Chapter 11

Short Tempered

Record woke up slowly feeling groggy and disoriented. It was early in the morning but Record had still slept for quite a while. What woke Record from his slumber was an abnormal sound, it was gentle but incessant. It started out as part of a dream. It sounded as if somepony was playing a steady rhythm on the side of a drum. Whoever it was, wasn't very good. It was nothing more than a simple tap... tap... tap...
He gradually came around to realize it wasn't a dream. He popped one eye open and glanced around the room. The room was still dark because the sun hadn't risen yet. He sat up but he felt something touch his thigh. He removed the blankets from on top of him and he smiled by what he saw. Laying next to him in his bed was Zee. She started shaking once Record removed the covers. He smiled and laid back down as he put the blankets over both of them again.
Tap... tap... tap...
There it was again. Record sat up again and made his horn glow a bright blue. He glanced over to the window. A tree limb swayed in the gusty winds outside, hitting the window multiple times. Record sighed is relief then turned his head over at Cyber's bed. Record almost screamed by what he saw.
Cyber was sitting on his bed, his eyes were wide open with a huge psychotic smile was stuck on his face like it was plastered on. Record was shaking in horror. He looked down at Zee who was still asleep. He looked back at Cyber who had appeared no more than inches away from his face. Cyber's teeth were fangs, his eyes were black and empty, and he had the look of hunger on his face. Cyber's mouth opened and he began to speak in a low tone.

"Wake...up..."

Record woke up quickly feeling groggy and disoriented. He was in a cold sweat and his heart was racing fast. As he took deep breaths in and out to try and calm down as he looked around the room. When he looked around he saw the sun had already been risen, shining bright though the window majestically. He looked down on the bed. The blankets were drawn back and exposed half of the mattress that had an impression of another pony on it. Record raised an eyebrow at it.

"I think Zee got in bed with me last night. I can't blame her, its cold in here." Record spoke to himself. He got off the bed and trotted downstairs out of the empty room and into the living room.

He glanced around the living room and it was empty too. Feeling worried, he walked over to the table. Sitting motionless on the table was a rolled up sheet of parchment beside a quill and ink well. Record picked up the note and unraveled it with his magic. He began to read the letter.

Record if you get this message before we return then we all went out to eat. Nightstory offered to take us all out to breakfast, we're going to The Ponyville Pub and Restaurant. Come meet up with us. We didn't want to wake you up, Sweetie. I love you. Zee.

Records heart settled and he smiled as he saw a big heart next to Zee's signature. He went back upstairs and put his coat on humming the song Winter Wrap Up. He then trotted back downstairs and opened the front door only to be hit with a gust of freezing wind and light snow flakes which melted as they hit his face. He stepped outside into the snow feeling the crunch and the cold of the snow underneath his hooves. He took in his surrounding environment.
Many ponies, young and old, played in the snow. The young ones built small forts and were throwing snowballs at each other with their parents, while the elders went for a simple walk around ponyville smiling as they passed other ponies. The sight brought a smile to his face until he was hit by a rouge snowball. Record shook the snow off and looked around for whoever hit him. He saw a small orange filly with a purple mane that was barren of her cutie mark walk up to him.

"Hey I'm sorry about that I can't throw that good." Said the filly.

"Oh its fine," Said Record. "Just watch it next time."

"Yes sir."

"Scootaloo watch where you're throwing next time!" Said a small yellow filly with a red mane.

"Sorry applebloom, I can't help it. I'm not good at throwing stuff." Said the orange filly and she went back to her friend. Record chuckled as he trotted over to the restaurant.
After a few minutes he walked up to an old tavern. He knew it was the restaurant because of the sign out front. He looked through the window and saw Zee, Darzell, Nightstory, and Cyber sitting at the bar. Record walked inside and heard the DING of the bell as the door hit it. Cyber and the others turned around to see Record. They all smiled as they saw their friend. Zee winked at Record and turned back around. Record walked up and sat beside Zee.

"I missed you." She whispered into his ear.

"I missed you too, sweetie." Record replied nuzzling her but making sure no pony else would see him. He sat forward and glanced at Cyber.

"How didd you sleep bro?" Asked Cyber.

"I slept pretty good, all except for my dream."

"What happened?" Asked Nightstory.

"I'll tell you later." Said Record as he looked at the waiter who came back out with plates of food.

"Oh hello there, sir." He said as he passed out the plates. "I'm Scripted Portrait, how can I help you." He asked.

"Hi Scripted, I'm Record I'd like to order."

"Yes sir what would you like?" Record thought for a minute but he finally came to a decision.

"Some waffles and a bottle of beer please."

Everypony stared at Record. Record looked at them as Scripted popped the top off a bottle and set it in front of him.

"What?" Asked Record.

"Dude you're to young to drink." Said Cyber.

"No the legal drinking age is sixteen and I'm seventeen." Record sighed and took a sip of the cold beer.

"I don't care." He said getting up and taking the beer from Record. Record stood up quickly and glared at Cyber.

"You don't want to do this, Cyber." He said sternly.

"Actually I do, you're my brother an I don't want to see you make any mistakes."

"You don't know what I'm going through Cyber now please just give it back!" He said starting to get red.

"No," he said throwing away the beer. "You're to young and that's that." Records face went red with anger.

"I AM NOT YOUNG!" He shouted. Everypony inside stared at him and Cyber looked him right in the eyes. "I'm not young, Cyber. You don't know what it's like right now. I'm told to save Equestria, I was told to find these guys, I am always being asked to do stuff. My sister has been kidnapped, my stress has skyrocketed, AND MY PARENTS ARE SIX FEET UNDER!!!"

"Oh snap out of it!" Said Cyber slapping Record. The tension in the room grew tremendously. Everypony could be heard breathing as they stared at the two. Record slowly looked back at Cyber with hate in his eyes. Enough was enough.

"I'm not gonna fight you. But don't ever talk to me again!" He said. He turned around and stormed out of the building. Zee stood up and ran after him. Cyber followed behind but then turned to go to Sweet Apple Acres. Zee caught up with Record. He was staring at the ground in tears when she caught up to him.

"Record, wait!"

"L-leave me alone, Zee." He said sobbing.

"Sweetie what happened?"

"I lost my temper. I think I also lost a brother. All of this stress has been eating at me Zee." He said as the tears continued to flow down his face.

"Come on let's get back to the house so we can talk there." She said. They both walked back to the house as Zee calmed Record down. Record had stopped crying after several minutes before they walked in. They both went upstairs and they sat on the bed. "It's okay Record its okay I'm here." She said softly.

"Thank you, Zee." He said sobbing lightly.

"Now Record he's your best friend. No matter what happens you two will always be friends. You think that will ever change?"

"W-well no but..." Record looked at her with sadness in his eyes. "We've never fought before."

"Eh I've fought with a few of my friends before trust me its not fun."

"B-but how did you deal with it?" He asked sobbing slightly.

"I...just did... I can't explain how though."

"Alright." He said wiping his tears away. They sat there hugging for several minutes before hearing the door downstairs open. They heard hoof steps going up the stair case drawing closer to their door. Finally the clopping of the steps came to a halt only to be followed by a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in!" Record said slowly. The door knob turned and Cyber walked in, the whites of his eyes were red and his bottom eyelids were wet with tears. Record and Cyber stared at each other for a few minutes before Cyber walked over to Record. They looked each other in the eyes and Cyber hugged Record.

"I'm sorry little brother." Said Cyber trying to hide his sobs. It did very little as his his breath trembled heavily. "I shouldn't have tried to change how you are."

"I'm sorry too Cyber." He said as tears formed in his eyes. Zee smiled as she saw the two colts become friends again. Record smiled as he hugged Cyber however one thing was flowing through his mind. What did his dream mean?

Author's Note

I apologize if this chapter is bland and not as good I have been busy lately with school.