The ear piercing alarm in Skip’s and Autumn’s ears woke them both up in a jolt. Their eyes crusty, with bags underneath. Their sleep schedule was a tad off from the past weekend. Yawning Skips climbed out of bed and trotted into the bathroom to clean up. Autumn decided coffee was more important than hygiene at this point and Beeline straight for the coffee maker.

Skips looking in the mirror for a few minutes before splashing his face with cold water. The temperature waking him up immediately. He let out a sigh, “Whats wrong babe?” Autumn said strolling past his partner. Skips shrugged, “I don’t know, life is really kicking my flank right now. I think im good at hiding it, but right now I cant.” Autumn walked over to his partner, and wrapped his hoofs around skips for a hug, “I will always be here for you. How about after class we get some lunch at the local pub, my treat, I know how much you love the french onion soup. And a cider would help to.” Skips smiled and agreed. The two got ready, and headed out. Leaving the sleeping mares alone in the apartment.

Octavia sat up quickly as if she had woken up from a horrible dream, “Oh buck me! What time is it? Vinyl! Wake up! Ill be late for my afternoon rehearsal.” Vinyl didn't move a muscle passed out from last night’s activities. “Vinyl!” Octavia now yelled, a sleepy vinyl slowly sat up, “What? You need more of this?” Vinyl gestured to her body. Octavia rolled her eyes, and pushed vinyl off the bed onto the floor, “Im going to be late for my rehearsal later this evening, if we don't move our flanks!” Vinyl looked over the bed at her partner, “ Well babe, I agree but you're more in the bed than I am at this point. So whos the more mature one now?” Vinyl said with her tounge sticking out.

The two colts walked towards the school, snow piled just about their hooves. As they walked in silence, mounths covered by cloth, they left a trail behind them.

Everypony was bundled up, from hoof to horn, or hair, or wings, all in all they where cozy. The school lights slightly reflected of the snow, covered by snow clouds. Winter wrap up was in just a month, a whole week off of school. Skips couldnt look forward to this more. It wasnt that he hated school, just how intimate it had gotten. In the past few months his whole life has been turned upside down. He thought his whole life was planned out, get a graphic design degree and travel the world. But now hes in a very committed relationship, and a full ride on music. He didn't know where to go next.

“Yo Tavi! They left us coffee want some?” Vinyl yelled through the apartment. “No! We don't have time! We’ll get some on the way!” Octavia yelled back to vinyl, she was stressed unable to find one of her bow ties, “Babe, you have like twenty of those things. Loosing one isnt a big deal, lets go.” Vinyl heard the rustling stop, and a flash of grey flew past her eyes, “Lets bucking go!” Vinyl shook her head and trotted out of the front door, locking it behind them.

The two flagged down a passing taxi, and told him their destination. As the colt started trotting octavia got settled, “Where was it?” Vinyl asked a tired octavia, “Not now vinyl.” Octavia leaned her head on vinyl, “You where wearing it weren’t you?” Vinyl stared down at octavia, “Shut up.” Vinyl bust out in laughter which followed by a swift punch to the leg.

Skips pushed open the big double doors, letting himself in to a warmer climate. Placks lined the wall, trophies from other students. A grand public piano sat dead center of the long, wide, hallway. Doors running down the left side, while the right had big windows looking out onto the commons. Ponies looking over the railing on the second story walkway.

Skip’s classroom was the very last one. A single recording studio. He walked in to hear beautiful instruments, playing through the loud speakers. Skips let himself in, his teacher put a hoof up, “where” skips looked around confused, “where?” He asked. “Where is this piece going? Shall it be calm? Or have a heavy drop?” Skips pondered, and listened to the electronic instruments come from the speakers, “With the tempo, and how this buildup is sounding. Its long, its a 50/50 shot really. But i say it wont be a big drop.” The music stops, and his professor turned to him quickly, “Never try to predict music! Music is from withen! It is what it needs to be! When you make a song do you let the music flow from your hoofs to your ears? Yes! You dont try to predict! You just let it out.” Skios taken aback by this didnt know what to say, “Come sit, youre going to make me a song today. I want something bouncy but calm. Harsh, but subtle in the fine details.” Skips gulped and sat down next to his professor.

Skips sat down at the laptop sitting on top of a mixing board, “Is the pl?” The professor nodded at skips, skips used to use this software back in middle school, but now the devs stopped development so it was out of date. “I know, its an old software. I want to see you make something with it.” Skips began to become nervous in front of the teacher. But felt at home in the current setting, staring at a DAW on the screen. After finding the vst folder he began playing with different plugins, and messing with various synths.

The professor watched as skips glued his eyes to the screen, the mood set by the dark blue lighting in the room around them. Skip’s hooves landing on the pads making a beat that bounced, a sort of Lo-fi style song. The melody keeping it grounded, while the bass lines met the kick and snare with grace, only to be broken up by the harsh closed hi-hat that ticked at a steady pace.

After adding fine details to the piece, the bell rang and the professor stood up. “Play it, as it sits.” Skips took a small gulp and pressed play, the bass filling the room, and the soothness of the melody keeping him grounded during his anxiety. The professor made no gesture or any sign of emotion towards the music. After a few minutes of awkward silence, skips slowly began to gather his bag and begin to walk out of the studio, “Wait.” Skips paused, “Where did you learn music?” The professor still not looking at skips, “I taught myself, well, ponytube taught me.” The professor stayed silent, “You created an entire song in less than an hour, and a damn good one at that, but, its not good enough. You show amateurism, and i can feel your anxiety through the piece. You’re humbleness is your down fall, if you wish to be successful in music you must acquire an ego.”

Skips stood in the doorway, “I didn't ask to be here. I was given an Ultimatum, either pay for school, or a free ride doing music.” The teacher stood up, and in a loud stern voice yelled, “You’re damn right the school gave you an ultimatum! You where wasting the talent you have on what? Graphic design? You have no talent for art! Only music! Ill see you tomorrow, now get the fuck out of my studio.”

Skips slowly walked down the long hallway to the exit door, the entire building heard the yelling. Skips had the door propped open with his hoof, so people stared at him. He couldn't begin to think what they where thinking, his anxiety began to take over, only the worst entered his head. He saw Autumn waiting outside the door sitting on a bench looking over his phone. Skip’s didn't want to see autumn, he wanted to be alone. But the date was set, and he could have used a beer, or six.

Skips walked up to an unknowing Autumn, “Hey.” He said with a huff. Autumn immediately knew something was wrong and threw his hooves around skips, “Babe? Whats wrong?” Skips started to Tear up, Autumns embrace bringing him more comfort than he would ever admit. Skips is a sensitive pony, but wont show dur to his up bringing. Skips cried into Autumns warm neck, “I just wanted to go through school with ease, and graduate to something simple.” He cried into Autumns soft mane, “But this professor, h-he is so pushy and s-so mean.” The door opened behind them, as a colt walked out, “Im not mean, I see potential in you and as a professional I can not let that go to waste. So until you get to the point where I think I can let off, I will be very hard on you. Get used to it, im not your friend, im your teacher.” Autumn was in shock, he had never seen a professor so bold to his students.

Autumn lowered his grip around Skips and kissed him on the forehead, “Im so sorry you have to deal with that. We should tell the administrators!” Skips shook his head, “No, its a free ride, i just need to do better.” Autumn stayed quite after that comment, he had never seen skips so submissive towards authority before. “What would help?” Autumn said cocking his head to the side, “A beer, or twelve.” Autumn chuckled, “Well come on then, beers on me!”

The pub was dark, and made primarily of dark stained wood. Fancy over hangs textured the walls that separate the Recessed booths. The two sat at the empty bar, while the other ponies in the bar sat and ate subpar food. “What can I get you two today?” Autumn looked at skips, and back at the bartender, “Its been a rough day, lets do two shots of whiskey and a beer to start.” The bartender nodded and turned to fix the drinks.

The two sat, and waited for their drinks. The front door to the pub opened and a tall colt walked in, “Oh buck me.” Autumn said just loud enough for Skips to notice and look up, “Forget him, I just want to drink.” The bartender sat the drinks down in front of the two, and Skips slammed his shot back and started drinking his beer. “If you drink that too fast you could choke, I would calm down.” The professor sat down next to Skips trying to Avert from Autumns staring. He waved at the bartender to get his usual, “Skips I would like to apologize for my recent outburst.” Skips sat his beer down, “Water under the bridge.”

The bartender came back with the single glass of bourbon, “Thank you, put it and theirs on my tab.” Skips looked over at him, “You don't have to do that, we have money.” The professor chuckled, “I have more bits than I know what to do with.” Autumn laughed, “On a professors budget? Haha, fat chance, you don't have to show off.” The professor shook his head, “Neither of you know who I am do you? Call me X”

Autumn and skips looked at wach other confused, “X?” Skips asked, “Like, X-pony?” X smiled, “The very same.” Skips lit up, Autumn not so much, “Babe! Do you know who this colt is? You played at Canterlot Back Street last year! I was front row to that concert! You rocked!” Autumn visibly confused, “Wait, so youre famous?” Skips spun around to face his partner, “Oh ya! Hes huge! Vinyl opened for him a few times actually. He usually has a mask on, its so cool. He makes some dope edm.” X chuckled, “Vinyl scratch, what a character. I saw her at your show the other day, those where your beats up there huh?” Skips blushed, “Ya, the whole set was my work.”

X drank his bourbon, “That night, I wanted to see what you could do, thats why im so hard on you. You’re gunna be like me some day, you just need to be polished up is all.”

Author's Note

Oh boy, here is another one.
Been a minute but here it is.
Sorry for any grammar mess ups.
Hope everyone is staying safe.
I already started the next chapter. I think im gunna go to 20 chapters and then call it. So we’ll see.