Scene 9 – Da Capo anew

Apple Cinnamon stood outside the schoolhouse in Ponyville, as the little fillies and colts left school for the day. Over the past year, he had been volunteering at the school in order to help Miss Cheerilee with things like field trips, and other activities that she wasn’t able to handle herself. Today he had been a chaperone for a trip to the Crystal Empire, and was specifically in charge of keeping the CMC from pulling too many hijinks.

As the last filly left the schoolhouse, Apple Cinnamon started to make his way home. He managed to walk as far as the end of the fence line outside the school, when he saw somepony that made him think he’d seen a ghost. There, standing at the edge of the fence line, was Octavia.

“Oct…Octavia. Is it really you?” Cinnamon asked, as he approached her.

“Hello Cinnamon. It’s been a while.” Octavia replied.

“How…how long have you been back in Ponyville?” Cinnamon asked again.

“About a year, maybe longer. It’s good to see you again.” Octavia told Cinnamon.

Apple Cinnamon still had a hard time believing that Octavia was actually back, but here she was, right in front of him.

“Would you join me for a walk?” Octavia asked.

Apple Cinnamon nodded his head, and the two ponies started walking along the road. They walked in silence for a short while, until the sound of Scootaloo on her scooter came up from behind them.

“Hiya Mr. Cinnamon! Have a nice day!” Scootaloo called out as she rode past the two of them.

Apple Cinnamon waved at Scootaloo as she passed, but remained silent. The two continued walking, before it was Octavia that broke the silence once more.

“I’ve been working for my father for some time now. He’s been sick, and my family’s been needing all the help they can get.”

“But you’re not like him. You said that you would never work in your father’s business.” Cinnamon responded.

Octavia gave a little chuckle, before responding to Cinnamon.

“Please Cinnamon. My father is no different from any other powerful pony in Equestria.”

“You’re being naive. Other powerful ponies don’t have other ponies killed.” Cinnamon replied.

“Who’s being naive?” Octavia retorted back. “My father’s way of doing things is old and finished, and he knows it. Why, in five years, the Colteone family will be completely legitimate, just you watch. But I can’t say any more than that.”

Apple Cinnamon watched Octavia for a minute while they walked. She hadn’t made much eye contact with him since they started walking, and even when she did, he couldn’t see the same glimmer in her eyes like he used to. The sweet, proper mare that he had once known, seemed more distant and bitter. The long time they were separated had obviously changed her, but he wasn’t sure how much.

“Why did you come here Octavia?” Cinnamon asked.

Octavia stopped walking, causing Cinnamon to stop as well. Octavia looked away, gathering her thoughts, before she turned and answered Cinnamon.

“I need you Cinnamon. I do still care deeply for you.”

While they should’ve been words that would fill his heart with overwhelming joy, the time apart and new disposition of Octavia made them seem hollow. Apple Cinnamon did still have feelings for Octavia, but it had been so long since he had seen her, and he wasn’t sure if she was still the same mare he fell in love with. A single tear leaked from his eye, and he turned his head to try and hide it.

“Please stop.” He told her.

Octavia reached out and took Cinnamon’s hoof in hers, holding it tightly. Cinnamon turned his gaze to her, just as she began to speak.

“Cinnamon, would you marry me?” Octavia asked.

More tears started to form in Cinnamon’s eyes, as he tried to shake off his conflicting feelings.

“It’s too late Octavia.” Cinnamon replied.

Octavia brought her other hoof up, holding Cinnamon’s with both her hooves now.

“Please.” Octavia spoke. She then turned her head a bit, and spoke a little softer. “I’ll do anything to make up for it. We’re important together.”

Cinnamon couldn’t find any words to respond with. Instead, he just gripped Octavia’s hooves back with his own, and continued to fight the emotions going through him. Octavia then let go with one of her hooves, and waved down a carriage that had been nonchalantly following them. Once the carriage pulled up, Octavia opened the door and gestured for Cinnamon to get in. Cinnamon took a hesitant step toward it, but soon got all the way inside. Octavia followed behind him, shutting the door.

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

A few days later in Don Colteone’s home office,

Don Colteone shook the little can of fish food that he had into the fish tank on the side of his office. In his growing age, he had decided to try to liven up his office a bit, by getting a fish tank, and filling it with different kinds of small fish. It was a tranquil peace that he tried to enjoy, while members and associates of his family argued behind him.

“Don Colteone, Keyzzio and I are asking if we may receive your blessing, to break off from the Colteone family, and form our own.” Jubileena asked the Don.

Don Colteone made his way away from the fish tank, and over to behind his desk, where Octavia was sitting in his chair.

“Octavia is now the head of the family, as you very well know Jubileena. And if she agrees to it, then you have my blessing as well.” The Don told Jubileena.

“After our move to Las Pegasus is complete, then you may break off from the family.” Octavia spoke.

“And how long will that take?” Jubileena asked.

“About six months.” Octavia responded.

“Well alright I guess. Although, after Don Colteone is gone, there’s a good chance that Keyzzio and I may fall under Silvinzi at some point.” Jubileena told Octavia.

“Well handle that when the time comes then. I can’t say much else about the move, but Lucko, you’ll be my right hoof in Las Pegasus.” Octavia spoke, addressing Lucko at the end. “Prim will also no longer be consigliore for the family, and will instead be our lawyer in Las Pegasus. It’s nothing against you Prim. Now, I believe that settles everything for this meeting.”

“Wait, why am I out Octavia?” Prim asked.

“You’re not a wartime consigliore Prim. Things may get rough over in Las Pegasus.” Octavia replied.

“I never thought that you were a bad consigliore Prim.” Don Colteone told Prim, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “Both Octavia and myself have complete confidence in you. Octavia must just have her reasons.”

“But I could still help! I could…” Prim spoke, but was cut short before she could finish.

“You’re out Prim.” Octavia told Prim.

Feeling betrayed and confused, Prim stood up from her seat, and made her way out of the office.

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

A few months later,

After arriving in Las Pegasus; Octavia, Lucko, and Prim took a taxi from the train station, and rode to a casino on the strip. Once they arrived, they were greeted by Affero, who was waiting for them by the entrance.

“Octavia! It’s great to see you again!” Affero spoke to Octavia, as she exited the taxi.

The four of them entered the casino, and Affero continued to talk to Octavia as they walked down the halls to where they were going to have their meeting.

“It’s nice to see that your face is all fixed up Octavia. I would’ve liked to have seen Night Watch’s face when you got even with him.”

Affero then opened up the doors to the meeting room, and the four of them were blasted by the wubs of the DJ playing. Once they managed to make their way into the room, Octavia could see that Vinyl was the DJ, and that there were several “service” mares and stallions around the room.

“Get rid of the other ponies, and tell Vinyl to turn the music down.” Octavia told Affero.

Affero tried to persuade Octavia at first, but was quickly shot down by an angry glare, and proceeded to make her demands met. After all the other ponies were gone, and Vinyl reluctantly turned down her music, Octavia approached Affero to speak to him again.

“So what happened to Emerald Green?” She asked.

“When I got here, he already had a business going, and I managed to get on board so I could start working things out for the family.” Affero answered.

“Give him a call and get him in here.” Octavia told Affero.

While Affero went to go get Emerald Green, Octavia made her way over to speak with Vinyl.

“Hey Octi! Long time no see! How ya been!?” Vinyl greeted Octavia.

“Vinyl, it’s been too long. Oh, and congratulations on your big success here in Las Pegasus.” Octavia replied.

“Thanks! I couldn’t have done it without Donnie’s help.” Vinyl responded.

“I’m actually glad that you’re here Vinyl, because I have something that I wanted to talk to you about.” Octavia asked.

“Lay it on me!” Vinyl answered.

“The Don would like to ask you a favor Vinyl. The family business will be moving from apples to the casinos here soon, and we’d like your support in our endeavors while we’re here.” Octavia told Vinyl.

“Was that what Emerald wanted? I’m not sure if he’ll be too on board for that.” Affero asked.

“He’ll be given an offer he can’t refuse.” Octavia answered Affero. “Anyway Vinyl, I want you to perform five times a year for us here, and for all your other DJ friends to do the same.” Octavia told Vinyl.

“Ahh, geez Octavia. I don’t think I’ll be able to do that. My schedule’s pretty tight like always, and I’m sure so is everypony else’s.” Vinyl replied.

“You will play Vinyl.” Octavia told Vinyl, giving her a stern and intimidating look.

“Uh…yeah sure…no problem.” Vinyl replied, taken aback by her normally casual friend.

At that time, the doors burst open once more, and Emerald Green entered the room.

“Hey everypony, glad to see you all here! Prim, how ya doing? Affero, glad you’re here. Octavia, good to see you.” Emerald spoke, shaking Octavia’s hoof last.

“How are you Emerald?” Octavia asked.

“Good. Everything to your liking?” Emerald asked. “The food’s expertly cooked, the mares and stallions will leave your head spinning, and it’s great.”

Octavia and Emerald then took a seat across from one-another at the table in the room to start their meeting.

“So is our credit good enough to buy you out Emerald?” Octavia asked.

“Ha! Buy me out? Listen to this mare, I love it.” Emerald responded.

“I’m serious. This casino, and any others under your name. The Colteone family would like to buy you out.” Octavia told Emerald.

“The Colteone family wants to buy me out huh? I don’t think so. I buy YOU out, you don’t buy ME out.” Emerald responded, sounding quite annoyed at the end.

“I’ve heard that this casino has been losing money in the past months. Perhaps we can do better.” Octavia replied.

“You think I’m just getting by here?” Emerald asked.

“You’re unlucky.” Octavia responded.

Emerald’s eye began to twitch, before he stood up from his seat, bursting in laughter.

“Ha ha ha! You Celestia damned fillies make me laugh! I do you a favor by taking Affero in when you’re having a bad time, and then you try to kick me out?” Emerald retorted back.

“Now wait just a minute. You took Affero in because the Colteone family funded your casino, because your family could ensure his safety. Now we’re talking business here, so let’s talk business.” Octavia told Emerald.

Emerald took his seat once more, eyeing Octavia.

“Yeah, sure, let’s talk business. First of all; you’re done! The Colteone family doesn’t even have that kind of pull anymore. The Ponyfather is sick right? You’re being chased out of Manehattan by Silvinzi and the other families. What do you think is going on? You think you can come here to my casino and tell me to get lost!?” Emerald told Octavia. “I’ve talked to Silvinzi. I could make a deal with him and still keep my casino. Can you do that?”

Octavia took a sip of her drink from the table, before speaking.

“Is that why you slap my brother around in public?” She asked.

“Oh no, that wasn’t anything Octavia. Emerald didn’t mean anything by that. He just flies off the handle sometimes, but we’re good friends. Right Emerald?” Affero jumped in.

“I have a business to run. I need to kick some flanks around sometimes to make it run right. We had a little argument, so I had to straighten him out.” Emerald told Octavia.

Octavia put her glass on the table, tracing her hoof along the edges, causing it to make a sound.

“You straightened my brother out?” Octavia asked.

Emerald looked back and forth between Affero and Octavia, dumbstruck.

“He was banging the waitresses two at a time! The players couldn’t even get a drink at their tables. What’s wrong with you?!” Emerald told Octavia.

Octavia took another sip of her drink, before getting up from the table.

“I leave for Manehattan tomorrow. Think about a price.” She told Emerald.

Emerald tossed his drink on the floor, before getting up himself.

“You little bitch. Do you have any clue who I am!? I’m Emerald Green! I made my money while you were sleeping with colts in school!” Emerald told Octavia.

“Now hold on Emerald, I’ve got an idea.” Affero told Emerald, trying to calm him down. “Prim, you’re the consigliore, you can talk to the Don and explain…” He started to say to Prim, before she cut him short.

“Just a minute. The Don is semi-retired, and Octavia is in charge now. So anything you need to say, you can say to her.” Prim told Affero.

Affero turned back to Emerald, unsure of what to do next, but Emerald just stormed out of the room.

“Octavia, you do not come to Las Pegasus and talk to a pony like Emerald Green like that!” Affero yelled at Octavia.

Unfazed by what Affero just said to her, Octavia took a seat on one of the couches against the wall of the room. She then took a cigarette from Lucko next to her, lit it, and took a drag of what would be her first cigarette in her new business. After she blew out the smoke, she looked Affero square in the eyes, not showing any emotion.

“Affero. You’re my older brother, and I love you. But don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever.”

Author's Note

Terms used, in order of use:
CMC= Cutie Mark Crusaders
Ponyfather= Godfather

Ponies referenced, in order of appearance:
Apple Cinnamon= Apple Cinnamon
Octavia= Octavia Melody
Don Colteone= S04E08 Unnamed Earth Stallion #6
Jubileena= Jubileena
Keyzzio= S04E08 Unnamed Earth Stallion #10
Lucko= S04E08 Unnamed Earth Stallion #1
Prim= S04E10 Unnamed Pegasus Mare #3
Affero= Affero
Vinyl= DJ Pon-3 aka. Vinyl Scratch
Emerald Green= Emerald Green