Shuffle

Equeen

Octavia drank her red wine in the warm confines of her living room.

Her roommate, Vinyl Scratch, departed earlier in the day to DJ a rave in Fillydelphia, leaving the light-gray mare to her peace. She was fond of her unicorn roommate, especially since she was kind and generous enough to offer the cellist a place to stay in Ponyville after the Grand Galloping Gala incident. However, Vinyl does, on occasion, unintentionally annoy her with her random moods for playing those death-beats that Vinyl called "music". But Octavia tries her best to not seem so in front of her, lest she seem ungrateful.

Taking the opportunity of peace and quiet, Octavia daintily chewed on a daisy sandwich whilst reading the new edition of one of her favorite novel series as Celestia's sun set on the horizon through the window. She wouldn't admit it to anyone, not even to Vinyl, but she was a die-hard fan of the Daring Doo series. Something about a pony risking her life for treasures unknown and glory world-round excited the mare.

Swallowing the last of the plate of sandwiches she prepared for herself and downing the glass of alcohol, the cellist placed her dinner ware into the sink, washed them, and arranged them neatly back in their respective cabinets. Then, she returned to the couch and continued reading.

But her mind wandered back to that fateful day it all went south for her. Everything, her credibility, her opportunity to prove her skill to the crowds of Canterlot, gone, thrown away by that insane, over-the-top, pink pony. Octavia unconsciously gripped her book harder, vexed. Realizing she was going to rip her beloved novel in half, frustratedly, she tossed it to the other side of the cushioned furniture and sunk deeper into the soft fabric, eyes meditatively shut and rubbing her temples. She couldn't allow someone so...beneath her to drive her into silly little fits of ire.

A knock on the front door, thankfully, gave the earth pony something else to occupy her stressed mind. Getting up from the comfortable position she'd just found, somewhat grudgingly, she trotted to the door and opened it.

"Yes?" But no one responded, since there wasn't anyone at the door. Not amused, she almost slammed the door shut when her light-purple eye caught the object sitting alone in front of the house. Looking around to see any sign of life, and seeing that there wasn't any, Octavia indifferently picked up the lone object with her teeth and reentered the home.

The mare went over to the coffee table that sat in front of the couch and observed the package. It was a plain, simple, cardboard box. Raising an long, black eyebrow, Octavia nearly tossed the innocent box away when, once again, her keen eye spotted a side that stuck out further than the rest. Feeling curiosity creep on her, the mare couldn't help but succumb to it. Gently lifting the free flap, the tilted the box and slid its contents onto the table. She counted three objects in total.

A white card, a white cord that had three ends to it, and a deep-gray cube-like contraption. Face remaining indifferent, Octavia picked the card up in a hoof, not knowing what else to do first, and found that there was a set of instructions written upon it. They were,

Plug the pole end of the white cord into the hole on your iPod Shuffle. Then insert the corresponding ear-buds into your ears to listen to the music. In order to play and pause the music, lightly press the center of the white ring. Press the "+" and "-" symbols to increase and decrease the volume, respectively. If you would like to skip a song, then gently press the double arrow symbol pointing to the right. But if you would like to replay a previous song, then simply press the pair of arrows pointing in the opposite direction.

Enjoy!

Music? This little gizmo could play music? This intrigued Octavia further.

Raising the little cube and cord, she studied them with a fascinated set of light-purple eyes, then proceeded to plug the according end of the white cord into the only slot available on the prism, then inserted the other two ends into each ear. She was about to hit the center of the black ring when a thought occurred to her.

What if this was a prank? What if Vinyl sent this amusing little device to trick her into playing it and then having her head explode from that awful garbage Vinyl loved so much, for some inane reason. Will she really let herself be fooled so easily by that mischievous white unicorn? Octavia looked at the object in her hoof. The temptation was too great to pass up. She pressed the ring.

The first sound to greet her anxious eardrums were, thankfully, not those dreaded "wubs". Instead, it was an orchestra, violins or violas mainly with a base in the background. The sound of a beating drum resonated through several times. The light-gray mare enjoyed it so far. She watched the outside world as it continued, until finally, the lyrics began.

"Empty spaces -- what are we living for?

Abandoned places -- I guess we know the score.

On and on, does anybody know what we are looking for?

Another hero, another mindless crime.

Behind the curtain, in the pantomime.

Hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore?

The show must go on!

Inside my heart is breaking,

My make-up may be flaking

But my smile still stays on."

As a matter of fact, Octavia really liked this song. It was amazing! The vocalist was truly powerful and resonant, the orchestra's non-faltering beat carrying the tune forcefully, and the slightest hint of electric guitar was a welcome complement. She found that her hoof was lightly tapping the floor boards as the song went on.

"Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance.

Another heartache, another failed romance.

On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?

I guess I'm learning, I must be warmer now.

I'll soon be turning round the corner now.

Outside the dawn is breaking,

But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free.

The show must go on!

The show must go on! (Yeah!)

Inside my heart is breaking,

My make-up may be flaking

But my smile still stays on."

This was followed by an emotion guitar solo, one that, admittedly, rocked Octavia to her core.

"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies.

Fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die.

I can fly~y, my friends!

The show must go on!

I'll face it with a grin!

I'm never giving in!

O~o~on with the show!

I'll top the bill, I'll overkill;

I have to find the will to carry on (On with the show)

On with the show. (Show!)

The show must go on, go on, go on, go on, go on..."

"...Marvelous," Octavia admitted to herself as the song finished. She didn't make another said, expecting the next song to play. The beginning was nothing mare than the sound of stomping and clapping.

Stomp, stomp, clap.

"Buddy you're a boy makin' big noise,

Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day.

Ya' got mud on your face,

Ya' big disgrace,

Kickin' your can all over the place,

Singin':

We will, we will, rock you!

We will ,we will, rock you!

Buddy you're a young man, hard man,

Shoutin' in the street, gonna take on the world some day.

You got blood on your face,

You big disgrace,

Wavin' your banner all over the place.

We will, we will, rock you! (Sing it!)

We will, we will, rock you!

Buddy you're an old man, poor man,

Pleadin' with your eyes, gonna make you some peace some day.

You got mud on your face,

You big disgrace,

Somebody better put you back into your place!

We will, we will, rock you! (Sing it!)

We will, we will, rock you!

(Everybody,) We will, we will, rock you!

We will, we will, rock you!"

*Awesome guitar solo*

"...I love it!"