Vinyl sat in her room, forlornly gazing at her white rose. One of the petals fell, falling upon the satin covers of her bed. Reluctantly, she put the flower back into a vase on her bedstand. “...oh, E...”
There was a knock on her bedroom door. “Is anypony there?” The voice was familiar, a refined, if somewhat forced, accent.
Panicking slightly, she placed a glass dome over the rose and draped a sheet on top of that. Clearing her throat, she called out to her visitor. “C-come in, Rarity.”
The door opened, revealing the fashionable white unicorn. “Hello darling!” Rarity smiled, “How are you doing today?”
Vinyl sighed, running a hoof through her mane. “...oh, just...the usual...”
Rarity furrowed her brow. “Unless the usual is depressed, then I would think that something is wrong.”
The disk jockey waved a hoof, avoiding her friend’s gaze. “...it’s nothing...really...” She looked up, worry clear in her eyes. “...did...did E see you?”
“No darling, why?” Rarity soon let the idea process as a goofy grin was planted on her face. “Is there something about your love life that you aren’t telling me, Vinyl?”
The mare shifted nervously on her bed, her cheeks flushing with color. “...I-I don’t know what you’re talking about...” She coughed, hoping to change the subject. “...you brought my purchase, right?”
Rarity rolled her eyes and brought out a neat little parcel, tied with a perfectly symmetrical bow. “Right here!” The purple-maned mare used her magic to levitate the package over to Vinyl.
The disk jockey brought it to her chest, holding it close and smiling softly. “...one step closer...”
The usually snoopy Rarity decided not to question the gift, instead sticking her nose in the EnigmaxVinyl case. “Now, answer my question, is there something about your love life that you aren’t telling me?”
Vinyl looked away, her gaze settling on the covered rose. “...I...I love somepony...but...” She groaned, holding her head in her hooves. “...everytime I try to tell him...he...something keeps me from telling the truth...” Her body was trembling, her face still hidden in her hooves.
Rarity looked sadly at Vinyl. “Darling,” she sat down and hugged the DJ. “You need to keep your head held high. You need to go right up to him and tell him. Let nothing stop you, let every doubt disappear, be strong. I will be by your side the whole time when you decide you want to tell him, but you need to tell him soon if you ever want to know. He may just think you're his friend and move on.”
The musical mare finally looked up, her eyes shining with hope despite the tears staining her cheeks. Rarity held out her hoof. “C’mon. Let’s go right now.”
Vinyl blushed, glancing down at the parcel next to her. “...I’ll tell him...tomorrow.” She held up a hoof, making an x over her heart. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She smiled softly, wiping the tears off her face.
Rarity gave a warm smile. “Remember, you promised, so that means you need to tell him.”
“OR YOU WON’T KNOW!”
The unicorns jumped as they heard Pinkie. “PINK-IE!” Rarity growled.
The mares began to bicker - playfully, mind you - as the disk jockey watched. Vinyl chuckled, shaking her head at her hyper friend’s antics. She looked over at the rose, her mind drifting. ...I hope you feel the same...
It was almost lunchtime at the schoolhouse, and the lesson was being wrapped up rather nicely. “And that’s the Legend of the Seven Artifacts. Now, class, we are going to-” Cheerilee was soon interrupted by a late student coming in. “Archer, why are you-”
“FLUTTERSHY HAS THE RESULTS FOR THE RAP BATTLE!!!”
The school teacher watched as her students stampeded out of the classroom. “...late.” The mare chuckled, shaking her head as she trotted after her students.
It was a normal day for the shy pegasus. She spent her morning at Sugarcube Corner. It was quite peaceful until one of the schoolfillies came up to her and asked if the results were up. Fluttershy began to nod and was about to tell her when she ran out. At least there won’t be any more interruptions...
“STAMPEDE!” screamed Pinkie as she ran through the doors of the sweets shop. “STAMPEDE OF SCHOOL PONIES!!!”
She was right - a whole classroom’s worth of fillies and colts were running down Stirrup Street, and they were all headed for Fluttershy. The timid mare’s eyes widened in fear. “Ohmygoodnessohmygoodness!”
She tried to hide underneath the table, but they were already inside, clamoring around her and barraging her with words.
“Who won?”
“I bet it was Miss Cheerilee!”
“No you dumb colt! Zecora obviously won!”
“Cheerilee!”
“Zecora!”
“Sweet Celestia, I lost my tiara!”
“QUIET!!!!” They all turned to the doorway. Framed in the opening was Apple Bloom, the rhyming zebra by her side. “Sorry for wakin’ ya, Zecora, but Fluttershy has the results from th’ rap battle!”
“Don’t worry Apple Bloom, it was a minor hiccup. Now, what was that about the results being up?” Everypony turned their attention to the butter-yellow pegasus, causing her to shrink a little.
“...um...” Fluttershy tapped a few buttons on her device, counting the votes. Soon enough, she looked up, sheepishly smiling. “...Zecora won...”
A few of the students cheered while others groaned. One of the fillies reluctantly handed a few bits to a beaming colt.
The zebra smiled, nodding to show her recognition. “Good. Now, where is the one who teaches the ponies in childhood?”
“Right here,” grumbled the teacher. “I didn’t take anything from you. I’ve never even been to your hut!”
Zecora narrowed her eyes. “You can say that, but are you aware that I found, in its place, one of your hairs? And I saw you walking away from my hut, so you obviously think I’m a nut!”
Cheerilee sighed, holding a hoof to her head. “When do you think this took place?” She glared at her former-opponent, completely ignoring the dark red pegasus that was approaching them.
The shaman quirked an eyebrow, frowning deeply. “When did this heinous crime go down? Around ten, when I was in town.”
“Then it couldn’t have been me!” The earth pony looked directly into the zebra’s eyes. “I was teaching my little ponies at the time!”
Now, the stallion hadn’t heard all of their argument, but he could read the teacher’s body language. ...unwavering eye contact... He glanced at her hooves, then her ears. ...no fidgeting...no ear twitch... Finally, he examined her posture. ...defensive stance...no doubt about it. “She’s telling the truth.”
Zecora and Cheerilee stared at him, eyes wide in a mix of shock and confusion. The former broke the silence, cynicism clear in her voice. “I hate to be the voice of doubt, but why should we believe your clout?”
He stared at her, frowning deeply. “What use would Cheerilee, an earth pony, have for the Alicorn Amulet?”
The zebra opened her mouth to answer, but stopped, thinking about that. After a few moments, she sighed, turning to the dark purple mare. “Please forgive me, Miss Cheerilee. It seems as though I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
The teacher waved a hoof dismissively. “It’s no problem, Zecora. I’m sorry for saying such hurtful things the other day.”
Enigma nodded, smiling at them both. “Glad you two made up. Now, I need to go.” He left, his smile slowly turning into a worried frown. “I fear that there’s something amiss, here...”
On the outskirts of Ponyville, there exists a farm. The Apple family resided here, harvesting their namesake to maintain their livelihood. A certain canine also lived there, content to keep watch over the youngest of the ponies.
One might argue that she should have kept closer watch on her hiding place. If she had, then she wouldn’t have lost an heirloom. Especially not one that was as powerful as what had been taken.
I knew it. Everyone who didn't vote for Zecora is racist.
Wow... talk about OOC for Enigma. I'm not sure he should be that serious or analytic. AJ or Rarity I might understand making that connection, heck even Featherweight or something (since we don't know his personality as well), but I don't think that works with his current defined character. You may or not be slipping on it. Of course, I could be wrong.
Also, GO ZECORA!!
Zecora won. Who woulda thunk it?
1949563
no, in 'no longer an enigma', he was given a book - by vinyl, no less - that taught him how to read body language. i suppose that i should've made that clearer in the story...
1949561 Oh you're just being silly chucky.
I knew it. Morgan-Freeman-Moment. Every sentence your OC says, my brain reads in your voice.
-Jolly Roger
I still think Luna shoulda won...
Take your time E, your chapter updates are always worth the wait.
1949578
Everyone.
Zecora won... hmm... makes since. Right Big Mac Eeyup
1949846 exactly
1949561
TeeHee I voted for her
weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/what-the-fuck-am-i-reading.jpg
I wonder if anyone else enjoys the side-story a little more than the rap battles themselves...
I like Zecora, but I like Cheerilee more.
Zecora wins, but Cheerilee was right; 1949561 You realize she is black and white?
There needs to be a Zecora emote,
like the subreddit's. Shall we have a vote?
1950092
Alas, twas a joke good fellow.
Heheh, good ol' Enigma had to be the voice of reason here
1950158 Fear not; I am still mellow.
A rhyme was all I sought, there is no battle to be fought.
1949561 So... L4D Francis didn't win and I'm a racist? I hate racism... yet I like Equines, but not locusts. I just hate that word. Even if I like the Locust movies.
1950580 I'm still writing a ton of lyrics on a lot of these chapters' comments... would you prefer if I kept them clean?
1950613
...well, considering that the rap battles have started becoming more and more explicit...i don't think it's that big a deal...
1950621 Okay, yeah, I'm down with it either way. I think I just put some new ones in the ditzy v lyra one... I just found this, so I'm reading it all tonight.
Darn, I was hoping for Cheerilee to pull through.
1950013 The finest in Equestria!
dashie.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw4065-twilight_with_spike.png
LOL, Joking!!
Knew it.
I voted Zecora. Waitasec, Winona hid the Alicorn Amulet. Because it mentioned the Apple family and the words "certain canine". This is something that'll have to be investigated.m
Me: Pinkie, put on your Sherlock Holmes cap, we're going on an investigation!
: YAY!
I knew Zecora would win... But I can't help but think that I'm the only one who noticed that she messed up on one of her rhymes.
1962053
Which one?
this song keeps playing in my head at the Vinyl and Enigma moments <3