Reaper With An Angel

by MLPxMaestro

Rating: everyone
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad, Other, Octavia, Random
Length: 11059

Young Octavia and her mother Melody, head over to her grandmother Octave's house for Hearth's Warming Day, but something terrible is drawing near to Octavia's wonderful mare of a mother.

Little filly Octavia and her mother come over to her grandmothers to spend the holidays with her. Her grandmother, Octave, is loved to bits by Octavia, and enjoys every second she spends with her. This Hearth's Warming Day though may not be the same however. Her mother Melody, is being distracted by something she knows she cannot fight. Octavia's mother was diagnosed with an untreatable and incurable disease when Octavia was only a year old, and she only has two weeks left to live now. How will she live them, now that her time is drawing near its eminent end? Octavia knows her mother is sick, but with Melody appearing perfectly normal, she cannot fully comprehend the situation. Melody merely lets her lovely daughter know, that everything will be okay when it happens.

Published 2013-11-19 20:30:04 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-21 20:00:39 UTC

Chapter One-

Reaper With An Angel:

Chapter 1-

It was the holidays, and just a couple of days away from Hearth’s Warming Day. Little filly Octavia and her mother, Melody, were getting ready to head out to their grandmother Octave’s house. Located just on the other side of the pristine city, and even within a more upper class district, she had a lovely view out from Canterlot’s cliffside. Octavia’s mother had told her little girl that she was sick, but yet Octavia didn’t understand at her age? She knew that her mom didn’t have a fever, and she looked as pretty as she always was to her. Sometimes, little Octy even thought her mother was the prettiest mare in Equestria when the mood struck her. Anyways, how could she be sick from Octavia’s perspective? Perhaps her mother was giving her all of this attention, along with hugs and kisses to her sweet daughter for a reason. Octavia’s father, Golden Strings, knew what it was; it was a rare and silent illness.

They did not wish to tell their daughter, because they were afraid she would be scared for her mother. The illness was harmless at its first stages, but once it gets to the final stage, it becomes lethal, and it hits very hard all of a sudden. There was no cure for the mysterious illness, and only a small handful of ponies across all of Equestria would be diagnosed every year. The best doctors in all of the land had no way of stopping it. Melody has had this deadly mystery illness ever since Octavia turned one, and it hasn’t reached its final stage yet. Though it wouldn’t be very much longer at all till it does in fact. Melody had been given only two weeks left to live, though she still felt fine. She would be until the final week of the disease however…what a way to live. However Octavia’s family was being strong about it, and Octavia’s mother and grandmother was no exception. When it was time to be strong in times of trouble, Melody would make every moment count with her daughter until she couldn’t go any longer.

“Come on dear, time to go to granny’s!” Octavia’s mother yelled from downstairs.

“Wet me gwab my things!”

That was all Octavia’s mother Melody, managed to hear. After a crash was heard upstairs in Octavia’s bedroom, she galloped to her room hastefully.

“Sweetie, are you okay?!” she yelled as she made her way up to her lovely daughters’ room.

She then stopped herself and began smiling seeing little Octavia caught under a huge pile of blankets that fell on top of her. Octavia was a late three years old, so she was the most curious one in the household by far.

“Ahhh! Hewp me, it’s dawk!” Octavia called out to her mother, her voice sounding muffled under all the thick sheets.

“Oh you silly girl, give me just a moment.” Melody giggled, as she made her way to the pile of sheets her daughter was being held prisoner under. She saw the little figure that was her daughter moving around all over the place under the pile, as she got closer to it, looking like a little lost ghost in the pile.

“Boo!” Octavia poked her head out from under the pile startling her mother a bit.

“There’s my girl!” nuzzling Octavia’s cheek then kissing it.

“Sweetie, there was no need for any of this, you know that right?” her mother added.

“But mommy, I had to pack?” Octy tilted her head to the side feeling a bit confused.

“No dear, I have your things already packed when we head over to granny’s for a few days. Everything is over at her house, okay?” Melody replied with a smile.

“Oh…okay den!” Octavia looked around the room, then hopping once a bit in place. She then took off out of her room, and dashed down the stairs, anxious to see her granny. She loved her grandmother to bits, and so did her granny Octave in return, ten fold.

“Octavia! Your scarf, remember?” Melody ran down to her putting the purple scarf around Octy’s little neck.

“I wook siwwy with this thing on.” Octy looked down, lightly kicking the bits of snow on her front porch as they walked outside.

“You look lovely Octavia, one day you might not mind as much. You just need to know about style is all dear.” Melody kissed her daughters forehead, as they continued down the snow-covered streets of Canterlot.

“Mommy, can we make snow angels?”

“No, not right now, I told your father we would get there before he gets there.”

“Where is daddy at?”

“He’s at work sweetie, he needed to work overtime so he can be with us on Hearth’s Warming Day.” Melody replied.

“Yay! What about Pony Cwaus?” Octavia asked.

“Pony Claus? Well hmm…I think you’ve been nothing short of an angel this year Octavia. With that said dear, you will be getting something very special from your grandfather on Hearth’s Warming Day too.” Melody smiled backed down to the ball of gray fur within the snow. The snow for her daughter covered up those little legs of hers entirely, and it was starting to make her cold as they approached an intersection within the street.

“Okay now, onto my back you little snow angel.”

Octavia said nothing, and got onto her mother’s back, causing her to shake a little from those tiny hooves being so cold.

“Goodness sweetie, those little hooves of yours are cold as ice.” Said Melody.

“I’m cold.” Octavia replied, wrapping her two front hooves around her mom’s neck.

“Oh I know, but granny has a fireplace, remember? But we’re fine with firewood this time, so don’t you go throwing her books into the fire to keep it going like you did last time, okay?”

Octavia had no idea what her mother was even talking about, since she didn’t recall the time she did that.

Continuing onto the other side of the city, Octavia begins to complain.

“I’m hungwy mommy!”

“I can get you something to eat when we get to granny’s okay?” her mother replied. Having the level head she had, she kept a smile on her face, knowing it wouldn’t be too much further before they arrived.

“But I wanna eat now!” she whined.

“Octavia?” she raised her voice a bit.

“Sowwy…it’s unwady wike…wike daddy says…” Octavia’s voice faded out as she approached the end of her comment.

“I know your father can be a bit harsh on you sometimes, I wish he would realize you’re just a little girl, you need to have your fun. Though you still do, and you’ll have plenty of it when we get to granny’s.”

“Yeah! We awe gonna make cookies and other tweats…ooh! Ooh! We even gonna make cookies too!”

“Sweetie you said cookies already.” Melody giggled at her daughters’ excitement, seeing the expression she had on her ace just thinking about all the fun she would have with grandma.

“But we awe gonna make them mommy, gwanny said so!” Octavia raised her voice happily.

“I know, I know, I believe you. Just calm down okay?” her mom giggled once more, as she turned her head back around to her daughter burying her face into the side of her neck.

Melody looked back from time to time checking in on little Octy, noticing her trying to catch the occasional snowflakes with her tongue as they fell from the sky. Octavia was heartwarming most of the time, and her mother couldn’t help but to smother her daughter with hugs and kisses, which Octavia didn’t seem to mind.

“I love you Octavia.” Melody kissed her head softly. Octavia loved getting kisses from her mother. She even every now and then was convinced her mother was an angel who married her daddy

“I wuv you too mommy.” Octavia’s soft little lips kissed her mother in return on the side of her face just as they approached grandma’s snowy doorstep.

Chapter Two-

Reaper With An Angel:

Chapter 2-

That little hoof of Octy’s hit the doorbell, as she stretched as far as she possibly could from her mother’s back to reach it.

“Good job little angel.” Melody nuzzled her.

“I’m gwowing up mommy!”

“You certainly are my little one, it may not be too long before you become a big girl!” she smiled towards her.

“I’m gonna be a big girl, and be just wike you!” Octavia smiled back with her pointing that little hoof back at her mother’s face. Melody crossing her eyes slightly, as Octy’s hoof touched the tip of her mother’s muzzle. Soon after, the doors locks could be heard being unlocked one by one in a fairly quick fashion.

The door soon then opened to the sight of Octavia’s favorite grandmother.

“Gwanny!” Octavia jumped off of her mother, running straight into her grandmother’s embrace.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite granddaughter, and you have gotten so big, just look at you!” Octave picked her up kissing her forehead. Overall, Octavia’s family wasn’t the most formal and refined family in Canterlot. When they were around each other for example, they knew they had that freedom to just be themselves for once in a while. Octavia’s family was still professional at being refined if they ever needed to be. They simply lay off of that stuff when they were around Octavia at her age, letting her be the ball of energy and curiosity she was.

“I’m about to make some cookies in a little bit, but how about you go off and find pawpaw?” Octave set Octavia down to the wooden living room floor, and nudged her in the direction of the stairs down to his workshop in the basement.

“Okay gwanny, I be back okay?” Octavia said just before she made her way down to meet grandpa, or “pawpaw” as she called him.

“Okay deary!” she chuckled, but soon then shaped up immediately. Knowing her and her daughter had some privacy about her condition, she asked away.

“So how are you feeling dear? You haven’t been feeling sick or anything have you? Have you ran a fever lately?” Octave asked concerned for her daughter.

“Actually I’ve been feeling fine mother…it’s just that…”

“Yes?”

“I’m beginning to feel a bit scared now.”

“Oh come now child, you have a wonderful and supportive family that will love you to the ends of the earth. You are my one and only daughter, my little melody.” She lightly hugged Melody.

“Aw, thanks mother.”

“Of course…now how much longer did the doctors say you had just a couple of days ago?”

Octave asked that question, but she got no response from Melody.

“Dear?”

“Um…well…”

“It’s okay darling…I’m here.” She lightly held her close. Octave still treated her daughter like she was the same little girl she used to be.

“I…I have…”

“Dear, your husband will be here anyways, so chances are he-”

“T-two w-weeks…” Melody’s tone of voice changed.

The seconds passing, she then began hearing sniffles coming from her daughter.

“I…I don’t have much longer mother.” Melody began to cry.

“Shhh…you remember that song I would sing to you every night before you went to bed when you were just a little thing?”

“Yes mother, The Notes of Thy Heart.” Melody replied, now trying to clear herself up, and be strong like her mother wants her to be.

“Exactly…you tell yourself those lyrics, and you will know that every second you have at this moment is a gift, and not for granted. Be happy for what you have left with your family dear, and that I will love you for all of eternity and eternity’s end.” Stated Octave.

“Thank you mother, that means a lot.”

“That’s my girl, you need to be strong for your daughter dear. Do not look like this in front of Octavia or it will upset her too. She loves you as much as you have loved her, that’s all she wants…your love.”

“I know mother, that’s what I have been doing with her ever since she turned one honestly.” Melody answered with a slight chuckle under her breath.

“But what if she asks why I am crying, if I am caught in front of her doing this? I may be strong mother, but I am certainly not-” she added, but with her mother interrupting her before she could finish.

“You are not invincible, I know…nopony is in their life, nor shall they ever be for as long as they continue to exist. If Octavia catches you crying in front of her, just tell her it is for a good reason, and that it is for the better for it to happen.” Octave replied.

“She is smart for her age, but she is smarter than she is portrayed as. She knows what crying means, and it bothers her to see her mommy she loves so much, appearing to be hurt. No matter what the circumstances may be, she is smarter than you think mother, you should know that yourself.” Said Melody.

“Oh I most certainly do dear, she has shown me how smart she is when she has been over here to visit me before. She helped me one time even make some of my signature recipes better than they were just from her being curious. She has a passion dear, and it will be a good one, we just need to be patient.”

After their conversation stayed silent for a few brief moments, they heard tiny hoofsteps making their way back up to the top of the basement stairs quickly. Octave and Melody perked up their ears when they heard Octavia yell back down to her grandpa at the bottom of the steps.

“Come on pawpaw, wets go!”

“I’m coming you little rascal, just give these old bones a bit of time okay? I’m not what I used to be youngling.” Octave’s husband, Quaver, had a bad case of arthritis due to the fact that he had been playing the Cello all of his life. So he had been slow due to that fact, though he didn’t like to show it very much in front of loved ones. Instead he tried to act like he was the same man he was thirty and forty years ago, but failed often in the process. So overall, he just acts slow in front of them now.

“My-my…she loves her pawpaw doesn’t she…” Melody smiled a bit.

“Oh good heavens yes, she wants him to do everything with her. Bless his heart though; he just isn’t the stallion he used to be back in the day. Oh how I miss those tunes that were played from him. He was the finest Cello player in Canterlot back in his prime.” Said Octave.

“Oh I remember those days too when I was a little girl, he would play his Cello on rainy nights in front of the fireplace. Sipping his favorite tea as I sat there in front of him in awe of just how good my father really was. But rather my passion was more of my voice, rather than by instrument. But when I was little, how I wished I were as good as my father. I dreamed I played just like he would have in front of a sold out crowd in the Canterlot Concert Hall.” Melody stated with a smile, as she closed her eyes for a moment, just thinking about all the good times she had with her father.

“Oh your father actually played his Cello just recently for the first time in over fifteen years dear. Though his poor hooves just bother him with his arthritis, he can hardly play it as good as he wishes he still did when he was young.” Octave replied with a warm smile. Thinking back to the once handsome, charming, and skillful husband he used to be.

Octavia was then seen running around the kitchen corner, straight to granny Octave.

“Gwanny, gwanny! Pawpaw’s gonna hewp us make cookies!” she said happily, running right into Octave’s legs in a hugging fashion.

“Dag namit, I said no such thing you little whipper-snapper.”

“Aw come on daddy, how about it this time?” Melody spoke up.

“Well I certainly would like to, but I’m just not feelin it today sweetheart.” He replied to his daughter straight faced.

“Father, you need to lighten up a bit, it’s Hearth’s Warming Eve tomorrow after all. There’s even going to be a play that day too. It’s supposed to be on the founding of Equestria, I hear it’s going to be good.”

“Ooh, does that sound like fun my little dumpling? Said Octave, as she poked the side of Octavia’s small belly, causing her little body to squirm slightly in an adorable fashion.

“Tee-hee…yes.” She began with a giggle and a big grin.

“Now then…who’s going to help me make these cookies, hm?” Wondered Octave playfully towards her favorite one and only granddaughter.

“I wanna hewp gwanny! Pwease?!” Octavia begged.

“Well…I don’t know…would you like to lick the spoon when we’re done?”

“Yes pwease!” the gray filly smiled big with pleasure.

“Okay then, you two do that, and me and father will go out on a little stroll.”

“Stroll? Now just what in Celestia’s name are we strolling out in cold weather like- ow!”

Quaver was jabbed in his side with Melody’s hoof, since it had to deal with things Octavia shouldn’t be hearing about.

“Oh right, of course…a stroll…let’s boogie then sweetie, you lead on.”

“Thanks dad.” Melody kissed his cheek.

“Eh, this old coot tries.” He replied, following a cough thereafter.

“Dad, you’re not that old now.”

“I’m old enough to be friends with Starswirl the bearded.” He replied once more with a sarcastic smile. Quaver and Melody then head out to the front porch to take a walk around the block a few times. As for little Octavia herself, she was jamming out with the cookie dough. Tickling, teasing, and laughs were shared, as her granny wanted this batch of cookies to be the best batch she had ever made, and for good reasons.

“Gwanny…can I wick the spoon?”

“What’s the magic word?”

“Pweeeease!?!”

“Good job for using your manners, so proud of you!” Octave smiled warmly.

Chapter Three-

Reaper With An Angel:

Chapter 3-

The snow continued to fall from the solid gray sky, as the light white flakes touched their bodies as they kept walking around the neighborhood. Quaver simply did what he does best, and that was to listen to his daughter.

“So anyways, that is why I’m so worried for my little girl.”

“I see…” he replied briefly, as he contemplated about the matter within his mind. He found a moment to speak up after silence fell between them for about half a minute or so. Quaver was astounded at just how much snow was actually falling this year; he had never seen anything like it in all his years of living here in Canterlot.

“Perhaps it might be time for you to let Octavia know about what is going on them.”

“But she’s so young father, she won’t even understand. Though there is always that possibility she will get worried.”

“Well you did in fact say she’s just a little filly.” He replied.

“Yes I did, but every time she sees me afraid or hurt, she feels that way along with me and cries.” Melody added.

“Then you need to be strong about it Melody. Critical as this may be to you, and as painful it still is for you to bare this, you need to find a time very soon indeed to tell her. Perhaps when you and your husband are together, sit her down, and try to explain it to her as much as you can on her level of understanding.” Her father stated.

“I…” she then took in a breath of the fresh cold air. With it filling her lungs, it gave her a refreshing feeling every time she did that.

“I suppose…you’re right.”

“Of course I am, you know I wouldn’t say something unless I knew it would be for the better of you.”

“I know father, you’ve been like that ever since I was little. You’ve always knew what was best for me…even when mother thought it wasn’t a good idea.” She chuckled slightly.

“Don’t forget all of those late night concerts I took you too. Remember that one night we snuck out together? I was late for my quintet performance at the Canterlot Concert Hall, and I managed to reserve you a seat in the front row so you could watch me all by yourself.”

“I was only six father…mother would have had a fit over that.”

“I know, and we barely made it back before she found out.” He laughed.

“Heh, oh father, sometimes you still have your moments I suppose, hm?”

“I may be old, but yes I still have my moments…ah those were the good old days. You seemed to almost never get into trouble too, though every now and then you would still get in trouble at school. Thank Celestia you didn’t go out with that one colt when he asked you out to prom one night in your high school years.” He chuckled.

“Oh that guy? Ugh! He was such a showoff, always trying to impress somepony out there, mother hated him.”

“Me and her both my dear.” Quaver smiled.

They made their last roundabout around the neighborhood before they would be heading back home. The wind was calm, but now starting to pick up a pinch.

“How about we get a nice cup of hot tea before we head back?” he insisted, pointing to her favorite teashop.

“Sure father, that’s nice of you…thanks.”

“Dear, you need not thank me, you know I’ve been spoiling you ever since you were just a filly.”

“There’s no argument there.” She giggled.

“Good…you’ll pay this time.”

“Father!”

“Ha ha ha ha! Of course I’ll pay sweetie.” He laughed out loud.

Meanwhile, back at grandmother Octave’s…Octavia’s father had finally arrived through the front door.

Octave gasped sarcastically, acting like she wondered who was there, even though she already knew who it was. She merely did that to get Octavia’s curiosity stirred up.

“Oh my…who could that be!” Octave smiled big to the adorable gray filly at the face of the oven, struggling to get in the first batch to bake.

“Who is it gwanny?!” her face lighting up instantly.

“Would you like to see who it might be for me? I’ll take care of this, don’t worry.”

“Okay!” Octavia hopped once in place, anxious to see who it was. To her surprise, it was her father, Golden Strings.

“Well if it isn’t the young lady coming to greet me.” he smiled.

“Hi daddy!” she rushed over to him and gave him the biggest hug she could possibly span out from those little hooves

“It appears to me that you are having fun in the kitchen?” his face changed expression to a serious face, confusing Octavia.

“Um…oh…am I…uh…not supposed to daddy? I’m sowwy…”

“You had better be Octavia…cause you know…” he then got down to her level on the wooden floor and stared right into her bright purple eyes.

“I want to…have fun too!”

“Yay! Gwanny, gwanny…daddy’s gonna hewp us!” Octavia said eager to get back to what she was doing. Leading the way as she dashed back into the kitchen, sliding a bit across the tile floor from the force of her running, having to resituate her direction. Her father was more refined than the rest of Melody’s family, but knowing Melody’s condition, he knew he needed to be there for his daughter no matter what now.

“Greetings and salutations Mrs. Octave.” He spoke up as he made his way into the kitchen, setting his coat onto the coat rack just next to the kitchen entrance.

“Oh hello deary! Octavia is being such a big help today, helping her granny make all kinds of things, aren’t you?”

“Uh-huh!” Octavia’s little head nodded in agreement.

“Well that sounds wonderful ma’am, do you think by any chance she may perhaps obtain her cutiemark through something such as this?” Golden Strings wondered.

“I have no idea to be honest with you Golden Strings, but I do know that she has a little something special coming from Pony Claus this year.” Octave replied.

“That’s right, I think Pony Claus has something special for you this year…a surprise.”

“What is it, what is it daddy?!” Octavia quickly turned around, her hooves still covers in the cookie dough she was setting out on one of the baking sheets.

“Well you need to wait until Hearth’s Warming Day to find out. Remember, he knows when you are awake, so make sure and stay asleep okay?”

“But I wanna see what he wooks wike?!” Octavia whined.

“Octavia? You told me you would be good for Pony Claus remember? No whining, remember?” said her father.

“Sowwy daddy…I’ll be good.” Her voice trailed off, then turned back around facing the baking sheet.

Golden Strings noticed that Octavia was doing actually a good job of not being messy despite her age. Perhaps refinement seemed to just come to her naturally at times? Though she still made a mess of course, but what would you expect from somepony her age? Anypony her age would make a mess over something they found to be this fun.

“Hmm…Octavia?”

“Yes daddy?” she turned her head back to him.

“Do you know how to make a smiley face cookie?”

She blinked back to him once, not understanding what he was getting to.

“No…”

“Ah I see…well maybe granny can help you make one? Could you make one for daddy?”

“Yeah! I make the best smiwey face cookies!” she stated, causing Octave and Golden Strings to laugh together at her adorable remark.

“We need to work on saying your L’s and R’s more sweetie, but keep trying okay?”

“Okay daddy.” She replied.

“I bet he just wishes he could be a baker as good as you, didn’t he?” Octave poked her belly as she stood up on her rear legs leaned up against the kitchen counter.

“Gwanny, stop!” Octavia stated with seriousness on her face.

“Well now, what are you so serious about deary?” Octave felt puzzled by her granddaughters sudden mood change.

“I’m twying to condencentwate for daddy’s smiwey face cookie.” She replied with a looks of determination for making the cookie. It was certainly quite the challenge, trying to make the perfect design of two dots close to the top, and a curve almost to the bottom of it was no easy task for her age.

“There, all done!”

Golden Strings walked over to Octavia’s piece of art onto the piece of cookie dough. What he saw was merely the opposite of a smiley face cookie; rather it was a frowney face cookie instead to his surprise.

“Um…Octavia sweetie…that is sad frowney face.” he stared at the face surprised, but maybe Octavia still didn’t get it yet.

“Nooo! It’s a smiwey face just wike you wanted!” she replied, showing that perfect little set of teeth in her grin.

“Okay, okay…it’s…it’s a smiley face then.” Her father rolled his eyes, looking back at Octave with that action. She merely stood there and shrugged on the situation, not really caring either way. As long as her granddaughter was having fun at what she enjoyed doing, she didn’t care one way or the other.

“It looks wonderful dear!”

“But daddy says it’s not a smiwey face? Is that twue gwanny?”

“Uh…well…how about we just put these into the oven too, okay?”

“Yay! Can I put this one into the oven this time?” Octavia asked, as she grabbed a hold of the pan to bring it off the kitchen counter with her.

“You sure can angel…can I help too? I don’t want you letting the pan fall over now.” Her grandmother spoke up, not wanting her to drop the pan onto the floor.

After another minute or two passed, they finished up with the finishing touches on the last batch, and popped it in the oven. The smell of the first batch could already be smelled in the kitchen, it was quite the oven, and a pretty penny to buy it nonetheless.

Golden Strings was now taking it easy in front of the campfire, and Octavia lay beside him, already getting tired feelings according to her father.

“Are you getting sleepy darling?” he asked, as he saw her look off into the blaze of the fireplace that seemed to calm her down despite the energy she had just minutes ago.

“No, I’m…just…” her adorable mouth opening up to yawn thereafter saying those words.

“Would you like a cover?”

Octavia said nothing, and merely nodded softly. Her little purple eyes trying to stay awake as best as they could, but relaxation was taking her mind over by storm. Golden Strings complying with her silent request, brought the cover over her warm body

“Can we snuggle?” she added. Her father then noticed her just then, offering him a small portion of the cover.

“What good manners you have…thank you very much.” He whispered calmly to her, causing her to giggle in her tired and relaxed tone.

Octave simply sat in her rocking chair across from the two of them, knitting a purple and white scarf.

“My daughter and my husband shared that exact same blanket in front of the fireplace many times when she was her age.” She whispered to Golden Strings with a smile. He looked back at her, not saying a word, but a nod of approval came from him since he wanted to stay quiet for Octavia to rest her eyes.

That last little flicker of the fire could be seen from those gorgeous purple eyes of Octavia’s. The world for her seeming to go black for her, as they shut closed to the rest of the world around her. Her little body moving up and down from her easy and soft breathing, as silence seemed to fall for a moment in the living room. The entire room was dimmed from the dark curtains blocking the majority of the light coming from outside, as the living room was cloaked in a faded orange glow. Crackling of the wood every now and again was heard amidst the savory silence that could be felt in the air.

Over half an hour had passed, and that Quaver and Melody had made it back to the house safe and sound.

“Okay were-”

“Shh!” Octave shushed her husband.

“Oh…is she, uh…”

Octave nodded implying Octavia was sound asleep at this time.

“Hey honey, glad to see you’ve made it…how was your day?” Melody walked over to her napping husband, and kissed him causing him to wake up from him dozing off there for a moment.

“Oh, um…it went fine dear…would you like to switch up? I need to um…”

Golden Strings then whispers into his wife’s ear, reminding her he needed to go out there and take care of Octavia’s gifts.

“Oh right, heh…go right ahead, I’ll take her off of your hooves.” Melody whispered back.

He then got up; as Melody quickly took his place on the couch to keep Octavia’s side he was resting next to her, warm.

As soon as Golden Strings left out the front door to deal with the last minute shopping, everything once again fell silent in the household. Everypony in the family seemed to take in the lovely silence, and the small crackling noises of the firewood in the fireplace.

“My dear sweet Octavia…you’re such a good girl.” Melody thought to herself, as she lightly kissed the side of Octavia’s face.

“Mo-…mmy…” the word being heard just barely caused Melody’s heart to melt.

“…and forever I shall be.” She whispered back to her softly, as a tear then flowed down from one of her eyes.

Chapter Four-

Reaper With An Angel:

Chapter 4-

It was Hearth’s Warming Eve, and the snow was falling ever so peacefully from the eternal gray sky, as it would continue to be this way for a couple more days. The wind had picked up a bit too, and little Octavia was riding on her mother’s back, as they all made their way to the play. Located in the Canterlot Concert Hall, the stage had been converted for this situation. The play was about the founding of Equestria, and like Melody had said before, it looked interesting, and she heard it would be good. So now her, Octavia, and the rest of the family made their way to enjoy the play. Melody on the other hoof before they even left out of the house, didn’t feel well, but began feeling just a bit better a little while afterward. Melody had been feeling pretty bad off and on since this morning. Is this leading to something terrible by any chance? If so, just how bad will it be? Her family already knows she could lose her life to this “thing” as any given time…would it carry onto the afternoon however?

“So…is this a dinner and a play sort of thing?” Quaver asked.

“No, this is just a play. We merely walk in there, sit down, enjoy it, applaud them, then leave…nothing more father.” Replied Melody.

“Well I am famished at the moment, are we by any chance-”

“No dad, we are heading back home to eat after this play.” She interrupted him.

“Thank Celestia…well let us hurry this up then.”

“Pawpaw, can I sit next to you?” Octavia looked back at him with those gorgeous purple eyes he just could not turn down.

“Yes sweetheart, of course you can.” He replied sympathetically.

“Can I be in the pway?”

“It’s too late angel. If they accepted fillies, you would be the star of the show, I just know you would.” Melody nuzzled her Octavia’s charcoal mane.

“She would have our family get famous, and go on tour to get us rich.” Golden Strings spoke up.

“We are already rich my love.” Replied Melody with a giggle.

“Well here we are…let us enjoy ourselves. We shall meet out here in the front entrance after the play, fair enough? Because due to such volume of this crowd, I presume we should separate into pairs of two, and find two seats adjacent to one another. Since we all know too well with this crowd, there will not be enough seats for us all to sit together.” Golden Strings stated to them as they went through the entrance.

“Well thought up dear, I agree.” Melody agreed with him. She then turns away from her family placing a hoof of the side of her head…she wasn’t feeling right.

“Same with me here, me and my husband will find ourselves a seat somewhere…come along now Quaver dear!” Octave spoke up among the crowd of ponies now starting to slowly increase in mass as they made it closer and closer to the auditorium.

“Wait you forgot-…” Melody then looked back at Octavia appearing to be confused, all the noise around her driving her mind astray somewhat.

“Octavia, how about you sit with-.” Melody was then interrupted by a cough.

“Love? Are you okay at the moment?” her husband asked concerned.

“Yeah it was just, *cough*, just a *cough cough* mild thing dear.”

“Awe you okay mommy?”

“Yes sweetie, I most certainly am.” she smiled to Octavia, however turning around to face her husband, keeping her face out of sight from Octavia’s view, signaling she felt odd just then.

“We’ll do something about it after the play okay?”

Melody said nothing, and simply nodded in agreement with her husband.

“Lovely…now lets not let a petty cough ruin this day, eh?” he spoke up, as the three of them made their way down a row with two seats. The row they were sitting down at was located just a few rows away from the stage too. Enough to keep Octavia amused, since she grew bored of some things at distances sometimes.

“Thank you dear, thank you for not worrying our little girl just then.” She said to him, and with the right level of volume to where Octavia didn’t catch what they were saying as they took their seats.

“Of course Melody…I am here for you no matter what.” he and Melody then share a kiss in the middle of some ponies sitting down around them. A few caught eye of them kissing, but what would you expect? They’re a couple obviously, what more do they need?

“Still the charming kisser I see?” Melody giggled, trying to lighten up the mood on the situation from her strange feeling.

“I try my best when the time is right.”

“M-hm-hm…oh you.” she chuckled a bit, as she gestured her hoof back to him somewhat playfully. Melody was a bit of a flirt at times with her husband, no matter what the situation was it seemed. He didn’t really seem to mind either, since for one he could do that without judging from others since they were married.

About fifteen minutes after everypony had found their seats, the lights then dimmed, and the entire room soon after, went nearly black. The only real source of light was up at the stage, as the large red curtain unveiled the characters as they started off on their scene. The crowd shared with each other in laughter at some of the moments within the play. Occasional suspense sent portions of the crowd just then into gasps, wondering what might happen next.

After all of the actors took their bows in a row facing the crowd, every pony then stood up applauding. The occasional bouquet of flowers was thrown to the stage for such a wonderful performance. Melody however didn’t feel well at the moment, but she managed to keep it from view of everypony else.

After the play, they luckily managed to locate each other outside at the buildings main entrance, just as Golden Strings suggested.

“Ah, we are all here now…shall we head back to your house to have dinner now Mrs. Octave?”

“Of course deary, let us be on our way.”

“About time!”

“Hush father…that’s rude in public.”

“Oh, right…my apologies Melody.” He then leans in closer to Octavia riding on her back as they continue walking back home.

“My apologies to you too, don’t do what pawpaw just did okay? It was ugly of him.” Quaver ruffled Octavia’s mane a bit, causing her to laugh.

“Okay pawpaw, I will be wike a pwincess!” she smiled back to him.

“That’s my girl.” Quaver then brought her onto his back after he gestured to Melody if he could or not.

“Okay Octavia…would you like to see if we can beat mommy and daddy in a race?” Quaver then took a few steps ahead of them, and took position.

“Yeah!” Octavia shouted, as she pointed her little hoof out in the direction in front of him.

“Good heavens, here we go again…somepony stop him please.” Melody wanted to facehoof herself for what seemed was going to occur.

“It’s fine dear, he won’t go very far. He ran track in his high school years, but I think-”

“Weeeee!” Octavia yelled out enjoying herself with the rush she was getting. Octavia and her pawpaw then took off actually surprisingly fast to the remainder of the family’s knowledge.

“Erm…oh my…” Octave’s eyes became as big as dinner plates in shock. The three of them stopped dead in their tracks to see Quaver run like he hadn’t ran in years.

“I still got it in me!” he yelled back to them, as he continued back to their house.

“Uh…shouldn’t we stop him?” Golden Strings advised the two of them.

“No I believe he’ll stop eventu-”

“My back! Never mind, we’re slowing down Octavia!” his voice was faintly heard yelling out into the air.

“ally…” Octave ending the word she didn’t finish.

Meanwhile, at where Octavia and Quaver were…

“Go fast pawpaw!”

“Pawpaw is not feeling well okay? So pawpaw will take a rest right now.” He spoke up a bit out of breath.

“Awww…okay.” Octavia then lied back down onto his back.

“Hope you feel better pawpaw.” Her tiny hooves then rubbed along his back, assuming where the pain might be.

“I don’t…*sigh*…okay go ahead.” He added.

“Daddy does this to mommy’s back, so I wanna twy it on you.” Octavia then began to rub along his back softly as Quaver continued slowly down the cobble-stoned streets.

“You’re doing such a good job Octavia, pawpaw is proud of you. You are making me feel so much better now.” He said to her in mild sarcasm, just so he would make her feel good about her massaging his back as best as she could for him.

“Thank you pawpaw!” she hugged his neck, then kissed the side of his face.

The family then arrived back home, and Quaver was ready to eat. But however, Melody did not seem to feel very normal now, as she had been feeling shaky ever since the play started. She began feeling a bit dizzy once she and her husband made it through the door.

“Melody, sweetie? Are you feeling okay?” her mother asked.

“I’m just feeling a, uh…bit dizzy is all. I just need to…um…sit down…yeah that’s it.” Melody appeared to look confused when she was talking, which didn’t appear good to Golden Strings. She was then seen putting on of her hoofs over her chest after that.

“How about I take you upstairs okay? Would you like to lie down up there?”

“Absolutely, feel free to use Quaver’s bed.” Said Octave.

“But that’s my fa-”

“What’s more important dear, our daughter’s well being, or your darned bed?”

“…you win.” Quaver looked off after his wife’s truthful remark.

“Thank you mother, I’ll just…yeah, okay.” Her husband then leads Melody upstairs gently. Octavia on the other hoof looks at them confused at to what was going on in front of her.

“Is mommy okay daddy?”

Golden Strings caught a bit off guard by the sudden question she asked, quickly looked back at Octave, implying she take over from here.

“Octavia? Would you like a cookie? They’re finished.” Octave greeted her granddaughter, as Octavia’s legs hastefully made their way into the kitchen from the aroma of the cookies still warm within the oven after they finished a little while back before they arrived home.

Little Octavia then take a bite of a cookie quickly, as her granny then gives her a glass of milk to go with it to hopefully get rid of the question Octavia still had about her mother.

“Gwanny?”

“Yes dumpling?”

“What was mommy doing?” Octavia asked, continuing to munch on the cookie in her grasp.

Octave had no idea how to say it other than how it should be said straightforward.

“Well uh…your mommy is not exactly feeling well, this is the worst I have seen her yet.”

Octavia then stopped completely after she took another gulp of milk.

“…what’s that mean?”

“It means well…she’s…she’s starting to get sick. Or well she has been sick ever since you were just itty bitty dear.” Octave then turned around, her face facing away from Octavia’s. She looked out the kitchen window, as her eyes started to water.

“I hope to Celestia she will be okay, I haven’t seen her this sick since she got that stomach bug when she was little…calm down Octave, your granddaughter is right here with you.”

“What are you saying gwanny?” Octavia’s voice spoke up once again after overhearing what her grandmother said.

“It’s nothing sweetie, how about you finish that cookie, and I’ll give you another one?”

“Yes pwease!”

“Good girl, good job for using your manners.” She brought up a faint smile across her face, as her mind went back on the thought of her daughter not feeling well.

Octave then makes her way back to the kitchen table with a plate of cookies that were still warm in front of Octavia. Octavia’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, her happiness was all that helped her stay away from the negative thoughts she had in her mind, as she watched her sweet little granddaughter eating away on the plate.

“Could you get up here dear?!”

It was her husband’s voice, and it didn’t sound good.

“I will be up there momentarily!” Octave, before just leaving her granddaughter told her to then stay where she was, and that she could help herself to all of the cookies on the plate…Octavia wasn’t going anywhere after she heard that.

She made her way into the bedroom, and noticed that Melody in a matter of minutes looked out of shape. She could see her face turning pale. Was this unknown and incurable disease truly the ultimate of unknown and unpredictable forces to be reckoned with as they all figured? Atleast it wasn’t transferable or contagious, otherwise her entire family obviously would have already received it.

“Mother I’m…I’m sorry…” Melody’s voice sounding like it was transitioning to another tone.

“No my child, you just lay right there and take it easy okay?”

“Yeah…ow!”

“What now?”

“My head…it’s-ow! It’s starting to hurt all of a sudden…again.”

“It’s just symptom after symptom, even I didn’t expect this?” Golden Strings added.

“Nopony in this family would’ve expected it…not even the doctors dear. The doctors don’t even know the time it takes for this…well… “thing” to take its victim. It is random I believe from what the doctor told me. It effect every single pony in a different way, no matter how fast or slow it may be.” Octave replied, looking back up to Golden Strings continuing to hold onto his wife’s hoof to help comfort her.

“M-mother…I’m c-cold.” Melody said with a bit of shakiness of her voice. The mare’s shakiness coming from both feeling cold, and out of fear.

“First was dizziness, then paleness, a headache, and now you’re shivering…my goodness…Celestia grant her the peace she needs, I beg of you.” Quaver gets down beside his beloved daughter and begins praying. He was scared for his daughter, but he wasn’t showing it to the others. His prayer however would be silently and rapidly granted…but not in the way they would wanted.”

“I will get her a cold rag and a thermometer, Golden Strings darling…you get a few extra blankets for her.” Octave spoke up in the momentary silence, as she got up and made her way into the upstairs bathroom just across the hall.

“Yes ma’am, on it.” he replied, making his way downstairs to a droar in the living room that contained what he was looking for fortunately.

Octavia then caught glimpse of her daddy in the living room quickly grabbing a few extra covers for some reason. This sparked her curiosity and as many her age would be. She got off of the chair, and began walking upstairs up to where they all were.

“Here you go Melody, some extra covers to help keep you warm.” Her husband spoke softly to her, as he put them over her shivering body.

“Do you have any idea at all why all of this is happening so fast?”

“N-no…t-the doctor s-said that he d-didn’t know exact-l-ly how I-it would happen w-within it’s-s final st-tage. I-I for a-all w-we know...I-I could q-quietl-ly d-die today.” She replied shaking in her voice, as tears began forming in her eyes. For some reason now, her gut was telling her she wouldn’t even be able to make it for her daughter’s fourth Christmas tomorrow. She felt tugs at herself…almost like somepony thought her time living, was up. The sickness seemed random and entirely unpredictable to the doctors. So one symptom wouldn’t happen to another victim, but yet they might die much faster with it, and so forth.

“Shh, just calm down okay? You’ll be just fine. You’re…you’re not going to alright?” Her husband ran his hoof across her soft face. She had that amazing complexion, that wonderful natural beauty. It was like he was looking at a sick and dying angel. But angels this pretty don’t die…or do they?

Octave then made her way back from the bathroom just across the hall with the stuff she needed.

“Okay, here is your rag dear, just put it over your forehead like that. I also need you to op-”

“M-mother, I know w-what to d-do.” Melody intervened, as she proceeds to open her mouth for the thermometer.

“Okay, just let the thermometer do its magic and I’ll go downstairs and check on-”

“Mommy?”

Everypony in the room then froze; figuring those cookies to distract her granddaughter would’ve bought her out.

“H-hey my little an-gel…w-want to be w-with mommy? S-she’s cold and s-she needs her little g-girl.”

Octavia still curious as to what was going on made her way over to her mother’s bedside.

“There you go squirt.” Said Quaver lifting Octavia onto the bed to be with her mom.

“Thank you pawpaw.”

“T-that’s my little Octy.” Melody spoke softly with a tranquil smile.

“Awe you okay mommy?”

“Let’s leave the two of them alone, okay?” said Octave, as she gestures for the two guys to follow her downstairs to get dinner underway. She closed the door behind them, as then nothing but golden silence filled the air, and pure love seemed to radiate out from Melody to her one and only daughter.

“T-thank you for helping m-me get warm…these c-covers are doing the trick.” Said Melody softly, as her voice began to steadily returned to normal from sounding shaky due to her warming up now.

“Awe you-”

“Shhh, yes I-I’m okay Octavia. I’ll always be okay w-when you’re with me, don’t you ever forget that.”

“But you wook sick…” Octavia’s face started to then look worried.

“No…I’m not sick, don’t you l-let them tell you that. I’m just not feeling well is all, I won’t have to worry about this for much l-longer anyways.” Melody continuing to talk in the same tone of her voice, but tears began to reform once again silently in her eyes.

“Mommy?”

“Yes sweetie?”

“Um…”

Octavia then got as close as she could possibly get to her mother’s body, without being too close of course.

“Do you want to snuggle with mommy?” her mother asked.

Octavia nodded, and got next to her mother as Melody brought some of the blankets over that little gray ball of fur that was her body.

“I wuv you mommy.” Octavia kissed her mother’s cheek.

“Oh I certainly love you too my little angel.”

“When you get better, what will happen?”

“Well…I…I won’t be hurting anymore atleast.” Melody sniffed from her tears, as her emotions were fighting to show to her daughter just how she really felt. She continued to try and hold them back, and be as calm as she possibly could so she wouldn’t get Octavia stirred up along with it, but she just couldn’t seem to contain it.

“What does that mean mommy?” Octavia asked curiously, as her head tilted a bit to the side. She laid her small head across her mother’s chest, awaiting another response. Her charcoal colored mane was seen covering up a portion of her face, shrouding one of her purple eyes as she stared right into her own mother’s transcendental eyes.

“I’ll tell you later, just…just not now okay?”

Over several hours had passed, and Octavia and Melody haven’t eaten since they have been together snuggling in the bed. Octavia was now just about to fall asleep next to her, as the sun was setting just now. Before those eyes sealed shut, she asked her mother some last questions.

“What’s an angel mommy?”

“An angel is somepony you know is with you. You can’t see them, but sometimes you just…know they are there with you.”

“Are you an angel mommy?”

This remark then brought Melody into tears once again for her daughter. She brought her in close to her, hugging her in her weak embrace.

“Yes Octavia…I…I am…an angel. I always will be an angel for you as long as you live and want me to be for you.”

“Can I be an angel wike you?”

“You certainly can one day…maybe when you’re old like granny or even older.”

“Mommy awe you cwying because you are hurting?” Octavia asked one last time.

“No angel…it means I won’t be hurting for…well…much longer. I don’t…” Melody stopped herself, and smiled back to her daughter with the kindest smile you would ever see on a mare. Her ability to stay strong, even when she knew her time was running much shorter and faster than she had expected. She now knew that the disease had silently consumed her body, and instinctively knowing…her time might be up now.

“Now I have one last question for you.” Melody softly poked Octavia cheek, her breath sounding softer…her breath even sounding like death was finally at hoof.

“What is it?”

“I think I need an angel to sleep with me tonight, are you that angel?” her silent crying subsiding to a calm but yet fading presence now, as her face began to appear that she had found a way to not hurt anymore.

“Famiwy stick together, that’s what daddy says.” Octavia grinned back to her.

“…and they stick together for all of eternity. I love you my dear…sweet Octavia…don’t you ever, ever forget that…okay?”

“I won’t mommy, don’t wowwy.”

However, Octavia’s instincts seemed to kick in, and that something didn’t seem right to herself now. She noticed how her mother was now staring up at the ceiling.

“Mommy?”

“I’ll…see…you…later…o…o…kay?” Melody’s voice then began to fade, as Octavia noticed her mother take in one big breath and exhaled.

“My…an…gel…” her exhale then ended.

Octavia then started to feel like she was hurting now.

“Mommy? Awe you hurting again now?”

There was no response, and all could be seen was her mother looking so content with nothing but a small and weak smile on her face. Her eyes in addition closed with the softest lashes a pony could ask for.

“Mommy?!” Octavia then got up a little from her mother’s chest and started to shake her a bit.

“Mommy?…Mommy?!” Octavia’s face started to then flood with tears.

“MOMMY! MOMMYYY!!!” she kept on shaking her as she kept crying, still no response.

“WAKE UP MOMMY! PWEASE?! I USING MY MANNERS WIKE DADDY SAYS!” Octavia then screamed out to her mother in a crying tone like nothing before, which caught the attention of the other three downstairs.

“Octavia?!” her father’s voice could be heard, as he galloped up the stairs.

“Octavia what’s…” he then collapsed to the floor to the sight of his daughter looking back at him with tears flooding and flowing down her face like two little rivers.

“the…matter…” he ended off. Speechless and truly shocked and lost for words as he was, he could do nothing but keep looking at his poor daughter torn in half by what was happening to her at such a young age.

“Golden Strings, is she oka-…oh my…”

“MOMMY’S NOT WAKING UP GWANNY! HEWP ME WAKE MOMMY!”

Octave was caught speechless, as then Quaver came up to the tragic site.

“She’s not hurting anymore Octavia, you need to let her sleep okay?” her father cried awfully hard to her, taking in gasps of air every now and then.

“BUT SHE’S WANTED TO SNUGGLE, DADDY!” Octavia continued to stay in her place right next to her mother like she never wanted to leave her side.

“I STAY WITH HER FOWEVER! SHE SAY I’M HER ANGEL!”

“Octa-…” Golden Strings then stopped himself making his way over to Melody’s bedside. His wife’s sweet face, that face so full of life, now gone and given to the ages.

“M-m-my…Melody…my sweet…Melody. Please, surely this is a joke?!” he collapsed back onto the carpet floor next to her bedside. Gripping onto her hoof that felt cold now, and used to be such a warm feeling of love. He continued laying kisses along her hoof and her lower arm, praying in his mind as hard as he could for her to come back to him.

“P-please…d-d-don’t…” he notices Quaver standing right next to him trying his best to be strong. But the tears now forming even in his eyes could be seen plain as day.

“She’s gone! My gorgeous Melody is gone!” he cried loudly into Quavers shoulder.

“I know, I know…she is not hurting anymore though, be thankful of that. Just because she is gone doesn’t mean she is gone forever. You could consider it rather for a “see you later” promise she has made to you.”

“But she just-”

“There-there Golden Strings, cry it out, cry it out with everything you got, you need to do this.” Quaver patted him on the back, treating him like the son he never had.

“My prayer had been heard…I knew she would not be hurting for much longer.” Quaver thought to himself in his mind.

Octave crying hard herself noticed, that her very own husband was not crying nowhere near as bad as the rest of them were.

“How on earth are you not-”

“Because I already know I will see my daughter soon, I am willing to wait as long as it takes for that priceless reward. Once that day comes for me to depart from this land, it will be the happiest feeling you could ask for. Just imagine, meeting your loved ones again, and even in a place infinitely better than this place is down here? It is a feeling I cannot wait to experience.” He replied.

“I…I under…stand dear.” Octave almost lost for words, but she knew what he meant by those few memorable sentences.

With Golden Strings hearing this, he then broke his father-in-laws caring embrace, and snatched up Octavia in as much of a loving hug as he could possibly give her.

“MOMMYYYYYY!!!!!”

“Shhh-sh-sh-sh…I know Octavia I know. She didn’t die though, okay?”

Octavia kept crying pretty hard, her voice muffled in her father’s chest.

“BUT SHE’S-”

“Shhh…no she’s not…did you hear what pawpaw said?”

Octavia then sniffles a few times, “No!”

“You’ll get to see her again one day dear…doesn’t that sound lovely?” with her father saying such a sudden thing to her at her age, she still sort of didn’t understand it.

“Mommy’s *sniff*…not gone? *sniff*”

“Pawpaw's going to get to see her again…and I am too. Mommy doesn’t want you to be sad my little angel, she wants you to keep being who you are. Keep being the same little Octavia you have always been. You know, I bet if you try hard enough, you can even fe-”

The bedroom window shooting open, as a sudden blast of wind that transcended into a steady breeze came into the room around them then stopped him.

“What in Equestria is…” Quaver then noticed something.

“It’s…warm? How in the name of Celestia is it warm? I…I feel…happy?” Octave added, as she looked around the room then back to the window. It was the strangest thing that has ever happened to that family, a warm breeze coming from outside that was very cold?

“It…it doesn’t feel like a normal breeze. It feels…kind…tranquil…I feel a feeling of… love.” Quaver’s eyes then got big; realizing something like this had a crazy explanation.

“Mommy?” Octavia looked around confused.

“Octavia…” she heard the voice call out to her.

“What are you talking about deary?” Octave stepped closer to her granddaughter, figuring her granddaughter seemed delusional.

“I love you so much.” The voice faded in and out to her saying.

“Mommy!” Octavia’s voice shouted out, a grin showed up on her face.

“W-what?” Golden Strings stood there, looking at Octavia like she had lost it. She was acting strange, like she was in some other world of her own or something.

“Octavia? Are you okay?” Golden Strings called out to her, but she ignored him like he wasn’t even there.

“Daddy asked you a question sweetie…” Quaver added in, but still no response back to either one of them.

“This breeze…was that window shut Octave?” he looked back to her.

“Yes, of course it was, it always is for winter, you know that.” she replied.

Meanwhile with them talking briefly back to one another, trying to still understand why a locked window keeping cold air out, shot into the room like a warm gust of wind from a summer storm, Octavia was apparently in some kind of trance just then, like she was in another world.

“Mommy! You’re better!” she jumped up and down to the sight of her mother seeming to be surrounded in a veil of light. She then ran to her mother and gave her a great big hug on one of her legs.

“Yes…mommy is much better…I will be with you everywhere you go.” Her mother hugged her back. The angelic presence then brought her face down next to hers, as she placed a truly heavenly kiss upon her cheek. It had felt so delightful to Octavia, and even felt flawless. Like nothing but pure love, happiness, and warmth rushed to her little heart from the kissed area of her cheek.

“What’s that mean?” she asked her angel of a mother.

“I love you Octavia…I can’t wait…to see you again one day.” Octavia was frozen in place; she had never seen her mother look so beautiful before. Bands and rays of light surrounded her; she was clothed in pure white, as it shined like the sun, and lined with gold along the edges of the thin white clothing around her like a toga.

“Can I come with you mommy?!” she shouted back to her as she saw her mother leaving out of sight from her. Melody’s apparent angelic presence did not respond, as Melody spoke her final fading words before she left.

“I love you…my little angel.” her mother’s voice then faded out. The area around Octavia then seemed to snap back to reality, as she kept hearing muffled noises around her.

“Octavia please answer daddy! Darn it Celestia, I can’t lose her too!” She could hear her father shout, as he kept lightly shaking her.

Octavia’s eyes seemed to just then, revert right back to normal. Her sudden breathes of air coming back to life in and out of her chest.

“Oh thank Celestia you’re okay!” her father hugged her tightly.

“Mommy said she’s better daddy!”

“Huh? What…what are you talking about?”

“I got to see mommy again! She say she will be with me evewywhere!” she smiled.

“My goodness…is…are you sure you’re just not dreaming dear?”

“I got to hug her too! She still wuvs me, but I can’t go with mommy.” Octavia then looked off.

“Wh-what? What are you saying?”

“Mommy’s an angel! Just wike she pwomised! Octavia then wiggled out of his embrace, and shortly ran over to her granny.

“Mommy says I am her wittle angel!” she spoke happily to her.

“By Celestia…her mother was here with us after all…” Quaver realizes what that sudden breeze was all about, and just exactly what it really was all along.

The remainder of the day was mourned, as Melody’s body was sent straight to the deceased area of the funeral home to be taken care of. Golden Strings and Octave went to the funeral home's office to deal with all of the proper preparations needed for the funeral. As for Quaver, he stayed back at the house with little Octavia, telling her the many stories of his life, even a similar experience with his own grandmother when he was about five.

“Pawpaw…will mommy visit?” she looked up at him, as they sat in front of the fireplace together.

“Mommy will not be visiting, no…but she’s with you right now…can’t you feel her in your heart?”

Octavia blinked a couple of times, not understanding the idea of removing one’s self from the equation obviously, along with metaphors.

“Mommy’s in here?” she places that that little gray hoof of hers over Pawpaw’s chest where his heart was.

“Of course…but don’t worry, she will be fine in there. She wants to be with you in your heart. She will even be standing right next to you if you just believe and have faith that she is.”

“How do I do that pawpaw?” she asked curiously again.

“Well…it goes a little like this...”

Meanwhile at the funeral home…

“Okay, the funeral arrangements have been made, and we will see you and your loved ones in a couple of days okay? You both have a pleasant day.”

“Thank you sir…we are certainly trying.”

“Absolutely Mr. Golden Strings…farewell for now.” The stallion then closes and locks the door to the building, as Golden Strings and his mother-in-law make their way back home in the cold.

“You have my word Mrs. Octave…she would be delighted if she could see this.” he said.

“She will be seeing it dear…she will be.” Octave gave a soft smile of sincerity back to him, as she looked back up to the sky. Knowing that her daughter was looking back down upon them. She had no more pain, no more crying, no more sickness, for the mortal things...have passed away.

Through the events of this story, we conclude that you should NEVER under any circumstances take life for granted. It is a gift, and not a given right, love everyone as you would yourself. Live every day like it would be your last, because you never know when your time on earth is up, nobody does…nobody ever will. It is always a comforting thought to think you will get to see your loved ones eventually, it’s a warming thought indeed. I will be honest here: I do not apply what I just told you in this story to myself, even though I certainly should be. It however has actually self-taught me some things about just how valuable your life and my life as well, really is. Let everyone you care about know this truth on life as well. I hope you enjoyed this story I have worked on here.

Author's Note

Honestly i was getting some real feels for Octavia and her passing mother when i was reaching the end of it.