. She barely evaded the arrow by jumping to the side, the arrow grazing her shoulder; leaving a burn mark on her fur.
Vinyl decided to try and rush the lyrist. The gold eyed mare just pulled the last string back again and shot another arrow. The DJ juked to the left; the arrow burning off some of her mane. She shifted to the right as another arrow whizzed past her; scorching the cutie mark on her left-flank. Vinyl was closing in on the hooded mare who shot off another arrow. She pushed off the ground with as much strength as she could muster; soaring high above the arrow towards Lyra.
The hooded unicorn fell backwards, trying to get as must distance from herself and the incoming pony as possible. She swiftly heightened her lyre; pulling back for another shot. Her horn glowed an amazingly brilliant forest hue as she forced an immense amount of magic into her weapon. Vinyl was merely feet away when she released the string.
The airborne mare's horn lit up as she prepared a spell. The arrow's monumental amount of arcane mass slowed time within its immediate area. As the burning projectile became mere inches from her face, Scratch could feel her fur singeing from the radiating heat. The bridge of her glasses melting apart. Just as her vision became encompassed by the chartreuse missile; her body became enveloped in a white flash.
Vinyl instantly appeared behind Lyra. Her body still being propelled forward from her previous propulsion. With her hoof raised out in front of her; she slammed against the green unicorn's spine. A loud snap could be heard as both unicorns were launched forward from Vinyl's momentum.
Both flew in the air for a couple of seconds before viciously colliding into the ground. Their landing had left the DJ on top; who was already initiating another spell. The force of the rough landing had knocked Lyra's lyre from her hooves; sending it out of reach. With no weapon, she started gathering magic in her horn, commencing a spell of her own.
Both unicorns' horns illuminated with sorcery; the air around them crackling from the raw power. Their accumulated arcane mass drew harsh gusts of winds to surround them. Scratch looked down at Lyra; her ruby eye's containing bloodlust.
"Well, Miss Broccoli!" Vinyl yelled mockingly over the noise. "I believe it's time for you to perform your final piece." Lyra smirked at the DJ. "Only if you perform the CRESCENDO!" The mint colored unicorn thrust her horn upwards towards Vinyl. The blue maned unicorn responded with a similar action; propelling her own horn downwards to meet Lyra's. Both horn's filled with monstrous magic plowed into each other with enough force to send waves of energy pulsing through the mares' spines.
The two ponies pushed their horns against each other; the sorcery around their horns flickering as each side tried to gain dominance over the other. Bolts of arcane lightning ripped through the air around the duo. Their manes and tails flickering swiftly in the heavy wind. Lyra's hoodie is easily ripped apart from the pressure emanating from both mare's horns.
Little by little, Vinyl Scratch was starting to overpower Lyra; her magic being more concentrated. Taking advantage of having the top position, she started shifting her weight against her opponents horn. Bit by bit she pushed the lyrist's horn down; until eventually, the gold-eyed unicorn's head was pressed against the ground.
Heartstring's face was scrunched up in concentration; drops of sweat dotting her face. She was using all the strength she had. Her horn began cracking from the colossal amount of magic being forced on it. She was over-exhausting the bone; it wasn't dense enough to handle such pressure.
"Haha! Are you afraid Lyra? Death's blade hangs just inches above your heart. Its poison seeping into your mind; sprouting fear!" Adrenaline coursing through her veins, Vinyl pushed harder against the pinned unicorn's horn; causing more cracks to appear. "Do you feel it LYRA!" Numerous cracks started forming, the bone ready to give any moment. "THIS IS IT LYRIST! YOUR FINAL NOT-" The DJ noticed a green flash out of the corner of her eye.
An emerald arrow pierced through the sky at lightning speed; striking against her left eye. "AGH!" The white unicorn's head shot upward in pain. A solid white beam of sorcery erupting from her horn as her focus was lost. The dense magical beam propelled hundreds of yards into the sky. Once it could go no further, it detonated into a massive explosion. The force of the blast caused the ground to viciously shake.
The trembling caused Vinyl to lose her footing and fall to her side; where she clenched her scorched eye in pain. Lyra laid beside her; huffing and puffing from exhaustion. The damage done to her horn was giving her an immense headache; her body was completely drained from drawing upon such a considerable amount of magic. Even so, she found a way to rise to her hooves.
She swayed back and forth as she tried to gain her balance. Once so, she looked down at her opponent. Vinyl was currently incapacitated; clenching her damaged eye. A smug smile crossed the green unicorns face. "You... performed... the crescendo... well, I'm impressed" The DJ responded with a grumble of pain.
The lyrist walked over to where her lyre laid; she grabbed it and turned to Scratch. Her horn too damaged to shoot another magic arrow; she'd have to take a different approach.
The pain in Vinyl's left eye finally died down enough for her to be able to concentrate. Slowly, she pulls her hoof away from her wound; revealing a smoldering third degree burn where her eye should be. Lyra grins at her handiwork. Rising to her hooves, Vinyl takes a couple deep breaths to try and regain her strength. Casting that much magic and the pain from the attack had drained her energy.
Both mares stood apart from each other, both breathing deeply and exhausted. Vinyl is the first to attack; using some of her last magic to cast a summoning spell. She summons a sharp slick-black record and rushes Lyra with it . Vinyl swings at the green unicorn with a right slash. The lyrist uses her instrument to deflect the attack.
Vinyl then lowers her body as she twists around and performs a leg sweep. Just as the attack connects; Lyra shifts her weight with the kicks momentum and performs a sideways flip. As she lands on her hooves, she grasps her lyre in her right hoof and takes a jab at Scratch's wounded eye. As the DJ recoils back, the auriferous eyed unicorn swings a left punch at Vinyl's other eye.
The electronic musician blocks the punch with the flat-side of the record in her right hoof. She then unleashes a swift uppercut with her left hoof. The blow connects with Lyra's jaw; sending her backpedaling. As Vinyl prepared for another attack; she notices a quick shadow crossing the ground, heading straight towards her. Looking up, she sees Octavia soaring though the sky, about to deliver a flying kick. The unicorn grasps the record with both hooves and holds it up to deflect the strike.
Tavi's bottom hoof collides with the disk; causing Vinyl to take a step back from the force of the attack. The cellist, while still in the air, unleashes an onslaught of downward kicks against the record. Each kick containing enough power that Scratch has to take a step back every strike. Kick after kick after kick causing the disk to start cracking. Then when it no longer has the strength to hold itself together; Octavia releases a wicked blow.
Her hoof easily breaks through the record, continuing on to slam into the DJ's forehead. The force of the kick sent Octavia flying backwards; doing a back flip, she lands on her hooves behind Lyra. When she looked to see Vinyl's condition, she noticed the unicorn laid on her back, arms spread out to her side. But to her dismay, Scratch slowly began to rise to her hooves.
Octavia opened her mouth to speak but was cut short as Vinyl's horn flared a bright light. The light was blinding; causing Lyra and Octavia to clench their eyes shut. Vinyl's horn simmered down; the last strains of her magic supply now depleted. Quickly taking advantage of her opponents temporally blindness; she charges the pony closest to her, the lyrist.
The DJ, using the full weight of her body behind each strike, swiftly jabbed Lyra in the chest twice; knocking her breath away. Then she swung a blow at the lyre, knocking it out of the mint colored unicorn's hoof. Next was another powerful uppercut to Lyra's jaw; stunning her. She then spun around and performed a spinning kick to the unicorn's knee, breaking it. After two more quick strikes to the face; Lyra's snout and lips were busted and bleeding heavily, even a few teeth were missing.
The quickened pace of the attacks kept the lyrist suspended a few inches above the ground. After breaking Lyra's other knee with another kick, Vinyl pulled backed for a much stronger attack. Rushing the unicorn with tremendous force, the DJ shot her hoof forward for a mighty blow to the lyrist's horn; shattering it. Then with the last bit of her momentum, Vinyl attacks with another uppercut aimed for the green unicorn's throat. The strike hits its target successfully; crushing Lyra's windpipe.
Octavia's vision came back to the sight of her best friend collapsing to the ground, clutching her throat. Tavi rushed her fallen partner; Vinyl Scratch stepping back in order to regain her breath. The cellist looked into Lyra's eyes. They were filled with panic. Her limbs and body starting to twitch and spasm. Octavia held her friend in her hooves; trying to soothe her.
"Hey, hey, it's alright. You'll be fine. Come on, just breath." Tears started to fill Tavi's eyes. "Lyra! Come on LYRA! BREATH! BREATH!" The green unicorn's limbs slowly stopped twitching and her body spasms came to a stop. The panic that filled her eyes replaced with emptiness; hollow inside. "LYRA! NO! NO!" The unicorn's hooves that clenched her neck, gradually softened and fell to the her chest. "NOOO!" Tavi roared; tears freely streaming from her eyes.
Vinyl snickered nearby; a complacent grin on her face. Octavia glared at her, pure animosity filling her eyes. She turned back to face her lifeless friend. Leaning down to her ear, she whispered "This is goodbye, Old Friend."
Octavia gently laid Lyra's body on the ground, then slowly rose to her hooves. She turned to face Vinyl.
Her voice low and cold.
"I believe it is time we finish this."
"Agreed."
Came an equally cool response.
