//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Deep into the Dark // Story: Just the Three of Us // by Lynked //------------------------------// Vinyl scratched her ear with a wide grin as she sat before the door. Trixie had given up on her and was talking to Octavia and Rarity. “Trixie knows where she is. Colegate is north of the town, in the woods. Trixie wants you to be careful, and keep Vinyl on a leash or something.” Vinyl perked up, shooting Trixie a glare. “Hey, I don’t need a leash--ah! Paw. Itchy.” She nipped away at her paw. Trixie sighed and shook her head. “So do you understand where to go? Past the stream, around the large tree, and down the dirt path.” Octavia nodded. Rarity was busy frowning at Vinyl. “Vinyl, quit. It may itch, but that is why you have two hooves--paws. Do not be so uncouth.” “Uncouth this, uncouth that,” Vinyl muttered, lowering her paw. “So,” Octavia said, “What are we getting?” “Trixie needs two things; silver-root, and night-nettle.” She put her hoof on the door handle. “It is late, so the ponies of Trottingham should not be in the streets. This town is quiet, and has none of those nightclubs of Ponyville and Manehattan. Everypony should be sound asleep. Even still, you must hurry out of the town.” Octavia nodded, and looked to Rarity. Rarity looked up from Vinyl, who was licking her paw and rubbing her face with it, to nod back. “We’re ready to go, then,” Octavia said, looking back to Trixie. “Good. Make haste! The sooner you return, the sooner we can begin the search for Rarity’s body,” she said. She thrust the door open, letting the freezing night air in. Rarity rolled her eyes when Vinyl did not move. “Vinyl! Get going! The longer my body is out there, the less chance I have of getting it back!” Vinyl growled at her, sitting up tall and planting her hooves down firmly. Octavia bent down and looked at Rarity, raising her eyebrow and grinning. “Vinyl,” she said as she raised her head. Vinyl looked her over with a blunt expression. Octavia smiled at her and nuzzled her gently. “Vinyl, be a good girl and get going. You’re a good girl, right?” There was a still pause. Vinyl’s cheeks were turning red as she stared out into the night. She stood and stretched, yawning deeply before darting out of the house. Her hooves pounded on the snow as she curved onto the road and ran through the town. The town truly was empty, with only the glow of the street lamps to fill the cold air. The clouds were still thick, and the snow was still drifting down. Vinyl galloped towards the dark, snowy forest ahead. The distance between her and the trees closed quickly, and soon, she passed the last, dark cottage and was in the thick treeline. The woods were silent, misty, and the occasional beam of moonlight that pierced the clouds was fractured by the leaves. Vinyl sniffed the air as she stepped over a root. Frozen leaves and twigs snapped beneath her paws. Octavia and Rarity looked their respective ways, deep into the woods. They stretched on into an eternal darkness. Octavia bit her lip and threw her ears forward, listening to the light chirping of the birds in the distance. Rarity swallowed dryly, her ear twitching at each crunch of the snow. “Guys,” Vinyl whispered, “I gotta find a tree.” “A tree?” Rarity whispered. She shot Vinyl a look. “Vinyl, we’re surrounded by trees.” Octavia scanned the treeline. “Do you think there are more of those things in there?” “Probably,” Rarity said.” “Guys,” Vinyl whined, “I gotta go...” “Oh...” Rarity blinked slowly. “This is going to be strange.” “Oh my,” Octavia said. “No Vinyl. No, just keep going. We are not making stops.” Her ears flattened and her tail fell. “B-but--” “Shh!” Rarity looked forward, her ears alert and her eyes squinting. “Do you hear that?” Vinyl leaned forward. In the distance there was the light sound of rushing water. She bit her lip and tensed up. “Aww man...” Octavia brushed her cheek against Vinyl’s. “Just don’t think about it. Just keep going. You know, I bet Colegate has some tasty treats in her house...” Vinyl let out a high, long whine. “Alright...” she said, picking up her pace. They trekked on for a while, and the sound of rushing water grew nearer and nearer. Soon, they were upon the stream. Clear, pristine water rushed down a small crevice. Chunks of ice rushed down with it, shattering on the rocks. Vinyl began shifting on her hooves and biting down on her lip hard. The stream flowed freely, delicately, sauntering down the ravine. Vinyl kicked a rock into the water, and the splash made her wince. “Vinyl, get going!” Rarity said. Vinyl turned to her and bared her teeth in a scowl. Octavia nuzzled her again. “Come on, come on...” Vinyl sighed and nuzzled her back, placing her paw gently into the stream. She swallowed a yelp. The stream was freezing. Still, she put her other paw in, then her hind paws, and soon, she was wading through it. A smile grew on her lips. It took only moments for her to begin leaping and jumping in the water, splashing it onto her fur. Octavia gasped, and Rarity squealed as they were taken for a ride. They were dripping wet as they pushed onward. “Vinyl...” Octavia hissed. Vinyl whimpered and looked at her, holding her head down and keeping her ears flat. Octavia glared at her, keeping her under her eye. Rarity shook her mane again, flinging small drops of water onto the others. “That was awful. Just awful. Vinyl, don’t you ever do that again. Bad Vinyl.” Vinyl gave a small whimper and looked up to Octavia. Octavia sighed and shook her head. “Alright, don’t give her too hard of a time. She’s just having fun.” Vinyl’s face immediately lit up with a smile. She stuck her tongue out and licked Octavia sloppily. Octavia’s face scrunched up and she turned away, but Vinyl got the lick in and was charging down the forest again. “Uh... good girl?” “Where is this tree?” Rarity asked. “I’d like to get to Colgate’s before Vinyl gets the opportunity to get us dirty again.” They continued through the forest, when, ahead of them a clearing opened up. They stepped into the glowing area, looking up at a tall, thick tree that shut up in its center. The tree was dead and rotted, letting the snow drift down. Vinyl froze. Her nose shot up into the air and she began sniffing. Octavia watched carefully. “What? Do you smell something?” Rarity looked around. “There’s nothing here. Can we get going?” Vinyl’s eyes flicked to her, then her whole head snapped around. Her teeth bared and she let out a low growl. There was a light crunch of the snow, coming from around the tree, and Vinyl got low, ready to pounce. Then, a large, black wolf-pony stepped out from behind the tree with a grin. When he saw them, though, he stopped. He looked them over slowly as Vinyl growled. Octavia and Rarity exchanged glances, then joined Vinyl in growling. “Well, excuse me,” he said. “A stallion tries to be friendly and he is cursed at by his brethren.” He huffed and sat in the snow. Vinyl did not move, keeping her head low and paws ready to pounce. Octavia, however, backed up. “Who are you?” He laughed. “Me? I should be asking the same to you. Three heads, that’s new.” He stood and began to circle the three mares. Rarity watched him closely. “Who we are is none of your business,” she said. “Oh? I think it is. A wolf--wolves, my apology--in these parts without the master knowing... well it’s strange, to say the least. And you... you are special. Come, follow me. The master will be interested in meeting you,” he said. He stood in front of them and began to walk into the woods. “Uh... no.” Vinyl turned around and began walking in the opposite direction. However, just before she could make it into the forest, two wereponies jumped out, snarling and pushing her back. Her heart leapt as she stepped back, eyeing them over. “I think you’ll be coming with us,” he said. Vinyl yelped and spun around. His deep green eyes dug into Vinyl’s, making her shudder. “Vinyl, just go with him,” Octavia whispered. “But--” “Don’t question me!” Vinyl whimpered and stepped forward. The stallion wolf winked to her and said, “Good puppy. Come come, ponies, we have to get back soon!” The wereponies behind her gave Vinyl a good push, starting her off after the stallion. Vinyl groaned. “Aww, I still gotta go!”