Hey everypony! I'm assuming you read the description when you clicked this story, so I'm not going to explain it again. This is chapter 0, an intro chapter, where not a lot of plot development happens until the very end. I will post that bit again at the start of chapter 1, so if you want to leave now, you won't really miss much.
I hope you don't, but I want to make sure you understand, this chapter doesn't reflect what most of the story will be like; it's more of the back story.
Please post a review and tell me if you think this fan fiction is a good idea, or whatever you want to post. Have fun reading!
My name? My name isn't really important. Here's what's important: I'm sixteen, a Brony, and I have recently started my first year of college. I tend not to get along with other people well, and spend much of my time alone in my room, a small space that houses only me since I never seemed to be able to keep a roommate; two weeks in I was already on my third one. I was feeling lonely, so in the style of a true Brony, I got myself some friends. A tiny plushie Octavia Melody, no more than five inches tall, and a Vinyl Scratch plushie of the same stature. I have them on a carefully built shelf next to a small bamboo plant and a crystal tree, all of which sits precariously on a chess board balanced on one of my four computer monitors. I would talk to them, tell them about my day, ask them rhetorical questions while doing my homework, the normal things that a social shut-out would do with their imaginary friends. It certainly wasn't healthy, but it kept me from feeling depressed, and that really all that mattered. This isn't just the story about a lonely college student though; this is the story where some imaginary friends became just a little bit more.
"How the Hell am I supposed to know how fast the ball was moving? You wrote the damn problem, you tell me!" I yelled at the paper and by extension in my head, my professor. I had been staring at said piece of paper for nearly an hour, to no avail.
"The information I need just isn't here. Seriously, how am I supposed to solve this?" I asked, looking from Octavia to Vinyl, that back again.
"I suppose neither of you took 'Physics with Calculus' when you went to school. Probably not necessary for a DJ or a cellist..." I said, looking back down at the paper. Several more tense, nearly quiet minutes passed as I scribbled away on my scrap paper, occasionally erasing and sometimes just flipping to a new page.
"Good gods, it's hot in here." I said, reaching up to turn on my fan.
"Oh, it's already on. When did I do that?" I asked myself as I pushed my chair back and stood up, walking over to the window. I slid it quickly open, breathing in the fresh scent of autumn. It was cooler out, not quite cold, but certainly better then the sweltering heat of my dorm. I walked back over and sat down in my chair, already doing math as I slid my chair back in.
"So there are fifteen problems... That means each one is worth 6.6 percent, or so. Meaning, if I get every other problem right, I can still manage an A- or Maybe an A. Screw it, I'm not doing this problem. That means I'm done! Yay!" I yelled, slamming my book closed. I grabbed the work stuff from the desk and dropped it on my high-tech storage unit, also known as my would-be roommate's bed. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, glancing at the time as I checked to make sure I hadn't missed anything important.
"Ok, it's only 10:30. I'm doing pretty well. What should I do with the rest of my time? I should probably do some more writing for Keys, but I'm not really sure where I'm going with this chapter..." I said as I slid my phone back in my pocket and sat down heavily in my chair, staring at my computer. I opened DeviantArt, hoping to find some new watch messages. Failing that, I checked my email, which was also empty. I opened up my folder of computer games, but nothing seemed particularly interesting at the time.
"Blarg. What to do... Vinyl! It's your turn to come up with ideas." I declared, looking up at her.
"Vinyl, my music is literally always on. For me, at least... I really gotta get working speakers... Any other ideas?" I asked her, filling in the parts of the conversation that she was having in my head.
"Sleep is for the weak, Octavia. I only go to bed on time every other night, or when it's your turn for ideas. Which, ironically, usually happens to be the same thing. Still, I don't want to sleep right now! It's only 10:45! Too early..." I ranted, looking around my room. My stomach growled, and I rolled my eyes, standing up. Walking over to my closet, I searched for something edible.
"Nah, I've had a lot of Pop-tarts recently. It's decided then! Tonight is a Ramen night. Dinner really needs to be open later..." I mused, grabbing a package of noodles and a pan.
"Ah, the holy grail of college food. BRB, girls!" I said as I headed upstairs to my dorm's kitchen.
"Glorious noodles, how did I live without you?" I asked to no one in particular as I rapidly consumed my food. Far sooner than I would have liked, the bowl was empty, and I was again left with nothing to do and lots of time to do it. I sat in my chair silently for a few minutes, thinking. Finally, I turned back to my computer.
"I guess I should try downloading ROM again, if I'm ever going to play." I said, staring aimlessly at my screen, before again doing nothing.
"Ugh, fine. I'm clearly not going to get anything productive done tonight, so I'm going to bed." I grumbled, climbing out of my chair. I reached over and set my computer to sleep mode, and soon the room went dark. I quickly out of my cargo-pants and t-shirt into more appropriate sleepwear, plugged my phone in to its charger, and jumped up onto my bed.
"Goodnight, Octavia. Goodnight, Vinyl. See you both in the morning!" I said before closing my eyes. Some hours later that night, I remembered seeing a flash of light, and opening my eyes, expecting a storm outside. However, it was dry and quiet outside, and I brushed it off as heat lightning, going back to sleep. Not nearly long enough later, my alarm went off, and I slowly opened my eyes, fumbled for my phone, failed my password a few times, and finally shut the obnoxious ringing off. Flopping back down on my bed, I stared at the ceiling.
"Vinyl, I know you like waking up to, ugh, 'wubs', but that was even worse than usual!" A tiny voice said. Crap, I've finally snapped. I'm really hearing voices now. I thought, my eyes opening wide.
"Hey! That wasn't me, 'Tavi." A second voice said. Wait, what? I climbed out of bed, looking over at my computer and pony shelf. My jaw hit the floor, however, when I realized that my mind wasn't making things up. Staring back at me, across the room, were a pair of purple eyes, set in a fuzzy gray body that was quite clearly no-longer a toy.
"Oh! Good morning, sleepy!"
Anyway, that's that. Remember, please review, and please, please, please come back next chapter. Have a great day!