Gothic

Chapter 4: Into the Forest

By Wanderer D

Octavia walked in the opposite direction of the gathering place Blueblood had created. After the warm feeling of Rarity’s generosity—and Sapphire Shore’s apparently honest friendship—she had little desire to be in the proximity of other contestants and the inevitable drama that likely would erupt at the slightest opportunity.

No, she wanted to enjoy what was left of her day in Ponyville, and that meant exploring the town, strolling through the snow-covered streets and just making sure she arrived back in time to rejoin the group to set out towards the Castle of the Two Sisters.

“Well there’s a mare who’s as happy as a parasprite in a fruit market!” a voice called, making Octavia pause and smile at Vinyl Scratch, who was calmly walking up to her.

“Oh, I was fine until I saw the gathering downtown!” Vinyl grimaced. “So many ponies! Can they really cram us all into a few nights?”

“It’s actually weird to see how empty the streets are right now,” Vinyl said when they stopped in front of a little shop called “Quills and Sofas” to peek through the window at a writing desk that had struck Octavia’s fancy. “Usually things that clear the streets don’t happen until after lunch!”

Octavia raised an eyebrow at that, but shook her head and after a last, longing look at the desk, turned and started walking down to the next shop. “Are the streets cleared often? Do you have that many events like a multitude of musicians suddenly showing up in Ponyville?”

“Nah,” Vinyl shook her head, smiling when she saw Sugarcube Corner coming up next. “It’s usually a lot more violent. Hey! Let’s get some pastries!” she added, almost skipping to the confectionery.

Vinyl refused to answer until she had eaten something, so, even though she wasn’t too hungry, Octavia ordered a cappuccino and a strudel, sitting across from Vinyl in one of the many tables available.

“Honestly, Vinyl, didn’t you eat anything for breakfast?” Octavia asked, watching the unicorn merrily levitate at least five pastries and three glasses of juice.

“Of course! I sleep here, you know?” Vinyl Scratch laughed. “They’re just too good to ignore! Just wait until you bite into that apple strudel, I promise you, you’ll want to quit music and go work at Sweet Apple Acres.”

“I’m sure I will,” Octavia chuckled, taking a moment to look around the establishment, wondering at how effective Pinkie Pie was at picking up after her parties.

It was odd how different the place looked without the party decorations or the floor being cleared for dancing, but Sugarcube Corner still managed to embody the bold parties at the same time as the coziness of a home-style kitchen.

“There’s just something about this town, that makes it a trouble magnet,” Vinyl finally explained as she sipped some juice. “It has seen some major disasters almost as long as it has existed.” Her hoof pointed out at the street. “Buildings have been crushed by giant bears, Nightmare Moon’s first stop after a thousand years in exile was Ponyville. It has been attacked by parasprites, dragons… according to Granny Smith, there was—at one point—an actual invasion consisting solely of timber wolves!” She chuckled. “Even the weather here is wild… that’s why Ponyville has the best weather team in all of Equestria.”

Octavia shook her head in amazement. “Why do you say the weather is wild? Is that related to all the attacks?”

“It’s the Everfree Forest,” Vinyl said after a few seconds of chewing on her pastry. “That place is strange. They say that it’s not only the monsters… magic works differently there… everything from the plants to the ground itself is dangerous. You might be standing on a solid piece of rock, and suddenly it breaks for no reason!” She leaned in towards Octavia. “And the flowers… they have strange powers too. They say there’s some that can turn you into another creature, or make you tiny. They say even time is affected… whatever the Everfree Forest is, whoever goes in should be prepared to face the unknown.”

The memory of feeling like the forest was observing her like some hungry beast about to snap at her, came back unbidden to Octavia, and she hid her nervousness by sipping her coffee. “You must be exaggerating.”

Vinyl snorted. “I haven’t seen all of that, but you have to remember, that’s where the last two battles against Nightmare Moon happened. A thousand years ago, and last year. You can’t tell me that that kind of thing wouldn’t do… something. Hay, Granny Smith has all sorts of stories about how crazy stuff happens in and around the Everfree. Folks here are a lot more superstitious than you might imagine for all their welcoming spirit. The zebra in the Everfree has been living there for years, but it wasn’t until Twilight Sparkle got to meet her that ponies here even ventured out of their homes when she came to town.”

Octavia pursed her lips. “As an earth pony, I have little knowledge of magic beyond the basics that we all learn in school. I don’t know if Nightmare Moon could have such an effect after a thousand years, or simply by re-appearing one night.” She looked down at her strudel. “Besides… she was defeated, and Princess Luna was restored.”

The mention of the sick princess was enough for Vinyl to stop talking about the forest, and both sat in silence for a little while.

“I don’t know,” Octavia admitted. “When I left, the last piece of news was that she had taken a turn for the worse… our princess is pretty strong, from what the legends say, but this illness is not something that anypony seems to be able to figure out.”

Vinyl sighed. “I wonder if having this competition when Luna herself is bedridden is a good idea.”

Octavia shrugged. “It’s in her honor… perhaps, somehow knowing that this is going on helps her in some way. It might even help her.”

Octavia looked back down at her coffee, trying to figure out how to explain herself. “As I said earlier, as an earth pony, I do not think of magic like unicorns do. But, if I recall correctly, during her visit and symposium at the Royal Canterlot University, Princess Celestia at one point said that alicorns, besides the magic of all ponies, possess their own kind of magic, correct? And the more ponies acknowledge them, and direct their thoughts at them, it empowers them.”

Octavia shook her head. “It’s speculation, and paraphrasing Princess Celestia, Vinyl, you don’t need to poke fun at me.”

Vinyl chuckled, but nodded. “Honestly I have no idea… but if it helps, we’ll give our best.”

Octavia smiled in response, settling down to eat the rest of her strudel and finishing her coffee. The pair eventually set out into town again, strolling casually as the morning went by.

This morning, after meeting briefly with Rarity for breakfast, I met a few of the other contestants. Somehow Prince Blueblood was invited, and I met the world-renowned Sapphire Shores, who is a surprisingly nice pony. I always thought that somepony that famous would be full of themselves, but it turned out to be one of my many misconceptions, rather than the reality.

After that encounter, which was a little unpleasant due to some history shared by Blueblood and Rarity, I headed out to the Carousel Boutique to get my dress… or should I say dresses? Oh diary, Rarity went above and beyond generosity, literally gifting me with three of the most amazing attires I have ever laid eyes on. I’ll make sure to take pictures of myself in them and attach them here, I fear my words would fail to describe just how beautiful they are.

And now, my stay in Ponyville is coming to an end… in an hour or so, I will be meeting with the other contestants to set out towards the Castle of the Two Sisters.

I am surprisingly saddened by this, since I’ve had such an unexpectedly wonderful time here in this small town. It’s funny to think that my journey began with me slightly annoyed at having to sit across from Vinyl Scratch.

I realize now, dear diary, that I’ve never mentioned her before in your pages— not surprising, since was a long time before I started scribbling my thoughts in you again, and with the Magna Anima Nocte being foremost in my thoughts, I never considered adding anything about anypony else I might have met or heard of in the last few years.

My initial thoughts about DJ Vinyl Scratch were never favorable… I am forced to admit that I had never even sat down to listen to her music, considering it uninspired and unworthy of being called music at all. Writing it down, it seems even more obvious now that I shouldn’t have simply assumed such a thing, for you see, diary, she actually is a fan of mine and a lot of her music has been inspired by my own pieces.

Electronic, or dubstep or whatever she calls it is not really my thing. I can still see the appeal certain ponies have for it, it’s by no means bad, it just doesn’t resonate with me that much… but I do confess that I found myself nodding to the rhythm more than once. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Last night I found out that a lot of ponies in Ponyville know of me because of Vinyl’s music. It’s touching, really, and once I got to know her a little better, I can’t help but curse at my initial assessment of her as a musician and as a pony. We spent most of the morning together talking and I think that, regardless of the outcome of the competition, I have made a good friend.

My concern right now is going through the Everfree… it’s a weird place, full of danger and strange creatures, and if Vinyl is to be believed, strange and unknown magic. How Twilight Sparkle and her friends ever managed to cross it alone to face Nightmare Moon is a mystery to me… but at least in our case we will be guarded.

It’s time to go, dear diary. Everypony should be here by now, and I do not wish to be late. I’ll talk to you soon again.

By now the crowd around the musicians gathering point was so big, it was almost impossible to get through. Ponies pressed together on both sides of the street, and every time Octavia tried to push her way through, they would glare at her and push back, regardless of her pleading to let her pass.

It was getting closer to the time to set off, and despite still having some time left, Octavia was really beginning to fear she might lose her ride due to overzealous music fans. The crowd suddenly wowed and parted right next to her as a chariot tried to pull through and Blueblood’s guards hurried to make way for it.

Octavia was thankfully at the front of the crowd and immediately recognized Sapphire Shores waving at the ponies outside. She tried to push past the guards, who forced her back.

“Step back, Miss!” The guard growled. “We’ve had plenty of ponies attempt that same—“

“Octavia, darling!” Sapphire Shores called from her chariot, ordering the ponies pulling it to slow down. “Whatever are you doing down there, honey? We’re about to set off!”

The ponies around her quieted down, making room to finally look at Octavia, and the guard started to shift uncomfortably when he saw that she had been holding her invitation in her hoof for him and he had ignored her.

Whispers started around her, and soon many ponies were raising their voices, trying to figure out what was going on.

“Is that Octavia Philarmonica? Isn’t she the inspiration for Vinyl Scratch?”

“I heard her play from a record that Aloe had in her spa, she’s wonderful!”

Sapphire Shores chortled and opened the door to her carriage. “Hop in, dah-ling!”

Trying not to grin, Octavia stepped around the guard, who was trying his best to not look directly at her, and still shifting uncomfortably while one of the ponies pulling the chariot, helped Octavia secure her cello along with the other musical instruments, before offering to help her into the chariot itself.

The gathered crowd soon filled out the space and tried to gain the attention of Octavia and Sapphire Shores while the former quickly boarded the chariot and closed the door behind her.

Once inside, Octavia let out a relieved sigh. “Thank you, Sapphire, I don’t think I would have ever made it through without your help!”

Sapphire Shores laughed, curly blue mane swaying from side to side as she shook her head in amusement. “Not a problem, darling!” She grinned and motioned to the other side of the chariot. “In fact, I have something else for you!” she added in a sing-song voice.

Octavias’ eyes followed her hoof to a hook on the interior of the chariot, where a garment bag was hung. “A-are those…”

“Mmhm.” Sapphire Shore smiled and handed Octavia an envelope, engraved with three diamonds in a simile of a now-familiar cutie mark.

Dear Octavia,

I deeply regret not being able to see you off and to give you these three dresses in person, but I am afraid family duties have reared their head in, and I must attend to my young sister, who has gotten in trouble at school once more.

She is a delightful little filly who would love to meet you someday. Perhaps after the event, you might be able to stop by for tea, and possibly meet her?

In any case, I do hope that the dresses are to your liking. They should be a perfect fit now, and worthy of an august competition such as this one. I wish you the best, and I know you have it in you to win.

Octavia smiled as she put the note down and slowly folded it back into the envelope, before sliding it into her saddlebags.

“Rarity is such a gem, isn’t she?” Sapphire Shores said with a smile. “I do believe her name does her perfect justice.”

Sapphire Shores waved her head slowly. “For about a year or so, I walked into her Boutique expecting nothing but the usual dresses and suddenly my eyes settled on the most amazing, glittery, sapphire-studded dress I have ever seen.” Her eyes seemed to glitter in remembrance. “I had to have more! So I asked her to make me a large order, expecting just a few, to be honest, but… she pulled through, and ever since, I make a point to stop by and purchase dresses from her. They are, as she says, chic, unique, and magnefique!”

The both smiled just as the chariot stopped, and the door opened. Sapphire Shores motioned for her to go ahead. “I’ll be right out dahling! Go ahead and mingle!” Octavia smiled and nodded her head at the other mare before stepping out into the cool air.

Although there were more ponies, it wasn’t a crowd of artists that she saw. For a moment, with all the gathered ponies outside, she had feared the competition would have turned into little more than a gathering of as many musicians as possible, but although she saw many a talent that she somewhat recognized, and at a guess, there would be about 20 musicians at most, not including the members of a couple of bands she did recognize or Sapphire Shore’s background ponies. It was still a little overwhelming, and she could imagine how nerve-wracking it could have been for her had she not befriended some ponies already.

“Octavia Philarmonica! As I live and breathe!” a voice called out from somewhere around her. “Isn’t it nice to see one pony I actually know!”

Octavia looked around, trying to figure out where the source of the voice was, until her eyes lit up in recognition, easily recognizing the brown-coated earth pony with the piano keys cutie mark. “Francis!” Octavia smiled oft-times musical opponent. “I haven’t seen you since last year’s gala! How have you been?”

“Oh, you know how it is,” he scoffed. “Private party here, grand concert there…” he smirked confidently, then seemed to finally notice who was stepping out of the chariot Octavia had been in. “Wait! You know S-sapphire Shores?”

“Hello darling!” Sapphire grinned. “Octavia, darling, I’m sorry I can’t stay and chat, but I have to make sure all my dancers are ready first! Tut-tut!” She waved at both of them and stepped away, heading to where they could see her troupe was waiting.

“I never took you for a friend of miss Shores, Octavia,” Francis muttered, eyebrow twitching. “I always assumed your music interests lay in completely opposite directions.”

“And I didn’t know you were a fan, Francis.” Octavia chuckled. “I always thought the music was too different as well, but recently I’ve been exposed to a little variety and while I won’t start writing music for them, I have a new appreciation for different types of music.”

“Hm.” Francis frowned, looking around. “At least you know some ponies here, I’m afraid other than recognizing one of our patrons, Prince Blueblood, I thought I wouldn’t meet anypony I knew until you arrived.”

Octavia chuckled. “Brace yourself, Francis,” she warned with a grin. “Prince Blueblood is not our patron, but rather an opponent.”

Francis’ face went blank. “I-I’m sorry? Did you say his highness is not a patron, but a competitor?”

“I’m not… implying anything… I’ve just heard things.” He glanced around furtively. “I heard from an old friend that his highness studied opera and that he was quite proficient, but obviously. I haven’t heard him sing myself, but from my understanding, he was quite gifted.”

“Then let’s hope that he hasn’t practiced much,” Octavia muttered, reassessing her opinion of Blueblood. “That would explain his inclination for classical music at his parties and his disdain for other forms of it.”

Francis nodded, then his eyes widened. “Oh no. Octavia don’t turn around.”

“You won’t like it one bit,” Francis insisted, “But I should warn you that Vinyl Scratch is here, and she’s making her way towards us.” He coughed into his hoof. “Should we… should we just move away?”

Octavia was about to assure him that everything was fine, when an interesting idea crossed her mind. “No, let me deal with her.”

Francis frowned. “Look, I know you don’t like her, but it wouldn’t do to start a scene here. If you have to suffer her, please be polite.”

“Hi Octavia!” Vinyl’s voice came to them at that moment, and Octavia turned, trying to keep her face straight when Francis cringed and glanced nervously at the neon-maned DJ.

“Hey,” Octavia said, “What’s up?” she asked, keeping an eye on Francis as she did so. She raised a hoof which Vinyl immediately and eagerly hoof-bumped.

“Not much! Can you believe this crowd? It’s awesome!” Vinyl grinned, then turned her head and glanced next to Octavia. “Is your friend okay? He seems to be choking.”

Octavia glanced at Francis, who was wide-eyed and almost seemed to be gasping for air. “He’s okay,” she said, turning to face Vinyl again. “Just shocked. Francis Horsechopan, this is Vinyl Scratch. Vinyl, Francis.”

“A-a pleasure, I’m sure.” Francis gave Octavia a dubious look before shaking Vinyl’s hoof.

“So I see you all decided to come after all,” yet another voice interrupted them.

The group turned to look at Trixie, who had approached them while they talked. She was looking at them intently from under the brim of her hat. A winter breeze made her cape flutter for a moment, giving Trixie a more dramatic look, which made Octavia wonder if the breeze had been coincidental or not.

“Trixie,” Octavia nodded, eyes wary. “What brings you to the competition?”

Trixie shook her head. “You shouldn’t have come… none of you, what awaits us there…” she turned to glance at the Everfree and shuddered. “There are forces at play which you are not ready to face, turn back now.” She said, looking back at the others. “We all have a destiny,” she added, eyes resting for a moment on Vinyl Scratch with a look of sadness.

“Come on, Trixie,” Vinyl Scratch spoke up. “Stop trying to scare us away so you can get all the glory. It won’t work. This is a competition for real musicians. And Blueblood.”

Trixie shook her head and turned. “Trixie warned you,” she said walking away. “Whatever happens now it’s on you, not on Trixie’s conscience.”

“Oh yeah?” Vinyl called back to her. “If that’s the case, why don’t you tell us what the problem is?”

“I see that that gypsy has threatened you as well,” Prince Blueblood spoke up, approaching them as he glared at Trixie’s back. “The temerity of it baffles me.”

“Your highness,” Francis bowed, and Octavia followed his example. Vinyl, however, stood in place, glancing at Blueblood doubtfully.

Vinyl blinked and seemed to catch on, turning to face him. “Yo. What’s up, Blue?”

Blueblood however, simply ignored Vinyl Scratch. “The fact that vagrants such as this ‘Trixie’ are even allowed in still confuses me. I have half a mind to have the guards remove her, but it wouldn’t do to offend our host. I’m sure she’ll be weeded out soon enough when she can’t stand up to the competition.”

Putting Blueblood’s attitude towards Vinyl Scratch aside, Octavia raised her head, confident now that propriety had been followed to an extent. “She did try to scare us off.”

Blueblood snorted, “Probably realized that it’s the only way she stands a chance. I would simply ignore her, Miss Philharmonica, gypsies like her are a stain on the face of Equestria that for some reason my Aunt Celestia deems fit to let fester.”

“Is there anypony here you don’t know?” Francis muttered to Octavia, then spoke up, “The townsfolk don’t seem too fond of her either,” he observed, noticing the many hostile glares Trixie received as she walked back to her wagon.

Vinyl snorted. “She’s a bit of a pain, and the last time she was here she contained the whole town in a force-field and enslaved everypony.”

“So not only a gypsy, but an insane, powerful gypsy.” He looked at the stage wagon Trixie had gotten into with a bit of trepidation.

“Well!” Vinyl Scratch said loudly, catching the attention of the crowd and making a sweeping motion with her hoof to indicate the wagon. “She is after all… The GREAT!”

“AND POWERFUL!” The crowd shouted, angry glares gone as they got into the spirit of Vinyl’s cheer.

“Insane plebeians, you mean.” Blueblood growled, still ignoring Vinyl Scratch for the most part. “In any case, Miss Philarmonica,” Blueblood turned to smile a bit arrogantly at Octavia. “I was wondering if you would ride in my chariot with me.”

“Sorry, Blueblood honey,” Sapphire Shores interrupted as she trotted up to them happily, “Octavia will be riding with me, since we have some things yet to talk about!” She grinned cheekily.

“Aw, don’t worry Blue!” Vinyl interrupted bumping shoulders with the Prince and nearly giving Octavia a heart-attack at the sheer disrespect. “I’ll ride with you! I already have all my equipment on it!”

“You what?!” Blueblood screeched, turning to look—along with everypony in the small group—at his chariot, where two guards were strapping very large speakers onto the top of it, as well as securing a lot of electronic equipment to the back. “You! You’re making my chariot look like some sort of plebeian bling-ride!”

“I have no clue what that means, but come on, let’s get in!” Vinyl laughed, galloping for Blueblood’s chariot.

Octavia closed her mouth, and felt a small amount of satisfaction when Sapphire Shores and Francis did so as well. “I feel like I’m missing something.”

“That mare has no respect whatsoever for the prince,” Francis said shakily. “Doesn’t she know he could have her arrested?”

Sapphire Shores shrugged. “It doesn’t seem to bother her either way, so there’s nothing to do about it.” She motioned with her head. “Come on you two, let’s get going.”

“I’m… coming with you?” Francis asked, falling into step behind Octavia.

“Unless you don’t want to, darling. I’m not gonna force you.” She winked at him over her shoulder.

Octavia spared a last look at Vinyl Scratch, who seemed to be ordering the guards on how to properly set up her equipment on the chariot while ignoring an enraged Prince Blueblood. There were many things she needed to ask her newest friend, but for now her attention was drawn back to Sapphire Shores, who was regaling Francis with stories about fame, fortune and becoming a world-famous pop star.

Soon enough, all artists and musicians had packed up their belongings and the chariots waited like some sort of giant snake, ready to strike. The sky was already tinged with pink and purple when the pony walked into the gathering.

He didn’t do anything specific to draw attention, but conversation died inside Sapphire Shore’s chariot, and suddenly, they were all aware that he was there, outside, looking at them all.

He was unusual… wearing a formal coat and cape, his face was hidden by an elaborate mask of twirling inlaid silver and gold over a red velvety base.

“My Lady Winter Charm thanks you all for coming tonight,” the pony spoke, and they all heard him clearly. Octavia looked at the other chariots and everypony’s attention was also focused on the strange stallion.

“If you will follow me, I will guide you to the Castle of the Two Sisters,” the stallion continued. “Stay on the same path as I do, for the road there is treacherous. And should you lose your way, you might never return.”

Having said that, the stallion turned and started walking towards the forest. There was some hesitation from the chariots at the front, but after a moment, they all started rolling, one after the other into the Everfree Forest.

Gothic

by Wanderer D

Chapter 4: Into the Forest