A Silence in the City
Autumn Blazes stepped cautiously through the throngs of ponies loitering about Canterlot Station. The sights and sounds as all the ponies around her interacted with one another strived to mesmerize her but she knew she couldn't linger. It was just so different than what she was used to back at home.
Despite the Kirin agreeing to restore their voices and begin expressing their emotions, years of repression had left an impact on social structure. While everyone in the village was friendly and generally welcoming if approached, seeing a group of more than two in public was rare and more than three practically unheard of. Beyond that public displays of emotion were still met with a sense of unease and generally frowned upon.
Canterlot was completely different. Autumn had already seen several groups gathered laughing or crying. She saw couples kissing passionately for the world to see. She even saw a pink mare throw a spontaneous birthday party that last only a couple of minutes. All of this and she still hadn't left the station.
"Focus Autumn." The Kirin said to herself "You came to Canterlot for a reason. If you get sidetracked now you'll be late. Your friends are waiting for you there will be plenty of time for all the pony watching you can do later." She concluded stepping free of the station and out to the streets of the city.
The streets of Canterlot were different still from the atmosphere of the station. You still had groups of ponies that may be chattering but out here everypony moved with purpose. There were no heartwarming reunions, no heartfelt goodbyes, nor even impromptu parties. Out here was the hustle and bustle of city life. A sudden dawning struck the Kirin. She had no idea where her destination was.
"How will I ever find Fluttershy and Applejack in a city this big?" She asked aloud to nobody in particular.
She took a moment to gauge her surroundings. Her friends had told her to meet them at Canterlot Garden Park but from where she was standing it was hard to imagine any sort of park to be in the middle of all these buildings and winding streets. She decided the best course of action would be to ask somepony for directions.
"Excuse me could you..." Autumn began but the pair of mares she was addressing continued along as if they couldn't see or hear her.
"You're not from around here are ya?" A gravelly voice asked from behind her.
A grey unicorn stallion standing nearby flashed her a toothy smile, the sun briefly glinting off a golden tooth.
"Me?" Autumn asked abruptly.
"Ain't no other pony just standing about to ask." The unicorn replied.
"Yes, I mean no. I'm just in town to see some friends. How could you tell?" The Kirin said stumbling over her words. This pony gave her an uneasy feeling.
"There were a few giveaways." The stallion said circling her. "Us city ponies we develop an eye for outsiders. The way you stand, the way you walk, the way you tried to ask those fetching mares for directions. Just the way you act tells me you've not been in the city long. Add in your beautiful exotic stature and I can sees me a pony that's out of her element."
The unicorn was now standing right next to her. She could practically feel his fur brushing against her.
"Well thank you for your help but I really must be going. My friends are probably already looking for me." Autumn said politely as she moved to walk away.
"But don't you need a nice gentlecolt such as myself to show you the way?" The stallion said flashing his gold tooth as he put his foreleg on the Kirin's should.
"UNHOOF ME YOU SKUM!" Autumn Blaze shouted abruptly at his touch.
Her appearance had completely changed and she now stood in her Nirik form. Before she could say or do anything else the stallion took off down the street running away in fear.
Autumn returned to her Kirin form and hastily walked off in the other direction. She still had no clue where she was going but she didn't want to stay there in case the stallion changed his mind and came back.
The Kirin did her best to emulate the ponies around her as she walked. She needed to blend in, to look like she belonged if she wanted to avoid another encounter like that.
Autumn eventually found herself on a less busy street. The ponies here were more scattered. No large groups walking in unison and much less noise. She let herself relax. If somepony strange tried to approach her here she would see them coming and have time to react.
"I'm still lost though." She said solemnly. 'Maybe here I can get somepony's attention more easily though."
She looked around. There were hardly any ponies nearby and none of them looked at all friendly. She was just about to give up when she spotted a unicorn mare appear out of a nearby shop.
The unicorn had a sparkling white coat with a bright blue with a softer blue stripe. She wore big tinted glasses and seemed to have earmuffs on. While she didn't seem particularly friendly nothing about her was sinister and Autumn need to ask somepony for help.
"Umm, excuse me," Autumn said lifting her hoof to get the mare's attention.
The unicorn stopped and looked at her.
The Kirin waited for a reply but was only met with a nod. She decided to take the gesture as a sign to continue.
"I'm looking for Canterlot Garden Park but it seems I've gotten myself lost." The Kirin said nervously.
Silence. The Unicorn nodded again.
"Do you know where that is?" Autumn asked.
A more vigorous nod.
"Can you please tell me how to get there?" The silence was beginning to unnerve the Kirin.
Another nod was followed by a gesture beckoning the Kirin to follow.
"Please if you could just tell me," Autumn said.
The unicorn again beckoned and began to walk off.
Autumn was hesitant to follow. The mare seemed decent enough and acted like she was willing to help but the silence was a little unsettling. Still, it wasn't like she had any other ponies offering assistance. Eventually, she decided to take a chance and follow. If anything strange started to happen she could just flee again.
"Is it far?" Autumn asked.
The unicorn shook her head.
"I'm sure I'd manage just fine if you just gave me directions." Autumn offered again.
The unicorn just kept walking.
"Do you live here in Canterlot?" Autumn asked. Maybe if she asked the right question the mare would say something.
The unicorn shook her head.
"Me neither, I'm meeting up with some friends." Autumn offered. Idle chat, as opposed to a question, might do the trick she reasoned.
The unicorn nodded.
"What brings you to Canterlot?" Perhaps a question that couldn't be answered yes or no would do the trick, Autumn reasoned.
The unicorn stopped for a moment and reached into her saddlebag revealing a shopping bag full of records. Satisfied with her answer she replaced her items and began walking again.
"Am I talking too much?" Autumn asked. It had suddenly dawned on her that if this mare wasn't a Canterlot resident maybe her silence was part of her personal defense strategy.
The unicorn replied with a head shake indicating no.
It didn't exactly disprove her theory but the Kirin got the sense if the mare was using silence as a defense mechanism she wouldn't respond so open to everything.
The buildings surrounding the pair grew smaller as they walked the windy street until suddenly they disappeared and the city opened up to reveal a large castle surrounded by a stunningly landscaped park. It was a spectacular sight.
The unicorn nodded at an ornate gate decorated with the letters. C. R. G. P. An archway above read, Canterlot Royal Garden Park. She smiled at the Kirin gave a wave and began to walk away.
"Don't go yet," Autumn said abruptly. "Can you please tell me your name?"
The unicorn looked at her for a moment. She nodded before levitating another album from her bag.
On the album's sleeve was a picture of the unicorn. Vinyl Scratch aka DJ Pon3 a self-titled album was printed in a bold font.
"Your name is Vinyl Scratch?" Autumn asked.
The unicorn nodded.
"Well thank you very much for helping me." The Kirin said.
Another nod but one that conveyed more than a yes. It gave the clear impression the unicorn was happy to have helped.
"Would you mind if I asked something personal?" Autumn couldn't fight her curiosity anymore she wanted an answer. If the mare declined that would be fine but she had to try.
A nod signaled it was okay.
"Can, can you speak?" Autumn asked quietly she felt almost ashamed to say the words.
The unicorn shook her head.
"Did somepony do this to you?" The Kirin asked harshly. Rage was building inside her at the thought that someone had maliciously stripped the voice of someone so kind. She didn't even realize she had slipped into her Nirik form.
The unicorn shook her head and stared in confusion for a minute. Abruptly she removed the device around her ears and placed them on the mare who was talking to her.
Autumn listened as music suddenly enveloped her. She looked at the unicorn. The earmuffs Vinyl had been wearing were absent from her head. She looked at the mare in confusion.
Vinyl took out her album and pointed at it before gesturing at her headphones that now adorned the other pony's head.
Autumn understood what the mare was telling her. This music was hers. She listened carefully.
The music had no words. It was rhythmic notes and beats played out in seeming randomness but the more she listened the more she understood. The music's pace would fluctuate at times full of energy and joy. Then suddenly it would become slow, steady almost somber but still full of purpose.
"I understand," Autumn said she had regained her Kirin form barely aware she had changed once let alone twice. "I'm glad you've found your voice. Never let anyone take that away from you."
The unicorn nodded enthusiastically and took her headphones back. She gave a final excited wave before departing.