//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Broken Record // by Wheller //------------------------------// Chapter 5 The late night walk was supposed to put her at ease. Now the sun had risen and Vinyl Scratch was anything but. She was walking along the path between Everfree and Ponyville; there was a small cottage, with a Pegasus pony standing in the front garden, watering her flowers. Vinyl had stopped and started watching absentmindedly, and that was about the time the yellow Pegasus looked up at her. Their eyes met, and Vinyl Scratch felt rather creepy having stood and watched. “Uh... hi!” Vinyl said, trying to defuse the situation. “I like your flowers, they’re very... nice.” Smooth, Vinyl Scratch, very smooth. “Thank you,” the Pegasus said quietly, looking down at the ground. “I’m Vinyl Scratch, what’s your name?” Vinyl asked. Brilliant, now you’re making this more awkward. Good for you Vinyl. “Fluttershy...” the Pegasus said quietly. Fluttershy... that sounded familiar. “Oh? You’re Fluttershy?” Vinyl said. “Twilight and Rainbow Dash told me about you!” “Oh? You know Twilight and Rainbow?” Fluttershy said, apparently, being friends with those two had put Fluttershy more at ease. “Oh, you must be the unicorn that they met going to the Hoofson bay.” “Yep! That’s me, Vinyl Scratch,” Vinyl said with a smile. “I haven’t seen a lot of Twilight or Rainbow recently,” Fluttershy said. “Not since they got... you know, together. I didn’t want to come visit while they were... you know, together.” Well, if that wasn’t the best way of making it awkward, Vinyl Scratch didn’t know what was. “Heh, yeah, I live with them now, Twilight has quite the pair of lungs... if you know what I mean,” Vinyl said with a grin. Fluttershy blushed, she did. “Well, I’m going to let you get back to... whatever it is you’re doing, nice talking to you!” Vinyl said, and trotted away, Fluttershy gave her a quiet goodbye. That was the single most awkward conversation of her entire life. ... Vinyl was well experienced with hangovers at this time in her life. By Celestia, they hurt. She rolled out of bed and found Octavia sleeping on her couch. “O?” she called out to her. Octavia opened her eyes. “Good morning, drunk and disorderly,” she said sarcastically. “I’m not drunk... yet!” Vinyl said with a grin. “As for disorderly...” Vinyl crossed the room to the couch and laid down on it and began snuggling with Octavia who groaned in annoyance. “Do you remember what you said to me last night?” Octavia asked. “Nope! Why?” Vinyl asked. “You told me that you loved me... and that you wanted me,” Octavia said. “Considering how drunk you were, I’m not surprised, you’ll mount anything that moves when you’re drunk.” “Heh! Did I really? Well to be honest, you are kind of hot,” Vinyl said with a mischievous grin. “Now you’re just saying that to mess with me,” Octavia said with mild annoyance. “Because you know I’m not into mares.” “Oh Octavia! You know me so well!” Vinyl said snuggling her friend inappropriately. “Stop that. I will not hesitate to kick your teeth in!” Octavia said. “Oh you’re no fun!” Vinyl said, letting her friend go. Vinyl realised now that Octavia didn’t have time to be fun, making sure that Vinyl didn’t suddenly die had become something of a full time job for the earth pony. “Where we goin’ tonight?” Vinyl asked. “Vinyl? Is it necessary to party every day of the week?” Octavia asked. “Who do you think you’re talking to?” Vinyl said with a grin. “Come on party pooper!” “Fine,” Octavia growled. “All right! Can’t think of anything else I’d rather do than spend the night hanging out with my best friend!” Vinyl cried in excitement. Octavia knew that Vinyl was just going to get drunk and ditch her for some random club pony, but she went with her anyway. She put up with it; she hadn’t the heart to tell her how horrible a friend Vinyl was. ... “What are we going to do with them?” Captain Blackthorn hadn’t the faintest idea, they had twenty gryphons prisoner, and they hadn’t the resources to move them. Particularly not without being seen. They couldn’t leave the Mark VIII cruiser tank behind either. Not to mention Tebbs and his crew living in Ponyville. Blackthorn was out of options. “Sir?” Cutting asked again. “Lef-tenant Cutting? How would you fancy a trip into town?” Blackthorn asked. ... The two kangaroos hopped out of the Everfree forest, past Fluttershy’s cottage, the Pegasus was still standing outside, watering her flowers, she looked up to see the two kangaroos, and instinctively dropped her can. Blackthorn and Cutting entered town, Everypony set their eyes upon them. All movement in town, they entered the centre of town, everypony was watching them in silence. “Could someone please tell me, where I can find Twilight Sparkle?” Blackthorn asked. Everypony pointed towards the Library, Blackthorn and Cutting hopped along the high street and promptly knocked upon the door. Twilight opened the door and gasped slightly. “I don’t know you.” “No, no you don’t,” Blackthorn said. “We need to have words.” ... “You’ve been spying on us,” Twilight said angrily. “How long? How long has South Island been spying on Equestria?” Blackthorn sighed. “Seven months,” he said plainly. Twilight’s eyes widened. “What? You’ve been in the Everfree forest for seven months!?” Blackthorn shook his head in negative. “No, my team has only been here a few days... Before that, South Island sent a single commando by the name of Roy Melbourne to ascertain the possibility of an alliance between Equestria and South Island. Sergeant Melbourne has since been reassigned to the Hoofson Bay.” Twilight’s mouth fell open in surprise; she had met Roy Melbourne during an ill-fated walkabout in the Mohoofie Desert several months prior. “Melbourne spoke highly of you in his after contact report, I quote: ‘Twilight Sparkle has a good head on her shoulders, she’s clever, she might even be a genius, but she’s being hindered by a lack of knowledge about the outside world. Not exactly her fault, none of these ponies seems to know anything about the rest of the world either.’” Blackthorn said. “What exactly are you hoping to accomplish here Captain?” Twilight asked. “CSI has been trying to get an ambassador into Equestria for years, but the requests are always turned down, come back nearly as fast as they get sent with the same message. No. I understand you have certain... pull with your countries leader. I would like you to convince her to see the ambassador,” Blackthorn said politely. “What happens if I say no?” Twilight asked. “Then we go back into the Everfree forest, pack up out gear, and walk to the border between Equestria and the Hoofson bay. We’re not gryphons, Twilight Sparkle. If we were, I’d have my pistol out and pointed at your head, telling you to do it or I’d blow your head off,” Blackthorn said. “I’ll do it,” Twilight said. “But do be aware, you are asking a lot from me. When the time comes, I’ll be asking for just as big a favour from you.” “Duly noted, CSI is in your debt,” Blackthorn said. “Don’t thank me yet,” Twilight said. “Princess Celestia is not going to be happy that you’re here and is quite likely to... deal, with you personally.” Blackthorn looked at her and gave a slight smile. “I’m a Commando, ma’am. I’m already dead.”