Guitar Lullabies

Melodia galloped home, mane and tail streaming behind her. What surprised her was that when the spell ended, she stayed the same. The larger wings would take some getting used to, and it was difficult not to trip over her even longer hair. Zap flew high above her head, and the rest of their friends trailed behind them. Harmony and Caramel were trotting at the same pace, both nearly bouncing as they moved; and Elegance was only one hoofstep behind them.

"I have to admit, Diva, that what did you back there was pretty cool!" Zap exclaimed, zipping down to hover next to her. "I've never seen a pony with Wonderbolt colours in their mane!"

Melodia rolled her eyes. "Of course you'd obsess over the whole 'Wonderbolt mane' thing, Zap. Are you sure you're not related to Rainbow Dash?"

"Hey! My dad is a Wonderbolt! I'm allowed to go a little crazy - it's in my blood!" she protested.

"Sure, Zap, sure. Whatever you say." Melodia replied, flapping her wings. "Race you everypony!"

Her friends' laughter spurred her on as they galloped behind her, all pretense of appearances left behind in the moment. Tucking her wings in, Melodia dove towards the castle, marveling in her newfound speed. Suddenly she could understand why Rainbow Dash and Zap loved flying so fast so much - it was amazing. Grinning, she barrel-rolled to the left as Zap flew after her, desperately trying to catch her.

"Diva! Slow down!" she called. "I can't keep up!"

She chuckled. "This is coming from the daughter of a Wonderbolt?! Geez, Zap! I'm not that fast!"

"Speak for yourself, Sparkle!" her friend retorted.

With the castle looming ever closer, the group slowed down to a trot, out of breath and grinning. Melodia landed gently on the steps of the castle, folding her wings at her sides. Zap, however, completely misjudged the landing and crashed into the doors - sending her tumbling through the entrance when they opened and into the hallway with a groan. Melodia sighed, facehoofing in dismay. Typical. She'd been going so fast that she hadn't seen where she'd been going.

Harmony swallowed. "Is she okay?" she asked hesitantly, peering at her friend.

"Of course she is - she's an Apple and the daughter of a Wonderbolt. Zap's going to be fine. She's tougher than that." Melodia replied, wrapping a wing around the hybrid.

Caramel giggled, bouncing up the steps and cartwheeling into the castle. "Come on! Mama Pie said her and her friends were having a meeting in the throne room. If we're lucky we can catch them as they're finishing!"

They all trotted further into the castle, hoofbeats echoing on the crystalline floors. For one who was supposed to be so at home in this place, Melodia reflected, she didn't feel very comfortable at all. Harmony seemed to notice Melodia's anxiety and gave her a comforting smile, which the pegasus shakily returned. She was worried how her mother would react - and she had every reason to be.

The doors to the throne room opened and the hum of voices followed it - six mares and one teenage dragon talking easily, freely and without a care. The Friendship Council. As the other four fillies trotted inside to greet their mothers, Melodia hung back at the entrance, ears flicking back and forth nervously.

Spike was the first to notice her standing there, and he waved cheerfully. "Hey Diva!" he called. "How are you?"

"G-good thanks, Spike," she stammered, ears flat against her skull.

Scuffing a hoof on the floor, she slowly edged further into the room, glancing around through a curtain of hair. Seeing her nerves the drake slithered off his chair, frowning as he padded over to her. Eyes narrowing, Spike placed a claw under her chin and tilted her head up.

"What's wrong? And how'd your mane end up like that?"

"Uh... I got my cutie mark - but don't tell Mum, Spike, please! It was magic - like, really powerful magic."

"Magic? Well, of course getting your cutie mark is going to be magical!" he exclaimed, wrapping her in a hug.

"What?! Somepony got their cutie mark?" Pinkie Pie squealed. "This calls for the partiest party of parties! A cute-ceañera!!"

Melodia squirmed. "No!" she snapped, stamping a hoof on the floor. "This does not call f-for a cute-ceañera!"

Spike was dumbfounded. "But-but Melodia, don't you want one? Getting a cutie mark is everypony's dream! It's your destiny!"

"Destiny? Destiny isn't any good when you don't understand it!" she shot back. Her wings snapped open with a blast of multi-coloured light, flinging the dragon backwards into a wall. The mares' jaws dropped and her mother's eyes widened in alarm. "To have magic but not be able to figure how? Or why? To know what these songs in my head mean, or where they come from?"

Applejack was the first to move, stepping down from her throne and embracing the filly as she started to shake. "Oh, sugarcube. Why didn't ya tell us?"

"I didn't know!" she sobbed. "I didn't know, AJ! I was singing, and then this happened!"  She waved a hoof at her mane and her wings, ruffling the feathers for emphasis.

"Ssh, Melodia, it's okay. It's alright."

Fluttershy's soft voice echoed in her ears as a hoof stroked her mane, and the filly cried all the more. She was so confused! They stayed like that for a while until she calmed down, sniffling occasionally. Wiping her eyes, Melodia smiled weakly at the two mares before she mumbled an apology. Her fears were wiped away with a sea of gentle smiles as she trotted forward to a bit of clear ground.

"I want to show you something," she began, shaking her head. "And I need you to pay attention. Can you, please?"

"Of course, darling!" Rarity exclaimed. "We will listen!"

"Thanks Rares, it means a lot to me." she muttered nervously.

"Nonsense, dear!"

"Okay, everypony. Here goes..."

Melodia closed her eyes and began to sing. Her voice was clear and confident, void of her previous nerves and the Elements couldn't believe their ears. Twilight most of all - she had tears in her eyes as she listened to her daughter, and couldn't help being reminded of her younger self. Melodia had definitely her parents' talents; that much was certain.

"Maybe you wanna be a pop star; get your fifteen minutes of fame, wa-ah! Ah, oh!

That won't last forever but friendship remains the same, ah-oh!

Things may come and things may go; some things go fast and some go slow.

Few things last, that's all I know!

But friendship carries on through the ages - but friendship carries on...

Things may come and things may go; some things go fast and some go slow.

Few things last, that's all I know!

But friendship carries on through the ages - but friendship carries on...

Ohhh-oh! Carries on..."

There was a flash of prismatic light half way through the song and the magic that flowed around the filly made all present gasp in disbelief - it swirled and eddied around her in gentle waves, seeming to follow the rhythm of the music. Zap let out a whoop, punching the air in delight, grinning as Melodia blushed, embarrassed by her friend's praise. When the light faded, Twilight jumped from her throne and tackled her daughter in a hug.

"I'm so, so proud of you!" she cried, nuzzling the filly. "You had the courage to do what I never could, Diva! And I know your father would be too!"

Melodia blinked in surprise, startled by the mention of her 'mysterious' father. "He would?"

Her mother nodded, brushing her fringe back with a hoof. "He would. You really are his daughter, you know. I never doubted it."

Laughing as her friends whisked her away, Melodia couldn't help puzzling in the back of her mind. It was great to know her dad would be proud of her, but now that she thought about it, her mother hadn't answered her original questions. So, in reality, she wasn't any closer figuring who she was. The answers plagued her just as much as they had before. Until a panicked voice called her mother's name, urgent hoofbeats growing closer to the throne room doors.  The Princess of Friendship froze as the doors flew open to reveal an amber unicorn with cyan eyes and a red and cream mane.

"Twilight!"

"Sunset?!" she whispered.

The unicorn raised her head, panting as her lungs desperately gobbled up air.  "I'm sorry, Twi. I've delayed him as much as I can, possibly by a few days, maybe a week or two, but it's nowhere near long enough. Flash is moving away from Canterlot City."