The Adventures Of Vinyl Scratch And Octavia Auditor

Chapters

Something To Think About
A Friend In Need
Morning With The Race Horse Trio
First Class Cellist
The Lyre And The Trio
Vinyl Beat
Manticore

Something To Think About

It was there, that they met that day, at Ponyville School of Preforming Arts.

"I can’t wait to see my room this year! This school is so much different than the one I was at last year . . ." Vinyl Scratch said as she walked down the front lobby, turning her head at all the amazing sights on the walls and windows.

"Its so big . . . like a hospital, almost." She whispered, speaking to herself once more.

"I wonder if I’ll have a room mat-" she was stopped mid sentence, as she bumped into something and fell to the floor.

"Oh! I didn't mean to bump into you! I am terribly sorry, miss. Are you well?" said a light grey colored mare.

"Yea, it’s fine! No need to worry. By the way, what’s your name?" she said as she picked herself off the floor, with the obviously high class mare’s helping hoof.

"I am Octavia Auditor, and you, miss?" Octavia said, slightly gleeful.

"I'm Vinyl, Vinyl Scratch. Are you going to be a student here as well?" said Vinyl in reply.

"Ah, yes miss. I've always dreamed of being able to go to a school for my talent, since I was a small filly." Octavia exclaimed in a calmer voice.

"Oh, that's sweet! I can’t wait to see you around, Octavia. What classes are you gonna take?" Vinyl replied, giddily.

"Mostly the more orchestra affiliated classes, a few classical solo ones as well. I plan to one day join the Canterlot Symphony Orchestra." Octavia showed pride as she said this.

"How do you plan to do that? I've never heard of an earth pony playing a musical instrument, only unicorns... How do you even hold one?" Vinyl said, her head slightly tilting to the side to show her curiosity.

"I am, as far as I know, the only earth pony that plays a musical instrument such as the violin and cello." Octavia replied with a frown, but then turning to a smile as she looked back to Vinyl "What about you, miss? What classes are you to take part in?" Octavia asked, showing her curiosity slightly less than Vinyl

"I plan to take sign up for some cool classes, like something that teaches dub step or how to use the mixing board! I’d be able to teach the teacher a thing or to that way, instead of the other way around!" Said Vinyl in a playful voice, nudging Octavia's shoulder with her right hoof.

"Anyway, I was on my way to find out what room I’ll be staying in while I'm here!"

"I as well" replied Octavia. They both trotted up the lobby, to the desk. In the chair sat a mare with a blue coat, and a pinkish white mane, a cutie mark of a mouse and keyboard set on her flank. Must be good with computers, Vinyl whispered to herself, the same way she did on her way in.

"What can I help you two ponies with?" said the desk mare.

"I was wondering if me and Octavia here could find out what room we are crashing in?" Vinyl said to the mare.
"Why of course you can, what are your full names?" The mare asked.

"Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Auditor." Octavia replied to the mare, as she also started to look around at the sights.

"Hmm . . . Vinyl, looks like your in room 237! Hmmm, now let me just get Octavia's." She would stutter, as she was focused on the computer more than the conversation. "Aha! there we go, Octavia, it seems you are in room . . . 237! Will you look at that! Looks like you will be spending time together!" The two mares stopped, and thought about it. She looks so..... Bland... And all she likes is soft music, that's not me at all! . . . But, I guess I’ll give it a try, thought Vinyl to herself. She looks so......upbeat... And all she likes is loud machine noises..... That's not anything like me! . . . But ill give it a try, thought Octavia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hurry up Octavia! I want to see our room! I call the big bed!" yelled Vinyl Scratch as she zipped down the hall way and up the stairs.

"Please, slow down! I'm pretty sure they are the same size anyway!" Octavia replied as she trotted slowly down the hall, and up the stairs. "Vinyl, you are going to have to wait for me sooner or later! I have the keys!" Octavia yelled to Vinyl, half way up the stairs.

"Oh yea! The keys!" Vinyl yelled back, as she stopped in her tracks half way down the hall way, waiting for Octavia to catch up. "Do you really have to go so slow? Aren’t you excited? It’s a new year of school, and this year, all about music!" Vinyl would say the words in extreme happiness as her new roommate smiled and laugh.

"I am very excited. I just show my appreciation less similarly then you do, Vinyl." Octavia replied. She took the key and placed it in the key whole, opening the door with a click. Vinyl was the first to enter, running all around the room, examining the unique items. "This is a rather nice room, don't you think?" Octavia asked, trying to distract Vinyl from the one, slightly larger bed to no avail.

"I call this bed!" Vinyl said, flinging herself onto the plush mattress and placing her bag down next to her. "And yea, I think it’s pretty sweet!" Vinyl replied to the previous question. The grey mare placed her bag on the smaller bed and started to walk out the door.

"Where are you going, Octavia?" Vinyl asked.

"I'm going to retrieve the rest of my things from the front desk like my cello and violin." She said, as she trotted out the door. Vinyl started to unpack her things, placing her glasses and headphones on the table aside of her, relieving her red eyes. The white unicorn took out a small record in a frame, and placed it on the wall then removed a small mixing board from her slightly large pack. She placed the mixing board into the small closet the room provided her with. Lying on the bed, Vinyl Scratch began to think about her new grey-coated roommate. Not that bad so far. She seems like a really nice pony, I hope she stays cool. Thought Vinyl. I wonder if I could teach her some of my mixing board ski- she was stopped mid-thought by a voice in the next room over.

"Get out of my room, you thug!" Shouted what Vinyl thought to be a mare’s voice.

"Yea right, not before I take this!" Said a much deeper voice, obviously a stallion. Vinyl walked to the door to see what was going on. Half way to the door, she heard a large *Crash* coming from the her dorm-neighbor’s room.

A Friend In Need

Vinyl opened the door as fast as she could, upon hearing the crash, and trotted to the next door over. Half way there, three darkly colored horses in black leather jackets came out of the room. The one at the head, a dark green pony with a light grey mane, was carrying something as he and his friends trotted down the hall. It looked to be an instrument. 'I think it’s a harp!' Vinyl thought to herself. She got to the door and knocked on it.

"Hello? Anyone in there?" Vinyl yelled.

"Go away, you monsters!" Yelled a mare’s voice. The pony’s voice sounded calm, but also at the same time frightened and sad.

"Um, I live in the room across from your’s. When I heard a loud noise, I rushed in to make sure everything was ok." said Vinyl. Suddenly, the doorknob began to twist, and the door slowly creaked open to show a mint green unicorn with mint and white hair. Vinyl walked in, to see a table smashed in the middle of the floor. "Oh no! What happened here? Are you alright?" Said Vinyl.

"Oh, those thugs came in here and trashed the table . . . and they took something very important to me…" Said the mint-colored unicorn, whose name Vinyl Scratch still did not know. "What could of possibly meant so much to you? I saw them carrying something on there way out though. Was that it?" questioned Vinyl.

"It was . . . a lyre, a lyre that my father gave to me before he passed. That was back when I was just a little filly. He knew that unicorns were usually the type to play musical instruments. So when he asked me if I wanted to play music, it was only a slight surprise to him when I asked to play the lyre. He always had faith in me against all odds. I really need to get it back!" the mint green unicorn said. Vinyl was amazed by the story. She took on a very serious face.

"That's just . . . horrible! I'm going to make sure you get your lyre back, at all costs!" She said this while pumping her hoof in the air. "By the way, what is your name?" asked Vinyl.

"Lyra." said the pony. "Lyra Heartstrings".

~~~~~~~~~~

Vinyl returned to her room, to find Octavia standing on her back hooves, facing the closest while placing her violin and cello in their respective corners, upright and neat.

"Ah, there you are Vinyl. Where did you run off to?" asked Octavia in her usual voice, calm and pleasant.

"I heard a large crash from the room across the hall, and people yelling. So of course I went to check it out. You gotta hear this!" replied vinyl scratch, eager to tell her story. "When I was on my way to the room, three ponies ran out in leather jackets, one was carrying an instrument!" Vinyl said.

"How is wearing leather jackets and carrying an instrument in a music school a bad thing?" responded Octavia, a little confused by her statement.

"Because it wasn't their’s! They took it from Lyra Heartstrings, the pony next door." Vinyl exclaimed. Octavia looked at her with caution.

"I . . . I can’t believe it? Why would someone steal a lyre?" Octavia asked.

"I don't know yet but I intend to find out and I’m going to look for them as soon as I get a chance!" Vinyl said, stomping her hoof on the ground once.

"You what!? You couldn't possibly be looking for trouble on the first day?" Octavia said in an astonished voice.

"I have to. The lyre . . . It was her fathers. It’s the only connection to her father before he passed. Her lyre the only thing that gives her faith as a musician. Because he had faith in her, Octavia." said Vinyl, in a calm voice, one she did not use often.

"My cello . . . mother . . ." Octavia whispered to herself.

"What was that, Octavia?" said Vinyl, her ears perking up.

"Oh . . . nothing, Vinyl. Except . . ." Octavia stopped. "I'm coming with you. I know how it feels to have such a . . . sentimental . . . piece. To have it taken from you, is to have a part of you taken. We must get it back. For Lyra." Octavia said, a serious look on her face.

~~~~~~~~~~

They both trotted back to Lyra's room. Vinyl knocked on the door with her right hoof.

"May we come in, Lyra?"

"Oh, sure!" responded the mint coloured unicorn from behind the door. Vinyl trotted in, followed by Octavia.

"Who is your friend, Vinyl?" asked Lyra.

"Oh, this is-” Vinyl was cut off.

“Octavia. Octavia Auditor.” Vinyl’s roommate replied.

"That is a beautiful name, miss Octavia. What do you do here at this school?" asked Lyra, turning to Octavia.

"I am a cello player. I also play the violin quite often." Replied Octavia. Lyra's face lit up on hearing this.

"You’re an earth pony that plays instruments?!" Lyra said in excitement.

"Oh, yes! I plan to join the-"

"Join the Canterlot Symphony Orchestra!" They would both said at the same time while smiling at each other, a new-found friendship forming.

"Sorry to break the moment, girls. But we have another problem we are here about." Said Vinyl, leaning on the wall, her arms crossed.

"Oh, right. Sorry." Octavia and Lyra said simultaneously. They smiled at each other once more, then turn to the DJ.

"What’s the plan, Vinyl?" Octavia asked.

"First. Lyra, who were those ponies?" Vinyl asked the unicorn next-door.

"Oh . . ." She turned away "They were a gang of ponies called the Race-Horses. The leader, the one who took my lyre, his name is Greengun. He’s a Earth pony, by the way. His two friends’ names are Ravenfeet and Crowcut."

"Do you know where they might be?" Asked Octavia.

"They usually hang out at the edge of the Everfree forest, and mess around with the stuff they steal from ponies" Lyra replied.

"Then we will go there after school tomorrow." Vinyl said, stomping her hoof on the ground with determination.

~~~~~~~~~~

Vinyl and Octavia walked out of the room, toward their own. Vinyl sat down on her bed, and started to mess with her sound board. Octavia walked over to her bag, and took out a toothbrush and toothpaste.

"I'm going to go freshen up before we sleep, alright?" Octavia said as she walked out the door.

"Sure, I’ll come along with you." Said Vinyl. She walked over to her pack on the bed, and took out her own blue and white striped toothbrush. The two roomies walked down the hall towards the restroom, opened the door, and walked over to the sink. Octavia began to brush her teeth, layering the bristles of the brush in thick paste.

"Oh darn! I forgot my toothpaste . . ." Vinyl said with a frown.

"Oh no. If you would like, you could always use mine." Octavia nudged the tube of paste and the cap towards Vinyl.

"Thanks a bunch." Vinyl said, grabbing the paste, and starting to lay it on her own toothbrush.

"It really is my pleasure, Vinyl." Octavia said with a smile. As they finished, they began to walk to there room. They said nothing as they trotted down the hallway, both pondering that day’s events. They entered their room and got into bed, Vinyl turned to Octavia.

"Ya know Octavia, you’re not the snooty up-tight mare I thought you were. You’re actually pretty cool!" Vinyl said with a smile.

"Same with you, Vinyl. You are definitely not the annoying, oblivious unicorn I thought you where going to be . . . you are thought-full as well as one brilliant friend." Octavia said, returning the smile to Vinyl. They lay there heads down, turned off the lights and both unicorn and Earth pony slowly drifted off to sleep.

Morning With The Race Horse Trio

"Time to wake up, Vinyl." Octavia said to the half-asleep with unicorn.

"Wh....wha?" Vinyl mumbled, groggy from her bad night’s sleep. "Oh, right. Time to get ready for our first day!" Vinyl exclaimed. She hoped out of bed, excited. She then walked over to her slightly larger bed, and opened her bag. She retrieved soap, a brush, shampoo, her toothbrush, her glasses, and her toothpaste. "Ready, Octavia?" asked Vinyl.

"Almost, but not quite. You go on ahead." said Octavia.

"Alright, see ya later." Vinyl said. She began to walk towards the door, using her horn to open the knob. She walked down the hall, taking a left through the orange and white tiled halls. She trotted up towards the bathroom doors, but stopped when she heard a familiar voice.

"Hey! Can you believe we got that filly of a stallion’s trumpet! What was his name again?" Said the pony she realized was Greengun.

"It was that weak one, Noteworthy I think." Said the one she believed to be Ravenfeet. Suddenly, she heard them coming closer, and ducked behind a locker.

"Aye, what class do we have next? Let’s get it over with." said Greengun.

"Wait, Greengun. What’s that over there?" said the one named Crowcut, as he pointed in Vinyl’s direction.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no!" Vinyl whispered to herself, going into panic. Suddenly, Greengun walked up to Vinyl.

"What do we have here, eh?" Greengun asked his two goons.

"Looks like someone was spying on us, Green." said Ravenfeet.

"Aww, do you have a crush on us, girl?" Vinyl's expression turned from feared to angry.

"Excuse me?" said Vinyl.

"Don't worry, everyone has a crush on me." He said, pointing to himself, a smile of pride on his face. Vinyl stood up, her stuff on the ground.

"Aww, look. She is even showing off." Said Greengun. This sent Vinyl into a rage. Vinyl turned around, and sent her legs strait into the stallion’s face, sending him flying back.

"I'd never have a crush on such a monster of a horse!" Vinyl screamed.

"Why you little!" said Greengun.

"You little what?" said Octavia with a smile.

"Oh, now you have your friends come save you, kid?" Greengun spat the words at Vinyl.

"Yes, she does. Nothing wrong with having friends." Said Lyra, on the other side of Greengun. "You wouldn't know." Greengun looked around at the three mares.

"Come on Crow and Raven, let’s get outta here." Said Greengun. The leader and his two goons pushed by Lyra, and walked down the hall.

"Hey, um...Is that yours Lyra?" Said Octavia, pointing to the trumpet the trio left behind.

"No, you Vinyl?" Said Lyra.

"Me? Play the trumpet?" Vinyl said. "Please." she exclaimed sarcastically. "I heard them say they took it from someone named Noteworthy." said Vinyl.

"Noteworthy?" Said Lyra, her face lit up.

"Do you know Noteworthy, Lyra?" asked Octavia.

"Of course I do! I may have a . . . small . . . crush on him." Her face turned a bright shade of red. "We should return this to him after school. I'll take it back to my room." Said Lyra.

"I think we should start getting ready . . . school starts in a half hour." said Octavia, pointing to an analog clock on the wall.

"Oh my gosh!" said Vinyl, as she picked up her things, and ran out of Lyra’s room.

Vinyl walked in and trotted into the nearest shower. She closed the curtains, and turned the water on. The white unicorn let the water run down her body, soothing and warm. She stood there, for a few minutes then began to put the shampoo into her bright, electric-blue mane and tail. She lathered the thick liquid onto her mane, using the brush to get in between the thick hairs of her mane. She then took out the soap, and lathered her body, flank, back and front legs with the help of her horn. She let the water run down her body for a few more minutes, before stepping out of the shower. Vinyl took a towel from the rack, and dried herself off. She then walked over to the sink and layered toothpaste onto her brush and began to brush her teeth. Vinyl finished and spat the rest of the toothpaste into the sink and took a large gulp from the running sink water, shlushed it around in her mouth, and spat out. Time for class, she thought to herself as she walked out the door and down the hall. She returned to her room, and took a small pack from her bag. She filled it with a paper with her classes and time's on it. She added pencils, and a pen, and then strapped the small pack around her leg, slightly above her hoof. She walked out the door, and took the paper with her class times on it and began to read. All of a sudden she heard a voice from behind asking what her first class was She spun around and relized the mare was her own roommate.

"Don't scare me like that, Octavia!” Said Vinyl, frowning at Octavia "Looks like I have Computer Composition first." Replied Vinyl. "How about you?"

"Oh, I have Classical Cello first." Replied Octavia.

“Alrighty then. I’ll see you tonight when we go and take back you know what from you know who." Said Vinyl.

"Right. I will see you then!" replied Octavia. The two roomies went their separate ways, down the halls to their respective classes.

~~~~~~~~~~

Octavia walked down the hall towards her first class when she noticed two mares following her. She suddenly recocnized Lyra. "Hello Lyra, who is your friend?" asked Octavia.

"This is Viola. She was my room mate in the school I use to go to." Said Lyra.

"Oh, you both came to the school? Isn’t that a stroke of luck!" Octavia exclaimed. "I assume since you both were following me, you must have Classical Cello first as well." The two mares nodded and walked down the hall with Octavia.

~~~~~~~~~~

Vinyl walked down the hall towards her first class. She was looking at all the cabinets containing lots of trophies. She took a right turn and bumped into another pony. "Oh, I’m sorry!" said Vinyl. She looked up to see who it was, and she was amazed to see the face of Crowcut.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to . . . oh, wait!" Crowcut said, stuttering as he saw who it was. " I’m so sorry about what we did before . . . I truly am." Crowcut said. Vinyl felt like bucking him sky high, but decided not to as she saw a look in his eye. He was being sincere.

"Why would you do something so mean to someone then?" Asked Vinyl. Crowcut had a tear running down his cheek now.

"Greengun and Ravenfeet use to bully me every day until I had enough . . . I started doing it too and after awhile . . . I found myself caught up with them . . . it’s not what I wanted at all." Said Crowcut. "I really am sorry though. I guess I’ll see you around." he said, holding back tears. He began to trot down the hall.

"Wait!" Vinyl said, but it was too late. He was already to far down the hall to hear, and before she knew it, he was gone.

First Class Cellist

Octavia opened the door. Lyra went in first followed by Viola. The grey Earth pony looked around at all of the instruments in the room. Multiple cellos, violins, and other string instruments she recognized. The three friends took seats on the benches, where about twenty four other pupils sat. She watched the teacher closely, waiting for directions.

"Hello class, my name is Ami." The teacher, Ami, said. She spoke in a thick French accent. "Today class, we will start with basic cello lessons. Everypony, please take a cello from the rack on the left side of the room." Everyone rose from there seats to take a cello, and then returned to them just as fast. "Now class, what is the bottom of the cello called? The part we use to balance the cello?" Ami asked. Multiple hooves rose, including Octavia's and Viola's. "Octavia, will you explain to the class what this is?" said Ami.

"It is the endpin, It is used to support the instruments weight, made from metal, wood or carbon fibers." Octavia said. The rest of the class all looked to Octavia then returned their gaze to there own instruments.

"Very good Octavia!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Vinyl trotted down the hall to her class, thinking about Crowcut. Poor guy, thought Vinyl. Unfortunately, she wasn’t paying enough attention to where her hooves were taking her and smacked right into the door.

"Ow." Vinyl said, rubbing her head. She could hear laughing from inside the classroom, then a “Settle down!” from what she guessed was the teacher. Vinyl opened the door to see everyone starring at her.

"Good! You just made it before the-" The teacher was stopped by the bell. “Bell.” he finished.

"So, teach, what’s your name?" Asked Vinyl in her oh-so confident voice. She went in and took a seat at one of the open computers.

"The name’s Spark. Gray Spark.” A few students chuckled. “You can call me Mr. Spark, or Sparky, if you like. Today is the first day, so I'm going to let you freelance this." Sparky said. "You are going to need to create a song, or at least a beat by the end of class." Vinyl began to press different keys on the keyboard. She knew exactly what she was doing, moving different instrument sound around in the editor. She was so busy, she didn’t noticed that only a half hour into the class that she had finished her song.

Done!" Vinyl exclaimed. Everyone looked at her, questioning the truth of her statement.

"Done already Vinyl?" the teacher asked in surprise. "I've never seen a student get something out that fast. Let me listen." Vinyl gave the headphones from the computer to the teacher, and he put it on. Vinyl hit a key on the keyboard, sending the sound she had created into the her teacher’s ears. "This is wonderful!" He said, removing the headphones. "Vinyl, have you ever done this before?"

"Yeah, I usually mix a song almost every day." Stated Vinyl.

"Mind if I send this to the principle? He could set this as one of the tracks that play on the lunch radio in the mess hall." the teacher exclaimed.

"Not at all!" Vinyl said, a huge grin on her face.

~~~~~~~~~~

Octavia sat there, playing each note the teacher instructed of her.

"Now. How many of you have done this before?" Ami asked. Several hooves shot up, including Octavia's and Viola's. "Hmm." the teacher said, tapping her chin. "Octavia, can you demonstrate something you already know about the cello?" Octavia's face lit up, as she trotted off the stand and to the front of the class. She sat down in the chair next to the teacher and placed the cello, covering her left foreleg. She picked up the bow, and began to play a soothing song. Everyone looked at her as she played every note in amazement. Octavia finished the song, and looked to the teacher for approval. "That was simply divine!" Ami said. "I think that's a day today class, class is dismissed." Octavia had stood up, grabbed her stuff and headed out the door when Ami stopped her. "Wait, Octavia." she said. "That song you played was amazing. I was wondering if you would be interested in playing in the Student Orchestra here at school." Asked Ami.

"Oh my!" said Octavia. "That would be fantastic!"

~~~~~~~~~~

"I think that's a wrap today class." Said Sparky. "Class dismissed." the teacher finished. Vinyl trotted to the door, before the teacher stopped her. "Hey, Vinyl. Would you mind coming over here for a minute?" said Sparky. "I think you should join a more advanced class. Tomorrow, I want you to go to this room instead. It’s full of more advanced students, such as yourself." Sparky handed over a note with a room number and a signature. The white unicorn’s face lit up.

"Whoa! Really? First day and I’m being put up a class already?" Vinyl said. Sparky nodded. "Sweet!" Vinyl said, trotting out the door, putting the note in her bag. She strolled down the hallway back to her room to meet up with Octavia and Lyra for lunch. They still had to plan out how to go about getting the golden lyre back.

~~~~~~~~~~

'This school is great!' thought Octavia and Vinyl together.

The Lyre And The Trio

Octavia, Vinyl, Lyra, and Viola found there way to the lunch room and sat at a table at the far end.

"Alright. Lyra, will Viola be helping us too?" Asked Octavia.

"Who’s Viola?" asked Vinyl. Oh, right. She hasn't met Viola yet. thought Octavia.

"Vinyl, this is Viola. Lyra's roommate." Explained Octavia as she pointed to the Viola.

"And yes, I would like to help." Said Viola.

"Let’s all meet at four behind the school. Then we will go to where they hang out, ok?" suggested Vinyl.

"Right." Everyone responded simultaneously. Lyra got up to get her lunch, and the rest followed.

"Oo! Dandelion sandwiches!" said Vinyl and Viola. Octavia and Lyra sighed at the sight of it. They all went back to there table and took a seat.

"So Viola, we don't know much about you. Could ya tell us some stuff?" said Vinyl, trying to balance some peas on the tip of her hoof.

"Well, I'm a violinist, but I've always found myself to like to mix songs on computers a lot more." Vinyl’s face lit up when she heard that.

"Really? That's awesome! I thought I was going to be surrounded by classy ponies all year." said Vinyl. "No offence, Lyra and Octavia."

"None taken." they said together. Suddenly, someone came over and knocked the sandwich out of Vinyl’s hand. She looked up to see Greengun, the large stallion from the Race Horse Trio.

"That's for the scene in the hall." Sneered Greengun. Crowcut stood there looking saddened, and Ravenfeet was laughing. Vinyl stood up, picked the sandwich off the floor.

"And this is for the people you bully." Said Vinyl, then pushing the sandwich in Greengun’s face, the greens all over his face. Green gun put his hoof up, pulling it back, strengthening it to hit the musician square in the gut.

"Let’s just go, Greengun!" Crowcut yelled at Greengun. "What? Fine! Whatever." Greengun said. Vinyl winked to show thanks to Crow, but Crowfeet just turned away.

"That was odd." said Lyra.

"Let’s not question it, alright?" said Vinyl.

"Vinyl." Octavia said. "If you want, you can have the other half of my sandwich." Vinyl’s eyes lit up, tears forming.

"THANK YOU!!!" she squealed, engulfing Octavia in a death hug. She then grasping the other half and taking a big bite out of it. The four buddies all finished, and went back to there rooms to ready themselves to face Greengun. Octavia and Vinyl entered their room. Octavia and Vinyl sat on their beds until the clock hit four. They began to walk out the door when they saw Lyra and viola heading there as well.

"You ready?" Asked Lyra.

"Yep. You?" Vinyl said to Viola.

"As ready as I’ll ever be." Replied the mare.

"Lets do this then!" They trotted down the hall and out the back door of the school. The light blinded them for a second as the gang remembered they hadn't been outside in a few days. Lyra lead them to where the Race Horses hang out and they hid behind a bush.

"We are here." said Lyra. Octavia peaked out of the bush, to see Greengun and Ravenfeet playing with the lyre.

"Why are we hiding?" Said Vinyl, standing up. The rest followed her, as she approached Greengun. The stallions watched as the mares came up.

"Looks like the one with the crush just can’t stay away." Vinyl growled.

"Greengun, we came to get Lyra’s lyre back." Octavia said.

"Ha! We would love to give it back to you, really we would." Greengun said in a mocking tone, putting his hoof to his chest to show a fake concern. "But I like it way to much to do that." Greengun hit the lyre, to make a putrid screeching sound as he rubbed his hoof on the strings. Lyra glared at him.

"If you break that so help me!" Lyra snapped.

"Oh, but why would you care? It’s not like its yours anymore." Greengun said. He pushed his hoof hard against one of the strings, and Lyra watched it snap. Lyra couldn't take it anymore, she started to charge, but Octavia and Viola stopped her.

"It’s not worth it, he will just hurt you Lyra!" Octavia said, trying to calm her down. Lyra stopped trying to charge, and fell to the ground crying.

"Oh, and those look good too! Good enough for me, anyway." Green gun said, swiping Vinyl’s glasses.

"Hey! Those where my father’s, He gave them to me when he had to leave for a... trip... when I was little... Give it back!" Said Vinyl.

"Oh, such a sad story." Greengun said, showing again, fake concern. "Well, since your older, you won’t be needing these will you? Their not even as cool as I thought." Greengun said. He put his hoof through one of the lenses of the glasses, smashing the lens into small shards of glass.

"No!" said Vinyl. Suddenly, Greengun was kicked hard in the side of his face, sending him tumbling down the hill. But it wasn't Vinyl, Viola, Octavia, or Lyra.

"Run!" said Crowcut, tossing the lyre and glasses back to Lyra and Vinyl. It was Crowcut that had saved the day. "Go!" Said Crowcut. They ran off, Galloping back towards the school. Vinyl looked back to see Crowcut being bashed by Greengun and Raven.

"We have to help him!" said Vinyl.

Vinyl Beat

"Are you crazy!" Octavia exclaimed. they stopped, and Vinyl began running back towards Crowcut, she stopped, as Crowcut mouthed the words. "Run, ill be fine". a tear ran down Vinyls cheek. Vinyl, Octavia, Viola, and Lyra followed Crowcut's instructions, and left. the galloped down the campus, and back towards there rooms. they trotted down the hall, and all gathered in Octavia and Vinyls room. "We...just left him there." Lyra said, holding her face in her hooves. she sobbed, and so did the others, for there friend Crowcut.
________________________________________________________________________________

Crow cut lay there, it began to rain. the cold wind mixed with his now drenched coat made him shiver. he couldn't move, he assumed Greengun had fractured, if not broken his back legs. he lay there, thinking as it became dark. he thought about his family, his little sister, his parents. he thought about how he would get out of this situation, although he hardly cared about himself. he cared mostly for what he had done, all the years he was with Greengun. he though about all the people he made cry, even though he hated himself every time. he felt he deserved every bit of pain he had gotten, and lay there without a sound. Greengun had already left, along with Ravenfeet, leaving him alone in his horrible state. suddenly, a light flashed in his eyes. "What are you doing out here?" said a stallions voice. it was security guard Yellowbadge. "Yellow?" said Crowcut. Yellowbadge looked to the stallions back legs. "Crowcut, what did you do! i need to get you to the hospital quick!" Yellowbadge yelled in horror.
________________________________________________________________________________

"What are we going to do!" said vinyl. they where sitting at a table now, in Vinyl and Octavia's dorm. "I don't know!" Viola replied. "We should never of gone to get the lyre... this is all my fault!" said Lyra. Octavia moved closer to Lyra, and stroked her mane. "its not your fault Lyra, you had no idea!" Octavia said to calm her friend. "i hope Crowcut is ok." said Vinyl. "We all do" replied Octavia. Vinyl glanced at her Alarm clock. "oh gosh... guys, its one AM." said Vinyl. "we should get some rest... nothing we can do now..." said Octavia. Lyra and Viola left for there rooms, Octavia and Vinyl got ready for bed, brushing there teeth. the returned to there beds, and got in them. they lay there, the stress of the day still on there shoulders. "Wont be much sleep tonight" Said Vinyl.
________________________________________________________________________________

Crowcut had passed out from the pain of being moved by the security guard. when he awoke, he was on a hospital bed, he tried to get up witch resulted in shooting pains in his legs. he screamed from the pain. a nurse had heard him and walked into the room. "are you alright?" the nurse asked. "i'm fine." said Crowcut. "what time is it?". "It is five thirty AM sir. anything else?" replied the mare. "no thank you, miss." Crowcut said. "would you like to contact your family?" asked the mare. Crowcut thought. he had not seen them in so long. "no thank you" replied Crowcut. the mare nodded and left the room. "i'm going to get Greengun back for this.... and i will do it with my friends. real friends." he smiled, as he remembered he finally had real friends. and he drifted off to sleep.
________________________________________________________________________________
"What are we going to do!" screamed Greengun. "I don't know!" replied Ravenfeet. "When they find out what we did we are going to be suspended! or even worse, you know that?" said Greengun. "I know that, but what are we going to do?" Greengun smirked. "What do you mean we?" said Greengun. "What are you talking about?" Replied Ravenfeet "This is all your fault as far as i'm concerned. your the one who kicked him." said Greengun. "You little... You told me two!" said raven feet, screaming it at Greengun."Sorry pal. but i am not being brought down by Crowcut. this is in your hooves. have fun." Greengun slammed his hoof into Ravenfeet's face, and he passed out. Green gun lay him down on his bed, and left the dorm. trotting down the hall.

Manticore

"Open up in there, young lady’s." Spoke yellow, slamming his hoof on Vinyl and Octavia's dorm room. Vinyl and Octavia sprang up from there beds, to gaze at the door.
"Who is it? Who’s there" Vinyl said.
"Security Guard Yellowbadge, of Ponyville school of Preforming Arts." spoke yellow. Vinyl looked at the clock now, the thought of Crowcut, and his recent mutilation. Octavia trotted over towards the door, and twisted knob, a loud creaking sound upon the doors opening.
"Hello, yellow. is there a problem?" Octavia spoke. Yellow could see them now, there manes a mess from restless sleep. There eyes droopy, and clearly vinyl had cried slightly.
"I’d like to speak to you about a fella at this school by the name of crowcut." Yellow spoke with little enthusiasm. he looked hot and angry, like he had gone through hell and back to get to there dorm. Upon the mention of crowcut, Vinyl and Octavia's ears arose. "Oh! Did you find him? is he ok? tell me he is ok!" Blurted Vinyl out in a nervouse panic.
"he is fine. i brought him to the near hospital, Nurse Redheart is taking care of him." spoke yellow, in a tone to make sure Vinyl, nor Octavia blurted out again.
"He passed out on the way there, and continued to say your names along with one named Lyra." Yellow finished and gave them a look.
"He was saying... our names?" said Octavia.
"Yellow, did Crowcut tell you what happened?" Vinyl asked.
"He tried to, but instead he ended up unconscious, like I said. Only thing he was able to get out was 'The end of the Race Horse Trio'" he looked to them for answers, his head tilted and his brow raised.
"Yellow..." started vinyl. "We saw the whole thing, Crowcut, Ravenfeet, and Greengun... they stood in front of the shed they usually go to after school. a-" she was cut off but Yellowbadges hoof.
"Hold up there. Did you say Greengun is involved here? /AND/ Ravenfeet?" spoke yellow, holding his head in his hooves.
"Yes, yellow.... Greengun bucked crow into the wall of the building, then Ravenfeet put his hoof right into his jaw...."
as Vinyl continued, yellowbadge listened in horror. "Greengun.... he bucked crows legs, full force.... it was horrible...." Vinyl finished.
"You should have come to me sooner!" spoke Yellowbadge. Suddenly, another security guard walked up to the door.
"Yellow! Your needed at the trio's dorm, something’s wrong.." spoke the officer.
"Girls. i can get you a pass to excuse you from class. I will need your help, as you where witnesses. Will y-" he was cut off by Vinyl and Octavia saying the same thing simultaneously. "Yes!"

Crowcut lay there silent, staring at the wall. He looked down upon his broken flank hooves, and grimaced. They where completely bandaged, but still a dot of blood peeked its way through the layers and layers of gauze. He tried to arise from his bed, but he fell into a world of pain, the feeling creeping up his spine he lost sense of reality for a moment as he laid himself back down and took long deep breaths, regaining his senses. the smell of coppery blood now filling his nose.
"Ugh...Excuse me, Nurse?" spoke crowcut softly. the nurse heard him just barely, and trotted in to greet crowcuts sorrowful face.
"yes, sir?" the mare spoke in her soft female voice.
"How banged up am i?" crowcut asked with a slight smile. she chuckled and spoke
"Pretty badly, Mr. C." she spoke in more of a jokingly tone. "you have a long rest period ahead of you, we contacted your school. they say that they are going to check on what happened that night." spoke Redheart.
"Wont do any good, miss.." crow spoke. Redheart tipper her head, wondering why. She need not ask the question, crowcut could tell what she was going to ask with her facial expression, and replied
"Well, miss. They never reprimand Greengun, not for the life of them. but my friends will help. I know it." Nurse Redheart gave a smile without joy, and trotted out of the room.

Octavia and vinyl trotted down the hall, following the officer who had not presented his name, and Yellowbadge. Lyra had joined them, as Octavia had not wanted to go without her. they arrived at the dorm of Greengun. As they walked in, they saw the face-mutilated pony lying there on the bed, the room suddenly felt dark. darker than it had before, an eeriness in the air, and Octavia and Vinyls stomachs dropped inches inside of them at the sight and feel.
"But....that makes no sense!" Vinyl blurted. "He had attacked crowcut because he helped us but.... why Raven?" the bloody faced stallion's eyes opened, but he did not move.
"He ran.... he... he left me here, he punched me." he spoke in a whimper. he jaw must of been fractured, vinyl thought though she was no doctor.
"Raven... what happened." spoke Yellowbadge.
"When we got back..... he told me it was all my fault we where in trouble... he said that he is not being brought down by a single friend.... he told me that it is now my problem, and he punched me... he ran out the door last night..... I don’t know where he would have gon-"
he was cut off, as vinyl spoke the words "The Everfree forest."
"Officer, Get this colt to the hospital. me and my friends are going to find him." spoke Yellowbadge, to the unnamed uniform.
"your investigating this with children?" said the officer. "These people are witnesses. I know what I’m doing." replied Yellowbadge. "bu-" he stopped himself, as Yellowbadge and the three mares walked out.

He ran as fast as he could out of the dorm. Down the hall, sure as to not wake a soul. past the office, who pretended not to notice him. And out the doors.
"oh man oh man oh man...." he whispered to himself. he trotted outside, then went into full force gallop a crossed the yard. Every step felt like a mile to get away from the school. he couldn’t take the feeling he felt inside. He had beat up people before. but never his friends, or....where they really his friends? He couldn’t shake the feeling of being alone, but the paranoia of being watched. the emotions where the oddest feelings together, a feeling he couldn’t describe. Mixed with anxiety, and fear. his body was a mess, as he noticed how far he had run. he had ran right into the everfree forest. he had always been around the edges every day to play with his friends- or what use to be friends. But he had never entered. The stories of the Forrest where never good. but he knew being at the school was worse. "How did i get this way." he whispered to himself. "why did i get this way..." he screamed.

They trotted down the halls, along with the officer. then, slowly there anticipation got the best of them, and the began to gallop. Out of the building, down the street. they knew where the ever free Forrest was, but they had never even gone near it despite the time they confronted what use to be the Race Horse Trio hangout. They ran quicker and quicker, beads of sweat showing on there ungroomed coats. They approached the edge of the everfree forest, and saw a patch of plants that where freshly trampled leading into the forest. they all stopped at the edge of the trampled plants, to catch there breath. they felt the same feeling they got the day they confronted the trio the first time.
"Ready?" spoke Vinyl.
"Of Course" Octavia replied.
They galloped into the freshly trampled plants, leaving even fresher tracks along the way. They followed the everfree's newfound path until the saw greengun standing there. His head down. His shoulders slumped, his eyes dripping. his mane was strewn down over his face, covering all expression. but the tears, the way they hit the ground.... Even without facial expression they could tell the great sorrow that enveloped him.
"Greengun. You cannot run from your problems. Your trio, its gone. The race horse trio has stopped running. And you should too." Spoke yellowbadge.
"No more running...." spoke greengun. his voice dark, and insane. as if he was losing it. Which in some ways, he was. "You all... you don't understand." Greengun continued. "My life is horrible! And its all my fault!" he screamed this at the top of his lungs, then put his face even farther down. And cried harder than ever. it began to rain suddenly out of the crepuscular sky. Vinyl wondered why the sun had not shown itself, droplets of rain revealing the answer.
"Greengun... it is your fault....but why?" spoke Lyra. Yellowbadge gave Lyra a glare. but she didn’t notice.
"You want to know why? Sweetheart?" greengun spoke, lifting his head. "Everyday, people get mail from there families? I don’t." he said, slowly trotting towards the four." on vacations, when parents usually visit there children at this school? no one ever comes to see me." Greengun continued. "You want to know why? Lyra?" Greengun’s voice rose. "Because i have no family to visit me!" he screamed. "My parents died in a car crash! You have no idea how that feels! and when i came to this school. i was happy i was going to make some friends. but guess what happened? the opposite! every day i was picked on, every day no one sat with me, talked to me, even the teachers saw me as an outcast!" salty, sparkling wet tears strewn across his face. The eyes they arose from filled with pain and sorrow, as he ranted about his miserable life. "I was sick of being the picked on! I was sick of being mentally and physically kicked around like a soccer ball! so i took the place of offence." greengun turned away. "i finally got some respect.... i finally had friends." he finished hushing as he spoke. Vinyl, Octavia, and Lyra looked on in sadness.
"Greengun i-"
"NO!" Greengun spoke to Vinyl. Just then, a rustle from the bush's. rain was bursting from the heavens now, strengthening each second. All five of the ponys turned there heads towards the bushes. Then, the head of a lion arose. Wings of blood red skin, and the tail of a scorpion...
"What the hey is that!" screamed Vinyl.
"Stay still! It’s a manticore... one of the many strange things that live in the everfree..." spoke yellow in a hasty tone. No one moved for minuets, but the manticore would not leave.
"What do we do, yellow!" said Vinyl, whispering.
"I....I don’t know..." said Yellow.
"That’s it!" screamed greengun. He galloped, charging into the manticore, his powerful hind legs bucking the beast of great size into a tree.
"Run!" yelled greengun. The night where crowcut had helped them popped into there heads. The feeling of knowing what he just did was crazy, and that now that its done, they could do nothing to help. They ran, down the path. Greengun grew quickly out of sight behind the underbrush, but they heard the cries, and merciless roars of a manticore. Something nopony could ever scourged out of there throats. They finally made it out of the forest.
"Lady’s... go back to your dorms. I will get the police down here, and search for greengun."
The mares gave little protest, and left as fast as there hooves could carry them. They arrived back at there dorms. Saddened and pale.
"What...but....that.." Vinyl was at a loss for words, there brains still processing the recent events. it was quiet, as the caught there breaths, and let there minds catch up with there mouths.
"I cant believe it... he truly did save us.. " spoke Octavia, breaking the silence that hung over them.
"I....I really hope he is ok." spoke Lyra. "We all do..." replied vinyl. They sat down, being excused from all there classes for the day. a half hour past. An hour. They never fell into boredom, there minds giving them something to pass the time with the recent events.
"Lets visit crowcut." spoke vinyl. The others eyes lit up, and they got ready. Trotting down the hall, out the doors, and down the street towards the hospital, they trotted up to the front desk, and received guest pass's, the room number, and some information on how crow was doing. the news was not great.
"Mr. C, you have some visitors." spoke nurse Redheart. Crowcuts eyes shot open, to see his newfound friends lined up at the doorway, his attempt to stand and hug them tight resulted in pain, reminding him of his immobility. They trotted over to the bed, and sat down.
"How are you feeling?" spoke vinyl.
"Wonderful" said crowcut. "Did you get him? What happened to greengun?" he blurted out, his lack of patience showing. the three mares chuckled and spoke softly.
"Not exactly.." said Octavia. Vinyl began listing the recent events in detail to crowcut, as he listened in sadness.
"a manticore?.....he attacked a manticore to....save you?" asked crowcut. the mares nodded. Crowcut closed his eyes.
"Maybe there is some good in him after all." he spoke softly. he smiled for the first time in weeks, and laid his head down on the pillow. Conversing with his friends, and actually feeling comfortable. He felt better than he had ever before.

(This is the end for people who don’t want to take time out of there lives to read book 2 I will be wrighting. so the passage below is for the people who wish to continue the series.)

Where is Greengun? Did The Manticore Kill Him? Will Crowcut Ever Fully Heal From His Injuries? Was Ravenfeet Just Completely Forgotten About? and finally, Where are the instruments!? Find this All Out Next Time, In The Next installment of ~The Adventures of Vinyl Scratch And Octavia Auditor~