The Vinyl Scratch Tapes

""In the year 1001 of the Celestia calendar, Equestrian scientists developed advanced magic making it possible to broadcast music over long distances. This innovation was called “radio,” and quickly became a sensation throughout Equestria. For a period of time, only one frequency playing classical music was available. This changed when a popular young disk jockey with the stage name DJ-P0n3 (born Vinyl Scratch) formally proposed the creation of an independent radio station called K-COLT. It was approved, with DJ-P0n3 as the host. In addition to playing rock-and-roll and other popular music, DJ-P0n3 also hosted the first Equestrian talk show known as “The Vinyl Scratch.” These broadcasts were recorded for historical significance.""



The Vinyl Scratch Tapes is a Dramedy fanfic for My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic.

Written by Corey W. Williams and featured on Equestria Daily, The Vinyl Scratch Tapes is a record following two of the MLP:FiM fandom’s favorite background ponies, Vinyl Scratch and Octavia, as Radio Talk Show hosts.

In this story, Vinyl is a Jerk With a Heart of Gold and Octavia is her Beleaguered Assistant. Hilarity (and some shipping) ensues.

The first story is complete, but there's a season 2 in progress.

The whole thing is being adapted into an audio drama on YouTube. Begin here.

Tropes:
"Octavia: Do you just... have a thing for alliteration or something?
 * Added Alliterative Appeal: Lampshaded.

Vinyl: And the pony who just used a word I don’t understand is my lovely co-host, Octavia."

"Vinyl: “That is the spirit of radio! There’s no limits! We’re here for truth, justice, and the power of rock and roll! It is our way! It is the only way! Even if we stop broadcasting, our signal will just travel across the universe forever! Stars fade away, comets burn out, black holes devour suns, but even out there in the black, ROCK will always live on! That means music will last longer than the heavens themselves! That is radio! That is K-COLT! And THAT. IS. THE VINYL SCRATCH!”"
 * The Atoner:
 * Audio Adaptation: Beginning here.
 * Badass Boast: Vinyl drops a decidedly Kamina-esque one at the end of the first broadcast.

"Vinyl: "Octy’s just being modest. Now, not that I’m the type of pony to brag or anything ..."
 * So, in other words, you Can't Stop the Signal?
 * Beleaguered Assistant: Octavia.
 * Berserk Button: If you mess with one of Octavia's friends, she will beat the crap out of you. If you mess with Octavia, Vinyl will call you a jerk, go out of her way to humiliate you, and then have security beat the crap out of you.
 * Beware the Nice Ones/Took a Level In Badass: As noted above, Octavia doesn't take it well when her friends are threatened.
 * Bigger Than Jesus: Possibly invoked by Vinyl in Season 2 episode 2 when talking about Octavia's ensemble.
 * Bigger Than Jesus: Possibly invoked by Vinyl in Season 2 episode 2 when talking about Octavia's ensemble.

Octavia: "Oh, here we go ..."

Vinyl: "But they are bigger than Celestia now!""

"Octavia: What do solving mysteries have to do with music anyway?
 * Big No: Vinyl does this after Spitfire reveals an embarrassing childhood secret: As a young filly, before she got her cutie mark, Vinyl simply loved playing the !
 * Bullying a Dragon: Vinyl spends the interview with Princess Celestia -- the lady by whose good graces the radio show, and daytime, even exist-- relentlessly badgering her about sentencing Luna to 1,000 years of boredom and loneliness on the moon, much to Octavia's horror. Though this dragon has family members willing to fight on her behalf. One's stupid and incompetent. The other... isn't.
 * Bunny Ears Lawyer: Vinyl. She shamelessly teases, if not outright mocks, just about everyone she interacts with on the show, yet she's still incredibly popular and successful.
 * The Cameo: Various. It is a Radio Talk Show, after all.
 * Princess Celestia in Chapter 1
 * Spitfire in Chapter 2
 * Photo Finish is mentioned in Chapter 2, and apparently threw a camera at Vinyl after the latter made fun of her accent and implied it was fake
 * The Cutie Mark Crusaders, the Diamond Dogs, and  in Chapter 3
 * During the CMC scene, Twilight Sparkle gets one line--the only appearance by any of the mane cast so far.
 * Also in Chapter 3, K-Colt is now sponsored by Derpy Express, Equestria's most endearing delivery service. They even include free Muffins!
 * And in Chapter 4, Trixie becomes K-Colt's latest sponsor, with a hilariously long, self-promoting spiel. Octavia notes that she's somehow even more egotistical than Vinyl.
 * In Chapter 2 Part 1, Twilight is almost mentioned by name as a sponsor.
 * Cerebus Retcon: In Season 2 Chapter 3 lines delivered by Princess Luna  For some readers those episodes are no longer funny because of the subtext that is now known.
 * Chewbacca Defense: Vinyl in Season 2 Chapter 2 applies this to Octavia upon hearing that somepony wants to do a Scooby Doo-esque show starring her and her ensemble.

Vinyl: What don't they have to do with it?

Octavia: ...that's so stupid I don't know how to respond.

Vinyl: Hurray, that means I win by default!"

"Celestia (on the topic of imprisoning Luna on the moon): “T-that’s a bit out of context.”
 * Cloudcuckoolander: Vinyl, as Octavia often points out.
 * A Day in The Limelight: The entire story is one for the two mane characters. Also, Williams takes the other members of Octavia's ensemble (who are often ignored by the fandom) and gives them names, personalities and dialogue (except for Harpo Parish Nadermane, who's The Voiceless ).
 * Deadpan Snarker: Pretty much Octavia’s default setting.
 * Though Vinyl tends to snark quite a bit too:

Vinyl: “Fair enough. Please explain the context of hurling your little sister into the dark reaches of space.”"

"Octavia: "[Sigh.] Still as good at detecting sarcasm as you ever were..."
 * Defrosting Ice Queen: Octavia's Character Development throughout the story. She evolves from barely tolerating Vinyl's loud mouth and outrageous antics to realizing that she's really a good pony and becoming friends with her.
 * Did Not Think This Through: Little Vinyl had a habit of swiping any musical instrument that caught her eye during her quest to obtain her cutie mark. When she found one that she absolutely loved, she decided to invite everyone to her concert performance, including that instrument's rightful owner, the local sheriff.
 * Does Not Understand Sarcasm:
 * Does Not Understand Sarcasm:


 * "Oh ... [Confused.] Well, thank you for the compliment."

Octavia: "No, I was being ... Ugh, you know what, nevermind.""

"Spitfire: "Vinyl doesn’t talk about her feelings much, but she has them. She’ll act like nothing bothers her, laugh, and make fun of you ... but she’ll also never tell you a lie, she’ll never cross the line once it’s been drawn, and she’ll never, ever, let you down when you really need her.""
 * Dramatic Thunder:
 * Also used by . BIG TIME!!!
 * Dumbass DJ: Blueblood
 * Embarrassing Middle Name: Did you know Vinyl's middle name is ?
 * Even Evil Has Standards: is appalled at  plan to ruin Octavia's career.
 * Flanderization: is turned from a shallow, snobby, self-absorbed Jerkass to a guy who lives to make everyone around him miserable through his inconsiderate excesses. The series portrays the Diamond Dog Rover in a less unpleasant light. For the record, in the actual show, Rover is an aggressive, foul-smelling, dim-witted, criminal slaver.
 * Foregone Conclusion: Given the fic is based on in-universe recordings of the show and we're told it went on to become immensely popular and long-running,
 * Genki Girl: Vinyl Scratch.
 * Group Hug: Initiated by Beauty Brass near the end of the interview with Octavia's ensemble.
 * Heel Realization: seems to be having one at the end of Season 2, Chapter 4.
 * Heroic BSOD:
 * Hey It's That Voice: In the Audio Adaptation, Celestia is voiced by... Luna.
 * Homoerotic Subtext: Between Vinyl and Octavia. Season 2 takes it beyond simple "subtext".
 * Hope Spot: Derpy brings Blueblood an enormous sack of letters, but when he opens it
 * Incendiary Exponent: In the Rock Opera Vinyl tries to get Octavia to support, Luna comes down from space to battle Celestia riding a chariot "made of fire, vengeance, and more fire."
 * In-Series Nickname: Vinyl Scratch introduces herself with a different self-aggrandizing nickname in each chapter. Most of them are alliterative as well.
 * Chapter 1: "The Turntable Temptress"
 * Chapter 2: "The Priestess of Punk"
 * Chapter 3: "The Devious Disc Diva"
 * Chapter 4: "The Diabolical Musical Mastermind"
 * Season 2, Chapter 1: "The Mad Minstrel Mistress"
 * Season 2, Chapter 2: "The Alluring Artist"
 * Season 2, Chapter 3: "The Elegant Elitist Egotist" (not used by Vinyl, but by Octavia to mock her)
 * Instant Awesome Just Add Dragons: Vinyl endorses this trope wholeheartedly while advertising Ponyville Library. She barely misses a beat after learning the dragon in question is a baby.
 * Is This Thing Still On?: Twice (that we see). They seem to have finally figured out how to know when they’re back on… three weeks after their first broadcast.
 * Inverted in Season 2, Episode 3 when Octavia tries to fill time solo by telling a slew of embarrassing stories about herself without knowing the station was off the air.
 * It's All About Me: If there's ever a competition for "who fits this trope best", Blueblood will win the grand prize.
 * Jerkass:, even more so than canon.
 * Jerkass Has a Point: Subverted. Celestia acts like this is the case after Vinyl chews her out...
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold: This is how Spitfire describes Vinyl, after Octavia expresses doubts about her relationship with the DJ.
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold: This is how Spitfire describes Vinyl, after Octavia expresses doubts about her relationship with the DJ.

"Vinyl: [to Octavia] "You just always bring out the best in me. I’m... I’m not really sure what I’d be... without you.""
 * And she doesn't. (See Berserk Button and "The Reason You Suck" Speech.)
 * Karma Houdini: Rover is hired to be security at Vinyl's party. The fact that he has either attempted to, or has, assaulted, kidnapped, and enslaved Equestrian citizens is quickly glossed over.
 * The Ladette: Vinyl.
 * Lady Drunk: Berry Punch.
 * Large Ham/Large Ham Radio: Vinyl.
 * Their rival station National Pony Radio seems to be joining in on the act in season two. Having The Great And Powerful Trixie as co-host will do that.
 * Lethal Chef: A certain classical musician prepares an apple pie containing mushrooms. Vinyl eats it anyway because Octavia made it for her.
 * Literary Agent Hypothesis: The fic is a series of transcripts from the radio show.
 * Loveable Rogue: Vinyl was one as a filly.
 * Morality Pet: This is how Vinyl thinks of Octavia. From Season 2, Episode 4:

"Octavia: Look, I will admit this is ... creative ... but you just can’t have an opera where nonsensical things happen for no reason!
 * No Indoor Voice: Beauty Brass, more often than not.
 * Not Me This Time:
 * Only Sane Pony: In Chapter 3, Octavia introduces herself as "the sane one."
 * OOC Is Serious Business: At the end of Season 2, Episode 3,
 * Playing Doctor: Vinyl and Spitfire used to do this when they were fillies. It involved Vinyl pretending to saw off Spitfire's leg and then getting hauled in front of the medical board for malpractice.
 * Puppy Dog Eyes: Vinyl tries using these on Octavia. It usually fails, because she often has her sunglasses on while she's doing it.
 * Quintessential British Gentleman: This is how Frédéric Horseshoepin, the pianist in Octavia's ensemble, comes across.
 * Random Events Plot: An in-universe example in the form of Vinyl's Rock Opera.

Vinyl: Clearly you’ve never heard a rock opera before."

"Spitfire: [Giggles.] No really, it’s fine. Vinyl’s just being herself.
 * Reasonable Authority Figure: Princess Celestia. When Vinyl takes her to task for banishing Luna to the moon, she realizes that the Jerkass Has a Point and goes to apologize to her sister.
 * "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Vinyl gives one to in Chapter 3.
 * Red Oni, Blue Oni: Vinyl and Octavia.
 * Revenge By Proxy: Blueblood is not smart enough to deal with Vinyl directly, which is why so many of his revenge schemes involve going after the more vulnerable Octavia.
 * Rousing Speech: Vinyl gives a few of them, usually about The Power of Rock.
 * Savvy Colt Energetic Mare: Harpo and Beauty Brass to the EXTREME, with Harpo being The Voiceless (usually) and Beauty Brass having No Indoor Voice.
 * Scaled Up: Vinyl's planned rock opera features Celestia transforming into a serpent. To fight Luna. Who has returned from space on a chariot made from fire and lasers, and used the moon as a throwing weapon. Which explodes on contact. For no reason.
 * Schoolgirl Lesbians: Vinyl and Spitfire apparently used to be this.
 * Script Fic: A variation; the story purports to be transcripts of Vinyl and Octavia's radio show.
 * Self-Deprecation: Vinyl is always willing to laugh at herself.
 * In Season 2, Chapter 3, Octy laughs at Vinyl's impression of her... until she starts saying erotic things
 * Shout Out: Vinyl is so Crazy Awesome that she's somehow aware of Earth pop culture. She opens her show with quotes from The Twilight Zone's Opening Narration (Season 1, Chapter 2) and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Season 1, Chapter 3).
 * In Chapter 1, Vinyl mentions how Luna is apparently "afraid of microwaves and modern technology."
 * The Silent Bob: Harpo turns out to be one in Season 2 Chapter 2.
 * Smug Snake:, in spades.
 * Spoof Aesop: With the classic "Be Yourself" life-lesson.

Octavia: I know. And that’s precisely why it’s wrong.

Vinyl: Haha, that’s a great lesson, Octy. All you fillies listening, remember what Octavia says: never be yourself.

Octavia: No, the lesson is to never be like Vinyl. Ever.

Spitfire: Words to live by.

[DJ-P0n3 (Vinyl) laughs.]

Vinyl: Can’t really argue with that one."

"Vinyl: That way it’d be like there’s two of you! Which actually reminds me of that one dream I had where-"
 * Sunglasses At Night: Vinyl. Justified, because they're prescription sunglasses.
 * Then Let Me Be Evil: Part of Villainous Breakdown in Season 2 Chapter 4.
 * Title Drop: see Badass Boast.
 * Toilet Humor: Vinyl's collection of Stock Sound Effects includes at least two different fart noises.
 * Tomboy and Girly Girl: Vinyl and Octavia.
 * Took a Level In Jerkass: is already a Jerkass in Canon, but in this story the character is worse than ever.
 * Troll: Vinyl.
 * Tsundere: Octavia, and, in Season Two,.
 * Twin Threesome Fantasy: When Vinyl wants Octavia to wear a shirt with Octavia's face on it.


 * Uptight Loves Wild: Octavia and Vinyl's relationship is heading in this direction.
 * Villain Decay: The Diamond Dogs. They started out as a fairly credible threat in the main series, but have since degraded into dim-witted prank callers who are willing to humiliate themselves for steak.
 * Villain Team-Up: Beginning with The Stinger of Season 2, Chapter 1.
 * Villainous Breakdown: spends Season 2 chapter 4 undergoing one, complete with the generation of a master plan that would launch  clean over the Moral Event Horizon.
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: Vinyl and Octavia. The first story has hints that it may blossom into Belligerent Sexual Tension. Season 2 takes it past "hints" to become sub- (and periodically super-, around- and totally enveloping-) text.
 * The Voiceless: Harpo, just like his Marx Brothers equivalent.
 * What the Hell, Hero?: Vinyl's interview with Princess Celestia boils down to this regarding Luna's banishment, particularly for not trying to Take a Third Option during the incident and for never checking up on Luna even once during all that time.
 * What the Hell Is That Accent?: Vinyl asks Photo Finish, "What accent are we SUPPOSED to think that is?" during an off screen interview and gets a (free!) camera thrown at her head for it.
 * You're Insane!: Octavia says this to Vinyl at the end of the first chapter, but it's more of a resigned lament than an angry accusation.
 * Played straighter in Season 2 Chapter 4 when.
 * You're Insane!: Octavia says this to Vinyl at the end of the first chapter, but it's more of a resigned lament than an angry accusation.
 * Played straighter in Season 2 Chapter 4 when.