“And then what do you say after he asks your name?” A white mare leaned down to scowl at the small filly in front of her.

“I run away?” Vinyl asked, shaking in her hooves.

The mare looked furious as she flipped her blonde hair off her eyes. “Wrong. You bow and introduce yourself.”

Vinyl looked around the room she was in. A boring lobby with nothing to look at. Her eyes returned to the mare. The older mare had turned around to speak to her husband. Vinyl ran a hoof over her hair. Long, curled, and done up, worthy of a princess. Her tail had been thoroughly braided, and after refusing to wear any jewellery, she was forced to wear bangles on her front hoof.

The two ponies talking in whispers in front of her occasionally turned their head to shoot a glance at her or to point out something about her. Vinyl shuffled, feeling very uncomfortable.

“I just wish she didn't have those awful eyes. They're frightening to the core.”

“I know. Maybe we'll get her some contact lenses for them?”

Vinyl turned her head away and frowned. Her parents never liked her eyes. It was obvious from the moment she could speak.

After a few more minutes the two turned, and took a deep breath. “All right. We're going in now.” Her father said, moving his green body past her. Vinyl followed after him, staying near his legs the entire time.

–

This room is frightening. It's the sort of thing I hate. Files stacked everywhere and high tables. I read the name on the front of the desk. 'Hoity Toity'. I've heard that name countless times. It always comes with bad things. I do not like this Hoity Toity. Not one bit. He peers over the desk at me, making me feel small. He lifts up his glasses to look me in the eye.

“What is your name, little filly?” He asks, rather soothingly. My shaking slows as I look back up at him. I find myself unable to speak.

“Introduce yourself.” Mother hisses at me.

Hoity looks ashamed for a moment. He recoils from the desk and walks around the side of it. He bends down to look me in the eye, smiling warmly. “I'm sorry to have scared you.”

I glance over his silver hair, teased up tall. “You look like a silver beehive.”

Mother nearly faints. Dad gasps. The blue grey stallion simply laughs.

“Your hair looks very nice as well.”

He's obviously offended to some degree but doesn't let me know it. I've stopped shaking now. Why are mother and father so afraid of this man?

“Why don't you run along outside dear, your parents and I have some important grown up pony stuff to talk about?” His charming voice sooths my ears. They wiggle a bit before I can stop them.

“Okay Mr Hoity.” I turn around and trot out the door, moving back into the big lobby again. I drop the innocent act and scowl slightly. This place is horrible. My eyes scan the room as I look for the receptionist. She's away from her desk. Great news for me.

I walk over to my saddle bags left under a chair. I retrieve a set of headphones, white and red, and throw them around my neck. I pull out my mp3 player, a rarity for people in Equestria. I can't tell mother and father that I used their money to pay for this, I'd be dead.

I switch on the first song I find, a popular song by Livingmau5. The sweet beats move through my headphones, rocking my soul as the sound wraps around me. Soothing me, exciting me, taking me away from everything.

I'm in a world of my own, everything is moving to the beat of my music. I scan the crowd in front of me, a deck at my hooftips. A few older ponies behind me sing into microphones and blend into the music. A chill runs up my spine back in the real world.

I'm at peace.

I'm in my own place.

It feels so, so good to be taken away from it all.

All my fears wash away in this world of mine. My red eyes flash. The red eyes I'm proud of. My blue mane is unkempt and messy, drenched with sweat. My tail swings in time with the entire world, keeping me balanced.

The music slows down, piano sneaking into the track.

I'm wrapped by the kind, invigorating warm glow of music. I snuggle into it and in return it seeps into my soul. I let it back out into the mix, playing my mind through the large speakers on either side of the stage.

Ponies cry out to me, “We love you Vinyl!” some are crying with happiness. Others climb onto the stage to get closer to the source of the sound.

“Miss, your parents will be out soon.” A voice comes from the other world. I don't want to go back, but I open my eyes.

A mare with an orange coat and yellow hair looks down at me. Her hair is done up, and she's wearing a shirt collar. She speaks with a fancy accent.

“Scratch, put away your headphones, quickly.” She urges. It's the receptionist. I see her a lot, as she's always running around town doing jobs for the mayor.

I slip off the headphones and quickly put them in my saddle bag. “Thanks for warning me. Mother would have my head.”

The mare nods. “It's fine. I feel sorry for you... having to hide from them. It's the least I can do.”

“You're the best Shine.” I reach forward and hug her.

“I've got to get back to the desk and look busy. Toity's so ditzy he wouldn't know whether I was doing work or if I was going sky diving, but I can't be too careful.”

She moves away from me and back to her desk. Shortly after Mother and Father exit the office. They look angry with me.

“You are on very thin ice, young lady.” Mother hisses, walking straight past me.

“Get your things, Vinyl.” Father walks off behind mother.

I hop off the chair, frightened to go home. I give a silent farewell to Shine as I walk out the door.

Author's Note

I love Vinyl so much I just had to write about her.
So here it is.
More soon. :3