//------------------------------//
// Reveal 
// Story: Vinyl Secret. 
// by Proud Blank Flank 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 3: Reveal.


Vinyl Scratch woke up early that morning, anticipating Oxides visit. Vinyl took as much time as possible to prepare herself. She took the longest shower and brushed longer than she ever had before. Vinyl Scratch could safely say that she had a little crush on Oxide. 
Eagerly awaiting the knock on the door, Vinyl set up her equipment on the coffee table and messed around with it to pass the time. An hour later. No knocking. An hour later. Still nothing. An hour later. Still nothing! Star Shy came in several times to check on the waiting filly. Vinyl became irritated and a bit sad. 
Vinyl finally gave up on her wait and decided to head back upstairs, when suddenly; knocking. She ran downstairs, put her goggles on, and opened the door. It was only the mail colt delivering mail. Vinyl sighed and took an envelope for Star Shy. The envelope had some significant weight to it, which made Vinyl curious. It would have been rude of her to intrude on Star Shy's mail so she didn't bother to wonder. 
Vinyl thanked the mail colt, closed the door, gave the mail to Star Shy, and headed to her room to wallow in a slight depression. Star Shy came in after opening her package to check on Vinyl, who lay her in bed with her goggles removed. Small tears ran down her cheeks. She had good reason to be down, considering the first colt she had a successful conversation with actually stood up on her.
“You okay?” Star Shy worried for Vinyl.
“Yeah, I'm fine.” Vinyl sniffled and rubbed her eyes.
“How do you feel?” Star Shy sat at the edge of Vinyl's bed.
“A bit sad. That's all.” Vinyl whispered.
“Maybe he had something important to do. Don't be too mad at him.” Star Shy rubbed Vinyl's head gently.
“I'm not mad. . . I'm just hurt. The first colt I talk to and he doesn't show up like he promised.” Vinyl looked at Star through her hair that had been pressed down by Star Shy's hoof.
“Don't worry. You'll have more chances. I'll check on you later.” Star Shy affirmed Vinyl and resided back to her room.

“12:05P.M: Vinyl Scratch is stood up by the colt. She is currently in her room crying softly. Not only does she have minor control of her sadness; she has completely rejected any anger that should have come from this.” Star Shy reported.
A few minutes later, a reply.
“So she hasn't gone over board with her emotions like she has before?” read the reply.
“Confirmed.” wrote Star.
Star Shy decided to check on Vinyl Scratch to confirm her report before sending it.  
Star Shy knocked on closed door and let herself in. “Vinyl?”
“Yeah?” Vinyl set down the book she picked up a while back.
“You feel better?” Star Shy asked, remaining in the door way.
“Yup. I figured he must have had something come up. I'll see him again anyway.” said Vinyl.
“Oh, good. Glad you feel better.”
Star Shy went back to her room and added to her report.
“Confirmed. Vinyl Scratch not only has full control of her emotions at the moment, but she has also learned to overcome them.” Star wrote and sent.
“Whether or not this is good or bad, did you get the package we sent you?” 
“Yes, I will be sure to use it if things become out of hoof.”
Star Shy picked up the opened envelope and held a small device within her hoof. She then set it down, went downstairs to get a cup of coffee, and relaxed at the dining table.

Vinyl Scratch, still in her bed, resolved to use her new found skills to go apologize to the colt she had bumped into. Vinyl kinda hoped to see Oxide on the way, but she didn't know what she would say.
Vinyl Scratch uncovered herself and rolled out of bed. Quickly, she fixed up her mane. She took a few steps and realized she forgot her goggles. She turned around to the shelf she had set them on and stared at them for a few moments. For the first time in her life, she had the slightest confusion on why she had to wear them. She pushed back the thoughts, grabbed them, and strapped them around her face. 
Vinyl galloped out the door and charged her way down to the fire station. Since it was a public building, Vinyl made her way right in. 
“Hey, Vinyl.” said Oxide. She had completely forgotten that Oxide worked at the fire station.
Vinyl stopped mid stride, staring at the colt who hadn't showed up.
“Oh. . . Hey. . . Is Blaze here?” Vinyl asked.
“Yeah, Why?” He got up from his office chair that was placed casually in front of a similar desk to Star Shy's. 
“I just wanted to talk to him.” she answered with a bit of annoyance.
“Okay, Okay.” Oxide turned, walked up to a funnel implanted into the wall, and called into it. “Blaze, we have a guest here who wants to talk to you.” He faced Vinyl and looked straight into her goggles. “I'm sorry I didn't show up this morning. I completely forgot I had work today. I thought it was my day off but, I guessed wrong.” Oxide apologized.
“It's fine.” Vinyl turned away as she said this and watched Blaze approach her.
“How can I help you?” Blaze said with a small smile. 
“Can I speak to you outside?” Vinyl proposed. Oxide took offense to this. He knew she didn't want to be around him right now.
“Yeah, no problem.” assured Blaze.
The two ponies headed out, Blaze closed the door after Vinyl exited, and they stood a few feet apart, facing each other.
“So what's up?” asked Blaze.
“Well, I'm here to apologize.” Vinyl stated.
“For what? You didn't start yesterdays fire did you?” Blaze retorted.
“No, No. Remember awhile back when I bumped into you, and you apologized?” Vinyl inquired.
“Yeah. What about it?” Blaze was a bit puzzled.
“I wanted to apologize for my tone of voice when I said it was okay.” she hung her head.
“It's fine. Don't worry about it. The past is the past.” Blaze smiled and rubbed the back of his head.
Vinyl's head shot up. “Really?”
“Really.”
Vinyl smiled. “Thanks. That's all I wanted to hear.”
Blaze put his hoof down and nodded. “By the way, why do you wear those goggles all the time?”
“I. . .” Vinyl Scratch didn't have an answer. She never actually wondered that herself until now.
“Look, if it's personal, forget I asked. I'll see you some other time.” Blaze said and went back inside.
Vinyl rubbed the back of her head with her hoof. “Yeah. . .” She sighed.
Vinyl gradually headed home, trying to come up with her own answer for her goggles. Vinyl was tempted to take them off right there and then, but Star Shy had warned her many times not to do so, which made Vinyl wonder even more.

Star Shy finished her second cup of coffee while relaxing on the couch when Vinyl arrived. 	
“Where did you go?” Star Shy asked.
“No where.” Vinyl stated, rushing upstairs to her bedroom.
Star Shy's eyebrow raised as she watched Vinyl.

Once Vinyl was in her room, she withdrew her goggles from her face and examined them carefully. Nothing about the goggles were unusual. The only thing she could think of is why the plastic shades allowed her to see out, but nopony to see in. Were her eyes hideous? She set down the goggles on her shelf and turned, facing the mirror that hung from her closet door. What she saw confused and frightened her.