//------------------------------//
// Improvising - Syvvak 
// Story: The Jazzy Fillyfooling Group Collab 
// by The Princess Rarity 
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“Give me your lunch money, blank-flank.” A group of three young colts were grinning down deviously at a shaking grey filly. She looked around, hoping to see someone to come to her rescue. She didn’t.

“But, how am I suppose to eat?” she asked, hoping to appeal to their sympathies.

“Plenty of ponies throw food away,” the one at the front said, a cruel smirk plastered on his face. “Now, give it up.”

As the little grey pony reached into her bags for the bits, a voice was heard.

“Heya, fellas. How’s it goin’?” The filly looked up and saw a unicorn not much older than herself. She had a white coat, blue mane, and an outrageous pair of purple sunglasses hanging onto two of the colts necks.

“Not bad, Scratch. Gettin’ some lunch money. HURRY UP!! I WANNA EAT TODAY!!” The scared filly scramble to get the bits out.

“Didn’t ya guys bring your own money?” the newcomer asked.

“Well, ya, but we need more than what that can get to fill us up.” The mare was still rummaging around trying to find her bits.

“Oh, makes sense,” she said, releasing her grip on the two, returning to four feet. She started to walk towards the mare as she talked. “I remember, just the other day, I was getting money from this one puny colt. He was so adamant about not giving it to me.” She stopped in front of the younger pony, who stopped what she was doing and slowly looked at the unicorn. “Do you know what he did?” she asked the little mare, who shook her head, afraid of what was going to happen.

“He said, ‘I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY LUNCH MONEY! IF YOU WANT MORE FOOD, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR PARENTS FOR MORE MONEY OR GET A JOB!” She turned around to look at the colts. “I couldn’t believe him. He shouted so loud, my ears were ringing. It was probably louder than what I just did. He seemed to get rigid when I took my glasses off-” she took off her glasses “-and took on a fighting stance.” She readjusted her feet, adopting what she assumed was a believable, intimidating defensive stance.

“I said to him, I says ‘Have you ever been to the arcade a block up from that really girly store?’ He shook his head and I said, ‘Well, it just ain’t gonna happen’.”

As she finished her story, all the ponies had looks of confusion on their faces. Before anyone could reply, a teacher ran around a corner. Having heard someone yelling, he rushed to check it out. As he crested the corner, he saw three colts standing over a cowering grey filly and a white unicorn trying to protect her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, as he sprinted up to stand beside the little white unicorn.

“Nothing, Mr. Turner. We were just talking to these la-”

“They were trying to take the new filly’s lunch money, Mr. Turner!” The brown pony looked at the gathering of colts.

“Really, Vinyl? Is this true, boys?” he asked, calmly. He had no anger in his voice, just calm.

The colts spluttered, trying to form an excuse. “That’s what I thought. You two may proceed to the lunch room. You three are going to see the principal. Allons-y.” He walked off, staying behind the three colts. As they rounded a corner, he shot Vinyl a glance. He gave her a smile and a nod. The smile seemed to have all the acceptance, appreciation, and respect a pony could hold.

Beaming, Vinyl turned back to the grey mare, who was still cowering on the floor. “You can get up now,” she said with a gentle smile. The grey mare raised her lavender eyes to look into the red ones.

“But, aren’t you gonna take my lunch money now?” she asked, her voice shaking.

“Me? No. I don’t do that. I just had to distract them and yell so Mr. Turner could get here before they could do anything. I knew where he was, so I ju-” She was interrupted as the grey filly jumped up and wrapped her hooves around her neck.

“Thank you so much! I didn’t know what to do. I’m a stupid blank-flank who can’t protect herself.” At this last statement, she released Vinyl and looked down at the ground.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m a blank-flank, too.” She turned to the side a little, revealing her pearly white side to be unmarked. “And you were in a new place, with new ponies. It scares anypony. Now, come on... I don’t know your name. I’m Vinyl Scratch.” She held out her hoof for the new pony to shake.

“I’m Octavia.” She shook Vinyl’s hoof and smiled.

“Well, Tavi, let’s go get some lunch. I’m starvin’.” She turned towards the cafeteria, her new friend walking beside her.