Frederic Horseshoepin was not a heavy drinker. This in and of itself was not an entirely auspicious achievement in and of itself; there were ponies all across Equestria who preferred not to partake in any alcohol.
Very few of these ponies, however, had met Harpo Parish Nadermane. Even fewer could count Harpo as one of their friends. Harpo himself often preferred the company of a bottle of whiskey to any teetotaler, claiming that he had never heard a drip of dull conversation come from even the driest wine.
For all intents and purposes, Harpo Parish Nadermane ran on alcohol and, by extension, the vast collection of drunken stories that he had accumulated over his years of intoxication, many of which Frederic Horseshoepin had played a leading role in.
Given all this, it is rather incredible that Frederic had never allowed himself more than a light buzz before switching to water or, if he was feeling particularly adventurous, a soft drink. Given the choice, Frederic Horseshoepin would avoid bars and taverns altogether, politely excusing himself nearly every time one of his coworkers invited him out.
After practice, Frederic quietly walked out to The Alley, a rather inconspicuous hole-in-the-wall of a tavern.
The Alley was a tiny place, a single counter manned by a single bartender standing a few meters away from a small cluster of tables. The tavern could hold perhaps 20 ponies at once, but there were only three ponies at that time: Frederic, the bartender, and a colt in the corner who was currently reading through a newspaper.
Frederic Horseshoepin approached the bar, rather grateful for the privacy, and ordered a drink whose name he only vaguely remembered. Despite this, the bartender was able to quickly mix something resembling what Frederic remembered, and the pianist retreated to a more isolated table.
He took a sip of his drink, pulling a face as the alcohol burned its way down his throat. It left an unpleasant aftertaste, somewhere between metal and burnt lemon. Frederic pushed the glass a bit further away, the burnt lemon still very much on his tongue, and reached into his saddlebags, coming away with a small stack of sheet music. He sighed, brushing a few pieces of lint from the slightly crumpled pages.
This, thought Frederic as he flipped through the music, is far more trouble than it’s worth.
There was a particularly tricky part within the duet, a sudden flurry of notes coupled with a key change that always disoriented Frederic. Not to mention the fact that he had yet to practice with the duet’s other half.
Who was currently in hospital.
Frederic frowned, steeling himself before taking another quaff of his nameless drink. It burned worse than before, bringing tears to Frederic’s eyes before settling in his stomach like a stone. He turned back towards his music.
By all regards, Frederic should have had enough time to practice the piece, even given Vinyl’s… current situation. Coda, however, did not believe in playing “music that could not be played properly.” This was a duet and, by definition, was not meant to be played by a single pony. So Frederic was not allowed to play it. The most he could do, it seemed, was sit at a table, his eyes scanning the notes and his hooves tapping the wood, and imagine that he was playing, taking the occasional sip whenever his mind began to wander.
The tactic worked rather well, the burning negative reinforcement keeping Frederic on task. Before long, however, he had finished his drink, leaving Frederic with no choice but to order another. This glass mysteriously drained itself a fair bit quicker than the first and, once again, Frederic was forced to drag himself to the bar and ask for another.
The ground was a bit shaky on the way back to his seat, but Frederic managed to get back with only a few stumbles. The music notes, however, were now waving back and forth and causing a rather unpleasant sensation in Frederic’s stomach.
“I’d forgotten what a lightweight you are.”
Frederic jumped at the voice, his hoof brushing dangerously against his glass, nearly knocking it over.
Harpo reached across the table, steadying the glass before holding it up to the light. He took a sip, shuddering slightly at the taste. “Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. Not very well mixed, but better than what Vinyl can make.”
“Harpo,” began Frederic, “what are—why are you here?”
“I came to see you.”
Frederic stared at the other colt.
Harpo didn’t quite meet the stare, opting instead to twirl the drink in his hoof. “Soooo, yeah. Here I am.”
Frederic stayed silent.
“In The Alley.”
No response.
“Trying to talk to you.” A pause. “Though it’s, uh, not very easy.”
Frederic frowned. “That’s my drink.”
Harpo looked at the glass in his hoof. “You’ve already drank two of them.”
“And I’d like to have another.”
Harpo frowned slightly, looking between the drink and Frederic. Ultimately, however, Harpo placed the glass back on the table, pushing it slightly towards the other colt.
Frederic took the glass, ignoring his disdain for the drink.
The two were silent for a time.
“Are you actually going to drink that, or just stare at it?” asked Harpo
“Stare.”
“Ah.”
Another bout of silence.
“You… weren’t at practice today,” said Frederic.
“Nope. Hospital.”
“Ah.”
Silence.
Harpo let out a sigh. “I’m terrible at this. This isn’t the type of role I’m supposed to play, it’s simply not in my character. I should at least be drinking something.” He got out of his seat. “I’m gonna go get something to drink.”
Frederic watched him go. Harpo got about halfway to the bar before turning around and retaking his seat.
“I didn’t bring my bitbag,” the composer admitted.
“Ah.” A pause. “Why are you here again?”
“Evidently, not to drink.” Harpo cast a longing glance towards the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster.
Frederic sighed, nudging the drink towards Harpo. “I’m not going to finish it. You’ve ‘killed my buzz’, as they say.”
“Hate when that happens.” Harpo reached over, bringing the glass over to his side of the table. He took a careful sip. “Mmmm, revolting.”
“You haven’t changed at all, have you?”
“Unfortunately,” admitted Harpo with a sigh. “Have you?”
Frederic looked down, suddenly very interested in the table.
“Mahogany?” asked Harpo.
“Pine, I think.”
Harpo smiled at that. “It all looks the same to me.”
“I tried to show you the difference. It never quite took, did it?”
“Not even a little.” Harpo drew his drink to his lips, but stopped it midway. “Frederic, I really do have to talk to you.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?”
“You know what I mean.”
Frederic sighed, looking up from the table. “I’m ready to put the past behind us, Harpo.”
“All of it?” asked Harpo, staring hard into Frederic’s eyes.
A pause. Frederic shook his head. “No. Most of it, but not everything.”
Harpo sighed, taking a sip from his drink. “It’s a start, I suppose.”
***
Vinyl sat in her hospital room. Sunlight and hoofsteps streamed in through the open window, combining with the steady beep from her heart rate monitor.
The previous night was coming back in bits and pieces. Yelling at Harpo. Sending him and Lyra away. Listening to Octavia. Relief. A sickening sense of vertigo. She must have fallen. Whatever the case, it probably wasn’t a big deal; nothing really hurt.
Vinyl looked around the room. There wasn’t much to it. The heart rate monitor, a small table topped with a small plant, a curtain cutting the room into approximate halves. The quintessential hospital room.
“Vinyl? Are you awake now?”
The voice came without warning, melting from what Vinyl could have sworn was empty space. It was, however, now occupied by a cerulean mare.
High Scratch’s eyes flickered up towards Vinyl, scowling briefly before she turned her attention to some dirt on her hooves. “Honestly,” she chastised, still cleaning her hoof, “it’s just like you to keep me waiting.”
Vinyl seized up. “Mom.”
“I leave you alone for a few weeks and this is what happens to you.” Mrs. Scratch threw a disdainful glance around the hospital room. “I warned you that you’d end up hurt.”
“I—” Vinyl blinked, shaking her head slightly. “Hurt?”
“Of course, you stupid girl. You forgot your health, tried to do things that you were never capable of doing.”
Vinyl felt a throb of pain in the back of her head. She stretched a hoof towards the back of her mane. It came away bloody.
High Scratch tutted lightly, inspecting Vinyl’s hoof. “That’s what your new life has gotten you. A bang on the head and a mare that doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
Vinyl winced. The pain was getting worse. “Tavi is… Tavi just—”
“Octavia,” said High Scratch slowly, “is far more comfortable with her past than her present. She’ll go to Harpo before asking you for anything. He’s more important to her.”
“Who let you in here?”
“You’re the opposite, Vinyl. You don’t want anything to do with your past, you want to forget everything about it. After everything your father and I tried to do for you.”
“Ya didn’t do shit for me!” Vinyl swatted a hoof through the air, but it felt sluggish, as if it were passing through water. The throbbing in her head continued incessantly, growing faster and more painful with each passing moment.
“We did everything for you.” High Scratch nearly growled the words. “We gave you tutors, instruments, we had ponies watch over your health, things that we could hardly even afford! And you ran away like an ungrateful bitch.”
“Get outta here!”
“I cared about you more than any other pony in your life!”
“GO AWAY!” The throbbing reached its apex, the pain forcing Vinyl to shut her eyes. Everything went black, but the pain remained, a constant pressure in the back of her head. Another noise joined the throbbing, a high-pitched beep that resonated with every throb of pain.
“Vinyl?” asked a soft voice. “Vinyl, are you awake?”
Vinyl gritted her teeth. She’s still here. “Go away,” she mumbled.
The voice grew slightly louder, a note of brightness in it now. “Vinyl, can you hear me?”
Vinyl felt a hoof brush against her leg. She recoiled from the touch, her eyes cracking open.
This hospital room was much the same, holding all the things that one could expect to find in a patient’s room. The mare by the bedside, however, was not blue.
“Tavi,” said Vinyl quietly.
Octavia flung herself forward, wrapping Vinyl in a tight embrace. “Vinyl!” said Octavia shakily. “I-I was so scared. I thought—” Her voice broke off.
Vinyl stiffened slightly at the touch. It was a few moment before she was able to move, placing an awkward hoof on Octavia’s mane. “Hey, hey, it’s alright. I’m up now.”
Octavia didn’t respond. She simply held Vinyl, a few shaking sobs breaking the silence that fell between them. Vinyl ran a hoof through Octavia’s mane. They stayed that way for a few minutes. Eventually, however, Octavia forced herself to let go and Vinyl was able to get a good look at her marefriend.
The cellist’s mane was in tangles, her bowtie askew. Her eyes, tinged red with tears, had the beginnings of bags. Octavia wiped away her tears, the motion somehow childlike in its sincerity.
Vinyl let out a laugh, a single solitary giggle that grew in intensity as time passed.
“Vinyl?” asked Octavia hesitantly.
“Have you looked in the mirror yet, Tavi? You’re a mess!” Vinyl kept laughing, growing short of breath, the muscles in her stomach cramping slightly from her mirth.
Octavia had grown slightly pink. “Well, excuse me for caring.”
Vinyl winced, the throbbing pain in the back of her head returning. “Ow. Shit.”
The cellist was by her side in a flash. “Are you okay? Is it your head? Should I get the doctor? You should lay down.” Octavia pushed gently at Vinyl, forcing the DJ to lie on the bed.
Vinyl saw her chance and took it, planting a quick kiss on Octavia’s lips. “Thanks, Tavi.”
The pink in Octavia’s cheeks burned brighter for a moment. She glanced around the hospital room and, finding that they were alone, leaned down and kissed Vinyl, this one lingering for a few moments longer.
“Never scare me like that again,” said Octavia once they’d broken away.
“No promises, especially if you’ll kiss me every time I wake up.” Vinyl batted her eyelashes, though it must have looked more like she had something in her eye. “Makes me feel like a princess.”
Octavia shook her head. “Don’t be an ass.”
“I’m not an ass, I’m a pony.”
The cellist smiled lightly, climbing to her hooves. “I’m going to find Harpo and Fleur; they’ll want to know that you’re awake.”
Vinyl nodded. “I’ll be right here.”
Octavia made for the doorway.
“Oh, and Tavi?” asked Vinyl. “Can you find me a toothbrush? I’ve been asleep for a while. Seriously, I have no idea how you put up with those kisses.”
WOHOO!! New chapter!
what if the paper for the bullets came from science books against a "flight of dragons" dragon? SCIENCE BULLETS FOR THE WIIIIINNN!!!!!!
Worth
Minor correction!
4730238
Good catch! That's all fixed now.
I had a dream where I had to sell a large Pikachu a house.
And this was when I was LESS of a Pokémon nerd!
Why can't i get someone to make ne feel like a princess
If we leave you enough comments, you could fight a whole thunder of dragons! Great chapter, as usual by the way
Well that explains the burnt lemon taste.
I hope that's not the end of the issue with Frederic. Otherwise, it seems rather anticlimactic given all the drama it has caused by this point. Anyway, it's a nice update, and the story keeps chugging along. Keep up the good work.
I love this story so much. Not for the Vinyl or Octav, but for the sheer alcoholism that is Harpo.
"Hey Vinyl! Guess what?"
"What Harpo?"
*le harpo with time machine, army of the damned and nuclear explosions going off as fireworks. "ALCOHOL!
This is just fantastic! Also, here is another bullet. PEW PEW!
In all seriousness, I like the character depth. Now we know octavia does in fact care very much for vinyl, increasing the overall romantic feel.
I like where this sequel is going.
so... High wasnt really there?
Those two, Harpo and Frederic, need to continue with the drinks until they can work past their pasts. Lots more drink!
Hey, don't be dissing paper ammo or imma get Mario to refute that for me.
By now, I admit that I pretend that Frederic is voiced by Liam O'Brien. Why? I dunno, I think it's neat.
4730704 I hate to think what your dreams are now
4740331
Trust me... You don't want to know, my friend.
You dont
4740691 *slowly backs away around the street corner before running away at full pelt*
4730766
Oh, don't worry, you'll find someone someday. Unless you're a guy, then I think you're a tad odd...
4745722 funny thing is that i am a guy. But if i feel like a princess when ever i meet my special wont i say no to. Unless i feel like a naughty princess.... Thats the line. And i have always been weird. And i am okay with it. ( turns around " did anybody say something?"
4746020
Huh.
It just seems like it'd be kind of... diminishing to one's masculinity (Yes, I'm aware this is on the comments section of a romance-based derivative work off My Little Pony. This falls under the category of "Real Men Wear Pink"). No judgements here, mind you, just the facts as I see them. I personally take silly things like honor, masculinity and pride into great consideration... one of the reasons I was reluctant to watch MLP - only reason I did was because a friend showed me MLP merged with Gurren Lagann, one of the more manly anime out there... After I was hooked, I throttled him (he's fine!) on principle.
4747733 it has always been something many i know talks about with me. The usual " I am even more manly then you and i am a girl" is now somewhat of a daily basis. I have some how a typ of split personaletis ( sorry forgot how to spell that word) between gender common traits. Like things as you said honor, pride. I still have them but deep down i think. As for honor is something i take extremly. Mostly in fights. Since if one person has a problem with me and are scared to fight me then dont bring friends. That means that the person is to scared to handle his own problem ( that is a personal opinion. But anything you think is always your opinon) and things like what a person i wearing is also an thing from the femenim side. Not for if he/she looks good or not but for the thought that ones clothes are ones way to show what he likes. Wears he green alot, that means he like green and so on. But i have always thought masculanity ( did i spell it right? It so hard to write this stuff from my phone) is something of personal opinon and another guys masculanity is different from another. And mine is more of. Pride for who you are, be respecting, and keep an open mind. Then all the problems go down to mental problems
4748265
Split personalities, mental issues, I know them well...
Amongst the feast table within my mind, it's a common joke that there's twenty personalities vying for attention. Most represent a trait of mine - wrath, justice, honor, pride... some more powerful than others. Justice is chief among them, seconded by his trusted advisor Common Sense. Fear holds a larger sway than he should, though I attempt to overthrow him. His alliance with Logic is sound and strong...
Wrath is a constant threat, always wishing to harm those on Justice's bad side. It takes Honor, Common Sense, and Logic to reign him in.
This might seem like it's debilitating, but in actuality they get along fairly well, most of the time. It makes me adaptable - I'm just as likely to hit you hard and fast from the front as I am to hit you from the back, or to remain in the shadows, playing a long game towards secret ends. It really depends upon Logic and Common Sense's reports upon how strong my opponent seems...
4749159 damm. We have a LOT in common. Only that i got it in political parties. And funny thing is fear is the weakest. For me. The strongest are, Wrath, Hatred, Vengace ( forgot how to spell it), logic, loyalty, kindness ( i know it came out of nowhere), generosity and understanding. Which results in many different days since i hate when the days are the same so i make randomise everyday. Its funny to see how different you can make yourself. And how much time I spend just to know how I truly am is probably more then most teenagers spend time thinking about themselves. since I never stop thinking and thinking. it isn't uncommon to have headaches like I have now. which mental issues have you?
(In relation to the dream) You get ten badass points for fighting a dragon with a gun that shoots bucking paper.
T
4747733
There is something I feel the need to say. Though this is just my opinion, I don't find Gurren Lagann to be 'one of the more manly anime out there'. Lol. I would say Trigun, or Cowboy Bebop or any other like those would take that. Also I feel the need to express my opinion on Gurren Lagann The adventures of Shota Boy and his Piercing Drill Penis. I dont like it lol
I was gonna whine and complain about how long it's been since this updated, then I realized that it updated just a week ago, I just havent made time to read it since May. My bad...
4781838
Wha... You...
BLASPHEMY!
Burn the heretic!
rothcpa.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/20140521-1.jpg
(Nah, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. Unless you don't live in the United States of America, in which case it's not really a free country.)
I had a dream, about me having a dream, about ninja ponies busting through my window screaming "YOU ARE THE CHOSSEN ONE!" Then, after that it just got weird...
Yeah, they're real bastards like that.
will flip a bitch if i cant read more soon but seriously loving the series
Damn you write good colorful horse stories... Finished the last one and this in roughly 8 hours. I REQUIRE MORE!!!!!
4838694 Flip a table, or slap a bitch? Did you take a nasty fall recently, too?
4924351 nope. 1. Find Bitch. 2. Grab bitch by the legs. 3. Use your glorious calves because you don't skip leg day and flip the bitch.
4926174
Haha. Can we make "flip a bitch" a thing?
4928294 I'm fairly certain its been a thing. But yes, this is now most certainly, a thing.
Need new chapter. Now!
Oh pwease More chapters.
Love it that far
Welp, just binge read both this fic and it's predecessor. Normally I'd say "NEED MOAR!!! " but I will simply be patient instead
I am sad that my binge reading, which is quite fun, must come to an end , but I think I'll make do
Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fic, and commend you for a job well done
Terrasora, you get back here... RIGHT BUCKING NOW AND FINISH THIS STORY!
More
Damn you, you snake.... leaving me with a cliffhanger.
THE AUDACITY OF THIS, IS APPALING!
...
Good job, keep up the great work and I hope to see another chapter soon.
4931042
It's a thing ... well at least I've used it before