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.”