Chapters In the Midst of Death is Life
Enigma’s heart nearly stopped. He dropped the bouquet of flowers he was holding to the ground. There was no chance of trying to hide the fact that he was crying, he already attracted the attention of everypony in the hospital lobby. The world spun around. He couldn’t hear himself scream. He kicked and thrashed and bawled. He couldn’t contain himself.
His grandfather had just died.
The doctor tried to calm him down, but the burgundy stallion didn’t want to calm down. He wanted to raise tartarus. He wanted to scream at Celestia, the Mare in the Moon, Princess Cadence, Prince Blueblood, the doctors, anypony. He needed somepony to blame.
Soon two muscular earth pony stallions grabbed him by his hooves. Enigma managed to break loose and fly up the stairs to his grandfather’s room. He wouldn’t believe them until he saw it himself. As soon as he reached the floor his greatest role model was on, his wings tightened to his body as his hooves touched the smooth, checkered floor. He galloped at full speed towards Room 15, his legs burned but he didn’t care.
He skidded to stop as he came up to the dreaded room. His hoof came up to his doorknob, but then heisitated. Soon his hoof spun the cold knob and pushed the door open slowly. There he was, Grandpa Crux. Enigma slowly approached the old pony. His grayish red coat was still as stone, and his yellow and orange mane was hanging over his eyes. His wings were splayed out, as if he was flying. Even though he was old, he never truly looked that way.
With what strength the younger pegasus had left, he knelt over his grandpa and sobbed. Soon the big earth pony’s came in again, but at this point they just let their prisoner grieve. After a good amount of time, Enigma slowly got up. His eyes were red from crying and his coat and mane were dull from his sorrow. The guards escorted him out of the room and to the street. As he walked by he could tell ponies were staring at him, it was indeed strange for an adult stallion to cry.
“E-excuse me ma’am?”
Soon his sadness was quickly converted into red, hot anger. He turned around to the voice, ready to attack. His teeth were clenched and his wings were spread. He closed his eyes and turned around to face the speaker. “I’M NOT A MARE!” he screamed.
He opened his eyes after that to see the one who asked him if he was okay. It was a little violet-colored filly. He wondered if she had cancer, since she had no mane or tail, was hooked up to an IV, and was wearing a hospital gown. Her first tear soon dripped out of her right eye. Soon more salty sobs followed turning her white, amber, and black eyes to red, amber and black.
A pony who was doing paperwork turned around to face them. She had a dark pink coat and furios looking amber eyes. This was obviously her mother. “HOW DARE YOU!?” she screamed, with more anger than Enigma originally was.
“I…” he ran out, he couldn’t bear that place anymore.
He didn’t want angry glares, bad news or mistaken fillies. He just wanted peace. He flew back to his apartment as quickly as he could. As soon as he got there, he grabbed his apartment key from the landlord and raced up to his little home. He unlocked the door, raced into his bedroom, and plopped onto his bed to cry some more. He just need to clear his mind, forget everything, but something bothered him. The Vinyl Scratch plushie that his grandfather had given him was just sitting there, mocking him. The pegasus snarled, grabbed it with his teeth, and chucked it across the room. He had only gotten it a few days ago, but it meant so much to him. He sighed, and curled up under the covers of the small bed. “I never needed that thing anyways…”
It was three months later, Enigma was finally moving into a better apartment. He breathed in the air outside as he watched the moving ponies his belongings to a big moving truck. “That’s it Mr. Enigma!” smiled a lime-green earth pony.
He smiled back a tad awkwardly, “Thanks for everything!”
“We did notice something you didn’t pack up though.” He pulled a small object out of his saddlebag. It was the Vinyl plushie.
“Wow… Thanks.”
A million questions ran through his head. Should he keep it? How did it end up under his bed? Why was it right here, right now?
He climbed into the passenger side of the truck and looked at the doll. Now that he thought about, he realized that he loved the doll. It wasn’t really a sign of death, it was a sign of love. His grandfather gave it to him, he didn’t die because of it. “Maybe I should keep you,” he muttered nuzzling the doll.
Soon the new building came into his view. "Welcome to your new home Vinyl Scratch.”
There were billions of ways to cope with a loved one’s death, Enigma read up on it all. One way he thought was crazy, writing. He never really liked writing, he did like drawing though. But there he was, sitting at his new desk with a feather pen in his hoof and a stuffed doll motivating him to put his feelings on paper. “I’m only doing this for you...” he muttered wearily eyeing the plushie.
Dear Vinyl Scratch, About four months ago, my grandfather died. I thought I could cope with it by throwing the thing I loved most around, you, or a plushie version of you at least. I thought if I threw away the thing Grandad gave me, I would be able to forget him. I later found out that you shouldn’t hid my my feelings, I should embrace them like I did here. I felt angry, betrayed, and depressed, and I blamed it on you. I knew that he went to your concert and died a few days later. I know it wasn’t you fault, but I needed someone to blame. This happened about four months ago. Just the other day, I realized all of this when I dug up the plushie. I’m sorry for blaming you, I hope you can forgive me.
Sincerely,
Enigma Mystere
He sighed as he set the letter down. He just felt so happy that all of that was off his chest. He opened the window of the apartment, and let the letter fly away with the wind.
He thought it would probably blow into the river or something, but fate had a different idea. It flew through the breeze, ducking over tall buildings, and it finally landed smack-dab in the middle of of somepony’s face. She pulled the letter off and growled. “Are you okay Vinyl?” asked a yellow pagasus beside her.
“Yeah, this piece of paper just flew into my face though!”
“Wow, maybe it’s important!”
“Maybe,” she smiled, tucking into her coat pocket.
Vinyl seemed like the perfect pony. Her parents were Canterlot’s top elite, she had billions of dollars, and she was extremely famous and popular. It was actually the opposite. She was never truly loved. When she was a filly, a nanny would watch her. Her parents always traveled, attending late parties and foreign countries. She never saw her other family either, they were all dead or busy. Nopony wanted to visit the little white unicorn. When she finally moved out, she would drown out her pain with drinking. She tried to forget as hard as she could about the nannies, the parties, the lonely holidays. But it never worked.
One day when she was young, she wished upon The Mare in the Moon’s stars.
“I wish, I hope, I dream, I pray. By the princess’s rule light my way. I just want to have someone I can hold and love!” She never believed it would come true, but after many years, it finally did. And it literally hit her in the face.
“Are you okay Vinyl?”
“Yeah, this piece of paper just flew into my face though!”
“Wow, maybe it’s important!”
“Maybe.”
Vinyl walked back to her pent house that night. It was dark and quiet, like usual. She flipped on a few lights and sat down at the bar in her kitchen and grabbed a large bottle of Applejack Daniel’s. She took a huge swig and began to read through the letter. That one piece of paper warmed her crusty heart. It wasn’t the story, it wasn’t the moral, it was this pony’s love for his grandfather. She set down the bottle, sobered up, and grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil.
Dear Enigma, Thank you for your letter; I’m not quite sure how you got it to me though. I really truly liked it. You see, I really never knew what it was like to love, or to be loved growing up. Your story touched my heart.
Yours truly,
Vinyl Scratch
It was only a day later when Enigma was getting his mail. He was getting used to his new apartment. Sure it had tons of boxes and such, but it was much roomier. He grabbed the letters and scanned through them. “Bill, magazine, magazine, letter from-“
He nearly dropped everything. A letter from Vinyl Scratch? What did she want to do with him? He almost had a heart attack when he thought of the letter that he had sent off a day ago. “Crap.”
Author's Note
Thanks enigmaMystere for setting up the contest! You can find it here
Revised on 4-20-13
Dear Vinyl Scratch, I’m not exactly sure how my letter got to you either. I was actually trying one of the methods from my grieving book, and I was writing to the plushie! I thought that my letter would end up in the trash, but isn’t fate amazing, sending my letter straight to you? I’m so glad that you liked my letter and I’m sorry about your childhood. I hope we can continue to write to each other.
Sincerely,
Enigma Mystere
Dear Enigma, I would like writing to you on every once in a while. It keeps me from doing stupid stuff at night like drinking.
Sincerely,
Vinyl Scratch
Dear Vinyl, I’m so relieved that you’re willing to write to me! I was nervous you would think that I was a pervert or something! It’s good that you’re not drinking now! It might kill you if you drink a lot every night! Let’s see, I was born in Lubbuck (I still live in Lubbuck) and I like drawing. I’m not really sure what else to say!
Sincerely,
Enigma
Dear Enigma, That’s cool! I like dubstep and parties. I was born in Canterlot and I also still live in Canerlot.
Sincerely,
Vinyl
Dear Vinyl, I don’t really go to parties a lot; I don’t really have any friends.
Sincerely,
Enigma
Dear Enigma, That’s too bad, but you’re my friend! I mean, sure we haven’t met in person but some of the best things in life are yet to be seen.
Sincerely,
Vinyl
Dear Vinyl, I guess you’re right. You remind me so much of my grandfather. He always had a good attitude like you do. I’m a little depressed right now since I just got fired from my job as a craft shop salespony. It’s kind of weird since I don’t have my cutie mark yet and I’m a grown stallion.
Sincerely,
Enigma
Dear Enigma, That’s too bad; I hope you get it soon.
Sincerely,
Vinyl
Dear Vinyl, Same here. Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet ~ Princess Cadence
Sincerely,
Enigma
Dear Enigma, I like that quote you left, it’s pretty cool. Everyone gets their cutie mark in their own time. ~ Vinyl Scratch
~~L~~ Love,
Vinyl
Dear Vinyl,
Dear Enigma, Do you think you could come to my concert in Neighlina tomorrow? It’s close to Lubbuck! I attached a ticket and a VIP pass. I hope I can see you there!
Love,
Vinyl
Dear Vinyl, Sorry I couldn’t make it to your concert. Maybe next time.
Sincerely,
Enigma
Vinyl sighed. She wouldn’t admit that she loved this mysterious stallion known as “Enigma.” She dropped little hints, like ending the letter with “Love” instead of sincerely but he didn’t pick up on it. She growled in frustration and retired to her living room couch.
She levitated the remote up and pressed the on button. It was some late night talk show. She slumped back in her chair. The host was laughing at some joke the guest made, but then he looked serious and the camera got closer to his face. “You’re being too pushy.”
Vinyl looked around, frightened. “W-Who, me?!”
“Yes, you,” he said. “The poor stallion doesn’t even know you and you’re telling him you love him? Obviously he didn’t come to your concert because he thinks you’re pushing it.”
“No! He said he was busy!” she hissed standing up.
“Of course he said that! You are acting like you’re in love with this guy and you haven’t even met him!”
“Shut up! He’s nice and I talk to him with letters!”
“Psh, they’re just letters, he could be anypony!”
“He is Enigma! The nicest stallion in Equestria!”
“I know why you like this guy.” He smiled mischievously. “Your parents never really loved you. So you cling to that guy for attention! You’re no better than a slimy changeling!”
Vinyl levitated the remote and flung it at the TV. She watched as the screen shattered to pieces. She fell to her knees, letting her tears flow freely against her coat. “I am not pathetic.”
She picked herself up and looked loathingly at her fine wine collection. She hadn’t taken a sip of alcohol since Enigma had started writing to her. She angrily levitated one of the bottles over to her. “Buck you.”
And she took her first sip of alcohol in two weeks.
Enigma wouldn’t admit it, but he liked Vinyl. He wouldn’t admit it in letters like she did, but he would always get excited when one of her letters was in his mailbox. He was also slightly nervous around her. He couldn’t just go to the concert! What if he did something stupid? He tried to steer clear of things like that and just write. Harmless letters were all they were… Right?
Author's Note
Enigma's first quote- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Then Everything Fell Apart
Vinyl Scratch was glad she could get her mind off of things with a small get together with her friends Platinum Record and Replay. They were at a fancy bar near the castle in Canterlot. Vinyl was glad she didn’t have to think about Enigma for one night, yet it always came back to her mind. Was I too pushy?
They were enjoying the night until Replay brought up Enigma. “So you told us about this Enigma guy who, like, writes to you when I saw you at the mall?”
Vinyl looked down. “I-I really just came here to get my mind off of things, guys.”
“Oh don’t be such a party pooper! You know you want to talk about him!” chimed Platinum Record in a silky voice.
Vinyl looked back up at them threateningly. “Guys, I’m serious!”
Platinum rolled her eyes and walked behind Vinyl. “You’ve changed ever since this guy came along! No drinking, no partying! You need to forget about that loser! I think Neon Lights likes you! He’s over there, go talk to him!” Platinum pushed the white unicorn.
Vinyl growled and spun around to her so-called friend. “Look, just calm down.”
Platinum gave out an evil chuckle. “You looove this stallion don’t ya?”
Vinyl’s hooves clenched. “Shut up.”
“Ooh! You do like this stallion!”
“Shut up!”
“It’s a shame though. I’ve seen those letters.”
Vinyl’s heart nearly stopped. “H-how?!”
“You leave them sprawled out against your coffee table! I came over to your house yesterday to check on you and I saw them.”
Vinyl’s anger was over the roof.
“It’s a shame, you tell him you love him and he just ignores you! He obviously doesn’t like you back!”
“I said shut up!” Vinyl grabbed her wine glass and smashed it over Platinum’s head. Replay looked mortified.
“So that’s how it is.” Hissed the silver unicorn. She used her magic to throw a couple’s table flying at Vinyl. Luckily she jumped out of the way just in time, but her leg was nicked.
Vinyl grit her teeth, ran up to Platinum and punched her in the snout. While Platinum was down, Replay stood up and punched Vinyl’s eye. Vinyl growled then kneed the pink unicorn and flipped the table on top of her.
A bouncer tried to stop the fight but a scrawny unicorn jabbed him in the side. Soon a mare stood on top of a table yelling, “Bar fight!” and used her magic to smashed her entrée in her date’s face.
Now it was a full on bar fight. Neon Lights came at Vinyl, trying to pour his drink on her head but a tall pegasus blocked her and kicked the stallion in his jaw. Vinyl brohoofed the pegasus and punched a large earth pony who was holding up the scrawny stallion. “Hey fatty!” he turned towards her as she threw a killer punch at his snout. “Pick on somepony your own size!”
He whimpered and dropped the stallion. He turned to face Vinyl, but she already had a plan. She picked up the pegasus who helped her earlier and chucked him at the earth pony. Vinyl was about to turn to another competitor, but a policepony ran in. “Everypony put your hands where I can see them!”
“Crap.”
Vinyl paced around her prison cell as a yellow pegasus ran in. “Glaze! I’m so happy to see you!”
“You better be!” she said as a policepony unlocked the door. “I just bailed your sorry flank out of this joint.”
As soon as Vinyl was free she hugged the other DJ. “Thank you.”
Their best friend moment was interrupted by the policepony telling them to get out.
They laughed and got out of there.
Dear Enigma, I’m sorry but I have to stop sending letters to you.
Love,
Vinyl
Dear Vinyl, Why do you have to stop sending me letters?
Sincerely,
Enigma
Dear Enigma, Things have changed. I got into a bar fight last night, and you couldn’t come to my concert…
Love,
Vinyl
Dear Vinyl, Is that what this is about? Me not going to some stupid concert?! And why did you get into a bar fight? I thought you stopped drinking?
Sincerely,
Enigma
BUCK YOU! I CAN BUCKING DO WHATEVER I BUCKING WANT TO!
Dear Vinyl, Just calm down. What did I even do wrong?
What did you bucking do? I bucking tell you every day that I love you, I invite you to my concert, I try to make a move but you’re too oblivious to notice!
Too oblivious to notice? Too oblivious to notice that you randomly started ending your letters with love!? What am I to you? Your coltfriend? I don’t even know you and you’re coming onto me!
At least all my family is bucking alive and well!
At least all my family actually cares for me and takes the time to tell me they love me!
Vinyl? I know it’s been three months, I just wanted to say I was sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things.
Sincerely,
Enigma
Dear Vinyl, I am truly sorry for what I wrote you. You don’t have to write back but it was fun exchanging poems and quotes and such.
Sincerely,
Enigma
Dear Vinyl, Please write back to me! I’m sorry! I am so stupid! I shouldn’t have said that and I forgive you for what you said about my granddad just please write back!
Sincere Love,
Enigma
Their lives went on. Vinyl started drinking again, but she could tell true friends from fake friends after the bar fight. Her move with the pegasus began to be used by the Guards. She released a new album about how her parents and family didn’t really love her. Her father, Fancypants , and her mother, Fleur de Lis, heard the song and swore to always pay attention to their daughter from then on. Her album made lots of money and she was happy spending time with her folks.
One day she abused her money privileges and lost her penthouse. She lived with her parents until she found the perfect place to live. It was a small building in downtown Canterlot . She didn’t expect to have a roommate, but she was fine with it. She and her roommate, Octavia, became best friends.
Enigma sulked about Vinyl for a little while, but then he perked up and traveled with his Vinyl doll to find his cutie mark. He earned two masters and a doctorate, but he still couldn’t find his special talent. He decided to move to Canterlot to get his cutie mark but he couldn’t find. He did make tons of friends though. That’s how he met Vinyl, as in actually met her. He knew immediately it was her, so he tried to be nice. But even in her drunken state she could tell that he was the stallion in the letters so she treated him like crap. Slowly she began to fall in love with him again, but he was abducted by changelings in the Canterlot Wedding incident and her heart was broken. She decided to move to Ponyville with Octavia to forget about him. Luckily, he managed to escape one day and he found Vinyl!
They fell in love once again. He loved her but he didn’t realize it. She loved him and she did realize it. One day she confronted him about her feelings, and he told her he loved her straight back. Everything was perfect.
Author's Note
No Longer an Enigma and Epic Rap Battles of MLP spoilers!
Enigma’s feelings were mixed.
There was nervousness. What if I forget my vows?
There was excitement. I am finally marrying the mare of my dreams!
There was anger. Stupid tailor, stupid button…
There was confusion. If I’m correct this time, then Octavia and Broadway are closer to Vinyl and… and… wait. Who’s the Ring Bearer again?
But mostly there was unconditional love. This is it my love, they day we spend the rest of our lives together!
Long story short, today was Enigma and Vinyl’s wedding day.
Enigma was wearing a fancy tux; his grandfather’s to be exact. I wish you were here to see this Granddad… Thinking of Vinyl and his grandfather made him think of the letters from almost five years ago. “Is today the day I should confront her about it?”
He decided against it. If it were to anger her, it would ruin the happy day.
He looked at himself in the mirror. His silver buttons sparkled over the soft, white ruffles. His black jacket gave him an almost Snow White appearance. His mane was pulled into a side part and his eyelashes were almost unnoticeable. It was arguable that he looked more masculine than ever.
He was interrupted by a bang then an angry scream across the hallway coming from Vinyl’s room.
“No! I have to wear my shades!”
“Catch them if you can!”
“We think that you shouldn’t wear them to your wedding darling!”
“I agree with Rarity and Broadway.”
“OCTAVIA!”
He chuckled, thinking about his bride. Soon the yelling died down and he began to memorize his vows in peace. That is, until a letter peeked itself under the door. Before grabbing it, he opened the door to see who dropped it. Rarity was kneeling down with her snout where the door used to be. She looked up, grinning sheepishly, and then stood. “Vinyl couldn’t risk you seeing her in her wedding dress, it’s bad luck you know!”
Then she hurried away. As soon as she made it back to her room, excited giggles seeped through the hallways.
Dear Enigma, Isn’t it awesome that we’re getting married soon? It seems like just yesterday we met in pony for the first time in Canterlot and it seems like just moments ago I fell in love with you. There is something we haven’t talked about in a while though, our letters.
Enigma cringed.
I loved how every night I would read about your adventures and poems! I would love writing back to you too! But I was too forward. After all, I barely knew you! My friends were making fun of me for sending you letters, and as I told you, I got into a bar fight! I was furious at you for some odd reason and I wanted to be angry at you. It was terrible, those things I wrote, and I’m sorry. I wanted to forget you, but you just came back to me. It’s almost as if fate wanted us to come together all along. I love you, Enigma. This time I can truly tell that to you.
Your soon-to-be wife,
Vinyl Scratch.
Unlike most stallions, he didn’t hold in his love. He let the liquid pride flow (or the liquid happiness in this case). He wasn’t confused anymore. He wasn’t nervous. He wasn’t angry or excited anymore either. His heart felt warm and his love for his fiancé grew. He had gotten the first letter from her in a long time. He had finally gotten the last letter he needed from her. His last letter from Vinyl.
Author's Note
There you have it! the last chapter of letters to Vinyl! I hope you enjoyed it!
