Persona 4: Golden Music

Chapter 4
Pit Stop at the Gas Station

(Afternoon, Inaba)

After a few hours of filling out release papers, and informing to the other police officers about Vinyl and Octavia. The two were finally released from police custody as they soon entered into the car that belong to Dojima and began to make their way to the human’s home. During the drive home, the mares began to examine the horseless carriage that they were in. It was a bit surprising to Octavia at first seeing how it was a bit smaller compared to the bus that they rode on top of. Vinyl on the other hand was sticking her head out the window like a dog as she enjoyed the wind blowing onto her face. That is until Octavia pulled her head back in.

“Vinyl, stop sticking your head out of the window like that.”

“Aw come on Tavi. I was enjoying the wind flowing through my mane. This would be a great way to blow dry your mane if it’s still wet from water.”

“That or get your head cut off by a carriage or something else. Now sit back down so we don’t cause trouble for Mr. Dojima.”

“Fine...killjoy.” Vinyl said as she sat back into her seat. “So how long before we get to your home police dude.”

“Heh, never been called that before in my line of work.” Dojima said, chuckling at the nickname Vinyl gave him.”We’ll be there in a few minutes, I’ll have to drop you two off at my place before I go pick up Nanako from school.”

“Nanako?”

“My daughter that I take care of….who’ll I’ll have to talk with later about you two coming to live with us until you can find a way back home...This might be a bit hard to explain it.”

“It can’t be that hard to explain to somepony that you have two magical talking ponies living with them, right?”

“I think what happen to us yesterday would be a prime example of how well they would believe us without showing them proof of what you mean Vinyl.” Octavia said as she felt the car stopping in front of the gas station that she and Vinyl walked by when they first arrived to Inaba. “Why did we stop here?”

“I need to put some gas in the car. Can’t go anywhere if the car doesn’t have enough fuel to go from place to place.” Dojima said as he unbuckled his seatbelt and exited the car. Vinyl and Octavia in turn did the same as they exit the car.

“Man, this “car” is much faster then the carriage in Manehatten.” Vinyl said as she stretched her limbs out.

“That and the seats are more comfortable and relaxing.” Octavia added as she notice Dojima talking to a young human as he motions toward the car as he heads off into the store.

“Whoa, nice cosplaying outfits. Are you guys just coming back from a convention?” The young man asked.

“Why do they always think we’re cosplaying?” Vinyl asked looking over at Octavia who shrugged for a moment before looking at the human. “We’re not cosplaying, we’re ponies.”

“.....Um….okay…..didn’t think you were those kinds of people that took their cosplaying seriously-” Before the young man could finish, Vinyl’s horn began to glow as he felt his hat being pull off from his head and began to float right front of his face.

“Still don’t believe that-.” Vinyl was cut off mid sentence from Octavia who smacked her up side her head. Causing the hat to fall to the ground. “Ow! What was that for?”

“You can’t go showing off your powers like that like it was nothing you idiot. You could’ve easily scare him or worse.” The Earth pony said as she walked to pick the hat up to give it back to the young man. “I’m sorry about my friends….unorthodox way of doing. She tends not to think of things before hand.”

“Hey!”

The young man blinks for a moment before laughing and placing his hat back onto his head. “It’s fine, you don’t need to worry about it. To be honest I never actually expected to see something like this in this small little town on the countryside.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well Inaba is a quiet little town with not that much action going on around here. Well besides the biker gang that come by from time to time, but other then that not so much is going on here.” The young man said as he begins to fill the car up with gasoline. “But besides being a quiet little town on the countryside, this place does have a pretty cool shopping mall that most of us either hang out or work at one of the stores.”

“Do you work there?” Octavia asked as the young man shook his head.

“Naw, I work here at the gas station. I’m not a fan of fast places like that. Hey, you wouldn’t mind if I ask for your names do you?”

“Oh! Where are my manners. I’m Octavia Melody.” The Earth pony said as she motions him to look at Vinyl. “And the rude pony beside me is Vinyl Scratch.”

“Hey, I’m not rude.” Vinyl said as she rolled her eyes and extended a hand towards the human. “Vinyl Scratch, or if I’m DJing DJ-Pon3.”

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you both.” He said as he shook Vinyl’s hand for a moment before releasing it. “Hope you enjoy your stay in Inaba.”

“Thanks we’ll be sure to do that.” Octavia said as the young man went back to finishing putting gasoline into the car before walking back into the store. “What a nice being he was.”

“Eh, he’s alright I guess.” The Unicorn said as she was about to head back into the car. Only to pause as she felt her head pound for a split second, causing her to place a hand on her forehead.

“Vinyl, are you okay?” Octavia asked as she notice Vinyl’s disposition as she moves over towards her to see if she was okay.

“Y-Yeah, just a slight headache.That’s all.” She said, shaking her head as she looked over at Octavia. “Could be because we haven’t eaten anything in the past few hours.”

“I wonder why we haven’t eaten anything in the past few hours.” Octavia said in a sarcastic tone. “It could be that you got us arrested last night before we could even start eating.”

“You’re never going to let that one slide are you?”

“Just like with everything else that you’ve done during our time together. Plus someone has to keep reminding you so you won’t do anything stupid again.” Just as Vinyl was pulling herself together, Octavia noticed Dojima walking out of the store while carrying two bags of what she could guess were food or snacks.

“Sorry for the wait. Just remembered that you haven’t eaten anything in the past few hours. So I figure I’d buy you two some snacks to tide you over until tonight.” Dojima said as he handed the bags to Octavia.

“Why thank you Mr. Dojima-.”

“What’s in the bag.” Vinyl interrupted as she levitated the second bag from Octavia and begins to look through it. Only for Octavia to snatch it from her magic and slaps her upside her head again. “Will you stop doing that!?”

“Only when you learn to show some manners. Plus we should wait until we get to Mr. Dojima’s home before eating.”

“But I’m hungry now~.” The Unicorn whined as she gave Octavia a pouty but innocent look. “Don’t you care about your friend’s well being?”

“Yes, but that also means that I have to keep you in line when it comes to stuff like this.”

“Oh you are such a killjoy.”

“And you’re an idiot that I have to keep an eye on from time to time.” As the two continue their little argument, Dojima couldn’t help but chuckle at the way the ponies were acting. It almost reminded him of him and his partner Adachi. Only with this it involved two ponies from another world, and they aren’t in the police force. Not wanting to have the folks around town wondering what was going on, he decided to get their attention by clearing his throat.

“Not to ruin this little conversation that you two are having. But I would like to get you two to my home before the sun sets. I do have to pick up my daughter from school if you haven’t forgotten about that.”

“Oh...right...sorry about that.” Vinyl said as she scratches the back of her head. “I guess I can wait a bit before snacking down on the food you got us.” She said as she opened the door to the back seat as she and Octavia hopped inside.
“And that’s why I have to keep you in line so you don’t cause any problems.” Octavia said as she and Vinyl buckled up as the car began to start up, and begins to drive off.

“Whatever...just wake me up when we get to Dojima’s place.” The Unicorn said as she slowly begins to close her eyes and leans against the window.