Fame is not Friendship...
*A/N: Chapter One: Some Nights by Fun*
Wishes
“...Some nights I wish this all would end
‘Cause I could use some friends for a change
And some nights I’m scared you’ll forget me again...”
Every night of my life is the same. Every day of my life is the same. All day I sleep. All night I work. You see. I am the DJ here at the Ponyville nightclub: Club Pon-3.
My name is Vinyl Scratch.
Fame is really a strange thing. Everypony knows you, everypony likes you, but you have no friends...
It was that one day of that one week in that one month... in other words, I had no idea what the date was. Either way, it was like, seven in the evening and I arrived early at the club as I always do.
The door was already unlocked and the bartender, Strawberry Daiquiri, was already behind the counter, cleaning glasses and moving bottles around.
“Hey Vinyl.” I nodded a reply back at him. “Already took the broom to the floors and wiped down the tables.”
“Thanks Straw.”
I caught the stallion rolling his eyes at me as I walked over to the sound board and speakers. Straw had never liked the kind of music I played but he never had a say in it either seeing as the owner of Club Pon-3, a pony nopony had ever met face to face, had hired me specifically for the type of music I chose to create.
I checked over the wiring to be sure everything was hooked up properly and took my favorite headphones out from under the table with my magic. The brightness of the everyday lights glinted off the silver making the black treble and bass clefs seem to glow on the already glowing with ruby magic headphones. I plugged them into the system and set them gently onto the sound board.
“Where are my shades?” Straw answered me by simply nodding his horn toward the VIP room. “Thanks.” I grumbled.
I trotted toward the door and pulled a ring of keys out of my green hoodie pocket. “Not this one... not this one...”
Finally I found the right key and unlocked the door. I was really the only one who ever came in here. I flipped the light switch and the room became dimly lit. It was a fairly large room with two large red couches and a large fireplace. My signature shades were sitting on the table against the wall.
My magic grasped them and brought them to me. I stared a moment into the purple glass. My giant red eyes reflected back, tinted purple by the glass and I sighed. The shades slid onto my face and I exited the room again.
By now it was almost seven-thirty. The two stallions who served as Club Pon-3’s security had arrived and were guarding the door. I peeked through the window and noted that there was already a line for our opening at 8 o’clock.
Completely ignored by Straw and the two security stallions, I trotted over to my beloved sound system and set my headphones around my neck. Straw went into the VIP room and presently the normal lights went out and the multicolored dance lights began glowing and flashing.
I didn’t feel into any music yet so I just programmed a loop to play from last week. The loop began and I relaxed slightly as the sound of my precious dubtrot began. 7:55.
Five minutes passed and nopony moved or spoke. Exactly at 8, one of the stallions opened the door and they began letting ponies into the club.
Instantly the bar was filled with ponies of all ages and the dance floor was covered with moving bodies. Many of them came up to the sound board to ask for an autograph or a picture. I smiled and signed to make everypony happy. Eventually the music took over all other thoughts and I turned the loop into a new mix that just kept changing all night.
******************************
The club finally emptied completely around 3:30 in the morning. I felt dead tired. Straw was a little tipsy, drinking on the job again... The stallions made a quick round about the building then left. As for me, I packed up slowly. At least here I had peace and quiet from even my own thoughts. The only thing here I heard or focused on was my music.
But now, it was over. The night was passed and the morning was arriving. I was the last to leave Club Pon-3. I stood in the door surveying the now empty dance floor and bar. My bass speakers loomed over the sound boards like a protective mother. I sighed and shut the door, using my magic to flip the light switch.
I trotted tiredly home. I lived on the outskirts of Ponyville. The house looked simple on the outside. However, the inside was far from what was expected. Since I slept during the day I had large thick black curtains covering every window, making the inside of the building dark as night. They were also great for keeping out peeping toms. I had had an incident with a group of fans who would stand on ladders outside my window to watch me sleep during the day. Very creepy.
I took my shades off and set them on the kitchen counter, glad that I had remember to bring them home for once. A yawn escaped my lungs as I trudged up the stairs. My hooves hurt and my eyes ached. I pushed open the door to my room and crashed onto the bed. I was asleep almost instantly.
My dreams full of imaginings of friends and ideas for music, sleep claimed me completely until the alarm went off for 6:30pm again. This was my life. Every hour, every minute was the same day by day.
My name is Vinyl Scratch.
Fame is really a strange thing. Everypony knows you, everypony likes you, but you have no friends...
And all I want... all I wish for... is a friend...
Fame is not Friendship...
Waking a Dream
“...Wake me up from this dream that never ends,
Haunting me, haunting me ‘til my bitter end,
Wake me up from this nightmare that I live,
Something inside of me keeps on giving in...”
My eyes opened and that tingly feeling that one gets when something big is about to happen overcame me. Today was the day. I was going to go outside, (in the daytime!), and hopefully come home a new pony.
I stretched and nearly fell out of bed. The sunlight was glowing around the edges of the black curtains of the house. It felt wrong and dangerous but strangely exciting to be up with the sun. I brushed through my mane quickly and bounded to the front door, eager to get started.
The door opened and the sunshine nearly blinded me. I blinked and turned back to the dark house. I somehow found my shades on the table and nestled them onto my face. Again I tried to leave the house. The bright sun was tolerable now.
I took a deep breath and stepped onto my front step. The sun was warm on my fur and almost seemed to bathe me in comfort.
I took another breath. The air was crisp and cool unlike the hot, muggy, alcohol-scented air I was accustomed to.
"Come on, Vinyl." I muttered to myself. "You're outside. Now, do what ponies do." I froze. What did ponies do?
Yesterday I remembered seeing a little cafe type of bakery that ponies had been socializing at. That seemed a good place to start.
I stepped down my walkkway and wobbled, feeling weak under the warmth of the sun. Ponyville was bustling with ponies, many who didn't notice me thankfully. I reached the bakery in no time and read the sign in front of the step.
Sugarcube Corner
Hearts and Hooves Day Goodies
Get Your Orders in Today!
Days left until Hearts and Hooves Day: 3
I examined the words carefully. Three days. I vaguely remembered a Hearts and Hooves Day from my filly days. Mares and stallions out on romantic dates and young ponies giggling over bouquets of flowers. The days before my life of a famous DJ were fuzzy and difficult to remember. Since my claim to fame I had not celebrated a birthday or a holiday.
"Hmm."
I shook my head and walked into Sugarcube Corner.
"Hello! Welcome to- OHMYGOSH IT'S VINYL SCRATCH!!"
My eyes widened at the sudden excitement. "Eh?"
A blur of pink came from behind the counter and began bouncing in front of me. "Oh! Vinyl Scratch! In Sugarcube Corner! Oh yay! I just loooooooove your music! I see you all the time when I go to your club!!"
The blur was beginning to become clearer. A pink earth pony with a frizzy hot pink mane was smiling widely at me. The ponies at the tables were watching.
"Um. Hi. Who are you?"
"I'm Pinkie Pie!" She swept me up into an awkward hug. "You're my new best friend!"
A chuckle was heard from one of the tables. A stallion stood up and my heart pounded in my chest. He was a well-built unicorn with a rich brown coat and a two tone red shaggy mane.
"Pinkie, this is Vinyl Scratch. Not your common pony friends. You think she wants to hang out with you and your baby parties?"
Pinkie released me and gaped at the stallion. He stepped toward me and looked me right in the eyes through my shades.
"Now, I can show you how real ponies party and have fun or you can stay here and waste time with these... fillies."
I didn't even think to look at the poor pink pony. There was something about this unicorn that seemed wondrous and thrilling. He caught the look in my eyes.
"Let's go then." He walked past me, leading me out the door. Behind us I could hear Pinkie complaining to the ponies in the bakery.
"Did you see that? How dare he! I'm not a filly!"
"I'm Rave Storm." Said the stallion, as he led me farther from the center of Ponyville. "Everypony just calls me Rave."
"Just Vinyl for me."
Rave glanced over at me. His eyes appeared orange through my shades. I blushed and looked away. Celestia, he was attractive.
We reached a large building on the outskirts of Ponyville. The shades were drawn on the two windows in the front, but the front door was open. Rave entered first, looking back to see if I was following.
The inside was one open room that was dimly it by the open doorway. Three stallions,two pegasi and a unicorn, and an earth mare were standing aroud the only table in the room along the far wall. Rave went over to them with me trailing behind. The smaller pegasi was scolding the bored looking mare.
"...and I've told you before, don't be touchin' the blue switch! Sup Rave?"
"Cyclone, Gall, Frost, and Strobe, Vinyl Scratch here will be joining our little party tonight. Personal invitation from me." Rave stated, nodding his head toward me. I stepped forward and raised my shades so I could see everypony clearer.
The pegasus who had been scolding the mare was Cyclone. He was smaller than the other pegasus. His coat was a dull gray color with a white and dark gray mane. The second pegasus was bigger than Rave. He was introduced as Gall. Gall had a blue-gray coat and his mane was a deep blue. The unicorn, Frost, was staring at my red eyes which unnerved me. He was a pale blue, almost white, color with a silver and teal mane. The mare who was addressed as Strobe did not look happy. She was very pretty with a light purple ccoat and a blacck and pink mane but she glared at me the whole time. The stallions, on the other hand, welcomed me with smiles and hellos. After itroductions Rave ecame very businesslike.
"Cyclone, how is the sound system doing?"
"Just fine, when Strobe isn't touching everything."
Strobe turned and glared at the pegasus. "I didn't do anythin'." She snarled.
Rave glancced boredly at her. "Chill Strobe. Vinyl, you can use your music system specialty to help Cyclone. Gall, how are our lights?"
The pegasus nodded his head towardd the dark corners of the room. "Just switch up a few things and we'll be set to go."
"Good. Frost, our..." Rave glanced at me slyly. "...refreshments?"
Frost smirked. "All good."
The two stallions shared a look I didn't understand then smiled warmly at me. Strobe rolled her eyes.
"This will be the best party in Equestria! Strobe and I will go spread the invites." Rave winked at me.
I nodded dumbly as he and Strobe exited the building. Strobe was sure to glare at me as she passed. Gall flew up to the rafters and began testing all sorts of different colored lights. Frost slipped out the back door saying something about kegs of alcohol. Cyclone went under the table which I could now see clearly. An old soundboard and set of giant speakers were set up on the table. I glanced under to see Cyclone hooking up a bass amp.
"Hey Vinyl it really is way cool to meet you. I spend a good chunk of my ti- .. weekends in your club."
"Thanks." I didn't remember ever seeing him in the club. Maybe the lights just made it difficult. It was always crowded too so... "What can I help you with?"
Author's Note
*A/N: Wake Me Up by Crown the Empire suggested by invictus_rising*
More music suggestions please everypony!
Fame is not Friendship...
Dangerous Fun
I don't really know
Who I am
It's time for me
To take a stand
I need a change
And I need it fast
I know that any day
Could be the last...
All afternoon I spent helping my new friends set up for their party: readjusting lights, testing speakers systems, moving in kegs of alcoholic drinks, setting up tables of snack foods, and unpacking a few boxes containing strange items.
I held up one of the items with my magic. It was a hollow glass tube with a hollow circular bulb at the bottom with a hole sticking out of the side of the bulb.
“What’s this, Frost?” I asked curiously. I’d never seen anything like it before. Frost took the item from me with his bright blue magic.
“Just something for the entertainment later.” The blue stallion held the item and inspected it almost hungrily before placing it down again. “Ever heard of a bong?”
I stared blankly at him with my red eyes. “Er... no.”
He smirked. “Well. You’ll know what one is after this night is over, and it’s going to be your new best friend.”
I smiled at his comment, not understanding. At that moment Strobe stalked into the room haughtily. Gall flew down and wrapped a wing around her.
“You gonna be my dance partner all night there Strobe?” He cooed.
“Get off me.” She shrugged his wing off her and stomped over to Cyclone. Gall shrugged and flew back up to his lights.
“Where’s Rave?” Cyclone didn’t even greet her, just kept his attention on the soundboard which he had almost gotten to work entirely.
Her eyes narrowed. I had noticed that although I had been accepted and was treated as one of them, Strobe was always being pushed aside and dismissed.
“He’s coming.”
Almost on command, Rave walked through the door. “It’s on. Everypony is coming. Nopony wants to miss this.”
“When do ponies arrive?” I asked awkwardly. This whole night was going to be new to me and I was unsure about everything.
Rave just flashed a smile that sent shivers down my spine. “Now.”
Cyclone had been listening through a giant pair of DJ headphones grinning to himself. Suddenly he flipped a switch and club music blared from the speakers. The unexpected bass almost knocked me over for a moment. As if the music was a cue, the dark colored lights began moving to the beats and ponies began entering the building.
The night had begun.
Within only a few minutes the entire building was filled with the hot, moving bodies of ponies. I wandered a few steps away from Frost and found myself surrounded by unknown ponies. None of my friends were around me. Frantically I stepped sideways to try and relocate Frost but bumped into everypony else instead.
“Oops, sorry, excuse me...” I squeezed through the crowd to the nearest wall. Never had Club Pon3 ever been this crowded. I craned my neck over the many ponies searching for somepony I recognized. I spotted Gall and Frost in the corner opposite me. Gall caught my eye and gestured for me to come over.
Somehow I managed to squeeze my way through the nonstop moving mass of bodies. The beats of the music seemed to make walking extremely difficult. I sniffed the air. A scent was lingering beneath the waves of heat and sweat. It was earthy but had a sharpness to it that confused me.
I reached Gall and Frost. They were in a large huddle of ponies. The scent was stronger here. All of the ponies were holding the strange items that Frost had called a ‘bong’. The moving lights above interfered with my vision. Some sort of smoke seemed to be hovering in the area. Every now and again I think I saw a flash of a small flame although it could have been the lights.
“Vinyl!” Frost seemed happy to see me. “Come join us! Remember when I said a bong would be your new best friend? Let me introduce you.” He held one of the strange looking objects in front of Frost with his magic. “Put your mouth here.. hang on..”
Frost fumbled with something in the dim lighting. “Now breathe in...” I obeyed and inhaled. The small scent I had caught earlier was suddenly strong and a large amount of smoke was blown right in my face. I coughed. My head felt light and the world blurred for a second.
“Wha—What was that?” I coughed again.
Gall smirked. “That’s buckweed. Best thing to smoke in these parts. Don’t you feel good?”
I smiled. I felt kind of happy. “Yeah... Can I do that again?”
Frost allowed me to take quite a few more inhales. I felt extremely unusual. The whole world seemed to be turning. The lights were almost too bright and the bass from the speakers seemed to shake every fiber of my body making it hard to think.
“How you enjoyin’ the night there V?” Gall snickered.
I giggled like a filly. “It’s so fun!”
Rave appeared behind me. “Hey guys.” Frost appeared to give him a sort of special look then got up and stumbled away into the crowd. “Vinyl, why don’t you come with me?”
I stood. The whole world moved with me and my knees wobbled. “Wha—where we goin’ Rave?” I was still giggling. My thoughts seemed clear but I couldn’t concentrate on more than one thing at a time. Walking and talking was proving difficult.
Rave smiled and put a hoof on my shoulder momentarily. The touch was light but sent shivers and tingles through my whole body. He began to walk through the many ponies, turning back every now and again to be sure I was following.
I stumbled the first few steps then almost bounced after the stallion. I was happy and had not a care in the world. Except I was hungry. Really really hungry.
Rave led me to the front doors and out into the night air. Everything was different. The air was almost crispy and reminded me of chips. The dark trees branches were bent like licorice. Celestia, I was hungry.
We walked to the back of the building. Beats were still shaking the ground even outside and flashing lights escapes through the cracks. The shadows of the building sent the entire back area into blackness. I lit my horn, weakly bathing the area in faint ruby light.
“Vinyl...” Rave turned to face me. In my dim magic light he looked even more alluring. The stallion came closer. “You know you’re a beautiful mare.”
I giggled again. “Oh no. I doubt that.” Wait.. Why did he say that? Rave seemed to get closer. His breath warmed my nose and sent shivers through me.
“You should stick around.” Rave was almost whispering. “You fit in with us.”
He ran his breath down my neck and nuzzled my shoulder making me quiver. Suddenly I sensed another presence behind me. I turned my head nearly sticking Frost in the head with my horn. Behind him I could see the outlines of Gall and Cyclone.
“Guys... what...” I started in disoriented confusion. Rave cut me off, planting his mouth against mine in a rough kiss.
My eyes opened widely and my magic faltered. I struggled a moment. It was too sudden. I felt hooves wrapping around me, too many to be one pony. They were all touching me, planting kisses on sensitive spots of my back and shoulders.
On one hoof, it was stimulating and exciting. On the other, I was getting scared.
By the time I was able to overcome my shock and began to struggle, I was nearly immobilized by the four stallions. I whimpered into Rave’s mouth.
“Shhh.... It’s okay, V.” I heard Gall crone into my mane. I whimpered again as I felt four hard extensions pushing into my fur; two on my back, one on my side, and one in front.
Suddenly Cyclone’s smaller pressure disappeared. I tried to squirm, confused by the entire situation. Gall and Frost’s weight disappeared at the same time. Rave seemed to sense something wasn’t right and broke the kiss, gripping my shoulders tightly.
“Let her go Rave.” It was Strobe’s voice. I concentrated and my magic grew brighter. Strobe was standing a few feet away glaring daggers at Rave. I turned my head toward the building. The three stallions were slumped by the wall.
Rave snickered. “I’ve put you in your place before. Don’t think I won’t do it again.”
Her eyes flashed. “It was different then. But now you brought another mare into this mess of a life you have. I won’t let you break her too.”
The stallion released my shoulders and faced the angry mare. “Come on then, Strobe. Put me in my place.”
I stared. Rave, I don’t think, ever saw it coming. Strobe ran across the remaining space toward her opponent. If she had wings she would have been flying. The smaller mare landed a kick right in the middle of Rave’s chest.
Rave’s eyes grew wider and fell backward, gasping. Strobe stood between us. Rave’s face was twisted with rage as he got to his hooves. “You little whore.”
Strobe stood her ground. “As long as I’m not your little whore. You were never my friend. I was never anything to you. And you’re doing the same thing to Vinyl.”
Rave rolled his eyes. “Whatever. You’re replaceable. Get out. This is my section of town. Get out.”
Strobe eyed the stallion wearily then turned to me. “Come on Vinyl. Let’s get out of here.”
I stood, shaking from the whole ordeal and followed the mare out of the shadow of the building and onto the streets of Ponyville.
Author's Note
Song is The Good Life by Three Days Grace, suggested by Spartan-1138'
Edited by TheCloudtop and Brony2893 - thanks guys!!
