Vinyl walked down a long corridor in the Ponyville recreation center. She was looking for a small room used normally for neighborhood meetings and little kids parties. This room would be her torture chamber for the evening. Vinyl agreed to go to the AA meeting after pleading with Octavia over the matter. "Please Octavia I don't want to go to a stupid, boring AA meeting with a bunch of losers."
"Vinyl!" Octavia said sternly, now engaging scolding motherly mood. "You are going to that meeting not for you, but for me. You owe me after your episode last night." Octavia looked away and folded her front hooves. Vinyl realized there was going to be no way out of this and submitted with Octavia's wishes.
"Fine you win Octavia." Vinyl said. Octavia then looked back at Vinyl and gave her a warm friendly hug.
"You know I care about you Vinyl, and I can't see you go down this path. Who knows where it might take you?" Octavia said. Octavia was right, no matter how stupid and reckless Vinyl acted, Octavia always helped her pull out of her slump. Vinyl thought this as she still held onto Octavia not wanting to let such a good friend to fad away. The two friends unclasped their hug, Vinyl made her way to the door to go to her meeting with the freaks. Octavia simply watched as Vinyl left, putting on a wicked smile as Vinyl let the front door close behind her.
back in the rec. center Vinyl found the small room and glanced inside. Gazing at her new companions she cringed at the sight of them. The closest pony next to the door with an empty chair next to him looked as if he never heard of a shower. Wearing nothing but overalls and a piece of straw in his mouth, the hick-pony glanced at Vinyl with discerning eyes. The pony to his right was a military pony. The military pony looked to have slightly better hygiene despite only having two legs. The only way Vinyl knew he was from the military was because he wore his duds from the Dragon wars a couple decades ago. He seemed to be anxious and always looking behind him. weird. The pony on the far left on the other side of the empty chair was taking up two chairs. He was a bulky buck with a dumbbell cutie mark. Vinyl snickered when she saw his tiny wings on his back, causing the pony to shift frantically in his seat to hid his wings. Vinyl then saw the bloated mass of I-give-up-on-life sitting on the left of pee-wee wings. Vinyl was certain the blob of pony depression was a female, but wasn't totally sure. Sitting down next to the her 'classmates' she spotted the teacher of this worthless group. A small pony wearing a sweater vest and tan slacks.
"Hello everypony my name is Mr. Rogers as many of you know. I only bring up names because we have a new arrival this evening." Mr. Rogers says with the up-most positivity. "Miss if you would be so kind as to give us your name and say hi to your new neighbors." Vinyl stood up despite her best judgement.
"I'm Vinyl Scratch....uhh, Hi there....neighbors." She said as she read the slogan of a poster on the wall.
"Oh great, you already know our motto in this little family." Mr. Rogers said with a mighty grin. "Well, why don't the rest of you introduce yourselves to little miss Vinyl Scratch."
The Hick stood up first, adjusting his only piece of clothing. "I'm Trash Bin, but most ponies just call me White Trash on accountin' of my white coat." White Trash sat back down heavy not really in the best of moods. After Trash sits the skittish military pony waddles onto the floor with his two front and only legs.
"I'm C-Cannon Fodder." He said as he quickly scrambled back onto his chair looking like he was going to explode or something. Next, the bulky pony stands next trying to hide his wings with his front hooves behind his back.
"I'm Snow Flake." He said avoiding eye contact. "I like to lift and show off how strong I am to other ponies." However, Snow Flake showed no actions proving his statement. Lastly the tub of pony waste inhaled deeply, signalling she was next, or having a stroke.
"I'm Rosey, but most people don't call me that since no pony loves me." She began to cry into her hands. What the fuck. Mr. roger let Rosey finish her sobs before smiling and signaling to start.
"Ok everypony, time to start with the healing." Mr. rogers said. "Since Vinyl is new here she will have to learn how to admit her problems, so if someone else could be so bold and show her how it is done." White Trash stood looking pissed off and began to speak, rather loudly.
"I don't have a fucking problem!" He exclaimed. "I love my booze, I would drink it every day if the court didn't put me under house arrest and making go to mandatory AA meetings. My damn wife charged me with assault, not my fault she can't take on the beast." White Trash said proudly. "I don't drink beer because I like the taste, I DRINK IT BECAUSE I FUCKING HAVE TO!" White Trash's face was now extremely red. "Mother fucking first wife took the only thing I truly loved in this world." White Trash now had tears rolling down his face mixing with his foaming mouth. "She took mah sheep. That is why I drink." White Trash sat down still enraged with bring back memories.
"Good Mr. Bin, letting others know why you started down a bad path is the first step in the other direction." Mr. Rogers said calmly. "Mr. Fodder would you like to go next or would that bring you into one of your war visions again?" Cannon Fodder looked at Mr. Rogers and quickly shock his head no. "I see, we are all here for you when you decide to talk." Cannon Fodder just continued to looking behind him as he quickly drank from his hidden flask, calming him down a bit. Snow Flake took the stand starring at the ground as he stood.
"Umm I have a drinking problem." He spat out.
"Good job, that is the first step." Mr. Rogers said. "Why do you think you have this problem?"
"Umm." Snow Flake said, not knowing if to share it with the new pony in the room. Snow Flake put on a brave face and whispered. "Because my wings make me feel...small."
"I'm sorry Snowy, but what was that?" Mr. Rogers said.
"He said his wings make him feel more like a mare than a stallion." White Trash laughed. Snow Flake started to tear up at the hurtful comment.
"Yes, my wings make me unselfconscious of myself. That is why I feel like I have to be stronger that everypony else." Snow Flake said almost in sobs. "When I drink I feel better about myself and everypony seems to like me more."
"Thank you Snowy for sharing," Mr. Rodgers said. Snow Flake sat down with a small smile as he wiped his tears. "You should know by now that those aren't your real friends if they can't like you for who you are Snow." Snow took in a deep breath and looked back at Mr. Rogers, happier. The whale in the corner soon sprang to life as she began to talk.
"At least people like SOME part of you!" Rosey yelled as she began sweating from the extra movement. "Alcohol is the only one I can count on. Every man leaves me and I have to sink into the bottle from killing myself."
"Now Rosey, a beautiful mare like yourself should not say such things." Mr. Rogers said comforting the Elephant.
"I don't know? From the rest of you losers the blimp seems to be the one with the most brains, funny considering it is being crush by fat." White Trash said through a teeth baring smile. Rosey began to cry uncontrollably and the group had to wait till she returned to just having labored breath.
"Now now Rosey, don't listen to any stallion or mare that is calling you harsh words. They are all wrong because you have as much beauty as any Canterlot model." Mr. Rogers said with an unknown kindness. Rosey calmed down and the group returned their eyes to Vinyl, who was stunned from the display.
"Well, miss would you like to share your problem with the group?" Mr. Rogers said. Vinyl stood up knowing that her story was not half as fucked up as these ponies. She explained the events of the night before and how she was only here because of her friend.
"Thank you Vinyl." Mr. Rogers almost said to quickly, seeming to change his mood form what Vinyl saw earlier. "Great work today ponies, make sure to be a good neighbor and stay sober." Everypony was getting ready to leave and so was Vinyl, until she was told to stay after everypony else was gone. Once the room was clear except for Mr. Rogers and Vinyl herself, Rogers sat down. "Have a seat." He said. Vinyl did as she was told not expecting what was going to happen next. "Do you smoke Vinyl?" Rogers said as he opened a pack of cigarettes and lit a lighter.
"Uh, no Mr. Rogers." Vinyl said, not understanding why he was asking.
"Really? Wow, rare for an alcoholic to not be a chain smoker." Rogers said as he inhaled his first bit of smoke. "And don't call me 'Mr. Rogers' any more that is more for the freaks of the AA meeting. Rogers will be fine." Vinyl was speechless not knowing if he was serious. "The reason I kept you after kid was to have a little chat. I know you are not a fuck up like those assholes....yet." Rogers said giving Vinyl a stern look.
"What do you mean Mr- I mean Rogers?" Vinyl said before Rogers stood up and grabbed Vinyl by the chin with one hoof making sure Vinyl was starring into his eyes.
"what I mean bitch is stop fucking up your life." Roger said as he held Vinyl harder making sure she couldn't move. Vinyl noticed that the male pony had more strength then his body let on. Rogers finally released Vinyl only to grab her by the hair. "you know kid I used to be like you. I loved to party and have fun. My friends also loved to have fun." Rogers said switching moods from glee to seriousness. "Of course, having a drink is harmless with friends right?" Rogers asked looking into Vinyl's confused face. "My friend and I loved to play drinking games in college and later on after college. One fateful night however, I had more to drink then I normally do." Rogers said as he released Vinyl's hair and began pacing around the room, Vinyl was no trembling from the physical and audio abuse she received. "HAHA! It was all a big joke, no biggy right? That is what we both said before we made a huge mistake that landed me in prison and a dead friend." Rogers looked piss off and it only frightened Vinyl more. "You want to know what we did? How alcohol and drinking abuse ruined my life?!" Vinyl was to frozen from fear to answer. "We were in a club dancing when this group of assholes confronted me and my friend. We thought nothing of it, but being in a new club on the shady side of town we should have known better." Rogers moaned feeling guilt return from deep with in. "My friend, the one who would later be a corpse rotting in the street was throwing his fathers money around like the drunken dipshit he was." Rogers smiled at the memory of his friend throwing his money around. "Little did we know, that made us a target. My friend and I were drunk out of our minds and knew that we had to walk home." Rogers began to stare at the wall behind Vinyl, who was holding her hooves. "The group of thug that confronted us in the club were now following us. They jumped us from a hidden alley and stabbed my friend with the money and ran off." Rogers tensed. "Soon after the police arrived, but instead of helping me they arrested me. I was held responsible for my best friends death and spent 10 years in prison." Rogers lifted his shirt to show several scars that varied in width. "This is what happens in prison along with other...things." Rogers dropped his shirt and starred at Vinyl. "Yep! you are totally prison bait, a total cell slut." Vinyl gasped as she heard what Rogers was saying. "Soon after I was released I got the shit job of baby sitting failures with petty problems." Rogers grabbed another cigarette and quickly lit it. "I like you kid, you seem smart and I don't want you to go through what I went through, or worse what those bitches are complaining about." Vinyl soon regained composure and sat up. "I don't want to see you back here again kid, now get out." Vinyl nodded and got up. Rogers let out a puff of smoke as Vinyl left.
"Hahaha, gets them every time." Rogers said with a smirk. Rogers now put the fake cigarette away and washed the fake scars away. "The old scared straight tactic." Rogers exited the room with a silly smile on his face.
Later Vinyl entered the small apartment and spotted Octavia. She was practicing music with her non broken cello. Vinyl ran up to Octavia and gave her a huge. "I'm sorry I hurt you Tavi just please don't let me get that reckless again." Vinyl cried. "I don't want to drink any more if that means hurting you." Octavia continued to hug Vinyl with a mug smile on her face. Her revenge was complete.
"So did my friend Mr. Rogers help you with your problem?" Octavia said forcing herself not to laugh.