J Dog walked into the house he was hit with the scent of a recently cooked meal.

“Star you here? Or was somepony just in our house for no reason?” J called out. He walked into the kitchen. As he entered the kitchen, J noticed Star sitting on one of the chairs fast asleep. “Oh. That’s great.”

J walked over to the fridge and looked for something to eat. He grabbed an apple at sat down on the other side of the table. “Musta been a hell of a time. Good to know. I got hit on by two mares… Ha. Woulda been three except for being a contractor doesn’t impress unicorns. Well… except for Vinyl.” He said to himself. J took a bite out of the apple. “So… I’m just going to tear apart your room and make it into a studio for myself. Hope you're alright with that.”

“Mmm..So much… Frosting.” Star mumbles.

“Oh and YOU always comment on MY fantasies.” J said with a laugh, “This is too good of an opportunity to pass up… If only I had a voice recorder…” He laughed a little more as he ate the apple, “So how’s it feel?”

J notices a stream of drool being to seep from Star’s mouth and run down the edge of the table, his head resting on his arm, while his other arm hangs limply, dangling downward.

“As much as I want to pick you apart for being like this… Ah hell I’d do it anyway. But…” J started as he primed the half eaten apple, “I don’t want to hear your fantasies as much as I thought I did.” J threw the apple at the chair knocking a loose leg off. The chair fell backwards spilling Star onto the floor.

Star lies there motionless, staring up at the ceiling in shock. After a long pause, he tilts his head to J. “How’d I get down here?”

“An apple. I really don’t care much to come back to find you asleep in some strange fantasy. Now be a good boy and get ready for the party. We have about an hour until it starts!” J responded.

Star’s eyes go wide. He looks at the clock and starts smacking himself in the head. “Crap! I need to shower.”

“Alright then. If this is anything like your usual showers, you should be done by the time the last of the guests arrive!” J stated. He got up and grabbed a glass from the cabinet. “Well you haven’t got all day! Move it kitty!”

“I’m going to use the one upstairs.” Star shouts, stopping half way up the stairs, “Oh and by the way.. milkdrinkersayswhat?”

“What?” J responded before he sarcastically laughed, “Ha ha very funny. Go get your coat wet kitty cat. I’ve got better things to be doing!”

“Shouldn’t you be digging a hole somewhere?”

“What the hell are you going on about?”

“Nothing Moon Moon!”

Star can hear the sound of a chair smashing against a wall.

“Quick, someone call the pound! He’s loose again!”

This time another chair breaks and a knife flies out of the kitchen and embeds into the wall in the living room.

“You’re going to have to try harder if you want to get the treat.”

An angry looking J Dog stands at the bottom of the steps with a hammer in hand, “Let’s see how long you last…”

Star freezes at the top, staring down at J Dog. After a minute of looking down, Star finally breaks the silence.

“J Dog..”

J drops the hammer, “OUT OF MY WAY!”

Star takes a step back, a smirk on his face, looking up innocently.

J charges up the stairs and throws open his door. He slams it shut behind himself

Star approaches his door and knocks.

“J Dog?”

J screams, “WHAT HAPPENED TO IT? ALL OF IT’S GONE!” The sound of a computer getting turned on is heard. “Plan b!”

“Well I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I hate when we fight so...Yeah.”

“It’s alright. I’ve done my fair share of stupid shit to be worthy of such things as digging a hole with my face.”

“Yes, but you can’t control that. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I do. I was about to paint the wall white. And the floor. And the computer. And… everything in a five foot radius of the impact zone. But enough! Just get ready I’ll meet you downstairs!”

After hearing that, Star begins to visualize the image so thoughtfully ‘Painted’, no pun intended, by J Dog. He shivers, then walks to the shower.

J Dog walks over to his chest and pulls out his old guitar. The entire thing was painted an almost blood red. The paint shined as if brand new. The strings and pick base told a different story. Deep scratches were implanted on the pick base. Some of the strings where coming undone. “It’s been almost too long… Maybe I should start again… Ah… That was a long time ago. Nopony would like anything that I have to play anymore.” He pulled out the pick and sat down on the bed. He plugged in a pair of headphones and started to play to himself.

As he played his fingers flowed smoothly, almost naturally over the strings. His memories slipped back to a three years ago. The last time he played in front of anypony other than himself.

______________________________________________________________________________

Three Years Ago

______________________________________________________________________________

“So here I go again, chasing you down again. Why do I do this?” J sang into the mic. His finger sailed smoothly and naturally. No note was missed.

The band members behind him played equally as well.

“Over and over. Over and over. I fall for you!” The entire band joined in. The small crowd danced and swayed with the softness of the song.

“Over and over. Over and over. You make me fall for you!” J continued.

Out in the crowd a manager from a record company stood watching the band onstage. He was intent on pulling this Indie band into the big light.

After another two minutes the song ended. The guys got off the stage and entered the back room of the community center.

There they were greeted by the producer, “I’d like to tell you how amazing you were up there!”

“Oh yeah? Of course we were!” The second guitarist responded pridefully.

“Well I’d like to make an offer. You boys come with me and I’ll make you famous all across Equestria. Tours, record making, albums, fangirls everything you could ever want!” The stallion continued.

J’s lip curled, “That sounds good and all but… didn’t we start this band not to BE famous but for fun?”

“Yeah. We did…” The drummer agreed, “BUT this is the opportunity of a life time!”

J shook his head, “Yeah. I know. But I’m not to keen on leaving my friends behind.”

“Oh boo hoo. Man this is golden! You should be jumping at it to!” The bass player said.

“Yeah. But I’m not. Unlike you guys it’s not about the fame for me. I love doing this I never wanted to be famous beyond HERE!” J said. His anger was rising.

“J you’re just too much of a pansy.” The guitarist said as he approached.

“Oh am I? I wrote every fucking song we have! You aren’t just going to ignore that are you? NONE OF YOU CAN FUCKING WRITE!”

“Fuck off. You aren’t holding us down.” The bass player said.

The drummer looked away.

“Fine. Good luck with your careers. I’m done.” J said as he charged off.

Just as J was about to leave the Drummer came up with a key, “Take this… Deuce was making copies of the songs. Check his house I’ll hold them off. I’m sorry man… but this IS all I have… good luck… Maybe we’ll meet again some time?”

J grabbed the drummer and hugged him, “Thanks Rush you’re amazing man… maybe we will meet again!”

They broke and Rush ran back to the group.

After J Dog went to Deuce’s house and grabbed the music. He burned all of it.

His anger boiled over even more when his name had been taken from all of them. He torched most of Deuce’s equipment and trashed his guitar collection.

______________________________________________________________________________

Present

______________________________________________________________________________

“So many thoughts that I can’t get out of my head. I try to live without you every time I do I feel dead!” J sang quietly. A few tears welled up in his eyes. It hurt. It’d been three years since he’d seen any of them. He actually missed Rush and Driver.

The last he heard was a letter from Rush saying he and Driver quit and started another indie band in another town. He said the fame went to the other guy’s heads and they only wanted fame and money.

After a long walk, Star arrives at J’s door and knocks.

“I know what’s best for me! But I want you instead!” J continues to sing.

Star clicks the door open softly and peeks inside.

“I’ll keep on wasting all my time!” J sings. His hands are continuing to move deftly between the strings and frets. His head is hung over the guitar. A few tears slide down the neck of the guitar.

“I almost forgot what you looked like with a guitar.” Star said aloud.

J looks up and glances around until he spots Star. He pushes the headphones down around his neck, “Yeah… so did I… It doesn’t matter though. I’m not really any good.” He glances down at the guitar, “Nopony wants to hear me anymore. Sometimes even I don’t want to…”

“Ohh I get it.” Star says, walking up to J. “Well, You’re wrong about one thing.”

“And what am I wrong about?” J questioned, he looks up at Star. “Please go ahead and tell me.”

“I want to hear you.” Star said, nudging J lightly.

J looks away, “No. I’m not going to torture you. I’m not good. It’s not worth your time to listen to me. And I don’t even have an amp out. It’s not like you’d be able to hear anything.”

“Well that just won’t do now will it?” Star said, dashing over to the chest and digging through it.

“Don’t forget the cord.” J said quietly, as a small smile crossed his face, “It’s usually under the sheet music.”

“Got it.” Star said, jumping around the room like a kangaroo looking for it’s child. After gathering the equipment, he motioned J towards the newly plugged in AMP.

“Would you do the honors?”

J got off the bed and plugged in his guitar. He opened with a small riff. It sounded almost like a country song.

“Yeah… You’ve been alone… I’ve been gone for far too long.” J started up.

After a few minutes and a few heavier cords and a solo. J finished the song and stated, “See I told you I’m bad.” The last note still rung through the air.

“I don’t know what you mean. I was on the verge of tearing up.” Star said with a smile.

J cocked an eye, “Really? What’s going on. It must be some sort of conspiracy.” J went silent and the room quieted.

After a few tense moments of silence J slid the guitar down and hugged Star, “Thanks… it’s been so long since I played for ANYPONY…”

“It’s good to see you happy again. Just remember one thing. Without music, life would be a mistake. And you my friend, are no mistake.” Star said.

“Sappy advice… you want something? Does it have anything to do with that mare I saw leaving the house? Because if so. What song and I’ll need a band.” J said as he let go of Star. Then J remembered the location of the letter Rush sent him, “Scratch the band part. What song or songs? I’m happy to help you.”

Star looked up, scratching his chin. “How bout Remnants? You can still play that can’t you?”

“I could still play a lot. I know a few of my ex-bandmates live here. Even after I left we kept in good contact for a while! I’m sure they’d be willing to play too. So that sounds great! Now… let’s head out. We still have to find Sweet Apple Acres.”