Scratchen

**** Hey guys we should pay our respects to this fallen broney Dark-Castle. Who fell to his lowest but did better by not committing the thoughts that his depression gave him. So I want you to go pat him on the back and show some love to a fellow broney.****

After the events of that night, Vinyl and Bon Bon had a mare’s night out once a week. Sometimes the other mares joined them, but most of the time it was just the two of them enjoying each other’s company. Over the course of that time Vinyl started to feel real affection for Bon Bon, not just the I wanna tap that that she felt for some of the more attractive mares, but a real relationship. She wanted to relate her true feelings for Bon Bon but didn’t want to ruin the friendship that she had going with her. Then one night Bon Bon asked about Vinyl’s parents and foalhood. This struck a sour note in Vinyl’s feelings. She didn’t want to remember those times. But if Vinyl wanted to have a relationship with this mare and not just a friendship. She deserved to know.

The two where sitting in their usual booth at the small but homily pub. They where enjoying each others company. Shamrock was tending to other regulars in the pub.Vinyl was enjoying a nice glass of winter malt when Bon Bon asked a question that Vinyl dreaded to hear.

“So Vinyl, I want to know more about you. What was your foalhood like?” In that instant Vinyl went from happy-go-lucky to grim and distant. Bon Bon knew she had hit a sour note, with the look on Vinyl’s face. “Ummm, you don’t have to-” was all Bon Bon got out before Vinyl lifted a hoof in protest.

“No. It’s probably something you should know if we’re going to hang out more.”

Bon Bon had to admit, she was kinda scared about what was about to be said.

Vinyl began with a sigh. “It all begins with my real parents. My dad was an abusive bastard.” Vinyl said with distaste. “Mom was always too weak to stand against him, so she just sided with him all the time.”

------Vinyl’s fillyhood-------

A stout, pink coated, and heavily built unicorn stallion with an electric blue mane with white streaks in it walked into the Scratch home. He noticed that there was no dinner on the table. “WHAT THE BUCK! WHERE IS MY DINNER YOU LAZY BAGS OF MEAT?!” The stallion bellowed, as he was already in a pissed off mood, and this just set him off even more. A unicorn mare with a white coat and matching white mane looked at the stallion with a pair of red irises, brimming with tears. She knew damn well what was going to happen next. She braced herself as she chose her next few words.

“I...umm...I’m sorry-” But before she could say any more a hoof the size of her face made contact with it. All the bracing and getting ready for the blow doesn’t mean squat once it actually happens. The mare was knocked against the wall and sprawled out on the floor. The stallion moved closer for another blow, but was stopped by a high, squeaky, filly voice coming from the stairs.

“STOP!” cried a filly that had an electric blue mane, a pure white coat and red irises. The stallion turned to the filly. The filly knew that this had been a mistake and would have to try to make up an excuse for this set of bruises and cuts.

“Vinyl, what did you say to me?” Before Vinyl could answer the stallion leaped at her and slammed his right hoof into her face with such speed that the filly didn't see it coming. She was knocked onto her back against the stairs. The filly quickly recovered and dove under the next blow from the stallion. Vinyl made a quick decision that she would rather be on her own then here. So while she was under the stallion, she got behind and was about to buck his genitals, but then the stallion quickly turned and knocked her to the side. He picked her up and knocked her down with a hoof as hard as he could. Vinyl was glad that nothing broke when she hit the ground. She got back up and was met with two hooves in the chest, sending her out the window. Noticing that this was a fantastic time to leave, she got up in a hurry and darted off away from home. Her dad was yelling something but she couldn’t hear him through the pounding that was going on in her ears. “I’m free. I’m finally free.” Vinyl thought to herself.

Vinyl ran as far and as fast as she could. Before she knew it she was in the middle of a forest far from the outskirts of Canterlot where her old home resided. No... not her home any more. She was not only bruised, cut, and hungry... she was now also homeless. Stranded in the middle of a forest with no food, shelter, or the means to acquire both. “Well, It’s great to know that I’m finally away from that snivelling bastard. I wish mom could get away. But you do what? You have to in order to survive I guess. Well, I better find a place for the night.” Unbeknown to Vinyl a being of fire was watching her every movement from above. “Well well well, looks like we have a lost little filly in my woods. Lets see what we can do.” The mysterious being said with a hint of a smile forming on its lips.

After a hour of searching Vinyl found a cave. “Finally, its about bucking time. It has been dark forever.” Vinyl turned to look out into the night sky. The moon and stars shined brightly as if they where watching her. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw a light, but when she looked in that direction there was no such thing. “I better get something going to stay warm since winter’s around the corner. Surprisingly its not that chilly out. I figured that I would be freezing by now. I also need to stop talking myself.” She said with a sigh. But just to the right of Vinyl the fiery being had some how merged with the earth, watching her every move intently.

“Humm... I guess she is lost. I’ll talk to her tonight. See whats up.”

*** Later that night ***

Vinyl sat around a makeshift fire that she had managed to create with twigs leaves and anything else that could burn. She was just staring out the cave’s mouth, wondering what she was going to do now. She couldn't work... she was barely nine. But before she could think any more she heard a voice. “Hello young one.” It seem to resonate around her but mostly coming from the fire.

“Great! I think I’m going insane now.”

A chuckle sounded out this time it was for sure coming from the fire. “No young one. You are not insane. Here. Let me show myself. I suggest you step back.” Vinyl got up and stepped back from the fire. With that the flame of the fire erupted into a flame that was easily five times bigger then the fire was originally. Vinyl raises her hoof to shield herself from the sudden surge of heat. Vinyl could vaguely see something pony shaped in the fire. Then just as the soon as the fire expanded the flame went out completely, but Vinyl couldn't tell because of the light and heat coming off the pony in front of her: An orange coated pony with flying goggles on his head. His mane and tail looked like real fire. They were even moving like one. “Hello Vinyl Scratch.”

Vinyl didn’t feel scared, just perplexed. She had no idea what she was staring at but she felt safe and secure around this pony. There were two things that really confused her and that was who and what he was. “Who are you?” Vinyl finally mange to get out. This pony looked happy... something Vinyl hasn’t felt in a long time.

The mysterious burning pony let out a chuckle. “My name is Blazing Inferno, Blaze for short, and before you ask I am an element. The element of earth and fire to be exact.” Vinyl just stared at him.

“A what now?”

Blaze just smiled. “Here. Come with me and I’ll show you.”

Vinyl was a bit unsure. Then she looked into the solid emerald eyes of Blaze and new that this choice, this leap of faith, could possibly be the best decision in her life.