Author's Note
Sorry if this chapter seems a little rushed; the rest is supposed to be well composed, I just wanted to get to those because I think they'd be the more fun topics. Think of this as a semi-prologue.
Obsessed
“Ack! Spike!!!!!!” A loud voice called from the hallways. A purple dragon rushed through the halls, careening through every corner and into the office of Twilight Sparkle. The door burst open, revealing a disheveled lavender unicorn standing below the frame. “More students just turned in their parliamentary papers!!! What am I supposed to do?!”
“H-Help me,” the young dragon muttered, currently being sandwiched between the door and the severely cracked wall. Twilight gave a sheepish smile before whispering.
“Sorry.”
The song she’s singing: Fangs - Matt Champion
Orange claws glided over the sunlit guitar strings. She rapped quietly over the almost silent melody of the guitar, saying:
”I wanna count the freckles on your face,
“Rearrange em’ put em’ in the same place
“I’m obsessed, I’m obsessed... I’m obsessed...
The song she was singing might’ve been directed to someone, yet it was completely vague to the naked ear. No one would’ve been able to tell who it was about, mostly because they’d never hear it. No way would that song see the light of day.
“Damn it. It’s Hearts and Hooves Day and I still can’t come up with anything.” A creaking noise was heard from the other side of the room. Smolder turned her head, and when she found out who was standing there, she quickly jumped and hid the guitar under her backside.
“Can’t come up with what?” Ocellus asked, arching a brow and walking over to her draconic friend, who was sweating like a sponge. Ocellus cocked her head at Smolder’s antics a little, scanning around the room until something caught her eye. “Is- Is that a... guitar?” she asked, smiling amusedly. Smolder blanched, beginning to get a little to defensive; even for her.
“So what if it is,” she asked, almost lunging at Ocellus. The bug wasn’t intimidated, putting a hoof over the dragon’s mouth with ease.
“It’s fine if you play instruments, Smolder. I have a whole lot of things I could list that help me relax.” Ocellus held her hoof in front of her and looked at it with confusion, much less familiarity. “So, I’m guessing at least two.” She smiled. Smolder let out a tiny smile, followed by a small sigh of relief. She sat back on the wood of her bunk, stretching her arms behind her head.
“Good,” she answered, looking at Ocellus with a smile. “I should’ve known you’d be okay with stuff like that.” Ocellus smiled right back at her before plopping herself down next to her friend. Smolder pulled her guitar from under her straight after. “Got any requests?”
Ocellus put a hoof to her chin and pondered for a little while. Smolder had just been singing a song, she figured. Why not ask her to play that one?
“The song you were just singing.” She said, looking at Smolder with a small, smug smile. The dragon blanched for the second time this conversation, drawing back in an instant.
“No! That song won’t ever see the light of day,” she spoke, narrowing her eyes dramatically. Ocellus rolled her eyes and then focused her gaze back on Smolder. She flinched a little at the fiery determination in her eyes, but then thought for a second.
“...But you asked me if I took requests.”
“Wh-“
“I mean, it can’t be that bad, right?” Ocellus giggled. Smolder sighed.
“No. My songs aren’t bad, they’re just...” she paused. “Personal.”
“Come on!” Ocellus nearly whined, but kept her composure. “I know you personally. Or at least I’m guessing so. There’re a lot of things personal you’ve shared with me before.”
“I guess,” said Smolder, exhaling slowly. “Fine.” She declared, finally. Ocellus’ face lit up at the sound, and Smolder blushed at her sudden excitement. “B-But you can’t laugh! I-If you do- I’ll—“
“I promise I won’t laugh. Never in a million years,” Ocellus whispered teasingly, booping her friend on the nose with a hoof. Smolder’s cheeks burned at a scorch.
“Alright, alright. Ahem.” With that, her claws began to drift over the guitar strings at a steady rhythm, the sound filling the air as it emitted from the wooden instrument. Smolder took a tiny breath, eyes shut tightly. Ocellus was surprised at this sudden show of skill, slightly nodding her head to the melody of the guitar.
”I wanna count the freckles on your face,
“Rearrange em’ put em’ in the same place;
“I’m obsessed, I’m obsessed... I’m obsessed..
“Little fangs, oh, little fangs, oh
“Little fangs, little fangs
“Little fangs, little fangs, little fangs,
“Don’t you take her fangs,
“Little fangs, little fangs
The guitar stopped playing. Smolder’s right eye was twitching even as it was closed. Ocellus’ face had gone completely pink. That song was amazing, but, who was it about? What girl at this school had fangs? A lot of girls going to the school had freckles, including Ocellus, so that wasn’t a problem, but...
“Wow, Smolder. That song was... good. I-I didn’t expect that.” With those words, Smolder’s eyes shot open and darted to meet Ocellus’.
“R-Really? I mean... we live in the School of Friendship, so, we sing songs a lot.” She chuckled. Ocellus did too.
“You’re right. I just...” she paused. “D-did you have someone in mind while you wrote the song?” She asked. Smolder’s scales nearly caught on fire.
“No. N-Not really. When I write songs, which I’ve only written, like, ten,” Smolder began. “I think of things that’re on my mind… sort of. More like frustration or something. Something I needed to get off my chest.”
“Wow,” replied Ocellus, who looked in awe herself. “H-Have you ever written a song with someone? It’d be a great way to open up about this type of thing.”
“I haven’t written a song with someone before. I-If you’d be willing to sing one with me. I-I guess I could just come up with a draft and you just help me with the ideas…” Smolder said, looking away from Ocellus and fiddling with the guitar strings.
“Great. Have you ever sung a song to anyone before? Besides me?” She asked, turning away as well and rubbing a hoof. It was only then that Smolder looked straight at her, taking out a notepad and scribbling some notes down. Ocellus felt a surge of love and energy fill the air, and thank goodness she turned away, because she began subconsciously flicking her tongue at the smell.
“N-No, I guess. My brother’s really the only one who knows I like this crap.” She said, rolling her eyes.
“W-Well, Hearts and Hooves Day is coming up. Maybe we should write a song about that?”
"...So this is what you've been working on?" Asked Sandbar, who was sitting next to his draconic comrade. She fiddled the pencil in her claws, the char marks of embarrassment and frustration beading across the orange paint. Sandbar digressed. "I think it's amazing. She's gonna love it, I promise you," he continued, poking Smolder in her shoulder with a light touch. She flinched a little at the sudden contact, but then looked over to him and smiled.
"Thanks. I think Ocellus'll like it too, I guess. Can't believe this song writing stuff's making me soft," she said. Sandbar chuckled.
"It's not making you soft, you'll do fine. Just go with her to the auditorium and start playing the piano. Music calms you down like that, right?" He questioned, patting Smolder on the back with a supportive hoof. The dragoness winced a little, causing him to draw back.
"Kind of- I dunno how it's gonna affect me since she's gonna be with me the whole time. I just- I'm not sure. I-I just don't want to mess anything up between us. Our friendship is important to me, I mean- what if I ruin that?" She looked to Sandbar, gaze softer than before. He looked at her sympathetically, patting her back again. Smolder sighed.
"It'll be alright. Ocellus doesn't take things to heart like that. Even then, I'm sure she'd never want to... never see you again. Plus, I think she'll find it cute you're being all stuttery," he teased, poking Smolder one more time. She blinked, heat flushing through her whole body.
"I-I'm not-- I-I d-don't think- y-you... augh!" She exclaimed in frustration, slamming her head on the table and huddling her arms around herself. Another hoof patted her on the shoulder, but it wasn't Sandbar's.
"You doing okay? I heard Sandbar bothering you from across the table," said Ocellus. Smolder looked up slowly, only to slam her head down again. Ocellus smiled and almost giggled. Sandbar chuckled at the both of them, getting up to leave the table.
"I'll just leave you two alone," he said with a smile, walking out of earshot. Smolder brought her head up, this time keeping it up.
"I'm trying to edit this damn song. It's taking forever, and Sandbar isn't even helping." Ocellus wrapped her arms around her in a tight, warm hug, causing her wings to flare.
"It's fine. You wouldn't need to edit it now, we haven't even played it yet." She giggled, hugging her friend tighter before backing up. "How about we go to the auditorium? Professor Applejack helped me set up the piano." Smolder stood up, sighing and smiling at her changeling friend. She looked at her notepad, then back up at Ocellus, who was beaming with excitement.
"Sure."
"What's wrong, Twilight?" Starlight asked, sitting down at Twilight's desk in front of her. Twilight was currently freaking out, turning over every book in her office and leaving none unturned. She looked over to Starlight as if she were crazy, eyes both twitching and horn blaring.
"What's not wrong!? Parliamentary papers are being turned in, students are leaving! This school's gonna be shut down in a few days if I don't get things back together!" Papers flew in flurries around the room, covering the floor in a literal sheet of white. Starlight sighed.
"Look, Twilight, the first time this happened, you were devastated. You're working too hard. No wonder why you can't keep this school on it's hooves." She stated. "Maybe this is good for you." At that, Twilight flipped the desk over, which Starlight had to redirect herself to the other side of the room with a flash-pop. Twilight looked at her menacingly as her eyes twitched, but then seemed to find herself as she looked down and sighed.
"You're right. I have to break this to the students and staff before things get out of hoof."
Smolder and Ocellus walked through the dark auditorium in search for the nearest light switch. Smolder bumped into a few things, eyes closed and not even remembering her sight at times. Her feet stubbed into certain things, and she even hissed in pain a few times also. She felt around with her claws on the mahogany of the booth seats, finding no luck as she exhaled with disappointment.
Ocellus felt around with her hooves for the switch, but remembered the fact that she had changeling eyes. Flying up to the maintenance room, she flicked the lights on from the control panel. She looked at all the other controls with awe at how they glowed once the lights turned on. Hovering above some of the controls, she decided to scan the building for her friend. Looking through the glass and seeing Smolder's approval, she made her way back down, landing on the stage where the piano resided. It was black and had a leather seat, and the bottom was covered in pink velvet.
The stage was set beautifully. There was a cloth that covered the whole of the stage floor, making it soft and plush to walk on. Ocellus took a look around while she trotted on the big stage. It was blossoming with gorgeous, yet, dim lighting. The most perfect little detail if it were to be... a romantic atmosphere.
She blanched.
Smolder went up ahead and sat on the leathery seat, making sure to stretch and warm up her claws before she started playing. Ocellus walked over and sat next to her, hooves playing a few notes on the paino. Smolder looked at her, baffled, but she just giggled and spoke.
"I dabble." Smolder smiled.
"You're amazing," she said. Ocellus, to her surprise, scooted closer to her on the seat, their hips touching each other and exchanging mutual body heat. Smolder quickly looked over to her in surprise, and they started to meet each other's gaze, staring into one another's eyes. Ocellus' wings buzzed at the sudden silent atmosphere, gently inhaling and taking in the overcoming emotion. Smolder still stared at her, her eyes unjudging for maybe the first time ever. Ocellus' cheeks grew warm, and so she turned away, fanning herself with a hoof and even smiling a little.
"W-Would you... maybe wanna let me read the song before we start?" She questioned, still turned away from the dragon, who was secretly smiling herself.
"Sure," she replied, handing Ocellus the notebook. The bug reached to grab it, but that was before she could feel the hesitation radiating around Smolder. "B-But... this one's a little personal, too."
"Aw, you big softy," Ocellus cooed, still taking the notebook from her. Smolder looked away with a tiny smile on her face, her tail quivering and shaking, but she controlled it. Ocellus was finished skimming over the book, and when she was done, she looked incredibly bewildered. Her cheeks flushed at the song lyrics, and she turned to Smolder and smiled. Smolder turned away, though, and just began to play the piano notes that belonged to the song. Ocellus' ears perked up at the melody.
It was slow, yet almost somber, sad. The music was lovely, though. It didn't make Ocellus want to cry, it was more like an addictive sound. It made her want to listen to it more, to understand it. The tone of the beautiful sound from the piano made Ocellus want to soak it in. Smolder looked at her.
"D-Do you wanna start?" That made Ocellus look up, snapped out of her trance.
"Of course." She replied. Smolder cleared her throat and started playing again.
The song they're singing: Breezeblocks - Alt j(Cover by Jimmy Cowan and Leslie Laine, but I just extended that because they don't have a full cover)
"She may contain the urge to run away
"But hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks
"Citrezene your fever's gripped me again
"Never kisses all you ever send are fullstops, la la la la,
"Do you know where the wilds things go
"They go along to take your honey, la la la la
"Break down now weep build up breakfast now
"Let's eat my love my love love love, la la la la
"Muscle to muscle and toe to toe
"The fear has gripped me but here I go
"My heart sinks as I jump up
"Your hand grips hand as my eyes shut;
Smolder's fingers still glided across the piano keys, and Ocellus' hooves did the same. Once the second part came, the two began to sing their hearts out. Together.
"Do you know where the wild things go
"They go along to take your honey, la la la la
"Break down let's sleep build up breakfast now
"Let's eat my love my love love love, la la la la
"She bruises coughs she splutters pistol shots
"But hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks
"She's morphine queen of my vaccine my love my love love love, la la la la
"Muscle to muscle and toe to toe
"The fear has gripped me but here I go
"My heart sinks as I jump up
"Your hand grips hand as my eyes shut
Now, Smolder's wing had draped across Ocellus' shoulder, pulling her closer. She didn't notice, clearly not evident by the conspicuous blush that burned into her cheeks. She was smiling a little, and so was the dragon in front of her, who lashed her tail back and forth with excitement.
"She may contain the urge to runaway
"But hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks
"Germaline disinfect the scene my love my love love love
"But please don't go I love you so my lovely
They both shuffled closer to each other, slightly pressing their foreheads together. The only thing around them that they were physically aware of was the piano, and how they had to keep playing.
"Please don't go, please don't go, I love you so, I love you so
"Please don't go, please don't go, I love you so, I love you so
"Please break my heart,
"Please don't go, please don't go, I love you so,I love you so
"Please don't go, please don't go, I love you so, I love you so
"Please break my heart,ah ha
"Please don't go; I'll eat you whole,
"I love you so, I love you so, I love you so
"Please don't go,oh,; I'll eat you whole
"I love you so, I love you so, I love you so
"Please don't go,oh,I'll eat you (whole) whole;
"I love you so, I love you so, I love you so
"Please don't go,oh,; I'll eat you whole
"I love you so, I love you so, I love you so
"Please don't go,oh,; I'll eat you whole...
The two stopped playing. Ocellus slowly opened her eyes, finding them locked with Smolder's. Her wings buzzed, and she flicked her tongue over her lips a few times. Smolder leaned forward, and so did she. Just with a few more inches between them, Ocellus hesitated for a second, taking a soft exhale and taking in the moment. Feelings washed around her like waves crashing onto the shore. Her heart began to beat faster than she anticipated.
Smolder wasn't doing any better. Her eyes shut softly, and she began to feel the changeling's breath on her lips. She tried to breathe in, but, she didn't even get to. Ocellus' lips made impact with her's, nearly crashing down and shaking her world up. Smolder's heart quaked even faster than Ocellus' at that point. Taking initiative, she leaned forward into the kiss, brushing a claw on Ocellus' shoulder and gripping it tightly. The changeling pulled back. Smolder inhaled.
"I-I..." she tried to explain, but she was interrupted by the tightest embrace she'd ever been in. In time with the motion, Smolder could hear Ocellus' unsteady, heavy breath. "Woah! Are you okay?"
"Yeah- Yes, I am, I just... I didn't think that'd happen," she said, sitting up. "I-I wasn't exactly ready for that. T-That was my fault... sorry." Ocellus rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. Smolder blushed.
"Nah, Nah, it's fine, It wasn't--"
"Was that an accident?" The blue bug questioned, her cheeks reddening. Smolder chuckled.
"That's... up to you. You kissed me." She stated.
"Oh," Ocellus replied, turning away. "Right."
"N-No! It's not like that!" Smolder corrected herself, putting her hands on Ocellus' shoulders and turning her toward her. Once she saw Ocellus' face, she stopped. "I-I mean... d-did you want it to be an accident," she asked, eyes locked with Ocellus' once again. Her friend's eyes met the floor, though.
"No," she finally smiled, looking up at the dragon and touching her cheek with a hoof. "That's exactly what I wanted to happen." Smolder grinned with her eyes half lidded as their foreheads began to touch again.
"I'm glad," she finished.
Smolder walked past several classrooms with a light skip in her step. Her day had been brightened; in fact, her whole week mood meter was full of sunshine. Her and Ocellus might've became a thing after that song singing session, and it wouldn't be usual for Smolder to go on and sing about it, -ha ha!- but she just couldn't contain it. That happiness. Her happiness, was just there, shining all over her face(evident by the smile). She couldn't help it.
However, she wasn't in such a great mood after she bumped into something. "Headmare Twilight?" She asked. Twilight was standing there, face somber and drenched in tears. She was clearly very shaken up; evident by the scruffy wings and unkempt hair. Her frown was nearly suggesting that she was sulking and pouting the whole way here, except for the fact that it looked too underdone to be a frustrated pout. It was genuine. She wasn't playing around. "What's wrong?"
Smolder stood there, waiting for an answer in solemn silence. She wondered how long it'd take any princess to answer a question. Her head lifted up once Twilight gave a long, exasperated sigh.
"Everything," she said. "Listen, I'm going to need you to break the news to your friends for me. I-I know I should be staying strong right now, but I wouldn't be able to bare all the disappointment." Then, she sighed afresh. "I-I regret to inform you that- that the school is being... s-shut down." That's when Smolder was having less than a good day. Her eyes widened, pupils shrank, and her heart was crushed. She clenched her fists and struggled to hold back tears, but her chest was burning, and it felt like her heart had just given up. Twilight still continued. "I need you to tell your friends to pack their bags. The school will be evicted by the fourteenth."
That notion made Smolder huff in frustration. Her heart felt like it just died. From a perfect, healthy condition to non-beating. She was devastated. Just like her Headmare. "...So are you just not working hard enough?"
"I-" Twilight stammered. Smolder began to step forward, causing her to lose her hoofing and fumble off balance.
"Are you just giving up on the school now? Is that how it works," she questioned, stepping closer than Twilight would've liked. Her fists clenched tighter, burning with flaming anger that resonated within her. It dispersed throughout her entire body with the speed of mach 7. She was beyond angry. Mad, even, but that couldn't be it. No. Her twisted anger was far beyond some silly old words. And even then, she had to divulge it the best she could.
Twilight fell over. "S....Smolder, what are you--" Smolder had reached her limit now. There was no Smolder. Only the burning, sensitive rage that burst from within her.
Tightening her fist even more than she probably could've before, she swung. Twilight wasn't ready as the hard dragon claw made a harsh impact with her jaw, causing her muzzle to spurt out blood. The impacted spot turned purple-er after the punch, swelling up and covering at least a fifth her(now black) left eye. The rush of momentum caused her to crash against one of the pillars, the blood from her muzzle dripping onto the floor. All that rendered her near unconscious. Smolder huffed.
"Unbelievable."
"I can't believe it," cried Ocellus, who was currently sitting at a library table with the rest of her friends.
"I know, right?" Asked Gallus, who was currently holding up a game card. "Who knew Cards Against Equestria was so hardcore?" Sandbar was sitting next to him with his head being held up with his hooves, and a deck of cards splayed out before him. SIlver and Yona were sitting adjacent to him, making the group sit in a circle that ended with Ocellus and Smolder.
"You've been awful quiet, Smolder," said Sandbar. Smolder looked up at him, her face striped with dried(or probably evaporated) tears. Her eyes were almost bloodshot, yet her expression was pretty nonchalant. "My Celestia, are you alright!?"
The rest of the group got up and stood next to her, all clamoring with concern. Ocellus was especially worried and frantic, considering how she brought up a few random boxes of tissues and delivery boxes full of comfort cupcakes. Sheesh, that girl was never unprepared. "What happened!?"
"I-I..." Smolder stuttered, a lump in her throat starting to form. Her eyes were wet with newcoming tears, aching with the plead of release. ....But she had to stay strong. "...The school's shutting... down... H-Headmare Twilight said we should pack our stuff by the fourteenth." Smolder sighed, slamming her head on the table and keeping it down. Her fellow friends gasped in surprise at this, and some of them even began to break down.
"B-But Yona c-can't leave school! Yona miss friends," the yak sobbed, tears streaming in waterfalls from her eyes and soaking into the patches of fur around them. She then jumped into the nearest friend she could, which was Silverstream, and began to cry with her. The hippogriff couldn't contain herself anyhow, so she began to let it out as well.
"I-I... C-Can't... g-go.... Y-You guys're the best friends I'll ever have!" She cried, hugging Yona tightly. Sandbar, meanwhile, was trying to keep himself strong for the rest of them since it seemed Smolder'd break down any second with Ocellus clinging onto her like she was. He walked over to Gallus, who seemed like he could keep his composure.
"Just let it out, Sandy," he said, bracing himself for the worst of soggy feathers. At that, the colt kept a straight face, but nearly rammed his head straight into the griffin's chest and started to pour it out. Gallus sighed in disappointment and frustration, and when he did, he could feel his voice crack. "N-No," he tried, keeping his voice low and blinking rapidly. "I'm not gonna cry-- I'm- I'm not gonna... cr-cry!" Despite all his words of self encouragement, he ended up shedding tears the worst out of all of them. Fumbling onto the floor like a foal throwing a tantrum, he nearly rolled around with Sandbar in his arms, crying like a sprinkler.
Ocellus pressed her forehead against Smolder's, sobbing and crying and wheezing the most any of them ever would. Her tears fell onto her lover's snout, which didn't help the fact that Smolder's own tears probably turned her face into an irrigation land. Their newfound love had just been snuffed, and- and now? They'd never see each other again. Smolder gripped Ocellus' shoulders tightly, keeping her close. Ocellus, meanwhile, was grabbing Smolder's face with her hooves. It didn't take much effect by forcing Smolder to stay close, but the dragon had to. By choice.