Musicians of Canterlot
II. Roommates
Previous ChapterNext ChapterIt was Vinyl’s first day at the regal city of Canterlot. Her parents signed her up at Canterlot Conservatory to study music right after she got her cutie mark. They came to the agreement that if she studied other styles of music and became well-read in the matter, she would have permission to make electronic music. Vinyl knew she didn’t really need any permission to do what she liked. She could have taken the rebel path and refuse, but she knew that wasn’t the most convenient thing to do. She agreed and took the opportunity to expand her knowledge on music.
After she got every paper in order, she said goodbye to her parents and walked to her room, escorted by a mare that smelled like rose water. They went up the stairs, got to the third floor and stopped when they got to a door with the number A312.
“Please, Ms. Scratch, feel free to unpack and get familiar with the facilities before your first class. If you have any doubts, I’m sure that your roommate, Ms. Hearstrings, will gladly answer them”
“Thanks ma’am” The young pony smiled at her and entered to her room.
Once inside, she put her saddlebag down and looked around. The room was invaded by a soft melody (ref: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6kcyPD4ZHs). It was the combination of the music and the warmth of the sun that shone through the windows that made Vinyl smile and closed her eyes. She felt very comfortable there, right where she was standing. Suddenly, the music stopped and the voice of a young mare almost startled her.
“Hi! You must be…Ms. Scratch!”
Vinyl rolled her eyes smiled along. ‘Ms. Scratch’ sounded so not her.
“Just call me Vinyl. You must be…Ms. Heartstrings?” Lyra let out a heartedly laugh.
“Ms. Lilac told you that, didn’t she?” He laughed a little more, transmitting some of her humor to Vinyl “I wish they weren’t so proper all the time. Call me Lyra” She extended a hoof for her roommate to shake.
“Nice to meet you”
“Don’t stand there” Lyra picked up Vinyl’s saddlebag and walked into the room “Come, I’ll show you around” The white pony followed her “This is where I sleep” Lyra pointed at one of the sides of the room. There was a bed and a desk with a pile of books on it “And that over there…” She pointed at the other side of the room with the same items “Is where you sleep” Lyra put Vinyl’s saddlebag on the desk
“Thanks” Vinyl said “Your music is awesome, by the way” She added, nodding at the lyre on the green pony’s bed.
“I imagined you heard” A sheepish smile appeared on her face “I was practicing. Some students have told me that Ms. Lilac is very strict” Vinyl seemed surprised.
“She’s your teacher?” Lyra nodded.
“She teaches how to play the lyre. Theory, practice, maintenance of the instrument, you name it… Don’t you have that class?” Vinyl shook her head.
“I don’t play the lyre…”
“Oh…then, do you play any string instruments?”
“Nope”
“Wind?”
“nuh-uh”
“Percussion?”
“Close …but not at all” Vinyl smiled playfully.
“Do you sing?”
“I try not to”
“Then, I give up… what do you exactly do?”
“I am a disc jockey” Lyra looked at her confused.
“A…what?”
“A disc jockey!... A DJ?” Lyra shook her head, still not understanding “I know how to play some instruments but I prefer…” Vinyl took some records from her saddlebag “I make music with these and well, some other equipment I still don’t have here right now” Lyra took one of the records and examined it.
“Wow, this is incredible. I’d like to see you playing this”
“Someday you will” Vinyl reassured her “I’m going to be the greatest DJ Canterlot has ever seen!”
“I like your ambition” Lyra put the record back with the others “It’s almost lunchtime. Do you want to join me?”
“That’d be great!” She gave a look at her bag and changed her mind “Actually, I’d like to unpack first. Is it good if I join you later?” Lyra nodded and smiled
“Sure! See you later, Vinyl”
“See ya” Vinyl started putting her things away. She was really happy about Lyra being her roommate. She was nice and seemed like a really fun pony to hang out with. They would definitely be very good friends. She thought of this as put her headphones on the desk along with her books and everything she needed for her classes.
Unpacking didn’t take her so long, so she thought that if she hurried, she would catch up with her on the way to the cafeteria. She went out and ran as fast as she could. When she was running by the director’s office, she realized she had no idea where the cafeteria was. She was so immersed in her own thoughts that she didn’t notice an earth pony playing a double bass in the hallway and collided with her violently.
“I’m so sorry” Vinyl said getting up from the floor. She tried to help the other pony but she pushed her as soon as she saw her instrument on the floor next to her.
“You really should be more careful! You made me drop my double bass!” She said rather irritated. Vinyl wasn’t sure if it was her accent or the non-intended pun she had just made but a small giggle came out her mouth. Her laugh made the earth pony get angrier “What could possibly be so funny?” She asked while picking up her instrument and placing It carefully inside its case. Vinyl expression changed instantly.
“Wait, is it just me or you just pushed me to pick up your giant violin…”
“What did you just say?” Now she was really offended “You know, it was your entire fault in the first place for tackling me. You had it coming. Besides, this instrument is very expensive and has a very emotional value to me”
“If it means so much to you, then you shouldn’t be playing it in the middle of the hallway. For your information, hallways were made for ponies to walk and not for earning bits, you know?” Vinyl mocked her
“For your information” She answered “I wasn’t trying to get money. I was practicing for my audition with the committee”
“Auditions were last week. What makes you think you’ll be accepted so late?”
“Just wait and see” Vinyl stared at her, unbelieving that pony’s overconfidence. After some seconds, she just shook her head.
“Whatever, I have to go” She said and started running again.
“Yes, I can see you’re in a hurry” The mare commented to herself, still very annoyed.
With a little help from a janitor, Vinyl was able to find the cafeteria. As soon as she entered, she saw Lyra waving a hoof to let her know she was there.
“I thought you just brought some books, what took you so long?” She asked when Vinyl sat down in front of her.
“Some smug child-prodigy bothering me in the hallway…” She answered looking at a fruit salad “Is this for me?”
“Yeah, I bought you some lunch”
“Thanks. I’ll pay you later” Lyra smiled
“You don’t have to. This one’s on me” She said kindly “But you shouldn’t be fighting on your first day of here. You don’t want to make a reputation so fast” Vinyl sighed tiredly.
“I didn’t fight with her; we just had a little disagreement, that’s all” Lyra shrugged her shoulders.
“Disagreements happen” She concluded before taking a bite of her lunch.
After lunch, they walked together back to their room. Vinyl explained in the most excited of moods that her beloved mixer could be there by then. Lyra was amazed by the thrill a pony could get regarding music. Once they got there, a not very pleasing surprise awaited for them.
“You?” Vinyl exclaimed in an angry voice. The grey pony whom she confronted was now standing in the middle of her and Lyra’s bed. A stallion was sitting next to her.
“Ms. Heartstrings, I’m glad you’re back. I see you’ve been busy welcoming Ms. Scratch. That’s charming. However, we would like to have a word with you two now” Vinyl and Lyra looked at each other, knowing that the following conversation wouldn’t end well. They sat in front of the stallion and the small pony.
“My name is Frederic Horseshoepin” He began solemnly “I teach piano, besides being the vice-director of this distinguished academy” Lyra waved a hoof and gave him a shy smile. Vinyl tried not to burst in laughter. Mr. Horseshoepin didn’t seem to notice this and continued his monologue “I am here today because we have rearranged some students’ allocations. Ms. Heartstrings will be moved from this room to another”
“What? And why would that be?” Vinyl interrupted as irate as before. Lyra nudged her “I mean, is there a special reason for this?” She corrected herself. The teacher pointed at the pony next to him.
“She is Octavia Melody” He explained “She was in the late enrollment list of this year and just auditioned. I must say we were all quite impressed with her skills” Octavia smiled smugly at Vinyl. It was a silent ‘I told you so’ that made her even more mad. Mr. Horseshoepin, oblivious as always, kept on talking “She was assigned this room for the rest of the year. Ms. Heartstrings was moved to room B302 with Ms. Drops” He now turned to Lyra “She’s a very nice young mare, I can assure you that you will get along with her well” Lyra was obviously not happy with this resolution but unlike Vinyl, she swallowed her dissatisfaction and started packing her things. The white unicorn felt she should do something about that.
“So, what now?” She said “I have to share rooms with some total stranger now? Lyra is my friend and I share only one class with her. Now I’m not going to see her at any more!” Mr. Horseshoepin just smiled and answered.
“You’ll find some time to share together, my little pony” Lyra came back with her saddlebag around her body and smiled, just as Octavia’s teacher did.
“Don’t worry, Vinyl. We’ll get together for lunch, okay?” Vinyl finally muttered an answer.
“I guess that’s something”
“Perfect. Now we will leave you two alone so you get to know better. Please, make Ms. Melody feel at home. Oh, and… Ms. Scratch?” Vinyl looked back at him “The mailmare came in your absence. She brought you a packet from Manehattan”
“MY MIXER” She shouted happily and ran to her desk, where a big packet was. Lyra gave her a sad smile, she wanted to see it and celebrate with her friend.
Maybe another time; she thought.
The two unicorns left Vinyl and Octavia alone. Once the door was closed Vinyl could rant freely.
“You little…”
“Careful of how you speak” Octavia interrupted her “You’re supposed to be a good roommate and give me a warm welcome. Remember?” Vinyl rolled her eyes, clearly upset.
“Here’s my bed. Bathroom’s over there and that’s the door. You can leave whenever you want” She turned around to unpack her mixer.
“Very funny” The earth pony replied sarcastically and started unpacking. Soon, she became curious of her roommate’s device “What exactly is that?” She inquired. Vinyl quickly turned around.
“This…is my baby. If you touch it, you will regret the day you took the decision of coming here” She warned her “Nobody can touch this amazing magic-maker machine”
“Let me get this straight” Octavia tried not to laugh “You make…music with that?” Vinyl narrowed her eyes, disgusted by Octavia’s arrogance “What…don’t you have real musical talents? Wouldn’t you like to play a real instrument? There are plenty of teachers that could show you. I could even give you a few lessons if you are nicer to me from now on”
“You know? You shouldn’t mock a pony you have just met, especially when that pony could kick your flank anytime” Octavia’s smile widened.
“I’d like to see you try”
“Okay, I’ve had enough of you” Vinyl was stepping in when a bell just outside their room rang loudly.
“Be thankful the bell saved you” Both mares said at the same time.
“I have to go to my singing classes” Vinyl said.
“Me too…” Then she realized “Wait… Singing… with Ms. Shores? Vinyl nodded and she came to the same conclusion and grunted her frustration.
“Now I have to put up with you here AND in class…bucking great” Octavia raised an eyebrow, judgmentally.
“Nice language…”
“Mind your own business”
“You’re so grumpy” She laughed, just to tease her more.
“I swear to Celestia…you’re going to be my personal pain in the rump the whole year” Vinyl mumbled as she got out the room and walked to the classroom without waiting for her new roommate.
Author's Note
Oh snap! Vinyl and Octy don't get along...Where's your Celestia now?
haha just kidding.
I hope you enjoy this chapter, leave your comments and suggestions below and I'll check them out ;)
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See you next time :D
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