Chapters The music in our hearts makes us who we are, so you can go on ahead and try to hate on us; but we'll keep walking because that music never stopping; the music in our hearts...
"Aw, come on, HB," I said to myself as I rode the train to Ponyville. I'm here to meet my producers, who live in a nice mansion. There names are Vinyl Scratch and Octavia. They're also allowing me to stay there 'til I get things sorted out (if they hire me). They'll be helping me with my 1st album, "Music in our Hearts." I'm trying to create a song for the first single in the album. So far, I've only got the hook for the beginning of the song.
Anyways, my name is Henry Bushytail. I have ginger hair, freckles across the bridge, green eyes, dark skinned and I have a tattoo on my wrist of a heart with over the ear headsets on, a heartbeat line running down it. I've been around music since I was three. My dad was a music producer and my mom a famous singer. One day, she signed an album for him and even signed a contract to work with him. The first day on the job, they fell in love. Even though my family was rich, they didn't want people singling me out in school. So, they bought me normal clothes. I loved my parents dearly. One day, we were driving home from this lovely restaurant when some flank-hole comes and crashed into us.
I was the only survivor, my the remnant being a scar the size of my temple.
I was brought up in an adoption center since then. A lot of kids picked on me in the orphanage. I asked them how they could be so cruel to me after what I'd been through. They merely shrugged and slammed my head into a wall. One even split my chin. Only made me cuter, I say. But then, I was adopted. One day, while playing in my adopted father's attic, I found an old acoustic guitar he was given by his great grandpa. He taught me how to play. I wrote songs about things like how to ignore haters because you are who you are. Then, I learned from my adopted mother how to sing better than I used to (which was already good).
I started out in a group of street singers that called themselves 'Music in the Night.' I was the one that made the melody using DJ equipment...sometimes. Somedays, I sing or play the guitar. We had gigs every night at this one club I...can't seem to remember the name of..oh well. We were a hit, and the Stallions and Mares kept coming every night for more. Then, we started to do solo acts at that club, leading to the group breaking up. I made money because the club owner liked my music more than the rest of the group. The money I earned was enough to by my own electric guitar. I called that guitar white noise. One night, at the club, a big deal music agent was there because he heard rumors of a possible rising star.
He heard me sing, and came backstage to make a deal with me. He said, "How's about I give you an opportunity to be a star. I'll be meeting with these two ponies that are hiring somepony like you." I gladly said "Where do I sign?" Next day, my Mom and Dad helped pack my things, I said goodbye, and here we are now. On a train to Ponyville, where I'll be meeting both my agent and Vinyl Scratch and Octavia. I decide to take a snooze 'til the train gets there, and when I wake up, it's time to get off. So I grab my bags and when I get off I'm immediately greeted by a fair skinned pegasus mare with a light blonde mane and tail. She tackled me with a hug and said, "Omigod! I can't see very well, but I just know that's you, HB!" That's when I noticed two things; her eyes were facing opposite directions, and she wore a shirt with my tattoo on the front. "Wait, who are you?" I asked. "Why, I'm your biggest fan, HB! I saw one of your gigs in Manehattan on my travels. You're amazing. Your voice is beautiful. Anyways, my name's Ditzy Doo"
I was shocked by the response. I then said, "Thanks. But I'm not famous or anything yet. Why would you be my fan?" "Your songs are one of a kind." she replied. "Would you sign my shirt? Don't worry, I've got a spaghetti strap on underneath," she said as she gave me her shirt to sign. I took out my lucky sharpie and signed 'stay beautiful physically and mentally. -DJHB.' then handed her back the shirt. Now that I got a closer look at her, I noticed she was kinda cute. And she sounded very educated. And I'm going to be honest, she was kinda funny. "Hey, um...Ditzy? This is probably a little fast forward but would you like to maybe go to a diner later?" She grinned and said, "Yes! I'd love to!" "Great. Just write your address and I'll pick you up." I said.
She wrote the address and I put it in my hoodie's pocket. I said my goodbyes and headed towards the mansion for the meeting.
"Wow! I didn't know you could sing like that." said Octavia as she poured me some champagne. I simply put my hand up, took the champagne and said, "Thanks to my mother, may her soul rest in peace." I took a sip from the champagne and looked at my watch and saw the time. It was 7:30. I put my glass down and said "Omigod! I gotta go. I have a date with Ditzy." I was about to leave when Octavia grabbed my shoulder and said, "You're not leaving dressed like that, are you? Here, take some bits so Rarity over at the Carousel Boutique could custom make an outfit." I looked down at my clothes; worker's boots, gray camouflage cargos, a white t-shirt and a black hoodie. I looked back at Octavia and gladly took the bits, kissing her on the cheek and yelling "YOU'RE A LIFESAVER!!!" as I ran out the front door.
Later...at 8:00
I rang the doorbell of Ditzy's home, a house shaped identical to a muffin. I was dressed to impress in my new baby blue three piece with a burgundy red neck-tie. The clothes I had on originally I had left at the mansion, in the guest room. I waited, and after a few minuted, out came Ditzy looking stunning in a floral patterned dress, gladiator heels, and a jacket. I walked up to her and looped my arm around hers as I walked her down the stairs. I told her I had some money to take her to a nice place. She, however, thought maybe we should start simple, at Sugarcube Corner. We did, and I asked for a blueberry muffin, and it turned out, Ditzy was going to order the same thing. She literally said in my ear, "Is reading people's minds another talent of yours, I LOVE muffins!" I couldn't believe it. Not even five minutes, and we have something in common. They brought out the muffins, and I pulled out a chair for her to sit. I then sat next to her, and started a conversation by saying "So, how long you been living here?" She replied with "Quite a while, and let me tell you; some interesting things have happened.
"But not as interesting as it's about to get." She added. "Now that you're here. ponies around here will understand finally. Just because you've got a cutie mark, doesn't mean that's all there is to you. Do me this favor, please, HB." I asked, "What is it?" She asked me these words; "Please teach these ponies about the music in our hearts. Okay, HB?" I nodded, then said, "And please. Call me Henry." She blushed and said, "Okay, then...Henry." I asked what her favorite song was, and she said "Well, there's your songs...and then there's that Jason Derulo song. I think it's called Marry me." I nearly fell off my seat. "That's my favorite, too!" She leaned on my shoulder and giggled, saying "Wow. two for two, huh, Henry?" I nodded, and we started playing 20 questions so we could learn more about each other. We had so much in common that we could've been sisters (just kidding! That'd be weird if I dated my sister).
At the end of the night, I walked her home, and it turns out, Ditzy was locked out because she left the keys inside, and she doesn't have spare sets with her. So I offered to let her stay in the guest room. I'd sleep on the couch. However, some calm debating ended in deciding we share the bed. I asked Octavia if it was okay, and when she said yes, I brought Ditzy in, and she asked me what the bottle on the table was. I told her it was a 1947 bottle of champagne. She asked to try some. I looked nervously at Octavia, who simply shrugged unnoticeably. I poured a glass, handed it to her, and she drank it, then insisted we talk a little more. I poured us another glass and we sat. Octavia and Vinyl giggled and left, heading to their room. We talked some more, laughed, and she leaned into me and kissed me. I felt tingling all over, and she kissed me until 20 minutes later. I went upstairs to find some pj's she could wear, and found on the bed some women's pajamas. a note said next to it said "Just in case you get lucky. ;)" I brought them down and told Ditzy that Octavia must've known this was coming, because there were pj's for her on the bed. She clapped and went upstairs to check them out. She came down in the pj's, and grabbed my arm, pulling me to the room. After that, we took the y out of sexy time, and the remainder...you understand.
Day one; Nothing but music making.
So, when I woke up, Ditzy was in a cuddling position, and her pj's were missing, revealing quite a lot of skin. I poked her in the cheek (the one on her face) and said, "Want me to cook breakfast? I make a mean scrambled eggs and hay sammich, and my homemade coffee's fresh." She hummed "mm-hmm." and nodded her head slowly. I rose out of bed so as not to wake her up, and pulled the covers over her, up to her chin. I went downstairs and Octavia was there, practicing on her cello. It was so soothing I almost headed up the stairs and slept in. But I steeled myself and got in the kitchen. I took out some eggs and bread from the fridge and some fresh hay from out back. I started by cooking the eggs, then I sprinkled little bits of hay inside the egg. I folded the egg into a square so the hay would stay inside. Then I put the bread inside the toaster oven and put it in for 4 minutes on toast setting.
A short few minutes later, I started making the coffee. I used my homemade brew that my adopted mother gave me as a parting gift. I called up the stairs and said "Ditzy, breakfast! You ready to have your tastebuds blown?" Five minutes later, her shirt was back on (as well as the rest of her pj's), and she was flying down the steps, which looked cute since her legs were bent and as she flew down the stairs she yawned, stretching her arms wide. She was adorable. I might start calling her my little Ditzy soon. Except, she's not so little. I put the food on the table and she sat while I poured coffee. She started to eat, and she told me it was delicious, and continued to eat. At the end she drank her coffee, and put the dished in the sink. I washed them, then told her "Last night was amazing. We should do this again sometime." She got a smug look on her face, then exaggerated her hip movement as she walked up the stairs, looking back at me.
"Look what you've gotten yourself into, Henry." Said Vinyl. She kidded with me, saying I'd better marry her soon or else Vinyl would start to date her in my place. I cooked some breakfast for Vinyl and Octavia, then started to write some more of that song I was working on while on the train. "Let's see; The music in our hearts makes us who we are, so you can go on ahead and try to hate on us; but we'll keep walking because that music never stopping; the music in our hearts...CRANK IT UP...CRANK IT UP...CRANK IT UP. That music gives us power, against that hating tower. Hour after hour, the haters be on us like wow. But that music in our hearts is pumping and pumping louder and louder to the point where NOTHING can stop us because; The music in our hearts makes us who we are, so you can go on ahead and try to hate on us; but we'll keep walking because that music never stopping; the music in our hearts...So don't let the haters knock you down just because you're different from the rest of the town... "
3 hours later...
"Alright!" I said as I got out the booth. "We've finished writing and making the song. It took us 3 hours, but I'm glad you two could help me." I said to Vinyl and Octavia. We celebrated that night by drinking and being merry.
About a day has passed since Henry told me they finished his starter song for the album he has plans of. He sent me a copy burnt on a disc. He wrote (and I know because I've been wearing contacts. Hush, hush; He doesn't know) 'With love. From, HB'. So I decided to show off and went around asking Stallions and Mares if they ever heard of him. All day I was asked "Hoof-who?" and I'd take out the disc, my CD player, and my headsets and pop in the disc. I'd then give it to them, and the strangest thing happened; they started to dance in public, like as if nopony was watching. That's not the strange thing; Then, they'd take off the headsets and say "...Hoofbeatz." As if they had an epiphany. I had my fun after watching 20 random Stallions and Mares do the same thing. I went to Sugarcube corner and caught Pinkie on her break. I asked if she wanted to hear some music.
She said "Sure. Do I already know it?" I shook my head and gave her the CD player. She put on the headsets, and hit the play button. Suddenly, she got up and started to dance, too. She hit stop on the player, then took out the CD. She went behind the counter and put in the CD. I suddenly heard "The music in our hearts makes us who we are, so you can go on ahead and try to hate on us; but we'll keep walking because that music never stopping; the music in our hearts...CRANK IT UP" At the words crank it up, I started to dance, too. At the end of the song, I was amazed at the song. I looked at Pinkie Pie and we said at the same time; "...Hoofbeatz." I understood how the ponies felt. And I was feeling good.
Can't wait to see how they react when he comes up with an album.
The gun to the head/Cancer sadness Part 2
That night, I put a gun to my head, and thought of pulling the trigger, because I had cancer sadness.
But did I?
Yes, I did. And the last thing I saw before it made contact with my skull was Ditzy screaming. I died, and saw a bright light. It was far away, and surrounding me were memories. I walked past them and walked towards the light. However, an earth mare with shiny blue hair and golden eyes blocked my way and told me, "Oh no, you don't. You made a promise. Remember?" I guess I forgot to mention my biological mother was the late singer Sapphire Shores. Suddenly, a memory appeared in front of me, showing Ditzy and I eating muffins and talking. The sound turned on, and I heard Ditzy from the memory say "Do me this favor, please, HB." I had said "What is it?" And she asked me to teach the ponies of Equestria about the music in our hearts. I nodded, and said "And please. Call me Henry."
The memory disappeared, and my mother said "You were born with a purpose, and last time I checked, it wasn't to kill yourself the second things went down bad." She had a point, but I simply tried to walk past her. She materialized in front of me again and yelled, "LISTEN TO ME!!!" I stopped trying to fight my way to the light and instead started to listen.Look, I know that your adoptive mother died, but son, don't kill yourself. Your promise must be kept at all costs. You thought such yourself." She said to me. She then said, "Besides, you have a child to help Ditzy take care of, and she can't do it alone." She started to laugh, then said "Did you even think before you bought the gun and shot yourself with it? Now, you turn around yourself around and live your life."
I smiled and said, "You know what, mom? You're right. See you, mom. I'll be joining you when the time is right." I turned around and ran back to the memories, and let them absorb me. I closed my eyes, then opened them, and when I did, I saw Ditzy crying over me. I put my hand over her head and brought her in for a hug. She tackled me with a hug. Then, she let go and said, "I thought you were dead." Nope," I said. "Got quite the headache, though." I then smacked one side of my head and the bullet came back out. I rubbed my temples and said "That's better."
The next day, I patched up the hole in my head with some Neosporin and an ace bandage. I put on a hat to walk around without getting embarrassed (or looking stupid). I went to the mansion to see Vinyl and Octavia and made songs to finish the album. When all was done, We invited everypony in Ponyville to a concert I was going to have in the backyard of the mansion. Ditzy even joined me for a few songs since some required a duet. I didn't even know she could sing so well. At the end of the concert, I looked inside the crowd and saw my real mother and my adoptive mother. Both of them must've been visiting from heaven, because they both winked, and vanished into thin air.
I grinned, and took a bow. I said into the mic "And that's what the Music in our Hearts means. When music is shared between hearts, it brings us together. It...makes us who we are. And when you learn the music that's in your heart, you can do anything." Everypony cheered, and I walked off the stage.
There's a teenage boy sitting on a stoop in front of a house, smoking a cigarette. He had on a headset made by the company 'Music within us,' and he had on black combat boots, camouflage cargos, a white t-shirt and a black hoodie. He's ran away from home at age 8, and he blamed his father for his mother dying. His name is Cody Xavier Stronghold. Now, at age 15, the only thing keeping him upbeat is the music made by DJ Hoofbeatz. Suddenly, the door opens, and some Stallion shewed him away with a broomstick. He ran before the broom could hit him. The world hates him, it would seem. But not all is lost. A Stallion in human form with a tattoo of a heart with headsets on his wrist walked by and offered him 900 bits. He then walked away, leaving Cody wondering who he was. Suddenly, he pressed pause on the song "Music in our Hearts," took off his headsets, and looked at the logo on the left ear side. It was the same as the tattoo.
Which means that Henry or "Hoofbeatz" just gave him bits for some food and clothes.
"Well," said Cody to himself. "People in Manehattan can be nice."
The end
So, by the time I got to the mansion, it was almost 12:00 PM. I walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. A unicorn mare with light skin, crimson eyes, and a somewhat long electric blue mane and tail answered the door. She wore a tank top that revealed her abdomen, saggy gray cargos and Rocawear sneakers on. She leaned in on the doorway, and I noticed she had a tattoo of a double note on her just above her right hip. She asked me, "Hi, I'm Vinyl Scratch. Are you DJ Hoofbeatz?" I nodded, asked that she call me Henry, and she told me that my agent came ahead of time (then asked me to come inside and get comfortable). A few minutes later, a tan earth mare with purple eyes, a black mane and tail and a luxurious dress came down the stairs with a unique violin that I've never seen before. She noticed I was in the same room and held out her hand, saying, "Oh, hello! You must be Hoofbeatz. I'm Octavia Melody" "Hello, and please; call me Henry." I said. I shook her hand, then asked if I could please know where the booth is because I wanted to practice my singing. She said it was upstairs in the attic. I went to the attic and saw Vinyl talking to my agent. They saw me, and I asked if I could practice in the booth for a bit.
They said yes, and I also asked if maybe Vinyl could record me singing a song that already exists. She said yes. I got in the booth and cleared my throat, then got ready to sing my personal favorite;
Youtube Video
However, when I got out the booth, Vinyl said I made the song sound 1000x better. She went downstairs to show it to Octavia, and my agent whispered to me, "You killed it, kid." Octavia came up the stairs and started to play a violin melody I couldn't resist but to sing to, because it was the melody to Marry me. I sang it, and I couldn't believe the reaction I got; her jaw dropped to the floor. They asked my agent, "We want him NOW!!! GIVE US THE CONTRACT!!!" and that's where my life turns around for the better.
I hope.
The gun to the head/Cancer sadness
9 months later...
I've made 9 songs so far, and I've married Ditzy. I've made enough money to get a home for my family (that's right; Ditzy gave birth to a beautiful baby colt). I'm on the top of the world. Nothing bad could possibly happen, right?
Wrong.
Remember when I got signed over to Vinyl and Octavia, and I said 'Things are turning around for the better...I hope.' I must've jinxed it, because one day, after finishing my Egg and hay sandwich, Vinyl gave me a letter that said;
Dear Henry Bushytail,
We are sorry to inform you that your mother is dying of lung cancer, and she only has a few days left to live, being that it's terminal. She has asked to see you, so we are hoping to see you at the Manehattan cancer treatment center. Again, we apologize for the inconvenience, but the cancer has gotten so bad she can't possibly survive on chemotherapy and blood donations and surgery. We hope to see you at the hospital.
With deepest regards,
Dr. Hoofington
Even though my adopted mother and I never exactly saw eye to eye, we shared a bond that only death could break. So I got tickets for Ditzy, the baby and I, and we got the hospital. When we got there, my mother just laid there, dying, and I heldher hand, and told her, "Remember the first song you taught me? I want you to hear it before you go";
Youtube Video
At the end of the song, her grip loosened, and the heartbeat moniter flatlines, the droning sound 'beeeeeeeeeeeeep' following. That night, I put a gun to my head, and thought of pulling the trigger, because I had cancer sadness.
But did I?