//------------------------------// // Slide // Story: HeartBeat // by DemonBrightSpirit //------------------------------// After walking Dinky to school, I flew circles over Ponyville. I searched for an old friend, but since there weren’t any clouds over Ponyville today, she must’ve been somewhere else. The next place I checked was Sweet Apple Acres, and sure enough, I found her napping in a tree. I never understood why she preferred those hard branches to the nice, relatively soft ground. Landing gracefully—or at least not tripping over myself—I craned my neck up and called to her, “Excuse me, Rainbow Dash?” She snorted and shifted position, but she didn’t stir. So I tried again, this time louder. “Rainbow Dash!” “Wha—!” Rainbow Dash jerked awake and fell right out of the tree. Luckily, I was underneath her to break her fall. Rolling off of me, she got to her hooves. “What the hay, Derpy?” Despite her angry tone, she still helped me up. I rubbed my head. “I needed to ask you a favor.” Rainbow Dash facehoofed. “What did you break this time?” “I didn’t break anything.” I paused. “Well, I mean, anything more than normal. Cheerilee said she’d take care of it herself.” Realizing I was getting off topic, I shook my head and focused. “Anyway, I was hoping maybe you might be able to take Dinky to see her dad in Canterlot this weekend or next?” “What? Seriously?” I put on a big smile. “Please? For you it’s like a two minute flight, but I would have to take the train... twice. And last time I ended up in Yakyakistan.” Rainbow thrust a hoof in my direction. “The train doesn’t even go to Yakyakistan!” “I know! I don’t know how I got there, either.” Groaning, Dash pinched her nose. “All right, all right. Provided I don't have to save Ponyville from some threat, I can drop Dinky off for you.” “And pick her up?” I sheepishly asked. She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” Throwing my forelegs around her, I wrapped Rainbow Dash up in hug. “Thanks so much! You’re the best.” Grinning, she nudged me away. “Tell me something I don’t know.” “Hmmm…” My mind wandered, looking for a secret that Rainbow Dash wouldn’t know. Dash facehoofed again. “I didn’t mean that literally.” “O-oh,” I replied. “Silly me.” I gave myself a light rap on the noggin as I gave Rainbow a smile. “Anyway, I’ll let you get back to your nap.” I spread my wings and took flight as I waved to Rainbow Dash. It didn’t take me long to get back to Ponyville, though I did get turned around after getting there. It’s just so hard figuring everything out from the sky, especially since all the houses look so similar. In the end, it still only took me a few minutes to find my way back to my house. As I got close, though, I noticed somepony on my doorstep. Just as I started to wonder who it was, I got close enough to see. My heart skipped a beat. It was Vinyl Scratch! What in the wide, wide world of Equestria was she doing at my house? I didn’t even tell her where I lived. I swooped down to greet her, but my hoof got caught up as I tried to land. The next thing I knew, I was all tangled up with Vinyl on the ground. Instinctively, I opened my mouth to apologize, but my voice refused to come out as I realized that I was laying on top of Vinyl, her muzzle a hair’s breadth from mine. She never missed a beat. A quick jut forward, and her succulent lips pressed to mine. My heart thumped in my chest as my blood surged to my face. Before I could even think to respond, she pulled back and slipped out from beneath me. “I-I... bwuh?” I articulated myself best as my clogged brain would allow. After standing and brushing herself off, Vinyl held out a hoof. I took her hoof in my own, and she yanked me up. I absentmindedly tried to wipe the dirt and dust from my hide as most of my attention focused on trying to calm down. “S-sorry,” I finally managed to say. “Sometimes landings are kind of... twisty.” Vinyl just smiled at me in turn. Pulling her head to the side, she turned and started walking. “You want me to follow you?” I asked, trotting after her. Her head bobbed up and down a bit, though it was hard to tell if she was nodding or just walking. Just as I was about to ask where we were going, I bit my tongue. Would that be rude? It’s not like she could really answer. Well, I guess she could point or stop and use her writing spell. Still, I didn’t want to make things awkward. Instead, I defaulted to small talk, even if Vinyl could only listen. “You know, you just missed meeting Dinky. I was just getting back after taking her to school.” Vinyl didn’t respond other than to look over at me. That meant she was interested, right? I smiled back at her. “I’d really like for you to meet her, but, uh, it might be best if we wait to introduce you two. Dinky... doesn’t always like it when I go out with somepony.” Vinyl raised an eyebrow, and I shook my head in turn. “It’s kind of complicated.” I turned back, only to find Vinyl gone. I tripped, but managed to open my wings before I hit the ground. Taking flight, I rose until I spotted Vinyl headed for the cafe. I swooped over, keeping my hooves off the ground. That way they don’t get in the way… usually. “You almost gave me the slip,” I said as I flew alongside Vinyl. Vinyl didn’t really respond. Instead, she just made a beeline for a table at the cafe. She sat down across from a stallion that definitely looked familiar to me. As well he should have. It was Filthy Rich. No way I could forget him. He’s only fired me three or four times. I lowered myself, sitting between the two of them. Filthy Rich eyed me critically before turning to give a hard stare to Vinyl. “This is the mare you think should take the bartending job?” Vinyl gave a resolute nod. Oh my gosh! Vinyl said she’d try to get me that bartending job. This must have been my job interview! I suddenly found myself even more nervous. Running a hoof down my mane, I straightened up. “I-it’s nice to meet you again, Mr. Rich.” He sighed, pinching his nose. “And so we meet again, Mrs. Hooves.” “It’s ‘Miss Hooves,’ actually.” Rich gave a nod. “My apologies. You’ll have to forgive me. I just remembered that you like to talk a lot about your daughter. How is she, by the way?” I smiled. “She’s…” My smile faded away and I looked down. “We’ve been better, honestly.” I heard Rich sigh. “Miss Hooves, understand that I think you are a wonderful pony, but as far as being an employee goes… you’re far from something that could be called ‘ideal.’” My ears drooped down. “O-oh. I, uh, I understan—” A loud slam made me flinch away from the table as I looked over to see Vinyl anything but pleased. She withdrew her hooves from the table as blue worlds swirled into existence. COME ON RICH ITS NOT LIKE YOU HAVE ANYPONY ELSE LINING UP FOR THE JOB Filthy Rich groaned. “Vinyl, I’ve employed this mare before. She’s… how to put this delicately…” “Accident prone?” I suggested. “Yes,” he said pointing at me. “You see, even she understands.” Vinyl didn’t back down, crossing her arms over her chest. JUST GIVE HER A CHANCE IM SURE SHE WILL BE GREAT “Ugh.” Rich rubbed his head. “I know we need a new bartender but—” Vinyl snapped her head to the side, rapping twice on the table. FINE I WILL JUST KEEP TENDING BAR Rich stared hard at Vinyl. Finally, he sighed. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?” Vinyl didn’t reply other than to give her head a firm shake. “All right, all right.” He turned to me. “I’ll give you a chance, but if you cause a lot of problems, I’m going to have to let you go. Understood?” A huge smile spread over my face. “Really? I mean, yes!” Barely restraining myself from giving him a hug, I settled on an enthusiastic nod. Rubbing his temples, he glared over at Vinyl. “I never wanted you tending bar in the first place, you know.” Grinning, Vinyl leaned back in her seat. IM THE BEST BARTENDER YOU GOT AND YOU KNOW IT “That’s not what I’m concerned about, and you know it.” I looked between Vinyl and Rich as they stared at each other. “Is there… something I’m not getting here?” Both of them turned to stare at me. Although Rich’s look was an inquisitive one, Vinyl looked… scared. I could tell, even behind those purple sunglasses. After sharing a glance with Vinyl, Filthy Rich turned back to me. “Are you telling me that Vinyl didn’t tell you?” I looked over at Vinyl, and she looked away. “I… guess not,” I said. “Is everything okay?” Rich fixed Vinyl with a serious glare. “Are you going to tell her, or should I?” In turn, Vinyl waved a hoof dismissively at Rich. “Fine.” He turned to me, folding his forelegs over his chest. “Did you know that Vinyl used to have a voice?” I shook my head before looking over at Vinyl. She purposefully kept herself turned away from me. “I didn’t. What happened?” “In a word: booze,” he said. My hooves flew over my mouth as I gasped. “Oh my gosh! She didn’t get... sick, did she?” Rich let out a bitter chuckle. “Nothing so benign.” Giving another look at Vinyl, he sighed. “Vinyl had a rather bad habit of always going overboard when she drank. One night, she got far too ‘friendly’ with a mare that had no interest in her advances. She got bucked, right in the throat.” Wincing, I dragged a hoof along the front of my neck. “That sounds really painful.” Holding a hoof just above the table, Rich spoke, “She came this close to dying. The doctors were able to keep her on this side of the river styx, but they couldn’t save her voice.” I leaned forward, trying to see Vinyl’s neck. Going just a bit too far, my legs fell out from underneath me. Thankfully, the mushroom tabletop wasn’t hard, so it didn’t hurt when I slammed down on it. Of course, that didn’t do anything to spare me embarrassment. “Sorry!” I quickly said, sitting straight up again. Rich pinched his nose again, and I heard a long sigh escape his lips. “Anyway, to her merit, Vinyl has abstained from her favorite beverage on the recommendation of her doctor… and virtually everypony else she knew. Despite that, I’d prefer her not to have the temptation of having free and full access to enough liquor to drown a dragon.” “I guess.” Again I glanced at Vinyl. She still wouldn’t look at me. “Ah, that would be my food,” Rich said as he leaned out, watching a waiter exit the building. Turning back to Vinyl, he said, “Vinyl, I want you to train Derpy. Don’t let her work the bar until you’re confident she can handle it. If she can’t handle it, then she doesn’t tend bar. Capisce?” Finally Vinyl turned back, and gave Filthy Rich a firm nod. “Good,” Rich said as the waiter plopped the plate down in front of him. “Now, if you ladies will excuse me.” I got up, hesitantly following after Vinyl when Rich called out after me. “And Derpy? I’ll tell you the same thing I tell everypony else allowed behind the bar: Vinyl doesn’t get served.” “G-got it.” I turned back, only to find Vinyl halfway down the street already. I caught up to Vinyl just after she rounded the corner. “Hey, wait up.” Stopping, she hesitated for a couple of seconds before her shades glowed and rose up to rest on her horn. Blinking away the midmorning light, she turned to me with those big, cerise eyes. Pressing a hoof to my shoulder, she looked at me with an expression exuding pain and fear. I blinked a couple before it hit me. “You’re worried about what Filthy Rich said? About your voice and drinking?” At first, she looked a bit surprised. Then, she hung her head with a pathetic nod. I crouched down to make eye contact with her. “Hey,” I said with a smile, “I’ve never heard your voice—not that I wouldn’t have liked to—but that doesn’t change anything about us. I’ve only ever known you like this.” Vinyl sat back up, though her ears continued to droop. “And, hey, if you don’t drink anymore, then how is that a problem, either?” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Um, I can stop drinking, too, if that would make you feel better.” The next thing I knew, Vinyl had thrown herself on me, her hooves wrapping around my neck. Despite my best efforts, I just couldn’t keep my balance. Again I found myself on the ground. Though, this time, Vinyl was on top of me. A shudder ran through me as we lay there, our noses practically touching. My vision was dominated by Vinyl’s entrancing eyes. Again, my heart skipped a beat as I saw my own eyes reflected in her dazzling gaze. I leaned up, my nose touching her’s as my lips reached for Vinyl’s. “Mommy, what’re those ladies doing?” Vinyl and I froze. Looking over, I watched a Pegasus hurriedly usher her filly—a child too young yet for school—away. The next thing I knew, Vinyl took my hoof, yanking me up. She lowered her shades over her eyes, though the action did little to hide the stunning red band reaching across her cheeks. My forehooves went to my own cheeks, surely every bit as red as Vinyl’s. “That’s so embarrassing,” I said as soon as the two disappeared from sight. Vinyl tilted her head to the side and started off in that direction. Following her lead, I fell in step beside her. “S-so, um, did you want me to stop drinking?” Vinyl glanced in my direction before giving her head a firm shake. A smile found my lips as I sighed. “Oh good.” I looked over at Vinyl and suddenly realized that what I said must've sounded terrible. “N-no, I mean, I’m glad you don’t mind. My drinking that is. I’ll still try to not do it when you’re around.” Vinyl looked over at me. “Unless you want me to! That’s, I mean…” I hung my head in defeat. “I… I’ll be quiet now.” A heavy silence soon befell Vinyl and I, and I couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing. As a whole, Vinyl didn’t seem to mind my blathering, and she hadn’t really done anything out of the normal since. Though, it was kind of hard to tell what was normal with Vinyl. If I were honest with myself, I would admit that I really didn’t know all that much about the alabaster mare. Actually, that would only be expected. I only met her last night. We haven’t even known each other for a whole day. Yet already I’ve started some kind of relationship with her, and she’s gotten me a job, and… and this is happening too fast. Way too fast! Fighting off the urge to panic, I turned to Vinyl. “Um, m-maybe this is going a little… fast. I’m just not so sure that I’m ready for all this and—” A hoof thrust into my chest, stopping me both verbally and physically. Vinyl stared at me a moment before stepping back and pointing her horn to a nearby wall. A blue glow surrounded her horn. YOU WILL DO FINE I BELIEVE IN YOU I stared at the words, a bit baffled. What was she talking about? I turned back to see her unlocking a door. It was then that I realized just where it was we were. This was the club where we met. Though, without the lights and deafening noise, it barely seemed like the same building. A bit hesitantly, I stepped inside as Vinyl turned the lights on. It was definitely the same place, though the lights overhead were normal. None of the strobing, multicolored lights from last night could be seen. It certainly gave the club a different sort of feel. Almost eerie, being so big, and open, and empty. Hearing two raps, I looked over to find Vinyl behind the bar. She motioned for me to come over. Trotting over, I headed behind the bar to see for the first time what the employee’s side of a bar looked like. It was a bit disappointing. Stowed under the bar were mere dishes and bottles with some rags and hoses. Vinyl held a laminated booklet, tethered to the bar. Upon closer inspection, it held the recipes of various drinks. It was like a little cheat sheet hidden there behind the bar. It’s small size suggested that there might not be a whole lot to memorize after all. That was definitely a good sign. “S-so I need to remember these?” I asked, taking the booklet from Vinyl. She nodded. As she turned to leave, I caught her by the shoulder. Vinyl turned back, and I withdrew my hoof. “I, um… Can we talk? About us.”