//------------------------------// // 7. Collateral // Story: The Best Songs Come From the Soul // by Quicksear //------------------------------// An Evil was nesting in the heart of Ponyville. I could not sit comfortably that morning, despite the delicious breakfast Lyra had compulsively made for us. I shifted my weight away from my now bandaged thigh as I stirred my roasted granola, avoiding the uncomfortable glances Lyra threw my way. A white bandage on a grey coat was hardly inconspicuous. Thankfully, though, she did not question me. If she had, I may not have been able to keep my thoughts to myself. Vinyl was falling apart. I feared she was mad. How long had she been like this, secreting her inexplicable sorcery in her basement? What could its purpose even possibly be? Vinyl meant enough to me to risk finding out. As I sat there, engaged in light conversation and forcing as much cheer as I could into the sweet nothings, I was thinking over how to set about investigating. First, however, I had to make sure those still with me would be okay. I leaned over the table and laid a hoof upon Lyra's, "Lyra, will you need any assistance today? I am here to help if you need it." She smiled wanly. "Oh no Octy, I couldn't impose, and anyway I got it all planned out: I'll take the morning train to Withervale, and if Bon Bon isn't there, on to Hoofington. Don't worry, I'll be back tomorrow. With Bonny." She sounded as if she was trying to convince herself as much as me, but I would respect her decision. After all, I had my own problem to deal with. I smiled and nodded. "Okay. I wish you the best of luck. I'm sure Bonny is fine, but if you need anything, just send a letter and I'll be right there, no matter what, okay?" She hugged me shakily, moved by my offer. I wanted to stay there with her, comfort her further, but my facade was cracking under the weight of my thoughts, and I bid her a hasty farewell. The image of her sitting there forlorn and alone tugged at my emotions as I walked away. I couldn't help a dry smile: I guess that's why they call her Heartstrings. ***** Ponyville was as busy and cheerful as usual that day, the only exceptions being the few ponies I knew to be close to Bon Bon and Lyra. I caught a few curious glances as I walked towards the market square, and even more once I began passing through it. But I ignored them, my mind settling upon the one source of information in this town. If anypony knew how to deal with Vinyl, surely it would be the Princess's personal protege? "H-hey, Octavia! Hello!" Oh, please, not now...I turned and faced the vendor behind her loaded cart in the unusually sparse market, "Good morning Carrot Top." The usually fiery mare looked a little unsure as she rounded her stand and trotted up to me, but all I could think about was how hard it would be for me to remain calm for long. However, something stayed the excuse in my throat as she found her own words, "Listen, Octavia, I'm sorry about the other day, I was just...oh my stars, your leg!" "Yes, I injured myself a mite..." I looked back at the twinging limb, only now noticing it had begun bleeding again, "Ah, I see..." "Here, let me." Carrot Top nudged me around the side of her stand, overriding my faint objection as she pulled out a first aid kit, "I'm a volunteer nurse at the clinic, okay, I know what I'm doing, just let me help you out." "Well, thank you," I muttered awkwardly, trying not to feel embarrassed about another pony handling that part of my body. As the bandage fell away under Carrot Top’s ministrations, I heard her gasp. Making sure nopony could see us in the dubious privacy of her stall, I looked awkwardly back at the mare staring intently at my inner thigh. “Carrot Top, please don’t feel offended, but this is...weird. I’m going to ask you what’s wrong...?” She shook herself and pulled away, winding the bandage up and getting a new one from her first aid kit, “Oh, sorry, I was just...Look, I need to ask you where you got this injury.” “Uh...” My mind went dead. I couldn't tell her where I got it. I didn't even know myself, not for sure, “I...fell, rather awkwardly admittedly, but I don’t see how-” “Liar.” I blinked, stunned. “Excuse me?” Carrot Top pointed at my wound, “You didn't fall onto something to get that, that’s clearly cut into you. Almost looks like...razor blades...” She gasped, “Octavia, what did you-?!” “Shush!” I hissed, shoving a hoof in her mouth. Then I slumped down. I felt so tired...”I know it isn't pretty, but I need to get going, so if you could give me back my bandage, I’d like not to bleed all over your carrots.” “Oh, sorry,” She noticed the trickle of blood, and, finally, bound my damaged leg back up with a fresh bandage. Then she turned to me, so that we faced squarely. Just as I was about to thank her: “What did you do to Noteworthy?” This was rapidly becoming a rather confusing conversation. “Carrot Top, I don’t even know Noteworthy. Other than a conversation we had the other day about Vinyl...” ...Wait... “Well, he’s at the clinic right now,” She said testily, pointing at my leg, “with a wound exactly like that drilled into his barrel. He came in screaming bloody murder about the ‘cowled mare flying from the moon, stabbing him with purple’. If you’re doing something, I’ll have to-” “I need to speak to Miss Sparkle...” I whispered. Carrot Top looked confused, “Uh, Octavia, Twilight and the Elements of Harmony left for Cloudsdale two days ago...” “What?!” My outburst left Carrot Top taken aback, but she explained, if cautiously, “There was an ‘altercation’ in Cloudsdale; apparently some very sensitive information or equipment was stolen from the Weather Factory, and something is unstable...I’m just an earth pony, I don’t understand all the jargon, but it’s all in the papers. You’d have to be stuck under a rock not to have heard about it.” “I’ve been...preoccupied, Carrot Top...” I droned, staring blankly at the cartside of the stall. Who would help me now...? “Octy, one question,” Carrot Top started abruptly, “Bonny, her not coming home...did you have anything to do with that?” Well this could only go well...”No. Carrot Top, I didn't. I would never do anything like that to another pony, especially not to a friend. Just seeing Lyra these last few days....Of course I haven’t had time for anything else, my life is falling apart around m-me...” That’s where my composure fractured. All my years training in upper class stoicism only left me crying quietly into Carrot Top’s mane as she hugged me uncertainly. The weight of the last few days dropped from on high and buried me for those few minutes. I only resurfaced when I heard Carrot Top distantly turning customers away so that she could hold me. I was making a scene. One thing I didn't need right now was undue attention I pulled myself together. I had things to do, dots to join. “T-thank you Carrot Top, but I’m sure you have better things to do. I’ll get out of your-” “You’re hiding something, Octavia.” This mare didn’t know when to stop. I looked her straight in the eye and took a shaky breath. “Yes. Yes I am, but I’m not the one you should be worried about. Please, I have things that desperately need doing.” Carrot Top stared back for a moment, thinking. Then she raised her chin boldly. “Well...so long as you promise you’re not hurting anypony-” “Of course not!” “-then I’ll help you. Something’s not right in this town, and you’re square in the middle of it. I don’t want to see more ponies hurt like this.” “Well I...” I didn't know what to say. I was caught between gratefully accepting and just running away. But then something caught my attention; “Wait, how many ponies...?” Carrot Top raised a brow. “Vinyl, this pegasus from out of town, Lyra the other day, Noteworthy and now you.” Of course. Lyra, the pony who took me in. Noteworthy, the pony who found the source of the music. And now me. “Listen, is there any chance I can talk to Noteworthy? I think he may be able to solve a few pieces of this for me.” She looked skeptical, but hesitantly nodded. we finally left her stall, her taking the lead towards the border of town, where the clinic sat amidst the calming trees. I tried to blink the redness from my eyes, but I knew it was in vain. We reached the Clinic, and with a few easy words, Carrot Top brought me to a ground floor room labelled ‘recuperation’. She made her way to Noteworthy's side and checked some of the blinking screens before gently touching the colt on the shoulder. I was surprised to see his eyes immediately open as he stared blearily at Carrot Top. She bent and whispered something in his ear before waving me forward. As I complied, I couldn't help but take in his condition: his blue coat was marred with faint bruises, his one eye looked slightly swollen, and of course, there was a swath of bandage wrapped about his middle. "Somepony's here to visit you Noteworthy, okay?" I heard Carrot Top coo, before she turned to me and said, "The doctor decided to keep him sedated til his wound closes, so be patient." With a small assent, I sat next to the bed. I didn't really know where to start, so I began.gently; "Hello Noteworthy...how are you feeling?" His eyes instantly locked with mine, and he held the stare for a few seconds, just long enough to be uncomfortable. Then he muttered softly, “...She found you?” I frowned. “I...who do you mean, Noteworthy, who was looking for me?” His eyes widened as he shook his head slowly. “Oh no, you aren’t fooling me again! Flitter came down, struck me with purple, And she wasn't Flitter, she was her, and now she’s you! Oh no, you’re not gonna get me, you’re not gonna...get...me...” My eyes were wide as I looked at Carrot Top dialing up the sedative. She motioned me to the door, and I slowly backed out. I leant against the wall outside Noteworthy’s room, bellowing breaths as my mind galloped a thousand miles an hour through possibilities I never could have thought of before, and all of them terribly bad. I needed help. A soft cough pulled me out of my reverie, and I found myself looking into a worried pair of emerald eyes. “Octavia, please, what is going on...” She pleaded glancing down the empty hallway before looking back at me. I stared at her a moment longer, then sighed..“Carrot Top, if you get involved in this, I don’t think I can promise you’ll be safe.” She gulped, but nodded . “I understand. What do you know?” So I told her.