//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Puppets // by Radical Larry 106 //------------------------------// Chapter 1 As the show came to an end, so did the roars of the ponies standing below the stage. Though, only for a brief second they were quiet, I savored the moment before a loud eruption of cheers and hoof stomps blared, louder than any of my music, directly into my ears. The glow of the fancy display that I called a turntable, lit up my face, allowing most of the ponies to see the growing grin on my face. The best part of the night had already passed, but I was still enjoying every second of this night. Almost every second. The circular turntable around me powered off almost on cue as the lights faded from me, the club now dimly lit by the glowsticks the ponies carried around. “Great show!” One stallion yelled above the noise. “Awesome!” Another yelled. “Freakin’ fantastic!” “We love you Vinyl!” The crowd roared in perfect unison. A grin grew widely on my face as I trotted across the stage, disappearing behind the curtains, watching the crowd as I did so. Ponies were still taking pictures, the flashes from their cameras lighting up the stage like someone was casting a spell on it. I continued passed all the maintenance ponies and whoever else managed to sneak past security to get in backstage. I didn’t mind though. At least security was keeping them at bay now that I was coming through. My signature violet glasses bobbed along with my mane before falling down in front of my eyes. A cheer erupted from the small crowd, ponies whistling and stomping their hooves. It may not have been as loud as the main crowd in the club, but these were still my fans. I gestured for one of the guards to follow me out the double doors ahead, waving at the fans as the guard escorted me to the wagon sitting patiently on the street. One of the other guards hauled my turntable set over to the rear end of the wagon, keeping it all close together. I still continued to look back at all the ponies cheering me on. A slight feeling of dissatisfaction rose in my body, trying to keep myself from moving too fast, or too slow. It wasn’t like my trip to Fillydelphia, where the ponies almost killed the security guards to get to me, but it was still something, watching them watch me walk away like I was some kind of big-time celebrity. Which, I almost was. A few more shows here and there and I could probably be among some of the bigger artists out there, like Nightmare Cinema or Monarch. Well, maybe not exactly like them and their band heavy music. I was still getting up there though. Boarding the wagon, I climbed beside my turntables and other equipment I used during the show, and let out a shaky breath of relief. My escort followed me inside, but I quickly gestured him away, making him slam his hoof on the side of the wagon instead, signalling for the pony pulling all the weight to proceed away from the club. “Where to, Ms. Scratch?” The driver asked, looking both ways before crossing over to another lane. He flexed his wings twice before continuing. “Harlequin Hotel,” I answered. “Got it,” His slow walk became a canter, keeping up with the traffic of Manehattan streets. His navigation through the streets was something to behold. Seriously, this guy cut through the traffic like his life depended on it, cutting off cabs and other ponies. I swear he was going to kill somebody with how close he was coming to the pedestrians. “Couldn’t we just fly?” I asked. “You have wings don’t you?” “Sorry, but I can’t.” He replied. “Just got on parole for doin’ that last week.” “But others are doing it. Just look up!” I pointed a hoof at two pegasi maneuvering passed buildings and heading towards the Harlequin’s direction, pulling a carriage as they did so. “They got permits for that most likely.” The stallion stopped due to the heavy traffic. “I don’t have one, or else we’d be there right now.” I barely had time to take in all the sights of Manehattan, and when we did run into a jam and I was able to actually look around from the back of the wagon, there was nothing interesting around. At least I’d have a good view of the city from my hotel room. Still, I’d have actually liked to have seen what Manehattan had to offer up close. Instead, I got blurry views of the Equestrian State Building and Central Park. Glowing neon signs advertising clubs, bars and other shops that were open late at night. Since, taking in the city wasn’t much of an option with our speed, then maybe checking out the night sky was another. The moon shone brightly, almost brighter than the city itself. Celestia, it must suck to be stuck there for a thousand years. I thought to myself. I instantly took back that thought, for fear that Luna might know that I just thought that. I wasn’t sure if she’d consider it an insult, but with some ponies you never knew. But if she did hear that somehow, then maybe I’d have my fair share of a thousand years on the moon. I shivered at the thought. “Hang on!” The stallion yelled, making a tight turn fast enough to almost launch me out of the wagon. “Oh Celestia,” I groaned as we came to an abrupt stop. Ponies on the sidewalk gave us strange glances, but my head was spinning so fast, I couldn’t tell whether they were looking at me like I was some kind of drunk, or looking at the stallion like he was a reckless ass. Which I could agree that he was. Once the spinning had stopped and the ponies had all but moved on, the dark blue stallion leaned against the wagon and said with a nonchalant grin; “Sixty two bits please.” I fished a hoof inside my saddle bags sitting beside me, hoping that all my money didn’t fly out from that turn. When I did find my bits, I hastily gave them to the stallion, and he helped unload all of my equipment. I hauled all of it on my back and approached the door before a mare came through the door, wearing a red jacket with yellow linings, pulling a luggage cart behind her. Her pink bangs nearly covered her eyes and her ponytail ran down her neck and stopped at her shoulder. There are ponies I know that would kill to have a mane like that.   “Ms. Scratch!” She exclaimed, her horn glowing as her magic enveloped all my belongings. “Please, allow me to help you!” “I-it’s alright,” I struggled. “I think I—Never mind, take it, take it!” The full weight of the turntables, bags  and synthesizer came off my back, and I felt like the weight of the whole world had just come off my shoulders. Unicorns weren’t meant for hauling so much weight. The mare took it all with ease though, placing it all gently on the luggage cart. She gestured for me to enter the hotel, holding the glass door with the cart before following me inside. My hooves clopped along the marble floors, decorated to look like one half of the sun and the other half of the floor, the moon. A chandelier hung overhead, the glass looking sharp enough to kill whoever it landed on if the force and weight of the whole thing didn’t. The lobby was bathed in a golden glow because of it though, and as long as it made the hotel look good, I couldn’t really say much bad about it. I entered the luxurious elevator, waiting for the mare to get in with me, but instead she just stood there. “There’s room in here for you too,” I said, scooting over to the side. Instead of coming inside with me, she pushed the luggage cart inside. “Oh...well...uh, have a good night.” “Oh, I will,” She looked back at the stallion who took me here. She winked at him, and he just blushed. “Right,” I replied, slightly stunned. Dear Octavia, I don’t know if you actually take the time to read these letters, or if you just throw them away when you see that I sent them, though from the lack of a response, I assume you just toss them. Still, it feels good getting all this off my chest, even if you don’t want to hear any of it. Or read any of it in this case. I just hope you can forgive me for screwing up. I’m tired of scrounging money from late night shows just to find myself in another hotel. I know that I can save my money to probably settle into another apartment if things between us don’t work out, but I just need an answer from you. I know it sounds tacky, but I don’t want you to leave. I don’t want to be alone again. I don’t think I’ll waste your time with a sob story or anything like that, but Just give me something. I need some kind of response. I need to know if we can still work out.   Please, just say something to me. Vinyl  I lit the candle with dragonfire matches and burned the note above it, waiting for the ashes to blow out of the open window. The cool breeze of the summer night on my coat and face took me away from the situation for a brief second. But when I opened my eyes, I was back in it. The bottle of Gryphon Vodka stood undisturbed on the nightstand beside the glorious bed. I sat in the seat by the window and stared down into the city. The glowing lights and lanterns hanging off of wagons and carriages made the city more beautiful than it already was. It was like watching glowing ants race across an colony; almost completely coordinated, save for the various ass who thinks he can push the others around since he’s bigger than the others. I loved highrise hotels like this one.  Being on the hundredth floor would’ve been nice if I could share it with someone. But unfortunately, I was stuck in this place by myself. Alone with just my thoughts. All because of a simple mistake I made with the only one who knew me at the personal level. And now she was gone. I finally grabbed the Gryphon Vodka from the nightstand, threw the cap out the window, and downed as much of the alcohol as I possibly could before pulling the bottle away from my lips. Celestia that tastes like crap.  I waited beside the window for what seemed like an eternity hoping to get a letter from Octavia. But there was nothing. Maybe she ran out of dragonfire matches? Or maybe she was performing something of her own? Maybe she had someone else over and completely forgot about me? No, that’s not like her.  BING! I jolted up off the seat. If it weren’t for the glass, I’d have fallen right out of the window. My breathing escalated to an irregular pace. I looked around for anything I could use as a weapon. Anything that could help fend off an intruder. “You’re a unicorn Vinyl,” I muttered. “You have magic you idiot.” My horn began to glow, charging for an arcane blast. I kept close to the wall until I got to the door. A swift swipe of a hoof on the handle and it flung open, me darting from the room to confront whatever had caused the glass to drop. Nothing. I continued forward, stepping into the living room and making quick glances around the room. The kitchen, visible from where I was standing looked clear too, save for the broken wine glass on the floor. Goddess, I hope I don’t have to pay for that. I approached it with apprehension, ready to blow away whatever came. But nothing happened. I levitated the glass and headed for the trash, still being on alert. BONK! Holy shit! I fell forward, face first into the trash bin, an explosion of pain in the back of my head. Breathing became a monumentally hard task to accomplish. Once I got my head out of the garbage, I tumbled backwards, trying my best not to land on my head. With some success, I landed on my belly, my jaw slamming against the ground. I groaned as I rolled to my side, trying to get up on my hooves. I couldn’t even get my horn to flare up again to at least try and incapacitate my attacker. “Damn,” A vaguely familiar voice spoke in a mix of worry and frustration. “That was supposed to knock her out!” “Hit her again! Maybe it’ll work a second time!” Another voice called out, a mare this time. BONK!  I tasted copper, the crimson liquid beginning to flood my mouth. Another blow came, and more blood rushed out. I tried to kick away my attacker, but nothing happened. I felt nobody. Just me thrashing wildly in a childish and pitiful attempt of fighting for my life. I tried to block blows from the metal object hitting me, but my attempts made the pain worse. “It’s not working!” The stallion cried. “Here!” Hoof steps came closer and before I knew it, a hoof almost knocked my teeth out. I was practically crying and begging for my life at this point. The pain in my body was too much to bear, and I think I was losing more blood with each blow they gave me. Tears streamed from my eyes which were clenched shut, and when I began to cough up blood and feel bones starting to give up, I knew almost certainly I was going to die. My body felt numb, save for the blows to the head and my hooves. This was it. I was going to die. I just wished that I could make things right with Octavia before I did.