Tuned Too Low

This chapter will conclude the three part entry of "The Surprise!" It will then move into a section where the party will take place. This chapter will involve the characters of TTL preparing for the party. Before this chapter is over, a majority of questions will be answered, maybe even a little somethin' somethin'. I apologize for any poor character development, spelling mistakes, or improper language while you have been following this story and I thank you. This story has been changing a lot lately in my head. So, this will put it all in place. Hopefully. This isn't the end either, if this gave you that idea.

So without further a due, Here's Chapter Ten, 'Spring Flings and Other Stories'

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        The sky was bright blue and empty, the hue it gave out could make your eyes hurt if you stared too long, not a single cloud was tempting bad weather. It had been that way for quite the long while, making life as pleasant as the moment at hoof was. Birds chirped in the distance, singing perfectly in harmony to the song they're born to. The grass sat perfectly still, seeing how it was grass, but sparkled as if a traveling pony felt obligated to water them. Their smell traveled through the cooling air brought a sense of summer to this sweet, stimulating spring afternoon. But all that beautiful stuff I just said didn't matter to Coraline.

        She walked with a trot in every step, making her joy known. The sadness that hung over her head recently, about the incident the year before, had dissapeared. She didn't know where it had gone, how long it would be gone, or anything about it in particular, all she cared about was the moment she was sharing with her friend, Cee. trotted along side her, grinning like Pinkie Pie on any other day. After what happened moments before, C.D. and Coraline felt closer, as friends, as ponies, as beings in a land blessed by the kindness everypony shared in that one little town, and hopefully through out all of Equestria.

        They trotted closer together, never really going ahead of each other. Leaning against one another. Cee thought it was nice being so close with Coraline. He had been so nervous around her lately, seeing how they had only really started talking the night before and how he's been drooling over her for sometime. It was then he thought a somewhat worrying thought:Where they moving too fast? Should they really be this close only had just known each other? He glanced over at Coraline and saw her smile, her coat which shined in the sun light, and her gleaming eyes they had their attention on the surroundings heading towards Cee's home. 'Nah. We're doing just fine.' C.D. thought smiling even wider now.

        They soon approached a small house on the side of the road, surrounded by others that looked pretty similar. Coraline quietly giggled at how exactly the house stood out. It's paint was a mixture of the blue that highlighted Cee's mane. It's windows where dark, as if tinted, thought had several streamers sticking to it from the inside. The door was white and had a fancy door knocker, which gleamed bright when the sun touched it. It's design was a Ursa-Major face with a ring hanging from it's mouth. Both Cee and Coraline blinked at the monstrosity. "What is that?" Coraline asked.

        "It's a door knocker." He said pointing at it. "My Mom had bought while touring. She thought it looked so cool and deserved a place here." He laughed. "It was about a month of begging, pleading, and reasoning before Mum finally gave in to her." He reached for it and flicked it with his hoof, causing it to flail up and then down, making a loud bang against the door.

"Seem's a little loud, don't you think?" She said flinching a bit from the sound. Cee nudged her playfully. "Oh, it can be even louder when you have angry neighbors at you door."

"Why would there be 'angry neighbors'?" As Coraline asked that, the door flew open and a blue and white blur appeared at the door. Coraline ran behind Cee. He laughed and turned to her. "THAT'S why we have angry neighbors!" He said pointing at the DJ in the door.

"They're not angry, not when they have me living next door!" Vinyl said proudly. "They listen to the most raddest beats in all of Equestria! And they get to hear me play my own hits....Whether they want to or not." She said with an evil grin.

"Yeah, they just love the personal concerts you perform, Mom. Especially the concert we through when we just got here." Cee said approaching his mother. She responded nuzzling him. "So, is this where the party's taking place?"

  "Yup! And there's more stuff on the way." Vinyl turned her attention to Coraline, who stood aside. She trotted to her and smiled greatly. "And who's this adorable filly?" Vinyl turned and faced Cee. "You never told me you had a 'fillyfriend'." Cee blushed wildly and Coraline giggled to herself. "Oh relax! I won't say anything embarrassing!"  She looked back at Coraline. "Come in! I was just moving some stuff around so Cee and his band could move their instruments in here." She turned and trotted through the door way. Coraline followed but stopped to see C.D. facehoof. "This is gonna be long day." He groaned. Coraline giggled and nuzzled him, turning him deep crimson. "Oh, it won't be so bad...coltfriend." She giggled and trotted away happily, leaving Cee standing there dazed and completely confused. 'Coltfriend?' He thought nearly losing his balance walking through the door.

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  Elsewhere, we find Sky, still wearing the hat, and Red moving several pieces of musical equipment into a cart. They had to be extra careful not to damage anything, that's why Cee wasn't here helping. They really did like him, but he was just too clumsy when it came to this kind of stuff. Sky moved the last piece of Red's drum kit into the cart and moved to the front of it. Red was waiting for him with one leather strap wrapped around him. "So, to Cee's and then to your place, right Sky?" He asked.

  Sky finished wrapping the other strap around his tail. "Yup. We should have enough time to grab something to eat before the party starts." With a nod from Red, they began their journey towards C.D.'s home.

  The two were not paranoid at the fact that it was about 12:30, signaling right away saying that they should be in school. Everypony was minding their business, doing what job they had for today. Sky saw Bon-Bon walking towards Lyra's house and he waved. She waved back.

  They made it past the record store where they used to practice, of course they couldn't that anymore. Apparently some ponies found that 'distracting'. Red sighed deeply. "Stupid dad and his complaints. We weren't that bad were we?" He looked at Sky who looked away really quickly, hiding under the goofy hat. "What's wrong, Sky?" He looked at him with his head tilted. Sky looked back, but not directly. "N-no. Nothing's wrong." He went back to looking at the ground. "You know, you shouldn't really blame yourself. It wasn't your fault." Red scoffed. "Oh really? I had to be responsible for whatever happened. He told me I should've been more mature on dealing with it." He sighed again. Red and the band got banned from practicing at the store by his dad. Due to inviting ponies over during opening hours, Vinyl's last appearance there, and 'that mess they called music.' "I swear!" He shouted. "He really pisses me off sometimes!"

  Sky felt bad. He didn't like how Red's dad reacted to the band, or how he acted at all. He was good in public, and of course an all around good pony, but how he acted or disciplined Red bothered Sky. He was prejudice against any 'filly-fooling' or 'colt-cuddling'. Another pony who saw it as a bad thing or wrong. It was never a big deal around, since he never really expressed it, but when he did, it hurt Sky. It was one of the reasons why he didn't tell Red he was gay to begin with. The only ones who really knew was Cee and Spike. He won't even tell his mothers. Red never really disliked his dad, but his views for things angered him. The music he listened to before was looked down upon by his dad because, 'There's no feeling! It's just distorted guitars and bad drums!' Worst of it all though, when his dad told him that, Red had been listening to his OWN band's mix-tape. Red's mom never really notices the issue. Sky laid a hoof on Red's shoulder causing him to stop. "Really, Red. Stop blaming yourself. It was all of us, and your dad should've acted like an adult about it." Red laughed at that.

  "Yeah. You know, Sky? I've been wondering something..." Red trailed off as he saw Sugar Cube Corners windows. They had put cakes in the window. Sky laughed and nudged Red. "What? Ewww, dude, stop drooling!"

   Red shook his head and wiped his mouth. "Sorry, didn't eat lunch." He looked at Sky. "You never did tell me why you acted so weird a while ago." Sky face contorted into a scared expression. He kept pulling the cart as he looked off into nothing. "You can tell me! Come on, Sky!" He stepped in front of him, causing him to be faced to face the shying colt. They were really close, Sky blushed wildly and stammered. "W-well, uh....I-I guess..." He stopped. Red stared into his grey eyes and grinned. "C-could you b-back up a bit, Red?" Sky said moving back up against the cart. Red looked for a few more seconds and then laughed. "Alright, don't tell me! But know this!" He moved back towards Sky. "I'll find out."

   "O-okay..." Sky stammered before they went back to pulling the cart. 'Oh dear Celestia, you just hate me, don't you?!' Sky thought trying to get rid of the blush on his muzzle. 'He's getting suspicious! This is going to be a long day...What if I just told him?....Would it be so bad?' He glanced at Red who looked forward down the road.

   'What if he feels the same?'

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        Back at the library, Spike had just took a bath and cleaned up the muffins. He thought back on all the stuff he did with 'Just a Scratch', the band he used to share with the three colts. He stopped playing with them because of his work schedule, but always kept in touch. He would even step in to help with song writing. But now that it's been two whole years after he left, he felt like something was missing. He looked around the library and looked at the mess in front of him. 'I really do miss it.' Spike thought putting the dish that held the brownies in the sink. 'I always thought Cee would be good for the band when he joined, and they've gotten to play along with Vinyl on stage, but still...' He jumped up on the counter and formed a heroic pose. 'They need me!' A dramatic background appeared behind him as metal music blasted. He looked around in confusion. 'Where did that come from?'

        He thought back at all the times Cee had showed up at the door with a look of defeat, and asked him to join the band again. He would do so after every song he wrote. ESPECIALLY after 'Constellation Proclamation'. Spike laughed to himself. "That song rocks. I don't what his problem is. He walk into his room and stared. It was covered wall to wall with posters, pictures, and trophies. He had out grown his basket and Twilight gave him a bed. He thanked Celestia because nothing's more awkward then sleeping in the same room while Twilight and Trixie had....relations. He shuddered at the thought.

       The rooms background was filled with posters of bands from Green Hay to his and Cee's favorite, Ponyhead. But what he really cared about, was the picture by his bed. It was a pink frame of him and Scootaloo at The Gala the year before. He remembered how cute she looked in her dress. How her eyes sparkled as he asked her to dance. How her pink mane fell over her eye in Fluttershy fashion. Of course, he loved her. But never really admitted it. He still kicks himself for not doing so.

        He turned his attention to the case on the wall on the left side of his bed. It held a guitar similar to C.D.'s but had shared Spike's colors. It's headstock looked like the tip of a dragons tail and had an inscription written in it:

Spike-

Playing piano, making muffins, and Spittin' rhymes like fire since 995.

-Just a Scratch

      Spike smiled and took the case off the wall. He had earned that inscription from the covers they did of Ponyhead's songs. They also wrote some songs where he would rap, but not like the crap nowadays. He had been taught to play guitar by Cee and Vinyl, as annoying and obnoxious as was learning, it paid off greatly. He play it slowly, remembering everything he learned. After awhile, he went to his closet, took out a guitar case and place the guitar in it. He decided he would would rejoin Just a Scratch, and why not pick tonight to do it?

      After straightening his scales, and brushing his teeth, he left a note for Twilight and Trixie and exited the library to Cee's place, with his guitar under his arm. He walked at a slow pace to enjoy the outside. The fresh air filled his lungs as he breathed in and out as he let out a sigh. How could this day get better? "Hey, Spike!" Oh that's how.

      Spike turned to see Scootaloo heading towards him on her scooter. She skidded to a stop right in front of him. She took off her helmet and shook her hair so it fell into her purple eyes. She blew it out of her way to see Spike, who stared dreamy-like. "Uh, Spike, are you alright?" She giggled. Spike snapped out of it and shook his head. "Y-yeah! I was just heading over to Cee's for that party..." HE stopped and wondered. "Did you get an invite?"

    "Yup!" She pulled a card out of her helmet. "I was just about to meet Sweetie Belle and Applebloom over at Sugar Cube Corner." She looked closer at Spike and grinned. "You wanna co-"

     "Sure! I-I mean, cool. Yeah I come with you." Spike stammered and blushed. Scootaloo smiled. She loved having Spike around. Even if he was like this. 'He's so cute when he blushes.' She thought. They then made their way to Sugar Cube Corner.

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       "I can't believe it!" Silver Spoon shouted walking home with Diamond Tiara. "They just left school?! So, like, what? Where did they go?" Diamond shook her head. "I don't know. But Pinkie Pie actually, like, threw a pie at the teacher and she's in the office demanding Pinkie and those dorks be punished." Silver Spoon laughed evilly. "Well good. But where they went is what I-" She was interrupted when the before mentioned pink mare jumped out from a near by bush. "Hey ya, little fillies!" She said. Pinkie had twigs and leafs sticking out of her mane. "You're invited to an super-duper, extra special, fantastic birthday party for Octy, today!" She took two cards out of her mane and handed them to Silver and Diamond. Before they asked about anything Pinkie vanished. "She's, like, weird."

     "I know, but look at card." Diamond said pointing at her's. "It says that the party is going have...Just a Scratch performing." Silver Spoon's face contorted into an angry look as she shredded her card. "I can't stand Christoffer! We have to get into the party and do....do....something!" She was obsessed with her hatred for Cee. Ever since he made fun of her in front of everypony at school. She just couldn't get over it. "Silver, you really need to, like, calm down. We'll go, but as much as you dislike Cory or Christoffer, don't do anything stupid." She put a hoof on Silver's shoulder, which calmed her instantly. "When it comes down to it, we'll think of something."

    "Why are you so calm? When your just as angry as I am?" Silver asked annoyed.

    "Because, I can control my anger. Unlike somepony I know." Diamond shot back.

    "Whatever!" Silver shouted. "Let's just head over already!" And with that, the two walked off into the direction of Cee's home.

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   Meanwhile, above all of this, Octavia laid on a spa table and was being massaged by Aloe. With her was Rarity, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Trixie. "This was a splendid idea, Rarity!" She gasped as her backed was cracked. "Thank you, darling!" Rarity shouted over the wall from the steam bathes.  "I knew this would be the ideal thing for a birthday present for somepony like yourself." Fluttershy sat quietly on the other side of the steam bath, her head have submerged. "Hey, Twilight! How are you and Trixie doing?" Octavia asked while having her face buried in the table. Twilight and Trixie sat side by side in the mud bath with there eyes closed, sleeping while they held each others hooves. "Oh those two." Rarity said to herself.

   Octavia woke up that morning pretty early to meet Rarity at the spa to start her birthday off right. They hadn't left since then. She was relaxed and happy. 'Best birthday ever.' She thought. But then a feeling welled up in the back of her head. Something was missing. Or someponies were missing. She missed Vinyl and Cee. 'Oh...' Octavia thought with a sigh. 'I wonder what they're doing? Probably up to something to surprise me, I wonder-' Her thoughts was interrupted when a scream came from the mud baths. "Pinkie! Get off Trixie's head!" Twilight yelled. "Oopsies! Sorry!" Pinkie hopped from head to head in the spa till she reached Octavia. "Hiya, Octy!" She said grinning wildly. Octavia laid there with an annoyed look. "Hello. Pinkie, what are you doing here?"

    "I came to get you! You have a very special surprise!" Pinkie said, hopping around the massage table making Octavia dizzy. "Pinkie....please...Stop!" Pinkie stopped in mid-air, breaking every law of physics, causing ponies in the spa to question everything they've ever known. "Okay, now what's the surprise?" Octavia said, now standing off the table.

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To Be Continued....