Prologue
Blood dripped down from the mares nose after the impact and Vinyl began to rub a bit violently at her nose as if not wanting the blood to go anywhere but remain in her body. It collected lightly on her hoof and she stared at it for a moment before a small giggle slipped between her fangs. Octavia stood there motionless and shocked that Gallants would do that, it was just completely unexpected. The rest of the group was equally as shocked too see Vinyl this way and too see Gallants take such a swing. Lily looked to the table and at her book with worried eyes. Gallants clenched one claw tightly as he looked at the unicorn who was now leaned up against the wall. Vinyl smiled and slowly looked up with her red eyes slowly growing redder as she looked to be getting very pissed off at the sight of the blood on her hoof.
"I am surprised Gallants! You actually made me bleed~" Vinyl let out a slow deep growl and wiped the red off her hoof and onto the rug below her hooves. "So you caught me! You know the truth of my nature but you don't know my goal" As she looked over at Octavia she locked her gaze at her friend and smiled. "I never wanted you too know, Tavi~" Gallants backed up and looked back at Lily waving his hand for answers on what to do. Vinyl seemed to be rather calm even now that she had been revealed to her friends and Octavia. Rough Beats put a hoof on Octavia and pulled her close as if too protect her as Lily tried to get to the book for answers on what they could do. Turning to the table the sight of the book was blocked as Vinyl now suddenly stood in the way with a grin that showed off her large fangs. "What is it you think your going to find in there? Go ahead and get it...or are you scared of me now.....Lily?"
"Vinyl Please, we only want to help you. We aren't going to hurt you...that was not our plan and it still remains that way" Octavia reached out with pleading eyes to her roommate to try and convince her not to hurt Lily. "Just because of what you are...be it a surprise that such a thing as yourself can be real. I still know you are a good mare...my friend, Vinyl~" There was an obvious fear in her eyes as she stared at the white sheen that was reflecting from Vinyls fangs. The fear was there for the obvious and everypony in the room was feeling the same feeling. Fear and it appeared Vinyl could see that and it was just one of her many abilities for what she was. Lily gulped in air keeping her eyes on Vinyl because she was honestly the most scared. Being more knowledgeable on what Vinyl was gave her more reason to fear because she knew more than the rest of the group. Vinyl just stared at her and nodded stepping only slightly aside allowing the book to be visible but she was still in the way.
"Go ahead and take it, Lily~" Vinyl grinned taking out her music player and gently taping the play button with her hoof. Her ear buds were still in her ears even after the punch. The music was set to loud and everypony in the once quiet room could hear the song as it played and Vinyl had a smile on her face as she looked at them all as her music played.
Chapter One
"Hey Tavi~ Dang it was a long night last night! I got to examine some sick beats from the fans and it was seriously to die for!" Octavia rubbed her eyes to wash the tired feeling from her body as Vinyl began the morning by talking about the Dub step Con that was still going on from when it began a week ago. Perhaps the unicorn was just more excited because she got to play her tunes and listen to fan music that was based of her work. "I know its not for you but you should have seen it! I have never had my soul drop lower than my beats before. It was so loud I am surprised ponies slept at all!" Vinyl tapped the wood of the table with a hoof and grinned with satisfaction or the nights results.
"You know I don't listen for the fact its too loud, right Vinyl?" Octavia gave a serious glare pulling a box from the counter along with a bowl and spoon. "I mean I am not saying the music is the worst thing I have heard but its....different for me you know? I would rather lean back in the recliner and listen to some stallion whisper sweet melodies in my ears"
"Sounds like a quick way to grow gray hairs. Something I never wanna look forward too! I like the feeling of being young forever, Octavia. I don't wanna live a quiet life because I like it loud and a bit sassy~" Vinyl was quick to pull out her ear buds now as Octavia sat down in her chair and began to munch on cereal. Octavia lifted a hoof as she had a spoonful of the crunch in her mouth ready to speak but found Vinyl wouldn't even hear because she was already drowning out her surrounding with sounds of booms and electric waves. The newspaper was rested in the center of the table, cello was rested in the corner of the kitchen area, the atmosphere of the room was warm and inviting. Octavia looked to the window and just stared outside.
"Well I am glad you had a good night Vinyl. I have to go out today and find a new studio to record in" Placing a hoof on her own forehead Octavia groaned remembering all the work she had to do today. "If that stallion hadn't gotten drunk and wreaked the place! I wouldn't have to stress today" Vinyl peered over the rim of her player as if she could hear her friend being upset about the events of her studio. "Well if music is to be performed it must be practiced. I will have to start looking as soon as I freshen up~" Vinyl just continued to look at her friend as she pulled out her ear buds placing them lightly on the table. They both sat there in silence for a moment before Octavia stood up with the last bite of her cereal in her mouth. Vinyl kept quiet and just watched as her roommate began to look around the room chewing up the rest that remained in her mouth. "Vinyl.." She chewed and then swallowed not wanting to be rude with any food in her mouth as she spoke. "If you could check the mail and perhaps do the dishes while I get ready. I would really appreciate that! Long day ahead of me and I don't wanna think about dirty dishes all day while I work"
"Dishes and mail...right...as long as I can listen to my music while doing your demands. I don't see an issue with lending a helpful hoof every once and awhile" Vinyl got up and nudged Octavia on the side as she stepped past. Tavi giggled and slightly rolled her eyes with that remark seeing as Vinyl never seemed to take her ear buds out of her ears and the same for her headphones. She was wearing one or the other throughout the day so its not like her saying anything about it would change that. "Consider it done, Tavi!"
"Vinyl! I am serious now because I don't wanna come home. May I say, again, to a dirty kitchen and dirty dishes. Last time I asked you just napped all day and forgot all about it"
"I promise that napping will not be an issue! I had plenty of rest last night during stage changes and closing time. Took quick little cat naps here and there! I will be as fine" Vinyl pressed on hoof up against Octavia's muzzle making it scrunch up and to make the up tight mares eyes cross staring at the hoof. "Now get going! A record studio is not going to fall from the sky and allow you inside from our little home" before Octavia could respond she was at the door and Vinyl had shoved her carefully outside. "Now go before you tell me to do more than you already have!" Octavia jumped a bit and giggled as the door was quickly closed and she was now outside. The relationship she had with Vinyl was a good one. They joked around, played music together, they relaxed and ate together. Of course they argued once and awhile but what group of roommates don't disagree on living conditions once and awhile. They never really had serious problems and they were close friends because of their love for music and over time they learned they relate on many things. It didn't take long as Octavia began to walk the streets of Ponyville that the sun began to set and the moon began to rise. Octavia with no luck did not find an open area for practice and it seemed as if things were going to be doomed from that point. A couple laughed to each other passing her, they seemed clueless to the fact that Tavi actually had tears growing in her eyes at this point.
"I can't believe it....what did I do wrong? Not a single one of those places excepted my offer and I am actually going to cry over it now" She waved a hoof in front of her face to try and stop the tears. "I cannot believe this town! After all my hard work and commitment" She threw herself against the wall and slowly let her body slide down until she was laying against the cold dirt. "Has this community lost taste for the classics?" a stallion pushed opened the door and looked down pulling of his shades with a quick flash of magic from his horn. It was strange he would wear those in the middle of the night but he seemed to have heard Octavia speaking to herself. His coat was a dark grey, mane color was a jade black with two strands of blue on each side of his horn.
"The classics you say? You mean too tell me that nopony would except your art into their recording studio? Ha! The nerves of some ponies and you know! I just got done talking to my supervisor White about this" He reached out to her as if to help her up but Octavia shook her head kindly and got up on her own without an issue. He smiled and rubbed a hoof across his fluffy chest and cleared his throat. "Names Roughed Beats! I actually own a recording studio down a couple blocks...I mean...its kind of a rough place but who is actually surprised I own it" Octavia watched him as he leaned himself against the wall with a tough guy grin spread across his muzzle and stature.
"You have a place? A studio for the arts?"
"For the many actually! I already have a couple stars who record their already but you would be my first Classical Musician too ever record there. I mean if your interested in stopping by too take a look at least. I see a chance for the both us too gain something from this" Beat's had a rather deep but gentle voice. He seemed to be telling the truth and why would he have a reason to lie too her. Octavia took a moment to once again look over the stallion but she nodded in agreement that looking at the place shouldn't be a problem for her.
"Yes of course~ I don't see a problem at all and it is better than going home empty hooved, again! Ha ha ha~" She placed a hoof over her muzzle and let out a gentle giggle. Her mood had been lightened from this new hope but her only concern now was if this would benefit her. She needed a new studio but did she need a tough place to go along with it was the issue.
"Your name? I mean not to be rude of course but you never did give me your name"
"Oh! Sorry! My name is Octavia~"
"Well Octavia I hope this will be a start to a long life of business and perhaps the spark of a new friendship" Beats smiled and pushed himself off of the wall to begin the walk to the studio. "It is right this way and I hope you don't mind the walk, Octavia"
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Octavia looked around the small building trying her best not too look surprised. The small studio was in poor shape, parts of the walls had pealing pain, the sound of water dripping from somewhere in the building could be heard upon entering, and the ponies who were already here stared at her. They were playing a game of cards but what card game was unclear. Beats walked by the group and used his magic to swipe one of the cards from the table twirling it. Tavi smiled and noticed a couple strange drawings on the walls, it made her believe this place was meant to record artists that play rave music and other electronic tunes.
"Nice~ Aces! Well Octavia this is the place! The magic starts...here..." Beats looked to the group with a raised brow setting down the card. "She didn't show up again?" They all shook their heads and continued with their game not going further with the subject. "Well that's a shame, anyways, Octavia if you wish you can look around further" Octavia stepped past the group and headed to the back areas of the building hoping to see some improvements in the area. However as she got further inside she realized that it only got worse. That annoying dripping sound from the entrance was louder here, the paint didn't blend well and it smelt like somepony left food in a wet garbage bag their for weeks. She shook her head trying not to breath in the smell but it still managed to linger in her small muzzle and if somepony could see her face it would look a shade of green.
"This is awful! I can't possible manage this place, work here, it would be simply impossible to breath non the less record anything here" She looked to the wall and she actually took a couple steps back as she saw something drip down from it. "Oh Celestia no! That is the worst thing that I have ever seen!"
"Yeah its pretty bad but its actually a nice place if you choose to stick around. I think Beats needs light like you, especially sense I lack it!" A mare stepped up from behind. Her body was a light grey complimented by a purple mane with pink tipped bangs hanging just above her eyes. "Names Lily Grassland, this is my place to attempt to get the high life. Attempt for something new and Beats is the one who is making that seem more possible everyday and its because of this building" Lily smiled and looked back at the door she came out of before returning her gaze to Octavia who still had a grossed out look on her face. "If you except to work with him or not it doesn't matter to me but I know it will matter to him. The last pony to come here hardly shows her face anymore and we could use a new friend"
"I don't mean to be rude but isn't this kind of building the ones they close for being, unsafe or a health hazard? I am used to a clean more respectable recording studio not some dump" Lily gave a rather offended glare and Octavia stepped back once again but avoiding the walls because they were indeed a health hazard. "Was trying not to be rude but you know it is the truth right? I think I can see why the other mare left because she probably saw this place the way I did" Octavia was soon pressed against the wall as Lily pushed her hoof up against her chest and Octavia suddenly had a big feel of discomfort. Lily sighed and shook her head disagreeing to the reasons the other mare left the studio for awhile.
"I am not trying to force you to stay but I am trying to convince you too" Octavia looked down to Lily's hoof and then into her eyes pushing the hoof away and adjusting her bowtie and chello case strap.
"Placing your hooves on me! That is really helping me want to stay her Ms. Grassland!"
"Yeah I realize my mistake"
"I could press charges on you if I felt I needed too! You have got to be more careful! I get that Beats is your friend but I just don't see a reason to want to stay here" Octavia was about to step away and leave but Lily actually managed to say the right words.
"How about you know nopony else here will accept you...Beats did with open arms without you even asking him. So how about you drop your girly act, toughen up, and give it a chance for just a little bit? If you don't like it here after a couple days you can leave and I will not try and stop you" Turning around Octavia slowly let her cello case rest on the ground before she let go of it and walked up to Lily. She was right, the whole day she had gotten nothing but rejection.
"Alright fine, I will stay to see how things go. I guess it is the least I can do sense Beats offered me this kind of help"
The rain tapped the windows of the studio hard and very violently and had been doing so for hours it seemed. Lily looked out into the cloudy world with a smile because she loved the rain. Everypony was present except for Tavi and Beats because they were doing a session in the office. Gallants, who was a griffon stood up from his seat and groaned tired of the pitter patters on the windows. Taking a quick bite of his cream filled pastry he smiled a bit. The griffons feathers were grey on his head except for his neck areas which were white. The remaining body features were mostly a light brown color except for of course his eagle talons which were of course yellow along with his beak. This was all complimented by his brown colored eyes and an attitude that would surprise anypony who met him. He was like many griffons and hated allot of things mostly looking out for himself. He had a heart however and friends to go with that.
"How long do you think the pegasi are going to let the world piss on us because I am almost out of doughnuts!" Gallants took a rather aggressive chunk from the one he was currently eating as he went to the counter for another one. "I mean I know rain is important for the land and crops but fuck! Some of us have places to go and things too do" Lily grinned taking a puff from a lit cigarette and used the tips of her wings to knock of the ash as it got to long.
"Calm down Gallants! Vinyl will be here with some more food soon and you won't have to complain anymore"
"Your sure about that, Lily!? She didn't even come back last night when she left for some fresh air. You trust her with getting me my needed sugar for my sugar craving?" Gallants sat back down taking another large bite of a pastry grumbling causing crumbs to fall onto his chest feathers. Lily smiled moving over to the table spitting out the smoke into an ash tray, she slowly slid into her seat and leaned forward taking the dough sugar filled treat from the Griffon.
"They aren't just yours, remember that, they were bought for all of us"
"Maybe so but I am going through a tough turn in my life and that sugar filled goodness is all that has kept me sane!"
"Why don't you take it from me tough guy~" Lily teased licking the sugar from the top of the treat teasingly. Lily was known for her sexual teasing because of her past job as a stripper. How she managed to get into a music career made ponies raise brows onto how many lap dances she might have had to do to get here. As she teased Gallants, the door opened, Vinyl stepped in soaked in wet rain. It dripped from her goggles and she coughed shaking off as much of the rain water as she could. "Told you she would come"
"Go read your book Lily and leave me alone" Gallants huffed and shoved the remaining bits of doughnut in his beak and ate it happily. Lily pushed herself out of her chair and used her wing to pick up her book that Gallants had mentioned just now. Vinyl just stared and set a couple bags on the counter of the lounged unsure what too say on what she just saw. "So Vinyl! What had you so long!?" Vinyl looked away and rubbed her hoof against the counter wiping her muzzle down and adjusting her goggles before returning to look at the two.
"I had to stop on the way for a bite and most of the places were packed and I didn't want to wait too long. So it took a bit to find a place where there wasn't a crowd! You know what I'm sayin?" Gallants nodded and picked up a new pastry shoving it in his beak not really caring what the unicorn was saying. He seriously just wanted to be by himself right now with his food. The rain began to fall harder against the building followed by a flash of lightning. Lily had her book open on the last page scanning through it and its rather interesting photos that rested inside. Gallants looked over briefly at the mare before returning to shoving his face with more and more dough, a loud rumble range down from the sky because the storm was getting worse. Vinyl pulled out her headphones from her bag and pulled them over her head to listen too some tunes as she usually did and it was the usual of course. Loud electric tunes written by her and performed by her. Lily beamed a smile down at the table closing her book. The cover of the book had a strange symbol on it that had images of blood dripping from the designs edges and loops.
"Enjoying your witchcraft demon worshiper?" Gallants mocked sipping at some coffee and taking another bite of a doughnut. Lily shot a glare at him sliding her book off the table and into her saddle bag. "Whoa sorry! Don't put a fucking spell on me now"
"It is not fucking witchcraft you asshole! It is a book of protection! A book of history!" Lily lifted a hoof and ran it along her bangs sighing at the remarks made by Gallants. "If I knew witchcraft I would have cursed your ass years ago. If you must know..."
"Nope never said that I did!" Gallants tried to interrupt but Lily continued. She did this to make a point and hoped that if she told him what the book was about he would shut up for once. "Please I have heard enough, seen enough, your a witch" Vinyl smiled looking at the two as she listened to her tunes. She could tell they were at it again but was unaware on what the details were because of her blaring music. Gallants crossed tapped his talon on the table annoyed but he knew he was about to hear it even if he didn't want too or care too. He was going to hear what the book was about no matter what he said.
"This book is about..." Octavia stepped out panting adjusting her bowtie and mane, she appeared to have had some issues back there of some kind because she looked like a wreak. Lily looked over and raised a brow at the new mare of the studio and smiled a bit as Beats stepped out with a strange look on his face. Vinyl didn't notice any of this because she was listening to her tunes and couldn't hear the two come into the room. "What's going on with you two? See something strange?"
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"It has been what? Five hours now and he is still just walking around?" Beats looked out trying to see through the rain but the storm was covering up allot of aspects of what was going on outside. The pony he was looking at had a white color and the mane colors seemed to be red and blue. "I don't know what else to say except he scared the hell out of me, Lily. He slammed his hooves up on the glass and walked away slowly" Octavia nodded slowly sipping on a cup of coffee. She was just as frightened by the stallion and probably even more than Beats was. Vinyl looked over from the other end of the table too her friend with a look of concern on her face. Gallants poked an empty box of doughnuts and sighed slowly taking a stand and walking over to his boss too look out the window with him.
"Don't you think we should see if he is okay?" Tavia shivered feeling a cold sensation rush over her body. Taking another sip of coffee she looks over to Gallants and Beats as if waiting for them to answer her question. "It is storming like the wrath of Discord out there and your not going to even check if he is okay?"
"He just came out of nowhere and scared the hell out of me. I am not even thinking of letting that guy in here" Gallants nodded in agreement to what Beats had just said in response. Lily stood up keeping her book close as if for a shield at this point. "Octavia I understand your concern but I can't just let anybody in here....especially after a display like that" Octavia began to grumble to herself now trying her best not to blow a lid. She may be a bit frightened but she always wanted to be that helping hoof. This stallion was outside alone in one of the worst storms she had ever seen and a voice in the back of her head was telling her to let him inside. Vinyl shook her head to move her mane out of her eyes using magic to place earbuds in her ears, leaving her headset on the table. She seemed a bit off sense she arrived but everypony shrugged it off thinking it was just the weather getting to her but Octavia gave a look from across the table. She knew something was off about her.
"I think you should at least consider thinking about it! He could have been trying to get our attention...to be let inside, Beats"
"I think you should keep him out! Don't invite him in and he won't come inside" Lily stepped in and set her book down with a nervous look in her eyes now. Gallants stepped back from the window and lightly used his wing to move his boss back too. "I knew reading this book was a good idea..." Octavia jumped from her seat as the stallion outside was now up against the window again. He stared in through the glass looking at the two mares Octavia and Lily. His eyes looked like a bright pinkish red and the rain was pouring down hard on him causing his long mane to cling to his neck.
"Mother fucker! That is exactly what he did to us when we were alone in the back!!" Beats grunted staring back at the creep who was now motionless staring into the window. "What do you want buddy!! Huh! Get the fuck outta here!" Octavia had one of her hooves pressed up onto her chest fluff. The stallion moved nothing but his eyes to look over at Roughed Beats now. "Fucking weirdo" Gallants tapped Roughed on the arm with his wing as if to let him know to stop with the cussing.
"Come on man...some way to present yourself..."
"Gallants! Are we even looking at the same guy here? You see what this guy is doing right now? Tell him to present himself better don't tell me too"
"Well just saying for the fact that there are now three" Gallants points with a wing feather at the mares and then narrows his eyes as if looking at prey. "Don't talk like that in front of them" the bird was always a dick but he was always less of a dick to females because he was that kind of guy who believed you should always respect them. He might be rude to Lily but even her he had respect for. Roughed nodded and the two both looked back at the stallion outside the window. "I guess in a way we are locked in here. Unless one of you is tough enough to go out there and boot the fella off the steps because I am not that tough" Gallants chuckled just creeped out by the stallion outside. Octavia took another sip of her coffee standing up and moving over to sit next to her roommate. Vinyl blushed softly looking over at Octavia before scooting over to allow room for her to sit. Lily moved over to the window keeping her book under her wing as everypony else was now away from the window. The Pegasus slowly pressed the cover of the book up against the cold glass so the stallion could see the symbol, Lily watched closely as the stallion smiled looking at it. The look on his face said it all too her and she was sure that what she was thinking was going on was the truth.
"I know what you are....but....you don't seem to be a creator. You only seem to be a creation..."
