Ruby Eyes and Echoes Part Two: The Struggle of a Lifetime

by Altoid

Chapters

• Prologue
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17

Prologue

The sequel to Ruby Eyes and Echoes Part 1. It's not a necessity to read it but it does help prevent you from becoming confused.  So I would advise reading it.

-Thank you, Altoid

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Prologue

Run!

That was the only word that meant anything to her now. Nothing else existed in her mind, not even the smell of smoke and the roar of the fire closing in around her. The filly had been running for almost an hour, ever since the forest fire had blown up that night. Her home lay smoldering behind her and the only thing the filly's mother had told her when the smell of smoke had dragged them from their sleep was run.

So she did.

The filly could feel the heat of the fire now and the smoke choked her. Her mouth was dry and her muscles ached. the filly wanted to stop, to let the fire swallow her up. Risking a look back she saw the flames rising behind her. She put forth a burst of speed and suddenly emerged from the trees and into a clearing with a stream down the center. She wadded into the water and turned to watch the trees disappear into the smoke and flame. A sinking feeling filled her as she realized no one was going to follow her out.

“Mommy! Daddy!” She called, panic cracking her voice. “Big sis! Anypony?”

The only response on the wind was the continuous roar of the fire. After several minutes the filly finally realized that she was alone.

Two mares sat in an quiet Canterlot café. Ponies past them by and a few pointed in wonder but none had the courage to interrupt their conversation just for the sake of an autograph.

“I want to do something more.”

Octavia tilted her head and looked at her sister, confused, “what do you mean? One moment we are talking about your concert in Las Pegasus and how your are well on your way to becoming the most popular musician in Equestria. Now you want to do something more? Is fame getting to you sister?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Vinyl Scratch groaned. “I wanna change the world and help ponies in a more personal and life changing way than just making them like my songs.”

Octavia took a sip from her cappuccino, “donate to charity?”

“More than that,” Scratch waved her hoof around to emphasize her point and nearly hit a waiter on his way to another table. “I wanna be more than a money dispenser and a pretty face.”

“Hmm,” Octavia replied through her drink.

“Ya know what I mean?”

“Yes,” the gray earth pony replied absentmindedly.

Scratch sighed,”i've lost you again, haven't I?”

“Oh, sorry,” Octavia shook her head, dismissing her thoughts. “I have Neaghoven's Third Symphony stuck in my mind.”

“Sheesh, and I thought I had a sucky attention span,” Scratch huffed. “Are you listening now?”

“Yes, I’m listening,” Octavia shot back.

“Okay, good.” Scratch continued again. “I want to help somepony. To be like a friend or a family member to them.”

“Do you crave attention that much?” Octavia asked flatly.

“You are missing the point Tavi!” Scratch screamed. Several other ponies glared at her from their tables.

“I am?”

“Yes,” Scratch rubbed her brow in annoyance. “I wanna be more than the Deejay Pony.”

“Wait, that’s how you pronounce your stage name?” Octavia asked in surprise.

“Let me guess, you thought it was Deejay Pon Three?” The unicorn asked.

“Because it has a three in it!” Octavia threw up her hooves in exasperation. “Why not use an E?”

“It adds personality and flair!” Scratch shrieked back.

“Makes you look like an illiterate foal!”

“And you sound like a snooty-snob-snobby-face!” Scratch started to impersonate her sister. “Oh look at me, my name is Octavia and I play the cello. I like garden parties, dresses and being a pain in the flank!”

“I do not sound like that,” Octavia growled.

“I know,” Scratch laughed. “You sound much worse.”

“Why do we argue like this whenever we get together,” Octavia sighed. “We rarely see each other anymore.”

Scratch calmed and started to whisper. “We never outgrew it, did we? We fight just as much as we did when I became your sister.”

“Old habits die hard I guess,” Octavia chuckled.

“Have you talked to father recently?” Scratch asked, changing the subject.

Octavia shook her head and answered, “no. I send him letters on a weekly basis though. You?”

“I haven't contacted him in any form for almost a year,” Scratch replied sadly. “I can’t send him letters of course.”

“You could always ask somepony to write the letters for you,” the earth pony stated.

“Meh,” Scratch shrugged.

“You are too proud of a pony to stoop down and ask for help,” Octavia shook her head and smiled. “How in Equestria do you expect to stoop down and actually help somepony.”

“Just because I’m reluctant to be helped doesn't mean I feel the same way about helping.”

“Very well,” Octavia replied passively. She took a sip from her cappuccino then continued sarcastically. “If you really want to help somepony just do what father did. Adopt.”

Octavia couldn't see her sister’s red eyes through her thick sunglasses but the gray mare could tell that they went wide with an idea. The cellist immediately wished that she hadn’t said anything.

“No, no-no, get that idea out of your head,” Octavia scrambled to change Scratch’s mind. “You are not a responsible pony. You have the money to care for a foal, yes. But you don’t have the capacity and seriousness to pull off being a mother.”

“I would be an epic mother,” Scratch smiled.

“You aren’t listening to me!” Octavia cried. “You would make a foal's life even worse! The stress of having a famous pony as his or her mother wouldn't be healthy.”

“Father was famous when he adopted me, and he still is,” Scratch argued. “Don’t you remember? Orchestratus Maxim, the best composer of his time!”

“But you are a different kind of famous,” pleaded Octavia. “And I hate bringing this up but you will be a single parent caring for a foal with needs, and you are blind.”

“Being blind hasn't stopped me yet.” Scratch growled.

“I know, and that is what scares me.” Octavia shook her head slowly. “Every challenge that you’ve faced so far, due to your blindness, has been overcome. When you finally meet something too difficult to surmount, I don’t want you bringing another pony into the disaster. You need to find your restrictions without risking the happiness of others.”

Scratch grimaced then smiled, “I will prove you wrong, just like the other times you thought I couldn’t make up for my disability.”

“But this is different!” Octavia screamed. “Just promise me you will think about this for a while before deciding.”

Scratch chewed her lip, ears flat in thought, “fine, I will think about it.”

“Good,” Octavia took another sip from her drink.

A waiter approached the table and placed their bill next to Vinyl Scratch’s hoof.

“Thank you,” Scratch said as she smiled at him.

“Oh wow,” he blushed. “You are welcome Miss Deejay Pony!”

“Are you paying?” Octavia asked.

“Sure,” Scratch pushed the bill towards her sister. “How much does it say I owe?”

“Seven bits,” she replied after reading the receipt.

"Okay then,” she magically pulled the money out of her saddlebag. “Here you go handsome.” She said in a flirtatious tone. “And an extra three bits for you.”

The stallion giggled and cantered away. Scratch listened to his hoofsteps disappear and she chuckled. Octavia glared at her.

“Do you do that often?” She asked.

“I’m not telling,” Scratch giggled. “You try.”

“I don-”

“Fraidy cat!” Scratch taunted.

“No.”

“Aww,” Scratch sighed sadly. “It would’ve been funny to hear you fail.”

Octavia glared at her sister for a few seconds before starting a new conversation.

“Which hotel are you staying in?”

“The Royal Sisters Inn,” Scratch replied with a crooked smile.

“What!” Octavia practically fell out of her seat. “Doesn’t it take fifty bits a night to stay there?”

“Fifty-five bits, they raised the price,” the unicorn continued to smile.

Octavia shook her head, “I can’t believe that you can afford that.”

“Ponies like my music more than they like a group of snooty ponies playing screechy wooden instruments,” Scratch laughed as Octavia let out a quiet growl.

Octavia turned her attention to a clock on the wall. “You told me to tell you when it was three o’clock.”

“Is it three?” Scratch asked.

“Two-fifty,” Octavia replied. “What do you have planned?”

“I have a date.”

Octavia’s eyes went wide. “With who?”

“A stallion,” Scratch replied.

“Does said stallion have a name?” Octavia pressed.

“Yep.”

“Are you going to tell me?” Octavia furrowed her brow in annoyance.

“Uh, no,” the unicorn started to laugh.

“Very well then,” Octavia huffed. “I will be going. Have fun on your date.”

“Bye bye Tavi!” Scratch squealed. “Have fun at the garden party!” Then in a sarcastic tone, “see you later!”

Octavia left the café and Scratch continued to sit patiently. She listened for a few moments to the conversations of other ponies but found the talk to drab. The unicrorn stood and made her way towards the exit.

‘Another stallion wanting to try his luck,’ she thought to herself as hoofsteps approached. 'This better not take long.'

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Scratch tried her best to stay awake. It was the least she could do since paying attention had long become an impossibility. The good thing about wearing sunglasses 24/7, if she did fall asleep nopony would notice. At least until she started snoring.

“After my success in Manehattan with my third store I moved back to Canterlot and finally settled down and let fortune take me where it wanted,” a stallion named Fancypants was saying. So far he had discussed his entire life from birth. “I now live in the Upper District of the city.”

“Wow,” Scratch said, faking interest.

“My personal triumphs almost rival yours, don’t you say?” He asked.

“Yep,” Scratch decided that to continue the date would be a waste of time. “This has been fun! But I am expecting a letter today from a very important pony. I am sorry to cut our date short.”

“But we were talking for only two hours,” Fancy protested.

“And such a wonderful two hours they were.” She stood and walked with him to the door. “I will send you a letter. Bye bye!”

Before he could reply Scratch cantered down the street and towards the Royal Sisters Inn. Several ponies paused in wonder as she passed. When she entered her room on the third floor, the spoiled smell of last night's room service hit her like a brick wall.

“Sacred Celestia’s undergarments!” Scratch covered her nose before the smell could cause her to vomit. “I thought they were going to stop by and clean this up!”

Scratch’s mind wandered back to the memory of the party she had last night with some prominent ponies and fans. It had been loud, because her music was best played that way, and the best food had been ordered from all over the city. A married couple had stopped by her room when the noise got too loud to complain but they ended up joining in the festivities. Eventually the whole hotel had become one big carnival.

Scratch did admit though that there was an over abundance of drinking and a few single ponies became couples, or even quadruples in some cases, for the night. Scratch was close to joining in on the fun but a voice in the back of her head, that sounded very much like her father, pestered her to stay sober and out of a bed.

She loved and hated that voice. It had saved her from bad decisions on many occasions. But she loathed it for two reasons. She rarely drank and she was still a virgin. She didn't really care, but it was hard to write a spicy song without any first hoof experience.

Scratch backed out of her room and headed back towards the stairs. As she walked down the steps she over-judged and plummeted painfully down a flight. Something popped loudly and something else snapped as she came to a halt on the landing. Scratch lay there unable to move or speak, clamping her mouth shut in fear of screaming in pain.

Eventually she couldn’t take it any longer. Scratch took in a deep breath and let out a bloodcurdling scream.

“Look Tavi, I’m a vegetable!” Scratch sang as she heard her sister’s familiar hoofsteps walk into the hospital room.

Octavia stared at the smiling unicorn, mouth open in shock, for a few seconds before saying anything.

“What did you do?” She asked.

“Tried to fly,” Scratch replied in a sarcastic tone. Then more seriously, “no, the truth is that the hotel tried to kill me. It hired an expert stairway assassin to end my life.”

“Well I am glad to see that your sense of humor isn’t hurt,” Octavia replied, not sounding glad at all. “So what is broken?”

“The broken things are my left front leg, two tendons in my left shoulder and there is a crack in one of my ribs.” Scratch said this as if she had committed some amazing feat. “Other than that I am perfectly fine!”

“Perfectly fine is debatable. Will you be heading home then?” Octavia asked.

“Which home?” Scratch smiled. “Your home, father’s mansion or my little apartment in Manehattan that has nothing in it cept a futon because I keep forgetting it exists?”

“You should probably stay with father,” Octavia stated with a tone of finality. “He would be better at caring for you and I will be too busy to baby you.”

“Yay!” Scratch squealed. “I’m going to daddy’s house!”

Octavia rolled her eyes, “You sound like you are twelve again.”

“You sound like you’re thirty,” Scratch shot back, a cruel grin etched across her face.

When she had arrived at the train station an unfamiliar pony had introduced himself. He said his name was Thyme, grandson of the late Mr. Bramblebrims who use to be the butler of the mansion. As Scratch was wheelchaired up the path by him towards the front door of her foalhood home, memories flooded her mind. Every smell and sound was a gateway to another memory.

“So, are you the new butler of this place?” She asked Thyme.

“Not necessarily a butler,” he replied with a chuckle. The young stallion didn’t appear affected by Scratch’s fame. “I’m more of an assistant. Cleaning, helping the cooks and making sure everything is kept orderly.”

“So, you’re a butler,” Scratch stated with a smile.

Thyme sighed, “Yes, I am a butler.”

“Yay!” Scratch cheered. “First thing I want you to do is make me a samich!”

“I will ask one of the cooks-”

“No,” she said seriously. “I want you to make it.”

“Very well,” he rolled his eyes. “What kind of sandwich?”

“Uh,” the unicorn rubbed her chin in thought. “Cucumber.”

“Okay.”

The sorrowful sound of a violin distracted her as more memories wafted to along the sad notes. As they reached the front door and Thyme pushed her through the entrance, the music stopped.

“Hey daddy, guess who is here!” Scratch called.

“Vinyl Scratch, my daughter!” Exclaimed a middle-aged gray stallion as he walked down the stairs. “Welcome home. How was your tour?”

“It was great, until this happened.” She reached up with her good hoof in preparation for a hug.

As Maxim gingerly embraced his daughter, his trademark cologne made Scratch feel at home for the first time in a long while. She breathed deep the sweet smell and sighed happily. After a few moments they released each other and Maxim looked at his daughter and smiled.

“Come let's eat,” he said after a while. “We will have one of the cooks make you your favorite food.”

“Thyme says he wants to make me lunch,” Scratch looked back and smiled at the young stallion. “Ain’t that right?”

“Yep,” Thyme chuckled.

They headed into the dinning room and Thyme left them to make two cucumber sandwiches. Maxim instantly sparked up a conversation.

“How have you been Vinyl?” He asked.

“Good,” she replied. “Been having the time of my life! But I do miss it here sometimes.”

“I miss you being here.” Maxim adjusted a flower vase on the table then continued. “Octavia tells me you been having fun in certain expensive hotels. It isn’t my place to tell you how to live your life, but I do hope you are making good decisions.”

“I’ve been a good girl,” Scratch replied innocently.

“Very well,” Maxim laughed. “I believe you. But if you do get pregnant I want to know who the father is.”

Scratch blushed. “I am not planning on getting pregnant anytime soon.”

“Good,” he chuckled. “I don’t feel like being called grandpa yet.”

Scratch started to laugh along with him but then stopped as a thought entered her mind. They sat in silence as Thyme placed their sandwiches in front of them

“I want to know what you think,” she said quietly when Thyme walked away. “Would I be a good mother?”

Maxim was surprised at his daughter’s sincere question. “You do have responsibility issues and you can be immature sometimes but beyond those flaws I think you would be a wonderful mother.”

“Really?”

Mixim nodded. “Yes.”

Scratch stayed quiet, eating her meal deep in thought. Maxim watched her curiously, wondering why she had asked a serious question. After a while he decided that it was nothing other than her being curious and he took a bite out of his sandwich. After several minutes Maxim spoke again.

“I am going to say hello to Symphonia tomorrow morning,” he said in a tone laced with sadness. “Want to come with?”

“Yeah, I’ll come with,” she replied with a soft smile.

They continued to eat in silence. Scratch searched her mind for a lighter conversational topic.

“What did you think of my newest album?” She asked.

“The one you sent to me in the mail?”

“Yep!” Scratch smiled widely.

Maxim chuckled awkwardly, “I can’t figure out how to use it. It doesn’t fit in the record player because it is so small.”

Scratch’s mouth dropped open in shock. “You didn’t seriously put a CD on a record player did you? Please tell me you didn’t!”

Maxim started laughing. “I am just pulling your leg,” he said through pauses in laughter.

“Good,” Scratch said, shaking her head in relief. “So, did ya like it?”

“I loved it!” He exclaimed. “I must say, you have a beautiful singing voice and it melds perfectly with the music you play. You should sing more often.”

Scratch smiled, no words could express how happy she felt to have him complement her.

After letting his words soak in she spoke again. “How are your songs doing?”

Maxim shrugged. "Not as well as they once had. Nopony wants to listen to orchestrated music anymore. Poor Octavia is trying her best to make herself known in a world that doesn’t want to know her. She wanted to be just like her mother, an opera singer. But she just isn’t cut out for singing so she decided to be more like me and play in a orchestra. She has a lovely voice but not one that is fit for the opera house.”

Maxim let out a small chuckle, “She lacks inspiration though. If she would get a grip on the things that hold her back I think she would be better than even me.”

“Hmm,” Scratch said thoughtfully.

“Oh listen to me ramble again,” Maxim berated himself. “I must sound like an old stallion talking away like a fool.”

“It’s okay,” the white unicorn smiled.

“You probably get tired of hearing me stress about your sister,” he said lightly.

Scratch shook her head. “I love conversations with you. About any topic.”

They continued to talk for a few hours until the drowsiness caused by her pain medicine caused Scratch to drift off to sleep. Maxim smiled lovingly at the softly snoring mare in front of him. He stood and pushed her wheelchair into the small elevator and to her foal hood bedroom. He lifted her carefully in his hooves and layed her on the bed.

“Goodnight Vinyl my little filly,” Maxim said as he kissed her nose. “I will see you tomorrow.”

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The gravestone had fresh flowers spread around it in elaborate vases. Scratch could smell their pleasant scent and she instantly knew that Maxim had been frequently visiting the grave on a regular basis. As he placed a new bouquet of lilies in an already filled crystal vessel, Scratch felt unexpected tears well up. She had not know Symphonia as well as she had hoped and she hadn’t even cried during the funeral all those years ago. She squelched the urge to cry and continued to listen to the birds chirping in the trees.

“I don’t think she ever truly forgave me,” Maxim stated quietly.

Scratch turned to face him quizzically. Maxim noticed her confused look and continued.

“Octavia,” he smiled half-heartedly. “I think she still blames me for Symphonias death. She might not show it but I feel the coldness in her eyes and voice whenever we talk about her mother.”

Scratch had noticed the slight icy tone in her sister’s voice as well but had thought it best to not say anything.

“I don’t think she blames you,” Scratch replied sincerely.

“She might not blame me but I think she holds me partially responsible,” he said through a sad chuckle.

The barely audible rumble of thunder sounded on the breeze and Scratch used it as an opportunity to draw the depressing scenario to a close.

“I think it is going to rain soon,” she warned Maxim.

Maxim understood that his daughter was uncomfortable in emotional situations so he pulled himself away from his wife’s grave and pushed Vinyl back to the Trotillac carriage. He helped Scratch up into her seat, put the wheelchair in the back and sat down next to her.

“You hungry?” Maxim asked when they got back to the road.

“A little,” Scratch replied. “Pancakes sound good right now.”

“Should we head to your favorite place then?” The stallion seemed back to his cheerful self.

“Of course!” Scratch squealed with excitement. “To Buttercake’s Pancake House!”

“My sister had twins this past week,” Buttercake, the owner of the restaurant, was saying. “Sweetest little things you ever set yer eyes on! They inherited the Unicorn and Pegasus traits of the family though.”

“Does your sister still live in Ponyville?” Maxim asked. He had barely touched his pancakes.

“Yep,” Buttercake replied enthusiastically. “Still owns that bakery with her husband.”

“I might have to stop by there sometime,” Scratch said as she pulled her father’s food toward her and proceeded to devour it.

Maxim watched her, shook his head and smiled. “I thought you were going to watch your weight?”

Scratch stopped mid bite and put the fork down. “Oh yeah, I have that photo shoot in a few weeks for that one magazine.”

“That one magazine?” Buttercake asked.

“Don’t remember what it was called,”Scratch shrugged. “Never read it of course so I don’t really care. They givin’ me money and possibly interviewing me so I’m happy.”

“A magazine that takes your picture, that you have never read and does not guarantee an interview?” Maxim asked critically. “Sounds like either a fashion magazine or a magazine that stallions have a fancy for.”

Scratch’s cheeks turned red. “No! I am not doing a shoot for Sugar Mare Magazine!”

“I’m not saying you don’t have the body for it,” Maxim said nonchalantly through his coffee.

The unicorn’s cheeks became deep scarlet as she struggled to find words.

“But don’t take that as an approval from me to go and expose your,” Maxim searched for an appropriate word. “Elegance to the male population.”

Scratch’s face was completely red now. “I-I have no intention to do anything like that!”

Maxim nodded but didn’t seem convinced. “If you say so. But you do have the habit of playing the bad girl, per say. Remember high school? You dated fourteen different stallions! And don’t get me started on college.”

“I never did anything with them!” Scratch argued. “The reason I dumped them was because they wanted more from me than a cuddle or occasional kiss.”

“Hmm,” Maxim remained unmoved in his opinion.

“I’m still a virgin!”

It was Maxim’s turn to blush. The other ponies in the restaurant turned towards them and stared. Buttercake decided that she could no longer serve any purpose in the conversation so she edged away and moved to another table.

Maxim coughed awkwardly. “Well, that is-uh, good to know.”

Scratch heard other ponies mumbling amongst themselves and decided that she was done eating.

“I need to get home and take my pain medication,” Scratch said as she slouched down in her seat and tried to ignore the talk around her.

Maxim nodded, “let's go home and we can act like this conversation never happened.”

The bittersweet music was starting to drive Scratch crazy. She had been at the house for two weeks and the only music her father had played was sorrowful tunes with his violin. Maxim had told her that he was making a score for a play but Scratch didn’t believe him. What kind of sad, boring play would have so many depressing songs in it?

One morning when a particularly depressing song wafted in her room she decided to liven up the creativity of her father’s mind. She limped down to the cluttered sitting room and smiled lovingly at him as he finished up the song. When he pulled the bow across the strings one last time he looked at her and tilted his head in curiosity.

“I know that smile,” he said with a laugh. “You want to do something.”

“Lets make a song,” she replied with the excitement of a filly. “You and me, mix our genres together and form something awesome!”

Maxim thought about her proposition for a moment, then shrugged. “Sure.”

“Yay!” Scratch squealed. “I will go get my stuff!”

Half an hour later, with some help from Thyme, they had Scratch’s turntable and other equipment set out. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Maxim spoke.

“Where should we start?” He asked.

Scratch thought for a moment. “I dunno.”

“Here,” he lifted his violin. “After I play a few lines join in and try to add your own heart to it.”

He pulled the bow across the strings and a sad tune that still had a hint of joy filled the room. After a few moments she joined in with equally emotional notes. The two ponies poured their sorrow into their music. As Scratch played the memories of the struggles in her life filled her mind. But she still held onto the spark of joy, the happiness she felt when the pain of those battles had fallen away. Scratch soon developed the urge to sing and she let the words flow out of her.

“Standing in the light

Shadows in your eyes

Careful, they ignite

the tears of your cries

You try to ignore

The pain you feel now

all that was good

has faded to dust

I see your pain though I can’t see you

I hear your screams when you are silent

There is so much that you tell the world

Without even saying anything

I hear it all the same

Though we hide sorrow

Behind a sweet play

Just hope tomorrow

Washes them away

But the hurt lingers

And memories rise

The world around you

suddenly feels cold

I view your pain though I can't see you

I hear your screams when you are silent

There is so much that you tell the world

Without even saying anything

I hear it all the same

Yes my love, I view your pain though I can't see you

I hear your screams when you are silent

There is so much that you tell the world

Without even saying anything

I hear it all the same”

They finished the song and sat in silence for a few minutes. Scratch choked back her rising emotions but she could hear Maxim sniffle a few times as his eyes watered. Eventually he spoke.

“You do have a lovely voice,” he said softly. “You need to sing more often.”

"Thank you and I probably will.” Scratch smiled then put on a more serious tone and face. “Father, I was thinking.”

“That's always a good thing,” he chuckled.

Scratch laughed too then continued. “I want to adopt.”

Maxim sat back in surprise. “So that is why you asked me if you would make a good mother.”

Scratch nodded. “Octavia thinks it would be a bad idea.”

“I would have to agree with her as well,” Maxim stated. “But only for the fact that you are immature and your life of fame might be too much. And that you would be a single mother.”

“The fact that I’m blind isn’t a reason?” Scratch asked critically.

“You know I never judged your capabilities off of that,” Maxim sounded hurt. “It is ultimately up to you. I still hold to what I said, you would be an amazing mother but I don’t think the circumstances are in favor right now.”

The unicorn nodded as Maxim continued. “So Octavia said you would make a horrible mother?”

Scratch laughed. “Pretty much.”

“That girl would find any fault in a mare as an excuse to call somepony a bad mother.” Maxim shook his head. “But having the perfect mother probably would do that to a pony.”

He sighed then stood.” I am going to make some tea. Want some?”

“I don’t like tea remember?” Scratch replied.

“Very well. Lemonade?”

Vinyl smiled a response as he walked out of the room. When he was gone she started to run the song they just played through her head, trying to remember every note and word. She noticed a pony enter the room. From the now familiar hoofsteps she knew it was Thyme.

“Hey,” she said in his general direction.

“Hello,” he replied. “I couldn't help but overhear the song you and Mr. Maxim played.”

“Oh, it was something we made up just now,” she replied with a passive smile. “I’m actually trying to remember the notes. It gets hard remembering music sometimes when everything has to be in your head.”

“Maybe I could help you,” he said.

“Do you know how to write music?” She stared at him. Her sunglasses glinted in the light.

“Yep,” he beamed. “Your father actually taught me. I know how to play the piano too.”

“Hmm,” she rubbed her chin in thought. “Thyme, what do you look like? I never asked you.”

He seemed surprised but indulged her curiosity. “I am deep green pegasus with a dark yellow and blue mane if you want to know. Yes, it’s surprising that I’m a pegasus when the rest of my family is either earth or unicorn ponies.”

Scratch nodded in agreement. “If you want to help me put this on paper feel free.”

“Gladly.”

As they worked on putting the music onto the pages, Scratch’s mind wandered. The urge to pay a visit to an old friend growing.

__________________________________________

You know what would be really cool? If I had music to go along with the song. (Hint hint to all you musically inclined people)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The orphanage loomed over her and though Scratch could not see it, she could feel its presence pushing on her mind like the memories of a bad dream.

“I really appreciate you coming with me,” She said to Thyme. “Never thought I would come back here.”

The stallion looked at the building and didn’t understand her fear. The building actually looked rather homely, well decorated and like a rather nice place.

“It appears the orphanage has changed since your were there,” Thyme stated as he looked at the building. “From you and your father’s descriptions of the place it appears they actually made it look nice.”

Scratch raised her eyebrow in surprise. “It’s still an orphanage right?”

Tyme looked at the green, brass plaque. “Yep, still says it’s an orphanage.”

“Well,” she shrugged. “Time to go inside and see for ourselves.”

Thyme pressed the button above the sign and waited. Shortly a voice replied through a speaker system.

“Hello? How can I help you today?”

Scratch knew the voice, and memories started to flow back to her.

“Hello, we are here to visit the orphanage,” Thyme replied.

“Oh how wonderful! I’ll be out shortly to let you in.”

They waited for a minute until a pony opened the front doors and trotted gleefully up to them. She reached the gate but stopped abruptly.

“Scratch dear,”She exclaimed excitedly. “Is that you?”

“Hello Mrs. Butterheart,” the unicorn replied with a smile. “Didn’t expect you to be working here still. How have you been?”

“Most splendid! Well come on in,” she looked at thyme. “Handsome husband you got there, didn’t hear about you getting married in the magazines though.”

Scratch and Thyme blushed, the white unicorn quickly replied. “Oh he isn’t my husband. He is my father’s butler.”

“Oh, so sorry!” Butterheart laughed. “Follow me and I’ll take you to the main office.”

They entered the orphanage and Scratch got a tight nervousness in her chest. It had been almost eight years since she had been there but the events of her foalhood still felt fresh in her heart. She could hear foals playing outside and the place no longer felt like the terrible place it had once been.

“Mrs. Butterheart,” a colt called as he trotted up to them. “Fickle Wing fell off of the swing set again!”

“Was that silly filly trying to fly again?” Butterheart asked.

“I think so.”

The mare sighed. “You two don’t mind going on without me to the office, do you?”

“I don’t mind,” Scratch replied with a smile.

“I will talk with you later Scratch dear.” Butterheart rushed away leaving the two younger ponies in the hall.

Scratch took the lead causing Thyme to feel a sense of irony in having to follow a blind pony. The unicorn cantered down the still familiar halls until something stopped her.

“Somepony is playing my music,” she said to herself.

“That is not surprising,” Thyme stated. “You are a little famous.”

Scratch turned to him and rolled her eyes but the stallion didn’t notice due to her thick glasses.

“It just seems,” she searched for a proper word. “Strange. To me at least.”

As they neared the office the music grew louder. They stopped outside the door just as another song started. This one had vocals to it and the voice of a familiar pony sang along with Scratch’s. The two ponies listened for a while then entered.

“Hello Puff Tart!” Scratch sang. “Long time no see!”

The room became silent, the only noise bing the DJ Pon3’s music . A pink unicorn stared at Scratch with an open mouth and bulged eyes.

“I never knew you were a fan of my music,” Scratch continued, relishing in her foalhood nemesis’ surprise. “How is your mom doing?”

Puff Tart continued to stare and Scratch continued to smile. Before Vinyl Scratch could continue with her one sided conversation, Puff Tart gave a form of reply.

The pink unicorn let out a garbled moan and slumped to the floor, unconscious.

“That was not the reaction that I expected,” Scratch said passively.

“Let me just start by saying how sorry I am for the way I treated you,” Puff Tart said sincerely before taking a sip from a glass of water. She still sat on the floor, propped up against the wall. “I have regretted it ever since your music changed my life. I can’t believe you came back!”

“How did I change your life?” Scratch asked critically.

Tart shrugged innocently and smiled. “You gave me inspiration and hope. I always wanted to be more than an orphanage matron’s daughter. But I never thought it was possible for me to become anything. I dreamed of becoming a dancer. When you became the DJ Pon3 it made me realize that I could become something amazing too. Thank you Scratch, thank you.”

Scratch smiled. Then something nagged at her mind and she opened her mouth to ask a question but decided against it. Puff Tart knew what she wanted to know.

“You are wondering why I still became the head of this orphanage, aren't you?”

“Yep,” Scratch replied.

"Well,” she said slowly. “It’s hard to be a dancer when you can’t walk.”

“You can’t walk?” Asked a disbelieving Vinyl.

“Yep,” Puff pointed at her lower legs and sighed. “Got into a carriage accident nearly two years ago.”

Scratch was speechless. Thyme was the first to give some form solace.

“I am very sorry to hear that,” he said kindly. “Was anypony else hurt in the accident.”

“Thankfully not,” she replied with a small smile. “Do you mind helping me back into my  chair?”

“I don’t mind at all.”

Thyme helped Puff Tart back into her seat and the orphanage matron became more business like.

“So Scratch,” she asked happily. “What brings you here all of a sudden?”

“I was actually interested in adopting, though probably not right now,” Vinyl replied with a smile.

Puff raised an eyebrow. “Really? That is wonderful! But why are you not interested in adopting now?”

“I haven’t been able to buy a proper house,” Scratch replied sheepishly. “All I have is an apartment in Manehattan that is empty except for a bed and stove.”

Puff seemed surprised at the simplicity of Scratch’s living conditions. “I would have expected you to be better off.”

“I was too busy,” Scratch chuckled. “But now that my tour is done I can finally focus on more important things.”

“Well then,” Puff said cheerfully. “Come, I will show you around. It will also be a big treat to the foals to have a pony like you visit.”

Scratch tried her best not to blush as Puff Tart called for a pony.

“Swift Dancer, can you come in here! And bring my wheelchair please!”

A pegasus colt around the age of seven soon emerged from a side room pushing a wheelchair. He helped Puff Tart transfer herself into it and she gave him a quick hug before turning to her guests.

“This here is my son, Swift Dancer,” the pink unicorn beamed. “Ever since he came here three years ago he has been a personal helper of mine, and when I got into the accident he became like a son. So I ended up, in a sense, adopting him and now we are both happy.”

“How did you lose your parent’s?” Scratch asked him.

“I never lost them,” he replied quietly. “My parents gave me up when I was an foal. They are most likely still alive but they couldn't’ afford another child I guess.”

Scratch again was at a loss for comforting words, but she tried her best. “Maybe some day you can see them again.”

“Maybe,” Dancer replied with a small smile.

A bell rang throughout the orphanage causing Scratch to jump with surprise.

“Oh, that is the new bell we installed a few years ago,” Tart chuckled. “The foals should all be heading towards lunch now. Shall we head down there and say hello?”

“Sounds good to me,” Scratch nodded her head excitedly.

They made their way through the empty halls towards the cafeteria. Scratch could hear the voices of a few dozen foals chattering amongst themselves as they drew near.

“How is your mother doing?” Scratch asked Puff Tart, there was a taste of disdain in her voice.

“When I took over here my mother and stepfather were more than happy to pack up and leave for a retirement in the Haywaiian Islands,” she replied bitterly. “They have yet to come back for a visit since they left. Though they do send letters.”

They arrived at the doorway and Scratch paused.

“I was at Haywaii a few months ago as part of my tour,” Scratch said pleasantly. “If I knew they were on the islands I would have said hello.”

Puff Tart laughed awkwardly as they moved into the room.

“Everypony,” the orphanage matron sang. “We have a visitor! The Deejay Pony!”

_______________________________________________

Sorry for the short chapter. Been busy lately. Next chapter will be longer and more eventful.

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

All eyes snapped to Scratch as the room became deathly quiet. She could feel them watching her and occasionally she would hear them whisper though she could not tell what they were saying. Eventually a filly stood up and yelled.

“Sapphire Shores is better!”

“You wish!” Scratch retorted with a laugh.

The tension in the room suddenly gave way and the foals rushed around her eager to get a close look at the music legend.

“Wow! Youre so cool!”

“Can I have an autograph?”

“They say that I sleep by the same window that you slept by!”

“I love you music!”

“I want to be just like you when I grow up!”

“Can I touch your mane?”

“I have a pair of sunglasses just like yours! I made them myself!”

“My favorite one of your songs is ‘Into the Morning Sunset’!”

“You smell like flowers!”

“I love you!”

“Is that guy your stallionfriend?”

“Everypony settle down!” Puff Tart called over the clamor. “Don’t suffocate her!”

The foals backed away and waited anxiously for Scratch to speak.

“That was quite a reception!” the white unicorn laughed. “There is no need to attack me. I will speak to you all you want.”

Scratch spent the next hour speaking and playing with the orphans as they finished eating and headed outside to the playground. Scratch paused in the middle of the grounds and smiled at Puff Tart.

“Hey Puff! Sorry for dumping paint on you!”

“It’s okay,” the matron sighed as she remembered the day. “I deserved it.”

“Wait,” a colt chimed. “That story was true? You really did dump paint on Ms. Tart?”

“Yep!” Scratch tousled his mane.

“Wow!”

Scratch heard a pair of foals whispering nearby.

“Go ask her,” one filly said.

“But what if she gets angry?” Replied the colt.

“She wont get angry. She seems nice.”

“How would you feel if somepony asked to see your eyes if you were blind?”

The filly replied quickly, “I think it would be cool!”

“Thats because you like attention too much,” the colt retorted.

Scratch followed their voices and snuck up behind them. She raised her sunglasses and whispered, “boo.”

Both foals spun around and found themselves staring into Scratch’s blood red eyes. Both screamed and fell backwards onto their flanks. Scratch started laughing and the foals joined in.

“You are so much funner than most grown ups!” The colt exclaimed.

“Funner isn’t a word,” hissed the filly.

“You ain't funner,” Scratch smiled at her.

The filly blushed, then she jumped up in excitement. “Could you ever bring your sister here with you? I like her songs oh so very much!”

“If I'm ever able to drag her out of Canterlot,” Scratch replied with a chuckle. “That girl is super stubborn.”

The filly squealed with joy. “Please oh please bring her!”

“I’ll try,” Scratch promised.

Scratch continued to talk and play with the foals. Eventually though they had to go inside for classes and Scratch was left alone with Puff tart and Thyme.

“Shall we go inside?” Puff tart asked.

Scratch was about to agree when she heard the sound of somepony sitting on the squeaky swing set. She could tell from the way the pony was slowly swinging that they were upset.

“I’ll be right back,” she told Puff Tart and Thyme.

Scratch made her way to the swings and sat down next to the pony.

“Hello,” Scratch said cheerfully. “Are you not going to go inside?”

The pony continued to slowly move back and forth on the swing, the chains squeaking and in need of oil.

“Are you okay?”

“She doesn’t talk to anypony,” Puff Tart said as Swift Dancer pushed her closer, followed by Thyme. “She came here nearly two years ago and has yet to say a single word. “She doesn’t go to classes because the teachers can’t get through to her.”

Scratch stared blindly at the filly. “I know how she feels.”

“If I remember correctly,” Puff Tart said hesitantly. “And forgive me for bringing this up, but didn’t your parents die in a fire when you were just a newborn foal?”

“Yep,” Scratch nodded. “But my true family is still alive.”

Puff tart smiled, but her expression quickly saddened. “Her family died in a forest fire when she was seven. She probably remembers it all too vividly.”

Scratch and the filly sat in silence for a few more moments with the three other ponies watching them. The only sound being the squeak of the swings and the occasional gust of wind.

“What does she look like?” Scratch asked Tart. “And more importantly, what is her name?”

“Oh-uh, well.” Puff Tart suddenly felt uncomfortable. “She is a pegasus, a very light blue, almost white. Her eyes are a, uh, deep blue and her mane and tail is a mix of dark and light purple. Her name is Anemone. Anemone Reverie.”

“You sound very pretty,” Scratch smiled at the now motionless filly. “I’ll talk to you later Anemone.”

They left her and headed back into the building. After the encounter with Anemone Reverie, scratch found herself in a much more depressed mood. After a while of simple conversation, Thyme noticed the sad attitude that had befallen her.

“Are you okay Vinyl?” He asked her as they relaxed in Puff Tart’s office.

“Huh?” Scratch muttered as she was pulled out of her thoughts. “Oh, I was just thinkin’”

“You seem upset.” Thyme watched her with a sincere look in his eyes.

Scratch was silent for a moment then smiled. “It’s nothing. So Puffs, what are we doing next?”

“Puffs?” Puff tart asked. Her eyebrows furrowed questioningly.

“I give nicknames to everypony,” a wide smile cut across Scratch’s face.

“She calls me Thymie sometimes,” Thyme sighed.

“Are you two sure you aren't dating?” Puff Tart asked with a sly smile.

Scratch faked a laugh. “No. He’s my butler and somewhat of a friend. Nothing more!”

Thyme raised an eyebrow and stared at Scratch critically. “Somewhat of a friend? And technically I am your father’s butler.”

“See,” Scratch smiled triumphantly. “There is nothing between us.”

“Sure,” Puff Tart replied. “Whatever you say.”

“New conversation time!” Cheered Scratch. Her cheeks were starting to turn red.

“Okay then,” Tart chuckled. “But I will need to help Butterheart tuck the foals into their beds in a little while.”

“It’s already night!” The deejay cried with surprise.

“Yes,” Thyme said flatly.

“We've been talking like old friends for a few hours now!” Puff Tart giggled.

“Wow!” Scratch put her hoof to her forehead in wonder. An idea soon formed inside her mind. “Do you need help tucking the foals in?”

“If you don’t mind?” Puff tart replied with a smile. “I have a hard time getting the fillies to sleep if you want to help me get them in their beds. Butterheart can handle the colts.”

“I don’t mind at all.”

“Then let's get started!” Puff Tart magically moved her wheelchair towards the door. Swift Dancer had fallen asleep on a small couch and Puff Tart didn’t want to wake her son just to have him push her around. Vinyl Scratch and Thyme followed close behind.

The voices of restless and excited ponies filled Scratch’s ears as they neared the sleeping hall. Puff Tart magically pushed the door open and the phillies fell silent. That was until Scratch stepped in. the room erupted into a roar of excitement.

“Tell Mrs. Tart to not make us go to bed,” One pleaded.

“I know how it feels to not want to sleep,” Scratch slowly walked down the aisle dividing the beds. “But Tart is right. You girls need to sleep.”

“Aww,” the chorused sadly.

A small filly spoke up. “Miss Deejay, could you sing us a song?”

The room was filled with a conconfinay of fillies demanding the same. Scratch rolled her eyes and smiled.

“Fine,” she chuckled. “How about I sing you a nice, short and soft song. I need practice on those.”

“We want to hear one of your cool songs!” Another filly protested and others cheered in agreement.

“First of all, my music isn’t as good without my equipment,” Scratch sat down on the small filly’s bed. “Second of all, I’m trying to get you to fall asleep so hush it up, listen and start feeling sleepy.”

The room fell silent and Scratch took a breath. She struggled to come up with a song untill she remembered one that Symphonia and Maxim once sang to her and Octavia.

“Sleep and dream little ones

Close your eyes and drift away

On the spring breeze of our love

To a place where tears don’t rain

As you sleep my little ones

With no cares left from the day

Cary our hearts with yours

Remember that we love you always”

Scratch had quieted her voice until it was barely a whisper.

“Always and always

Forever and forever.”

She sat there in silence for a few minutes, deep in thought and trying to hold back tears, as the fillies around her continued to sleep. Unknown to Scratch, a filly still sat in her bed watching her intently. She continued to stare at her as Scratch eventually stood and left the room followed by Puff tart and Thyme. When the older ponies had closed the door, filling the room with darkness, did she lay down and start to cry heavily into her pillow.

Scratch ambled down the hall with the others in tow. Unexpectedly, she collapsed against the wall, curled up and started to cry uncontrollably. Thyme and Tart rushed to her side and tried to comfort her.

“Scratch, are you alright?” Puff Tart pressed.

The white unicorn continued to cry. Her sunglasses had fallen off and tears streamed down her cheeks. After several minutes the sobbing lessened and she sat there staring at the floor.

“Take me home, Thyme,” she said through the tears. “Take me home.”

Scratch was silent the entire ride home. Thyme would have thought that she was sleeping if it wouldn't have been for the occasional sniffle or whenever she wiped away a tear. When they arrived, he and Maxim helped Scratch into her room and tucked her into bed.

“Are you alright my dear?” Maxim asked his tired looking daughter.

“I’m okay now,” she smiled drowsily. “I just got overwhelmed by the memories and knowing that each of those foals must feel how I felt when I was there. With nopony to love them like a family.”

Scratch took a unsteady breath. “I have the urge to love and care for them like you have for me but I can’t! I’m only one mare! Only one, useless mare that can’t be there for all of them! They need me! They-they, I-I need to-”

Scratch started to cry again. Maxim leaned forward and kissed her on the nose. Her tears quickly stopped.

“That is why I know you would be a wonderful mother,” he whispered affectionately. “You have more love inside of you than you could possibly ever give away.”

She smiled back at him and slowly drifted off to sleep.

_______________________________________________________

Tell me if you see any mistakes. Thank you- Altoid.

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Hazelnut or vanilla coffee?”

Maxim smiled at his exhausted looking daughter as she slumped into her seat at the table.

“Hmm,” Scratch looked up and him with shadowy eyes before covering them up with her sunglasses. “Vanilla.”

“Do you want to do anything today?” Maxim asked as he poured her a cup.

“Meh.”

Maxim shook his head. “Well, I will be out back in the garden if you need me.”

“Hm-kay.”

When her father left the room, Scratch immediately downed the hot coffee. Ignoring the burning sensation in her mouth and throat from the heat she ambled out of the front door and straight into Thyme.

“My apologies Vinyl.” Thyme helped her off the ground.

“It’s okay.” She readjusted her sunglasses. “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

“I was just retrieving some water for the for the gardeners. Where are you going?”

“A swim in the lake.” Scratch started to canter away.

“Have fun!” He called after her before entering the house.

Scratch smiled to herself as she trotted up to the water’s edge, remembering how Maxim always told her to never go swimming without an adult due to her blindness. He still didn’t like her swimming alone but since she was a mare now he didn’t protest. Scratch removed her glasses and slid into the morning water.

“Oh dear Celestia, that is cold!” She shrieked before ducking her head below the water.

Scratch listed to the sounds of her liquid surroundings for a good ten minutes, occasionally coming up for breath. She tried to think about other things but her mind kept falling back to the silent filly at the orphanage. When her body could barely handle the cold anymore Scratch pulled herself out of the water and retrieved her glasses to sunbathe and dry off. She paused before putting them on due to the sound of a pony cautiously approaching.

“Hello Thyme,” Scratch smiled at him slyly as she slid her sunglasses on and pushed her wet mane back. Her voice changed to a more flirtatious tone. “Want to join me?”

“I actually came out here to inform you that your sister has arrived.” Thyme stated, Scratch could hear the uncomfort in his voice.

Scratch rolled her eyes at thyme’s blatant inability to tell that she was joking. “Tavi is here?”

“Yes.”

“Wheew! Where she at?”

“Talking to your father in the garden.”

Scratch took off running towards the house. Her wet mane flowing heavily in the wind. When she reached Octavia and grabbed her into a hug, before the grey mare had any idea what was going on, she was mostly dry. Mostly.

“Ah!” Octavia screamed. “You're all wet, Vinyl! Now I’m all wet! No, now my bowtie is wet!”

“Water dries Tavi,” Scratch stated flatly as she released her sister from the embrace. “When did you start wearing a bowtie?”

“I've been wearing one for a while now, but I didn’t tell you because you wouldn't like it.”

“I wear sunglasses all the time,” Scratch laughed. “Why wouldn't I like you wearing a bowtie?”

“Because everything I do ends up being criticised by you.”

Maxim chuckled as Scratch shrugged, dismissing her sister’s words. The unicorn suddenly remembered a promise she made the previous day.

“Oh, Tavi!”

“Hmm?”

“Come with me when I stop by the orphanage again.” Scratch clapped her hooves together. “A filly wants to meet you.”

Octavia unexpectedly became excited. “I have a fan?”

“Yep-yep!”

“When are we going?”

Scratch thought for a moment. “I was planning on stopping by one last time on my way to Manehattan but I guess we could stop by today.”

“And I could come with you,” Maxim spoke up. “I need to get out of the house and foals always make me smile.”

“This is going to be fun!” Scratch grabbed her father and sister into another moist embrace. “Lets get ready to go!”

“But after breakfast.” Octavia turned to go inside the house. “I am famished. And you need to dry off.”

After a quick meal they prepared themselves for the trip. Thyme insisted that he was too busy with housework to tag along with the family. Scratch doubted that for some reason but didn’t protest his absence. Having her sister and father would be more than enough company.

The ride to the orphanage was mostly silent. The three ponies were much too absorbed in their thoughts to strike up a conversation. But as they clattered up the path towards the main entrance they became uncontrollably excited, but for their seperate reasons.

“Seems like yesterday when I brought you home from this place,” Maxim sighed happily.

“It has changed a lot since then.” Scratch carefully stepped down from the carriage, and thanked the four stallions pulling it.

They entered the building and were instantly greeted by Butterheart.

“Back so soon Scratch? And I see you brought your family with you!”

“Yep! This is my father who you probably remember from the day he adopted me and this is my little sister!” Scratch beamed widely.

“Little sister?” Octavia protested. “I’m only a month younger than you!”

“See?” Scratch squeezed the grey pony and smiled at Butterheart. “She’s my little sister!”

Octavia rolled her eyes and pulled away from the unicorn. Scratch heard a small pony gallop up to them.

“Miss Deejay Pony!” The little filly ran up to Scratch and hugged her. “You came for a visit already! Come play with us! Please, oh please!”

“Of course!” Scratch laughed.

“Miss Puff Tart will be out shortly to join us,” Butterheart stated with a slight smile.

The filly grabbed Scratch’s hoof and pulled her forward. The white unicorn did the same to her sister and the three of them rushed down the hall. Maxim followed behind, all the while smiling widely.

‘She’s back already?’

Anemone Reverie looked up from the ground and watched the mare enter the playground. Ever since Vinyl Scratch had left the previous night, all she could think about was her and that lullaby. It played over and over again in her mind. She wanted to sing it, or even just hum the tune, but couldn't bring herself to even make a sound.

Anemone could physically talk, or at least she believed she could. But it had been a few years since she spoke her last words, perhaps her voice had indeed left. She just never felt the urge to talk though.

The three adult visitors played with the younger foals and after a while, Anemone noticed Vinyl Scratch asking Butterheart question. The orphanage matron looked around as if searching for somepony.

‘I wonder if she is trying to find a certain pony to adopt,’ She thought to herself, though she doubted it. ‘Why would a pony with everything she wants ruin it all with a needy foal?’

Puff Tart’s eyes fell on Anemone and the filly quickly looked away. She peeked back up a moment later and was surprised to see Vinyl Scratch approaching her. Her heart skipped a beat but her pessimism quickly put her hopes down.

“Hello Anne,” Scratch spoke to her softly.

Anemone continued to look at the ground. ‘My parents called me Anne. I don't’ like this stranger calling me that.’

“Or would you rather me call you River?” Scratch continued. “Sounds a lot like Reverie.”

Anemone looked up and stared into the unicorns sunglasses. The reflection of a pathetic and sad filly looked back at her from the purple lenses.

‘How does she expect me to communicate with her? A silent filly to a blind mare.’

“I know it is going to be hard for us to communicate.” Scratch said as if she had heard Anemone’s thoughts. The unicorn sat down into the swing next to her. “But it is a struggle I think we could overcome together.”

‘Together?’

“I have been thinking a lot about you since we met yesterday," Scratch said slowly. "You remind me a lot of myself when I was around your age.” Scratch sighed, “River, I want to ask you something. Something that would change both of our lives forever.”

Anemone breathed in with anticipation. She mentally screamed at Scratch, ‘Please, just say it! Say that you will take me away!’

The unicorn remained quiet for a painfully long time. The memories of the day she was adopted played through her mind. All of the emotions that she felt at that moment when Maxim took her away to have a real life with a real family.

Finally Scratch turned and smiled lovingly at Anemone. “Would you like to come live with me?”

___________________________________________________

A short chapter, I know. But the next will be very good.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Only silence filled the air between the mare and filly. Scratch knew that the orphan was not going to answer verbally so she held out her hoof and smiled warmly. River, she realised that was going to be her nickname from now on, looked at the welcoming motion and slowly placed her hoof onto the mare’s. Scratch’s smile widened as she stood and pulled River into a hug that the filly gladly returned.

“Come,” Scratch said softly. “I’ll show my family to you.”

River nodded and slid off of the swing and followed Scratch to the stallion and young mare talking to Puff Tart. She felt a tightness in her heart as the three older ponies turned and looked at Scratch as they walked up.

“Hey guys!” Scratch pulled River closer to her. Maxim and Octavia looked at the filly with interest and surprise. “I would like you to meet Anemone Reverie. River for short. I’m adopting her!”

Scratch could hear Octavia take a breath to argue but she stopped herself. Maxim took the initiative in welcoming River to the family.

“Hello Anemone.” He held out a hoof that river shook reluctantly. “I am Orchestratus Maxim, Vinyl Scratch’s adopted father.”

“And I am her sister, Octavia,” the grey mare’s sincere smile was honest but River could tell that something was bothering her. Her suspicions were verified as Octavia continued. “Sister can I speak to you? You too father.”

“Tavi-” Scratch hissed.

“Please?” Octavia wasn’t going to stand aside without sharing her opinion.

River watched as the three ponies walked away a short distance, just out of earshot. Puff Tart stood next to her, eyeing the filly and watching her emotions.

“Scratch,” Octavia said when they were far enough away. “What do you think you are doing?”

“Giving a filly a home and family,” Scratch replied flatly.

“A family is the easy part, but you don’t even own a house.”

“Scratch and river could live with me until proper housing is obtained.” Maxim gave both of his daughters a hug, hoping they would find a resolution before an argument broke out.

Octavia couldn't find any flaws in that plan so she stopped the debate. She looked at River who stood in Puff tart’s shadow watching them with critical eyes. Octavia looked River over and then turned back to Scratch.

“She seems so ill and thin. Is she sick? And I have yet to hear her speak. Why this one?”

“Why not her? Oh, and she doesn’t talk.” Scratch was growing tired of her sister.

Maxim and Octavia stared at Scratch with the same expression.

“She doesn’t speak!” Octavia screamed. River looked over at her with a venomous glare and the grey mare quieted her tone. “What are you thinking?”

“Even I think this is a problematic idea,” Maxim said.

“I’m not changing my mind,” Scratch stated defiantly. “Plus, I already told her that I was adopting her. I can’t go back on that.”

Octavia bit her lip in frustration. Maxim sighed and looked over at the silent filly.

“We will do everything we can to help you raise River.” He smiled at Scratch. “She is part of our family now.”

River hadn’t been out of the orphanage since she had first arrived there and the ride in the carriage was nothing short of exhilarating. The orphanage had field trips of course but she never tagged along. The only down side was the fact that her new family members refused to speak to each other. Scratch continued to tell her about the wonderful life she was going to have and Mr. Maxim would nod his head and say the same. But river could tell that they all were in deep thought, especially Octavia. The only words the grey mare said to anyone was, “it’s so cold out today, I can’t wait to get home.”

They were passing a pizzeria when Scratch suddenly chimed up. “Lets stop here to eat!”

River had no idea how the unicorn knew they were passing the restaurant but she honestly didn’t care at that moment. All she wanted to do was get out of the carriage and away from tension between the three older ponies. The tension still followed them into the restaurant, but it greatly dissipated into subtle excitement and reminiscent conversations.

“This is where we ate when I was adopted!” Scratch declared, emanating newfound joy. “I wonder is Stringy still works here. And I wonder if she kept my autograph, or sold it.”

Her questions were answered the moment they walked up to a familiar skinny, pale mare.

“Welcome to The Alfalfa Slice, I’ll be your waitress- oh, Vinyl Scratch!”

“What is up Stringy!” Scratch beamed. “Long time, no see!”

“I-I still have your autograph, we framed it and put it up on the wall for everypony to see.” Stringycheese gathered up a hoof-full of menus. “It helps bring in much business. Please follow me to your seats.”

Scratch could hear a jukebox playing her songs alongside the rock-n-roll classics that were usually played at The Alfalfa Slice. Though she could not see them, Scratch could feel the eyes of every pony in the room watching her and their voices whispering in an excited fervor.

“Hello everypony!” Scratch waved her hoof in the air and smiled widely. “If you want an autograph or if you just want to chat with me and say hi, catch me on my way out. Right now I just want to have lunch with my family.”

They sat down and looked over the menus. Scratch was only acting like she was looking at it due to a habit she formed in school to help keep suspicion down when she would listen in on other ponies conversations. There was very little dialogue going on around her other than the occasional excited, and delayed, outburst from a pony just then realising that the DJ Pon3 was there.

“What would you like on your pizza River?” Maxim asked the filly who had been fiddling uncomfortably with her empty glass.

River looked up at him with a raised eyebrow and then pointed to a series of different toppings. Just then Stringycheese returned with a pitcher of water and a wide smile.

“Have you guys decided what you want or do you need another minute?”

Maxim nodded and returned the waitress’ smile. “This little filly would like a pizza with everything on it.”

“Awesome!” Scratch laughed. “I’m definitely going to have some of that!”

A toothy grin flashed momentarily across Rivers face. After Octavia heard that they were getting a pizza with all toppings, she looked through the menu again.

“I will have a cucumber sandwich,” the grey mare stated flatly.

Scratch gave a sharp glance at her sister and she rolled her eyes from behind her sunglasses. Octavia didn’t notice as she turned to watch carriages and ponies pass along the road. Maxim took the menus and hoofed them over to Stringy.

“So a pizza with everything on it and a cucumber sandwich?” The waitress checked her notepad.

“I think that is all.” Maxim nodded.

“It’ll be out in several minutes. Holler if you need me.” Stringy cheerfully trotted away leaving the four ponies to sit in silence once again.

“I think word is starting to spread that you are here, Vinyl.” Octavia watched as ponies filed into the building and outside of the windows. A young stallion pressed his face against the window adjacent to where scratch was sitting.

“There is a pony looking at me through the window, isn't there?” Scratch groaned. The unicorn rubbed her forehead and took a long gulp of her water.

“Yep.” Octavia sighed.

“I wasn’t expecting the news to travel so quickly.”

“You are a bit more famous than you give yourself credit for.” Maxim chuckled softly but gave a sharp look at a new crowd pushing their way in.

Scratch stopped a busy Stringycheese as she passed their table. “When the pizza and sandwich are done, could you put them in a to-go box? I have approximately fifteen minutes until the first of the paparazzi arrives. And around twenty minutes before the entire outside of the building is full of them. These ponies wanting  to talk to me or catch a glance of me are potential customers for you and I wouldn't mind sticking around for the benefit of my favorite pizza place. But the paparazzi is the opposite. They will block your doors preventing anyone from getting in.”

Stringy’s already stressed out expression became that of entrepreneurial terror. She nodded violently and rushed into the kitchen. She returned moments later with the other members of her family to help with the growing number of “customers”. Scratch would occasionally wave or smile in the direction of somepony screaming her name but for the most part she tried to ignore them.

River meanwhile was becoming more and more paranoid and uncomfortable with the growing crowd. With every new pony that entered the Alfalfa Slice she sank deeper into her chair. Maxim noticed her uncomfort and he smiled playfully at her. She returned the smile momentarily and felt a little more at ease. Something about her new grandfather calmed her.

Then Scratch heard it. The distinct click of a camera over the sound of the excited murmur of the ever arriving ponies. She dismissed it as nothing more than a fan getting their own image of their favorite musician. But when a series of more camera clicks followed the first, Scratch let out a feral growl that startled both River and Maxim. Octavia just turned and faced her sister with a blank look.

“What was that about?” The grey mare asked.

“Behind me.” Scratch’s voice was a dangerous hiss. “Do you see them?”

Octavia looked past Scratch and at the three ponies toting cameras and snapping pictures at them. Two more were jostling past the customers and Scratch’s fans to get through the doorway. Luckily the food was soon brought out to them.

“Is there a back door?” Scratch asked as she heard another group of paparazzi arrive, undoubtedly from manhattan.

“Oh, look,” Octavia said with some excitement. “Pony Magazine photographers are here.”

“Do you have a back door?” Scratch whispered to Stringy.

“Yes.” Stringy nodded to her two brothers who stood at the door keeping the crowd under control. They instantly started trying to distract the photographers. When the paparazzi’s attention was momentarily diverted, Stringy continued. “Follow me.”

They slipped out through the kitchen, saying apologetic goodbyes to the cooks and any of her fans as they left. When they got outside Scratch turned to Stringy as Maxim went to bring the carriage around the back of the building.

“Thanks for the pizza Stringy, here is the bits for it. And for your help in my escape, I will send you and your family tickets to my upcoming concert in Manehattan.”

Stringycheese stood staring at scratch with a look of utmost disbelief and joy.

“Oh thank you!” She squeaked.

Maxim rounded the corner followed shortly by the full mob of paparazzi.

“Time to go Vinyl!” Octavia pulled her sister and River towards the carriage and they jumped up into the back.

After a few moments of calming down, Octavia spoke up.

“I wonder if I will be in Pony Magazine?” She said dreamily.

“Shut up Tavi,” Scratch hissed.

As they pulled up towards the mansion, River noticed two things. The sheer size of her new, temporary,  home and the two handsome stallions talking on the front porch. Scratch heard their voices as they pulled up and she groaned.

“Dangit. Mic Eye is here!” Scratch softly pounded the sides of her head in frustration. She leaned over the side of the carriage and yelled at the two stallions. “Thyme, stop talking to him! He is bad news for anypony and don’t listen to anything he says!”

“Whu-?” Thyme tilted his head in confusion as Scratch leaped out of the still moving carriage.

Scratch stomped past Thyme, straight towards the other stallion and faced up at Mic Eye who looked down at her. River followed Scratch and stood next to her, watching the standoff between them.

“Ah lovely, I see you finally decided to show up.” Mic adjusted his black sunglasses and multi-colored suit to look more professional. “Did you forget?”

“No I did not forget, I don’t want to do it right now.” Scratch ground her teeth angrily.

“You don’t have a choice,” Mic Eye smiled. “You know what the agreement was.”

Maxim and Octavia walked up and looked at Mic distastefully.

“Who is this?” Octavia asked.

Scratch continued to face Mic with a look of hatred as she replied. “This is Mic Eye. The most shifty scum-bag-shaped-as-a-pony in all of Equestria. He is also my Agent, among other things.”

“Among other things?” Maxim raised and eyebrow and looked at the finely dressed, unicorn stallion with sharp eyes.

“He is my event planner, director... he basically runs my life and owns me due to a contract that I signed when I was first starting out. He is here telling me to get back on the tour and do the photo shoots or the contract gets terminated.”

“Just let the contract get terminated then.” Octavia stated.

“She can’t.” Mic Eyes grinned a wide toothy smile. “If she does, every profit she made will be owed to me and the ponies I work for. All of her money, her apartment and everything she owns, except for her stupid sunglasses, will belong to us.”

“Why did you think signing this contract was a good idea?” Octavia huffed.

“I couldn’t read it, and I didn’t know that the pony I hired to read it worked for him! He left the important details out.” Scratch was on the verge of tears. She turned away from the stallion and sat on the porch swing. Scratch removed her sunglasses and rubbed her eyes. “I even took it to court and they said that I was in the wrong for signing it and the contract was legal! I’m starting to think the judge was working for him too!”

“So,” Mic sighed. “Are you done whining or are you ready to head to Manehatten for your concert and photoshoot?”

Scratch glared at him with her blood red eyes and growled. “Fine. But I’m taking River with me.”

“Hmmm, nope. Sorry.” He chuckled. “I don't have room on the carriage. Maybe if you try very hard to get back on my good side when we are in Manehattan maybe I will let her come with you for the rest of the tour. Who is she anyway?”

Scratch felt her heart drop. “She-she is-she is my adopted daughter.”

“I didn’t know you had a daughter!” Mic exclaimed. “In that case... no, she still can't come. Sorry kid, mommy’s gonna be gone for a while.”

“Someday I'm going to kick you in the face and break your jaw.”

“Sure you are,” Mic trotted away. “Get your stuff together. I’ll be waiting in the carriage. Oh, and please hurry.”

_____________________________________________________________________

If you see any mistakes please tell me.

Chapter 7

I have decided on this one instead of the darker one.

Chapter 7

The smell of blueberry pancakes and the sound of somepony practicing with a cello pulled River from her sleep. She laid in her bed, which had been Vinyl’s, for several seconds trying to remember exactly where she was at. When River remembered everything, she let out a happy sigh and rolled off of the bed. The fact the Scratch was gone hadn’t really fazed her joy. All the musician was to River was a new caretaker that had yet to prove herself as anything more. Last night, River had been too tired to look around much of the house and room. The actions of the day had left her bewildered and weary. Now that River was rested and her curiosity replenished, she began to take everything in.

Scratch’s room was adorned with an appropriate mixture of music themed items like record players, instruments and two turn tables. There were no posters or anything else visual, just knick-knacks and other items that could be enjoyed with other senses other than eyes. Most of them were stuffed animals and overly soft pillows. River’s observations were cut short by a knock at the door.

“Miss River? I made some blueberry pancakes for breakfast this morning.” Thyme’s soft voice called through the door. “Come down if you want any.”

River listened to him walk away then went back to exploring the room. The massive assortment of colorful toys and pillows had a minor overwhelming effect on her. Though she guessed that if you were blind, there wouldn't be any need to color coordinate. River noticed a stuffed animal in particular. Actually , it was more of a mix between a stuffed animal, pillow and hat. The item was a stuffed black cat with bright blue eyes. It was designed as a large fluffy hat with the long plush legs acting like the straps and ear warmers. Without a second thought River snatched it up and placed it crookedly on her head.

‘I don’t think she would mind If I kept this,’ she told herself.

The urge to extend her exploration to the rest of the house momentarily enticed her. But the smell of pancakes had the greater pull.

‘Pancakes now, exploration later.’

A few minutes later, Thyme was surprised to see a puffy, round cat float past the counter, stop next to a plate of pancakes and a bottle of syrup, which then were pulled down by a quick hoof. The cat then turned and bounced out of the room. Thyme turned and looked at Maxim who had also witnessed the event.

“Looks like River found one of Scratch’s stuffed hats,” the older stallion chuckled. “Though, Scratch has plenty to spare. I wonder where that little one trotted off to?”

Thyme shrugged. “Want me to go find out sir?”

“Nah, let her be for now.” Maxim took a sip from his coffee. “We’ll let her wander around by herself for now. I’ll show her the house in a little while.”

River, meanwhile, had slipped out of the front door and was sitting on the front porch swing, enjoying her breakfast. When the filly finished she continued to sit and watch the occasional pony or carriage pass by on the distant road. Octavia passed by without noticing the filly, boarded a carriage with her luggage and left for Canterlot. After a while River found herself becoming bored. Leaving her plate on the swing, she stepped off the porch and began her walk around the house.

‘Is this all their property?’ River’s eyes lingered on the pond, garden and the massive,  open yard. ‘Wow, this is epic! They basically have their own country!’

She decided to check out the garden first. River walked along the maze of paths, enjoying the colors and smells and feeling rather happy. She was just about to leave the garden when she heard footsteps sneaking up behind her.

“Got you this time you little stinker!”

A gardener lifted River up by the scruff of her neck and proceeded to carry the filly to the house. River hung from the gardener’s mouth, a confused and slightly terrified look on her face. They entered through the glass, back doors and straight into the kitchen where Maxim was reading a newspaper and finishing his second cup of coffee. The stallion peeked over the paper with bemused eyes just as the gardener plopped River onto the floor. The filly’s hat slid off of her head and landed next to her.

“I caught one of the little stinkers that have been trespassing on your property sir!” the gardener beamed. “Though I have never seen this one before.”

Maxim shook his head and chuckled. “Miss Pollen Drift, this is not one of those foals. This is Vinyl’s adopted daughter, Anemone Reverie. Or River for short.”

“Oh.” Pollen Drift looked apologetically at River. “Well, she could have said so.”

The gardener turned and hurried out before Maxim could explain further. River sat on the floor for several seconds before standing. She picked up her hat and placed it back onto her head in the same crooked fashion.

Maxim watched as she prepared to leave and he tried to stop her. “Would you like me to show you around?”

River shook her head and continued out of the room.

‘I can explore on my own and don’t call me anyone’s daughter. That pony isn’t my mother.’

It had been her worse concert yet. She had made plenty of mistakes and her music sounded dull and emotionless. Scratch now sat in her Manehattan hotel room preparing for Mic Eye’s anger that was, undoubtedly, going to burst through her door. She had managed to slip past him at the show, but his hotel room was right next to hers. After half an hour, sure enough there was a violent banging on her door followed by the agent’s livid voice.

“Vinyl Scratch, open this door! We need to talk! And you have some explaining to do!” Apparently his yelling had drawn attention from the other residents of the hotel. “What are you looking at? Go back into your rooms and cover your ears if you don’t like my yelling! Scratch, open... this... door!”

Scratch realised that she was going to have to face Mic eventually so she decided to get it over with now. She ambled to the door, all the while ignoring his rants, unlocked and pulled it open.

“Hello Mic, what's wrong?” She said cynically. “You seem angry.”

The stallion pushed harshly past her and into her room. “Don’t start with the wit, Vinyl. You know why I’m angry. Why did you perform so terribly? Oh, let me guess. The little mommy miss her little girl? Well that is too bad! You need to do these concerts to help support your filly and if you continue to do poorly then it is over for you and you can go live as a forgotten musical legend like your father. Minus the big house of course.”

“How much money did you lose Mic?” Scratch growled. “I doubt you lost any.”

“Not yet, but we will if you continued this.”

Scratch laughed harshly. “We? Is that you and me or you and the ponies you work for?”

“Both.” Mic Eyes lowered his voice. “And I would like you to remember that you work for those ponies too.”

Scratch rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses. “What are they going to do, huh? Cut my pay again when I canceled that concert in Las Pegasus after I got sick or when I had to take a week off when I broke my leg? My paycheck isn’t worth hardly anything now and I don’t think they can go any lower without breaking any laws!”

“They could sell your apartment and all of your possessions to make you pay. All I need to do is give them an extra harsh report about you.” Mic Eye paused as an idea came to his mind and Scratch waited for him to continue. After a few moments the stallion spoke again, but now in a sweeter tone that Scratch immediately didn’t like. “Or, I can give them a good review. Tell them some convincing excuse as to why you did so poorly. And if you continue to do well with your concerts and behavior, we might even throw in the occasional bonus. More money, a new house for you and your filly, you could become quite wealthy.”

Scratch tilted her head in confusion. “What are you getting at Mic Eye? Why would you or them do that for me?”

“You know that I’m held in a higher position with my business so I have plenty of influence. I could just ask.”

“Yes, but why the sudden niceness?”

Though Scratch couldn’t see it, she knew that Mic was smiling. The stallion continued in a lucrative voice. “All I ask in exchange for my help in getting you a better future for you and your daughter is the occasional... favor.”

At first Scratch didn’t understand but his meaning quickly sank in. “No! Never! I won’t, you-you repulsive little rat. You snake tongued piece of trash. I would never!”

“Very well.” Mic Eye turned and slowly began to leave. “But lets just say, the letter I’m going to send the company about you won't be very pleasant in the slightest. Too bad, that daughter of yours probably will be angry with you for throwing away her future. But, eh, that’s your call.”

Scratch ground her teeth hatefully as Mic Eye closed the door behind him. She stood there for several more seconds to allow the stallion time to enter his room before slipping quietly out of the hotel and into the busy city night.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

It might have been the relative quietness that pulled her towards this particular location or maybe she had been there before, but Scratch soon found herself on one of Manehattan’s back streets, listening to the ponies walk by. She didn’t understand why her life had taken a turn for the worse. Everything in her heart told her that she should cut her deal with Mic Eye and return home until she got back on her hooves. But she threw those feelings away.

This was her decision, her mistake and her life. Scratch was going to see it through and find her own resolution to her problems. She hated this trait of her’s, stubbornness and the overwhelming urge to prove herself independent. Scratch didn’t need anyone's help.

But there was a pony that did need someone to be there for her, and Scratch had left River behind. Just for the sake of proving herself.

Scratch covered her face with her hooves and tried to hold back the tears. “What can I do?”

A set of hoofsteps distracted her. Scratch felt somepony nudging her side and she faced in their direction.

“Hmm?” The mare sniffed as she wiped away an escaping tear.

“Are you the Deejay Pony?” asked a filly.

“Yes.” Scratch forced a smile.

“Wow,” the filly replied with slow admiration. “But, why are you crying?”

The mare shrugged, not really in the mood to talk with the filly. “It’s just... my life has taken a bad turn and I don’t know what to do.”

Scratch felt the little pony sit down next to her. The filly looked up at Scratch with concerned eyes.

“But you can beat anything. I remember hearing about how you were an orphan and-and also blind! But you still became famous! That made me believe that I could become a runner. And now I’m the fastest in my class!”

“That’s wonderful!” The filly was making Scratch forget about her troubles.

“Oh, my mommy is waving for me to come back inside. Bye bye Miss Deejay! I can't wait till I tell my friends at school about meeting you!”

The filly jumped off of the bench and Scratch heard the metallic clink of a prosthetic leg for the first time as the young pony galloped away.

Watching other ponies without being seen was something River had perfected in the orphanage. Though the gardeners and yard keepers were off today she instead put that skill to use when she noticed a group of four foals around her age and younger lingering outside of the mansion fence. She immediately knew who they were from the complaints of the gardeners and other adults. They were the foals that had been sneaking onto Maxim’s property and playing on it as if it was their own.

The three foals stood by a spot where one of the yard keepers had filled in a hole under the fence. River believed that was where they were gaining access to the property. From what she could see, there was three colts and a filly.

The youngest looking one, a small colt, noticed River sitting on the front porch, said some words to the other three and pointed at the solitary filly. The oldest colt, who appeared to be more along the lines of a young stallion, looked at River and waved her over. River sighed, contemplated if she should comply, adjusted her hat and slipped off of the swing. She leisurely walked down the path and along the fence until she reached the point where they were standing on the road.

She stared at them and they stared back.

‘Are you going to say anything or are you going to gawk at me like a group of idiots?’ she thought to herself.

“I didn’t know anyone our age lived in this old pony house,” stated the eldest of the group. He was a dark orange color with a yellow mane and green eyes. “Do ya live here Skinny?”

River nodded her head. They seemed slightly confused with her silence but the older colt continued.

“What’s your name?”

She remained quiet, slightly annoyed that he kept calling her Skinny. The other filly spoke up in a voice that for some reason reminded River of a flute.

“Can you talk? Or what?”

River looked the other filly over, a petite unicorn. She had a light blue coat and an all black mane that River could tell was dyed that color. On the filly’s legs was a dozen or so colorful bracelets.

River shook her head in response to the filly’s question.

“So you can’t talk?”

River shrugged and nodded. They stared at her with unsure expressions. River doubted they believed her. She honestly didn’t care.

“Thats kinda weird!” said the youngest of their group, a stout, tan colt with an orange mane.

'Your kinda weird,' River mentally hissed as she glared at the colt and he backed away from the fence slightly.

Just then the mail pony caught their attention and they watched as he placed several envelopes into the box. After he left, the eldest of the foals walked over to the mailbox and retrieved the letters. River watched him with critical eyes.

“Hey look guys! I have old pony mail!” he cheered. “I wonder what’s in it?”

Rivers eyes went wide as he promptly read the envelopes one by one then tore them in half with his teeth when he finished.

“To Maxim from Classical Musical Society. To Maxim from Ivory’s Piano Repair Services. To Maxim from the Wilton and Whiton Retirement Co. Wow, this Maxim guy sounds like a real geezer!” He noticed the horrified look on River’s face and started to jeer at her. “What? You want me to stop? Then ask me. Come on, just open your mouth and talk!”

River opened her mouth but the words stuck in her throat and all that came out was a gagged squeak. The others broke into a chorus of laughter as the mute filly tried her hardest to keep the tears from welling up.

“I bet she can’t even fly!” the oldest colt continued, pointing at Rivers wings, and he was right. She couldn’t fly, nor had she ever tried. “And you don’t even have a cutiemark. Guys, I realised that she isn’t actually a pony! She’s more like a flightless, songless bird! I know what you are!”

He loomed over her from across the fence and she looked up at him with watery eyes.

“You're a penguin!” he screamed into her face.

The tears were close to spilling over as the older colt went back to reading and ripping the last three pieces of mail.

“Gardener’s Weekly Magazine. Just ask me to stop Penguin and I will. Another Letter to Maxim from The Classical Music Society. One more letter Pinguin, all you have to do is tell me to stop. No? Okay. To Vinyl Scratch from Ditzy Doo.” He grinned menacingly at her. “Aww, so sad, all of their mail torn up because you could stop me. It is your fault, but don’t be too hard on yourself. You are a useless penguin after all.”

“Hey, Clouter, who was that last letter for again?” Asked the second oldest of the colts.

“I don’t remember. Just pick it up and read it yourself,” the oldest, who apparently was named Clouter, replied harshly. “It’s around here somewhere.”

River was now crying softly to herself and she tried to hide her face under her hat.

“Stop crying and lets think of new ways to cure your talking problem.”

“Hey, Clouter, I found the letter and it says it’s for Vinyl Scratch.”

The rest of them stared at him with either confused or disbelieving looks.

“Guys,” asked the second oldest colt. “Do you think this might be the house everypony back at school said the Deejay Pony lived in?”

“Uh.” Clouter looked uneasily at the house then shook his head. “In this old house? Nah. I bet her parents just named her after the DeeJay. Ain't that right penguin?”

River was too busy crying to give any type of response.

“I think we should go now,” said the black maned filly. “My mom wanted me back home ten minutes ago.”

“Fine,” groaned Clouter. “See ya later Penguin.”

They cantered away leaving River sobbing uncontrollably as she watched the remnants of the mail blow away. She laid there even when her tears had long ceased to flow. Maxim found her a few hours later asleep on the yard as the sun went down, clutching her hat to her chest with the few pieces of paper she could save stuffed inside.

________________________________________________________

I know it's a short chapter but I have a lot planned for the next one.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

The bounce in his hoofsteps and the happy tune Mic Eye was humming as the agent entered the hotel dining room the next morning instantly gave Scratch the feeling that the stallion had exciting news. Though, Scratch doubted it would be exciting to both her and the agent. He sat down across from Scratch and coughed to get her attention.

“Good morning Vinyl. I have wonderful news!”

The mare didn't answer but she turned up from her food and faced him.

“Sapphire Shores canceled her interview with Pony Magazine so they bumped yours forward! We will be meeting with Quillpen in five hours for your interview and photo-shoot.” He said with a tone of finality. “I told them to have it in the city park. Unless you have a better location in mind.”

“The park is fine,” Scratch muttered flatly.

“Good,” Mike Eye started to read through the menu. “You don’t mind if I sit here, do you?”

“No,” she lied.

“Ah, speaking of magazines,” the stallion started to say and Scratch had a slight idea where he was going with the topic. “I was contacted by Sugar Mare Magazine and they wanted a photo shoot.”

‘Sugar Mare Magazine,’ Scratch mentally said to herself. ‘A magazine that likes to show of the pretty ponies so stallions could gawk at them all day. I promised dad that I wouldn't do that.’

“Tell them that I'm flattered that they think me worthy to grace their pages,” Scratch said in a false, sweet tone. “But I want to be remembered for my music, not my body.”

“Oh, I thought you would be excited because I already told them that you would agree to it and I got a shoot scheduled.”

Scratch scowled darkly at the stallion from behind her glasses. “When did you schedule this to happen?”

“Right after your interview with Pony Magazine.”

“Tell them that I’m not doin’ it.” Scratch went back to eating and hoping that Mic would agree and give up on trying to make her do what he wanted.

“I can’t,” he replied. “I already signed the paper stating that you will be there. We can’t go back on that.”

“You signed for me!”

“I’m your agent remember,” Mic eye chuckled. “So when you are done eating, go get yourself cleaned up and put some makeup on. You look tired and we can’t be having that.”

Scratch pushed herself away from the table and stormed out of the room before Mic Eye sent her anger over the edge. She spent the next few hours freshening up and fuming over the stallion’s actions. Scratch wanted some vengeance on his blackmail and the mare started to search her mind for a way to pay him back. The thought of Mic Eye being put in his place greatly improved Scratch’s mood and when it was time to leave she was actually smiling.

Mic Eye was momentarily confused with her change in attitude but he accepted it as a personal victory.

“See,” the agent said as they rode the carriage through the Manehattan streets. “I knew you would realise that this is a good idea.”

Scratch smiled, a plan forming in her mind. “Oh, a very good idea. One of your best.”

Mic Eye nodded, very pleased with the compliment on his actions. the rode in silence until they reached the park, it was slightly busy except for a section that Pony magazine had sectioned off for their own use.

“Hello Vinyl Scratch,” a soft voiced mare greeted as she stepped off of the carriage. “I’m Quillpen and I’ll be interviewing you today.”

“Cool. So when do we get started?” Scratch asked.

Quillpen noticed the musician’s impatience and tried her best to abate it. “Just follow me and we will begin.”

They walked to a trio of chairs situated by a fountain. Scratch was slightly upset that Mic Eye was joining them but she decided that it probably would be better if he could be in the same place as her revenge unfolded.

“So,” Scratch asked as they took their seats. “What’cha want me to talk about?’

“Well,” Quillpen tapped on her notepad. “How about your life story. Very few ponies know the details. Start from your foalhood in the orphanage and end at your life now.”

Scratch sighed. There was a reason ponies didn't fully know her story. It was because Scratch didn’t like to talk about her early years. But now the information would work in her favor. She laid on the emotion thick as she spoke.

“My parents were killed by a fire in Manehattan. I don’t know their names or what they were like only that the ponies that brought me into this world are nonexistent in my life. My first memories were not of family and joy, but being alone in an orphanage with nopony to care for me. I had no friends for the majority of my young life and several enemies...”

She continued through the events in her life. From her friendship with Ditzy to the cruelties of Puffeltop and her daughter. She worked up the emotion so much that by the time she reached her adoption Quillpen was sniffling and wiping away moist eyes.

“When I was adopted by Orchestratus Maxim, my life turned for the better,” the musician continued, “I had a new sister and two loving parents until our mother died shortly after I joined the family. My sister, Octavia, never really recovered after her mother Symphonia died and her relationship with Maxim is still strained because of it.”

“Why is the relationship between your sister and father strained? Does she blame him for her mother’s death?” Quillpen asked.

“I’m sorry but I don’t think it’s right to talk about their relationship without them. You can interview them if you want to. It would make both of them happy and it might even help fix what is hurt.”

“Very well,” Quillpen wrote something down. “So, what happened during the rest of your life?”

Scratch went through her life with her new family. The hard times at home and in school. She explained her growing love for music and how it gave her something to cherish when her father and sister weren't enough.

“This is good stuff,” Mic Eye said excitedly. “The readers will eat this up!”

“Oh, I'm not done yet,” Scratch chuckled. “I haven't gotten to the good part.”

“So what happened after you finished school?” Quillpen was writing every detail and hanging on every word.

“I wanted to become a DJ. So I set out to find a company that would help me. That is when I came across Mic Eye and the ponies he worked for. They had already heard about my personal successes and my skill with the new generation of music so they had to have me.”

“Yep,” Mic Eye beamed. “True Sound Productions is always there for the musicians.”

“I guess you hit a lucky break with them,” Quillpen had stopped puting down words and Scratch guessed that the writer believed the important material had all been used up.

“Don’t forget to emphasize on the kindness of True Sound Productions,” her agent cut in.

‘Oh just you wait Mic,’ Scratch thought to herself vendictfully.  ‘Wait until I get to everything you and your “kind” friends put me through.’

“At first it seemed like a good idea to sign on with ‘em,” she continued with slightly forced tears coming to her eyes. “But then everything went downhill when they blackmailed me and used my blindness to their advantage.”

Scratch heard Mic Eye draw in a pained breath and Quillpen gasp in shock as she proceeded to tell the writer everything Mic Eye and True Sound Productions had done to her. The cuts in her pay, hiding contract information, being torn away from her newly adopted daughter and finishing with Mic Eye attempting to coerce her into sleeping with him the previous night.

“Is-is this all true?” Quillpen asked, her eyes darted between the expressionless musician and the extremely uncomfortable agent.

“Every word.” Scratch stood. “Oh and Mic, if you haven't guessed, this counts as my resignation. I quit!”

“You can’t do this!” Mic Eye screamed as she walked away. He tried to ignore Quillpen’s hate filled eyes. “Come back this instant or you will lose everything!”

“Bye bye Mic,” Scratch laughed. “And if you need a female pony to take my place for the Sugar Mare photoshoot, just do it yourself because I doubt you are ever going to snag another poor filly after this story gets out.”

The agent stared at her dumbfounded as she trotted away with her horn lightly glowing to feel the unfamiliar path before her.

It was a new experience. Not having any money to pay for a carriage ride or even buy a stamp for a letter. Scratch was even slightly ashamed to admit to herself that she didn’t even know how to send a letter magically. But none of that really mattered as she walked down the street leading out of Manehattan with her only possession. The sunglasses Maxim had given her all of those years ago.

Occasionally somepony would recognize her and say hello but the white unicorn didn’t dare ask them for help. Sticking to her ways, Scratch wanted to find her own answer to the problems plaguing her life. The first problem would be becoming the best mother that she could be. Everything else was of less importance.

She finally reached the outskirts of Manehattan and stood on the road, feeling the breeze flowing over the miles of open land.

“Well,” Scratch sighed sadly. “Maybe my first problem is getting home.”

_______________________________________________________

If you see any mistakes that me or my editors missed, please tell me. I have a lot planned for next chapter so stay tuned!

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

“Where are you heading young lady?”

Scratch turned towards the carriage that had stopped next to her and the stallion pulling it. From the voices in the back she could tell that it was a family on a road trip. She tried to ignore the soreness in her legs before answering.

“I’m trying to get home,” she responded with a smile.

“Dad!” Squealed a filly. “Do you know who that is!”

Scratch blushed as the father replied.

“Some poor girl wandering the roads when a rainstorm is about to blow up!”

“Well, yes, but she is the Dejay Pony!”

“The musician that makes that ragle-tagle that you youngsters listen to?” The stallion looked at Scratch with critical eyes. “With all those wubs and what not?”

The filly nodded her head. The stallion looked over at his wife who had been sitting quietly holding a tiny colt in her hooves.

The mare looked at Scratch, “do you need a ride to wherever you are going?”

The unicorn was about to say no but she fought her stubborn attitude and nodded.

“Then climb aboard.”

Scratch felt her way to the back of the carriage, fumbled up the step and eventually sat down next to the filly. She told the stallion where she needed to go and made herself comfortable.

“Hi my name is Marigold!” the filly beamed as the carriage started moving. “Are you the Dejay Pony?”

The musician nodded, “but you can call me Scratch.”

“Wow! I can’t believe I’m talking to a famous pony!” Marigold’s tone shifted into a more serious attitude. “But why are you walking? Don’t you have a ton of money and your own carriage?”

“No, I’m not very rich at all.” Scratch rubbed the back of her head, uneasy with the topic. “I can't even afford a taxi. It’s a long story.”

“Oh,” Marigold went quiet for a moment.

Scratch took this time to enjoy the wind flowing through her mane. For some reason it felt better than it had in a long while.

“Where are you going anyway?”

“ Marigold,” chided the mother. “Stop pestering her.”

“It’s okay ma’am,” Scratch said. “I don’t mind. I’m going home to see my family, especially my daughter and hopefully straighten out my life.”

“Well good luck to you with that,” the stallion called back. “Nothing is more important than family. They will always be there to help you.”

‘I know,’ Scratch mentally laughed. ‘I can’t believe it took me this long to accept it.’

The rolling, fall time thunderstorm lingered imposingly on the distant horizon. Maxim momentarily wondered what it was like to be the pegasi controlling the swirling black mass of water and lightning before dismissing the thought and laughing.

“Fantasising about a different life must come with old age.”

Thyme looked up from the book he had been reading and raised an eyebrow in silent questioning. Maxim smiled at him and took a deep sip from his coffee. River sat in front of them, silently watching the storm draw closer, deep in thought. The silence was broken when a bolt of lightning hit a distant tree and the air reverberated with the defining boom of thunder.

“I think it is high time we headed inside.” Maxim stood and walked into the house with the two younger ponies in tow.

Thyme went into the sitting room to start a fire while Maxim went to fill up his coffee. River sat by the window watching the edge of the storm draw near. Like a black curtain, the tempest past overhead, wrapping the countryside in darkness. Occasionally the world lit up in a brilliant flash of light as the fingers of lighting reached towards the earth. River let out a surprised squeak that was drowned out by the boom of a particularly close one. She backed away from the window and sat down next to Thyme who looked through a box of music records.

“Choose something relaxing.” Maxim said, leaning into his chair and closing his eyes. “Something to help drown out the storm.”

Thyme chose one, put it in the player and soon soft music filled the air as the rain started to come down. River decided that there wasn't much in the way of entertainment downstairs so she quickly left the two stallions and retreated to her room. She laid in her bed, listening to the patter of the rain and soon found herself falling off to sleep. The nightmare started immediately.

The three foals that tormented her the other day stood around her, taunting River. She tried to scream for help but all that came out of her mouth was the sound of rain. Vinyl Scratch suddenly appeared next to her and River looked up at her unexpected savior with hopeful eyes. Scratch only frowned and turned towards the filly. The reflection of a raging fire played on the sunglasses’ lenses. The fire that took her family away.

Scratch leaned closer to her ear and whispered, “I’m leaving and nopony will ever be there for you.”

The mare faded away as the bullies loomed in closer. River’s dream ended abruptly when there was a knock on the front door.

“Oh goodness me! Who could be wandering the roads at this hour and in this weather?” River heard Maxim exclaim from downstairs. “Thyme, let whoever it is in. Can’t let the poor pony catch a cold!”

River’s curiosity was also piquing and she trotted to the top of the stairs and looked down just as Thyme opened the door. A soaked Scratch stood on the other side, her hair hung over her eyes and looking dreadful.

“It’s Scratch!” the stallion exclaimed.

“H-h-hey Th-Thy-Thyme,” the young mare stuttered as she shivered. “I-I c-c-c-came home.”

Maxim rushed to the door and pulled his daughter inside. Scratch soon found herself by the fire and wrapped in five blankets. Maxim sat next to her, rubbing her shoulders in a desperate attempt to warm the mare up and to fight off the oncoming cold. Scratch sneezed and wiped her runny nose with a tissue.

“Thyme,” Maxim turned to the younger stallion. “Make her some hot coco please.”

Scratch smiled and mouthed thank you. Maxim noticed River enter the room, sit quietly into a chair and stared at Scratch with critical eyes. Maxim turned back to his daughter and waited for Thyme to return with the drink before asking any questions. The young stallion returned minutes later, a cup of hot chocolate balanced on a tray. Scratch magically took it and sipped the steaming beverage gingerly.

“Why is everyone so quiet?” Scratch asked. She had stopped shivering for the most part and now felt warm. “Is something wrong?”

“Oh, I was just waiting for you to get warm before pestering you with questions.” Maxim pulled Scratch into an embrace and kissed her cheek to assure her that there was nothing wrong. “I’m just wondering why you are home so soon.”

“I quit,” Scratch said with a smile and spoke quickly. “I quit being their puppet and so you know, I feel more free than I've felt in a long time! Now I have nothing except you guys, but I feel so... so full. Ya know what i’m sayin’?”

Maxim chuckled. “I think I understand. So, what happened?””

Scratch relayed the events of the previous few days to her father and she could hear him quietly sigh or growl whenever Mic Eye’s especially appalling actions were mentioned. When the mare finished Maxim sat back and composed himself.

“If I was any more of an irrational minded pony I would put my coat on and headed down to Manehattan to give that insolent rat a piece of my own mind.” Maxim pulled her closer and Scratch rested her head against his side. “But I will not do that and I am very happy you left. You can always start anew.”

Scratch nodded but then she sat up, a questioning expression hidden partially behind her glasses. “But where do I start?”

Maxim kissed her cheek one more time before standing up. “I can’t rightfully answer that for you. You could always start from here. Or you could live with Octavia for a while.”

“Thanks dad,” the moment he had stood she started to feel cold again. “But you have already done so much for me. I can’t accept you offer until other alternatives have been looked into. And I don’t think I could handle living with the Canterlot ponies like she can.”

Maxim shook his head at his daughter’s persistently stubborn attitude. “Very well my dear. Is there anything else you need before I let you rest?”

Scratch was tempted to ask him to sit back down next to her and hold her like a young filly again but she resisted. “No, I’m fine. Wait, could you or Thyme refill my coco?”

An hour later her cup was once again empty and the cold was seeping back into her bones. Nonetheless she started to fall asleep. River had been sitting silently the entire time, deep in her own mind. She noticed the mare start to shiver as the folds of unconsciousness started to take her mind. Even after Scratch had drifted off to sleep she continued to shake. River rolled her eyes after coming to a decision, slipped off the chair and snuck over to Scratch where she sat down softly next to the mare. Scratch awoke and let the filly sit beside her under the blankets.

“Heya River,” Scratch hugged her and instantly felt warm again. “Thanks.”

‘Yeah, well don’t get used to it,’ the filly mentally stated, half serious and half joking. ‘I just felt sorry for you.’

The torn pieces of paper lay before Maxim and he pushed them over to Scratch. The mare lifted them magically, unsure what they were and why her father was showing them to her. The sun had just risen and they were the only two awake.

“What is this?” she asked.

“That was once our mail. The other day I found River holding theses torn pieces while crying.” He walked over the the stove where he retrieved some coffee while Scratch dwelt over the information.

“You think she tore them up?”

“No, no.” Maxim sat down next to his daughter. “Somepony else did. There has been a group of foals trespassing and just being social dissidents around the nearby town. I asked the mail pony, Mr. Letteropener, if he saw anything and Letteropener said that they were talking to her when he dropped the mail off. I tried to talk to River about it, to try and get some form of information from her, but it’s next to impossible to learn her side of the story. Especially since she can’t speak and openly refused to write anything down when I brought her a pen and paper.”

Scratch removed her glasses and rubbed her face, stress and depression growing. “I should’a come home sooner. I shouldn’t have abandoned her.”

“Don’t start blaming yourself,” Maxim said quietly.

“Octavia was right.” Scratch buried her face into her hooves. “I make a terrible mother.”

“Scratch, stop! Stop this instant!” Maxim demanded while pulling his daughter’s face up to his. He looked into her ruby red and watery eyes with a stern disposition. “Don’t you dare start hating yourself over things that happened and can’t be changed. You came home. You returned to her and that is all that matters right now. How many times do I need to tell you, the mistakes in the past mean nothing compared to the good things we can do in the future. You are her mother and though you will never be perfect, you are far better than if River never had a family at all.”

“I’m-I’m sorry.” Scratch wiped away the tears.

They sat silently for long while, deep in their own minds. River snuck downstairs, gave no heed to the two older ponies, grabbed an apple and hurried outside before Scratch even noticed her hoofsteps.

“River?” the unicorn asked, but too late. The filly had already exited the house. scratch shook her head. “She is far quieter than I expected.”

Maxim looked around in surprise. “River was in here?”

Scratch nodded, sad that the filly hadn't even stopped to gesture a good morning.

“I think the two of you need a holiday together,” Maxim looked through the torn letters absentmindedly. “Some mother daughter bonding time.”

Scratch sat quietly for a moment before perking up, “I know exactly who we can go visit!”

She stood and hurried out of the room, much to the surprise of her father.

“Are you leaving now?” he asked, standing up and following her.

“No,” the mare bounced lightly on her hooves and emanating excitement. “I’ll be leaving in a couple hours. Got to pack first!”

A drowsy Thyme rounded a corner, confused as to why the mare was so excited. “Do you need help packing?”

“You can come to Thyme!” Scratch called back as she climbed the stairs.

“What, what?” The young stallion was wide awake now. “But my job is to help your father.”

“You need a vacation too!” Scratch was now in her room but they could easily hear her voice from downstairs. “And my dad doesn't need your help that badly. He isn't that old!”

Maxim huffed in slight embarrassment. Scratch continued. “You're probably just making him lazier by doing everything for him!”

Thyme turned towards Maxim, hoping that the older stallion would try to stop her. But in truth, Maxim thought it was a good idea for Thyme to tag along to keep his daughter out of trouble. River had now joined the two stallions at the bottom of the stairs and was also confused over Scratch’s sudden excitement. She stood silently behind the two stallions who had yet to notice her.

“Could one of you get River?” Scratch called down. “I need to tell her that we will be leaving soon.”

‘Where are we going?’ River demanded in her own thoughts.

Thyme turned and almost bumped into the filly. “Oh, she is right here!”

“River!” Scratch appeared at the top of the stairs. “We are going to visit an old friend of mine! Doesn't that sound fun?”

River stared at her with a dumbfounded expression, shrugged then nodded.

“She nodded yes,” Thyme informed the excited mare.

“Whoo! This is going to be fun!” Scratch rushed away and went back to packing.

‘No, seriously!’ River found herself sinking further into confusion. ‘Where are we going?’

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Ponyville hadn't changed since she last visited it. It was such a quiet place compared to the larger cities like Manehattan and Fillydelphia. Scratch had often imagined herself living in those bustling cities but now that she thought about it Ponyville seemed more relaxing and away from the world’s troubles. She didn't even expect to be bothered a whole lot here since the six other famous ponies that resided in the town were rarely the center of paparazzi exploits.

Scratch heard Thyme sigh next to her. She turned towards him and frowned. “What’s wrong? Is the luggage to heavy?”

“It’s uh, just uh,” he stuttered, surprised that she heard his uncomfort so easily. “I can’t help but wonder why you dragged me along.”

“Because I like having a sexy stallion at my side as I walk through town to keep other stallions from constantly asking me out,” she said with a mix of humor and seriousness.

Thyme chuckled uneasily and River looked up at the mare with unamused eyes. Scratch started to walk without them and they followed after her.

“She lives in a little cottage on the edge of town,” the white mare said. “This is another reason why I brought you along. So you could help me find it.”

"Ah.” Thyme looked from side to side, searching for the building. “Are you sure that her home will fit all of us?”

“Her house was once an inn back when Ponyville was smaller.” Scratch sniffed the air momentarily, smelling some pleasant scent that the others couldn't notice before continuing. “She has plenty of room.”

“Oh okay.”

River watched other ponies pass them by and noticed other foals running merrily through the streets. She noticed three fillies a little younger than her sitting outside a ice cream parlor. They saw River watching them and they waved at her. The silent pegasi just stared at them until they disappeared when the trio rounded a corner.

“I think that’s it,” Thyme stated, pointing at a sturdy cottage beside the road heading out of town. “Wait, you have been leading us this way the entire time. How did-”

“I could smell blueberry muffins on the wind.” Scratch playfully elbowed the confused stallion. “So I guessed that it was her.”

She hurried towards the house and had Thyme knock on the door. The scent of baking muffins strong in the air. From inside they could hear two voices.

“Could you go see who it is Muffin.”

“Yes mommy.”

The door opened and a little, grey, unicorn filly looked up at them. Her expression changed from happiness to a level of joy that bewildered Thyme.

“Aunt Scratch!” The filly cheered. “Mom, they arrived early!”

“Hello Dinky.” Scratch booped her nose against the filly’s and she giggled.

Ditzy appeared in the doorway, a messy apron wrapped around her. She flew straight towards the white mare and crushed her in an ecstatic hug. Scratch’s glasses flew off and landed next to Dinky who picked them up and put them on.

“Ditzy!” Scratch coughed. “I can’t breath!”

“Sorry,” the excited mare released the unicorn and immediately turned to Thyme and River. “And you must be River and Thyme!”

“Yes I am,” Thyme said with a wide smile. “I am very happy to meet you.”

River just nodded. The young pegasi couldn't tear her gaze away from Ditzy’s crooked eyes.

“Come in, come in!” The grey mare turned and they followed her into the house.

“Has anyone seen my glasses?” Scratch asked.

“I have them.” Dinky gave the glasses back to the white mare.

“Make yourself comfortable. Muffins will be done in a few minutes.” Ditzy hurried back into the kitchen.

“Don’t let her kill you with the muffins,” Scratch warned as she plopped down on a sofa.

“Are they that bad?” Thyme hesitantly sat down next to her.

“Oh no. Far from it.” She leisurely lay her head on his shoulder. The weariness from the train ride finally hitting her.

“They are so good that you will eat them until you explode.”

“It’s true,” Dinky laughed.

Thyme chuckled. Dinky looked at the two older ponies with curious eyes. Thyme knew what she was going to ask before she did.

“Are you two together?” the grey filly asked innocently.

“No, we are not,” he quickly replied with a half smile. He looked down at Scratch expecting her to confirm what he had just said but the mare had fallen asleep and his leg was already going numb.

“At least I don’t think we are.”

The two lifelong friends sat alone on the cottage's front porch watching and listening to ponies walk by. The sun barely lingered over the distant hills and was soon to set. A large pan of muffins sat between them.

“So how has life been treating you?” Scratch asked. She lifted a muffin to her nose and breathed deep before taking a bite.

She became wrapped up in the flavor and didn't even notice that Ditzy had yet to reply. Scratch stopped eating and faced her friend.

“Something is wrong, isn't there?”

Ditzy took a deep breath. “I didn't want to talk about it when you were in such a good mood.”

“Ditzy?”

“I found out why my eyes are like this.”

Scratch waited patiently for her friend to continue.

“The doctor said it is a tumor in my brain.” The grey pegasus gave Scratch a crooked smile. “Don’t worry, it won’t get any worse than it is now.”

“Well that’s good.” Scratch was still confused as to why she was upset.

“Yep,” Ditzy sighed. “But the doctor said it’s genetic or something like that. For all I know there might be one starting to grow in Dinky’s brain.”

“Oh. But there still is a chance that there isn't one.” The muffin now had lost all appeal. Scratch laid it on the table next to her. “Ditzy, I always wanted to ask you this, and I hope I don’t make you even more upset, but who is Dinky’s father?”

Ditzy sat back in the seat and looked up at the sky. “I fell in love. I guess he didn't love me back. But everything worked out in the end. A stallion named Time Turner helps me with Dinky now. He is a nice pony who cares for us.”

“That’s kind of him.” Scratch smiled back at her.

“But no more about me.” Ditzy was eager to get the topic off of her. “Tell me about River and Thyme.”

“Oh, well Thyme is just my father’s butler but he is fun to patronize. There’s nothing between us.”

Ditzy raised an eyebrow in humored disbelief but said nothing.

“River is... she is hard to explain.” Scratch rubbed her forehead, trying to concentrate. For some reason, thinking about Thyme had been more of a distraction than she intended. “Well, it’s also hard to learn about her. She never speaks, and that is not an exaggeration. The doctor said it was the worst case of Selective Mutism she had ever seen.”

“That is terrible! The poor little filly!”

“Yeah.” Scratch was starting to feel depressed so she changed the topic. “So what is there to do in this town? Do they party much here?”

“Yep,” Ditzy giggled. “But nothing like the big city ponies do.”

“I bet I could change that.”

The front door opened and Thyme exited the building.

“Scratch and Ditzy,” he asked all the while acting like he was looking for something. “Has River passed through here any time recently?”

“I don’t think so,” the white unicorn replied.

Ditzy just shook her head.

“Is she missing?” Scratch stood and faced him.

“I believe so.” He let out a strained sigh. “She did this all the time back at your father’s house but she would never leave the property. She could get lost here, or worse.”

“I will look for her from the air.” Without waiting for a response Ditzy took off into the sky.

“I shall search for her in the town then.” Thyme turned to Scratch. “Wait here just in case she comes back before we do.”

“Okay.”

Thyme hurried away leaving the nervous mare on the porch. She sat back down and tried to calm herself but to no avail. Scratch grew even more anxious when she felt the air start to cool as the sun went down completely.

Nighttime was much more relaxing than the day River realized as she climbed a stack of boxes in an alleyway and sat down on top. She looked up at the sky and breathed a sigh of relief. She rarely felt this free. Nopony was around so she didn't feel like dead weight whenever conversations were going on.

‘Seriously, what do they expect from me?’ River mentally huffed. ‘“Oh Anemone, you’ll be such a good little filly for your new mommy.” That is probably what they think. She is not my mom and she better not start acting like it.’

River got tired of sitting and pulled herself onto the roof above her. She carefully walked on the straw coverings and looked over the edge. She momentarily felt dizzy and stepped backwards. There was a sudden cracking sound as the ceiling gave way and River plummeted into the house. She regained her composure, looked around and found herself in somepony’s attic.

“What is going on!” A stallion came rushing into the room. He looked up at the hole and his mouth hinged open. “What the hay happened?”

River took this moment to hide behind a pile of boxes. The stallion examined the hole for several seconds, decided that it could wait until morning to fix and walked out of the room. The filly gave a sigh of relief and stood up. She prepared to climb out of the hole that she had fallen through but realized that her hat was missing. River quickly searched to dark room for it but to no avail.

The sound of the stallion returning with something to cover the hole forced the filly to give up her search and climb out of the house.

The screech of a window opening snapped Scratch from her panicked daze. Her heart leaped into her throat as she hurried to River’s bedroom. The mare pushed open the door just as the filly closed the window behind her.

“Where were you!” Scratch demanded. “I was worried the entire time!”

River just stared at her with a bland expression. A sarcastic comment forming in her mind. ‘Here, let me tell you. Oh wait, I can’t!’

They stood in silence for a few minutes, neither one moving. Scratch had no idea how to continue an argument with a pony she couldn't see nor talk to. River hoped that if she was silent the white unicorn would give up and just walk away.

‘What, am I not allowed to go outside?’

Scratch continued to stare in the direction she believed River to be. Her bright red eyes shimmering in the dim light. The image of the empty eyes glowing in the darkness increased River’s desire to have the mare leave. All the stress of her young life boiled together as she grabbed a pillow and threw it at the older pony. It hit Scratch in the face and the mare reeled backwards from the shock.

She stood in the doorway for a few seconds, too dumbfounded to act, before hurrying away. The filly momentarily felt happy that the mare was gone but it quickly disappeared when she heard Scratch crying in another room. The sound of her tears twisted her conscience into regret. So often had she heard other foals cry at the orphanage and the sound tore at her own sadness. The rest of the night River only felt sick.

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“I don’t know what to do.” Scratch lay curled up in a ball on the front porch. The mare’s face hidden under her hooves. “I just don’t know what to do.”

Thyme and Ditzy knelt next to her trying to sooth the crying pony. She had been outside for most of the night and the sky was turning a dull red.

“Maybe Tavi was right,” Scratch continued. “I am a terrible mother.”

“It’s not easy.” Ditzy patted her friend’s shoulder. “And I think you have it harder than me. Just give it time a patience.”

“I don’t know.” Scratch fell silent for a few seconds. “I guess so. But what if I am?”

“Scratch you are fine as a mother.” The stallion lifted her chin. “You're just new.”

Ditzy gave her friend a hug. “I am far from the best mother. But as long as I love and care for my little Muffin I will be far from the worse.”

Scratch smiled slightly. “Thanks guys.”

“Here, let me make you some coffee while you sit down and relax.” Thyme helped the mare to one of the chairs and then went inside.

Ditzy sat down in the chair next to her friend and watched the sun rise. Scratch felt the warmth on her face and turned towards it as well. Thyme returned with a cup of coffee and gave it to her.

“Thank you,” Scratch said as he sat down on the front porch steps. She was quickly starting to feel better.

“No problem.”

The door opened and Dinky ambled out. She looked at them curiously for a few seconds before going back inside. The filly quickly returned with a saddlebag and trotted away.

“Bye bye mommy!” Dinky called back. “I am off to school now.”

“Did you grab yourself something to eat?” Ditzy replied.

The little unicorn pulled an apple from her pack. “Yep!”

“Have fun at school then my little Muffin!”

“I will!”

Scratch smiled. “She seems like such a good kid.”

“She is.” Ditzy noticed a light brown stallion approaching the house and her mood switched to pure joy. “Hello Time Turner!”

The stallion trotted up to the house and grinned widely. “Hello Ditzy. Who are your friends?”

“This is my lifelong friend Vinyl Scratch and her ‘I like you and we could be great together but we won't admit that we like each other so we will act as if we are friends’ and his name is Thyme.” Ditzy smiled widely as the three other ponies stared at her with mixed emotions.

Scratch and Thyme blushed while Time Turner blinked in confusion. “Well, uh, okay then. So you are the famous musician? I’m happy to meet you.”

“It’s nice meeting you,” Scratch replied.

“So what brings you to my house so early in the morning?” Ditzy chimed in.

“Oh,” Turner reached into a bag on his side and rummaged around for something. “Well I was going to ask Dinky if she knew who this belonged to.”

The stallion pulled a fluffy cat shaped hat out of his bag.

“Isn’t that River’s?” Thyme asked.

Scratch’s ears perked up. “Is what River’s?”

Ditzy nodded. “I think that was the hat I saw her wearing when you guys arrived.”

“Can I feel it?” Scratch held out her hooves.

Turner gave it to her and the unicorn examined the hat. She instantly recognised it.

“Yeah,” Scratch held it close. “This hat use to be mine but now it is Rivers.”

“Where did you find it?” Ditzy leaned forward in her chair, slightly worried with the answer.

“In my attic,” the stallion sighed. “After somepony fell through my roof. It probably was an accident. You know how foals like to climb on things.”

“I’m so sorry for this,” Scratch apologised. “Is there anything I can do to help pay for the damages?”

“Oh, no,” Time Turner shook his head. “It’s easily fixed. I’m just happy to have found out the cause. Well, it was nice meeting you guys and it is always nice to see you again Ditzy. See you all later.”

“Bye bye!” Ditzy called after him.

“He seemed nice.” Scratch held the hat closer to her chest and fell into deep thought. Primarily about how River was proving to be so much trouble.

“He is,” the grey mare answered, also deep in her own thoughts.

Silence returned to the three ponies once again and the inhabitants of Ponyville started to fill the streets. Occasionally they would wave or say hello but very few things snapped them from their thoughts for most of the morning.

“Maybe you two need a day to get to know each other,” Thyme suddenly said and both mares jumped slightly. “A day with just you two. A day of bonding between mother and daughter.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” Scratch nodded her head. “But what could we do and how do I get to know a silent filly?”

“Well, there is a big celebration going to happen in Canterlot in a week.” Ditzy still appeared to be in thought as she answered. Both of her eyes actually fixed in the same direction. “Perhaps you two could go to that. As for the communication part, no idea.”

“What’s the celebration?” The musician hoped that it wasn't a circus. She hated circuses.

“I hear one of the princesses is getting married,” Ditzy stated with a hint of humor. “The whole city is going to be celebrating.”

“Celestia is getting married?” Thyme and Scratch echoed.

“No-no sillies.” The pegasi giggled. “A different one.”

“Luna?”

“A less known princess,” Ditzy shrugged. “I don’t know her name.”

“There are other princesses?” Scratch fully believed that her friend was pulling her leg. “When did this happen?”

“I dunno.” The grey pegasus watched a bird fly by with one of her eyes while the other stayed motionless. “I find it all so silly.”

Thyme nodded. “There is at least one other princess but she is not a political figure like they are.”

“But the whole of canterlot will be having whole bunches of different celebrations and things,” Ditzy sounded as if she wanted to go. “Everything from feasts, to parties to symphonies and shows!”

“Symphonies?” The white unicorn sat up. “I wonder if Tavi will be playing. We could stop by and see her as we enjoy the fun! I like this idea! I’m going to go ask River if she wants to go.”

“I’ll come with you.” Thyme stood up and joined her.

Scratch opened her mouth to say that she didn’t need help but quickly snapped it shut. “Okay.”

The pair entered the house and quietly approached River’s room. With every step a pit grew in her stomach. Scratch took a deep breath before carefully nudging the door open. The filly turned away from the window she had been staring out of and looked at the mare. The young pony remained silent as she wondered why Scratch had entered.

The mare took a deep breath. “Hey River, I was wondering if you wanted to go to a celebration this weekend in Canterlot. You don’t have to but if you do just let me know somehow.”

‘How? I can’t talk.’ River asked sarcastically within the confines of her mind. She would have rolled her eyes but the filly noticed Thyme and quickly stopped herself.

“Oh, and here is your hat.” Scratch placed the item on the bed. “Nopony is mad at you, especially not me.”

‘You're not mad?’ River instantly felt guilty again. She sighed. ‘A party in Canterlot sounds fun, I guess.’

Scratch nodded, expecting no immediate answer, turned and walked away. River grabbed a box of crayons and a piece of paper. She stared at it for a good moment before hitting her head against the table in frustration.

‘How do I spell this? Ah! I should have paid attention in class!’

Eventually she scribbled something down and found Thyme refilling Scratch’s coffee. She placed it on the counter next to him and quickly returned to her room. Thyme looked at it and smiled.

-Yis i wel go-

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

It became tedious trying to pass the time in Ponyville. The small town was short on what Scratch called entertainment. No massive late night parties with loud music and drunk ponies to laugh at. The closest thing to that was the parties one of the Elements of Harmony held on a regular basis. Scratch refused to go to them primarily because she knew ponies would start to realise who she was and her quiet paparazzi free life would disappear. She was actually amazed that they hadn’t figured it out already.

But the mare was growing increasingly desperate for something to do that fit into what she classified as fun. Not to mention she felt that she needed to spend the majority of her time with River. But the filly showed no signs that she wanted to leave the house. Scratch believed that she needed to get out and get some fresh air so one morning she quietly walked up to River’s room and knocked on the door.

“Hello, River? Do you want to go for a walk? Get some fresh air and sunlight?”

Several empty seconds passed and Scratch was about to turn away before the door creaked open. The filly taped her hoof two times against the wall, an action she was using to signal the word “yes”.

The mare smiled widely and decided to crack a joke. “You need the sunlight. You are starting to look pale.”

River stared blankly at Scratch from under her cat-hat. She sighed loudly. ‘Seriously? And the cheesy joke award goes to you!’

The filly started to walk and Scratch followed after her. Ditzy was delivering mail so only Thyme was sitting on the front porch.

He waved goodbye as they walked down the road. “See you two later!”

They walked in silence for a few minutes. Not going any specific direction, just enjoying the morning. They were passing the school where foals were playing when Scratch spoke up.

“Would you like to start school? I hear the teacher’s very nice.”

River paused and looked at the other ponies playing. She shrugged and tapped her hoof against the fence three times. ‘Maybe.’

Scratch smiled. Maybe was better than no. The unicorn heard a pony approaching and both of the them faced the visitor.

“Hello there,” a mare greeted in a pleasant voice. “I’m Cheerilee. I’m Ponyville’s teacher. Are you new in town. You seem familiar though.”

“What's up?” Scratch smiled back. “Yep, we are new in town. I was just talking to River if she wanted to go to school here.”

River looked up at the dark pink mare. ‘Here we go again.’

Cheerily bent down to the filly’s level. “Hello River, would you like to go to school here?”

The filly shrugged then slowly nodded her head. ‘Might as well.’

“That’s wonderful!” Cherilee smiled widely. “You seem to be a very shy one.”

“River doesn’t talk,” Scratch informed the teacher. “And so you aren't confused about it later, I am blind.”

“Oh,” Cheerily nodded. Then she stopped and her mouth dropped open. “Sweet Celestia! You wouldn’t happen to be the Dee Jay Pony?”

The musician blushed, slightly upset that her identity had been discovered. “I am.”

“Oh my. Oh my! I can't...” Cheerilee leaned against the fence to hold her balance. “Oh my! I can’t believe I am talking to you! I’m your biggest fan! I went to all your summer tour concerts! I have all of your albums! Even an autographed poster that I have hanging over my bed! Oh sweet Celestia, I can’t believe it!”

River rolled her eyes and found a park bench to sit on. She expected the usual boring conversation that formed between a famous pony and an insane fan.

“I’m totally flattered,” Scratch replied. “But please, don’t tell anybody. I’m tryin’ to lay low.”

Cheerilee became serious almost immediately. “I completely understand Miss Dee Jay. Especially after that whole corrupt agency fiasco.”

“That magazine has come out already? That was quick.” Scratch sighed and popped her neck out of irritation. “Whatever. Oh, Cherrilee, call me Vinyl Scratch or Scratch for short.”

The fan-girl attitude quickly returned to the teacher. “Oh wow! The Dee Jay says I can call her by her name! This is incredible! We are like friends now!”

“Yeah... like friends.” Scratch started to walk away. “I will see you tomorrow then for River’s first day of school.”

River piped up and stared at her adopted mother in surprise. ‘Tomorrow? I start tomorrow! I never agreed to this!’

Cheerilee waved ecstatically as the pair walked away.

“Another failed concert!”

Octavia threw open the door to her small apartment and chucked her keys against the wall where they fell into a pile of crumpled up papers. She grabbed up the mail on the floor and dropped it carelessly onto the table.

“Only 52 seats were filled!” She made a beeline to her room and the wine bottles she knew were stored there. “Time to drown it all.”

She flopped onto her bed and popped the cork off of a new bottle. Octavia looked at a dirty glass and quickly decided to drink it straight. half an hour later her mind started to blur and she passed out.

A few hours later there was a knock on her door. Octavia opened her eyes slowly, stared at the ceiling for a few moments before more knocks summoned her. Stumbling through her room and muttering incoherent curses she reached the door and threw it open. Standing in the hall was Silver Strings. A stallion who played the violin in a different orchestra.

“What do you want,” the mare demanded.

“I just wanted to know why you never talked to me again after that night,” he blurted.

Octavia rolled her eyes. “I was drunk, you were too. It was only for one night and I don’t remember any of it. All of it was just a mistake. I am sorry, now go away. It was just a mistake.”

“I hear from some of the other stallions that you make a lot of mistakes like this,” the stallion shot back at her, obviously hurt and wanting to return the pain. He noticed the wine bottles in the apartment. “Well have fun drowning in your misery.”

He spun around and left. Octavia slammed the door and immediately started to cry. She stumbled to the kitchen table and hid her face under her hooves.

“What am I doing!” she screamed.

A barely noticeable amount of movement in her lower abdomen caught her attention. She had been feeling it increasingly over the few months and she was gaining weight. Octavia looked at her slightly bulging belly and started to cry again before noticing the mail. She picked the letter up and looked at it sadly before opening it.

-Heyo Tavi

Hey sis! I am sending this to you to inform you that me, River and a few others will be visiting for the wedding celebration thing. We hope to see you in concert too! I miss you sis and cant wait to see you! It's funny because I can't see! Yes, I know I over use that joke.

Love Vinyl-

Octavia stared at the letter as more tears formed. Some dripped onto the paper and smudged the words.

“Oh Vinyl.” Octavia hugged the letter. “Please don’t come here my sister. Please don't see me like this.”

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“First day of school, sleepyhead! I hope you are excited,” Scratch said happily as she peeked her head into River’s room. “Ditzy already made breakfast.”

The filly opened her eyes and stared out of the window, an expression on her face that conveyed the opposite of excitement. Scratch left River alone to allow her to get ready. The fillies eyes stared blandly out of the window and at the distant woods wishing she could go there instead.

The mare returned to the kitchen where she had been enjoying her muffin and Lighting Buck energy drink. Thyme looked at the can and shook his head.

“I don’t think that stuff is healthy for you.”

“I don’t sleep,” Scratch laughed. “I run off of caffeine and earth shaking music.”

“If you say so.” Thyme went back to eating his cereal. In truth he was worried, Scratch was not exaggerating when she said that she didn’t sleep. She usually just sat on the couch cycling through her music and blasting it through her headphones all night.

Dinky and River entered the kitchen. Ditzy’s daughter was going through the list of fun that they were going to have together at school. River didn’t seem like she was listening. Both fillies sat down at the table and proceeded to fill their plates with steaming muffins. Ditzy was cleaning dishes by the sink and occasionally she would look out of the window with a happy expression. She looked up at a clock hanging on her wall.

“Hurry up and eat you two,” the grey pegasi said. “You don’t want to be late.”

River turned her attention to the clock as well. She let out a small sigh, not excited for the day’s adventures in the slightest. But learning some basic words to write down on paper would probably help her communicate. Originaly last on her list, socializing was becoming more important in her new life. Too bad there was going to be learning in a room full of other ponies. Those classmates would probably be curious about her and her problems would just build off of there.

‘I wonder what a pessimism cutiemark would look like?’ River thought humorously. ‘I’m getting good at it.’

Then she realised that was another thing that was going to dampen her ability to enjoy her day at school. Every pony she knew that was her age had a cutiemark. Even though, the filly admitted to herself, she didn’t know very many ponies her age.

River’s thoughts were interrupted when Scratch asked Thyme a question.

“Has any mail returned from Tavi?”

Thyme rummaged through the envelopes. “Nope. But your father's letter is here.”

Scratch’s ears perked up. “Is he coming?”

The stallion opened the envelope. “He says yes. But he also want’s to know if your sister has contacted you. She isn’t returning his letters.”

“She hasn’t?” The white unicorn chewed her lips nervously. “She's probably very busy.”

“Probably,” Thyme agreed. “Preparing for the wedding celebrations is undoubtedly time consuming.”

“Yeah, that has to be the reason.” Scratch still didn’t seem very sure.

Ditzy looked up at the clock again. “Alright you two, time to go. Have a fun day at school!”

Dinky cheered while River let out a sigh. Both fillies headed towards the door. One waved goodbye excitedly, the other trudged out, downcast and glum.

Dinky continued to talk about her school the entire way through the town. River, despite not showing it, actually was listening to everything the younger filly had to say.

“Too bad we won’t be in the same class,” the filly said as they neared the school. “Miss Cheerilee only teaches older ponies. I am still in the lower classes.”

River became even more nervous. ‘There goes the only friendly pony I will know here.’

Miss Cheerilee was standing outside of the door, waiting for her new student. “Hello River! Are you excited for your first day of school?”

The filly just looked up at the mare and shrugged. ‘The faster I get this day over with the happier I will be.’

Cheerilee let River enter then followed in after her. The filly stopped only momentarily to survey the other ponies sitting at their desk before heading to a seat in the back. All the while trying not to draw attention to herself. It was working until Cheerilee called for her.

“River, would you like to come up front and let me introduce you to the class?”

River stopped and all eyes turned curiously towards her. She let out a sigh and ambled up to the front.

“This here is Anemone Reverie but she likes to be called River,” Cheerilee announced. “She just moved here for an unknown amount of time so help her stay be as pleasant as it can be.”

“Miss Cheerilee,” a magenta filly wearing a little tiara interrupted. “We had to introduce ourselves on our first day of class. Why isn’t she?”

River looked at Cheerily with an expression that said, ‘go ahead, tell them. I can’t and they will learn about it anyway.’

“Well, River is unable to speak,” the teacher explained, slightly hesitant.

The foals started to murmur to themselves. River wished she had hearing as sharp as Scratch’s so their conversations could be revealed to her. The filly decided that now was a good time to take her seat and skirted around the edge of the room to the back.

“Hi,” a filly sitting to her left said. “My name is Sweetie Belle.”

River gave her no reply as Cheerilee started class.

“Can I sit next to you?” Dinky asked.

River looked up at the little unicorn that had joined her by the swing and nodded.

“How is your first day of school going?” the younger filly asked as she jumped into the swing next to River.

The silent pegasi shrugged. ‘Not too bad... yet.’

Dinky took the shrug as a positive response. The pair sat quietly as the other foals played around them. The grey unicorn would occasionally look over at the pony she considered a friend and thought of something to talk about. But like so many ponies before, having a conversation with someone that didn’t talk proved difficult.

“Do you want my chocolate muffin?” Dinky eventually asked. “All you brought for lunch today was a banana.”

River looked at the sweet smelling muffin that was held before her. She nodded and took it politely. ‘Your not so bad.’

“Hey Dorky,” hissed a voice that River remembered from class. “That muffin was for me.”

“Uh-oh,” Dinky squeaked.

River’s eyes slowly settled on the two fillies approaching them. One wore a silly tiara the other had large glasses. A bored look filled the silent pony's face. She had a feeling that these two would be trouble. But River had no intention of letting them be a pain.

“You know the deal Dorky,” the one with the tiara continued. “The chocolate muffins are for me. In exchange for me not telling the other foals that your swirly eyed mom still calls you her ‘Baby Muffin.’”

‘All those chocolate muffins and you aren't fat?’ River laughed in her head. She wished the bully could hear her. ‘A nickname for you could be Hippo Hips. From now on I will call you Hippo Hips’’

“New girl,” the pony with the glasses chimed in. River was slightly surprised that the attention was now being directed to her. “If it isn’t clear to you already, we want you to give us the muffin.”

River did the only thing that came to her mind that made up for the inability to verbally taunt the two fillies. She took a large, wet bite out of the muffin, smiling the entire time, then presented the drool covered half to the bullies.

“That’s disgusting!” Hippo Hips screeched. “No wonder your only friend so far is a little loser whose mom is a clumsy cross-eyed freak.”

Dinky broke out into tears. “My-my mommy isn’t a freak.”

Both fillies started to laugh at their own insults, obviously proud of themselves. The bullies were too absorbed in their presumed triumphs that they didn’t notice River slide of the sing and approach them until too late. The tiara pony soon found herself lying on the ground, dazed and in pain. A hoof shaped bruise forming on her face. The other bully’s mouth dropped open.

“Miss Cheerilee!” she screamed. “Miss Cheerilee, the new filly is attacking us!”

‘Oh shut up!’ River mentally growled before knocking her to the ground.

Many emotions arose in Scratch’s mind  when Cheerilee arrived at their house with River and Dinky in tow and told them what had occurred at school. But anger was not one of them. The mare knew full well that she would have done the same. In truth, she had beat up a few ponies back in school but always with a good reason.

After Cheerily has left Dinky and River sat at the table with Ditzy and Scratch across from them. Thyme stood in the doorway, watching over the procedings. After a minute of silence Scratch finally spoke.

“Well, good job River,” the mare laughed. The lack of seriousness took everybody in the room by surprise. “Those two won’t bother you anymore. So, what do you guys want for dinner?”

“I don’t think that-” Thyme started to say.

Scratch cut him off. “Shhhh-shush, Thyme. It’s how I solved my problems in school and it always worked for me. Plus, what else could River do?”

“She could...” The stallion was about to say ‘tell the teacher, but stopped himself. “I don’t know.”

Scratch smiled triumphantly. “River kicks flank! Don’t detract from that, silly.”

River was confused. She had expected anger, yelling and punishment. Vinyl Scratch, the filly was starting to realise, was one odd mare.

“They called you a freak,” Dinky wiped her nose with a hoof, fighting tears.

Ditzy smiled. “I have been called mean names my whole life. A freak least of all. So don’t cry my muffin, they are only words.”

“Okay.” Dinky stood up from the table. “I think I am going to go to bed now.”

“You're not hungry?” Ditzy asked.

“No.” The grey filly continued to walk away but stopped. “Could you sing a bedtime song to me?”

“Of course, my muffin.” Ditzy stood a walked out with her daughter.

When the pair had left Scratch looked over at River. “Other than beating the sour pulp out of those snobs, how was your day?”

‘Hitting those two was the highlight,’ River laughed in her mind. Outwardly she just shrugged and tapped the table four times, an action that said "good".

Scratch nodded in return. “Do you want to go back to school?”

The filly smiled and nodded, her confidence was surprisingly stronger than it was in the morning. She tapped the table, signing yes. Scratch chucked, taking it as a victory against River’s antisocial personality.

From the other room they could hear Ditzy singing a soft lullaby to her daughter. Scratch reconized it as a song she created back when the pair of them were in the orphanage. Ditzy had changed some of the words to make it more apropriate for a mother singing to her daughter instead of a friend to a friend.

“Sleep, sleep, little one

Your day was long and now it's done

No more tests, get your rest

When tomorrow comes, do your best

The world can be a scary place

Keep a smile upon your face

Do take care, I'll be there

To see you as a lovely mare

Sometimes you might feel all alone

Lost and scared, without a home

Trust in me, you will see

Let your mind be forever free

As you sleep the night time through

Let Luna's moon shine down on you

Like calm breeze, through the trees

Sleep little one, sleep in peace.”

‘Plus,’ River added. ‘I need to watch over my friend.’

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

“They remind me of us when we were younger,” Scratch stated as she listened to the happy one sided conversation of River and Dinky as she helped her friend cook dinner.Mostly she just stood in one place kneading dough.

Ditzy looked over her shoulder and the two fillies coloring at the table. “Those two do everything together.”

River realised that they were talking about her and looked up at the two mares. Ditzy smiled and the filly gave a quick smirk in return before returning her attention to their activities.

“I’m so happy that River is coming out of her shell,” Scratch whispered. She gave the dough to her fiend. “I’m going to head out with Thyme now to get some items for the trip. We will be back by the time supper is ready.”

Ditzy nodded. “Okay.”

“Thyme! Are you still going to help me shop?” Scratch called out.

From the front room came a reply. “Yep.”

Thyme had been playing a game of chess against Time Turner who was over for dinner. The game was put on hold and the stallion joined Scratch as she walked out of the door. As they trotter through town Scratch couldn’t help but feel like she was getting strange looks.

“Are ponies watching me?” she asked. “I hear them talking but they go quiet as I pass.”

Thyme looked at a group of mares that were watching them pass. “Um, yes.”

“Is something wrong with my mane?”

“Nope,” Thyme huffed. “In fact you look like the usual you, and that is probably the problem.”

“Probably the problem,” Scratch faced the stallion. “What problem.”

“Well, ponies are starting to figure out who you are,” he chuckled. “Me and Time Turner have been working together to try and keep the town from swarming you. I wanted to keep your time here as relaxing as possible.”

“Aww,” the mare gave a small laugh. “How sweet of you.”

Thyme smiled sheepishly. “There is something else I want to ask you.”

Scratch raised a confused eyebrow. The way he spoke implied that there was something greater on his mind. “What do you want to ask?”

“I have been talking to Time Turner and her wants to know if Ditzy would be interested in going out on a date with him.” Thyme said. “He wants your help.”

Scratch broke out laughing. Thyme and a group of nearby ponies stared at her in bewilderment.

“What?” the stallion asked.

“Ditzy is practically fallin’ over herself when he’s around!” She continued walking and Thyme rushed to catch up. “He won't need my help, I can guarantee it. Though, he better treat her nicely or I’ll personally cut off his male parts and nail them to a tree with a sign saying ‘All ye who break hearts, beware!’.”

The pair entered a small clothing shop. Scratch needed a dress for the celebrations and Octavia’s orchestra. She had originally intended to get it from the local boutique but the owner had left for Canterlot only hours before.

“Hello, my name is Silken Seams. What can I help you with?” Asked a mare from behind a counter. She eyed Scratch with reserved excitement. She had been one of the ponies to realise who the mare was and had promised to treat Scratch like a normal pony.

“A nice dress or something but not too, uh, fancy.” The musician replied. She had noticed the excitement in the shop pony’s voice. “And if ya want an autograph I’ll give you one.”

Silken Seams erupted into pure joy and started to rant off a long string of excited words that melded together in a long squeal. Even Scratch had problems understanding what she was saying. After a few minutes the shop pony calmed down.

She eyed the two customers and chuckled uncomfortably. “I’ll go get a lineup of dresses now.”

Scratch smiled pleasantly in response as the fan trotted away. She turned to Thyme and spoke sarcastically. “She seems like a very reserved mare.”

“Hm-hu,” Thyme noticed a chair. “Want to take a seat over there and relax while we wait for her to get back?”

Scratch nodded as the stallion guided her to the seat. After she sat down Thyme prepared to break some news to her.

“The new edition of Pony Magazine came in today.” He stated. “You made the cover story.”

Scratch’s ears perked up and twitched excitedly but the the rest of her body remained mostly motionless. “Is that so? What did those media maniacs say?”

Thyme smiled widely. “Lets just say they tore Mic Eye and the company he worked for to pieces. What’s even better is that authorities are now looking into it and action is being taken. Turns out you weren't the only one they took advantage of.”

Scratch gave a triumphant nod and a sigh. “Good! I hope they get banished to the moon.”

Thyme nodded. “I do too.”

Silken Seams finally returned with an assortment of dresses and skirts. She lay them out on the counter and smiled widely.

“Here you go!” She said in a small, sing-song, cheer.

“Thank you!” Scratch replied before facing Thyme. “Now for the reason I brought you along. I need a good pair of eyes to help me pick out the best one.”

The stallion nodded and started to look at the clothes one by one. “This one looks nice.”

“Oh? What does it look like?”

Thyme picked it up and instantly realised it was a skimpy, short skirt. He set it down quickly. “Never mind.”

Scratch raised an eyebrow but decided not to ask. Thyme picked up another, this one a flowing violet dress with blue trimmings.

“This one will match your glasses and hair quite well. I think.” He held the dress out to her.

Scratch took it with her magic and started to trot away. “Do you want to help me put it on or would you rather me ask the shopkeeper?”

“Uh...”

“I’ll just ask Silky Seams then.” Scratch laughed.

“Right behind ya!” the shop pony chimed immediately. She was overly excited about helping a famous pony put on a dress.

A few minutes later the two mares returned and Thyme couldn’t help but stare. The stallion had always thought that Scratch was a lovely pony but the addition of the dress made his mouth hinge slightly open. She was incredibly beautiful, stunning in fact!

“How do I look? I look silly right? I never looked good in dresses,” scratch rambled.

“No,” Thyme stopped her. “You look amazing actually.”

“Aww, you're sweet but I bet you’re just saying that.” Scratch stuck her tongue out at him. “Well, better get this thing off. The less I have to wear it the happier I am.”

Thyme shook his head and smiled but the grin quickly disappeared when Scratch told him the second reason she brought him along.

“Thyme,” the musician began in a sweet voice. “I’m a little low on money. You wouldn't mind getting this for me, would ya?”

Thyme took a deep breath. He still needed to buy himself a suit. He looked at Scratch, who was still wearing her dress and giving him a sad puppy expression.

The stallion chuckled. “No, I don’t mind at all.”

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The knocking on Octavia’s door sent her heart rate skyrocketing. She wasn’t expecting any visitors for at least a few more days. The mare cautiously approached the door, cracked it open and looked out. The stern face of her father stared back. Octavia’s heart stopped.

“D-dad?” she stuttered. “Why are you here? The celebrations aren't for another three days. How did you find me?”

“Why can’t a father visit his daughter outside of special occasions?” The aged stallion shook his head then looked into her eyes. “You say that like you were hiding from me.”

Octavia tried to hide her panic. “I just thought you were going to arrive later.”

Maxim looked at his daughter with a puzzled expression. “What is wrong, dear? May I come in?”

The mare looked back at her messy apartment. “Uh, I don’t... sure.”

She backed away and let him enter. Maxim looked around at the clutter then back at his daughter who was heading towards the kitchen.

“Something is not right with you,” he stated, as a row of wine bottles caught his attention.

Octavia continued to walk away without answering. Maxim noticed her slightly swollen belly and choked back quickly forming tears. The stallion followed Octavia into the kitchen and when she turned to face him with an empty expression on her face he pulled her into a firm hug. He didn’t try to stop the tears now. Maxim felt that he was losing his daughter and the urge to never let her go filled him.

Octavia was startled at first when her father embraced her but it quickly gave way to tears. She quickly fell into uncontrollable sobbing as all the pain fell away.

“Please forgive me,” Octavia croaked through her tears. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t raise a foal like this!”

Maxim pressed his nose against hers and looked into her shaky eyes. “I am here for you and we are going to get you through this.”

Octavia shook her head, “I don’t think you can fix this problem father.”

“It’s going to be alright.” Maxim said as he kissed her nose. “Sit down and relax. I shall make you some tea.”

The mare shrugged but still complied. She sat down at the kitchen table and rested her face on her hooves. Maxim heated water on the stove, poured it into two mugs and dropped a pack of tea into each one. He set one mug before his daughter and sat down across from her.

Neither one said anything for a while but Octavia wanted to get something off of her chest.

“I-I don’t know who the father is,” she blurted. Maxim said nothing and looked down at his tea as she continued. “I such an idiot! I felt lonely and every night for a long time I went out to clubs and parties and occasionally I met a stallion who would make me feel like I wasn't alone, like I was special. Occasionally one of them would make me smile and I-I would lose control. What is wrong with me?”

“You're merely a pony. Everyone has their weaknesses, including me.” Maxim gave a sad smile at his daughter in an attempt to show that he was not angry with her.

Octavia looked up at him. She could see disappointment and sorrow in his eyes but there was indeed no anger. “What weaknesses could you have? You seem so infallible.”

Maxim shook his head. “When I was younger I had quite a few. I also don’t always know what to do. I don’t know how to heal a broken relationship with a distant daughter.”

The mare wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up at him questioningly. “Why aren't you angry at me?”

“I'm not angry with you because you are my daughter and you're old enough to realise the consequences of your actions. I’m sad, but not angry.” The stallion said. “As your father though, I am here for you.”

Octavia shook her head violently. Her voice wa rapidly becoming irritated. “You can't fix this so don't try too hard.”

“We are going to fix this together.” Maxim placed his hoof on top of hers. “Like a family.”

Octavia unexpectedly became hostile. She knocked her father’s hoof away and glared at him. “Stop trying to fix everything! You couldn't fix mom and now you can’t fix me! Stop trying! Oh, and we haven't been a true family since she died. You have been distant and cold, reeking of sadness and self pity.”

The mare knew she was responsible for much of the collapse between their relationship and those traits matched her the better but her anger prevented any two sided truth. Octavia know she was hurting him, screamed at her mind to stop but she continued her rage.

“Our relationship is broken. You can’t fix this-this hollow shell of a family!”

Maxim remained motionless and calm but Octavia could see the pain behind his soft eyes. No tears fell but she could see him fighting against it.

He took a deep breath and his words came out slow and shaky. “I shall be going now, Octavia. It has been nice seeing you again.”

The stallion stood and headed towards the door. Octavia sat motionless as her father showed himself out. When he was gone her rage disappeared into a flood of cold sorrow and regret. She buried her face in her hooves and started to cry.

“What have I done?”

The next day Octavia awoke with a start. She looked at her clock and realised that she was going to be late for recitals. The mare leaped out of bed, freshened herself up, put on her bowtie and retrieved her cello. She looked around her apartment one last time, making sure that nothing was forgotten then rushed out.

As Octavia ran down the crowded Canterlot streets other ponies remained busy setting up for the wedding celebrations. The gave her no heed as the mare ran headlong towards the Celestial Music Hall. Octavia did look up in the sky for a single moment though and was shocked to see that the entire city had been encased in a pink bubble. The mare dismissed it as a part of the elaborate decorations.

Octavia reached the hall fifteen minutes late. Realising that rushing wasn’t going to help anymore and that she was going to be in trouble anyway, the mare slowed down as she entered the building. Every day she passed the same paintings and busts of famous composers and musicians. One that always caught her eyes was the portrait of a younger Maxim hanging in a special location. Octavia read the plague under it just to refresh her mind as to what it said.

“Orchestratus Maxim. Receiver of 37 awards, composer of 74 popular pieces and multiple other works and the most acclaimed modern composer.” The mare sighed and added additional information. “The father of a worthless daughter.”

Octavia pulled herself away and headed towards the double doors but stopped abruptly. From inside the hall she could hear a solo violin playing one of her father’s songs. An older piece that he wrote after she was born that was called “Lullaby for My Little Joy”. Octavia pushed open the door and peered inside. In the dim room she could see her fellow orchestra members in the seats staring intently at the lone pony on the stage.

Her father looked up momentarily from his violin, gave a soft smile then closed his eyes. Maxim remained wrapped up in bittersweet song that he was playing as Octavia slowly approached the stage. Her heart beat quickly in anticipation for an opportunity to heal the wound she created yesterday. Each cautious step pulled her closer to the pony that had always been their for her but she had pushed away. He was there, waiting for her, it was up to her to bridge the gap.

Octavia stepped onto the stage and stood next to him for a moment, her eyes quickly filled with tears as the song Maxim played her every night as a young filly wrapped around her. She took a seat next to him, readied her Cello and started to play along. The pair played their duet for another ten minutes before drawing to a close.

When they finished Octavia jumped from her seat, no longer able to contain herself, and wrapped her hooves around her father. Maxim returned the embrace as both ponies cried.

“I’m sorry father!” Octavia wept. “I didn’t mean any of that yesterday. I was, I just- I-”

“There is no need to explain. I understand.” Maxim looked into his daughter’s eyes and wiped away her tears. “I understand.”

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Scratch didn’t like to admit it but train rides were extra stressful for her. Every bump and sway along with the rocking and groan on the sleepers assaulted her senses. That was why she chose a car by herself where she could curl up in a ball and wait for them to arrive at Canterlot. Halfway to the Equestrian capitol, Scratch started to get a migraine.

There was a soft knock on her door followed by Ditzy’s voice. “Scratch?”

“What do you want?” the musician hissed. She pulled a pillow tight over her head.

“Are you okay?”

“I hate trains so much!” The car swayed slightly as the engine went around a bend and Scratch moaned as a wave of nausea hit her. “Just-just tell me when we arrive.”

“Okay.”

Scratch heard her friend walk away and regretted using a sharp tone but as the train rumbled over a bridge her thoughts were washed away as her stomach started to churn yet again.

Ditzy returned to others. Thyme and Time Turner talked about how often they’d been to Canterlot and what kinds of activities there were to do. River and Dinky sat together looking through one of the “Equestria Rail Company” pamphlets that filled a box back at the station. Not a very interesting read but entertainment enough for a long journey.

“I don’t know if they give tours of the palace anymore,” Time Turner was saying. “But if they do perhaps we could go there after the wedding is over. Don’t want to run into large crowds coming from that.”

“I don’t think Scratch would enjoy a visual tour of the palace as much as we would.” Thyme interjected. “Places with lots of noise and food are her forte. She likes her food.”

Time Turner nodded. “There are plenty of places like that. So I take it that we should visit any museums of art galleries?”

Both Thyme and Ditzy shook their heads. Time Turner seemed to become slightly downcast. Obviously he had wanted to go to those places and Ditzy didn’t want to see him upset.

“Perhaps me and you could go to by ourselves,” the grey pegasi chimed.

“That sounds nice,” the stallion replied sheepishly. “But what about Dinky?”

Not wanting to lose out on a chance to spend time alone with him, Ditzy turned to Thyme. “You wouldn’t mind watching Dinky would you?”

“Uh..”

“She is such a sweetheart,” the grey mare assured him. “You’ll have no problems from her. Plus, she can keep River company.”

Dinky looked at the older ponies and smiled widely. Thyme looked at her and smiled back but deep down he was still wary about the idea.

“I guess I can watch her,” he sighed. “As long as Scratch doesn’t mind.”

“Just don’t ask her now,” Ditzy chuckled. “She’s a little grumpy.”

“Wow, look at Canterlot.” Dinky gasped. “It’s in a giant bubble!”

They all peered out at the capitol with her and the sight of the royal city encased in a magical sphere met their eyes.

“Looks pretty!” Dinky clapped her hooves together in excitement.

“Quite an impressive decoration they have going on there.” Ditzy agreed. “It’s like a snow globe. Is that the theme for the wedding?”

Thyme and Time Turner watched the rapidly approaching city with sterner expressions. River looked up at them and wondered why they looked so serious. She wondered if they had different and less optimistic opinions about the bubble.

“Somepony better wake Scratch up and tell her that we are almost there,” Thyme said as he pulled his attention away from the window.

“Good luck,” Ditzy chuckled, implying that since Thyme mentioned it that he should be the one to get his head chewed off.

The stallion’s face scrunched up in contemplation. “I think it would be better if I wait until the train stops to do that.”

The train paused momentarily before passing through the magic sphere and continuing on to the station. The moment the train stopped, Scratch came hobbling out of her chambers on uneasy legs but overall in good spirits. Her dress was slightly ruffled.

“I hope we have arrived,” she laughed. “Or I am getting off anyways.”

“We have,” Thyme replied. “And I see your father and sister waiting for us on the platform.”

“Whoo!” Scratch pushed past her friends and led the way out of the car. “Dad! Tavi! Its me!”

“Hello my dear! You looks wonderful.” Maxim hugged his daughter and brushed out a few of the wrinkles in her dress.

Octavia came up after their father backed away and wrapped Scratch in a firm embrace. “Hi sister. I missed you.”

Scratch could immediately notice that something was amiss. “What's wrong Tavi?”

Octavia turned to their father who replied for her. “We will talk about it later.”

The others filed out of the train and looked up at the bubble over their heads. Ditzy, Dinky and River all wore expressions of wonder but Thyme and Time Turner approached Maxim.

“What’s with the giant bubble?” Thyme asked.

Maxim shrugged. “I don’t rightly know but I have asked a few of my good friends in the Royal Guard and they have been uncomfortably mum on the topic. This has led me to believe that it is not a decoration.”

“So it might by a defence?” Thyme looked back up at the bubble with a deeper expression of bewilderment.

The older stallion nodded. “Probably. But don’t concern yourselves with that now. We are all here, together, and seeking a day of celebration.”

“Wait, a giant bubble? What’s not a decoration?” Scratch trotted up with an expression between a pout and scowl. “If you guys would like to remember... I can’t see! What giant bubble?”

“Sorry dear.” Maxim gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “There is a magic bubble surrounding the city and we don’t know why it is there.”

“Okay.” Scratch quickly became indifferent to the situation now that she knew what it was. “So, what are we going to do first?”

Octavia stepped closer. “My orchestra is not playing until later this evening so whatever you want to do, sister.”

The unicorn though only for a moment before giving a simple reply. “The first thing that we stumble across.”

“Very well then,” Maxim chuckled. “Me and Octavia will lead the way. Just speak up when you hear or smell something that interests you, dear.”

The streets of Canterlot were surprisingly empty compared to what they had expected. Groups of ponies walked by or stood around street corners with pleasant sounding conversation about the assortment of food and activities that were available. But overall a sense of foreboding and unease was evident to Scratch and her family and friends.

From news articles and gossip that she heard back home, Scratch had learned that Canterlot was progressively becoming known for attracting ancient evils. Though Ponyville was also topping the list of most dangerous places, unlike the locations she grew up. She found the prospect of the town erupting into chaos sort of exciting as opposed to life in Manehattan.

But the situation at least felt safer due to the fact that they had ridden into Canterlot with the Elements of Harmony in the adjacent car. If the bubble surrounding the city was indeed meant to protect them from something that wished to get in and “wreck house”, as Scratch would put it, then hopefully everything would be sorted out before it got too hairy. Despite this though, the group still felt uneasy as they made their way deeper into the city.

“Do you think we’ll see the Princess?” Dinky chimed up. She had been growing tired of the silence.

“We might,” Ditzy replied. “I think there is to be a royal parade later. Right?”

“Yep,”  Time Turner replied absentmindedly. The sight of Canterlot Time Works, the most skilled clock builders in Equestria, held his eyes. An elderly unicorn sat by the window putting the final touches on a gold oscillator.

Ditzy noticed him staring at the shop. “Want to go in and look around?”

“Not really,” Scratch stated. “Clocks aren't my thing.”

“Oh, I was actually asking Time Turner.” Ditzy stifled a laugh.

“Ah,” the white unicorn deadpanned. She had known that Ditzy wasn’t talking to her and just wanted to be smart.

“How did you know we were passing a clock store.” Time Turner was still fascinated by Scratch’s ability to notice things without her eyes.

“I can hear the tick-tock-tick-tock all the way out here.”

“Oh.” Time Turner suddenly felt silly when the answer turned out to be so obvious.

Scratch stuck out her tongue and smiled to show that she was just playing around with him. The stallion just gave a soft chuckle.

“If you two want to go in and look around that is fine with me,” Scratch continued. “I smell food further up the street, primarily pastries and cinnamon, so I will meet you guys there in a bit.”

The rest of the group agreed and Ditzy and Time Turner went into the clock store leaving Dinky in the care of the others. The cafe Scratch had smelled wasn't that far away and they soon found some seats around two small tables outside the windows surrounded by a quaint fence separating the eating area from the street. Dinky and River sat at one table nibbling on a wide assortment of sweetbreads and cinnamon rolls. Scratch, Maxim, Octavia and Thyme sat at the other, trying to enjoy the same goodies but were hampered by other ponies beginning to notice the famous individuals. Soon the area around the cafe was crowded with excited ponies demanding autographs and asking questions about Scratch's story in Pony Magazine.

“Hi, yes everypony, it’s me.” She had forgotten how obsessive the inhabitants of Canterlot were with the lives of celebrities. One annoying thing they kept asking for was autographs. There had never been a real Vinyl Scratch autograph for obvious reasons. Yet ponies continued to ask her hoping to be the first ones.

But what was surprising the most to her was that a large percentage of them were also interested in Maxim. His fame still evident in Canterlot and it was unexpectedly surreal to have ponies swarm over the quiet stallion. Scratch had always known that he had been famous but it had never been as evident until now.

It took the group half an hour to finally convince the masses to disperse but a few lingered a short distance away, quietly watching the celebrities as if it was a safari. Ditzy and Time Turner returned later than they were expected. Nearly an hour had passed before they arrived.

“Sorry.” The cross eyed mare blushed sheepishly. “We stopped by a few other places along the way. I had never been to an art museum before and it was so beautiful! I got so caught up that I lost track of time.”

“Without me continuously reminding her that you were waiting she would have been there all day,” Time Turner said as he walked up behind her.

Octavia looked up at a clock tower and sighed. She had wanted to talk to her sister but had not been able to due to Scratch’s fans. Now it was time for her to head to the music hall and prepare for the show.

“I need to go,” the mare stated as she stood and prepared to leave. “I will see you all after the performance.”

Scratch had easily noticed her sister’s depressed attitude and  wanted to speak to her as well but reclined to let the discussion happen later. She realised that Octavia wanted to talk about it and there was no sense rushing her. Especially when she needed to prepare for a show. Scratch had always noticed that about her. Whereas all the unicorn had to do was get excited for a performance and it was guaranteed to be flawless; Octavia needed a while to warm up.

When the cellist had left Maxin chimed up. “There will still be an hour before the show starts. What shall we do? I don’t think spending the day eating cinnamon rolls is the appropriate activity when there is so much more.”

“The bad thing is, most of the other activities can only be enjoyed with eyes,” Scratch replied with a huff.

Maxim couldn’t help but agree. “Canterlot is a place revolving around glamor and fashion but I think we can find something.”

The group set out again to find an activity that would please all of them. After half an hour of wandering the city they could find nothing other than the occasional musician playing on the sidewalk to any passerby that happened to stop. The entire time they walked an ever present herd of fans and paparazzi lingered behind. Eventually it was time to head to the music hall and find their seats.

“There are a few special guests playing,” Thyme stated as he looked through the pamphlets. “I don’t remember hearing about this. It doesn’t even say who the guests are.”

“It was sort of a last minute thing the director added in,” Maxim said. Scratch could tell that he was playing at something that would only be revealed at a certain time.

Before any of them could press the stallion further the curtains parted, revealing the orchestra sitting with their instruments. When the music started they finally started to enjoy themselves. The composer had actually been taught by Maxim long ago and his style actually mirrored the old stallion’s.

River was the only one not paying full attention to the music. She continuously looked around at the other ponies and the architecture that was painted in vast murals. When a wrinkly old mare scolded at the filly, River stuck out her tongue but finally sat still.

The main performance lasted an hour. But as the orchestra was finishing their last song Maxim stood and walked out of the side exit without saying where he was going. Scratch, though, knew full well what he was doing. Her father wasn’t that skilled at keeping a secret. A special guest along with Maxim acting secretive, it was only a matter of time before she put two and two together.

“Thank you for attending today,” the composer said standing on the edge of the stage as the musicians bowed and filed away. “Now, before you wander away we have something special for you. Coming back after many years of living a quiet life, my teacher and acclaimed composer and musician; Orchestratus Maxim and his daughter Octavia! Put your hooves together!”

A loud cheer erupted from the hall with Scratch cheering the loudest. Maxim and Octavia bowed and waved.

“Thank you everypony,” the stallion replied. He sounded younger to Scratch and there was a hint of a long lost joy in his voice. “It has been a long time since I stood on this or any stage and it is the first time I am doing it with my daughter. I shall be playing for you a few of my classics and one that we created together over the week.”

Both musicians took their seats and the sweet sound of a cello and violin filled the hall. Scratch hadn’t heard her father play happy and playful songs in many years and she quickly felt a rush of joy filling her heart. But as the duo was finishing with their third song there was a loud crash from outside. It was barely audible to the other ponies but Scratch heard it plainly.

“Did you hear that?” the unicorn asked her friends. “There was a loud noise from outside.”

Time Turner shook his head as Ditzy and Thyme whispered, “no”.

Maxim and Octavia continued to play and Scratch quickly began to forget about the noise. Suddenly another shattering bang, much louder than the first, followed by several equally loud ones filled the hall. Only then did the audience start to murmur to themselves. Maxim and Octavia slowly stopped their song and stood, watching the doorway.

“What’s going on?” Scratch asked as more explosions happened outside.

The sound of the hall doors being hurled violently open and the horrified shrieks of the ponies drowned her ears. But over the noise a single voice like a snake’s hiss, yelled. The hall quickly went silent.

The voice, now clear, spoke again. “Remain ssseated, do as we sssay and no one will be hurt! But if you try to run, we will not hesssitate to hunt you down.”

There was another rush of fearful murmuring from the ponies. From the jumble of terrified conversations Scratch could hear the word “changeling”.

“What is happening?” Dinky squeaked to her mother, moments before Scratch could ask the same question.

“It’s a changeling attack,” Thyme whispered. “Whatever happens, we mustn't let them separate us from each other.”

No sooner had he said that when the changeling spoke again. “Ssseparate the loved ones from each other! Feed off of them! The queen will need our help sssoon and we must be at our full ssstrength!”

That was when the screaming and weeping started and Scratch was eventually dragged away from her family and friends and put with a group of ponies she didn’t know. She heard her father and sister calling for her but their voices became hidden within the wails of the others.

“Now,” the changeling spoke again. “We feassst!”