Chapter 6
Vinyl Scratch sat quietly on a park bench just outside the library, eyes closed, listening to the background noise of the town, completely not caring that it didn’t matter whether her eyes were closed or not.
She had never really noticed before just how much activity there was in Ponyville on a day to day basis, while nowhere near on the level of Manehattan or Canterlot, it was far more than anypony would really expect.
She heard hoof steps approaching her; she perked her head up and smiled. “That you Whirlwind?”
“How did you know?” Whirlwind asked.
“I’ll let you know when I figure it out!” Vinyl said grinning mischievously. She heard the bench squeak softly as Whirlwind sat down next to her. “I suppose you came for that explanation I owe you?”
“I will admit, it is part of the reason, a small part, I’m more interested in how you’re doing,” Whirlwind said.
“When I lost my eyesight, I thought it was going to be the end of the world. It’s hard, but I think I’ll be able to manage.” Vinyl said smiling at him. “How are you Whirlwind?”
“Oh, you know, still vying for Rainbow Dash’s affection. Not really getting anywhere, but I don’t mind. I get to spend a lot of time with her while she’s training me,” Whirlwind said. Vinyl didn’t know how, but she knew he was smiling. “I’m not the giving up type.”
“Good! That’s exactly how I lived my life just before I got famous and ruined everything!” Vinyl said, maddening grin on her face. “Take my advice, don’t get famous, you’ll regret it.”
“Duly noted.”
They sat quietly for a while, each of them thinking about what the other had said.
“You want that explanation?” Vinyl asked finally.
“Nah, not right now. I think you’ve had enough on your plate today,” Whirlwind said. “The suspense may kill me, but I’m willing to risk it.”
“Ah! So you do have a sense of humour in that rock-hard shell of yours! I was worried!” Vinyl said, tossing it back at him.
“Rainbow Dash is all business when we’re training, so I am too... I’m not training right now,” Whirlwind said. Vinyl heard the bench creek slightly as Whirlwind got to his hooves. “I have to go, goodbye Vinyl.”
“Bye Whirlwind... hey, listen. Thanks for not treating me any different,” Vinyl said, giving the colt a smile.
“Well, thanks for treating me fairly, considering everything,” Whirlwind said, and trotted away.
Wait. What? Vinyl thought to herself. That had to have been the most ambiguous statement she’d ever heard in her life. Her brain started working at a thousand kilometres an hour, thinking over what he meant by that.
Did he...? Could he possibly know what he was? Vinyl would not be able to get Whirlwind off her mind for the rest of the day. She spent hours sitting on that park bench, lost in thought, she’d practically shut the entire world out, not listening to the sounds of Rainbow Dash yelling at Whirlwind to do better at his training. Not hearing Lyra and Bon Bon chatting about where to eat dinner at as they passed her.
And she certainly didn’t hear Derpy Hooves approach her.
“Um... excuse me?” Derpy said.
Vinyl snapped out of her thoughts and jumped slightly in surprise.
“Oh! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to sneak up on you!” Derpy cried.
“Hey! It’s absolutely fine! Don’t worry about it!” Vinyl said, smiling in the mare’s general direction. “It’s really nice to ‘see’ you again!”
Derpy chuckled uneasily at Vinyl’s joke, clearly afraid that she was going to offend the mare.
Vinyl smiled at her, trying to put her at ease, though she couldn’t tell if it was having an effect or not. She reached out and patted the empty seat on the bench with her hoof. “Come! Sit with me!” Vinyl said and listened as Derpy gingerly sat down on the bench, as if she was afraid it would break from under her.
Vinyl yawned loudly, stretching her forelegs above her head and giving her an excuse to put one around Derpy, she could hear the Pegasus mare breathing loudly, and gave a small chuckle. “You’re really nervous right now, aren’t you?”
“Am I that obvious?” Derpy asked. “I’m sorry, I just... I... nopony has ever showed an interest in me before.”
“Really?” Vinyl asked, legitimately surprised, she know that Derpy’s eyes had to have given her problems, but she had never imagined that they would be that bothersome.
“Well, not legitimate interest... when I was younger, everypony thought I was a lot dumber than I really am, there have been a few ponies that tried... to take advantage of me, in more ways than one,” Derpy said sadly. ”Not that I’m insinuating that you’ll do that too!” she added frantically.
“Relax! Please,” Vinyl said, giving the mare a comforting smile. “I don’t bite... hard.”
Vinyl could feel Derpy’s body temperature rising ever so lightly, she was blushing hard in embarrassment; Vinyl couldn’t help but give her a wide grin.
“So, what did you have to do work up the courage to come see me?” Vinyl asked her.
“Part of a bottle of cider,” Derpy said, “Not exactly proud of it... Dinky doesn’t like it when I drink.”
“Who’s Dinky?” Vinyl asked cocking her head slightly to the side.
“Oh! Uh... she’s my daughter,” Derpy said uneasily. “That... isn’t a problem is it?”
“Problem?” Vinyl asked. “Certainly not! I love kids! Kids generally love me too; they think I’m funny for some reason.”
Vinyl heard Derpy smirk, exhaling breath through her nose.
“Ha! I got you to smile didn’t I?” Vinyl asked.
Derpy didn’t reply right away, Vinyl figured that she probably had nodded as an answer, and then realised what she had done and added a quick “yeah.”
“See! I’m not a bad mare, all that worrying for nothing!” Vinyl said, gently pulling Derpy closer to her. “I can’t wait to tell my parole officer about this!” she added with a grin.
“Parole... officer?” Derpy asked uneasily, but then realised that Vinyl was making another joke. “Oh... ha ha! I get it; you’re trying to pull the wool over my eyes aren’t you?”
No sooner did Derpy finish her statement did she gasp, and clasp her hooves over her mouth; she couldn’t believe that she had just said that. Vinyl however did her best to reassure her.
“Hey, you’re not going to offend me!” Vinyl said, stroking the Pegasus mare’s mane. “I’m funny! I can take a joke! Like if I was to say, ‘I’m watching you clop,’ now that’s funny!”
Derpy had gone quiet, and was clearly blushing again, causing Vinyl Scratch to smile at her. “I know what it’s like, you know, to have something that makes you different that other people don’t understand, just like you.”
“What? Your charming personality?” Derpy asked smugly.
“Hey! Say what you will! I am most definitely charming!” Vinyl said. Grinning like the madmare she was. “Otherwise it would be impossible to get a sober mare out of a club dress!”
“You’re... rather forward about it, aren’t you?” Derpy asked.
“Way I see it? Why waste time dancing around the matter? When you’ve clearly got your sights set on something you want?” Vinyl said proudly. “Know what I mean?”
Derpy sat quietly for a moment. “Yes,” she said finally. “Yes I do. Vinyl Scratch? Would you like to come back to my place for dinner?”
Vinyl grinned widely at the mare sitting next to her. “I thought you’d never ask!”