//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Home I // Story: A Vinyl's Last Scratch // by Shadowflash //------------------------------// Chapter 13: Home I, want to go home, am free amongst the galaxy and stars that flow so fast beyond me. It seems so trivial to enter the home you once knew and had to leave. It's been forever, but I can't give up, no, I will never... "Did you just.. Talk?", The chestnut haired male asked. "I think it did...", The woman spoke softly. "Of course I talked. Where am I?", Vinyl asked. "How exactly are you talking?", The blond haired male questioned. "Uhm... I don't know.. The same way you do...?", Vinyl didn't know how to answer his question, still wanting her inquiry to be stated. "This is seriously weird, guys. Maybe we're hallucinating?", The woman suggested. "It's possible. But, I don't think two cups of coffee will cause that. I think we'r--" "May you just answer my question?", Vinyl then continued, interrupting the blond haired male. "Uhm... You're in an animal shelter. We found you on the street. You're the strangest thing we've ever seen in this city, and that's a big statement.", The chestnut haired male explained. "And who are you?", Vinyl asked. "I'm James, this is Joseph and that's Carry. We're all animal lovers and try to rescue animals from being abused from other people.", James, the chestnut haired male, explained, pointing to Joseph, the blond haired male and Carry, the woman. "But, since you can talk, we assume you have a name?", Joseph asked. Vinyl stared at him for a minute, trying to think if she should lie, or just tell the truth. She was losing trust in all these humans. They weren't trusting her and making it hard for her to live here. It's only been nine days since her arrival. She has twenty-one more days left here. Uhg... This is awful..., Vinyl thought. "I'm... Vinyl Scratch.", Vinyl finally answered after having a staring contest with Joseph. "Vinyl Scratch? That's an odd name.", Carry commented. "Well, I do scratch vinyl's. I am a DJ, you know.", Vinyl looked back at Carry, comebacking her comment. "A DJ? You?", James asked. "Yeah. Is that a problem?", Vinyl put her hooves at her side, much like when a woman puts her hands on her hips and glares at you for doing something wrong. "Well, it seems.. Uhm.. Very unlikely that a ... Horse wo---" "Unicorn...", Vinyl interrupted. "What?", James asked. "I'm a Unicorn. Didn't the horn give it away?", Vinyl giggled softly. "Right.. Uhm... That a Unicorn would be a DJ.", James finished. "Well, I don't come from this world, that's why. I was sent here for vacation, and I found that this place literally sucks!", Vinyl exclaimed, grunting in anger. "How does it suck? I enjoy my time here a lot.", Carry said, smiling. "Well, mostly because you humans have to go around and kick me out of your place cause I made a mistake. And, ever since I came here, I've been having awful nightmares about my Dad! Who, by the way, abused me when I was a filly and then violated everything I hold dear and true!", Vinyl was yelling in anger, expelling one of the biggest secrets she held deep in her heart. As her rational came into play, her heart sunk. She felt horrible for saying that. She didn't mean to blurt that out in front of strangers! "Wait... Your father... He... 'Violated' you?", Carry asked, leaning over the desk. "I... I didn't mean to blurt that out... I really don't want to talk about it...", Vinyl's head went low, and she beamed it onto the ground, trying so hard not to cry. "It won't help you if you hold it in. I found that letting out your emotions and secrets helps ease your mind.", Joseph said calmly. "That's something that I can't do...", Vinyl said. "Or, you just don't want to.", Joseph took a sip of his coffee, leaning in. "Look, Vinyl, even if you are able to talk, and are a Unicorn and maybe come from a different planet or place, or whatever: You talk like a human and feel the same emotions we do.", Joseph stared at Vinyl as the other two remained silent. "I use to take Psychology back when I was in University. I did it for a fall-back career. The human mind is eccentric at times, and crazy. But, when we let out our emotions, we feel calm. Vinyl, trust me. It'll feel a lot better if you tell us, strangers, that you'll never see again.", Joseph was smiling softly. His light red lips stretched out warmly to sooth Vinyl. "O-... Okay...", Vinyl softly sighed. Carry came out from the desk and sat in a chair, just near Vinyl. All three of them were listening, contently, now. "When I was a filly... My father was a ... Had a bit of anger issues. He used to beat me for 'disobedience'. I... I tried to get away, my mother wanted to protect me, but she couldn't. My father was three times her size and could easily have killed her every time he hit her... Eventually, it got so bad my father always brought me into the basement, strapped me into a device, and eventually ra--", Vinyl stopped, as she started to sob. Tears streamed down her face and dripped onto the small bed she was laying on. She felt a hand gently rub her back. She looked up to her right, to see Joseph smiling and gently stroking her, slightly damp coat, softly. "It's okay, Vinyl. Let it out.", Joseph said softly. Vinyl continued to cry. It was giving her a headache. Her tears were seeping into her nose, making her nose drip a salty fluid and her eyes were going a small beat of red. She cringed softly and continued to cry. It hurt so much... It hurt so much... But... I feel... I feel better... Maybe... He was right?... It feels good to cry like this... I..., Vinyl opened her eyes, wiping her tears away. "Feeling better?", James said softly. "I... I do... A lot better...", Vinyl said, with a slight smile and a sniffle of her nose. "Here...", Carry moved to Vinyl's nose and face with a cloth, gently brushing the tears and salty fluids away. "Th-... Thanks.", Vinyl said, with a small smile. Vinyl was going to say something else, but her stomach had other problems. Her stomach growled with extreme rumbling. It contorted in her body, waiting for food to enter it. "Oh.. Uhm...", Vinyl blushed softly, never this hungry before. For the nine days she was here, she hasn't eaten anything. She completely lost track of her hunger and ignored it. "When was the last time you ate?", Carry's eyes were wide when she heard the loud grumble. "I think... Nine days ago... I haven't kept track of my hunger since I was here...", Vinyl said, still blushing. "Jesus Christ almighty. Come on, let's get you something to eat.", Joseph stood up and issued a hand for Vinyl to follow. Vinyl walked closely behind Joseph and they walked out the door that was in front of the group. The door lead to a small, kitchen-like, area. The kitchen had one counter, in the centre, with a marble countertop. To the left of the door was a fridge and all around the room were large cupboards with many labels: Medicine, Vaccinations, Food, Water, et cetera. "So, what do you prefer? Fruits and Veggies?", Joseph asked. "Yes please... Preferably strawberries and blueberries mixed with carrots and broccoli...", Vinyl said softly, trying not to ask for much. "I can do that for you. Just wait right there.", Joseph pointed to a small platter that laid next to the counter. Vinyl walked to it, sitting on her rump, watching Joseph. Joseph opened the fridge, pulling out just what Vinyl asked for: Carrots, Broccoli, Strawberries and Blueberries. He then walked over to a cupboard and opened it, pulling out a dish that looked as though it was made for dogs. Joseph then cut up the fruits and vegetables and assorted them neatly into the bowl. He put the baskets and bags back in the fridge and placed the bowl down on the platter Vinyl sat next to. "Dig in. I'll get some water for you.", Vinyl smiled as she looked at the neat assortment of her 'salad'. The blueberries were arranged so that they mixed into the strawberries. The broccoli was set up all around the edges, to look like little trees and in the centre, slices of carrots made a smiley face. It warmed Vinyl's heart and she leaned down and started to eat away. Moments later, a bowl of water was placed next to Vinyl. As Vinyl pushed through the food, as gracefully as she could, she looked over at Joseph. Joseph was sitting down, watching her and smiling as she enjoyed the assortments. Vinyl, after many minutes, finished off the entire bowl! Vinyl then looked at the bowl of water, unsure what to do. "Uhm...?", Vinyl looked up at Joseph. "What?", Joseph asked. "I'm... Used to drinking water out of a cup, or something...", Vinyl said. "Really? Well, I'll put it in a cup, then. A straw too?", Joseph stood up, taking the bowl with him. "Yes, please and thank you.", Vinyl asked kindly, smiling as Joseph went to a cupboard, pulled out a cup and a straw and then poured the dish full of water into the cup. He brought it back to Vinyl and Vinyl levitated it with her magic. "Wait, whoa, what are you doing?!", Joseph asked, as the cup was pulled from his hands. "Using magic.", Vinyl giggled and sipped from the straw. "You can do that?", Joseph asked, stunned. "Of course.", Vinyl sipped the water again, smiling brightly. "Well, next thing you know, you can create objects from thin air.", Joseph smiled. "I can.", Vinyl said, making the most serious look she could. "Y-... You're kidding, right?", Joseph and Vinyl had a staring contest for a minute or two, and then Vinyl laughed softly. "I'm just pulling your chain.", Vinyl giggled, finishing off her water, floating it back up to Joseph. "Thank you... That was really good.", Vinyl said, softly. "Anything... Hey, I have a question...", Joseph implied that he wanted to continue. "Okay, what is it?", Vinyl asked. "Well, where do you come from? How exactly did you get here?". Joseph then asked. "Well, I come from a place called Equestria. The town I live in is called Ponyville and I was sent here by Princess Celestia, who used her magic to bring me here for a month... Although... I kind of just want to go home, at this point...", Vinyl sighed softly. "Okay, I assume your ... 'Society'... Is ran like a kingdom...?", Joseph asked. "Yeah, egalitarian and what not.", Vinyl said. "Okay, makes a bit of sense... But... Why do you want to go home? Did someone do something to you?", Joseph asked, with a worried expression crossing his face. "Well...", Vinyl thought hard for a moment. How was she going to answer that without giving away too much? But, Vinyl then thought about earlier, how she told strangers about her deepest of secrets. "I want to leave because of me having nightmares, and how Clarence abused me and Jack was angry at me for a mistake I made...", Vinyl said, sighing gently. "Clarence and Jack? You know them?", Joseph asked. "I did... They don't like me anymore... Clarence hit me really hard when I first came here... It was awful... Jack was nicer and more intelligent, but... He gave me something called a 'beer' and I tried to... Do something I would never do.", Vinyl laid down on the floor, rubbing her temples softly. "Jack... Gave you a beer?... Is he stupid? He's lucky I don't call the police, I swear, that guy is so dumb at time--" "I wanted to have it. I shouldn't have taken it. I should've said 'No'... By Celestia, I'm so dumb sometimes...", Vinyl interrupted Joseph and felt a great wash of anguish over her. "Well... Maybe there's a way we can get you home? My objective is to make everyone happy that comes in here. Whether it be to adopt a new puppy, or to have them volunteer or even to stop the abuse of animals. If your happiness comes from you getting home, I think I'd like to try and help.", Joseph said, sitting on the floor, looking Vinyl in the eyes, now. "Celestia put a spell on me to keep me here for a month. After a month, I'll be sent back home.", Vinyl sighed again. "Maybe we can break this, so called, 'spell'. Even in some games us humans play, too hard to explain, spells can be broken, if you know what to do.", Joseph said, with a bit of optimism. "Well, what exactly do you humans know about magic? The field of magic that surrounds this planet is very dull. I can barely do any of my normal things. Levitating is the simplest thing to do where I come from, so, at least I can do that.", Vinyl was frowning, in anger and hopelessness. "My philosophy is this: ", Joseph started to explain. "Go over, Go under, Go around, or Go through. But never, ever, give up.", Joseph quoted, smiling softly. "Come on, Vinyl. There has to be a way. I know there is.", Joseph said, clenching his fist. "There.. Might be... But, it would take a lot...", Vinyl looked at her hooves. "Anything, just name it.", Joseph was ready for her to say something easy. Humans had access to literally everything. "Have you ever heard of Uranium...?", Vinyl asked.