Falling into routine was an easy task. In the morning Eclipse woke at the same time that Octavia did. Together they performed aerobics to classical music until Vinyl woke. Vinyl waking was the same each day. It consisted of her falling out of bed onto her belly. Groggily moving to her hooves and unceremoniously stumbling out of their bedroom. Her first destination was the kitchen for her coffee until she sat at the table in a passed out posture. Once the muffled groan of muzzle to table was heard, Octavia and Eclipse would then retreat to the kitchen to begin cooking lessons and preparing breakfast.
Once the DJ was fed, house hold chores were completed. Depending on who took the lead it could either be a disaster or orderly. Then came the normal day to day affairs that ended with the lover's quarreling. There seemed to be cues for when Octavia and Vinyl argued each day. Eclipse was able to time when they would occur and for what reason depending on conditions met or unmet the day prior. The fights never went past being simple and quick resolved. Each one gave Eclipse amusement for her to giggle over for hours to come.
Octavia and Vinyl's scheduled occurred at different times unless Octavia had a show to perform. Vinyl was a night pony working the clubs when the sun went down. For the cellist, practice occurred in the mornings to afternoons. This allowed each mare to have time to spend with Eclipse showing her the things she had missed out on. Each pony giving a unique perspective to the most mundane things.
Some days Octavia felt that Vinyl's influence on their house guest was becoming too strong. So, to counter this, she brought Eclipse with her to practice. She felt that the filly needed to experience proper music, class, and dignity. The twinkled maned filly became fast friends with the other members of the orchestra. Frederick and Beauty Bass often gave a hug for a hello when she was there. The conductor would spend their lunch breaks telling her of the stories of his youth saving the others from hearing the same tale for the thirtieth time. Eclipse, even if she heard the tale, listened intently. Lessons on music, proper etiquette for dining and conversing, and even some dance lessons were given by these regal ponies.
The nights that held performances for both mares had Eclipse typically going with Vinyl. As different as night and day are, so were the experiences she had with Vinyl compared to Octavia's. Eclipse had gained a reputation after her dancing caused an unusual effect to the lighting and the shadows. Ponies still remembered it and tried to get her to do it again. Try as she may, she couldn't recreate the feat that removed all light and darkness from the room to circle around her. The friends she made through Vinyl Scratch taught her things she would have never learned in a higher class setting. From some unsavory, but kind, ponies Eclipse learned to play poker. They offered tips on her poker face, how to bluff, and how to act stupid when playing with someone new in order to get their confidence falsely built. Bartenders gave lessons on how to mix the perfect drinks. Gold diggers gave advice for using doe eyes and tears to get what Eclipse wanted.
Eclipse even had chances to earn bits when she went with either of the mares. With Octavia, Eclipse acted as a lunch pony or fetched water for the thirsty musicians. It was minimal work but she was glad to do it. The work with Vinyl brought in more bits but had more to it. Some nights she mixed drinks, other nights she helped Vinyl or bands setup their equipment with her magic. There wasn't any insistence that Eclipse pay rent, she felt it only right to give some of her bits to her caretakers.
Intimacy for the mares was solved with one of Vinyl's stellar ideas. After a week, and Eclipse was settled in, they left her alone some nights so the two could enjoy a romantic dinner. After, ear plugs were slipped to Eclipse by Vinyl to use for that night. Neither of them truly wanted a repeat of the night they were caught by the naïve filly. It seemed that everything came together perfectly. A puzzle where the pieces were large and easy to decipher. Of course, that didn't mean that there would not be problems.
It began during Octavia's practice. Spying out over the darkened rehearsal hall at the seating. The usual ponies were in attendance; walks in, older ponies let in just to listen to music, and Eclipse in the front row. Lavender eyes concentrated through the dim light to make out Eclipse. The filly's glowing eyes only made it harder to properly see what she was doing. Octavia found it a bit odd. The gray pony was seated, as she normally was, but her head bobbed and her hind hooves tapped the ground. Visions narrowed, wondering what brought on these motions. The music that the orchestra played wasn't particularly lively. It fitted more for conversation and regal parties in Canterlot.
When the ensemble ended, and the ponies broke away for lunch, Octavia trotted down off the stage going straight to Eclipse. The pony was expecting the filly to instantly raise to all fours and greet her halfway, but she didn't seem to even realize that the practice session had taken its pause. The dim lighting gave little help for Octavia to see Eclipse until she was besides the other pony. There she saw why Eclipse seemed to be acting unusually.
Eclipse was still seated, swaying back and forth and tapping her hooves. On her head sat a set of headphones just like Vinyl wears around her neck during her DJ concerts. DJ Pon-3 was even written in silver ink on the side of each ear piece. Annoyance raced up and down Octavia's back.
She reached a hoof up, finally getting seen by Eclipse. The cellist couldn't be mad at Eclipse, not with the kind smile she gave the moment she had seen Octavia. Still, she had to know what kind of music she was listening to instead of proper music being played for her ears. The raised hoof presented its self to pull back one side of the headset. Black mane and twinkling mane met when Octavia pushed her cheek near Eclipse's to listen to what it was that drew her attention. Her teeth grated. Her tail swooped back and forth at a face pace when she heard the obnoxious sounds of 'wubwubwubwubwubwubwub' broke whatever good mood she could have been in. “Eclipse, dear, where did you get this music?” It took the will power of a goddess to keep Octavia from finding the filly's player to destroy the source of the music.
“Mi..Miss Vinyl told me..me that if I ke..keep listening to your music without som...something to keep me awake I'd yawn my ja..jaw off. I did..didn't believe her but she insi..insisted.” Octavia couldn't feel any rage towards Eclipse. Not with the innocent way she smiled, the way her eyes glowed a bit brighter waiting to see what reaction it would bring, or Eclipse not truly understanding what Vinyl had done bringing this brand of music into the practice hall.
If there was malice, Vinyl simply being Vinyl, or some sort of challenged involved, Octavia would take it to the next level regardless. A motion of her tail, her body twisting for Eclipse to follow behind, Octavia was practically skipping at the fiendish plan that unfolded in her mind. Lips curled to create a fiendish smile. Small bits of laughter escaping past grinning lips imagining the way the plan would work. It was a simple one she had come up with, but would do the job of putting her point across. Little did Eclipse know, she was about to be used in a war of musicians.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The very next night, Vinyl was to bring Eclipse with her to one of the nightclubs she frequented for work. Vinyl finished her last set for the night performing a trade mark double record spin on her hooves, dropping each disc down into their holders. A quick bow, and she made her way off stage expecting Eclipse to be waiting for her at the door that lead back out to the floor. From behind her magenta glasses, her eyes narrowed finding not the pony she was expecting to be there. At the table Eclipse normally sat at, Vinyl would find her swarmed by more ponies than normal. Sure, she had her fair share of stallions, and even the occasional mare approach her, but this was an unusual amount.
“Oh my Celestia! She is like so cayute!”
“Maybe we should call her DJ Bab-3!”
“Who knew such a bad flank could be such a cute tot!”
Cautious hoof steps took her closer to the group. The sounds of cooing and giggling, unusual sounds for a nightclub, they fit more for looking at a foal or foal pictures. Vinyl shook her head letting the sway of metallic blue mane drift over her covered eyes. When she got closer to the group, butting her flank in between them to make room, to let her get in close to the table. Her jaw could have hit the table if it fell any further. The ponies gathered had been giggling over a photo album. A photo album sitting in front of Eclipse. A photo album sitting in front of Eclipse of foal pictures of Vinyl.
“Mi..Miss Vinyl.” Eclipse finally spoke raising her head when the other ponies in attendance did the same. “Mi..Miss Octavia told me you'd always wanted to bri..bring this here. So she said I sh..should.”A beaming smile gave Vinyl pause. It shows that Eclipse had no intention nor knowledge of what could come of this act. “I es..especially liked thi..this picture.” Her magic worked to turn the pages of the album until a large picture was seen. Vinyl was flank first in a small waste basket with her hind legs up near her ears.
White cheeks burned red from all manner of emotions. She clenched a hoof at her side while gritting her teeth. Crimson orbs sizzled seeing only blood red across her field of vision. Vinyl only nodded to Eclipse's words. The sounds the ponies around made became softer and softer as the blood rushed into the DJ's ears. She would have revenge on Octavia for this. The smile, a thousand times darker than Vinyl had ever done before, curled on her muzzle. She would ensure that this was not the last round fired.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Everyday was a new disappointment. One month ago, Gold Mine made a recovery that would stun everypony. Every injury sustained since his supposed attack by the hands of former employees had vanished down to the tiniest scare. His magic made a miraculous recovery now as strong as in his youth. Gold was ruthless assembling his lawyers. Evidence collected before the official investigation began was removed by court order declaring it unlawfully obtained. Iron Mind managed to conceal many of the drawings before the rest were removed.
The former residence of Mine Manor was sealed off. Again, Gold's lawyers battled the authority the Princesses had proclaiming an investigation on hearsay evidence and testimony from witnesses. The witnesses kept vanishing. One by one former employees willing to break contract and talk would vanish in the middle of night and be found later without life. Nothing could be found linking these events back to Gold Mine. The stallion had alibis and witnesses for all his accounts.
To make matters worse, he was feeling regret over being unable to attend Captain Shining Armor's wedding. His wife and son attended in his stead. It wasn't that he couldn't be there to watch his fellow Captain be married to a alicorn Princess, it was that he could not protect Canterlot from the coup that was attempted. Iron had not been called back even after the Elements of Harmony aided in thwarting the Changeling queen. Celestia and Luna reminded him once more that his work was of an importance that could not be overlooked. Split had told him that she enjoyed the time during the coup more than the actual party. She had the chance to use various experiments and machines against the changelings which thrilled her to no end. At least this was a good thing to come from it. She didn't need anypony for a while to experiment on.
Iron Mind sighed breathlessly. He was resting on a rug in front of a fireplace. Fillyton was made the headquarters of his search. The sheriff's station, sans Tin Star, turned into a well oiled royal guard run machine. His magic and hooves moving over the paperwork he had set in front of him. Dark rings set beneath his eyes. Sleep had been a myth to him for the past week. He had not even had an hour of true rest since Split Atom arrived shoving sleep aid down his throat. He was not the investigator having to deal with these road blocks he was reading about, but he kept up with the information anyhow. Right front hoof raised brushing back his mangy black mane from his eyes. His efforts to search for the missing pony, his possible sister, had the same problems that the criminal investigation was heading to. Eyes crossed to a map of Fillyton. Areas that were painted in red were set off limits by the owners of the property. The wealthy had closed up and wouldn't let any pony look around searching for clues. Areas in black were searched with no leads.
Iron Mind put himself at some ease when he drew a letter that arrived earlier towards him. It was the midweek reviews from Split Atom. Twice a week they would mail letters back to each other. He sent one to her, and another to Electrical Conduit. Iron hadn't been home since the Summer Sun Festival. Recalling how Conduit cried brought him cringing. A promise was made that when it all ended he would take the longest vacation he could. Then, the three would go anywhere in Equestria that Conduit wanted to go.
The letter was unraveled for Iron to read. Depressing thoughts pushed aside to gather what information of the home life he was missing.
”Dearest Husband,
You're not sleeping right. Do not make me come there again to force the pills down your throat. Yes, you know I can find out these things whenever I want to. I trust that you will do what's right and sleep. Conduit is missing his daddy as always. He's been wearing some of your training armor and going on adventurers. He's become a constant show at the animal sanctuary at the University trying to battle some of the creatures there.
I am afraid I do not have much information to help you this letter. My contacts in areas surrounding Fillyton only speak of seeing an odd pink griffon. The griffon had been asking for a pony with a description close to the one you seek. It maybe wise to follow the griffon. Arrest and interrogation would only be detrimental to the investigation.
Furthermore, I understand that nothing has come from Gold Mine's list of employees. Perhaps you should go over them again while looking at Tin Star's secret files. You maybe surprised what you could come up with out of the blue.
Yours always, Split Atom
The lists of his father's employees. He had checked them time and time again. Within the past two weeks new names had been added. Gold Mine had begun purchasing new ore mines and lands with gemstones. These places were previously condemned for pony use. The mines were filled with noxious gases that risked the lives of the workers. The gem fields were infected by parasprites. These did not feed on food as normal ones would but instead fed on every day object and equipment. The problem did not come from Gold purchasing them, but the fact that once he had the problems vanished. The gas seemed to have never been there. The parasprites returned to wherever they originated. Within a week they began to be productive. It all seemed to happen out of the blue. Out of the blue.
The phrase that his wife had written echoed through Iron Mind's thoughts. Blue. Blue blue blue blue blue blue. On wobbly legs he raised up from the rug. His magic focused on his body to give him focus as he trotted towards the stack of notebooks. Iron had to give it to Tin Star for one thing. The stallion wanted to ensure he knew who owed him favors so he kept track of every event he swept under the rug down to the tiniest intricate detail. The note books were pulled down one by one with the pages flipping rapidly in front of his eyes. It wasn't until he had gotten halfway down the pile he found what he sought.
Between twelve and thirteen years ago a blue mare had woken the sheriff in the middle of the night. Tin Star did his job enough to follow her to Mine Manor then help in forcing her out of town. The date was taken note of and Iron Mind returned to the folders containing employee records. It didn't take long to find the name. A nurse hired to take care of an ill Diamond Mine. The mare's name was simple: Blueberry Pie. The captain knew the name instantly. The Hero of Clearsky Valley he had the honor of meeting during her award ceremony. A more perfect witness couldn't have trotted into his life. The path to finding her was the next step.
A light rapping came from the door. The candle of Iron's fatigue burned at both ends caused an uneasy weariness to ripple through him. He had not been notified of anyone due to arrive this late at night. Soft hoof steps carried him near the door. Eyes traced downwards to his bladed hoof guards quietly sliding one on. His magic came to the door handle pulling it down letting the door swing open swiftly. Iron's body assumed a defensive posture before his exhausted mind could be prepared. His tail snapped behind him, toned body giving out drifting forward. He did not strike the wooden floor, instead some pony had applied their neck beneath Iron stopping any damage that may have come.
“My word, Captain Iron Mind, it isn't proper for a host to collapse before even greeting their guest.” Iron Mind righted him self quickly recognizing the voice of the pony beneath him. A stumble backwards released the hoof guard creating a high pitched clanging echoing through the room. The captain winced flinching his eyes closed.
The pony was no other than one of the most important ponies in Canterlot, Fancy Pants. A pony among ponies he was a self made stallion who earned the respect of his peers, employees, and even those who only heard of him second hand. Fancy Pants stood high above the other social elites. He gave respect to anypony regardless of status or life's misery. Iron Mind and Fancy Pants had known each other since Iron Mind was a foal. Iron Held a high respect for the white stallion.
Focusing his eyes, it took concentration for Iron Mind to no longer see three swirling Fancy Pants before him. The pony wore his trademark tuxedo jacket and monocle. Well groomed metallic gray blue hair and split mustache. “My apologies.” Iron spoke softly to keep his brain from becoming a further throb. “It has been sometime since we last spoke. I was not expecting any pony this night.”
“Nor should you have. I came here once a mare friend, Fleur-De-Lis, had told me of something she had come across. I am afraid this information is a month old, but we had been out of the news loop due to her movie tour.” Fancy Pants came close to Iron in case the stallion decided to nearly collapse again. As Iron held respect for Fancy, Fancy held the same for Iron. He had watched the captain for sometime in his work. He treated every pony fairly, more so than previous captain had when It came to normal citizens of Equestria. “I understand you are seeking a pony... In particular a possible alicorn, yes?”
The words were heard but took longer to process in a worn out mind. Fancy could only have heard this information from one of the Princesses themselves. Iron went back sitting onto his haunches, prepared to hear what the important pony had to say. A nod was the confirmation given for the stallion to continue speaking.
“Well, Fleur-De-Lis seems to have seen a pony fitting the description that I was given heading towards Manehatten of all places. She was in the presence of a most unusual pony. The crew on site believed her to only be in some kind of costume, after all an alicorn without guards is unusual, wouldn't you say?” Fancy Pants chuckled lightly mimicking Iron sitting across from the stoic captain. “This occurred well a month ago. Furthermore, I understand the sheriff is under investigation. If I may be of any service, please, allow me to help. I am more than capable of getting my fellow ponies to come clean of their misdeeds. Iron? Are you alright?” A crafted eye brow raised, his mouth closing firmly watching the captain.
Iron Mind took the words in like a breath being held. He had a witness he could depend on, he now had a location or direction to begin a further search without having to deal with these wealthy snobs. Relief of pressure came to him in a sudden warped feeling causing a euphoric feeling to numb his body. He could not handle anymore. All at once his insomnia broke down releasing a tidal wave of exhaustion peeling at the barriers of all he could handle.
Fancy Pants saw what was happening and was well prepared for it. When Iron Mind's strong stance came out and he fell forward as he did before, the wealthy aristocrat was there to catch him once more. It would be seen as unheard of for someone as the important pony to hoist the captain onto his back. Yet, he did so without a single regret. Fancy understood the motives behind what Iron was doing. “Ah I see my friend, too much to handle at once. I spoke with your wife before leaving Canterlot yesterday. She warned me this may occur.” He chuckled softly anchoring his back legs to give him balance to turn to the door. He'd help the guard captain to a bed then see himself home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Vinyl didn't know what caused Octavia to give Eclipse the foal picture book. Did it matter now? No, war had now begun between the two musicians. The next volley fired, Octavia found her prized cello was missing. When she arrived at the practice hall the instrument had been replaced with a banjo. Eclipse could almost make out the steam shooting out from her ears when the other musicians began to laugh.
The following night, Octavia struck by replacing the records of Vinyl's third set to a foal's song about using the potty. Every second there after felt like minutes. The sudden roar of laughter was not what Vinyl was used to. She was used to everypony cheering or begging for more. Each pony turned into a silhouette with red eyes cackling madly at the embarrassed pony on stage. All except for Eclipse who sat there stunned. The DJ's mind turned deducing plans of revenge in a matter of moments. She would end this feud with one swoop. Front hooves slid together rubbing together as she began to grin a slow, twisted expression.
The next day Octavia and Eclipse made their exit from the practice hall. They came out the thick wooden doors followed by the other musicians on this bright sunny, fall day. Octavia was certain, as she balanced the large cello case on her back, that her small prank the previous night saw her with victory. A proud smile flashed to Eclipse besides her, a tilt of her head back letting crafted, black locks fall back curving down her neck. Violet eyes traced down to peer at her younger friend besides her. Eclipse had been unusually quiet since they left in the morning. It was almost as if....
Then it occurred. Octavia took several trotted steps ahead of Eclipse swearing she heard the sound of Vinyl laughing. Her head shot left and right trying to decide the direction the voice originated from. “Eclipse do you know...” The gray filly had pulled herself back some and shut her eyes. Octavia gasped then. Vinyl had planned something. Did she include Eclipse or just warn her? There wouldn't be time to react as five unicorns, wearing hockey masks, came running up towards Octavia. Each of them used magic to carry foam bats behind them.
The gang of unicorns struck fast striking Octavia in every spot they could reach the flailing cellist. The blow did not hurt, nor were they meant to be. Each slap from the foam splashed an odd, gel across the gray coat and black mane. Her tail long tucked between her hind legs. Just as fast as they arrived assaulting her, they would speed off back in random directions. Nopony moved from their spots, especially Octavia. They were too stunned to react to the unusual act. The cellist knew well who perpetrated the assault, and planning her revenge would take more than just a night.
Octavia did not wait for Vinyl to come home that night. After dinner, she dismissed herself from the table leaving Eclipse to do the cleanup. Why Vinyl hadn't brought Eclipse with her that night she wasn't aware. Eclipse didn't mind helping. It was actually a bit of training and adding experience to her life as a whole. She had already showered earlier after the odd attack on her ponyson. She hit the bed hard kicking Vinyl's pillow off of her side while flailing about a moment. This stupid war wouldn't happen if Vinyl had kept her mouth shut and her music to herself! The sandcolt came to Octavia guiding her into a bliss less slumber.
Bright rays of a morning sun glared in through an open window. In the morning hours, the shades were always drawn to keep the offending light from disturbing the two ponies within. With one being a night owl and the other having sympathies for having such a schedule it was an easy decision to make. Octavia thrust a front leg over feeling for her DJ lover. She found nothing but the cold of the other side of the mattress. The covers were still drawn back but it felt that nopony had laid there for sometime.”Wub? Wub wub wub unce wub?” Octavia's eyes shot open. What did she just ay? More so, why did her voice sound like that trash Vinyl Scratch enjoyed?
At once she sat up. The alarm clock on the stand besides her was pulled with her hooves staring at the time. It was 8AM in the morning an unusual time for Vinyl to be awake and playing music in the house. “Wub? Wub wub?” She tried to speak again. It wasn't a song Vinyl was playing on the radio but something else. The clock abandoned, violet eyes scanned the room then rested on something across the bed on the dresser in front of her. A single bottle. She squinted to make out the name. Concentrated Poison Joke Gel. For when you really want to make a pony mad.
In the kitchen, at the table, Vinyl Scratch sat enjoying a nice large stack of flapjacks. Eclipse had made them per request with her usual cup of coffee. “Best pancakes as always, Nightlight,” Vinyl complimented raising her cup to the filly sitting across from her. “Best ever.” She grinned and glanced out the window. She heard the commotion coming from the bedroom. Silently, counting down from ten, she waited until she hit one and the waited moment echoed from the bedroom.
“WUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUB!!!”
Eclipse winced at the ear piercing sound screamed from the mare's bedroom. Her head shot upwards staring at the hallway. Vinyl stood in wait, she was prepared for whatever may come at her. “I think we can both see that this is now over in my win, right Octy?” The DJ spoke giving a quick wink at Eclipse. Eclipse, on the other hoof, was not thinking it was over. She crawled beneath the table counting down from ten herself.
“Wub Wub wub!!” It sounded like a war cry. Octavia launched from the bedroom galloping down the short hall to where she knew Vinyl would be. Her lover was waiting with her forelegs opened wide expecting a hug and congratulations for winning their silly war. The gray pony set her self on another idea. Her head poised and lowered, she rammed her lover in the sternum knocking her off her feet and out of air. Octavia did not waste time mounting on top of Vinyl. It would not bruise or cause permanent damage, but she still wailed down on her with front hooves. The DJ only laughed mock covering her self with her own forelegs to try and stump some of the blows. The music coming past Octavia's lips did nothing to stop her giddy excitement, which in turn only increase Octavia's frustrations and beatings on her lover.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ever since the Poison Joke had some nasty effects on six unsuspecting citizens of Ponyville, two spa owning sisters spread the remedy to the various spas and health clubs for a fee. Profits were shared with an unnamed zebra. The spread of the treatment couldn't of come quick enough as some pony had begun selling a product called Poison Joke Gel. The gel was quickly made illegal for sale after it was released during a party on castle grounds.
It was an emergency visit to the spa. Octavia had planned to take Eclipse to a real visit where a proper detail could be done to her coat, horn, and hooves, but with Vinyl Tracks little prank it would have to be done now. With a quill in her mouth Octavia wrote out instructions for Eclipse to follow. The glowing eyed filly would in charge of making the arrangement. It was a quick trot to the spa Octavia went to. The cellist wore saddlebags to carry her bits and carrying home beauty products she'd purchase on the way out. The products she almost felt the need to ignore as they would be enjoyed by some other particular pony as well.
Eclipse set the order at the spa's front desk. A day of paradise for two ponies; sauna, hoof manicures, Vitamin E coat treatment, full body massage, horn polishing, and an assortment of other services. First, Octavia would be given the hot bath that would release her from the wub voice she suffered. With her voice returned to her, she was actual to begin conversing with Eclipse during their various.
An hour had gone by, the two ponies were seated in the sauna together. Towels wrapped around their waists and hair. Eclipse had two towels specially wrapped around each wing. Eclipse felt relaxed in every muscle and tendon in her body. A near mush like state lounging back reclining on a wooden seat. Octavia had allowed the filly to rest her head on the gray mare's lap, chuckling at the kittenish manner she acts. “Enjoying yourself, Eclipse?”
“Y..yes I am. Tha..thank you.” A polite reply came quickly.
“Vinyl and I wanted to tell you over a nice dinner, but I doubt we'll be having one of those until she apologizes, so I will go ahead. In two weeks the three of us will be visiting Canterlot and Hoofington to visit our parents.” Octavia gleamed happily staring down at her little friend.
The gray color of Eclipse's coat began to fade at her face. The filly averted her glowing gaze away suddenly shaking even in the steam heat. Octavia drew her forelegs around her confused by the sudden withdrawal the pony seemed to be suffering from. “I ca...can't go to Cant..Canterlot.” She managed to stutter out shaking her head at the sheer thought. She finally managed to find a home, two ponies who seemed to love her. Eclipse didn't want to die now.
“Why not? Eclipse? You can tell me what is wrong. Vinyl and I haven't pushed you to know more but... If something is wrong we need to know so we can help.” There wasn't an angry nor accusing tone in her voice. It was motherly, soft and gentle to calm the smaller one.
Words were lost to Eclipse. If anypony was deserving to know of the things behind her, it was Octavia and Vinyl. Her fore hooves pressed down against the wood letting her body sit up. Her wings absently twitched on her back. “I was to..told my bro..brother lives in Cant...Canterlot. He's a cap..captain in the gu..guards. Daddy to..told me if I went th..there Princess Cel...Celestia would have me ki..killed.”
Octavia slid the filly into a tight embrace. The trembles coursing through Eclipse had worsened. It must have been difficult to have such a paranoia forced upon you by somepony who should care and nurture you. “It's alright. I'll speak to Vinyl. She has a way with her parents and can get them to come to Hoofington and spend time there. My parents and her's have been friends since before either of us were born.” A soft kiss placed to Eclipse's forehead. “Do you know which Captain? If at all possible knowing will let us avoid him or her. There are three captains at the castle. There is the Canterlot Guard Captain, Shining Armor. Luna's personal Guard Captain is Candy Sprinkles. And Celestia's Guard Captain is Iron Mind. Is it any of them?” The thought of Princess Celestia wanting anypony dead was absurd. If anything, Princess Celestia would send her to the moon, lock her in stone, or force her to eat enough cake that she can't fit out a dungeon door.
“I don't kn..know.” An image of Blueberry Pie flashed in Eclipse's mind. She was once loved like this. A sensation of courage burned its way into Eclipse's chest. Tilting her head back, lips parted to speak. “Da..daddy's name. Gold Mine.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Two ponies neck deep in mud with cucumbers over their eyes, laid in silence. Octavia was at a loss for words when Eclipse opened up to her. She knew of Gold Mine. The cellist played at his parties once or twice personally, or had played at parties he attended. Many of the elite had much to say of him, mostly negative, and rarely had anything to say about any sort of kind nature. He was a deplorable pony whom other ponies gave false front to just to keep on his bad side.
“Mi..Miss Octavia?” The soft sound of Eclipse's voice broke Octavia from her trance. She turned her head to address the filly, although the cucumber kept her from actually seeing her.
“What is it, sweetie?”
“Ho..how did you and Miss Vin..Vinyl meet?”
“How did we meet?” A chorus of laughter passed from Octavia's lips. “Forgive me if I give you the short version, you are far too... naïve in many aspects of life for me to want to sully on the story.” Gray furred body squirmed beneath the mud. “Our parents, namely my father and her mother, played together in the Canterlot Royal Symphony. We grew up together from baby to foal to University.” Memories and recollections created vivid images in Octavia's mind. “See, my daddy and my papa met during one of the very same symphonies Vinyl's mother and daddy played at.” A muddy hoof came close to Octavia's lips. “Perhaps I left out a crucial bit of information. I am adopted. My daddy and papa are both stallions. They have a relationship similar to Vinyl and I's but being stallions.”
Eclipse simply nodded intently listening. The story seemed to be one of life long friends finding love between each other. Destined lovers chosen by the stars to be together since before they were born. Having read no romance novels per say, fairy tales did use romance as a powerful element in telling a tale.
“Growing up we could not be separated. She would drag me on adventures, I would drag her to the hospital or back to our parents for our punishments. Outside of a friendly hug she never showed signs of affection. We grew up and went to University. She partied, I studied, she begged for me studying the night before exams. Every week she'd have a new coltfriend. I admit, I was jealous.” Octavia cleared her throat. “Not jealous of having a coltfriend, I had plenty ask me, but jealous they were with Vinyl. Still, every week she'd dump the one she had and find another. Every week I'd be there picking up the pieces. To cut short on the unnecessary details. She came back to our dorm room one night, drunk, and confessed she dumped another colt. She admits that whenever she kisses a colt, she sees me. Believing she was entering the first stages of insanity, something I have to wonder about to this day, she kisses me to conform her own concerns. We hadn't stopped since.”
“That's bea..beautiful.” Eclipse whispered holding back a foalish giggle.
“Thank you, Eclipse. Our parents handled it quite well. Except my papa, the musician, still insisted she see his knife collection in private. I never knew ponies could turn whiter after they finished. We are fortunate not to have to deal with the prejudice someponies have with homosexuality. When did it come up, either Vinyl had an entourage in the shadows to assist or my papa would later take care of the problem. Daddy always hated when Papa would take his knives outside.”
Through the rest of the services and treatments Octavia continued with varying stories of her time with Vinyl. The two mares were in love beyond what words would simply express. Eclipse watched them fight over the smallest things. Eclipse knew that once this prank war was over they would return to the normalcy of their lives. Slouching in the mud, the filly found a quick nap would be just fine as she listened to the audio book of Octavia.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After super gluing Vinyl's dark pink glasses to her head, leaving her with a bold strip from temple to temple, a truce was called to tone down the pranks to the household. Anything that would affect or make them unsubtle for work was not allowed. It all finally died down with Vinyl taking Octavia to a romantic dinner. Ear plugs were left for Eclipse, and the DJ whisked the cellist to copulate their peace.
“Amazing..” Octavia whispered. The pair laid on their bed with only a thin white sheet across them. Each pony had their heads on their pillows, staring into the others eyes. Fore hooves were touched rubbing one another shins during the blissful after glow.
“It is. Ready for round two?” From behind Octavia a third then a fourth white hoof slid across her shoulders. She felt a chill race up and down her spine when she slowly looked behind her. There, as she feared, a second Vinyl slyly smirked at her. Violet eyes widened, her mouth dropping open trying to figure out what words to use.
“Maybe round three?” Again, Vinyl's voice came from another direction than in front of her. This time, she came to look at the bathroom door. A third Vinyl leaned against the door frame. A towel resting on her waist held up by her flank.
“I think round four is better.” Octavia's pupils had become pinpricks. Trembling spheres moved to the edge of the bed where a fourth Vinyl crawled on hind knees and fore hooves towards the two Vinyls and Octavia on the bed.
The scream that followed saw to it that every condominium in the tower had a light on. Even Eclipse, who with the ear plugs, slept as a foal through the night was awakened by the glass shattering sound. From the bedroom window three changelings flew off into the night. They earned their bits.
Eclipse left her bedroom just at the right moment to watch Vinyl go speeding by her. Only the fact that the real Vinyl was the one Octavia slept with gave the unicorn enough pause to escape. The cellist was fast on her hooves running on her hind legs so her forelegs could throw random, breakable objects. “I am going to kill you Vinyl Melinda Scratch!” The gray pony screeched.
Situating themselves in the family room, the marefriends started their fight anew. The pranks were over and now it was outright bombardment. Whatever Octavia could life and throw was tossed at Vinyl. Wherever Vinyl looked she lifted with her magic returning the assault. Eclipse found it necessary to venture from her room, Celestia and Nightmare Moon dolls pulled with her magically, to act as a referee to the squabbling lovers. Holding her dolls close, she sat on a large plush chair between the pair, catching objects that shouldn't be thrown with her magic to safely set down. Broken horn or not, she had enough magic to catch most of what was tossed.
An hour of violent throwing, neighbors pounding on walls, ceilings, and floors to get them to stop, and a half asleep Eclipse saw that their supply of ammunition was running dry. Octavia gained the upper hand gaining a carton of eggs during one of Eclipse's moments of dozing off. It was a matter of time that the living room was coated in yolk. Octavia cradled the carton on her right foreleg while carefully tossing with her left hoof.
Ducking and dodging the white shelled grenades, Vinyl still had to feel the goo splatter onto her fur. Desperation was pulling at her to find something else she could use to counter. Anything would have done as long as she hit the mare and could rush in to finish the game. Crimson spheres glanced about quickly taking only seconds away from watching her enraged lover. It came to her when she looked. In the right mind she would have never dreamed of taking it, but when faced with opposition that you didn't know would use cut throat plans you chose what you could find.
The gentle aura of blue came around Eclipse's Celestia doll beneath the filly's arm. The gradual shifting brought Eclipse out of her current doze. Blurred visions only caught sight of her doll floating away from her. A tender giggles bubbled from her throat amused by the sight of one of her favorite toys dancing about. Like a rock breaking glass, Eclipse realized it wasn't her magic nor the magic that the doll may or may not posses that caused this. Forelegs pushed behind her lifting her up enough to find the source of the magic, Vinyl, in the final stages of throwing the beloved toys.
Octavia had positioned herself in front of the open balcony window. Everything slowed to a snail's pace. Glowing orbs kept watch as the possession was launched at Octavia. The gray pony didn't even realize what was thrown at her when instincts took over. Eclipse fell onto all fours running after the doll. Her wings spread in anticipation. Everything moved too quickly for her to focus her magic. When the cellist moved, it all went downhill. The doll flew outwards over the balcony's balustrade. It was then that Eclipse's world changed.
Visions no longer found the alicorn in Manehatten. She wasn't even seeing things in her time period. The floors went from hardwood to cold stone. The city became a lush landscape of foreign trees, flowers, and a variety of other flora. Glowing pools turned back behind her guiding into the inner sanctum of her home. She didn't see Octavia and Vinyl. The two had been replaced with alicorns. One a white alicorn with a pink mane and tail with a cutie mark of the sun. The other alicorn's coat a midnight blue and her mane and tail settled in royal blue. She had a cutie mark of the night sky depicting the stars and crescent moon. Even with the loss of her toy, the two continued to argue back and forth.
Eclipse set her wings outwards extending them to their fullest. Her broken horn became restored replacing the shattered portion with dark gray magic. The glow of her eyes lit the room as bright as a full moon. “Thou will cease this foalish squabbling this instant!” Magic poured from the tip of her horn. The shadow beneath her expanded outwards covering the walls, filling the room with a thick black sludge removing all light. Outside, the moon glowed brighter than anypony could remember seeing it do so. A black ring forming around the sphere in the sky.
Just as quickly as her mind was lost, it returned to Eclipse. She recognized this scene. The very moment that the black recedes she would find her two care takers laying bloody on the floor, just as Eclipse left Gold Mine. “No... No! No! NO!” She screamed aloud on dry tongue. Glowing spheres were halted with her lids falling over each. The moon returned to normal and the shadows fell back to where they came. Eclipse fell to the ground as her mind snapped the very sensation of consciousness away from her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Within the tallest tower in the castle overlooking Canterlot, three alicorns and a unicorn enjoyed a midnight tea party. Princess Celestia, her younger sister Princess Luna, their niece Princess Cadence, and Celestia's unicorn pupil Twilight Sparkle enjoyed a specially select choice of rare tears and Sugar Cube corner pastries. They talked about magic, friendship, love, and the power that comes from all three combined.
Princess Cadence, niece to Celestia and Luna, was slender and smaller than her two aunts. Her coat was a pink color that gave reminiscence of cotton candy at a carnival fair. Single streaks of rose, red-violet, and cream flowed from her mane and tail. In public, Cadence held the poise and grace befitting of royalty. In private, particularly with her husband or sister in law, it was easy to find that she loved life, fun, and forgetful playing as much as anypony. A cutie mark of a gemstone heart depicted on her flank told of her special magic to join broken hearts. Plum eyes danced with mirth as a delicate hoof, protected by a gold hoof guard, raised to her pert lips holding back a giggle as Twilight Sparkle finished another story of her time in Ponyville. The adventures the mare went on would make anypony envious of the seemingly carefree life style.
A sudden invitation had brought Twilight Sparkle to the castle this evening. A spur of the moment rendezvous spurred by Luna's persistence that Celestia take some time with her student and family letting Equestria tend to its self. The sisters needed the break after the coup and possible return of one they had lost centuries before. Twilight dipped her head down, indigo coat standing on end as goosebumps rolled over her body. A particularly chill wind fell brushed upon the four. Errant hoof came to brush her mane from in front of violet sphere. Twilight's mane and tail was a unique tapestry. Primarily navy blue, down the middle though were single strips of fuchsia and purple. On her hide, to her delight, her cutie mark of a dark pink star with smaller white stars.
“Of course, nopony could convince Pinkiepie that devouring four cakes in a row then drinking ten bottles of sarsaparilla was a bad idea. It wasn't until she finally ate the center of Ponyville's largest towering, exploding chocolate volcano sculpture that we had to take her to Nurse Redheart's. The nurse said she had never seen a pony go from being bigger than a cow to normal size as fast as Pinkie did after one burp!”
Simultaneous laughter sang from the four ponies. The night had been filled with these kinds of silly stories. For the citizens of Ponyville it was an everyday occurrence they had grown accustomed to enduring. This particular story had to do with a chocolate sculpting competition between Pinkiepie, the Cakes, and an angry dragon.
“Twily, is your friend truly like this? When things calm down I will have to tell Shining a vacation to Ponyville is in order.” Cadence chirped shaking her head as tears gathered in her eyes.
“She really is. Give her any reason from getting an A on a school test to making an awesome pie and she'll throw a party.”
Twilight and Cadence's merry talk was cut short when the two noticed the absence of the elder alicorns. Their attention, and soon the younger pair's, was drawn to the moon. A black enigma protruded from it letting the light of a black sun shine down. The moon's surface was as bright as four full moons. For a minute, until the eclipse passed, there wasn't a word spoken between the four. They sat on their haunches in silence watching the astral show overhead.
“Princess Celestia...? Was that planned?” Twilight broke the silence. Her question spoken in a whisper. She was unused to the sight she found when she strayed her eyes form the moon to her mentor.
Celestia was quivering. Tears surfaced on the depths of radiant pools streaking down her perfect, white cheeks. It was another minute before Celestia broke away from the sight of the moon returned to its natural state. “Twilight. I had hoped to tell you of a coming problem when Lulu and I were certain it was coming. If there had been any doubt,” The Princess gazed towards her sister, who in turned looked to her with a more hopeful upkeep, “It is no longer there. My sister and I will entrust you with a tome. It dates back near when Equestria was first founded.” The white alicorn stood on shaking legs. Her head drifting forward then shook to get rid of the nasty sensations burrowing from her heart. “It tells of an event that saw the loss of the third Princess. The Third Goddess.”
Piercing eyes focused solely on Twilight. Cadence was of no consequence to hear these words, but Twilight needed to learn of it all. The leader of the Elements of Harmony would be called upon to aid her country yet again. “A Third Goddess? If you control the sun, and Princess Luna controls the moon, what did she control?”
“Balance.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A white warmth filled Eclipse directly to her center. If this peace was heaven she never wanted to let the bliss escape her. Snuggly wuggly blankets surrounded her from the neck down. Her torso, she could feel, was encircled by two forelegs. Drowsy eyes opened, prepared to turn to see who was holding onto her. Eclipse found herself back in the confines of her room. Tucked into her own bed with somepony snoring behind her. Visions did not see who was behind her first, instead she saw Octavia laying beneath the covers before her. Against her, her two dolls and rock were set carefully to Eclipse's chest.
The cellist hooves were pressed to Eclipse's. They would not dare let go of the filly. At the stirrings of Eclipse, Octavia awoke shortly after. Octavia did not rush to get out of bed or move. She remained beneath the covers with Eclipse staring. Hr lips, upturned into a peaceful smile, parted to speak in whispered tones. “You are finally awake. Vinyl and I were worried.”
Eclipse took a moment to look behind her. Torso did not turn much, just enough, to see the DJ hugging her tightly from behind. The two had been asleep with her in her bedroom, since when she did not know. “Wh..what happened?” She kept the same tone that Octavia did not wanting to wake the electric blue maned DJ.
“I do not know exactly. After Vinyl threw your toy outside. You screamed at us then everything went black. We heard you shouting before we could see again. You were on the ground after.” Octavia drew in a steady breath. “You scared us nearly to death. Vinyl was in hysterics. She tried to use her magic to carry you to her room, but her magic didn't work. We failed to notice our cutie marks were missing after moving you to bed. Well, I noticed but after putting you to bed Vinyl rushed out the front door.”
Cutie marks had vanished? That didn't occur when the event occurred with Gold Mine. No mention was made of any cuts on their bodies. It seemed that her worries were unfounded for now. “Yo..You're cutie marks vanished?” Wide spheres appeared to grow brighter.
“They came back a few hours later. As did Vinyl's magic.” There was no pressure to ask how it had happened or what Eclipse might have done. It was truthfully the furthest thing from Octavia's mind. The gray mare moved towards the filly. Scooting across the bed to tenderly wrap her forelegs around the other. It was difficult with how tight Vinyl was holding but she managed. “After finding your toy, the arm had fallen off. Vinyl went door to door in the building waking everypony until she found someone who could fix it. When she came back she was covered in flour, oats, and I think honey, but she had your doll fixed.”
Eclipse's bottom lip quivered. The filly wanted to begin bawling outright hearing the story. The two mares were taking care of her even after she made their cutie marks go away and summoned that horrible darkness. Teeth bit against tongue trying to hold back the hiccuping sobs. Octavia slid a hoof up to stroke down Eclipse's twinkling mane.
“Sssh. It's alright.” Octavia assured her. “After I made her clean off, we climbed in here with you, by her insistence, to make sure when you woke up that everything was fine. I agreed this was the best course.”
“I was so sc..scared. La..last time that ha..happened Daddy was hu..hurt badly.” The words came out in choked cries.
“What happened back then?”
“I... I do..don't know. He ca..came home angry wi..with me. Held me do..down and stomped on muh..my horn.” Eclipse buried her face against Octavia's chest. Twin dams had opened up letting the fresh salt water spill forth. “It hurt so ba..badly. I sc..screamed at him to stop that I wa..was so..sorry for wha..whatever I did.”
Octavia felt her breath escape her. Everypony hears the tales of abuse that ponies can experience. School yard bullies, siblings, parents, or others, it didn't matter they could be responsible. To hear a first hand experience, to see the damage of Eclipse's horn before her eyes while listening was too much for Octavia to hold in. She began to cry now. It wasn't tears for herself but for Eclipse.
“When muh..my horn bro..broke it hurt so..so bad. Things went da...dark like before but... that time wh..when it we..went away he was covered in blood.” The filly curled her self tightly into a ball. She didn't know which way to press, to the DJ or the cellist, so she remained right there to be held by them both. Vinyl still hadn't wakened. Yet, even in her slumbering state she held Eclipse tighter just feeling the turmoil she was going through.
“You don't need to say anymore, Eclipse. You did nothing wrong. Nothing at all. You were just a scared little foal being abused by a horrible pony.” There was tenderness in the words spoken. She had waited so long for somepony to tell her she did nothing wrong. Finally hearing somepony tell her that she was not to blame brought a new out pour of tears. “No matter what happens. Even if you, Vinyl, and I are separated. We will help you in anyway we can. Though just a short time, we love you so much, Eclipse.” A kiss was placed to the gray filly's forehead. “You needn't be scared any longer.”
Eclipse's cries softened. She mouthed the words “Thank you” but the the sound was caught on the whispers of her cries. She huddled close to the two mares. Eclipse was blessed to have found two ponies so willing and wanting to accept her. Octavia became to hum a lullaby lulling Eclipse back to sleep. The cellist would tell Vinyl everything when she was given the chance to do so. Now, they would just lay in Eclipse's bed and sleep. Each of them suffered a long, painful night, but the healing had already begun.