Getting the band back together

Chapter 8: Getting the band back together.
“Vinyl, you can’t be serious!” “I’ve never been more serious in my life Mel. This has to be done.” Melody rolled her eyes. “Stubborn, eager Vinyl Scratch.” She smiled at Vinyl. “Another reason I love you.” ~*~ Vinyl Scratch was in her studio for the better of three days, working almost nonstop on her song. She didn’t come out to eat, nor did she come out to sleep, instead sleeping wherever she was sitting or standing at the time. The only thing sustaining her was the diligent watching of Melody. Because of her she was never hungry, never thirsty and never felt lonely. Her work was consuming her completely. On the evening of the third day, a tired and more than slightly elated Vinyl Scratch burst from the door leading to the studio and held up her newest piece. “I’ve got it!” She looked sheepishly at Melody. “But I uh... I cannot perform it alone. I need Rock Ranger at least.” Melody smiled at her. “Any way I could possibly help?” Vinyl grinned. “I was hoping you’d ask.” Melody laughed softly. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Vinyl nodded. “Excellent.” ~*~ Octavia, staying in a hotel just outside Ponyville, got the invite from a very excited Pinkie Pie, whom had been told the entire thing. Octavia was just as surprised and suspicious as Vinyl had been when they’d received her letter, but didn’t question it. She did make contingency plans. Since Vinyl used a turntable, she’d need electricity to run it. So turning off the power to it would disable that annoying piece of equipment... And that’s all she really needed. ~*~ Melody looked over the music on the sheet of parchment and smiled softly. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I took singing lessons while I was enrolled in school” Vinyl, over at her turntable nodded happily. “Yep. I was hoping you had. But the, even if you hadn’t, it wouldn’t matter. You don’t necessarily need to sing to rap.” Melody shrugged and nodded in agreement. “Too true. So... Levitate huh?” Vinyl grinned from at her instrument. “Hay yeah. I’d not suggest any foals attend for that one though.” “I can see why. Which part am I singing?” Vinyl waltzed over from the turntable and scanned the music before stabbing at an area. “Right there. All the way to here.” “Well alright then.” Melody stole a kiss before Vinyl moved away and smiled happily. There was a chime from the speaker in the studio and Vinyl looked up. “That’ll be Rock Ranger. Hold on Mel, I’ll be right back.” She disappeared up the steps to the main house and Melody felt nervous. She hadn’t actually officially met Rock Ranger yet. She’d heard of his band, but never actually met him. Vinyl came down a few minutes later followed by a deep purple Pegasus with red hair tipped with electric yellow. It was dead straight and when it moved it looked like a mane of flames. He grinned over at Melody. “Hi there!” He walked up to her, past a flabbergasted Vinyl (Who, Melody noted in slight distaste, was wearing shades again) and thrust out his hoof. Melody giggled and took the proffered his in her own. “Name’s Rock Ranger.” “Melody.” The two smiled for a moment, then Ranger turned to Vinyl. “So, what’s this I hear about a song?” Melody walked over to Vinyl and stood beside her as Vinyl answered. “Well, after the nasty song a good three days ago, I figured it was about time somepony put that high and mighty Octavia in her place, but I wasn’t going to stoop to her level.” Ranger nodded and took the sheet music from Melody. “Aight, So what do you... Oh. Guitar? You need guitar?” “And Vocals.” Ranger thought for a moment, his face turning serious. It broke out into a grin. “Count me in then Scratch. No way I’m sittin’ this one out.” Vinyl grinned happily and Melody turned to her. “V. I said not around here.” Vinyl looked at Melody, fear evident in her voice and face. “But Mel, Ranger is here...” “But nothing V.” Melody took of the shades to reveal a pair of tightly shut eyes. Ranger looked momentarily shocked. “I didn’t think those even came off!” Melody giggled softly. “Very rarely until now. Open your eyes V.” Vinyl shook her head mutely. Melody sighed. “Is Ranger your friend?” Vinyl nodded slowly. “Do you trust him?” She nodded again. “Then why won’t you open your eyes?” Rock Ranger watched the exchange, a look of bewilderment on his face. Vinyl sighed heavily and smiled. “Alright Mel, you win.” Hesitantly, Vinyl opened her eyes. Rock Ranger gasped in awe as her ruby red irises came into view. He took a half step forward. “Holy wow... Vinyl, you’ve hidden these for how long now?” Vinyl shrugged nervously. “A long time...” “Why!?” Vinyl looked blankly at Ranger, who was staring at her in wonder. “Well... I was teased for it...” Ranger shook his head, never breaking eye contact. “No way... Ponies who do that are just jealous... those are stunning...” Melody pulled Vinyl into a protective hug. “Yes and they’re hers. And she belongs to me now. Go find your own.” Ranger laughed uproariously. “Don’t you go worrying about that Melody. I have a girl already I don’t need another!” He looked back to the sheet music and frowned. “We can’t do this with only three ponies Scratch.” Vinyl looked distressed from within Melody’s embrace. “You don’t think so?” “No...” Ranger looked up and grinned. “Don’t worry. I Think I’ve got this.” ~*~ The lime green unicorn was lounging on a queen size bed in Canterlot. The other two stallions were lounging around in a similar fashion. Business was good, and for the three in the music industry, that meant everything. There was a knock at the door and one of the stallions called out. “Chords! Somepony at the door!” Chords groaned and sat up. Exiting the room with a serious face, he approached the door and opened it. A grey Pegasus with two off center eyes smiled at him and handed him a note. “Message for you Chords!” He slammed the door closed after taking the note and looked at it. “Rock Ranger? What are you sending me?” He ripped the envelope open and read the letter. His eyes shone with curiosity. Walking into the room containing the other two stallions, he waved it at them. “Letter from Ranger guys. He needs our help.” ~*~ “You sure they’ll come?” Vinyl looked at Ranger nervously. He smiled. “Scratch, they may have ditched me, but they still owe me. They’ll come.” “Are you sure?” “Yeah, stop worrying so much!” There was a knock at the door and Melody, closer called out that she’d answer it. She came back with a letter addressed to Ranger. “It’s for you Ranger.” She handed over the letter and Ranger ripped open the envelope. He read the letter and smiled happily. “See Scratch? Told you. They’ll be here in two days. Good thing you scheduled the party for three days to the date huh?” Vinyl sighed in relief. “Yeah.” Melody went to walk towards the kitchen, tousling Vinyl’s mane as she did so. “Mel! I had that perfect!” “That’s why I did it.” ~*~ Two days later, an unmarked caravan rolled into Ponyville. The wheels glowed with magic and the caravan moved on it’s own. Nopony payed any attention to it. It stopped outside Vinyl Scratch’s house and the hidden door opened. Three stallions got out and knocked on the door. Rock Ranger answered it and grinned. “Hey Chords. Guys. How you doin?” ~*~ The studio was full. Four stallions and two mares, all with different instruments except for Melody, who had no instrument save for her voice. Rock Ranger had his guitar, Chords a bass guitar, Vinyl her turntable and the other two sharing a really big drum set. The whole studio was filled with noise. Melody turned on the microphone she had wrapped around her head. “Alright everypony calm down!” The five remaining ponies looked at her. Melody looked at Vinyl and smiled. “V?” Vinyl nodded and turned to the stallions. “Alright guys. Here’s the situation. Almost a week ago, an old friend of mine, named Octavia...” There was a wolf whistle from one of the stallions. “I know her!” Chords slapped the stallion upside the head. “Shutup.” He looked at Vinyl. “Keep going.” Vinyl nodded gratefully, her shades obscuring her eyes. “Octavia came around almost a week ago. Now, she... doesn’t approve of my taste in almost everything. She uh... She freaked for a reason I’m not willing to explain at the moment... And Melody’s violin was destroyed by her.” There was an angry murmur from around the room. “She threw rocks at it. But anyway. Soon after, we, as in Mel and me, were invited to a party she’d set up. We were both suspicious, but we went anyway.” Vinyl’s eyes filled with tears and one leaked from underneath her purple shades. Melody was suddenly beside her, nuzzling her in comfort. “She... She’d made a song about us... It was...” She stopped talking, her sorrowful memories preventing her from speaking. Ranger spoke for her. “To be blunt, Octavia insulted them lyrically. Now Vinyl has made a song to retaliate and we are going to help her with it.” Chords grinned at the prospect. “Excellent. Nopony deserves to be insulted lyrically, but when they do insult somepony like that there’s only one way to get them back and that’s to insult “˜em in the same way.” Vinyle smiled sadly at Chords. “Thanks for the support Chords... Mine isn’t nearly as insulting, in fact it isn’t really insulting as much as it is a rejection.” Chord’s grin widened even more. “Even better. Don’t lower yourself to her level.”