Mentoring is Awesome: Facing Fear

by SciWriter

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Random, Dark, Alternate Universe, Thriller, Drama
Length: 8688

0Vinyl Scratch is making her come back and helping a young fan at the same time. However a malevolent creature begins to threaten the filly. Vinyl has to uncover the past of her little friend, fight forces far beyond herself and even question her own

Not long ago, DJ Vinyl Scratch was approached by an adoring fan. The two hit it off pretty well and became rather close. However things became complicated when a vicious being known as Dr. Gray attacked the little filly. At first Vinyl was drawn to protect her little fan, however the monster quickly proves far too powerful for her and the history shared between the filly and the monster proves to be horrifying all by itself. Our DJ hero starts to find herself desperate and as events continue to unravel, she begins to question if she is really even helping.

As Vinyl races to save her friend, something else becomes apparent. The creature attacking young Lightning Strike, has far more in mind than just attacking a foal. Something he says will change the course of pony history forever.

This story is part of the "EVENT" series, three stories told in parallel to each other. They basically go over the same story from three different vantage points, Vinyl Scratch, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. This story is from Vinyl's POV. Unlike my previous stories, this story is more of a thriller. If you don't want to read Mentoring is Awesome, as it is a very different series from this story, you won't need to to understand what is happening.
However, if you're interested, here is the story that precedes this one:
Mentoring is Awesome

Image source: http://sdc2012.deviantart.com/art/Vinyl-Scratch-Attack-310838060

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-11-13 16:05:55 UTC

Concert

Perspective of Vinyl Scratch.

It had been three months in the making… well maybe a year in the making really. It had been a full year since my last concert and single release. But however, it had only been three months since a little filly somehow got me back on track.

A long time ago, in the wake of Treck’s attack, I lost my voice completely. Oh Celestia was I in the dumps after that. I tried to keep my spirits up, but I couldn’t sing, so how could I DJ without a voice? I didn’t have my music.

However three months ago I met a little filly who even after nine months of nothing being produced by me, still believed I was the best DJ in all of Equestria. She showered me with praise, stars in her eyes the whole time. I had been feeling so alone without my music, but she made me feel appreciated again.

Over time that little Filly, just by believing in me and working with me, as I had agreed to train her, gave me the confidence to try to make a comeback based just on my music, never mind my voice.

One day when training little Lightning Strike, my music attracted a crowd and somehow I got roped into finally making my own comeback concert a reality.

Today was the day of that comeback. I set up my mix track and a small keyboard. Around me I looked at several stallions and mares doing checks on my speakers. I looked up to see my lighting arrangement. It was all perfect. I had thought about scaling back, as not having a hit in a long time, my funds were drying up. However my sister Octavia gave me a loan saying “You’d better be paying me back by keeping up your part of the rent.”.

I smiled thinking about Octy. I looked out over the audience and saw, yep, sure enough, she was there. She hadn’t the slightest interest in rock music normally, save when we combined our music, yet still she was there, cheering before the music was even about to start.

I smiled huge. Rainbow Dash, Apple Jack, Button Masher, the CMC, Rarity, Soarin the wonderbolt, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Lyra… so many ponies had shown up, so many of them my friends… well I didn’t really know Soarin but one can pretend right?

I turned my ears right as I heard four small hooves skittering across the stage and zipping over to me. “It’s happening! It’s happening! It’s happening! It’s happening!” Lightning shouted. “I’m on stage with Vinyl Scratch!” She slid to a stop just before running into my set up. I chuckled looking at her outside the setup, her apparently trying to find a way around. I walked back and around to get out of the surrounding various objects, walking onto the stage to join her.

WHAM! And thus a little yellow pegasus filly with a bazaar lightning shaped blue mane jumped into me and hugged my neck tightly. She slowly let go, tears streaming down her face. I grinned at her. She turned around. I lit up my horn, projecting the words “WELCOME TO THE SHOW!” over my head. Lighting flew next to my head, mouth fixed in an open smile.

The crowd erupted into a cheer. No, a small town isn’t as loud as most full sized rock concerts, but screw anyone trying to point that out, it was great. Especially according to my filly fan. “I’m here! I’m here! I’m here! I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die! I’m gonna die happy!” She started scanning the crowd. “Where is he?”

‘Where’s the princess?’ I wrote on a note pad, showing it to her.

“Um,” she scanned the audience. “Don’t see her.”

I looked up, finally seeing the princess of friendship herself come in for a landing. Fashionably late I suppose. Anyway, when she landed she looked down for a moment. As she looked up a small blue earth pony colt, looking about six years old, floated up next to her head in a purple energy bubble. His dark mane had a single yellow highlight running through it looking just like the last light of the day. “DUSK!” Lightning shouted, seeing her brother, him waving at her. “HE’S HERE. I’m here, I’m here, I’m here with Vinyl Scratch and my best friend is watching, my life is complete!”

She looked at me, beaming. I shook my head, levitating my notepad in front of me again and writing ‘Complete? What about your cutie mark? Or your first show?’

“Well let’s be fair,” she said. “I’ll probably get the mark, but a show? I’ll probably just be performing at a few parties if I’m lucky.” I shook my head at her. “You don’t think I’ll make it that far?” I almost glared at her, raising my hoof. “Further?” she said cocking her head to the side.

‘You better at least try. You’re my student after all!’ I wrote. She laughed and nodded. ‘Now we’re about to start, I need my pyrotechnic so get over there.’

“Considering it’s me isn’t it supposed to be… electro… tech… nic?”

I closed my eyes and shook my head, still smiling. ‘Move your butt.’ She happily skittered away to the right side of the stage.

I was center stage, but Lightning was closer to the crowd… Okay so I fibbed a little. Lightning had done a little more to get me back on stage than just be an adoring fan. She had a certain… talent, that tended to attract crowds under the right circumstances.

The crowd quieted down.

I hit the base a low hum going over the crowd, Lightning Strike waiting for her cue, her wings outstretched. I then started a prerecorded track, accompanying it with a few notes from the key board. I had chosen the song, Atomic by She. Lightning would soon show the audience why.

“It’s just like you always wanted to be…”

Okay so right off the bat, one of the primary reasons I chose that song, is that no one really cares that much if the voices are prerecorded. When she performs, Lightning tends to try to sing, which is hilarious at best and ears bleeding horrible most of the time. I have tried to make her stop, but she is only eight and I think it’s a bit of an involuntary reaction.

I turned up the music when the words started to come in, only a few ponies in the front hearing Lightning’s singing, and they weren’t mean about it.

The second occurrence of the first verse, Lightning started to fly in place just a few feet above the ground. As she flew, strange disturbances started to happen around her, many in the audience looking at her curiously.

“Don’t stop you’ve got moves to kill!”

I dropped the base a little for the chorus, Lightning dropping to the ground and well… Lightning struck. Quite literally.

When Lightning landed she slammed her right hoof into the stage and a bolt of electric energy shot up into the sky, a small rumble shooting over the crowd. Cheering erupted.

In came the chorus and I hit the volume again and the crowd was on it’s hooves. Everyone was moving with the music, including myself of course. I hardly noticed as electric bolts shot out from Lightning. Lightning was not exceptional at dancing, but her magic discipline classes had been helping her control her unusual electricity powers like a pro. The bolts looked dangerous, and probably were, but they only flew out harmlessly over the crowd.

It was fun to watch the different ponies in the crowd during that chorus, especially the kids, but also a few of the adults. Scootaloo started moving her shoulders and stomping with the beat, her friends Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle doing their best to keep up. Next to them was little Dusk, doing his favorite kind of dance, tap dancing, which he seemed to try to fit to everything. In the middle of the crowd was Button Masher, he was slightly moving his shoulders, but mostly he was just staring slack jawed at the bolts of electric energy erupting overhead, his head shrinking down slightly every time one of them was too loud or got closer to the crowd than usual. It was a good thing I had made sure all the pegasi were given strict instructions not to fly. Thus…. Yes it was hilarious watching Rainbow Dash standing there, completely and obviously lost as to what to do.

The chorus wound up, then down again. Finally came the next base drop. I lowered the volume as it came in, getting read to suddenly raise it with Lightning’s next big pulse.

Right on cue she- fell backwards, crab walked back and looked ahead with a look of absolute terror. She recovered her hooves, but continued to lean down, wings stuck to her sides, head trying to escape into her shoulders and eyes wide.

Needless to say, I stopped the music. I looked over the crowd to see what she was looking at. I noticed a gray pegasus stallion flying over the crowd. I was a little ticked to see that. Had she accidently hit him or… wait… his wings weren’t flapping. They were just stretched out from his body and he just hung there in the air.

His eyes were shut and his tail and mane blew in the- frankly non-existent wind. He slowly opened his eyes. Looking at him I stepped back a few feet. His eyes were completely blue. Not just the irises, no, his full eyes, save for small black pupils, glowed a light blue. I’m not sure he even had irises. He looked so wrong I almost shivered just looking at that stallion.

The strange stallion then slowly smiled. As his lips curled back I couldn’t stop myself from a full on shudder. His teeth were like those of a shark and also glowed blue. Perhaps that would have made me laugh had his mouth not just kept… opening I guess. His lips didn’t stop where they were supposed to, instead they kept going, like they were splitting his face apart. As they continued to curl away, more and more teeth were revealed. His lips cut under those creepy eyes and kept going. His face didn’t stop opening until his smiled had cut almost into his neck.

What the heck was I looking at? The ponies around had all finally realized the music had stopped playing, many of them looking at the strange creature in the air. Several older siblings and parents started to push their children under them like a slight precaution.

“Hello Lightning.” A deep voice said. It came from the creature, but he didn’t move his lips so… maybe it wasn’t his voice.

“YOU!” Lightning practically screamed. Electric energy spun around her, a field of energy slowly appearing surrounding her. Lightning started to lift into the air, propelled only by her electric energy, which was now starting to rip into the stage.

The image of the creature over the crowd disappeared. Lightning started scanning the crowd, as did I. The creature reappeared with its wings down directly in front of Lightning Strike’s face. Lightning’s energy field vanished and she dropped to the ground letting out a shriek.

That smile still terrified me, but as I saw that creature bearing down on my little friend, I crashed through my own equipment and galloped over. I was almost to them when the stallion’s head turned so fast it was like it was on a pivot. Staring straight into those glowing blue eyes and having that predatory smile aimed at me, my heart skipped several beats. I swallowed my fear best I could. Then he started slowly walking towards me and I started involuntarily walking backwards.

Finally feeling I was being pushed too far I started warming up my horn, glaring at the creature. My horn flared, a quick warning to the creature that I wasn’t joking.

CRACK! Lightning Strike screamed as something happened to one of her wings. She stumbled backwards, tears streaming from her eyes, her right wing hanging uselessly by her side.

“This is a declaration of intent,” Came the voice again, once again from the pony, but this time, his lips really did move. I kinda wish they didn’t, because instead of revealing his mouth to be actually normal size, his entire face started splitting open as he spoke. “The girl belongs to me, as does her young friend. I will take what I want and soon, what I am forming will cause a cataclysm that will be remembered until the end of time.”

I looked at Lightning, suddenly noticing a much larger yellow pegasus standing over her.

Fluttershy stood glaring at the creature, wings spread out, Lightning whimpering behind her. “Nopony hurts a filly in front of me!” she declared.

“Agreed.” Twilight dropped in front of me. “Come quietly or this will get ugly.”

“Personally I’m hoping to mess this freak’s face up even more than it already is.” came Rainbow Dash’s voice. “Go ahead and resist.”

The creature looked up at Rainbow Dash, flying several meters above all of us. His smiled seemed to deepen a little. She glared back down at him.

Something slammed into my shoulder and I started stumbling over. The pain wasn’t excruciating, but it sure got my attention. Where did that come from? A purple force field surrounded me.

“Enough!” Twilight shouted. “Trying to fight a little girl and a musician?” To my left Apple Jack pulled herself onto the stage and glared at the figure of the creature. I looked behind me to see several of my instruments and many planks of wood levitating above me. Rarity stood in the midst of it all. “Try fighting me and my friends. I guarantee we’ve fought tougher than you.”

The creatures laugh. “Oh no doubt you have, I’ve kept up with the news about you… five?”

“Over here!” came Pinkie’s voice. In the crowd she stood next to a large cannon that I’m sure she had basically pulled out of thin air. “Step away from the filly. No pony hurts kids while I’m around!”

“Do you six really even know this girl?” asked the creature, glancing at Lightning.

“Doesn’t matter,” Twilight answer. “We’ll protect her just the same. Now what’s it gonna be? You can surrender or you can fight. I don’t place much odds on you liking the outcome either way.”

“Or I could run away,” he replied.

“You could try,” Twilight answered.

The creature looked down, as if to think. “If I were to fight you and win, what would I really gain besides an injury that would likely impair or kill me? One or two of you I might challenge, but this is ridiculous. If I go with you, I’ll be imprisoned and my plan will come to nothing. Thus my decision has been made for me it appears.” He opened his wings, Twilight and her friends rearing back to give chase.

The creature disappeared. Everyone on stage started looking around. Even Rainbow Dash, from her vantage point didn’t seem to be spotting anything. She looked down at Twilight. Twilight cocked her head a few times and Rainbow smiled.

Rainbow Dash shot over the crowd, zipping around in ever widening circles. In a few seconds she returned shaking her head and looking confused. “It’s like he’s just gone,” she said.

Twilight closed her eyes. “I don’t like how confident he sounded.” She looked over my audience. “I want this crowd to disperse.” She announced. “Get to your homes. Please work with us everypony. Stay indoors for a little while and keep your children close. Please just do what I say.” The crowd dispersed.

This was Ponyville. We had had several monster attacks, thus most of us knew to listen to Twilight during one.

Rainbow Dash continued to scan the air as Twilight continued speaking to her friends, myself, Lightning… and for some reason Scootaloo jumped up on stage.

“Get out of here Scoots,” Rainbow said, finally coming in and landing.

“Um… momma Dash… I’m pretty sure Twi’s orders were for me to stick with my parent.”

“Oh right,” Rainbow said, walking over to her. I then noticed Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle climbing up on stage as well. They quickly went to their big sisters.

“Where’s Dusk!” Lightning shouted, sounding like she was ready to panic. She looked left, then right. Turned out while no one was really looking, the quiet young colt had walked over to his sister’s right wing.

Lightning wrapped Dusk in a hug, looking like she was getting ready to get protective, however just as she wrapped herself around him, she fell off him screaming and starting to cry.

Twilight started giving orders. “Rainbow, you and Fluttershy stay with Lightning and her brother. Rarity, AJ, you stay here in case that creep comes back. Pinkie, you’re the fastest of the group-“

“Hey!” shouted Rainbow Dash.

“Go ahead argue with me,” Twilight said, raising an eyebrow to her cyan friend. Rainbow looked at Pinkie in irritation, the pink mare just shrugging.

“What I thought,” Twilight continued. “Pinkie, you search the town. Whatever that was should be easy to spot with just a glance.”

“Okey dokie loki!” Pinkie said and shot away in a blur of shades of Pinkie.

Twilight held up a hoof as if she meant to say something else, but then just shook her head. “I was gonna tell her to careful, but let’s face it, if someone actually manages to hurt Pinkie… I’ll be rather surprised.”

“I’ll be pissed,” Rainbow said, almost as if to correct her.

Twilight looked over at me as I walked over to Lightning. I had my magic very gently go around Lightning’s right limp wing. Lightning shrieked in pain. “You should go home Vinyl, I’m sorry your concert was ruined.” I shook my head at the princess. “Excuse me?”

I levitated my note pad out. ‘Remember our meeting with Lightning’s father? I’m her legal guardian while she’s in Ponyville.’

“Can you defend yourself?” she asked.

‘I am a unicorn after all. I think I can manage against a pegasus.’ I wrote.

Rainbow lowered her eyebrows at me. “You trying to say something?”

Twilight sighed. “Please not now Rainbow.” Rainbow rolled her eyes, but stepped back from me. “Stay on guard and stay together.” she continued.

Fluttershy got down next to Lightning and gently pulled the injured filly to herself. She nudged Lightning’s wing, the foal jumping and hissing. “Please, try to be brave little one,” Lightning actually wasn’t known for bravery. However with a combination of Fluttershy’s calming smile and Dusk calmly pushing her to stay put, Lightning, flinching like mad, was able to stand there while Fluttershy examined her wing.

“How is she?” Twilight asked.

Fluttershy slowly got up. “She’s not in immediate danger, but I think would be best if we get her to the clinic. Her wing is broken.” Lightning looked up at her in distress. “Oh don’t worry, it should heal with proper attention, you’ll be flying again in no time.” Lightning looked back at her wing whimpering. “I know it hurts,” Fluttershy said, gently brushing a hoof over the filly’s mane. “Like I said, just be brave.” She kept gently petting the scared child and turned back to us. “It’s like someone twisted it until several of the smaller bones got… let’s just say it should be looked at.” I levitated Lightning up and onto my back. “Um actually, I’ll take her, you just keep her wing stable alright?” Fluttershy asked. I nodded and eased the filly onto Fluttershy’s back. Once she was there I used my magic to just hold her right wing out and steady.

“Any idea what in the Sam hell that was?” Apple Jack asked.

“Library?” asked Rainbow. Twilight shrugged, but nodded.

“Someone has to see if anything like that has been seen before.” Twilight said. “She looked at Rainbow. “Rainbow, if there’s trouble, you come get me.”

“What?” Rainbow demanded. “Fluttershy can get you, but I should fight. My daughter is here and-“

“And you can get me in seconds as opposed to Fluttershy’s minute and a half,” Twilight interrupted.

“Fine,” Rainbow said. Twilight flew away without another word.

Fluttershy glided slowly forward, carrying my little fan filly.

As we started moving, I thought back to that creature. Those eyes and that head splitting smile made me shiver.

Lightning started hissing as I closed my eyes.

In my mind’s eye I saw that mouth laughing and those eyes staring at me. I froze. I felt a sharp pain in my back ankle. My eyes shot open and I looked back quickly. It was only Dusk. Course he was rather upset. “Wake up! You’re hurting my sister!” I looked at Lightning, who now had one eye wedged shut against the pain. I smiled at her apologetically.

As we traveled a few meters, something struck me about Lightning’s reactions to the pony. I couldn’t risk levitating my notes out to ask and sweet Celestia not having a voice is annoying at times. I supposed for the moment I would have to wait to ask.

Still as we kept moving, one question rolled over and over in my mind. ‘Lightning… you knew what that was didn’t you?’

I looked over at the filly, expecting her to have calmed down as she was being carried. Her eyes were however wide. She kept looking around and glancing at her brother, as if barely able to keep from panicking for both their sakes. She was shaking. I so wanted to ask. ‘Lightning, what was that thing?’

A Sad History

Not long after we separated from the rest of the group, Rainbow Dash had the wonderful idea to split the group even further. She was worried about the monster attacking our group and having his pick of child hostages. When told that Lightning was in fact paranoid of leaving her brother alone for long periods of time, something we were working on, Scootaloo suggested Rainbow just take them to Lightning’s home.

Now understand something, yes, Lightning tends to not worry about Dusk when she knows he’s with her father. Small caveat to that however, Dusk and Lightning’s home is in the mountains of Canterlot. Our small group wouldn’t know when Dusk arrived at home until Rainbow came back. I wanted to write something in protest of all this, however much as I believed Lightning had been through enough crap today without triggering her phobia… I agreed. We couldn’t keep the kids together and not expect problems.

As one might predict, when Rainbow flew off, Lightning reached up one pitiful hoof like she wanted to stop them, but did her best not to say anything. It was such a heart wrenching scene to watch. When they were out of sight Lightning started hugging Fluttershy’s neck so hard the larger yellow pegasus eventually had to speak up. “Um sweet heart… *cough*, that’s a little tight… ease up please.” Lightning remembered herself and stopped.

“I’m so sorry,” Lightning said, starting to tear up again.

“It’s okay. You can squeeze me, just not my neck okay?” I think Fluttershy almost instantly regretted saying that as the filly started hugging her back very hard. However she looked to be doing her best not to let on if that did hurt. “That’s it, I can take it.”

We checked Lightning into the clinic. Which was scaring her more, her experience or being separated from her brother, I’m not sure, they were probably competing to turn my little fan filly into a shivering mess of fur.

She was gently moved to a bed and another unicorn gently placed her wing on a pillow. The medical unicorn took a kind of magic x-ray of Lightning's wing and then had a pegasus friend of his draw it. "We'll have to deliberate on how to proceed," said the unicorn. For now, she can have visitors, but everyone please do your best not to move that wing." They then took the drawing into a different room with several other doctors.

“It’s okay little one.” Fluttershy said, gently stroking Lightning’s mane. “You should get some rest after all that.”

“Dusty…” Lightning said, scanning the room again and again. Fluttershy looked at her with her head cocked to the side.

I had to remind myself that Lightning was my mentoree’ and friend, but not necessarily a good friend of anypony else in town. Thus Fluttershy not having any notion of Lightning’s nick name for her brother should have come as no surprise. It was surprising, but it shouldn’t have been. I brought out my note pad and paper. ‘That’s her brother’s nick name.’

“He’s alright little one. Do you want me to sit next to you for a bit?” Lightning looked at Fluttershy with big eyes. She then turned that weaponized piteous glance at me. I almost melted, but I could tell what she was thinking. I was on the right side of the bed near her injured wing so I had to walk around, but I still did eventually get on the bed next to the filly, who was currently under a rather flimsy white sheet. I did my best to hold her wing telekinetically still as she snuggled up to my foreleg. I went ahead and laid down, no sense in trying to leave after all.

Fluttershy shrugged and walked around to Lightning’s injured wing. She didn’t touch it, but did continue to examine it. Finally she nodded. “Mmmhmm, just as I suspected.” Lightning looked at her quietly and nervously. “You should be in the air again before you know it. Trust me."

“Dusty…”

‘He’s with Rebel Rainbow and Scootaloo… remember, the bravest filly alive?’ I wrote to Lightning, noting her nicknames from when she idolized the two (she still did, but not as much I suspect, since she now actually knew them). I looked her directly in the eyes, my note pad levitating next to my head. ‘Stop worrying alright? Dusty is safe and we’re all here to watch over you. You’re both safe.'

“No… nopony is safe. Luna tried to stop the monster, but he’s back,” Lightning replied.

‘Who or what was that on stage kiddo?’ I finally asked.

“Doctor Gray.”

‘Who’s Dr. Gray?’

“The bad scientist pony who made me like this.” Lightning said, she then raised a hoof up and a few small electric sparks shot off it.

I thought for a moment. Something had always seemed a little strange about Lightning’s story. Often in one breath she would talk about her powers as if they had isolated her from others for her entire life, but in the next she would blame them on this evil scientist pony who she clearly met more recently. I figured now was as good a time as any to clear things up. ‘So which is it? Were you born like this, or did an evil pony make you like this?’

“Both.”

‘But you talk like you remember what happened. He couldn’t have done this when you were born then-‘

“No!” Lightning practically shouted, squeezing my foreleg. She seemed to then catch herself and slowly ease off. “Sorry. No it’s just… I was born a little different. The evil scientist pony… Doctor Gray, he’s the one that made me able to move electricity. What I could do before was just moving things with my head. It still scared ponies, but nowhere near as much.”

“Are you sure this is the best time to question her?” asked Fluttershy.

‘Your friend is already searching the library for answers that probably aren’t there. Wouldn’t it be best to know what’s really going on as soon as possible?’ Fluttershy nodded. ‘You can go if you want.’

Fluttershy motioned to leave, but stopped. She sighed. “I can’t. I think Twilight meant for me to stay on guard until she returned. Also I’ve never seen someone hurt a filly like that. I have to say here. I have to make sure she’s safe… I just have to. Besides, that thing could… well you know-”

“Come back?” Lightning asked. “It’s not like that thought isn’t racing through my head. Don’t bother hiding it from me, I know he could come back. I thought he was gone, but he’s back, he’s back, he’s back, he-“ Fluttershy put a hoof on Lightning’s muzzle.

“Shhhh,” she calmly hushed the panicking foal.

A pink pony with a white mane quietly walked into the room. She seemed content not to be noticed, but apparently Lightning wasn’t going to let that happen. “Get out!” She yelled. Well she stopped being scared rather fast. Now she was livid. Not that Lightning never made fast transitions, so maybe I should have just been used to that. “OUT!”

The white maned earth pony shirked down her head a little, but continued to walk to us anyway. “I’m sorry, but I think it’s best if I stay because-“

“You had your chances!” Lightning yelled. “You don’t get anymore.”

“If I said I was sorry-“ she tried.

“I don’t care!” Lightning replied quickly.

The pony bit her lip, but finally stood next to Fluttershy. “I can’t blame you.”

“Who are you?” asked Fluttershy.

“Probably the last pony Lightning wants to see right now. Nonetheless… let me explain.”

“It’s my room right now isn’t it? Get out!” Lightning continued.

‘LIGHTNING!’ I finally wrote in all caps, the best I could do to express a stern tone. I tried to manage a glare, but that’s not easy to do when looking at an injured child. She apparently had no issue glaring at me though. ‘I’m serious Lightning. Knock it off!’ Lightning let go of my foreleg and folded her own forelegs, looking with judgement at our visitor. Still, she looked to be no longer looking to interrupt.

I sighed. Lightning was, by no means, a perfect child. Easily she lacked many talents, like singing, and she was VERY easily discouraged. She was immature, even for her age and yes, she had her bratty moments, where I had learned there was no fixing her attitude, she was just going to be grumpy. Still, amidst her laundry list of problems, anger management wasn’t one of them. This was getting weird… course an observer could probably label this entire day weird.

The new pony nodded. “You’re aware that Lightning is an orphan, yes?”

‘Her brother is an earth pony and her dad is a dragon, it’s kinda hard to forget she’s not part of a genetically related family,’ I wrote, giving a slight chuckle.

“Why are you writing things down?” she asked.

‘Um… it’s that hard to figure out? Were you at the concert?’

“Yes.”

‘Well I’m mute, isn’t it obvious?’ I would have thought so, but not everyone picks up on things like that easily. I shrugged.

“Oh… oh dear. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that-“

‘It’s alright. But no one likes having their weaknesses highlighted, so let’s just move on from that okay?’

“I hope you get your voice back some day,” the earth pony said. I rolled my eyes. Oh boy, this was going to be one of “those” conversations wasn’t it? I waved my hoof for her to move on. “I seriously didn’t mean to offend.” She hadn’t yet but if she didn’t get off this note she was going to offend me. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Melony Foals, Lightning Strike’s old Den Mother. I basically ran the orphanage slash foster care home where she grew up. Well… grew to the age she is now anyway.” I looked at her flatly. “So… you know what happened?”

Fluttershy’s eyes started dancing between myself and this miserable excuse for a care giver. “Um… what’s going on?” she asked.

I sighed. ‘This little foal here has a few issues. Some stem from her treatment under Doctor Gray apparently, but another good number of her problems also stem from being avoided a lot when she was younger. Dusk was apparently the only pony who approached her without fear. I might hazard a guess at whose attitude, shall we say, set that trend in motion?’ Melony gave a nervous grin.

She looked at the ground. “Guilty as charged. I saw her practicing with you not long ago and realized just how wrong I was. I came to the show just to… I don’t know, assure myself that the damage I did wasn’t permanent, I guess.”

‘How long did you encourage that kind of attitude towards her?’

“Around seven years or so…” she said, wincing with one eye.

‘I don’t want to talk to you either.’

“It’s easy to judge someone when you don’t know-“

‘She’s still unusual, but no pony is shunning or avoiding her now, including me, so don’t you dare try to tell me how hard that is.’

“If you were in my hooves-“

‘Don’t. Just don’t. Take your medicine.’

“I guess I’ll just have to imagine the stern voice you meant to say that in,” she replied, looking down. Oh boy was this mare asking for it. “No offense.” Asking… practically demanding it! “I know who attacked Lightning on stage. I think, maybe you should know Lightning’s whole story.” I sighed. She was damn lucky I really did want to hear what she had to say. “As I’m sure you’re familiar with, Vinyl, many ponies are born different.” My eyes were eventually going to start rolling of their own accord weren’t they? Yes, I have a disability, you don’t have to work it into every freaking sentence! I wasn't born mute anyway, not that she asked. “I guess most ponies assume Lightning’s name has something to do with her powers. She only got control of electricity less than a year ago. Lightning Strike was named after the old sayings. You know how if you’re incredibly lucky or unlucky, ponies try to relate how unlikely what happened to you is to being struck by lightning? Well that’s where her name really comes from.”

She nodded and continued. “You see, no one knows who gave birth to Lightning. From what I’m told, two guard ponies were called in to investigate a disturbance at a restaurant in Canterlot. Objects were randomly floating in a nearby alley and making many of the ponies nervous as they couldn’t find the source. One of the guards eventually realized the origin of the floating objects was a dumpster in the alley. He dug through the trash and found a half starved and crying infant. I can only imagine what seeing something like that does to a pony.”

‘How bad was she when she was brought in?’ I asked.

“This whole communicating through writing is going to take some getting used to-“ Okay, I’d had enough. I taped the bed to make her stop.

‘Just a tip, when dealing with the disabled, it’s okay to ask questions or reference their problems at appropriate times, but constantly referencing them is infuriating. It’s basically like constantly talking about someone’s pimples or anything else they can’t fix at the moment. Just accept it and keep any problems you have to yourself. Seriously it’s just polite.’ I sighed. I was aware that it was possible that as common sense as something like that might seem, not everyone is aware of it or thinks about it. Could have been a mistake.

Melony lowered her eyebrows at me. “Look, do you want to hear the story or start an argument?” I closed my eyes. Yep, this was explaining a lot about Lightning’s past, a lot more than Melony thought. Never the less, not wanting to get on the cover of a newspaper for strangling her, I waved for Melony to continue her story. “In any case, it’s a little off subject, but the doctors said she had some bad stuff in her from being in the garbage. Apparently she tried to cry but only got trash in her mouth as a result.” I had to consciously avoid looking at Lightning with pity. “When she came to the foster home, neither me nor any of the other care takers wanted to approach her because of her powers. Things just started randomly levitating whenever she got emotional. At first many of the other children didn’t care, but I think they caught on to our fear and as you know, they all started avoiding her.”

I put a hoof on Lightning’s shoulder, her still folding her forelegs and looking with anger at Melony. She glanced at me, giving a quick side smile, but quickly returned to glaring at Melony.

Fluttershy tapped her hoof. "I'm sorry, I just have to interrupt here." She looked at Melony. "First off Melony, you are being a little rude to Vinyl. It's not like it's all that hard to communicate with her and really, what you're doing is like constantly referencing my shyness for no reason." I nodded. "Vinyl... I'm not exactly happy with how you're acting either, though I can't think of anything specific. I can understand you have a history here, but just try to be nice." I was, but- but... oh who was I kidding, no matter how justified I felt, I admired Fluttershy a little. I wasn't gonna argue. "But to the story you're telling Melony, I'm sorry, but every unicorn is born with telekinetic powers. It's just normal. Twilight and Rarity use powers like that all the time and it doesn't scare anypony, why should Lightning scare you?"

"She's a pegasus Fluttershy. She wasn't even controlling her powers much they just activated."

"Same thing happens with Pumpkin Cake," Fluttershy said, referencing the actually rather unusually powerful baby filly who belonged to the Cake family.

Melony shook her head. "In the end, you're right Fluttershy. There is no way to justify our prejudice. But isn't that just often the way prejudice works? I was wrong. I see that now." She sighed. Fluttershy smiled calmly at her, as if to try to say there might be forgiveness. I wasn't sure how forgiving I felt. The little faux pas in how she was speaking to me were one thing, but she hurt a friend and... well Lightning certainly didn't feel forgiving, she was still glaring. “Two years later another baby was found in a dumpster, this time it was a couple that found him. When he was brought to a local clinic, he had traces of drugs in his system. Nothing too serious, but the couple decided not to adopt him because they thought it too much trouble. That couple actually had the nerve to even name him before just dropping him off. His name became “Dusk” because the tiny yellow highlight in his small mane reminded the couple of the last light of the evening.” She glanced at Fluttershy, but then looked back and continued. “As Lightning continued to grow, most everyone just kept their distance from her. That is until one day-“

“I got this,” Lightning suddenly threw in. “You don’t get to tell this story.”

(***)

Lightning Strike’s point of view:

This is probably one of my oldest memories, but it is one of the clearest. I think I was four years old. That day I had been just listening to some music and playing with one of my dolls, I think it was a Princess Luna doll.

As I kept playing, I watched as one of the other children started running around me in circles. She eventually tripped over a block and fell on her face. She started crying and was picked up by one of the care takers. She was carried around on the mare’s back until she calmed down. I remember that looked like… like something I would like.

I reach out my hooves to the mare with the child on her back, but she backed away. I started walking around trying to get someone to pick me up, but the adults and older children just kept backing away when I came to them.

Finally, with my forelegs still hanging out, I just started crying. “Hug… I want a hug…” I started to sob. I closed my eyes and just as I did I felt a small body almost slam into mine. I opened my eyes to find a small blue colt squeezing me with his forelegs.

One of the adult ponies tried to get him away from me, but he actually yelled at the stallion. “I hug her. She crying, I hug!” he tried to move the colt away again, but the colt just held me tighter, “I hug, I hug.” He started yelling.

I hugged him to myself, loving the feeling. We finally let go of each other and he ran away. I went back to my doll, thinking that was the end of things, but actually he came back with a small wooden train.

(***)

Vinyl’s point of view:

“It was the best game I ever played.” Lightning finally said.

Melony rolled her eyes. “Oh please, I could have told that story easily. I was right there when it happened.”

“Then why didn’t you hug me?” Lightning snapped.

“I was afraid alright? I’m sorry, I realize I was wrong now,” Melony snapped back. “Do you forgive me or not?”

“How about not?” Lightning replied. Part of me wanted to scold Lightning for saying that, the other wanted to give her a hoof bump.

“You’re her legal guardian aren’t you?” Melony asked me. “You’re going to let her act like that? What kind of a parent are you?”

I closed my eyes. ‘Lady, you don’t know how much you are pushing it do you? That is NOT how you ask for forgiveness. Finish what you have to say and go.’

Melony rolled her eyes. “Fine. In any case, yes, after that happened, Lightning and Dusk were inseparable. It was actually Lightning who was the overly attached one, no surprise I suppose. If ever he cried, she was right there, whenever he asked a question she would set out to find an answer. If he was just a little hungry, she would even start using her powers to intimidate the adults and other children into feeding him right away. Eventually many of the ponies believed we would have to separate them for both of their sakes. This made Lightning furious to even hear, but after three years of her trying to be the mother of a child only two years younger than herself… well there were concerns. Lightning was headed for a padded room and her precious Dusk would likely never see her again.” Lightning and I both glared at Melony. “What? We were becoming even more scared.”

‘I don’t even know where to begin. Maybe one of you could have TRIED being nice to her. Just a thought.’ I wrote. ‘Just finish your story.’

“A gray stallion, who back then worked as a researcher for the Royal Guard, said he would be interested in studying Lightning and her abilities. When told her story, he insisted on adopting her along with Dusk together, saying he believed that separating them would damage both foals.” Melony shook her head. “I’m sure I’m not representing myself as the best pony in the world right now, but you have to understand, I didn’t hate Lightning or Dusk, I was just so unsure of what to do. The stallion was offering to take them off my hooves and he seemed so confident that he could handle them. I just handed them over.” She hung her head. “After learning what happened… what he did to them… I’ve never felt so guilty in all my life. If I asked a few more questions… maybe if… if… I don’t know, had I known what that stallion would do I would have adopted both children myself rather than give them to that monster.” She blinked away a forming tear. “I can’t make up for that mistake, I know I can’t. How can I ever even think to ask forgiveness? Lightning I am so sorry for giving you to him… please…”

"For giving me to Doctor Gray?” Lightning asked. “You didn’t know what would happen- or at least you better not have. I’ll fry you right now if-“ I put a hoof on her muzzle.

Melony hung her head. “Do you forgive me?”

“I don’t think you really knew what would happen,” Lightning replied. “So why? That wasn’t your fault. I never held you accountable so… no… I guess.”

Melony hung her head a little lower. “I suppose this is how you’re being raised now.” And whatever pity I had started to feel for Melony went up in smoke when I heard that line. “Fine. After that, a few months later I read in the local paper about Luna saving two foals from being experimented on by a horrible stallion. When I saw the picture of the apparently tortured filly and her crying brother, I realized who they were, even through all of Lightning’s matted fur and now strangely transformed mane…” she paused. “I sent them to that. I was in such a hurry to get rid of them… again I am so sorry. Lightning please…”

“No.” Lightning replied.

Fluttershy looked at Lightning. “It’s okay little filly. Why don’t you just forgive her? You’ll feel better if you do.”

“No I won’t,” Lighting replied to her.

“But you really should. When someone honestly asks for forgiveness, you should always give it,” Fluttershy pressed.

“Why?” Lightning asked. “I’ll never trust her again. Besides, she’s not even asking forgiveness for what she actually did right now. She ignored me and made everyone else do that same. I do NOT forgive her for that.”

“You don’t have to trust her. Just forgive,” Fluttershy replied.

“Then what does forgiveness mean? I thought it meant you don’t punish someone and you open the door of your… well your heart to them again. I will never do that. She hurt me. I don’t think Doctor Gray was her fault, but before that she still hurt me. I won’t forgive her for that. I’m happy she feels bad.”

“Lightning!” Fluttershy scolded. “You accept her apology right now and-“ I waved a hoof at her.

‘I am her guardian here, not you.’ I wrote. ‘With all due respect Fluttershy, you’re wrong. Forgiveness is a choice. If Lightning chooses to withhold it, that’s her choice.’

“It’s not just a choice.” Fluttershy snapped. “If you expect to be forgiven you have to forgive others first.”

‘I am her guardian. My word is her law, not yours. I thank you for your help and again, I respect who you are and what you stand for, but you do not have the right to instruct my child nor to try to force her to do something that is her choice. I’m warning you Fluttershy, back off.’

Fluttershy sighed. “I don’t want to argue.” She finally said.

‘It’s okay,’ I wrote back. 'I'm not mad.'

“You don’t have to back down from her because she’s disabled Fluttershy,” Melony said, putting a hoof on her shoulder. Melony glared at me. “How dare you try to teach a child such things. I did what I did but I apologized. You are showing Lightning how to be a spoiled brat who thinks only of herself-“

It was as though my pen started writing of it's own accord. 'You can insult and annoy me all you want. But Lightning is my friend, insult my friends-' I stood up, still trying to keep Lightning's wing steady. Lightning winced, at her wing, but seemed okay. ‘THAT DOES IT!’ I got off the bed. ‘You’re done with your story?’

“I suppose.”

I purposefully turned my pad so Lightning wouldn’t be able to see what I was writing. ‘Then let me tell you a few things you entitled little bitch. You ASK for forgiveness, you NEVER demand it. You ARE in the wrong and after what you did to Lightning you barely deserve the right to grovel for forgiveness. I don’t know if you are or are not really sorry at this rate but… I should smack you but I think the drama in this room has risen high enough don’t you?’ Melony just glared at me. ‘Now as to Lightning, for all the shit she’s been through I couldn’t be more proud of who she is now. She’s normally friendly, happy and gentle. Almost her every waking thought is of the well-being of her brother and she cares for the feelings of other ponies beyond that. If she doesn’t care about your feelings, I’m half convinced that’s only because you don’t deserve her consideration. She’s not perfect but next to you she’s a saint from where I was sitting. In any case she’s hurt and scared out of her mind right now, you’re expecting her to be at her most charitable or something? I would tell you to ask again when she isn’t being paranoid about her brother or nursing a recently mutilated wing, but if I ever see you around her again I’m going to break your jaw, is that clear?’

“I don’t fight disabled-“

‘Lady, you are honestly going there aren’t you? Fine. Have it your way. You need to think about how you treat others who are different from you before- let me put it this way. My voice is broken, there’s nothing wrong with my hooves, I can hurt you just as easily as anypony else. Trust me, I’m not as broken as you seem to think.’

“Now I-“

“I’ve had enough too,” Fluttershy suddenly interjected. “Get out,” she said to Melony.

“I-“

“I believe in forgiveness, but you just insulted that filly when you’re the one in the wrong. I believe in forgiveness freely offered, but that’s not a license to act like a victim of your victims when they won’t take your apology. Just go.” Melony walked out.

I looked back at Fluttershy. ‘Thanks Flutters.’

“I don’t entirely disagree with her, just the way she put it,” Fluttershy shot back. “Lightning holding a grudge isn’t good for her.”

‘It’s still her choice.’

“Is it?” She shook her head. “Look, you’re the parent here, I’ll back off, if you just let me say my peace.” I nodded. “Forgiveness allows a person to move on even as a victim. You don’t have to trust a person again, just let go of your anger.” She smiled.

I nodded. ‘Is that your peace?’

“I suppose.” She said looking at the ground and backing away from me. I didn't mean to intimidate Fluttershy, but I think that was more her personality than anything I was doing. Sure I looked angry, but well... I was just not with her.

‘Okay.’ I walked back over to Lightning.

I was right and I knew it. I settled down next to Lightning again. However instead of grabbing my foreleg again, she just sat there glaring at the door.

I bit my lip. Why did I think I was right? Lightning was being bitter, not like her normal self at all. Was I right? I tried not to look at the child for a few minutes, trying to fix my face to not look confused.

Lightning’s eyes went wide again. “Is Rainbow back yet? Dusty… they got there right?”

I sighed. I watched as Fluttershy walked back to the bed. She put a hoof on the filly’s head. “It’s alright,” she said in a near whisper. “Just calm down. He’s safe with my friend, I promise.” Her voice was calming. Her voice was…

I looked at my note pad. I couldn’t avoid the question anymore. I was always focusing on how others handled my issue. How was I handling it? I had spent nine months in a slump, did I really think one little filly had just righted that by being nice to me? Had I really moved on? Or was I the one who was bitter?