Chapters I’ve never been one much for formal introductions so I’ll make this quick. My name is Melody and I live with my dad in a medium sized, white colored house in the outskirts of a place called Silver City.
Things were going great, unfortunately something happened though. I didn't know at the time but what happened triggered a series of events that forever changed my life, whether it was good or bad I still don’t know.
You know what? It would just be easier if I told you everything. Okay, It all began on the day of my 13th birthday...
Sunlight shined through the curtains and danced across my eyelids. I groaned and rolled over. My dad must have snuck in while I was sleeping and opened the window because there was a soft breeze blowing through my room. I sat there listening to the sound of birds for a bit before I cracked open my eyes.
I looked around my room. I had a bed, a table with various objects on it, few pictures of me a my dad on the wall, and finally a closet full of purple hooded sweaters I sometimes wear but other then that my pretty much empty.
Today is going to be a great day for today is my 13th birthday! I always look forward to this day because dad and I always go out to eat to celebrate. There's a wonderful hayburger joint in Silver City that we go to, they have the best food.
...I should probably get up.
I swing my back hooves over the side of my bed and pushed myself off before I dropped all four hooves on the ground. The feeling of the cold wood on my hooves brought a tired smile to me face.
I left my room and turned the corner into my bathroom before stopping in front of the sink and looked in the mirror. My cyan colored fur and cobalt blue mane stood out against the surrounding white environment. The only part of me that wasn’t some shade blue was my eyes, which were green.
I grabbed my hairbrush and started brushing my chin length mane. Once I was done I ran a hoof my mane with a sigh.
I turned to leave the bathroom but stopped when I saw something glimmer in the light in my reflection on my back. I blinked in confusion, why would my back be glimmering?
I turned my head and tried to look at my back, which was really hard to do but I did manage to catch a glimpse of something between my shoulderblades.
Wait, I can use the mirror! Duh!
I back up until I was in front of the mirror and then turned to my side and angled myself so I could see my back. My eyes widened in shock.
Is that... a gem?
In a panic I backed up until my back hit the wall. Not knowing what to do I started scratching my back against the wall trying to get the foreign object off my back. Unfortunately it didn't work, all I did was exhaust myself. After a few minutes of panic, I fell on my hindquarters panting.
Well, whatever, I’m not going to let this ruin my birthday! Even so, maybe I should tell my dad about the gem.
I got up off the floor and headed back into my room and grabbed one of my sweatshirts to hide the gem, I don’t want anypony to see it. I plastered on a fake smile and head toward my dad’s workshop across the hall.
I stopped and peaked around to corner and watched my dad polish one of the many gemstones he likes to collect. My dad likes to work with mainly wood and nails but he does like other things.
I knocked on the door getting his attention, the brown earth pony stallion looked up from the gem and smiled.
“Hey Mel! How's my favorite little filly on her big day?” He asked setting the gemstone down on his workbench. I stared at the gem for a minute before Into my father's green eyes.
“I… I could be better.” I said, shuffling a bit.
He frowned “Whats wrong? You look like you have a lot on your mind.”
“Well… you see…” Oh ponyfeathers, I can’t tell dad about the gem on my back! What would he even think? I’ll just have to deal with this on my own.
“Can I borrow your book on gemstones?” I asked. He raised an eyebrow by my request.
“Uh, sure. Let me get it.” He got up off his chair and walked over to the bookshelf in the back of the room. He pulled the book out and walked over to me and handed it over.
“Why the sudden interest? You never seemed too interested in gemstones before.” He asked with a tilt of his head.
“I need something new to read about,” I said quickly coming up with an excuse. We stared at each other for a moment before I turned away.
“Anyway, thanks.” And with that I left the room and headed back down the hall to my bathroom. Once I was in the bathroom I took off my sweatshirt and turned my back to my mirror and sat down. I turned my head and gazed upon the gem attached to me back then turned back and set the book I got from dad on the floor.
The book was brown with big white words that say “List Of Gemstones” on the front. Underneath the wording was a picture of a ruby, emerald, and sapphire. It was clear that dad read it often because there was several bookmarks in it. One bookmark was a diffrent colors from the rest, giving me the feeling that it's important. I’ll save that one for last.
I opened the bookmarks one by one. For some reason dad marked the gems pearl, garnet, amethyst, peridot, and rose quartz. Maybe he likes those gems?
There was only one bookmark left, the colored one. I took a deep breath and opened it.
What was on the page was a blue gem by the name of Lapis Lazuli. From the looks of it it was the same gem that was on my back. At least I have a name for the gem now.
I shut the book and glanced behind me at my reflection. It's strange, I thought that having something like this attached to you would hurt but for some reason it does not. It's almost like it was ALWAYS there.
Was it?
No, that's ridiculous. If It has always been there I would have seen and/or felt it.
Right?
I shook my head, this gem is getting to me. I stood up and put on my sweatshirt before I picked up the book with my mouth and walked out of the bathroom. I headed back down the hall and into my dad’s workshop, who was now heading one of his books.
“Hey, dad,” I said getting his attention “I’m done with the book.”
Dad marked the page he was on and stood up. He trotted over and took it from me and put it away before he turned back to me.
“It's time to head out to the Hayburger Shack!” He grinned “After that we’ll come home and open you presents and eat cake, okay?”
I nodded “Alright.”
Ah, Silver City. The second biggest city in all of Equestria. Supposedly it used to go by a different name long, long ago but it's pretty much forgotten now. The city has also became the center of new technological advancements like these things called cars. My dad is actually the original designer of the car. Where he got the idea for it is a complete mystery. There's a lot of theories going around though.
I groaned and bonked my head against the window. Of all the ponies in the world it just had to be me that got stuck like this.
My dad said “We are here” just as the car pulled into the parking lot. Once dad parked the car, we got out and went inside the shack.
I looked around, the place isn't very busy today. Dad taped me on my shoulder getting my attention.
“What are you going to have?” He asked me. I looked up and the menu and quickly made my decision.
“I’ll just have a regular hayburger with a side of fries and some coke.” Dad repeated my order to the cashier then ordered himself. It wasn’t much of a wait before we got our food. After a bit of a discussion we decided to sit by the window. I sat down and immediately started to eat my hayburger.
“For Celestia’s sake, Mel! Slow down or you’ll choke!” I looked up at him and swallowed my bite.
“Sorry dad, I’m just really hungry,” I said. Dad just laughed and took a bit of his hayburger deluxe.
We chatted for a bit about all sorts of stuff. I was so happy that I almost forgot about my particument. But the peace was shattered when a brown pegasus with a noodle like yellow hair and a hammer for a cutie mark walked up to us.
“Hey, Tinker! Long time no see!” the pegasus said to my dad with a pat on his back. Dad’s eyes widened with surprise.
“Iron Hammer, what are you doing here? I thought you and your family moved to the other side of Equestria!” Dad exclaimed.
“Yeah but Ponyville wasn’t for us. It was too… strange,” Iron shivered. The two started chit chatting about various things well meanwhile I looked on in confusion.
“Dad, who’s this?” I cut in suddenly, the two stopped talking and looked at me.
“Oh yeah this is Iron Hammer, an old friend of mine. Iron you remember my daughter Melody, right?” Iron stepped forward and shock my hoof in greeting.
“Hey Melody! Oh man, the last time I saw you, you were still just a foal! Of all of your dad’s jewels your his most prized you know.” The fur along my back raised in anger at being called a jewel. For some reason I felt very offended.
Iron turned back toward my dad “She looks so much like her mother that its scary, you know. I mean seriously, look at the filly! The only thing that doesn't look like her is her eyes! Speaking of which, I forgot to ask you the last time I saw you but whatever happened to Melody’s mother? She disappeared right when your daughter was born.”
Suddenly the air in the room seemed to dropped a few degrees. A very sad look crossed dad’s face and he said “She’s… no longer with us.”
Irons face fell “Oh, I’m sorry Tink. I didn’t know. At least you have Melody, right?”
“Yeah…” A small smile danced across his lips as dad turned his eyes toward me “At least I have Melody.”
After two two stallions talked for a bit, me and dad went home and finished celebrating my birthday. I opened my presents and ate cake with my dad happy. That night I layed in bed staring up at the ceiling in thought.
What's going to happen now? Am I going to be dubbed a freak at school because of my gem? What dad going to think if I tell him? What should I do?
And why do I feel like this is only the beginning?
Author's Note
A little slow but the story is going to get a LOT better in later chapters, trust me. There's also a few important things to remember in this chapter so pay attention to the smallest detail. It'll come to play in later chapters.
I bolted awake before looking around and sighing, I ran a hoof through my mane. I had a horrible dream but for the life of me I can’t seem to remember what it was. It's really frustrating that I can’t remember because I have a feeling that it was important.
Oh well, time to get ready for the new school year.
I shut the car door behind me as dad rolled down the passenger side window.
“Bye Melody, have a good first day of highschool!” Dad said with a smile causing me to and look at him.
“I’ll try,” I mumbled. I don’t know how good of a day I’ll have well trying to fight down my fears of what ponies will think if they saw what's on my back…
With that in mind I walked up to the school building and I opened the doors and gazed upon the herd of ponies older than me wandering the halls.
Okay Melody, you’ve got this! You’ve just gotta get through high school and possibly your whole life without anypony seeing your gem. Your not a freak, just your everyday pony that just so happens to have a little something extra.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
I was just about to head inside when suddenly somepony pushed passed me nearly knocking me over.
“Move it blank flank.” I know that voice, I looked up and stared angrily and my offender.
“That's right, marvel at the sight of Lovely Treasure!” The white earth pony said well flipping her curly pink and purple mane. Her treasure chest cutie mark seemed even more sparkly today, if its even possible. I rolled my eyes at the sight of her.
“Your so full of yourself it's ridiculous,” I growled. Lovely scoffed and walked up to me and bent down to my height and poked me in the chest.
“Your just jealous that your not absolute perfection like me! You're lucky that you skipped two years of middle school and made it to high school this early. Unlike me who is smarter and prettier than everypony here-” She got so close to my face I could smell what she had for breakfast this morning.
“You. Are. Nothing.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“First of all; you REALLY need a breath mint. Second of all; nopony’s perfect Lovely, not even you. Everypony has flaws no matter how hard somepony tries to hide them. For example; you have an ego the size of a whale,” I said causing her to sputter in disbelief.
“But- you- UGHH!” In a fit of rage, the egoistical filly stormed off down the hall. She’s probably went off to find her little ‘gang’ of ‘friends’ and complain.
The bell rang signaling everypony to get to class. I sighed and nervously adjusted my sweatshirt.
Well, here goes nothing.
High School seems to be okay, I managed to get to lunch without any problem other than a few ponies giving me odd looks. I can’t blame them though, not only am I wearing a sweatshirt but I also look like an 8 year old that got lost and wandered into the building. I sometimes really hate being short.
I looked at the sign that said what's for lunch with a frown. It was mac ‘n cheese today, I hate that stuff! At least there's peanuts.
I like peanuts.
After I got my lunch consisting of the cheesy noodles of death, an apple, and two packages of peanuts I sat at an empty table and started eating my food. As I ate I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I looked around but I couldn't seem to find what was staring at me.
After I was down eating I decided to head to the bathroom. Again, I could feel eyes at the back of my skull.
Suddenly, just as I pushed open the bathroom door and went inside a hoof shot out and wrapped around my neck. I was dragged into the bathroom and thrown on the floor. I looked up at my assaulter with horror.
It was Lovely Treasure and she looked pissed!
“Heyyy Lovely, long time no see!” I laughed nervously “Beautiful weather we’re having, right?”
“I’ve had enough of your games Melody!” She growled well stomping her hoof “It's about time somebody taught you who's boss.”
I backed up as she started approaching me. My back hit the wall.
“I’m going to beat the snot out of you” she whispered in my face. She raised her hoof preparing to do just as she promised when suddenly there was a rattling sound coming from the toilet stalls.
“What the-” was all Lovely managed to get out before a loud boom and sudden gushes of water came flying out of the stalls and hit her and knocked her over. There was a loud smack as the back of her head hit the sink and then the water stopped gushing. I stood staring at all the water on the floor stupidly before looking in the stalls and noticing and the toilets have been ripped from the ground exposing the pipes. Probably from the large amount of water that came out so quickly.
“What... just happened?” I wondered before I turned around and noticed Lovely laying unmoving on the floor.
“Oh no!” I ran over to her and put my my hoof on her neck checking for a pulse. I sighed in relief when I found one.
Suddenly the bathroom door opened causing my head to shoot up. It was my homeroom teacher Owl Feather. She looked at all the water before she turned her wide eyes to the unconscious Lovely then to me.
“What did you do?” She whispered with horror.
“I-I didn't do anything! It was the water, it suddenly came flying out of the toilets and hit her!” I tried explaining as Owl came running over and pushed me away from Lovely. She bended down and scooped Lovely onto her back before she ran to the door and took off down the hall toward the nurse's office with me in hot pursuit.
I nervously fiddled with my tail as I watched Principal High Hopes pace in front of me. Everytime he turned his eyes toward me I sat up a bit straighter in my chair.
“Destruction of school property and injury to a fellow student, not to mention lying to me? Your In a whole lot of trouble Melody!” High ranted.
“I’m not lying! The water did it!” I protested.
“That's enough, you’ve been caught red hoofed so quit it,” his horn sparked with anger. I sat back and huffed in frustration just as my dad walked into the office. He took one glance at the scene before him and sighed.
“Melody not only destroyed school property but she also caused injury to another student. She’s looking up to three weeks of suspension.”
“Principal High Hopes, Melody would never intentionally hurt another pony unless she was defending herself,” dad said “it's just not in her nature.”
“Even if that's true she still lied to me about what happened,” High pointed out.
“I’m not lying,” I growled causing dad to turn his attention toward me.
“What happened then?” He asked.
“Lovely cornered me in the bathroom and was about beat me up when suddenly the toilets exploded. Water burst out of the stalls and knocked her into the sink. Like I said it was the water not me.” When I said the word water dad stiffened up. He was quite from a moment before she suddenly spoke up.
“I’m going to take her home early so we can sort out this problem, lets go Melody.” I Looked at dad in confusion but followed him out the door.
Once we were in the car we sat in silence before I said “I’m serious, it was the water dad.”
“Yes… the water. There was probably a unicorn hiding somewhere controlling the water with their magic. It couldn't be… that, could it? No it couldn't, it was just a unicorn.” He mumbled to himself.
“Dad?” I questioned slowly.
“It was just a unicorn.”
After the incident involving the school bathroom the Principal did just as he promised, I was suspended for three weeks which really sucks because I didn't do anything. As for my dad, we haven’t talked much. Mostly because I feel awkward when he looks at me- it's like he’s seeing somepony else. He has always said that I look like my mom so maybe he’s been thinking about mom again. You know what's funny though? For how much dad thinks of her you'd think he’d have pictures of her everywhere, right? Wrong! He doesn't that even one picture. He hasn't even mention her name.
Not even once.
I shook me head clearing my thoughts and flipped the page of the book I was reading. I sat in the yard outside the house under the blossom tree my dad liked so much reading one of his books on gemstones.
I’ve never really been interested in gems up until recently. Now I know that they are actually very interesting. They come in all sorts of shapes and colors. They also spark a whole bunch of emotions in me. For example, Rose Quartz and Peridots make me happy well Jasper and Malachite makes me feel scared and guilty. I don’t know why though- it just happens.
A sudden gust of wind blew across the meadow bringing with it the sound of a truck. I raised my head and watched it stop in front of that empty house across the street. Dad did say something about his friend moving nearby…
I watched as Iron Hammer got out of the truck followed by a pink unicorn mare with her yellow mane pulled back in a low hanging ponytail. Another mare hopped out, she was a light pink unicorn with a messy black and purple mane. Finally a light brown earth pony colt with a noodle like orange mane stumbled out. He adjusted his saddle bag before he looked toward me and smiled and waved. I gently waved back.
The colt turned and talked with Iron who nodded before the colt picked some flowers from the house’s flower bed. I cocked my head to the side when he ran across the street and stopped in front of me. Now that he was right next to me I could see his cutie mark was a jar of honey.
“Hi,” he greeted with a smile “I’m Honey! What's your name?”
“Uh, I’m Melody.”
“Melody, what a nice name! Oh yeah, these are for you,” he handed me the flowers he picked. I stared at them with confusion.
“Thanks but what are these for?” I asked causing him to poke at the ground shyly.
“Oh well…”a bright red blush covered his face “I thought you would like them. You like them, right?”
I sniffed them and smiled “Yeah, their nice.”
If it was even possible his blush got brighter “Would you like to hang out? My mom could make us some sandwiches.”
I thought for a moment before nodding “Sure.”
He scratched the back of his head and held out his hoof for me to take. I stared at it before shrugging and letting him help me up. Unfortunately I forgot I was wearing a blanket and it slipped off revealing my gem. My eyes widened and I quickly tried to hide it with the blanket but it was too late, Honey had already saw it.
“A gem?” He pulled the blanket back off of me, I backed up in fear and ran behind the tree. What should I do? Should I run? Should I… fight?
“Wait, don’t hide!” His head peeked around the tree “Please let me see… I won't hurt you.”
I was silent for a moment before before I said, “Promise?”
“Promise.” I sighed and walked out from behind the tree.
“See? I told you I wouldn’t hurt you!” He smiled calmly and sat down. hesitantly, I sat down next to him. We sat in silence until Honey broke it.
“Can… Can I look at it?” He asked.
“Um, Okay.” He clapped his hooves with excitement before he adjusted his body so he could see the gem better. It feels weird to have somepony stare at my gem. I was really confused though, why ain’t he running away? Why isn't he trying to hurt me? I was prepared if by chance somepony saw it but he ain't acting like i'd expect. Instead he almost seems fascinated by me.
A shiver went up my spin when he suddenly touched it. He pulled his hoof away and grabbed something out of his saddle bag. I watched as he pulled out a journal and and a pencil. He smiled and started to sketch something. I watched him for a bit before I spoke up.
“What are you doing?” I asked with a bit of nervousness.
“I’m writing in my journal which I use to keep a record of the weird and strange things I come across.” The sketch was starting to take the form of a teardrop shaped gem that was placed on what I assume was my back.
“So your saying I’m one of you ‘weird’ and ‘strange’ things?” I asked/growled. His eyes widened as the pencil he was holding slipped from his mouth.
“No! I’m not saying that at all! Your actually very beautiful.” Once again a blush appeared on his face.
I flicked my ear “I’m sorry, I couldn't hear you. What did you say?”
“Nothing!” Honey said quickly and scrambled to his hooves “Anyways, you still what to get that sandwich?”
“Even after finding about my gem, you still want to get a sandwich with me?” I asked well getting to my hooves.
“Of course!” He confirmed patting me on the back.
I sighed “Okay, just let me get my sweatshirt.”
I took a big bite of the daisy sandwich with a smile. Me and Honey we're sitting in his bedroom, which was completely full of books. One thing I did learn about him other then the fact he likes books is that he’s a conspiracy theorist. I found that out as soon as I got in his room. He suddenly started talking about an ancient book he got from his aunt that had a bunch of theories one of his ancestors wrote down.
Like humans, he just won't stop talking about humans. Apparently they were an ancient race of intelligent bipedal apes that mysteriously disappeared around the time modern ponies are said to came into existence which was about 2,000 years ago.
It's the biggest line of bull i’ve ever heard.
“Melody?” Honey said getting my attention “About your gem, how did you get it? Did it like show up one day?”
“Yeah it did, it showed up about a week and a half ago.” I confirmed well stuffing the last of my sandwich in my mouth.
He put a hoof on his chin “It sounds like something magic related. Oh, I know! How bout you talk to my sister Star Shine? She knows a lot about magic and magical objects, maybe she can give you some answers.”
“Great idea but after this I don’t want any other ponies finding out about it.” I stood up and stretched.
We left Honey’s room and walked across the hall. We stopped before a door and suddenly I felt very nervous. He knocked on the door, there was some shuffling before the door opened to reveal that light pink unicorn with the black and purple mane from earlier. Now that she was closer I could see her cutie mark which was a swirling galaxy.
“Yes?” She asked with an air of laziness.
“We need your help”
I couldn't help but giggle that the sensation of Star Shine’s magic scanning me. She was making a lot of strange faces as she went over me.
“This gem… it gives off a magical energy that i’ve never seen before. It's amazing!” Star grinned with excitement “It gives of the around the same amount of magic of a high level unicorn’s horn naturally gives off!”
“So are you saying I can use magic with this thing?” I questioned her.
“In theory you can use a form of magic. Okay let's test something, lets see what happens when I do THIS!” I felt a small amount of electricity run through my body. I jumped back and practically hissed at her like a cat. At that moment the window across the room shattered as a sudden gush of water came flying in and blasted Star in the face leaving her soaking wet. It took me a moment to realize what just happened.
“Oh no it happened again!” I grabbed my mane with my hooves and pulled it “Why do weird things always happen around me?!”
Star spat out a fish before grinning once again “I was right, you can use a form of magic despite being an earth pony! Hydrokinesis by the looks of it.”
I stared at her “So… I did that?”
“Yup!”
“Okay so one last question, Why did this magical gem suddenly show up on my 13th birthday?” She started scanning me again.
“To me it sounds like a coming of age thing but after scanning you I found out that you have residue from a long term spell. A camouflage spell perhaps?” She put a hoof on her chin. I looked at her in confusion, did she just say a long term spell? I had a spell on me and I didn’t even know?
“Um, thanks Star. I think I’m going to go now.”
Author's Note
Please leave a comment about what you like or dislike about the story so far! Comments help me grow and get better at writing.
