Chapter 9: Dawn of Music

Flamingsteel's house, Ponyville
Local time: 0900
Fourteen days since arrival

It's been three days since Luna gave me this house. At first it was awkward with the running water, comfy bed, and working kitchen. After living in my old house I got used to not having those things. With nothing else to do I sat down and started thinking about everything including what's happened since I told the other about my past.

"Wow, I would have thought that after hearing my story they would stop trying to be my friend. But it seems it's made them try harder." Looking around the room, my eyes stopped on the record player Vinyl Scratch gave me. "It was a nice gift, too bad I can't use it. I just wish I could use my iPod, but if anypony found out they would ask so many questions. Vinyl seems trustworthy but… well if I'm going to play my music I have no choice but to hope she can keep a secret." With that in mind I got my iPod and went next door to Vinyl's place.

"Oh, hey Steel. This is a surprise, most of the time you leave your house one of us has to get you. Come on in." I went inside and she got some water for us. "Vinyl, I need to know can you keep a secret." She looked at me and her face said 'you're joking right.'

"Of course I can keep a secret. Why do you think nopony knows my eye color?" I smiled, "Good." I took out my iPod and put it on the table. She looked at me with confusion on her face. She was about to ask the obvious question of what is it when I continued talking.

"This device is called an iPod. It stores and plays music, but it can other things like store song sheets, pictures, and the list keeps going." She started laughing. "You're joking, right? Something that small can't do that, not without speakers anyway. And there is no way that you can fit pieces of paper in that."

"Oh, so you need a demonstration." I concentrated on my iPod trying to get it to work. I was extremely surprised when I could see the screen light up and change. "Strange this is much easier than when I tried to get the hang of levitating things." I thought. Unsure of what songs she would like, I just it shuffle and hoped for the best. It's Not Over by Daughtry stated playing. I could tell by the look on her face that she was surprise by what my iPod could do. I also noticed she liked the song. She was speechless after the song finished.

"So Vinyl, I have an offer for you. In exchange for keeping this a secret and making copies of the music so I could play these songs on my record player, you can sell copies of these songs. What do you say?"

"You have yourself a deal. This new type of music will be a hit." She was so excited I thought she was going to explode. "Great, however there are some songs that aren't your style. I was wondering if you knew anypony that can keep a secret and is into classical music." After a few minutes, she though of someone who might be able to help.

"Well there is Octavia, she's a cellist. I don't know her personally, but she is really into classical music." We spent some time 'downloading' some albums from my iPod and after about six hours, I went home and sent a letter to Octavia.

Ponyville Markets
Local time: 1400
Fifteen days since arrival

I was in the markets selling some of the things from my house I didn't need when I heard my name being mentioned. So naturally I moved close enough to over hear the conversation. Derpy was talking with somepony I didn't know. "…I don't know where he is, but he lives next door to me I'll take you there." They left and I followed them at a safe distance. Derpy went in her house and the other mare approached mine and knocked on the door.

"Excuse me, but can I help you?" The mare turned around and looked at me. "Yes, I'm looking for Flamingsteel. I got a letter from him and need to talk to him as soon as possible. The only thought going through my head was 'Hook, line, and sucker'. "Ok follow me." I lead her over to Vinyl's house and knocked.

"Oh, hey Steel, what are you doing here?" I was about to tell her why we were here when the mare spoke up. "You're Flamingsteel, why didn't you tell me. Well, I'm Octavia. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"We to answer your question Vinyl, I wanted to show Octavia my music. And Octavia, I didn't tell you because I wanted to see the look on your face when you found out. So Vinyl, can we come in?" She nodded and we entered her house. She led us to her recording studio where my iPod was.

"Ok, Octavia in exchange for more music like the one I sent in my letter you must do two things for me. First, you must keep what your about to see a secret and second I have schematics for some instruments and I need you to find somepony to make them. Sound fair to you?"

"Yes, but you have to tell me the name of that song you sent me." I smiled everything was going according to plan. "That song was the theme song for a show from my homeland called Game of Thrones. It's called Main Title by Ramin Djawadi. Not a very creative name, but most peop… ponies don't care."

"Wait, you're telling me you didn't compose this, I just assumed that you were a new artist with amazing talent."

"No, I'm not good at song writing." I showed her my iPod and explained what it could do. "Well, I better go get the schematics for my instruments, don't go anywhere." I left and got the schematics. When I returned I found Vinyl and Octavia talking like old friends. "Well, I guess what they say is true opposites attract." I thought

"Here are the schematics for the instruments." Vinyl and Octavia looked them over. "Steel, these look like guitar schematics, but slightly different." Said Vinyl, Octavia nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, there are different types of guitars. Vinyl, the guitar you have over there is what my people call an Acoustic guitar. These are schematics for an Electric and Bass guitar, they look similar, but make different sounds. They are use to make the music you were listening to yesterday."

"Well Steel, the train back to Canterlot leaves in about ten minutes so I should get going." said Octavia. "I think I know somepony who can make your instruments so I'll send them the schematics. And Vinyl I'll be back in a few days we can start recording the music." As she left I noticed Vinyl following her with her eyes. I also saw a look on her face that I had seen before, the look of love at first sight.

"Well Vinyl, I see you like Octavia." She blushed slightly, "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked. "By the way, you were looking at her and by the look on your face you're in love. I remember when a friend of mine looked at a gir… mare like that, too bad for him she was a lesbian."

Vinyl was stammering and trying to respond. "Ok so I felt something I couldn't explain. But that doesn't mean I'm in love with her." I saw the look on her face, she really didn't know what she was feeling. "Sorry, I just assumed, but if that's not how you feel than then I won't say it again."

"Good, anyway I was wondering if you had anything planed for tonight. I'm performing at a club and you need to get out of your house more. Maybe you can make some friends there." I thought about it before shrugging. "Sure, I've got nothing else planed for today."

"Ok, the clubs called the Prancing Pony, meet me outside at ten." I left and returned home, made myself a snack and started to relax when someone knocked on my door. I opened it and saw one of the last ponies I expected to see. "Hello, princess." Luna smiled. "Steel, thou art my friend or at least I hope you will be my friend, there is no need to be so formal."

"Oh, sorry, well what are you doing here?" I started to draw circles on the floor with my hoof since I didn't know what else to do in the presence of royalty. And because, once again, that damn unexplainable feeling come back, its so annoying. "I will be spending the next week in Ponyville and I was wondering if I could stay here."

"You stay here? I uh…um…I guess… sure why not." I led here to the guest room, it was still fully furnished. I smiled, glad I hadn't sold anything from this room yet. "Well here's the guest room. The door on the left is a door to the bathroom and the door next to the window is a closet. I'll just let you settle in."

I went back to the living room to finish my snack and think. "Great she's going to be staying here for a week." I thought. "I guess this means I'm going to have to wear my poncho 24/7 for the next week." I looked at my poncho and saw that it was in need of repairs. "Looks like I'm going to have to go to Rarity's place and get some fabric." As I was thinking of what type of material I would need for a new poncho Luna walked in.

"So Steel, how have things been?" she asked as she sat down next to me. "Fine, Vinyl is making me some records, but other than that nothing has really happened. The girls have come over and taken me to places around Ponyville." We sat there in silence until I heard something and saw Luna blush. "I'm sorry that was very un-lady like thing to do."

I was laughing, she was embarrassed about her stomach growling. "It's all right, you're just hungry. It's like my drill instructor always said, 'If your stomach doesn't growl before every meal you haven't earned your meal.' I'll just make something, I haven't eaten either." I went to the kitchen to make something, but I came to a terrible realization when I open the cabinets. I hadn't gone food shopping, ergo I have no food. "Great, now I get to tell the princess I have no food, just great."

"It's ok, we'll just go out." Completely caught off guard, I rolled to the right and turned around to see Luna standing in the doorway. She was trying not to laugh at what I just did and I just chuckled nervously "Well ok, I don't really know anyplace to get food other than Sugercube Corner. So do you have anyplace specific you want to go?" She smiled and it wasn't a normal smile, it was one of those smiles your friend gives you that makes you want to run.

"I know the perfect place." We left and went to the complete opposite side of Ponyville. When we arrived at the restaurant I was not happy. Just by looking at it I could tell it was one of those high society places where the waiter glares at you if you use the wrong fork for your salad and the name didn't help. "Fancy Fine Dinning, is this the place Luna?"

"Yes, yes it is." The maitre d' wasn't going to give me a table without a reservation until he saw Luna standing behind me. A waiter took us to one of the tables and even though I couldn't catch them, I was sure everypony in the room was looking over at us every once in awhile. God kill me now was the only thought going through my head during the meal. I got a simple salad and some water while Luna got some tea, a salad, and pasta. We both got some cake for desert. Once we finished, the waiter came with the bill. "Here is your bill, sir."

I almost fainted once I saw the cost of our meals. "One hundred and fifty dollars." I thought. "No, one hundred and fifty bits, they use bits not dollars, I wonder what the dollars to bits conversion ratio… damn got to focus." I was about to reach into my saddle bag to see how many bits I had when Luna stopped me. "Wait Steel, I will pay for the meal."

"Are you sure Luna, it's not that big of a deal." She smiled, she defiantly knew that I was lying. "Steel, you are letting me stay in your house for the week, the least I could do is pay for the meal. Besides, the look on your face during the meal was priceless."

"Look, what look?" She was trying not to laugh, unsuccessfully but trying. "Oh your face just screamed 'I would rather be anywhere else', that's actually why I chose this restaurant." I just looked at her unsure I just heard her correctly. "What a princess can't have fun every now and then?" I chuckled, she paid and we left. We started walking and I decided to check my watch, which I had set to the correct time, and saw that it was ten minutes to ten. "I'm sorry Luna, but I have to go."

"Go, go where?" she asked, just my luck. "Well, my neighbor Vinyl invited me to a club and told me to meet her out side at ten, so I should start heading there now." She smiled like she knew something I didn't. "So Steel where exactly is this club?"

"Well it's just… right by… damn. I really should have found out where the Prancing Pony was." I facehoofed while she laughed. "I'll take you there it's been ages since I last went to a club." We walked for about five minutes before I could see it. Just like the club back home, you could hear the music a few blocks away. When we arrived Vinyl was waiting out side.

"Wow Steel, I actually didn't expect to see you here for about another fifteen minutes." She then saw Luna behind me and bowed. "What are you doing here, princess?"

"I'm going to be in Ponyville for the next week so Steel is letting me stay at his house. We were out at dinner when he said he was coming here so I decided to come too. It's been far too long since I was last at a club." Vinyl smiled and I could tell this was going to be a fun night. "Well, it's an honor to have you here princess." "When I'm not doing my royal duties you can just cal me Luna."

We entered the club and Vinyl went to do her thing while Luna and I went to the bar. "Hey barkeep, what do you have?" The bartender told me what there was and as he was talk I couldn't help but think he looked familiar. "Damn, no alcohol." I thought "Well, I'm not surprised, this place didn't have the slightest hint that alcohol existed in the show, why would reality be any different."

"I'll have some apple juice, what do you want Luna?" "Just water." The bartender left and got our drinks. Luna and I sat there enjoying the music. Then Vinyl approached the stage.

"Alright I hope everypony is having a good time. Now I've got some new music from my good friend Flamingsteel." The spot light focused on me and I became the focus of everypony's attention. "Now, hope you like this new sound never before heard in Equestria." She started playing the record and Last Friday Night by Katy Perry started playing.

"Here's your drinks, that'll be ten bits." Once again, as I was going to get my bit when I was stopped. "They're with me Mac, put it on my tab." said Vinyl as she took the seat next to Luna. "So, you're the new stallion in town mah sisters been talkin' bout, I'm Big Macintosh." Well, now I remember where I knew him from. "Your Applejack's brother, right?"

"Eeyup." The four of us talked for awhile before Vinyl decided it was time to take the party to the next level. "Hey Mac, why don't you go get us some of your hard cider." He pondered the idea before shrugging and going in the back. "Hard cider, this is not going to end well." I thought. "Well it won't be that bad. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" Big Mac came back with the hard cider and we started drinking.

Authors Note: Hope you enjoyed the Lord of the Rings reference. This is the last time I'm going to say this, sorry if I messed up the accent.