TRIBUTE
By Seth Bramwell
Vinyl Scratch trudged along through the quiet streets of Ponyville tiredly, but with purpose. This was a task that had become a weekly ritual for her. Every Wednesday, usually the club’s slowest night, she would finish her set, close down her DJ booth, and return her equipment and records to the cottage she shared with Octavia. Then, as quietly as possible, she would retrieve the supplies for this task and leave once more, always careful to never make enough noise to awaken her sleeping marefriend. It was usually something of a strain on her unicorn magic to do so, especially after a night -slow as it usually was- of her beats thudding in her head, but this was not a chore so much as it was her quiet pleasure.
As a filly, she had never given it much thought. Oh, Celestia! Praise Celestia! Sweet Celestia! Gloria in Excelsis Celestia! The phrases uttered by so many ponies in reverence, in stress, in joy, in fear, in respect, and in love. Vinyl herself had done the same for many years, and had thought nothing of it.
It must be made clear that Vinyl held no distaste or contempt for Celestia - Far from it. Like the majority of her subjects, the DJ held a great respect for the Princess who ensured Equestria’s sun rose and set each day. But after the events of just a few short years ago, when Princess Luna had returned as Nightmare Moon, been defeated, and slowly resumed the responsibility she had held for millennia before Vinyl Scratch had even been a twinkle in her mother’s eye, this shift in thinking had been a natural conclusion. By choice, vocation, habit, and even, in a sense, destiny, Vinyl was far more a pony of the night than of the day. She had grown up for years in the nights that Celestia provided, and they had been wonderful. The last few years, however, had made her realize that no matter how powerful, loving and talented the solar sister was, the nocturnal sister outshone her immensely in her speciality skill of painting a night so beautiful it had to be seen to be believed.
Of course, the majority of these hours, for Vinyl at least, were spent in a noisy club under artificial light. The partying ponies came and left during the night, but were often too swept up in their revelry to truly appreciate the miracle above them. Vinyl, on the other hoof, had made it a point long ago to maintain a very clear head when on duty; Her partying came after the clubs emptied, at least on most nights. This night was different.
A breeze blew past her, sending a shiver down her side as she neared her destination on the very edge of the Everfree Forest. Before her loomed the tall statue of Nightmare Moon in a battle pose, a snarl on her face. It was hardly the best representation of what Luna truly was, but it was about the only thing prominently near Ponyville. Vinyl trotted forward without fear, bowing in reverence. “Good evening, Princess.” she stated simply as the rake she had been levitating behind her made short work of the weeds that tended to grow around the base of the statue. Of course, every year on Nightmare Night the statue was tended to, visited, and even the ceremonial “sacrifice” of candy had continued. Amusingly, Vinyl had no doubt that was appreciated by Luna on some level, even if just for the free sugar. The rest of the year, however… well, the statue was about as popular with most ponies as the Everfree Forest itself. It had been the DJ’s own weekly effort that kept it from being a huge chore for Zecora each year in the week leading up to Nightmare Night, even if the zebra never figured out why it had suddenly become easier.
The weeds cleared, Vinyl now levitated the trash bag from her saddlebag and walked around contentedly, illuminating the small area with the glow of her horn as she cleaned any stray debris that had collected since the previous Wednesday. Apple cores, stray rocks, and dead twigs were all cleared and tossed into the bag until she was satisfied. With a spark, her horn glowed slightly brighter as the neck of the bag was knotted shut and set down beside the rake.
Lastly, she approached the statue for the final touch. It was not one she always did, maybe only once a month. In a way, she felt a little silly about it, but she also felt it was the best offering she could make from her own heart, her own talent. She was fairly sure that these offerings were just found and snatched away by somepony in the weeks she had left them, but for Vinyl the gesture was more important to her than the result. “So, uh, Princess!” she began as she levitated the last item from her saddlebag. “This one’s been really hot in the club lately, I thought you’d enjoy a copy….” The record levitated over to the ground in front of the statue as Vinyl carefully positioned it to lean against the base. “It’s Killer Kolt Blaine’s latest club mix, and trust me, it’s bangin’. I, uh-” Vinyl chuckled as she spoke, her hoof rubbing the back of her messy mane. “I know you’re way too busy to be hitting the clubs, and I guess it might not be totally your thing and all, but, well, enjoy, ‘kay?”
With a peaceful smile and a quiet bow, the DJ’s horn glowed once more as the rake and bag of debris levitated from the ground, ready to follow her home. “So have a good week, Luna. See ya next Wednesday.” The off white pony quietly trotted off back toward town. Less than twenty minutes later, the rake was back on the side of the cottage she and Octavia shared, the trash bag was in the garbage can, and Vinyl was climbing into bed, ready to sleep in another morning. The sun was just starting to rise over the mountains in the distance, the light mostly blocked by Vinyl’s blackout curtains. She fell asleep just as she felt Octavia starting to stir, readying herself for her own day.
Miles away at Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia stepped up the stairs to her throne to sit and consider her schedule for the day when she caught sight of her sister walking slowly past the open throne room doors. “Luna?” she called. The younger Princess stopped and stepped into the throne room. “Is everything alright? It seems you always stay up later into the day than usual on Thursday mornings…”
Luna merely smiled. “Sometimes I just have to make sure certain someponies have pleasant dreams, even at this hour.” she replied through a yawn. “Trust me, ‘Tia, nothing short of Tirek is going to keep me from my bed in about five minutes.”
Celestia smiled in return. Everyday she seemed to find some reminder of how happy she truly was to have her little sister back after so long. “Very well, Luna. Rest easy.”
“I shall. See you at dusk.” Luna turned and walked sleepily from the throne room. As soon as she was out in the hall, her long horn glowed as she levitated the object she had set down before entering. The Princess of the Night climbed the stairs to her room atop a tower, far too tired to use her wings. Once in the room, the object was removed from its wrapping and put to use. The volume from the record player was low, but Luna bobbed her head appreciatively as she smiled. “You are quite correct, Vinyl Scratch.” she said as her eyelids grew heavy. “Killer Kolt Blaine’s done it again. Bangin’ indeed…” she mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.
END