A Vinyl Record

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
chapter 3
chapter 4

Chapter 1

Why my parents had decided to send me there, I still don't know. I'd ask them, except we don't keep in contact anymore. Anyways, I had just arrived at the Canterlot School for the Musical Arts. My parents, in all their wisdom, had decided to bring me here, they thought I needed more structure and discipline. How was I supposed to know that destroying the radio to find out how it worked, would make them mad? I mean, what's the big deal anyways, if they can just send me to this super expensive school so easily, I'm sure they could afford another radio. But their point was the same, they wanted a more disciplined child, so they sent me to the right place.

I didn't know it at the time, but my next few months would be some of my best. But for now, I was stuck there, in a grand hallway, with other rich kids. All with their various expensive instruments, I knew I was no exception. The other unicorns were already gathering in small groups, even though the year hadn't even begun yet. A few conversations landed on my sensitive ears, but none really interested me, I didn't have any real achievments or things to talk about back then. So I just sat on a nearby bench, my little glasses on. Oh ya, I wore glasses, back then I was kind of shy and a bit of a nerd. But I'd always loved music, and after getting kicked out of every public school in all of Canterlot, I was finally sent here. Now that I look back, I guess my parents did have good reasons for sending me there, but whatever. I was a nerd, one who loved to take things apart, I had no time for theoretical math stuff. I mean who cares what the square root of X is?

Wow I got off track, anyways I remember sitting at that little bench. It wasn't uncomfortable, it was actually pretty comfy. That's when I saw her, the mare who would become one of my best friends at that school. She had a boring gray coat with a short black mane, her purple eyes staring at me from beneath some long black eyelashes. With a flexing of her legs, she waltzed over to me confidently, carrying a large bag on her back. "Why are you sitting all alone?" She asked me.

I was stunned that such a confident looking mare was actually talking to me, of all ponies. "Um, I'm really shy." I remember stuttering out, feeling like a fool for saying it out loud.

"Well then, you need to make a friend, my name is Octavia." She stuck out her hoof towards me, waiting for my hoof to accept it.

I gladly accepted and returned the gesture. "I guess, my name's Vinyl Scratch." My eyes began to wander as she sat down beside me before they landed on what was, or more specifically, what wasn't on her head. Shocked at the realization, I blurbed out like an idiot, "You're an earth pony?"

She nodded, trying to keep the emberassment hidden by shrinking beneath her hair. She must have had long hair at one point, or she would have known her short hair didn't protect her cheeks. Realizing this she grabbed my hoof and swiftly dragged me to a smaller, side hall. The conversations had died down as we had gone farther away, here there was only silence, not even a footstep could be heard.

Without saying anything, Octavia took her bag of her back and unzipped it, a piece of metal I had never seen before was laying inside. Two discs were on the metal platform and a whole array of knobs and switches. She grabbed some headphones that were plugged into it and put them on my head. With a flick of her wrist, a symphony of harmonized and synchronized sound filled me, each beat feeling like heaven. Eventually the song ended and I looked up at Octavia nearly speechless. "That was amazing!" I managed to get out, as I took my own bag from my back. My magic quickly undid the zipper holding it closed, allowing the precision instrument of wood to float out. A bow with white hairs came with it and went lightly across the strings held by the wood casing. A rich noise filled the hall, and one note followed another.

That song came to an end too, we both had a stupid grin on our faces. We knew neither of us were that good, but we had fun and that's whats mattered. Octavia was the first to talk, again, "I don't like it," my hopes came crashing down. Seeing the look on my face, she quickly did a take back and clarified, "I meant my instrument. I'd much rather play a wooden string instrument, such as the one in your possession. But my parents are having enough trouble getting me here, they, by no means want me to play an uptight instrument, as they call it. They want me to rebel against the system as most in my age group do, but I don't want to rebel, I just want to make beautiful noise with a nice instrument.

"Wow, that's deep; ya my parents are rich and are making me play this thing, but I'm having an idea. What if we switched instruments? My parents wouldn't miss the instrument, and your parents would be happy that you're rebelling against something right?" I responded, hopeful.

"That is very intelligent of you Vinyl, I would love to accept this proposal. However, we would need to go to the headmister, to get a room together. I mean we have to teach each other how to play, right?" She had responded, obviously hoping she could get a room with somepony she knew.

"Oh, ya, of course, and it'll give us a nice oppurtunity to at least know somepony here." I had stated, glad she had taken to the idea so well, and stating that I understood the reasons.

Over an intercom, somewhere in the hall we were in, was an announcement. "Students, please remember that food may not be taken from the cafeteria, also classes start in two days." It cut off with a short, yet catchy, jingle then the quick buzz of static.

I remember that first bed, so hard, yet perfect. I flopped down on it as soon as we had entered our new room, it only giving a few squeals of protest. Not so smoothly, I asked for Octavia's age, who responded with a short and curt 15. With no prodding from her I announced I was the same age as her, and made a joke about neither of us being of legal age of consent.

The room went so very silent, she didn't move as the bad joke rolled through her mind, this was going to be harder than I thought. Not even a grin cracking on her face, she was obviously to innocent. I'd have to fix that soon enough.

***

"No, you see, you have to match up the beats of the next song, to the one playing now, it gives you a smoother transition. Also don't forget to use your samplers!" Octavia lectured me for the tenth time that day.

School had started two weeks ago, and Octavia had dove right into her classes, but I lacked far behind. Apparantly, my new instrument, didn't count in this school. So I was forced to borrow a school instrument, however my grades were picking up. Mostly due to the administration treatening to move me into a different room if I didn't shape up. Needless to say, I'd rather spend an hour practicing every day with Octavia, than failing a class alone.

She had picked up my instrument so fast, knowing almost exactly what to do, and soon finding her own way to support the instrument, and have it support her. Me, on the other hand, I was having more than a bit of trouble learning how to be a Disc Jockey, as Octavia called it, or DJ for short. There were a thousand things to remember at once, and then even more to take in. But I couldn't give up, I loved learning how to be a DJ, for the first time I felt like I was in control of everything.I guess that's what I always kind of wanted, me controlling my life instead of my parents. I wasn't my parents little angel anymore, and the next time they saw me, I'd show them.

The days continued to go by quickly as we spent our days working hard in our seperate classes, both sustainining our grades. We were sustaining as some of the lowest grading students in the school, but the administration left us alone. After all, we were what the school was supposed to stand for, working hard, and playing music. Even though me and Octavia had hugely different tastes in music, we almost never fought. The few times we did, it was about who would take out the trash or something trivial like that.

Each afternoon we'd meet in our room, chat about our day, and study. Oh the math, I hated the math so much, and after thinking about it together. Both me and Octavia finally figured out something about math. It was useless, again who needs to know the square root of the 3rd exponent of a variable, or some other crap like that? Certainly not musicians, but we continued to do our best, even if that was barely scraping by with C's.

Each night we would stow our books and school stuff until the morning. Then we'd swap even more stories, talk about our problems, and personal stuff. And finally, we would practice on our instruments, each tuning the other out completely, yet knowing when the practice had gone on long enough. Most of the time this end came when a hall monitor would bang on our door, telling us it was already 1 in the morning and we had to stop now. Even then, sometimes we would continue playing, ignoring warning after warning until finally getting a meeting with the principal. We like the principal because, unlike most people at the school, he was reasonable and always listened to our side. He usually sided with us and at one point simply began to quote us saying things like, "If the rooms near to them have a problem, they'd speak up themselves. The other rooms never did, but we knew they didn't like it. But me and Octavia liked it, and that's all that really mattered to us at the time.

On Friday nights, while others would waste their time drinking and partying, me and my roommate would listen to each others new pieces. Ya, we each wrote a new song every single week, usually trying to duplicate the others last theme. The outcome was hilarious most of the time, but once in a blue moon a masterpiece of sorts would be born. We knew when we had done such a thing when she played her cello, and I played my synthesizer, and they were in harmony. The newest musical technology, coupled with some of the oldest, working together and flowing easily. When this happened, the staff would come and sit around our door, just out of sight, yet close enough to listen. But we knew they were there because, each time we finished and walked out of the room, the entire staff would be walking around in our hall, talking about the most random things. At one point we heard a question about why crabs had nineteen legs, the answer? Well because butterflies glide obviously! I told you, random, they were talking really softly, but forgot we were music students; we tend to have more discerning ears then most ponies.

Not soon after our routine had been established, finals for the first semester came around. We were so nervous, but something good came out of it. We studied so hard, when we had finally finished we were overjoyed. We embraced and kissed, I remember that short kiss. It wasn't romantic, and neither of us really thought anything of it at the time. But it was memorable, I still remember her amazing breath, the taste of something fine and fragrant. I think it was kind of a lavendar, but either way. It was just a kiss with a friend, who was sharing a moment. It didn't become awkward like it does to so many friends, just another angle for us to explore into together. But for the time being, neither of us wanted to go that way.

The finals came and passed, us both getting really high grades on them. It turned out all of our studying had been useless. In every class, except math of course, there had been a musical test of some kind. Considering we had practiced playing our instruments even more than the nerds at school, we got past easily. They even allowed me to play my deck as an instrument, even though they officially listed me as playing cello. Again, except for math, which we both failed miserably. On one question it asked, What is the square root of 4, my answer? I don't know, why don't you go ask 4? Needless to say, I was happy to say goodbye to that math teacher and say hello to the week long winter break.

Me and Octavia said goodbye to each other and sobbed on each others shoulder. We got each others phone number, something that we, admitedly, should have done sooner. Along with a promise to get a room together again in the second semester, no matter what. Unfortunately my parents would prove to be a major obstacle in the path that I had chosen.

***

Chapter 2

I remember when I got home in the winter break. The snow was on the ground, and if my parents rage could melt it, the city would have flooded. "You did what!" they screamed at me.

"I traded the cello for a mixdeck, deal with it," I replied matter of factly. On the way to my house, I had messed up my hair to make them see all the more they couldn't control me anymore.

"We wanted a structured, well mannered young mare. What we got is nothing like what we expected. I don't know what we'll do with you now, but one thing's for sure, you will never go back. And your music career, is over." My dad had said and with a small nod of his head, two big butlers approached me. One of them held me down, my hoof trying to find someway to push him off. The other stallion was taking my mixdeck and synthesizers away.

"You aren't getting it, I'm not your perfect little child anymore! You can't control me, even with your damn bouncers." My own rage easily matched my parents but they only turned on me harder.

"I see that," my mother said before turning to the butler carrying my instrument. "Destroy it, just throw it down and destroy it." He nodded, his short gray mane swaying slightly.

I couldn't take anymore and I remember kicking the colt holding me down as hard as I could in between his back legs. My magic seemed so much stronger now, I guess adrenaline does that to you. My horn began to glow fiercely and a coffee table covered with a magnificent vase rose into the air and hurled towards the butler getting ready to destroy my stuff.

It cracked like thunder against him, causing the stallion to fall over unconscious, a heavy thud on the floor. My magic soon moved the body off my stuff which I slung over my shoulder without hesitation. Completely shocked by my outburst my parents had ordered me to my room. This was my first real step to becoming a good DJ, I got the guts and said no. When they told me You'll never live in this house again, I simply smiled at them and responded with, "I didn't plan to, goodbye." Without another word I turned around and blasted the door off its hinges. I didn't even know I was capable of that powerful magic, and despite me trying again and again, I could never replicate it. I guess rage makes magic, as my friend Octavia explained, "Exponentially more powerful," or something like that.

But now I faced a huge problem, I was out on a strange street, without any money, and the only life I had ever known was the easy one. But it seemed like Celestia was smiling on me at least partially that day. The sun was shining, and the weather was warm, a gorgeous day.

The world was my oyster now, and I completely ignored my parents yelling and threats as I strolled down the streets. The fancy houses of the richest district soon behind me. The nicely paved roads were soon replaced with broken asphalt, and a few shady ponies standing on a corner.

I didn't know much about the streets, but I knew I needed new clothes, I keep thanking my blessings that day. Like how there had been a clothing store with better clothes, only a few feet from the strange ponies. As I passed them they asked me if I wanted any "S," but when I asked them what it was they only laughed and gave me their phone number. I guess they thought I was cool, because they turned out to be my first hard drug dealers, amazing guys.

After spending only ten minutes in the store and putting a small bag of bits on the counter I looked more presentable and began wandering around aimlessly. My stomach was empty now and I had almost no more bits or food.

But I did find solace in the music, such amazing music coming from such a dirty place. Was it possible, it wasn't my kind of beat filled music. Instead it was more, I don't know, pure, a note every few seconds. I found myself walking towards the source, but when I realized this I didn't care, nothing that made such an amazing sound could be harmfull. It wasn't just something played with hooves or magic, it had was played with somepony's heart behind it.

The sound gradually grew louder as I continued on the road only to have it turn softer all of a sudden. I backtracked a few steps and looked to my side to see a dark outline of somepony sitting in an alley. The music coming from a dark instrument hidden by the lack of any real light. My stomach growled again, reminding me of how long it had been since I ate. My mind struggled to remember how long I had been walking towards her, but it had no luck. It seemed almost like I had taken a backseat as my body did what it saw fit.

As I got closer to the unknown mare, I began to see a more refined shape. What looked like a harp of sorts illuminated by a strange tealish glow. It took my groggy mind a full five seconds before realizing it must be a unicorn playing the instrument. From the light of the magic, a teal mare, the same color as the glow, was holding the stringed piece of metal gently. Almost as if it was every piece of her existence, but as I got closer, the elegant mare distorted. Her stomach was much smaller than I had first seen, she looked like she hadn't eaten anything in a week. You could literally see the ribs through her skin and muscles that should have been protecting them.

My gag reflex kicked in as I realized exactly what I was looking at. Well on the bright side, my hunger had dissapeared. But something was different now, it took me a second to realize the music had stopped. I looked back at the disfigured mare sitting there, her light orange eyes so memorable. As if they knew exactly what I was going through myself and had been there before. Even though I had been saving a bit of food for when I was really in danger, this unicorn needed it much more than I did. With my magic I grabbed the chunk of bread and handed it softly to the teal mare.

I remember her grasping it hungrily and nibbling on it like some kind of rodent. A full five minutes later she was still working on it, so I took a step forward slowly. "My name's Vinyl, what's your name?" I asked, my voice being the only sound in the night.

"I'm Lyra," she responded so softly. It seemed like she hadn't spoke in way too long, because when she did talk, she flinched. I guess she hadn't had any reason to talk. My hoof reached out to hers and took it in my hand.

"Come on, we're not going to die here, I know a place we can go to in a weeks time, but for now we have to make money. I know a way, but it won't be nice, or clean." I said with a scowl, already hating myself for even having the thought, but I knew that music school was my only chance. I'm sure they'd accept her once they heard her skills on the lyre.

"Ok," Lyra responded to me. I didn't think she knew what I was talking about at the time, but she seemed tough. After all, our number one goal was to survive. I remembered my parents, how they were still at the house, but I also remembered the curses they yelled after me. Their words still burn me to this day.We never even wanted you, we wanted a nice colt, we'll be glad when your gone! No I could never go back, not after they had said that to me. I knew it was true and not something they had just said in anger, because throughout my childhood they always looked at me with the slightest hint of dissapointment.

At that moment I had decided my own fate, I'd get money however I could. I'd go back to music school. Finally I'd get a successful career as a DJ, and nopony was going to get in my way.

My mind was yanked from what I would do to what I had to do now, and it wasn't going to be safe. I remembered once reading about an illegal bussiness, where mares met stallions on the streets and for a price they'd... Well I can't tell the rest, it's to disgusting. Anyways, the owners of these girls always got rich while the mares got next to nothing. However if me and Lyra went into this bussiness as our own owners, we could make enough money to get back to school easy.

***

So it went that way for the week, the most primal desires of stallions, and us having to satisfy them. Neither me or Lyra liked it, but we didn't go hungry. It was disgusting work, and we had to find a spa every night so we could get clean, and ready for the next day. I had never stooped so low, and will never go so low again.

Before you ask, no, I can't remember any of their faces, or any details. Thank sweet Celestia my mind has apparantly decided to repress most of these memories. I never discussed them with Lyra after work was over. I never told anypony before this, and never will afterwards.

We arrived at the school eager to learn, eager to play. We paid the entry fee's and after an initial exam Lyra got in. Everything seemed great as Lyra met another mare named BonBon, who was a piano player. Strangely she was an earth pony as well which reminded me of Octavia.

My room mate for the first day was a snore, she was nice enough I guess but wanted no part in late night music playing or anything else me and 'Tavia used to do. That day I had searched through endless rooms and endless classes before finally asking the office in the afternoon. I wanted to know where Octavia was, they said she hadn't shown up. My heart broke at that moment and I decided to get answers from Octavia herself. Why she had left me alone in this school, after all she hadn't known I had met Lyra or anything.

After a bit of convincing the staff at the office I managed to extract her adress. I ran into Lyra and BonBon's room but what I saw shocked me. They were sitting on Lyra's bed, not practicing or studying, but just making out. They split apart for a few seconds and Lyra walked up to me. "Sorry, but I have a marefriend waiting, later." Without another word she shut the door in my face. The one pony left in the world that I thought could have helped me had just shut me out. Over this new friend of hers, so I had to find Octavia on my own.

And once I got her, I was going to show her off, make Lyra hurt like she had just hurt me. I know it sounds selfish and useless, but I was angry and saddened. A strange combination which I've learned, unfortunately, often comes hand in hand.

The next day I left the school, my tools of trade on my back. But luckily the house in question wasn't that far from the school, unfortunately it was in the bad side of the city again. Everything seemed normal until I saw a small smoke stack rising from the distance. With a lump in my throat I sprinted towards the smell of smoke and fire. I knew that smell all to well from my job often placing me next to factories. But this wasn't a waste being disposed of smell, it was a something is burning that shouldn't be smell.

I screeched to a halt as I looked towards a burning building exactly where Octavia's house should have been. From inside I heard a loud and high pitched scream, and a frantic earth pony clawing at a shut window.

chapter 3

That heat, it was unbearable. But even though the fire's temperature seemed like a brick wall, I still found myself running in there. I tapped into my magic to try to get the door opened, it turned out it was unlocked, so it slammed into the wall behind it causing a few burning piece of wood to land in my fur. It burned but I had to keep going, I ran up the stairs to where Octavia had been. But there was a large portion of the stairs missing, that would explain why she hadn't ran out herself.

I shouted as loud as I could up the stairs, "Octavia!" There was no response, so I tried again, my throat feeling like it would crack from the strain. I gagged as the smoke traveled into my lungs. But there was still no answer. I backed up a few steps before leaping forwards over the gap in the staircase. Not a good idea, as the entire upper level was completely filled with smoke. It caused every part of my insides to sting, my eyes shut naturally in an attempt to protect themselves. But I forced them back open, or I would die here, and so would Octavia. That wasn't going to happen, so I ran in the direction I remember seeing her only to knock into something head first.

"Vinyl help, please." a mutter came from in front of me, a voice so soft I barely heard over the roaring fire engulfing the building. My magic grabbed her and began to carry her down the stairs before I saw the entire staircase was nothing but ash. With a jolt I turned around and rushed back to the room I had seen her at. Carefully I put down her unconscious body before smashing my hooves on the glass. It didn't budge, turns out she didn't have glass, but plastic. For some reason it didn't open either, it had no latches or anything. With a furious roar I used my magic to splinter the wood around the plastic before withdrawing the plastic sheet from the wall.

A familiar blue glow enveloped Octavia and gently levitated her down to the ground below. For me it would be a bit more difficult, I had to jump. My hooves buckled painfully as I landed on the hard stone ground. I remember laying next to Octavia, she was just opening her eyes and saw me laying there. I coughed and a small plume of smoke came out. Her look of adoration quickly morphed into one of concern, but when I held up my non injured front right hoof she smiled again.

"You didn't honestly think I'd let you die, did you?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood. It was actually surprisingly romantic, except that the small fire that should have been lighting us, was in fact a raging inferno.

"Of course I didn't, I knew you would help, whether it was the smart thing to do or not. But for now, you need your rest, don't worry." Octavia replied, and with a light kiss on my cheek I fell into a void.

***

My eyes opened slowly, only to find we were back in school, me in my bed, Octavia in a bed across from me. I remember thinking to myself, too bad she's not in this bed with me. Octavia just stared blankly at me, I had said it out loud. Immediately we both began to blush at this sudden confession of sorts.

After a few minutes Octavia moved again, she stood up and trotted over to my bed. Carefully laying in it next to me, "happy now?"

I was speechless, but it wasn't like what I had meant at all and she knew it.

"Vinyl, I think you're a great friend, but I can't go into a relationship with you right now." Octavia said sadly.

Saddened, and kind of angered at the same time, I replied. "Why not, is there somepony else, what is it?"

"It's simple my dear friend, we have to explain our story,a dn why I was late to school, than you have to heal." Octavia replied teasingly before lightly kissing me on the lips.

That was one of the best days of my entire life. After that morning we got up and Octavia explained the whole thing. After she had gotten home, her parents were angry at her, like my parents were at me, for switching instruments. They said she couldn't go back to the school the day before she was going to leave. She acted all depressed but said ok, than after missing one day without complaint, her parents decided to go shopping the next morning. She made a plan to sneak back to the school then. She waited a few minutes after her parents had left and was jsut getting ready to leave, but somepony walked in her house downstairs and with an axe wielded by magic destroyed part of the stairs before smashing a lit lantern against the wooden floor. A few minutes later, I'd shown up.

After I fell unconscious, she had begun to drag my body back, only for us to be found by those drug dealers again. They recognized me and decided to be kind by helping Octavia, who was still carrying me and her instrument, back into the nicer part of the city. There we were found by some police officers who helped us back to the school's hospital wing.

After explaining it to the principal he was all to willing to put it all behind everyone and jsut carry on like usual. We didn't even have to ask him to give us the same room, he said it would be cruel for me not to put two mares who care so much about each other together. Besides, they would find a way if we didn't.

That night we talked like we had never before. We didn't study, or even practice our instrument. The conversation finally ended at five in the morning, we had class in only two hours. With a sigh I walked to my bed and flopped in, only to feel a second pony flop into it next to me. I turned to face Octavia who simply said, "you like me right?"

With a slight nod, she leaned in and kissed me deeply, before pulling back. Without another words she closed her eyes and fell asleep, I layed there for a few minutes before falling asleep next to her.

The next day went by fast, me and Octavia's schedules were almost the same. This allowed us to see each other a lot more, and always have somepony else near we could talk to that we could trust. Our schedule seemed mostly the same as the semester before, but at the same time somehow different. The first semester seemed so long ago, a kind of golden age. I quickly found what had changed, me and Octavia had both matured. Me with my newfound experiences, and something had happened to her, more than she was willing to tell me.

But nonetheless, the conversation was just as fun as it had been before. If not even more so, and now instead of sitting on two beds we sat on one. Stopping every so often to share a quick kiss, we were madly in love, at least that's what I thought at the time. During the night we made amazing music, the likes of which neither of us had ever heard before, I guess it's because we had our hearts behind it. Or it might have been the ecstasy I had told Octavia to try that I was on at the same time. But something in the back of my mind reminded me, I had to bring Octavia to meet Lyra, and soon. But like I usually do, I decided to put it off until tomorrow.

The next day was intersting, to say the least. I actually didn't put it off again and decided to have Lyra meet Octavia. It turned out to be better than I imagined, especially after I told Octavia how Lyra had made me feel. She was all to eager to meet this new mare. So, with a spring in my step and Octavia next to me I knocked on Lyra's door three times. Bonbon answered the door instead before calling Lyra to the door. Immediately Lyra and Octavia got off to a good start. What I mean with this, is they were at each others throat. As soon as Lyra walked to the door Octavia stood on her hind legs and punched her in the face. Lyra was knocked on hher flank while me and Bonbon just stood there amused.

Afterwards Lyra got up, asked what that was for, and kicked Octavia onto the ground. The entire conversation happened as they shared blows with each other. Octavia explained Lyra had hurt me then bit Lyra. Lyra responded with a quick apalogy, and pushed Octavia away before walking up to me. I could have sworn she was going to hit me, but at the last second Lyra leaned in and kissed me.

After that Octavia got so mad, but luckily not at me. Pushing Lyra off me was the best decision in my entire life, if I hadn't I'd probably be dead right now. Octavia's mane looked like it would burst into flames as I pushed Lyra off me and into her. At that point all conversation ceased and the battle they waged carried on for another good twenty minutes. Me and Bonbon shared an occasional glance at each other and began exchanging pleasantries over the rackus. In fact, the fight brought quite a crowd, but finally I had enough. I shut and locked the door, and seperated Octavia from Lyra with my magic while Bonbon held her own marefriend back. Octavia was enraged, but as they say, music soothes the savage beast. So I used my tongue as a bow, and Octavia's mouth was the instrument, that calmed her down real quick. I looked back over at the other two mares in the room only to find them looking back at us. After another sorry, Lyra and Octavia actually found they had quite a bit in common. But for obvious reasons, they never really got to be as good friends as me and Bonbon became.

Sometimes Octavia or Lyra would complain to me about me and Bonbon being friends, but I always assured them that was just it. Sometimes we had to have a third opinion about something from somepony who didn't think almost everything we did was great. Finally the suspicions eased and we could all enjoy our seperate relationships.

Two nights after the whole fiasco Lyra invited us to come to her room sometime at night for a late night jam session. Always eager for more music, I convinced my slightly hesitant brown maned friend that it would be a good time. She agreed to go, on a condition. She didn't tell me what the condition was but I agreed to it nonetheless, as long as it wasn't something outrageous.

That night me and Octavia knocked on their now fairly familiar door. We quickly gained entrance, once inside me and Bonbon said hi while Lyra and Octavia gave each other a quick glare. "Now, Octavia, I won't do whatever you want me to do, if you don't play nice." I said.

Apparantly Lyra had forced Bonbon into the same kind of deal. Something more than just a jam was going on here. But for now we each got out our respective instruments and started playing random songs we knew. But Lyra couldn't leave it there, she brought out a clear bottle with what looked kind of like water inside. There was no label or indication of what was really inside, until she opened it. The pungent smell of alcohol invaded my nostrils. Without a care for legal ages, Lyra grabbed 4 glasses from beneath her bed and poured some of the potent liquid in each. Her magic handed a glasses to all of us. "This is going to make the night that much more interesting." I remember Lyra saying pointedly.

I expected Octavia to object, but she stayed quiet. It seemed strange at the time. On the harp pony's mark we all tipped the glasses slightly, the liquid poison searing down our throats. It was easy for me and Lyra, but for Octavia and my new friend Bonbon, they had to grab the glasses with their teeth. Something they wouldn't be capable of soon, so we would have to raise the glasses for them.

A second round was poured and I tried to drink the shot the same way Octavia had, it required way more skill than I first expected. The fire burned my throat further as I gagged. Octavia didn't seem to react at all other than a quick shake of her head. "So, Octavia, did you ever drink before?" I tried to ask cautiously, but the strong drink was already affecting my brain.

"Sometimes ya, but usually stronger stuff than this." Octavia responded, pouring herself another glass and downing it.

"Ha, I knew there was a less uptight side of you." I responded, a small hiccup coming up near the end of the sentence.

"I guess you don't drink that much," Octavia jeered.

"Ya, you're right I don't drink much." I replied honestly. The blue magic surrounded the bottle of heavenly liquor, pouring me yet another glass. After that drink, well, for the ratings sake let's say I don't remember much. Except for the ultimate pleasures that went on in that room.

The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. Everything seemed ok, except when I looked down I saw Octavia's head between my legs. I quickly remembered what happened the night before and gently rubbed Octavia's cheek, yet sternly enough to wake her up. It worked, and her beautiful eyes fluttered open lazily. We didn't care if we had class or not, this was going to be a good day. She crawled slowly on top of me and kissed me deeply, her tongue wrestling with mine for a second and then backing off.

Once back in our room I asked her curiously, "when did you and Lyra agree to do that, anf more importantly, why?"

She simply smiled her innocent smile and said, "because it would be lots of fun."

The rest of the day was spent listening to smooth jazz and playing along on our own instruments. A perfect day by any standards, but something was missing. So we went over to Lyra and Bonbon's room. As we opened the door, we saw they were very busy and waved us out, I shouted I was taking the liquor and left, the half full bottle held in my magic.

I left the room as Lyra began to moan loudly. "Crap, I forgot the glasses!" I shouted as I closed the door. Octavia smiled and held up the two glasses held in her front hoof, gladly I took them with my magic too. We arrived back at my room, and the rest of the day I won't recall either.

The next day we went to calss as normal, except for the fact that our heads felt like they had been split by an axe. The math was boring as usual, but somehow the teacher seemed more attentive today.

***

The weeks soon resumed a regular pattern. On weekdays we would practice and study, then on friday we would have our fun nights. The teachers seemed more receptive of me and my instrument as I got better and better. Finally I approached the principal, who agreed on adding synthesizers with a turntable an official instrument recognized by the school. I also suspect this had something to do with my newfound status among the teachers.

Me, Octavia, Lyra, and Bonbon had all somehow reached schoolwide fame of sorts. We played together so much more than any other ponies, our skills increased together. Our melodies became more complicated, and the rumor of us using prerecorded tapes began spreading. Of course this was put to rest when we played our own songs, our own rhythms, and our own masterpieces.

I still don't know if we were extra special, but I think that it was jsut our ethics. We got together every day to play music and have a good time, instead of only to practice our assigned pieces. We found music on our own and brought it to the others to play and practice, those who had doubted Octavia and Bonbon because they were earth ponies quickly disappeared. This was our highpoint. But one night we had our usual party, which nopony knew about yet.

I mentioned at one point, at how the teachers were talking about and to us. As if we were protoge's, some kind of masters. This could only mean one thing, they didn't have anything left to teach us.

It was a harmless enough comment, but it planted the first real seeds of ambition in any of us. But for now we were content in drinking, and playing until our throats were killing us, and our hooves were sore. It was a pleasant time, but like all good things, it had to end eventually.

The half terms came and passed uneventfully, but a week after is when everything began to fall apart. It was friday, which always meant party day, but someponies had gotten to curious. They apparantly had followed us to Lyra's room and hid around for hours outside until they heard our giggling. They came in to see us in the middle of our sweet throngs of pleasure. The alcohol had dulled our minds too much, and we had gotten overcocky, jsut that once we hadn't locked the door. Those two ponies ran out without saying a word, shutting the door behind them. After that we stopped for the night. Each of us returning to our own rooms.

Only a day later, the rumors had already started. These rumors were completely overblown, but not untrue. They claimed we were all completely lesbians who made love every single night, getting drunk in the meantime. All that respect for our ability, and from the teachers. It was gone, our teachers began to treat us like druggies who ahd trouble understanding anything. It was completely demeaning, so the next day we met again. This time we did lock the door.

***

The conversation had immediately dropped as we all knew the reason we were here. We had to know each others suggestions for this situation.

I spoke first, "remember how the teachers couldn't really teach us anything more about music? That's why I'm dropping out after this year."

My declaration shocked everypony present, especially Octavia who spoke next. "I'm going to stay the rest of the school year, then I will continue to study here, I can get a job in the breaks to pay for it."

"I'm going to open a candy shop, or at least try." Bonbon stated out of the blue.

"Why did you come to this school Bonbon?" Lyra asked.

"Simple, I like music, so why not learn to play. But my talent isn't music, and it gets dull, so candy it is." she explained plainly.

"hmm... I'm going to stay here with Octavia, you can't be a famous concert pony with only 1 year of education." Lyra stated matter of factly.

"Ah, well it looks like we won't be seeing each other for a while after this year than, eh? So let's make this last quarter a good one." I said before turning on my computer which I used for most of my songs now.

The music began to flow as it had before, but there was a sadder undertone to it all. The weeks continued on and our reputations built to what they were before. Our parties continued, but in more private locations now. At one time we rented out a nearby hotel room for a three day weekend, all we had to do in return was play music every night. A good trade, and an even better one because we could be as loud as we wanted in those rooms and on those beds.

***

It was three weeks before the school year ended when the principal called us all in for a meeting. He had heard rumors that some of us were planning to leave the school and offered a full ride scholarship for each of us. I remember his exact reasoning, I know you want to be a DJ but imagine how much better you will be after three more years.

I also remember me laughing in his face saying, I don't need three more years, your professors can't teach me anymore about music. He nodded slightly, dissapointment evident on his face before he stood and shook my hoof tightly.

Octavia and Lyra had been overjoyed by the oppurtunity of a full ride scholarship and quickly took it. There was a catch though, no more alcohol or parties or sex either. They gladly promised to give both of those up starting next year. I could never have done it, I was in love with the out of control lifestyle we had been living before we were caught by those stranger ponies.

Bonbon didn't want much to do with the principal so she just said no to him. At least he ahd the common sense not to try and convince taht earth pony, when she set her mind to something, she wouldn't be swayed easily. Even with three years of education, which she detested almost as much as I did.

Finally the end of the school year came, finals were easily passed, and everything seemed good. Until we had to leave for our houses again. It turned out all four of us were homeless, so we decided on a new plan of action. We would go to the industrial side of town, find a warehouse, do odd music jobs, and spruce it up.

It worked, and the warehouse was soon looking pretty decent, but it wouldn't last. I knew I had to go and soon. The night after we got a sofa I walked to the door, only to find it blocked by Octavia. She simply said to me, "I love you, don't ever forget that." she kissed me one last time before walking back to her mattress. It layed next to Lyra's bed. Bonbon was the only with a seperate room, so she could make candy.

The door swung open silently and revealed a road illuminated by street lights. But only a few feet from the warehouse, it went completely dark. And in that warm summer night I walked forwards, unsure of my future, or what would ahppen to anypony else.

I remember the panic that soon overcame me as I heard a twig being broken nearby. A hoof covered my mouth in the darkness and pulled me away from the road. I could feel the cold blade of a knife held against my neck.

I gargled out that I didn't have any money. My head struggled to turn and I got a quick look at the assailant. It was the same pony that had lit Octavia's house all those days ago. But this time I could see under the hood.

It was Bonbon.

***

Sorry to not update in so long, I am currently working on chapter 5, and I will post chapter 4 once I get home.

chapter 4

I couldn't believe it, why would my friend try to kill me?

She began to talk and I tried to tune her out. But that familiar voice seemed so comforting, "oh don't worry Vinyl, this won't hurt a bit. It's just somepony placed a hit on you, and Octavia had just been bait to bring you out. I'm kind of glad that I won't need to kill her."

"But, you're my friend," I stuttered out like an idiot.

"Ya, I was your friend, I got to know you because I needed to. Besides, it led to some great sex, huh?" My former friend asked.

I nodded my head slightly and felt the knife's edge cut slightly into my throat. "But who'd place a hit on me..."

"Probably some drug dealer or pimp or something." she responded uncaringly. My mind was racing with possibilities, until I remembered that job I had in order to pay for that last semester.

"You know I hate to do this, just remember this, it's just business," Bonbon said before moving the knife a bit to accentuate her point.

I began to accept my fate, I would die there at the hands of a mare I thought was my friend all that time. But my body obviously wasn't ready to die yet, magic reserves I barely knew were there were unleashed, magic that sent the would be assassin back into the warehouse through one of the windows. A sharp shattering noise and a scream of surprise came from inside. That's when I learned life lesson number two, never trust anypony.

I didn't turn back, I knew Octavia was smart and wouldn't trust Bonbon as easily once she saw her smash through a window with a knife. I did hear screaming from the door, the warm voice of my marefriend calling out to me, truly like an angel. But I couldn't turn back, somepony wanted me dead, and the less I stayed near my friends, the better it would be for us all.

***

I soon came to the all too familiar shady part of Canterlot. This was where all the clubs were, and this was where I would succeed. But this time I had no money at all, no food whatsoever, so I did the one thing I knew how to really do. Played my music, cranking up the speakers I walked to the front of an alley. My set up was unimpressive and small, but it would get my job done, so with a hoof I turned the machine on. It had a mobile battery that would only last an hour, if I couldn't make an impression by then, I would be out of luck.

My mixes came furiously and concentrated, but a few passing ponies stopped to look and continued on. I stopped playing and listened to a recording of the last song, it sounded forced and unnatural. So with a deep breath I began again, this time playing it more than fun than anything. I knew I would never get a proper audience in an hour, but the music continued nonetheless. It was almost as if the tunes I made, and the rhythms I mixed incorporated the elements of the area I was in. The sadness and depression of the surroundings soon changed to a more happy tempo. A few ponies were standing there nodding their heads, and a single bit was dropped in front of me.

That night I continued to play, more and more ponies gathering until my power failed. But next to my machine I found a pony in a suit. He invited me into his club, it was my big chance and I wouldn't mess it up. Ten minutes later I had packed and entered into the club. There was already a DJ on the turntable's, playing strong beats with interesting noise, but it had the same effect as my music first had. Nopony was really dancing, they were just mingling.

With a smile I stepped up the small flight of stairs to the side of the stage and trotted towards the professional turntables. A strange logo was on them, the same logo as the club. With confidence I tapped the adult stallion on his shoulder, and told him to beat it. When he refused I picked him up with my magic and put him down in the crowd.

I stopped the music completely, everypony in the club stopped as they stared at me. All those faces, all those eyes, landing on a still young mare. My first real audience, and they were going to be rocked. The music began again, easy and calm at first. But almost immediately I had already done what the previous DJ couldn't. They were bobbing their head, and I saw that stallion that dared call himself a DJ trot out of the club angrily. This was my element, and it was time I showed it.

The night went by quickly as I went from song to song on the fly. Each more progressive than the last, and each one caused a different reaction from the ponies on the floor. But finally, they were dancing, not just bobbing their heads, or moving their feet a bit, but full on dancing. The venue owner walked up to me on stage and said, he'd pay me if I came back and did that again next week. I eagerly agreed, and after the club had shut down, I had thirty bits in a small sack as payment.

With those few bits, I went to the bar in the club. A few barponies greeted me and gave a me a shot glass with tequila on the house. After asking why, they told me they'd never seen ponies dance like that, at least not in this club, and they'd never drank as much either. I told them about how I had agreed to come back tomorrow and they confidently told me, that I could probably get a job at any club in the city. But my logical and educated side of me said to not let this compliment go to my head, that warning did nothing.

With the few bits I had left, I bought a tiny generator which I immediately plugged into my instrument, but if this gig went through for a few more nights, I wouldn't need more batteries, I could maybe afford an apartment. The thought sent a shock through me, I was only a few gigs away from being able to afford a small down payment. This would lead to me having my first ever place alone, I wouldn't have to listen to the damn teachers, or my parents, or anypony.

I wouldn't even have to share with a roommate... I had decided then that my thoughts had traveled far enough in that direction, but I couldn't stop a few tears from falling. I knew Octavia would always be there for me, but how could anypony ever believe me about Bonbon. It was weird though, I almost didn't believe it myself, it seemed like a powerful dream.

Experimentally I bit my hoof causing a shockwave of pain to travel through it, nope I wasn't dreaming. Well I couldn't linger on the past, so I walked to a sleazy motel nearby and slept in the alley next to it, a small newspaper used as my blanket.

***

No matter how tired I was, or how much I wanted to sleep I just couldn't. It felt as if somepony was always watching me, so I stayed up and tapped my hoof in a random rhythm. I guess I was kind of getting paranoid, I mean what do you expect when somepony powerful, whoever they are, wants you dead?

But eventually the morning sun rose with its comforting glow. Hungrily I scrounged around some of the garbage cans, finding a few dirty scraps of food. Well at least it was better than earning money the way I had before. I sat there in that same alley, my thoughts drifting randomly as I bit down carefully on a old piece of bread. It tasted almost like rust, but I didn't dare look down on what I was eating; at least I wouldn't die.

Eventually my mind settled on the biggest problem of my new life, why does somepony want me dead. The first thing that popped into my mind was that job I had to take up during winter break. But that couldn't really have done it, could it? Could one week of illegal activity get a hit placed on your head now? The next thing that came into my mind was my parents may have done it. A dark alley to travel down, but I had to explore every possibility. But I quickly dismissed it as impossible, deep down I knew they loved me, no matter what I did.

I guess time flies when you're considering life's troubles, because I soon found out it had turned to night again. My time to prosper and earn a living, this time I'd actually buy a blanket and some real food instead of drinks.

The guards outside the club let me in for free, no doubt they'd been told that I was a performer for the night. The best part was seeing all the gangster ponies and stuff staring at me, a seemingly innocent unicorn. Their envious little eyes on me as I was let in before the club even opened, and for free at the same time.

Inside there were a few ponies making last minute preparations for tonight, but my attention was soon drawn to the same suited pony from last night. "Oh, hey Vinyl, how's it going?" He asked pleasantly.

"I'm doing good, um, how much," but he cut me off by raising his hoof.

"Don't worry, a few more performances and you'll have a solid career here if you want. Either way, each night the pay will increase. Last night was just a tiny little taste of what's to come." He had stated in a plain, yet somehow excited voice.

"Ya, ok I'm ready." I had replied as I walked up to turntables, a flick of a switch causing the laptop on top of them to hum to life. I preloaded a few songs before erasing them again. I didn't have to preload things the first night, I wouldn't do so that night. I found everypony in the club staring at me, it seemed like the staff were waiting on my mark. A quick glance at the club owner confirmed my suspicions, so with a bit of concentration the records started to spin and a heavy bass hit the club.

The doors opened, a steady stream of ponies entering the club, but they weren't dancing. I was never one for orderly, or the guards deciding who got in or not. The microphone floated up next to my mouth and I simply asked, "so everypony still outside, why are you? Do I have to enjoy these bass drops on my own? Come on, just push past those guards, they can't handle you all!" I tempted them.

Every staffpony just stared at me and then stared at the owner. Another look at the owner showed he approved as the force of a thousand ponies rushed into the building. A gorgeous sight for my tired eyes, it filled me with the energy I needed. But it wasn't enough energy to last the night, so I came over the mic once more and asked, "anypony got a manticore for me? If you do, get the fuck up here and maybe you can help me."

Soon a single pony approached the side stairs and I nodded at the ponies standing there to let him past. In her hoof was a Manticore energy drink, a hoodie hid her face. I added another detail to the already complicated series of sounds playing throughout the club before turning to the pony. "So who are you?" My magic pushed back her hood gently but her head was down. Carefully my hoof brought up her head so I could see her eyes.

Her brown mane swayed slightly as her purple eyes looked into mine. "What are you doing here Octavia?" I screamed at her over the loud music worriedly.

"Can't I come see my marefriend perform, hell, half the world was talking about what happened last night!" Octavia said, a uncharacteristically lose laugh in her voice.

"Are you drunk?" I asked shocked.

"Maybe just a bit," Octavia said, her cheeks flooding with color as the lights focused on me.

I turned back to the console and after a few minor changes the entire song had changed direction to one that was less dark and more ecstatic. My feelings were as complicated as the music, so glad to see my marefriend again, but afraid that she was in danger here.

"Octavia, listen to me, I love you so much. But apparently somepony has placed a hit on me, meaning they are paying ponies to kill me. Bonbon was one of those assassins," I quickly whispered in her ear. My rational mind told me I couldn't explain it right now, but otherwise she'd never believe me.

She said the exact opposite of what I expected her to say, "me and Lyra figured that much out. Especially after your magic launched her through a window with a knife still clutched in her hoof, with a skin tight suit on. I was watching you go before seeing you disappear off the road slightly before the light actually ended. But I thought it had been your choice, then I heard your scream of terror and saw Bonbon come through the window. That's partly why I came to see you. We found out who exactly placed the hit, but now you will have to believe me."

I nodded, trying to remind myself to keep my mind open. But first I turned to the console and brought on a wicked bass drop, which reverberated throughout the club. Man that place had great acoustics. But the song quickly recovered into an even more frenzied pace. A large crowd of the ponies in the club had gathered in front of the stage and were dancing to the same pace as my music.

"Ok, Vinyl, the ponies who placed the hit on you, were your parents..." Octavia said grimly.

My world shattered completely.