I think I was expecting too much. The two kind of stared at me much longer than I anticipated and I started feeling more uncomfortable by the second. I even checked my wings to make sure they were tucked in as much as possible. Finally the unicorn tapped her cheek and stopped leering at me. I’m hoping it’s not one of those ‘rescue romances’ I’ve heard about. It usually makes a weird relationship where the other in question gets really… clingy.
“Uh… sure dude. If you don’t mind we could talk at our home about this. Right Octavia?”
The other mare, Octavia, as I now knew squeaked and nodded before trotting off with her luggage in tow. I don’t think she really understood what was happening because she knocked over a few ponies in her warpath down the street. I didn’t see any sign of Raindrops either while I trotted after her with the unicorn by my side. Still didn’t know her name and my own knowledge of this world even from when I was still on Earth was probably the smallest ever since I only focused on the bad guys. They were more interesting in my mind and usually the villains of most mediums were really well written to make you actually feel something when you read or watched that particular media.
That brought up a weird observation. I didn’t feel much. I felt apathetic? Listless? Lost? I don’t know how to explain it but I felt nothing… or like nobody. Hm… that could be concerning… I think. I felt like a Nobody.
‘It might be because of the use of the organizations weapons. Hopefully I don’t break my cover. New life and new chance feels really good. Maybe if I get better I’ll go handle other worlds. Hopefully I don’t meet anything too big. Also why aren’t these two speaking?’
We finally reached a house that was split down the middle and the two led me inside setting up a table while the unicorn put everything away. Really should ask her name.
“I’m sorry we haven’t introduced ourselves. I am Octavia Melody, one of Canterlot’s cello players. This over her is Vinyl Scratch, DJ extraordinaire… self proclaimed.”
Vinyl, as I now knew, glared at Octavia but kept her mouth shut and sat down next to her. Then Octavia flinched and rubbed her leg while glaring back at Vinyl. I decided it was finally time to talk before it could turn into a brawl. I’m also sure I had a time limit before that one pony, Pinkie Pie, knew I was in town. It was still early morning which means I just messed my own sleeping schedule up. Crap…
“My name is Nebula Gray. I don’t have any fancy title such as you two ladies but I’m looking to turn myself into an explorer of sorts. Still a work in progress though. A few bumps on the path of life I guess.”
“Why did you save us?”
Well that was abrupt. I guess Vinyl has no impulse control about speaking her mind. The look from Octavia said she was annoyed by the way the question was asked but still curious all the same. I thought about it and decided to go with the first thing that came to mind. It wasn’t the best answer but it was the answer I thought felt right.
“Impulse. I saw it happening and acted before thinking. Really rare of me to do that as well.”
“That’s it?”
“Yup.”
“You weren’t expecting anything for it?”
Octavia froze up and covered her mouth with her hoof. Vinyl had turned into a red unicorn at this point. Huh… I didn’t know unicorns could change colors. I thought about it for a moment, let my dark thoughts get their kicks, then crush them with a block of sheer willpower.
“Yes. There is something that you could do.”
Their eyes went wide and I think they wanted to stomp on me in ways I would not enjoy but they patiently waited for my condition. I could ask them anything but I knew what I wanted it. I’ve wanted it since I got to this world and still hadn’t had that chance to do so.
“I would like to use your shower. I haven’t been able to get a decent chance for a few days.”
They both fell out of their seats blushing heavily but smiling regardless and showing me the way. I went in by myself and thanked them before closing the door. I needed this more than I thought and if they thought I was going to take advantage of them then I was going to poke fun at that. I’d rather not get anypony into the problems I’ll eventually get into especially since I’ve been feeling the scent of darkness coming from deep inside the forest that’s nearby. I also feel weird since I entered town. It felt like someone is watching me. I don’t know who it is but I feel weird just being in this town.
“Just visiting the town is all. Just visiting.”
I heard a groan and looked all around, I thought I saw a poof of pink fluff disappear from outside the window. That was Pinkie Pie… I think. Was she mad I wasn’t living here? That’s really weird maybe I dodged a bullet at least for now.
“Did you expect him to just want that? I kind of got shivers when I asked him what he wanted.”
“Why would you even ask him that!? Most stallions can become pigs when you ask them what they want. Seriously Vinyl you need to think about these things before hoof.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I know. Still… He didn’t try getting our flanks right off the bat. That gives him a point right?”
“I guess. Just don’t do that again. I was ready to kick his flank if he turned out to be a pervert.”
“I doubt that he would be like Mighty Oak.”
“You mean that stallion from back in Baltimare? What was his problem anyways?”
“I wouldn’t take the plunge with him. I dumped his sorry flank and came back to Ponyville. All he was interested in was getting his sapling rooted and there’s no way in Equestria that this pony rolls that way.”
“He- he tried to take advantage of you? That brute… Perhaps the kick was too light a sentence for somepony like that.”
“Honestly I was surprised of that cause nopony ever managed to harm him. He’s literally as strong as an oak tree. I’m more surprised that Gray didn’t break his leg kicking him. The only reason I managed to dump him was that he was drunk that night and I left immediately after that.”
“Sweet Celestia Vinyl. Why haven’t we talked about this before?”
“We never had a reason to and I didn’t wanna. Look this one’s pretty good in my book but he seems distracted from us. I mean look at us. We’re awesome.”
“He’s probably trying to do something important and not looking for mares. After we were saved I asked around about the thestral in town. Seems he worked in Baltimare as a night time weather manager. I also heard Raindrops made a move on him.”
“Really?”
“Yeah but he seemed more confused. Maybe he’s really innocent thinking and all that.”
“That seems really optimistic Tavi.”
“So? Better than letting an opportunity slip by. Besides we got nothing to lose from this.”
“Fine but if this comes back to biting us in the flank you’re listening to every single record I’ve ever mixed into a wubtastic experience straight. No breaks.”
“Ugh… fine. Deal.
They shook hooves sealing the deal. They were going to avoid the dreaded Pinkie Promise with all their hearts. Their budget couldn’t afford her antics tearing up their house.
I finished my shower and dried off with one of the towels. Wings are really hard to wash but at least I finally got rid of the smell. Though I did find out that I smelled something else now. Something coming from me. Inner Darkness or something I don’t really know. I guess I’m like a nobody now. Well no big deal since it fits me so well. Yeah, fits like a glove.
When I stepped out of the bathroom I saw both mares sitting around the table whispering I thought about what I needed to do because it was becoming the afternoon and that meant one more day until the Summer Sun Celebration and I needed to do whatever that Dive to the Heart was trying to tell me. Which meant something about Nightmare Moon. I do know that she needs to get purified but I doubt I actually have to be seen by the harmony bearers. So I have to make my way into the forest for something in there. That castle they talked about but first I need to deal with the ponies here. Let’s see… I do remember I can move through the shadows so I just need to leave when it gets dark.
“Thanks for the hospitality. I needed it more than I thought. Something on your minds?”
They smiled but they were both silent. I didn’t think much of it but I did recognize the look I was given. It was that look that said ‘I want something but it would be rude to ask’. I sat back down if only to kill some time. I needed at least one more hour before I could go out when the sun would finally set.
“If you don’t mind… Are you staying here in Ponyville?”
“I don’t know. It looks nice but I’m kind of a wanderer in a sense. I like to travel far and wide to see things that nopony has ever seen before. Maybe make a homebase here perhaps if my plans don’t fall through.”
I didn’t mention that I was worried about other things happening here. From what I could tell from all the conversations I’ve had with these three ponies in particular nobody actually knows about the heartless which means that it's a peaceful world with a hidden darkness. The other problem was that if there were other wielders roaming around they could possibly drag worlds into their wars just because they needed a number advantage. I was apathetic but I wasn’t one to accept a plan such as that.
“What kind of plans do you have?”
“Ah-ah that’s a secret for now. I’m confident that something will happen when I finish what I am doing. Though I’m gonna explore now.”
“Explore!?”
“Yup. Explore. I’m a creature of the night and I enjoy flying through the night sky taking in the nightlife. I said night too much now… “
They both seemed confused by my little idea and I trotted off for the front door. Before they could stop me I was suddenly flung back into the house by the sudden appearance of Raindrops. Oh… something is sticking to my back… pain…
“I found you Gray. Wait what do you two think you’re doing?”
“Us? Nothing of course. What makes you think we’re thinking about anything.”
“Vinyl!”
They started to argue about something I didn’t hear only because the pain was getting to me. I really wanted to use cure but there were too many prying eyes. I slowly got up and limped out the door. I didn’t break anything but I was really sore. I’m glad I’m not that fragile otherwise this would have been bad.
I flung myself into one of the closest shadows and found myself right near the forest. It felt weird… as if gliding through jello… not that I have ever done that of course. I don’t think they noticed either because as soon as I reached the first tree I dived into the shadows in case anypony else saw me beforehand. I knew Pinkie was always skulking around town.
“So we’re in agreement then. Each of us will try to win him over with our personalities and such and no matter what the outcome is we accept it at face value with dignity, right?”
“Sure Tavi.”
“I guess. I still saw him first.”
“Tavi, what if we just go the herd route at least then we wouldn’t have to deal with the winning him over thing.”
“Vinyl, if you can get him to agree to that without him freaking out then I will go along with it in a heartbeat. That’s the easiest but he might be one of those old fashioned stallions who only wants a single mate. Though he was really innocent.”
“Why was he even here in the first place then?”
“He saved us from one of Vinyl’s stalkers without asking for a reward or a thanks. All he asked was to use our shower. He must have been working really hard.”
“He was a hard worker but I felt he was dealing with other things. Whenever we spoke he always kept quiet about his own plans. I only knew his name and some random facts he spoke about his family. He never even spoke about his own kind at all.”
“That is weird but I’m sure it’s just a sensitive topic. We all got skeletons in our closet.”
“I suppose I guess I’m just impatient. He’s been pretty nice even though he’s too stoic.”
Journal Entries:
Octavia Melody
The first chair cellist of the Canterlot symphony. Is know as one of the higher class ponies but has a wild side she keeps closed to all but the closest of friends. Favors a pink bowtie combo while on tour and had a keen ear to discern sounds from a distance.
Vinyl Scratch
The infamous unicorn DJ going by the title DJ-PON3 and wildest party animal of the Manehattan skyline. Is actually much quieter in public if only because her party girl look is a facade for a more sophisticated mare. Prefers easy solutions to complicated problems and works through contacts that are secretly funded by a unicorn noble.