//------------------------------// // Chapter 27: The Burden of Knowledge // Story: Vinyl and Octavia: Ponyville Duet // by generalsnaz //------------------------------// Chapter 27: The Burden of Knowledge It wasn't warm like Vinyl's bed. That was the first thing Octavia realized. It didn't smell like it. It certainly didn't feel like it, either. The covers were much more thin and cheaply made. The pillows she was resting on must have been manufactured to maximize discomfort. Vinyl's ceiling wasn't green either, Octavia noticed as she stared up at it. She couldn't think, only receive sensory data. She inspected her environment as best she could lying on her back. An unfamiliar wooden headboard. Distant conversations. Constant beeping. 'Where am... I?' Octavia finally thought, her brain able to activate rudimentary processes again. Taking heavy breaths, she turned to her right. Several feet away was a window. Sitting below the glass that showcased the rising sun over Ponyville were several plastic chairs. Curled up on one of them was Vinyl Scratch. With one of her legs sloppily hanging off the chair that was far too small, Vinyl breathed steadily as she slept. "...Vinyl..." Octavia murmured. Grunting, her body ached as she sat up. Immediately her brain started to swirl and she had to take a hoof to support her own head from falling. She slowly blinked several times, trying to regain focus as she stared down at the fabric of the blanket. 'Hospital. I'm in a hospital.' Straining her neck to keep her head attached, she looked around the sterilized room. This was definitely a hospital. Machines of a medical nature sat around on wheels, unused. A curtain beside her was partially constricted, revealing another empty bed. Octavia looked down. She was wearing a light green hospital gown. But what was she doing here? She couldn't quite remember. Vinyl loudly huffed something in her slumber, causing Octavia to jolt a little. As Octavia watched Vinyl return to a peaceful trance, she began to smile. 'At least I remember Vinyl,' she thought with relief. 'But what about yesterday...? I... the parade, right? We went... ...Right, we did. And afterward...' As she remembered, Octavia placed her hoof on her forehead as her brain was still woozy. But instead of giving support, she felt a jolt of pain as she placed pressure there. "Augh!" she yelped. She carefully checked her head again and found that it was wrapped in a bandage. 'My head...? When did I...? ... ... ...Oh... Oh, Celestia...' The thought of her head injury brought back images of Berry Punch, feelings of rage, blurry visions of hitting the floor, words that sickened her. She raped me. "No, that can't be," Octavia murmured under her breath. She shook her head in defiance, though it jostled her brain. "It's not true." Vinyl's a freak. She raped me. She'll ruin you. "Grrrr! Be quiet!" Octavia grunted, covering her ears and falling back into the bed. "Gooood morning!" a calm voice called. A white earth pony mare with pink hair, nurse's hat and a red cross cutie mark walked into the room, smiling politely. "Finally woken up I see! How are you feeling?" "...I'm fine," Octavia replied without thought, squirming a little in her bed. "Gooood! My name is Redheart, and I'll be taking care of you this morning," Nurse Redheart explained as she took a clipboard hanging off Octavia's bed and scribbled something on it. "Do you know why you're here, Miss Melody?" 'Berry beat me to a pulp...' Octavia remembered miserably. But should she say it? She gritted her teeth instead, and clenched her hooves. Berry must have walked out of that restroom and told nopony what had transpired. She probably went home and gloated to herself. Berry... that vile little motherbu- 'No! I shall not use such vulgar words! I will not stoop,' Octavia proudly but unnecessarily censored her inner monologue. 'That pony is simply a liar. I should not give anything she says one second of thought. I want nothing to do with her. I am done.' Shrugging her off, Octavia bit her lip and answered, "No." "Well, that's no gooood! You were found unconscious in a restroom. It appears you hit your head! Do you remember anything about what happened?" "No, I am afraid not..." "I see. Your friend doesn't know either. She rushed you right over after you were found." Redheart motioned to the sleeping mare in the chair. "Vinyl did...?" Octavia smiled a little, impressed. "... ...pumkins... heh... Huh!?" Vinyl murmured as she stirred and slowly opened her eyes. "Sumpony say... my name...? ...OCTAVIA!!! YOU'RE UP!!!" Upon seeing her conscious lover through her shades, Vinyl snapped awake and rushed over. She leaped to the bed and wrapped her hooves around Octavia in a worried embrace. "OH, CELESTIA! THANK YOU! I WAS SO WORRIED! I THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER WAKE UP! YOU WERE JUST LYING THERE! THERE WAS BLOOD ON YOUR HEAD! I WAS SO SCARED!" Through her screams of relief, tears and snot found their way out of her face. "...Calm down, Vinyl. I am fine..." Octavia comforted, returning the hug with joy. "She's gonna be fine, right!?" Vinyl turned to the nurse and asked. "Well, let me just see here," Nurse Redheart replied. She walked over to Octavia's side and pulled out a small flashlight. Taking it in her teeth, she held open Octavia's eyes and shined the light in them. Satisfied, she held up a hoof and said, "How many hooves am I holding up?" "Um... one?" Octavia answered. "Perfect! She'll be just fine. She just had a slight concussion and a little contusion on her head there." "OH CELESTIA WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!?" Vinyl gasped. "Vinyl, she said I'd be fine," Octavia tried to interject. "We're just going to keep her here for a day or so for observation, then she'll be gooood to go!" Redheart explained. "YOU CAN'T CUT OFF HER LEGS, I WON'T LET YOU!!!" Vinyl screeched in a protective hysteria. "Don't be ridiculous!" Octavia shouted, bonking Vinyl on her skull to snap her out of it. "I don't need an amputation!" "Goodness, no!" Redheart continued. "She just had a little bump is all." "...Really!? Is that true!?" Vinyl asked, rubbing her own head now that it was hurting from Octavia's playful hitting. "Is that what happened, Octavia!?" "...Yes... I... seem to recall slipping on something in the restroom and hitting my head on... the toilet..." Octavia lied. Maybe if she had told the truth, she thought, there could be some punishment for Berry. But then again, Octavia did attack first. Berry could claim self-defense... But then again again, she did take it a little too far in return. Then again again again, Octavia was the one who stalked her in the first place. 'I do not care what she did. I am done with her. Not another thought. She is not worth it,' Octavia resolved. "Well, the doctor will be in shortly to double-check, but in the meantime I'll see about getting you some breakfast," Nurse Redheart said, leaving the room. When she was gone, Vinyl returned to hugging Octavia, though she wasn't nearly as upset. After wiping her sniffling face, Vinyl said, "I'm so glad you're okay..." "Thank you, Vinyl..." Octavia said. "For bringing me here, and staying with me..." "Oh, it *sniff* it's nothing," Vinyl acknowledged, leaning back. She was still covered in snot and tears, although her sunglasses hid some of them. "You're filthy," Octavia giggled, using her sheets to wipe Vinyl's mess up like a doting parent. "Uuggghh!" Vinyl moaned as her lover forcefully cleaned her face. "I'm not a little filly, I can wipe it myself." "You can clean our house on your own too, but you still expect me to do it," Octavia sniped, her wit still intact. "...Duly noted," Vinyl muttered, before laughing slightly. A laugh of relief. "Haha. ...I'm so sorry you got hurt, Octavia. I shouldn't have brought you to the club... I was so stupid, stupid, stupid!" As she cursed herself aloud, she also cursed in her thoughts. 'And it was stupid to ever think she and Rainbow might have a thing! I'm a terrible fillyfriend...' "You're not stupid, Vinyl!" Octavia expressed. "Well, generally, yes, sometimes, but not in regards to this incident!" "Rude!" Vinyl pouted, totally offended. "What I mean is: I am glad you took me. It was wonderful to see you work. I had a lovely time..." Octavia explained. She hesitated and, against her better judgement and because she couldn't help herself, said, "At least I did, up until I became unconscious." "Oh!" Vinyl collapsed on the bed in disappointment. 'This is my fault...' she moaned in her mind, much as she did all night long. "Heehee. I am teasing, Vinyl," Octavia comforted as she rested a hoof on Vinyl. They were quiet for a moment. "It seems I am going to be here for a while..." she mentioned, moving her hoof to the damaged spot on her head. "Don't worry! I'll stay with you!" Vinyl offered, leaping up. "I'll be here all day and all night!" "Oh, thank you, Vinyl!" Octavia beamed. It was a comfort to have Vinyl there, but Octavia couldn't quite ignore that nagging accusation at the back of her mind. Octavia crushed it every time it popped up, but it always returned, in a new place. Much like one of the games she played at the parade. (Whack-a-Diamond-Dog!) The two of them chatted for a while. Eventually somepony came with Octavia's breakfast, which looked inedible. The doctor came as well, and looked Octavia over. He confirmed the diagnosis, bought Octavia's story about slipping and informed her how to treat the bruise on her forehead after she was released. By this time, Vinyl was starting to get hungry. There were audible growls coming from her insides when the doctor was speaking, so by the time he left, Vinyl was in pain. "I... I know I said I'd stay all day... but can I go grab a bite?" Vinyl asked, puppy-dog eyes and all. "Oh, sure Vinyl. Go ahead. I certainly can't offer you any of this," Octavia said, motioning to the remnants of the... (let's call it 'dreadful') hospital food she had managed to stomach. She added, "If you need to run any chores, while you're out, I understand." "...Well, I kinda left all my stuff at the club when I rushed you here. I need to get that home... Oh, hey! While I'm there, I can bring my headphones! We can listen to music and stuff!" "That would be lovely. Do you think you might bring me a book or two?" Octavia asked. "You know the one I was reading? It's by our bed." "Sure, sure!" Vinyl said, trotting over to the exit. "I'll be back in a bit!" After taking a few steps out, she screeched to a halt. Looking around to make sure the hallway was clear, she darted back inside and shut the door, to Octavia's surprise. Vinyl then rushed up to Octavia and quickly leaned in close. "What is it?" Octavia asked. "I almost forgot: I love you," Vinyl whispered as she went in for a kiss. It wasn't a passionate kiss. Octavia had taken and given many of those by now. This was... different. It was a loving kiss. It was affection, not lust that drove it. And... it was the first time since Octavia confessed that Vinyl had said the word "love" when referring to her. It was almost shocking... to hear such a powerful word being used in an everyday setting. Was it not meant to be used only in a fantasy world of passion and romance? Obviously not. Somehow it seemed silly to deify that word. it wasn't just for a moments of confession and heightened stress, as had been the case so far. It was a true bond between ponies. An everyday word. Hearing it now almost solidified her relationship with Vinyl. It was real. "...I love you, too," Octavia replied in a hushed tone afterward, almost startled how easily the words came out. (Aw!) "See ya!" Vinyl stated, winking behind her shades and heading out for real this time. "Bye," Octavia called before resting her back down on the semi-fluffy bed. As Vinyl's hoofsteps disappeared down the hall, Octavia closed her eyes. Vinyl loved Octavia and Octavia loved Vinyl. Love has an opposite, however. There is, of course, hate. Octavia was not supposed to give her a thought, but Berry's rage-filled face appeared again and again in her head. Octavia hated it. She hated her. She was furious. She had lost. Berry probably left Octavia unconscious and bleeding with a smirk on her face. Thinking of her own body, laying motionless, helpless on the floor, with Berry Punch standing over it suddenly terrified Octavia. Berry... Berry could've killed her, if she had willed it. The thought of that nearly made Octavia vomit. She had been closer to death than she realized upon awaking. She held a hoof to her mouth, trembling. She remembered. In her own rage, she almost wanted to bring death to Berry. It sickened her even more. But the thought of Berry's words... I'm the good guy. I warned you. She's the villain. -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- Vinyl had a delicious and unhealthy breakfast at a local joint. (Octavia had been on her about eating healthy lately, so now was her chance.) She returned to what she used to call 'her home' but now was 'their home', after that. She gathered up anything she thought would be useful to have at the hospital. Books, magazines, headphones, games, and the Luna plushy. Vinyl beamed at having thought of the doll. Surely that would cheer Octavia up. Though, she wasn't sure why Octavia wanted it so badly. I mean, she met the Princess briefly, according to her, but that didn't seem like too much of a big deal, right? Levitating everything in a bag, she headed out back towards Ponyville General Hospital. Lightened by the relief of Octavia's awakening, she started to beat-box a rhythm as she walked. With expert skill, she rippled and flexed her lips to make the unreal sounds. She bobbed her head with the beat and her steps swayed and stuttered as if she was dancing. Preoccupied by the tune and her own good mood, Vinyl didn't notice that the streets of Ponyville were bare along the way. when she had left the hospital, everypony was out as usual, a lot even cleaning up after the parade. But between that time and this one, Ponyville had cleared out. It took many moments and several more sick beats from Vinyl's lips before she noticed the emptiness. "Um... where's everypony at?" Vinyl asked herself aloud as she looked around. Confused, she heard a distant speck of noise in the distance. She found her answer soon enough as she followed it and rounded a corner: a crowd had gathered around Town Hall. Vinyl traveled the perimeter of the mess of ponies with interest. 'What's going on?' She desperately wanted to get back to Octavia, but well, it couldn't hurt to check this out first, right? I mean, it might be something awesome. Putting the bag down, she waded through the group of ponies. Unlike Octavia, she didn't apologize any as she traveled: it's just the business of crowds to push and shove, as long as you don't knock anypony down, of course. As she reached the front of the pack, she found herself right behind Pinkie Pie, as indicated by the distinct fluffy pink tail. "Hey Pinks, what's all this?" Vinyl asked, poking Pinkie's back. Pinkie whirled around and... HER FACE WAS HALF GONE! "Mmmmpphh! Mmmm! MmMmMMMMpph!" The smile-less Pinkie tried to communicate, but her voice couldn't leave her throat now that there was no mouth for it to escape through. "Oh my Celestia you have no muzzle HOW ARE YOU BREATHING?!?!?" Vinyl shouted at the unreal sight. Pinkie comically slapped Vinyl to stop the exasperation. The party pony then sternly held up a hoof to "ssshhhhh!" the DJ, though she had no mouth to actually make the sound. Stunned and confused, Vinyl followed Pinkie as she pointed to the center of the crowd. There, in front of town hall: Twilight Sparkle was facing off against a blue unicorn... Trixie. Vinyl remembered her name, but just barely. Trixie was a traveling magician who had come to Ponyville a long time ago. There had been a kerfuffle with Twilight's friends when she tried to put on an act. Vinyl was there and saw the whole thing. Later, the magician inadvertently caused a terrible monster, an Ursa Minor, to terrorize Ponyville, through her thoughtless boasting. Vinyl couldn't forget that... It was... kinda awesome to have a giant monster attack. But Trixie had left after that and Vinyl had never given her another thought. But that... well, that was about to change. "...But, how could you do an age spell!?" Twilight asked, confounded. "That's only for the highest level unicorns!" Vinyl tried to catch up to the conversation. She had no idea what was going on, like she had joined a movie (or an episode) halfway through. But she didn't realize something truly terrible was happening right here, right now. Between Twilight and Trixie sat a newborn foal and an ancient rickety stallion. Trixie was garbed in a black cloak and upon her neck... an amulet laced in obsidian in the shape of an alicorn, housing a gem as red as blood. Trixie arrogantly shined the amulet and inspected her hoof. "Well, Twilight... Give up?" She spoke, coaxing her nemesis into more defeat. Twilight sighed, looking worried. With determination, she attempted a spell of her own on the two opposite aged ponies, that were obviously some sort of guinea pigs. The two floated up and Vinyl heard Spike say, "Come on, Twilight... You can do it!" Vinyl hadn't seen the short little dragon earlier, but noticed him with Twilight's friends. Beside the (somehow still alive) Pinkie were Twilight's closest allies: Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. It seemed the gang was all here. Twilight was struggling. Her horn was glowing with power and she was sweating furiously. But it was to no avail, with a sputter, her magic died, unable to cast the complicated spell she had no experience with. She collapsed, as did the two ponies she was trying to change. The crowd gasped and Vinyl did too. Twilight was the most powerful unicorn in Ponyville, probably in this half of Equestria, excluding the Princesses. Everypony knew it, yet Trixie, that phony show pony, was somehow able to top her magic!? Cocky from victory and oozing with arrogance, Trixie declared, "Trixie IS the highest level unicorn! Muhahahahahaha!!!" The victorious unicorn took a breath and continued, "...And now it's time for you to leave Ponyville... FOREVER!!!" As she shouted, power escaped through the amulet, fueled by her hatred and her rage. It emitted a red aura as it did. The corrupting magic forced its way into Trixie's body. Flooding her with more power every moment. Though it empowered her, the magic tried to find an exit. Like pressure in a bottle, it built up in an instant. It had to find an escape. Her eyes... Her eyes glowed with a monstrous red hue. The magic of the amulet seethed each iris in the blood color. There was darkness in those eyes now, in those pools of sanguine. Insurmountable cruelty was exhumed from within them. The kind that nopony there had seen before. Nopony but one. Her own eyes were shaded, but Vinyl looked well past her sunglasses at Trixie. 'What was that...?' Vinyl thought, her breath short. It was just a flash. Just for an instant! But they had lit up. Hadn't they? Vinyl was sure of it. She was so far away... but they were familiar. Trixie's eyes. But... No. No. It couldn't be...? "That's enough, Trixie!" Applejack called out as Vinyl stood stunned on the sidelines, just a bystander to this event. AJ and her friends all swarmed to protect Twilight, grimacing at the idea that she should be banished. "You've proved your point!" Rarity protested. "But you can't possibly expect Twilight to leave Ponyville!" "You fools!" Trixie exclaimed. With the crimson magic from the amulet, she levitated Twilight against her will. "She's already gone!" With no effort, she catapulted Twilight away, hurtling through the sky towards the Everfree Forest. She was gone in an instant. Her close friends all gave chase. They simultaneously called out, "Twilight!" (Well, except Pinkie.) Vinyl couldn't believe it. She turned back to Trixie after witnessing Twilight's exodus. The cloaked unicorn who bested Twilight rolled her neck and popped her shoulders. "Piece of cake," Trixie said to herself. She looked out at the crowd of ponies who stood, all, like Vinyl, aghast and stunned. "As for the rest of you..." Trixie's horn surged along with the amulet and her eyes did the same. This time, Vinyl was focused on Trixie's face. She looked closely. When she realized, her stomach sunk. 'No. No. No,' she told herself. Trixie continued as she materialized a massive glass dome in the sky above Ponyville, "...since nopony's going to be leaving, we're going to make some changes around here." The summoned dome descended, at the behest of the amulet's magic. The monstrous structure dwarfed Ponyville, completely encompassing every inch of it. Ponies all screamed in terror as the titan of glass came down. With a thunderous KADUUUUMMM!!! the dome made contact with the earth, sealing off Ponyville from the outside world. The shaking was enormous, nearly threatening to topple the flimsy buildings in the town. 'Get back to Octavia!' was the only thought left for Vinyl. It wasn't safe here. Trixie was dangerous now. She turned to run. There were ponies scrambling everywhere in fear. "Oh, ho ho! Where do you think YOU'RE going!?" Trixie cackled from behind her. Vinyl closed her eyes and tried to gallop, but her hooves didn't make contact with the ground. Her body was lifted up magically and she winced as she was yanked through the air. After her face hit dirt upon being slammed into the ground, she opened one eye, and found herself in a group of pony civilians. She hadn't been the only one grabbed. Everypony was being forced to line up military-fashion, with an aura of magic holding them down. "Trixie needs your undivided attention!" Trixie demanded, walking up to the masses to address them properly. Her eyes were aglow with power. "Ponyville's always been a crass little dump! But luckily for you, the great and powerful Trixie is generously offering to improve it." As Trixie walked the lines of ponies, she came upon Vinyl. Vinyl could finally see her up close. She didn't want to look, but she knew she had to. Her heart was beating with fear, anticipation, and anxiety. Her lips were trembling. She glanced up as the dictator passed. There they were. There was no denying it. They were the same. Vinyl wanted to scream. To cry out to the ponies around her. "Don't look at her eyes!" she wanted to shout, but couldn't. Her throat throbbed. She couldn't warn them. A thousand thoughts and questions rushed through her yet she said nothing. "All Trixie asks is for complete and utter obedience!" Trixie continued, not noticing Vinyl as she went by on her little march. "Is that CLEAR!?" At that, she aggressively leaned down to one of her subjects, a stallion further down the line. She frowned manically at the terrified pony who stared right at her face. The pony nodded out of fear of punishment and pretended to smile. "Good. Trixie does not like to repeat herself. Now... Trixie wants banners with her face hanging on every building in Ponyville!" Vinyl wasn't listening. She couldn't believe it! Trixie... she had the same eyes when they glowed, yet that pony was not affected. Nopony was! How could that be!? It was the same! They were the same! It was the same magic! Vinyl knew it! Paying no head to the contemplation of the DJ in the front row, Trixie continued, "You will place statues in Trixie's honor on every corner! You will prepare feasts for Trixie! And you will build a glorious castle for Trixie! If you refuse, you too shall taste the might of the Alicorn Amulet! Now, all of you, get to work! NOW!!!" With magic, she summoned a whip, and with a flick, snapped it. She released the hold she had on the ponies so they could scramble away to see her whims through. Vinyl was one of them. She hurried away, confused and terrified. "And you two!" Trixie hissed, horn flaring up to dispel the two ponies still cursed with advanced and/or reverse age. "Trixie has a special job for her... number one fans..." she finished with a grin. -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- Vinyl was beyond far from late. She had practically abandoned Octavia, at least from the hospitalized pony's point of view. Octavia sat up, wrapped in her covers, staring out into the stormy sky. It was evening now. Vinyl had left in the morning. She said she'd be right back. They only thing that kept Octavia from tearing up from the apparent betrayal was the thought that maybe Vinyl had fallen asleep back at their home. She did stay up all night watching over Octavia. The recovering pony kept telling herself this as doubt crept up through the hours. Then there was that thunderous earthquake earlier. And now, gale winds blew through a darkened Ponyville, when she knew the pegasi had not scheduled a storm. More so than Vinyl forgetting about her, she was worried for Vinyl's safety. Something didn't feel right. The nurses had stopped coming. She hadn't seen anypony in hours. Aside from the occasional frantic rushing of somepony down the hall, it was quiet. Octavia's stomach grumbled in complaint frequently. As if receiving a signal from the hungry organ, Nurse Redheart finally reentered the room, calling, "...Dinner's here! How are you feeling...?" "Oh, Nurse! It is good to see you!" Octavia beamed, desperate for interaction with somepony. Her worry hadn't quite stifled her boredom. "I am feeling much better. How are you?" "Fine! Everything's fine!" Redheart exclaimed. "Sorry you're not getting much for dinner. The kitchen staff had to... um... go home for the day..." She gave a tray to Octavia upon which a single candy bar, a bag of chips and a pack of gummy treats sat. Octavia looked at the unhealthy spread with shock. "Did these... come from vending machines?" Octavia asked, unsure if what she was seeing was real or not. "Oh! Well, like I said, the cooks had to go home! *Ahem* You know how it is! Haha! Ha!" "...Is... something going on...?" Octavia asked hesitantly. "Who told you!?" Redheart shrieked, before correcting herself. "I mean, no! No, of course not! There's no reason to panic! That's what the doctor said to say! So that's what we're gonna do! Well, I have other patients to see to, so-!" "Wait a moment... Something IS going on!" Octavia concluded at Redheart's suspicious attitude. "What!? Nooooo!!!" the nurse pouted, shaking her head unconvincingly. "What is happening?" Octavia leapt out of bed, frightened now. "You can't do that! You have to stay in bed!" Redheart explained, panicking. Unaffected by the nurse's protest, Octavia approached her demanding, "Where is Vinyl!? She went out there and has not returned!" "She's fine! I'm sure! It's a normal, beautiful, sunny day!" Redheart found herself spitting out. "Untrue! There is some sort of... unscheduled, unnatural storm out there!" Octavia pointed out in retaliation. "Oh, I hadn't noticed..." The fibbing Redheart shrugged. "I have to find her! I am leaving!" At this declaration, Octavia sought to pass Nurse Redheart and leave the room, but the desperate nurse raised her hooves to stop her. "You can't leave the hospital! You haven't been discharged! You still need rest!" "I do not care!" Octavia cried. She tried to force her way past the nurse, but laying in bed all day had made her weak, not to mention the injury. "Hold it! Please stop!" Redheart begged as Octavia pressed against her. "You can't go out there!" "It is my right to leave!" the well-informed cellist explained. "...Oh! Don't do that! ... Oh... Oh, okay, okay! I'll tell you!" Nurse Redheart agreed, under duress. "If you promise to stay, I'll explain!" "...Very well. That is a start," Octavia said after backing off. "...Right... *Ahem*" The nurse cleared her throat after the shouting. "The thing is... well... Ponyville's sort of been... taken over..." "... ...What...?" -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- The work was relentless and back-breaking, as Vinyl soon discovered. Trixie was a simple magician, but she easily fell into her role as a dictator. Her demands were extraordinary and absolute. She wanted statues, and lots of them. Vinyl was forced to dig, along with others, through the dirt until hitting solid stone; Ponyville park was forcibly turned into a quarry. They were then to cut massive blocks out and cart them up. The first block was taken to Trixie who was staying at town hall. With a dash of magic from the amulet, Trixie instantly carved the stone into an intricately made statue of herself. She then demanded that the citizens of Ponyville make identical copies. Of course, nopony else had the magic of an all-powerful amulet, so Vinyl and the others had to quickly work with hammers and chisels. Throughout the hours of labor, Vinyl was frantic with questions. Why did Trixie's magic feel the same as her eyes? Why didn't it hurt when you looked at them? What turned Trixie into a tyrant? Is it that amulet? How do you use a chisel? Is Octavia okay? How are we going to get out of this? With worries and exhaustion setting in, Vinyl was relieved when the new dictator of Ponyville arrived at the quarry with good news that evening. All the slaving ponies stopped and looked upwards to the edge of the pit they were in. Trixie was there, riding comfortably in a wooden chariot with no wheels. Beside her was one of the finished stone statues, that did not look up to par. With a darkening windstorm behind her, Trixie called down to her citizens, "The Great and Powerful Trixie is satisfied with your efforts! Ponyville is looking much better with all the stone effigies you have carved for her!" At this, the former magician smiled with pride at herself. "Listen well: you will return to your homes and rest, for tomorrow you will make twice as many statues for Trixie!" Satisfied, she turned away before remembering something and readdressing her slaves. "Oh! ...But they better look better than this one!" At that, a flash of Trixie's magic severed the head of the crudely carved statue beside her. The head toppled down into the quarry, causing a pair of stallions to bolt out of the way to save themselves from being crushed. Trixie magically flung the rest of the body into the pit and it collided with a row of unfinished statues, shattering them all. "Muhahhahaaa!" As Trixie laughed manically at her own cruelty, her chariot was pulled away by two goofy-looking young colts. As the dust settled, nopony was stirred by the threat of additional work, they all just collapsed from finally having a chance to recuperate. Vinyl breathed a sigh of relief. 'I can finally get back to Octavia... She's probably worried sick!' Wasting no time, she climbed up the hastily made plank stairs out of the quarry. After reaching the top, Vinyl took a glance at Trixie, who hadn't moved very far from the scene as the two colts could barely pull her wheel-less chariot away. Vinyl contained her fury without shouting, but said some (very) nasty things in her head, then thought, '...How dare she enslave us like this! So help me if she did something to the hospital! If she hurt Octavia, I'll-! I'll... ...Oh, forget it... Who the buck am I kidding? I can't do anything against her... Twilight was helpless and I'm nowhere near as strong as she is...' Crestfallen, Vinyl limped onward to reunite with her lover. She couldn't fight Trixie. It's not like she had any real power... 'Wait... what if...' Vinyl slowly realized. 'If I got her to look at me... without my shades...' Whenever Vinyl thought on her cursed eyes, she would remember. She'd remember all the times she hurt somepony with them. The spasms, the choking, the absolute look of horror, the inability to move... 'Maybe I could take her! Knock her out or something while she's paralyzed!' The hopeful idea brought a new worry to Vinyl. 'But... I promised Patched Hat... Nopony should have to suffer because of me... I can't let that happen... not again...' Vinyl's slow walk to the hospital slowed even further to a final halt. Her head was hung low, with these thoughts weighing it down. The ponies around her all trudged home. Her neighbors, her friends. Their faces were worried, tired and hopeless. Their homes beckoned them to safety, but they knew those shelters could not save them from the tyrant who now ruled them. The mayor was locked in a cage. The town guard had all been transformed into chickens and placed in a corral. Twilight was gone. They were shut off from the rest of Equestria. There was nothing left but work and fear. These were the ponies that used to bounce to her music. These were the ponies who used to smile when she started up a track. These were the ponies that treated her kindly for no reason at all. Even if... even if they didn't know about her and her secrets. Even if they couldn't get close as Vinyl had always wanted them to be. Even if she had to use nicknames to appear friendly. Even if Vinyl kept them at a distance. ...She couldn't let them suffer. Biting her lip, Vinyl decided. She'd break her rule. 'If any good can come of these things, then it's now or never...' Flushed with anticipation, she turned around and galloped after Trixie. Circling the quarry, she shortly came upon her target and her chariot. Vinyl slowed to a trot. Nervousness turning her stomach, Vinyl's hoarse throat managed to call out, "H-HEY! TRIXIE!" "Who dares address The Great and Powerful Trixie without her title!?" Trixie spun around furiously. She was pretty sure she told everypony to add the 'great and powerful' part. Without waiting, Vinyl reached up and took her sunglasses off. If anypony else saw, they could get hurt too, but Vinyl convinced herself it was worth the risk. Eyes burning with red, she stared at Trixie and grimaced. Trixie will lock eyes and be unable to move. Her body will start to convulse and she will be unable to look away. The sight will tear at her and swallow her whole world. It won't kill her, but it will hurt, and it will burn. Vinyl will take that opportunity to attack, after all, she won't be able to retaliate. "Do you have something to say, or are you just going to stand there!?" Trixie demanded as she stared straight back at Vinyl with contempt. It was clear she was looking directly at Vinyl. Nothing. "Why... why isn't it... it... it..." Vinyl fumbled her words in shock. There was no effect. "Speak up, minion! The Great and Powerful Trixie can't hear you!" Trixie demanded in her mighty tone. "...Ow! Hey!" she suddenly exclaimed, before rubbing her head. "Why do I suddenly have a headache?" she mumbled under her breath. "So annoying..." "THAT'S IT!?" Vinyl shouted, utter disbelief stunning her. 'That's ALL it's doing to her!? But- but everypony else-! Patched, Berry, Octavia... they all got so hurt!' "...What do you mean!?" Trixie demanded, losing her patience. "What's 'it?' Who's 'it?' Who are you!? Why have you gotten Trixie's attention!?" Trixie's barrage of questions made Vinyl realize she wasn't in a position to figure out why her eyes weren't affecting Trixie. Her secret weapon had failed and Ponyville's new dictator was still very well armed. Her plan had gone horribly wrong. Like a true hero, it was time to bail out. "...Uh... That's it...? That's... all the work I get to do today?" Vinyl managed to ask, attempting to quickly suck up to the unelected leader and avoid being blasted. Trixie blinked several times in a confusion of her own and took a moment before answering. "...Um, yes..." The magician dictator replied, cautiously. "Trixie is tired... and will give you new orders in the morning... Now, go away... you're weirding Trixie out." "Yessir! I mean, ma'am! I mean, milord!" Vinyl saluted and hurried away, relieved of the immediate danger, but severely confused. 'What the buck is going on!?' -~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- "Vi-!" Octavia tried to shout as Vinyl rushed into the room and leaped onto the bed, but the DJ squeezed her so tight and suddenly she couldn't even finish the name. "Octavia! Thank Celestia you're okay!" Vinyl exclaimed as she shook Octavia's shoulders aggressively. "It's CRAZY! Trixie's gone CRAZY out there! She's making us do all this CRAZY stuff and she has these CRAZY powers!" "I-I-I heard!" Octavia stuttered as the shaking caused her head to bobble uncontrollably. She steadied herself and Vinyl before asking, "How about you? Are you injured?" As for herself, her head was spinning again now that Vinyl had just agitated it. "I'm fine," Vinyl admitted before collapsing on the bed across Octavia's lap. "I'm just... Celestia, I'm just worn out... She had us working nonstop all day! I was working in a pit! The whole park is a pit now!" "...Heavens..." Octavia hadn't heard the extent to which Trixie was changing the town. "I can't move a muscle... and I was worried about you the whole time..." Vinyl muttered. At that, Octavia smiled and rested a hoof on Vinyl's back and caressed softly as the pony still lay on her lap. "Oh, that's nice..." Vinyl mumbled with a satisfied grin as her lover comforted her. She levitated a plastic bag of belongings up for Octavia to see. "It's a little late, but I brought the stuff!" "Oh, I do not care about that. I am just relieved you are alright..." "Heh heh," Vinyl tittered. "I'd get up and hug you again, but as you can probably surmise: I can't really move." "Hmmm..." Octavia hummed. "I would complement you on your use of the word 'surmise,' but you did not exactly use it correctly." "...Whaaaat?" Vinyl groaned. She thought that sprinkling a word in she had learned would impress Octavia. "You see, to 'surmise' is to come to a conclusion without evidence. I do not need to conclude that you cannot move since you had already outright stated it moments ago. It is an established fact," Octavia lectured proudly, like it was something to boast about. "... ...Are you seriously giving me a lesson when we have a mad dictator running our town now?" Vinyl mused, half-serious. "It is always an appropriate time for a grammar lecture," Octavia giggled. "Maybe. But you'll pay for it!" Vinyl laughed, finding the strength to get up and attack Octavia with tickles. "No! Stop! Hahaha!" Octavia thrashed as Vinyl's jittery hooves sent the uncomfortable sensations all through her body. "It's what you geeet!" Vinyl teased. The two of them wrestled for a moment in jovial fun, before stopping once Octavia felt a spike of pain in her head that she physically reacted to. Noticing the quick change in Octavia's demeanor, Vinyl asked, "What is it? What's wrong!?" "...Nothing. Just a little pain. That is all," Octavia assured as she rubbed the bandage on her head. "Do you need ice? Medicine!? I'll get the doctor!" Vinyl offered in a panic. A smile appeared on Octavia's face. 'This is the true Vinyl. The kind Vinyl. She is not the monster that Berry Punch claimed. What utter nonsense. Why would I ever doubt?' Assuring Vinyl, Octavia stated, "No, I will be fine Vinyl. You mustn't worry about me." She had actually been feeling better all day, despite her worry. Though, she was now sore from the affectionate pummeling she just received. "...Well... okay... If you say so..." Vinyl laid down beside Octavia. There wasn't much room on the small hospital bed, so she had to hang half her body off the side. "Mare, this is uncomfortable," Vinyl muttered as she strained against gravity trying to tug her down. Octavia's smile slowly drained from her face. "...Vinyl. What is going to happen to us?" "Hm? Whatdya mean? Like, how our relationship will change in the future?" Vinyl asked, gazing into the distance with mournful stoicism. "No," Octavia snapped flatly. "I mean, what is going to happen to Ponyville with this... Trixie pony running about with unlimited magic power? This is fairly serious." "Yeah... I don't know..." Vinyl answered, as the two of them just stared up at the ceiling, like they were on a hill, gazing at stars. The window shuttered with the wind as the two of them contemplated the same thoughts that almost every pony in that town were thinking that night as they huddled next to their loved ones. "Is there anything we can do?" Octavia asked, more to herself than to Vinyl, but her bed companion heard it, nonetheless. Vinyl thought on her attempt to stare down their captor. Was Trixie's amulet so powerful she could ignore it? Could her eyes be losing their power? Octavia gained some sort of immunity by staring her down; did that make them weaker? But that Pinkie clone was destroyed fairly easily. Vinyl didn't understand. She didn't understand why her eyes did what they did or how they worked or anything. "I don't know that either..." Vinyl muttered. "But whatever goes down, we'll be together... okay?" With that Vinyl leaned over and rested her head against Octavia. "Mmm..." Octavia hummed, blushing up. "Okay." They stayed there for moments, enjoying the warmth of each other and that gave them the first relief they've felt all day. The distant sounds of the hospital mixed with the thunderous noises outside, but they still paled to the comforting sound of Vinyl breathing deeply beside Octavia. The DJ had closed her eyes now, and the cellist looked longingly at the snoozing pony. She didn't have to say anything. But she wanted to. "Vinyl, I must be honest with you. There is something you need to know..." "Whazzat...?" Vinyl mumbled, dozing off. "I was not injured by slipping. I... was in a fight. With Berry Punch. She did this," Octavia explained, trying not to overthink her words. Vinyl bolted up. The words shocking her awake instantaneously. "...What...?" she asked, voice croaking as she turned to Octavia. "We were arguing in there... *Ahem* In the restroom," Octavia continued, sitting up as well. "Berry Punch said... well, she said something horrible and I... I attacked her." The cellist fiddled her hooves together nervously as she admitted she was the first to strike. She didn't look to Vinyl in the slightest. "It was in defense of you, I promise! She coaxed me on... Spouting lies... Lies about you. I could not stand for it anymore." Vinyl was silent for several uncomfortable moments. "And well... here I am now. Defeated. Beaten and bruised. Heh..." Octavia let out a pathetic laugh. Vinyl hadn't interrupted or said anything else and it was making her more nervous. "I don't even know what you ever saw in her. You would not believe the fabrications she spewed. How crude she was! To think you'd ever... Unbelievable. I can't even say the word..." Octavia trailed off mostly mumbling to herself now. "... ...What... did she say?" Vinyl asked timidly, finally adding her voice to the room. "Oh, I'm not going to repeat it. It was lies. Falsehoods. She's just a-" "What did she say?" Vinyl repeated. "...I don't see the point in continuing this..." Octavia deflected. She never intended to get to this point. "Octavia..." Vinyl insisted again, placing her hoof on her friend's hoof. "I need to know." Finally turning to Vinyl, Octavia saw that the sunglasses were off and replaced with a worried expression. "Oh... Well... She said several things... but the main one was... well... she said you... did some sexual things to her... without consent..." Octavia wanted to continue but Vinyl had turned away. She was expecting some sort of anger. Some sort of response. Nothing. "How ludicrous. To think you'd ever..." Octavia said, trying to fill the void. Still nothing. Having enough of the sickening pit that was forming in her stomach, Octavia stuttered softly,"This... this is the part were you deny it, Vinyl." Nothing. "You're supposed to deny it..." More nothing. "... ... Why aren't you denying it?" Vinyl turned back around, revealing she had been holding back a river of tears. With a broken voice, Vinyl answered, "Because... I don't think I have the right to..."