It had been a normal week for Derek, the same as all the others that summer. Get up go to work come home and do it all over again the next day. Since he had gotten a job that summer he had been very busy and hadn’t had as much time for the couple friends that he had. He didn’t mind that much though, he was a loner at heart. Even in school, he would keep to himself. He was very thankful he only had one more year before he was finished.
The Sun was beginning to set as he returned home from the convenience store he worked at. Sighing as he entered his home he greeted his mother and then quickly made his way to his room. Kicking his shoes off beside his bed, he sat down at his desk and tiredly rubbed his eyes. After temporarily shaking of the tired feeling that was slowly overtaking his body, he turned on his computer and followed his usual routine, social networks, then the never ending search for new music to listen to. Music was what seemed to keep him going, when all else failed it remained to true to him. He loved to make music as well as listen, which is the reason he spent most of his when not at work in his room making music. Turning on his stereo he began to lose himself in the music, slowly falling asleep at his desk.
Meanwhile in Canterlot…
Vinyl slowly paced around the room, the sound of the bass permeating the small waiting room where she was awaiting her set time to perform. A relieved sigh escaped her lips and she heard the cheering crowd. Her horn sparked into life as she opened the door and walked toward the stage. Walking out onto the stage the pyrotechnic fireworks sparked to life on either side of her as she made her way to her turntables. As soon as the fireworks had ended the stadium turned completely black. A slight murmur among the crowd could be heard until a faint light from the stage caught their attention. The light grew brighter and brighter until it suddenly exploded as the music blasted to life. A loud cheering began as the show started. Being a DJ was much easier for Unicorns than for Earth or Pegasus ponies, being that Unicorns had magic. As the concert was nearing its end Vinyl added one more record. Fading out the song that had been playing she let her outtro play as she took a bow and walked off the stage fading the music with her magic. Wiping the sweat from her head as she reached the same waiting room she had been in before she sat down in a chair letting out a deep breath. Just them a male Pegasus walked in. “Great show Vinyl! Awesome way to end the tour.” “Thanks Wind Stream.” “Hey…do you want to grab something to eat. You deserve some relaxation, this is the longest tour you’ve done.” He said matter-of-factly. “Thanks, but I think I’m just going to head back to the hotel. I’m really tired.” “Oh alright. Well see you later” the stallion said with a slightly disappointed tone. As he shut the door Vinyl slowly found herself staring blankly at the floor. She soon realized this and stood. Her horn again began to glow and in a flash of light she vanished from the room. She re appeared outside of the building. Hailing a cab she climbed inside and slumped in the seat closing her eyes. She re opened her eyes to find a colt slightly tapping her on the shoulder. “Maam, where did you want to go?” Suddenly realizing she must have dozed off she quickly apologized. “I’m sorry I must have dozed off. The Canterlot Hotel please.” “No problem maam” He replied as he started pulling the cab down the street. Once again closing her eyes she felt herself slowly drifting back to sleep, thinking about the day’s events. As the carriage pulled to a stop in front of the hotel, Vinyl awoke and slowly got out of the cart. Groggily walking into the hotel she walked to the front desk to check in. “Hello, would you like a room?” “Yes please” she responded tiredly. “Alright maam, here is your key. Your room is on the 13th floor. The elevators are on the fare wall.” “Thank you.” She walked to the elevator, eager to fall into a soft bed and drift off to sleep. As she stepped in a young colt and his mother entered as well. The colt stared at her for minute and then spoke. “Are you Vinyl Scratch? I love you’re music I’m such a huge fan! I wanted to come to your show, but mommy said I’m not old enough” Vinyl looked down and smiled at the colt. “Awe thanks buddy. I’m sorry you couldn’t come, but tell you what; I think I can make it up to you. Her horn sparked to life and suddenly there was a CD and pen floating in front of her. “How would a autograph sound?” “That would be so cool!” the colt exclaimed. She signed the CD and guided it towards him. He grasped it excitedly. “Thank you so much!” The colt’s mother smiled and thanked Vinyl. She smiled back as they reached the 10th floor. As the doors opened and the Mare and her colt began to step up a sudden thud racked the elevator car. A second thud shook the soon after the first and the car fell a foot. A creaking sound could be heard from above the car and soon vinyl realized what was happened. Just as the third and final bang was heard, Vinyl screamed an pushed the mare and her colt out of the car right before it started to free fall. As the car free fell Vinyl looked around for a way out. There was none. Bracing for the immediate impact Vinyl’s horn started to glow as a bubble formed around her. Just then the car hit the ground floor and blast of light engulfed the inside of the car. Several minutes later after the dust had settled several worker ponies surrounded the car and pried the doors open. It was empty “Well it’s a good thing no one was in there.” One of the workers said. “That could have been messy.”
It was a cool crisp morning and sun shone brightly outside. Rays of light penetrated the window and began warming Derek’s bedroom. Derek awoke slowly rubbing the sleep from his eyes and yawning as he stretched in his chair. “Damn, I must have been tired.” He said as he rose from his chair and made his way to the bathroom. Splashing some water on his face to drive away the final feeling of drowsiness he then headed downstairs to the kitchen. Opening the fridge he grabbed the orange juice from the fridge and poured himself a glass. Glancing around the house he wondered why it was so quiet. His dad was usually at work by now, but his mom should be home. Suddenly he spotted a note on the kitchen island. Putting down his glass he grabbed the note and began reading…
“Hey son, I thought I would leave you this note thinking you might forget about your dad and me leaving for Colorado. There are some frozen dinners in the freezer and some money in your desk for you to go out to eat (try to at least pick Subway and not Olive Garden haha). We love you and will see you in three weeks!”
“Right…Three weeks to myself then.” He said before taking another drink. Looking at the clock, it read 8:17 am.
“Well it’s too early to go anywhere and I doubt there is anything on T.V. Wonderful, three more weeks of this will be amazing.” He said slightly frustrated. Finishing his orange juice and setting his glass in the sink he then headed back to his room. Opening the door and kicking some clothes out of the way he sat down at his desk and “woke” his computer from its’ “sleep” mode. Pulling his music software he began listening to a track he had been working on for the past week. Turning around he glanced thoughtfully at his stereo and speakers, watching as the bass made the speakers move to the beat. Turning back to his screen he started browsing Facebook.
“Same shit, different day. Why is my life so damn boring?” Frustrated he jumped to his bed and continued considering the music, wondering what he should do with the track next. He thoughts drifted from music to work and then to his dreams. The dreams of the past several weeks flooded into his head. He kept dreaming about this DJ, but it wasn’t just an ordinary DJ. She was a pony DJ. He’d been seeing her life play out like episodes every night. It had been driving him crazy for weeks, but last night was the worst, it was more of a nightmare than a dream. The pony was hurt, or at least he thought she was. She’d free fell in an elevator risking her life to save others. He was sure she was hurt if not dead. How could anything survive that?
“Why am I thinking about this? I must be going nuts. I’m dreaming about horses…or ponies or whatever! It sounds like something a little girl would do.” Just as he was quietly condemning himself he heard a large thump outside his window.
“What the hell?” Jumping from his chair he nimbly ran down the stairs. Reaching the bottom he headed in the direction he believed the sound came from, the deck. Opening the sliding glass door to the deck slowly stuck his head out the door and looked around. Seeing nothing he slowly went down the stairs to his right. The house was surrounded by thick woods on three sides of the house with a small dirt road in the front overlooking a valley. Having no neighbors within 500 yards meant no one else would’ve heard the crash, or anything for that matter. Walking around the deck he peered through the small trees and bushes his mother had planted to cover the underneath of the deck. Seeing nothing in the dark space he continued to walk down the small hill next to the deck. Just as he was about to head inside one of the bushes rustled ever so slightly.
“There you are…” Hesitantly he walked toward a thick grass plant near the corner of the deck. Pushing the plants away he immediately felt himself surrounded by a glowing fog like substance.
“Holy shit!", Just then he was thrown 10 feet into the yard flat on his back. Groaning quietly he tried to get up, but realized he couldn’t. With the wind knocked out of him and an aching head, he really didn’t feel like moving just then anyhow.
“Don’t come near me, I don’t know what you are, but stay away” a strange voice called from a few feet away from him. He couldn’t lift up his head to see what it was nor could he talk because of fall. Moaning in response he could do nothing but lie there, hoping whatever it was wouldn’t kill him.
"Uhhhh...what? Who are you?" he groaned.
"Who am I?! What are you is the question?" Vinyl retorted angrily.
"Either I hit my head really hard or I'd say I'm human just like you. Hey how did I get thrown any...anyhow?"
Walking over to him she thought about what had just happened. She didn't mean to hurt him, she was just scared. Looking down at him she frowned, he didn't look good. He may not be a pony, but he was hurt and obviously now in no condition to hurt her.
"Okay now I know I'm hallucinating w-what are y-you?" He said shakily.
"Uuh, I'll explain later. You're not looking too good. I can try a healing spell but I need to lie you down somewhere. Is this your house?"
"You're a talking horse...a freaking talking horse."
"Focus!" She said sternly.
"Y-yeah it is...wait what's happening? What are you doing?" He began to panic as she levitated him off the ground. Walking towards the house she carried him with her magic to the door.
"Guessing it isn't locked." She mused as the opened the door with her magic.
Setting him down on the couch she began to focus her magic as she sat down next to him. Closing her eyes and bowing her head just a bit her. Derek looked over shocked to see her horn glowing and his body in that same aura of turquoise light. Suddenly he felt a warm sensation all over his body, like a heated blanket was being wrapped around him. The noticeable thumping pain that had begun in his back and head since he was flung to the ground began to disappear. The feeling seemed to last forever as if time slowed down in some magical way, until it abruptly stopped. He looked over at the white coated mare sitting next to him with an open mouth. The pain was totally gone.
"H-how did you do that?" He blurted out as he sat up and quickly faced her. "And what are you? Where did you" He stopped as he was interrupted.
"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have panicked and attacked you. I just didn't know what you were, I've never seen anything like you before..." she said looking down.
"Likewise..." He retorted. "So how did you?" he again stopped as she interrupted him.
"Oh right. My name is Vinyl...Scratch, V-Vinyl Scratch. How I got here I can't really explain because I don't know. One minute I was pushing a colt and his mother out of a falling elevator and plummeting to my death and the next minute I ended up here. I tried a simple teleporation spell to just teleport me to the hotel lobby when I fell into the bushes out there. I was pretty dazed and then I saw you coming at me and well...you know what happened from there."
So was me flying through the air your whole "magic" thing to?" He asked confused.
"Yes. Like I said I'm really sorry I was just scared."
"You don't need to apologize, I can understand why you would be. You're not from earth are you?
"Earth? No I've never heard of an Earth. I'm from Equestria."
At this Derek chuckled.
"What's so funny?" she asked slightly annoyed.
"Nothing it's just interesting..."
Relaxing slightly he shifted in his seat.
"You can sit on the couch or a chair if you want...I mean if you want to" He offered nervously.
"Haha thanks" She replied.
"So do you know how to get back? Not that I'm kicking you out or anything..."
"Not really...I don't know how I got here to begin with."
Well you can stay here if you like...I don't know of any other talking horses..." "Ponies." she corrected him. "Um, talking Ponies around here. Plus it's not safe to be roaming around. Someone might try to do some kind of science experiment on you or something..."
"Wait what?" She asked, obviously a bit distraught.
"Yeah...not everyone is as nice as me in this world. Well." He hesitated.
"Well what?"
"Do you want a tour?"
Author's Note
Sorry for the delay in getting a chapter out guys, I'm working three jobs currently and just haven't had much free time.
