//------------------------------// // The Sound of Silence (FanOfMostEverything) // Story: Verse Averse: Tales of the Versebreakers // by horizon //------------------------------// Morning in Ponyville shimmered. It had been doing that quite a bit lately. This particular morning was nearing its end, and the shimmer had worn down to a pleasant glow about the townsfolk. Many gave warm greetings to the stranger moving through town, a grey unicorn stallion with a dark blue mane, his cutie mark apparently a black boater hat, upside-down and positioned so its brim was a straight line. Many did, but not all. A blue earth stallion shuddered as the newcomer passed by. A white unicorn mare, bobbing her head to an unheard beat, came to a halt as he approached, then began pursuing him. A Pinkie Pie felt bizarrely conflicted, some seventh sense telling her that a welcome party was not in order. And one filly, trotting across the main thoroughfare, stumbled to a halt as she passed in front of him. Sweetie Belle turned and looked into the stallion’s eyes. Her pupils shrank to pinpricks, and something reached through her conscious mind and throttled her midbrain in a grip of animal panic. She reared up and fled with a wordless whinny of alarm. The stallion looked around at the crowd, all eyes on him. “Er, sorry.” Enemy. Danger. Run. By the time Sweetie Belle came back to herself, she didn’t even stumble. If she was galloping away from that strange stallion, then she probably had a good reason for it. And she was already more than halfway to Carousel Boutique. Soon, the boutique was in view. Sweetie brought her head down and redoubled her speed. “Yo! Crusader!” Sweetie stumbled, went head over hooves, and tumbled until she was just a few feet from the front door. “Yikes.” Hoofsteps approached her at a trot. “Sorry about that, kid. You okay?” Sweetie brought herself to her hooves and shook her head. “I’ll be fine.” She looked to the speaker. White unicorn mare, bright blue mane, tinted glasses. “You’re… um… that DJ?” The mare nodded. “DJ PON-3, but you can call me Vinyl when I’m not in the booth.” Her grin softened. “I saw your flipout back there. Wanna talk about it?” “Um…” Sweetie edged away from her. “I’d really rather just stay with my sister right now.” Vinyl nodded. “Yeah, I get that. But I can help you out. Explain what it was that made you bolt like that.” Sweetie’s eyes darted about. “I… I don’t know…” “Hey.” Vinyl slowly crouched down, putting her at eye level with Sweetie. “I know how you’re feeling right now. On edge, scared out of your gourd, flinching at shadows, and you got no idea why. Sound about right?” Sweetie tried to speak a few times, found no words, and just nodded. “I’ve been there, and I can tell you what happened. We can have your sister right there with you if it’ll help. You can trust me, Sweetie. Cross my heart, hope to fly, et cetera.” Vinyl made all the appropriate motions. “Okay?” “Well…” Sweetie gulped. “Okay. I guess.” Vinyl nodded. “Cool.” She walked Sweetie to the door and knocked. Rarity opened it, a puzzled look on her face. “No need to knock; we’re currently— Vinyl Scratch?” ”Yo.” “Er, yes. ‘Yo.’” Rarity cringed. “To what do I owe this… surprise?” Sweetie wrapped herself around one of Rarity’s forelegs. “Sweetie Belle?” Rarity looked back and forth between the two. “Vinyl, what happened?” “Sweets here had her first run-in with a versebreaker.” “Oh?” Rarity put a hoof to her lips. “Oh.” She embraced Sweetie. “You poor dear, you must have been terrified.” Sweetie just tightened her grip. Rarity looked back up at Vinyl. “I suppose you could explain this better than I.” Vinyl nodded. “That’s the plan. Figured Her Royal Purpleness wouldn’t be available.” “You’d be right. Twilight’s in Canterlot. The rest of us are leaving for the coronation tomorrow.” Rarity lit her horn, and a “Closed” sign floated onto the door. “Come in, come in, I’m sure we have much to discuss.” Several minutes later, they were seated in Rarity’s kitchen, the table bearing a pot of tea, a plate of cucumber sandwiches, and a big bowl of ice cream. Both mares gave Sweetie some time alone with the treat. Spoonful by spoonful, her shaking withers relaxed, her tears dried, and her ears perked back up. Soon enough, her sobs had given way to appreciative little murmurs. After Sweetie had tipped back the bowl, Vinyl said, “So, Sweetie, you ever heard of versebreakers before?” Sweetie shook her head as she put the bowl down. “Mm-mm.” “From the start, then. You ever start singing out of nowhere? Full band and everything?” “Mm-hm.” Sweetie swallowed. “On Hearts and Hooves Day, when we were looking for a coltfriend for Miss Cheerilee…” She looked down and blushed. “Well, you probably know the rest.” Vinyl nodded. “Okay, so you know what it’s like. Lyrics popping into your head, body moving on its own, that sort of thing. But there are times when that ain’t appropriate, like tax audits or stage productions.” She chuckled. “Nothing Bridleway hates worse than the audience breaking into the wrong song, especially when the actors get caught up in it. That’s where versebreakers come in.” “So they’re just ponies who stop ponies from singing musical numbers?” Sweetie looked into her bowl. “Then why didn’t that stallion scare anypony else?” “Same reason us pinheads don’t need to preen.” Rarity frowned. “Vinyl, language.” Vinyl shrugged. “What? It’s cool if a unicorn says it.” Rarity opened her mouth, but Sweetie preempted her. “What did you mean?” “Music ain’t a part of some ponies the way it is for others, same as wings or horns. I know a shiver went down my spine when Whole Rest went by.” Sweetie said, “You know him?” “Know him? He’s my uncle, mom’s side.” Vinyl leaned back on her stool. “I always felt a little creeped out around him. Got used to it after a while, as much as I ever could.” Sweetie slumped. “You probably never screamed and ran.” “Well, there was that time on my cousin’s fifth birthday…” Vinyl shook her head. “Not the point. Point is, when I saw him and heard you, I knew what had happened, and that you didn’t. I’d have given him a piece of my mind, but screaming foals kinda take precedence, you know? “There’s nothing wrong with you, Sweetie. It’s just… well, like your sister can tell you, us ponies are all about harmony, with or without capitals. Versebreakers aren’t. Like, at all. They’re the sour note that brings down the whole piece. Some of us pick up on that, ‘cause—“ Vinyl tensed up. “Oh, son of a mule.” Rarity had chosen a very bad time to sip her tea. “Vinyl, honestly!” she sputtered as her magic reached for paper towels. Vinyl bolted to her hooves. “We got bigger problems. Sweetie, keep breathing.” Rarity paused, towel still in her magic. “Sweetie?” Sweetie stared at nothing, her breaths coming quick and shallow. “He’s coming.” Her head darted up. “He’s coming!” “Sweets, it’s okay!” Vinyl cried. “He’s coming! He’ll stop the song!” Rarity held her sister tight. “Sweetie Belle, please, calm down!” Sweetie thrashed against her. “He’ll stop the song! He’ll stop the song!” “I only quiet the song.” Everypony went still. All eyes turned to the stallion in the kitchen’s entryway. He bowed his head. “Forgive my intrusion, miss.” “You are forgiven, sir,” said Rarity, “but given the state you’ve put my sister in, I would very much like to know why.” Vinyl stomped towards Whole Rest. “Seriously, Unc, have you gone nuts?” “I just wanted to apologize.” “To the filly who practically crapped herself from passing by you?” “Vinyl Scratch,” said Rarity, “he may not have thought this through, but he meant well.” Vinyl snarled at her. “Look, Clothes Horse, I get snippy when I’m afraid. You ain’t a musician, you don’t know. I may have built up a little tolerance, but you never really get used to versebreakers. Especially not when it’s the breaker’s talent.” Whole Rest nodded. “So I’ve been told. But the filly can’t live like this. She’s going to encounter versebreakers more often. I’ve seen this kind of extreme reaction before; anypony with the training will elicit a fear response from her. She needs to see that we’re just ponies.” “Yeah, great rutting job, Unc.” Rarity gasped and covered Sweetie’s ears. “Vinyl—“ “Have you looked at her?” Vinyl jabbed a hoof at Sweetie. “She can’t hear a thing we’re saying.” Rarity looked. Sweetie had stopped thrashing, at least, but now she was shaking in place. “Sweetie Belle?” No response. “You see?” Vinyl whirled back on Whole Rest. “You put her in a rutting coma!” Rarity bit her lip as she thought. “I have a plan. If this doesn’t work, nothing will.” She gasped. “Sweetie, your cutie mark!” “Huh?” Sweetie blinked and looked at her flank. Still bare white. “Rarity, that’s not—“ She stiffened and started to shiver. “Miss Sweetie Belle?” Whole said from the entryway. She turned to him. “My name is Whole Rest. I am—“ “A… a versebreaker.” Sweetie gulped. “I know.” Slowly, evenly, he said, “It is my job and my talent to quell the music of Harmony when necessary. But only when necessary. Aside from that, I am a stallion like any other.” “I…” Sweetie took a deep breath. “I did something wrong during a musical number once.” Whole Rest gave a sad smile. “I’m not a boogeypony, Miss Belle. I’m not going to punish you for your past misdeeds.” Sweetie screwed her eyes shut. “Even if I sang during a funeral?” “Was it for very long?” “Four words. Then the song moved on.” Rest nodded. “I see. Did you apologize afterwards?” Sweetie’ gaze dropped to the floor. “After Mr. Waddle yelled at me.” “Will you do it again?” Sweetie opened her mouth, but shut it again before saying anything. After a few moments, she said, “I don’t know.” Rarity frowned down at her. “Sweetie Belle.” “I don’t want to, but if the song puts me there…” Whole Rest nodded. “Exactly. And if it happens again?” Sweetie bit her lip. “I’ll apologize on my own?” “Good filly.” Rest grinned, and Sweetie returned it. Vinyl’s mouth hung open. She shook herself. “Sweetie? You feeling okay?” “Well…” Sweetie eased herself out of Rarity’s embrace and took a step towards Whole Rest. She shook her head and retreated. “I think I’m as okay as I can be. Sorry, Mr. Rest.” “You’re far from the first, Miss Belle.” Whole Rest grinned and looked to his niece. “Isn’t that right, Vinyl?” “Go ram your horn into a subwoofer, Unc.” “I love you too.” Vinyl scrunched her muzzle. “The hay are you even doing here?” “Four musical numbers inside of a week? Even for a town with a known party pony, that’s a ludicrous number. We’d have sent somepony to investigate by the third, but Princess Celestia herself had barred any action on our part until now. It seems to have settled down, so I’m making sure nothing was strained.” Rarity tilted her head. “Excuse me?” “Um, I think he’s here to make sure that Ponyville can still have musical numbers after Princess Twilight became a princess,” Sweetie said. Whole Rest nodded. “Precisely. And I should get on that. Good day, ladies.” He smirked. “And Vinyl.” “Oh, no. I’m not through with you.” Vinyl followed him out. The sisters sat in silence for a time. Rarity spoke first. “Feeling better?” “Mm-hm.” “Still feel up to seeing your friends?” Sweetie nodded. “We still need to find our cutie marks.” Rarity blinked before shaking her head and smiling. “Go on, then. I have to at least pretend to work today.” Sweetie hugged her. “Thanks for the ice cream, Rarity.” “I love you, Sweetie Belle.” “Love you too.” And with that, the filly was off. Rarity sighed. “You can lead a pony to water…” She got to her hooves and gave a sad smile. “Ah, well. In good time.” Vinyl and Whole Rest walked side by side. “You feeling alright?” he asked. “I can handle it.” After a beat, Vinyl said, “Nice work cleaning up after your own mess.” “I have some experience with especially sensitive ponies. The foals always have it the worst.” Vinyl scowled. “So, why are you really here?” Rest frowned. “I already—“ “I have studied acoustic magic, Unc. You can’t expect me to believe that the Bearers’ town got knocked out of harmony.” Rest sighed. “You always were too smart for your own good.” He lit his horn, and Vinyl’s skin crawled. “There, just in case of eavesdroppers. I’m also here to give a job offer.” Vinyl shook her head. “Like I told you before, my magic’s for making things loud.” “The offer’s always on the table, but I didn’t mean you. We got a report in Manehattan about a mare disrupting a musical number… from the inside, without training. Very impressive.” Vinyl quirked an eyebrow. “So how come you ain’t in Manehattan?” “Because Lyra Heartstrings lives here.” Vinyl stumbled. “Lyra?” Whole Rest came to a halt. “You know her?” “Sure. It’s a small town; not too many other musicians. But word on the grapevine is that she’s on vacation with her fillyfriend right now.” “Don’t suppose you know where?” Vinyl shrugged. “Grapevine didn’t tell me that. She heard it from Berry Punch, who heard it from Ditzy Doo, who heard from Carrot Top… We’re talking, like, fourthhoof gossip here.” Rest grunted. “I don’t suppose you could pass the message along for me?” “You want me to get some coffee while I’m at it? I’m your niece, not an intern.” “Could you at least show me where she lives? I have a written notice rigged with a ‘your eyes only’ spell for this situation. The versebreakers could use a pony with her talents. Or yours.” “Haven’t changed my mind from a minute ago, Unc.” Vinyl took a deep breath. “But I guess I can show you where to find her.” She turned and headed for Bon Bon’s Bonbons. Rest followed her. “Thank you, Vinyl.” “Hey, going by the current trend, this town’s only gonna get crazier. Probably a good idea to have a mute button on hoof.” Afternoon in Ponyville shone, more quietly for some than others.