A/N
MLP: FIM is a very music-focused show. Winter Wrap-Up, Rarity's Dress episode, Rainbow's Pets episode, Pinkie's Cranky Doodle Donkey episode, etc. So, you'd expect some music-related fanart and fanfic, right? Well… Most I could find were Scratchtavia-centric (I like the pairing, but I think it's a bit overused) or Ska bands. Nothing against Ska fans, but I'm not the biggest fan (I do like Sublime and Lily Allen, though). I'm more into rock, punk, grunge, metal, other stuff like that. So, what to do about a Mane 6-related music-based story with my tastes? Oh, write a story about it! So I thought if I have a story, how about some plot for drama and conflict? Okay, let's see, Twilight- naivety because she's new, Rainbow Dash- uncontrolled party drinking and a huge ego, Rarity- very vain and a huge ego, Fluttershy- too shy, meek, and timid, Pinkie- too hung up on fun and not serious enough, and Applejack- too serious when it comes to business and works a bit too hard to have fun (I think that if she didn't have to work at a farm, and was free to choose a career path, she'd be a blues and country singer, so I gave her an opposite problem from Pinkie Pie). All while being in a rock band setting. Sound fun?
Oh, and Vinyl Scratch is their manager (I casted Maryke Hendrikse, voice of Gilda, Spitfire, or for you anime fans, Revy from the English dub of Black Lagoon). Octavia runs the orchestra for the strings parts of the songs. Think of the band as a cross between Evanescence and Seether- like, the songs Going Under, FMLYHM, and Broken feat Amy Lee,and that's the general sound from them. It's generally piano-focused with a touch of melody and a touch of heaviness. Not to say that they made the songs, because they aren't a cover band, even though they play occasional covers… Ah, I'm rambling. Anyways, here's the story. Please R&R on the story, not on whatever lyrics I throw together.
Also, they are NOT HUMAN. They are still ponies, just in an AU.
End A/N

/x/x/x/

"Wow. I'm in Las Pegasus. Never in my life had I ever thought I would wind up here. Ooh, I'm so excited! Alright, first things first. Meet up with Mrs. Scratch, on my way. Then I need to find a hotel room, unpack, then go back to the studio and introduce myself. Wait, should I get the hotel room first? No, no, I already made the list. I'll go to the studio first… Hmm. Where is the studio?"

Twilight Sparkle is this pony's name. She grew up in the city of Canterlot, where she had discovered two talents. One had been in magic, which she'd gained her cutie mark for, and the other had been singing. After having been taken in by Princess Celestia herself, Twilight never told the Princess that she'd also wanted to sing.

Twilight always sang to herself when the Princess was out of earshot, so she could be reminded that she still was able, and that seemed like it would be enough to keep herself steered on the path down magic. For a while, it seemed to work… for the most part.

Fortunately, fate was with Twilight upon a visit from her brother, Shining Armor. Shining didn't know that Celestia had no idea that Twilight could sing, and so he asked a question that would change Twilight's life from then on. He said, "So Twilight, are you in a band yet? You've had to have had at least one request by now!" He said this in front of the Princess herself. Twilight, however, said no, and the Princess asked Shining if she could borrow his sister for a moment.

Celestia asked Twilight what Shining had meant by that. So, the younger pony inhaled, and prepared to tell her teacher what she truly wanted to do with her life- to sing in front of a crowd, and let her voice be heard.

Celestia looked off into the setting sun and pondered this for a moment. A moment became a minute, and one minute became several. Several minutes passed, and Twilight held her breath the entire time. Which was possible, because her lungs were that strong. Eventually, the Princess came to a decision.

"Let's find you a vocal trainer."

/x/x/x/

Twilight checked the business card that had been issued to her by the Princess. Yes, this was the correct address. The unicorn took a deep breath, and pushed open the glass door… which brought her into the room leading to the next set of doors before finally entering the studio itself. Twilight sheepishly opened the next door without hesitation- she'd already wasted the deep-breath-for-drama effect.

Inside, Twilight's senses were awakened. The smell of vinyl, the soft sound of some classical music, Beet-hoof-en's 9th, the sight of red-painted walls covered in gold records and musical memorabilia, the feeling of air conditioning- which was quite welcoming to Twilight- and the taste of… well, there wasn't really a taste…

"I've never seen you 'round here before- you must be new." A voice said from behind Twilight. She whirled around to see a fellow unicorn like herself, only this one had white fur, a two-toned blue mane, and she was wearing black-framed glasses with opaque two-toned purple lenses. Twilight saw this pony before- she was playing at Shining Armor's wedding. DJ P0n-3 was her name? She continued to talk.

"My name's Scratch; Vinyl Scratch. Stage name's Pon Three. I heard a pony was comin' in for tryouts. That would be you?"

Oh my CELESTIA, DJ P0n-3 is Vinyl Scratch! OMC, I can't believe she's right here! Three Stalls Down, the Beastie Colts, Red Hot Filly Peppers, FiveBitBack, Ponytera, Pony James Dio, and Ponywood Undead's manager is standing right in front of me! Talking to me! Okay Twilight, calm down, this is a business meeting. Introduce yourself, give her a hoofshake!

"My name's Twilight Sparkle." She put her hoof out towards Scratch. "I'm here to try out for Friendship is Magic, the band who was looking for another singer."

"Ah, I remember now." Vinyl tapped Twilight's hoof with her own. "Princess Celestia's kid, right?"

"What? Oh, no, the Princess isn't my mother, she's just my magic teacher! I mean, she's more than my magic teacher, but I'm not her daughter, I'm sorry if I made it seem like I was coming across as mmf mmrmm flmm… hmm?"

Twilight looked down to see a white hoof in her mouth, and she followed it to the owner.

"I don't mean that kind of kid, I mean it as a term of endearment. Y'know, like when you say 'You did good, kid.' Not like a parent says to their kids." She took her hoof out of Twilight's mouth. "Number one rule here you need to learn is to never take what I say literally."

Twilight replied with a shaky "…kay…" After all, how should you react when another pony sticks her hoof in your mouth! Twilight wiped her mouth, and tasted… is that vinyl? Ah, Scratch must be a DJ or something.

"C'mon, Twi." Vinyl turned and headed for a set of doors. "The band's this way. They'd like to meet you and see what you've got."

The lavender pony followed after the white one through the doors. Her heart was beating faster, it seemed, with every step she took. Nervous energy flowed through her body- if she failed this, she could always try out for another band. So it wasn't about if she failed. Twilight was more worried about what would happen if she was accepted in- it would mean a whole different lifestyle than the one she was used to! A complete 180. Well, give or take a few degrees, but still, it was radically different than the life that Princess Celestia gave her as a student of magic.

Vinyl finally arrived at the last door. She rested a hoof on the bar handle that, when pushed down, would reveal the inner sanctum of the building: the recording studio. She turned to Twilight and lifted her glasses, revealing the red irises hidden below. "You should open the door."

"Oh… thank you." Vinyl backed away, and Twilight stepped forward. She rested a hoof on the handle. After a moment to steel herself, Twilight pushed the door open.

/x/x/x/

A/N
Hahaha, cliffhanger ending.
The next few chapters will be backstory for the other members of the Mane 6. Spike may or may not come into the story, that depends on the reader's yay or nay. Basically, you guys decide whether Spike comes in or not.
Reviews and Comments will dictate pairings. So guess away: I might change it if people want it enough.
Three Stalls Down is Three Doors Down. The Beastie Colts are The Beastie Boys. Red Hot Filly Peppers are the Red Hot Chili Peppers. FiveBitBack is Nickelback. Ponytera is Pantera. Pony James Dio is the ponified Ronnie James Dio, from Rainbow and Dio. Ponywood Undead is Hollywood Undead. Art challenges for any of you to take up.
End A/N