Silver Spoon on the Moon, and Other Short Storiesby ocalhounChaptersSilver Spoon on the MoonVinyl Scratch Meets Her MatchSayonara, Diamond TiaraDoesn't Matter. He's Silver PlatterLickety Split Doesn't Give a _____Arpeggio in the Worst Case ScenarioApple Tarts With Lemon HeartsBeing Mean to Ruby SheenBe Brave, Bella RaveBella & Vinyl (pre-story)Bella, Vinyl, & Lemon (post story)Silver Spoon on the MoonAs I climbed my way down the ladder, preparing my speech, I noticed something white flying over my helmet. “Hey, what are you--” Silver Spoon landed on all four hooves at once. “Ha! First on the moon!” With a heavy sigh, I took the last two steps down, the long-practiced speech fading away. “Really, Silver? Really? Did you have to do that?” “You bet I did.” She began bouncing away, “Now, are you going to help me with the experiments or not?” “Just why do you have to be like that?” She smirked at me. “I don't play second fiddle any more. I don't let anyone run my life.” “Except...” “Don't you dare! Don't you even dare!” “Still, it does kinda seem like--” She stalked away, her hooves kicking up little clouds of lunar dust. “I'm unplugging your air hose when you sleep tonight,” her voice whispered over the grainy radio. “Silver, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to--” She whirled around. “Well, then you shouldn't have!” Her lips trembled. “What my dad does is between him and me, and nopony else!” I rolled my eyes. “Don't you think you should do something, though?” “You don't know what I'm going through!” She stomped again. “Nopony does!” “Well, if you'd just tell somepony, maybe they would know.” “It's not that simple.” She shook her head and began walking off again. “You don't understand.” I ran after her. “Come on, can we just move past it?” “That's easy for you to say.” She gave me a sidelong glance as I caught up next to her. “Why don't you run away, leave him?” She shook her head. “He always finds me.” “Come on, Silver. You can talk to me here. We're on the moon for crying out loud. He can't find you here.” “He always finds me. He always finds out.” She ran, loping across the dusty craters. “Leave me alone!” A soft sob came over the comm, barely discernible, “...leave me alone.” Vinyl Scratch Meets Her Match“Hey, Vinyl, how's it been?” Vinyl Scratch peered at me over the edge of her turntables. She lifted her glasses off, letting her red eyes sparkle in the flashing lights. “You!” She leapt down, stalking toward me. “Hey, hey. It wasn't my fault! I was just going along with the crowd, I don't even know where those pineapples came from, and the duct tape was--” She wrapped her hooves around me, picking me up with a tight squeeze. “Where have you been? It's been forever!” Letting me go and falling back to four feet, she laughed. “I, uh... wait, you're not mad?” “Mad? Ha!” She threw her head back. “It'll take more than that to make me mad! I've only been to three raves crazier than that one, and two of those involved Pinkie Pie. It was awesome!” I giggled a little myself. “Really?” “You bet your ass it was awesome!” She slapped the ass in question for emphasis. “'Course, one of these days, you've got to bet your ass and lose it, so I can finally get a piece.” I rolled my eyes. “You know I don't swing that way, Vinyl.” “Not now you don't.” She smirked. “But if you've lost a bet, all bets are off!” I raised an eyebrow. “That doesn't even make sense.” Her smirk grew, and she took a step closer. “Don't pretend you've never thought about it.” “Vinyl, I--” She leaned forward and planted her lips on mine. “Vinyl!” Pulling away, I darted back. “What was that?” Sighing, she shook her head. “Okay, that was out of line. I'm sorry. I just get caught up in things sometimes, you know? And with the music, and I might have taken a few hits, and--” Rushing forward, I planted a kiss on her unsuspecting lips. Her eyes popped open wide, and she jerked back. I smirked back at her. “Consider yourself forgiven.” I twirled a key around my fingers. “Now, can we get to the reason I came by in the first place?” Her body went rigid and her ears perked as all of her attention zoomed into those keys. “You got it? Seriously?” Her jaw dropped open as her cheeks pulled up into a huge grin. “The whole thing?” “Well, it was going to be my apology for what happened earlier, but since that apparently won't be necessary...” “Give me that. Now!” She leapt for the keys. I pulled them away, only to see them yanked out of my hand with her magic. They floated over to her, enveloped in her silvery-blue aura. She held them right in front of her face, quietly squealing. “I can't believe you got the whole Riviera Suite! How'd you get that old geezer to part with it? Did he finally die?” “No.” I hung one hand on my hip and let a smug grin spread across my face. “I just have my ways.” Her eyes narrowed, barely visible behind her glasses. “You fucked him, didn't you?” My grin vanished. “What? No! … No. I'd never do that.” I shook my head. “I just explained to him why it was so important to you.” One black eyebrow slowly rose above the rims of her glasses. I glanced away. “And, well, maybe there were a few incriminating photos involved. Nothing serious.” The lights flashed as the music worked its way up to a crescendo of bass-filled vibrations. Vinyl glanced back up at the turntables. “Oh wubs! I've gotta get back at it -- the song's almost over! Be back in a flash!” Sayonara, Diamond TiaraI took one last look at her disgustingly pink face. “You need to go. Now.” She sneered. “Is that so?” Trotting away from the door, she stuck her nose into the air. “Well, I don't think so. I'm having a great time with all my friends.” I glanced around. Everyone else had already left the party after seeing what she'd done to Silver Spoon. “Riiight.” She turned back toward me and smirked. “Not that you would understand. You don't have any.” “I don't have any what?” I shook my head. “Friends.” I glared at her. “Out. Now.” She took her time, dipping another strawberry into the now-lonely chocolate fountain. “Oh, I don't think so. I like it here.” She bit into it slowly, making a show of savoring it. “This place is for me and my friends, and if I don't have any friends, then you can't be here.” She laughed, a cruel, mirthless sound. “No, no. It's not like that. I'm not your friend, but you are my friend. You see how that works?” I let my frown deepen as my eyes bored holes into her. She giggled, making my skin crawl. “Good, now, won't you be a dear and fetch me some more punch? It seems like it spilled all over a certain somepony, and now there's no more left.” I stalked toward her. “That is not how this works, and you can't treat my friends that way.” “Ooh! What are you going to do about it, go cry to your mommy?” She snickered. “Oh, wait. You can't, because she's been dead for--” I reached down and grabbed her by the mane and tail, yanking her roughly off of the ground. “Ouch! OW! Hey, you can't treat me like...” Taking advantage of my larger, stronger frame, I carried her to the front door. Fortunately for her, somepony had left it open, so she wouldn’t have to crash through it. “Hey, hey! HEY! Don't you dare even think about-- Aaah!” I tossed her out the front door, right into the dusty walkway, and I slammed the door closed behind her. Leaning against the closed door, listening to her muffled outrage, I shivered. If I ever had to meat that horrid little filly again, it would be too soon. Doesn't Matter. He's Silver PlatterAuthor's Note I confront Silver Platter about how he treats his daughter, Silver Spoon. G-rated, but with some extremely subtle innuendo. Doesn't Matter. He's Silver Platter I knocked on the big wooden door, watching the faint reflection of my hand in the dark, highly polished wood. Nothing happened. I knocked again, harder this time. The sound of approaching hoofsteps echoed dully from the hall behind. The door opened, revealing an elderly earth pony in a formal tuxedo. “May I help you, Sir?” “Ah, yes.” I smiled as warmly as I could manage. “I'm here to see Silver Platter.” The earth pony nodded. “I'll inform him.” I frowned as the heavy door shut back in my face, leaving me to stare at my reflection in the varnish. Cicadas buzzed in the background, and I wiped the thin sheen of sweat from my face. Glancing around at the huge homes neighboring this one, I couldn't help but feel out of place. Finally, without any sound from behind it, the door eased open again, gliding on its polished hinges. “Ah, Mister Ocalhoun, won't you come in?” Making a slight bow, I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. The cool air inside enveloped me in an almost shocking, yet refreshing cold. Even though his whole family was earth ponies, he'd obviously managed to obtain an air conditioning spell or two. A short hall led to an enormous room just inside. The polished stone floor gleamed and sparkled, and molding boards matching the deep shine of the door framed the pristine white walls. I followed Platter inside, lowering myself onto an overstuffed leather sofa as he gestured for me to sit. He sat in a recliner just across from me. Above him hung an enormous oil painting of an earth pony who shared his grey coat and shockingly white mane. It could only have been his father. “So nice of you to come, Ocalhoun. Can I offer you any refreshments?” he asked. “No, no.” I smiled. “I couldn't. I've just come from Penny Weather's, and I'm afraid I may have overindulged there.” “Of course. Of course.” He smiled back – a cold smile that never reached his eyes. “Did you happen to hear her daughter's singing? I must say she is exquisite, an absolute prodigy.” “I'm afraid not.” I shook my head. “She was away at the time.” I looked back up at him, meeting his frosty blue eyes. “But she's not who I came here to talk about.” The corner of his mouth twitched for a moment. Was he just grimacing about my grammatical faux pas of neglecting the word 'whom', or did he already know what I was getting at? He raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” I pursed my lips together, dreading his reaction. “I'm here to talk about your daughter.” He sat in silence for a moment, as his eyes narrowed. After a long pause, he jumped up to his feet. “Perhaps this conversation would be better suited to my office,” he said, the strain in his voice nearly breaking his civil tone. I nodded and rose to follow him. “Of course.” Leading me across the vast expanse of polished marble, he opened another solid wooden door, beckoning me inside. As soon as I stepped in, the heavy door slammed in place behind me, and the clear sound of a lock clicking into place followed. I gulped. He stepped around the wide mahogany desk and slipped into the big leather chair behind it, swiveling toward me. “Please, have a seat.” Remaining where I stood, I stared him down. His neutral face slowly sank into a deep frown. “Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?” “Your daughter.” “Ah, yes. Of course.” He nodded and smiled far too widely. “I do hope she hasn't been getting into any trouble.” “No, no. Nothing like that.” I glanced away. This was going to be difficult. “I'd like to talk about your relationship with her.” The smile melted away. “Yes?” I sighed. “Well, specifically, there have been some allegations of--” He shot up, slamming a hoof down on the desk hard enough to make the crystal paperweights rattle. “I have had enough of these vicious rumors! I would never do anything inappropriate to Silver Spoon!” I held my hands up. “Of course, of course. Still, I have to follow up on them.” He leaned in close to me. “You listen, and you listen well. I will not have my good name dragged through this kind of muck! I'll have you know, my wife is the best litigation lawyer in Ponyville, and slanderous statements will not be tolerated. Not in this office, not anywhere.” “Naturally.” I shrank back a little. “Still, I need to--” “You don't need to do anything. All you have is rumors. If you had any proof, you wouldn’t call them 'allegations'.” His eyes bored into me. “Now, who told you? Who's spreading rumors about me?” “I'm sorry, sir, but my sources are confidential.” Moments passed as he silently stared into my soul. “I really can't tell you.” I winced at the thought of what might happen to Silver Spoon if Platter decided the rumors must have started with her. He sneered. “Then you don't have anything else to say to me.” Waving at the door, he swiveled his chair away from me, hiding himself from me. “Good day, sir.” I heaved a deep sigh. “Goodbye.” Turning toward the door and reaching for the lock lever, I shook my head. This was going nowhere, and I wasn't helping anypony. Lickety Split Doesn't Give a _____Author's Note I confront Lickety Split about impregnating Bella Rave Lickety Split Doesn't Give a _____ Lickety Split nudged open my office door and peeked inside... without knocking, of course. “Um, you wanted to see me, Ocalhoun?” “Yes, yes. Please have a seat.” “Um, sure.” He stepped in, glancing around as he made his way to one of the chairs in front of my desk. The door slowly hissed closed on its own. “What's this about, anyway?” As soon as the door clicked shut, I let out a deep breath. “Do you know a young mare named Bella Rave?” His eyes lit up at the name, but he eased down into the seat calmly. “I think I may have met her once or twice.” I raised an eyebrow. “Right.” Shaking my head, I looked right into his eyes. “And you've kept in touch?” He shrugged, glancing away. “Not really.” “So, would it interest you to know that she was pregnant?” His eyes opened wide, but he didn't move a muscle. He didn't even breathe. “Well?” He shook himself. “Oh, well, yeah... um... that's great, right? Um, congratulations, and um... stuff, I guess.” I stared him down. “And did you know, you're the only stallion she's ever been with without using protection?” What little that was left of his false smile vanished. He leaned back into the chair. “Hey, I don't know nothin' about that! We didn't even really do it, I mean, that doesn't count! I didn't even come inside, er, I mean, I've never done anything with her!” “Relax.” I held my hands up. “You're not being punished for anything. This is merely informative.” “It's just her word against mine, man! You can't prove I did anything to--” He shook his head. “Um, what was that?” “Yes, this meeting is just to inform you about the situation, so you can take care of any responsibilities you may have incurred.” He crossed his hooves in front of his wide chest. “She knew what she was getting into. It's not my problem.” “It's your foal.” I put my hands down on the desk. “It is your problem.” “So what?” He rolled his eyes. “She only went with me because I was there. She would have jumped on any stallion around. That doesn't mean I'm responsible for it.” “But it was you, and now she's having a baby.” “Well good for her.” He blew a wayward hair of his mane away. “Doesn't involve me.” I just stared at him, arching my eyebrows. He glared back. “I don't have to take this crap! You know she can't get child support according to Equestrian law – I was drunk, so it's technically a rape! You've got nothin' on me!” My shoulders slumped. “Lickety, it's not about the law. It's about what's right.” He shook his head, waving a hoof at me. “You don't own me. Nopony can do that to me. I'm out of here!” He jumped up from the chair. “Lickety--” The door slammed as he stormed out. I sighed. It looked like Bella wasn't going to be getting any help from this direction. Arpeggio in the Worst Case ScenarioAuthor's Note I give Arpeggio some very bad news. Warning: may include some sad. (Arpeggio is Bella Rave's father, and he's a canon pony with a fanon name (look it up on MLP wiki). He works at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, though he lives in Ponyville with his family.) Arpeggio in the Worst Case Scenario The lock of the front door clicked, and Arpeggio stepped in through the sliver of light. His horn glinted white in the dim room, and the lights clicked on. He shook his black mane and unbuttoned the green tweed sweater from his chest. “Honey, I'm home.” No response came from the still, quiet house. The sounds of birds filtered in from outside. “Honey? Bella? Ruby? Anypony home?” He glanced around. “Huh. Where'd they go?” I took that as my invitation to butt in. I stepped around the corner, out of the still-dim hallway. “They've left you.” He stared at me, one eyebrow rising. “Gone? Gone where? Did Hearts take the kids to the spa again?” He huffed. “I told her it's too expensive for everypony to go all the time.” “No, Arpeggio, they've--” “Please, call me Peggo. All my friends do.” I glanced away. “I don't think you'll count me as a friend after what I have to tell you today.” The eyebrow arched higher. “Oh? And what's that?” “They've gone.” “Yeah, gone where?” “For good, Arpeggio. They've left you.” His mouth dropped open, and his ears drooped. “You mean--” “Yes.” His lips moved, but he didn't make a sound. His eyes grew wide around constricted pupils. “No!” He darted through the hallway, running all over the house. “That can't be! It's not right! She would have told me!” I stayed in my spot, leaning against the wall, watching him gallop through the house, looking everywhere. Finally, he walked back up to me, his academic clothing in shambles. He stared up at me, his lips trembling and his sides heaving. “You've been gone too much, Arpeggio. I'm sorry. Your wife left, taking Bella and Ruby with her.” He looked down at the ground, slowly shaking his head back and forth. “No. No, she wouldn't do that.” He looked up to me, his lips pursed together and his eyes pinched at the corners. “She...” I sighed. This wouldn't be easy. “She...” He fell to his haunches against the tiled floor. “She loved me.” “They asked me to tell you. I'm not supposed to say where they've gone, though.” “Why didn't she tell me?” He slammed a hoof into the floor. “I can change! I would have! I was only doing it for her.” I frowned. “Really, Arpeggio? Only for her? You spend weeks at a time away in Canterlot. You love to teach – it's your talent... but this job in Celestia's school is more about the prestige, isn't it?” “No!” He glared up at me, but his eyes softened as I met his gaze. “Yes,” he whispered. His face fell to the floor, quickly covered by his hooves. “I'm so stupid!” I smiled, stepping over to him and putting a hand on his back. “You want them back?” He looked up. “Of course!” “No matter what?” I smiled broadly at him. “Telling you wasn't the only task they gave me.” I took a scroll out of my pocket and handed it to him. “This is your resignation from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Sign it, and I'm allowed to tell you where your family is.” With his magic, he unraveled the scroll. I pulled a pen out and handed it to him. He stared at the scroll, biting his lower lip, and the pen lifted in his magical glow as well. Nothing moved in the silent room. He remained there, poised, the pen almost touching the paper. “Well, Peggo? What will it be?” Apple Tarts With Lemon HeartsAuthor's Note I have an uneventful conversation with Lemon Hearts Apple Tarts With Lemon Hearts “Hi, Lemon Hearts,” I said, stepping in the door. The smell of something sour and sweet hit me as soon as I set foot inside. She peeked around the corner from the kitchen. “Oh, you're early.” She glanced back. “If it wouldn't trouble you to, well...” “Need a hand?” I smiled. “Well, I'd say I needed a hoof, but never mind that.” She rushed back in, a blue wisp of her tail flipping around the corner as she turned. “Come on, then!” I set my basket down on the old dinner table as I made my way to the other side of the modest house. “Okay, what is it?” “You see those hot pads over there? Help me get the tray out of the oven – I've got to get the teapot.” I nodded and grabbed the pads. The teapot was already starting to hiss, slowly growing into a whistle. “Why didn't you just use your magic to take the tray out? You wouldn't even need hot pads.” “And ruin it? They won't be homestyle lemon snickerdoodles if they're touched by any magic.” I shook my head as I opened the oven. “What's not homestyle about magic?” The teapot carefully levitated in front of her, she shook her head. “It's an earth pony recipe.” She trotted off out of the kitchen as if that explained everything. I followed her as quickly as I could, eager to get the hot pan out of my hands before the heat of it seeped through the thin pads. I set it down next to my basket on the table. Lemon sniffed at my basket, the teapot seemingly forgotten, even as it hovered in her magic. “Oh, now what's this?” I put my hands on my hips. “Well, I might have picked up some treats of my own to share. These are genuine Apple Family apple tarts.” Her eyes went wide, but she poured a cup of tea for each of us calmly and quietly. “Please, then, do have a seat.” I looked down at my proffered seat and winced. A brown-striped ball of fur was planted right in the center of it. Stepping back, I turned to take the other, but it was too late, she had already plopped down into it. “Oh, is Messick there?” I glanced over at her. “What kind of a name is Messick for a cat, anyway?” At the sound of my voice, the cat lifted its head and looked at me. His eyes narrowed. “Just shoo him out of the way. He'll be fine.” Lemon used her magic to lift her teacup and take a sip. I grimaced. It would not be fine. My hands still bore scratches from the last time I tried to touch that cat. The cat's lips lifted into a snarl. “What are you waiting for? Go ahead.” I breathed deeply, moving my hand close, but being sure to keep it far enough away. “Go on, shoo!” I waved my hand at him. No response was forthcoming from the cat, except a slight raising of the fur on his back. I dared to move my hand closer. Big mistake. Like a brown lightning bolt, the cat's paw whipped out, his claws tearing into my hand. I tore my hand away, but it was too late. Four fresh scratches across the back of my hand slowly turned red. I grit my teeth. “Messick!” Lemon lifted the cat up and away from the chair in her magic. “I'm so sorry. He usually isn't like this.” I held my injured hand with my other. “It's no problem,” I lied. She smiled, bringing the cat over to her lap, where he purred and pawed at her legs. I glared at the cat. It smirked back. Still petting the cat, Lemon floated a plate over to me. “Go on, pick up a couple cookies before they get cold.” Being Mean to Ruby SheenAuthor's Note I confront Bella's brother about his bad influence in his sister. Some language and sexual references. Being Mean to Ruby Sheen “Ruby! Ru-by!” I slammed the door behind me. Where was that colt? I looked all around the big kitchen-cum-living room of the house's ground floor, but nopony was there. Had he left? Hanging out with Snips and Snails again? I caught a slight whiff of sour stench. Of course. Locked up in his room again, doing his thing. I shook my head. That colt was bad business, but I owed it to Bella to give him a talking to. I stormed up the stairs and down the hallway, right up to his door. Crudely suggestive drawings of mares and posters for second rate punk bands littered the outside of his door. I could smell the tang of burning locoweed wafting through the wide cracks around the door frame. I hammered on the door with my fist, right through the posters, making the old frame rattle. “Ruby, I know you're in there!” Nothing but a faint giggle came back from inside. “Ruby Sheen, I need to talk to you.” I slammed the door a few more times. In response, loud, angry music blared from inside, quickly increasing in volume. I grit my teeth. This wasn't working at all. I rattled the doorknob, shaking it back and forth, but I soon noticed that it moved a little too freely. Was it really not locked? I turned it. It clicked, and the door edged open. That was easy. Swinging the door open, I was assaulted by the blaring music from an oversized stereo on the right side of the room, even louder now that the door was open. A moment later, the smell hit me. The burning sour stench of locoweed didn't quite cover the stale sweat, dirty laundry, and overtones of spray-on deodorant. “Hey, hey!” Ruby rose up to a sitting position on his sloppy bed. “You can't do that! It's locked!” I raised an eyebrow. “Not so much.” He squinted at me, his bloodshot eyes narrowing to slits. “Bro, I don't even wanna–” “I am not one of your 'bros'. I'm here about what you did to your sister.” “Fuck.” His mouth curved into a frown as he flopped back down onto the bed. His eyes remained mostly closed, or were they closed entirely now? It was difficult to tell. I stalked over to the stereo, punching the biggest button I could find, and the blaring music suddenly cut away to a tense silence. Ruby rolled over in bed, turning his back to me. “What do you think you're getting her into? Do you even know what happened last night?” I stalked over close to him. “Do you even care about her at all? That junk you gave her could have killed her!” He just snorted and reached for the still-smoldering joint on the windowsill above his bed. I slapped it out of his hooves. “I think you've had enough of that for now.” That finally seemed to rouse him. He jumped up, frantically searching through his rumpled sheets. “Aw, shit man, where'd it go? Where'd it fuckin' go?” After flipping his pillow over, he finally found it, already blackening a spot on his sheets. “Fuckin' asshole!” Grabbing it up, he carefully put it back on the windowsill. “You trying to burn the fuckin' house down or something?” I rolled my eyes. He might have a point, but I wasn't in a reasonable mood. “You need to stop messing around with your sister. You're going to ruin her life!” “Well it's her Epona-damned choice, now isn't it? I just do what she wants me to.” “No.” I stepped even closer, looming over him. “You gave her that poison, you told her she should take it. You told her to go in the first place!” He jumped up, standing on his bed and meeting me nearly eye-to-eye, despite not being fully grown yet. “It's not my business what she does!” “Oh, it isn't is it?” I sneered at him. “Do you even know what she does? Did you know that last night, she had herself a three-way with a stallion and another mare right in the middle of the rave? Did you know she got pregnant?” His eyes opened wide, showing all of their redness. “What? Dude...” He flopped back down on the bed. “Lame.” “So, are you going to stop being a bad influence on her?” “Fuck that.” He shook his red mane out of his eyes. “It's not my fault she's too dumb to use a rubber. She's just got her feelings all fucked up after finding out about her real mom and shit.” I spun on my heel and stormed toward the door, shaking my head. It was useless arguing with this druggie, and I couldn't take the smell anymore. I turned to look over my shoulder at him. “Don't give her any drugs while she's pregnant.” “Fuck you.” “I mean it!” I slammed the door behind me. “If she gets any drugs while she's pregnant, it's coming out of your hide!” If he made any response, I didn't hear it as I stomped toward the stairs. There was nothing more I could do here. Be Brave, Bella RaveAuthor's Note Bella Rave comes to me for advice. Teen rated. This will be the last of my self-insert vignettes for this story. I'll be moving on to some character interactions. Be Brave, Bella Rave Hooves pounded on my door. Not a polite knock, but incessant, urgent hammering. Groaning, I lifted myself off of my favorite chair and made my way there. I leaned down to use the pony-level peephole. A young earth pony mare stood outside, hopping from hoof to hoof, unable to stand still. Her red mane swooshed back and forth as she fidgeted. It was Bella Rave, of course. Shaking my head, I pulled the door open. Bella rushed in without a word. I nudged the door shut and turned to her. “What's wrong? What happened? Why is your mane red now?” She bit her lip, glancing all around the room as she stomped a hoof. Eventually, she just whipped her head back toward me and pointed at nothing, her mouth gaping open. “That bad, huh?” I did my best to smile. “Well, come on, talk to me about it. Have a seat.” We sat down together on my big faux-leather couch, and she took the cushion farthest from my own. “Well?” Her silence stretched on, despite the strain I could see in her face. Finally, she let out an explosive sigh. “It's not fair!” I raised an eyebrow. “What's not?” “Everything!” She threw her hooves up in the air and growled. I shook my head. “Look, Bella, you've got to tell me what's wrong sometime.” “Oh, what's wrong? What's wrong? Everything's wrong, that's what!” She pounded a hoof into the soft cushions, pushing it deep into them. “You know I hate my mom! And... and... ugh!” “What's your mom have to do with this? Lemon Hearts was pretty nice.” She shook her head, her short mane flopping. “No, not her. My real mom.” “What about her?” “I found her.” She slumped down. I leaned in. “Really? What's she like?” Her face twisted into a scowl, and her eyes narrowed. “She's Vinyl Scratch.” For a moment, I was well and truly dumbfounded. “Vinyl? Really? ... Well, you love Vinyl, so that's good, right?” “NO!” The violence of her shout sent me reeling. “I hate her! She left me! She left me with nothing.” She slammed her hoof into the sofa again. “She doesn't care about me at all, so I don't care about her!” “But... you used to love her, right?” Bella glared at me. “Okay, so, not anymore. That sucks. So, what did you come here for? Why come to me?” She crashed down into the cushions, mumbling into them as she covered her head with her hooves. “What was that? I didn't quite catch it.” Peeking up at me from her prone position in the cushions, a tiny little remnant of her voice squeaked out, “You know medical stuff from back in your world, right?” “Medical stuff?” My eyebrow rose again. “What, are you sick?” “No.” “Um... your mom is?” She growled again. “Ugh! No! It's not like that at all!” In a tiny whisper, she continued, “Do you... do you know how to get rid of a baby?” “Get rid of a what?” “I... I...” She glanced away. “I'm pregnant.” “Oh.” I blinked. Twice. “Oh.” “So... so you know how to get rid of it?” I sighed. “Bella, that's... that's not something you want to do lightly. Who's the father?” “It's just some colt. It's not important.” She shook her head. “Lickety something I think. Doesn't matter.” I looked at her, staring down. “It does matter.” I looked up for a moment, hearing dogs bark in the distance, but it didn't seem to concern me. “And... I don't really know much about that, how to get rid of babies. I know people could do that pretty easily where I came from, but I don't know how. Why don't you just ask at the hospital?” She rolled her eyes. “I really need to tell you? I don't want word getting out, okay?” “You really think it's going to stay a secret?” “She can't find out!” “Who, Vinyl?” I cocked my head to the side. “Why not?” “Ugh!” Her face fell to the cushions again, but sideways, so she could still speak. “I did this whole thing to get back at her. To show her what a lousy mom she is. I can't let her know it backfired!” “Bella--” I put my hand on her shoulder “--you have to face up to it. You have to be brave. Can you do that for me?” She looked up at me, then glanced away. “Bella?” “Okay.” Bella & Vinyl (pre-story)Author's Note This is an exercise in writing Vinyl and Bella's interactions as they stand before the story takes place. It should soon be followed by an exercise in writing the two of them after the story. The remainder of these vignettes will be similar to this one, usually coming in pairs of before/after story and focusing on the way two main characters interact. Bella & Vinyl (pre-story) Bella fidgeted in place. Her legs yearned to move to the beats thudding through the thick door ahead, the red glow sticks braided into her blue mane and tail swayed with her jittery movements, and her whole body surged with energy. The big brown earth pony stallion ahead of her looked down. The bouncer's frown slightly deepened. She froze... or at least she tried to. She hadn't waited through this entire line just to be kicked out before she got in. But she was at the head of the line, nothing but a bouncer and a felt-covered rope in between her and that heavy steel door. She was going to explode any minute now, she was sure. The door latch clicked. Booming bass flooded out through it. Two mares walked out, sweaty, breathing heavily, and brushing up against one another far more than necessary. As they staggered away, the stallion in front of her held the door open with a back hoof and leaned down to unhook the rope with his teeth. He jerked his head toward the door while looking at Bella. She couldn't breathe, frozen for a moment. It was finally time! Her paralysis didn't last long, though. With a jolt, she jumped forward, nearly making it through the dark doorway in one bound. A high, building trill of music greeted her as she passed the doorway, followed by an enormous blast of thrumming bass and flash of colored light just as she made it to the edge of the crowd. She jumped in wholeheartedly. All around her, ponies jumped and whirled, thrashing more or less to the pervasive beat that filled the room and slammed her ears. Fresh and full of energy, she kept up with the wildest of them. She'd been waiting for this all week, and it was her time to shine. Strobe lights shot out from the stage ahead, catching dozens of pegasus ponies in mid-flight above the crowd. On the rare occasions when Bella's feet stood still, she could feel the floor shaking from all the hooves pounding into it. The bass boomed out again, and the room lost any semblance of sanity. Bella shook her head wildly, feeling the glow sticks slap against her cheeks. Between the flashing bursts of light, the slight dizziness of her motions, and the crowd all whipping around her, she felt almost high. She hadn't taken anything, of course. She didn't touch that stuff... but in this place, with this crowd and this music, she didn't need to. Her wild kicking and jumping earned her a wide berth in the crowd, and she slowly worked her way forward. She wanted to be right under that stage. The coolest pony in Equestria, D-J Pon-3, would still be in the middle of her set, and Bella was determined to see her idol in action tonight. Finally, she made it to the front. The speaker boxes boomed painfully loud here, and the ponies around her moved in dizzying dances she could never hope to match. She spotted more than one dancing-related cutie mark among them. The important part, though, was that she finally had an unobstructed view of the stage. Right above her, D-J Pon-3 whipped the crowd into a frenzy behind a slim turntable held up only by her magic. One hoof pounded the air, her head thrashed so much it was a wonder her tinted glasses managed to stay in place, and behind the tables, her hips swayed and her tail waved – something Bella couldn't help finding alluring, despite how much older the mare was. The lights went out – all of them. Only the glowing accessories in the crowd lit them, and only the D-J's glowing horn lit the stage. The last beat of the music slowly died away. For one brief moment, silence ruled. An explosion of bass ripped through the building; the lights flared back on in a kaleidoscope of flashing colors. The stillness shattered into blissful motion that grabbed Bella along and made her move almost against her will. It pounded again and again, harder every time, until finally, when it could build no more, the music's thundering crescendo faded away. Still enveloped in a light blue magical glow, the turntables floated away backstage. D-J Pon-3 shook her mane out and wiped her brow with a hoof. “I love you, Ponyville!” she yelled out. The crowd screamed; their response was overwhelming. “But I've gotta go.” The crowd quieted... slightly. “'Cause it's time for somebody really special to take over!” The crowd exploded again, but her magically amplified voice cut above all of it. “He's been off stage for a thousand years, but he's finally back to turn your world upside down! Give – it – up for the master of disaster, Diiis-cord!” Instantly, the draconequus appeared onstage, along with a huge array of complicated-looking electronic equipment. With an explosion of sound, all the speakers on the stage shot out huge flares of fire and sparks. The sparks sailed out into the crowd, attaching themselves to ponies. Some of them landed on Bella. They didn't burn, but they stuck to her coat, and they kept glowing in all the colors of the rainbow long after they should have died out. The crowd screamed even louder as two notes that had no business being together steadily rose from the stage – Discord living up to his name with a disharmonious, screeching buildup to what would surely be a set worth waiting a thousand years for... but Bella's eyes stayed on her idol. D-J Pon-3 quietly stepped off the back of the stage, unnoticed by most. Just before she disappeared, though, she lifted her glasses and looked directly at Bella, making eye contact. Bella's jaw dropped. Had that really just happened? Her idol winked at her and nodded toward the small door next to the back of the stage. Her meaning was unmistakeable. Wide-eyed, Bella watched that magnificent, bouncing white rump disappear into the door. She stood and blinked for a moment, oblivious to the party still raving around her. Had she just imagined that? No... it was definitely real. She shook her head. She had to go! This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet her hero... and maybe more than just meet. She bit her lip slightly. Sure, she already had a marefriend, and sure, that would be cheating... but Silver Spoon would understand, right? Silver wouldn't want her to miss an opportunity as awesome as this! She couldn't miss this, not for anything. She rushed forward, through the writhing crowd and around the side of the stage. The little black door in front of her was closed, and when she tried the knob, it turned out to be locked as well. She reached up a hoof and knocked on it, hoping she hadn't misunderstood something. As soon as Bella's last knock died away, the door clicked open, and D-J Pon-3's face peeked out. “Oh, hey, I hoped you'd come!” She turned and went further inside, letting the door swing open. Bella stared at the open doorway. “You comin'?” Vinyl glanced back over back, pausing with her lovely ass poised. Bella shook herself and rushed inside. “Close the door behind you. There's all kinds of crazies out there.” As soon as she'd shut the door, Bella turned back around. The room was small and dim, with a few ponies lounging around on very comfortable-looking chairs. Most of them had various drinks next to them. “I saw you out there,” D-J Pon-3 said, trotting back over to her, “and I've gotta say, I was impressed.” Bella blinked. “What? Really?” “Hell yeah, kiddo!” The D-J laughed. “Oh, can I get you a drink? We've got just about–” She froze. “Oh, wait, you're still underage, aren't you? Never mind.” Bella turned to look at her. “Wait... how did you–” “Anyway, I should probably introduce you to these guys.” She waved a hoof around the room slowly. “That's Wingbeatz and her tech guy... that's Nightmare Remix...” A black stallion in the corner nodded, making his blue helmet shake slightly. “...Those two are the Flare brothers, neck deep in the mini-bar, as usual.” She rolled her eyes, barely visible behind her glasses. “Hey, leave some for me, guys!” Two unicorn heads popped up above the little bar on the far side of the room. “We saved you that vodka twist stuff you like,” they said in unison. “Good.” She grinned, bouncing her head to an unheard beat. “Discord's out there on stage now, and... oh yeah! She pointed behind Bella, at a yellow mare next to the door. “That's the stage manager, Keynote. She makes sure we go out there on time and that we don't get too wasted before we do.” She giggled – a strained, slightly screeching giggle that nonetheless warmed Bella's heart. “You'll keep an eye on the Flare brothers, won't you?” Keynote just shrugged, holding a hoof up helplessly. Bella finally found her voice. “Woah... really, woah. It is so awesome to finally meet you guys. Especially you! I gotta tell you, I'm a huge Pon-3 fan! I came here just to–” “I'm not on stage!” D-J Pon-3 elbowed Bella in the ribs. “So don't use my stage name. Call me Vinyl.” It electrified Bella. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes bugged out. “Oh! Okay!” She spun in a circle. “I... oh wow. I can't even...” “Easy there. Let's get you sitting down.” Vinyl laughed, nudging Bella into one of the soft couches with a touch of magic. “There, that better?” Bella sat there, hyperventilating. “Yeah... better.” Her head spun. “Wow.” Vinyl jumped onto the couch next to her. “Yeah”– she shook her head –“I get that a lot.” “Seriously, though...” Bella sat up straighter, getting control of herself. “I'm a huge fan, and I've wanted to meet you for as long as I can remember! There's just something about how you work the crowd up there... it's special. Nopony else can do it! I go to every rave you're in if I can!” Vinyl laughed. “I bet you do.” “Ooh! Do you remember when I got your autograph in Fillydelphia? When you were doing that benefit for–” “I do actually.” Bella's jaw dropped again. “Really?” Vinyl grinned, leaning in close. “You had red and purple glow sticks that time.” Bella's eyes went wide. Vinyl Scratch, the D-J Pon-3, had noticed her! Suddenly, she realized how close Vinyl was. Her heart skipped a beat. Was this her chance? Could she really come back here and make out with her idol? … or maybe more? A wave of heat rushed through her, to her very core. She wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this for anything. Bella leaned in reaching a hoof up to wrap behind Vinyl's neck. She couldn’t look away from the vivid eyes behind those colored lenses, and their lips drew closer and closer. Vinyl jumped back, scooting halfway across the couch. “Woah, hey! What was that?” Bella's heart skipped another beat. She froze, her hoof still up, still leaning toward her idol. Her lips twisted into a grimace. What had she done? She must have misunderstood things entirely, and now she'd blown it, big-time. “I... I didn't mean to... Oh shit... I, um...” Vinyl smiled. “It's okay, kid. Just... ew... don't try anything like that again, okay?” “I'm really sorry, I didn't–” “Don't worry.” Vinyl waved a hoof at her. “There's nothing wrong with you. I just don't swing that way.” One of the stallions behind the bar poked his head up. “What? You don't swing that way? Since when?” Vinyl pounded a hoof into the sofa. “Shut it, Flare-boy!” “It's Flare-Joy.” The stallion's eyes narrowed, but he ducked back down behind the bar again. “Two minute warning!” Keynote shouted from next to the door, making everypony's head turn toward her. “Nightmare, Vinyl, your combo is up next!” Vinyl lowered her head, pouting. “Ugh... fine.” As Nightmare Remix rose from his chair in the corner, leaving his drink behind, she shook her head. “Keynote's right, though. No crowd can handle too much of Discord all at once. I've gotta go get my deck ready, kid, but hang around after the show. This is my last set tonight, and I want to see you again, okay?” Vinyl Scratch wanted to see her again? Bella nearly fell off the couch. “Uh... okay,” was all she could manage. Vinyl grinned, winking behind her glasses before she turned and left. “See ya around, kid.” Bella, Vinyl, & Lemon (post story)Author's Note This is a short sketch of Bella Rave, her adoptive mother, Lemon Hearts, and her biological mother, Vinyl Scratch (and Bella's baby, Heart Crave) after all the events of the story are over. This is my favorite vignette yet, and I think that even though I planned to end the story before Crave was born, I might have to include a version of this scene as an epilogue, because it is just too much fun! ^.^ Enjoy! Bella, Vinyl, & Lemon (post story) Bella shot up out of the water with a huge splash, nearly showering the shore of the pond in her exuberance. “Peek-a-boo!” Sitting safely on a towel out of the spray, her baby giggled. Lemon Hearts gasped. “Bella! How could you?” She leapt up from her plastic lounge chair and charged right up to the water – she stopped there, of course. The look on her face might have been appropriate if the baby had been screaming. Bella treaded water placidly. “How could I what?” “Just look at Crave!” She thrust a hoof toward the baby. “Just look at him!” She did – he rolled back and forth on the soft towel. “Um, mom, he looks fine.” Her mother threw both hooves into the air. “You could have splashed him!” “Um... Mom, I think that wouldn’t be–” “Are you ponies ready for this?” Vinyl's voice squeaked, accompanied by the clattering of hooves. Both Bella Rave and Lemon Hearts paused, looking up at the rock overhanging the pond with wide eyes. “CANNONBALL!” A bright ball of white unicorn flew from the top of the rock, trailing a soggy blue tail behind. She hit the surface before anypony else could react, sending an enormous splash outward through the small pond. Water splashed everywhere. A wave washed over Bella, Lemon ran for the illusionary safety of a nearby tree, and Heart Crave's beach-side towel was soaked. Both Bella and Lemon turned to stare at the baby, aghast. He sat entirely still, his red mane soaked, now laying slick against him. He blinked repeatedly, as if trying to process what had just happened to him. Vinyl' head popped out of the water. “So, kiddo, on a scale of five to ten, how cool was that?” Crave giggled and clapped his little hooves together. He squealed. “I'll take that to mean eleven!” Vinyl laughed at herself. “Ugh!” Lemon came stomping back to the shore, once again stopping short of getting her hooves wet. “The two of you! This is no way to behave in front of the baby!” “Five to ten?” Bella gave her 'other mother' a sidelong glance. Vinyl smirked. “I've never been under six before. No need to complicate things.” She shook some water out of her mane. “Maybe we should head back, though. Lemon might have a point.” “What?” Bella splashed backward noisily. “What's got into you?” She paused for a moment. “Oh, I know!” “Don't. You. Dare.” Vinyl's eyes narrowed menacingly. “Don't even think it!” “Grandma must be feeling tired!” With a squeal, Bella dodged a halfhearted punch. Vinyl's punch met only water. “You take that back right now!” “Only if you can catch me, Granny!” Bella laughed, already swimming hard for shore. Vinyl wasn't far behind. Her red eyes accentuated the rage in her face nicely. Lemon Hearts watched the two of them run off into the distance, once again narrowly avoiding being splashed when they burst out of the water. She shook her head. “And here I thought I'd be getting help taking care of the kids.” She glanced over at the baby. “Looks like I just ended up adopting more... What are we going to do with those two, Crave?” The baby just sat and sucked on his hoof, rocking back and forth slightly. He didn't have any advice. All four ponies, Crave included, sat on the wide blanket on the dry side of the pond's shore, finishing the last of Lemon's snickerdoodles. Bella sat, squeezed between her two mothers, across from her little baby. “You know,” she said lazily, “that's one lucky kid.” “Lucky?” Vinyl winced. “He basically doesn't even have a dad.” Bella studiously ignored the dirty look Lemon shot in Vinyl's direction. “Yeah.” She smiled. “But he's got two really bad-ass grandmas!” “Bella! Language!” Lemon gave Bella the dirty look this time. “There's a baby present!” “Oh, come on.” Bella waved a hoof dismissively and ran it through her mane. The blue roots were showing pretty strongly behind the red-dyed section now. “It's not like he's going to remember any of this when he grows up.” Vinyl laughed. “Still, wouldn't it be killer if his first words were–” “Bad-ass!” Everypony stared at Crave. Lemon looked as if she'd seen a particularly revolting ghost. Vinyl covered her mouth with her hooves, ineffectively suppressing a raucous laugh. Bella chomped down on another cookie and grinned. “My kid is gonna be awesome,” she said with her mouth still full.
Silver Spoon on the MoonAs I climbed my way down the ladder, preparing my speech, I noticed something white flying over my helmet. “Hey, what are you--” Silver Spoon landed on all four hooves at once. “Ha! First on the moon!” With a heavy sigh, I took the last two steps down, the long-practiced speech fading away. “Really, Silver? Really? Did you have to do that?” “You bet I did.” She began bouncing away, “Now, are you going to help me with the experiments or not?” “Just why do you have to be like that?” She smirked at me. “I don't play second fiddle any more. I don't let anyone run my life.” “Except...” “Don't you dare! Don't you even dare!” “Still, it does kinda seem like--” She stalked away, her hooves kicking up little clouds of lunar dust. “I'm unplugging your air hose when you sleep tonight,” her voice whispered over the grainy radio. “Silver, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to--” She whirled around. “Well, then you shouldn't have!” Her lips trembled. “What my dad does is between him and me, and nopony else!” I rolled my eyes. “Don't you think you should do something, though?” “You don't know what I'm going through!” She stomped again. “Nopony does!” “Well, if you'd just tell somepony, maybe they would know.” “It's not that simple.” She shook her head and began walking off again. “You don't understand.” I ran after her. “Come on, can we just move past it?” “That's easy for you to say.” She gave me a sidelong glance as I caught up next to her. “Why don't you run away, leave him?” She shook her head. “He always finds me.” “Come on, Silver. You can talk to me here. We're on the moon for crying out loud. He can't find you here.” “He always finds me. He always finds out.” She ran, loping across the dusty craters. “Leave me alone!” A soft sob came over the comm, barely discernible, “...leave me alone.”
Vinyl Scratch Meets Her Match“Hey, Vinyl, how's it been?” Vinyl Scratch peered at me over the edge of her turntables. She lifted her glasses off, letting her red eyes sparkle in the flashing lights. “You!” She leapt down, stalking toward me. “Hey, hey. It wasn't my fault! I was just going along with the crowd, I don't even know where those pineapples came from, and the duct tape was--” She wrapped her hooves around me, picking me up with a tight squeeze. “Where have you been? It's been forever!” Letting me go and falling back to four feet, she laughed. “I, uh... wait, you're not mad?” “Mad? Ha!” She threw her head back. “It'll take more than that to make me mad! I've only been to three raves crazier than that one, and two of those involved Pinkie Pie. It was awesome!” I giggled a little myself. “Really?” “You bet your ass it was awesome!” She slapped the ass in question for emphasis. “'Course, one of these days, you've got to bet your ass and lose it, so I can finally get a piece.” I rolled my eyes. “You know I don't swing that way, Vinyl.” “Not now you don't.” She smirked. “But if you've lost a bet, all bets are off!” I raised an eyebrow. “That doesn't even make sense.” Her smirk grew, and she took a step closer. “Don't pretend you've never thought about it.” “Vinyl, I--” She leaned forward and planted her lips on mine. “Vinyl!” Pulling away, I darted back. “What was that?” Sighing, she shook her head. “Okay, that was out of line. I'm sorry. I just get caught up in things sometimes, you know? And with the music, and I might have taken a few hits, and--” Rushing forward, I planted a kiss on her unsuspecting lips. Her eyes popped open wide, and she jerked back. I smirked back at her. “Consider yourself forgiven.” I twirled a key around my fingers. “Now, can we get to the reason I came by in the first place?” Her body went rigid and her ears perked as all of her attention zoomed into those keys. “You got it? Seriously?” Her jaw dropped open as her cheeks pulled up into a huge grin. “The whole thing?” “Well, it was going to be my apology for what happened earlier, but since that apparently won't be necessary...” “Give me that. Now!” She leapt for the keys. I pulled them away, only to see them yanked out of my hand with her magic. They floated over to her, enveloped in her silvery-blue aura. She held them right in front of her face, quietly squealing. “I can't believe you got the whole Riviera Suite! How'd you get that old geezer to part with it? Did he finally die?” “No.” I hung one hand on my hip and let a smug grin spread across my face. “I just have my ways.” Her eyes narrowed, barely visible behind her glasses. “You fucked him, didn't you?” My grin vanished. “What? No! … No. I'd never do that.” I shook my head. “I just explained to him why it was so important to you.” One black eyebrow slowly rose above the rims of her glasses. I glanced away. “And, well, maybe there were a few incriminating photos involved. Nothing serious.” The lights flashed as the music worked its way up to a crescendo of bass-filled vibrations. Vinyl glanced back up at the turntables. “Oh wubs! I've gotta get back at it -- the song's almost over! Be back in a flash!”
Sayonara, Diamond TiaraI took one last look at her disgustingly pink face. “You need to go. Now.” She sneered. “Is that so?” Trotting away from the door, she stuck her nose into the air. “Well, I don't think so. I'm having a great time with all my friends.” I glanced around. Everyone else had already left the party after seeing what she'd done to Silver Spoon. “Riiight.” She turned back toward me and smirked. “Not that you would understand. You don't have any.” “I don't have any what?” I shook my head. “Friends.” I glared at her. “Out. Now.” She took her time, dipping another strawberry into the now-lonely chocolate fountain. “Oh, I don't think so. I like it here.” She bit into it slowly, making a show of savoring it. “This place is for me and my friends, and if I don't have any friends, then you can't be here.” She laughed, a cruel, mirthless sound. “No, no. It's not like that. I'm not your friend, but you are my friend. You see how that works?” I let my frown deepen as my eyes bored holes into her. She giggled, making my skin crawl. “Good, now, won't you be a dear and fetch me some more punch? It seems like it spilled all over a certain somepony, and now there's no more left.” I stalked toward her. “That is not how this works, and you can't treat my friends that way.” “Ooh! What are you going to do about it, go cry to your mommy?” She snickered. “Oh, wait. You can't, because she's been dead for--” I reached down and grabbed her by the mane and tail, yanking her roughly off of the ground. “Ouch! OW! Hey, you can't treat me like...” Taking advantage of my larger, stronger frame, I carried her to the front door. Fortunately for her, somepony had left it open, so she wouldn’t have to crash through it. “Hey, hey! HEY! Don't you dare even think about-- Aaah!” I tossed her out the front door, right into the dusty walkway, and I slammed the door closed behind her. Leaning against the closed door, listening to her muffled outrage, I shivered. If I ever had to meat that horrid little filly again, it would be too soon.
Doesn't Matter. He's Silver PlatterAuthor's Note I confront Silver Platter about how he treats his daughter, Silver Spoon. G-rated, but with some extremely subtle innuendo. Doesn't Matter. He's Silver Platter I knocked on the big wooden door, watching the faint reflection of my hand in the dark, highly polished wood. Nothing happened. I knocked again, harder this time. The sound of approaching hoofsteps echoed dully from the hall behind. The door opened, revealing an elderly earth pony in a formal tuxedo. “May I help you, Sir?” “Ah, yes.” I smiled as warmly as I could manage. “I'm here to see Silver Platter.” The earth pony nodded. “I'll inform him.” I frowned as the heavy door shut back in my face, leaving me to stare at my reflection in the varnish. Cicadas buzzed in the background, and I wiped the thin sheen of sweat from my face. Glancing around at the huge homes neighboring this one, I couldn't help but feel out of place. Finally, without any sound from behind it, the door eased open again, gliding on its polished hinges. “Ah, Mister Ocalhoun, won't you come in?” Making a slight bow, I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. The cool air inside enveloped me in an almost shocking, yet refreshing cold. Even though his whole family was earth ponies, he'd obviously managed to obtain an air conditioning spell or two. A short hall led to an enormous room just inside. The polished stone floor gleamed and sparkled, and molding boards matching the deep shine of the door framed the pristine white walls. I followed Platter inside, lowering myself onto an overstuffed leather sofa as he gestured for me to sit. He sat in a recliner just across from me. Above him hung an enormous oil painting of an earth pony who shared his grey coat and shockingly white mane. It could only have been his father. “So nice of you to come, Ocalhoun. Can I offer you any refreshments?” he asked. “No, no.” I smiled. “I couldn't. I've just come from Penny Weather's, and I'm afraid I may have overindulged there.” “Of course. Of course.” He smiled back – a cold smile that never reached his eyes. “Did you happen to hear her daughter's singing? I must say she is exquisite, an absolute prodigy.” “I'm afraid not.” I shook my head. “She was away at the time.” I looked back up at him, meeting his frosty blue eyes. “But she's not who I came here to talk about.” The corner of his mouth twitched for a moment. Was he just grimacing about my grammatical faux pas of neglecting the word 'whom', or did he already know what I was getting at? He raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” I pursed my lips together, dreading his reaction. “I'm here to talk about your daughter.” He sat in silence for a moment, as his eyes narrowed. After a long pause, he jumped up to his feet. “Perhaps this conversation would be better suited to my office,” he said, the strain in his voice nearly breaking his civil tone. I nodded and rose to follow him. “Of course.” Leading me across the vast expanse of polished marble, he opened another solid wooden door, beckoning me inside. As soon as I stepped in, the heavy door slammed in place behind me, and the clear sound of a lock clicking into place followed. I gulped. He stepped around the wide mahogany desk and slipped into the big leather chair behind it, swiveling toward me. “Please, have a seat.” Remaining where I stood, I stared him down. His neutral face slowly sank into a deep frown. “Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?” “Your daughter.” “Ah, yes. Of course.” He nodded and smiled far too widely. “I do hope she hasn't been getting into any trouble.” “No, no. Nothing like that.” I glanced away. This was going to be difficult. “I'd like to talk about your relationship with her.” The smile melted away. “Yes?” I sighed. “Well, specifically, there have been some allegations of--” He shot up, slamming a hoof down on the desk hard enough to make the crystal paperweights rattle. “I have had enough of these vicious rumors! I would never do anything inappropriate to Silver Spoon!” I held my hands up. “Of course, of course. Still, I have to follow up on them.” He leaned in close to me. “You listen, and you listen well. I will not have my good name dragged through this kind of muck! I'll have you know, my wife is the best litigation lawyer in Ponyville, and slanderous statements will not be tolerated. Not in this office, not anywhere.” “Naturally.” I shrank back a little. “Still, I need to--” “You don't need to do anything. All you have is rumors. If you had any proof, you wouldn’t call them 'allegations'.” His eyes bored into me. “Now, who told you? Who's spreading rumors about me?” “I'm sorry, sir, but my sources are confidential.” Moments passed as he silently stared into my soul. “I really can't tell you.” I winced at the thought of what might happen to Silver Spoon if Platter decided the rumors must have started with her. He sneered. “Then you don't have anything else to say to me.” Waving at the door, he swiveled his chair away from me, hiding himself from me. “Good day, sir.” I heaved a deep sigh. “Goodbye.” Turning toward the door and reaching for the lock lever, I shook my head. This was going nowhere, and I wasn't helping anypony.
Lickety Split Doesn't Give a _____Author's Note I confront Lickety Split about impregnating Bella Rave Lickety Split Doesn't Give a _____ Lickety Split nudged open my office door and peeked inside... without knocking, of course. “Um, you wanted to see me, Ocalhoun?” “Yes, yes. Please have a seat.” “Um, sure.” He stepped in, glancing around as he made his way to one of the chairs in front of my desk. The door slowly hissed closed on its own. “What's this about, anyway?” As soon as the door clicked shut, I let out a deep breath. “Do you know a young mare named Bella Rave?” His eyes lit up at the name, but he eased down into the seat calmly. “I think I may have met her once or twice.” I raised an eyebrow. “Right.” Shaking my head, I looked right into his eyes. “And you've kept in touch?” He shrugged, glancing away. “Not really.” “So, would it interest you to know that she was pregnant?” His eyes opened wide, but he didn't move a muscle. He didn't even breathe. “Well?” He shook himself. “Oh, well, yeah... um... that's great, right? Um, congratulations, and um... stuff, I guess.” I stared him down. “And did you know, you're the only stallion she's ever been with without using protection?” What little that was left of his false smile vanished. He leaned back into the chair. “Hey, I don't know nothin' about that! We didn't even really do it, I mean, that doesn't count! I didn't even come inside, er, I mean, I've never done anything with her!” “Relax.” I held my hands up. “You're not being punished for anything. This is merely informative.” “It's just her word against mine, man! You can't prove I did anything to--” He shook his head. “Um, what was that?” “Yes, this meeting is just to inform you about the situation, so you can take care of any responsibilities you may have incurred.” He crossed his hooves in front of his wide chest. “She knew what she was getting into. It's not my problem.” “It's your foal.” I put my hands down on the desk. “It is your problem.” “So what?” He rolled his eyes. “She only went with me because I was there. She would have jumped on any stallion around. That doesn't mean I'm responsible for it.” “But it was you, and now she's having a baby.” “Well good for her.” He blew a wayward hair of his mane away. “Doesn't involve me.” I just stared at him, arching my eyebrows. He glared back. “I don't have to take this crap! You know she can't get child support according to Equestrian law – I was drunk, so it's technically a rape! You've got nothin' on me!” My shoulders slumped. “Lickety, it's not about the law. It's about what's right.” He shook his head, waving a hoof at me. “You don't own me. Nopony can do that to me. I'm out of here!” He jumped up from the chair. “Lickety--” The door slammed as he stormed out. I sighed. It looked like Bella wasn't going to be getting any help from this direction.
Arpeggio in the Worst Case ScenarioAuthor's Note I give Arpeggio some very bad news. Warning: may include some sad. (Arpeggio is Bella Rave's father, and he's a canon pony with a fanon name (look it up on MLP wiki). He works at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, though he lives in Ponyville with his family.) Arpeggio in the Worst Case Scenario The lock of the front door clicked, and Arpeggio stepped in through the sliver of light. His horn glinted white in the dim room, and the lights clicked on. He shook his black mane and unbuttoned the green tweed sweater from his chest. “Honey, I'm home.” No response came from the still, quiet house. The sounds of birds filtered in from outside. “Honey? Bella? Ruby? Anypony home?” He glanced around. “Huh. Where'd they go?” I took that as my invitation to butt in. I stepped around the corner, out of the still-dim hallway. “They've left you.” He stared at me, one eyebrow rising. “Gone? Gone where? Did Hearts take the kids to the spa again?” He huffed. “I told her it's too expensive for everypony to go all the time.” “No, Arpeggio, they've--” “Please, call me Peggo. All my friends do.” I glanced away. “I don't think you'll count me as a friend after what I have to tell you today.” The eyebrow arched higher. “Oh? And what's that?” “They've gone.” “Yeah, gone where?” “For good, Arpeggio. They've left you.” His mouth dropped open, and his ears drooped. “You mean--” “Yes.” His lips moved, but he didn't make a sound. His eyes grew wide around constricted pupils. “No!” He darted through the hallway, running all over the house. “That can't be! It's not right! She would have told me!” I stayed in my spot, leaning against the wall, watching him gallop through the house, looking everywhere. Finally, he walked back up to me, his academic clothing in shambles. He stared up at me, his lips trembling and his sides heaving. “You've been gone too much, Arpeggio. I'm sorry. Your wife left, taking Bella and Ruby with her.” He looked down at the ground, slowly shaking his head back and forth. “No. No, she wouldn't do that.” He looked up to me, his lips pursed together and his eyes pinched at the corners. “She...” I sighed. This wouldn't be easy. “She...” He fell to his haunches against the tiled floor. “She loved me.” “They asked me to tell you. I'm not supposed to say where they've gone, though.” “Why didn't she tell me?” He slammed a hoof into the floor. “I can change! I would have! I was only doing it for her.” I frowned. “Really, Arpeggio? Only for her? You spend weeks at a time away in Canterlot. You love to teach – it's your talent... but this job in Celestia's school is more about the prestige, isn't it?” “No!” He glared up at me, but his eyes softened as I met his gaze. “Yes,” he whispered. His face fell to the floor, quickly covered by his hooves. “I'm so stupid!” I smiled, stepping over to him and putting a hand on his back. “You want them back?” He looked up. “Of course!” “No matter what?” I smiled broadly at him. “Telling you wasn't the only task they gave me.” I took a scroll out of my pocket and handed it to him. “This is your resignation from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Sign it, and I'm allowed to tell you where your family is.” With his magic, he unraveled the scroll. I pulled a pen out and handed it to him. He stared at the scroll, biting his lower lip, and the pen lifted in his magical glow as well. Nothing moved in the silent room. He remained there, poised, the pen almost touching the paper. “Well, Peggo? What will it be?”
Apple Tarts With Lemon HeartsAuthor's Note I have an uneventful conversation with Lemon Hearts Apple Tarts With Lemon Hearts “Hi, Lemon Hearts,” I said, stepping in the door. The smell of something sour and sweet hit me as soon as I set foot inside. She peeked around the corner from the kitchen. “Oh, you're early.” She glanced back. “If it wouldn't trouble you to, well...” “Need a hand?” I smiled. “Well, I'd say I needed a hoof, but never mind that.” She rushed back in, a blue wisp of her tail flipping around the corner as she turned. “Come on, then!” I set my basket down on the old dinner table as I made my way to the other side of the modest house. “Okay, what is it?” “You see those hot pads over there? Help me get the tray out of the oven – I've got to get the teapot.” I nodded and grabbed the pads. The teapot was already starting to hiss, slowly growing into a whistle. “Why didn't you just use your magic to take the tray out? You wouldn't even need hot pads.” “And ruin it? They won't be homestyle lemon snickerdoodles if they're touched by any magic.” I shook my head as I opened the oven. “What's not homestyle about magic?” The teapot carefully levitated in front of her, she shook her head. “It's an earth pony recipe.” She trotted off out of the kitchen as if that explained everything. I followed her as quickly as I could, eager to get the hot pan out of my hands before the heat of it seeped through the thin pads. I set it down next to my basket on the table. Lemon sniffed at my basket, the teapot seemingly forgotten, even as it hovered in her magic. “Oh, now what's this?” I put my hands on my hips. “Well, I might have picked up some treats of my own to share. These are genuine Apple Family apple tarts.” Her eyes went wide, but she poured a cup of tea for each of us calmly and quietly. “Please, then, do have a seat.” I looked down at my proffered seat and winced. A brown-striped ball of fur was planted right in the center of it. Stepping back, I turned to take the other, but it was too late, she had already plopped down into it. “Oh, is Messick there?” I glanced over at her. “What kind of a name is Messick for a cat, anyway?” At the sound of my voice, the cat lifted its head and looked at me. His eyes narrowed. “Just shoo him out of the way. He'll be fine.” Lemon used her magic to lift her teacup and take a sip. I grimaced. It would not be fine. My hands still bore scratches from the last time I tried to touch that cat. The cat's lips lifted into a snarl. “What are you waiting for? Go ahead.” I breathed deeply, moving my hand close, but being sure to keep it far enough away. “Go on, shoo!” I waved my hand at him. No response was forthcoming from the cat, except a slight raising of the fur on his back. I dared to move my hand closer. Big mistake. Like a brown lightning bolt, the cat's paw whipped out, his claws tearing into my hand. I tore my hand away, but it was too late. Four fresh scratches across the back of my hand slowly turned red. I grit my teeth. “Messick!” Lemon lifted the cat up and away from the chair in her magic. “I'm so sorry. He usually isn't like this.” I held my injured hand with my other. “It's no problem,” I lied. She smiled, bringing the cat over to her lap, where he purred and pawed at her legs. I glared at the cat. It smirked back. Still petting the cat, Lemon floated a plate over to me. “Go on, pick up a couple cookies before they get cold.”
Being Mean to Ruby SheenAuthor's Note I confront Bella's brother about his bad influence in his sister. Some language and sexual references. Being Mean to Ruby Sheen “Ruby! Ru-by!” I slammed the door behind me. Where was that colt? I looked all around the big kitchen-cum-living room of the house's ground floor, but nopony was there. Had he left? Hanging out with Snips and Snails again? I caught a slight whiff of sour stench. Of course. Locked up in his room again, doing his thing. I shook my head. That colt was bad business, but I owed it to Bella to give him a talking to. I stormed up the stairs and down the hallway, right up to his door. Crudely suggestive drawings of mares and posters for second rate punk bands littered the outside of his door. I could smell the tang of burning locoweed wafting through the wide cracks around the door frame. I hammered on the door with my fist, right through the posters, making the old frame rattle. “Ruby, I know you're in there!” Nothing but a faint giggle came back from inside. “Ruby Sheen, I need to talk to you.” I slammed the door a few more times. In response, loud, angry music blared from inside, quickly increasing in volume. I grit my teeth. This wasn't working at all. I rattled the doorknob, shaking it back and forth, but I soon noticed that it moved a little too freely. Was it really not locked? I turned it. It clicked, and the door edged open. That was easy. Swinging the door open, I was assaulted by the blaring music from an oversized stereo on the right side of the room, even louder now that the door was open. A moment later, the smell hit me. The burning sour stench of locoweed didn't quite cover the stale sweat, dirty laundry, and overtones of spray-on deodorant. “Hey, hey!” Ruby rose up to a sitting position on his sloppy bed. “You can't do that! It's locked!” I raised an eyebrow. “Not so much.” He squinted at me, his bloodshot eyes narrowing to slits. “Bro, I don't even wanna–” “I am not one of your 'bros'. I'm here about what you did to your sister.” “Fuck.” His mouth curved into a frown as he flopped back down onto the bed. His eyes remained mostly closed, or were they closed entirely now? It was difficult to tell. I stalked over to the stereo, punching the biggest button I could find, and the blaring music suddenly cut away to a tense silence. Ruby rolled over in bed, turning his back to me. “What do you think you're getting her into? Do you even know what happened last night?” I stalked over close to him. “Do you even care about her at all? That junk you gave her could have killed her!” He just snorted and reached for the still-smoldering joint on the windowsill above his bed. I slapped it out of his hooves. “I think you've had enough of that for now.” That finally seemed to rouse him. He jumped up, frantically searching through his rumpled sheets. “Aw, shit man, where'd it go? Where'd it fuckin' go?” After flipping his pillow over, he finally found it, already blackening a spot on his sheets. “Fuckin' asshole!” Grabbing it up, he carefully put it back on the windowsill. “You trying to burn the fuckin' house down or something?” I rolled my eyes. He might have a point, but I wasn't in a reasonable mood. “You need to stop messing around with your sister. You're going to ruin her life!” “Well it's her Epona-damned choice, now isn't it? I just do what she wants me to.” “No.” I stepped even closer, looming over him. “You gave her that poison, you told her she should take it. You told her to go in the first place!” He jumped up, standing on his bed and meeting me nearly eye-to-eye, despite not being fully grown yet. “It's not my business what she does!” “Oh, it isn't is it?” I sneered at him. “Do you even know what she does? Did you know that last night, she had herself a three-way with a stallion and another mare right in the middle of the rave? Did you know she got pregnant?” His eyes opened wide, showing all of their redness. “What? Dude...” He flopped back down on the bed. “Lame.” “So, are you going to stop being a bad influence on her?” “Fuck that.” He shook his red mane out of his eyes. “It's not my fault she's too dumb to use a rubber. She's just got her feelings all fucked up after finding out about her real mom and shit.” I spun on my heel and stormed toward the door, shaking my head. It was useless arguing with this druggie, and I couldn't take the smell anymore. I turned to look over my shoulder at him. “Don't give her any drugs while she's pregnant.” “Fuck you.” “I mean it!” I slammed the door behind me. “If she gets any drugs while she's pregnant, it's coming out of your hide!” If he made any response, I didn't hear it as I stomped toward the stairs. There was nothing more I could do here.
Be Brave, Bella RaveAuthor's Note Bella Rave comes to me for advice. Teen rated. This will be the last of my self-insert vignettes for this story. I'll be moving on to some character interactions. Be Brave, Bella Rave Hooves pounded on my door. Not a polite knock, but incessant, urgent hammering. Groaning, I lifted myself off of my favorite chair and made my way there. I leaned down to use the pony-level peephole. A young earth pony mare stood outside, hopping from hoof to hoof, unable to stand still. Her red mane swooshed back and forth as she fidgeted. It was Bella Rave, of course. Shaking my head, I pulled the door open. Bella rushed in without a word. I nudged the door shut and turned to her. “What's wrong? What happened? Why is your mane red now?” She bit her lip, glancing all around the room as she stomped a hoof. Eventually, she just whipped her head back toward me and pointed at nothing, her mouth gaping open. “That bad, huh?” I did my best to smile. “Well, come on, talk to me about it. Have a seat.” We sat down together on my big faux-leather couch, and she took the cushion farthest from my own. “Well?” Her silence stretched on, despite the strain I could see in her face. Finally, she let out an explosive sigh. “It's not fair!” I raised an eyebrow. “What's not?” “Everything!” She threw her hooves up in the air and growled. I shook my head. “Look, Bella, you've got to tell me what's wrong sometime.” “Oh, what's wrong? What's wrong? Everything's wrong, that's what!” She pounded a hoof into the soft cushions, pushing it deep into them. “You know I hate my mom! And... and... ugh!” “What's your mom have to do with this? Lemon Hearts was pretty nice.” She shook her head, her short mane flopping. “No, not her. My real mom.” “What about her?” “I found her.” She slumped down. I leaned in. “Really? What's she like?” Her face twisted into a scowl, and her eyes narrowed. “She's Vinyl Scratch.” For a moment, I was well and truly dumbfounded. “Vinyl? Really? ... Well, you love Vinyl, so that's good, right?” “NO!” The violence of her shout sent me reeling. “I hate her! She left me! She left me with nothing.” She slammed her hoof into the sofa again. “She doesn't care about me at all, so I don't care about her!” “But... you used to love her, right?” Bella glared at me. “Okay, so, not anymore. That sucks. So, what did you come here for? Why come to me?” She crashed down into the cushions, mumbling into them as she covered her head with her hooves. “What was that? I didn't quite catch it.” Peeking up at me from her prone position in the cushions, a tiny little remnant of her voice squeaked out, “You know medical stuff from back in your world, right?” “Medical stuff?” My eyebrow rose again. “What, are you sick?” “No.” “Um... your mom is?” She growled again. “Ugh! No! It's not like that at all!” In a tiny whisper, she continued, “Do you... do you know how to get rid of a baby?” “Get rid of a what?” “I... I...” She glanced away. “I'm pregnant.” “Oh.” I blinked. Twice. “Oh.” “So... so you know how to get rid of it?” I sighed. “Bella, that's... that's not something you want to do lightly. Who's the father?” “It's just some colt. It's not important.” She shook her head. “Lickety something I think. Doesn't matter.” I looked at her, staring down. “It does matter.” I looked up for a moment, hearing dogs bark in the distance, but it didn't seem to concern me. “And... I don't really know much about that, how to get rid of babies. I know people could do that pretty easily where I came from, but I don't know how. Why don't you just ask at the hospital?” She rolled her eyes. “I really need to tell you? I don't want word getting out, okay?” “You really think it's going to stay a secret?” “She can't find out!” “Who, Vinyl?” I cocked my head to the side. “Why not?” “Ugh!” Her face fell to the cushions again, but sideways, so she could still speak. “I did this whole thing to get back at her. To show her what a lousy mom she is. I can't let her know it backfired!” “Bella--” I put my hand on her shoulder “--you have to face up to it. You have to be brave. Can you do that for me?” She looked up at me, then glanced away. “Bella?” “Okay.”
Bella & Vinyl (pre-story)Author's Note This is an exercise in writing Vinyl and Bella's interactions as they stand before the story takes place. It should soon be followed by an exercise in writing the two of them after the story. The remainder of these vignettes will be similar to this one, usually coming in pairs of before/after story and focusing on the way two main characters interact. Bella & Vinyl (pre-story) Bella fidgeted in place. Her legs yearned to move to the beats thudding through the thick door ahead, the red glow sticks braided into her blue mane and tail swayed with her jittery movements, and her whole body surged with energy. The big brown earth pony stallion ahead of her looked down. The bouncer's frown slightly deepened. She froze... or at least she tried to. She hadn't waited through this entire line just to be kicked out before she got in. But she was at the head of the line, nothing but a bouncer and a felt-covered rope in between her and that heavy steel door. She was going to explode any minute now, she was sure. The door latch clicked. Booming bass flooded out through it. Two mares walked out, sweaty, breathing heavily, and brushing up against one another far more than necessary. As they staggered away, the stallion in front of her held the door open with a back hoof and leaned down to unhook the rope with his teeth. He jerked his head toward the door while looking at Bella. She couldn't breathe, frozen for a moment. It was finally time! Her paralysis didn't last long, though. With a jolt, she jumped forward, nearly making it through the dark doorway in one bound. A high, building trill of music greeted her as she passed the doorway, followed by an enormous blast of thrumming bass and flash of colored light just as she made it to the edge of the crowd. She jumped in wholeheartedly. All around her, ponies jumped and whirled, thrashing more or less to the pervasive beat that filled the room and slammed her ears. Fresh and full of energy, she kept up with the wildest of them. She'd been waiting for this all week, and it was her time to shine. Strobe lights shot out from the stage ahead, catching dozens of pegasus ponies in mid-flight above the crowd. On the rare occasions when Bella's feet stood still, she could feel the floor shaking from all the hooves pounding into it. The bass boomed out again, and the room lost any semblance of sanity. Bella shook her head wildly, feeling the glow sticks slap against her cheeks. Between the flashing bursts of light, the slight dizziness of her motions, and the crowd all whipping around her, she felt almost high. She hadn't taken anything, of course. She didn't touch that stuff... but in this place, with this crowd and this music, she didn't need to. Her wild kicking and jumping earned her a wide berth in the crowd, and she slowly worked her way forward. She wanted to be right under that stage. The coolest pony in Equestria, D-J Pon-3, would still be in the middle of her set, and Bella was determined to see her idol in action tonight. Finally, she made it to the front. The speaker boxes boomed painfully loud here, and the ponies around her moved in dizzying dances she could never hope to match. She spotted more than one dancing-related cutie mark among them. The important part, though, was that she finally had an unobstructed view of the stage. Right above her, D-J Pon-3 whipped the crowd into a frenzy behind a slim turntable held up only by her magic. One hoof pounded the air, her head thrashed so much it was a wonder her tinted glasses managed to stay in place, and behind the tables, her hips swayed and her tail waved – something Bella couldn't help finding alluring, despite how much older the mare was. The lights went out – all of them. Only the glowing accessories in the crowd lit them, and only the D-J's glowing horn lit the stage. The last beat of the music slowly died away. For one brief moment, silence ruled. An explosion of bass ripped through the building; the lights flared back on in a kaleidoscope of flashing colors. The stillness shattered into blissful motion that grabbed Bella along and made her move almost against her will. It pounded again and again, harder every time, until finally, when it could build no more, the music's thundering crescendo faded away. Still enveloped in a light blue magical glow, the turntables floated away backstage. D-J Pon-3 shook her mane out and wiped her brow with a hoof. “I love you, Ponyville!” she yelled out. The crowd screamed; their response was overwhelming. “But I've gotta go.” The crowd quieted... slightly. “'Cause it's time for somebody really special to take over!” The crowd exploded again, but her magically amplified voice cut above all of it. “He's been off stage for a thousand years, but he's finally back to turn your world upside down! Give – it – up for the master of disaster, Diiis-cord!” Instantly, the draconequus appeared onstage, along with a huge array of complicated-looking electronic equipment. With an explosion of sound, all the speakers on the stage shot out huge flares of fire and sparks. The sparks sailed out into the crowd, attaching themselves to ponies. Some of them landed on Bella. They didn't burn, but they stuck to her coat, and they kept glowing in all the colors of the rainbow long after they should have died out. The crowd screamed even louder as two notes that had no business being together steadily rose from the stage – Discord living up to his name with a disharmonious, screeching buildup to what would surely be a set worth waiting a thousand years for... but Bella's eyes stayed on her idol. D-J Pon-3 quietly stepped off the back of the stage, unnoticed by most. Just before she disappeared, though, she lifted her glasses and looked directly at Bella, making eye contact. Bella's jaw dropped. Had that really just happened? Her idol winked at her and nodded toward the small door next to the back of the stage. Her meaning was unmistakeable. Wide-eyed, Bella watched that magnificent, bouncing white rump disappear into the door. She stood and blinked for a moment, oblivious to the party still raving around her. Had she just imagined that? No... it was definitely real. She shook her head. She had to go! This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet her hero... and maybe more than just meet. She bit her lip slightly. Sure, she already had a marefriend, and sure, that would be cheating... but Silver Spoon would understand, right? Silver wouldn't want her to miss an opportunity as awesome as this! She couldn't miss this, not for anything. She rushed forward, through the writhing crowd and around the side of the stage. The little black door in front of her was closed, and when she tried the knob, it turned out to be locked as well. She reached up a hoof and knocked on it, hoping she hadn't misunderstood something. As soon as Bella's last knock died away, the door clicked open, and D-J Pon-3's face peeked out. “Oh, hey, I hoped you'd come!” She turned and went further inside, letting the door swing open. Bella stared at the open doorway. “You comin'?” Vinyl glanced back over back, pausing with her lovely ass poised. Bella shook herself and rushed inside. “Close the door behind you. There's all kinds of crazies out there.” As soon as she'd shut the door, Bella turned back around. The room was small and dim, with a few ponies lounging around on very comfortable-looking chairs. Most of them had various drinks next to them. “I saw you out there,” D-J Pon-3 said, trotting back over to her, “and I've gotta say, I was impressed.” Bella blinked. “What? Really?” “Hell yeah, kiddo!” The D-J laughed. “Oh, can I get you a drink? We've got just about–” She froze. “Oh, wait, you're still underage, aren't you? Never mind.” Bella turned to look at her. “Wait... how did you–” “Anyway, I should probably introduce you to these guys.” She waved a hoof around the room slowly. “That's Wingbeatz and her tech guy... that's Nightmare Remix...” A black stallion in the corner nodded, making his blue helmet shake slightly. “...Those two are the Flare brothers, neck deep in the mini-bar, as usual.” She rolled her eyes, barely visible behind her glasses. “Hey, leave some for me, guys!” Two unicorn heads popped up above the little bar on the far side of the room. “We saved you that vodka twist stuff you like,” they said in unison. “Good.” She grinned, bouncing her head to an unheard beat. “Discord's out there on stage now, and... oh yeah! She pointed behind Bella, at a yellow mare next to the door. “That's the stage manager, Keynote. She makes sure we go out there on time and that we don't get too wasted before we do.” She giggled – a strained, slightly screeching giggle that nonetheless warmed Bella's heart. “You'll keep an eye on the Flare brothers, won't you?” Keynote just shrugged, holding a hoof up helplessly. Bella finally found her voice. “Woah... really, woah. It is so awesome to finally meet you guys. Especially you! I gotta tell you, I'm a huge Pon-3 fan! I came here just to–” “I'm not on stage!” D-J Pon-3 elbowed Bella in the ribs. “So don't use my stage name. Call me Vinyl.” It electrified Bella. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes bugged out. “Oh! Okay!” She spun in a circle. “I... oh wow. I can't even...” “Easy there. Let's get you sitting down.” Vinyl laughed, nudging Bella into one of the soft couches with a touch of magic. “There, that better?” Bella sat there, hyperventilating. “Yeah... better.” Her head spun. “Wow.” Vinyl jumped onto the couch next to her. “Yeah”– she shook her head –“I get that a lot.” “Seriously, though...” Bella sat up straighter, getting control of herself. “I'm a huge fan, and I've wanted to meet you for as long as I can remember! There's just something about how you work the crowd up there... it's special. Nopony else can do it! I go to every rave you're in if I can!” Vinyl laughed. “I bet you do.” “Ooh! Do you remember when I got your autograph in Fillydelphia? When you were doing that benefit for–” “I do actually.” Bella's jaw dropped again. “Really?” Vinyl grinned, leaning in close. “You had red and purple glow sticks that time.” Bella's eyes went wide. Vinyl Scratch, the D-J Pon-3, had noticed her! Suddenly, she realized how close Vinyl was. Her heart skipped a beat. Was this her chance? Could she really come back here and make out with her idol? … or maybe more? A wave of heat rushed through her, to her very core. She wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this for anything. Bella leaned in reaching a hoof up to wrap behind Vinyl's neck. She couldn’t look away from the vivid eyes behind those colored lenses, and their lips drew closer and closer. Vinyl jumped back, scooting halfway across the couch. “Woah, hey! What was that?” Bella's heart skipped another beat. She froze, her hoof still up, still leaning toward her idol. Her lips twisted into a grimace. What had she done? She must have misunderstood things entirely, and now she'd blown it, big-time. “I... I didn't mean to... Oh shit... I, um...” Vinyl smiled. “It's okay, kid. Just... ew... don't try anything like that again, okay?” “I'm really sorry, I didn't–” “Don't worry.” Vinyl waved a hoof at her. “There's nothing wrong with you. I just don't swing that way.” One of the stallions behind the bar poked his head up. “What? You don't swing that way? Since when?” Vinyl pounded a hoof into the sofa. “Shut it, Flare-boy!” “It's Flare-Joy.” The stallion's eyes narrowed, but he ducked back down behind the bar again. “Two minute warning!” Keynote shouted from next to the door, making everypony's head turn toward her. “Nightmare, Vinyl, your combo is up next!” Vinyl lowered her head, pouting. “Ugh... fine.” As Nightmare Remix rose from his chair in the corner, leaving his drink behind, she shook her head. “Keynote's right, though. No crowd can handle too much of Discord all at once. I've gotta go get my deck ready, kid, but hang around after the show. This is my last set tonight, and I want to see you again, okay?” Vinyl Scratch wanted to see her again? Bella nearly fell off the couch. “Uh... okay,” was all she could manage. Vinyl grinned, winking behind her glasses before she turned and left. “See ya around, kid.”
Bella, Vinyl, & Lemon (post story)Author's Note This is a short sketch of Bella Rave, her adoptive mother, Lemon Hearts, and her biological mother, Vinyl Scratch (and Bella's baby, Heart Crave) after all the events of the story are over. This is my favorite vignette yet, and I think that even though I planned to end the story before Crave was born, I might have to include a version of this scene as an epilogue, because it is just too much fun! ^.^ Enjoy! Bella, Vinyl, & Lemon (post story) Bella shot up out of the water with a huge splash, nearly showering the shore of the pond in her exuberance. “Peek-a-boo!” Sitting safely on a towel out of the spray, her baby giggled. Lemon Hearts gasped. “Bella! How could you?” She leapt up from her plastic lounge chair and charged right up to the water – she stopped there, of course. The look on her face might have been appropriate if the baby had been screaming. Bella treaded water placidly. “How could I what?” “Just look at Crave!” She thrust a hoof toward the baby. “Just look at him!” She did – he rolled back and forth on the soft towel. “Um, mom, he looks fine.” Her mother threw both hooves into the air. “You could have splashed him!” “Um... Mom, I think that wouldn’t be–” “Are you ponies ready for this?” Vinyl's voice squeaked, accompanied by the clattering of hooves. Both Bella Rave and Lemon Hearts paused, looking up at the rock overhanging the pond with wide eyes. “CANNONBALL!” A bright ball of white unicorn flew from the top of the rock, trailing a soggy blue tail behind. She hit the surface before anypony else could react, sending an enormous splash outward through the small pond. Water splashed everywhere. A wave washed over Bella, Lemon ran for the illusionary safety of a nearby tree, and Heart Crave's beach-side towel was soaked. Both Bella and Lemon turned to stare at the baby, aghast. He sat entirely still, his red mane soaked, now laying slick against him. He blinked repeatedly, as if trying to process what had just happened to him. Vinyl' head popped out of the water. “So, kiddo, on a scale of five to ten, how cool was that?” Crave giggled and clapped his little hooves together. He squealed. “I'll take that to mean eleven!” Vinyl laughed at herself. “Ugh!” Lemon came stomping back to the shore, once again stopping short of getting her hooves wet. “The two of you! This is no way to behave in front of the baby!” “Five to ten?” Bella gave her 'other mother' a sidelong glance. Vinyl smirked. “I've never been under six before. No need to complicate things.” She shook some water out of her mane. “Maybe we should head back, though. Lemon might have a point.” “What?” Bella splashed backward noisily. “What's got into you?” She paused for a moment. “Oh, I know!” “Don't. You. Dare.” Vinyl's eyes narrowed menacingly. “Don't even think it!” “Grandma must be feeling tired!” With a squeal, Bella dodged a halfhearted punch. Vinyl's punch met only water. “You take that back right now!” “Only if you can catch me, Granny!” Bella laughed, already swimming hard for shore. Vinyl wasn't far behind. Her red eyes accentuated the rage in her face nicely. Lemon Hearts watched the two of them run off into the distance, once again narrowly avoiding being splashed when they burst out of the water. She shook her head. “And here I thought I'd be getting help taking care of the kids.” She glanced over at the baby. “Looks like I just ended up adopting more... What are we going to do with those two, Crave?” The baby just sat and sucked on his hoof, rocking back and forth slightly. He didn't have any advice. All four ponies, Crave included, sat on the wide blanket on the dry side of the pond's shore, finishing the last of Lemon's snickerdoodles. Bella sat, squeezed between her two mothers, across from her little baby. “You know,” she said lazily, “that's one lucky kid.” “Lucky?” Vinyl winced. “He basically doesn't even have a dad.” Bella studiously ignored the dirty look Lemon shot in Vinyl's direction. “Yeah.” She smiled. “But he's got two really bad-ass grandmas!” “Bella! Language!” Lemon gave Bella the dirty look this time. “There's a baby present!” “Oh, come on.” Bella waved a hoof dismissively and ran it through her mane. The blue roots were showing pretty strongly behind the red-dyed section now. “It's not like he's going to remember any of this when he grows up.” Vinyl laughed. “Still, wouldn't it be killer if his first words were–” “Bad-ass!” Everypony stared at Crave. Lemon looked as if she'd seen a particularly revolting ghost. Vinyl covered her mouth with her hooves, ineffectively suppressing a raucous laugh. Bella chomped down on another cookie and grinned. “My kid is gonna be awesome,” she said with her mouth still full.
