Broken Tune

by Sugarcube66

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Sad
Length: 3032

When Vinyl and Octavia find a filly wandering around Cantorlot, what can they do?

Familiar Tune is a small unicorn filly, who has amnesia for everything, other then her name and love of music. She only remembers waking up on a train line, as a train was coming. She was lucky however but her ability to remember nearly all of her past memories was lost. She is found by Vinyl and Octavia, what will happen to little Familiar Tune now?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-09-02 13:13:06 UTC

Wandering

Steam arose from the train as it drew into Cantorlot Station, creating a lot of noise as it creaked across the track. The noise was loud enough to wake a small filly, who was sleeping on the track. The filly looked up at the incoming train, with curious eyes though she knew that her life would be in danger if she stayed.

She scrambled onto her weak hooves and leaped for the platform. She managed to make it, just in time as the train covered her former resting spot. The filly stared at it with curiosity, like she had never seen a train before in her life. The filly tried to remind herself what the train was, but nothing came to her small mind.

'Huh...' thought the filly, looking away from the train. She decided it was best to leave before anypony spotted her. 'Why don't I know what that moving object was. Stupid Familiar Tune, that's why you don't sleep in random, dangerous, stupid locations like that. Wait...is my name 'Familiar Tune'? It's cute, that's for certain....but I'll call myself Fami.'

Fami looked down at the tracks, for the last time before leaving the railway station. She walked slowly through the snow that rested on the ground. It was winter in Equestria, not that Fami could remember what snow and winter was in the first place. The small filly looked around the snowy covered city, it was all fascinating to the small filly.

At least until she walked straight into a frost covered window. The filly rubbed her head in shock, tears formulating in her small eyes as she looked at what she had hit. She didn't see the glass, instead she saw a filly about her height with a glistening white coat that had a small hint of purple to it. The filly even process a golden horn, making her a unicorn, and golden back hooves. The golden was even placed on the filly's cheek and chest, the chest in the form of a cross. The opposite filly's mane and tail were styled the same as Fami's, scurry and mucky from sleeping on the rail tracks, and they were a bright color of magenta.

The shock to Fami was the other filly's eyes. They weren't like the eyes that she had seen wandering the railway. No, these had not one color but two filling the irises. One eye, the other foal's left one was a bright green that looked like a beautiful, serene meadow and the other was a golden yellowy color that was seen on most of the early autumn leaves. Fami was able to recognize these despite not remembering what either of which were in her memories. The filly's ears were also a little surprise to Fami, as the tip of them were pretty much rip off, the same with the golden horn. Neither of which weep blood however.

Fami continued to look at the filly in front of her, watched it do the same actions as herself. She eventually decided to reach out to this strange mystery filly and brought her hoof out to touch the foal, the other did the exact same. But when the hooves touched, Fami didn't feel the warmth of another's hoof but instead the coldness of the glass that reflected the filly. Fami was pretty smart, despite her memory lost and was able to recognize who this filly was, it was herself.

Fami looked down, she had hoped that she had met a filly like her but instead she had only met herself. It was pretty sad to the poor, small amnesiac filly. She continued to look down at the white snow that rested around her white and golden hooves. The wind whistled past Fami and caught the filly's ears, it had brought along a beautiful sounding song. Fami remembered something else, her love for music, especially the beautiful harmony of the stringed instrument.

The tune was also haunting her ears and mind, trying to unlock the forgotten memories. Fami continued to listen to the beautiful tune, and followed it to it's source. The small trip didn't take too long and she was soon outside a gate. The gate was ten times her size, easily and it's spooked her. She mumbled out a few, strained words as she had to remember how to speak. ''...Veeerryy....biiiiggg...''

The size wasn't the problem to Fami however, it was how to get to the tune's source. She looked along the gate, and saw a big enough hole for a small filly like her to sneak through. It was quite a squeeze but she made it to the other side. On this side of the gate, there was little to no snow, the other snow that was around was piled up along the wall. But that didn't matter to Fami, she wanted to find the source at that beautiful tune.

She ran forward, along a dirt path that lead to a massive house. Considering it was late at night, most of the curtains were closed. She looked around, trying to pinpoint with her small ears where the mystery sound was emitting from. She jumped when she saw a window, with it's curtains still open and the light on.

She peered inside, keeping hidden from any ponies had happened to be walking around. She looked curiously at the objects placed around the room, it was like her mind was trying to recognize these objects, like she knew what they were but she just couldn't pinpoint on what they were. Fami jumped as the door that rested to the left side of the wall opposite her. The door opened to reveal two mares, one of which were holding a small baby.

Her ears perked up, to listen to the conversation without being seen. She continued to peer into the room, mainly at the ponies that had walked in. One of the ponies, the unicorn mare was the first to speak. ''Octavia, I'm telling you! I can take care of Rhythm without you watching me like a hawk!''

Octavia, the earth pony of the pair looked back at the unicorn. ''Vinyl, I don't trust you. Remember the last time, I trusted you anywhere near our daughter without my eyes watching.''

Vinyl looked down, remember the time she had almost burnt Rhythm because of her stupid antics. She glanced down at the small pegasus foal in her hooves before looking back at her wife. ''Well, give me one more chance. If I screw up again, you can take full control of Rhythm's life and then see how it turns out. I bet she would have a happier life having me as her parent, then you and your stubborn attitude.''

Octavia sighed, walked over to the window and rested her head on her hooves, which now rested on the windowsill. She peered out into the dark and cold, muttering. ''It's actually not that I don't trust you, it's more that I wary. You messed up many times, even before Rhythm was born. You indirectly cost our first child's life, and now it's seem like your trying to kill our second one.''

''Octi, that was 7 years ago....you still haven't got over the fact that I by accident fed our son the wrong kind of food....the shop said it was perfectly fine...'' mumbled Vinyl, looking at the window and not at her wife. She then thought she saw a glance of a pinkish-white color. She strained her ears and small a white horn peering above the windowsill. ''Octi, you probably should look down...I think somepony's out there.''

''Vinyl, what in Equestria are you on about? There is nopony out th-'' she glanced down and saw Fami, much to both of theirs shock. ''Oh...I guess your right, Vinyl.''

Fami gasped and tried to stumbled away, only to find that her legs were stuck in the little snow that rested under the window. She whimpered a little, staring wide-eyed at the mares that were staring at her. She continued to whimper, getting out a couple of small words. ''I...I'm Sssoo sorrrry....''

Vinyl and Octavia glanced at each other, upon hearing the filly's strained speaking. Vinyl choose the speak first. ''Um...little one, may we ask your name?''

''....Fa...Familiar....T-tune....''

''Why are you here?'' asked Octavia, in a harsh tone upon placing Rhythm to bed.

''...I heawd a sownd...a beauwiful song...'' mumbled Fami, upon figuring out how to speak without strains only to have some babyish talk in the mix.

Octavia was taken back upon hearing the babyish tone in Fami's voice. She decided that she might as well proceed with less harshness. ''You say that you heard a song, what did it sound like?''

''...Like a stwings...but I can't expwain it more...twen twat.....''

''....My cello...'' mumbled Octavia. ''So Familiar Tune, where are you parents?''

''...I...don't know...''

''Your lost?'' asked Vinyl, choosing to join back into the conversation.

''...No...more like I can't rewember my pawents...'' mumbled Fami, looking down sadly.

Vinyl's eyes grew wide, she knew what the filly was referring too. Amnesia, her youngest sister had it at one point. She glanced at Octavia, who caught the look in the unicorn's eyes, the earth pony nodded gently. Vinyl nodded back before speaking ''Little one, what do you remember for certain?''

''...Well..um....I remewber my nawe.....and I guess I rewall my love for muwic.....but that's it....''

''I see, want to come inside? It's cold out there.'' said the unicorn mare, preparing her magic to pull the filly indoors.

''...O-otay....'' mumbled Fami, bracing herself for the magic. The magenta magic wrapped around her pale pinkish white body and took her in it's warm embrace. It lifted her up and through the window and then rested her on the warm, fuzzy flooring. She looked down at the carpet with some surprise. Was this how things were going to turn out? How long was she going to stay there? And what about her missing memories? Would they ever return?

Foal again.

Octavia looked down at the small foal, with concerned eyes. She walked up to her, and gently sat down so her eye vision was on the same height of the filly, who was glancing around curiously and nervously. ''Familiar Tune, do you want to take a bath? There is some snow on you. I can run you a bath to warm you up.''

''...W-whaw's a bawh?''

''You don't even know what a bath is?'' asked Vinyl, walking over. ''Well, a bath is a small collection of water in a tub.....it can be either warm and cold, but considering it's winter, you'll need a warm one.''

''Otay...'' mumbled the filly.

Octavia smiled, and walked out of the room. ''Come along.'' Fami nodded and followed Octavia. ''Vinyl, make sure that Rhythm falls to sleep. I'll trust you this time because we need to care of Familiar Tune.''

Vinyl sighed and nodded. Octavia grimaced, as she left the nursery. Fami looked at her curiously and asked. ''Um...w-whw dow't woo truwt twat uniworn?''

Octavia sighed, looking down. ''It's not that I don't trust her, she's my wife after all. It's just...a few years ago, long before the birth of our little Rhythm, we had a son by the name of the Beat Drums. He was only a few months old when Vinyl decided to give him the wrong food, under the idea that it was perfectly safe. He became very sick and then later on died thanks to it. Because of that, I became terrified to have another foal, in case of a similar thing happening. But Vinyl convinced me to keep little Rhythm.''

Fami looked at her, sadly. ''Fawi unwerstand...''

''...Wait... 'Fami'?''

''....Um...Yea....Fawi......niwkname?'' mumbled the little filly, unable to remember some words. 'It's nickname....right, Fami?'

''I see. I might as well introduce myself, my name is Octavia Melody. The unicorn, who's putting Rhythm away, is called Vinyl Scratch, or her DJ name is DJ-pon3.''

''DJ?''

''Yeah, Disk ponies. They usually are seen at discos or pop-bands. They are a great help when it comes to the need to do dubstep music, which is Vinyl's favorite.''

Fami gently nodded, as they reached a door that hand a name tag on it, saying 'bathroom' and underneath that was another sign saying 'No pony inside, you can go in'. Octavia looked at the sigh and tilted it over to say 'Do not enter, busy pony inside'. Fami watched, curiously as she was unable to read what the name tags said.

''..Um...Octawi?'' mumbled the filly.

Octavia looked at the filly, figuring that her name might be hard for the small filly. ''Fami, if my name is too hard for you to say. Call me what you find easier.''

''...M-mommy?''

Octavia blinked for a moment, trying to comprehend what the filly just called her. It took her a minute or two to figure it out. ''Okay, I guess that works. I'm mommy.''

''Twen....Viwy...is daddy.''

Octavia smiled a little, as she lead to the filly into the bathroom. ''Okay, sweetie. I need you to climb into the tub. You see that white and clear thing over there, I need you to climb into it.''

Fami nodded, mumbling. ''Otay, mommy.'' She stumbled over to the bathtub, staring at her reflection that appeared in the brightly polished side. She then stumbled to grip hold of the side of the tub, she then glanced at her horn. 'If I can repeat what daddy used, then I can get in without mommy's help'

She attempted to get her horn to glow, but the chipped off bit made the spell fail. She sighed, figuring that it might as well not work. The chip off bit had disabled her magic, and she somehow knew it. She jumped up and managed to pull herself into the tub. Octavia, who had been getting a sponge and cloth out of the cupboard, saw the filly managed to make it into the tub after failing to use her magic. 'Her magic didn't work, that normally doesn't happen to unicorns....could it be that chipped bit...disabling her magic? I will need to get her to the doctors soon if that's true.'

''Fami, can you stay still as the water collects in the tub.'' said Octavia, as she trotted over and turned the tap on, after placing the plug in the tub.

''Otay, mommy.''

The water slowly collected into the tub, as Octavia watched it. As soon as it covered the filly's flanks, she turned it off. She then slowly began washing the filly, who delighted in the warmth of the water. As Octavia washed the filly's mane, she noticed some specks of red in the amazing magenta. Blood. 'How is there blood in this filly's mane....I know she has scars on her cheek and chest...but it's still concerning.'''

''Fami, does you head hurt anywhere?'' She asked, gently.

''Weww....um....a biw of the tow of my heaw...huwts....juwt bewind my hown.''

Octavia nodded, as she helped the filly out of the tub as the water drained. She dried the small filly out and grabbed a brush off the crystal white sink. She brushed through the filly's mane, straightening it out and styling it so that it could fly in the wind. She smiled and decided it was time to tuck the small filly into bed. ''Do you want to sleep with me and daddy, Fami? Or in your own bed.''

''...Um...wiwh woo and daddy....if twats otay?''

''Of course it's alright. Come on, lets take you to bed. We'll be up soon so don't worry.'' Octavia smiled, leading the filly to her's and Vinyl's bedroom. She gently helped the filly into the bed, and tucked her in. ''Now go to sleep, we'll be up shortly so don't you worry. I just need to chat with your daddy about a few things.''

Octavia walked away to the door, as the filly settled down. She smiled, and flicked the light off. She then walked into the hallway and saw Vinyl just outside of the nursery. The unicorn walked over and asked, quietly. ''You put her to bed, didn't you?

''Yeah, but I need to talk to you downstairs, Vinyl. About what she decided to call us, and about her amnesia.''

Vinyl, at first looked confused, but nodded and walked downstairs with her wife. They sat in the living room, Octavia held her head in her hoof and sighed. She glanced at Vinyl, who looked at her worriedly and said. ''Octi, what did she call us? You seem concerned about it.''

''She called me 'mommy', Vinyl. And you 'daddy'. That's what's concerning me. If she has parents out there, she can't keep calling us that. It wouldn't feel right.''

Vinyl nodded, and sighed. ''But at least for the time being, while we look for her parents. We should let her call us mommy and daddy, just to make her fell safe. She's a small filly, with no memories and limited speech, Octi. She needs support.''

''...I know...she's like a baby...her speech is that of a toddler and she can't remember anything. It's like she been regressed into a infant again.''

''Yeah, but we need to find her parents. We both have jobs that happen at random, so they'll be a problem. The babysitter only agreed to look after Rhythm, so we'll need to explain to him about Familiar Tune.''

''Oh...Vinyl, she told me that she has a nickname. Fami.''

''I see.'' said the unicorn, with a sigh. ''It's a problem but we need to find her parents as soon as possible. Their probably worried about her at this point in time. We'll begin our search in the morning, but for tonight, let's just go to bed and settle down. We can discover more later on, I would rather find out after a good night's sleep.''

Octavia nodded, agreeing with her wife. ''Alright.''

They walked up to bed, and curled up with the small filly, who snuggled into Octavia's side. Octavia looked at her, smiling a little but inside she knew that she couldn't let herself get too close to the little filly. She gently laid down, glancing at Vinyl, who had hugged Fami as she fell to sleep. Octavia sighed, and went to sleep as well.