A new young mare sat in the back of Ms. Radish’s class looking woefully bored as she slouched in her seat. Her bright blue mane was a long mop of carelessness and in desperate need of a haircut. She tossed her bangs aside with a flip of her head and cleared the view for her magenta eyes as she scanned her new classroom and her new classmates. The teacher went on an Equestrian history tirade beginning all the way back during the Discordian era. She supposed it was too much to expect that classes would be any more interesting here than her old school’s.
To say she was disinterested would be an understatement. Vinyl had little interest in anything unrelated to music. She let out a silent yawn and continued looking around the class for anything, anything that would keep her from dozing off. She snored when she fell asleep and the last thing she wanted to do was to make a foal of herself on the first of her new school. It was an inevitability for her to play the role of the class clown, it was part of her nature after all, but she would rather keep it for an another day.
Her eyes wandered to the various figures of her classmates, many slouching like she was. Some even had their heads momentarily dip low before jerking up in another attempt to stay awake.
Soon, her glance fell upon the figure of a grey earth pony with a carefully brushed dark mane sitting in the front of the class. Her posture was straight and stiff and her pen furiously scribbled down notes as the teacher droned on.
Vinyl smirked.
Egghead, she thought gazing at the back of the only pony in the entire class who even bothered to take notes. She yawned and turned her interest to the colt that sat to her right. He was a dark purple unicorn with a bright blond mane spiked with way too much mane gel.
He also seemed to have missed the growth spurt that most of the other colts in the class had gone through. Vinyl watched as his head slightly turned to his left, almost imperceptible unless you were looking really closely like Vinyl was. It was only for half a second or less before he jerked his head naturally back to the board. Then he let his head drift to his left again then back then left then back… He went on like this for a good chunk of the class.
Vinyl’s smirk grew just a centimeters before she realized what she was doing. The upturn of her lip fell into a scowl and she angrily tussled up her mane with a hoof.
This is pathetic! She thought furiously. I really need to find something better to do during class than watch eggheads crushing on each other.
She dragged back her attentions and recalled the whole reason she was even at this school.
“Vinyl!”
“Hey, what’s up dad?”
“Do not, ‘what’s up’ me young lady! What is the meaning of this!”
He thrust a scroll of parchment towards her and she caught it in an aura of cyan light and read the neat scrawl.
“Oh yeah. Whoops.”
She watched in bemusement as her dad’s white face literally turned a bright scarlet.
“Vinyl, this has been the fourth school you have been kicked out of! Even by your standards, this is ridiculous!”
Vinyl shrugged nonchalantly, further enraging her father.
“It just wasn’t the place for me dad.”
A long, exhausted sigh left her father’s lips as he reeled in the tendrils of his fury.
“Young lady, I hope you know that was the last private school that was willing to take you in.”
Vinyl nodded slowly, daring to hope…
“I have no choice but to send you to a…" He took in a deep breathe to brace himself. "Public school.”
He said the word ‘public’ distastefully as if he had found a parasprite in his soup.
Vinyl mentally pumped her hoof up victoriously and bit down on her bottom lip to kill the smile that was threatening to take over her face.
“Oh no!” She flared with what she hoped was a convincing tone of anguish. “Anything but public school father! I cannot even bare the thought!”
Her father nodded grimly, completely unaware of his daughter’s underlying feelings that was showing all too well through her horrible acting.
“This is your punishment,” he continued. “Hopefully, this experience will straighten up your attitude while I try finding another proper school that will take you. Do not get your hopes up. You’ve become rather… infamous amongst the Canterlot’s education board.”
Vinyl did her best to look like her world was ending. As soon as her father was out of the room and out of earshot, she jumped up and whooped.
“Yes! No more snooty elitists with sticks up their flanks! I can finally make friends with some tolerable ponies!”
The bell's annoying chime cut into the lecture and Vinyl’s thoughts, cleanly ending it as students got up and stretched, ready to go home.
A couple of ponies trotted up pleasantly to Vinyl's desk, eager to acquaint themselves with the new student.
"Hello," a mare with bright orange curls greeted. Her coat was an easy on the eyes sort of yellow and proudly emblazoned on both sides of her flank were some delicious looking carrots. A sea green unicorn with a turquoise mane streaked with white strode up beside her. Her cutie mark boasted a lyre.
“My names Golden Harvest, but my friends call me Carrot Top. This is Lyra," she nodded to the unicorn beside her who flashed a natural smile. Vinyl grinned back.
“Carrot Top? How’d you got that nick-name?” Vinyl retorted with joking sarcasm as she regarded the pale mare’s cutie mark once more.
“Oh it was when I brought in my art project in fifth grade,” Carrot Top responded seriously, completely missing the friendly sarcasm in Vinyl’s voice. “I created this entire model of the Canterlot Castle out of glue and tooth picks. It wasn’t very good,” she quickly added after Vinyl’s impressed whistle. “I even had a model of Princess Celestia tucked away within one of the chambers. When I tried to bring her out to show my friends, all I found was the top of a carrot.”
Vinyl snorted.
“Seriously? How in the hay did that happen?”
“My little sister,” Carrot Top admitted. There were traces of embarrassment on her face as she relived the moment where she reached in to present the clincher of her project only to bring out a leafy plume with a stub of orange. “She was just a tiny filly back then and she took out the model so she could play with it and replaced it with the carrot she had beem eating. Ever since, everyone’s been calling Carrot Top.”
The story earned an amused smirk from Vinyl as she introduced herself.
“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you. The teacher already introduced me earlier in class but I might as well do it again. The name's Vinyl. Vinyl Scratch.”
"It's great to meet you too Vinyl. Hey, we're going to head to this nearby cafe that sells the best hot chocolate. You wanna come with us?" Lyra asked.
"Yeah sure, that's sounds great," Vinyl nodded and followed the mares out of the school and into the chilly autumn air. They started an easy pace away from the school.
"So what school did you transfer from?" Carrot Top asked curiously. Vinyl only hesitated a half second before she answered.
"... RCADYM," she sighed. She really hated the ridiculously long name it had and the reactions the name usually brought to ponies. Lyra and Carrot-top were no exception.
"RCADYM? You don't mean The Royal Canterlot Academy for Distinguished Young Mares do you?" Carrot-top exclaimed, her expression perfectly matching the shock in her voice.
"Yuup," Vinyl nodded.
"That's one of the most prestigious private schools in Canterlot! What the hay are you doing here in Greyside Public School?" Lyra said as she stopped. “This is the place by the way.”
She pointed her hoof at a little corner cafe with a faded sign that read 'The Cube'. It indeed was a cube. A faded grey slab that looked shabby but somehow cozy.
"Well," Vinyl said as they stepped into the heated interior of the little shop. "Let's just say private school was not my thing."
She smirked as the memory of the headmaster of RCADYM galloping around with her wig on fire surfaced.
Lyra and Carrot Top nodded, not wanting to pry if the new mare didn't feel like sharing the story.
They sat down at a circular worn table and a plain brown mare walked up to them to take their order. As they waited for their hot chocolates to arrive, Vinyl spoke up.
"Actually, it's a hilarious story to tell so I might as well share it," she grinned. "And I'm sure you guys will enjoy it a heck of a lot more than my parents did."
The two mares nodded their heads excitedly as Vinyl began to unfold her infamous crusade against the professors of RCADYM. Their hot chocolates arrived mid-story and by the end of it, Lyra and Carrot Top were laughing their heads off in disbelief of the ridiculousness of the whole story as everyone shared chocolaty mustaches from the drinks.
“Wait, what happened to the wig?” Lyra wheezed, trying to catch all the breathe that escaped from all the laughter.
“It flew off her head and, get this, landed right in front of Princess Celestia!” Vinyl grinned widely. It was a priceless moment to see the shocked expression of Equestria’s ruler as she watched the unbridled chaos unfold, worthy of Discord himself. Truly the pinnacle of her history as a prankster.
“No. Way,” Top breathed, her jaw dropped and the corner of her mouth twitching upwards in disbelief.
“What?” Lyra gasped. “Why was Princess Celestia there?”
Vinyl shrugged.
“I think it was a surprise visit. It certainly was a surprise. I never seen the headmaster turn so red. Heck, never seen any pony so red before. I couldn’t tell whether she was more embarrassed or angry.”
“I can’t believe you did that at RCADYM,” Carrot Top tried to sound admonishing but the effect was diminished by her suppressed smile. “What was the whole point of it all? Surely you knew it would have gotten you expelled?”
Vinyl nodded and looked around as if there might be someone watching them. Then she leaned in, beckoning her new friends to do the same.
“Can you mares keep a secret?” She asked.
Carrot Top and Lyra looked at each other before facing the white unicorn and nodding.
“Well, the whole point was to get expelled.”
Eyebrows raised and Vinyl realized further explaining was in order.
“I hated RCADYM. Everypony there is just so, so fake. It’s unbelievable. They’ll say one thing to your face and whisper all kinds of crap behind your back. And it’s not just RCADYM, its all private schools.”
“Hey Vinyl,” Carrot Top started out a bit apprehensively. “I hate to be the one to burst your bubble but it’s kind of like that at all schools. Public schools included.”
“Maybe,” Vinyl said nonchalantly taking a sip of the now lukewarm hot chocolate. “I haven’t been around for long enough to really see but I can guarantee you that it is not to the degree of the private schools. It’s not just the two face acts either. It’s like there’s this whole political game going on and if you don’t know how to play it, you’re screwed.”
Vinyl sighed and looked at her now empty mug, wishing for a refill but deciding to hold back.
“It’s suffocating as Tartarus.”
Lyra placed a comforting hoof on Vinyl’s back.
“Well, you’re here now. Greyside can be a bit dull sometimes but I got a feeling with you around, things are going to liven up!” Lyra exclaimed.
Her words revived the blue maned unicorn and she nodded at the truth of the words. Hope blossomed once more in Vinyl’s chest. Maybe, just maybe, this would finally be the place where her life could begin.
“Oh!” Carrot Top cried out in alarm as she looked out the window. Princess Celestia was already bringing down the sun under the horizon and evening was fast approaching.
“I have to get home before dark,” she said, standing up.
“Yeah me too,” Lyra nodded, standing up as well. Vinyl too stretched her legs and got up, reaching at her side for her saddlebag when her hoof only grabbed empty air.
“Whoops.”
“What’s wrong?” Lyra asked, Carrot Top already at the front paying for her drink.
“I think I left my bag at school,” Vinyl groaned. “My wallet’s in there.”
“Oh, don’t worry about the drink. I can pay for it. We’re the one’s who invited you out after all,” Lyra offered generously. For a moment, Vinyl’s pride stopped her from accepting but she swallowed her stubbornness and sheepishly nodded.
“Alright but next time, drinks are on me.”
Lyra laughed and pulled out some bits from her bit pouch.
“Sure. But next time, I’m getting the super hot chocolate.”
“Super hot chocolate?”
“Yup, it comes topped with whip cream, wafers and chocolate shavings.”
“Whip cream, wafers and chocolate shavings?”
Vinyl drooled as a startling clear image drifted about her mind.
“Yeah, they only sell it on Fridays though. We can go next week,” Lyra winked and paid the waitress who smiled and gave her change.
“Cool,” Vinyl smiled. “Thanks for covering me today.”
“No problemo,” Lyra smiled back. “What are friends for?”
They left the easy warmth of the cafe and found that the sun had sunk much lower, its rays smothered by the city’s skyline.
“Lyra and I live in this direction,” Carrot Top pointed to their left. “Where do you live?”
“I live straight down this road,” Vinyl said. “But I gotta run back to school and get my bag.”
“Alright, well I guess we’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“Yup, thanks for inviting me out. That hot chocolate was awesome.”
“Thanks for the stories,” Lyra snorted. “I haven’t laughed that hard since Carrot Top gave herself her own manecut.”
“Ooh that sounds like a story I want to hear.”
“Not today,” Carrot Top blushed. “Maybe another time.” She started pushing Lyra away before the mint green unicorn could say otherwise.
“Bye,” Vinyl waved.
“Byyyeee.” The two mares waved back.
She stared at the retreating backs of her new friends and grinned.
“I have a good feeling about this school,” she said to herself cheerfully.
She turned towards the school and galloped off.
***
She arrived breathless. It was now twilight as Vinyl stepped into the school, glad that it was still open.
She trotted lazily down the empty halls, trying to recall where exactly her class was.
“Er, I think I take a left here…?” She muttered as she peeked down the long hallway of doors. Faintly, she heard voices coming from down the hall. She shrugged and followed them. Maybe she could ask where her class was. The clopping of hooves on the ground echoed loudly in the almost complete silence. The voices grew louder and soon, Vinyl found herself standing before her classroom door. The white numbers 19 was faded but there it was.
Voices could be heard from within, one of them seemed to be yelling but there was no hesitation when Vinyl enveloped the door knob with her magic and swung it open.
The first thing Vinyl noticed was that the window was open, letting in an unpleasant draft. Next thing she saw were the heads of three ponies, turning towards in her surprise. Vinyl took a moment to absorb what she was seeing.
A grey mare with a disheveled dark mane was getting up hurriedly from the floor. Her violet eyes didn’t even meet Vinyl’s before looking away, suddenly extremely interested in the floor tiles. Around her neck was a white collar affixed by a bright red bow tie. Vinyl noticed some of the desks were knocked over and there was a large red outline of a hoof on the face of the grey mare.
Ugh, Vinyl thought with a facehoof. Worst timing ever.
It was obvious what was going on here and she wanted no part in it. She glanced at the bullies, the leader was glaring at her, daring her to say something.
She considered her options.
She could help this unfortunate mare whom she recognized to be the egghead that sits in front of her class. She was sort of leaning towards this option cause the longer she looked at the quiet grey earth pony, the more she felt an inexplicable sense of nostalgia and… guilt?
But what could she even do to help? There were three ponies against one, maybe two if the grey mare decided to fight back. She sized each of the ponies up. The pony standing rather shyly behind leader was a light green pegasus with a long white mane that hugged her neck. A midnight blue unicorn stood next to her. Her spectacles gave her an air of intelligence which was slightly ruined by the snarl she had on her muzzle.
The leader of the trio was a rosy pink pony with a bright scarlet mane so red it was almost as if it was on fire. She was also tall as heck. She seemed to tower above the ponies around her not only with her height but with the dominating way she carried herself.
Vinyl blinked when she saw this mare’s cutie mark. A set of dumb bells.
Seriously?
She inwardly groaned. Seriously, who has dumb bells for a cutie mark?
“Are you going to stand there gawking or are you going to say something?” The redhead finally broke the stale silence. She stepped towards Vinyl, her hoofs clashing with the hardened stone floor and scattering the silence. She stopped when she was right before Vinyl, her chin almost touching Vinyl’s horn.
“You’re the new mare right?”
“Yup,” Vinyl nodded coolly, refusing to let this obvious intimidation tactic work on her. It kind of was but she could at least hide it.
“Well then, lemme give you some advice new mare. Stick your nose out of business that isn’t yours and everypony’s happy.”
Vinyl twitched lightly.
Technically speaking, it was true. This business had nothing to do with Vinyl. Heck, Vinyl didn’t even know the name of the grey mare that still refused to look at anything other than the floor tiles.
There was something tickling the back of mind though. The more she stared at the grey mare, the more she felt she knew her from somewhere.
“Yo,” she called out, ignoring the giant standing before her. “You there with the bow tie. What’s your name?”
The grey mare froze for a second before lifting her head slowly with a look of confusion. Lilac eyes met amethyst ones and for a fleeting moment, Vinyl thought she saw an expression akin to recognition pass by the bow tie mare’s face.
“Hey,” a threatening voice growled, and the marshmallow unicorn suddenly found herself forcibly facing a pissed pink pony.
“I don’t know why you came here but get out. And if you tell anypony about this, and I mean anypony, I will personally make sure your life is a living Tartarus here.”
“Woah, chill,” Vinyl chuckled, raising her hooves defensively in a surrendering position. “I just wanted to grab my bag.”
With that she made her way to the back of the class where she saw her saddle bag draped over her chair. She casually tossed it over her back with a quick levitation spell and began digging around her bag. When she found what she was looking for, she stepped towards the windows.
“It’s cold here, lemme shut the windows.”
Before anyone could protest, she shut the window with her magic and began her trot towards the exit.
Glares followed her. When she passed the dark maned mare she dropped a small black ball from her sack and it erupted into thick opaque plumes of smoke upon impact with the ground.
“What the-!“
Vinyl grabbed the grey filly by the foreleg and bolted towards the door.