//------------------------------// // Street Mule meets High class pony // Story: Street Mule // by Nanaya pony //------------------------------// The sound of running and her own heartbeat filled Vinyl’s ears as she ran down the alley, hoping that the other sound of hooves would go away after getting lost in the maze of alleys that she had been leading them through. But as she looked back her fears where confirmed as the three stallions where still behind her. “Get back here Street Mule!” The leader screamed as they charged for Vinyl. ‘These guys don’t give up.’ The white unicorn, thought as she turned another corner, behind her the three ponies turned the same corner, running into the trash cans next to the building. Vinyl had the upper hand though; she knew these alleys like the back of her hoof. First a right, then a left, another left, then right again and straight, was the plan she had to get rid of the guys as the route dropped her near a sewer drain. That was her escape, but it would not happen. She turned right and she ended up facing a dead end, “She’s hit a dead end, let’s get her!” Vinyl heard from behind her, but a stupid wall wasn’t going to stop her. She charged the wall and focused her magic into her hooves, then ran up the wall her magic keeping her bound to the wall like she was running on the ground. At the top of the wall she jumped on the other side, landing hard on the ground. Luckily for her, the stallions were only earth ponies, and not pegasi or unicorns. “We’ll make you pay for this Street Mule!” The stallion shouted from the other side of the wall, Vinyl said nothing and chuckled a little at the fact that she had gotten away. Though the unicorn was beat, her breathing was heavy as her body demanded oxygen, and her magic was dwindling low from all the stunts she had pulled through out the chase. She started walking, she had to leave before they had a chance to try and go around, which would take them a good five minutes. Her legs screamed at her to stop and let them rest, and the fact that she hadn’t eaten anything all day wasn’t helping. She pushed on though, ignoring her body’s pleas to stop. She knew the worse pain was to come, as the adrenaline wore off the real pain would come. Vinyl almost collapsed a few times just from trying to get back to her home. ‘What home?’ She thought angrily. She knew she was homeless, but that corner of Mane and 135 St. was starting to become homey. Well until those three goons had come looking for some bits as payback for a ‘loan’ she had gotten from them. Thus a chase had ensued, and here she was. Exiting the alleyway, she got her bearings from the street signs, ‘I’m in the rich part of Canterlot? That doesn’t make sense…’ Her thoughts trailed off and she sighed to herself. Looking at the sky, Vinyl judge the time to be around Nine o’clock in the evening, as Luna was bringing up the Moon from over the horizon. Her body was really starting to hurt now that the adrenaline was wearing off. “I guess I’ll go find a bridge to stay under for the night.” She said before being pulled back into the alleyway by a pair of hooves. “We caught you, Street Mule.” ----------- Octavia was having a wonderful evening so far, she just had finished her solo for one of the biggest concert hall in all of Equestria. For which she had a standing ovation for, on top of that she had finally gotten her paycheck from the last solo she did in Manehattan. So she could pay her house bills without having her landlord breathing down her neck the whole time. She was currently backstage in her room breathing a sigh of relief that the solo was over. She never was able to totally get over the anxiety that came with performing a solo. Her cello sat in its case, staring at Octavia, and she stared back before having a giggling fit. “I have to say Miss Octavia, every time I hear you beautiful music I’m moved to tears.” Octavia is startled by the voice from behind her. He was handsome stallion with a light green coat and dark yellow man and tail, his gold eyes stare at her with happiness. His fancy over coat showed that he was the best of the best, on top of the pile as they would say. He had a light English accent that gave away his rich upbringing and the way he stood told everypony that he was proud of who he was. The oddest thing about this pony was his cutie mark which was a stage of all things. Every time Octavia saw this pony she knew could be proud of her music whether she had a standing ovation or just a clapping. She smiled at the pony, “Ah thank you Manager.” It was a strange name for a pony and he was also the owner of the theater that she was playing in. Manager simply smiled at his friend, had know Octavia for years, in fact her first solo was played in this very theater. “Oh do not thank me dear, I should thank you for allowing me to have you in my theater tonight.” Octavia shook her back and forth, “No, thank you for allowing me to play here once again Manager.” Octavia knew had it not been for Manager her career may have not taken off at all. Manager chuckled at what was about to happen, he knew they would go back and forth, each trying to out thank the other. However a yawn from Octavia stopped Manager from trying to thank Octavia again. Octavia blush as Manager chuckled at her behavior. “Do you want me to walk you home tonight?” Manager asked, as Octavia shuts her cello case, and puts it on her back, “Thank you, but I’ve already got a ride Manager, besides you have four more shows performing here.” Manager scratches his head with his hoof in embarrassment, “Ah I was caught.” He says, “Though how do you carry that cello around all by yourself?” Octavia puffs her checks out at his teasing; she turned after in a huff trotting to the back door. Then she turned around and smile at Manager, “You won this round.” The door shut behind Octavia and Manager was left alone in the room, “Alright, I’ve got a long night ahead no need to waste it.” He said to himself as he looked at the clock, it was nine o’clock he walked out of the room looking the door behind him, “Now I think the ensemble for the next show is this way.” He turned down a hallway. ----------- Octavia stood outside the warm theater, in the cold night. She shivered a little as the carriage pulled up, it was simple for high class standards. A two sit carriage that had a round hole on each door, however since it was the spring time there was no glass in the window so ponies could enough the cool breeze on a hot day. The driver hoped off the outside seat and opened the door closest to Octavia, “Miss Octavia, your ride.” The driver bowed to her like she royalty or something. The driver was simple with a hat and a coat to keep the cold off of him, the ponies pulling the carriage wore a lot less, but the cold didn’t bother them. Octavia headed down to the carriage, she had already paid of the driver and carriage to take her home from the theater. She started to take off the cello off of her back when the driver stopped her, “Oh please allow me.” The driver took off his hat and showed he was a unicorn. The cello flew up and landed on the carriage roof, where luggage was normally stored it was strapped to the roof. “Oh thank you sir.” The unicorn put his hat back on and stood back up, “Not a problem Madam.” Octavia climbed into the carriage, the driver closing the door behind her. Inside Octavia could feel the driver getting back to his seat before yelling “Hiya!” The carriage began moving, first slowly then it steadying at a brisk pace. Having nothing to do Octavia look out the window to her left, having entered from the right door, she stared at the buildings past. Almost wishing she had her cello to do some unnecessary tuning to it, something to pass the time. Not ten minutes has past before she noticed something off in the distance, she saw three earth ponies come out of an alleyway; they had normal clothes on with some tears in their clothes. They were also scruffy looking; they stood out of place like a red dots on green paper. They turned a corner, and Octavia’s carriage was passing the alleyway the three had come out of. Her eyes widen and her body had acted before her mind had caught up with what she was seeing. “Stop the carriage!” She screamed and it came to stop very quickly. “Miss Octavia what are you…” The driver trailed off as Octavia bolted from the carriage and toward the alleyway. She wanted it to be an illusion, that it was a figment of her imagination, something her mind did to get out of the normal routine that she had. But the scene did not disappear as she moved closer; instead it became more and more real. She stopped in front of a body of a white mane with bight blue hair, the ground around her stained with a red color. But she did not stop, “Hey are you ok!?” She just about yelled out to the body, as she got very close to it. Red eyes looked up at her, before closing, but she never saw them open in the first place. Octavia put her ear near the mare’s mouth trying to hear a response. The only thing she got was the sound of short and raspy breathing. “Miss Octavia what are you…Oh my!” The driver was now behind Octavia. “Hey get a hold of yourself. We need to get her to the hospital.” Octavia said looking straight at the driver who was still in a bit of shock. “R-Right!” The driver said and used his magic to pick up the white mare. He quickly and carefully floated her over to the carriage, Octavia opening the door so he could concentrate on being gentle with the mare. After he had placed the mare into the carriage she hopped into it, the driver quickly getting back into his seat. Octavia focused on keeping the mare still so the movement of the carriage would cause her further harm. The carriage was moving quickly to the hospital, but in Octavia’s head it was taking forever. She looked the mare over seeing cuts and bruises all over the mare’s body; she was also losing blood fast. There was one thing Octavia had thought of, ‘How did I see her?’ It was a dark alley and it was not illuminated by the lights at all. ‘Well the white coat and bight blue hair had to of helped.’ She rationalized, Octavia’s thoughts were broken as they finally pulled up the hospital. Octavia was out of the carriage in a flash and all but broke down the emergency entrance door, “I need a doctor now!” She yelled and in a flash a paramedic team had the mare out of the carriage, on a stretcher, and rushing her to the emergency room. “Please don’t be to late.” She whispered. ------- The clock in the waiting room showed Eleven o’clock, Octavia sat there with her cello next to her. The driver had gone and Octavia paid him some extra bits for his help. He didn’t want the extra money, but she had just about shoved it down his throat saying, ‘It’s for the blood in his carriage and all the trouble he would have to go through.’ Normally she would have been asleep right now, after having some wine to celebrate her successful performance. She couldn’t sleep knowing at that pony was still in the emergency room. The sound of hooves stopping in front of her, Octavia was dragged herself of her thoughts and looked up at the doctor. “Are you the one who brought in the white unicorn?” Octavia wanted to jump out of her seat and ask the doctor a million and one questions, “Yes I am.” She settled with being claim at the moment, the doctor sighed making Octavia’s heart drop to her stomach, and then he gave a small smile, “She’s going to be fine.” Octavia felt a huge weight come off her shoulders. “Though I’m must say I’m surprised she survived,” The doctor admitted, “She had everything from fractured ribs, to internal bleeding, to head trauma and even malnourishment.” Octavia’s stomach fell again after hearing the doctor describe what injuries that white pony had. “But with lots of rest and some good food, she’ll make it back to one hundred percent, I’m sure of it.” The earth pony doctor reassured Octavia. Octavia sighed again, “Can I see her?” Octavia’s own voice shocking her, the doctor looked back and forth, making sure no-one was watching him. “Well I’m not suppose to but I can get you a bed next to hers if you’re not feeling well.” He winked, Octavia understood right away, “Well I am feeling exhausted, from the stress.” So with some strings being pulled, Octavia had a bed right next to the mare she found on the street. The pony had wires and three IVs come out of every part of her, one for blood, another for water, and the last one would have been for either food or medication.She was watching the pony closely studding her breathing and slowly she found herself drifting off to sleep. ------------- The first thing that Vinyl heard was the sound of beeping; it was an annoying beeping sound like an alarm clock. She slowly opened her eyes, the light of the white wall forcing her eyes closed again. She tried opening them again, the white wall assaulting her eye, but she dealt with it and soon her eye adjusted to the light. Vinyl opened her eye and found wires and IVs sticking out of her body. The first thing, besides the walls, that Vinyl saw was a mare with a beautiful gray coat, well kept black mane, and deep purple eyes, staring right at her.Vinyl opened her mouth to speak but found she would only say one word. “Beautiful…” ---------------------------------------------- (Bah this chapter shorter than what I’m use to)