The Vocational Death Cruise
Everything was going better than expected. Experience had taught the three fillies that this meant that everything was going to go downhill from this point on — or that at very least it was healthy to think so. That was saying a lot, though, considering who they were travelling with. It was best to simply ignore their champions completely while they try to just lose themselves to the gentle waves of the sea: even Sweetie Belle wasn't feeling nauseous or anything silly like that in today's weather.
The three fillies were feeling another type of restlessness common during holidays or trips: the need to do something — anything — to get their cutie marks. In fact, at that moment, Scootaloo had a 'bright' idea of her own to try and satisfy that urge.
"Argh, are these supposed to be so tight?" That statement was directed at nopony in particular except for only herself. Well, she hoped it was only for herself, at least. Nopony should have been around to hear that. What she was doing wasn’t technically allowed, but what was the worst that could happen? It wasn't like anypony was going to throw her overboard, right? Scootaloo held her breath as she pulled the straps of her ice-skates as far as they'd go.
Also, Scoot, those shoes aren't supposed to hurt your hooves.
It was amazing how the lack of security for the backstage allowed Scootaloo to easily slip in and borrow certain equipment. She darted from corner the corner, making sure nopony was around. When she got to the control panels located somewhere in there, among all the other fancy things like ropes, and turned on the light, the sight she saw made her cower to the nearest wardrobe. It was only after a minute's worth of absolute silence, and straining from staying in one place for so long, that Scootaloo realized that the figure she had seen earlier was her own shadow.
Otherwise, no resistance, though Scoot wasn't sure if she could forgive the shadow for the precious time it had wasted.
As Scootaloo finished fastening the last skate and attempting to get on all fours, she realised how large the performance ring actually was. The railings surrounding it stood as tall barriers between possible audience members and talented skaters, locking each side out of the other's reach. The railings themselves were out of Scootaloo's reach as well. She didn't need them, though, if figure skating was her talent. It probably wasn't.
Come on, you got this... it's just like rollerblading. Scootaloo never rollerbladed before, admittedly, but how hard could that be?
Scootaloo waddled through the ice and braved the artificial cold of the ring, sloppily lifting her hooves in quick un-rhythm. She was slipping faster and faster through the ice, miraculously staying on course of an anti-clockwise movement throughout the ring, far enough from the railings only to starch it with the tip of her teeth.
When she gained speed, with her hooves reaching exhaustion with the rate they were being lifted at, Scootaloo gasped and cluttered with shaking limbs while looking for some sort of support. The ring was obviously meant for professionals, though, as there seemed to be no easy place to just slow down already.
After, for a lack of better elaboration, a loud crash and a scraped knee, Scootaloo decided to do the rational thing and drop her silly attempt at ice skating. Partly because the thought of how the ice rubbed her cut still made her wince but mostly because she heard something. A voice. An unfamiliar and confused one, at that.
"Is anypony there or am I just hearing voices again?" Scootaloo jumped and snapped to her fullest senses. She darted her eyes and, seeing something at the corner of her sight, sprinted. Thankfully, she had already taken off the skates, so running was a lot easier. At least, as easy as it normally would be.
"HEY! THIEF! You're a thief, right?" She could hear him chasing and shouting after her, forcing her to run towards, well, anywhere to get away.
The hallway between rooms, whether on a hotel or a cruise, had always been a quiet and relaxing place to stroll in. The only sounds you normally heard were your own hoofsteps or the lift. There were also the bright wallpaper and soft carpets that would make your hooves sink in. It was as though this gateway between your room and the rest of the world was an alternate dimension free of troubles.
However, Apple Bloom found the corridors between their rooms very isolating and claustrophobic at that moment. She swallowed some confidence and caught up with him.
Come on, you got this.
"H-hey, F-featherweight." The colt in question continued to tinker with his camera as he walked towards an uncertain direction, supposedly ignoring Apple Bloom who wasn't sure where he was going, but right now, that was the least of her worries. "I was just walking by when I saw you purely by coincidence. You wanna get somethin' to eat at the cafe?" Apple Bloom asked slowly, exaggerating the truth a little in order to seem less weird.
Gosh, why does this feel so weird? Even though she normally found the line so corny, right there she would say that she felt butterflies in her stomach chipping away in the insides of her skin. Featherweight slowed the pace of his walk and looked up from his camera towards the source of the question.
Applebloom's checks beamed a fine shade of red before finding herself the attention of a pretty awkward stare. "Oh, did... anypony tell you how... nice your hair looked?" Featherweight raised an eyebrow at Applebloom before rolling his pupils towards the tip of his head at the filly's attempt to break the ice. I think I got this. "You're quiet, aren't you?"
Just then, seemingly out of nowhere, though probably just from around the corner, there was a third — or well really second — voice that decided to interrupt the scene. "Oh, Featherweight, I, like, never expected to bump into you here."
"Hello Diamond," Featherweight said briefly with a small smile. Featherweight talks? And to Diamond Tiara?
There was a slight pause.
"Don't mind Apple-snort. My dad needed help carrying all our bags. That's how they're paying for even the dirt here. Yeah, we had that many." Diamond Tiara bumped, or rather pushed, Apple Bloom aside as she made that remark. She never expected the quiet Featherweight to join in her laughter and when she heard it, she felt some of her pride sink into the carpets below, being drained away.
"Y-you know that ain't true! I-we won this trip in a contest." The words echoed as they stuttered out of Apple Bloom.
"Contest?" Featherweight asked, turning towards Apple Bloom. "You mean the one with the letter and the—" she nodded in confirmation. "Cool. Here for the same reason. Staying with me aunt."
Diamond put her hoof to her lips as she held back a chuckle. "I like it when you say 'me' instead of my, even though you don't have the right accent. Say, want to get some cake at the cafe?" Feather gave a bored shrug, but slipped into a smile when he heard the phrase "it's on me."
Apple Bloom said while annoyed "Ain't the cake free as part of a buffet—"
"Please, let the talented ponies talk, blank flank." Diamond interrupted, rolling her eyes. Apple Bloom found herself quiet after that and her eyes very irritated. Well, okay, she was trying to hold back dust from entering. It was more than just the fact that she was probably stealing her only chance of finding a good male acquaintance during this trip. When Diamond's daddy wasn't in sight, Apple Bloom found herself wishing that she didn't win those tickets.
How could Featherweight like such a...a brat? Oh, he probably wasn't even worth her time anyways. Or maybe, she wasn't worth his. Applebloom came to a stairway.
"Erm. I thought the buffet was this way?" she said as she noticed Diamond Tiara and Featherweight going downstairs instead of upper deck.
"Please. What do you know about travelling on these cruises? We were just taking a—" Featherweight looked up from his camera and shifted directions and headed the correct way.
"Right," he said, completely ignoring Diamond's previous comment. Apple Bloom shuffled behind Diamond and Feather, after the two unknowingly overtook her, trying to keep up with their — or particularly Diamond's — conversation on how her dad knew the cook or something. She was the only blank flank, after all.
Entering the main dining hall, which had been referred to as either the cafe or the restaurant depending on who you talked to, completely changed Apple Bloom's mood, if only for a moment. The mixed smell of all sorts of apples treats and all other food along with the chattering atmosphere, forged a smile on her face, as she browsed the various choices the tables had to offer. There was a — depleting — supply of blueberry muffins, a tray of chocolate eclairs, plates of french toast. No, really, there were plates of the same dish. There were also countless other delicacies available, though ponies from earlier had helped themselves to more than generous helpings before. Apple Bloom searched for something sweet and filling while she noticed how awful the music sounded. Something gentle and, urgh, old. Must be during the time before colour was invented or, more realistically, before better recording equipment.
Apple Bloom was previously oblivious to how she had split up from the other two ponies, her mind focused on helping herself to candy apples. Her focus was snapped as Apple Bloom heard a little rustle in the distance.
“EVERYPONY! THIS THIEF STOLE… something, I AM SURE OF IT!”
“I didn’t!” Was that Scootaloo? As she ran closer, it was clear that it most certainly was, and she was pushing ponies left and right out of her way. Scootaloo was in trouble again. As long as it didn’t involve Appleboom this— Oh! She was jolted forward. Apple Bloom found herself pulling the tablecloth of the buffet table after losing her balance, which in turn lead to a lot of swish and bing-riiiiiiing sounds as plates and trays flew off the table, racing with rest of the utensils to see who could stain the carpet first. The punch won said race.
Some of the racers missed the target completely and instead landed in other ponies faces, particularly Scootaloo’s. Blinded by squashed pie, Scoot ran a couple metres too far from a reasonable direction, and collided straight into the rest of the table. At the very least, this ended the ‘chase of the thief’ for… was that Neon Lights?
What do you mean you don’t know who Neon Lights is? Apple Bloom was a big fan of his music and, she would only admit in a game of Truth or Dare, a couple other things. No, he doesn't do country music, which Apple Bloom secretly hates. With those blue shades — that came first, Vinyl ripped off him — and black trench coat, how could you think he was a country singer?
Also, apparently he was mad at Scootaloo for some reason. Of course, it was harder to find someone who wasn't less than annoyed at Scoot in that hall. Especially Diamond Tiara, whose mane was covered in jelly, this time not as part of some fashion experiment.
Scootaloo regained her balance and stood up after an outburst of ewws and ohhhs only to be further tackled by her pursuer. A crowd of onlookers, consisting of a mix of young colts and fillies; including Diamond Tiara and Featherweight; and elder adults, have gathered to see what the commotion was about.
"Woah. Are you really the Neon Lights or am I just imaginin' things?" Apple Bloom asked, her hooves making a display of jumping up and down repeatedly that would remind anypony watching of Pinkie Pie.
"Lot of ponies say I look like him as I'm actually him. Anyways, can't talk now: this filly stole —" That was Neon's voice, alright.
"I didn't steal anything!" Scootaloo shouted, "Just search me!"
"Then why were you running?"
"I-I, do I look like a thief?" Apple Bloom, though she couldn't say the same for the disgusted looking Diamond Tiara or any other bystanders to the affair, found the thought of Scoot being a thief ridiculous and resisted a chuckle as a result. Speaking of Diamond, being herself, probably couldn't help but share her beliefs in the only way she knows how — via mockery.
"Wow. Scootaloo stole something? Well, like, what more could you expect from a homeless orphan?"
"Diamond," Feather added with a whisper, "Even I know Scoot's not an orphan."
"But she sure acts like one. I mean, her parents are never around at school or anything. Like during that parent-talent or work or whatever day it was."
"Neither did mine. Your point?" With that statement, Diamond decided to just grin at another sight of Scootaloo in trouble rather than say anything.
Meanwhile, Diamond was unaware that her father was in the same room and, humorously, neither did he. Filthy Rich, having to be responsible, tried to disarm the conflict between the rowdy filly, that had broken free, and the celebrity.
"What happened?" Flithy said in a stern voice that even he was unfamiliar with. "Scootaloo, mind explaining this-this nonsense?" The questioned filly bit her lip and stayed silent, her eyes focused elsewhere. Through the silence in the hall, Scootaloo found her heart racing in fear, and a sickened feel moving through her veins. "Sorry sir. My daughter's friend can get a bit naughty at times." Diamond cringed at her father's use of the word 'friend'.
As Neon explained, or more repeated, what he had initially been shouting while ignoring Apple Bloom's constant begging for an autograph, Scootaloo felt like she was done for. Everypony was going to discover what that she was trespassing and they were going to discover that she couldn't skate to save her life. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on who you talked to, before Scootaloo was able to confess her misdoing, a loud tune bleeped from the ceiling, cutting the old-timey music that was already playing.
The source of the sound obviously wasn't the ceiling itself but supposedly the loudspeakers around the corners of the restaurant. There were a serious of bleeps before somepony spoke. The most notable feature Apple Bloom noticed about the voice was that it really sounded like, the music earlier, it was from the time when television shows were black and white. That old-Equestiran voice.
"Everypony listen up! Stop what you're doing." Probably unintended, but at that moment Featherweight actually looked up from his camera.
"This isn't some missing foal or lost and found announcement, well, in the more usual sense. Every passenger on this boat, and yes, every passenger, have been selected to take part in a very special game. Now, before you start panicking, no: you'll not have to kill anypony or anything like that.
"The rules are pretty simple and, in case you aren't actually listening, are also written: Everypony will be grouped by decks, based on where your rooms are, and further grouped into pairs and are given a set of notes and, for the lack of a better word, clues. From there, I apologise, but you and your partner are left to figure out the rest of the game by yourselves, which is where most of the fun is.
"If you're wondering why there's such a game, winners are entitled to a very great and generous prize, as it'd only seem fair: a couple billion bits in both assets, like shares in major Equestiran corporations, along with just plain coins. However, there can only be one pair to reap it all: the one with the right ticks, I'll say.
"Though the game is best played with partners of the same age bracket, as a result of an unintentional imbalance of passengers, a child would have to be paired with an adult. Neon Lights, you'll find that your partner for this event would be a young filly by the name of Scootaloo.
"Anyways, your group pairings and clues will be sent to your various rooms, along with a full list of detailed instructions. Enjoy the game and remember: participation is compulsory."
Scootaloo gave both the nearest loudspeaker and Neon a stare that could only be described as fueled with drips of disbelief and ignited by spite.
"Hey, erm, like, what did that guy on the microphone just said?" Diamond wiped away the last stains of jelly from her coat, or at least as much as she could clean without a full shower.
"This trip was too good to be true," Featherweight said.
Sweetie Belle took off her headphones — there was no sound playing so she heard the announcement just fine — and placed them right by her laptop when she heard some papers slide underneath the door behind her. Looked like she had gotten the luxury of receiving said instructions early. She got up and walked towards the door but, when she opened it, found nopony at the other side.
"Huh? Must be really fast," Sweetie Belle said to nopony in particular as she picked up the envelope her mysterious courier had left behind. Inscribed on the front were her room numbers:
With a bit of a clumsy struggle, she tore open the envelope with her teeth, accidentally spilling the contents over the floor. Though, who in the right mind thought trying to open an envelope standing up nowhere near the table, and expect it to come out neatly, was a good idea? She picked up the largest looking sheet of paper and, not in the mood to fold a paper aeroplane, read it.
Pairings of room 305 and (5) related individuals
Special note: This concerns all children with rooms on deck 3A only.
Diamond Tiara - Apple Bloom [302 - 305]
Scootaloo - [Pony Needed] Neon Lights [305 - 321]
Sweetie Belle - Featherweight [305 - 312]
Included are:
clues for [3] pairs.
List of instructions
Mapping of the V.D.C
A brochure of the V.D.I
Coupons for F&F brand cider - redeemable at The Manehatten restaurant.
