Broken Strings and BPM's

Broken Strings, Ch. 7:

It was a cloudy morning, and Ivory and I were reaching the outskirts of Ponyville. I still remember when she asked me to show her my house there.

It was just a few days ago. I had just woke up, and smiled at the mare still sleeping next to me. Now, I know what you're thinking "Bass, you stud!" Or even "Dude, that's your best friend's sister!" Well, at this point, our relationship was… complicated, to say the least. We weren't dating, and we weren't mating, but it was actually kind of nice. She kept my mind off of things like Vinyl, or that jerk, Sharp Flats. It was really nice.

I got out of bed, and stretched, giving my stiff joints some relief, and stretching my wings out. I gave the sleeping mare another glance, and smiled as she kicked her front hoof, in her sleep, and muttered "Shut up, dummy." I chuckled quietly. I figured it was safe to assume that she was dreaming about me.

I trotted out into the living room, and turned on the radio.

"Good morning, Manehattan," the radio host said cheerfully. "It's going to be a bright and sunny day… in some other city. However, we will have a nice light snow all day. Sounds like a nice day to take that special somepony out for a romantic walk."

"Speaking of special someponies," the other host chimed in. "That brings us to our weekly segment, 'What's Up in the Biz!'"

"That's right, I'm Rock Talker, along with Whinny Hooveston, here to bring you the weekly news of what's happening with your favorite musicians, and the music industry, itself. Go ahead, Whinny."

"Well, just yesterday, the newest face on the scene, Hydra's Vinyl Scratch, formally denounced her involvement with her big name Fiancé, Deep Bass, formerly of Fasthor5, about nine months after the famous onstage proposal. And on another note, Bass was recently spotted around Manehattan, on a few occasions. On one occasion, he was seen performing with Mic the Microphone Zero at the Dual Core, and on another occasion, wandering around the city with Ivory Keys, who was once the keyboardist for Silver Sky, then worked with Sharp Flats on minor parts of some of his songs."

"Seems like a whole lot of love going around the biz. In other news, Sharp Flats just announced the upcoming release of a new song named 'Bass Drop,' with the assistance of the previously mentioned Vinyl Scratch. Also, Strings Eternal, which, for those of you who have been living in a cave, consists of Soft Treble, Octavia Philharmonica, Up Tempo, and Echo Minor, has just announced a country-wide tour."

"And that's our weekly 'Wha-"

What? You didn't actually expect me to listen to any more of that garbage, did you? I quickly turned the radio off, and cantered out the front door, grabbed the morning newspaper, and headed back inside.

Once inside, I set the paper on the table, then headed toward the cabinets, digging for something to eat. It had been quite a while since I had to cook for myself, so I was having some difficulty finding something at my current skill level. I continued digging, keeping a mental list of anything that I could possibly make, myself. "Pop-tarts? What the buck is a 'pop-tart?'" I began reading the box. "Toaster Pastry? What the hay is a bucking toaster?" Now, I'm not stupid, okay? Toasters were still a rather new invention, and we didn't exactly have one, when I was growing up. And I don't think anypony in Ponyville had one either.

I looked around the kitchen, trying to find this 'toaster.' I spent a few seconds scanning before I spotted a shiny cube-like object with two slits on it, much like the one pictured on the pastry box. I reached back up into the cabinet, and grabbed a loaf of bread, bringing it along with me, along with the odd pastries. I set the bread and pastries on the counter in front of the metal cube that would soon become my nemesis. This was new to me. Yeah, I know. I could figure out a multifunction guitar amplifier like it was nothing, yet here I was, stumped by a simple machine.

I managed to slip two pieces of bread into the slits on top, as I read in the instructions on the back of the pastry box. I pressed the small knob on the front of the cube downward, only to have it spring right back up. I inspected the bread to find it exactly the same as before. Quite sure that this was not my desired result, I pressed the knob down again, only for the same thing to happen. Now irritated by the machine, I pressed the knob down again… and again… and one last time before a giggle sent me into a fit of embarrassed blushing. "You know, Bass," the beautiful voice giggled, "it might help if you plug it in."

I turned quickly, the blush refusing to fade, as I looked at the mare, with her bed head. "You know, you really shouldn't sneak up on ponies like that. You scared me, a little."

She cantered up to me, and gently tapped my cheek with a hoof. "Shut up, Dummy." She flashed me a smile, and plugged the toaster in, then pushed the knob downward, and to my surprise, it stayed down. "You know, if you wanted breakfast, all you had to do is ask."

I chuckled lightly, as I shifted my gaze from the toaster, back to the beautiful mare before me. "You looked so peaceful, sleeping. Besides, I'm a big colt, I can handle myself." This statement earned me a fit of laughter, and another tap on the cheek.

"Shut up, Dummy."

About an hour later, Ivory and I were sitting at the table, enjoying a nice, well cooked breakfast, compliments of chef Keys. It was rather enjoyable, just the two of us sitting at the table, a decent soundtrack playing in the background. It was a nice mix of old rock. I believe at that moment, Donk Henley's "Colts of Summer" was playing.

I had just scooped a large spoonful of egg into my mouth, as Ivory broke the silence. "So, tell me about yourself, Bass? I mean there's so much that I don't know about you."

I quickly swallowed my mouthful, nearly choking as it went down. "Well, the same could be said for you, Miss Keys. How about you go first."

She nodded, and circled her hoof around on the table, as she began to tell me her life story. "Well, I was born in Phillydelphia, and from the moment I could walk, I was always following Mic around. In fact, the day that our parents separated was probably the saddest day of my life. When they split, Mic stayed with our father, and I moved away to Steedston with our mother. It was so lonely, there. I had the hardest time making friends. I started playing my mom's old piano to pass the time, and eventually became pretty good at it. Then I thought 'Maybe if I start performing, I'll travel, and see Mic again.' Well, not long after I started putting my name out there, I met Cloudy Night, and Up Tempo. I guess that's the first time I ever saw you. You were still dating her, when I joined her band. I thought you were pretty cool, but I knew that you were spoken for. Then she kicked you to the curb. I guess that's when I first started resenting her. She has somepony who cared about her, yet she just tossed you away. Well, then we toured for a while, and during a show in Phillydelphia, I saw Mic again. I was so happy to see him. After that, we kept touring, and eventually came the concert in Steedston. After that, I moved back to Philly for a while, and started making techno. I worked with Sharp Flats for a while, and quit once he kept trying to get with me. Then I moved to Manehattan, and met an amazing Pegasus who makes my heart grow wings every time I see him. Other than that, there isn't much. Else about me."

I raised my eyebrow at the mare. "Hmmm. And, if you don't mind me asking, who might this lucky pegasus be?"

She giggled, and waved a hoof. "No, no. I'm not going to bother you with that."

I kept my eyebrow raised. "Oh, please do. I'd like to know who I have to beat up to win your heart."

She nearly fell out of her chair with laughter at that. "Now that, I'd pay to see. It's your turn, anyways, babe- I mean Bass."

"What did you call me?"

Her white face turned as red as her mane. "I said 'Bass.' Now go ahead."

My brow slowly relaxed. "Right." I then relayed to her my life story up until the present.

"You really lived in Ponyville? I heard it's really nice, there."

And this is the point where I may have made a decent mistake. "Would you like to see it? I still have a house there, you know."

Her eyes lit up in the most adorable way possible, as she squealed in delight.

I couldn't help but smile. "I'll take that as a yes, then?"

She nodded, the excitement never fading from her eyes.

"Cool," I began, carrying my empty plate to the sink. "Let's go. It's about a day's trip from here."

We quickly ordered a carriage. I wouldn't dare make such a sweet mare walk all that way. About a day later, we arrived at my house on the outskirts of Ponyville. Of course, all nice things end eventually, and, much to my dismay, there, knocking at my door at the most inconvenient time, was the last white unicorn I wanted to see... Ever. She turned, and spotted me getting out of the carriage, then helping Ivory out, and she trotted up to us with her usual egomaniacal pomp. "Oh, good afternoon, darling," she shrilled. "I was just coming to see how things were going. I heard what happened. How horrible!" Then she turned her gaze to Ivory. "And who is your new friend?"

"Well, thanks for coming to check on me, Rarity. I'm perfectly fine." I turned to Ivory, and smiled. "This is my friend, Ivory."

Ivory stepped forward, and extended a hoof to Rarity. "Hello, Miss Rarity. It's always a pleasure to meet Bass' other friends." She looked over at me, just in time to spot me retching at the fact that she called Rarity my friend, and giggled. Rarity didn't see it, since I had moved to a position behind her.

Rarity raised a hoof to meet Ivory's. "The pleasure is mine, Ivory. It's nice to see that at least one of Bass' friends has some manners. So, where are you from, Ivory?"

Ivory glanced at me, just in time to spot me facehoofing. She must've picked up on the hint, because instead of telling Rarity that she was from Manehattan, she chose the smart alternative. "Oh, me? I'm from Steedston."

Rarity nodded. "Ah. Charming little town. Well, I must be on my way. It was nice meeting you, Ivory."

I heaved a sigh of relief, as the fashionista trotted off into the distance, then led Ivory into the small house. She looked around the living room, letting her eyes wander. I dismissed myself for a moment, and quickly ran out to check my mail. Of course, it was the same old mail. I brought the bundle of letters inside, and set them on the table, not even bothering to flip through them. I cantered back to the living room, where Ivory was sitting on the couch, flipping through a photo album she must've found.

"You two seemed rather happy, together," she began. "I don't see how things went so wrong."

I sat down next to her, and glanced at the album. It was full of pictures of myself and Vinyl from the whole time we were together. "I guess ponies change over time, Iv."

"Pfff. What, were you too grown up for her, or something? I mean why else would she have cheated on you with Sharp Flats?"

I shook my head, and closed the album. "I don't know, and I don't care, anymore. It's the pa-" Yeah. I don't exactly always get to finish my sentences. Although, I didn't mind this disruption. I found myself being pushed over, onto my back, staring into Ivory's sky blue eyes, her lips pressed to mine. I was helpless and I loved it. I spent a moment enjoying the passionate kiss until, almost like a bucking curse, the door swung open, and in the most cheerful manner possible, a pale gold unicorn with a red and white striped, straight mane trotted in.

"Oh, dear brother," she sang out. It was her own little sense of humor, I guess. Especially since she knew it annoyed me.

I looked at her, my eyes wide as I heard the voice, and Ivory and I turned simultaneously toward the door, spotting not only my sister, but Octavia standing just on the other side of the door, an eyebrow raised. "Um, T," she spoke. "You have the worst timing."

I looked back at my sister, then back at Ivory, who was apparently as stunned as my sister and I were.

"Um… sorry, Bass. I should've… knocked."

A few awkward minutes later, the four of us were sitting in the dining room, and Treble was digging through the stack of mail on the table, and pulled one out, opened it, and held it in front of my face. "See! I told you I sent a letter!"

I rolled my eyes, sipping my usual drink. "Whatever. I haven't even been home for a few weeks."

Octavia giggled. "Yes, so we've heard."

I snapped my gaze to her. "How did you… oh..."

The two mares spoke in unison, neither of them sounding too enthusiastic. "'What's up in the biz?'"

Octavia rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her tea, which had a splash of her favorite whiskey, Jura, in it. "I swear, Rock Talker needs to quit his day job."

I looked over to Ivory, who had been silently sipping an unaltered glass of tea, then back to Treble. "So, here we are. Bass and Ivory. Are you two…"

I face blushed a deep red, as I answered Treble's question, although not how I meant to. "Not yet… I mean no." Then I felt the heat. Like every eye in the room was on me, save my own. I looked around to see Treble and Octavia both shooting me the eyebrow, and then finally, Ivory blushing almost as heavily as I was. "We're just… friends."

"Really?" Octavia decided to speak up, shooting me a grin. "Because Vinyl and I never kissed like that."

I blushed, and looked over to Ivory, who appeared to be trying to bury her face in her hooves. Then I looked at Treble, who was grinning at me. "Wanna give me a legitimate answer, now?" Apparently, Octavia's fanciness had rubbed off on Treble, because she had never used the word "legitimate" before.

I raised an eyebrow at her "That was the honest answer."

"Right," my sister sighed. "So how long do you plan on being in Ponyville?"

I shrugged, taking another sip of my drink.

Well, if you don't mind, Octavia and I would like to take my old bandmate for a tour of the town, if that's fine with her.

Ivory's eyes lit up. "Oh, that sounds amazing, Treble!"

Sure enough within the hour, the three musical mares were gone, leaving me alone in my house. Perfect moment to relax, unwind… and royally fuck up.