>Day A Change of Key.
“It’s a wonderful day outside.”
>You spin, and your mane waves.
”Birds are singing, flowers are blooming.”
>You hold out a hoof triumphantly and pull it in toward you.
“On days like this…”
>The piano starts playing.
“And a one, and a two, and a, Oh I’m so happy to be a slave.”
>You kick out your hooves to dance.
“Because everything, is going my way!”
“I know I won’t be sad,”
>You peek behind a lightpost.
“In fact we’ll all be glad,”
>You spin around it.
“Cuz my master back in towwwwnnnn.”
>Ponies look at you like you are crazy.
“We worked so hard together,”
“Didn’t beat me with his leather,”
“Though I messed up all the time,”
“Our friendship was on the line.”
“I’m so happy that he found meeee!”
>The piano changes to a minor key for a more somber note.
>Lights all around you dim, so only the street light shines on you.
“Once I felt so lonely, I thought that I’d give up,”
“Who would want a pony like me?”
”Without a talent- can’t even sing on key,”
>The piano audibly chooses the wrong note.
>You wince with the pause before the piano picks up again.
“Just give me a chance, I’m just down on my luck,”
>Up tempo chords, one, two, three.
“Oh won’t you hear my plea?”
>The piano does a middle E to D scale, and changes back to the major key.
>All the lights turn on.
“Oh I’m so happy to be a slave.”
“Because everything, is going my way!”
“I know I won’t be sad,”
“In fact we’ll all be glad,”
“Cuz my master back in towwwwnnnn.”
>You leap in the air with joy.
”Hard before, had to make my own way,”
“Just the Princesses, with all of their lies,”
“With people I came to empathize,”
“Together, it’s a brand new day,”
“I’m so happy that he found meeee!”
>The piano plays several chords, before slowing down slightly.
1/10
“Princesses, they want to rule us.”
“No matter how much they hurt us,”
“Celestia banished her own sister!”
>The piano strikes a sinister cord.
“We have toooooo resist heeeeeeeer.”
>You climb on a car.
”Oh I’m so happy, my master is back in town.”
>A pony walks up to you as you jump off the vehicle.
>The piano plays four bass chords softly and repeatedly.
>”What’s this about being happy?”
“I just realized that I was causing my own unhappiness by not accepting the superiority of humanity.”
>”Really?”
“Yes!”
>”Can I do that too?”
>You take her hooves in yours.
”Yes!”
>”Oh we are so happy to be a slave!”
>You look around, in shock that everypony has decided to join you.
>They throw down their tools, and dance along.
>”Because everything is going our way!”
“I know I won’t be sad, in fact we’ll all be glad!”
>“Cuz her master, is back in town.”
>The mare next to you starts singing.
>”Housekeeping sure seems tough,”
>“I thought I had enough,”
>“But now I can finally see,”
>“How good he is to ponies,”
>“I’m so happy that he found me.”
“I’m so happy that he found me.”
>She grabs your hooves.
>”Now we’re both happy.”
>The ponies jump around with smiles on their faces.
“Cuz my master,”
>”Cuz her master,”
”Cuz my master…”
>The drum kicks in.
>One, two.
>All the ponies sing in unison.
“Is back in toooowwwwwwnnnnn!”
>More uptempo chords.
>You rear up on your hind legs and lift up your hooves in triumph as if praising the sun.
“Yeah!”
>The Director starts clapping.
>”Amazing.”
>That was perfect!
>You nailed it!
>”No, no, no! You’ve ruined it.”
>You look down to see the offending voice.
>It’s Major File “Magnet” Nohtfound, flanked by two Army soldiers as he descends the stairs.
>The Sergeant drives actors here each morning, and the Lieutenant is in charge of your care.
2/10
>File wears an Air Force blue uniform, while the other men wear camouflage.
>”What’s the meaning of this, Major? I was told I wouldn’t be disturbed.”
>”It’s clear that you are making a mess of this. You there,” he points at you. “What’s your name?”
”Vinyl Scratch.”
>”You’re flat!” He pulls in at the air with a hand. “Make me feel the music. Make me believe that you are happy.”
>You throw the script at him.
”The lyrics are garbage!”
>”You’re garbage. I wrote that number myself, without any fancy theatre degree,” he scowls.
>”Magnet, you haven’t given us enough time,” the Director says.
>”Two weeks should have been more than sufficient for rehearsals. Any fool could do this number.”
“Then why don’t you try it?” You say with crossed hooves.
>You’ve been singing this stupid song for two weeks.
>Let somepony else look like an idiot.
>Major File Nohtfound smirks.
>He climbs on stage.
>The ponies shrink away from him.
>”From the top!” He clears his throat as he waits for the piano to start up. “And a one and a two, and a, Oh I’m so happy to be a slave.”
>Magnet waves his hat and dances.
>”Because everything is going my way.”
>He sings the rest of the number and absolutely kills it.
>At the lonely part he falls to his knees and sings as if wounded.
>It’s unreal.
>Ponies all around you clap their hooves.
>You actually believed he was a slave, finally accepting his fate.
>It was beautiful.
>Can you ever be that happy?
>”See? There it is. Any fool could do it.”
>You scoff.
“So you’re saying you’re a fool?” you ask in a tone that indicates you are telling him, not asking.
>Ponies around you inhale sharply.
>You hear something dropping.
>It clanks loudly on the floor.
>File turns slowly toward you.
>During the song the Director climbed on stage, and now he tries to get between you.
3/10
>”Major, I’m sure she meant nothing by it. They’ve just been at it nonstop for two weeks. They need a break.”
>Major Nohtfound takes a step forward.
>”Perhaps they would like a break in the mines? That would make them more appreciative of their station.”
>A few ponies plead, "no."
>“That won’t be necessary, Magnet. I’ll motivate them.”
>File frowns.
>”If there are more delays, then I will play Vinyl’s part.”
>He’s going to replace you?
“You? You’re a stallion! Nopony will believe it.”
>”Won’t they? With a little makeup, a wig, and camera angles anything is possible.”
>”Major.”
>”I should be leading a Squadron of bombers instead of being here. You are destroying my career! How the hell am I going to be promoted if this is a flop?!”
>The stage is completely silent as File huffs in anger.
>”I’ve only flown twice these last three months so I could make this. I might lose my flight status. I will make sure this is finished, even if I have to wear drag.”
>A few ponies try to hide.
>”Major, please. You are scaring the ponies. They won’t be able to sing unless they are happy.”
>”Happy? Didn’t you listen to the song? All they have to do is accept that we are superior to them, and they will be happy.”
“I want whatever you’re smoking.”
>One of the guards steps forward, and you take a step back to stay out of his reach.
>File’s gaze returns to you.
>”You are flat. You can’t hit the right notes.” File turns back to the Director. “Why didn’t you get Songbird Serenade?”
>He visibly gulps, “With your budget-“
>”With my budget?! The Air Force has funded you too much! You’re fired!”
>”Major! You can’t do that!”
>”I just did! Fuck off. And fuck the lead too. Whatever his name is.”
>The Director lifts a fist to punch File.
>The Sergeant restrains him.
>”You’ll never get away with this. The Guild will put me back.”
4/10
>”You think I give a shit about the Guild? They will get their cut. Now get out.”
>The man slumps in the guard’s arms.
>”Fine. Don’t come crying to me when you fail.”
>The guard lets go and allows him to recompose himself.
>The room is completely silent as he leaves.
>Ponies wait for direction from Major Nohtfound.
>File takes a deep breath to calm himself.
>He wipes sweat from his brow before standing taller.
>File looks into the distance, and his back is turned to you.
>His fists squeeze twice.
>”Ponies. I didn’t waste twelve years of my life to see my career end. This movie will be made, even if I have to send every last one of you to hell. Is that understood?”
”Yes, sir,” you all say in unison.
>He picks up the script from the ground, before turning to you.
>”Vinyl?”
“What?”
>”You are in a very precarious situation. I don’t think you deserve to be the pony lead. You can barely sing.”
“I’m supposed to DJ. I don’t sing.”
>”Be that as it may, I’m stuck with you until I can get Songbird, or Coloratura.” He snaps to the pianist. “Next song. The one where Misty Dreams is fearful of Un Named.”
>”Yes, Major.”
>The pianist stretches her hooves before playing.
>”No, give me a moment.”
>File paces back and forth and huffs loudly.
>You take the opportunity to stretch as well.
>A few ponies change the set and place drywall between you two.
>If you fail him again, you will have to work in the mines.
>Nopony deserves that.
>Finally he clears his throat and nods at the pony at the piano.
>She starts playing.
>Your cue passes.
>The pony pauses, and returns to the previous part.
>Again you miss your cue.
>File opens his eyes and looks at you.
>He doesn’t make a face.
>He just looks at you blankly.
>You don’t think he will accept another mistake.
>This is your last chance.
>The pony plays the chord to signal you to start.
”What should I do now?”
“Taken from my home, forced to bow.”
5/10
>You walk toward the empty audience.
“I know I’ll make it out somehow,”
“Somehow!”
>File has his hands on his face as he start singing.
>”What can I do now?”
>”Can’t she see this is for the best?”
>”With me she will never be alone,”
>”Always will have a chaperone,”
>“I’ll make her see, somehow,”
>”Somehow!”
>You wave a hoof.
”I don’t know if I can do this.”
”Equestria was filled with bliss,
”He’s so tall and strong- I so small and weak,”
”Everything here seems so bleak.”
“I’ll find a way out, somehow,”
>You look longingly at where you imagine is a window.
“Somehow!”
>”Acting better I want to advise,”
>”I can see the pain in her eyes,”
>”Though she tries he hide it from me,”
>”I just want to make her happy,”
>”Happy.”
>The music slows slightly.
”I’ll wait until he sleeps, then hurt him in the dark,”
”It would be so easy, I’ll go way past the park.”
”I’ll have until the sun does rise,”
”With the moon to guide, gone before anypony can realize,”
”Somehow,”
>You take a deep breath.
“Somehow.”
>”How can I make her see,”
>”Being here is the best for you and me?”
>”Ruled by tyrants, the ponies will always be.”
>”With us, maybe they can feel free.”
>”One day.”
>”One day.”
>The music returns to the normal beat.
”So much he expects of me,”
”Sticks of fire, they shoot loudly,”
“How can we fight against them?”
“Even if I escape, I’ll be back here.”
“Those weapons I have to fear,”
”Tables turn sometimes.”
”Sometimes.”
>”I have tried to be so kind,”
>”Maybe I can win her mind?”
>”From us, Ponies aren’t so different,”
>”Every turn, my kindness she declined,”
>”One day,”
>”One day.”
”I don’t think I can do it.”
”Far from home, he can be pleasant.”
”But I know it’s all a show,
”I have to run away. It’s time to go!”
>The music drops to a low bass line.
>You open File’s door, and find him in anguish with his head in his hands.
6/10
”Master, did you need anything else for tonight?”
>”No, Misty Dreams. You can rest now.”
>You bow for him.
”Thank you, Master.”
>”Good night.”
>You close the door and magic a chair to block it.
>The music returns, but it’s slightly more upbeat.
”I don’t think I can do it.”
”Far from home, he can be pleasant.”
”But I know it’s all a show,
”I have to run away, It’s time to go!”
”To gooooo!”
”Don’t care how hard it is,”
”I’ll find a way, today,”
”Can’t wait any longer,
”I have to run away, It’s time to go!”
“To gooooo!”
>You take a deep breath.
>Was it good enough?
>”Awful.” File gets up, “I couldn’t hear the pain in your voice. I couldn’t feel your fear.”
“File, these lyrics are awful. They make no sense!”
>”What’s the problem? Misty Dreams is afraid of Captain Un Named, and chooses to run away, even though he is very kind to her.”
>You scoff in exasperation.
”Why would she do that? She knows he is in the military and can get her back easily.”
>”Exactly. That is the conflict. Can she find friendship in her heart to repay his humanity?”
“Un is just being nice so he can have sex with her.”
>”That’s not in the script.”
“But it’s implied. Look at this,” you grab another script and read aloud. “He looks at her with thirst in his eyes?”
>”He was bed ridden from his wounds, and needed a drink.”
“Alright, what about this part?” You flip through more pages to another song, “We’ll make music so loud, we’ll wake the neighbors, make my father proud, claim our twenty acres.”
>File puts a hand on his chin.
>”That part, uh. Well he knows she likes to sing, so…”
“File, this is garbage." You shake the script. "I wouldn’t wipe my butt with it.”
>”I’m not going to rewrite it.”
“I won’t sing it as it stands now. And neither will anypony else.”
7/10
>Major Nohtfound squeezes his fist.
>”You won’t sing it? You have no choice.”
”I won’t do it.”
>File grimaces as he approaches you.
>You try to back away from him, but bump into one your guards.
>Major Nohtfound smacks you, and you fall to the ground.
>He was so fast.
>You rub your cheek with a hoof.
>”Hey, that’s enough,” one of the ponies say.
>”Be quiet! So Vinyl, are you going to try again, or will you go to the mines?”
>On its own, your hoof quivers.
>You’ve heard stories about the mines.
>Ponies don’t make it out of there.
“Alright, I’ll sing.”
>”Good. From the top!”
>The pianist waits for you to stand before starting the music.
>File taps his foot to the beat.
“What should I do now? Taken from my home, forced to bow.”
>You sing the rest of the song with File.
>You hate it.
>Everything about this is trash.
>”Better. Much better. I almost believed that you had pain in your heart.”
“That’s because you hit me.”
>”You don’t seem to take any other form of motivation.”
>You shake your head.
“We at least need another song. The plot has too many holes in it right now.”
>Magnet sighs.
>”What do we need?”
“A song where Un Named begs his pony to come back.”
>”Why? He is already too nice to her.”
“That’s why this isn’t believable. At least let him rough her up a bit before having a change of heart. Right now he reads like a goody four hooves.”
>Major Nohtfound taps his foot.
>”You’ve never even had an owner. You’re on loan from the Army. What makes you such an expert?”
>”Uh, maybe talking with everypony? You should try it out sometime,” you sing the last word to really give it to him, “sometime.”
>File frowns before turning to the others.
>”What do you ponies think?”
>They mumble amongst themselves.
>Finally one of them decides to speak up.
8/10
>”It’s not believable. Misty runs away, and is treated worse by griffons, but unless Un confesses his feelings for her, she will just try running away again.”
>Another pony steps forward.
>”There needs to be a reason for Misty to accept Un.”
>You nod.
“See? And if we don’t believe it, how will the audience believe? You’re going to make a flop. Not even Songbird Serenade will be able to save it.”
>File turns away from you.
>”This is propaganda. It doesn't have to be perfect."
"It has to at least make sense."
>"Rewriting the script will take weeks.”
“It has to be done. It’s the only way we’re going to do this movie.”
>A few ponies agree with you quietly.
>File paces in front of you.
>You heard him earlier saying he didn’t want any delays.
>But if you go with the script as is, it won’t be any good.
>”Lieutenant?”
>The young looking man gets up from his seat.
>”Um, yes, sir?”
>”Get that idiot director back in here. Looks like he will have his time after all.”
>The Lieutenant shrinks away from the Major.
>”Uh, what should I tell him?”
>”Make something up. Just let him know to be back here in two weeks.”
>The guard that you bumped into speaks up.
>”Sir, if I may. Perhaps I can inform the director?”
>”Fine, fine, Sergeant.”
>The guard leaves.
>You breathe a sigh of relief.
>If you have to make this, it might as well be done right.
>”And you, Vinyl, will rewrite this.”
“What?”
>”Alright ponies. You’re on break for two weeks, and then we start rehearsals again.”
“I didn’t agree to rewrite it for you. That’s crazy.”
>“Why? Don’t think you can handle it?”
>You tap a hoof.
“It can’t be done in two weeks. A major rewrite with new songs will take at least a month.”
>”No. Not all the songs. I wrote ‘I’m So Happy’ myself. It must be in the movie.”
“Wow, you wrote one whole song. Should I be impressed?”
>File changes his stance to a more aggressive one.
9/10
>”No. You should be impressed that I have the patience to continue letting you stand there.”
”I’ve written countless songs.”
>“Then a few more won’t be a problem. Lieutenant, can you sign over Vinyl Scratch?”
>"I don't think Colonel Ymous will mind."
>"Good."
>The ponies around you disperse.
>File doesn’t turn around to check if you are following him.
>You hesitate.
>This could be your chance to run.
>The door is open.
>It would be so easy.
>But what then?
>What then?
>You shake your head.
>Escape will have to wait for another opportunity.
“Hey, wait up!”
10/10
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