//------------------------------// // Vinyl Scratch -- Gives To -- Shining Armor // Story: Collab Cage Mini-Monthly December -- Secret Santa Hooves // by The Collab Cage //------------------------------// Written by: iDash A young, alabaster, unicorn mare walked the quiet, snow covered streets of Ponyville. Wrapped around her muzzle and draped down on her neck was a pale purple scarf. Her flank was adorned with the cutie mark of a musical eighth note. Just as she always did, she wore a pair of black rimmed shades with dark purple lenses. This was Vinyl Scratch, or, as she was so often called, DJ PON-3. This talented DJ, however, was not on her way to her job at the local club as she usually was. Instead, she was trudging through the streets in search for a gift for somepony. Seeing as it was so close to everypony’s favorite holiday, Hearth’s Warming Eve, this normally would make sense. What didn’t make sense, though, was exactly the reason why she was getting this gift and who she was getting it for. It was a pretty simple explanation, though... or at least as simple as one could make it. A few days ago, she had walked into her home just as she always did and found a very precarious letter lying on her kitchen table. It was addressed to her, but had no return address. She asked her roommate, Octavia, who had sent it, but she said that she had no idea it was even there to begin with. This struck an odd chord with Vinyl, but she shrugged it off and read it anyways. It was then that she learned the letter was from the one and only Santa Hooves. Now, most ponies wouldn’t acknowledge such silliness, but, and though it may seem very silly and childish, Vinyl Scratch still very much believed in the various holiday deities, especially Santa. Hay, if she were to have her own commandments, one would have read, ‘Thou shalt not mess with thine holiday gods.’ So, needless to say, she took the letter very seriously. It had read: Dearest Miss Vinyl Scratch, It has come to my knowledge that you are particularly fond of the holidays. As you probably already know, then, this holiday is about the gifts of love and giving. So, in order to spread these gifts, I would like you, my dearest DJ, to give a gift to somepony as their secret Santa Hooves. In Vinyl’s opinion, the whole secret Santa deal seemed kind of... creepy or stalker-ish, but she loved holidays! Especially this one, and who was she to argue with Santa? She was just a little bit surprised, though, when she read who it was. It was none other than Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle’s brother and Princess Cadance’s husband. Vinyl remembered how she had DJ’d at their wedding the previous year. It was quite the party... well, at least from what the mare could gather of whatever she remembered of that night. Most of it was just a blur of loud music and cider... a lot of cider. As she continued to read the letter, it gave her some details on his personality, preferences, and what not. Though he often seems to focus first and foremost on his work and duty at hand, this stallion is... well, believe it or not, he is quite the avid gamer. That’s right, and he’s also fully equipped with the Haystation 3, Xbox 360, big screen TV, surround-sound stereo... the whole shebang. I am confident that you will be able to find it in yourself to grant the gift of giving upon him, Vinyl, and you may just get a little something in return. Until then, happy Hearth’s Warming Eve! -Santa Hooves P.S. If you would like to look him up at all, his gamertag is ArmrdPwny_494. And that is exactly what Vinyl did. His tag was posted up on various leaderboards. When she saw his high-score for Haylo Reach, she nearly had a heart attack. His score was... dear Celestia, it was ungodly. He was somehow ranked #2 for national and was probably well within the top five around the world. As a fellow gamer, she could somehow relate to him, but she was nowhere near his level. It sent shivers down her back to think of how badly he had to pwn all of those poor defenseless noobs to get that score. It still amazed her how he could ever get the time to accomplish such a feat. Vinyl continued to trot down the street, heading in the direction of the local game shop. If there was any place to start looking, it would be there. She rounded a corner and turned after trotting a few more steps. The mare looked up and saw a shop’s sign hung in big red letters. EQ-Games This was the place. She scanned the store’s front. All of it was familiar to her, the windows, the neon light ‘open’ sign, the posters... except for one, that is. She cocked her head to the side as she took a couple of steps to scan the new advertisement. Enter Now! Win a collector’s edition Haylo 4 and lifesize Master Pony model ‘Aw yeah,’ Vinyl Scratch thought. ‘That’s more like it.’ The unicorn trotted into the shop owned by her close gaming friend. Games of all sorts and consoles lined the shelves within. Everything from Assassin’s Steed to Fallout: New Pegasus. Dang it felt good to be in there. She even recognized the smaller section for the Wii games... but nopony ever wanted to play the Wii. Ever. Vinyl smiled and looked to her right. The mare noticed a new colt working behind the register. “Hey, new guy,” she said. The beige colored colt turned to her. “How many bits for that Master Pony model?” “Um, sorry, but we’re not selling it,” he said with an emotionless face. “Aw, c’mon man,” Vinyl pleaded. “Hook a mare up.” “No, we can’t. Just sign up like everypony else.” “What?! C’mon, do you even know who I am?” Slightly annoyed, Vinyl attempted to use her status as a famous DJ, which she rarely ever did. The colt gave such a deadpan look, Vinyl nearly shrunk back. The white mare moaned in frustration. The two continued to haggle over the model until a light gray pony with a white mane stepped out of the back of the shop. “Vinyl!” the pony exclaimed. “How’s my favorite gaming mare been?” “Oh, hey, Mario,” Vinyl replied with a smile as she recognized the shop’s owner. “Not too bad. Just tryin’ to get this chump here to sell me that Master Pony model, but he decided to be a pain in the flank," she added, the last part with an irritated glance at the beige pony. “What?! Are you kidding me, Eight Bit?” Mario said incredulously to his employee. “Vinyl here is our best customer. She deserves the best.” Vinyl smirked at Eight Bit while the colt backed up anxiously from his boss. “Don’t worry, Vinyl. I got another one in the back if you want it. I was savin’ it for myself, but you deserve it, my friend.” Vinyl looked to Mario, a slightly bewildered look on her face. “You sure, man?” “Of course! Anything for a good friend. Consider it your Hearth’s Warming Eve gift.” After she took the model, she bought a collector's edition Haylo 4. The best thing about being pals with the owner of the best game shop in town was that you got quite a few sweet hook ups with new games. Vinyl sat on her couch at home as she marveled at the armored model in the middle of her living room. The collector’s edition of Haylo 4 sat on it’s base, wrapped in wrapping paper that had the words ‘Party Hard’ repeatedly printed on it in red and green. Attached to the top of the model was a letter in the DJ’s handwriting that read: Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve! Time to take a load off all those guard duties. Enjoy! Sincerely Yours, Your secret Santa Hooves Next to that was a winking smiley face. Vinyl reclined and continued to admire her work. ‘Ya done good, Vinyl. Ya done good,’ she thought to herself and smirked. ’Now, just how am I gonna send this out without getting caught?’ She pondered the thought for a little bit. Vinyl then noticed a small light coming from the gift. She looked to her present with a start, afraid that it had somehow spontaneously combusted. When she saw what it was, however, she was just as surprised. There was a bright, swirling light circling around the present. The magic was warm and was somehow giving Vinyl a very happy feeling in her heart. She stared in awe at it. The light continued to circle the model and the game, leaving a sparkling trail behind it. It continued until the light sparkles engulfed the entire gift. There was suddenly a bright flash that blinded Vinyl as she stumbled back and averted her eyes. “What the hay?!” Vinyl stood, wiping her eyes until she figured that the light was gone. She opened her eyes and looked to where the gift was... or where it had been. Neither parts of the gift were there anymore. Instead, lying on the floor in front of her, in neat handwriting, was a small note. It read: Good job, Vinyl. Thank you for spreading the Hearth’s Warming spirit this year. Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve! Dearly and Sincerely, Santa Hooves “Yeah, yeah,” Vinyl grumbled, though she wore a content smirk. “I just better not get any coal in my stocking, Santa.” And so, she happily trotted off to prepare for the next few days, eagerly anticipating her favorite holiday. Now, what to get Octy?