//------------------------------// // Act V, Chapter II // Story: My Little Clony // by therealfeedback //------------------------------// MY LITTLE CLONY Chapter II, Act V Way Back “It…it goes back a while I guess, to when I was a little filly…” Trixie started. “Oh goddess…” Vinyl moaned, drawing a sharp glance from her blue roommate. “Sorry, force of habit whenever somepony says that. I watch a lot of movies, and that line usually means they’re about to go on a long, self-indulgent, rambling flashback of exposition.” “…Are you done?” she asked flatly. “Yep, go ahead. Silence this time, promise.” Vinyl flashed an overbearing grin, though it was unclear if she was trying to get a laugh, or just coming off as unintentionally silly. “Right then…” ----------------------------------------------- “Mommy! Mommy!” a small voice shouted. It rang from up the stairs of the small home down to the floor below, the only sound present in the out-of-the-way structure other than the hum of a television left on. A small blue foal ran down the stairs, an oversized wizard’s hat on her head sliding down over her face with every bounce of every step. Running around the ground floor, eyes now completely obscured by the hat, she eventually slammed into something, falling back as she did. The little foal pulled the hat up to see what she had bumped into, the front legs of the pony she had been calling for. “Mommy!” She shouted excitedly. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?” the mare asked in a concerned voice. “Nothing, nothing’s wrong!” the foal replied. “Come upstairs!” without waiting for a response, she began tugging at her mother in the direction of the staircase. The two went up to the second floor, then into her room. Inside, a number of small toys were strewn around on the floor. “…Trixie sweetie, what did you want to show mommy?” the mother asked. Trixie spun from side to side, frantically glancing from toy to toy. “They…why aren’t they floating anymore?” tears started bubbling up in her eyes, and before long started running down her face as the little foal began crying. Her mother bent down, kissing her daughter on the cheek and hugging her. “They…they…” She stammered through the tears. “They were floating, and I made them float, I…I…I did it with my…with my horn…” At these words, her mother’s face lit up. A unicorn herself, she realized why her daughter had so anxiously brought her upstairs, and what had happened. She gave her another kiss, and then leaned back up. “Sweetheart, that’s wonderful – you already cast your first bit of magic! I’m so proud of you, it was years before I learned how to use magic!” “But…but…” Trixie answered, not crying, but still sniffling. “But it went away before you saw it…you didn’t get to see it…” “That’s alright.” Her mother replied. “It takes a very long time to make spells last. Your mother didn’t even get good at it until I was three times your age. Just being able to make it happen in the first place so young is wonderful.” The foal stopped sniffling, a small smile creeping up on her frown. “R…really?” she asked. “Yes. Next time you make something happen with your magic, just shout for me, I’ll be there right away and you can stay and focus on keeping the magic going.” At that, the two hugged again. “I love you, mommy.” Trixie squeaked. “I love you too, sweetie.” She replied. “Where’s daddy? I wanna tell him, too!” “He’s downstairs, watching the hoofball championship. You can go tell him if you want.” Trixie nodded happily, the smile now beaming on her face. Her mother walked out, Trixie following down the stairs. She ran down the stairs, past her mother, and into the living room, where her father was seated in his large, soft chair, the TV across from him tuned into the interleague hoofball championship. The Bittsburgh Steerlers were the Equestrian Hoofball League representatives, playing the Baltimare Colts, the team from the National Hoofball League. “Daddy?” she asked. “Yes sweetie?” he answered in a cheery tone. “Come quickly!” he shrugged, climbing out of the chair. By the time he was on his hooves, his daughter was already halfway up the stairs. “So…at what point does this explain anything?” ----------------------------------------------- “What?” Trixie asked, clearly a little lost switching back from her memories to the present. “I said, at what point does this explain why you’re so intolerable?” Vinyl repeated. “It’s a preamble right now, I’m explaining when I first got started with magic.” The blue unicorn explained. “I really don’t think I need that.” “I’m sure somepony would like to hear it.” “Who would want to hear that?” “I’m a performer, I have fans. I’m sure those fans would be very interested to hear Trixie’s backstory.” “I’m the only one here. You’re talking to me, not your fans. I don’t care. I just want to get to the point so I can know why you’re like this so we can try and make you…well, less of a jerk, frankly.” “Hmmph.” Came the reply. “Fine, I’ll skip ahead a little bit to Magic Kindergarten…” “Wait, there’s a magic kindergarten?” Vinyl asked. “Yes, there is. Why did you think the School for Gifted Unicorns has little fillies and colts running around?” “I thought a spell backfired and made them all really short…” “Anyway, it was after a talent show in Magic Kindergarten…” ----------------------------------------------- A large room was filled with about two dozen or so young unicorns, some in costumes, some looking very nervous, some just enjoying the show. Alongside most of them were pair of older ponies. The room was normally a cafeteria, but had been made into an auditorium for the occasion. Lights were dimmed, with those lights still on pointing towards a makeshift stage with black tablecloths lying on top of it. On the tablecloths stood an orange unicorn mare, a smile on her face. “Alright class, how about a hoof for all of the performers in the talent show?” the young students and their parents alike began beating their hooves together and against the ground, a cheerful applause filling the air. As the applause faded, the students began wishing their parents goodbye before returning to class. In the midst of it was a blue filly, a grin on her face as it pointed up towards the roof. “Um…Trixie?” a voice called behind her. She turned to face the pony calling her, a young unicorn colt with a red coat and glasses, a very nervous look about him. “I…I just wanted to say that I thought…that I thought you were…” “Spit it out already.” The filly interrupted flatly. “Well, I…” He continued stammering. “I…I thought you were really great out there.” He smiled weakly as he finished the sentence. There was a moment of silence, before the blue filly smirked with a huff. “I don’t need you telling me that. I know I was great when I went out there.” “But I…Trixie, I just…” “And another thing, don’t call me by that name. Somepony like you shouldn’t be calling somepony like me by their name. Refer to me as the…as the…Great, and…Powerful Trixie.” She contemplated the name she had thought up, before nodding to herself to confirm she liked it. “I just wanted to…” “Wanted to what?” “I…” “Wait, hold on.” A familiar, grating voice cut into the conversation. ----------------------------------------------- “What now?” Trixie asked through gritted teeth, clearly very annoyed at Vinyl for interrupting again. “…This is supposed to explain why you’re so mean, right?” whereas Trixie was angry, Vinyl just more or less looked confused, her brow furrowed above her red eyes. “That’s what it’s doing, isn’t it?” she replied. “…Not really. You’re being a jerk to that poor little colt.” “He was wasting my time stammering, and it wasn’t like he had anything worthwhile to say.” “He was nervous.” “He was annoying.” “He was trying to be nice to you.” “He was wasting my time.” “Isn’t the whole point of a talent show to show off so you can get tons of meaningless praise and stuff?” “Yes, but from ponies that mattered, not ponies like him.” At that, Vinyl sighed, closing her eyes in frustration. “…Alright, so let me see if I have this.” She started. “You’re a jerk to ponies, not because you’re a jerk, but because you see them as insignificant and a waste of your time, even when they’re trying to be nice to you.” “It’s the effect that counts, not the thought. Sayings be damned.” Trixie replied. “You’re just a rude pony then.” “Not rude! Watch your mouth!” she snapped back. “Just…very...important. Yes, important fits.” “That’s…depressing. Seriously depressing.” “Well what did you expect?” she asked. “Some sort of sob story about how I was a happy little filly until I got abused by my parents or my teachers or bullied or something, so I became bitter and mean because of that and just needed some sort of kind ear to listen and make everything better?” “Well…” “You realize how ridiculous that is, right?” “I guess, but—“ “This is real life Vinyl, not a movie. That kind of thing doesn’t happen in real life. Seriously, who would believe that…” “You know, you’re—“ “And honestly I’m kind of offended you’d assume such things about my parents. They were wonderful ponies, even if daddy was a little obsessed with hoofball…never got it myse—“ “You know, you’re being a jerk again.” “What? How?!” Trixie said angrily. “All I’m doing is explaining myself, how am I being rude?!” “You’re…” “I’m not doing anything wrong, you’re the one that started this conver—“ “Shut up!” Vinyl cut in, smacking Trixie in the face with a pillow. “That’s a big part of it. You’re not letting me say anything; you’re treating what you have to say as more important. If your story is accurate, you did the same thing to that nervous little colt, more or less.” “Because I do have something more important to say.” Trixie responded flatly. “Or rather, I have something important to say at all. Why should I trust you to say something worthwhile?” “Because I might have something interesting to say?” “I doubt it.” Trixie said with a laugh. “Bitch.” Vinyl muttered. “What did you just say?!” “It’s not so pleasant when someone else makes fun of you, is it princess?” “What are you trying to say?” “I’d tell you, but you’d interrupt me again.” At this point, Trixie’s eyelid was twitching, and it was fairly clear to Vinyl that it was taking a great amount of restraint to keep her roommate from mauling her. “Look, that’s how it feels when you act like that. You make the ponies you’re talking to feel insignificant, and generally just make people want to ignore you. Give them half a chance and they do.” “So the key is just to make sure they can’t ignore me. Learned that a long time ago, try again.” “…No, that’s not the key.” Vinyl said with a sigh. “The key is not to be so damn rude in the first place. You get more flies with honey than vinegar.” “…Why would I want flies?” Trixie asked, the anger replaced with confusion. “That’s not the point. Look, just try being nicer, alright? When somepony tries to talk to you and say something, even if you don’t think that it’ll work out, just give it a shot?” “…Why would I do that?” “Because then ponies actually like you.” “I thought they already did.” “The ones who believe you actually have that whole ‘tragic past’ thing you just called a load of—“ “Not all of them have that puppy-eyed sympathy thing.” “Well they’re just morons then.” “So the ponies who actually like me are morons. That’s a real great way to make your point.” “Just try it for a few days, alright?” after a moment, Trixie sighed, and then nodded. “Alright, fine.” “Great.” Vinyl said, a smile now on her face. “Sorry about calling you a bitch by the way.” “It’s…alright? Is that how it works?” Trixie asked as she spoke, clearly not used to trying to be polite to someone she thought of Vinyl as. Vinyl replied with a very enthusiastic nod rather than more words. “See, it’s not that hard being nice. It’s just a habit that you get into.” “It feels kind of…weird.” “Weird in a good way? Vinyl asked. “It doesn’t feel bad, so I guess so.” “I told you you’d be fine with it.” “I feel like a pushover.” “Because you’re used to being a jerk.” Vinyl grinned as she replied, Trixie simmering across form her. “Don’t you think it’s kind of weird to just start being nice this suddenly though? There’s no real transition, just suddenly, ‘hey everypony, I’m nice now.’ It’s about as believable as that whole tragic childhood thing.” “Hey, if it’s what works to move your plot along, then just go with it. No reason to prolong it, right?” “I guess not…” “Right, so…um…how’d we get on this again?” Vinyl asked. “I came in here upset, and—“ “Right!” she cut in, bringing a sigh and a roll of the eyes from her roommate. “Oh. Sorry.” “Just don’t worry about it.” “See? Being nice isn’t so hard! Right then, why were you so upset anyway?” “It’s another long story.” Trixie replied. “Oh goddess, not another one…” “This one can be explained with a quick trip down the hall though.” “Oh, great.” There was an uncomfortable pause sat in the air for a few moments. “Um…Can I actually meet you there in a few minutes?” “Sure, I guess. …Why exactly?” Trixie asked. “I’d like some…personal time.” Vinyl replied, glancing from side to side, a small hint of red coming into her face. “…Why is th…wait…you mean to—“ “Yep.” She replied flatly. “Why now—“ “I…kind of have a thing for people who’re naturally mean. Not as in I like people like that, but the idea does kind of…” “Alright, I get it. I don’t want to know anymore of what talking about me is making you think.” “Trust me, if we’re going to be living together, you’re probably going to catch me doing a lot worse than that.” “Just…finish up. I’ll be waiting in the hall.”