Chapter 3 : Cider trip
Vinyl Scratch was sleeping peacefully on the little train seat, keeping her hooves tucked in close to her body in an attempt to stay nice and warm. She was having one of those dreams, those dreams where everything is perfect. So perfect you’d think nothing could ever ruin it, which is what she thought, until her worst night mare happened……waking up.
*TOOOOOOT TOOOOOOOOOT* the train shot out at all the sleeping ponies.
“AAAHHHHH!” *thump* Vinyl Scratch and Octavia, screamed as they jumped up from the warm seats they were laying on. Scaring other awoken ponies from there fright.
“What in Celestia was that?” Octavia said, with a dizzy look.
“UUghhhhhhh…..my head…” Vinyl said, getting off the floor “Stupid train!” she shouted rubbing a hoof on her head.
“All ponies for Appleloosa, this is your stop!” the train conductor announced through the speakers “We’ll be departing in two hours, so that gives you time to have a look around town until we depart to our final destination.” he suggested.
“Pffft” Vinyl spat out, while getting back to her comfortable spot “I can sleep this out…” she said with a breath, followed by a loud yawn.
“Vinyl!” Octavia said grabbing Vinyl’s face “We can go sightseeing while we wait for the next departure” she said with joy.
“What!? No I wanna sleep.” Vinyl said with a straight look, knocking Octavia’s hooves away.
“Vinyl, Darling please?! I want to see what this town has to offer!” Octavia begged.
“Hmmm let me think, no” Vinyl said.
“Pleeeease!” Octavia begged getting down close to Vinyl, with a puppy dog face.
“NO”
“Say yes!”
“NO”
“YES!”
“NO!”
“Yes”
“NO!!”
“NO!”
“YES!!!!”
“OK! Thank you darling, let’s go!” Octavia said quickly grabbing Vinyl’s hoof and pulling her out of the train.
“Ahhhhh, NOOOOOOO MY SEAT!!” Vinyl screamed as she left her comfortable, warm, soft seat.
****
The two were walking down through the town, checking out the stores, food, and others as they explored. Octavia blushed, getting a greeting from a fine stallion followed by a few others.
“Geez! Your blushing as red as a tomato” Vinyl chuckled.
“Oh! Am I, Hehe!” she said trying to hide her face “I’m just not used to so many stallions taking a liking in me, but I’m-”.
“Liking? Please, they’re just being friendly...” Vinyl butted in.
“Are they?” Octavia said before moving close to Vinyl “Or are you just, jealous?” she said with a smirk.
“UGH! Jealous...pfft, you know I get all the stallions in Ponyville, plus I like Mare’s anyway” Vinyl shot back.
“Jealous” Octavia said, just trying to wind Vinyl up. Which she hasn’t done in a while.
“Whatever!”
“Soo, jealous”
“AAGGHH! Watch, I can get a stallion, no sweat!” Vinyl shouted at Octavia, followed by her walking up to a working pony and saying “Sup dude! Hey can I ask you something?”
“Why of course mam” The pony answered.
“You think I’m hot?” Vinyl asked.
“Uhh? If yall sayin if I think yaw attractive, then. Why yes!” the stallion replied “as a matter a fact I find all mares attractive, everypony’s beautiful in their own way”
“So you think I’m attractive” Vinyl said with a small blush on her face, just to be sure she heard what she heard.
“Yaw look’n mighty fine t’day that’s one thing” The brown stallion answered tilting his hat.
“HA! See told you, Tavi!” Vinyl shouted across the street, whilst making a victory dance.
“FINE! Just get back here, you’re embarrassing me…” Octavia shouted back. Vinyl then trotted back to where Octavia stood, with a huge smile on her face.
“I don’t see why you had to make such a big scene about it” Octavia said with an annoyed voice.
“I was proving that I could get any guy I want, and succeeded” Vinyl replied, with a proud look.
“This really did get a bit out of hoo-” Octavia was cut off in the middle of her sentence by Vinyl’s hoof covering her mouth.
“Shhhhhhhh…..you hear that?” Vinyl spoke just over a whisper, looking around to find where this sound came from.
“I’m gonna……..before y….” a muffled voice spoke from around the corner of an empty salon.
“Ummm?......Vinyl darling, what is it I’m supposed to be hearing?…”Octavia asked with a puzzled look. Vinyl Scratch grabbed Octavia’s hoof and slowly pulled her around the corner with her.
“Ya’ll think I’m goi’n-mmmf- down this easy!” a familiar voice shouted, at what would presume to be another pony.
“Is that?...” Octavia said before her and Vinyl made it through the big crowd of ponies that gathered around.
“AppleJack?” both of them said simultaneously, looking at the pale orange pony in a challenging hoof wrestle. There awkward realization ended up drawing small attention to them from other ponies, who then quickly went back to gambling over who would win.
“If ya keep yappi’n like that, ahm pretty sure ya will” Apple Jack’s opponent said, trying to get her out with all his might.
“Why would AppleJack be here?” Vinyl wondered “In an arm wrestling contest thing, or...” she said with a furrowed brow, then looking at Octavia.
“Hmmm? Oh, I wouldn’t exactly know either, maybe something to do with her apple trading or things around that general area.”
“Pftch, general area” Vinyl chuckled, which was followed by a hoof to her shoulder from Octavia.
“Stop being so immature, Vinyl” Octavia said with a smirk.
“GO AppleJack! Woooooooo” a grey Pegasus shouted from behind the crowed.
“Ya’ll better get yer wallet ready!” AppleJack shouted.
“Ready fer what!” AJ’s opponent replied “Ah told ya I’m winni’n this- *thump*……” he was cut short by the sound of his hoof slamming against the rugged wooden table.
The crowed went silent for a short moment.
“Ready fer it to hand me mah winnin’s” Apple Jack said while stretching her forearm from the intense hoof wrestle that just finished.
*thump* AppleJack’s opponent tossed a bag on bits on the table. He then stormed of grumbling and muttering things under his breath as he walked away.
“Yaaaayy” “woooo” crowed members stopped the silence and congratulated AppleJack.
“Wow! That was pretty intense.” Vinyl said.
“Hey, AppleJack!” Vinyl Scratch shouted out “Over here!”
“Huh?” AppleJack murmured before turning around to find two Ponies waving for her attention. One with a multi-colored
mane and purple glasses, the other with a plain dark grey mane and grey fur coat. AppleJack knew exactly who they were.
“Vinyl Scratch, Octavia! What in tarnation are ya’ll doin here?” she said trotting up to Vinyl and giving her a brohoof, and politely giving Octavia a bow.
“We could ask you the same thing” Vinyl replied.
“Oh, me! Ahm jus here to sell some of our Apples from Sweet Apple acres” Apple Jack said proudly.
“It sure didn’t look like it…” Octavia said with a raised brow.
“Oh, that. That was jus some fun! Some pony handed me a challenge, and well…you know what happens when somepony gives me a challenge, especially a hoof wrestle”.
“Indeed we do.” Octavia replied.
“So what are yall doin here?” AppleJack asked.
“Oh yeah, were going to Tavi’s umm, cello opening was it...anyway the train went through here, and is stopping for a couple hours so, we- woops, I mean Octavia said that we should go looking around, and here we are.” Vinyl Scratch explained.
“Well ain’t that interestin.” AppleJack nodded “Hey! How bout Ya’ll come with me fer a drink?” she suggested “Drinks on me!”
“Oh, no no. We’re alright thank you, we wouldn’t want you spending your bits on us now,” she politely denied “but it’s a sweet offer”.
“Tavi, c-c’mon” Vinyl begged.
“No no, it’s alright. Ah didn’t win these bit’s fer nothin” AppleJack said “c’mon let’s go grab some cider!”
“well...ok then, but are you sure it’s alright with yo-”.
“AWWWW YEEEAAHH!! Let’s get our cider on!!!” Vinyl butted in.
“YEEEHAAWWW! That’s the word ah was lookin for!” AppleJack loudly agreed, before racing Vinyl to the bar.
“Girls!? Slow down please!” Octavia shouted hesitantly after them.
****
“Two jugs of, original Appleloosa cider please!!” AppleJack demanded loudly.
“Two?” Vinyl asked with a puzzled look “What about Tavi?” She said pointing her hoof at the mare walking through the bar door.
“Oh Buck! Darn fergot about her, Hehe!” AppleJack remembered with a blush “make that three jugs of cider please!”
“Oh, no I’m o thank you AppleJack” Octavia said sitting down “I don’t want you-”
“COME ON! Tavi, listen…you gotta lighten up a bit man, have a drink” Vinyl told her mare friend, holding out a cold, mouth-watering cider jug in front of her.
“But…I...” she muttered, still staring at the cold drink. Dripping tiny droplets of cider down the side of the jug, tempting her to grab it…..making her crave for the drink. Octavia now suddenly feeling thirsty “Celestia, damn it looks so good though…”, she thought to herself.
“Ummm, Octavia...hello?” Vinyl said, clopping her hoof on the table to try wake Octavia from her fascination.
“Huh, oh right. Yeah of course...why not?” Octavia shook back into place and took the jug from Vinyl’s hand.
“That’s more like it!!” AppleJack shouted in joy. Before putting her jug in the air for a toast.
*clink* was the sound of…..a mistake…
****
Moments pass as and the three girls have gone through multiple jugs of tasty Appleloosa cider. Every now and then they would be tripping up over bar stools or being clumsy in general.
“HEY! Hey, hey sh-should we play a-*hick*- a game?” Vinyl said holding on to both of her friend’s shoulders for balance.
“Woo wee! Yeah!” AppleJack said almost losing her balance from Vinyl’s added weight.
“V-Vinyl dear, can u get me another…another drink, please I-I’m I’m out of this one *hick*” Octavia stuttered from how drunk she and the others were.
“Yeah, err sure thing!” Vinyl said before making her way over to the bar. Stumbling like crazy towards the bar, almost falling down several times; it was like one of those games of QWOP, but for ponies. After stumbling into tables, and other objects her vision cleared a bit, her stance more stable. She made herself to the bar and raised a hoof for a drink.
“Two more*hick* uhhh? Apple Cider’s please!” she stumbled in words.
“Here ya go miss” the bartender said before handing her two jugs of cider “that’ll be two bits each”.
“Here you g-” she stopped herself in the middle of her sentence, after realizing they had ran out bits.
“SHIT!!” she yelled in worry.
“Vi-Vinyl dear w-what is it?” Octavia shouted across the room “What’s *hick* wrong?”
“We’re out of bit’s!!” Vinyl shouted back.
“Oh my!!” Octavia said with a hoof on her snout “N-no more, Cider…”
“Aww shucks, yall are *hick* acti’n c-crazy right now” AppleJack said to the other two “just cause we are outa *hick* cider doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time”
“HEY! Yeah” Vinyl said raising a hoof, but then slowly loosing balance “woah!” *thump*
“Ouch, Vinyl dear, are you alright” Octavia said, in between chuckles.
“Yeah, I’m fine” Vinyl mumbled while trying her best to stand up on all fours.
“C’mon sugar cube, get up” AppleJack said, lending a hoof to Vinyl “Let’s get outta here”.
“Yeah” Vinyl agreed, before getting up, and walking out side with Octavia and AppleJack.
All three of them made their way out side. Octavia however, stopped for a moment.
“S-something is-isn’t right here?” Octavia said trying to clear her mind.
“Tavi, A-are you alright?” Vinyl asked, looking back at her drunken mare friend.
“I feel as if *hick* something is missing?” Octavia explained.
“Hmm…well you can try remember it back on the train, but for now on let’s go party” Vinyl said, not realizing exactly what she said.
“HOOOOOOH!!!” Octavia froze. Time slowed down right before her eyes when she realized what had just happened. They forgot about their train. Her eyes widened and stared straight at Vinyl, Vinyl’s face went from a small smile, to a gaping frown.
“THE TRAIN!!” Vinyl and Octavia simultaneously shouted.
“T-the what now?” AppleJack asked.
“THE TRAIN!! We missed our train” Octavia shouted more clearly to AppleJack.
“Woah woah woah, calm down sugar cube, ahm sure it will be fine” AppleJack said, trying to calm the two ponies down.
“No this is not good AppleJack; I have missed my Cello opening!!” Octavia hesitated.
Before AppleJack could talk, Octavia said “I hope it’s still there” then sprinted to the train station. Both AppleJack and Vinyl Scratch were amazed at how fast she shot off, Vinyl was a bit worried on how Octavia would act, knowing she has never missed one of her cello training, concerts and other music occasions. AppleJack on the other hand was a bit confused, but thought it would be best to tell Vinyl she should have a talk with her.
“Vinyl?” AppleJack asked “ah think ya’ll should go have a talk with her, I’ll be waiting back here when ya get back kay.” AppleJack insisted for Vinyl to try calm Octavia down, knowing Vinyl is Octavia’s partner.
“Yeah, good idea.” Vinyl replied, and then set off to go find her Mare friend at the train station.
****
Vinyl trotted over to the train station to find Octavia, and find her she did. Octavia was at the end of the walkway of the train station sitting down on her flank sobbing in the now darken atmosphere, and glowing in the moon light. Vinyl knew that there were tears flowing from Octavia’s eyes, as she could see the reflection of light bounce off them from every drop. Vinyl started to feel dark inside, and cold; maybe it was the Cider, but she knew it was more than that, she felt sad for Octavia, and had to help. Vinyl trotted over to her Mare friend, feeling more nervous, and hearing her sobbing grow louder as she got closer.
“Tavi, hey….c’Mon don’t feel too bad” Vinyl said trying to make Octavia feel better “it was just one missed cello thing right?”
“Vinyl…” Octavia muttered “it was not, a thing...”she paused and took a deep, shivering breath “it was MY CAREER!!” she then shouted with her tear stained face at Vinyl, then fell down on her crying deeply. Delivering light and weak punches to Vinyl’s shoulder, she gave up and hung on her.
“Octavia, please…don’t be like this…” Vinyl said, now starting to build up some tear’s herself. Vinyl hadn’t seen Octavia this sad in a long time.
“Tavi, please *sniff*… just look at me” Vinyl asked, building up some more tears. Octavia then brought her head off of Vinyl’s now soaked shoulder, and then looked up at her.
“Trust me, please. It’s going to be alright……as long as we have each other, we can get through this” Vinyl said wiping a tear from her eye “I don’t want to be crying all night with you out here, you know I hate it when I cry” she finished with a light chuckle, and then returned to a small frown.
“O….ok” Octavia said, wiping her tears away now that they had stopped pouring from her eyes, she got up to Vinyl’s height, and looked her in the eyes “W-We’ll get through it…right?”
“Of course….c’Mon, it’s gonna get cold soon. Let’s find a place to stay” Vinyl said, wiping the last of the tears on her face, then got up and let Octavia put a hoof over her. They then both walked back to the bar to find AppleJack.
AppleJack was doing what she said she would do, wait for them. She sat at the bar with the cider jug she last had, but wasn’t drinking it, only playing with it. AppleJack’s ear perked up as she heard the other two make their way through the door way.
“Is she all right?” AppleJack lightly asked Vinyl.
“Yeah, she’s gonna be fine. Well, at least I hope” Vinyl answered, before looking back at Octavia, who was still feeling sad about what happened “I think she just need’s some R&R, you know”
*Eughh* Vinyl and AppleJack heard from behind them, it was Octavia puking outside of the bar.
“Yeah ah think R&R might be the best option” Apple Jack pointed out with a chuckle “anyway, there’s a hotel down the street, just tell em ‘Sexy Jack’ will pay it off” AppleJack finished.
“Sexy Jack?” Vinyl asked with a brow
“Let’s just say, Ah’ve done things” she replied with a wink.
Vinyl knew what she was meaning, and thought it was best not to ask question’s right now. For that she had to get Octavia to the Hotel with her, before it gets too dark, and Vinyl did exactly that, she went to the hotel, ordered the room, then got her and Octavia cleaned up and ready for bed.
Man what a crazy night.
proof read/edit by: noblequicksilver