Chapters We board the train as the last of the colts get in. What booth to sit in? There's oh so many out of the 2 that are left! I pull Tavi towards the back of the train. They all laugh as we walk past. We'll show 'em at the camp. That's for sure!
After a few minutes the train slowly lurches forward. Tavi already is looking green. I give her a light punch in the arm.
"C'mon. It's just a little train ride" I tell her.
"Y-Yeah... Just a train ride" She says quietly.
You can always tell when shes scared. She stutters and/or doesn't talk right.
"If you need anything, just ask" I assure her.
"O...Okay...." She says quietly.
I plug in my earbuds to my iPod and put it on shuffle. I have 12 hours of different songs, pretty sure I can make it through this ride. I just don't know if Tavi can.
Hours later I fall out of the booth. I guess we are here. I see Tavi and she's lookin' like a total wreck. I pull her out from the booth.
"C'mon Tavi, we can get off the train. Let's go" I whisper to the exusted looking mare.
"O...kay" She slowly scoots out of the booth and instantly leans on my shoulder for support. We both walk out quietly and I see the pack of colts again.
Now is not the time. I swear if even 1 of them makes fun of Tavi it will be the last of them.
"Hey... Gray-ie" Said the colt with the messy mane
"You're not lookin' so hot. Not that you did in the first place" he laughs as that comes out.
Did he jus- He did. Oho, he's going to regret everything he said to us.
"Know what buddy, just buck off. You think you're so cool because you can talk to us like that. Who are you anyways?!"
I say furiously, holding back of course.
"Names' Archon" He said extending a hoof "And you're right, I'm sorry" The other colts stop laughing. They start whispering to him.
Anyhow, I still have Tavi on shoulder so I just give him a hoof bump
"I'm Vinyl, this is Ta- Octavia" I say to the group of colts
I almost introduced her as Tavi! That's my nickname, I don't need everypony calling her that at the camp.
"Anyhow, what are we waiting for?" I ask the group.
"The bus to the camp" Archon replies.
I guess he is the talker of the group. I haven't heard anyone else talk. Only whispers and laughs.
"ATTENTION RECRUITS. THE BUS SHALL BE ARRIVING SHORTLY. GET YOUR LUGGAGE READY" An incredibly loud voice yells over a speaker from above.
"COULD YOU GET ANY LOUDER?!" Archon yells at the speaker
"YES I CAN YOU BUCKING IDIOT!" The speaker says even louder. I like the pony behind the speaker. Seems like a funny colt.
After a few minutes the bus arrives. I hear Tavi let out a small groan. Poor thing, she's probably half dead and we aren't even to the camp yet!
I hear a horn in the distance. I look to my left and I see a gray and rusted bus barreling towards us with a dust cloud behind it.
After a minute or two, the bus stops at wherever we are. I just notices we are in the capital of No Where in the land of Lost. The colts gather into the bus and once again, Tavi and I are last in.
"HAHAHAHAW!" The driver laughs as we pass him.
Just ignore him Vinyl, and you'll be fine. I escort Tavi to the back again, she's starting to look normal again. I put in my earbuds again and start shuffle. Let's hope Tavi will make it through this time without my assistance...
About 10 minutes into the road trip I feel an earbud get pulled out.
"Um, Vinyl?" Tavi says quietly.
"Um, Tavi?" I respond.
"Do you think I'll-" She whispers the rest of her sentence too quiet.
"Do I think you'll what?"
"I said, do you think I'll-" Again with the quietness!
"Spit it out!"
"DoyouthinkI'llchickenoutandleave?" She gives me a stupid grin.
It takes me a moment to realize what she just said.
"Nope, I think you'll push through it!" I assured her.
Her fake grin goes to a real one. Don't ask how I can tell the difference.
I see a familiar face pop over the seat in front of us.
"Oh grea- I mean, Hey Archon!" I say to the head resting on the back of the seat.
"Hey Vinyl, hey Octavia" Tavi gives a small wave "I couldn't help but over hear your conversation"
"So you were evesdropping" I tell him.
"Yeah, sure, whatever. Anyways, I think that both of you will make it through" He says to us, then he gives us a grin and sits back down normally.
What got into this guy? The first minute you see him he's already makin' stupid jokes, the next he's all happy and reassuring. Possibly bipolar.
"See? Even he thinks you'll get through it" I whisper to Tavi, making sure Archon doesn't hear us again.
She stays silent, you can tell she's homesick already. She looks like this was the worst decision she has ever made. Then again, not like it's the best thing to do to yourself. I'll help her through it though. She may not be the toughest mare, but she always gives her best effort.
After about another hour, the bus comes to a screeching halt. Everyone stands up and slowly scoots from their seats into in isle.
"Man... We really need to sit near the front next time" I say to Octavia
"Mhmm"
After another 10 minutes we get to the front. As I'm turning to go out the door I feel the driver spank my flank.
"OH BUCK NO!" I turn around and smack him into next week.
"Uggh..." He rubs his cheek.
Who even does that? Even if we are mares! I step out onto the packed dirt path.
"Woah" Me and Octavia say in sync. This place was huge.
"Vinyl, if you're going then I'm coming too." My best friend stated as she closes her suitcase.
"Alright. Whatever you say." I tell her as I make myself a quick bite to eat.
So I guess this is the part where I tell you about myself and what I'm doing.
The name is Scratch, Vinyl Scratch. And that's my best friend, yeah, the gray one over there. Her name is Octavia, I call her Tavi. Sounds better to me. Anyways, the pegasi have gone rogue against Equestria. They want to rule it, take over Celestias' throne. Tavi, now I guess, and I are heading out to boot camp to train for war. Yeah, it does mean leaving everything behind. Friends and family. Good food. Home. But it's the right thing to do. Plus I think it would be a great experience.
"Okay Vinyl! I'm ready!" Octavia yells from the other room.
"Then let's go" I say. The gray mare comes out on command.
We head to the train station, where we find other ponies going to train. As we step up on the porch of the station, I hear some snickering and held back laughter. I should have figured we would be laughed at. 2 mares going to boot camp for war? How pathetic.
"Hey fellas! What's so funny?" I say over to the group of colts.
"No offense, but you do know this is the train to the camp right?" says one colt. His mane is messy. Looks like it has never been groomed. Just like mine. But instead of cyan and blue, his mane is red and black. Strange. Oh well.
"Yeah, actually! We do know this is our right train" I say to him not wanting to cause a fight. I hear Octavia with a quiet voice behind me.
"M-Maybe we should wait for the next train Vinyl... I don't like these guys" She says sheepishly.
"Nah, We are good" I whisper back.
The colts start laughing again. What tools. Just because we are mares doesn't mean we can't fight.
After an hour or two, the train finally comes.
"Finally! My hooves are getting tired!" Exclaims Octavia.
It just makes the colts laugh again as they board the train. Who do they think they are? We are just minding our own business and they decide to but in. As Tavi would say. HOW RUDE!
