One of the largest cities in Equestria, Manehatten was a metropolis for many things. An artists' life could be made or killed with one critics review. Cuisine was invented and refined in the confines of unique and sophisticated restaurants. Actors and actresses hastily uprooted comfortable lives to try their hoof at one of many productions and plays on one of the most successful theater strips in the world. Likewise, musicians could be broken and left in the street the very next day they succeed should the culturally elite deem their styles to be passe or unrefined.
The city's landscape was a maze of one way streets, cross walks, parks, and skyscrapers. The city's skyline weaved up and down with each towering metal and close building that many argued could make Canterlot castle seem small. Magic lights created kaleidoscopes of colors displaying names of businesses, new pop idols, or advertisements for anything from dental products to socks. A lesser willed pony would easily be over whelmed by the sensory overload of it all blasting at them relentlessly as they made their way through the intimidating cultural mecca.
“Well you can't tell by the way I use my trot I'm a filly fool. No time to talk.” The lyrics danced off the pony's lips in tune with the music blasting from her black headphones. She walked the streets knowing what lay down every path, around each corner, and where best to avoid. This was her town. Electric blue hair bounced with each bob of the pony's head to the beat. Unicorn's horn peaking out between the changing of dark and light blue mane. Confidence fueled her heavy trotted steps forward nodding and smiling to each person she pass. A mood of harmony was in her spirits. Her white coat, adorned on its flank with a black musical note, shinned against the artificial illumination of the buildings. Blue sunglasses gave everything around her a shade of sapphire. Night had fallen only a few hours prior but the city wouldn't sleep. The night ponies started coming out of their nooks and crannies to fill the clubs, dance halls, or more high class venues. This time of the day was when this pony came alive, for she was Vinyl Scratch, also known as DJ Pon-3.
Vinyl was at home in the hustle and bustle of the night life. It fueled and pumped her up for every party and experience she had. Not every pony could maintain the life style she did for employment. Many pony crashed and burned within days of first experiencing the freeway of debauchery. Fortunate for Vinyl, she had a special someone with the stubborn will to survive it all.
She set her eyes forward moving at a steady pace for her rendezvous with that special someone. They got off their respective employments near the same time and would meet up at a bar before heading home. A victory toast or two to another survived day with each other for comfort. Her night was supposed to be easy until in front of her a situation occurred that she rarely was able to walk away from. She wasn't an unfeeling pony in the least bit, but this sort of problem she could never turn away from.
On the crowded street you could usually see one or two ponies who were not used to the hustle and bustle of the big city. One such pony Vinyl say instantly in front of her. The storm cloud gray filly was being bumped and shoved aside by nearly every mare or stallion that came close to her. The DJ hated to see someone new to the city being shoved around as such. There was something about this one that caught her notice more than others she saw. She had glowing eyes for one. Something natural, not appearing to be false from magic or contacts. The filly looked to be a Pegasus, nothing special until she spun around in place trying to figure which way was up. Vinyl caught the glimpse of her right wing. It wasn't feathered but leather and bat in appearance. Vinyl's eye brows raised bringing her sunglasses shifting with it. The filly's hair had an glow to it similar to her eyes, her left eye still visible although covered by her hair. Each strand appearing to be crystal freely flowing from her head. This wasn't a pony you'd see every day. She had a foal's saddlebag on, a torn up blanket on her flank, and distress painted over her face. She was lost.
Vinyl made her approach quickly swaying and twisting through the crowd to come upon this lost pony before any more damage could be dealt to her. “Hey there, filly, whatcha doing out here alone at this hour?” The DJ spoke up once she was in front of the confused mare. She took a better look at her now. Her hair a twinkling blue gray, more on the gray side it seemed, the lights around gave her broken horn a glint at its edges for Vinyl to notice it. She turned her lips momentarily from a smile to a frown. A damage horn on a unicorn wasn't something that happened without bad mojo being worked.
The filly turned her head in time to see Vinyl, but this caused her to miss a rather large stallion behind her. The push from behind brought the confused filly straight down crashing her chin first before Vinyl's hooves. Tears instantly swelled in her eyes moving her front hooves to rub at her tender flesh. Flank stuck in an upright position with her tail falling properly to cover what was not needed to be revealed. Her head tilted back to watch the unicorn who had taken her attention away from just trying to keep standing.
“Hey! Jackass!” Vinyl shouted at the heavy set pony that struck the filly down. “Apologize to her, you buckhole.” She glared from behind blue tinted glass. A hard stomp, snorting through her nostrils, Vinyl prepared an intimidating stance prepared to buck the stallion if he didn't do as she demanded. Her tail lashed behind her and raised up giving her body the appearance of being larger than she actually was.
The pony male grunted once glancing back at the two. While his size may make someone think otherwise, he fortunately wasn't the confrontational type. Puffy cheeks sucked inwards to his mouth, his lips parted slightly to grunt out his 'apology' in the two ponies' direction. He turned in a huff purposely flaunting his tail before trotting back down the street. An everyday occurrence in the city where manners were in short supply.
The white pony let out an annoyed huff. “Some assholes just have no sense.” She stuck her nose up once then turned back to the fallen filly. Her right hoof was brought down curving her ankle into the gray pony's right ankle. The left moved against her back aiding in bringing her back onto her hooves. “Don't worry about dipshits like that one. You'll be all sorts of ponies here in this place. Don't have to say it. I know you're new.” Vinyl slid her now free hoof up through her hair letting it swiftly bounce back into the 'just woke up' style. “Name's Vinyl, Vinyl Tracks. But you've probably heard of me as DJ Pon-3.”
“I'm so..sorry I haven't he...heard of you before.” The filly tilted her head to Vinyl's reaction to this. The white pony felt an arrow pierce into her heart. Her hooves clutching to her chest as she raised back onto her hind legs. She spun around in place twice in a dramatic effect of defeat that some pony hadn't heard of the famous DJ. She quickly corrected her self and flashed a trade marked grin.
“No worries, filly, not all the country towns have had the chance to hear the amazing styling of DJ Pon-3.” Vinyl boasted to the confused filly. “Listen, didn't catch your name after my stellar intro there.” She set her foreleg up across the filly's shoulders.
“Cur..cursed Eclipse.” Eclipse spoke trying to keep her self from stuttering too badly. Her head turned to look at the hoof on her shoulder and gradually made its way back to Vinyl. “It's a pl..pleasure to me..me..meet you.” Her courteous way of speaking seemed to bring a grimace to the DJ's face.
“You sound like my marefriend for Celestia's sake! Ah well I'll forgive you again, don't you worry, Nightlight.” Vinyl had decided that with the filly's eyes, Nightlight suited her better than Cursed Eclipse. Less of a mouthful for the DJ as well. “Since you're new and all, I'll treat you to a drink on ol' Pon-3, her self.” She tossed a foreleg over Eclipse's shoulder to help guide her along to go with her. Eclipse should really learn not to go with every stranger she met but this was one exception to the rule she would find. “Since you're new to this place the first thing I gotta let ya in on is don't look around. Keep your eyes straight until you know where you're going. You'll be stuck in one spot all day being tossed about if you don't watch out for other ponies. Just like you were now.”
Eclipse bobbed her head to Vinyl's words. Things were moving faster than she was ready for. Ever since she stepped foot in the city hours before it was one rush after another. She was chased by a gang of Pegasi who didn't like her wings. This led to her crashing through a fruit stand sending apples and oranges in all directions. After being scolded by the vendor and handing over what bits the five stallions had given her, she was found by the gang once more and chased through the market. Her escape came when she caused the Pegasi gang to crash into a group of police ponies.
The streets that the ponies went down changed from a business setting into the entertainment district. Every corner had some manner of bar, dance clubs of various degrees from Country Western to Hip Hop were open with lines to get in, and some of the theaters for movie reels and plays beckoned newcomers to enjoy the arts with flashy signs and sounds. One club had a line that went down two city blocks just to get in. This club was the Magic Wisp. The sign was designed in a cursive method rolling the 'p' of wisp to bring the bottom point back around underneath the full title. Each letter switched between the color blue and red flashing every other change. The line was handled with red velvet connected to several brass poles from the front door to the western end of the building. The bouncer at the front door was an intimidating sight to behold. One of the few minotaurs of Equestria. He was pumped up beyond typical body builder stature yet his horns were smaller than a new born unicorn foal. One would question if he enjoyed juicing his extra muscles or not.
“Umm.. Mi..Miss Vinyl?” The filly spoke up as the DJ lead her past the crowd straight to the frighteningly large bouncer.
“Just Vinyl or Pon-3, Nightlight, don't like the uptight feel that 'miss' gives off.” Vinyl nodded to the bouncer who opened the door instantly for her and her guest. The crowd began to shout and curse at the patron skipping in line but a glare from the minotaur quieted the ponies right down. “Don't worry about a thing. The ponies here know who the Pon-3 is. I work on on occasion and this place is filled with my fans. My mare and I always get in VIP. Yeow!” The DJ gave a shout slapping her hoof to the bouncer's open hand.
Inside wasn't entirely what one might expect from the club. The lounge and the dance floor were separate. The loud, beat music from the dance floor could be felt from its tremors on the floor but not heard. The lounge was kept much more peaceful with a softer tune played over the speakers. The lounge was decorated in blue tones from the cushioned booths with curtains to block sight of the occupants inside, to the bar stools, and tables. Even the wood used had been dyed or painted blue. The bar area was an island in the middle of the booths and tables. The island bar was walled with mirrors at its center and the taps, shelves of alcohol, and glasses in front of them. Stools connected to the ground were dotted near the solid oak, blue bar counter. This was a place that only the in crowd and known ponies saw the inside of more then once.
Vinyl lead her guest between mingling ponies, drunk ponies, and those wanting to get a high hoof in with the DJ as they went to the bar. She dropped onto a bar stool first and patted the one next to her. Hooves came against the bar counter tapping twice and motioning to the bar tender. She'd be served her usual and when Eclipse, reluctantly, came to sit next to her, she grinned. “Okay, Nightlight, order whatever you want, it's on me!”
Every bottle's brand could tell hundreds of stories. From sordid affairs and drunken hijinks to depression set sobs and hilarious events brought on by the removal of sense of mind. From clear to brown, the colors of the drinks were not varied. Except for a single bottle that caught Eclipse's eye. It was the color of a rainbow swirling from top to bottom. It was the only one of the variety of beverages offered that held any interest to the filly. “The ra..rainbow one, please.”
The bar tender and Vinyl shot each other and look. A hoof was raised waving off any concern by Vinyl and motioned for the barmare to get the desired drink. Just a shot would do. She reached over planting a hoof on Eclipse's back patting her encouragingly. “Wow! You gotta be some party mare to want to drink that stuff. I wouldn't wish it on a frat colt. Well I would just to see him heave his guts outside!” An obnoxious laugh left her lips.
The barmare, a unicorn, used her magic to set a clean shot glass in front of then drew the rainbow bottle from the shelf pouring the distilled liquid. It was a bit thick, almost a syrup pouring into the clear glass. Worry eclipsed Eclipse's mind but she didn't want to let down her friend down. Mismatched wings twitched rattling her saddle bag and the torn blanket. Her horn glowed a faint gray as it enveloped the glass lifting it near her lips. She sniffed the drink finding it sweet and pleasing. Closing her eyes she tilted her head back, darting her tongue forward, and lapping the thick liquid down her throat to aid the process. She did this as quickly as she could. The taste was something she didn't imagine. It was like candy right after a visit to the dentist. Bitter and numbing but sweet and teasing to the pallet. The empty glass was set down before the filly and she instantly felt the effects of the drink take hold before she even finished swallowing the alcoholic syrup.
If other ponies had noticed what Eclipse was drinking they would have done the same as Vinyl and the barmare. Both ponies fell silent in awe of witnessing what they just saw. “Whoa there, Nightlight! Most ponies lick that stuff like a sucker and not drink it fast! Damn, filly, you are a party girl at heart aren't you?” She laughed slamming her hoof against Eclipse's back. “Never seen a pony gulped down Zap Apple Flank Bucker before!” Another quick pat to the filly. “Maybe I was wrong about... Hey you don't look so good.”
Eclipse teetered back and forth on her stool. Her glowing eyes were alive seeing all the colors of the rainbow around her. Everything was moving in slow motion and she could see sound its self vibrate across the air. She giggled and her eyes watched the word 'giggle' leave her lips. She leaned forward trying to catch the floating words only to face plant straight down, unconscious, onto the bar counter. All within ten seconds.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Magic Wisp saw even the most cultured entrepreneurial at its door steps. Certain parties, even when not on the list for the night, were welcomed because of connections or reputation. Octavia Philharmonica was well known in the classical music genre. One of the first Earth ponies to play the Galloping Gala, Equestrian renown, admired by many for her talent with her double bass cello, sought after by many of the rich and celebrity to perform at parties, gatherings, or events. It would be of no surprise when she approached the minotaur bouncer she would be let in without a second glance. The large cello case balanced on the top of her flank and her back, raven mane had not even one lock out of place. Her coat was a light gray similar to the ash of burned wood. Both were kept perfect and groomed almost no matter what situation she was in. Octavia spent a few moments talking to the bouncer. The two shared a common interest in literature and classical music. Something one would not suspect of the minotaur. She came to grace the lounge with her presence seeking out her marefriend. She trotted to the usual place they met to enjoy one another company and a variety of drinks. Seeing the white coated mare, she came from behind raising up with her hooves onto the back of the bar stool and placing a quick peck to the others cheek.
“It's not my fault!” Vinyl shouted tossing her fore hooves into the air. The sudden sensation on her cheek set paranoia at its worse twisting around to face Octavia. Deep breaths were sucked in and out of her lungs facing her marefriend waiting for the worse of the worst to slam into her. “I swear I thought she knew what she was doing but she just fell over!” The barmare had long left the scene, not wanting to be blamed for anything that may come from it.
Octavia raised a cultured brow to her friend then turned her gaze down right besides Vinyl. There she saw a very much unconscious pony. Lightly snoring as she laid face first on the bar counter. The filly looked that she shouldn't even be in the Magic Wisp much less the bar area. The manner that Vinyl was trying to distance her responsibility from the drunken filly reminded Octavia of a badly written accidental death mystery. This spelled nothing but trouble should someone realize exactly what has transpired. “Vinyl. You do realize that if someone who did not know you saw this they would come to many different criminal conclusions. For instance, someone who did not know you might believe you are contributing to the delinquency of a foal. Or perhaps committing pedofoalia, if she was any younger.” Octavia seemed extremely calm considering the situation. Her right hoof set to her chin eying the sleeping filly. “Or they might believe you are a pony smuggler that just found her next victim. Thankful for you, I know you and know none of these things are true. You do know what they do to pretty mares in prison, don't you? So tell me, my dearest Vinyl, what is this?” Octavia smiled sweetly, understandingly, and most importantly, calmly.
The burned out brain of the DJ was working slowly. It began to picture scenes of her self in prison surrounded by mares twice her size. Some of them whispered about her flank, others were curious if she tasted like a marshmallow. Her eyes went wide behind her sunglasses. Hooves plastered to either side of her face then reached out shaking Octavia wildly at her shoulders. “You gotta help me, Octy! We gotta dump the body somewhere! I can't go to prison! It wont be in like those Porny Magazines you wont look at with me!”
Octavia had Vinyl right where she wanted her right now. Remaining calm despite her marefriend's anxiety attack, she went to the filly's side lifting up one of her saddlebag's flaps. “Check the other bag. We'll see if she has any contacts. We can let them know we found her, she is safe, and where we can take her.” It was then that Octavia noticed Eclipse's right wing, bat wing. She blinked in a momentary bewilderment. This wasn't something Pegasi had.
“Right, check her bag.” The left bag was assaulted by Vinyl's magic almost ripping the flap from the sewn material. All either of them would find was the two dolls and the red rock. The DJ broke down again. “Oh Celestia, oh Celestia, no info, just some toys. How old is she anyway? Do they charge you by age? Younger the worse it is!?”
“Calm down.” Octavia chided. “We will take her back to our home for now and when she wakes, ask her where we need to take her. It is quite simple to figure out, Vinyl, but to say that would be forgetting whom I was speaking with.” Octavia left a moment to speak to the barmare about the situation. She explained that Vinyl and her self would handle it and no one would know the three were there that night. She came back after paying the tab. “Alright, that is handle... Vinyl.” She sighed shaking her head to her marefriend.
Vinyl was trying to use the shredded blanket to wrap up Eclipse as one would do to hide a body. While she may have believed that it was drawing attention away from her, it was doing the complete opposite. Octavia reached up with her right hoof smacking Vinyl lightly on the back of her skull.
“No, stop that. Put her on your back and come with me. We are taking her with us and settle things properly as two adults would.”
“Who's the other adult?” Vinyl asked as she positioned her self beneath Eclipse to hoist her onto her back.
Octavia sighed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Eclipse. Eclipse it's time to wake up.” A voice she believed she would never hear again played on a cherub's harp into her ears. Celestia's sun basked her closed eye lids with the warmth of a dawning day and promises of things to come. She raised her hooves up rubbing tired eyes then groaning as the onset of the first hangover of her life pounded a chisel on her cranium. She felt safe in this place. The softness of a cotton blanket over her small form, comfort of being on a cushioned surface not soiled nor worn out, and the safety of being indoors. Glowing eyes finally opened ready to see the bearer of the voice; her momma.
What she found was no pony at all. An illusion on a once drunken mind, the pony she sought for was no longer there. Instead she was in a place she had never seen before. The apartment was decorated with care and kept immaculate to the point of obsession. On one wall was an extensive stereo system. Large speakers leveled besides the device with wires moving over the walls like vines to the surrounding speakers. There were two audio devices, each setup to the predetermined specifications for each of the occupants. The coach she found her self on was set in front of a wide, twin door that opened out onto a balcony. She didn't dare look out just yet but the sight of the buildings across the way told her she was high up. The kitchen produced delicious smells and sounds of cooking food, between the kitchen and the couch was a wooden table set for three with candle light illuminating three bare dishes. Eclipse turned her head back to the opened balcony doors only to let out a shriek. Snout to snout the white pony from before was suddenly in front of her.
Vinyl scrambled her backwards walking with her back to the ground and her hooves around her. She mimicked a crab walking away from a predator. Red lenses sunglasses laid over her eyes. “Finally awake, Nightlight!” The DJ grinned broadly scrambling to reset her self back onto all four hooves in a proper manner. “Been asleep all day. Heck, nearly time for dinner. You got lucky.” Vinyl said rolling her pink tongue out over her lips. Her right fore hoof went rubbing over her belly. “Octy's making her white sauce mushroom pasta. She's even using the noodles I like.”
“Octy?” Did Vinyl speak of another pony? Eclipse looked around where she could see then brought her glowing eyes back to the DJ. A sound several feet near the kitchen caught her ears attention. The lobes turned first then her head followed to see who Vinyl was referring to. The gray pony with a treble clef cutie mark. She wore a white apron with Vinyl's cutie mark on the front.
“Our guest is finally awake, hm?” Octavia raised her eyebrows peering down the room to Eclipse. Eclipse suddenly felt very conscious of where she was and how she must of looked. Moments ago she had just shrieked in the face of the white pony and now she believed she was being glared at. “Vinyl, it is not polite to frighten our guest the moment she awakens.” Her words were scolding in tone to the other pony. “Vinyl tells me your name is...” Octavia found her self cut off.
Eclipse squeaked at what happened next. Onto the couch behind her, Vinyl Tracks scampered behind the filly. Her front hooves moved holding onto either side of Eclipse's head moving her face to face Octavia. “Check this out, Octy, her eyes glow. I mean they actually glow. It's not fake or nothing, totally natural, I can tell these things.” She grinned moving her hooves to force Eclipse's left wing up. “See this? Pegasus wing, totally and completely, but this?”
“Vinyl,” Octavia tried to interrupt.
Vinyl hadn't noticed that Eclipse was trembling now. When her head was freed she turned to try and look at the white pony who now fondled her wings. Her right wing was lifted up next, extending it out. “Here is where it gets kicked up a notch. Totally a bat wing. Real too, no scars from someone stitching it on or nothing. I checked while she slept!” Vinyl was a blur now moving her hooves, and the help of magic, to raise and mess up Eclipse's hair. “Look at this, it's like staring into the sky but seeing the stars. Ya know if the stars could be seen when the sun and clouds are about.”
“Vinyl.”
“Now look at this!” This would bring Eclipse to go silent, her eye wide, and her cheeks infused with red. Vinyl managed to twist the filly around aiming her flank and tail right at the other musically inclined pony. The DJ moved Eclipse's tail a bit at its base swishing it back and forth. “See! Just like her hair but check out her cutie mark. Earlier, when the sun was out, it was white, black, and white. Now?” She said trying to turn Eclipse more. “It's black, white, Bla...OW!” She gave a shout.
Octavia had traversed the distance between her self and the two in a matter of seconds the moment that Vinyl had gone from fondling to almost molesting the frightened filly. A hard hoof struck the back of Vinyl's head toppling her off the couch leaving Eclipse the sole survivor on the cushions. The filly's hiccuped lightly on the verge of full out crying at what just transpired upon her. Octavia couldn't bear to see something like this. “There, there. It is alright now, she wont do that again.” The gray pony whispered pulling Eclipse into a tender hug. She gently stroked the filly's hair while whispering soothing words to her. “I will punish her more later. Now, Vinyl tells me your name is Cursed Eclipse, correct? Is it alright if I call you Eclipse?”
“Yeah huh...” The whisper was barely audible between the hiccups and forced back sobs. She brought her wings around her body to try and hide her self away some. She didn't pull herself away from Octavia, no, she fell against her some feeling a safety that she felt last when she was five years old.
“While dinner finished simmering, can I ask you a few questions, Eclipse?” She brushed back a few of the twinkling locks from Eclipse's face, gazing down at the frightened filly. She was mindful of the broken horn, not wanting to come in contact with it in case it still hurt her.
Eclipse nodded her head. A moment was given to glance down at Vinyl. The poor white pony was on her back in a state between unconscious and delirious from the blow she took. She deserved it after all.
“Do you have anyone here in the city?” Eclipse shook her head no. “Did you run away from home?” This question was more direct to the situation she was in. She flinched her eyes closed and sighed. She had to answer her, even if she tried to skirt around the fully explanation.
“Yes I di..did.” Eclipse hung her head down. She wasn't sure if admitting to this was something good or something bad.
“Was some pony hurting you? Is that what happened to you horn?” The question this time was graced with foresight to see where the obvious clues were going to lead.
“I can't sa..say.” Her ears settled down against her head. By this time Vinyl was returning back from her short nap. Sitting upwards rubbing the back of her head with her hoof. Red eyes, hidden behind red lenses, looked up to her marefriend and the newly acquainted filly.
Octavia inhaled deeply. She knew this was going to become complicated and would possibly have to lead to other questions being asked. The sound of the food simmering in the kitchen took her attentions away from Eclipse. She had much she wanted to ask still, and also talk to Vinyl about, but this would have to wait. Reluctantly, she released Eclipse and patted her on her head. “Let us eat dinner. After our meal I am afraid I have to leave for a concert and Vinyl has a job she has to perform. I would like for you to go with her. I promise she will not do anything, alright?”
The promise was spoken again and Eclipse tilted her head back to look at Octavia then to Vinyl. “Okay.” She meekly said. She wasn't being shy, just unsure of how to deal with the DJ now after what she had done before.
“See? Everything is gonna be alright and we'll have a blast. Say... How old are ya anyway, filly?” Vinyl reached a hoof forward to pet Eclipse's head but was shot down by Octavia in a protective manner. Vinyl would have to re-earn her right to try something like that.
“I'm se..seventeen.. I think.” Octavia and Vinyl shared a look. For seventeen she was smaller then she should have been. Octavia's first thought was malnourishment. It only made things harder for Octavia's mind as it began working on what to do with Eclipse.
The two musical ponies got together to finish preparing the meal. A large helping of elbow macaroni pasta with a gratuitous amount of white, Alfredo sauce. Large chunks of mushrooms appeared towering and monument like to the starving filly. She leaned forward once she had seated her self in front of her place sniffing the rich aroma. Octavia gave a nod for Eclipse to begin eating first. She didn't waste much time using her magic to raise a fork up, dip it into her food, then bring it to her lips. Her eyes closed as she entered the paradise that was a warm, fresh meal. The taste sending her to nirvana. Whatever headache or pain she may have had from the Zap Apple Flank Bucker was instantly gone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When she wasn't stuffing her face unceremoniously. Vinyl spent the other time during dinner sending a flurry of questions at Eclipse about her likes, dislikes, and if foal cereal really was just for foals. Eclipse was unable to answer any of them before a new questions was asked. Octavia interjected at times reminding Vinyl, much to Vinyl's annoyance, that certain questions shouldn't be asked just because they were thought of. Eclipse couldn't recall when she last laughed as hard as she did then when she listened to the interaction of the two mares. After they ate, Octavia collected the dishes and let Vinyl show Eclipse where her saddlebag and prized possessions were being kept. After another volley of questions, about the toys this time and still unable to answer most, Octavia announced it was time for the 3 to part ways. The gray mare was to head to her concert while Vinyl and Eclipse went to one of the clubs for Vinyl's own show. The DJ was given specific instructions, something Octavia considered writing down and taping to Vinyl's forehead, not to let Eclipse drink any alcoholic beverages nor let her go home with any unruly stallions. When asked if unruly mares were alright, Octavia smacked Vinyl for the second time in the night.
Eclipse learned that Octavia and Vinyl shared a condominium twenty stories up in a modern build structure. The rent was costly but to Octavia the avoidance of unwanted noise, aside from Vinyl, unsavory types, aside from Vinyl, and safety, aside from when Vinyl gets a new CD. Eclipse hadn't even flown that high up before so knowing she stood at such a distance left her speechless. She had wished now she had gone out to the balcony and gotten the chance to look out to see what of the city she could see.
Night had once more come to Equestria. While she had yet to see the city in the day light, Eclipse was still in awe at the surrounding structures and ponies. The path to the dance club wasn't far. The moment they came to the back door, Eclipse was assaulted by a varying array of lights and ear shattering music pounding at her head. The club wasn't any place popular or heavily on the radar for critics. Vinyl played here on occasion as it was one of the first clubs she got her break in.
“Just sit here, and if someone with a name badge asks if you need anything, order whatever you want off the menu for food but no bubbles, capiche?” Vinyl moved her hooves pointing both at Eclipse in a 'bang' motion then twirled about on all fours to trot back to the stage. The filly watched the pony leave then took a glance around her again at the many, many unfamiliar faces. Her next thoughts went to what Vinyl said to her. What did she mean by bubbles?
“Now fillies and colts! We have for you, DJ Pon-3!” An announcer screamed through the speakers as the lights went dim. An orchestra of lights varying from blue, to red, and yellow shinned, flickered, and raced spot lights across the dance floor. The music was fast and exhilarating. Pushing the ponies to move their bodies in a frenzied dance calmer ponies would call chaotic or accuse them of drug use. Some ponies began getting on top of tables, standing onto their hind legs to sway and shake their flanks.
Flickers of images that seemed to be some pony else memories flourished in her mind. She saw a pony very much like her self dancing while bathed in the moon light. Instinctively, she brought her self on top of the table wanting to recapture the experience her body told her was her's, but she swore she had never done before. The memories felt so real but seemed like another life time. Before she could figure out what these thoughts were, she had clambered onto the table raising onto her hind legs. Her eyes closed, shutting away the moonlit glow. Her chest raised as she deeply inhaled. Her forelegs and hind legs began to move in an intricate manner. It was a dance from ages ago historians would place thousands of years in the past. Her mismatched wings extended out at either side of her. Rolling in waves, curling around her then releasing back out. The strange appearance of the right wing caught the eyes of several onlookers who's attention went from the expert DJ to the unknown pony.
Eclipse began to feel light. Her entire body growing warm with any pain, tension, or embarrassment washing away. Magic circled around her, it formed not from her horn but from all around. The gray energy flowed up to her broken horn restoring it to a mystical proportion as it did temporarily the night it was broken. The power shed outwards cast upon the club as something occurred that would entrap all ponies to watch Eclipse dance on the table. The light from the spotlights, flickering strobes, and even candles was stolen and brought straight to the filly. The objects still glowed producing the lamination, but everything around was not brightened. The multiple colors of light came in contact with Eclipse's tail and hair extending it to lengthy proportions. Her hair raised spreading out over the area above her just as her tail extended out across the floor. The shadows were next to feel the strange occurrence. From every part of the room they moved away enveloping Eclipse as a sensual lover might. Nothing cast darkness now. The area seemed to be in an unusual state where everything could be seen without light nor unseen with darkness.
The pony continued to dance with the shadow wrapping around her. It moved gracefully as she did up and down her slender form. Her hind quarters swayed catching each beat with a delicate bump motion. Her fore hooves traced down along her sides then curled her forelegs onto her abdomen. Ears settled back, flattening on her scalp. Vinyl was the last pony to notice when even over the loud beats of her music, she stopped hearing the stomps and clops of ponies dancing to the music. Her fore hooves slid over the vinyl records, her head raised up from watching her actions to stare out across the audience. It was then she saw the spectacle that Eclipse had created. Her right hoof slid creating a screeching sound of music skipping into a wall. The sound forced Eclipse back into reality, her eyes opening wide casting a brighter glow than normal. When her concentration was shattered, the light and shadows returned to where they came.
She stood there a moment before slowly dropping onto all four hooves. Her mouth hung open feeling dry as nervousness dipped its thorny feelings back into her skin. All eyes were on her, every pony was watching to see what this unusual filly was going to do next. The final glimmer of magic with her vanished, returning her horn to its broken state. She retracted her wings quickly back to cover her self and her cutie mark alike. She was unsure how to proceed, having never been the center of attention with so many before this night. The silence of the once loud, thumping music grew into an eerie atmosphere until she heard Vinyl yell over the speakers.
“Alright, every pony! Let's give it up for Nightlight!” There was the break in silence followed by a thunderous round of hoof stomping. The music stared up once more but Eclipse wasn't in any mood to dance this time. She went back to sitting at her table waiting for Vinyl to finish her set. During this time she was asked by unicorns what magic she had used, dancers asked her where she learned to move as she did, two or three marriage proposals and ponies bought drinks for her until a pyramid of different shaped glasses filled with liquids had stacked up on her table. This wouldn't become a problem of wasted alcohol as when Vinyl finally finished her track, she proceeded to accept the drinks on Eclipse's behalf. The DJ explained to the ponies that her friend couldn't drink but couldn't want to disappointment so many happy ponies.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock. The sound of the clock was the only noise in the condominium. Octavia Philharmonica sat calmly at the kitchen table. Her front leg's knees bent against the table top, her chin pressed to joined hooves. Her eyes glanced towards the ticking machine. It was two AM and Vinyl was supposed to have been home with Eclipse by eleven. Raven hair had found its self annoyingly across her face, but she remained unmoving to brush it out of her way. It was just another annoyance she could deal with after she dealt with a certain mare.
Her right eye twitched when the off key singing caught her ears from the hall outside the condo. There would be complaints and accusations the following morning now; Octavia was dreading this. The door handle jiggled with giggles and laughter on the other side. She didn't want to get up to let the mare in but the filly who was with her deserved a good night's rest. The chair slid back allowing Octavia to drop down to be able to move to the door. With a heavy sigh she pulled the handle down letting the deadbolt retract and the metal nub to let the door open.
The slow opening was hurried along with a slamming of the door against the wall besides it. A white blur launched its self inwards tackling Octavia down against the ground. A flurry of kisses, pecks, and licks to Octavia's face, mane, and shoulders. The other mare's hooves found themselves groping across the gray pony's torso. “Vinyl Melinda Scratch you take your hooves off meEEEE!” Her voice hit a high pitch when Vinyl's hooves found Octavia's flank and graced between her thighs.
“I love your plot of my life.” Vinyl whispered the cheesy line into Octavia's ear. The cello master would hear nothing of it. Her right hoof swung upwards connecting to Vinyl's chin sending her flying off her body in a comical manner. Pulling her self up, Octavia brushed her self off then looked at the door way for Eclipse.
Eclipse stood there watching the spectacle. It was another lesson in life that would eventually require some explanation for what Vinyl was trying to do and Octavia had stopped her from doing. “I apologize for Vinyl's actions. I take it she had a few drinks?”
“Yes some of the po..ponies had bought me quite a fe..few of them but I di..didn't want to drink them so Miss Vinyl did.” Eclipse stammered not wanting to get the crumbled mass of white pony into any more trouble than she assumed she was in. Her tail tucked back between her haunches when she carefully traversed into the condo's entrance. Octavia shut the door behind the younger filly.
“It all makes sense now.” Octavia muttered moving from the door to Vinyl. She slid her head beneath Vinyl's body rolling her up onto her back. She deftly carried the DJ to the couch rolling her flank upwards, her torso forward letting the other mare gracefully land on the cushions. “Come, Eclipse, you'll be sharing the bed with me. Let the drunk sleep it off out here.”
The pair retreated back to the bedroom where Eclipse would be able to sleep in an unsoiled bed with fresh sheets, a fluffy pillow, and bouncy mattress. She felt like a foal again when she leap onto the bed rolling and bouncing until her weight settled. She didn't want to wait for permission and made her way beneath the covers to one side of the bed. Octavia watched her with violate eyes, giggling softly to her self at how excited the filly was just for this. It helped her decide what she would talk to Vinyl about tomorrow.
Eclipse blushed heavily when she realized how she was acting. Octavia came to the other side of the bed drawing her self beneath the covers. She had made a quick trip to the bathroom first and dropped something from her mouth next to Eclipse. “Please, use these.” Glowing eyes trailed down to the items that were dropped.
“Ear plugs. I want you to get a good rest so I recommend putting them in.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Octavia had allowed herself to sleep in that morning. When she finally woke, the digital clock besides her bed told her it was ten AM. Drowsy eyes confirmed that Eclipse still slumbered, peacefully curled in a ball on the other edge of the bed. Sometime during the night Eclipse had retrieved her prized dolls . Each one huddled close to her chest, she smiled nuzzling them. Octavia was careful when she slid out from under the covers as not to wake the filly. From her dresser, bottom drawer on the right, Octavia retrieved a white cylinder with a horn attachment to the top; simply put it was an air horn. Her head dipped down placing teeth and lips around the cylinder's side holding it tight. Raising back up, her hooves dipped in lifting two extra ear plugs carefully between each limb and placed them into her ears. She was set.
A last check to make sure Eclipse was asleep and her earplugs in was made before leaving the bedroom. The door shut behind her, extra precaution, Octavia calmly made her way to the couch where she left Vinyl the night before. Sometime during the early morning, Vinyl rearranged how she slept. She was on her back, but her head hung off the edge of the couch at the middle. Her flank pressed against the backrest and her legs hung undignified over the back. Her tail wasn't much help is keeping her decency intact. Her glasses had fallen landing near where her head hung. Vinyl's tongue was rolled out the corner of her open maw while soft snores rumbled from her throat.
Octavia sighed at the sight. How the DJ was able to sleep like that and not wake up sore was always a mystery to her. She trotted to the front of the couch and sat back onto her haunches. One front hoof raised up to the top of the blow horn. In her mind she counted down. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Her hoof pushed inward against a bright red button. All at once Vinyl launched upwards planting her self against the ceiling. The loud belch of the air horn causing the windows nearby to vibrate. Octavia moved her hooves over to pull out each ear plug, then the air A horn set onto the small table in front of the sofa. As a feather in the wind, Vinyl slowly floated down back onto the couch. Her body was trembling, her head throbbed with unimaginable pain and anguish, visions were nearly blinded at the bodily sensations brought on by the epic hangover. When her visions did finally return, she found Octavia standing over her, smiling bright and cheerily. Vinyl knew that if she was woken up in that fashion, she had done something wrong.
“Good morning, darling, it is time for us to have our discussion about our guest.” Octavia excused her self and went into the kitchen. She'd begin making a light brunch for them to share. Fresh fruits and cheese was taken from the fridge, and a knife retrieved from the block held between hoof and ankle. “You said yesterday that you wanted her to stay here if she was in the kind of trouble we fully suspect.” She didn't want to dally on the subject.
A hing pitch ringing finally silenced in Vinyl's head. Her hooves pressed against her temples wanting the pain to subside enough for her to right her self and stand on her four hooves again. She was never going to drink that much again she told her self. Her purple sunglasses were retrieved set back on her muzzle. She knew she was just lying to her self, given the chance she'd do it again. Octavia's words reached her enough for her to hear them but not to fully understand them. Vinyl's brain still felt that it was being thrown around in her skull bouncing off the walls. “Huh? Well yeah. But you shoulda seen her last night, Octy!” Vinyl attempted to walk straight to the kitchen. She wouldn't pass a sobriety test very well as every other step she took another one either to the left or the right. “She was like freaking with the lights and stuff. Moving them like nothing I've ever seen a pony do before. It was creepy but damn was it badass!”
This did sound as an unusual act. But a unicorn, or alicorn's, in Eclipse's case, was something that couldn't fully be explained. “And it was not something you have seen before?” Inquiring tone spoke up setting some sliced fruit onto a one of two retrieved plates.
“Never. Hell, every pony there was completely silent about the whole thing. They had no idea what was going on but they loved the hell out of it!” Vinyl finally made it to the kitchen. From behind Octavia she went, moving onto her hind legs and tossing he forelegs around her lover's shoulders. A quick peck was given to the gray pony's cheek. “But yeah. Nightlight is a good kid. I say she stays if she has no place to go. Heck, she could use some lessons from a certain brilliant pony.”
“As long as a stupid one doesn't ruin it, right?” Vinyl smiled pressing her body back against the white pony's warm form.
“Hey now, don't put your self down like that!” Vinyl gave a trademark grinned resting her cheek against Octavia's nuzzling her.
“First we need to find out more about her. She looks to be like how the Princesses are but... Different. Will you go wake her? I'll get another plate ready.” She said wiggling her body from Vinyl to retrieve the third plate. “Just be gentle. She has ear plugs in her ears.”
Vinyl saluted Octavia then slid around on her hind hooves to face the kitchen door. Dropping back to her normal trotting ways, she half dashed towards the bedroom. Eclipse was still sound asleep in the same place that Octavia had left her. Devil horns appeared on Vinyl's head in her shadow when she approached the sleeping filly. Her hooves danced beneath her with a splendid idea craving into her thoughts. The twinkling haired filly looked so peaceful on Vinyl's side of the bed. Vinyl reached forward grabbing onto the edge of the blanket. She decided to tone down the prank in mind for something less startling. The blanket was yanked back forcing Eclipse to fall over the edge.
Thump! Eclipse's body hit the ground startling her awake. She jumped up onto all fours glancing back and forth expecting the worst had come for her. The sunlight struck still tired eyes stinging them awake as she adjusted to being conscious. Glowing eyes found Vinyl snickering off to the side yet, strangely she wasn't making a sound despite her lips moving. Eclipse tilted her head trying to lip read the white pony until it occurred to her. The ear plugs! Magic withdrew the tiny nubs out letting the DJ's voice come through loud and clear.
“Well glad to see you're finally awake! Come on, Octy's got some vittles for us to munch on.” Vinyl threw her front hooves out to help Eclipse right herself then guide her to the dinner table. Octavia was waiting, at her seat she was at when they ate dinner, with three plates of fruits and cheeses waiting for them. Vinyl would normally protest and want some Dandeliontarts or something similar for a foal's taste but she wasn't going to argue this time.
“Good morning, Eclipse.” She spoke calmly offering a genuine smile. When the other two ponies were seated, Octavia leaned her head down to pluck a piece of orange into her mouth. Violet eyes gazed towards the shorter filly who, in turn, had begun eating her fresh food as if it was her last once more. “This maybe difficult to discuss but it is something Vinyl and my self need to ask you. Yesterday you had mentioned you ran away from home.”
A deer in headlights made more attempts to flee an oncoming car than Eclipse did to swallow her food. Her pounded her right hoof against her chest forcing a piece of kiwi down her gullet. Eyes did not want to meet Octavia's kind stare. The gray filly felt ashamed for what she went through, and answering questions only seemed to make it a more prevalent feeling. She nodded her head finally to the question.
“I understand this maybe the cause for your horn breaking. Eclipse, I need to get honest answers from you if we are to help you. I do not wish to escalate the situation worse, but we are in need of information.”
Eclipse didn't want to say what had occurred over the years of her life. She was certain telling anyone would bring more turmoil and her possible return to the dreaded place. Yet, when she looked up to Octavia and Vinyl, the comfort and understanding in their eyes gave her an entirely different feeling. She felt safe here with them, a bit how she did with the Super Heroine who helped her reached Manehatten. “D..daddy kept me in the.. ce..cellar. That's what ma..mamma would call it. He would sa...say I was cur..cursed.” Images of the place returned to her mind, picturing each and every day of solitude she was forced to endure. “After Mamma had left... I do..don't know how lo..long but daddy came do..down made. He sa..said I did something and bro..broke my horn.” Tears turned in her glowing eyes. She never wanted to see what she saw that morning anymore but this recollection was forcing her to experience it again. “Ther..there was a fi..fire a few da..days ago and I go..got out then.”
Octavia and Vinyl exchanged looks. This was too unreal to be true but the tears the filly shed told them it was. No one cried like that without true damage being there. Vinyl slid from her chair trotting over to Eclipse's side. Her arms came around the filly hugging her tightly against her white coat. “Who is your father, Eclipse?” Octavia asked. She knew what she was going to ask next. Of course, she had made her decision even before asking these questions.
The gray filly pressed against Vinyl, returning the embrace tightly with her forelegs around the DJ. She whipped her face, cleaning away tears, on her chest. “I do..don't want to sa..say. I do..don't want hi..him to find me.”
“Would you like to live with us? We will clean out the spare bedroom for you to use.”
Eclipse shot her head away from Vinyl staring at the cellist with a slackjawed expression. Did her ears hear what was said right? She looked up at Vinyl then back to Octavia seeking some sort of reaffirmation. The smiles she received from both of them gave her what she needed. “Ye..yes please.”
“Awesome! I got so much to teach you now, Nightlight!” Vinyl said hugging the filly once more. “I'll show you good music, more dance moves, and lessons in love. See, Vinyl has this spot, right at the base of her ears that when you nibble it just right she melts in your hoo...” The mood changed abruptly. Vinyl felt a cold chill fill the air. When she breathed out air could be seen as on a chilly day. Sweat frozen solid in tiny droplets on her brow. Slowly, her head turned peering at Octavia. The look sent Vinyl's way sent shivers through her body.
“Vinyl. Kitchen. Now.” Octavia moving off the chair to her hooves.
“Don't wanna.” Vinyl replied shaking her head. She moved cowering behind Eclipse and the chair she was on.
“I never gave you a choice.”
“I'll stay with Eclipse.”
“Now.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Well into the evening the three ponies worked on clearing out the guest room. The different boxes of keepsakes, mementos, unneeded clothes, and other housewares would be taken to a storage unit sometime soon. For now they were stacked near the front door in anticipation for the event. Conversations stayed far away from anything that would open Eclipse's old wounds but instead inquired to her hobbies, likes, dislikes, and education. It turned out that with the books that Eclipse had to entertain her self while living in the cellar, she was knowledgeable in high school academia and below. The books she had were certainly knowledgeable when they were purchased eighteen years ago but there would be more to learn. Eclipse didn't know how to survive on her own, barely knew how to do chores, and, according to Vinyl, ensure that a tree isn't planted up her rump.
Eclipse enjoyed watching the pair. The way they fought and poked fun at one another was a continuous comedy show. The words and actions never became hurtful beyond child's pranks and insults. After dinner, and fresh blankets and sheets were on Eclipse's new bed, she excused herself to bed early. Alone, the pair of mares did some final cleaning up in the kitchen before they too would go to rest.
“We at least know more about her. Imagine spending your entire life locked away. Do you think we should contact someone about what she is? Any pony could see that she is an alicorn.” Octavia spoke running the first few dishes beneath the running water in the sink.
Vinyl did what any good unicorn would do. She used her magic to take the cleaned plates and dry them with an available dish towel. She was reclined back on a chair from the dining room brought to the kitchen so she wouldn't have to shout. “Nah, Octy, if Nightlight is so scared to not even tell us her old stallion's name then she's probably more scared to even talk to the police. Heck, we had to coax her to just tell us a little bit of her problems!” Vinyl moved from her chair coming up behind Octavia. She raised up onto her hind legs then wrapped her forelegs around her lover's waist. Gentle kisses were set to her neck and shoulder. “She just got out a few days ago, she said, so she probably just needs to chill for a while.” Her hooves slid over the gray mare's belly running down a bit lower than perhaps they should. “Hey, I've been a good pony today. How about being a bad pony for me?”
Octavia smirked glancing back to her marefriend. The last dish was set aside, she pressed back letting their bodies join fully. “Good pony? When I went to speak to the landlord you decided to show Eclipse your sound system. It shook the building.”
“Awww, come on.” Vinyl let her magic envelope her glasses raising them back to the top of her head. Ruby eyes, deep and beautiful, stared at Octavia while her lower lip trembled. “I've been a good pony, honest!”
“And last night?... Oh why bother fighting this. You will only escalate your foalish acts until I coincide with your desires.”
“I love it when you use big words.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
The moon and stars blanketed the city with their luminescent light. A flush emitted from the bathroom and Eclipse exited after washing her hooves. Nature had called to her in the middle of the night wakening her from another night of peaceful sleep. She trotted into the hall, glowing eyes emitting enough light for her to see perfectly to her surroundings. She admired it all once more; her new home. A sudden sound caught her attention. Her ears turned to get a better idea where they came from. The sound of flesh being slapped, one she knew all too well, came from the direction of Vinyl and Octavia's bedroom. She inched closer to the bedroom, quiet as a mouse even when the sounds inside were not. Her eyes closed shut. Was some pony being hurt inside? Was it one of them hurting the other? They were so kind to each other, showed such love, that she could scarcely believe it! With the kindness they both had showed her, she wanted to help whichever pony was being abused. So, with magic around the door knob and door, she thrust it open charging inside. What she saw would burn into her mind for ages to come.
Vinyl Tracks and Octavia Philharmonica were not fighting or abusing each other in the more traditional, violent manner. Vinyl was standing on all fours. She wore a brown saddle across her back strapped down along her belly. The area around her cutie mark was swore and red. Gray and purple socks with a treble cleft stitched in black at every ankle. In her mouth was a red ball gag with reigns running upwards to...
Octavia, on the other hand, was riding right on Vinyl's back sitting on the saddle. One hoof had the reigns wrapped around while the other held a riding crop between hoof and wrist. On her hind legs black chaps, on her torso a black cowboy vest, and to top it off a black cowboy hat settled on her head merging in with her straight, black hair.
Vinyl and Octavia stopped their antics when they heard the door open, both noticing Eclipse in the door. Vinyl looked at Eclipse. Eclipse looked at Vinyl. Octavia looked at Eclipse. Eclipse looked at Octavia. Somewhere in Ponyville a pony barked at the moon. None of the ponies stirred, none of them made a sound.
Octavia's mind reeled trying to come up with some sort of explanation as her cheeks inflamed with red. Excuses and explanations were thought up then thrown out for the obscurity that they would come across as. Just as the words were rolling off her tongue to convince Eclipse this was a misunderstanding, the filly retreated back out shutting the door behind her. She was heard returning to her bedroom.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The town of Fillyton was still in a panic over the fire that destroyed Mine Manor. Workers had begun clearing away rubble and securing anything that could pose a danger to any pony that came near the site. Bridal gossip had whispered of the events trying to find some explanation to how a wealthy family as they could have such a horrible ordeal occur. Diamond Mine's corpse was searched for first so it could be properly buried and Sheriff Tin Star did a short investigation proclaiming that no foul play was involved.
At Fillyton Memorial, in a familiar hospital room, a patient was waking for the first time in three days. Blood shot eyes, weary from trauma and fatigue, shot open wide staring at the white ceiling over him. Through a miracle, a deal with a devil pony, or dumb luck, Gold Mine had survived the horrific fire and structure of the horse falling onto his legs. His first memories were the sight of his wife's fallen body and the sensations he felt when he did the deed. The images turned to the last things he saw before his collapse into his three day coma. Eclipse. The filly's escape and ignoring of his wounds and call for help. There was a new lease for what he wanted to do to her. Revenge, suffering, and pain; he would cause all these things to her ten fold. His new ambitions were squished when one vital problems suddenly came to light. He couldn't move his hind legs.