Scene 6 – A harmony of cultures

Octavia walked along the countryside, her two guards following right behind her. They had rifles strapped to their backs, but she knew that they could ready them in a second with their magic. It was a relatively nice day. The sun was out, the birds were chirping, and the Filcian landscape was a simply wonderful sight to behold. Despite the fact that she missed being home in Ponyville, Octavia didn’t find exile here that bad here.

The three ponies walked a little bit further down the road, until a carriage approached them from behind. Once the carriage came to a stop, Octavia went to go greet the Pegasus that was getting out of the carriage.

“Greetings Don Cappuccino. What brings you out here?”

The Pegasus Don finally managed to get out of the cramped carriage, before addressing Octavia.

“I should be asking you the same thing. Why are you so far from the house? You know that I am responsible to your father for your life.”

“Everything’s fine Don Cappuccino. I do have my guards with me after all. They’ll keep me safe.” Octavia replied.

“Well it’s still dangerous here as well. I’ve received reports from Sunny back in Manehattan that your enemies know where you are. You should really be more careful, instead of wandering around the countryside.” The Don retorted back.

“Well then, why don’t you let me go back home?” Octavia asked.

“No, out of the question! It’s still not safe for you to return home yet either.” The Don replied.

Feeling that her conversation with the Filcian Don wasn’t going to go any further, Octavia instead began to walk away from the carriage.

“Where are you going now?” Don Cappuccino asked.

Octavia stopped, and turned to face the Don.

“Colteone.”

“Would you like me to take you there in the carriage then?” Don Cappuccino asked.

“No, I’d like to walk.” Octavia replied, before turning around to start walking again.

“Be careful then!” The Don called out to Octavia.

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Octavia and her guards continued to walk the countryside. She had decided that she wanted to visit the village that her family’s name had come from, since she was in the original homeland of her family. They made their way up and down trails on the hills, even crossing over small peaks, allowing them to see small villages in the distance. Eventually, along their travels, Octavia could hear a church bell ringing from a town on top of a mountain nearby.

“That’s Colteone.” Choco, one of Octavia’s guards told her.

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The trio made their way up, and into the town. As they passed under one of the archways at the beginning of the town, Octavia couldn’t help but notice something that troubled her.

“Where are all the stallions?”

“Dead, because of the vendettas.” Choco told her. “Look, here is a list of all the names of the dead here.” Choco pointed to a sign on the wall as they walked.

Octavia could see that the list of names was quite long, indicating that a lot of ponies had died in this town. A little further down from the sign, Octavia saw a strange flag bearing symbols that were quite foreign to her. Granted being in Filcily was foreign enough already, but she could tell that they represented a place even further away from here.

The three ponies continued to make their way through the town towards the exit at the other side, passing by an old stallion painting a wall.

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Back on the road beyond the exit of the town, the trio made their way across a bridge. Not too far down the way, a small convoy of Equestrian guards began to pass by them in chariots. Octavia didn’t know what they were doing here, but she paid them no mind, trying to blend in with her guards as best she could. Arpeggio, Octavia’s other guard on the other hoof, tried waving the guards down. He acted like he was cheering for them as they passed, but Octavia could tell that it was just a ruse to make themselves seem friendly.

Some ways passed the bridge, the three of them made their way over a small stone wall on the side of the road. After passing over it, they were met by the sight of a bunch of mares and fillies walking along a path.

“Such beauty!” Arpeggio said aloud.

Hearing the sound of Arpeggio’s voice, one of the mares began to venture closer to them, until she met eyes with Octavia. The two stared at each other for a minute, but Octavia couldn’t put her hoof on what attracted her gaze.

“Looks like someone’s been struck by a thunderbolt!” Arpeggio teased Octavia.

Octavia tried to take a step towards the mare, but instead, the mare turned and trotted off back towards the group. Choco tapped on Octavia’s shoulder, trying to get her attention.

“The mares here are more dangerous than spears.” He told her.

Octavia turned back to the mare in the group, their eyes meeting one last time, before she and the group walked off. Something about the mare made Octavia feel funny inside. It was a feeling that she hadn’t felt since her time with Vinyl as a roommate. A strange, yet warm feeling.

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The trio continued their walking, until they eventually came across a small café at the edge of a village. They walked over to one of the tables outside, taking a seat, as the owner of the café came out to greet them.

“Greetings.” He began, until he noticed the guns that Choco and Arpeggio were carrying. “You shouldn’t bring guns into my café. Have you three been hunting?”

“No sir we haven’t.” Arpeggio answered the owner. “But we did meet a beautiful mare on our way here. She struck our friend here with a thunderbolt.” He continued, motioning to Octavia. “I believe that she could even tempt Discord himself.”

The owner then sat down with them, intrigued at the thought of the beautiful mare in question.

“The mares here are indeed beautiful, but they are very virtuous, so you best be careful.” He ended with a chuckle. He then proceeded to pass the three of them small glasses of cider, as the same stallion spoke to him again.

“She was quite the looker indeed. Slim figure, flowing hair, a real pretty.”

“Oh ho, you must have found a true beauty huh?” The owner replied, beginning to shape an hourglass figure with his hooves in the air. “All the mares are the same way here.”

“Well this mare though; she was green, with a cotton candy colored mane, and an apple and cherry blossom cutie mark. Do you know of any mare like that?” Arpeggio spoke to the owner.

The owner’s face suddenly began grimace, as he quickly stood up from the table, slapping a hoof on the counter.

“There is no such mare that exists in this town!” He exclaimed, before storming back inside his café.

“What’s going on? Why did he get upset?” Octavia asked her guards.

Arpeggio took a quick swig of his cider, emptying the glass, before answering Octavia.

“I think that was the owner’s daughter we met.” He then began to grab his things from the table, but Octavia stopped him short.

“Would you please bring the owner back to me?” She asked.

Arpeggio tried to argue back, but Octavia insisted that the owner be brought back out to her. Feeling left without a choice, Arpeggio retreated into the café and returned with the owner. When the owner emerged, he still had a glare on his face, as he looked at Octavia.

“I apologize if I offended you.” Octavia started with. “I am a stranger to this country, and I meant no disrespect to you, or your daughter.”

A curious look came over the owner’s face, as he wondered why the mare was speaking to him in such a manner.

“Who are you miss?” He asked Octavia.

“I’m an Equestrian hiding in Filcilly. My name is Octavia Melody of the Colteone family. There are plenty of ponies who would pay a lot of bits for that information, and your daughter would end up losing a father in the process. Instead of gaining a friend.” Octavia told the owner.

The owner was a little taken aback by what Octavia had just told him, and began to stutter out something, before Octavia cut him off.

“I would very much like to meet your daughter. With your permission, and under the supervision of your family. With all due respect.”

The owner straightened his collar, before responding to Octavia.

“Please, come to my home this Sunday morning then. My name is Pristine.”

“And what is the name of your daughter?” Octavia asked Pristine.

“Florina.” Pristine replied.

“Thank you.” Octavia told Pristine.

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Sunday morning,

Outside Don Cappuccino’s home, Choco and Arpeggio began to load small boxes of food into the carriage parked outside. After finishing loading the carriage, the two of them joined Octavia inside the carriage, and the three of them began to drive away in the carriage. Don Cappuccino waved from his home behind them, as they passed through the gates. Their journey took a much shorter time than before, and they soon arrived at the home of Pristine.

After Octavia had arrived, she spent the beginning of her time there, being introduced to Pristine’s family by him. She shook the hoof of everypony she was introduced to, smiling at each one of them. Eventually, Florina emerged from her room on a balcony above the gathering beneath her. Octavia looked up at her, and their eyes met once again, before Florina began to make her way downstairs to join them.

Florina took a seat next to her mother, and was then introduced to Octavia as well. Octavia shook her hoof, and presented her with a gift. Florina looked to her mother, who motioned that is was alright to open it. Inside, she found a pretty red bow.

“Thank you.” She said to Octavia, looking up at her from her seat.

“You’re welcome.” Octavia responded, smiling gently.

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The next day,

Octavia arrived with her guards at the same café, where she had met Pristine the first time. Pristine had set up a small row of picnic tables outside the café, and other members of his family were already seated, Florina included.

Octavia sat across from Pristine at one end of the table, listening to him talk. She eventually caught a glance from Florina at the opposite end of the table, and noticed that she was wearing the red bow in her hair, seeing her motion up to it. Octavia gave her a sincere smile, and was met with one of her own by Florina.

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Later that day,

Octavia walked with Florina along the road of the countryside. They shared pleasant conversation with each other, and seemed to enjoy each other’s company. It was strange how the feeling of being with Florina seemed to feel so right to Octavia. It felt like more than just friendship, and Octavia was starting realize that perhaps two mares could feel this way about one-another. A little ways behind them, members of Florina’s family followed, and behind them, Octavia’s guards.

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Meanwhile,

Lucko emerged from a hotel room in Manehattan, turning around to kiss the lips of the mistress that he was seeing. She was wearing nothing but a see-through nightgown, and Lucko took his time enjoying seeing it again, before he closed the door behind himself. He then put his hat back on his head, straightened his tie, and began to make his way downstairs towards the entrance.

Outside, he was met by members of the Colteone family, whom escorted him away in a carriage.

“Sigh, time to go see Bonnie.” He spoke aloud, as the carriage began to pull away from the hotel.

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At the same time,

Bonnie went to go answer the knocking that was at her door. When she opened it, she was greeted by her sister Sunny.

“Hey there sis, how have you…” Sunny started to say, until she noticed that Bonnie’s face appeared to have taken quite a beating. “Oh my Celestia Bonnie, what happened!?”

Bonnie started stuttering her words, before finally speaking clearly.

“It’s my fault Sunny, honest! Please don’t get mad!”

“Who…who did this Bonnie!? It was Lucko wasn’t it!? Why that no good piece of!” Sunny exclaimed.

“No Sunny please!” Bonnie tried to reason with her sister.

“When I get my hooves on him I’ll kill that little!” Sunny spoke again.

“I didn’t listen, that’s all! Please it’s my fault! Just stop! Please!” Bonnie pleaded with her sister.

“Grr! Fine! We should take you to a doctor then.” Sunny finally gave in.

“No, I can’t go to a doctor Sunny.” Bonnie replied.

“What!? Why not!? You’re pregnant Bonnie. What about the baby? This isn’t good for its health.” Sunny responded.

“I know, but I just can’t go Sunny. Please.” Bonnie told her sister.

Sunny paced back and forth in the doorway, angrily biting her lip, until she finally decided what she was going to do. She turned and stormed out the doorway, leaving Bonnie alone in the room once more. Bonnie placed a hoof on her stomach, feeling her baby foal’s gentle movement inside her.

Author's Note

Terms used, in order of use:
Filcian= Sicilian
Filcily= Sicily

Ponies referenced, in order of appearance:
Octavia= Octavia Melody
Don Cappuccino= Cappuccino
Choco= Chocolate Tail
Arpeggio= Arpeggio
Pristine= Pristine
Florina= Florina
Lucko= S04E08 Unnamed Earth Stallion #1
Bonnie= Bonnie
Sunny= Sunny Smiles