For the Record 17

>Last-minute train tickets are expensive.
>So is booking a hotel at three in the morning the day you arrive in a city you weren't planning on visiting.
>By the time you and Octavia have reached Baltimare General, the sun is rising. The two of you rush through the halls until finally you get to Vinyl's room.
>She's lying asleep on the bed with all manner of wires and tubes surrounding her.
>A nurse looks up in surprise when you burst in.
>”Who in Equestria are you? How did you get in?” she asks accusingly.
“Her manager,” you answer quickly.
>”Well visiting hours are betwee-”
“What the hell happened?” You don't stop staring at your friend.
>The nurse sighs and waves you into the room.
>“Paramedics went to her hotel at nine last night. Apparently she was supposed to be at the Piazza at six but never showed up. A runner finally went up to check on her and found her floating in the bathtub.”
>Octavia goes pale and buries her face in your side.
“Go on,” you breathe.
>”We brought her into the ICU as fast as we could and pumped her stomach. She must have downed an entire bottle of gin with those pills.”
“Pills?”
>”Painkillers. We found ten half-dissolved. If we'd shown up a half hour later...”
>Vinyl stirs.
>”...nn?” she mumbles.
“Jesus christ, Vy. You're okay.”
>Her eyes open wider. She looks at Octavia tearfully.
>”You guys came out to get me?”
>”Of course,” Octavia answers.
>”Your show...”
“Got out right when we got the call. We hopped a train like an hour after that.”
>”Sorry,” she says, fighting the lump in her throat.
1/

“It's okay, Vy. You're alright,” you say softly.
>Octavia nuzzles the DJ.
>”Why did you do it?” she asks.
>Vinyl looks over at her.
>”I dunno. I don't remember. Wanted to relax. Nerves got to me...”
>”You almost drowned yourself!” Octavia cries.
“Enough, Tavi. She's been through a lot. We can yell at her later.”
>Vinyl laughs weakly.
“When can she be released?” you ask the nurse.
>”The doctor said in a couple of days. She has to gain her strength back after that stunt. I'm honestly surprised she's even awake right now.”
“Okay.” You wipe your forehead. “Okay.”

>Back at the hotel, you've gotten on the phone with Minor Seventh.
“Yeah, she's gonna be fine. Gave us a hell of a scare.”
>”I was really worried when you up and left, Anon. I'm glad Ms. Scratch is alright.”
“We all are.”
>”Does this mean you won't be returning to Fillydelphia?”
>You look back at Octavia, who's lying on the bed behind you.
“I won't. I'm sorry. I have to take care of Vinyl and get her back to Canterlot in one piece. Octavia will be heading back to you in a couple of hours.”
>”We're lucky your friend was so close to us when this happened. I'll do my utmost to make sure Octavia is taken care of on my end.”
“Thanks a million, Minnie.”
>”Not at all. Ciao.”
“Ciao.”
>You turn to the cellist.
>”Do I really have to go back and play again?” she asks, sullen.
“You're booked for two nights. Friend emergency doesn't mean we drop contracts. Don't worry. I'm here for Vinyl. You go and kill it again and we'll all meet back up in Canterlot, okay?”
>”Alright,” she sighs.
2/

>The ride back to Canterlot is long. Vinyl sits next to you, staring out the window.
>After a few hours of silence, you turn to her.
“You want to talk about what's bothering you, Vy?”
>She shakes her head.
>You pick up a newspaper. The headline reads “DJ Scratch a No-Show: Taken to BGH.”
“You're gonna have to sooner or later.”
>”I pick later.”
“I get the booze, but pills? When did you start taking pills?”
>”I said I pick later.”
“Well I pick right now. That shit's dangerous, Vy. What the hell were you thinking?”
>She whips around.
>”Don't you start! Don't you start the high and mighty act with me!” she cries. “I expect that shit from Tavi but not from you!”
“I just want to know what's wrong.”
>Her eyes flit around as if searching for something.
“Come on.”
>”I don't know!” she finally yells. The compartment falls deathly quiet. “I don't know.”
“You were acting weird before we went to Filly, too.”
>”I don't know, Anon. Just please leave it?”
>You let out a sigh of defeat.
“Alright. I'll drop it for now. But I'm not leaving it. And Tavi's gonna have your ass for this.”
>”I know,” Vinyl grumbles. “My manager's gonna kill me too. Tavi can get in line.”
3/

>Three days later, the three of you sit at a diner in downtown Canterlot.
>Vinyl is staring at her plate while Octavia is berating her.
>”...can't believe you would do something so irresponsible! I expect the usual drinking and sleeping around, Vy, but this? You could have killed yourself! How could you possibly do something that horrible??”
>You tried to stop her earlier and got a hoof to the cheek for your trouble. You sip your coffee quietly and look out the window.
>”You need help, Vinyl!” Octavia states, slowly calming down. “So I made some calls. You're going to addict group therapy once a week.”
>Vinyl's head shoots up. So does yours.
>”Therapy!?” she cries.
>”Yes. You need help, so I'm getting you help. Your sessions are at eight in the evening on Sundays. Every Sunday. And Anon is taking you there.”
>”What!?” Vinyl yells.
“What!?” you yelp.
>”What?” Octavia asks.
“That's tonight! Why am I taking her?”
>”Because you've enabled her behavior for years, Anon. I blame you for this too.”
>You grumble and look at the DJ.
“Alright, I'll do it. Where are these things?”
>”Canterlot Community Center rec room.”
>”Oh joy,” Vinyl groans.
>You look out the window again and see a nervous-looking violet unicorn heading towards your office.
“I gotta go. You two try not to kill each other, okay?”
>”Anon where are you going?” Octavia asks.
“Just saw Twi outside. She should be in Ponyville by now. Something must be up.”
>The gray mare waves you off and you bound outside, glad to escape.
4/

>You catch up to Twilight after a block or so.
>She jumps when you catch her by the waist.
>”Anon! I was on my way to see you!”
“I spotted you heading over. Aren't you supposed to be home?”
>”I decided to take a few more days, in light of recent events. I wanted to spend time with you,” she says sheepishly.
“It's been a rough few days.”
>”I'd imagine. Is Vinyl doing alright? I read some terrible things in the news.”
“It's mostly exaggeration. She OD'd on some pills. She's fine now.”
>A look of great concern comes over Twilight's face.
>”Are you sure she's alright? That kind of thing takes a toll on you.”
“I know. But she's strong. Now let's talk about something else, huh? How long are you in town?”
>”Two days. We didn't get to celebrate Octavia's show so we're making it up!”
“I like the sound of that. Did you find anything new with the city you were looking for?”
>”Only bits and pieces. We're planning an expedition in the spring once we nail down a real location.”
>She squeezes you. “And it's all thanks to your help! I never would have found it otherwise!”
>You give the mare a kiss.”
“No problem. Now what do you want to do?”
>Twilight thinks on our question for a minute before an idea strikes her.
>”Why don't we see that movie again? Maretropolis?”
“We know what happens in that movie, though.”
>”Then we'll be able to concentrate on other stuff...” she says, suddenly becoming shy and turning a bright shade of red. You stifle a laugh.
“You're full of good ideas, Twi,” you say, brushing her mane with your hand.
5/

>You and Twilight spend the majority of the movie focused on one another in the back row.
>When you get out, you feel much less stressed than when the day started.
“I'm glad you stuck around, Twi. I needed somep0ny to just relax with.”
>”Happy to help,” she beams, nuzzling you.
“What now?”
>”I was thinking we could spend some time in the library?”
“More research?”
>Twilight smiles. “I'd like to gain as much knowledge about this area as I can before I set out looking for it myself. The general location is known, but it's had to have changed in the last few thousand years. I have to get a lay of the land before the expedition can start planning.”
“Say no more. Lead the way, professor.”
>She punches you lightly and leads you up to the Canterlot Archives.
6/

>At seven you excuse yourself and leave the Archives.
>You walk downtown to Vinyl's apartment and wait to be buzzed in.
>A group of mares walks by on their way out to the bars. Your gaze lingers on them until they pass out of view.
>The door buzzer startles you and snaps you back to reality.
>Vinyl's apartment is huge. You find the DJ in the kitchen nursing a bloody mary when you walk in.
>”Hey Anon,” she says with little enthusiasm. “Ready to take me to day care?”
>You walk to the kitchen and snatch the drink.
“Yeah.”
>She looks hurt when you down the whole thing.
>”That was mine.”
“You shouldn't be drinking.”
>”Those are healthy!”
“That was half vodka. And not good vodka. Let's go get this over with, okay?”
>”Fine,” she mumbles, shuffling out the door with you.
7/

>The Canterlot Community Center is a large building near the gardens. You head inside with Vinyl and immediately spot where the meeting is being held.
>A group of seven ponies in various states of depressive disarray are standing around a table covered in donuts and coffee pots.
>Vinyl shifts uneasily next to you.
>”You're gonna stay, right?” she asks quietly.
“For the meeting?”
>You look at the group, wanting to leave as quick as possible.
>Before you can make an excuse, a voice comes up behind you.
>”Ah, you must be our newest. Ms. Scratch, right?”
>You and Vinyl turn around to see a slender unicorn with a subtle smile on her face standing in the hallway.
>”Uh, yeah, that's me,” Vinyl answers.
>”And fancy meeting you again, Anonymous,” the unicorn says, looking at you warmly.
>You wrack your brain for names.
>”Diamond Shine,” the unicorn adds to Vinyl.
>Got it.
“Nice to see you again, Diamond.”
>”Likewise. Are you here for the meeting too?”
>Vinyl looks at you pleadingly.
“I guess I am.”
>Diamond smiles widely and starts towards the rec room.
>”Well come on in and we'll introduce everyp0ny.”
>She hangs back until she's walking beside you and behind Vinyl.
>”Octavia filled me in on everything I need to know. Thank you for staying. Ms. Scratch is going to need a lot of support these first few meetings. I know this must be difficult for you.”
“It's what I gotta do.”
>”You're a good friend. She's lucky to have you and Octavia in her corner.”
>Diamond takes a seat in an empty chair in the circle she's set up. You sit down next to Vinyl.
>”Welcome back, everyp0ny. I hope you all had productive weeks and I'm glad to see we're all here.” She looks at one of the group members tellingly.
>”Now we have a new member with us, so why don't we all introduce ourselves?”
8/

>Once introductions are over, you get into the nitty gritty. Diamond Shine has a commanding presence in the room.
>She doesn't dominate and she doesn't seem particularly imposing, but she steers conversation perfectly while taking her notes and never misses a beat when it comes time to reign a pony in.
>Vinyl stays silent for most of the first hour. Diamond even gets you to say a little about yourself.
>After some time, she asks if there have been any slip ups in the last week.
>An older stallion shifts in his seat guiltily. Diamond immediately homes in on him.
>”Oak? Do you have something to say?” she asks.
>”I- I fell off the wagon again,” he says shamefully.
>Diamond's expression softens.
>”It's alright. We all make mistakes. It's nothing to be ashamed of. We're here to help, but you have to help us do that, okay?”
>The stallion nods and tells the room about his slip up.
>Vinyl groans.
>You jab her side.
>”Ms. Scratch, since it's your first session I'll give you a warning,” Diamond says. “This is a safe space. We mustn't judge others seeing as we're all in the same boat, okay?”
>”Yes ma'am,” Vinyl replies sarcastically.
9/

>By the end of the session you can tell that Vinyl is exhausted. You walk out a little depressed yourself, but manage to go without making any quips about it.
>Diamond catches you on the way out.
>”Anon, could I talk to you a moment please?” she calls from the rec room.
>You nod to Vinyl.
“I'll meet you outside.”
>Diamond is sitting in her chair when you come back in.
>”Thank you,” she says. “Take a seat if you like. This won't be long.”
>You sit across the circle from the unicorn.
>”I wanted to thank you again for staying with Vinyl. I think having a friendly face here will help her open up in the future.”
“We're trying our best to get her back on her feet. The news frenzy over this has hit her harder than anything. Usually the party mare image works for her, but right now it's just awful.”
>”I can imagine. This will help her, but she does have to open up a little for it to work.”
“She has trouble with that.”
>”Runs in the social circle? I understand.”
>You laugh, caught off guard by the jab.
“I guess.”
>”Don't worry too much about Vinyl,” Diamond says. “She'll be fine in time.”
“I sure hope so.
>”That's all. I'll see the two of you next week.”
“See you.”

>Vinyl is waiting by the door.
>”Finish talking about me?”
“Yeah, we were exchanging gossip.”
>The DJ grumbles.
“Oh, don't give me that. I'm just kidding. You want to get some food?”
>”Can we go to the bar?” Vinyl asks hopefully.
“Sure, but no drinks. I won't either.”
>She looks disappointed. “Alright.”
10/

>Vinyl and you spend the rest of the night at the bar eating.
>When you finally leave, you feel drained.
>The DJ walks off to her apartment, leaving you alone outside the bar.
>You start towards your house, but after a block you turn around and head to Twilight's hotel.
>The mare is just heading to bed when you knock on her door.
>”Anon?” she asks, yawning as she answers.
“Hey,” you say, waving a little.
>”What are you doing here so late?” she asks, backing up to give you room to enter.
>You walk inside and sit on the bed.
“Long night,” you say with a long groan.
>Twilight sits next to you and nuzzles your neck.
>You put your arm around her and stroke her mane.
>”Want to stay with me?” she asks, wriggling her way to the head of the bed. ”There's room for two.”
>A quiet smile plays across your face as you get up and circle around to her again. She's turned red again, looking up at you from the covers with her big purple eyes twinkling.
“I'd love that.”
End