Unison: Spectacles and Shades

by Bookish Delight

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, DJ P0N-3, Sad, Romance, Original Character
Length: 23073

Twilight Sparkle and Vinyl Scratch have a meeting of the minds... and learn more than they expected.

Years ago, two unicorn prodigies attended the same school without knowing it. One became changed by friendship at an early age--the other far later in life.

At a fashion show gone wrong, the two prodigies at last meet. Being who they are, it's impossible for them to resist comparing notes...

(Companion image graciously provided by TurboSolid on DA. Thanks!)

Published 2012-09-16 21:14:01 UTC
Last updated 2014-01-13 01:46:25 UTC

1: Together, From A Distance

"You see, it all comes down to reliability."

"Huh? Relia-what?"

"Reliability." A chipper, analytical voice was just audible over the singing of birds, the wind whistling through grass and trees, and the playing of several small ponies. While those ponies enjoyed the spring day, however, a white unicorn filly was deep in thought--and thus, in her element.

"The best part about numbers is that once you put them together and perform the necessary operations, you never have to wonder about whether the answer you get is wrong now, or will be wrong in the future." The lecturing filly scribbled numbers and symbols in a notebook as she spoke, then laid the book out on a wooden yard table for three of her other classmates to see. "Unless, you know, you screwed up the operations to begin with. So, uh, let's not do that."

She chuckled. Nopony else did. It was all right. They were busy deciphering her notes, after all. Once she saw them nod their heads, she asked, "Things make more sense now?"

They nodded some more, this time while looking at her.

"Great! So now, you can build on whatever we've got for the next stretch of the problem. But I'll leave that to you. 'Cause I need to get home and study, too!"

"Wait! So soon? But you're actually being kind of helpful," said a cream-colored unicorn with a pink mane. "Can't you stay with us? We're all going to get together at Moondancer's house to study tonight."

The white unicorn shook her head. "Yeah, sorry. I just study better alone. It's nothing personal. Having other ponies around just really distracts me. Don't worry, though. I have full faith in you being able to ace this sucker!"

"Whatever, Batch." Another unicorn, this one blue, sighed. "Guess there's no convincing you."

"'Fraid not." Batch shrugged, and turned to leave. "Gotta go. Good luck!" She took a step, then stopped, looked back, and gave a happy grin. "Oh, and thanks for using the nickname! I really appreciate it."

The cream-colored unicorn giggled. "You've only been asking the whole class to for weeks. Is it really such a big deal for you?"

Batch looked away for a second. "Y-yeah. I just don't like hearing my normal name too much." She ran a hoof over her blue mane and adjusted her spectacles. "Anyway, I've got to go. Huge test to study for, right?" She waved.

"Right. So long!" The other ponies waved back, and when she was out of earshot:

"Can you believe her?"
"I know she's super-smart, but there's a reason I always see her sitting alone at lunch."
"Let's face it. She's obviously just more interested in grades than friends."

As Batch trotted down the dirt road towards home, she took one last look back at her school's grounds.

An overhead sign, which read "Princess Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns," could be seen, now small in the distance.

"Unison: Spectacles and Shades"
A My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Fanfiction
Part 1: "Together, From A Distance"
by Bookish Delight, 2012-2013

All characters and referred properties belong to Hasbro.

Batch always took the same path home, passing by the same houses, the same stores, and often the same ponies. She knew them, and they knew her, and honestly, she was comfortable with that. Routine was good. Routine made life easier to plan for--and did she ever have plans.

Today, however, her routine homeward commute was disrupted by a terrible noise assaulting her from a small distance away. After holding her ears long enough to get used to it, she walked towards its source: a small house, still on her path, but--as she would find out later--situated exactly halfway between school and her home.

The closer Batch approached the house on that first day, the more it hurt her ears. She heard nothing but clacking and chaos, yet it did nothing but further pique her curiosity. Once in front of the house, she looked in through its open window.

Inside, she saw another unicorn filly who looked around her age, whose face was scrunched in concentration. The keys of the piano she sat in front of were telekinetically pressed almost at random, as she struggled to get them under her control. Mounted on the piano's stand was a lesson book, wide open. Several more were neatly stacked on the ground beside her as well.

Batch pitied her. Her own parents had tried giving her piano lessons less than a year ago. They never took, and as far as Batch was concerned, that instrument was pure torture. All those keys, making it easy to get lost? No labels of any kind? No predictability to be found unless you were attempting to play the simplest of scales? Not to mention those pedals messing with the sounds even more! It just wasn't for her.

She shook her head and continued her walk home, doing her best to will the noise out of her mind.

She might have succeeded, had the noise not repeated itself every afternoon hence. It mildly annoyed Batch, but not enough for her to deviate from routine and find a new trail. Quite the opposite--she still would check back in every so often.

The third day was the same story as the first, except this time she could actually feel the filly's frustration with each haphazard key press. The eighth day was particularly bad, ending with the filly bashing her head against the keys, repeatedly, while groaning.

The fifteenth day, for some reason, wasn't as bad, and Batch was compelled to find out why. The sheer fact that this girl was still going with this mystified and impressed her.

Looking in this time, she could see the unicorn playing in a more reserved manner. She used slower key presses, and whenever she messed up, she would glance at the page of her lesson book, retrace her steps, then play the last few measures over again.

Batch stood at the window,, watching the filly practice and improve before her eyes. As she witnessed the phenomenon, she couldn't help cheering for the budding musician in her mind.

Come on. You can do it.

On the thirtieth day, Batch was walking home as usual, when she was frozen solid in her tracks by an unexpected, but glorious melody.

She double-checked all of her senses. It still came from the same piano, within the same teal-colored, shingled house. Looking inside, she could still see the same unicorn girl, close to her age, sky-blue with a white mane and tail, pressing notes through the use of magic from her horn. The familiar smell of freshly-baked cookies--chocolate chip, it was always chocolate chip--that she caught every so often wafted to her nose.

Everything was the same as it ever was. So how was this happening? How were the notes being played so fast? How were they being played this well?

The lesson books which the girl had been so frustrated over earlier showed clear signs of having been shoved to the floor in a heap. All those texts, carefully constructed to tell her how to get music right and correct, and she wasn't paying heed to a single one.

Yet she still sounded wonderful.

The song finished, and Batch rushed to the door. She knocked furiously until it was opened-

"Ow!"

Batch quickly removed her hoof from head of the unicorn who was now standing in the doorway. "Oh, gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh, I'm so sorry!"

The unicorn rubbed her head. "No, it's okay. Um... can I help you?"

"Hi! Yeah, um, okay. I know you've never seen me before. But I've been watching you a lot."

The girl stepped back, a disturbed look on her face.

Batch slapped her forehead. "Right. That came out wrong. What I meant was, I hear you practicing a lot 'cause your house is on the way to mine going home after school. Not something I could help."

The unicorn relaxed. "Oh. Okay." She then froze. "Wait a minute. How long have you been hearing me practice?" Her voice was meek and reserved, and her face apprehensive.

"Um, a month now." Batch chuckled nervously. "It was definitely a learning process."

The unicorn's face fell, and she reached for the door. "I'm sorry I put you through all that, then."

"Wait, wait!" Batch held it open. "You sounded awesome just now! What you were just playing, I... I was really into it. And I loved watching you learn, especially 'cause I never could. I'm not much of a music person, but from what I'm hearing, you could really go places with your kind of talent!"

The unicorn hesitated. "R-really?"

Batch flashed the biggest grin she was able. "Really really."

"Thanks." The unicorn smiled back. "I've never had an audience before. I'm glad somepony actually likes what I'm doing." She hesitated, looking past Batch for a few seconds, then opened the door all the way. "You, uh, wanna come in?"

"Really?" Batch slowly trotted inside, the carpeting tickling her hooves slightly as she looked around the spacious living room. It was decorated with all sorts of things--plants, vases, family pictures, and even a crystal unicorn in one corner. "I mean, is this okay? Is anypony else around?" She cocked her head to the side. "For that matter, how come I never see you going to or from school?"

"I'm home-schooled. My tutor's left already, though."

"She doesn't help with the piano lessons?"

"I didn't ask for lessons. This is more of a hobby of mine. I just needed something to do outside of studying all the time. And my parents don't ever get home until evening." She looked at Batch. "You're the first pony I've ever seen care about what I'm trying to do here."

Batch's expression sobered. "Gosh, I'm sorry."

The unicorn's smile persisted. "Don't be. I'm glad you're here. I know you think I'm 'awesome,' but I know I still need a lot of practice, and I'm not sure I can do it alone. So instead of passing by my house every day, why not just come inside?"

Batch's face lit up. "Sure, I'd love to--wait." She paused. "Are you asking to be friends?"

The unicorn thought it over. "I guess so. Not used to it?"

Batch put a hoof behind her head with a sheepish chuckle. "I do a lot of that 'studying' that you said you wanted to get away from."

"I know the feeling." The unicorn looked away. "I-I don't have much friendship experience either."

Batch stepped forward, and took hold of her new friend's hoof. "I guess we'll both be learning what it's like together, then."

"Mm-hmm. We should probably start with our names, though." She looked back at Batch. "I'm Melody. Magical Melody. And you?"

Silence followed as Batch took a few seconds to make a very important decision. She closed her eyes and sighed. "Match. Binary Match."

Melody's look became quizzical. "That sounded like it hurt to say."

Batch shrugged. "Let's just say I've always had, uh, mixed feelings about my name."

"Really? I like it."

"Yeah, I know, it's totally not-" Binary did a double-take towards Melody. "Wh-what?"

"I said, 'I like it'. A lot, actually. How'd you end up with it?"

"You really wanna know?"

Magical Melody nodded with more energy than Binary ever would have expected.

"Wow. Okay, then. Well, Pop's a mathematician. He made sure it rubbed off." She snickered and rolled her eyes. "Fortunately, the math I don't hate. I still have my full collection of number blocks and everything."

Melody was positively beaming now. "Makes sense to me. My parents just gave me my name because they said my cries sounded like singing on the day I was born. Before I started practicing the piano, I tried singing. It didn't work out." Her smile disappeared, and she looked towards the ground. "Your name sounds like you're actually good at something."

Binary pushed Melody's chin up. "Whoa, hey, do not sell yourself short. Simple equation: if you hadn't been living up to your name just now, would we be friends?"

Melody took a few seconds to mull it over--then her smile returned. She stepped forward and wrapped Binary in a hug. "Thank you. That's the nicest thing anypony's ever said to me."

Binary hugged back, a warm feeling washing over her. In the moment, she decided she was willing to give this concept of "friendship" exactly one chance.

2: Making A Splash

What was I thinking?

A star-adorned tiara plopped onto Twilight Sparkle's bed.

It all looked to so good in my head! The actual outfit even looked good! At least to me... but I'm no designer, am I?

Two oversized, star-plastered sets of earrings and bows followed.

And the whole time, I pushed her to make it. Constantly correcting her over the most minor of details, forcing her to abandon her design sensibilities, and being ungrateful about a dress that she had offered to make me for free!

That dress, cluttered with animal and constellation designs, joined her jewelry on the bed with a soft ploomf. Twilight looked at the ensemble, only now finally able to see it for the trainwreck it was.

Whew. Back to some semblance of sanity. But the damage is already done. It's my fault. I asked for this, and I got exactly what I wanted... at the expense of a good friend's image. Maybe even her career. I'm the absolute worst.

She walked out of her bedroom and downstairs, head bowed in a forlorn gaze. At the same time, Spike ran up to her. "Twilight! There you are. I wasn't sure if you were coming back out after, well..." He trailed off.

Twilight caught his meaning. "I'm fine, Spike. It's Rarity who's beside herself. And I wish I could help, but I'm not sure I'm the best pony she should be seeing right now, if you get my drift."

Spike nodded. "Yeah. It, uh, was your outfits that brought the house down. Or should I say, the fashion show." He perked up. "But hey! I wasn't one of her dress models! Maybe she'll talk to me. No harm in trying, right?"

Twilight sighed and rolled her eyes. "You've got me. I can't think of any better ideas at the moment."

Spike's smile doubled in size. "Great! See you later!" Almost instantly, he was out the door. Twilight chuckled to herself. While his crush on Rarity was still all too obvious, she had to admire his dedication in the name of friendship. Or at least she would if she were able to tell which he was acting on at any given moment.

Now alone in her house, she trotted towards her shelves. Perhaps curling up in bed with a nice book would help her forget about-

"Hey. I heard this was this town's library. Am I warm?"

Twilight turned around, and nodded towards a white unicorn mare who had just walked through the door. "Boiling, actually. Welcome to Golden Oaks. What can I do for you?"

"Oh, perfect! Got a few titles." The unicorn materialized, then floated, a sheet of paper to Twilight. "Hopefully that makes it easy."

"Hmmm." Twilight read the books' titles out loud as she levitated them off of the shelves. "'Sounds of Equestrian Cultures', 'The Marezart Effect', 'The Science of Scales'... hey, this is pretty high-level stuff! I mean, music-wise. From what I've heard." She looked at the titles again, noticed the unicorn's cutie mark, and stopped as she came to a realization. "Hang on a second! Weren't you the one playing at the fashion show tonight?"

"Uh-huh," the unicorn said, as Twilight wished to the heavens that she could remember her name. The fetched books, meanwhile, were flipped open as they hovered in the air, the mystery mare "hmmm"ing several times as she scanned them with a speed and precision that impressed even Twilight... then stopped.

"Wait a minute... wait a minute!"

The sunglasses resting atop the white unicorn's muzzle began a slow rise as she stepped closer to one of the books, reading a passage multiple times. A pad and pencil appeared beside her, and began furiously scribbling numbers and musical notes across it in a linear fashion... until, finally, her entire face lit up in triumph. "Yeah... yeah, this is it! Eureka!" With a squeal, the books went flying across the room. "I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!"

"Whoa, watch it there," said Twilight, catching the books in mid-flight with her own magic. "You'll put an eye out!"

"Huh?" The white mare came to her senses, sheepishly placing a hoof to her head. "Oh, wow. Heh heh. Sorry, totally seriously sorry. I'd never normally do that. It's just..." Her gaze became faraway. "...you ever have one of those moments when you solve a prob that's been messin' with you for ages? I just knew I'd get the answer from those!" She gestured to the floating books. "But finding them was the hard part."

"Actually?" Twilight gave off her own embarrassed grin. "I have had those moments. My books go flying too. So I forgive you. As for finding these particular books, there are only a few copies left in Equestria. Most of the rarities here were brought from my personal collection, from back when I lived in Canterlot Castle."

"Canterlot Cas-" And up the shades were pushed again, yielding crimson eyes in a curious and emphatic stare. "Waaaait a second. Are you... Twilight Sparkle? You're Twilight Sparkle, aren't you?"

Twilight's cheeks reddened. "Y-yeah. Sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier. I've been a little distracted."

"Nah, I'm sorry I didn't recognize you earlier. But in my defense: sweet Celestia, what were you doing in that outfit?"

Twilight's blush became more intense. "I'm... not sure I want to talk about it just yet. As for you, though, it's so weird. I know your look, your face, your twin-note cutie mark, but I-"

"-never got a name?"

"Just the opposite! Over the years, I've heard too many to count!"

"Heh. Good. Was worried for a sec." The white unicorn chuckled. "That's totally on purpose. I've gone by lots of names. Part of the business. Try to think of a new one every year if I can." Her shades went back over her eyes as she flashed Twilight a cool grin and a toss of her wild blue mane. "That way, nopony forgets the look. 'Cause that stays constant."

Twilight's blush persisted. "Right. I guess I can see that."

"Hey, totally marketable, if nothing else." The shades were poofed out of existence. "The last name I picked didn't work out so well, though. Turns out nopony can agree on how to pronounce letters, numbers and hyphens at the same time." She sighed. "Gonna need a change, and soon, but until I can think of one..."

She looked straight at Twilight.

"...how about we just go with 'Vinyl Scratch?'"

"Unison: Spectacles and Shades"
A My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Fanfiction
Part 2: "Making A Splash"
by Bookish Delight, 2012-2013

All characters and referred properties belong to Hasbro.

Twilight nodded with a smile. "I like it. Makes rational sense, given what you do, right?"

Vinyl nodded. "Beginning to realize that more and more. But yeah. I'm real glad to hear you recognize me. Makes things a lot less awkward. I've heard you go by another name too, though! 'The Princess's Pet?'" She pointed to Twilight and winked.

Twilight groaned as her hoof loudly met her forehead. "Oh, no. How far has that spread?"

"Ummm... Manehattan, Las Pegasus, Fillydelphia... that's just the last three places I know of." Vinyl chuckled. "Yeah, sorry. You're never gettin' rid of it."

"Awwww!" Twilight slumped to the ground. "But it's such an embarrassing name! It makes it sound like she's got me wrapped around her-"

Vinyl leaned in. "Well, does she?"

Twilight really wished her blushing would stop. At least before she fainted.

Vinyl simply laughed. "Hey, don't sweat it. Most ponies mean it in the nicest way." She looked at Twilight inquisitively. "But hang on. You know me, too? I mean, I don't jockey books."

Twilight snickered. "Well, I know of you, at least. You've handled parties all over Equestria, and Ponyville's got its very own, uh... what you might call a 'party specialist.' What she doesn't set up, she takes notes on. Also, she was able to pronounce the last name you came up with."

Vinyl recoiled, and blinked. "Wait. Even the '3'?"

Twilight giggled. "It doesn't sound possible until you hear her do it."

"I'll have to meet her later. But right now... oh wow, the Twilight Sparkle," Vinyl said, oblivious to Twilight's ever-growing light-headedness. "I've wanted to meet you for ages." She looked around the library. "No wonder this place has everything! Sorry again for almost laying waste to it."

"Huh? N-no, uh, no, i-it's quite all right. It's just... well, I didn't really see that 'eureka' moment coming. From you." She paused, realized what she'd just inferred, and began babbling in embarrassment. "A-ahhh, I-I mean, I mean I didn't mean it like that, I just... awwww."

Vinyl flushed. "Hey, it surprises a lotta ponies. Seriously, don't sweat that either."

"Well, no, I mean..." Twilight finally stopped to take a deep breath. "I mean it was a happy surprise. Sure, it goes against your advertised image." Twilight's voice softened. "But I liked it."

"You li-..." Vinyl's body as a whole visibly relaxed, as did her eyes, and the smile on her face grew larger as she exhaled happily. "Thanks, Twilight. That's great to hear. Especially coming from you."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Vinyl began a slow pace around the library. "Keep this under your mane, but my alma mater? School for Gifted Unicorns, same as you. While you were rollin' though Celestia's magic program, though, I was rockin' the math department. Bigger surprise? I was having the time of my life. Remind me to show you my yearbooks sometime." Her smile went wide. "And by 'sometime,' I mean 'never.'" Reaching a corner of the treehouse, she spied several unused records in a corner, and sauntered over to them. "Hey, I didn't know you had an audio wing."

"Technically? I was toying with the idea of a music history section. I haven't cleared the shelf space for it yet, though, so the records don't see much use."

Vinyl turned her head back to Twilight, and fed her a wink. "Mind if I change that?"

Twilight walked over. "Huh? O-oh, not at all! Be my guest."

"Sweet." Vinyl's horn took on a light-blue magic sheen, causing several albums to levitate from the pile and spin in single file around both unicorns' heads. Twilight managed to catch a couple of titles as they flew past--Coltown Blues: A Collection and Equine Nature, to be precise--before deciding to stop for fear of dizziness.

The speed of the flying records didn't appear to be a problem for Vinyl, however. Her eyes darted back and forth as she scanned and mumbled the name of every single record to herself, her voice taking on an analytic tone until all the albums stopped abruptly and were neatly re-piled.

"Aha!" she said, pulling out The Three Seasons and hooflessly releasing the record from its sleeve. "Always up for revisiting old friends."

The record glowed with the hue of Vinyl's magic. It spun in midair, and it wasn't long before Vinyl herself took on a trance-like state of expression--her eyes closed, and her head slowly nodding up and down. "Mmmmmm... uh-huh. Yeah. Whoa, still as divine as I remember. We may have to make a deal here, Twi."

A confused Twilight simply stared, until it finally hit her. "Wait... you can hear it? Without a player?"

"It's not that hard. You just tune yourself to the grooves in the record. Be the needle." She opened her eyes and beckoned with one hoof. "Here, I'll show ya."

Twilight trotted over, and, once she was in front of Vinyl, gasped as the white unicorn touched a single hoof to her cheek. At the touch, Twilight's heart jumped near to her throat, and stayed there for a full second.

"Nothin' to be afraid of, Twilight," Vinyl said in a soft voice. "And hey, this might come in handy someday. Now, I want you to try to mix your magic with mine. Try to feel the same vibrations I do. If we manage to get in sync..."

She smiled, meeting Twilight's eyes, causing the latter to freeze in wonderment.

"...well, you'll know it when it happens."

"O-okay." Twilight concentrated, her horn glowing violet and touching the record. Her light bounced and clashed against Vinyl's to start, but gradually blended. Behind her ears, she heard several crackles, which slowly morphed into a cacophony of random tones, and then into the ordered harmony of an orchestra.

Twilight gasped. "Vinyl, I hear it! There's so many instruments! I hear the-"

"-great!" said Vinyl breathlessly, shutting her eyes tighter than before. "Don't lose it, though! Best's yet to come!"

"Really? Okay! Gosh, I... wow." Twilight closed her eyes, concentrating harder...

...and when she reopened them, she was no longer in the library.

She looked around, and found herself on the balcony of a large concert hall. The orchestra she'd heard seconds earlier could now be seen in front of her, several feet away, playing their hearts out.

"Well," said a voice beside her, "You do catch on fast. Knew you could do it, though. Not a doubt in my mind."

"Vinyl?" Looking around the hall again, Twilight did a double-take when she saw Vinyl wearing her mane in a bun. She felt at her own mane, and was both relieved and disappointed that hers hadn't changed. "Where are-"

"Hang on." A white hoof placed itself gently to Twilight's lips. "I love this part." The music from the orchestra swelled as it began a new movement, during which Vinyl could be seen becoming increasingly pumped. "Yeah... yeah, yeah! You go, girl! Rock those strings!"

Twilight rolled her eyes and snickered. "And you were telling me to be quiet?"

"Eheheheheheh." Vinyl fidgeted. "Hey, I enjoy this stuff in my own way. So sue me. Not that anypony would. My mind, my rules."

Twilight scanned the orchestra. "Who are you cheering on, anyway?"

"Oh, just somepony I sometimes talk to." She gestured, then waved, down to a gray earth pony mare on the cello who noticed, and nodded back. "Know her from back up north."

Twilight followed Vinyl's gaze, then gasped in recognition. "I've seen her at Canterlot's social events!"

"Yeah, that's where she usually shows up." Vinyl blushed. "If you ever meet her--I mean, the real her--in Canterlot, don't tell her about this, okay? She thinks I hate the classics." Her grin reached from ear to ear. "Total opposite. I just love messing with her."

Twilight giggled. "My lips are sealed."

"Awesome." She sidled up to Twilight, warm coats brushing against each other. "So, how're you enjoying your first magically-induced concert?"

"It's..." Twilight looked around once more in awe. The audience in attendance was massive, numbering in the hundreds. She wondered if they were all based on real ponies as well. "...it's still a bit of a shock. But in a good way. I didn't know this was possible."

Vinyl shrugged. "I didn't know beating centuries-long-sealed supervillains was possible. But hey. We've all got stuff we can do, right?

The final notes of the orchestra sounded, then made way for applause once the symphony concluded. The two ponies applauded with the rest, and once that applause died down, the scene itself underwent a slow, gradual dissolution, with audience members fading left and right.

"Hey," Vinyl said, diverting Twilight's attention away from the phenomenon. "Just as a note, I don't usually get to share this balcony with anypony. I... I'm glad you could be the first."

A flattered happiness swelled within Twilight as she examined Vinyl's face, and saw eyes wide and content--along with a smile which had undergone a marked switch from cool and humorous to heartfelt and genuine.

She returned the expressions.

"The honor is mine."

The world of the concert swirled away, and soon, the two had officially returned to the library.
"And that's all there is to it," said Vinyl. "On a basic level, anyway. Saves a ton on equipment, let me tell ya'--huh?"

Twilight rushed close, unable to contain her giddiness. Consequently, Vinyl had no time to prepare for her right hoof being taken in both of the violet uinicorn's.

"That was absolutely amazing! I didn't know unicorn magic could be used for... well, that! Is this what happens when you combine music and magic? And, and..." She looked back at the books Vinyl had originally requested, still open on the floor. "...and mathematics, too? Please! I have to know!"

"Pretty much?" Vinyl shrugged. "The way school was going, I figured I was on the fast track to being an accountant or something." She nodded towards her cutie mark. "Funny how things change. Here's the weird thing about destinies, though: sometimes you still need other skills to make 'em shine. Hearin' me?"

Twilight smiled, letting go of her new friend's hoof. "Loud and clear, Miss Scratch."

"Good. Heh." Vinyl blushed and chuckled, then hesitated before adding, "Listen, uh, if... if you're really that interested in this stuff, well, I'm in town for another week or so! I don't mind giving lessons." Her front hooves started a slow fidgeting shuffle as her head angled low and to the side. "I-I mean, that is, only if you wanna."

Twilight's excitement came across almost too loudly. "Would I? This is a refreshing new perspective on magic studies! I'd be crazy to pass up the chance!"

Vinyl perked back up. "All right, then--it's a date!" She headed towards the door. "Let's both get a good couple of nights' sleep and meet up... I don't know. Noonish or so on Tuesday? I wanna study these books so I can totally wow you," she said, levitating them to her side.

Twilight giggled. "Sounds good to me. I can't wait!" she said with a goodbye wave, which Vinyl returned before leaving. As they parted, Spike walked back in. "How's Rarity?" she asked.

Spike shrugged and shook his head. "Wish I knew. She let me in, and I think she tried to talk, but it all came out in blubbering nonsense. I think she realized that too, 'cause before too long she just gave up and locked herself in her room." He paused before looking up to his comrade. "I dunno if she's coming back from this one, Twilight."

Twilight "hmm"ed in thought before finally responding with, "Let's give her some space. This isn't the first time she's gone dramatic. It'll take some time, but I'm sure she'll be up for talking things out soon."

"I hope you're right. I mean, I can work around the always-on tear ducts, but it's not the preferred option, you know?" He looked back at the exiting unicorn. "Who was that?"

The warm feeling in Twilight's chest momentarily resurfaced as she flashed back to her impromptu concert. "Somepony I would never have expected. In more ways than one."

3: Five Weeks

Week 1
Tuesday

It was still a heavenly sight, even now.

Keys were pressed at lightning speed across Magical Melody's piano, assembling a collection of tones with a pronounced classical air. In time, Binary Match recognized it as as a casual rendition of Parasprite Waltz.

Melody hadn't noticed Binary looking through her window yet, and so continued to play. It was like before they'd met, with one clear difference--instead of wrinkled frustration, Melody's face now displayed a peaceful smile.

Only when the song was finished did Binary knock on the front door. Almost immediately she heard the light scrape of a piano stool and the equally light tapping of hooves--galloping hooves, since when did Melody have that much energy?--approaching the door, which opened in mere seconds.

And, then, there was Melody, in front of her, staring at her--and still wearing that smile.

Binary waved. "Hi there."

Melody's smile grew even bigger. "Hi, Binary! Come on in."

Binary did so, pulling out a large booklet from her saddlebag and placing it on a nearby table. "Here's some more sheet music for you."

Melody gasped. "Even more?" She levitated the booklet, opened it, and sifted through its pages until she happened upon a piece dense with notes.

Binary nodded. "Hey, usually this stuff just sits around on shelves. You can borrow it for as long as you want."

"Thank you." Keeping the booklet spread open to her chosen song, Melody set it up on the piano and began to play. As with all the songs she learned, things went slow at first, but in under fifteen minutes, strains of jazz-tinted notes burst forth from the piano, in a manner that could only be described as concert-worthy.

"You know," said Melody, "you've been giving me these nonstop for days. How do you keep coming across-" She suddenly stopped playing and turned to Binary, a concerned look on her face. "-you're not buying all of these for me, are you?"

"I wish I were that rich." Binary shook her head. "My mom's a total music buff. She's got tons of this stuff. Sheet music, records... she was seriously happy when I started taking piano lessons." She chuckled sheepishly. "Not so much once I stopped. But then I told her I made friends with you, and now she's happy again." Binary sighed. "Parents, I guess."

"Yes." Melody slowly nodded. "They can sometimes worry, I've noticed."

"No kidding! Like I need more help worrying over stuff? I'm already wondering where my cutie mark is." She scoffed. "I know what I want to do in life, and yet I still don't get the stupid butt-picture." She looked behind herself. "Hurry up!" she snapped at her haunches.

Melody giggled. "That never works. I've tried it and I still don't have my mark either. But you already know what you want to do? That's a step up from most ponies."

"Yep." Binary's confident grin was back. "I'm not in Celestia's school for nothing! Still totally into the math thing. I figure I'll rise up the school ranks, and get the Princess herself to notice me. Once I do that, I've got a whole bunch of theories about how math and magic can be tied together!"

Melody blinked. "You want to turn magic into a bunch of math problems?"

Binary put a hoof behind her head. "Heh heh. You're not the first pony to say that. But not quite. See, we're all taught that we use our magic mainly by feeling, and that's the end of it. So way too many unicorns think it's all just about raw magic power, y'know? But I think there's more to it."

Binary sauntered towards the nearby window and gestured outward.

"Math is everywhere in nature--my pop taught me that. And that's got to include magic. If we can better understand our magic and how it works, if we can find the math in it, then break it down into different pieces to put back together however we want... who knows what we can do after that?"

Melody gave an understanding nod. "I think that's very noble. How close do you think you are to finding your answer?"

Binary shrugged and walked back to her friend. "Not very. I actually just told you everything I said at my interview. Guess that's why they plunked me in turbo-algebra. Enough about school when I'm not in it, though. Let's talk music, huh?"

Melody smiled. "Always my favorite subject."

Week 1
Thursday

"Hey, girls! Wait up!"

With another school day over, Binary ran towards the same group of ponies she'd declined the study offer from a while back. Once she caught up to them she saw that they were joined this time by a beige-colored filly, with a wild red hairdo that both curled and stuck out in all directions. She stood at the head of the others, a definitive air of leadership about her. As they were all in the same class, Binary recognized her instantly.

"Hi, Moondancer!" Binary said in a chipper voice. "Sorry I couldn't make your study session before."

"What, the one from a month ago?" Moondancer shrugged. "Well, we all passed. Maybe we might not always need the great superbrain Batch to bail us out after all."

Binary let the remark pass. Deserved that one, she told herself. "Oh yeah, about that. You can..." Binary made a decision then and there. "...you can call me Binary. It's okay."

That got the other fillies to stop and stare.

"Huh?" said Praline, the cream-colored unicorn. "But you said you didn't like being called that."

"Oh, right. Um... well, forget all that stuff I said. I've been having a newfound appreciation for my name as of late. Not to mention the concept of being around other ponies. Which brings me to a question. Is it all right if I... well, uh... hang out with you guys?"

The other fillies hesitated, shifting back and forth on their hooves. Moondancer broke the silence. "Well, we do have this month's test coming up."

Binary shrugged. "That's fine, I guess, I'll totally help out. But I also mean, just, like... you know. Normally. I just want to hang out with you guys. Go with you when you do stuff. Is that okay?"

The girls blinked and stared again.

"We'll, uh, think about it?" Berry Blue piped up, avoiding the stare she got from Moondancer a second later.

"I understand. I've given you a hard time before. Talk to you later, then?"

Moondancer sized Binary up, then simply responded with a "Maybe," before the whole group turned to leave.

"Works for me." Binary waved a hoof. "Take care!"

The other ponies trotted off, and when they were out of earshot...

"Yes!" Binary hissed, pumping a forehoof in jubilance.

"Unison: Spectacles and Shades"
A My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Fanfiction
Part 3: "Five Weeks"
by Bookish Delight, 2012-2013

All characters and referred properties belong to Hasbro.

Week 2
Monday

"So how's it going with your classmates?" asked Melody.

Binary huffed and slumped on the piano stool next to her friend. Her head hit the keys, making an undesirable tone upon impact. "Ugh. Terrible."

Melody let out a quick whistle. "Wow. That bad?"

"More like that weird." Binary raised her head and threw up her forelegs. "They like weird things! Like shopping, and parties, and talking about other ponies a whole bunch! So when I bring up the fact that a dress they're looking at in a shop window costs so much because of all the pony-hours it took to create it, they look at me like I'm a griffon or something."

Melody shivered in reply.

"Yeah," Binary said. "Like that." She sighed. "But at least I'm with some ponies in school now. I used to hear them talk about me behind my back. A lot of them had problems with me being alone all of the time. Never really got what the deal was with all that. Not everyone's a pony-magnet."

Melody nodded. "Sometimes I see other ponies passing by my house besides you. And they're surrounded by more ponies, all talking at the same time. I look at them and wonder how any of them ever get a word in edgewise." She turned to meet Binary's eyes. "I'd rather wait to find the right friend. But that's just me."

Binary's grin became extra-wide. "I like how you think, Melody."

"Oh, my." Melody giggled. "A mental compliment from the great genius herself?"

Binary laughed. "Hey, I don't give those out to just anypony. Still, even though the two of us get along great, maybe we both could reach out more. Like..." Binary thought for a few seconds, then clapped her hooves together. "Ooh! We could have a... what's it called? A 'slumber party,' or something!"

"What's that?"

"Well, it's where we all get together at somepony's house, goof off, have fun, and then sleep when it's late enough. At least that's what Moondancer tells me."

Melody visibly bristled. "Y-you mean, somepony else's house?"

Binary noticed. "Well, yeah. Like, you and the other girls could come over to my place."

"Ummmm... well, I'll think on it. I don't usually leave the house."

"All the more reason you should every once in a while, right?"

"I... " Melody shifted on the stool, still looking uneasy. "I'm not very much of an outgoing pony."

Binary shrugged. "That makes two of us?"

"No, I mean... it's a long story. I promise one day I'll tell it. But being 'outgoing' is a bit more of an undertaking for me than most ponies."

A weak laugh followed Melody's words, which did not fool Binary one bit. Looking into her friend's eyes, Binary saw something far different. Anger? No... frustration? Perhaps a little...

...wait, there it was. Sadness. In spades.

The white unicorn nodded, deciding to back off a bit. "Well, it's okay. We can just have ponies come over here to meet you. Worked for me, right?"

Melody gave a visible sigh of relief. "Yes, that it did. Binary?"

"What is it?"

"Thanks. For understanding."

"No problem. Just promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

Binary took Melody's hooves into hers. "I took a huge chance when I decided to knock on your door a month ago. So I want you to take a chance for me, to make things even. I don't care when, but you've got to, just once. All right?"

Melody nodded, her smile genuine once more. "One day. I promise."

Week 2
Wednesday

"...and if I divide by four right here, that gives me... 42." Binary stared at her paper, then slumped her head onto the surface in front of her. "Ugh. Forty-two? What kind of answer is that? Doesn't tell me anything."

She raised her head from her bedroom dresser and adjusted her glasses using the mirror in front of herself, just in time to see a floating brush sneak up from behind.

"Wha-?"

By the time she realized what was happening, it was too late. The brush had already started soft strokes through her mane, and all the fidgeting in the world she tried still left her helpless to stop it.

"Aw, Mom," she said to the magenta unicorn mare behind her. Said mare's blue eyes twinkled with mirth as she slowly molded her daughter's mane into waves similar to her own. "I keep asking you to at least warn me first!"

"Now, now," Free Style said with a chuckle. "You said you've been meeting more ponies, right? Trust me--being presentable is always preferable."

Binary mock-rolled her eyes. "Of course you'd say that. It keeps you in business. So how was work today?"

"Quite interesting, actually. A married unicorn couple came in with their daughter today."

"Wait, I thought you said interesting. Doesn't that happen all the time?"

"Well, yes." Free Style whisked aside part of her own pink mane with one hoof. "Except that their little one seemed fascinated with my shop and kept running around the place, trying on all the clothes and touching all of my devices and supplies."

"So you stopped her, right? You keep telling me that stuff can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing."

"I wanted to, but first off I'm nowhere near as fast as you fillies these days." Free Style smiled and stared into space. "But more than that... it was the strangest thing. She knew exactly which clothes went with what, and how all the equipment worked. Eventually I simply let her play to her heart's content because I was imagining her as an apprentice the entire time." She sighed. "One isn't treated to a sight like that every day. I actually hope she comes back. Oh, well."

"Wow." Binary stayed quiet for a few moments. "Actually, Mom, about that. Seeing ponies again, I mean. Is it okay if I have a friend over?"

Free Style's face lit up. "You mean Melody? Absolutely. I'm surprised you thought you needed my permission."

"So am I. I mean, since you like her so much and all."

The brush stopped. "I detected a clear tonal shift there, young lady."

"Sorry, sorry! It's just that..." Binary lowered her gaze and exhaled. "Melody's all musical, and I still remember how sad you looked when I told you I didn't want to try playing music any more. But I tried, I really did, I--whoa!" Before she could react, Binary found herself being levitated into her mother's embrace. "M-Mom?"

A record floated its way onto the player in Binary's room. Seconds after the needle touched vinyl, a soothing lullaby filled the air.

Free Style shook her head. "Is that what you've been thinking? Honey, I was never sad that you gave up playing music. I was sad that you gave up at something. And even then, it didn't last. Everypony goes through several experiences before one changes their life enough to let them know what their special talent is. My and your father's job is to support and raise you in every way we can, until you find your cutie mark, and beyond. We love you, and we will never love another filly more than you, because you're ours. Understand?"

"I..." Binary looked at her mother's cutie mark--a single, glittering hairbrush--and cuddled into her forelegs, soaking in the warmth of both her and the moment. "I love you guys too, Mom."

"My little girl." Free Style gave Binary a kiss on the forehead and extra squeeze before placing her back in her chair. "Anyway, finish your homework and we can have ice cream."

"Oh, I already finished it. I was just looking at some problems for fun. I'll be down in a little while, okay?"

Free Style chuckled and shook her head. "I swear, it's like having two of your father. Sure thing. Just don't study yourself unconscious, all right?"

Binary giggled. "I won't."

Once her mother left the room, Binary turned back to her notebook, and opened it further, revealing a booklet of sheet music.

Bingo. Endless Concerto, it said. It wasn't actually endless, just composed to be seamlessly looped ad infinitum. Years ago, however, one hapless orchestra had had it slipped into its performance list and began playing it, oblivious to its true nature. If not for Princess Celestia's interference, they'd probably still be playing it today.

Binary had stopped at the record store earlier that day to find a more recent concert recording--abridged, of course. Now where had she put it... aha! She took it out of her bag, walked over to her record player and put it on, and as the notes flooded the room, she looked at the sheets while she listened, breaking the music down in her mind.

Odd. If you really listen to the way this is set up, there's repetition in its layers. Just like on sheet music. And that would mean...

She concentrated a little more.

C'mon, Bines. Listen beyond the catchy melody. One, two, three, four. One-two-three-four, onetwothreefour-

She sat upright, frozen rigid in her seat.

Oh my gosh, Mom was right. I have been going about this all wrong.

She quickly leafed to a blank page, made a long grid in pencil and started scribbling notes and numbers within it as quickly as her ears would allow.

Princess, we are going to have so much to talk about if we ever meet. Count on it.

Week 2
Friday

"Hi, Binary," said Melody, greeting the unicorn who she noticed was whistling a tune as she walked in. "What are you so happy about?"

"Well, today we're going to conduct an experiment." Binary plopped down on the floor near the piano. "And I love experiments."

Melody shook her head. "Oh, no. I was afraid this would eventually happen. Sorry, but frogs gross me out, and-"

"Oh, ha ha." Binary scoffed. "No, no. We're going to try something that just came to me last night." She opened her saddlebag, taking out a few albums.

Melody's eyebrows went up. "Records?"

"Yep! Got a player?" Binary paused. "Yeah, probably should have thought about asking you that first. Is it in your room, maybe?"

"No!" said Melody a little too loudly. "Sorry. I-I mean, it's right over there." She pointed to a far wall.

"Great!" Binary walked over to it. "Today we're going to see if you can play by ear."

"Wait. So no sheet music?"

"No sheet music. Look, the first time I saw you playing with any sort of skill, all your lesson books were thrown on the floor."

"But that was because... well, I was just annoyed with the books by that point. But also, by then, well I'd... I'd memorized almost all of the measures." Melody's face went slightly red.

Binary gaped. "All of them?"

Melody blushed deeper.

"Yeesh. Still. You were just going. Unless you've got a photographic memory, you were just sort of putting together what you remembered, weren't you?"

Melody thought this over. "Maybe."

"Well, see if you can find those measures in these songs! I guarantee you you will. Music's got its own building blocks, just like everything else."

Melody nodded. "Definitely learned that while, um, stumbling through notes for a month."

"Hey, learning happens to all of us." Binary played one of the records--the same one that had given her epiphany last night. The two listened silently for about half a minute before Melody began playing. The notes that emerged from the piano didn't quite match the song, Binary noted. This far into her impromptu musical education, she could tell guesswork when she heard it.

The song ended, leaving Melody nodding analytically. Binary couldn't help but smile. She'd had that look on her own face countless times.

"Play that again?" Melody asked.

"Again?"

"Yes." Her face was still determined. "I... I know what to expect a little more now."

"You got it!" Binary reset the needle on the player to the beginning of the song--and this time, her now much more confident friend played along with a piano rendition of the main melody.

The third time through, some of the song's background notes were played via piano as well, and the smiles returned to both their faces.

That's the spirit, thought Binary as she looked on and listened. And ponies call me the prodigy.

Week 3
Wednesday

The final piano-reproduced notes of a rock record were quickly pressed, just before Melody hit the final chord and let out a tremendous exhale.

"Whew!" Binary applauded. That looked like a workout!"

"Thank you. And it used to be," said Melody, catching her breath. "But you were right. All music is composed of building blocks. Once I learned where each was, I learned to follow them to their conclusion. Then I can play half by guessing." She got off of the stool and sat on the ground next to her friend. "It's so strange. I set out to learn music, but with all of this breaking down and putting together and sometimes even counting my way through pieces of songs... I feel like I'm branching out into your field a bit!" Melody giggled.

Binary nodded. "I know the feeling. I listen to all of these before I bring them to you. I think I've learned more about music this past month than I have in my entire life."

"Really?" Melody gasped. "Oh dear. I-I hope I'm not putting you out or anything."

"What? No, no, it's awes-" Binary stopped herself. "-uh, highly enjoyable. Doesn't quite have the rush of solving a high-level algebra equation, but still fun in lots of ways I didn't expect. Plus now my mom's ecstatic. Heh heh."

"Well, as long as you're happy too." Melody paused. "So you listen to everything you bring me first? Is that why the pieces I've been playing have been getting increasingly..." She looked at the album cover, which displayed the title Iron Mareden: Instrumentals in hard lettering. "...complicated?"

"Heh heh. Guilty as charged. But whatever I give you, you still just burn through it. And I've seen where that road goes. You get bored. Then you get frustrated. I..." Binary rubbed her hooves together, an uneasy frown on her face. "...I don't want you to hate your hobby, Mel. This is the happiest I've ever seen you since you started all this."

"Don't worry. I won't. I think I just need to find a new place to take my skills." Her gaze went faraway. "Maybe it's time I finally... "

"Finally what?" asked Binary.

"Huh? Oh, um, nothing," said Melody, with a spaced-out look on her face. "Forget I said anything. Do you have another record for me?"

But Binary couldn't forget.

It was a look that she couldn't get out of her mind, even after getting back home to her studies. Binary knew that look. The look of someone who wished that so many rules weren't always in place regarding the things they loved. The look of someone who wanted to reclaim the rush of discovery, after learning so much, all at once.

To see Melody with it twisted Binary's heart in several ways she disliked. The last thing she wanted was for Melody to end up completely like her, caught up in her own activities, shut off from everypony...

She mumbled to herself as she pored over a worksheet filled with exercises on the concept of the square roots of negative numbers.

Math's so rigid, but always right.

She'd taught herself to accept that some time ago, but it'd taken quite a bit to do so. In time, she'd had to make things interesting for herself too.

Music has building blocks in math. But music can change. It tries new things all the time.

She looked at her workbook, then her sheet music, then the grids she'd scribbled out.

If you rearrange the numbers in a math problem, but keep the operations the same, there's a good chance the problem doesn't change at all. But if you rearrange the notes of a song, the piece sounds totally different!

She clutched her head.

Argh! How can something so reliable be at the root of something so unreliable?

Her horn glowed as she groaned in frustration, and the pages of her workbook flipped, at high speed, from beginning to end in a matter of seconds. She watched the numbers and notes fly by, flashing, melding...

...wait.

She turned back to the beginning, and flipped through again. Just like last week, she sat up and gaped at what she saw.

I have got to stop being wrong all the time.

Week 3
Thursday

The next afternoon saw Binary tearing over to Melody's straight from school. Several loud raps on her door led to Melody slowly opening it, and backing away as she saw Binary's near-manic look. "B-Binary? What's wrong?"

"Mel! Mel!" Binary bounded into the house. "I've got it!"

Melody recoiled. "Got what? Is it contagious? Are you all right?"

"Very funny. No, I mean, think I've got it! The answer to your problems! It might be a little crazy, but hear me out."

Melody peered at Binary's expression. It was anxious and hopeful--the same expression she'd had herself over the last couple of weeks. What she wouldn't give to have it back. "All right, let's hear it."

"Well, you just play these keys with magic, right? How about you play two songs at once? Maybe even make something new of it?" Binary dug into her saddlebag, pulling out several papers. "Here, I brought a couple of sheets. Easy stuff on their own, definitely, but as i read the notes-"

Melody blinked. "You can read measures?"

"I've always been able to read music. "I'm just not any good at playing it." She sighed. "Sorry."

"No, it's okay! Let's see what you've got here." Melody pored over the sheets and giggled. "You're right. These definitely are easy enough. Let's try them." She placed the music on the piano's counter, and began playing the music on the left using the left half of the piano. Baritone notes filled the room in an otherwise happy, uplifting tune. Melody smiled. "I remember this song from starting out."

Binary nodded. "Me too. I think they give this one to everypony who tries piano lessons. All right, now the other one."

"Got it." With the right side of the piano a fast, upbeat melody was played with high, light notes, and the similarities between the two songs quickly became apparent.

"I don't know, Binary," said Melody. "I think I sort of see what you're going for, but right now I'm seriously just playing two different songs at once. Also, it's taking a lot out of me."

Binary's eyes were wild now. "That's because you're still thinking of it like it's two different songs! Solving math problems involves putting two numbers together, but then joining 'em with the right operation, and bam! Usually the answer's pretty awesome." Binary placed her hooves on her friend's shoulders. "You just have to find that right operation, Melody. I know you can. You're the best I know at this stuff."

Melody fought off a blush. "I'm the only one you know at this stuff. And this is just so..."

Two notes from both sides of the piano hit a perfect harmonic chord. Melody froze for a split second before recovering and continuing to play.

"...silly. This is so silly." She kept playing, and another chord fell into place. The moment Binary knew to pay attention, however, was when she saw Melody purposely change a couple of notes, here and there, to fit better. Just a couple, but... enough to count.

Binary looked at Melody's face, and saw another expression she was used to carrying herself. Discovery. Creativity. The will to explore and experiment.

It wasn't all black and white. Definitely not to the same scale numbers were. For a scant few seconds, Binary wondered if she'd gone into the wrong field of study after all.

Finally, Melody flipped to the last pages, ending her singular duet, with perfect harmonic trills. Silence reigned over the room as she sat back, barely able to reflect over what had just happened. "This... this is... oh my gosh. Binary, you're a genius."

"I know." Binary blinked. "W-wait, you mean as far as music goes? Are you kidding me? I told you can't even play the stuff-"

"You're seriously a genius!" Melody jumped off of her piano stool, cutting Binary off with a huge hug. "Don't you see? So much of music can usually only be played one way. The way the composer intended. At least that's what I thought. Try to follow the beats, the notes, the measures. Try to keep up, try again if you can't. But this..." She gestured towards the two sheets. "Gosh, I had no idea how well some music just goes together. And it's just like you were saying: when you put them together, it's like a whole other song in itself. A whole other song to explore."

She let go of Binary, but still looked back at her, her face full of hope and wonderment. "I-I've always wanted to compose, Binary. I think you just provided my first step into that world. Thank you. Thank you so much, I..." She sniffled.

Binary wiped away at Melody's eyes before any tears could leave them. "Whoa, hey, it's all right. If it makes you feel any better, I... didn't think it'd work this well either. It was like you were saying--it was supposed to be for silly fun. Messing with combinations is how I got myself through math feeling too restrictive sometimes."

"Well, now you know it works for other things. I'm living proof." The two sat on the piano stool together. "You wanna see how I do it?"

Binary's smile was as big as the sun. "The Princess herself couldn't stop me."

Melody shivered.

"Something wrong?" Binary asked.

Melody shook her head. "No, I just... interesting choice of words, that's all. Come on, follow my lead, okay?"

Week 4
Tuesday

The second Melody opened her door, Binary bowled her over running inside. "Melody! Guess what?"

On the floor, Melody groaned and rubbed her head. "You joined the track team?"

"I don't think we have one of those... yikes! Sorry, girl!" Binary extended a hoof to help Melody up. "The school's having a talent show! I looked over the entry lists and you know what they don't have a whole bunch of? Musicians! So I signed us both up."

Melody blinked. "You did what?"

"I know, I know. It means you might have to leave the house. But think about it. It means you get to play in front of so many more ponies!"

"An audience?" Melody's eyes lit up momentarily, before her face was overwritten with fear. "What if they don't like me?"

"Not an issue." Binary rolled her eyes. "Sometimes it seems like school doesn't like anypony, but don't worry. You bring your skills, they'll give you your due, and if it's one thing you've got, it's skills. I believe in you, Mel."

Melody relaxed. "Thanks, Binary. I..." Binary outstretched her forelegs and Melody allowed herself to be wrapped in them. "...just thanks."

"It's what I'm here for. But hey. Just in case you don't believe me, I'll prove it! Be here tomorrow. Play like you did the day you met me. Got it?"

Melody nodded. "I'll do my best."

Week 4
Wednesday

Exactly one day later, Moondancer's crowd joined Binary inside Melody's house.

"She's amazing."
"She's awesome."
"I totally quit my piano lessons. So this is what it sounds like?"
"I've always hated saying this, Binary, but you're right."
"Ha! See? What'd I tell you?"

The song finished, and the fillies rushed up to Melody, drowning her in chatter until Moondancer swiped her hoof across the air.

"See, Melody?" said Binary. "I told you they'd say the same things I did!"

Moondancer gave several boisterous nods. "You are going to be at the talent show, right, Melody? I mean, you're a shoo-in. You've got actual talent. I've checked out most of the other entrants, and let's face it. Our school's full of... well, nerds. Lame nerds. Um, present company excluded, of course."

"But I don't even go to your school," Melody said.

"Not a problem! I can get you in if you're with me. And being awesome at the talent show is a perfect way for both of us to break the ice! You'll make tons more friends!" Binary grasped Melody's forehooves. "Come on, girl. What do you say?"

"I... um..." Melody looked around at the smiling fillies. "Oh, very well."

A short, whoop-laden celebration followed.

"It's a week and a half from now," said Moondancer, giving Melody a small pamphlet. "Binary should be able to handle the details. All you've got to do is play like that. Got it?"

"Y-yes," Melody said, waving the other ponies out. "Thank you." Once she was alone with Binary, however, her worried look returned.

"Yes!" an oblivious Binary squealed. "You are the best friend ever! Well, you already were, but this clinches it! Show night is going to be an awesome night! Totally filled with star power, too! I've heard Princess Celestia and her number-one student Twilight Sparkle will both be there to judge, and-" She finally noticed Melody's pained stare. "Huh? What's wrong?"

Melody trembled. "A-all these ponies. You talking about me leaving this place, going to school... it's just all too much at once. I know what I just agreed to, but I'm not sure I can, Binary, I-"

"If this is about being afraid to perform in front of others," said Binary, "I can help you with that. I give presentations all the time in class. You just have to-"

Melody shook her head. "It's not that! I just... I-I'm sorry." She gestured towards the door. "Please. I have to be alone."

"Huh? Why?"

Melody herded Binary towards and out the front door as quickly as she was able. "Because I can't be with other ponies right now. Not even you. Go!"

"What the... c'mon, Mel, wait! You're being nuts here! We can talk this ou-"

The door was closed in her face.

Week 5
Saturday

The next day Binary went to visit Melody, she wasn't there. Another day followed with the same result. After five days of no-shows, even over the weekend, Binary had given up, convinced that she'd blown the only friendship she'd ever had.

School days went slower. The other girls always seemed happier, just to spite her. Even math problems stopped being fun.

She stopped listening to music.

And after a long, excruciating week, here she was, on the morning of the talent show. In less than twelve hours she'd be performing one-half of a duet. The much less talented half, her mind told herself. She fully agreed.

She sat on her bed in her room, pity party in full swing, when her mother called from downstairs. She hurried down to see Free Style and an older unicorn couple she'd never seen before.

"Sweetie, this is Sky High and Earth Bound," Free Style said, pointing to the mare and stallion respectively. "They want to talk to you."

"It's about our daughter, Melody," Sky High said.

Binary immediately gasped. "Oh my gosh! Is she okay?"

Earth Bound replied without answering the question. "First, we want to apologize for Melody's behavior and disappearance as of late."

Binary shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I think I pressured her into something she wasn't too sure about. How is she? I haven't seen her since last week and I'm worried. Seriously, is she all right? And do you think she'll be able to join me tonight?"

"Hold on, little one. One question at a time. Though before we answer any of them," Sky High said, "I'm sure you've noticed our daughter is... a little special. And since you and she hit it off so well it might be high time you knew the whole story."

"The whole story?" Free Style said, then turned to Binary. "There's nothing you've been keeping from me about Melody, is there?"

Binary shook her head again. "You know as much as I do, Mom."

Free Style turned to the couple. "Perhaps you should explain everything, then."

"Gladly." Sky High's horn glowed, and an image appeared in front of them--a girl's bedroom, filled with stuffed animals and classical concert posters. The sight looked completely normal, except for its centerpiece: a unicorn filly, eyes closed in her bed, barely moving, barely breathing, and certainly not looking as if she were enjoying herself.

Binary's eyes widened. "Is that..."

Earth Bound nodded. "Magical Melody, yes." He sighed. "And that's also where she's been for the last two years."

4: A Fresh Perspective

At eleven o'clock in the morning, Twilight Sparkle rolled out of bed.

"Yeowch!"

Literally.

She groaned as she picked herself up off of the floor and righted herself back onto four legs. With a yawn, she shuffled over to her dresser. Wiping the crust from her eyes, her vision eventually cleared to see exactly what she expected--frizzle from mane to tail, from head to hoof.

As was often her morning routine, she considered staying that way, perhaps even going back to bed. After all, who ever saw her up here besides Princess Celestia and maybe her family-

Wait, no. Things were different now.

Her room being lined with wood wherever she looked attested to that. She didn't spend all of her days in one of two castle towers anymore. This was a library. She had to tend to it. There were other ponies here. Other ponies she both cared for and counted on, and which returned the favor.

This was no longer Canterlot. This was Ponyville.

As her brain continued its reboot, she looked at her desk calendar, already opened to today's date, and marked with twin musical notes. Now why had she done that... oh, of course!

Instantly her fatigue left her.

Today was the day.

Twilight darted to the center of her room and closed her eyes. Her horn glowed as she chanted a spell whose words she was now quite familiar with:

"Nature's glory, on this new day, wash my body's cares away!"

A circle highlighted below her, surrounding her in a cylinder of blue light. Glitter swirled around her body, making way for moisture, which clung to her and inched upwards, from hooves to tail, soaping and removing every bit of grime in every area imaginable, and disappearing into nothingness. She ignored the tingles--intense as they were, they were always only temporary.

Automatic fluffing and styling of her coat, mane and tail followed--while she was no Rarity in the grooming department, Twilight knew she was more than skilled enough magically to get herself looking decent in the mornings.

The circle faded. By 11:15 the she was perfectly presentable. She mentally kicked herself for not learning this spell before she'd moved to Ponyville. Then again, she hadn't really needed it quite as much before. The castle had its own luxuries, lavish royal baths amongst them.

She returned to the mirror to check herself. Mane checked out, several swishes of her tail, nothing looked or felt strange or grody or out out-of-place. Good to go.

Still.

New manestyle, maybe? No, why would I... well... She cycled through various styles, her horn glowing and her mane poofing with each new thought. Up? Down? Tied? Swishy?

In the end, however...

...maybe I'll just go as myself.

She straightened her mane to its usual style, and flashed her best smile, pointing at her reflection.

"All right! Today, Twilight," she told herself, "you go on a field trip!" She giggled to herself before adding, "Look at me. Acting like I'm a schoolfilly again."

Her voice went to a whisper.

"But I'm so excited."

"Unison: Spectacles and Shades"
A My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Fanfiction
Part 4: "A Fresh Perspective"
by Bookish Delight, 2012-2013

All characters and referred properties belong to Hasbro.

She tiptoed past a sleeping Spike, and outside of her library treehouse, ready to face the world.

"Now that I think about it, Vinyl and I probably should have decided on an actual meeting spot," Twilight mused. "So now what do I do?"

The sound of birds singing in chorus wafted towards her ears as she walked.

"Oh! Fluttershy must be holding practice. Well, there's no harm in going to say hello."

"Okay, let's keep it in tempo, everyone... keep the notes steady... good, that's good!"

As usual, the bubbling brook near Fluttershy's forest dwelling only served to accompany her choir of singing birds with its own brand of percussion. The birds themselves were perched along several branches, yet Fluttershy was able to keep track of and conduct all of them with effortless waves of her hooves.

Something was different today, however. Standing beside Fluttershy was the very pony Twilight had been looking for, slowly nodding her head to the music as she looked around at the performance.

"Vinyl?" Twilight said.

"Huh? Twi-" Vinyl's hoof met her forehead the second she saw the other unicorn. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, Twilight! I got massively sidetracked, and we totally didn't decide on an actual place to meet up, did we?"

Twilight chuckled. "It's okay. Same thing sort of happened to me. Don't worry about it."

Vinyl shook her head. "Nuh uh, nothing doing. I'll be making it up to you later, just you watch. In the meantime..." She looked back towards Fluttershy's singing birds. "...gosh, what doesn't your town have? Are these birds all trained?"

"Actually, they all just love Fluttershy enough to do this. She's got a way with creatures."

"Whoa." Vinyl's eyes went wide under her shades, and her mouth widened to match. "Amazing."

The two listened for a while longer, silently allowing Fluttershy to work. Eventually, the song finished, and she, along with all of the birds, bowed slightly. "Great work, everybirdie."

"Excellent!" Vinyl applauded. "Your choir really came alive in the last movement there. And they blend together so well! Well, except for that one guy." She pointed to one bird, doing its best to tune itself but receiving nothing but squwaks for its trouble. "Got just the cure for that, though."

Fluttershy blinked. "You do?"

"Yeah. Did a show in griffon-land once. Exactly once. Anyway. You think this guy's throat's got problems? Those birds blow theirs out all the time." She conjured up a small tablet. "Here we go. This'll fix that right up." She used the tiniest jolt of magic to melt it in her hoof, mixed the substance in a tiny cup of warm water, and levitated the cup out for the bird to fly over and lap up at its leisure. It did so, and after half a minute, it tried singing again, with imperfect, but noticeably better results.

Vinyl smiled up at the bird. "Hey, not bad! I know you want to please your girl here, but you should take it easy." She turned back to Fluttershy. "Keep him on warm water for, oh, a week, I guess? "He should be good as new."

Fluttershy gasped in delight. "Oh, thank you, uh, um... 'Digiphone,' was it? That is how you say it, right? The brochure I was given wasn't very clear. I'm sorry if I messed it up."

Vinyl laughed. "Nah, totally okay. Look, just call me Vinyl. Way easier, right?"

Fluttershy nodded with a smile. "Absolutely! But..." She cocked her head to the side. "...is that your real name?"

"Dunno." She shrugged, smiled, and turned to Twilight. "Ready?"

Twilight nodded. "I am. Take care, Fluttershy!"

"Um... bye!"

The two unicorns walked away, leaving a still mildly-bewildered Fluttershy to wave them off.

"...and over here is Sugarcube Corner, and over there is Cloverleaf Cafe," said Twilight, giving Vinyl the grand tour of the town. "Have you ever been?"

"Not as of yet," Vinyl said. "But ooh, I've heard those names! I've wanted to try 'em. I've heard that second is one of Ponyville's best spots. Sounds like a good place for some brunch to me." The two walked over. "Magic requires energy and all that. This place live up to its rep?"

"Yep. I've had the lunch specials here tons of times."

"Great! Then it's all on me." She looked over to Twilight and raised her shades. "So forget any 'specials' or 'sales' or whatever. Today, order what you've always wanted."

Twilight gasped. "Seriously? Gosh, thanks!"

"No prob," said Vinyl, draping a foreleg around Twilight and giving her a quick squeeze. "Least I can do for ya', believe me." She sauntered over to the cafe. "C'mon, let's go in and gorge ourselves silly."

Hay and flowers as far as the eye could see. Breads and cookies, snacks and desserts. All the super-high quality stuff, imported from the other end of Equestria.

Twilight still couldn't believe it. They'd managed to eat it all. It had been glorious. But now it was gone. It was all they could do now to bask in the food afterglow, and sip waters while they allowed it to digest.

That was when the check came. Vinyl and Twilight looked at it for two seconds. As the latter did her best to avoid fainting, the former conjured up a purse and gave the waiter enough bits to make his and Twilight's eyes bulge.

"Keep the rest," Vinyl said.

"Th-thank you very much," the waiter barely managed to reply.

"Holy..." Twilight gaped as he staggered off. "I've always wanted a bunch of this stuff, but could never afford it." She looked back at Vinyl. "I don't mean to pry, but how-"

Vinyl waved dismissively. "Don't even finish that question. One of the good things about this life is that it gives me the budget to spoil my friends rotten."

"Doesn't that get expensive? I mean, someone as famous as you has got to have a zillion friends, right?"

"Ehhhh..." Vinyl looked at the table. Her carefree expression disappeared and her voice went soft. "...you'd actually be surprised."

Twilight's eyebrows raised. "Hm? Why?"

Vinyl shook her head, her smile reappearing as quickly as it had left. "Ah, nothing important. Besides, today's about you, not me. Got a question for ya', girl."

"Shoot."

"Those birds of Fluttershy's." Vinyl looked up towards the trees lining the west side side of the town. "You ever listen to them yourself, Twilight?"

Twilight smiled and nodded. "Sure I do! Quite a bit, actually. You're right--they are wonderful."

"Well, true, but I mean..." Vinyl had her shades up again and was looking straight at Twilight, but her wide-eyed expression was such that Twilight could have sworn she was being looked through. "...have you really listened to them? Individually, as well as together."

Twilight responded with a puzzeld stare. "What do you mean?"

"It's how you figure out the difference." Vinyl levitated her water glass close, tipped it to take a drink, then put it back down on the table. "What if I told you that there are dozens, no, hundreds, of composers in Equestria who've written great works--famous ones, even?"

Twilight shrugged. "I'd say that's general knowledge."

"Yep. Now, what if I told you that most of them have lived and died, never knowing that despite all the praise and money they might have received for their work... their songs were still incomplete in some way?"

Twilight had no answer for that. Her face communicated as much to Vinyl, whose eyebrows twitched to accompany a chuckle.

The white unicorn closed her eyes and concentrated. Seconds later, an album floated by her side, its cover emblazoned with neon colors. She looked at the title, which read Midnight Electronica, and said, "Yeah. This one should groove nicely."

Twilight cocked her head as she read the title for herself. "Groove?"

"Go with. Run alongside. But in total step." Before Twilight knew what to make of those words, Vinyl took off her shades completely. She reached across the table, clasped Twilight's hooves in hers...

...and there was that look straight into endless eyes again. Her voice was muted, but emotional. Energetic. Passionate.

"Music in itself is a never-ending voyage. Composers steer the ships, but I'm a little different. I ride the waves to scout ahead, then I come back and chart the courses." She paused. "But this'd just be a bunch of babbling if I didn't show you. There any places in this region that are, well, not totally teeming with ponies?"

Twilight nodded. "There's this little spot just outside of Everfree Forest. It's got a lake and everything. I go there when I need to think without anypony bothering me."

"Perfect. Think you could take us there? I-I mean, if it's all right."

"Oh absolutely." Twilight used the moment to return Vinyl's gaze head-on. "Just don't let go, okay?"

"I won't."

Twilight's horn glowed, and in a glitter-filled instant, they disappeared.

It was just as Twilight had described--an open field, surrounded by trees, with a lake in the center.

What Twilight had forgotten, however, was just how peaceful it was. Not a pony to be found. A few birds could be heard tweeting around them, and the grass felt soft under their bodies as they sat.

From Vinyl's expression, she appeared to approve just as much. "Oh, cool! This'll work just great." She looked towards Twilight. "Hope you don't mind--with me, sometimes things get loud."

Twilight smiled. "Don't worry about it."

Vinyl winked. "And then there's the music." She levitated her album, and willed one more into existence beside it, bearing the name Manic Panic Revolution. With that, she sat in front of the lake, and Twilight joined her seconds later, prompting the two to look across.

"You did really great for your first time the other night, Twilight. Then again, I guess all of that just falls into your genius girl rep." Ignoring Twilight's blush, she added, "But today we're gonna try something different."

"Different how?"

Vinyl's magic began its work, and one of the records was pulled from its sleeve and spun. After a few seconds she said, "Okay, Twilight. Go ahead and sample this one."

Twilight applied her own magic as well. Crackling electric twangs and beats soon filled her mind, and the landscape became a little more colorful. "What... Vinyl, what's happening? What am I seeing, I-"

"Don't lose it, whatever you do! Now I'm going to play the other record. Join me on that one as well, okay?"

"'As well'?" Twilight gaped. "You mean I'm supposed to play both?"

"Yeah. But work smarter, not harder. Feel the vibrations like before... but don't think of them as two records! Think of them as one."

"As one, huh? O-okay..." Twilight redoubled her concentration, mentally feeling her way across both albums. The beats clashed. The notes stung. Still, she kept it up until the moment when it all clicked--the moment she heard a third, true set of melodies and rhythms, causing a jolt to rush through her whole body.

"You're gettin' it, Twi," she could just barely hear Vinyl say through the sounds. "So now it's time to kick it up a notch!"

Twilight looked to her side, and saw the lights around the records and Vinyl's horn grow larger and brighter.

And in seconds, she understood.

The world even smelled different now. Instead of forest scents, she smelled civilization. Other ponies, everywhere. She could hear them too. Jumping and screaming, whooping in ecstasy.

"Gettin' there, lookin' good... and now for the most important part," Twilight heard, just before she felt a gentle massage of her shoulders from behind. She jumped momentarily, but a soothing, guiding voice in her ear spoke through the music, as if prepared for this from the very start.

"Relax yourself, Twi. I can feel you overthinking from here. It's okay, I used to, too. But eventually it stops being about notes and rhythms and formulas. When you feel your senses being taken over... that's when you let yourself go."

"Let myself go..." Twilight closed her eyes, sighed, and relaxed her back against Vinyl's front.

"Mm-hmm. Perfection through combination, Twilight," said Vinyl, embracing the violet unicorn as the world changed around the both of them. "Some ships were just meant to sail together."

When Twilight came to, she almost lost it again right then and there.

Colorful lights assaulted her eyes. Jubilation slammed against her ears. She looked around, and found herself in the middle of a gigantic paved street with dozens of other ponies who were dancing like crazy, lost in their own diversions.

Determined to make sense of the situation, she levitated above the others to get a better view. Immediately upon seeing a stage in the distance, she heard a voice call out over the loudspeakers set around the venue--a venue surrounded by tall buildings and flashing billboards everywhere she looked:

"Yo! Equine Square! You ready to lose yourself to the groove?"

The gathered ponies roared in response.

"That's what I like to hear!" Vinyl, atop a podium onstage, handled records on a turntable backed by two enormous speakers. "DJ Professor V's here to hit you with the notes and the beats, to send you on a trip you'll wanna repeat! 'Cause that's what you get when you ask for the best!" She looked out across the crowd, and her next words were spoken in a calm, controlled voice. "Though, speaking of the best, I see we've got somepony special in the audience. See that purple unicorn in the center of you all? I want her up here. Help me out, will you, guys?"

"Huh? W-whoa!" After another roar from the crowd, Twilight found herself being magically levitated, then pegasus-airlifted over all present, until she reached the front, upon which she was dropped onto some helpful earth ponies who tossed her onto the stage.

The whole while, the music continued.

For the majority of Twilight's transport time, Vinyl appeared lost in her work. As the light of Twilight's aura approached, however, she looked back up. Her work shades were on again--something that, in this light, Twilight could absolutely understand. Her smile upon seeing Twilight became just as bright--something Twilight had even less of a problem with.

"All right! You made it! You actually made it!" With a tiny squeal, Vinyl rushed over and hugged Twilight the second the latter touched down on the podium, hooves shaking as they felt the vibrations of the wooden floor. "I'm so happy you're here." She called out to the audience again by way of the standing microphone close by. "Mares, stallions, party ponies! There are two folks in my life who I owe my current livelihood to, and you're looking at one of 'em right now! Put your hooves together for Twilight Sparkle!"

Twilight blushed under the subsequent cheers, but hugged Vinyl back. "Glad I made it here, too. That said, where is here?"

"Heh heh. Well, I guess I can come clean." Vinyl gestured around them with one hoof. "Welcome to my zone, Twilight. When you see me playing a gig? Unless it's a real knockout, my body might be there, but my mind's usually here. This party in Manehattan was one of my first--and still my best. The party that put me on the map as a DJ."

"I can see why."

"Yeah. I... like to relive it." She sent a jolt of magic to the microphone, switching it off temporarily. "It was here that I realized I wanted to keep going this route in life. I can be as wild and crazy as I want. I can be myself. And so long as I keep the music going, nopony minds. So now, whenever I need a pick-me-up, this show is mine to play whenever I want." Vinyl glanced down, tints of red easily showing across her white face. "But like I said a couple of days ago, this is the first time in a long time I've been able to be myself around somepony else without use of a stage. So thanks, girl."

Twilight nudged Vinyl's face level with one hoof. "Let's get one thing straight. I'm not providing a charity here. I'm here because I want to be. Because you're fascinating--and I don't mean your music or your magic. Just as a person. So there's nothing to thank me for. Okay?"

A silent deepening of Vinyl's blush was her only reply, which quickly disappeared as she visibly willed herself back into her DJ persona. Switching the microphone back on, she walked to the center of the stage, and addressed the gathered ponies, and gave a boisterous shout of, "You guys ready for more?"

The audience cheered, and Twilight watched Vinyl bask in the attention. She was in the midst of wondering if Vinyl had been expecting it, when a string of words echoed in Twilight's mind, unbidden, in Vinyl's voice.

So many ponies... all my friends. I never thought it'd happen, but here we are. And I refuse to forget it.

As the cheers persisted, Twilight looked back out at the crowd, trying to see where it ended, and failed. She looked back at Vinyl, who had a faraway look on her face Twilight had come to know well, even with her shades on. Sensing the moment, she walked over and placed a foreleg reassuringly over her. "Hey. You all right?"

"H-huh?" Vinyl visibly snapped out of her trance. "Oh, whoa, I'm so sorry! Look at me. I'm supposed to be the hostess, and here I am failing hardcore."

Twilight quickly shook her head. "No, no, it's fine! Think nothing of it. But you've got a show to run, right?"

Vinyl sighed in relief. "That's what I love about you, Twilight. Well, one of the things. You don't worry too much. Now that you're here, though, I planned for tonight's concert to go just a little differently from usual."

Twilight blinked towards Equine Square, looking at as many individual ponies as she could. At first glance they seemed to be dancing erratically, but upon closer inspection, she could see that they moved perfectly in time, and in tune, to the music which blared against her ears. The record had changed some minutes ago--now instead of pulses which were like magitechnology put to sound, they were rapid-fire twangs of more familiar and traditional guitars. "Differently? How?"

Vinyl disappeared from the stage, and reappeared above her audience, slowly lowering herself onto the ground as the crowd parted to give her a wide circle all to herself.

"A new act, of course!" And with a blink of the musical unicorn's eyes, Twilight was transported in the midst of the same circle Vinyl occupied. "You dance, Sparkle?'

Twilight was taken aback, as she realized she was utterly surrounded once more. "Wha... d-dance?" she stammered. "W-well, I..." Her voice shook, and she barely resisted shivering as she looked amongst the overwhelming pony crowd. "O-o-only around friends. Sometimes. And when nopony but them are looking."

"Fair enough. Well then..." Vinyl pushed her shades up to give Twilight a clear view of her eyes for the first time since the party had started. "...would you consider me a friend?"

For an instant, as Twilight looked back into Vinyl's eyes, none of the other ponies might as well have existed. She answered with a quiet nod.

Vinyl's smile was as big as a house. "Great! Feeling's mutual. This is my world we're in, and the last thing anypony cares about here is how much of a nerd they really are." She laughed and winked. "'Cause let's face it: if they did, I couldn't be here either."

Twilight nodded again, then gasped as Vinyl took her hoof. She wanted to wonder what Vinyl meant by that, but the sheer volume, not just of the music but everything around her, stopped her whenever she tried to think too deeply about anything.

As if sensing her thoughts, the DJ continued. "There's only one rule here, Twilight: don't care what anypony thinks. Seriously. It just wastes energy better spent making sure you're happy." Vinyl let go. "C'mon. Let's see what moves you've got."

Twilight hesitated. "You really sure you want to?"

"More than anything!" She laughed. "Don't make me beg? I mean, I will if I gotta. But."

Twilight laughed back, her mood lightening. "W-well, all right, then."

She shuffled her hooves, moving and swaying to the music, and for a short while, all was fine. Then her mind finally managed to overcome the music. Memories of her few public ventures in school rushed to the surface.

She'd tried this before. Ponies all around her, just like this. There had been laughter. There had been fun. But it had all been at her expense.

She looked at the crowd, which were all smiles. Were they smiling with her, or silently laughing at her? She had no way of knowing. Twilight Sparkle hated not knowing, ever. Her enthusiasm ebbed, her movements slowed, and she gave a helpless look to Vinyl...

...who she then saw was mirroring her own moves exactly. She also looked genuinely entertained by the activity. Her eyes were on Twilight, her head was swaying, her trademark toothy smile was still there.

She looked around, and noticed something else: through smiles and all, nopony else was actually staring at them. Everypony else was involved in their own unique styles of movement, some of which were positively outlandish in ways that Twilight, for all her lack of technique, had to suppress laughter upon witnessing.

It was just as Vinyl had said: no one else was caring what anypony thought. There was only enjoyment. Enjoyment for themselves, but all in combination, to create one, glorious, gigantic celebration.

Upon realizing this, Twilight made a decision.

She jumped to two hooves, and cut loose.

In the back of her mind, in her heart of hearts, she was sure she looked absolutely dreadful as she hopped and twirled about on the dance floor, with hardly any sense of direction or reasoning. After a while, she wondered why she hadn't bumped into anyone, and looked around herself between moments to discover Vinyl gesturing for other ponies to clear an even larger space for the two of them. Even then, the majority of those other ponies didn't care, and the few who did showed this by... cheering the two of them on?

This was unexpected. This was illogical. This was... this was perfect.

It was what she'd always wanted.

The music continued, and Twilight's dancing became all the more energetic and coordinated. Even while dancing with just her hind legs, her hooves moved along the floor in precise, twisting paths, until her back was against Vinyl's, who had still been mirroring her movements, keeping up with every step.

The music intensified, and the two faced each other, smiling, laughing, dancing past each other and back again. At one point, Vinyl magically tossed Twilight into the sky to cheers, and she could confirm that the crowd truly did stretch on forever. She landed gently into Vinyl's outstretched forelegs, the two once more sharing a gazing moment before Vinyl let her free.

The second she was let back onto her own hooves, Twilight returned the gesture, and was rewarded with the happiest expression she'd ever seen on the young unicorn since they'd met.

The music increased in tempo during its final segments, with both unicorns giving it their all in kind, and the crowd's cheers having elevated to outright hollers. Amidst the swishing of her mane and gyrating of her hips, Twilight's hooves and vision were both a blur until the final cymbal crash--where, at that moment, she jumped as high as she could under her own power, allowing herself to energetically collapse in mid-air.

The possibility of not being caught never crossed her mind--and as it turned out, it had no reason to. She felt a soft, warm, cushioned landing, just as she blissfully closed her eyes.

When Twilight opened her eyes, the party was over.

She was back in the forest, lying face down. She looked in front of herself, and saw Vinyl smiling below her. Where ponies had once surrounded them, there was once more green grass instead. The sun was almost gone, the stretches of dusk lay out before them, and the first stars stole an early appearance in the sky.

Twilight gasped for breath. "Y-... you..."

Vinyl winked. "Yeah, I... had to catch you." Her voice was also breathy, warm against Twilight's cheek. "Looks like somepony's got a wild side they're not telling anyone about."

"N-no, I..." Laughing in blushing embarrassment made it all the harder for Twilight to catch her breath. "I-I'm not-"

Vinyl placed a hoof to Twilight's muzzle. "Don't even try it, girl. You tore up that dance floor like nopony else. Bet you thought you didn't have it in you, either."

"I, well, no, I..." Twilight's labored gasps turned to happy ones. "I just never knew music could be so... s-so..."

"Exciting?"

"That's one word for it. Another would be 'liberating', I guess. I've never lost myself in myself like that before, much less been so all right with it."

"And that's what happens when you combine music theory and mathematics. Well, more so than normal, anyway. It's all about making your rhythms and melodies sync up perfectly... and then losing yourself in the results, 'cause after that, you don't gotta worry."

Vinyl levitated Twilight just enough to move out from under her. Both stood up, with Vinyl sidling close. "And if you can find somepony to sync with, so much the better, it seems."

"I-I'll remember that," said Twilight, leaning back against her. "Thanks, Vinyl. I've learned quite a lot today. More than I expected."

"You know what?" The two looked out towards the sunset. "I think I have too."

"Twilight! There you are!" Spike rushed towards Twilight as she and Vinyl returned to Golden Oaks. "Pinkie's been waiting for you."

"Huh?" Twilight looked over to see a pink earth pony give a tiny wave. "Oh, hi. What's up?"

"Twilight!" Pinkie was in her face in record time. "I think we might have a problem!"

Twilight thought about it for a second, then answered with, "Rarity again?"

"I wanted to go to her shop to test-drive some new dessert-themed hairstyles. But she's holed herself in! I've tried everything, from singing to dancing to trying to have Gummy undergo tactical espionage action and unlock her door from the inside and she still just won't come out!" She paused. "Gummy's safe. Rarity screamed the second she saw him and tossed him back out the window."

"You don't say." Twilight rolled her eyes, then froze as she realized. "Wait. You mean to tell me she's been in Carousel Boutique all day?"

"Yeah! And it's been closed all day, too!"

"I..." Twilight sighed. "I don't know. It's largely our fault she's like this, and I don't know what to do about it. I'm not sure if it's right to just barge in on her."

"Don't say that!" Pinkie clutched Twilight's shoulders. "You're the one who always has the plans! I planned on this! If you don't have a plan to plan us out of this then I can't go ahead with my plans to-" Pinkie went taut upon finally sensing the fourth party in the room. She turned to look, and, upon seeing who it was, her eyes and mouth went wide in jubilation.

"Uh..." Vinyl took a step back and blinked. "...hey there?"

"Oh my goooooooooooosh! IT'S DJ PON-3!" Pinkie squealed. "Like, right here! In front of me!"

And then it was Vinyl's turn to freeze. "Well, I'll be d--somepony really can pronounce it. Where were you last month? I had a press conference that went really badly." She shook her head. "Oh well. I'm probably going to drop it, so it's a moot po-"

"What? No way! Are you kidding? I love that name!"

Vinyl blinked again, visibly thrown for a loop. "Okay. While we're on the subject of names, what's yours?"

The pink pony bounced in place. "I'm Pinkie Pie, Ponyville's premiere party planning pony!"

"You're the one Twilight mentioned the other day." The two hugged. "Nice to meet you."

"And it's sooooooo absolutely nice to meet you," Pinkie said, handing Vinyl a white balloon with sunglasses drawn on it in magic marker.

Vinyl stared at it. "Did... did you just make this in the space of half a second?"

Pinkie shrugged. "Maybe? I dunno. I do things. You like it?"

"I..." Vinyl had few words to reply with. "Yeah, I do, actually. Thanks."

"No problem! Oh, and don't worry about your name, either! I'm going to reveal the secret of pronouncing it to everypony! It'll totally stick once I'm done! You'll never know what you did without it!"

Vinyl groaned. "I'm doomed, aren't I?"

Twilight giggled. "Better announce that new name fast."

"Yeah, looks like." She watched Pinkie herd Spike over to help her look for books on baking before adding, "Hey, so, about today..."

"Oh, right!" Twilight perked up. "I really enjoyed today's, um, magic lesson."

"You did? I mean, uh, me too." Vinyl paused. "Wait, you really did?"

Twilight nodded with a smile. "Magic studies usually involve stacks and stacks of books. And while I love books, I'm also a fan of trying new things. Today definitely counts as that. So thanks so much. "

"You're totally welcome! I-If you want another session..." A card was manifested out of thin air and floated towards Twilight. "...here's where I'm staying for the next few days. You wanna stop by, my doors are always open for ya'. See you when I do." Her shades went back on, and she called out. "Pinkie Pie, huh? Just what kind of parties do you plan?"

"Oh, all sorts!" said Pinkie as she came back over, and she and Vinyl made their exit. "Birthdays to weddings to cruises to get-togethers to dances to pageants to..."

"Twilight?"

Twilight Sparkle looked up upon hearing her name. The voice was familiar, and the only one she would expect around this hour--a quick glance at the clock said midnight. Still, she decided to verify. "Another late-night craving, Spike? You'll get fat."

"And you'll go blind." Spike walked down the steps towards Twilight, who was reading by way of several candles and a light from her horn. "More late-night studying?"

"Mmmmm, not quite." Twilight raised her head and looked at him. "But actually, I'm glad you're here! I'll need you in just a bit."

Spike wandered over to a wall safe. "You've got until I finish my midnight snack."

"Please, Spike?" said Twilight as the dragon entered the combination. Several small clicks were heard, until the safe door opened with a final, louder click. "This is actually really important."

Spike gave a mock dramatic sigh. "Oh, all right. I'll make it a big jewel and take small bites." He grabbed a large emerald and walked back to his comrade. "What're you reading, anyway?"

"My old alumni yearbook."

Spike craned his head to look at the cover. "The Canterlot School For Gifted Unicorns? Thought you didn't try to think about those years too much." He sat in front of Twilight, who draped her forelegs around him.

"I don't. But I'm looking for somepony. Vinyl Scratch told me she graduated from here, but I don't see her name or picture anywhere." She flipped through several pages, then stopped. "Sure see mine, though. Ugh. I looked terrible."

"Awww, I thought you were cute."

Twilight scoffed. "You were one dragon's year old. You thought the upholstery looked cute. Also, edible."

"Heh heh. True." Spike thought for some moments. "Are there any ponies who kind of look like her? You know. Almost all white..."

"Not a bad place to start, I agree. Let me look." She sifted through more pages. "Gosh, this'd be easier if these showed cutie marks. Nothing but head shots here."

"Hang on! What about this unicorn here?" Spike pointed to a picture. "Blue mane, white coat--but wow, other than those, she looks nothing like her."

"No kidding," Twilight said. "Seriously, the others here at least combed their manes. And check out the size of those glasses!"

Spike did his best to hold in his laughter and failed. "Guess I was off, huh?"

"Don't feel bad, I...wait." Twilight's mouth widened in realization. "Wait a minute! Vinyl's a total math geek! And the header at the top of this page says 'Department of Mathematics'!"

"Vinyl? A math nerd?" Spike did a double-take. "Are we talking about the same DJ pony here?"

Twilight ignored him, looking at the name under the picture. "'Binary Match'... why does that name sound so famili-"

Instantly, voices flashed in her mind--voices she'd long forgotten.

"I'm so sorry, Binary. I didn't know."
"Nopony did. It's not your fault. It's not even Princess Celestia's fault. It's mine."
"No it's not-"
"Yes it is! You know, I once thought that by mixing math with magic, you could do anything! But it looks like I was wrong. Some problems, you just can't solve."

"Because I was there!" Twilight said, sitting up. "Spike, take a letter, quick!"

"Huh? To who?"

"Princess Celestia, of course. Who else?"

"At this hour?"

"She'll be up. She's still doing her best to mend her relationship with her sister, so this is actually one of the best times I can reach her."

"Huh. Makes sense." Spike fetched a quill and scroll. "Fire away."

Twilight cleared her throat. "'Dear Princess Celestia, my studies of advanced unicorn magic and of the magic of friendship have come to a compelling intersection.'"

Spike's writing slowed as he clearly showed signs of having trouble. "Um... com.. pail..."

"Grrr... c-o-m-p-e-l-l-i-n-g-i-n-t-e-r-s-e-c-t-i-o-n!" Twilight half-yelled, a frantic edge lacing her voice.

Spike froze. "Okay, I get it. This is important to you. Sheesh."

Twilight caught her breath. "It is. Sorry, though."

"S'okay." Spike wrote down the letters.

"Thanks. Anyway. 'I hereby request access to Canterlot school records for two mares by the names of Binary Match and Magical Melody. Nothing privacy invading, I just want to check some facts. Thank you. Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle.'"

"Got it!" Spike rolled up the scroll and breathed green fire onto it, causing to disappear. Ten minutes later, he let out a huge fiery belch. "Ugh. Maybe I should switch to sapphires."

"No, Spike," she said, pointing to the stack of folder-separated papers his belch had yielded. "It's the materials I asked for. Princess Celestia found them!"

"Whew, thank goodness. Emeralds have way too much flavor for me to give up."

A letter rested atop the papers.

My Cherished Student Twilight Sparkle,

I suppose you're now old enough to handle information such as what you've requested. However, please keep in mind: some things are harder than others, for either unicorn's or friendship's magic, to overcome.

I trust you will use these materials to make the right decisions.

Yours Truly,
Princess Celestia

Twilight looked inside one folder. "These are school records for Binary Match--as well as a full picture. Look, Spike, it is her! Her cutie mark's the same and everything!"

"I don't understand any of this stuff, though," said Spike, looking through another folder. "It's just a bunch of weird words I've never heard before."

"Oh, that? That must be Magical Melody's file." She looked inside. "Hmm. All we've got is a filly's picture." She continued to leaf through. "Special talent, prodigy in song and music, life-altering affli-" Twilight froze. "Spike, these aren't school records."

Spike scratched his head. "They're not?"

Twilight looked somberly at the papers in front of her. "No. They're medical records."

5: Catching Hearts and Minds

"Salutations, esteemed student body of Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns! I, the most the most supremely gifted, supremely talented unicorn in all of Canterlot -- no, in all of Equestria, have graciously decided to grace you all with my graceful presence! You've suffered through the rest, but now it's time to sample the best -- gaze in awe at the magical machinations of The Great and Powerful Trixie!"

A blue filly wearing a tiny pointed hat and a cape two sizes too big for her frame stood at center stage on her hind hooves and raised her front ones, sending fireworks erupting around her. Some of the ponies in the audience tensed, waiting for them to catch on the auditorium's stage curtains. Thankfully, none of them did. Trixie, her eyes closed and smile enormous, didn't notice one way or the other.

"And now, the Great and Powerful Trixie will proceed to pull various animals out of her hat!" she said, pulling it off of her head. "Ah, ah, ah -- I know what you're thinking to yourself, but this is no mere parlor trick!"

Trixie held her hat out horizontally, making the opening visible to the audience. Upon looking inside, a different place entirely could be seen upon looking inside of it -- a place full of trees and shrubbery, indeed with some bunnies and birds hopping about. Murmurs spread amongst some of the parents in attendance; if one were to listen closely, the words "royal garden" could be vaguely heard in some parts of the room.

Trixie's smile widened as she sensed her audience's engagement. "Dimensional magic, mares and gentlecolts! Let's see anypony top that!" She reached in. "And now, to transport what we can!" Trixie reached into the hat, fiddled around... and after some time passed, her face scrunched in frustration.

"Get... get back here! Come on, let me grab you! I swear, you all bounce like rabbits! The -- nngh! -- Great and Powerful Trixie appears to be suffering from -- ugh! -- magical difficulties... come on, you, reach..."

Backstage, Binary rolled her eyes at the blowhard on stage. She'd heard of this "Trixie" before, mainly because Trixie tended to spend every waking moment saying her name as loud as she could during recess, rendering the time unsuitable for study. The outcome of her act was pretty much what Binary expected, and she afforded herself a small, spiteful smile.

Still, eventually she could take no more, and went back to her previous activity: pacing back and forth behind the piano which was reserved for her talent show act. She looked back at the long stool, her mind once more replaying the events of the last few hours...

...and once more, without her permission.

"Two years?" said Binary, looking at the apparition before her. "How is that even possible?"

Earth Bound sighed. "I'm sure you've been taught from an early age that magic requires strength of will, but more than that, a reserve of personal energy. Stamina, if you will."

"Right," Binary replied. "The more complex any magic spell I attempt, the more winded I am when I come out of it."

Earth Bound nodded. "But you get over it. You recover."

"Well, yes, of course. I mean, every unicorn does… wait." Binary froze. "Are you trying to tell me that…" She trailed off.

Melody's parents lowered their gazes.

"For the overwhelming majority of unicorns, recovery at extreme worst requires a good night's rest," said Sky High. "But every once in a while, you get a unicorn whose body has a much lower tolerance against the taxing effects of magic. Every once in a while, you get a Magical Melody."

"A Magical Melody for whom recovery from even small spells can take years of good night's sleeps," said Earth Bound. "The stronger the spell, the longer it takes. Obviously it meant we had to homeschool her. If she were allowed to take normal unicorns' studies..."

"She would reach a point in her life where her body would literally be unable to take the strain," Free Style finished.

Sky High nodded with forlorn eyes. "It took a long time for us to find all of this out, since this isn't exactly a common condition. Once we told her, she didn't take it well, but she agreed that had to stay rested. It takes a long time for young unicorn to learn to control their magic, and the spontaneous spells she'd already cast from birth onward had already taken their toll on her."

"Still," said Earth Bound, "restless children find a way, and it wasn't long before she'd figured out a way to not be... so confined."

The conversation of minutes past faded into echoes in the back of Binary's mind. She'd remembered insisting to see Melody after that -- positively begging, in fact. Fortunately not much begging was needed; they'd given her a ride to the house, called up the stairs, and given her directions to Melody's bedside.

Even given the public knowledge of their friendship, Binary wondered in the back of her mind why her parents had been so cordial about things.

She reached Melody's room and opened the door, chuckling inwardly at her mild surprise upon seeing the room looking exactly like the apparition that Melody's parents had shown her. Her emotions neutralized, however, once her eyes fell and she saw Melody lying in her bed, also as expected.

"Binary?" Melody's voice was barely above a whisper.

Binary put on a smile -- partly because she wanted to, and partly because it distracted from the threatening tears. She stepped closer. "Hi, Melody."

Melody continued to talk, her back to Binary. "I... I didn't want to tell you. I pleaded with them not to tell you. I didn't want you to see me like this."

"Why not?"

"Because..." With a slow turn, Melody looked at Binary with shaky eyes. "...imagine you had to tell your only friend that she didn't know how much time she had. Wouldn't you be really scared to admit it? And wouldn't you be scared of the reaction?"

Binary mulled it over for a short while, then nodded. "Uh-huh, I would. So now it's my turn." She knelt at Melody's side, clasped their hooves together and smiled into her friend's eyes. "Imagine your only friend told you she wasn't going to be around much longer. And the whole time, you can see the fear and sadness in her eyes up close. Would you make a big deal out it, knowing how scared she already had to be?"

She saw Melody thinking in turn, and then realizing.

"No. I wouldn't. I'd do everything in my power to make sure she knew I was glad I got to know her at all. More than anything."

Binary warmed. "Thanks for the advice. I think I'll take it."

Melody nodded. "My... my family used to move around a lot because of work. They started moving around even more once they started trying to find a cure for me. I didn't last long in schools, and... well, after you break off enough friendships before they have a chance to start, you stop seeing the point of forming them at all."

Binary held back a sniffle. "Melody, you should be saving your strength."

Melody shook her head. "But then came you. You burst through my door telling me how awesome I was. You didn't give me a chance to stop you. Then I remembered that my parents had decided to settle down in Canterlot to be close to the Princess, and I wasn't really going to be going much of anywhere this time around. So... I let you share in my song."

Binary blinked. "Your song?"

"Mm-hmm. It's always playing in this house, whenever we're together. I'll let you hear it by turning it up a little. See if you can feel the vibrations with your magic."

At the side of the bed, Binary soon could hear a soft lilting of notes echoing throughout the room. At the same moment, she felt Melody's grip loosen. Instantly Binary's heart leapt in alarm, but then she felt something else -- two blue forelegs hugging her from behind.

At that moment, Binary understood.

In that same moment, the other Melody whispered in her ear. "There are links between sound and magic. Between music and magic. That's how I kept my name. And now you know what I know."

"I... I don't know what to say." Binary turned around, staying in her friend's forelegs. This Melody looked and felt just as much a real pony as the one in the bed. Then again, Binary supposed, she always had. "Thank you for trusting me with this."

"It's the least I can do," said Melody, "given what we've been through together."

Binary smiled despite herself, and hugged Melody in return. "It's actually too bad you can't show this off at the talent show."

Melody sighed. "I do so wish I could go. I didn't know what to do when you asked. I didn't want to say no because that would have meant letting you down in front of your classmates. I couldn't do that. Not after everything you've done for me-oh, and now look, you're crying."

"I-I am?" Binary wiped under her eyes and felt liquid. Curses. Caught at last. "Whoa. I guess so. I... look, I can't help it. You're also the first real friend I've ever had... and now you're crying too." She looked back at Melody's body on the bed. "Both of you."

Melody sniffled. "I'm so sorry, Binary. I've done no better than I used to, no matter how much I try to live with what I have, with what I can and can't do... I just keep messing things up."

Binary shook her head. "No, Melody. No you haven't. Not this time, you haven't."

Melody looked up with wide eyes. "R-... really?"

"Really. You've made a friend who doesn't care what kind of 'condition' you have, and who's going to show the world just what you've brought to her life. I'll bring your music to the talent show myself."

"Binary-"

"I'm serious! If this is going to be our last hurrah, then we're going out with the biggest bang ever. Like, universe level..."

"...and with no regrets," Binary repeated to the empty backstage.

She planted her hooves on the ground. I'll do this. For both of us. For what we shared. for what I wish we could have-

She stopped herself from crying for the third time that night. Really, it was getting annoying. Fortunately, a pompous voice distracted her.

"All right, all right, time for the ladybug to go back to the garden. We'll get the rabbit next time. And now, for her show-stopping finale, the Great and Powerful Trixie will proceed to turn everypony's wings into horns, and vice vers--wait... wait! Why did it only work on me? Trixie is not a pegasus! Somepony, help! The Great and Powerful Trixie is untrained in the use of wings!"

Amidst laughter from the audience, Trixie uncontrollably sailed through the curtain to backstage, and crashed into the wall behind Binary, who turned around to see one utterly dazed blue unicorn with her outfit completely crumpled.

Trixie came to her senses, glaring back at Binary. "What are you looking at?" she said, before galloping off.

A still-chuckling stagehoof approached from the left. "You ready, dear?"

Binary nodded, and barely had enough time to sit in front of the piano before the curtain rose. Her parents were there, as were Moondancer and her crowd. All the way in the back, she could see Princess Celestia standing expectantly. A violet unicorn filly whom Binary did not at all recognize clung to her back, forelegs wrapped around her neck. Celestia appeared to either not notice or not care.

The room was deathly quiet. She would have to make a sound before the audience did.

Like it or not, the show had to go on.

"Unison: Spectacles and Shades"

A My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Fanfiction

Part 5: "Catching Hearts And Minds"

by Bookish Delight, 2013-2014

All characters and referred properties belong to Hasbro.

With one of Melody's music sheets in front of her, Binary began playing.

Magical Chopsticks was a simple song, all told, starting with single notes and moving on to some simple chords. It was one of the songs they'd started out with when teaching Melody how to combine differing works of music. In other words, it had the best chance of not being flubbed.

Sadly, somewhere along the line, her horn had forgotten this.

Missed notes abounded. Wrong notes replaced the ones Binary was sure she'd hit. Nothing was working, even with the few lessons she'd had and retained from years ago. The whole thing was just coming out a mess. "Flubbing" was an understatement.

Her heart twisting, she raised her eyes just above the top of the piano and scanned the audience's expressions. She saw the condescending looks of adults trying to be polite, and smaller ponies restless in their seats. Children were always the most truthful. They couldn't wait for the song to be over.

Binary was right there with them.

Melody, I... I'm sorry... if I keep going, I'll just humiliate your dreams -- our dreams -- even more. I just wasn't cut out for this.

She stopped and leaned forward, resting her head against the sheet stand. This time, she didn't stop herself from sniffling.

I can't do this by myself. Now I understand. You were the only reason our duet wasn't a total failure in the first place.

In the midst of her self-pity she nearly failed to realize that the music hadn't stopped. She certainly wasn't playing, but the piano was.

And it was playing correctly. Amazingly correctly.

Her head darted up, and she looked back at the audience. The audience's expressions had completely changed. Some were blissful, someone were nodding their heads to the beat, and hey, even the fillies and colts didn't look that bored anymore.

She looked down at the piano and saw the keys being pressed with a familiar light. She looked to her right, afraid of her hunch as to who she would see...

...but still utterly thankful when that hunch was proven correct.

"Melody? What are you doing here?"

Her magic not letting up on the keys for a second, Melody turned to Binary with a wink and smile.

"Taking a chance."

Binary gaped. "And I love you for doing so, but how and why-"

With a trill, Melody finished the song to moderate applause. She placed her hoof on top of Binary's.

"When this is over, you can lecture me as much as you want. But right now, if I'm going to play, I'm going to need a musical guide. Know any good ones?"

Binary jumped off of the stool. "I might." She ran backstage, and less than a minute later was pushing a record player behind them. "Can they all see you?" she asked.

"Uh-huh."

"And nopony's the wiser to your song?"

"Nope. Well, there's one who might be."

"Who?"

Melody nodded to Princess Celestia, who simply smiled and nodded in return.

"Oh. Well, no helping that, I guess." Binary grabbed the nearby megaphone. "Fillies and foals, I'm Binary Match of Princess Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns. Please allow me to introduce Magical Melody, music prodigy to the stars!" She gestured towards the record player, and then the piano, as she spoke. "Whatever I play, or however I change things up, she'll work her piano magic with all of it just fine! But I've got some surprises in store for both you and her."

Her trusty saddlebag was summoned, albums lifting outside of it and spinning over Binary's head, until one settled on the player, and the needle settled upon it.

"Let's hit it!"

She started slow -- a light classical piece which she knew was easy for Melody to reproduce. As Binary expected, the absence of an orchestra didn't bother Melody in the least. As minutes of Three Seasons played Melody managed to blend her piano's notes perfectly into the virtual ensemble brought about by the record. She watched the audience close their eyes, sometimes swaying as they got lost in the high, flittering notes which did their best to communicate the joy and serenity of nature. It was just the effect Binary had wanted for her opening act.

A third of the way into the first movement, Binary took off her record, placing another one on the turntable. Opposite Ends Meet, the record said -- a golden oldie about two singers who were completely different ponies finding solace in one another. It was one that Melody had never played before -- a little faster and a little complex -- but she knew that it would be just the thing to wake the audience up, and it'd make great preparation for her planned finale.

Her deductions were correct. This time, the audience was a little more chipper, and smiles abounded. In the audience, she noticed a young burgundy filly with a frizzy pink mane grooving next to her mother, who chuckled despite her visible annoyance at her daughter's antics.

Binary smiled herself. Sometimes, ponies did follow the laws of logic and sequence.

Melody, for her part, adjusted to the increased speed well enough. Her notes blended into the lyrics, adding a classical spice normally not present in the genre the particular song represented, much less the song itself.

Soon enough, the song finished, though Binary always felt it ended just as it was getting really good. Still, there was no time to dwell on tonal opinionations. She dug back into her saddlebag, and pulled out the record she'd been saving for just this moment.

It was time for something a little more personal.

The cover read Mares of Rock 'n Roll -- a record she'd found in her mother's collection one evening and found extremely enjoyable. She'd spent hours turning it over in her mind and on paper, wondering just what made its pieces work so absolutely well. A little bit of jazz, a little bit of rock, held together by the same sort fast beats as the last song she'd played -- none of it should work when put together, but there it was, all pressed onto a single record, and she loved it.

The instrumental version was meant to be played via separate octaves to distinguish two groups -- one comprised of fillies, the other of colts -- competing with one another through song. Fast, steady beats, but thick with foreground and background notes. Certainly not as complicated as the works of Iron Mareden, but due to its involved nature it was no less worthy of being called a musical challenge. She hoped Melody was up to it.

As the opening strains of the song played, however, she got her answer, in the form of her her friend's voice echoing clear in her mind.

Hey, Binary?

Binary's eyebrows shot up. Huh?

I know this one. Keep the record on and come play it with me.

Binary froze.

But Melody, you've seen me try to play! You already know I can't!

It'll be okay. Trust me.

Binary sighed inwardly. All right.

Hurry, before the duet starts!

Got it! Binary left the record running and went to the seat, plopping back into her previous position to Melody's left. The deep-noted keys of the piano looked at her intimidatingly. "Guess you want me to play the colts, huh? Well, I'll fumble as best I can."

"Come now, Binary, I said you can trust me."

Melody looked at Binary, then at the keys directly in front of her. Binary did as well, and was shocked to find them changing color -- from white and black to pink -- in a flashing sequence.

She wondered why for all of three seconds. Then it all clicked.

She pressed one of the pink keys with her magic before it changed back to normal... then another, and another. Each time she did, the note she pressed made sense. The song made sense.

She heard Melody's voice once more in her mind.

Let me guide you, just this once?

Binary could barely hold in her happiness.

You got it.

The two continued, blending in harmony during some parts of the song, and moving back and forth between each other during others. So much fun was Binary having that she nearly failed to notice the reaction of the crowd. A slight raise of her head revealed them clomping their hooves an impromptu dance.

Upon nearing what she knew to be the end of the song, Binary got an idea. She knew she'd be able to execute it in far safer a fashion than when Trixie had tried it -- all it would require would be some quick and precise calculations on her part. She started them, all the while making sure to keep playing the keys Melody pointed out to her.

When the final notes played, fireworks crashed in the air, exactly halfway between herself and the ceiling, and with double intensity. Colorful lights shone on all gathered.

And the crowd burst into indiscriminate hoof-stomping applause.

In the midst of the standing ovation, Binary and Melody ran to center stage, quickly nodded their heads in a bowing gesture, then hugged each other.

"Melody!" said Binary. "Melody, we actually did it! They love us!"

"It would appear they do," Melody replied. "I've..." She looked out across the audience. "...this has never happened to me before."

"Don't worry, you get used to it. This is all a little weird for me too."

"Huh?" Melody blinked. "I thought you had the love of your school already."

Binary giggled. "Respect, maybe. Love's another story. But I don't mean that. I mean what you taught me back there just now."

"What... what I taught you?"

"Uh huh." Binary pulled Melody back to foreleg's length. "You taught me that I can really make music, too. Just... differently, is all. Even if I'm just a guide, even if I'm being guided, I can still share my song, just like you share yours. I mean, yeah, I'm the math queen, and I'll always love that as a thing for me. But finally I know something else I can do, which actually makes ponies happy."

Binary looked back out towards the receptive audience herself, doing the best she could not to melt on the spot.

"They're smiling at me, Melody. Smiling at me instead of giving me weird looks and... and..." She rested her face on Melody's shoulder. "...I think I could get used to this."

Melody re-wrapped her forelegs around Binary with a smile. "Welcome to my world, then. I always knew I wanted to do this, but I needed tonight to know I actually could. I can't wait to... wait. What's going on? Do... do you feel that?"

"Huh? N-no, I don't, wha-" Binary looked around, then noticed the audience pointing right at them with outstretched hooves. "Did we just get pranked or something?"

"Not unless someone's had an invisibility spell and a pen!" Melody's gaze was cast towards both their her and Binary's hind quarters, where a single note and twin notes respectively could be seen printed. "Binary, look at us!"

It didn't take Binary long to catch on. "Holy... Melody, we've got our cutie marks!"

Melody gasped as she realized. "You mean, like Mom and Dad and other ponies?"

Binary laughed. "Guess this really was what you were cut out for."

The audience redoubled their cheers as the curtain closed, followed by the two girls redoubling their embrace...

...which was the exact second when Binary fell through Melody and hit the floor.

When Binary came to, she was alone. Then she wasn't... then she was again.

She saw Melody's body fading in and out in front of her, before disappearing entirely.

"Melody? Melody!" Binary rushed further backstage before seeing Melody draped across Sky High's back as she and Earth Bound trotted into the room. A quick glance showed that her cutie mark was still there.

The voice in her mind started up again -- this time audible by all as she saw Melody's parents instantly react.

Binary? Binary, are you there?

"Yeah, Melody." Binary walked slowly towards the three ponies. "I'm here. So is this the part where I lecture you?"

I guess so. Even mentally, her voice was weak. My body couldn't take it, but I'm still here, and it's because I wanted to be. I want you to know that I heard your thoughts just before I arrived. You're not a failure. Don't ever let yourself think that. Your talents are just in a different place.

Binary nodded. "I know that now, thanks to you."

I'm... I'm glad. Not just for that, either. The world never works the way we plan it. I never planned to meet you... and feel like I'd lived a full life in the end.

At those last words, Binary's eyes shot up, and she rushed to Melody's still-unconscious body.

"Don't you dare talk like that, Melody. Not now, not ever! I don't care if a cure doesn't exist, we're making one now! Princess Celestia was in the audience, for crying out loud! Celestia! Princess Celestia, where are you?"

"No need to shout, dear. Open your eyes."

Binary hadn't been aware that they'd been shut tight. She opened them, turned around, and then opened them wider. "P-Princess Celestia? H-how long-"

"Long enough," said Celestia. "As Melody told you, I knew of her ruse the whole time. Knowing of her condition, however, I wanted to examine the nature of her spell. When I felt her song fade, I figured it best to intervene." Celestia walked towards Melody's parents. "You have a strong daughter. You should be proud."

Earth Bound nodded. "We know."

Sky High followed suit. "And we are."

Celestia extended her hoof and touched Melody's body. Yellow warmth flowed from the princess's hoof to the filly, causing her to glow with a similar light. In ten seconds' time, her eyes fluttered open.

"Wha..." Melody's head lifted as she looked around. "Mom? Dad? Binary? I... how long was I out?"

"It doesn't matter," said Sky High, nuzzling her daughter's cheek. "What matters is the now. It's the only thing that ever matters."

"I've given her enough strength to overcome a little of tonight's stress," said Celestia. "But even my abilities don't extend much further." She turned and drew a circle in the air in front of her, causing a yellow ring to appear, large enough for any of the ponies to pass through. "Given the circumstances, there's exactly one thing we can do."

Melody and her parents nodded, and moved towards the ring. Binary did the same, but Celestia held up a blocking hoof. "I am afraid I can only allow family to pass."

Binary froze. "B-but I..."

"It's okay," Melody piped up. "She's my sister."

Celestia looked at Melody. "Truly?"

Melody nodded. Celestia stared at her, then at Binary, then back at Melody again. Her reply was a knowing smile.

"All right, then, Binary, you've been vouched for. You may join the rest of us. Please come with me."

All five ponies passed through the ring, and when they emerged, their mouths and eyes widened in awe at the glamour which met them: pictures of royalty, gold and jewels, complemented by more subdued purples, greens and pinks adorning the furniture. A large and spacious bed lay near the rear.

Free Style was already there. Binary ran over and hugged her mother, then looked back. "All right, we're here," she said. "What's the thing we can do for Melody?"

Celestia levitated Melody, placed her on the bed, and tucked her under the covers. "We can make her last minutes all the happier."

Binary's heart sank like a stone. "What?"

Celestia's expression was somber. "Even after thousands of years, we still don't live in an Equestria where her condition is curable. These are my personal chambers. I thought that perhaps allowing her to be a Princess, even if just for a short while, might offer some solace." She ran a hoof over Melody's forehead, just before levitating her crown from her head and placing it on hers. "Is the bed to your liking?"

Melody nodded. "I've... I've never been on one this soft," she whispered.

Binary ran up to her. "Melody, why did you do this? You didn't have to do all this for me! You knew-"

Melody nodded. "I've known this would happen for a while, yes. It's funny, though -- I always thought it'd be my worst day ever." She looked into Binary's eyes. "You made it my best."

Sky High and Earth Bound both put their hooves on Binary's shoulders.

"And she talked it over with us first, dear," said Sky High. "When you have children, you'll understand -- you don't say no to their dreams, especially if you don't know if they'll ever get the chance again. Our daughter's dream was to have a concert side by side with the sister she never had."

"None of us were sure exactly what the outcome would be," said Earth Bound, "whether she'd be able to take it. But even given what's happened, I still know that we've never seen her smile so much for so long as she has tonight. Or since you entered her life, honestly."

"And now I have my whole family with me. Mom, Dad, 'Sis'... all of the reasons I can smile are here." In demonstration, Melody did just that, while holding out her hooves in beckoning to the three ponies before her. "Your Princess asks you to approach," she said with a tiny giggle.

In reply, the three instantly moved forward into a group hug. Sniffles were no longer stifled, sobs were no longer held back. It was impossible to hold back the constant tears from six eyes.

"We love you, honey," said Sky High.

"I love you all too," said Melody. "Thanks for everything. And Binary... because I can tell... please... please don't-"

The sentence was never finished. Magical Melody's eyes closed. Her body stopped moving.

Yet even when her body was let go and fully placed back on the bed, her smile of contentment persisted.

Binary stepped back, looking at Melody from the end of the bed. She watched Celestia wordlessly move the covers over Melody's head, and take her crown back.

At that moment, she decided that she couldn't look any more.

She galloped for the door, opened it and bolted through it, ignoring the calls of her name from the gathered mares and stallion.

The castle halls greeted her. She'd never been here before. In the back of her mind, she knew she would get lost. She didn't care.

She had to get away from what she knew she'd just done.

She picked one direction and took it, running blindly down steps until crashing upon reaching the next floor down-

"Ow!"

Binary was knocked back upon bumping into another filly -- the same filly, she soon noticed, who had been clinging to the Princess during the talent show earlier, and was clinging to a golden cup at the moment.

"Sorry, sorry," Binary said, quickly getting up and brushing herself off.

"It's okay," said the other filly, doing the same. "But... oh! You're Binary Match, yes? Here. This is yours." The golden cup was floated towards her.

"What's this?"

"You won the talent show. Princess Celestia told me you were here in the castle. She wanted me to bring it to you. Sorry we couldn't put your friend's name on it. She's technically not part of the student body, so..."

"I... I won the talent show."

Binary looked at the trophy, turning it around for as long as she could before her heart sank.

"And it was so worth it, wasn't it, Binary? Worth all of this!" She tossed the trophy away. "Give it to someone else," she said, her voice cracking. "I wish I'd never entered!"

She broke into a gallop once more, leaving a bewildered violet filly behind in her wake.