Life Among the Wires.

Me and my mom stared at each other for a minute. I could tell she was happy to see me, but she seemed hesitant. She kept a distance from me for some reason. However I didn’t want to dig into it.

“Mom you alright?” I ask.

“It’s...just been so long.” She replied.

“It has only been four years I’m sure you and him are doing fine without me.” I said bluntly. “On top of that where is he. I’m surprised he’s not with you this time of day.”

“He’s busy at work. You know him big guy and all that.” She said with a smile.

“I still don’t see why you stay with him.” I said trying to tug at her emotions a bit. There’s a reason why I’m trying.

“He’s nice when you're not around.” She replied.

“Cause he sees me as a sorry excuse for a son as I see him as a sorry excuse for a father.” I said sternly. I wasn’t holding back at all. Not even to my own mother.

“You know he loved you.” She said.

“If he loved me so much why did he treat me like trash?” I asked. “Why did he break all my inventions? Why didn’t you step in and stop him? Are you just to scared of him? Why didn’t you just give up on him after YOU SAW him treat me the way he did?” At this point I didn’t know what I was doing. I was literally trying to get her to her breaking point.

“Tech please calm down. He did all that stuff to toughen you up.” She replied.

“Are you serious?!?” I said with disbelief. “That’s what you believe seriously? Come on mother you know what he did to me in the past was wrong yet you take his side seriously. He’s nothing but a perfectionist. If something isn’t perfect he breaks it. Just like he broke me.” I seriously don’t know what’s wrong with me here.

“Tech I’m not on anyponies side here.” She replied. “I don’t enjoy what he did to you but lets be honest what could I have done? You know how powerful your father is.”

“I do...but it wouldn’t hurt if you at least tried.” I said.

“If you think I didn’t talk to him about it when you weren’t around think twice.” She said with a smile.

“I had a feeling you said something.” I said. “I’m telling you though you shouldn’t be with him anymore.”

“Tech it’s my life-” I interrupt her.

“And just like wires in a machine I run it. I know you taught me that.” I said.

“And you always liked that saying.” She smiled.

“Indeed I did.” I smiled with her.

“By the way why are you at a hospital?” She asked.

“Oh I just helped a friend with her friend. No big deal really.” I said.

“No big deal huh?” She said with a smirk.

“That fortune teller was right though.” I said knowing what she was smirking about. “A disaster did happen and I did survive.”

“You still remembered that’s sweet.” She said.

“I told you I would tell you if it happened.” I smiled.

“Indeed you did.” She smiled with me. “Now out of curiosity, who’s your friend?”

“Well three actually. Vinyl Scratch, Octavia Melody, and Aeon.” I replied.

“You know Octavia and Vinyl?” She asked.

“Like there music I assume?” I counter ask.

“Yes they're great musicians.” She said in excitement.

I chuckled at her excitement. My mother hasn’t changed a bit. Though like I said I’m surprised he is not with her.

“You know I really do enjoy seeing families back together.” A voice said from behind me.

I turned around. “Who are you?” I asked.

“Oh Tech didn’t you just meet with Luna about this.” The pony walked out from the shadows.

“Gransion!” I said in shock. “You're right out in the open you do realize that the princesses are on a search for you right?”

“I do indeed. However I won’t be here long.” He said.

“What do you want?” I questioned.

“The rock in your pocket.” He said quickly.

“Why do you need it?” I asked.

“Enough of the questions.” A red thread shot out of his back and wrapped around my hooves hanging me upside down in mid air. He slowly started walking toward me. “I’ll be taking what’s mine now.”

I was struggling to break free then my mother jumped in the way. “Mom what are you doing?!?” I asked in shock.

“You’re not laying a hoof on my son whoever you are.” She said standing her ground.

“Now see he has something that’s mine and right now you’re just collateral damage.” More threads came out of his back. Grabbing my mother and throwing her aside tied up. She hit a wall pretty hard. Maybe Aeon will come out.

My eyes widened. “I swear I will destroy you Gransion!” I said in anger.

“Ah ah ah. Lets not get angry Tech I just want what’s in your pocket.” He put his hoof in my pocket and pulled out my phone. “Whoops wrong thing.” He threw my phone over his head. He pulled out the thread and rock. “There it is just needed sometime to grow.”

I kept struggling trying to break free from his thread but I couldn’t. However he was close. “Hey Gransion.”

“Hmm?” He looked over to me.

“I got something else for you.” I threw my head back and then forth headbutting him in the chin as hard as I could. “I had two years on that phone contract.”

He jumped back a bit from the hit. “You know that actually hurt.” He wrapped a thread around my neck. “Just remember who has the power here.”

“I think that would be me.” A voice said from the right of me.

“And who might you be.” Me and Gransion both looked over. “Oh wait I know who you are.”

“Mr.Cell.” The pony said.

“Technic what are you doing here?” I asked my father.

“I came to see if your mother was here which she is.” He said. “And I can see you're hanging out.”

“Very funny, but you don’t stand a chance to him.” I said.

“You know your son is right.” Gransion said.

“Let me put it this way Gransion. One you messed with my wife. Two now you're messing with my son. Three you broke my son’s phone and that is just messed up.” My father said which put me in shock. I thought he never liked me. “Now put him down and go back to your hole that you crawled out of.”

Gransion smirked. “Do you really think I would listen to you? You’re just another pony that’s it. I’m far more powerful too much for even you to han-” My dad rushed at him and punched him, his thread released me and I fell to the ground.

I got to my hooves and looked toward my dad. “I thought you hated me.”

“What made you think that?” He asked which confused me.

“All the things you did in my past.” I replied.

“I was under a lot of stress and my perfectionist ways made me act like that.” He said. “You try running a business in a high economy while trying to take care of you and your mother without stressing about certain bills, having to worry about possibly getting shut down every day, and worry about a family that looks up to you.”

“Touche.” I said. “But you didn’t have to break my things.”

“Well I’m sorry.” He said with sincerement.

“Apology accepted for now.” We both looked over to Gransion. “Nice punch by the way.”

“Thanks lifting heavy machines everyday really pulls off some muscle.” My dad said.

“You two are cute.” Gransion said getting up with not a scratch. “I got what I needed so I’m leaving.” He teleported away. The capabilities of an alicorn lets him have magic to great.

“Coward.” My father said walking over to my mother.

Aeon came out of the hospital. “Tech you alright?”

“Why didn’t you come out sooner?” I asked.

“I froze up.” He said rubbing one of his arms. “I could feel his power it was unbelievable.”

“Mmm.” I look over to my dad untying my mom. I sighed and used my magic to untie her faster. “You’re welcome.”

My mother stood up. “Tech you alright?”

“Fine.” I said.

“You okay honey?” She asked.

“I’m fine as well.” My father replied.

Vinyl came out of the hospital. “Hey Tech…..what happened?” She asked after realizing the minor damage.

“Stuff Vinyl it’s fine. Anyways Vinyl this is my mother and father.” I introduced her.

“Your father huh.” She started walking toward him about to beat him up.

“Whoa whoa Vinyl wait.” I was holding her back.

“Let me at him Tech I’m ready to kick his big fat flank!” Vinyl said.

“Vinyl calm down.” I said. “Father mother I’ll be seeing you some other time. You two head home, get some rest.”

“That was the idea, come on Love Wire.” My father helped my mother up and walked off.

“Dude why didn’t you unleash on him man you should've totally-” I put my hoof over Vinyls  mouth.

“Shhhhh Vinyl.” I said.

“Ummm that was a little creepy.” Vinyl said.

“I know now how’s Octavia?” I asked.

“She’s fine but there gonna keep her one more night.” She answered.

“Alright, Aeon.” Aeon came over. “Stay here and make sure Octavia stays safe.”

“Got ya buddy.” Aeon walked back in the hospital.

“They won’t leave him there overnight.” Vinyl said.

“Yes they will, he’s a doctor.” I followed up. “Now as for us lets go back to the hotel room.”

“Ummm dude you alright?” She asked.

“Yes fine, now come on Vinyl don’t want to be left behind do you.” I replied.

She listened and followed right behind me back to the hotel. The walk back was completely silent I wasn’t speaking, she wasn’t speaking. I didn’t understand the silence but it was nice to get some peace I guess. All though still stressful now that I know who I’m up against a bit it was still nice to have some relaxation. I opened the door to our hotel room and gestured for Vinyl to go in first.

I walked over to the window and looked out at the night sky. Vinyl crawled onto the bed and pulled out her phone. I looked over to her and smiled. I noticed I was acting weird after the small fight with Gransion and the small chat with both my parents. I’m not happy to see them but still what was I suppose to do? I can’t control where my parents live. Nor did I control this trip and now I’m here and pretty much ready to deal with anything.

“Tech you alright over there?” Vinyl asked.

I sighed. “Yeah..”

“Pressure getting to ya I assume.” She said.

“Sort of.” I replied.

We both went silent for a minute but she spoke up again. “Thanks…”

“For what?” I ask.

“For helping Octavia. Getting her out of all the stuff that happened...and thanks for helping me.” She said with a smile.

“No problem Vinyl...it’s what I do I guess.” I said.

She stood up from the bed and walked over to me. “Can you do me a favor man?”

“What’s that?” I asked.

She put her hoof on my shoulder. “Calm down.”

I chuckled. “I know.” We both smiled at each other.

She slid her hoof off of my shoulder. “Now lets get some sleep alright?”

“Yeah we should.” She walked to the bed and I walked to the couch.

“What are you doing?” She asked.

“Going to sleep?” I said confused.

“Not over there. Get your green flank over here.” She demanded.

“Vinyl I-” She interrupts me.

“No excuses over here now I know that couch isn’t comfortable.” She said.

I sighed and walked over to her. She laid down and I just stood there. “Vinyl I really should just sleep on the couch.”

“Lay down you flab biscuit jeez.” She said annoyed by me.

I facehoofed gently and just decided to lay next to her. I turned so my back was facing her. I didn’t understand why she wanted me to lay next to her all of the sudden but she did. I at least still had a window view. I always liked looking at the night sky. I smiled and slowly closed my eyes.

“Hey Tech?” Vinyl kept me from closing my eyes.

“Yes Vinyl?” I asked.

“You’re nervous right now aren’t you?” She asked.

“No Vinyl I’m not I just….I don’t know I normally sleep alone and that’s what I’m used to.” I replied.

“Okay just um makin sure.” She said.

I smirked without her looking. “You’re not nervous are you?” I asked.

“No I’m not.” She replied.

“I don’t know sorta sounds like it.” I said.

“Shut up dude.” She said and flipped facing me.

“Like I said before we got on the train don’t look at me to long you might go blind.” I said with a chuckle.

“Yeah yeah whatever.” She said chuckling with me.

I turned facing her. “Thank you Vinyl.”

“What why am I getting a thanks?” She asked.

“If I never came on this trip I would of never been able to make amends with my parents and trust me I didn’t plan to. Also this trip was starting out fun until Gransion ruined it.” I said.

“Yeah it was pretty fun up to the train crash. I’m just glad we survived.” She smiled.

“Indeed, but the other ponies I don’t know what happened to them.” I said.

“We’ll get em back no worries man.” She looked to my eyes.

“Indeed we will.” I smiled looking at her.

“I….ah don’t fight it.” She said while she hugged me.

“Vinyl why are you-” She interrupts me.

“Just sh and accept it.” She said.

I shrugged and hugged her back. “You’re scared aren’t you?”

“A little. After seeing what happened to Octavia and all those ponies I think my mind is now finally realizing this is bad.”  She said holding me a bit tighter. “And you’ve been saving her and me for a while so now I just feel like...I need you.”

I smiled. “Don’t worry Vinyl I’ll be there for you.”

“That spawns another question why do you protect me so much?” She asked.

“I...you know I don’t even have an answer to that my mind just does it out of instinct.” I replied.

“Well whatever thanks man.” She buried her head into my chest a bit. “You don’t mind that I’m doing this do you?”

“No it’s fine.” I said. “Now lets get some sleep alright?”

“Alright good night Tech.” She said closing her eyes.

“Good night Vinyl.” I smiled and closed my eyes.