Broken Strings and BPM's

Happy Easter, Everypony! I know it's a little early, but fuck it. As your early Easter present, I cut into my sleep time to finish this and post it for you. On the downside: No references in this chapter. Therefore your Easter present is without Easter Eggs! MUAHAHAHAHAAAAA! Ok. Here's chapter 15.

Broken Strings, Chapter 15: All For You

"So, you want to help us?"

"Exactly, Bass. I can't stand watching musicians gain popularity by using somepony else's reputation, like she did. It's disgraceful."

"Wait, so since I'm Bass's mate, I'm a target for this musical crusade?"

"No way, Ivory! You've paid your dues, not to mention that you helped put that evil Silver Sky in her place!"

"Well, that's good news, I guess. Thanks, Midsy."

••••••••••••••••••••••••

After the two siblings had left, it was quiet again. Treble, and Octavia had left to go take a tour of the city, which left me, and Ivory alone in her apartment. And you know what that means. Oh yeah. Nap time. Well, if I had a choice.

Ivory had to go DJ another show, at a different club. I guess she got tired of playing the Dual Core. With it being her first show at the new club, she asked me to come along with her, for safety reasons. And the fact that she would rather me be there for moral support.

"I just don't know how these ponies are going to like my music. It's just so nerve racking, Bass."

"Babe, we're already half way there, and I told you I'll be right there in the crowd."

"I know, but I'm just so nervous. You're a musician. You know what I mean."

"Well, yeah, I do. But it normally always turns out well in the end."

"I sure hope so. Oh look. We're here."

I looked up, at the club that we had stopped in front of. It was somewhat nicer than the Dual Core, and that's for sure. We headed to the door, jumping past the line of apparently fashionably dressed, barely-of-age fillies and colts who shot us angry glares as we cantered past them, past the bouncer, and into the club. Instead of immediately parting, Ivory and I took a seat at the bar, and had a few drinks, over a nice conversation.

"This place actually seems pretty nice, Ivy."

"I know. And to think, I was worried."

I took another sip of my drink, which was a decently flavored mix of rum, and some kind of cola. "So what do you think of this whole musical showdown thing?"

Ivory thought for a moment, and began to speak. "Well, I think it'll be really fun, and I think-"

"I think you're going to be beaten so bad that you're wiped from the musical history books." I looked back to see Sharp Flats grinning, having cut Ivory short.

"What the hay do you want, Flats?" Ivory was clearly annoyed by the unicorn's sudden interruption.

"I've come to deliver a warning. You might a well just drop out now, before I wipe the floor with you two amateurs. Nopony wants to hear your electro-rock garbage." Flats turned his gaze at me. "So you and your little slut, here had better just back off." Bad call.

Just as I was about to jump off the stool, Ivory stopped me. "Look, Flats. Just get lost. We don't want any trouble."

"That's some small talk from a pony with such a big mouth, Keys." That was it. I pushed Ivory's hoof aside, and hopped up from my stool, getting right in Flats' face.

"Look, pal. The lady said get lost. So I recommend you do so before I smear that arrogant smirk of yours all over that wall over there. Got it?"

Flat backed up, keeping his smirk. "We'll see who smears who, Bass." And with that, he trotted away in a false victory, exiting the club.

"I REALLY hate that pony."

After the confrontation, Ivory and I finished our drinks in silence, just in time for them to call her to the stage to play her set. I sat in a booth close to the dance floor, so she could see me there, just in case she got nervous onstage.

"Good evening, everypony," she said into the mic, with a fake tone of excitement to her voice. I had spent enough time listening to her voice, and getting to know every aspect of her personality to know that behind that daredevil grin that she put on, the whole experience scared the shit out of her. "I hope you're all having a great time. For those of you who don't know, I'm I-V Keys, and this is my first time playing here, so if you want me to come back, I'd better see you dancing your flanks off. Hear me?" Then she looked over at me, as the crowd started cheering, and smiled, that cute little blush returning to her face, as I blew her a kiss. Then she turned back to the crowd, and pressed some button, then one of her hooves started tapping on some buttons on one of her keyboards. I had never actually seen her play, so it was pretty cool. As I watched her hooves dance along all her pads, and keys, rolling small wheels on the sides of her keyboard, which would make the current note higher or lower, or give it a tremolo effect, it hit me. Everypony calling her a DJ was a little off. She never used records. It was all pure talent, and that was what set this earth pony apart from anypony else. Yes, she truly was special. I couldn't take my eyes off her, as she played some of the most hardcore, bass-driven techno that I had ever heard. After about an hour of her playing song after song, she finally bowed to the crowd, and grinned. "You guys have been buckin' awesome! I love you all, goodnight!" She then placed all her pads and keys back into their boxes, and walked offstage, a few other ponies taking the boxes offstage. She trotted over to me, sweating lightly, and beaming. "So, how'd I do?"

I smiled, and kissed her softly. "You were amazing, Ivy."

She blushed, and looked away, shyly. "You're just saying that."

I chuckled. "Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. Who knows?"

"Awwwww, come on, Bass."

"No, really, baby. You were spectacular."

She giggled, and surprised me with a deep kiss. After a few seconds, she broke the kiss, and smiled, pressing her forehead against mine, all the while staring into my eyes. "Thanks, love," she said in a soft, loving tone. "That means a lot."

I smiled back at her, lost in her eyes. After holding a wondrous silence for a few moments, I finally broke the silence, speaking in the softest audible tone I could muster. "Come on, babe. Let's get out of here."

"I totally agree, babe."

After the agreement, we got up from our seats, and started out the door, enjoying a nice conversation on the way home. "You've gotta explain all those knobs and wheels to me, sometime, babe."

"Knobs and whe- Oh! You mean the pitch shift and effect modulation wheels, and the effect rate, effect, wave-pattern, and effect depth knobs!"

I looked at her, somewhat dumbfounded. "Um… what? Equestrian, please, baby. I'm a guitarist, not a dictionary."

"Well, it's not that hard to-"

"Hey! Stop right there!"

I turned to the direction of the sound, and saw three ponies, approaching us, looking like they meant us harm. And a lot of it.

"What do you want?"

"Your money," the pony in the front spat, with the facade of a tough guy. "And all of it, scrawny!"

"Yeah," I heard one of the others say. "Then we'll be takin' ya lady friend wit us!"

I glared at the ponies, and turned my head to Ivory, taking a battle-ready stance. "Run home. I'll be fine." She nodded, and took off, down the street. I turned, in time to see one of the smaller ponies take off after her. I immediately spread my wings, and took off into the sky, flying a decent height, making a calculation in my head. I then took a heavy down angle, aiming for the pony chasing Ivory. After picking up a decent amount of speed in my descent, I turned my body, so that my hind hooves were leading. I aimed directly for the back of the pony's head, aaaaaaaand CONTACT! My hooves hit the back of his head. Hard. I continued my downward descent, for the last few feet, guiding his face toward the pavement. Once I heard the smack of his face on the street, I bounced off of him. Yeah, he was out cold... Or dead. One of those two. All I know is that if he survived that… ouch. There was too much blood on the pavement for him to not have massive facial disfiguration from that. And I think I saw a tooth. I landed on my hooves, sliding a few feet, and facing the other two ponies who were headed toward me. I looked back toward Ivory, and saw that she was still running. Good.

"Alright, bud. That's the last straw. You're dead!"

I struck a battle pose again, spreading my wings again. "I'm not going down without a fight," I growled. "And I'm definitely not gonna let you hurt her!"

The other smaller pony stepped forward, and jumped at me, ready to strike with both hooves. I quickly turned my body, and focused my weight in my front hooves, and putting all my strength in my back legs. Oh, did I mention I did a little bit of applebucking back in Ponyville? No? Well, let me tell you something. This guy was about to get the Applejack treatment. I pulled my hindlegs toward my upper body, bending them at the joint, then at just the right moment, I shot one hindleg out, followed by another. Sort of a "one-two-punch," if you will. The first hoof connected with his mouth. I'm pretty sure I felt teeth cracking on impact. The second connected with his jaw, since his head had already shot back from the first. The hit to the jaw Sent him flying back a few feet, and he hit the ground.

Just as I regained my ready pose, I took a hard hoof to the face, and felt myself thrown to the ground. This one was much harder than when Mic had punched me. Before I could get up, I was kicked. Again and again, and again. I could've swore that I felt a few bones crack. Just when I was sure that this pony was about to crush my skull under his massive hoof, I heard a familiar voice.

"That's enough, Sluggo. You've earned your pay. I don't think he'll be anywhere near that competition, now."

Next, I heard hoofsteps on the pavement, growing farther and farther, as my vision started to fade. Then the whole world went black. And silent.

((Author's note: Is this the end of Deep Bass? FUCK NO! The fuck kind of author do you think I am? Bass now has just that much more motivation to spank that ass! But will he be able to? Find out in Chapter 16! Coming eventually to a FiMFiction near you!))