Scene 5 – Segue of life.

Octavia held the small revolver in her hoof. Its wooden handle felt similar to that of her cello, but the shape and weight of it were completely foreign to her. Surely, it was not her first time seeing a gun, given that members of her family wore them openly around the house at times, but it was definitely her first time ever holding one.

“Okay, so are you ready to try firing a couple shots?” Jubileena asked Octavia.

Jubileena had set up a couple of practice “targets” inside the shed of the Colteone’s family home. They were empty cider jars to be exact, but the overall size and shape were close enough to that of a stallion’s head.

“I…I suppose so.” Octavia replied. “Although you must remember that I’ve never fired one of these things before Jubileena. How does it work again?”

Jubileena let out a sigh, before taking the gun from Octavia, to show her how it worked.

“Well first off, this isn’t the same as an ordinary gun. Your typical revolver has a lot more pieces to it, and in our case, they would be pieces that would make the gun easier to trace. This one however, I’ve made sure is completely untraceable, and it still fires like a regular revolver. Also, it’s smaller, so you can easily conceal it.”

Octavia nodded in agreement, although it still didn’t answer her question.

“Now how to fire this bad boy.” Jubileena continued. “All you have to do; is hold it like so, and squeeze the trigger.” Jubileena held the revolver and pointed it at one of the jars of cider, but she didn’t pull the trigger. She then gave the gun back to Octavia, and told her to try shooting one of the “targets.”

“So…like this?” Octavia spoke.

Octavia held the gun like Jubileena had showed her, and slowly began to put pressure on the trigger. In no time at all, the revolver fired, and Octavia dropped it after it went off.

“Whoa whoa! Easy there Octavia.” Jubileena spoke aloud, while catching the gun before it hit the ground.

Octavia had missed the “target” completely, but she was more surprised at how easy it had been to fire the gun. She had always been told that it took a good amount of pressure to fire a gun, but firing this one almost felt like second nature to her.

“Heh, I guess working with all those instruments has given you quite the grip there Octavia.” Jubileena told her.

Octavia looked at her hoof. She guessed she must have been right. From practicing, and playing all of her string instruments, she had developed a strong grip for holding them in place, as well as for applying the necessary pressure on the strings for different notes.

“So, ready to try giving it another ‘shot’?” Jubileena asked, giving a little chuckle at her pun.

“Um, sure, I suppose.” Octavia replied.

Octavia took another shot at the “targets,” this time grazing one.

Jubileena nodded her head in approval.

“Not bad Octavia. You’re getting closer.”

“Thanks.” Octavia responded.

Octavia lined up the sights of the gun for another shot, and this time she hit the “target” dead center, sending shards of glass flying.

Jubileena raised a hoof, to keep any shards from hitting her in the face.

“Well, if I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

“What do you mean?” Octavia asked.

“Well, it’s just…. To see a pony like you Octavia, firing a gun like that, it’s really unbelievable. Even though you’re daughter to Don Colteone, and a flesh and blood member of the family, none of us ever expected you to be doing something like this.”

Octavia turned her gaze down, looking at the revolver in her hoof.

“I suppose you’re right, but I can’t back down now.”

“You know, we’re all real proud of you Octavia.” Jubileena spoke. “Even for ponies like us, it still takes real guts to make a commitment like what you’re doing, and even more so, to actually go through with it, and kill another pony. While I know it might not be the noblest thing, especially for a pony like you, it’s still amazing to see a pony whose played music her entire life, go and do something like this.”

“Thank you Jubileena. I’ll be sure not to let the family down.” Octavia replied. She then lined up the sights of the gun once more, and took another shot.

/)(\ /)(\ /)(\ /)(\ /)(\

As nighttime began to fall in Ponyville,

Sunny, Jubileena, Keyzzio, Vinyl, and Octavia, all sat around a table in the living room, eating take out. Normally, Octavia wouldn’t have invited Vinyl over to eat like this, especially given the situation, but her family thought it would be a good idea for her to invite a close friend like Vinyl over, for support. And also, if the events of the meeting went like they were supposed to, it may be the last time in a long while, that Octavia would get to see her friend again.

Octavia regretted that she couldn’t see Apple Cinnamon one last time as well, but she knew it was best to keep him out of her family’s affairs as much as possible, for his own safety. Prim then walked into the room, an annoyed look on her face.

“We still don’t know where the meeting place is going to be. Not even any of Caballeron’s men know either.” Prim then sat down, and grabbed a box of take out for herself. “You know, I’m still not too sure about this whole thing Sunny. What if Caballeron decides to do a drive by, while Octavia’s standing outside the meeting point, or even when she gets to wherever the meeting’s going to be?”

“Listen Prim, we just need to…” Sunny began to speak, before the ringing of the phone cut her off. “Sigh…I’ll get it.” Sunny then got up, and went to answer the phone. She shortly came back, and announced what she had been told to everypony. “Lou’s restaurant, in the Broncos of Manehattan.”

“It’s an old fashioned place. Good food too.” Keyzzio spoke aloud. “They’ve even got old toilets in the bathroom, where the box sits above you, rather than connected to the seat. There’s probably enough space behind the box, where you could fit a gun too.”

“Then it’s settled.” Sunny told everypony. “Jubileena will go and place the gun behind the toilet tomorrow, and the following night, Keyzzio will drive Octavia to the meeting place, where she’ll be picked up by Caballeron and Night Watch, and taken to the restaurant. There, she’ll find an opportunity to go retrieve the gun, and kill them during the meeting. Keyzzio will then pick her up after she’s done, and drive Octavia to the airport.”

All the ponies then stood up from the table, as they began to go their separate ways for the preparations for the meeting. Sunny grabbed Octavia by the shoulder, wanting to make sure Octavia knew all the details of what she needed to do at the meeting.

“Remember Octavia, after you get the gun, put two shots apiece in their heads. Start to make your way out, making normal eye contact with anypony on your way out, and just casually drop the gun before you leave completely.”

Octavia nodded, but turned her head away, thinking to herself. She then turned her gaze back to her sister.

“When will I be able to come back?”

“At least one year Octavia.” Sunny replied. “I know it’s going to be tough, but we’ll need to wait at least that long, to make sure everything smooth’s over enough for you to come home. Mom and dad will miss you, and we’ll bring a message to Cinnamon when the time is right.”

“Okay.” Octavia responded. Second thoughts started to fill her head, but she quickly dismissed them, when she remembered what she was doing all this for.

/)(\ /)(\ /)(\ /)(\ /)(\

The night of the meeting,

Octavia waited outside of the shop that she was going to be picked up from. A light rain had begun to fall, as she tightened her grip on her coat to stay dry. Eventually, a carriage pulled up in front of her, and Octavia got in. As she entered, she sat next to Caballeron, and noticed that Night Watch was sitting behind them.

“Things really shouldn’t have happened like this.” Caballeron spoke. “But they will be straightened out tonight.”

“I apologize, but I’m going to have to search you now Octavia. Please turn around and spread your hooves out.” Night Watch told Octavia.

Octavia turned around to face Night Watch in the back seat, and did as she was told. Night Watch began to pat down Octavia, trying to see if she was carrying a gun or not. He even took the chance to cop a feel on Octavia’s flank when he got the chance.

“She’s clean.” Night Watch spoke.

Octavia then sat back down in her seat, as the three of them rode in the carriage for a while.

/)(\ /)(\ /)(\ /)(\ /)(\

Finally, the carriage arrived at Lou’s restaurant and the three ponies got out, before entering the building. Despite the name, the restaurant had a fairly regal setting, as there were nice decorations everywhere, and all the waiters were dressed nicely. There were actually not that many other ponies there beside themselves. Perhaps maybe eight or nine other ponies were sitting at tables already.

The three of them sat down at a table, before a waiter came by to take their orders.

“Is the food any good here?” Night Watch asked Caballeron.

“The hay brisket is the best in the city. It’s cut from the finest hay stacks from the hills outside the city.” Caballeron responded.

The ponies gave their orders, before the waiter walked off, and Caballeron began to speak with Octavia.

“Now listen Octavia, I’ll be straight with you. Your father was a fool to turn down an offer such as this. True, artificially grown apples may not be the most moral decision on the market right now, but they’re yielding the most profit, and in the shortest amount of time. A couple of the other families have already jumped on the opportunity, especially the Tarttaglia’s, of whom I associate with. Now, even though your father is still alive, and recovering, you wouldn’t want to jeopardize his health any further by turning down this deal, would you?”

Octavia thought to herself, before responding.

“I want a guarantee that no more attempts will be made on my father, if I agree.”

Caballeron eyed Octavia, before glancing over at Night Watch, whom gave him an agreeable shrug.

“I suppose we can work things out that way.” Caballeron told Octavia.

The waiter then brought the food to the table, and Night Watch immediately began to dig in. Feeling the tension begin to rise between herself and Caballeron, Octavia decided to take the opportunity, to go retrieve the gun.

“If you don’t mind, I need to go to the little filly’s room.” After getting an approving nod by both Caballeron and Night Watch, Octavia stood up from the table, to go to the bathroom. She had barely even taken a step away from the table, when Caballeron reached and grabbed her by her upper-thigh. The two exchanged glares at each other, before Caballeron let go, and Octavia continued on her way.

Once inside the bathroom, Octavia made her way to the stall where she had been told the gun had been placed. She began to search for it, but quickly found that she couldn’t find it. A wave a fear began to sweep over her, as she desperately kept feeling around for it. Eventually, Octavia was finally able to find it, and proceeded to tuck it under her collar behind her neck, covering it with her long hair.

Octavia walked out of the stall, and looked at herself in the mirror. It was time. All she had to do, was go sit back down, and then shoot the two of them dead as soon as she could. She gathered herself, and wiped the sweat from her brow, before walking out of the bathroom, and back over to the table. As she sat back down, Caballeron began to speak to her again, but his words fell on deaf ears as loud noise began to fill Octavia’s head once again.

It was like the crescendo of a symphony, building up and up inside her head. When it had just reached its peak, Octavia heard a loud train go by outside the restaurant. Octavia reached behind her head, making it look like she was about to flick away her hair, and pulled out the revolver in the process. She shot Caballeron square in the head, killing him instantly. Night Watch quickly began to reach down for his own gun, when Octavia turned and shot him in the throat. Night Watch grabbed at his throat, giving an angry glare at the mare, before Octavia shot him again, this time in the head.

Both of the stallions collapsed dead on the table, as the other ponies in the restaurant began to scream and flee. Octavia then stood up, grabbed her coat, and began to make her way out. She tossed the gun off to her side, before exiting the building. Once outside, Keyzzio arrived in a carriage, and Octavia entered, before the carriage pulled away.

/)(\ /)(\ /)(\ /)(\ /)(\

As time began to pass since the shooting, a montage of: newspaper headlines, members of the Colteone family, and orchestra music could be seen and heard.

*POLICE HUNT COP KILLER*

*CITY CRACKS DOWN PRESSURE ON ORGANIZED CRIME*

Keyzzio could be seen, swirling a glass of cider in Don Colteone’s office.

*POLICE CAPTAIN LINKED WITH DRUG RACKETS*

Jubileena was sprawled out on her bed, seeming hung-over. Vinyl Scratch was DJ’ing at her club, a frown on her face.

*MOBSTER SILVINZI QUESTIONED IN UNDERWORLD FEUD*

Sunny and the Colteone family all sit around the dining room table.

*MOB KILLING*

*THIRD MONTH OF GANG VIOLENCE*

*SYDICATE BIG SHOT VITO COLTEONE RETURNS HOME*

/)(\ /)(\ /)(\ /)(\ /)(\

A line of carriages were positioned outside a hospital in Baltimare. A large group of different ponies exited the hospital, and entered separate carriages. The carriages then all left the hospital and drove away.

The carriages eventually arrived at the Colteone’s family home, where Momma Colteone and Bonnie welcomed the ponies that exited the carriages. A couple of male nurse ponies brought Don Colteone inside on a stretcher. They took him up the stairs of the home, and placed him in a room on the second floor.

Eventually, several of the family’s fillies all came up to the Don’s room, and brought him “get well soon” cards, as well as giving him hugs. A young foal could be heard crying downstairs, as all but Sunny and a few other of the family’s ponies, left to go downstairs. Affero closed the door behind the last one to leave.

Prim was the first one to break the silence in the room, as she spoke to the Don.

“Ever since the police Captain’s death, police have been cracking down on all of our operations. There’s also been some bad blood with the other families as well during these times. However, thanks to the papers, Captain Night Watch was linked with Caballeron, and the police force in Ponyville has been preoccupied with that most of the time, allowing our business to still run somewhat smoothly.”

The Don nodded his head as best as he could, although not saying anything.

Sunny then grabbed Affero, and pulled him over to speak with her.

“Affero, for the time being, we’re going to be sending you over to Las Pegasus. We want you to take some time to learn the casino business, in case we need a fallback for everything here.”

Affero reluctantly nodded his head.

“Where…where’s Octavia?” The Don asked, weakly.

“Octavia…killed Caballeron.” Prim replied.

Don Colteone remained quiet for a minute, before gesturing everypony out of the room.

Once outside the room, Sunny began to speak with Prim.

“I want one of the rival family members brought to me. Now that we have dad back, we need to re-instill our dominance over the other families.” Sunny spoke.

“Think this through Sunny. We just got dad back, do you really think killing off a random rival family member is going to help our relations with the other families?” Prim reasoned.

The two started to argue back and forth with each other, until Sunny eventually reconsidered, and apologized. The two of them then headed downstairs, to join the rest of the family for food.

Downstairs in the dining room, the remainder of the family all sat around the table and began to eat. Bonnie started to say something aloud, but was quickly told by her husband Lucko to shut up. Sunny began to say something in retaliation, but was stopped short by her mother, telling her not to interfere with her sister’s new life. Meanwhile, Affero returned upstairs to the Don’s room, and sat by his bed. The Don’s heavy breathing could be heard, as he tried to sleep.

Author's Note

Scene 5 is finally here! I apologize for the long wait, but I've had some serious health issues that I've been dealing with. Things are starting to clear up now though, so I should be able to get back on my regular schedule (KNOCK ON WOOD). Anyway, thanks for reading, and look forward to the remainder of "The Concerto of a Don"!

Terms used, in order of use:
Broncos= Bronx
hay brisket= hay shaped like a regular brisket (again, not actual meat)

Ponies referenced, in order of appearance:
Octavia= Octavia Melody
Jubileena= Jubileena
Sunny= Sunny Smiles
Keyzzio= S04E08 Unnamed Earth Stallion #10
Vinyl= DJ Pon-3 aka Vinyl Scratch
Prim Raining= S04E10 Unnamed Pegasus Mare #3
Caballeron= Dr. Caballeron
Night Watch= Night Watch
Momma Colteone= S04E08 Unnamed Earth Mare #4
Bonnie= Bonnie
Don Colteone= S04E08 Unnamed Earth Stallion #6
Affero= Affero
Lucko= S04E08 Unnamed Earth Stallion #1