The Record Friction Chronicles:A new beginning

Chapter 3

The surprise of a lifetime

One week after Record had gotten his turntable set, the talent show had come. It was a lot sooner than he had expected, but yet again he was using the set nonstop so time did fly pretty fast for him. Record didn't sleep, eat, or even go to school because he was practicing so much. He would just lay in bed and act like he was sick. It was really convincing too. Record was always a great actor, and silver tongue but he would never his gift to get his way or force anypony to do something.
The night of the of the talent show was scary for Record. He had mixed emotions of fear and joy as the whole auditorium was being filled. Easily over seven hundred ponies were seated and another two hundred were standing off to the side and still counting.

"Why are there so many ponies here it's just a talent show for students...unless...unless there's something more to it." Record said to himself. Why were there so many ponies here? Record was nervous as he went backstage and made sure his turntables were working properly. Then one of the judges came backstage and made everypony gather into a circle around him.

"Okay everypony, listen up! This is going to be the biggest talent show ever. Princess Celestia is going to be watching tonights performance so try your hardest and remember to not give up until its over...good luck everypony!" The judge turned around and went to go sit down in the judges panel. Now Record was even more scared than before. He was already nervous with a crowd of over one thousand ponies, but now Princess Celestia was going to be watching as well. Records stomach began to cringe, and he felt like he was going to be sick. Record now had irony mixed with his emotions and started shuttering.

"If I screw this up, I'll never hear the end of it." Record said to himself. He stood next to his turntables going over everything one last time. "Let's see...new needles? Check. Favorite records? Check. Amplifier? Check. And dub pads? Check. Okay I'm all set...I hope." Record paced back and forth until he heard the voice of one of the judges. He listened closely as to what he said.

"Welcome mares and gentlecolts. Today is the 52nd annual manehatten school talent show." The crowd cheered in an excited uproar. "But this is no ordinary talent show. Today as a very special guest will be watching the show. Please welcome the graceful, majestic, Princess Celestia!" Princess Celestia stepped into the auditorium immediately after those words. Everypony went wild at the sight of the princess. Her manes continuously flowing colors were just as beautiful as ever. She took a seat in the front row next to the judging panel. "Also, winner of this years talent show will win 5,000 bits, as where second place will win a day with the Princess herself. Let the talent show BEGIN!" The judge got off stage, sat in his seat and called out the first performer.
Record was last in line to preform but time seemed to fly by too fast. What felt like 5 minutes to Record was 30 minutes in reality. One of Record competitors walked up to him. He was an average height dark blue pegasus with a long, silver mane and short tail.

"Hi Record, good luck in the talent show!" Said the pony. Record nodded and replied back.

"Thank you...I wish you best of luck too Cyber." Both of the ponies smiled at each other.

"Next up we have Cyber preforming magic tricks." Said one of the judges.

"Oh no that's my cue. Wish me luck!" Said Cyber before leaving with a smile. Record didn't know if he actually made a friend or not. He was stumped between a friend or just a friendly competitor wishing Record his best. Record took a look at what Cyber was doing out on stage. It seemed Cyber was doing professional parlor magic tricks. Record thought he was just summoning it with magic but remembered that Cyber was a pegasus. In one clean, fluid motion he made a piece of paper turn into a cardboard box, then made over a dozen birds appear in the box. If Cyber was a unicorn he would have been skeptical. But how Cyber was able to do those tricks for being a pegasus left Record dumbfounded.
Before Record knew it Cyber was finished, and only 2 more ponies were left before it was Records turn. Records stomach cringed again. How was he going to match with Cyber? Record was think long and hard and couldn't think of any idea. Record spoke to himself

"What will be a groundbreaking experience they won't soon forget?"

"Thank you dear...and last but not least... Record preforming a song of his own composition with his turntables."

"OH NO. HAVE I BEEN THINKING THAT LONG?" Record quietly shouted to himself. This was it. The moment he was worried about. Now it's time he makes a name for himself. Record levitated the turntables, and his two favorite records and slowly walked out on stage. The crowd cheered as he walked out and became quiet as he set up his turntables. This was it, no turning back.
Record turned on his turntables, and began to play the two records. The song started slow but started picking up. Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow looking at Record. He took notice of this and started to sweat. The bass drop finally came and Record preformed the drop just the way he had done in practice. Celestia still wasn't impressed as she started to yawn. Record felt like he failed already. The song began to slow down after 4 minutes into it. He knew this part and it was the worst part of it all. He was about to become a laughing stock. Until he put his hoof on the record and slid it across the needle, making a distinct scratch noise. Now Celestia seemed impressed. She turned her head back to Record. He had a great idea on how to recover. He started to play back the song, which sounded surprisingly good. Then he replayed the bass drop. But this time he started scratching along with the beat, and soon the bass slowed down...but Record didn't want to. He started scratching the record back and forth slowly, and he began to pick up speed. He started going faster, and faster. The sound was like a Blackhawk helicopter taking flight. Record couldn't control his hooves anymore. It soon became a natural movement. Everypony in the auditorium was mesmerized at the speed and sound. Soon the records started heating up. Record couldn't slow down, it was beginning to hurt his hooves. Then it happened.
With the constant rubbing between the needles and the records in one place, the friction between the two caused the plastic to heat up and catch on fire. The last note played. Record dropped to the floor, his breathing was erratic, his face was red, and his hooves look worn down. Ponies raced to his side while others put out the fire. Record felt a slight tingling sensation on his flank. He thought it was someponies hoof bumping into him. But this didn't feel like somepony bumping into him, this felt different. He turned to see what the sensation was, a small light was illuminating on his flank. Then the light disappeared, what was left shocked everypony. He had finally gotten his cutie mark. It was a platinum vintage record on fire.
Record was amazed, he finally did it. After years of trying he finally got his cutie mark.

"Record...are you okay?" Said his mother. Record simply nodded and got up, he had a slight headache, but that was the least of his worries. He went to look at his turntables but sure enough the fire melted the majority of them. The only things left were the metal stand, half of the dubpad, and a needle. How that part survived the fire Record will never know. Finally one of the judges spoke up.

"Okay everypony, back to your seats! Record go backstage with the rest I the competitors while we make out decisions." Record did just as he was told an went backstage. He looked back and saw Princess Celestia looking at him with a smile. Record smiled back and proceeded backstage.
As Record went backstage he was greeted by Cyber. Record wasn't sure if he screwed up or won the show. Either way it was one or the other.
Over fifteen minutes later, the judges enter the backstage area. One if them speaks up.

"We are ready for you now, please come on stage." The ponies did just that and all went out on stage. The crowd was silent. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. However all eyes were fixed on Record, and no pony else. The judges hesitated for a minute before calling out the top 4 winners.

"In fourth place we have the very young and talented Derpy Hooves for her performance of a perfect demonstration of her basketball skills." She was given the bronze ribbon. Derpy was so excited she decided to throw one last ball. Somehow she missed the hoop and the ball came back and hit her hard enough to make her fall and hit the back of her head on the floor. She was fine all except that now she was cross eyed. "Derpy, are you okay?" Said one of the judges. Derpy responded immediately.

"I just don't know what went wrong." She was rushed to the doctors shortly after that.

"Right then, in third place is Lyra Heartstring with her magnificent performance on her harp." Lyra was jumping with joy when they announced her name. They gave her a silver ribbon and new book. Then the judges looked at each other for a moment. "We are going to try something new...could all of the following ponies please proceed off stage." They started calling ponies off, one-by-one they all left the stage they knew they lost. One pony walked off literally crying a waterfall. Only two ponies were left on stage, Record and Cyber. A silence fell upon the auditorium. All eyes were now fixed on the 2 ponies. The pressure was on, the tension was now thicker than before, they could feel the heartbeat of everypony in the auditorium. All of the judges looked at Princess Celestia. She had no show of emotion in her face, she simply nodded her head and said one word.

"Now!" The judge nodded and looked back at the two.

"The winner of the 52nd annual manehatten talent show, 5,000 bits, and first place trophy goes too..." Everyponies hearts were racing. It was now, the moment they've all been waiting for. "CYBER!"
Everypony cheered aloud with happiness. Record was disappointed. But he was glad he got 2nd and he felt like he made his first real friend. He shook hooves with Cyber, and nodded at each other. Record was given a blue ribbon and a golden ticket. Record read the ticket with the black lettering on it.

This ticket hereby states, that the owner of it has been permitted to spend one full day with the royal Princess Celestia of the owners choosing. This ticket will not expire and is good for only one use.
Record looked happy when he read those words. It was almost as if Celestia wanted him to win. He looked up to see Celestia smiling at him and she winked at him. He smiled back and was greeted by his parents and sister.

"Bruber, did you win?" Asked Vinyl.

"Yes Vinyl, I did!" Said Record. His parents looked at him confused. He got second place.

"Record, you didn't win sweetie." Said his mother.

"Yes I did mom. I made a real friend for once, and with this ticket I get to spend on full day with Princess Celestia. Now tell me, does that not sound like a win?" Records mom just looked at him with a blank expression.
They trotted, out of the auditorium on there way home when Records dad spoke up.

"Well that talent show sure was suspenseful, it was the surprise of a lifetime in the end." Record nodded in agreement with his dad. Record unlocked the door and walked inside. He went upstairs to his room and put the ticket and ribbon into a box. He laid down on his bed and started to drift off to sleep. Record thought to himself then realized something. Who was that strange silver pony that nopony else seemed to see backstage?