Amnesia... it sounds like a bad thing, right? Well, sometimes it's just a new beginning.
I am... I really don't know. I just woke up, lying down in the middle of an ally in some kind of a city. I don't remember anything, my name, what I look like, and even how to walk! The only thing I remember is how to talk...and I... I guess I'm just scared.
It was warm, everything around me was soft, and I couldn't be happier. Then I heard a mumbled "Merrow," and it started getting colder. "Yellow!" there it was again, but this time it was much louder, and suddenly everything started to get much harder. I started to open my eye's, and a mare was in front of me. "Hello... are you alright?" she said while looking at me with a concerned face.
"Yes... hello, how do you do?" I responded as color started to return to my vision, the mare had very beautiful eyes. They popped out, mostly due to the neutral color of her coat and mane.
"Quite alright, but are you sure you're alright?" she said with the same concern evident on her face.
"Yes, I feel alright." I said, then to make a point I tried to stand up... I couldn't, I just slipped and fell.
"I don't believe you do." she said as she came to my aid.
She supported me as I got onto my feet. "What's your name deary." she asked.
"I... I don't... know." I said, starting to get scared.
"Oh, oh my. Let's get you to a hospital." the mare said, the look of concern was still on her face, but also a hint of determination. She had a goal, and she wasn't going to let anything get in her way.
She gave me support as I tried to walk. It was slow going, but the mare beside me started some small talk. "So, do you remember how you wound up in that alley? A mare like yourself could have quite a few reasons." she asked.
"I... don't remember." I said.
"Do you remember anything at all?" she asked with a very sweet tone, clearly it was visible that I was terrified.
"I... no." I said.
"Well, I suppose it's not all bad, you can think of it as a second chance. Besides, sometimes you can get your memories back, actually that happens more often then not." she said giving me a reassuring smile.
Their was a long pause in the conversation as we made are way to the hospital, but then I thought of something to say.
"Thank you." my voice was barely above a whisper.
"It's not a problem dear." she responded.
"If you don't mind, um... could I ask for your name?" I truly wondered what her name could be.
"Octavia." she said with a grin, like her name gave her a since of pride.
"It's a very beautiful name." I informed idly, more focused on putting one hoof in front of the other without slipping, It didn't help that the ground was covered in snow and ice.
"Thank you, and I believe this is our stop." she said as she motioned her head toward a large hospital to our left.
We made our way into the building, which was mostly empty at the moment, and Octavia talked to a nurse behind a counter. She informed the nurse about what's happened, and before we knew it Octavia and I were rushed into a hospital room. A doctor barged in through the door as soon as it shut from when the nurse left. "That was quick." said Octavia.
"This technically qualifies as an emergency... like if you need surgery straight away, but you know, this isn't as serious now... how bout we take a look into that head of yours?" he said addressing me at the end of his explanation.
His horn was engulfed in a brown light, the same color as his coat, and soon my head was covered in the same light. It took a second, and it felt weird, but eventually he stopped and looked over to Octavia with a worried look on his face. "Mam." he addressed Octavia.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked, that concerned look from earlier was on her face again.
"Yes, um... it appears that she has absolutely no memories what so ever. No suppressed memories, or brain injuries are causing her amnesia, she simply has no experiences in her mind, save for earlier today. And..." he informed cutting off at the end.
"What, is there anything else?" she asked.
"Well... um... Mam," he addressed me "do you mind if Octavia knows about any other ailments you might have?" he asked.
"No." I answered quietly.
He gestured toward a mirror on the wall beside us. I saw myself for the first time. I had a perfectly white coat, and my mane was blackest black I'd ever seen, save for the highlights of gold. My mane was straight and cut in such a way where it came down and covered my left eye. My visible eye had a red iris. I thought I looked rather pretty, not drop dead gorgeous, but pretty.
"Well... it seems that you're... um... blind in your left eye." he said warily.
That would explain why I didn't notice my mane in front of my face before. I was still looking into the mirror, and moved my mane out of the way. My left eye was an extremely light blue, and lacked a pupil. I couldn't help but smile though, I never knew what it was like to see out of both eyes, and I didn't really care.
"Now, Octavia, normally we'd send her to her closest relatives, but there is no possible way we can do that now. She lacks a cutie mark, and has no memories. So I was wondering if you'd take this fine mare in, get her used to life, and let her move out once she's ready." the doctor said.
"Is there any other option?" Octavia asked.
"Yes... but the facility we send very special cases like her's too, doesn't provide the best treatment of patients... if you know what I mean." he informed.
"Well, I guess I have no choice." she said, but gave me a generous smile.
"Before you two go there is one little matter to attend to..." he said facing me, "What would you like your name to be?"
"I don't know." I said after giving some thought. I looked toward Octavia for help.
"How 'bout um... mystery? No, to negative...Enigma! Yes, I quite like that one." she said satisfied with her conclusion.
"Any objections?" the doctor asked.
"No... it's a very beautiful word." I said.
"And now..." he said as he scribbled something down on a form. "It is your very beautiful name!" he finished.
We started to leave but before the door shut a question popped into my mind. "Doctor!" I called behind me.
"Yes?" he said.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"The Doctor, just the Doctor." he finished and closed the door.
Octavia stopped supporting me as I got the hang of putting one hoof in front of the other. The silence between me and Octavia started to get awkward, and I was searching desperately for something to say, alas I could conjure nothing up in my head, but I seem to be an incredibly lucky mare, for Octavia broke the silence for me. "Listen, I'm more then happy to let you live with me... but I won't be in Manehatten for very long. I'll be touring with the Royal Canterlot Orchestra. Don't worry though, I have a friend that was going to take care of my house, and I'm sure that she would be more then happy to look after you." She said giving me a smile.
For some reason I thought I heard a hint of doubt in her voice. We spent a good half-hour walking the short distance to her house, which was actually a penthouse apartment on top of a large building. We took the main elevator up to the 30th floor, and walked down the hall a bit to another elevator that required a key to access. When we got inside the elevator, I noticed that it only had two buttons on the inside of it, up and down. Octavia clicked the button to make us go up, the doors promptly shut, and we were off. When the doors opened again I was greeted by the sight of a very neat looking apartment, if you could call it that. The roof was lined with skylights, and the apartment had an 'open' scheme. Their were no doors that I could see, everything looked like it belonged there, save for one crushed can in the middle of the, what I presumed to be, living room. Apparently the can wasn't suppose to be there, for Octavia's face changed from a pleasant expression to no expression at all. If you want the truth, I was terrified. Then she uttered one simple word, "Vinyl". She started to become very red, and I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said she had steam coming out of her ears.
"Vinyl!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.
A mare with a white coat and an electric blue mane came around the corner. "Sup treble clef?" she said without even looking at us.
"Don't call me treble clef!" Octavia yelled.
"Whatever tavi." the mare, that I presumed was named Vinyl, retorted with a smug grin plastered on her face as she looked at us for the first time.
"Really Vinyl?" Octavia asked.
"Alright I'll stop, but just cause you seem to have a guest...Octy." Vinyl said.
"You know what... never mind, I have some stuff to tell you." Octavia told Vinyl.
"Like where you met another mare with red eyes?" Vinyl asked as she walked up to me.
"Kind of, lets go sit down." Octavia walked in and took her place on a nearby couch. Vinyl and I soon followed.
"So... what's up." Vinyl asked.
"Enigma here," Octavia motioned toward me. "is going to be staying here with you."
"ALLL RIGHT!" vinyl yelled as she jumped up into the air. "You ain't never been to a party like a DJ Pon-3 party!"
"Who's DJ Pon-3?" I asked.
"What, are you blind, I've never heard of anypony who hasn't heard of me." Vinyl said, with her mood deflating.
"Yes." I informed.
"Yes, what?" Vinyl asked as she lifted her head to look at me.
"I am blind, but only in my left eye." I continued.
"Oh, sorry man, I didn't mean to... yeah, but anyway, surly you've at least heard of me!" The DJ continued.
"Nope." I said.
"Have you been living under a rock?" The DJ said, as she sat back down.
"Kind of." said Octavia. "She's suffered an extremely severe case of amnesia."
"Wow, I just can't cut a break can I? So, what else do you have to tell me." Vinyl was visibly depressed, and I felt terrible about it.
"You don't mind looking after my house, and Enigma... do you?" Octavia asked.
"Not at all." Vinyl said.
Octavia went to her room, which had a door, and got her bags, and suit case. We said our goodbyes, then she left.
"So... what do you want to do blank flank?" The DJ beside me asked.
"I don't know? What can we do?" I had a million things that we could do running through my head at once, but I wanted to hear what Vinyl had to offer.
"Make hot, sweaty, love?"
"..."
"Oh, come on, that was a joke!"
I was not amused. A few minutes later Vinyl brought me a glass of glowing green liquid, and one for herself. "What's this?" I inquired.
"A unicorn spirit."
"A what?"
"A crazy strong alcoholic drink."
"Oh... I don't think it would be wise for me to drink that."
"Sure it's a good Idea. It's never not a good Idea to get hammered!"
"If you insist..." I was hesitant, but eventually I gave in and downed the drink.
Everything went black. I was dreaming of a fish swimming through the sky, and then I woke up. My head hurt, and I did not dare open my eyes, or eye in this case. It was most definitely not a good Idea to get hammered! After what felt like hours, I finally worked up the courage to look around. I was in a fairly comfortable bed, and had a glass of water waiting for me on the bedside table. I got out of the bed shakily, and made my way out of the bedroom. I was happy to find that I was still in Octavia's apartment, house, thingy. I searched for Vinyl, and found her passed out in a hot-tub that Octavia had on her balcony. There was a laptop beside her, and I couldn't help but sneak a peak of what was on it. Apparently she had started writing a fanfiction of a show called 'My little Human: Friendship is Science' in her drunken stupor. I would have to ask Vinyl about that later, but now I had to wake her up.
I shook her a little, and in return I received a jumbled up mess of words that loosely translates into "Come back wub wub, I need to drop the bass!"
I then tried to poke her, and got nothing. I tried to tickle her... nothing again! I was forced to resort to drastic measures, and I managed to bring out a large speaker attached to a record player, and placed it right by her head. I put a record on the player, and an extremely loud noise started coming out. I turned it off, and headed outside to see my handy work... NOTHING!
I started to get angry, and paced around the hot-tub. I still wasn't used to walking, and slipped on a small puddle of water, and fell in! As soon as I got my bearings I opened my eye, just to see a pair of crimson ones staring back. For some reason Vinyl also seemed to be blushing, then I realized why. My lips were firmly planted on hers! I could feel the blood rise to my cheeks, and I pulled away as fast as I could. I looked anywhere, but at Vinyl. After a few awkward seconds Vinyl broke the silence. "Not bad blank flank, but next time you should wait till the first date!"
Vinyl climbed out of the Hot-tub to leave me by my lonesome... it was then that I knew this was going to be a crazy couple of days, and it was going to be filled with a ton of ellipses.
I was in the shower, and I've been there for about... two hours? I don't know. I lost track of time. All I know is that I feel dirty, and the water wasn't helping. Vinyl hadn't tried to get me out, but I'm kinda glad she hasn't.
"YO, Blank Flank, get out here!"
Speak of the devil...
"Seriously, if this is about earlier, it doesn't matter... it was clearly an accident." Vinyl yelled over the water.
I turned down the flow.
"And if it makes ya feel better, I was fifteen when I got my first kiss, and sixteen by the time I got seriously hammered. What are you, like... two days old?"
And on goes the water again.
"SERIOUSLY?!... I got more news though, Octavia sent tickets so we can go see one of her performances."
Off goes the water again... I dried myself off, and opened the door to meet Vinyl.
"Hello..." Vinyl said as her jaw dropped and her shades fell off.
"What?"
"Nothing, your mane's still wet though... yeah, so... about Octavia! First off, you're going with me to a gig, then we're taking a train to Canterlot. We'll meet her at one of her favorite bar's!"
"You sound a little excited to be going to a bar." I said deadpan.
"That's because her favorite bar... is also one of my favorite clubs!"
"Cool, so... can you tell me what a 'gig' is?"
"I knew It!" Vinyl screamed.
"What?!" I was extremely confused at her accusation... all I asked was 'What's a gig'.
"I knew it was to good to be true!" Vinyl stormed around the room.
"What's to good to be true?"
"You might have fooled me with your use of slang, but I knew that nopony with an accent like yours is that cool!"
"What do you mean? I don't have an accent."
"PLEASE! You sound like you come straight from Trottingham!"
"Okay... where's Trottingham, and Canterlot for that matter?"
"I... Oh yeah, I forgot... you wouldn't know... what a gig is... would ...you... SO! I'm gonna get ready, we're going to have to leave by midnight."
"What am I suppose to do?" I asked getting kind of annoyed at the mare in front of me.
"All I got to do is go shopping... but it might take a couple hours... You could probably mess around in the music room, just don't break Tavi's instruments... and don't mess up my tracks." She said as she stood at the elevator.
I hugged Vinyl goodbye, I'm not sure why, and made my way into the music room. It was filled with a menagerie of instruments, and some of Vinyl's tech. I decided my first order of business would be listening to some of the songs these two mares have made...
Octavia stuck with melody, but obviously had Vinyl help master the pieces, it was unique, and entertaining. Most of her pieces focused on bringing out the powerful emotions of love, and sadness.
Vinyl Scratch liked her bass. It was clear, after listening to a couple of her songs, that she had Octavia help her out with the melody, and raw sound so she could have something to work with. Vinyl's tracks loved to pull out your adrenalin. It was suppose to get you hyped...
Now it was my turn...
(Three hours later)
Raw sound recordings... Bass up'd by a thousand... My own little flare. I had something... something good. Now the question is 'Does anypony else thing this is good?' Lucky for me, Scratch just got home, and before you ask... yeah, I am smiling with the most menacing smile I can make.
"Whats up Blank Flank?" Vinyl said as she walked into the room.
"I just made a song." I said still smiling.
"Oh yeah? Let me hear... and stop smiling like that, you're freaking me out."
It started with strings... raw, and beautiful. Then the percussion... oh, the sweet percussion. Combine both with a hint of FX for some dramatic build up... then glitch the system. Drop the bass with the wrath of a thousand gods, and steam for two seconds, no more, and no less, for a bass that is twenty percent more powerful then anything Vinyl could dream of. Add vocal synthetics, and stir vigorously. Pop that sucker into your eardrums for roughly five minutes to get your self one tasty ass meal... excuse my language... how un-lady like.
"So... what do you think?"
"Th... that was... how? How is that even... I. CanIusethisatmygig?" Vinyl asked, wearing the biggest puppy dog eyes ever, it didn't even matter that she still had her sunglasses on.
"Um... yeah, not a problem." I said. I thought the song was good, but not that good.
Vinyl was jumping up, and down. Literally off the walls. Note to self, Scratch is easily excited. Then she stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong?" I asked. Vinyl was staring at me, and it was freaking me out more then my smile freaked her out.
"Um... Nothing Blank Flank, but your flank ain't so blank anymore. I'd say good job... but I don't know what I'm looking at."
I walked over to a mirror, and checked out my hindquarters.
"I think it's a flower of... bass clefs? Oh, and there is little treble clefs in there too." I told Vinyl.
"Yeah... I see it!" she paused for a second. "I don't think I've ever seen a cutie mark this intricate before."
"Yeah..." I couldn't stop looking at it.
"Well... we should get going. My gig's gonna start soon, and after that its straight to Canterlot."
"Yeah, yeah... lets go, I want to see why you're so excited about using my song in your gig."
And with that we took off. On the way Vinyl insisted I wear some, and I quote 'totally dope shades'. Indeed, they were pretty cool. They completely blocked any light from coming out of them, but let all the light go into them, so it was like I wasn't wearing sunglasses in the first place. We spent a few quite moments walking, hindered by my inability to walk ten feet without slipping on some ice, or tripping on a pebble. Eventually we got to our destination... essentially it was a giant warehouse, modified with neon lighting, and I'm sure many other luxuries, but we where still outside, and I can't see through walls...yet.
There was an extremely long line... it seemed to stretch on for miles, but before I could get to entranced by all the other ponies, Vinyl pulled me around the back, and took me in through the staff entrance. She gave me a tag attached to a necklace, and told me to never take it off. Apparently It gave me access to go anywhere I please, even up on stage with Vinyl if I wanted. It also let me get free beverages, but I think I'd prefer to stay clear of any alcohol. "Listen, if you get lost, just look for the stage, and head toward it." She yelled at me, trying to beat the crowed who were chanting 'VI NYL, VI NYL, VI NYL. Etc.'
I followed Vinyl onstage for her introduction, and first set. I looked out over the crowed, and realized that this... this was going to be a long night.
Alcohol... lots of it. That is the best description of last night I could think of. I said I would stay away from the stuff, but my will is not as strong as I thought it was. Now I'm sitting in a train car, wishing the stuff never existed.
"Yo... blank flank... you alright?" Vinyl asked.
"My flank isn't blank." is all I could get out before I clasped my hooves over my head again.
"Whatever Blank Flank. So... how was last night?" She asked.
"Great, because I totally didn't pass out half way through due to alcohol poisoning." I responded, hopefully with enough sarcasm to get through to Vinyl.
"That's good to hear." she responded
A swing and a miss.
"So, we are a half a mile from Canterlot!" vinyl informed.
"That's good..." I responded Idly, for there was a question forming in this head of mine. One of the questions ponykind has asked since the dawn of time. I wouldn't be overstating it if I said it was the most important question ever....
"Do you know of a cure for a hangover?" I asked.
Vinyl took her sweet time thinking, but eventually she got an Idea. She managed to slip a pair of headphones over my ears without me noticing, don't ask me how, because I have no clue. Then she cranked the volume up to eleven and blasted one continues bass note. For a second, there was pain, a lot of it, but then I got very numb, and lightheaded. Then everything went black for about three seconds before I was hit by so many flashing colors that I think I had an epileptic fit.
It had been four minutes before I had finally regained consciousness, but when I did, I felt... amazing.
"So blank flank, how'd that work for ya?" Vinyl asked.
"You... you suck, but it worked fine." I said.
"You don't have to be mean." Vinyl said.
"So, when do we get to Canterlot?" I asked.
"I'd say right... about... now." Vinyl informed, and just as she did so the train put on it's screeching brakes. "Right, we're going to a hotel, I'm gonna change, then we're gonna scare the buck out of Tavi." Once she was done relaying the plan, her horn lit up, and she unleashed a teleportation spell. One second I'm on a train, the next I'm blowing chunks in a hotel suite.
"Mother of... you should warn somepony before spewing on them." Vinyl informed me in a very... lets just say her tone of voice made it clear she was not amused. At least she wasn't angry. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Vinyl angry at all yet... peculiar.
"I will when you warn me that you're about to cast the Chunk'OMatic spell." I retorted, while gasping for air.
"Yeah, yeah." Vinyl dismissed me, and started walking toward the bathroom, presumably to take a shower.
"Why do I trust you and Octavia so much?" I asked Idly. The message wasn't meant to be heard by Vinyl, but she heard it anyway, and stopped walking.
"Because... Imprinting." She responded as she turned around to look at me.
"What?"
"Imprinting... Octavia is the first person you saw, therefore, you feel as though she is a 'motherly figure'." she informed matter O' factly.
"I didn't know you had a brain." I joked.
"Yeah, get used to it, it took Octavia some time too. I'm actually a super genius." Vinyl said without a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"If that's so, then tell me why I trust you?" I asked.
"Simple, I'm so sexy that you'd believe any word I say." She said, again without any sarcasm evident in her voice.
"Really now, I thought you were classier then that." I retorted. If in fact I did find her subconsciously attractive, even that attraction would be broken by the fact that she was covered in my puke.
"Fine, be that way." Vinyl said. She lit up her horn, and all the puke that was quite literally everywhere, just disappeared. The spell was impressive, but something else caught my eye. It was the way Vinyl's horn lit up. It wasn't blue, or white... no, no, no, not at all. It was... a bright beige.
I was about to voice what I noticed, but she was already closing the door to the bathroom. "Should I bust in there? No, no. It's just a question, it's not worth the effort." I said to myself. "Perhaps I should stop talking to myself before it becomes a habit." I dead panned more then anything.
I inspected the suite, and wondered if we were even allowed to be in here, after all, Vinyl just kinda used magic to break in here... from a... train... station... Yeah, we totally aren't allowed to be here. I would protest, but Vinyl was in the bathroom, so instead I made my way over to a piano in the corner of the room I was in. The suite was large... clearly a presidential class abode. That fact was especially clear due to the fact it housed a full sized grand piano.
I sat down at the bench, and played a couple notes, then I got into the rhythm of a waltz. As my hoofs danced along the key's, I got the sensation of coming back home... wherever home was. Before, with the remix, all the sound files were already on the computer, I didn't need to even touch an instrument! I didn't know how long it had been since I played the piano before... I didn't even know if I had played it before, but I knew that this was were I was meant to be... me behind an instrument. I was content, but then I stopped... I remembered something... a song. Then, I did the only logical thing anypony would do... I started to sing.
"Ce qui était beau. (That was beautiful)" I heard Vinyl say when I was done. She spoke perfect prench. I would have been stunned, normally but....
"No... that was sick..." I said, losing myself. I wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't flow. I knew I had written this song, long ago. I knew that the song was about me. And I knew... I knew that if this was what my memories were going to be like if I got them back... then I didn't want them.
Vinyl was quite. She saw me... the real me... the me that I didn't even see. She saw how sad I was... how shaken I was... but I didn't see her. I was still looking at the keys of the piano.
After some time, I don't know how long, Vinyl hugged me... comforted me... embraced me... and I... I just fell asleep. I needed sleep, I needed time, I needed a lot of things... but most of all, I needed... Vinyl.
Author's Note: It's been a while, and I'm sorry.... Things have been... different... lately. Things have changed. For one, I am now the only author apart of WGM now. I suppose you can call me THE Wafflegodman now. I'm sorry if this chapter was sad, or troubling for you, but I feel that a good story requires all the categories of story to be met. A great story should meet them all, and master them, but I'm only trying to achieve the pleasure of entertaining you, not make you question life as you know it, and go see a doctor because of possible mood swings you had while reading this. Expect more updates now that I'm done being sad about the other authors quitting... and please, for me as a friend (If I may be so bold), have a wonderful day.
Also, how bout a little Qn'A?
The Octavian point of view (Octavia's point of view chapter, just in case you didn't get the hint.).
It had been a day since I'd left Enigma with Vinyl, and I knew that I probably killed Enigma's liver... that poor filly. I forgot to tell Vinyl that Enigma was still in her teens... now that I think about it, I think I forgot to tell Enigma she was still a teenager too.
BUCK ME! I was suppose to be the smart one in this situation. Hell, I basically adopted Enigma, so I think it would be safe to say that I killed my daughter... foster daughter? A pony that I am entitled to care for, and protect! Okay, it's okay. Surely Vinyl would be able to tell that Enigma is too young to drink. I mean, Enigma isn't that tall, and Vinyls still too young to drink herself so... no, who am I kidding. I'll probably get arrested by the end of the week for this. All well, at least I'm at the old training grounds. I can go get Vertical Lift, one of the few pegasai in the orchestra, or Mahjiek, one of the many unicorn's in the orchestra, to give Vinyl the message before she kills Enigma.
I stood in front of the back entrance of the giant concert hall, debating with myself if I should go in, or take the next train back to Manehatten, and hopefully save my... should I call her daughter? I'm going to need help deciding that... yep, I've made up my mind. I couldn't help Enigma now, no matter how much I wanted too. The best thing I could do is get some help from Harmonic Riff.
I walked into the building, and there he was, as if he was waiting for me. The earth pony, with a cutie mark of a tattered union jack, known as Harmonic Riff, was standing on his hind legs, leaning his back against a wall for support. In his mouth was an unlit cigarette... he always had an unlit cigarette in his mouth, for some reason, and for as long as I've known him, he hasn't smoked one. His beige coat shimmered slightly in the light, and his brown mane was cut short, and spiked in the front, just like it always had been. What was different, was the slight stubble that had covered his chin... perhaps he wanted to look his age? He was old... a lot older then me... but he looked like he was barely out of his teens. It didn't help that he still had coltish, yet handsome, features, and always had on a cocky smirk. "Oy! It's been a while since ah've seen that cheeky face O' yers, that it has! How has my little Tavi been?" he asked.
Did I mention that he spoke like he was from south Trottingham, and had the accent to boot, because that's pretty important.
I simply sighed in response.
"Oy, cheer up bud'er cup. Uncle Riff is here t'a fix ah'll ya prob'ems, that I am." He said.
"I'm not sure you can fix this problem." I informed, letting my head hang. You see, although Riff looks, talks, and acts like a blubbering collage student... when it comes to the serious stuff, there is no one I'd rather talk to then him. He's fixed countless problems that I have gotten myself into for me.
"Ah thought ch'ya knew me, there ain't a prob'em ah can't fix... excusing that one time involv'n that DJ friend av yers...." It took a while, but after a few seconds of awkward silence, it finally clicked in that head of his. "Its involv'n that DJ friend av yers, ain't it." he said, the cocky smirk on his face becoming more serious.
I just nodded in response. I felt better after I let my guard down.
"That ain't good, no it ain't. If'n I may intrude, would you be willing to tell me what the bloody 'ell you've gotten yer'self int'a ?" He asked.
"Its a bit of a story, do you have the time?"
"Ah've always got time, n' if I don't, I can make some fer ya, that I can." He responded.
"Well... where do I start?" I asked myself.
"I'd figure ya start at the begini'n, like a normal pony." He said with a small snicker. Truthfully, the humor was a bit refreshing.
"Well, a couple day's ago, I found this young mare, seventeen years old, or so, and I decided to help her out. Well, as luck has it, she had serious amnesia. So, she became my responsibility, almost as if she was my daughter really...." I phased out. Daughter... legally speaking, I was her guardian, so if I wanted to, I could just say the words, and she'd become my adopted daughter.... Shit, I read about this somewhere, I'm going baby crazy.
"Oy! Ya still with me Octavia?" I heard Riff ask.
"Yes." I responded, shaking my head, as if something was on it.
"That's good, Ah thought ah lost ya, that I did. Anyhow, carry on."
"Right, well. I had to come here, and I would have brought Enigma along with me... Enigma is the girls name... but I had to leave right away, and couldn't buy a ticket for her. So...." I was cut off by Riff, who was sporting that Cocky smirk of his.
"So ya got ch'ya DJ friend to babysit, that ch'ya did. So, I still don't see while ya so riled?"
"Well, I forgot to tell Vinyl, my DJ friend, that Enigma can't drink, and even though Vinyl shouldn't drink either... let's just say she can out drink you, me, and the rest of the orchestra easily."
"So, ya worried that Vinyl is gonna kill ya little pumpkin by the time ya next hear from them, that ch'ya are. Correct me if'n I made a mistake in that statement 'O mine." he said.
"Your quite right... wait! Why did you refer to Enigma as my 'little pumpkin'?" I asked.
"Cause, its as plain as day that ch'ya see her as a child of yer own!" He said as if it were, well... plain as day.
"Of course I don't see her as a child of my own." I responded, a bit taken aback by his accusation.
"Oh please, if it were any other pony, ya'd come in here, all cool, and professional like, and tell me about it over a glass of scotch. But, instead, ya come in here, ya mane a mess, bags under ya eyes, and talking ta me not, but a few feet away from the back door. Ya try tellin me again that ch'ya don't feel as if you are a mother to that poor filly ya found in that ally." He said, completely serious, if not a bit angry that I denied an obvious fact.
I just sighed, perhaps I actually do want her as my daughter... this is going to be a weird conversation when I see her again... speaking of which.
"You still...." I was cut off by Riff raising his hoof.
" 'avent given ya an answer to ya dilemma... I know, but ah don't think ya got that big a prob'em in the first place." He said. Needless to say, I was a bit shocked.
"Hold on, ah'm not done tellin ya the obvious. Think... how can Vinyl out drink everyone she's ev'ah met? The answer is obvious, and it's in plain sight." He said. I was still clueless, and he seemed a little disappointed that I didn't pick up on what he was getting at yet.
"It's in the horn." He informed, finally stopping with his games. "She magically mutes the effects of alcohol, the worst that can happen in the presence of that DJ friend of yers, is ya little filly gets hammered once, and Vinyl picks up on it, stops the negative effects of the demon drink with a spell, and then probably goes on to let Enigma suffer from a hangover, just because she can." Riff finished his answer.
The answer was painfully obvious, and I felt like an idiot for not seeing it. There was still a chance that Riff could be wrong, but he never was before, even with that one time with Vinyl, he wasn't wrong, he said flat out that he couldn't do anything. I could feel the relief pour over my shoulders.
For some reason, Riff was still giving me a funny look. "Is something wrong?" I asked.
"Do ya know what day it is?" he asked.
"No, not exactly. Why?"
"Its been three years since ya joined us, and one year since we became worthy of playing for the highest echelon of our fair society. I met up with some of our mates, and we all came to the conclusion that the only reason we 'ave done so well, is because of ya. So, me, a'n the rest of the mates chipped in some cash to buy ya a gift." he gestured with a hoof to an object behind him as he concluded his speech.
It looked like a case. It was a large, black, box, and it had my cutie mark on it. I walked over to it, and undid the latches. What was inside made me happier then a filly in a candy shop. Inside... was a double bass. The craftsmanship was evident, and it was truly an instrument to behold. I played a cello in the orchestra, but everyone one of my friends knew that the double bass was my instrument of choice.
I think it would be safe to say, that at that moment, I was... ecstatic.
A piece of Vinyl's mind (Like the last chapter, but with Vinyl)
Shit... I forgot to warn Enigma that I was going to use a teleportation spell... this is gonna suck.
Sure enough, as soon as we appeared in the suite Octavia reserved for us... puke, puke everywhere! It was my fault, but you know... I get to tease Enigma now. "Mother of... you should warn somepony before spewing on them."
"I will when you warn me that you're about to cast the Chunk'OMatic spell." She retorted. She's getting wittier, I'll take that as a good omen.
"Yeah, yeah." I said, ending the conversation. I had to go clean up. Not only was I covered in puke, but my color spell was wearing out... maybe I'll go O'natural for a bit. At the very least, I could surprise Enigma, and Octy.
"Why do I trust you and Octavia so much?" I heard Enigma mutter in the background. For some reason, that really hurt.
"Because... Imprinting." I responded, stopped walking, and turned around to face Enigma. Perhaps this is a good chance to fool around with little miss blank flank some more.
"What?" She asked. She looked a bit worn out, but still seemed like she could take a couple more jokes.
"Imprinting... Octavia is the first person you saw, therefore, you feel as though she is a 'motherly figure'." Look at me, being all smart n' shit. I love it when I get to do this.
"I didn't know you had a brain." She responded lightheartedly. I knew she meant know trespass, but that hurt. I shook it off, now was the time to launch my little joke.
"Yeah, get used to it, it took Octavia some time too. I'm actually a super genius." I said, and it worked. Enigma's face was distorted, but it soon recovered. The trick was to be completely serious.
"If that's so, then tell me why I trust you?" She asked. Hook, line, and sinker. Now I could really have some fun.
"Simple, I'm so sexy that you'd believe any word I say." I said, with my pseudo seriousness.
Enigma's face looked like it became a tinge pink. It wasn't what I was expecting, really. Typically, the victim responds hastily with a semi-funny comeback. Instead Enigma stood there, taken aback slightly. Interesting...
"Really now, I thought you were classier then that." Ouch, my heart. That was good, a little too good. In fact it was down right mean, but I could see Enigma's face increase in redness. She was embarrassed, that was painfully obvious, I should probably leave her alone... for now.
"Fine, be that way." I said, not really mocking the tone of pain in my voice.
At the last minute I remembered a spell that could clean up all this mess, that would make the time I spend in the bathroom considerably shorter. I let the spell loose, and it worked like a charm, but something was different, my horn felt warmer, less... blue. I had less time then I thought.
I turned around, and almost ran into the bathroom. I jumped into the shower, threw my sunglasses on the towel rack, and turned on the water. At first it poured over my shoulders with icy fingers, but it soon embraced my with warmth. I stayed in the shower for not more then fifteen seconds, that was all that was needed to wash off the magic residue.
I got out of the shower, and took a long look at myself in the mirror... it had almost been a year since I last saw myself like this. My mane, was the brightest blonde you can get, without it looking white. My coat was no longer a tinge yellow, but One hundred percent white. My eyes... they were still red, but they had blue flecks throughout them, making them look almost purple at a distance. I smiled. I forgot how different I really looked like this.
I combed my mane down, it almost matched Enigma's mane now, but you could see both my eyes. I don't know why Enigma hid her blind eye, I think its pretty.
I decided not to cast the color spell again, and left the bathroom. It was going to be funny as hell to see Enigma's reaction, and Octy's for that matter.
I was about to scare Enigma, but she started playing a wonderful song. When she started singing in Prench, I recalled learning to speak Prench in order to mess with Tavi. Once the song was over I thought I'd complement Enigma on that masterpiece... I'd never heard it before, and Tavi never mentioned a song like this to me, and trust me, she would have... so I assumed it was an Enigma original.
"Ce qui était beau. (That was beautiful)" I said.
"No... that was sick..." Enigma said.
That statement sent a jolt of pain through me. I don't know why, but it did. I took a few seconds to look at Enigma... she was broken. Her head was hung over the key's of the piano. She looked like she wanted to cry. She just screamed 'Hey, I just had a life changing experience, and it wasn't the good kind, so could you... ya know... help me out a little.'. I walked up to her, and wrapped my hooves around her waist. She leaned back into me, and just sat there, fighting back tears. After a while, I felt her go limp, and used my magic to pick her up, and bring her to the couch. I sat down, and laid her length wise on the couch, letting her rest her head on my hind legs. I started stroking her mane, whispering sweet nothings to her, even though she was clearly asleep. She felt light, and delicate. For the first time since I've known her, she looked broken, and exhausted. She always screamed confidence... perhaps that was because she had nothing to lose, but now... it was sad.
At that moment I would do anything to help this filly get better, anything at all.
Sometime later, I fell asleep with Enigma's head on my lap. I had many wonderful dreams that night, all of which had Enigma in it for some reason, or another. I cared for this filly, perhaps I didn't love her, but I still wanted to see her happy.
I woke up early that morning... we had missed Octavia's concert, but I didn't care. The most important thing right now is keeping Enigma from getting completely depressed. I gently raised her with my magic... it was a bit of a shock seeing a yellow aura envelope her instead of blue... then I got up, and placed a pillow under her head. I had just gotten barrings, when I heard someone open the front door. I looked toward the door, and there was Octy, frustrated yet happy at the same time. I swear, the way she can express so many emotions at once, she must be some kind of superpony. Anyway, once she saw me, her jaw dropped to the floor.
"I... I'm sorry, I must have gotten the rooms mixed up, or something like that..." I cut her off by raising my hoof to my mouth, telling her to be quite.
I walked up to her, and whispered. "No, this is the right room, and no, I'm not some sort of burglar, Its me, your old friend Vinyl."
Tavi's face lit up with surprise, but I put my hoof up to her mouth to keep her from screaming out questions. Once she understood why I shoved my hoof in her face, she calmed down, then I let her speak.
"What did you do to yourself?" she asked.
"I took off the color changing spell I had on. This is what I normally look like." I answered.
"B... but I have never once seen you like this!" Octavia said in a surprised whisper.
"Nopony has, save for my parents." I exclaimed.
"So, why are we whispering? And, more importantly, why didn't you come to my concert!" She began to get louder, and angrier.
I simply gestured with my hoof toward Enigma. "She had it rough last night." I said.
I swear, Octavia looked like she was about to get hit by a train. "What happened?!" She nearly screamed, getting very angry.
"She might have remembered something, I don't know." I said. "She played a wonderful song last night, and just lost it." I said, not even trying to hide the worry in my voice. I looked over to Enigma. "I... I stayed with her all night." I said stoically.
Octavia looked over to Enigma herself. "Are... you alright?" she asked suddenly, after a few seconds of silence.
"Yeah, I just have a lot to think about now." I answered.
"Same here." she responded. "I'm gonna make some tea, then we can talk in the other room." She said.
"Grab me a cup of coffee instead, would you?" I asked. Octavia nodded her head, and set off. I walked into the other room, and waited.
After a while, Octavia came in with a mug of coffee, and a cup of tea. We both sat down at two chairs sitting at the corners of a coffee table.
"So, what do you have to think about?" Octavia asked me.
"Its my birthday in a couple days." I said. Not stating exactly what has been on my mind.
"That's right, you're gonna be eighteen, right?" She asked.
"Yeah." I answered.
"I'll try, and find a good gift then... Speaking of ages, you haven't let Enigma drink anything Alcoholic, did you?" She asked.
Buck me.
"I uh... yeah." I answered.
"Shit." Octavia said. I thought she would be angry, but she wasn't.
"You're not angry with me, are you? I mean, I used one of my spells to keep it from messing with her liver, you know, the same one I use." I asked.
"Good. No, it was my fault. Anyway, you know you shouldn't drink tell you're twenty one, right?" she asked.
I nodded my head. I knew what was coming. Octavia was going to rant about 'Equestrian Law' for a bit, scold me, then forget about it entirely. Perhaps there is a way to keep that from happening.
"What about you? What's on your mind?" I asked.
"Oh! Right. I was thinking, since I'm twenty eight, and I am technically Enigma's legal guardian. Perhaps I could adopt her." She said. Boy, I didn't see that coming, not at all. This is going to make my bombshell a lot harder to drop.
"Wow, how young is she anyway?" I asked.
"Sixteen, or seventeen. A few years younger then you." She said.
I can't believe I didn't realize she was that young. I mean, I'm young, and all, but she is far to young to be hanging around me. I'm too young to be hanging around me, the only reason I can is because of the handy dandy horn on my head.
"Shit. I suppose she does kinda look it. Not too tall, and a bit thin. I can't believe I didn't see it earlier! I thought she was like, twenty, or something." I said, realization hitting me like a brick. Just another complication in my bomb drop.
"You seem a bit flustered, is everything all right?" Octavia asked.
"Hell no! I got a crush on a filly that is about to become your daughter! I mean, would everything be all right with you if you fell for your best friends daughter?" I lost it. Any hint of self control left my body, and because of that I just made this whole situation awkward as buck.
"Y... you have a crush on... Enigma?" She asked. Taken aback quite a bit.
I nodded my head, slid back in my chair, and covered my face with my hooves, waiting to hear Octavia start screaming like a banshee.
Instead, all I heard was her take a sip of her tea, and silence. I lifted my hooves to look at Octy. She was staring off into space. Still, I stayed silent.
Minutes later, she finally spoke. "I'll tell you what. I'll let you try your luck with Enigma, as long as you don't ever, ever, call me mom... Also, if you give her any more alcohol, I will personally send you to Tartarus. Do you understand?" She asked.
I hugged her, and kissed her cheek. I looked her in the eyes, and squeed like a little filly. Then, I hugged her again. I was filled with fear, and embarrassment, but most of all, I was filled with happiness.
"Still, I'm going to ask Enigma if she even wants to be my daughter. If she say's no, then...." she stopped there.
My mood deflated instantly. But, then a question popped into my mind. "Since when did you want a daughter?" I asked.
"For a while now, actually. But you know me, my love life is as stale as month old bread.... If you make one comment similar to 'I can fix that for you' or 'You could have asked.' then so help me Celestia! You will not see tomorrow." she warned.
"Fine, but why do you want to take in Enigma? You've barely spent any time with her, and you barely know her!" I asked.
"She... needs help. I can give her that help... and, I just feel... right with her around. I suppose I need her as much as she needs me really." She answered.
"It's too bad you didn't adopt me." I said huffing. "You've known me for years, and instead of picking me up, you let me age out of that dumb orphanage." I said.
"Hey, that orphanage was a freaking mansion, and you were like, one of three kids was it? Yeah! One of three kids in that place. You had more things then most ponies even wanted. Anyway, you never asked, so don't complain now!" she said.
It's true, my parents died when I was two. I was then sent to an Orphanage, that just happened to be extremely wealthy, and only had three kids in it. I had plenty of chances to ask Octy to adopt me, but I didn't... it would probably be lame too, having her as a parent.
"How did we become friends?" I asked.
"Because, I played my double bass on the street corner by your orphanage every day since I was twelve, and you always listened." She answered. It was nice, those memories we shared.
"I don't think I ever asked why you played on the street corner everyday, did I?" I asked.
"Nope, do you want to know why?" She asked.
I nodded my head.
"I had a crush on that stallion that worked at the front desk of that place." She said with a cheeky smile.
"You mean Uncle Charity? He was like... forty!" I exclaimed.
"I know, I know. I was a silly filly back then." she said, giving a little giggle.
"We both were." I said, joining her in the laugh.
After a few seconds of laughing we calmed down. "We still are you know." Octavia said. "I want to adopt a teenager, and you want to date her. How silly can this get?"
"I don't know, but Its bound to get a whole lot worse in the next few years, ain't it?" I asked.
"If things go as planned, then yeah, yeah it will.... you know what is sad, I still want to go along with it." she said.
I nodded my head, grabbed my coffee, and chugged it. Octavia downed her tea as well. Then we both laughed.
I LOVE WORKING ON THIS FIC! That being said, I am sick, and tired of working on this fic... exclusively.
Right, so... if I ever get stuck writing this fic, I came up with a parallel story for me to work on, and you to read. It has a slightly different tone to it, but it isn't to drastic. It's in the same universe, and happening at the same time. So, expect a lot of Cameo's n' stuff...
