Even Stranger

by SaltyJustice

Chapter 23

Octavia yawned as she stared out the window into the night. The landscape was dimly lit by the moon, a sharp contrast to the bright interior of the train. Hard electrical lights strained the eye, as compared to the more pleasing, if less intense, glow of candles that had illuminated the trains when she was younger. The world had marched on, and trains were a much safer place with less blatant fire-hazards everywhere, yet the charm of those old machines had been lost as well.

"How long until Hoofington?" she asked Vinyl.

"Four-thirty."

"Does that mean we'll arrive at four-thirty, or it will take us four hours and thirty minutes to get there?"

"I'm not good at math."

Octavia sighed and rested her head against the window. Each little bump of the track jostled her head, forcing her awake. She frowned subconsciously.

"What's the plan when we get there?"

"Uh," Vinyl said, "I hadn't thought that far ahead. I'll go find my contact, and then set something up."

"So you didn't know if this would work before we set out?"

"What am I, psychic? I'll figure something out."

Octavia groaned. "Why do I get myself in these messes?"

Vinyl put her headphones on, and leaned back against her seat. Octavia resumed trying to sleep against the train's window, with little success.

"Hey, 'Tavi?"

Octavia grumbled.

"Why'd you do what you did?"

"What are you referring to?"

Vinyl leaned forward and hefted an invisible cello in the air, then slammed it down in front of her, before giving an inquisitive look to Octavia.

"I don't know, something just told me to do it."

"You've got issues."

"Name me a pony that doesn't!"

Vinyl puffed out her chest and grinned.

Octavia groaned. "Clinking glass bottles," she said, causing Vinyl to shudder audibly.

"Irrational fear is totally different from hitting things you don't like."

"I'm sorry. I just... lost control? I'm so on edge lately, you know?"

"I don't have any idea what you're talking about, I'm always in control."

Octavia plucked the glasses off Vinyl's face and put them on her own. Vinyl's face betrayed nothing.

"If you weren't my best friend, you'd be dead right now."

"Remarkable."

"I told you, I'm always in c- "

"I meant how you see anything in these."

Vinyl extricated her glasses and gently shoved Tavi's shoulder. "Just go to sleep, I'm going to listen to some music."

Octavia once again rested herself against the window, nudging and adjusting until she found a spot where the gentle vibrations of the train did not annoy her. Vinyl began to bob her head to some unheard beat.

Sleep did not come immediately, and Octavia's mind wandered as she lay there waiting for it. Was Thorax going to be all right? He did not seem to be in the throes of starvation, yet changelings may be completely different than ponies. For all she knew, he would simply drop dead at one point, and that could be at any time. How long did it take a pony to starve? How long did it take a changeling? A most disturbing question, yet one she could not put from her mind.

A swan drifted idly, with no particular destination in mind. It simply went where the gentle current of the brook took it, past reeds and lilies. It did not paddle its webbed feet to steer, for what would that accomplish? One body of water was the same as another, it scarcely mattered where the swan was.

A rustling in the reeds nearby drew the bird's interest, as perhaps some errant minute fish had caused it. She loved to watch the behavior of these fish, they always lived for the moment, as a moment was all their tiny minds had. They would dart and dance in their schools as they probed the silt, and entertain the swan in its endless drifting. Yet the reeds had not been disturbed by fish this day, it was something else.

Another swan. Had he been watching her, from the reeds? Or perhaps he was another drifter, with no place in mind save wherever the current took him. She paddled over, and the two regarded each other suspiciously. She raised a wing, and the male raised his.

She swam out towards the center of the brook, further from the reeds, and allowed the male to follow her. He was a curious sort, both in nature and in action, and he took to paddling around her as she treaded water. For the first time in a long time, she was no longer content to merely float, and held her place against the current. She let the male draw closer with each circle he drew around her, until he was close enough for her to touch with his beak.

And then, from nowhere, a wooden bolt struck the male in the neck. Scarcely a thud let out as blood spurted from the male, and it unceremoniously fell to the water, floating on the surface next to her. She did not panic or flee, and no hunter came to collect the prize. She merely paddled there, and contemplated why she would fight the current if all it brought was this misery. Better to drift away...

From beyond the reeds, a terrible riotous noise rose to deafening levels, and the swan began to scream. The sound was little more than a collection of wild, random, unnatural screeches, placed and played with no regard to timing or tune.

Octavia awoke suddenly to find Vinyl's headphones on her ears. She did not turn, she instead threw her whole body towards the seat next to her, colliding full-on with Scratch.

"Hey! I was just trying to wake you up!"

"Mission accomplished," Octavia growled.

The train conductor stuck his head through the car's door and scanned the car for passengers. His eyes locked on Octavia and Vinyl.

"Departure call for Hoofington. Wake up and get the hell off my train. Departure call for Hoofington!"

Vinyl just shook her head as Octavia tried to process the conductor's demeanor.

"Hoofington is a rough city," Vinyl offered.

"How rough?"

"If we get into a fight, you have to protect me. I'm delicate."

"Sure you are."

The two argued as they departed the train, unaware of the pair of eyes far across the coach that had observed their every movement. They belonged to a pink pony with a bulky overcoat that hid most of her face and body.

"Let's see you see through this disguise, Vinyl," Cadence snickered to herself.

All along the horizon, the glow of the sun could be seen, threatening to rise at any moment. Though nights were nominally short at this time of year, strict orbital regulation by the two mightiest beings in the land made sure the sun rose at five-forty-five like it was supposed to. Despite that, the day had already unofficially begun, at least in Hoofington, where the end of a bender typically coincided with the beginning of a workday - followed by another bender, if one had the stomach for it.

Ponies with bloodshot eyes and faraway stares milled about the train platform, almost all of them seeking to get on the train. Vinyl and Octavia stood alone against a tide of bodies that flooded around them, and it took more than a little shoving to make their way to the exit. Octavia let show little perturbation.

"All right, who's this contact of yours? Will they be awake right now?"

"Cool it," Vinyl said, "You can't be so uptight around here. Everypony's gonna get nervous with you acting like that."

"Don't be ridiculous."

Octavia strode down the street towards Hoofington's town square. All around her, ponies stepped to the side and took wide paths around her.

"You look like you're about to kill somepony," Vinyl remarked.

"Maybe it's because I didn't get any sleep last night."

"Nobody here did, either. You've never been to this town, have you?"

"No, but I'm starting to think you're a regular."

Vinyl scoffed. "These wimps wouldn't be able to handle what I do. I had a gig here a couple months ago, and like six ponies passed out on the dance floor. Nopony even scooped 'em up, they just danced right over them."

"Surely," Octavia said with a grin, "your music was not to blame?"

"Probably was. Buncha lightweights!" she shouted at two mares who were passing. They backed up and shook as Vinyl and Octavia kept walking.

Vinyl left Octavia at an outdoor cafe, stating that she should probably meet her contact alone. The waiter who came by explained their breakfast menu, complete with an extensive liquor selection. Octavia made note of the fact that several of the other patrons had availed themselves of it.

The one thing that stood out to her was black tea with a bit of toast, and the tea calmed her stomach just enough to allow the toast to go down without incident. Vinyl reappeared as she completed her breakfast.

"Good news, bad news time. Which do you want first?" Vinyl asked.

"The good news, always take the good news first."

"Good news is: I got a deal set up for us, eight o'clock at the docks."

"And the bad news?"

"As of right now, you're only the second-best looking mare in this cafe."

Vinyl struck a pose, showing off her flawless cheekbones and balance. Octavia gulped the rest of her tea and prepared to depart.

"We better hurry if we're going to make it."

"No, I meant eight p.m. What did you think?"

Octavia groaned. "What am I going to do all day in this state?"

"Relax, I'll show you around. I guarantee you'll have a good time."

It took much insistence, but 'Tavi managed to convince Vinyl to visit the Hoofington Museum of Musical History. Vinyl groaned endlessly as Octavia recited complete histories of every instrument, painting, and photo on display. Fortunately, the museum did have a "modern history" section, which alleviated Scratch's stress. The day dragged on, and anxiety set into Octavia's stomach as the moment drew nearer.

Eventually, wandering about the streets as the sun began to set, Vinyl tapped 'Tavi on the shoulder. "Time to go."

Scratch led the way down towards Hoofington Harbour, the largest shipping and receiving complex in western Equestria. Tucked behind a sharp depression in the land that led towards the ocean, the endless maze of shipping containers and cranes stretched before Octavia and Vinyl as they stood at the gates. A few dock workers cast disinterested looks at them as they stood, before hustling off to the unheard call of alcohol and rest.

"Somewhere in there?" Octavia asked.

"Yep. Nice and anonymous."

The two made their way down the slope, and before long the light from the sun disappeared and the electrical lights flickered on. Row after row of metal containers and storehouses blended into one another. Chain-linked fences blocked them from dry-docked metal ships , the machines beneath them now sitting idle. Only a few errant managers and maintenance crew passed them in the night. None took note of the two.

As they found their way through the maze, Octavia could smell a hint of salt in the air. The ocean was near, but completely hidden behind great walls of wood and metal.

Vinyl was counting signs as they walked, and poked Octavia as they drew closer to one.

"C-17. Take a right here."

"Aren't you creeped out?" Octavia asked.

Vinyl laughed nervously. "Not at all!" she said.

The dim lighting proved inadequate as they walked between the rows of containers, and Octavia's eyes blurred as the archaic runes and foreign writing seemed to move on its own in the shadows. She pressed on as she vainly blinked, failing each time to dash away the illusions.

The next turn revealed a small red X painted on the side of one of the containers. Vinyl stick out a foreleg to stop Octavia, and the two wordlessly waited.

"Should I - ", Scratch began to say. Octavia shushed her, and both tuned their ears. A soft clip-clop announced another presence.

As it came closer, Octavia tensed in preparation. With no warning, the sound stopped, and she strained to hear it again. All she could hear was a delicate breeze flowing off the sea, and the breathing of her friend next to her. A disturbance in the air behind them caused her to jump and whirl.

In front of them, just barely visible in the light from a distant lamp, was a pony. An oddly familiar pony, though Octavia could not place where they had met before.

"You Edge?" Scratched asked.

"Who wants to know?" the pony countered.

"Vinyl Scratch."

"Good."

The pony stepped closer, and Octavia fought the urge to step back. "Edge" was disheveled in appearance, her mane messy and her eyes showing a peculiar kind of anger. She looked hungrily at Octavia, trying to make out details in the shadow.

Octavia tried to speak, but the pony made a cutting motion with her hoof.

"You don't talk, I don't trust you," then, looking to Vinyl, "You got the money?"

"You got the stuff?" Vinyl asked.

Edge cast a look around, making sure they were alone. Octavia could not see where she pulled it from in the darkness, but she produced a vial of indiscernible yellow fluid. She held it close to her face, closing her eyes painfully, before snapping them open and angrily glaring at Vinyl.

"You don't know what it took me to get this," she snarled.

"I don't care, fork it over."

"You first. The money."

Vinyl reached into her mane and produced a tiny pouch. Octavia was alarmed, though it was not impossible that Vinyl had gone to the bank during breakfast.

"Vinyl," she whispered, "how much money - "

Edge cut her off. "One-hundred fifty bits. All silvers, unmarked."

Vinyl tossed the pouch on the ground between them. A few silver bits bounced out as the bag's tie loosened, and Edge examined them, shooting looks back at Vinyl and Octavia between each bit she checked.

"Nice, nice," she muttered.

"The Nectar," Octavia stated. She stepped forwards from the shadows for the first time, into the weak, reflected glow of a lamp. Edge's eyes went wide, she made to snatch the pouch before backing up instead.

"What the hell? Is this a bust?"

"It's not a bust!" Vinyl hissed.

"Then why's the narc here?"

Octavia narrowed her eyes. "I am no narc. Vinyl - what's a narc?"

"A cop," Vinyl answered.

"That bow-tie," Edge hissed, "it was you!"

Edge was clearly checking for exits now, and making no show of hiding it. She looked ready to bolt at any moment, but held still. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as the imaginary noose closed ever tighter around her neck.

"Wait! I need that to save Thorax!" Octavia pleaded.

Edge froze, causing Vinyl and Octavia to follow suit. A tense silence followed, as the three dared not breathe for fear of breaking the delicate balance between them.

Edge's eyes drifted down to the vial still gripped in her forehoof, then back up to Octavia.

She swallowed, and focused.

"Agent Thorax is still alive?" Edge asked.

"Yes, of course," Octavia said, before casting her eyes down sheepishly. "Mostly."

"And you - you're buying this? For him?"

Octavia nodded. Spiracle allowed herself to exhale.

Vinyl heard the sound of a pebble being knocked aside, and idly turned to see it. She could make out nothing in the darkness.

"Oh, my. I'm so glad he's still alive, I thought for sure - you're not a guard?" Edge asked.

"Nothing of the sort," Octavia said.

"But why? It's not even been a week. What happened?"

"I don't know, but he says he needs this stuff. So we're getting it for him."

Edge gazed into the vial, studying the yellow fluid within. "Why did he not come himself?"

"He's in the hospital."

"I see," Edge said. Her face turned to the satchel of bits on the ground between them. "Keep your money, take the vial."

Vinyl levitated up the pouch with her magic, and buried it within her mane again. Edge stepped forth to deliver the vial, though not without a bit of apprehension.

"I thought he'd be dead by now, I thought they were all dead. I guess - it's good to know I'm not alone."

"Did you know him?" Vinyl asked.

"Yeah, we - "

A dozen lights, brighter than the sun, burst everywhere and blinded all three ponies. From somewhere, a voice shouted, "Get down on the ground with your hooves behind your head!"

"What the!?" Vinyl shouted.

"The fuzz! Run!" Edge shouted.

"Vinyl, wait!" Octavia yelled. The light was too bright, and she could not see Vinyl anywhere. She turned. She ran.

Ducking between crates and throwing herself over fences, Vinyl Scratch tore as fast as her legs could carry her. She ran without any direction, for each box of metal looked the same as every other. All that mattered was getting away.

She had lost Tavi in the confusion, and had lost that 'Edge' pony as well, but that didn't matter. Another meeting could be set up if needed, but getting arrested for consorting with changelings was not an option. Octavia was a tough mare, she'd be okay on her own. They'd meet back up at the train, she was sure of it.

She took a corner around a crate and froze as she saw the distinct outlines of two guardsponies at the far end. They spun around and shouted, "Hey, you! Freeze!"

Vinyl bolted the other way, with the two guards in hot pursuit. She took turn after turn before finding a narrow path between two crates. She squeezed herself through it, and snickered as the bulky armor of the guards prevented them from doing the same. Her laughing was cut short as she heard the sound of somepony shouting from somewhere ahead of her. Tavi's shouting.

She ran at full tilt between the crates, out of the shipping yard and down a narrow street lined by fences on both sides. At the far end, she could see the distinct outline of Octavia's mane, before it was thrown to the ground by a guardspony. Vinyl charged towards them.

Scratch collided with the guardspony, toppling him off Octavia and sending him rolling away. Her triumph lasted only a moment before another guard bashed the back of her head, knocking her glasses off.

She watched as her glasses plummeted towards the earth.

They spun in midair, rotating slightly.

Octavia raised her head just in time to see the glasses collide with the pavement. A crisp crack echoed in the night as the lenses broke. She looked up at Vinyl with terror in her eyes.

Vinyl let out a roar, instantly forgetting all the pain that the guard had inflicted. Without even turning, she sent a buck backwards, hitting the guard in the chin and sending him sprawling.

Two more guards charged them from down the road, and Octavia closed her eyes in preparation for impact. When she opened them, she saw Vinyl standing over the two stunned guards, deep dents in their helmets.

Vinyl's pupils were dilated to the point of being tiny specks, and her face warped to a cruel grimace. One of the guards struggled to stand, and stopped as Vinyl's hoof slammed his face into the pavement.

"Nopony," she hissed, "breaks my glasses."

The guardspony she had tackled had stood up, and looked fearfully at her. He began to back away before bumping into the chain-link fences surrounding them. He spun, and quickly put a hoof on it in an attempt to climb. He stopped, as he began to lift off from the ground.

"He wants to go over the fence!" Vinyl shouted. The guard flailed wildly as he tried to shift his weight. Vinyl held him aloft with her forelegs, balancing perfectly and hefting him further into the air. At full extension, he stopped struggling and began hyperventilating.

"Let me help you!"

The guard sailed over the fence, letting out a shout as he flew into the darkness beyond. It cut short with the clanking of steel on pavement.

A wild anger graced Vinyl's face. Her magenta eyes glinted in the moonlight as three more victims ran towards her. They posed no threat, she struck effortlessly and cackled as they struggled to stand.

Only after the guards all lay still and made no more attempts to flee did Octavia dare to stand up. Vinyl was staring into the night, facing away.

"Are - you okay?" she asked.

Vinyl spun around, a green-tinged pair of glasses on her face. She smiled wickedly.

"These guys are lucky I always keep a spare."

Comments

[Scarheart]

Vinyl Scratch IS Chuck Norris!

[DragonLady]

Good story, I really do like it. I'm no person for gushing in the comments though, so I'll get to the reason I decided to comment.

Vinyl's pupils were dilated to the point of being tiny specks,

I just wanted to point out that dilation generally refers to an increase in pupil size, so the sentence confused me for a moment.

[Razzy]

Vinyl Scratch. You do NOT fuck with her glasses.

Cya
Raziel-chan