The Wind's Melodyby Green Plant IconChaptersPrologueChapter 1 - The Start of Something NewChapter 2 - Anything But a DreamChapter 3 - The Music InsidePrologue"Are you sure?" The mare asked. "This is the only place we can escape without being harmed." The draconaquus beside her stated emotionlessly. "It's so far from civilization, honey-" She began. "If we can't get food for ourselves out here we'll move closer to Equestria. I'm not going to risk you or our child back there, their magic is too strong!" He snapped, looking over at his uneasy wife. He softened "I'm sorry. I'm just worried that when our child is born because the kid don’t fit in, he or she will be sought after to be killed." He hung his head. "I know honey, but trust me when I say," the mare moved in front of him and raised his chin so he was looking into her eyes "while fear is something made in our minds, a fragment of our imagination. There is always going things that are to risk, and some things are too precious to do that." She stated, her hoof from his chin down to her stomach. "There is always going to be things we need to risk with this child. There will be ponies and draconequui after her, but for every one that hates her, there will be somebody who loves our child" "You're right Crystal, but you know we can't take those chances until the kid is older." He sighed, hating to put a damper on her wife's hope. "I know honey, that's why we're doing this now." White. There was white. Breathing. Loud, quick, breathes. Coming out in tempo. Her vision was blurred but the bright lights cut through the fog like a knife through butter. The light was blinding, the room filled with the sound of the panting mare and the yelling of doctors. The voices faded in and out, getting more distant each word. 'You're doing great….' 'Here comes another contraction' 'Ok….. Contraction…. Push…….. 2……. 3……." A bloodcurdling scream was heard. "I see it! I see it!" "…… push harder……" The screaming stopped, only for it to be replaced with a shrieking foal. The doctor could be heard over the screams of the newborn. "It's a girl." Melodia woke with a start. Her breathing was ragged, her white coat matted from sweat, and her head aching. The visions had become more frequent, but this was the earliest of her life she's seen before. She's never seen anything before her 12th birthday, what could this mean? Melodia got out of bed, went over to the vanity, and picked up her brush with her magic and ran it through her pastel hair. The sun shined through the old off-white curtains and caressed her body. Her dream was certainly something that you'd think would occupy the mare's mind, but no. She used her eyes to follow the brush, thinking of how strange it was, a pegasus mare using magic. No horn, no amulet or anything. What might give it away is her eyes, you could see the magic flowing through her eyes. Melodia was about to pull her brush through her hair one more time, but realized her hair was all brushed out. She cleaned the hair off her brush, putting it in the trash, and weaved her mane in a braid. "Mom!!" She yelled, running down the stairs. "Yes honey?" Said the white mare standing in the kitchen. "I had a vision last night again!" "Oh my, what was it about?" Her mother said, letter her mane, which was the same shade of lilac as Melodia's forelock, out of the bun she had it tied back in to keep it from getting tangled when she's asleep. Her hair cascaded beautifully down her shoulders. "Well, there were lost of bright lights, and……." Bang! Bang! Shots rang in the dark area, the sound ricochet on the sides of the wall. The draconniquus dropped dead on the cold ground. A stallion stood at the other end of the alley. Gun raised, pointed where the creature was once standing. An evil grin spread across his face as he lowered the gun. "You're dead." he muttered, a sinister tone in his voice. Melodia finished telling about her vision in the hospital. She realized it was a hospital as she went over it again, and her mom confirmed that, saying that a mare might've been giving birth. "Mom?" The young mare said, fidgeting with the end of her braid. "Yes dear?" "Well" She swallowed uncomfortably. "I have a theory." Her mother nodded, giving her a look that said Go On "I……. What…. Um," She wished she could just say it, but she new her mother didn't like talking about it. "Um….. So…. If like, I only see visions that are from when I was alive. Was that maybe me…?" She drew the 'e' in 'me' nervous to ask the question, for fear her mother would get angry. Her mother rarely got angry, but when she did it was terrifying. Melodia looked away, waiting for her mother to start yelling, cursing at her, and demanding that she go into her room without breakfast or lunch. Forcing Melodia to wait until dinner to eat. The mare expected the worst, but turned to her the elder pony in the room in confusion, when all she heard was a long, drown out, but not dramatic, sigh from her. "Melodia, I think it's time I told you about your father." She didn't want to be here. Sitting here, wishing that she didn't have to watch her mother's body get pale and cold. To not feel her hoof slip from in between the two of hers. Hear her as she drank in what she could of the air for the last time. When she took her last breath it was deep, taken in greedily, but she was too weak to make it sound like it was different then the rest, what made it different was the silence after. Melodia closed her eyes and tried to hold her tears back as the silence screamed at her. To the young mare, it sounded like they were screaming at her because she let her mother go, but she had no choice. She wasn't entirely sad her mother was gone, she's happy that her mother isn't suffering. What hurts is that she didn't appreciate her mother being there as much as she should've. Memories of all the things that her mother did for her, all the times she had with her, the good and the bad, she was there for everything. The revelations hit her at full force and she let out a strangled, tearless sob. Melodia opened her eyes only to see the lifeless body of her mother, which brought her to tears. She hated crying, she hated feeling so weak and helpless. She tried to stop, but it was hopeless. Her mother's words seemed to echo throughout the room, the words that she had spoken to her daughter as her life faded away. Don't cry over me Author's Note Bang! Bang! You're dead! Bang! Bang! You're dead! Ain't nothin' I can't do with a gun!!! (Probably no one got the joke.) Thank you so much for reading the first chapter of my first story! I have the whole thing planned out and I have most of the series for this planned out! Melodia Wines and Crystal Wines are my OC's and so is Melodia's father. Spoiler, his name is Malestrom and he is not a pony he is a draconaquus Special thanks to my closest friend for looking over my plot line and checking over a bit of my work. Constructive criticism is encouraged! Chapter 1 - The Start of Something New'Don't cry over me.' Those last words, her dying wish, bounced across the walls, and filled Melodia's head. She couldn't get up, she just couldn't. With a sigh Melodia adjusted herself for the umpteenth time in bed, but still wasn't comfortable Frustrated, she decided that it would do worse to keep laying there wallowing in her sadness and even though it would be hard to get up it still would be better. After getting up, taking a shower, and getting dressed, she trotted down the hall and started down the steps when a realization hit her. Her mother always got food for the two of them, and paid the bills. Melodia has no job, only the money that her mother left behind (which is surprisingly a lot for a mare to only work one day a week) and both of their belongings, which meant that Melodia would have to move into civilization. It hurt to think that she would have to move away from home. Her mother and father had built together just for the three of them to live together out here. Sure, nopony would want to be in the barren wastelands that are Equestria's borders but it's home to Melodia. She was raised far away from anyone but her mom and dad. How was she supposed to fit in? Did she even have time to study modern Equestria?! Did she even have a book on that?! Melodia suddenly got dizzy as the world faded into black. It was a beautiful sunny day in Ponyville. Fillies and colts laughing and playing. Couples walked together, basking in the rays of the golden sunlight. The grass and the trees were a healthy green and the flowers spread their petals white open and reached toward the sun, showing off their vibrant colors. Melodia walked along the path, taking turns without thinking as if she had been along the path thousands of times. It was beautiful. Plain and simple usually wasn't her thing, but the unfamiliar town felt familiar, it felt like home. Almost like she had grown up there her whole life instead of the old cottage that was falling apart but still seemed to stay together enough to house two mares. Suddenly she felt a hoof shake her shoulder. Melodia turned, but nopony was there. The space was empty but she could hear something or someone…. "Ma'am….. Ma'am……. Ma'am…… Ma'am……." "Um…. Excuse me?….. Ma'am… Ma'am….." A soft, feminine, voice called out. The mare tried to wake her up, but her attempts failed. Her voice was too quiet to wake the sleeping pony. Suddenly, the mare shot up, causing the one standing above her to jump away and squeak in fright. Now awake, the white mare rubbed her eyes and stood up. She groaned, muttering "What happened?" to herself. The pastel colored mare had a strong Melodious voice, like she was meant to be a singer with a wide range and strong voice. Her flank bared no cutie mark… every pony should have a cutiemark at her age though. Fluttershy was extremely confused. Not only did she have no cutie mark, but she came from Equestria's border, nopony lived there! The conditions were to extreme for a pony to survive! Especially when you're alone! Maybe that's why the mare passed out as soon as she got on the train. She probably couldn't handle it out there and got on the train to get medical attention. The pony probably needs somewhere to stay too! Fluttershy has to help the mare, she can't just go walk around town or be alone in the condition she's in! As the mare was starting to leave with her bags, Fluttershy called out to her. "Wait!" The mare went stiff. "Um…. I…." Fluttershy stammered. The mare turned slowly towards the buttercream pegasus. Fluttershy noticed more of her features. The different colors of her wings, forelock, the braid in her mane, her tail, her green apple sharp eyes that are only slightly darker than her friend, Applejack. Her eyes held fear and sadness that looked like she was born with that look engraved in her eyes. "Y-y-yes?" She answered. "Where are you going?" "P-pony-v-ville." "Do you… um…. Have… a…. Place to stay?" Fluttershy asked, the mare bringing her own nervousness back. Melodia was surprised at this question. Was this mare, who has never seen her before and she hasn't met before, asking her if she wanted to stay at her house?! No, it couldn't be! Besides, they don't even know the slightest about each other. Except maybe that her talent has something to do with animals. Melodia thought, noticing the three blue-bodied pink-winged butterflies that were in the shape of a triangle. "Um… excuse me?" The buttercream pegasus blushed, noticing Melodia's eyes were on her flank. God, she's cute when she blushes. Thought Melodia. "Oh…. Um… sorry…." Melodia said as what the mare said registered through her brain. "Um… do you need a place to stay?" "Actually, yeah….. Heh. Why?" Melodia asked, hoping to god the mare would ask her to stay with her. "Um… if you need a place to stay, you could maybe stay with me?" Fluttershy said, visibly shrinking along with her voice until her last few words were just a couple of squeaks. Melodia didn't need the mare to say it again she already knew what she said. "Sure!" She exclaimed, her wings extending halfway quickly and pushing her up a couple times causing her to flitter slightly in the air. "Um… ok. What's… um…. You're…. Um….. name?" Melodia settled down. "I'm Melodia!" "Oh wow! What a wonderful name!" Fluttershy exclaimed, Melodia's enthusiasm becoming contagious. "Mine's Fluttershy!" A perfect name for a perfect mare. Melodia sighed inwardly, staring at the excited face of Fluttershy. The two mares sat down and chatted until the rolling hills and clear blue sky was replaced with flatter land and houses with roofs covered in hay, the window sills on the bottom floors painted a light pink. The trim and window sills on the top floors a light brown, and the base was a light beige-tan color. The mares gathered their stuff, (Most of which was Melodia's, who blushed when Fluttershy pointed it out.) and they were out of the train by the time the conductor called "All aboard the Friendship Express!" for the ponies waiting on the platform for their trains. They soon got to Fluttershy's cottage, where they got settled and their sleeping arrangements worked out. Melodia was to take the spare bedroom until she had a stable job and enough money to get her own house. As soon as they were done getting everything unpacked and put in it's place, there was a knock on the front door. Fluttershy's friends had arrived to get together after the mare's long trip. With the fact that Melodia had never met ponies before, or has been away from home, this was sure to be an interesting night Author's Note I wasn't happy with the beginning of the chapter so I changed it a bit, and I guess it works out? I don't know. You need to tell me, I need advice!! Chapter 2 - Anything But a DreamPart 1 Fluttershy slowly sat up. She groggily opened her eyes. "Wha…?" The mare heard a soft groan from below her, and was suddenly conscious of the presence that was pressed up against her while she was a sleep. Melodia sat up, shaking and slow. "What…. Happened…?" She muttered. Melodia let out a loud squeal, when she looked over and saw Fluttershy next to her. She fell on the floor, but sat up immediately. They both looked at each other and blushed. Did I just… with Melodia…. I think I have an idea of what happened last night… (The day before…) At about 2 in the afternoon, Fluttershy's friends had met up at Sugar Cube Corner to get some cupcakes and head over to Fluttershy's cottage. They were excited to see their friend again, for the last time they saw her was before her trip. "Oh, I'm so excited!" Pinkie Pie screeched. "We all are Pinkie." Twilight Sparkle said with a smile. "I know, butI'msonervouscitedbecausemyPinkieSenseistellingmethatsomeonenewisintownandIhopewerunintothembecauseifwedoIgettothrowthemapartyandpartiesaresofantastic!!" Pinkie screamed with glee. "Okay?" Twilight said, not understanding a word of what the pink pony said, but afraid to ask what she meant in case she goes into another story, like how Equestria was made, or something totally Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash, understanding most of what Pinkie said explained what she meant to the confused purple mare. "She said something about being 'nervicited' because her pinkie sense is telling her that somepony new is coming to town." Rainbow Dash stated, impatient and bored. "Oh." "Yeah." "Not to be rude, but shouldn't we head to Fluttershy's house?" Rarity intervened. "Yeah, let's go ya'll." Applejack said, standing up and placing her leftovers - a glazed donut wrapped in a napkin, and a bottle of non-alcoholic cider - in her green saddlebags. The five ponies -Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - went out the front door. Pinkie was screaming with excitement, while AJ and Rainbow chatted about previous Cider Season which ended two weeks ago, and Rarity and Twilight were exchanging unicorn spells. "Fluttershy!" The ponies chorused, hugging her when they saw the mare. Fluttershy was surprised when she saw them but quickly recuperated. "Hi girls!" She chirped. "Fluttershy?" Came a voice from upstairs. "Who's that?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "Hold on a second." Fluttershy said. She turned to look up the stairs. "Yes?" "Who's downstairs with you?" "My friends, why don't you come down to meet them?" Called Fluttershy. "M-meet t-th-them?" Came the stammering voice from upstairs. "Yes, come down here! You'll like them." "O-okay." Hooves were heard on the stairs as Melodia came out. The five ponies outside the door's eyes widened at the new pony. Melodia felt a wave of nervousness, panic, worry, and fear, when she saw that there was not one pony, but five of them. The way their eyes widened scared her. Was there something wrong with her? Were they going to reject her, then tease her for trying? Quickly checking over herself, she found that nothing had changed. Her hair was neatly kept in a braid, the forelock brushed to the right side of her face only slightly hanging in her eyes, her tail was tamed, and there was no stains on her coat, why were they staring at her like that? "This is Melodia, everypony." Fluttershy said, noticing her new roommate's discomfort. The mare stood at the bottom of the stairs, shaking and quiet, and the five ponies outside came into the room. "So, um, where ya from?" Rainbow questioned. "E-e-eques-t-tri-a's b-b-borders." Melodia stammered nervously. "Equestria's borders?!" Twilight gasped. "As in, 'The Barren Wastelands'?!" "Y-yes?" Melodia said, still nervous, but confused by the purple mare's reaction. "Oh my gosh! Nopony has ever survived out there alone before! This calls for an experiment!!" Twilight said gleefully. "Calm down there sugarcube, you're scarin' the poor thing." Applejack said, with a slight chuckle. "U-um, e-excuse me-e?" Melodia managed to stammer out. "Yes darling?" Rarity said. "U-m n-not t-to be r-rude," Melodia said, shrinking back farther at every word. "B-but I don't e-even, u-um, know y-your n-names." Part 2 'Are you, Are you, Coming to the tree? Where they strung up a man, They say murdered three…' The haunting, yet beautiful melody, bounced off the walls. It echoed in the moonlit halls, creating an illusion, making it seem as if there were multiple voices. Was it an illusion, though? Or was more than one person, creating the peaceful, and eerie music. 'Strange things did happen here, No stranger would it seem. If we met up at midnight, In the hanging tree.' The hairs on her neck stood up, and shivers were sent down her spine as they kept singing. She wished for it to stop, but it went on. 'Are you, Are you, Coming to the tree? Where the dead man , Called out for his love to flee.' The young women covered her ears, but her rough fingers did nothing to quiet the sound. She could feel herself slipping into the dream world, as the singer tried to hypnotize her with their song. 'Strange things did happen, No stranger would it seem. If we met up at midnight…' She doubled over, and her hands going over her ears. It was too late, though, the spell was cast, and the hall seemed to get darker as she slipped under. The world went black. '…In the hanging tree.' The last note was short, and silence fell after, the only noise being the heavy thump of a fallen knight. Three girls turned the corner. Their malicious laughter filling the moonlight hallways, and the matching amulets around their necks glowing a deep red.[/I Melodia came out of her trance, but the laughter from her vision kept going. It took a couple minutes to realize that the laughter was not the echoing laughter, full of vindictiveness. It was bubbly laughter, between friends. Friends, Fluttershy, her friends… The mare looked around the room to see six mares sitting on the couch, or on the floor. The room had wooden walls, the couch was green with one lighter colored pillow and one darker. Animals were running around, a blue rug was on the floor, and various animal beds and bird houses spread about the house. "Are you okay, Melodia?" a voice beside her asked. She felt Fluttershy's soft hoof come from behind, and rest on her shoulder. "Huh? Oh yeah." Melodia blushed. Fluttershy was about to say something else, but was interrupted by Pinkie Pie. "Oh! Oh! I have an idea, let's go to the pub!" The pink mare screeched. Though they usually wouldn't drink, today was an exception, because not often would someone new come into their life so unexpectedly like this, and they were determined to make this mare's first day there fun. Though most bars are rough, dirty, and basically not a good place to be, Ponyville's was kept under management, due to the town having a small population, and most ponies coming here in search for a quiet, peaceful life. Every so often, quite a few ponies would come in to enjoy a drink or two with their friends, no sex, no bar fights, just the talk of ponies who came with their friends, or casually struck up a conversation with the bartender. Melodia was interested in this place, seeing as ponies only ordered drinks, and no food, but one of the things she noticed, was that there were only adults, and no kids. That's strange, I saw way more fillies and colts, than mares and stallions on the way here. Where are they all? Her train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a glass bottle hitting the counter in front of her. She looked at the bottle carefully, it was tall, with drastically a bigger base than the top. The bottle was covered in droplets of condensation, and the liquid in the bottle smelled bitter and strange. "Have you drank alcohol before?" questioned Fluttershy, who swiveled around on the bar stool to see Melodia contemplating the drink before her. "Huh? What's that?" said Melodia. "Um, huh" mumbled Fluttershy, befuddled at how to explain alcohol is to the mare. Lucky for Fluttershy, Twilight heard their conversation, and turned to explain it to Melodia. "Alcohol is, a colorless volatile flammable liquid that is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks, and is also used as an industrial solvent and as fuel." "So, kind of like fuel for planes and things, but is used for drinks?" asked Melodia. "Yes." answered Fluttershy . "Thanks Twilight." "You're welcome." with that, the unicorn turned back to the conversation between the two ponies on the other side of her. "So, are you ready to try it now?" asked Fluttershy. "Sure." said Melodia unsurely. "Melodia Wines!" came a whisper from the other side of Fluttershy, "She has the name of a type alcohol in her name yet she doesn't know what it is!" Another pony snorted. Two mares stumbled out of the building, and into the night. They were quite tipsy, but not black-out drunk. While inside the bar, their friends had left an hour before them, but the two were too caught up in their own conversations to notice. The sun had already set not long after they arrived, and they had talked with their friends before that. Finally, they got into their home. Fluttershy, the one who had opened the door, and went in first, collapsed on the couch, belly up. Melodia walked in after her, and without thinking, collapsed onto Fluttershy, laying in a position which would have ponies question how 'close' they really are. Fluttershy and Melodia laughed it off. We weren't sober enough to think. It's fine. thought Melodia, though a bit nervous. What happened the night before won't be forgotten, and will come back to haunt her. It was about ten in the morning, so Melodia made breakfast, while Fluttershy tended to her animals. Since the two housemates were both vegan, they just ate salad. Fluttershy came in not long after Melodia finished setting the table. "Salad again?" She said with a smirk. "Well, yeah. The only other breakfast foods aren't vegan." Melodia said, looking up. "Vegan my a-" "Fluttershy!!" screeched Melodia, screaming with laughter. How unexpected it is to come across the rare times when her friend would swear freely without her being a changeling or cursed. The buttercream pegasus just laughed, and when they calmed down they ate breakfast. Over breakfast, they talked, and talked, until they finished their food. "I should go, my 'spa date' with Rarity is soon." Fluttershy whispered, getting up and wiping her mouth. 'Are you, are you, Coming to the tree? Where I told you to run, So we would both be free.' The haunting, and beautiful melody, seemed so familiar, but I've never heard it. Such a stupid song. Disgusting that people would pass this down in families, 'Strange things did happen, No stranger would it seem. If we met at midnight, In the hanging tree.' They sung together, drawing out notes so they overlapped others. It went on, and on, until they overlapped so much it was all fuzzy, and the world seemed to spin rapidly. 'Are you... you, ...... to the tree? ...... necklace of.... .... by side with.....' Those were all the words I could pick out past that, the rest of the lines were fuzzy sounding and unintelligible. Then, like a church bell in the morning, one line rang out. Crisp, and clear. 'In the hanging tree.' All hell broke loose. Melodia awoke, panting, and sweating. Eyes wide in fear. She was sitting on the couch, a book open, and pages on her chest, and her hooves loosely grasped around it. The mare tried to calm herself, but after an hour, she decided it wouldn't work. So, she wrote. A quill captured in her magic (since nopony was home but her), and a paper spread out in front of her, she wrote. From consonants, to dissonants that oddly sound good together, she wrote it all. Fermatas, to staccatos, she memorized it all. Played it over, and over again 'till it was permanently etched in her mind. That night, she was up until hours into the next day, just barely missing the chance to get sleep before the sun rose. Peaceful, was the only was to describe her sleep. For once, after so long. Melodia had found the courage to take on whatever life threw at her the next day. Fluttershy never came home. Melodia had woke up late, but she would've left a note. Where the hell was she? Dammit Fluttershy... Without breakfast, she fed the animals, and went into town. Arriving at the Carousel Boutique, Melodia knocked on the frilly, decorated door, counting her knocks. The door was replaced with a white mare, with an indigo mane, and sapphire eyes. Tears were streaming down her face, carving valleys into her dry fur like rivers. Her mane, usually tamed, was wild like a lion had attacked it. "M-Melodia?" She said. "Oh my god! What happened?!" Melodia questioned, panicked. "It's F-Flut-ters-shy-y!!" Rarity wailed. "Rarity, tell me. What the fuck happened here?!" Melodia yelled. "She's in the hospital! She-" Rarity started, but Melodia ran away before she could finish. Gasping for air, sweating, and doubling over from exhaustion, she got to the front desk in the hospital. "Here... to see... Fluttershy..." Melodia gasped. "Room 112" The nurse mouthed. With that, Melodia dashed to the room. Silence fell apron her, as she stared in shock at the pony inside. She had hoped, and prayed that Rarity was just being over-dramatic, she wished this wasn't real. Alas, this was anything but a dream. Author's Note Part 1- Little random. Not gonna lie. Courtesy of my friend TheNobodyFace, because I was texting her while I was writing the part about meeting the mane six. If you don't like it going everywhere BLAME HER!!!! D'aww but you know you love me... Leave TheNobodyFace, you are not welcome in my notes. -.- :-3 Anyways thanks for reading my stories and keeping up so far! Hope you enjoy them! BYE =D LEAVE! -Byeee Part 2- Yes! The 'vision' was based on a Hunger Games, and if you start a war against me on it, I will go all Katniss Everdeen/Cato super-breed on you. Also, here's the version I based it off of (the one with multiple voices): youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKrCE1aYz7o See? Look how nice I am, finding the video for you. Any opinions/reviews? Words of wisdom? I could really use some feedback on my stories. [10/13/16] I put the last chapter along with this one, messed with it a bit, and I hope it might be better. The word 'befuddled' will be one you see a lot, I love that word... and I love love in a way... it's a strange-paradox-thing Chapter 3 - The Music InsideMelodia stood in the doorway, she couldn't believe what she saw. "Fluttershy..." she whispered. Fluttershy lay there in the hospital bed. Her eyes were closed, breathing weak, and looking near death. Moving from the doorway, she carefully walked to the chair in the corner of the room and sat there. Silence. She hated silence. For hours, Melodia could only sit there, not daring to leave her alone with strangers. Fluttershy never woke up, but she didn't care. It was surreal. The friend that laughed with her, always alive and happy, now pale and lifeless. "Five minutes." the nurse said, poking her head through the doorway. Melodia just continued to stare at Fluttershy. "What happened to her?" she whispered. "Snake bite." answered the nurse, "A pony rushed her in when she fainted. The mare said she had been acting strange and looking pale, but she was saying she was fine, when her friend asked." This pulled Melodia's attention away from the sleeping Pegasus. But only stared at the doorway, as the nurse left. "Attention, visiting hours are over." came the monotone voice on the intercom. She sat on the couch, strumming hard on the guitar. Trying to calm down, she had decided to work on her song. It did well on her stress, but not on the strings. Let's see what I've got... thought Melodia. Her song didn't seem to mean anything anymore. Ponies go by her so fast, and the ones that come close go faster, and it makes the meaning for most things just fades to gray. With Fluttershy in the hospital near death, and her mother gone, happiness made her sad. She didn't even notice that she was playing, it just came to her. It was like she was meant to do this. Melodia practically jumped out of her skin when there was a bright flash behind her. When she turned, she was shocked to find a pink cloud, and a star made of eighth notes sticking out of the cloud. Silence. The animals ran around the house the next day like it was any other while Melodia filled their food bowls, and made sure the indoor animals had enough water. When all of them were happy and fed, she strapped on her saddle bags and opened the door to leave, but a certain bunny stopped her before she did. "Yes, Angel?" Angel made a series of gestures and squeaks mostly towards the door, he wanted to go see Fluttershy. "Okay. But stay in my bag, and be quiet!" He nodded, and jumped into Melodia's bag when she leaned to the side and pulled down the front of it. The two of them made their way to Ponyville's Hospital, Melodia walking, and Angel in her saddlebags, stuck in between the gifts for Fluttershy. At the front desk was a smiling mare, a great contrast from the mare yesterday. "Hello!!" the mare practically screamed at Melodia. "Um, hi." whispered Melodia, "I'm here to see Fluttershy? Room 112?" "Oh, she got moved to 211!" she pointed left, "Second to last door on the right!" Melodia finally turned into the room. A tan-brown unicorn stood over Fluttershy writing on a clipboard. He had a brown mane and tail, and wore a white lab coat. His head turned to Melodia when she knocked. "Yes?" he whispered. Melodia felt uncomfortable. Angel was shifting in he bag and she was sure he could see it. "Um," she cleared her throat, "I'm just here to see Fluttershy - in a way I'm kind of… family. So, yeah." again, she cleared her throat. Why was it so blocked up? "Oh, yes." he looked down at the sleeping mare, "She should be waking up soon." He left. Closing the door, and leaving her alone with Fluttershy. They could be complete strangers, and Melodia could be there to do something horrible to Fluttershy. Yet he just trusted her with it, didn't ask for verification, just trusted her with a mare that couldn't defend herself in the slightest. It's uncommon to find a pony who would trust a stranger with their lives, or someone else's. It would be a while until Fluttershy woke up, so Melodia let Angel out of her saddlebag. She settled down in the chair with a book. While Angel laid by Fluttershy, nuzzling her side. The two sat there peacefully. Enjoying the quiet of the room, as they waited for their dearest friend to wake up. Fluttershy shifted and groaned. Her head hurt like hell, and it felt like there were needles stuck in her arm. She was dizzy, confused, and cold. The light blinded her when she opened her eyes. There was no color, only white, and the lights were directly above her. What happened? Where was she? And why is it so painful just to lay there? The beeping of a monitor is the only sound in the room, indicating she was alone. At least she thought she was. "'Shy?" came a whisper, "You awake? 'Need anything?" Melodia. It was a relief to know that somepony was there with her. Especially a close friend. Fluttershy couldn't form word. She was tired and confused, and her 'yes' came out a weak groan. A hoof touched her, and Melodia rubbed her shoulder softly, as if trying to comfort and relax her. "I'll get you something to eat and drink. Don't worry, I'll be back in a second." the door opened and closed quietly. Alone, all Fluttershy could do was wait for her to come back, or somepony else to walk in. But it was silent, and it was like that for a couple minutes, before the door opened softly, and closed even softer. "I'm back." whispered Melodia. She sat by Fluttershy again, and put a foam cup of water, and crackers on the tray attached to the bed, "I know you hate processed food, but the staff said that this was the only thing they had that wouldn't be a danger for you to eat." Fluttershy only groaned. "You need to eat 'Shy." getting up, Melodia walked to the back of the bed Fluttershy was laying on, and adjusted it so she could sit up. Once the chair was adjusted so Fluttershy was comfortable and could eat. Melodia sat back down and held out the crackers for Fluttershy. With a painful groan, Fluttershy took the food in her hooves, and took a small bite from it. "Just eat those," Melodia gestured towards the crackers she was eating, "Drink some water, and get some sleep." she looked at the clock, "I should go, visiting hours are almost over. I'll be back tomorrow." Melodia hugged Fluttershy softly, left the books from her bag, and held the bag open, for Angel hop back into it,. She left the room quietly. Leaving Fluttershy alone with the quiet beeping of the beat of her heart, and the thoughts that screamed at her, saying that she left them alone too long. It was exactly like when she was a filly. The quiet was so loud nopony heard it but her. Sometimes the emotions are the loudest. Sometimes the quiet ones feel pain the most. Broken and abused. Forced to silence. She is. I am... She had been singing a lot, now that she had found her talent. Her true meaning. Herself. Inspiration flowed through her magic like rivers in the summer when she wrote. When she sang, strumming her guitar, or striking the keys of a piano, the melodies seemed to come through the tips of her hooves. If you were devoted enough to a creative talent, you found how to bend that inspiration to your will. Easy, unless you haven't found your creative outlet. For Melodia, she had already found it. The same thing that gave her, her cutiemark. She had written a couple songs (or at least fragments of songs), and finished a song to play for Fluttershy today while she was in the hospital. That song didn't make the cut, though. It was too... depressing. In no way would it make her sick friend better, only worse. She came up with another song two hours later. Perfect. That was the song! Today she'll play it for Fluttershy, but for now, Melodia would practice, until she got every note, every beat, and every word, of the song memorized in her head. Unfortunately, she was not able to practice long. While she woke up early, and visiting hours were later in the day. Melodia had things to do, and animals to feed. Author's Note So yeah, I was really happy with part of this chapter, it kind of puts a little more ground on this. Hope you enjoyed it! Not so happy with the last couple paragraphs. I don't know why, and I can't seem to change it so I feel more confident in it... anything that might fix it up a bit?
Prologue"Are you sure?" The mare asked. "This is the only place we can escape without being harmed." The draconaquus beside her stated emotionlessly. "It's so far from civilization, honey-" She began. "If we can't get food for ourselves out here we'll move closer to Equestria. I'm not going to risk you or our child back there, their magic is too strong!" He snapped, looking over at his uneasy wife. He softened "I'm sorry. I'm just worried that when our child is born because the kid don’t fit in, he or she will be sought after to be killed." He hung his head. "I know honey, but trust me when I say," the mare moved in front of him and raised his chin so he was looking into her eyes "while fear is something made in our minds, a fragment of our imagination. There is always going things that are to risk, and some things are too precious to do that." She stated, her hoof from his chin down to her stomach. "There is always going to be things we need to risk with this child. There will be ponies and draconequui after her, but for every one that hates her, there will be somebody who loves our child" "You're right Crystal, but you know we can't take those chances until the kid is older." He sighed, hating to put a damper on her wife's hope. "I know honey, that's why we're doing this now." White. There was white. Breathing. Loud, quick, breathes. Coming out in tempo. Her vision was blurred but the bright lights cut through the fog like a knife through butter. The light was blinding, the room filled with the sound of the panting mare and the yelling of doctors. The voices faded in and out, getting more distant each word. 'You're doing great….' 'Here comes another contraction' 'Ok….. Contraction…. Push…….. 2……. 3……." A bloodcurdling scream was heard. "I see it! I see it!" "…… push harder……" The screaming stopped, only for it to be replaced with a shrieking foal. The doctor could be heard over the screams of the newborn. "It's a girl." Melodia woke with a start. Her breathing was ragged, her white coat matted from sweat, and her head aching. The visions had become more frequent, but this was the earliest of her life she's seen before. She's never seen anything before her 12th birthday, what could this mean? Melodia got out of bed, went over to the vanity, and picked up her brush with her magic and ran it through her pastel hair. The sun shined through the old off-white curtains and caressed her body. Her dream was certainly something that you'd think would occupy the mare's mind, but no. She used her eyes to follow the brush, thinking of how strange it was, a pegasus mare using magic. No horn, no amulet or anything. What might give it away is her eyes, you could see the magic flowing through her eyes. Melodia was about to pull her brush through her hair one more time, but realized her hair was all brushed out. She cleaned the hair off her brush, putting it in the trash, and weaved her mane in a braid. "Mom!!" She yelled, running down the stairs. "Yes honey?" Said the white mare standing in the kitchen. "I had a vision last night again!" "Oh my, what was it about?" Her mother said, letter her mane, which was the same shade of lilac as Melodia's forelock, out of the bun she had it tied back in to keep it from getting tangled when she's asleep. Her hair cascaded beautifully down her shoulders. "Well, there were lost of bright lights, and……." Bang! Bang! Shots rang in the dark area, the sound ricochet on the sides of the wall. The draconniquus dropped dead on the cold ground. A stallion stood at the other end of the alley. Gun raised, pointed where the creature was once standing. An evil grin spread across his face as he lowered the gun. "You're dead." he muttered, a sinister tone in his voice. Melodia finished telling about her vision in the hospital. She realized it was a hospital as she went over it again, and her mom confirmed that, saying that a mare might've been giving birth. "Mom?" The young mare said, fidgeting with the end of her braid. "Yes dear?" "Well" She swallowed uncomfortably. "I have a theory." Her mother nodded, giving her a look that said Go On "I……. What…. Um," She wished she could just say it, but she new her mother didn't like talking about it. "Um….. So…. If like, I only see visions that are from when I was alive. Was that maybe me…?" She drew the 'e' in 'me' nervous to ask the question, for fear her mother would get angry. Her mother rarely got angry, but when she did it was terrifying. Melodia looked away, waiting for her mother to start yelling, cursing at her, and demanding that she go into her room without breakfast or lunch. Forcing Melodia to wait until dinner to eat. The mare expected the worst, but turned to her the elder pony in the room in confusion, when all she heard was a long, drown out, but not dramatic, sigh from her. "Melodia, I think it's time I told you about your father." She didn't want to be here. Sitting here, wishing that she didn't have to watch her mother's body get pale and cold. To not feel her hoof slip from in between the two of hers. Hear her as she drank in what she could of the air for the last time. When she took her last breath it was deep, taken in greedily, but she was too weak to make it sound like it was different then the rest, what made it different was the silence after. Melodia closed her eyes and tried to hold her tears back as the silence screamed at her. To the young mare, it sounded like they were screaming at her because she let her mother go, but she had no choice. She wasn't entirely sad her mother was gone, she's happy that her mother isn't suffering. What hurts is that she didn't appreciate her mother being there as much as she should've. Memories of all the things that her mother did for her, all the times she had with her, the good and the bad, she was there for everything. The revelations hit her at full force and she let out a strangled, tearless sob. Melodia opened her eyes only to see the lifeless body of her mother, which brought her to tears. She hated crying, she hated feeling so weak and helpless. She tried to stop, but it was hopeless. Her mother's words seemed to echo throughout the room, the words that she had spoken to her daughter as her life faded away. Don't cry over me Author's Note Bang! Bang! You're dead! Bang! Bang! You're dead! Ain't nothin' I can't do with a gun!!! (Probably no one got the joke.) Thank you so much for reading the first chapter of my first story! I have the whole thing planned out and I have most of the series for this planned out! Melodia Wines and Crystal Wines are my OC's and so is Melodia's father. Spoiler, his name is Malestrom and he is not a pony he is a draconaquus Special thanks to my closest friend for looking over my plot line and checking over a bit of my work. Constructive criticism is encouraged!
Chapter 1 - The Start of Something New'Don't cry over me.' Those last words, her dying wish, bounced across the walls, and filled Melodia's head. She couldn't get up, she just couldn't. With a sigh Melodia adjusted herself for the umpteenth time in bed, but still wasn't comfortable Frustrated, she decided that it would do worse to keep laying there wallowing in her sadness and even though it would be hard to get up it still would be better. After getting up, taking a shower, and getting dressed, she trotted down the hall and started down the steps when a realization hit her. Her mother always got food for the two of them, and paid the bills. Melodia has no job, only the money that her mother left behind (which is surprisingly a lot for a mare to only work one day a week) and both of their belongings, which meant that Melodia would have to move into civilization. It hurt to think that she would have to move away from home. Her mother and father had built together just for the three of them to live together out here. Sure, nopony would want to be in the barren wastelands that are Equestria's borders but it's home to Melodia. She was raised far away from anyone but her mom and dad. How was she supposed to fit in? Did she even have time to study modern Equestria?! Did she even have a book on that?! Melodia suddenly got dizzy as the world faded into black. It was a beautiful sunny day in Ponyville. Fillies and colts laughing and playing. Couples walked together, basking in the rays of the golden sunlight. The grass and the trees were a healthy green and the flowers spread their petals white open and reached toward the sun, showing off their vibrant colors. Melodia walked along the path, taking turns without thinking as if she had been along the path thousands of times. It was beautiful. Plain and simple usually wasn't her thing, but the unfamiliar town felt familiar, it felt like home. Almost like she had grown up there her whole life instead of the old cottage that was falling apart but still seemed to stay together enough to house two mares. Suddenly she felt a hoof shake her shoulder. Melodia turned, but nopony was there. The space was empty but she could hear something or someone…. "Ma'am….. Ma'am……. Ma'am…… Ma'am……." "Um…. Excuse me?….. Ma'am… Ma'am….." A soft, feminine, voice called out. The mare tried to wake her up, but her attempts failed. Her voice was too quiet to wake the sleeping pony. Suddenly, the mare shot up, causing the one standing above her to jump away and squeak in fright. Now awake, the white mare rubbed her eyes and stood up. She groaned, muttering "What happened?" to herself. The pastel colored mare had a strong Melodious voice, like she was meant to be a singer with a wide range and strong voice. Her flank bared no cutie mark… every pony should have a cutiemark at her age though. Fluttershy was extremely confused. Not only did she have no cutie mark, but she came from Equestria's border, nopony lived there! The conditions were to extreme for a pony to survive! Especially when you're alone! Maybe that's why the mare passed out as soon as she got on the train. She probably couldn't handle it out there and got on the train to get medical attention. The pony probably needs somewhere to stay too! Fluttershy has to help the mare, she can't just go walk around town or be alone in the condition she's in! As the mare was starting to leave with her bags, Fluttershy called out to her. "Wait!" The mare went stiff. "Um…. I…." Fluttershy stammered. The mare turned slowly towards the buttercream pegasus. Fluttershy noticed more of her features. The different colors of her wings, forelock, the braid in her mane, her tail, her green apple sharp eyes that are only slightly darker than her friend, Applejack. Her eyes held fear and sadness that looked like she was born with that look engraved in her eyes. "Y-y-yes?" She answered. "Where are you going?" "P-pony-v-ville." "Do you… um…. Have… a…. Place to stay?" Fluttershy asked, the mare bringing her own nervousness back. Melodia was surprised at this question. Was this mare, who has never seen her before and she hasn't met before, asking her if she wanted to stay at her house?! No, it couldn't be! Besides, they don't even know the slightest about each other. Except maybe that her talent has something to do with animals. Melodia thought, noticing the three blue-bodied pink-winged butterflies that were in the shape of a triangle. "Um… excuse me?" The buttercream pegasus blushed, noticing Melodia's eyes were on her flank. God, she's cute when she blushes. Thought Melodia. "Oh…. Um… sorry…." Melodia said as what the mare said registered through her brain. "Um… do you need a place to stay?" "Actually, yeah….. Heh. Why?" Melodia asked, hoping to god the mare would ask her to stay with her. "Um… if you need a place to stay, you could maybe stay with me?" Fluttershy said, visibly shrinking along with her voice until her last few words were just a couple of squeaks. Melodia didn't need the mare to say it again she already knew what she said. "Sure!" She exclaimed, her wings extending halfway quickly and pushing her up a couple times causing her to flitter slightly in the air. "Um… ok. What's… um…. You're…. Um….. name?" Melodia settled down. "I'm Melodia!" "Oh wow! What a wonderful name!" Fluttershy exclaimed, Melodia's enthusiasm becoming contagious. "Mine's Fluttershy!" A perfect name for a perfect mare. Melodia sighed inwardly, staring at the excited face of Fluttershy. The two mares sat down and chatted until the rolling hills and clear blue sky was replaced with flatter land and houses with roofs covered in hay, the window sills on the bottom floors painted a light pink. The trim and window sills on the top floors a light brown, and the base was a light beige-tan color. The mares gathered their stuff, (Most of which was Melodia's, who blushed when Fluttershy pointed it out.) and they were out of the train by the time the conductor called "All aboard the Friendship Express!" for the ponies waiting on the platform for their trains. They soon got to Fluttershy's cottage, where they got settled and their sleeping arrangements worked out. Melodia was to take the spare bedroom until she had a stable job and enough money to get her own house. As soon as they were done getting everything unpacked and put in it's place, there was a knock on the front door. Fluttershy's friends had arrived to get together after the mare's long trip. With the fact that Melodia had never met ponies before, or has been away from home, this was sure to be an interesting night Author's Note I wasn't happy with the beginning of the chapter so I changed it a bit, and I guess it works out? I don't know. You need to tell me, I need advice!!
Chapter 2 - Anything But a DreamPart 1 Fluttershy slowly sat up. She groggily opened her eyes. "Wha…?" The mare heard a soft groan from below her, and was suddenly conscious of the presence that was pressed up against her while she was a sleep. Melodia sat up, shaking and slow. "What…. Happened…?" She muttered. Melodia let out a loud squeal, when she looked over and saw Fluttershy next to her. She fell on the floor, but sat up immediately. They both looked at each other and blushed. Did I just… with Melodia…. I think I have an idea of what happened last night… (The day before…) At about 2 in the afternoon, Fluttershy's friends had met up at Sugar Cube Corner to get some cupcakes and head over to Fluttershy's cottage. They were excited to see their friend again, for the last time they saw her was before her trip. "Oh, I'm so excited!" Pinkie Pie screeched. "We all are Pinkie." Twilight Sparkle said with a smile. "I know, butI'msonervouscitedbecausemyPinkieSenseistellingmethatsomeonenewisintownandIhopewerunintothembecauseifwedoIgettothrowthemapartyandpartiesaresofantastic!!" Pinkie screamed with glee. "Okay?" Twilight said, not understanding a word of what the pink pony said, but afraid to ask what she meant in case she goes into another story, like how Equestria was made, or something totally Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash, understanding most of what Pinkie said explained what she meant to the confused purple mare. "She said something about being 'nervicited' because her pinkie sense is telling her that somepony new is coming to town." Rainbow Dash stated, impatient and bored. "Oh." "Yeah." "Not to be rude, but shouldn't we head to Fluttershy's house?" Rarity intervened. "Yeah, let's go ya'll." Applejack said, standing up and placing her leftovers - a glazed donut wrapped in a napkin, and a bottle of non-alcoholic cider - in her green saddlebags. The five ponies -Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash - went out the front door. Pinkie was screaming with excitement, while AJ and Rainbow chatted about previous Cider Season which ended two weeks ago, and Rarity and Twilight were exchanging unicorn spells. "Fluttershy!" The ponies chorused, hugging her when they saw the mare. Fluttershy was surprised when she saw them but quickly recuperated. "Hi girls!" She chirped. "Fluttershy?" Came a voice from upstairs. "Who's that?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "Hold on a second." Fluttershy said. She turned to look up the stairs. "Yes?" "Who's downstairs with you?" "My friends, why don't you come down to meet them?" Called Fluttershy. "M-meet t-th-them?" Came the stammering voice from upstairs. "Yes, come down here! You'll like them." "O-okay." Hooves were heard on the stairs as Melodia came out. The five ponies outside the door's eyes widened at the new pony. Melodia felt a wave of nervousness, panic, worry, and fear, when she saw that there was not one pony, but five of them. The way their eyes widened scared her. Was there something wrong with her? Were they going to reject her, then tease her for trying? Quickly checking over herself, she found that nothing had changed. Her hair was neatly kept in a braid, the forelock brushed to the right side of her face only slightly hanging in her eyes, her tail was tamed, and there was no stains on her coat, why were they staring at her like that? "This is Melodia, everypony." Fluttershy said, noticing her new roommate's discomfort. The mare stood at the bottom of the stairs, shaking and quiet, and the five ponies outside came into the room. "So, um, where ya from?" Rainbow questioned. "E-e-eques-t-tri-a's b-b-borders." Melodia stammered nervously. "Equestria's borders?!" Twilight gasped. "As in, 'The Barren Wastelands'?!" "Y-yes?" Melodia said, still nervous, but confused by the purple mare's reaction. "Oh my gosh! Nopony has ever survived out there alone before! This calls for an experiment!!" Twilight said gleefully. "Calm down there sugarcube, you're scarin' the poor thing." Applejack said, with a slight chuckle. "U-um, e-excuse me-e?" Melodia managed to stammer out. "Yes darling?" Rarity said. "U-m n-not t-to be r-rude," Melodia said, shrinking back farther at every word. "B-but I don't e-even, u-um, know y-your n-names." Part 2 'Are you, Are you, Coming to the tree? Where they strung up a man, They say murdered three…' The haunting, yet beautiful melody, bounced off the walls. It echoed in the moonlit halls, creating an illusion, making it seem as if there were multiple voices. Was it an illusion, though? Or was more than one person, creating the peaceful, and eerie music. 'Strange things did happen here, No stranger would it seem. If we met up at midnight, In the hanging tree.' The hairs on her neck stood up, and shivers were sent down her spine as they kept singing. She wished for it to stop, but it went on. 'Are you, Are you, Coming to the tree? Where the dead man , Called out for his love to flee.' The young women covered her ears, but her rough fingers did nothing to quiet the sound. She could feel herself slipping into the dream world, as the singer tried to hypnotize her with their song. 'Strange things did happen, No stranger would it seem. If we met up at midnight…' She doubled over, and her hands going over her ears. It was too late, though, the spell was cast, and the hall seemed to get darker as she slipped under. The world went black. '…In the hanging tree.' The last note was short, and silence fell after, the only noise being the heavy thump of a fallen knight. Three girls turned the corner. Their malicious laughter filling the moonlight hallways, and the matching amulets around their necks glowing a deep red.[/I Melodia came out of her trance, but the laughter from her vision kept going. It took a couple minutes to realize that the laughter was not the echoing laughter, full of vindictiveness. It was bubbly laughter, between friends. Friends, Fluttershy, her friends… The mare looked around the room to see six mares sitting on the couch, or on the floor. The room had wooden walls, the couch was green with one lighter colored pillow and one darker. Animals were running around, a blue rug was on the floor, and various animal beds and bird houses spread about the house. "Are you okay, Melodia?" a voice beside her asked. She felt Fluttershy's soft hoof come from behind, and rest on her shoulder. "Huh? Oh yeah." Melodia blushed. Fluttershy was about to say something else, but was interrupted by Pinkie Pie. "Oh! Oh! I have an idea, let's go to the pub!" The pink mare screeched. Though they usually wouldn't drink, today was an exception, because not often would someone new come into their life so unexpectedly like this, and they were determined to make this mare's first day there fun. Though most bars are rough, dirty, and basically not a good place to be, Ponyville's was kept under management, due to the town having a small population, and most ponies coming here in search for a quiet, peaceful life. Every so often, quite a few ponies would come in to enjoy a drink or two with their friends, no sex, no bar fights, just the talk of ponies who came with their friends, or casually struck up a conversation with the bartender. Melodia was interested in this place, seeing as ponies only ordered drinks, and no food, but one of the things she noticed, was that there were only adults, and no kids. That's strange, I saw way more fillies and colts, than mares and stallions on the way here. Where are they all? Her train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a glass bottle hitting the counter in front of her. She looked at the bottle carefully, it was tall, with drastically a bigger base than the top. The bottle was covered in droplets of condensation, and the liquid in the bottle smelled bitter and strange. "Have you drank alcohol before?" questioned Fluttershy, who swiveled around on the bar stool to see Melodia contemplating the drink before her. "Huh? What's that?" said Melodia. "Um, huh" mumbled Fluttershy, befuddled at how to explain alcohol is to the mare. Lucky for Fluttershy, Twilight heard their conversation, and turned to explain it to Melodia. "Alcohol is, a colorless volatile flammable liquid that is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks, and is also used as an industrial solvent and as fuel." "So, kind of like fuel for planes and things, but is used for drinks?" asked Melodia. "Yes." answered Fluttershy . "Thanks Twilight." "You're welcome." with that, the unicorn turned back to the conversation between the two ponies on the other side of her. "So, are you ready to try it now?" asked Fluttershy. "Sure." said Melodia unsurely. "Melodia Wines!" came a whisper from the other side of Fluttershy, "She has the name of a type alcohol in her name yet she doesn't know what it is!" Another pony snorted. Two mares stumbled out of the building, and into the night. They were quite tipsy, but not black-out drunk. While inside the bar, their friends had left an hour before them, but the two were too caught up in their own conversations to notice. The sun had already set not long after they arrived, and they had talked with their friends before that. Finally, they got into their home. Fluttershy, the one who had opened the door, and went in first, collapsed on the couch, belly up. Melodia walked in after her, and without thinking, collapsed onto Fluttershy, laying in a position which would have ponies question how 'close' they really are. Fluttershy and Melodia laughed it off. We weren't sober enough to think. It's fine. thought Melodia, though a bit nervous. What happened the night before won't be forgotten, and will come back to haunt her. It was about ten in the morning, so Melodia made breakfast, while Fluttershy tended to her animals. Since the two housemates were both vegan, they just ate salad. Fluttershy came in not long after Melodia finished setting the table. "Salad again?" She said with a smirk. "Well, yeah. The only other breakfast foods aren't vegan." Melodia said, looking up. "Vegan my a-" "Fluttershy!!" screeched Melodia, screaming with laughter. How unexpected it is to come across the rare times when her friend would swear freely without her being a changeling or cursed. The buttercream pegasus just laughed, and when they calmed down they ate breakfast. Over breakfast, they talked, and talked, until they finished their food. "I should go, my 'spa date' with Rarity is soon." Fluttershy whispered, getting up and wiping her mouth. 'Are you, are you, Coming to the tree? Where I told you to run, So we would both be free.' The haunting, and beautiful melody, seemed so familiar, but I've never heard it. Such a stupid song. Disgusting that people would pass this down in families, 'Strange things did happen, No stranger would it seem. If we met at midnight, In the hanging tree.' They sung together, drawing out notes so they overlapped others. It went on, and on, until they overlapped so much it was all fuzzy, and the world seemed to spin rapidly. 'Are you... you, ...... to the tree? ...... necklace of.... .... by side with.....' Those were all the words I could pick out past that, the rest of the lines were fuzzy sounding and unintelligible. Then, like a church bell in the morning, one line rang out. Crisp, and clear. 'In the hanging tree.' All hell broke loose. Melodia awoke, panting, and sweating. Eyes wide in fear. She was sitting on the couch, a book open, and pages on her chest, and her hooves loosely grasped around it. The mare tried to calm herself, but after an hour, she decided it wouldn't work. So, she wrote. A quill captured in her magic (since nopony was home but her), and a paper spread out in front of her, she wrote. From consonants, to dissonants that oddly sound good together, she wrote it all. Fermatas, to staccatos, she memorized it all. Played it over, and over again 'till it was permanently etched in her mind. That night, she was up until hours into the next day, just barely missing the chance to get sleep before the sun rose. Peaceful, was the only was to describe her sleep. For once, after so long. Melodia had found the courage to take on whatever life threw at her the next day. Fluttershy never came home. Melodia had woke up late, but she would've left a note. Where the hell was she? Dammit Fluttershy... Without breakfast, she fed the animals, and went into town. Arriving at the Carousel Boutique, Melodia knocked on the frilly, decorated door, counting her knocks. The door was replaced with a white mare, with an indigo mane, and sapphire eyes. Tears were streaming down her face, carving valleys into her dry fur like rivers. Her mane, usually tamed, was wild like a lion had attacked it. "M-Melodia?" She said. "Oh my god! What happened?!" Melodia questioned, panicked. "It's F-Flut-ters-shy-y!!" Rarity wailed. "Rarity, tell me. What the fuck happened here?!" Melodia yelled. "She's in the hospital! She-" Rarity started, but Melodia ran away before she could finish. Gasping for air, sweating, and doubling over from exhaustion, she got to the front desk in the hospital. "Here... to see... Fluttershy..." Melodia gasped. "Room 112" The nurse mouthed. With that, Melodia dashed to the room. Silence fell apron her, as she stared in shock at the pony inside. She had hoped, and prayed that Rarity was just being over-dramatic, she wished this wasn't real. Alas, this was anything but a dream. Author's Note Part 1- Little random. Not gonna lie. Courtesy of my friend TheNobodyFace, because I was texting her while I was writing the part about meeting the mane six. If you don't like it going everywhere BLAME HER!!!! D'aww but you know you love me... Leave TheNobodyFace, you are not welcome in my notes. -.- :-3 Anyways thanks for reading my stories and keeping up so far! Hope you enjoy them! BYE =D LEAVE! -Byeee Part 2- Yes! The 'vision' was based on a Hunger Games, and if you start a war against me on it, I will go all Katniss Everdeen/Cato super-breed on you. Also, here's the version I based it off of (the one with multiple voices): youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKrCE1aYz7o See? Look how nice I am, finding the video for you. Any opinions/reviews? Words of wisdom? I could really use some feedback on my stories. [10/13/16] I put the last chapter along with this one, messed with it a bit, and I hope it might be better. The word 'befuddled' will be one you see a lot, I love that word... and I love love in a way... it's a strange-paradox-thing
Chapter 3 - The Music InsideMelodia stood in the doorway, she couldn't believe what she saw. "Fluttershy..." she whispered. Fluttershy lay there in the hospital bed. Her eyes were closed, breathing weak, and looking near death. Moving from the doorway, she carefully walked to the chair in the corner of the room and sat there. Silence. She hated silence. For hours, Melodia could only sit there, not daring to leave her alone with strangers. Fluttershy never woke up, but she didn't care. It was surreal. The friend that laughed with her, always alive and happy, now pale and lifeless. "Five minutes." the nurse said, poking her head through the doorway. Melodia just continued to stare at Fluttershy. "What happened to her?" she whispered. "Snake bite." answered the nurse, "A pony rushed her in when she fainted. The mare said she had been acting strange and looking pale, but she was saying she was fine, when her friend asked." This pulled Melodia's attention away from the sleeping Pegasus. But only stared at the doorway, as the nurse left. "Attention, visiting hours are over." came the monotone voice on the intercom. She sat on the couch, strumming hard on the guitar. Trying to calm down, she had decided to work on her song. It did well on her stress, but not on the strings. Let's see what I've got... thought Melodia. Her song didn't seem to mean anything anymore. Ponies go by her so fast, and the ones that come close go faster, and it makes the meaning for most things just fades to gray. With Fluttershy in the hospital near death, and her mother gone, happiness made her sad. She didn't even notice that she was playing, it just came to her. It was like she was meant to do this. Melodia practically jumped out of her skin when there was a bright flash behind her. When she turned, she was shocked to find a pink cloud, and a star made of eighth notes sticking out of the cloud. Silence. The animals ran around the house the next day like it was any other while Melodia filled their food bowls, and made sure the indoor animals had enough water. When all of them were happy and fed, she strapped on her saddle bags and opened the door to leave, but a certain bunny stopped her before she did. "Yes, Angel?" Angel made a series of gestures and squeaks mostly towards the door, he wanted to go see Fluttershy. "Okay. But stay in my bag, and be quiet!" He nodded, and jumped into Melodia's bag when she leaned to the side and pulled down the front of it. The two of them made their way to Ponyville's Hospital, Melodia walking, and Angel in her saddlebags, stuck in between the gifts for Fluttershy. At the front desk was a smiling mare, a great contrast from the mare yesterday. "Hello!!" the mare practically screamed at Melodia. "Um, hi." whispered Melodia, "I'm here to see Fluttershy? Room 112?" "Oh, she got moved to 211!" she pointed left, "Second to last door on the right!" Melodia finally turned into the room. A tan-brown unicorn stood over Fluttershy writing on a clipboard. He had a brown mane and tail, and wore a white lab coat. His head turned to Melodia when she knocked. "Yes?" he whispered. Melodia felt uncomfortable. Angel was shifting in he bag and she was sure he could see it. "Um," she cleared her throat, "I'm just here to see Fluttershy - in a way I'm kind of… family. So, yeah." again, she cleared her throat. Why was it so blocked up? "Oh, yes." he looked down at the sleeping mare, "She should be waking up soon." He left. Closing the door, and leaving her alone with Fluttershy. They could be complete strangers, and Melodia could be there to do something horrible to Fluttershy. Yet he just trusted her with it, didn't ask for verification, just trusted her with a mare that couldn't defend herself in the slightest. It's uncommon to find a pony who would trust a stranger with their lives, or someone else's. It would be a while until Fluttershy woke up, so Melodia let Angel out of her saddlebag. She settled down in the chair with a book. While Angel laid by Fluttershy, nuzzling her side. The two sat there peacefully. Enjoying the quiet of the room, as they waited for their dearest friend to wake up. Fluttershy shifted and groaned. Her head hurt like hell, and it felt like there were needles stuck in her arm. She was dizzy, confused, and cold. The light blinded her when she opened her eyes. There was no color, only white, and the lights were directly above her. What happened? Where was she? And why is it so painful just to lay there? The beeping of a monitor is the only sound in the room, indicating she was alone. At least she thought she was. "'Shy?" came a whisper, "You awake? 'Need anything?" Melodia. It was a relief to know that somepony was there with her. Especially a close friend. Fluttershy couldn't form word. She was tired and confused, and her 'yes' came out a weak groan. A hoof touched her, and Melodia rubbed her shoulder softly, as if trying to comfort and relax her. "I'll get you something to eat and drink. Don't worry, I'll be back in a second." the door opened and closed quietly. Alone, all Fluttershy could do was wait for her to come back, or somepony else to walk in. But it was silent, and it was like that for a couple minutes, before the door opened softly, and closed even softer. "I'm back." whispered Melodia. She sat by Fluttershy again, and put a foam cup of water, and crackers on the tray attached to the bed, "I know you hate processed food, but the staff said that this was the only thing they had that wouldn't be a danger for you to eat." Fluttershy only groaned. "You need to eat 'Shy." getting up, Melodia walked to the back of the bed Fluttershy was laying on, and adjusted it so she could sit up. Once the chair was adjusted so Fluttershy was comfortable and could eat. Melodia sat back down and held out the crackers for Fluttershy. With a painful groan, Fluttershy took the food in her hooves, and took a small bite from it. "Just eat those," Melodia gestured towards the crackers she was eating, "Drink some water, and get some sleep." she looked at the clock, "I should go, visiting hours are almost over. I'll be back tomorrow." Melodia hugged Fluttershy softly, left the books from her bag, and held the bag open, for Angel hop back into it,. She left the room quietly. Leaving Fluttershy alone with the quiet beeping of the beat of her heart, and the thoughts that screamed at her, saying that she left them alone too long. It was exactly like when she was a filly. The quiet was so loud nopony heard it but her. Sometimes the emotions are the loudest. Sometimes the quiet ones feel pain the most. Broken and abused. Forced to silence. She is. I am... She had been singing a lot, now that she had found her talent. Her true meaning. Herself. Inspiration flowed through her magic like rivers in the summer when she wrote. When she sang, strumming her guitar, or striking the keys of a piano, the melodies seemed to come through the tips of her hooves. If you were devoted enough to a creative talent, you found how to bend that inspiration to your will. Easy, unless you haven't found your creative outlet. For Melodia, she had already found it. The same thing that gave her, her cutiemark. She had written a couple songs (or at least fragments of songs), and finished a song to play for Fluttershy today while she was in the hospital. That song didn't make the cut, though. It was too... depressing. In no way would it make her sick friend better, only worse. She came up with another song two hours later. Perfect. That was the song! Today she'll play it for Fluttershy, but for now, Melodia would practice, until she got every note, every beat, and every word, of the song memorized in her head. Unfortunately, she was not able to practice long. While she woke up early, and visiting hours were later in the day. Melodia had things to do, and animals to feed. Author's Note So yeah, I was really happy with part of this chapter, it kind of puts a little more ground on this. Hope you enjoyed it! Not so happy with the last couple paragraphs. I don't know why, and I can't seem to change it so I feel more confident in it... anything that might fix it up a bit?
