Clop…

Clop…

Clop…

Clop…

The sound of my hooves bounced off the walls of a dark, and seemingly endless, hallway. My eyes wandered, only making out featureless walls that nearly hugged my sides. From the looks of it, there was barely enough room for me to turn around, not that I would’ve wanted to. I wasn’t sure how long I had been walking down this hallway, but all that laid behind me was the same inky blackness. My ears swiveled, trying to pick up any sort of sounds that could’ve possibly led me to somewhere new. I picked up a faint sound, almost like...beeping? Yes, that had to be it. Where it was coming from, however, I couldn’t be sure. I continued on, only to realize that doors had suddenly appeared on the walls.

“Huh?” I murmured, as I looked up at one. What looked to be a name plate was attached to its wooden surface, but the letters written on it were illegible, almost like the scribblings of a young filly. I...wasn’t sure what to make of it, so I carried on walking. It was then that I was blasted by the brightness of white. Grunting, I shielded my eyes from the walls and their sudden change of color. Seconds passed, and I slowly brought down my hoof. The hallway...it looked...oddly familiar now...and the beeping had growing much louder now. Squinting my eyes, I made out a figure in the distance. A pony?

I decided to pick up my pace. Who were they? Why were they here? Slowly, I went from a walk to a trot, and a trot to a gallop. I raced down the hall, the pony growing more in focus by the second. And still, the beeping...that Celestia-damned beeping...I tried my hardest to ignore it, paying attention to the pony, who I had now determined to be a mare. She had her back to me, and at her side, was a IV pole. She also wore a hospital gown, covering most of her coat, But from what I could tell by her exposed hooves, she was a light tan, a rusty orange and a shade of cranberry streaking down her mane. Seeing those colors made me stop in my tracks. I...I recognized this mare…

“...No…” I whispered, taking a step back. My voice seemed to have caught the mare’s attention, as she perked, looking up at the wall in front of her.

“Daddy…?”

That soft, gentle whinny...It gripped my heart like millions of tiny needles. My head slowly began to shake, and my eyes burned with tears.

“Daddy…” the mare spoke again, her body swaying slightly. She extended a hoof, wrapping it around the IV pole. “It...hurts….”

“...H-Honey…” I choked out. I took another step backwards, my eyes slamming shut as tears began to flow.

“It hurts, Daddy...Please...make it stop...make it stop….” As my vision began to blur, the bright and lively colors of my daughter’s fur began to dim. I could only make out a dusty shade of gray, and pitch black. Blinking away the tears to the best of my ability, I tried to look at the mare...only to realize that she was no longer my little girl, but instead...Octavia. My blood ran cold.

“Please...help…” Octavia’s voice was nothing more but a pathetic squeak. She turned towards me, those large, purple eyes staring right into my soul. I couldn’t hold her gaze, my eyes wandering down to her neck. It was then I saw the red, bruised skin on her neck...right where her bowtie would’ve been. Her legs wobbled, before suddenly giving out, and with a hard “THUD!”, Octavia crumbled to the floor.

“Octavia!” I cried, finally finding it in me to move. I finally reached the end of that cursed hallway, scooping the smaller mare up in my forearms. I looked into her eyes, hoping, praying that a single shred of life still lingered within them...but, to my horror, I was met with a pair of glossy, lifeless orbs.

“No...no….no, no, NO!”

“NO!” I screamed as my head sprang up from my sweat-stained pillow. My heart pounded in my chest, and my breath was low and rugged. I stared ahead, dazed and unsure of where I was exactly. That didn’t matter to me, however. The only thing etched into my mind was the face of an asphyxiated young mare.

Seconds bled into minutes, until eventually, I calmed myself down. Looking around, I realized that I was back in my little bedroom, one of several in the Stallion’s Wing of the Melody Estate’s Servant’s Quarters. Tossing away my blankets, I sat up in my bed, my hind legs swinging over the side and dangling just above the floor. I rubbed my weary eyes with a hoof, before gazing up at the ceiling.

“Just a dream…” I murmured, more to set my mind at ease than anything. “Octavia’s ok...it was all just a dream…”

I was only assuming Octavia was alright, given that she hadn’t returned home earlier in the night. I had been pacing near the Servant’s entrance for hours. At about one-ish, I reluctantly retired to bed, assuming that Octavia would not have been returning home. I could only assume she was with that unicorn mare, Vinyl Scratch, I believe her name was. I had only known her for the few minutes she had spent dragging Octavia inside of the mansion earlier that week, but she seemed far more trustworthy than some of the scum that often walked the city’s alleyways. The only thing that worried me was how Lord and Lady Melody would react. During the day, I would hear them whispering about some sort of plan to keep Octavia under their hoof. I couldn’t get all the details; I had to appear as neutral as I could to their disgusting behavior. Still...I was terrified for Octavia’s future. For eighteen years, I had watched that mare grow in pain and solitude, hating her own race due to the outdated ideology of ponies who hid behind magic and bits. For eighteen years, I had wanted to do more than just sit idly by, giving partial punishments and words of encouragement.

My bed squealed in protest as I scooted over to my nightstand. Reaching over, I pulled open the bottom shelf, revealing a small, wooden box. I held it close to my chest, like a infant foal fresh from its mother’s womb. Opening the box, I peered down at the trinkets I kept inside: a locket once belonging to my daughter, hoof bangles that my wife and I wore on our wedding day, finally, a folded-up photo. I picked up the photo and unfolded it, revealing the image of a cozy-looking cottage. A fence stretched behind it, bordering acres of privately-owned farmland, while a large tree provided its side with cool shade, optimal for summer afternoons. This little cottage had been in my heart for years now. It was in the quiet town of Ponyville, away from noisy clubs and snobby aristocrats. I wanted it to be my retirement home. I had enough money in the bank to buy it, but...oftentimes a thought had passed in my mind. I would often wonder if...maybe Octavia would...I shook my head at my foolishness. Why would Octavia leave the life she had known for eighteen years to live in a cottage with some stallion she barely knew? Someone who, for all she knew, was more interested in a paycheck from her father than her wellbeing? My mind had to have been going in my old age.

Returning the photo, I placed the trinket box back into the nightstand, and tried to go back to sleep. I flipped over my pillow, and rested my head on the cool material. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, but try as I might, sleep just would not come to me. I grunted, sitting up again. I..I couldn’t sleep now. I needed to know if Octavia was alright, before whatever horrors her parents were planning to inflict on her.

Getting up again, I trotted out of my bedroom, stepping out into the corridor. I moved quietly, hearing the light snoring of my fellow servants as I passed their bedroom doors. Heading out of the Stallion’s Wing, I walked down the main corridor separating the male and female wings, and headed to the Servant’s entrance. As I opened the door, a gust of the cool, early morning air rushed through my fur. It was still dark out, stars peppering the cobalt sky. The door let out a small creak as I shut it behind me. I then began a steady trot, making my way across the vast garden that stretched across the Melody’s front yard, and making it onto the sidewalk. I began my journey towards the Red Light District. It seemed to be where most of the night owls spent their time. The ground was soon cast in the glow of various neon signs. Several bars lined the street: The Blue Moon, McWhinney’s, The Olde Yoke...places that hadn’t existed in my youth, but seemed far too noisy and crowded for me nowadays. I spotted a pair of mares emerging from one of the buildings, engaged in conversation.

“Excuse me,” I called to them, approaching them slowly.

“Yeah?” replied one of the mares. “Can we help you?”

“Er…” I began. I realized right then and there just how out of place an old pony like me was here. I cleared my throat. I had to keep my composure; this was for Octavia. “You mares wouldn’t happen to know a Vinyl Scratch...would you?”

“Vinyl?” echoed the mare, her gaze meeting her friend’s. I scratched the side of my head in thought.

“Yes,” I said slowly. “She’s a white unicorn with a crazy, blue mane?”

“Oh!” The mare’s eyes instantly lit up with recollection. “You must be talking about DJ Pon-3!”

“D…J...Pon..?” I cut myself off, blinking dumbfoundedly. An odd name...but, seeing at it was the mare I was looking for, I nodded.

“Oh, everyone knows about her. She’s the best DJ in all of Canterlot!”

“Would you...happen to know where she is now?”
“At this hour? Probably home. If you’re looking for a show, try later today.” I lowered my ears.

“I see…” I murmured. “And...I’m sure neither of you would know where she lived, right…?” The mares were silent for a moment, sharing another glance. They then snickered, their lips pulling back into devious smirks. I cocked a brow in confusion.

“Didn’t take an old guy like you to want a piece of the DJ,” the first mare finally said. My eyes widened at the implication, and my cheeks began to burn.

“O-Oh, no!” I exclaimed, my voice shifting at least one octave higher from my embarrassment. Goodness...the ponies today certainly weren’t shy to talk about such things… “I just...need to speak to her.”

“Suuuure...well, lucky for you, ol’ Gingersnap here,” the mare nudged her companion playfully. “...Got the chance to spend a night with DJ Pon-3 once.”

“That’s right,” the second mare, Gingersnap, added with a small giggle. “She doesn’t live too far from here. I believe she lives on Bridle Avenue, apartment thirteen, I think.” The information caused to to let out a content sigh.

“Thank you,” I told the mares. “Thank you so much.” Turning on my heel, I began a swift gallop for the street in particular.

“Don’t mention it, old guy!” Gingersnap’s voice echoed behind me.

Author's Note

I really wanted to make this a one-shot, but with work and my constantly-shifting interests getting in the way, I decided to make a two-parter. This story shouldn’t be too long, I think. Honestly, the thing I’m more afraid of is if I tagged this correctly, haha.

I really hope you enjoyed this story so far, and please don’t be afraid to leave me some of that sweet constructive criticism down in the comment section.