Unseen Voiceby DizzyPaws356ChaptersChapter 1: Intro.Chapter 2: Ostinato.Chapter 3: Terminus.Chapter 4: Crescendo.Chapter 5: Assimilation.Chapter 6: Coda.Chapter 7: Accelerando.Chapter 8: Sempre.Chapter 1: Intro.♫-Chapter 1-♫ ♫-Intro-♫ =-=-=-=-= A mare walking down a long hallway, her steps lightly fill the hall as she makes her way. Just finishing a singing performance at a theaters grand re-opening after a remodel, she was tired and ready to call it a night. Backstage, she opens the door with the name 'Melody Echo' on it. Stepping in, she forgets to fully close the door behind her, "Well... Another day of making some ponies happy I guess." she said to herself as a green flame start from her hooves, crawling up her body. Unharmed by the unusual fire, her soft red coat turns black and rough. Holes appear throughout her legs, looking almost rotted like. Making its way up her body reaching her mane and tail. Short, bright yellow, with neon green streaks, turn a dull grey and flat. The flames covering her back as her long feathery wings change into thin, shorter membrane like wings, spread out and quickly flapping for just a moment. With the flames travel almost complete, it forms a horn on her head. Opening her eyes, revealing her use to be bright gold color, change to a crystal like magenta color. Looking into the mirrors reflection of what was a bright, happy looking mare, now turned to a dull, insect like creature in disguise. Melody sighs as she takes a moment to reflect on the day. With her emotions mix and twist inside her head, "I just wish I could fit in..." she tells her reflection as if it was another pony, "Or at least just remember where I belong..." she continues the conversation with the reflection, "I just can not remember..." she mutters with tears growing in the corners of her eyes, building up steady before falling down the sides of her face, leaving a liquid trail as the drops hit the floor. Looking down at her hooves to see holes going right through them, showing the floor on the other side. -=-=- Quite a few months ago, Queen Chrysalis attempted to take over Canterlot, but failed in doing so. In the mist of the fight between Chrysalis' hive and the Main Six, Melody was knocked out. Some how, after Shining Armors and Princess Cadance's expulsion spell, Melody remained inside the Castle. Both Shining and Cadance stayed inside the castle to keep the shield up till they know for sure that the threat was gone and was not going to be coming back. Even with the shield around the kingdom, normal ponies where able to enter and exit though the designated guard points to make sure every day ponies lives could continue. Just a few hours after the hive was removed from the castle. Melody wakes up from being unconscious to the sound of some ponies alerting the guards that a changeling was found hiding in an alley. Vision blurry and hearing slowly coming back. She realizes whats going on once the guards show up. Stumbling to get up and turn around to escape, she bumps the walls and dumpsters as she gallops quickly to get away. The sounds of the guards hoof steps stay roaring behind her as she tries to get them off her trail. During the chaos, Melody tries to even remember why the guards are even running after her in the first place, but if there was a few ponies calling for them, she though that she must have done something bad. After what feels like a mile, she reaches the end of the castle. With all of her strength, she runs as fast as she can before abrupt stop. Face first, Melody collides with the force field. She was able to catch herself before falling to the ground, she quickly dashes to a nearby grouping of bushes. The guards galloping out from the nearby buildings, they lost sight of the changeling they where chasing after, "It must have changed it's path. If it would have flown away, we would have spotted it." one of the royal guard's said to the others, "Let's split up. Two head north, two head south. I will try to back track and see if it went back to where we found it." another guard said. Nodding in agreement, two headed north as the other two headed south. The last guard stood for a moment, "We will find it no matter what. It wont be able to leave as long as the shield is still up." he said as he trots back down the path. -=-=- With tears streaming down her cheeks, sobbing as the only memory she really has is being chased by guards and not even knowing why, she looks back at her reflection. Wiping the tears off her cheeks as she takes a deep breath, holding it for just a few moments, before letting it back out, "Well... I guess it's not that bad though... I can still survive off the attention I get when I perform... But I do worry what will happen if anypony finds out..." Melody tells her reflection. Even tho it is not a real pony, she finds some relief in talking to the mirror, "I just have to keep living the life that I created to survive..." Melody stays sitting in her room, staring at her self, just pondering about how things could be. She now wonders about the place she came from, if she would ever return, or if she could ever remember what it was even like. Then her thoughts trailed off to wondering of what will happen if her little secret would ever be revealed. Would they just simply kick her out of the castle? Will they lock her up and never let her free? Or would they skip the trouble of having her in the kingdom and exterminate her right away. Her mind cycles though everything she thinks that may happen if the ponies of Canterlot ever found out. Like a statue Melody sits in front of the mirror, staring at her self, numb by her own thoughts. Time slips past Melody, seconds becomes minutes and before she knew it, a little more then an hour skips past her, "Well I should have nothing to worry about. I've been doing this for quite some time and I don't plan on getting caught anytime soon." Melody tells her mirror with confidence, making her self feel better about the situation, "I've made this kingdom my home and that's what it will be!" she continues to talk to the mirror, but now in a better mood. Chapter 2: Ostinato.♫-Chapter 2-♫ ♫-Ostinato-♫ =-=-=-=-= The hallway Melody left empty, fills with a soft humming sound as a cobalt blue mare trails down the path. Her wings folded up as she makes her way. Her eyes closed as she hums a soft tune, a little low in tone, but soothing. Even with her eyes closed, she navigates the halls with no problem. Turn after turn, she trots down the dimly lit hallway. Stopping only a few door down from Melody's room, she stops, "I think I am almost there... I hope she didn't leave yet..." she tells herself as she places her hoof on the wall. Step by step, she uses the wall to guide her way before Melody's partly open door gives way and opens, "Hello? Melody? Sorry to intrude, but..." Melody, still in changeling form stunned from hearing another pony in her room. Looking at the reflection in the mirror, right over her opaque wings to watch the blue mare takes a few steps in, "Melody?" she ask before Melody's horn glow to close the door. Quickly rushing to the mare, transforming to her pony form, and pinning her to the wall, "Who are you! Why didn't you knock! What all did you see!" Melody shouts as she stares at the blue pegasus. Scared and surprised from the motion of being pinned to the wall, she clears her throat, "I-I'm Sonorous... Sonorous Timbre... I was at your show today and wanted to meet you... And I promise... I did not see anything..." Filled with anger and upset with herself by letting somepony walk in on her as her guard was down, she stares into the mare's eyes. Melody watches Sonorous' eyes, purple in color, jotting around aimlessly, pupils glassy, and looks as if she was looking right though Melody. Sonorous staying very calm and says convincing, "I did not see anything... I am blind... And have been blind for a very long time..." she said, with a little sadness in her voice. Melody continues to stare in the consistent shifting eyes of Sonorous. Not fully convinced, a light admits from Melody's forehead, illuminating a quill on the dresser. It floats over to the mares, shifting her head back a little, the tip of the quill gets close to Sonorous' eyes. The quill floating just inch's from the reckless, glassy purple eyes, Sonorous does not flinch or wince as the quill shifts from eye to eye and gets closer. The only reaction Melody gets from her is when her eye lashes graze the quills tip. Sonorous shifts her head once her eye lash touched the tip of the quill. Melody pulls the quill away, "Well, if you are blind, how did you find my room?" she ask, loosening her grip. Sonorous shift her head back to face Melody, "Well I am a singer too... My dressing room is down the east wing, room 312. I asked the manager where your room was and just made my way. I didn't mean to intrude on whatever you where doing..." she said apologetic. Melody takes a moment, convinced that this mare just mite be telling the truth. Loosening her grip, she takes a step back, "Well why didn't you knock..." she ask the blind pony, "You know its rude to just walk in..." she adds. Sonorous nods her head, "That is true and I hope you can forgive me, but I was just excited to meet you. Most of the other singers in Canterlot kinda look down at me for being blind, and its hard to have much in common with other ponies. So it is kinda hard to make friends... I was wanting to ask if you wanted to be friends... We are both singers and the newest ones here... If not, its okay..." she tells Melody in hopes she says yes. Surprised by hearing this blue pegasus was wanting to be her friend, she took a moment to think about it. 'Does she really want to be my friend? Can I really trust her? Should I attempt to make a friend?' and may questions a like fill Melody's head, but before she can answer, her mind thinks of what would happen if Sonorous found out the truth. If they do became friends, would she be able to trust Sonorous to keep her secret? Or if they ever got in an argument, would she slip up and mention it, or even use it to blackmail her? Melody's mind stuck in a loop of wanting a friend, but scared to find out what would happen if Canterlot found out who she really is. "You do not have to accept being my friend right now. I know you must be tired from your show earlier and you know where my room is, so you can always stop by." Sonorous says, braking the silence between them. Melody takes a step back, pulling herself out of her mind and back into the moment, "Yeah... I just need to think about it... I just don't have many friends and its a little hard for me to make friends too..." Melody says hanging her head. Sonorous hears the tone change in Melody's voice, "No need to worry, Melody, just have a good nights rest. You can stop by my room whenever, you are invited at any time." she tells her as she stands. Sonorous waits just a moment before using her hoof to find the door. Once she finds the door knob, she opens the door, steps out, then close the door behind her. Melody just watch the pegasus make her way out of the room. Soon as the door shuts, Melody hears a soft humming fade down the hall. As soon as the sound faces into the distance, Melody slowly opens the door and pokes her head out. Peeking out, down the hall toward the sound to see Sonorous turning the corner. Melody steps back, closing the door, and sit in the middle of the room. Once again, she finds herself with a mind full of mixed emotions and confused of what to do. Should she try and make her first friend? Will she be able to ever trust Sonorous if she ever feels like she can tell her what she really is? Or will she be scared and run off to tell everypony what she really is? If she is ran out of town, where can she go? With so many unanswered question, Melody slowly turns back to her changeling form. Looking across the room, back to her reflection, she stares at herself as her mind continues to bombard her with questions and scenarios, good and bad. Lost in the moment, time passes minute after minute till an hour passes and Melody lie down, just to rest her eyes for a moment, turned into sound slumber her mind needed. Chapter 3: Terminus.♫-Chapter 3-♫ ♫-Terminus-♫ =-=-=-=-= Melody standing on stage, two spotlights connected to the ceiling pointing down at her, lighting up the floor around her as she sings. A classic red curtain framing the center of the stage, a backdrop of a bright starry night with some lights twinkling from one side to the other of the stage. A group of well dressed ponies sitting at the foot of the stage, formed a semicircle with a few instruments. A large cello deep tone, three elegant violins, two playful flutes, a rattling xylophone and a towering harp. The blend of Melody's voice, the vibrating strings, the rushing air, and the tapping of metal bars mix together in a soothing wave of sound. In moment the moment with her eyes shut, Melody forgets what she really is, she gets to feel loved and accepted. She even gets to feed on the emotions with so much attention and even doing it safely without harming anypony. With a performance like this, Melody would be satisfied for a few days, she can spend the time relaxing and enjoy some time to herself. Suddenly a shriek halts the musical ponies from playing. Melodys attention abruptly drawn to the sound that put the show on pause. Upon opening her eyes, she hears the entire audience gasp and shouting. She looks down to see her pretty red coat turned black and her legs covered in holes. 'What happened? How did I transform without knowing? Why now!' she ask herself as he looks up to watch the ponies fleeing. Before she could move, she spots the guards rushing in, galloping right to her. Melody frozen in fear, she watches as the gold plated ponies make their way to her. "No! Stop! Don't hurt me!" Melody screams as she jolts from the floor. Shocked out of slumber and into reality, streams of tears run down her face, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind reckless, and shaking from the idea of what she dreamed of. Shes partly relieved that it was only a dream, but does not stop her body from trembling in fear. Taking her time, she tries to calm herself down, telling herself she is okay and there is nothing to worry about. After some time, Melody pulls herself together and stands up. Walking over to her table to see herself still in changeling form. Wiping her cheeks, and clearing her throat, she transforms into her pony form, "Thankfully that was only a dream..." she tells her reflection as her reckless mind softly replays the dream in her head. Once going back though the awful nightmare, she realizes something... Once she opened her eyes in the dream, she spotted a cobalt blue pegasus. A baby blue like mane with baby pink like streaks spread around like thick veins. Her crystal like purple eyes fixed on Melody as she was in her changeling form. Unlike all the other ponies, she was sitting and smiling with her wings spread out wide. Melody thinks about it for a minute before thinking to herself. 'Why was she smiling? Was she not scared of what I was, like everypony else?' she ask herself before shaking her head, "What am I thinking? Of course she was not scared, she didn't know what she was looking at. She would act the same if she knew..." Melody says out loud as her ears droop down, but for a moment she thinks about it. 'Maybe it wouldn't be a bad place to start?' she thinks to herself, 'She is blind so I can try to be in my changeling form and try feel more confident about it.' she thinks about it more. Pondering on the idea of making a friend worries her, but decides to give it a try. She has been Canterlot for quite some time and none of her memory has came back to her yet. Confidently smiling at her own reflection in the mirror as she decides to take the chance and make a friend. With her confidence starting to rise, she grabs the comb sitting on the table to brush her mane. She starts to think how nice it will be to have a friend to hang out with and be able talk to, it brings a smile to her face. Once Melody finishes brushing her mane and tail, she walks out of her room and down the hall, "Let's see... If I remember correctly... She said the east wing... Room 312..." she mutters to herself, making way to the lobby. When walking into the lobby, she sees a variety of ponies walking in and out. Looking at the signs posed around the room, she spots the sign that points to the east wing of the building. Feeling like some of the ponies may be watching her, she quickly trots the direction the arrow points. Feeling a tad on edge, she glances over her shoulder every so often, making sure no pony was following her. "Room 305... 306... 307..." Melody counts the room numbers as she passes, "310... 311... And room 312. I hope she is here." she hears soft, joyful humming from inside the room just before she knocks, "Hello? Sonorous? You here?" she ask waiting for a reply. Right when she finishes knocking on the door, the humming stops, "Yes I am, one moment." Melody hears from the other side just before hearing a lower toned hum followed after. Just a few seconds later, Sonorous opens the door, "Hello Melody. I'm glad you stopped by. Did you have a goodnight sleep last night?" she ask with a smile on her face. Melody staying quiet for just a moment, "It was okay. I had a little trouble falling asleep, but I was able to get some rest... Wait, how did you know it was me at the door? I thought you where blind?" she ask. Sonorous just keeps smiling as she giggles at Melody's question, "I am blind silly, I remember your voice from last night. In order to tell some ponies apart, I got pretty good at remembering what some ponies sound like. It would be rude to not know who I am talking to, so I had to work on it for quite awhile." she said with a grin still on her face, "O, talking about rude, I haven't invited you in yet. Would you like to come in?" she ask taking a step to the side, "Sorry if my room is a mess. I have a maid that comes in to tidy things up every few days." Looking inside, Melody sees the room is very well made. Nothing looked wrong with the room, other then maybe a lack of decor, it seemed like a really nice room. What was she thinking? What would a blind pony need with decor? Feeling a tab bad thinking it, she shakes her head, "No worries, they do a great job keeping it looking good." Melody tells Sonorous, "And I was thinking, maybe we could go and get lunch somewhere, or maybe sit down at the park downtown?" she adds, slightly nervous that's shes asking to much. Sonorous' face lights up as she hears the question, "O I would love to! I know a little café that has the best teas and sweets, you may have to guide the way, but I know how to get there from here." she says. Melody smiles from ear to ear as she hears Sonorous excited to hang out with her. Feeling accepted as a friend, she forgets what happen the night before and replies, "Of course! Just tell me where to go!" she replies with matched excitement. The two mares walk back to the lobby, then out the front doors. The sun shining bright, a soft breeze passing by as a few song birds chirp as they fly by. To Melody, this is a day she would never forget. Chapter 4: Crescendo.♫-Chapter 4-♫ ♫-Crescendo-♫ =-=-=-=-= Melody and Sonorous sitting at a table in front of the Hayday café. The sun brightly shining, a soft breeze glides past them every so often, and the sound of busy hooves rumble in the road. The mares make small talk as they sip on the teas sitting at a table, "So, just out of curiosity, how long have you been singing?" Sonorous asked reaching for the small pile of mini muffins they ordered with their tea. Melody pushes the plate to Sonorous' hoof for her. Taking a moment to reply, "Well... When I was a filly, I found out I really enjoyed it, wanted to be a singer after watching so many performances." she said, in hopes Sonorous would believe her, "What about you?" Sonorous taking a moment for her to grab a muffin, she replies, "Well, when I was young, I started loosing my sight, and doctors could not find out why, I kinda got depressed as I watched my vision slowly fade..." she takes a bite of the muffin, chewing it, and swallows, "My mom tried to cheer me up and would play music whenever she could. She would even take me to the theater when musicals would be performing. She would even spend extra bits for us to go back stage sense the visual part of the shows did not matter. I even got to meet some of the actors and singers between brakes." she continued as she stops to take a sip of tea. "Is the reason why you hum a lot is because you love singing so much?" Melody asks, "I noticed you do hum a lot." she adds reaching for a muffin. Sonorous sounding a little surprised, "You can hear my hums? No pony normally hears it." she adds taking a sip of tea. Melody a bit confused on the answer, "Well yeah? You hummed once you left my room last night and I heard you humming when I came to your room." she pauses for a moment, "And remembering right, the first hum I heard was like a joyful tune, but changed low in tone." she tells Sonorous. With a little grin, she finishes her tea, "Well when I was finally fully blind, I had to find a way to get around, and being the rebellious filly I was on using a walking stick, and after some time found out after loosing sight." Sonorous takes a moment place her teacup down, "After awhile, I heard about how some animals can get around by making sounds. It took a very long time, but I am able to use sound to get around a little better." she says smiling, "I started with tick sounds and kinda higher pitch hums, but it would annoy the ponies around me. So testing with different pitch and tones, I found just the right sound I can make to not annoy other ponies and let me get around." she continued. Melody amazed to find out Sonorous' ability with sound, "Wow, that is amazing! I would have never expected..." she says finishing her tea. The mares continue to talk for hours. Melody doing her best to answer any of Sonorous' questions, ranging from when she was a filly, to modern day stuff. Even tho Melody had to lie about most of it, she enjoyed talking with Sonorous. Suddenly Melody spots a group of royal guards trotting down the road. She watches quietly as they pass by. One of the guards looks over at her as they walk. In just a few moments of eye contact, Melody's mind starts thinking, her heart starts to race, and her nerves act up. "Melody? You okay?" Sonorous ask as she looks confused. Melody shakes her head, "Yeah, sorry, I got distracted for a moment... What where we talking about?" she ask looking away from the guards, "I was asking if there was anywhere else you would like to go to today." Sonorous repeats, "If you can't think of anything, we can always go back to our rooms." she adds. Melody takes a minute to think. "Well it is such a nice day, we could trot around the park for a little while." Melody answers as she gathers the tea cups and plates to give them back to the café. Melody and Sonorous make their way to the park. Can't help but to watch everypony as they walk by, Melody starts to feel on edge, she is normally not out this long at once. As they continue to talk and trot around, Sonorous hears uneasiness in Melody's voice, "Are you sure you are okay? Just before we left the café, you've seemed a little off." Sonorous ask concerned. Looking over to her, Melody replies to the blind pony, "Yeah. I just don't really go out often and normally not around other ponies for this long, but I am okay. Just need to get use to it is all." she said smiling, "Plus we can't just call it a day so soon, it would be a shame if we just went back to our rooms now." Melody adds sounding more cheerful. The two mares lose track of time as they make laps around the park. The pretty blue sky with clouds sprinkling the view, now turns a vibrant orange. Melody lets Sonorous know that it is getting late, they make their way back to the building they left this morning. Just a block or two away form their destination Sonorous stops suddenly, "Melody, is the sky dark enough to see the stars yet?" she ask. Stopping to hear the question, Melody looks up, "Not quite yet, but it should be in just a bit. Why do you ask?" she replies, pondering on the odd question, "Well if its not to much to ask for, would it be okay if we wait just a bit till they come out?" Sonorous answers. Seeing no reason not to just wait a few minuets till the sky darkens a little more, "I don't see why not, mind me asking why?" Melody ask as they sit. Sonorous smiling, "I'll let you know why once the stars come out." she said, sounding excited for something Melody thinks is something simple. Both mares sit and wait, Melody watching the sky till the stars start to show one after another. Till the sky was full of twinkling starts, "Okay. The stars are out." Melody tells Sonorous. With smile brighter then the stars above, Sonorous ask, "Can you please describe the stars for me." Looking up at the stars, Melody try to describes what she is looking at the best she can, "Hmm... Well the there is a lot of stars. They stretch from one side of the dark night sky to the other." she said looking over to Sonorous. The cobalt mare looking straight up in the night sky. The stars reflecting off her glassy eyes as Melody can about see her imagining what she is saying, looking back up before continuing, "Some stars looking bigger then others, each of them taking turns to twinkle, the small flash of lights draw your eyes around endlessly. The night sky is so clear, you can even see a few constellations." she adds to the description to spot Sonorous' wings open wide, "Really? What constellations can you see?" she ask with her eyes still drawn to the sky. Melody panicking a little because she didn't really know how any of them looked off the top of her head, but knew a few by name. She listed off a few that she knew. Sonorous' smile glued to her face as Melody tells her about the starry night, "Thank you Melody. I've always missed looking up at clear night sky when I was just a filly, it's really the only thing I miss looking at." she said folding her wings back down and tilting her head back to Melody, "You did a great by the way. Most ponies just kinda say the same thing." she said standing back up, "We can go in now." she said with her smile still printed on her face. Leading Sonorous to her room, she ask stepping in, "I know its last moment, but would you like to spend the night? We can make it like a slumber party. I have plenty of music we can listen to as well." Sonorous ask in hopes she would say yes. For the first time, Melody does not ponder about it and agrees, "I would be happy to!" she said as she steps into the room with Sonorous, Melody closes the door behind her. Starting a great friendship with Sonorous, Melody feels like shes being accepted by being who she is. Chapter 5: Assimilation.♫-Chapter 5-♫ ♫-Assimilation-♫ =-=-=-=-= Melody and Sonorous Spent the next two weeks hanging out. They would go out to eat, walk around the castle, and even spend the night in each others room. Melody would describe the night sky whenever it was clear enough to see the stars. She even spent some of her free time to look up a few constellations to learn how they look so just in case she is able to spot them and tell Sonorous about them. Whenever one of them would perform, the other one would sit backstage and listen to the one singing. After performing, Sonorous assistance walks up to her, help to guide her to backstage. Melody smiling as she watches, "That was great Sonorous!" she said happily as Sonorous walks to her, "No wonder why your shows always sell out so fast." she continues as the assistance walks off. Even from backstage, you can hear the crowd talking about the Sonorous' performance as they make their way out of the room. "Thanks Melody." Sonorous says smiling, "And they don't always sell out." she continued blushing a little. Both mares sit backstage and talk, waiting for the theater to clear out. Melody leads Sonorous back to her room, once they made it to her room, Melody lets Sonorous in first before following in behind. Locking the door behind herself as she follows the blue mare inside. Without knowing, every night they would spend together, Melody would make sure the door was locked. Not only that, the nights they would spend talking all night, Melody would transform into her changeling form. She thought it would help make her feel more confident about it. Sonorous would lay on one couch as Melody would lay on the other as they talk all night long. As the mares talk, Melody noticed that Sonorous looks like shes really thinking of something or something on her mind has been stuck there for awhile. Melody tilts her head as she looks over at her, "Hey Sonorous? You have something on your mind?" she ask as Sonorous turns her head away for a moment before facing Melody, "It's nothing really. Just kinda been wondering about something..." Sonorous replies as her glassy eyes stare at Melody. Waiting for Sonorous to say what it was that was on her mind, Melody ask, "Well what is it? Is it something I can help with?" she worries when it takes Sonorous a minute before saying anything. Sonorous takes a deep breath before exhaling, "Melody? Are... Are you a changeling..." she ask. Melody freezes like a statue, unable to speak a word. 'How could she know?' 'I thought I was doing well to keep it a secret...' 'Has she told anypony?' 'What will she do if I tell her I am?' Melody ask herself thinking of how to reply. With a little shake in her voice, "What? Me? A changeling? Pffft... No... Why do you ask..." she tries to act calm, but her body starts to act up. Her heart starts beating on her chest, nerves tingling from head to hoof, her legs want to get up and dash out of the room before anything happens. "Well it took me awhile to remember... But hearing you transform the last few nigh..." Sonorous said before Melody interrupts "How would you know how it sounds?" she asked sounding upset, thinking she was able to do it without making a sound. Sonorous lowers her ears, "Quite a few months ago... There was an attack on the castle during a royal wedding... Queen Chrysalis is it? She attempted to take over... I was out in the garden when it happen..." she said taking a moment to remember it all. =-=-=-= In the garden of Canterlot, Sonorous is laying on the ground, her front hooves tucked under her as she listens to all the song birds chirp and whistle. She can also hear other ponies talk about the wedding and how amazing it is. Just a bit before the wedding starts, she can hear the ponies make their way to the castle. Sonorous waits for her helper pony to get her and lead the way. A white stallion walks up to Sonorous, stretching his hoof to rest on her shoulder, "It is about to start Sonorous, Rea..." Before the stallion could finish, a booming shatter sound fills the air as the ground underneath them shaking violently, followed by a loud buzzing sound just before what sounds like mortar shells landing all around Canterlot. The stallion looks up to watch the swarm of changeling rain from the sky as ponies nearby scream in and run. He grabs Sonorous by the hoof and run. Startled by the sounds going on, she lets the stallion lead the way, "Whats was that sound!? What is going on! Where are we going?" Sonorous yells out to the stallion, "Canterlot is under attack! We need to get somewhere safe!" he shouts back leading the blind mare. Spotting a pony waving at him and Sonorous, he lead her to the pony. Quickly running to the pony, making it in the home as they close the door behind them, "Thank you." the stallion said as he turns to the other stallion. Sonorous trying to catch her breath, but before she can give thanks, she hears a warp like sound before a thump. The helpful pony was a changeling in disguise and charged the stallion helping Sonorous, "What happened!" she ask scared. The changeling and the stallion struggling, he shouts, "I was tricked! Quick! Try to get out!" doing his best to keep the changeling from going after her. Sonorous takes a few moments before finding the door as she was shaking in fear, but was able to get out. The sound of battle surrounds her. Not knowing where to go, "Help! Somepony! I need help!" she yells out loud in hope somepony nearby can hear her, but drawing attention to the uninvited guest, she hears the sound of the changeling wings buzz heading right to her, before a sudden purple beam blasted them away. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Twilight Sparkle ask running up to Sonorous, "Yes, I am okay, but the stallion inside needs help." she replies. =-=-=-= "She then told me she was going to teleport me to a safe part of the castle before going in..." Sonorous said with her ears still low, "After some time the kingdom was able to fight off the attack. Twilight got me when everything was clear... I asked if the stallion who was helping me was okay, but... She didn't want to answer it... I feel likes it my fault that something happen to him..." she continued waiting for Melody to say something. Both ponies sat in silence as Melody is informed of what happen before she lost her memory. 'Was I really trying to help overthrow Canterlot? Did I hurt anypony? Why was I the only one left behind...' Melody's head floods with questions and her heart feels guilt for doing such a thing. In the wave of mixed emotions, Melody stops to look at Sonorous. Tears blurring up her vision, and scared, Melody gets off the couch and kneel in front of Sonorous, "I am so sorry that happen! I promise I'm not the same pony from then... Please don't tell anypony... I'll do anything!" she pleads as tears stream down her cheeks. Even with eyes full of tears, Melody can see Sonorous smiling, raising her hoof. Moving around a little, but able to reach, Sonorous rest her hoof on Melody's head. She can feel the rough exoskeleton of Melody, "Calm down Melody. You will be okay. I will not tell anypony about this... I wondered what the sound you always made was, but I didn't really know how to ask it." she said trying to calm Melody down, "But... But aren't you scared of me? Or upset about the things other changelings did?" she ask. Sonorous shakes her head gently, "You silly filly, I'm not scared of you. You are my friend... But I won't lie... I was very scared the first time we met. I thought I was in danger when I heard the sound of you transforming, but you didn't hurt me... Then when I got to know you... I found out you are nothing like the others..." she said down to Melody as she wipes the tears away, "So... You won't turn me in?" Melody ask looking up at Sonorous who is still smiling brightly down at her, "No I won't Melody." she replied. After taking some time to pull herself together, Melody lays back on the other couch, both mares staying quite as they let time pass. Chapter 6: Coda.♫-Chapter 6-♫ ♫-Coda-♫ =-=-=-=-= Sonorous brakes the silence, "So... Out of curiosity, what made you change your mind to live in Canterlot?" she asked. Melody looks over to Sonorous, "Well... To tell the truth... I don't remember how I have even got here... Last thing I can remember is waking up in an alley to hearing ponies yelling for the guards... Then shortly after the guards chased me. I was lucky and was able to get away..." Melody replied looking at Sonorous, "Well, if you don't mind me asking, what did you do to eat? I remember the other ponies saying something about that changelings fed off of love or something like that." Sonorous asked. Melody lowers her ears, "Well, by now i'm sure you know, everything I told you about when I was a filly was all a lie. After some time trying to figure out a good way to feed off of emotions, I found out that ponies here really enjoy music and singing. I didn't have any bits to buy and practice any instruments. I found out that I am naturally good at mimicking sounds." she said, taking a breath, "I was able to get a few part-time jobs to work near a few ponies that sang, then doing my best to mimic them singing and altering it slightly. I was able to sing a lot like most of the other ponies. The emotions that the ponies would feel when I sang was enough that I could feed off of. Even tho its not as fulfilling as the emotion of love, with enough ponies at once I could go a few days without having to eat." "That's really neat! So you learned how to sing just by listening to other ponies?" Sonorous asked. Melody lightly chuckles, "Well... I wouldn't really call it singing..." she said, clearing her throat a little before replying in a completely different voice, "I'm just mimicking singers voices I've heard and just change it to match mine." she said smiling. Sonorous amazed, "Wow... If I didn't know any better, I would have thought you where Wind Chime. That's amazing!" she said to Melody with a smile. Melody changes her voice back to normal, "Hehe, yeah, I just have to listen to somepony talk for awhile and I am pretty good at sounding like them." she said looking at Sonorous, "Hey, Sonorous..." Melody continued watching her tilt her head a little, "Yes Melody?" Sonorous replied. Taking a moment before saying, "You know... I am really happy you decided to stop by that night... I am sorry I am not like most ponies tho..." she said lowering her ears as she looks away from the blue mare. Sonorous said happily, "I am happy too." before shaking her head some, "But no need to worry about it. You are unique just the way you are Melody!" she continued with a bright smile. Melody looking back at the blue mare, seeing the smile from ear to ear, Melody can't help but to smile back. Before one of the mares say anything else, they both hear a stallion in the hallway, "Sir, can I see your ID." he said before hearing a gasp and somepony galloping down the hall. Melody quickly get up and dashes to the door, transforming back to her normal form before swinging the door open, and taking a step out of the room. The security guard standing just a yard or two from the door. Melody looks at him, down the hall, then back to him, "Who was that?! Why didn't you restrain him?! How long was he out here?!" she asked loudly. The guard looks at Melody, "Sorry ma'am I just got here and I didn't have any time to stop him." he said, "I can check the cameras to see if I can identify..." before he could finish, Melody shout angrily, "No! Go find him!" she said looking at him. The guard sighs, "I will see if I can find him ma'am." he said before walking down the hall. Melody watches him as he makes his way in the same direction the other stallion ran off. "Melody... Is everything okay..." Sonorous ask, looking toward Melody's voice. Stepping back into the room before closing and locking the door. She turns to face Sonorous, "Somepony was outside the door..." her eyes start to blur with tears, "I don't know how long they were out there... They may have heard everything..." she continued. "Sonorous... I am scared... What will happ..." interrupted, Sonorous hushes her, "Melody, calm down, you will be okay, if anything does happen, we will figure it out, together." she said in a calm voice, "Now lay down and get some sleep... We can talk to the security ponies in the morning and see if they can find the pony." she continued trying to settle Melody. Legs shaking, mind racing, her breathing quick and short, but before Melody starts to panic to much, Sonorous' voice calms her. Melody stares at Sonorous though her teary eyes. Even with blurred vision, she can see Sonorous' blank stare, and simple smile. Doing her best to slow her breathing, drawing a deeper breath each time, Melody was able to calm herself down pretty quickly. After a few deep breaths, Melody was able to calm down. She slowly walks back to the couch she was just laying on before the interruption. Resting her head down on the arm as she lays along length of the couch before looking at Sonorous, "Thank you Sonorous... I am sorry, I worry a lot about it... I just don't know what to do if the other ponies found out..." she said letting her wings rest behind her, "Or what may happen." she continued. Sonorous shakes her head, "Melody... Calm down... And get some sleep..." she said before resting her head on the arm of the couch and closing her eyes. Melody watches Sonorous slowly drift off to sleep. She can't help but over think and be nervous about what may happen. Staring at the blue mare as she is fast asleep, Melody convinces herself that she can trust her, she has no reason not to. Sonorous did not tell anypony after the few weeks they hung out, even tho she only suspected what she was, and still treated her like a normal pony. Laying in the dark as she watches her friend sleeps, Melody does her best to remain calm, 'It has been some time from when the other changelings attacked the castle, and I have not harmed anypony... Maybe they will accept me...' she thinks to herself, resting her head on the arm of the couch, 'Maybe I will be able to live with all the other ponies for who I am and not what I am...' she continues thinking, 'But what if some ponies haven't gotten over the attack... And want revenge... Or want me kicked out of the kingdom for what happen...' For some time, Melody continues to think to herself. She thinks of what would happen if word got out about what she is. Would the ponies accept her for who she is? Will the ponies let her continue to live among them? Can they see she is not like the others from the attack? Will she be able to make more friends? Is Sonorous going to be hated for letting a changeling hide in the kingdom? Does Melody have to hide in plain sight for the rest of her life? Before fading into the realm of dreams, Melody has a feeling that no matter what will happen, Sonorous will know what to do. Chapter 7: Accelerando.♫-Chapter 7-♫ ♫-Accelerando-♫ =-=-=-=-= "Melody... Wake up..." Sonorous said lightly nudging the sleeping mare. Waiting just a few moments before nudging again, "Come on Melody... We need to go and see if they found the pony..." she said looking down at her, waiting for her to wake up. After a few more nudges, Melody finally wakes. Her sight blurry, but starts to clear up as she opens her eyes. Seeing Sonorous' glassy purple eyes looking down at her, she stretches, "Good morning Sonorous... Did you sleep well?" she asked, sitting up to rubbing her eyes. Sonorous nods, "I did. Did you? You didn't stay up late too late worrying about the pony last night did you?" she ask waiting for a reply. Melody gets off the couch and stands next to the blue mare, "No... I was up a little after you fell asleep, but I did not stay up long..." she said stretching her wings out, "We should get going." she told Sonorous as she walks to the door. Sonorous follows Melody's hoof steps as they make their way to the lobby. Once they make it to the counter, Melody walks up to it. The stallion behind the desk looks at Melody and Sonorous, "Hello! Melody! Sonorous! What can I do for you today?" he said smiling at the mares. Melody staying as calm as she can, "Well, we where wondering where the security room is? Something happen last night and was wondering if the guard last night was able to find the pony." she said waiting for the stallion to reply. He look at Melody, "O, I am sorry to hear their was a problem. Well There are two security rooms. Both are located at the end of the East wing and West wing. Just walk past all the rooms. The doors should be unmarked. Feel free to check both if needed." he said still smiling at the mares. Melody thanks the pony and turns to Sonorous, "I guess we should check the East wing first. That one is closer to your room." she said looking at the blue Pegasus. She nods as they both make their way to the East wing's security room. Once they make it to the door, Melody knocks on the door, "Hello? Anypony in there?" she ask taking a step back. Both mares hear somepony grumble something on the other side before the door opening shortly after. Once the door opens, a different stallion then the one from last night, stands in the door frame, "Yes, how can I help you two?" he asked looking at both mares. Melody looks at the stallion, "Well one of the nightly security guards last night found somepony ease dropping on us. We where wanting to know if the guard pony was able to find them." she said to him. The stallion just looks at Melody, "O, well the night guards shift ended about an hour ago. I wouldn't have any information about that." he said scratching his head. Upset from the lazy and uncaring reply, Melody takes a step to the guard, "Well we need to know. That pony may have heard very personal information that does not need to be leaked." she said with a bit of a snappy attitude. The guard looking at Melody, not liking the snappy reply, "Well I am sorry how things are ran around here. I am here just to make sure no pony gets hurt and make sure someponys are not where they are not suppose to be." he said with a stern voice. Melody starting to get really upset, she takes another step to the stallion, "But there was somepony somewhere he was not suppose to be and It was after hours! You ne-" Melody stops when feeling Sonorous' hoof on her shoulder. Turning to looks to the blue mare, the stallion huffs, "Well it may have just been a crazy fan, and if it was personal information you don't want others to hear, don't talk so loudly." he said stepping back before closing the door. As they let the guard close the door, Sonorous steps next to Melody, "No need to continue talking to that pony. He wasn't gonna budge." she said turning around and starting to walk back down the hall. Melody looks back at the door before turning around and follow Sonorous down the hall, "Also don't worry Melody, I will let my manger know about the rude service that guard pony gave." she said humming softly. Melody shakes her head lightly, "No need. I am not worried about how that stallion acted, I just don't want what the pony heard to get out." Melody replies, lowering her ears. Sonorous nods her head some as she hums, "Well, till they find out who the pony was last night, we can try to look, but have no leads. Till then, how about we go out and get some breakfast?" she said before humming again. Melody waits a couple of steps before answering, "Yeah... I guess we can..." she said starting to really think about what will happen, but before she gets to lost in thought, Sonorous stops and hold her hoof out, "No need to worry. Melody, no matter what may happen if the other ponies do find out, we will make the best of it." Melody looking into the purple glassy eyes of Sonorous, lifting her hoof to make contact, "Okay. I will try my best to not worry..." she said able put together a smile. As the two mares make their way to the lobby and out the front door. Melody has a looming feeling of somepony still watching her. Doing her best to shake the feeling, she stays as calm as she can for Sonorous. The mares make their way down the street to the café they first went to. Ordering a plate of muffins, scones, and biscuits with their favorite teas. Waiting for the order, the mares sit at the table outside the building. Melody watching every pony walking by as Sonorous blankly stares in Melody direction. With each pony walking by, Melody grows more and more paranoid, 'Did that pony tell anypony yet? Does she know? Does he know? Will the word spread around the kingdom about it and the guards get me?' she thinks to herself, staying more quiet then normal. "Melody... You are panicking, you said you won't worry about it." Sonorous said turning her head to the sound of ponies walking up and down the street, "No pony will find out, and you will be alright. You need to relax and enjoy the nice day." she said tilting her head up to face the sky. Melody watches as Sonorous moves her head. Once again, just watching Sonorous and listing to her, Melody starts to calm down, "Yeah... I am sorry... It's just a fear I have to work on... It has been sometime, but I have no where to go if I am kicked out..." she said lowering her ears again. Sonorous tilts her head back to the red mare as a café server places the order on the table, thanking them for stopping by then walk back inside, "You are not going anywhere Melody. This is where you are and it will be where you stay. Trust me." Sonorous said giving Melody another bright smile. Once again, by Sonorous' actions, Melody was able to calm down and relax. Melody returning the smile back to Sonorous, "Okay... I trust you Sonorous." she said reaching for a scone before pushing the pate to Sonorous. The two mares spent the rest of the morning sitting at the café as the warm sun continued to climb the sky, they jumped from topic to topic as they talk for hours. They forgot about the pony from last night and the crude serves in the morning, time passes the mares as they spend the day together. After the café, they shopped at a few nearby stores, then went to take a few laps around their favorite park till it got dark. Chapter 8: Sempre.♫-Chapter 8-♫ ♫-Sempre-♫ =-=-=-=-= With the chilly wind softly flowing past Sonorous and Melody, the leaves under them tumble past them as the leaves still held over their heads rustle. Sonorous softly humming while her glazed eyes fixed on the bright stars above. Watching the blue mare as she hums along with the whistling wind, tumbling leaves, and reckless branches, Melody feels as if Sonorous was preforming just for her. Listening to every note, she let the blind mare continue to sing with the sounds of the park. Melody's eyes start to close, slowly starting to doze off, but just as her eyes close, she hears somepony walking toward them. The sound of crouching leaves interrupts Sonorous' humming. Melody and Sonorous watch as a stallion walks toward them. His coat, brown like tree bark. Mane, forest green, short cut with a white stripe down the middle. Long, but thin tail, matching his mane. His hooves steps nearly echo in the peaceful night, clip, clop, clip, clop. Just standing a few steps away, he grins before bowing, "Hello ladies, quite the wonderful night isn't it?" he ask while lifting his head, "I was out on my midnight walk and I heard a beautiful sound coming from this way. I couldn't help myself, but to see where it was coming from." he continued crossing one hoof over the other, "May I ask who I have the pleasure to be speaking too?" "I am Sonorous, Sonorous Timbre and this is my friend, Melo..." she said before the stallion excitingly interrupted, "O? 'The Sonorous Timbre'? I've always heard about your performances, but never got to stay in town long enough to attend one myself. If you do not mind, may I ask when your next performance will be? I have some time before leaving town in a few days." he ask smiling, staring at Sonorous' blank eyes. Taking a moment before replying, she looks over at Melody, "Well Melody should have one coming up in a day or two." she said, looking back to the stallion. With a slight tilt of the head, he looks at Melody. She can't help but to watch his eyes look her over. His eyes start from her mane, trailing the hair strains down pass her half covered face, continuing to lead his eyes to the fluffy feathery wings folded on her back, then back up to her crystal like eyes, "Melody... That name doesn't quite ring a bell. Are you new to Canterlot?" he asked staring down at Melody. Melody feels as if the gaze was looking past her spell and right at her. Her hooves start to shake, heart slowly thumping louder and louder, as her mind blanks. The stallion continues to glare at the speechless mare, "I just thought you where just a guide for the wonderful Miss. Sonorous." he said in a taunting like voice, "Really thinking about it... I don't think I have ever really heard of that name at all... You seemed to have just appeared out of thin air... Tell me, Ms. Melody is it? Where did you come from and how are you able to preform alongside Sonorous?" The stallions voice rings in Melody's head, "How long have you been preforming in Canterlot and how did you get so popular so quickly?" he asked, voice still bouncing around her head. Shutting her eyes tightly as the world slowly spins out of control around her. The gaze, the voice, the pressure, Melody's constriction starts to vanish as her green flames start to engulf her. Feeling as if she's been exposed to somepony who knew all along, but suddenly a light push stops everything. "Melody... Wake up..." said gently by Sonorous. Melody's eyes open, revealing the empty park around them, "Are you okay? You fell asleep, then started to twitch and making noises... Where you having a bad dream?" she asked in a caring and worried voice. Melody stares up at Sonorous before looking around the area, "Hua... Yeah, I am okay, I..." Melody said before scanning the area one more time to make sure no other pony was nearby, "I am still thinking about the other night..." before she was able to finish, Sonorous hushes her. "Shhh... Didn't we talk about this? We will be okay. You are safe with me." Sonorous said softly, "No pony will find out and if somepony does, I am sure you will be okay." she continued looking back up to the stars, "You mean no harm and you are such a great friend!" she finished looking back down from the starts and at Melody with a smile. Even with the cold wind blowing past the mares, Melody felt warm from Sonorous confidence. Melody sits up enough to lean into the cobalt blue mare, "Thank you Sonorous... You are a great friend too." she said, feeling Sonorous resting her head on top of hers. The two mares stay in place as the rustling leaves was the only thing heard. Before long, Melody starts to shiver, "Hey... Sonorous... Can we start heading back? It's starting to get really cold out here..." she asked starting to move her head, "O yes, of course, its getting really late anyways." Sonorous replies as both mares start to get up. Step by step, Melody leads Sonorous back to building they left early that morning. Just before going into her room, Melody stops, "Sonorous, Go ahead, I need to grab something from my room real quick." she said to as she turns to face nodding her head, "Okay, I'll leave the door unlocked for you so just come on it." Sonorous replied before walking into her room with the door closing. After taking a deep breath. Melody makes her way to the security room, hoping they found about the mysterious intruder. With each step echoing down the empty, dimply lit halls, Melody navigates to her way. With each step, her mind grows paranoid. 'What if they did catch them and they gave out the information they over heard? I am pretty much turning myself in? If they did give out that info, would they believe me or them more?' Melody ask herself as her vision blurs. Melody's legs turn to auto pilot as her mind blinds her vison and shows flashes of her first memory. Being chased guards though the ally and trying to run into the blush, she then sees auditorium she with all the ponies running away. Her vision turning her around to see the brown stallion standing behind her, staring her down, slowly taking a step to her. Eyes flooded with tears, she stops in the middle of the hall, slowly starting to walk backward as if she was stepping away from the stallion before the sensation of falling overtakes her. As her vision tips from the stallion the red curtains behind him that lead to the celling where the light whiten her sight before seeing the row after row of the seats, but suddenly everything stops in motion as she sees Sonorous, still smiling bright with her wings spread out wide and eyes twinkling like the starry nights they spend staring up at. For the moment, she felt weight less. The sensation of falling stopped as she spotted no other pony in the room. It was just her and the blue mare she made friends with. The smiling mare tilts her head slightly as Melody can hear 'Are you okay? Do you need help?', but realizing it was not Sonorous' voice, Melody's vision snaps back to the hall she was just walking down as another security pony was standing over her, holding his hoof out, "Here, take my hoof." he said looking down at Melody. Staring at the extended hoof, up to the stallion, then back to the hoof before lifting her hoof up to letting him help her up. "Yeah... I am okay, I just, hua, had a long day." Melody said standing up. After helping Melody stand up, he nods, "Well do you need help back to your room?" he asked with a steady grin. Shaking her head, "No, I am okay. I was making my way to the security room." she said taking a breath, "I just had a few questions." she continued as the guard bows his head, "Well I am the floor guard for the east wing tonight, maybe I can answer the question for you?" he asked waiting for her question. Melody looks at the guard, taking a breath, "Well the other night, somepony was outside the room 312. By any chance did you hear if any progress was made in finding them?" she asked, slightly worried about the answer. The guard takes a moment to think as he lifts his hoof to his chin, "I want to say the guard that night did mention it. They did not get good view of the face, nor their cutie mark, but it was brown stallion with a green mane." he said thinking of it. The description flashes to the short dream she had in the park, but remembers the smile Sonorous gave her when she woke up. "Well any way we can stop them from being able to enter the building or anything?" Melody asked hoping for the answer she wants. The stallion shakes his head slowly, "Sadly, other then after hours, we can't really say who can or can't be here unless he did something like vandalism or assault. It's a public place..." he said before giving a warm smile, "But I'll keep an extra eye out near 312 on the nights I am here if it helps." Giving a slight smile back, "That will help... Thanks... If anything happens can you let me know? Or Sonorous Timbre if possible." Melody asked as the stallion nods his head, "If I hear anything about it, I will make sure you or Ms. Sonorous know about it. Now would you like for me to follow you back to your room?" he asked. Melody takes a moment before answering, "No thank you sir. I'll let you get back to your duty's." she said bowing her head slightly, then turning around to walk back to Sonorous' room.
Chapter 1: Intro.♫-Chapter 1-♫ ♫-Intro-♫ =-=-=-=-= A mare walking down a long hallway, her steps lightly fill the hall as she makes her way. Just finishing a singing performance at a theaters grand re-opening after a remodel, she was tired and ready to call it a night. Backstage, she opens the door with the name 'Melody Echo' on it. Stepping in, she forgets to fully close the door behind her, "Well... Another day of making some ponies happy I guess." she said to herself as a green flame start from her hooves, crawling up her body. Unharmed by the unusual fire, her soft red coat turns black and rough. Holes appear throughout her legs, looking almost rotted like. Making its way up her body reaching her mane and tail. Short, bright yellow, with neon green streaks, turn a dull grey and flat. The flames covering her back as her long feathery wings change into thin, shorter membrane like wings, spread out and quickly flapping for just a moment. With the flames travel almost complete, it forms a horn on her head. Opening her eyes, revealing her use to be bright gold color, change to a crystal like magenta color. Looking into the mirrors reflection of what was a bright, happy looking mare, now turned to a dull, insect like creature in disguise. Melody sighs as she takes a moment to reflect on the day. With her emotions mix and twist inside her head, "I just wish I could fit in..." she tells her reflection as if it was another pony, "Or at least just remember where I belong..." she continues the conversation with the reflection, "I just can not remember..." she mutters with tears growing in the corners of her eyes, building up steady before falling down the sides of her face, leaving a liquid trail as the drops hit the floor. Looking down at her hooves to see holes going right through them, showing the floor on the other side. -=-=- Quite a few months ago, Queen Chrysalis attempted to take over Canterlot, but failed in doing so. In the mist of the fight between Chrysalis' hive and the Main Six, Melody was knocked out. Some how, after Shining Armors and Princess Cadance's expulsion spell, Melody remained inside the Castle. Both Shining and Cadance stayed inside the castle to keep the shield up till they know for sure that the threat was gone and was not going to be coming back. Even with the shield around the kingdom, normal ponies where able to enter and exit though the designated guard points to make sure every day ponies lives could continue. Just a few hours after the hive was removed from the castle. Melody wakes up from being unconscious to the sound of some ponies alerting the guards that a changeling was found hiding in an alley. Vision blurry and hearing slowly coming back. She realizes whats going on once the guards show up. Stumbling to get up and turn around to escape, she bumps the walls and dumpsters as she gallops quickly to get away. The sounds of the guards hoof steps stay roaring behind her as she tries to get them off her trail. During the chaos, Melody tries to even remember why the guards are even running after her in the first place, but if there was a few ponies calling for them, she though that she must have done something bad. After what feels like a mile, she reaches the end of the castle. With all of her strength, she runs as fast as she can before abrupt stop. Face first, Melody collides with the force field. She was able to catch herself before falling to the ground, she quickly dashes to a nearby grouping of bushes. The guards galloping out from the nearby buildings, they lost sight of the changeling they where chasing after, "It must have changed it's path. If it would have flown away, we would have spotted it." one of the royal guard's said to the others, "Let's split up. Two head north, two head south. I will try to back track and see if it went back to where we found it." another guard said. Nodding in agreement, two headed north as the other two headed south. The last guard stood for a moment, "We will find it no matter what. It wont be able to leave as long as the shield is still up." he said as he trots back down the path. -=-=- With tears streaming down her cheeks, sobbing as the only memory she really has is being chased by guards and not even knowing why, she looks back at her reflection. Wiping the tears off her cheeks as she takes a deep breath, holding it for just a few moments, before letting it back out, "Well... I guess it's not that bad though... I can still survive off the attention I get when I perform... But I do worry what will happen if anypony finds out..." Melody tells her reflection. Even tho it is not a real pony, she finds some relief in talking to the mirror, "I just have to keep living the life that I created to survive..." Melody stays sitting in her room, staring at her self, just pondering about how things could be. She now wonders about the place she came from, if she would ever return, or if she could ever remember what it was even like. Then her thoughts trailed off to wondering of what will happen if her little secret would ever be revealed. Would they just simply kick her out of the castle? Will they lock her up and never let her free? Or would they skip the trouble of having her in the kingdom and exterminate her right away. Her mind cycles though everything she thinks that may happen if the ponies of Canterlot ever found out. Like a statue Melody sits in front of the mirror, staring at her self, numb by her own thoughts. Time slips past Melody, seconds becomes minutes and before she knew it, a little more then an hour skips past her, "Well I should have nothing to worry about. I've been doing this for quite some time and I don't plan on getting caught anytime soon." Melody tells her mirror with confidence, making her self feel better about the situation, "I've made this kingdom my home and that's what it will be!" she continues to talk to the mirror, but now in a better mood.
Chapter 2: Ostinato.♫-Chapter 2-♫ ♫-Ostinato-♫ =-=-=-=-= The hallway Melody left empty, fills with a soft humming sound as a cobalt blue mare trails down the path. Her wings folded up as she makes her way. Her eyes closed as she hums a soft tune, a little low in tone, but soothing. Even with her eyes closed, she navigates the halls with no problem. Turn after turn, she trots down the dimly lit hallway. Stopping only a few door down from Melody's room, she stops, "I think I am almost there... I hope she didn't leave yet..." she tells herself as she places her hoof on the wall. Step by step, she uses the wall to guide her way before Melody's partly open door gives way and opens, "Hello? Melody? Sorry to intrude, but..." Melody, still in changeling form stunned from hearing another pony in her room. Looking at the reflection in the mirror, right over her opaque wings to watch the blue mare takes a few steps in, "Melody?" she ask before Melody's horn glow to close the door. Quickly rushing to the mare, transforming to her pony form, and pinning her to the wall, "Who are you! Why didn't you knock! What all did you see!" Melody shouts as she stares at the blue pegasus. Scared and surprised from the motion of being pinned to the wall, she clears her throat, "I-I'm Sonorous... Sonorous Timbre... I was at your show today and wanted to meet you... And I promise... I did not see anything..." Filled with anger and upset with herself by letting somepony walk in on her as her guard was down, she stares into the mare's eyes. Melody watches Sonorous' eyes, purple in color, jotting around aimlessly, pupils glassy, and looks as if she was looking right though Melody. Sonorous staying very calm and says convincing, "I did not see anything... I am blind... And have been blind for a very long time..." she said, with a little sadness in her voice. Melody continues to stare in the consistent shifting eyes of Sonorous. Not fully convinced, a light admits from Melody's forehead, illuminating a quill on the dresser. It floats over to the mares, shifting her head back a little, the tip of the quill gets close to Sonorous' eyes. The quill floating just inch's from the reckless, glassy purple eyes, Sonorous does not flinch or wince as the quill shifts from eye to eye and gets closer. The only reaction Melody gets from her is when her eye lashes graze the quills tip. Sonorous shifts her head once her eye lash touched the tip of the quill. Melody pulls the quill away, "Well, if you are blind, how did you find my room?" she ask, loosening her grip. Sonorous shift her head back to face Melody, "Well I am a singer too... My dressing room is down the east wing, room 312. I asked the manager where your room was and just made my way. I didn't mean to intrude on whatever you where doing..." she said apologetic. Melody takes a moment, convinced that this mare just mite be telling the truth. Loosening her grip, she takes a step back, "Well why didn't you knock..." she ask the blind pony, "You know its rude to just walk in..." she adds. Sonorous nods her head, "That is true and I hope you can forgive me, but I was just excited to meet you. Most of the other singers in Canterlot kinda look down at me for being blind, and its hard to have much in common with other ponies. So it is kinda hard to make friends... I was wanting to ask if you wanted to be friends... We are both singers and the newest ones here... If not, its okay..." she tells Melody in hopes she says yes. Surprised by hearing this blue pegasus was wanting to be her friend, she took a moment to think about it. 'Does she really want to be my friend? Can I really trust her? Should I attempt to make a friend?' and may questions a like fill Melody's head, but before she can answer, her mind thinks of what would happen if Sonorous found out the truth. If they do became friends, would she be able to trust Sonorous to keep her secret? Or if they ever got in an argument, would she slip up and mention it, or even use it to blackmail her? Melody's mind stuck in a loop of wanting a friend, but scared to find out what would happen if Canterlot found out who she really is. "You do not have to accept being my friend right now. I know you must be tired from your show earlier and you know where my room is, so you can always stop by." Sonorous says, braking the silence between them. Melody takes a step back, pulling herself out of her mind and back into the moment, "Yeah... I just need to think about it... I just don't have many friends and its a little hard for me to make friends too..." Melody says hanging her head. Sonorous hears the tone change in Melody's voice, "No need to worry, Melody, just have a good nights rest. You can stop by my room whenever, you are invited at any time." she tells her as she stands. Sonorous waits just a moment before using her hoof to find the door. Once she finds the door knob, she opens the door, steps out, then close the door behind her. Melody just watch the pegasus make her way out of the room. Soon as the door shuts, Melody hears a soft humming fade down the hall. As soon as the sound faces into the distance, Melody slowly opens the door and pokes her head out. Peeking out, down the hall toward the sound to see Sonorous turning the corner. Melody steps back, closing the door, and sit in the middle of the room. Once again, she finds herself with a mind full of mixed emotions and confused of what to do. Should she try and make her first friend? Will she be able to ever trust Sonorous if she ever feels like she can tell her what she really is? Or will she be scared and run off to tell everypony what she really is? If she is ran out of town, where can she go? With so many unanswered question, Melody slowly turns back to her changeling form. Looking across the room, back to her reflection, she stares at herself as her mind continues to bombard her with questions and scenarios, good and bad. Lost in the moment, time passes minute after minute till an hour passes and Melody lie down, just to rest her eyes for a moment, turned into sound slumber her mind needed.
Chapter 3: Terminus.♫-Chapter 3-♫ ♫-Terminus-♫ =-=-=-=-= Melody standing on stage, two spotlights connected to the ceiling pointing down at her, lighting up the floor around her as she sings. A classic red curtain framing the center of the stage, a backdrop of a bright starry night with some lights twinkling from one side to the other of the stage. A group of well dressed ponies sitting at the foot of the stage, formed a semicircle with a few instruments. A large cello deep tone, three elegant violins, two playful flutes, a rattling xylophone and a towering harp. The blend of Melody's voice, the vibrating strings, the rushing air, and the tapping of metal bars mix together in a soothing wave of sound. In moment the moment with her eyes shut, Melody forgets what she really is, she gets to feel loved and accepted. She even gets to feed on the emotions with so much attention and even doing it safely without harming anypony. With a performance like this, Melody would be satisfied for a few days, she can spend the time relaxing and enjoy some time to herself. Suddenly a shriek halts the musical ponies from playing. Melodys attention abruptly drawn to the sound that put the show on pause. Upon opening her eyes, she hears the entire audience gasp and shouting. She looks down to see her pretty red coat turned black and her legs covered in holes. 'What happened? How did I transform without knowing? Why now!' she ask herself as he looks up to watch the ponies fleeing. Before she could move, she spots the guards rushing in, galloping right to her. Melody frozen in fear, she watches as the gold plated ponies make their way to her. "No! Stop! Don't hurt me!" Melody screams as she jolts from the floor. Shocked out of slumber and into reality, streams of tears run down her face, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind reckless, and shaking from the idea of what she dreamed of. Shes partly relieved that it was only a dream, but does not stop her body from trembling in fear. Taking her time, she tries to calm herself down, telling herself she is okay and there is nothing to worry about. After some time, Melody pulls herself together and stands up. Walking over to her table to see herself still in changeling form. Wiping her cheeks, and clearing her throat, she transforms into her pony form, "Thankfully that was only a dream..." she tells her reflection as her reckless mind softly replays the dream in her head. Once going back though the awful nightmare, she realizes something... Once she opened her eyes in the dream, she spotted a cobalt blue pegasus. A baby blue like mane with baby pink like streaks spread around like thick veins. Her crystal like purple eyes fixed on Melody as she was in her changeling form. Unlike all the other ponies, she was sitting and smiling with her wings spread out wide. Melody thinks about it for a minute before thinking to herself. 'Why was she smiling? Was she not scared of what I was, like everypony else?' she ask herself before shaking her head, "What am I thinking? Of course she was not scared, she didn't know what she was looking at. She would act the same if she knew..." Melody says out loud as her ears droop down, but for a moment she thinks about it. 'Maybe it wouldn't be a bad place to start?' she thinks to herself, 'She is blind so I can try to be in my changeling form and try feel more confident about it.' she thinks about it more. Pondering on the idea of making a friend worries her, but decides to give it a try. She has been Canterlot for quite some time and none of her memory has came back to her yet. Confidently smiling at her own reflection in the mirror as she decides to take the chance and make a friend. With her confidence starting to rise, she grabs the comb sitting on the table to brush her mane. She starts to think how nice it will be to have a friend to hang out with and be able talk to, it brings a smile to her face. Once Melody finishes brushing her mane and tail, she walks out of her room and down the hall, "Let's see... If I remember correctly... She said the east wing... Room 312..." she mutters to herself, making way to the lobby. When walking into the lobby, she sees a variety of ponies walking in and out. Looking at the signs posed around the room, she spots the sign that points to the east wing of the building. Feeling like some of the ponies may be watching her, she quickly trots the direction the arrow points. Feeling a tad on edge, she glances over her shoulder every so often, making sure no pony was following her. "Room 305... 306... 307..." Melody counts the room numbers as she passes, "310... 311... And room 312. I hope she is here." she hears soft, joyful humming from inside the room just before she knocks, "Hello? Sonorous? You here?" she ask waiting for a reply. Right when she finishes knocking on the door, the humming stops, "Yes I am, one moment." Melody hears from the other side just before hearing a lower toned hum followed after. Just a few seconds later, Sonorous opens the door, "Hello Melody. I'm glad you stopped by. Did you have a goodnight sleep last night?" she ask with a smile on her face. Melody staying quiet for just a moment, "It was okay. I had a little trouble falling asleep, but I was able to get some rest... Wait, how did you know it was me at the door? I thought you where blind?" she ask. Sonorous just keeps smiling as she giggles at Melody's question, "I am blind silly, I remember your voice from last night. In order to tell some ponies apart, I got pretty good at remembering what some ponies sound like. It would be rude to not know who I am talking to, so I had to work on it for quite awhile." she said with a grin still on her face, "O, talking about rude, I haven't invited you in yet. Would you like to come in?" she ask taking a step to the side, "Sorry if my room is a mess. I have a maid that comes in to tidy things up every few days." Looking inside, Melody sees the room is very well made. Nothing looked wrong with the room, other then maybe a lack of decor, it seemed like a really nice room. What was she thinking? What would a blind pony need with decor? Feeling a tab bad thinking it, she shakes her head, "No worries, they do a great job keeping it looking good." Melody tells Sonorous, "And I was thinking, maybe we could go and get lunch somewhere, or maybe sit down at the park downtown?" she adds, slightly nervous that's shes asking to much. Sonorous' face lights up as she hears the question, "O I would love to! I know a little café that has the best teas and sweets, you may have to guide the way, but I know how to get there from here." she says. Melody smiles from ear to ear as she hears Sonorous excited to hang out with her. Feeling accepted as a friend, she forgets what happen the night before and replies, "Of course! Just tell me where to go!" she replies with matched excitement. The two mares walk back to the lobby, then out the front doors. The sun shining bright, a soft breeze passing by as a few song birds chirp as they fly by. To Melody, this is a day she would never forget.
Chapter 4: Crescendo.♫-Chapter 4-♫ ♫-Crescendo-♫ =-=-=-=-= Melody and Sonorous sitting at a table in front of the Hayday café. The sun brightly shining, a soft breeze glides past them every so often, and the sound of busy hooves rumble in the road. The mares make small talk as they sip on the teas sitting at a table, "So, just out of curiosity, how long have you been singing?" Sonorous asked reaching for the small pile of mini muffins they ordered with their tea. Melody pushes the plate to Sonorous' hoof for her. Taking a moment to reply, "Well... When I was a filly, I found out I really enjoyed it, wanted to be a singer after watching so many performances." she said, in hopes Sonorous would believe her, "What about you?" Sonorous taking a moment for her to grab a muffin, she replies, "Well, when I was young, I started loosing my sight, and doctors could not find out why, I kinda got depressed as I watched my vision slowly fade..." she takes a bite of the muffin, chewing it, and swallows, "My mom tried to cheer me up and would play music whenever she could. She would even take me to the theater when musicals would be performing. She would even spend extra bits for us to go back stage sense the visual part of the shows did not matter. I even got to meet some of the actors and singers between brakes." she continued as she stops to take a sip of tea. "Is the reason why you hum a lot is because you love singing so much?" Melody asks, "I noticed you do hum a lot." she adds reaching for a muffin. Sonorous sounding a little surprised, "You can hear my hums? No pony normally hears it." she adds taking a sip of tea. Melody a bit confused on the answer, "Well yeah? You hummed once you left my room last night and I heard you humming when I came to your room." she pauses for a moment, "And remembering right, the first hum I heard was like a joyful tune, but changed low in tone." she tells Sonorous. With a little grin, she finishes her tea, "Well when I was finally fully blind, I had to find a way to get around, and being the rebellious filly I was on using a walking stick, and after some time found out after loosing sight." Sonorous takes a moment place her teacup down, "After awhile, I heard about how some animals can get around by making sounds. It took a very long time, but I am able to use sound to get around a little better." she says smiling, "I started with tick sounds and kinda higher pitch hums, but it would annoy the ponies around me. So testing with different pitch and tones, I found just the right sound I can make to not annoy other ponies and let me get around." she continued. Melody amazed to find out Sonorous' ability with sound, "Wow, that is amazing! I would have never expected..." she says finishing her tea. The mares continue to talk for hours. Melody doing her best to answer any of Sonorous' questions, ranging from when she was a filly, to modern day stuff. Even tho Melody had to lie about most of it, she enjoyed talking with Sonorous. Suddenly Melody spots a group of royal guards trotting down the road. She watches quietly as they pass by. One of the guards looks over at her as they walk. In just a few moments of eye contact, Melody's mind starts thinking, her heart starts to race, and her nerves act up. "Melody? You okay?" Sonorous ask as she looks confused. Melody shakes her head, "Yeah, sorry, I got distracted for a moment... What where we talking about?" she ask looking away from the guards, "I was asking if there was anywhere else you would like to go to today." Sonorous repeats, "If you can't think of anything, we can always go back to our rooms." she adds. Melody takes a minute to think. "Well it is such a nice day, we could trot around the park for a little while." Melody answers as she gathers the tea cups and plates to give them back to the café. Melody and Sonorous make their way to the park. Can't help but to watch everypony as they walk by, Melody starts to feel on edge, she is normally not out this long at once. As they continue to talk and trot around, Sonorous hears uneasiness in Melody's voice, "Are you sure you are okay? Just before we left the café, you've seemed a little off." Sonorous ask concerned. Looking over to her, Melody replies to the blind pony, "Yeah. I just don't really go out often and normally not around other ponies for this long, but I am okay. Just need to get use to it is all." she said smiling, "Plus we can't just call it a day so soon, it would be a shame if we just went back to our rooms now." Melody adds sounding more cheerful. The two mares lose track of time as they make laps around the park. The pretty blue sky with clouds sprinkling the view, now turns a vibrant orange. Melody lets Sonorous know that it is getting late, they make their way back to the building they left this morning. Just a block or two away form their destination Sonorous stops suddenly, "Melody, is the sky dark enough to see the stars yet?" she ask. Stopping to hear the question, Melody looks up, "Not quite yet, but it should be in just a bit. Why do you ask?" she replies, pondering on the odd question, "Well if its not to much to ask for, would it be okay if we wait just a bit till they come out?" Sonorous answers. Seeing no reason not to just wait a few minuets till the sky darkens a little more, "I don't see why not, mind me asking why?" Melody ask as they sit. Sonorous smiling, "I'll let you know why once the stars come out." she said, sounding excited for something Melody thinks is something simple. Both mares sit and wait, Melody watching the sky till the stars start to show one after another. Till the sky was full of twinkling starts, "Okay. The stars are out." Melody tells Sonorous. With smile brighter then the stars above, Sonorous ask, "Can you please describe the stars for me." Looking up at the stars, Melody try to describes what she is looking at the best she can, "Hmm... Well the there is a lot of stars. They stretch from one side of the dark night sky to the other." she said looking over to Sonorous. The cobalt mare looking straight up in the night sky. The stars reflecting off her glassy eyes as Melody can about see her imagining what she is saying, looking back up before continuing, "Some stars looking bigger then others, each of them taking turns to twinkle, the small flash of lights draw your eyes around endlessly. The night sky is so clear, you can even see a few constellations." she adds to the description to spot Sonorous' wings open wide, "Really? What constellations can you see?" she ask with her eyes still drawn to the sky. Melody panicking a little because she didn't really know how any of them looked off the top of her head, but knew a few by name. She listed off a few that she knew. Sonorous' smile glued to her face as Melody tells her about the starry night, "Thank you Melody. I've always missed looking up at clear night sky when I was just a filly, it's really the only thing I miss looking at." she said folding her wings back down and tilting her head back to Melody, "You did a great by the way. Most ponies just kinda say the same thing." she said standing back up, "We can go in now." she said with her smile still printed on her face. Leading Sonorous to her room, she ask stepping in, "I know its last moment, but would you like to spend the night? We can make it like a slumber party. I have plenty of music we can listen to as well." Sonorous ask in hopes she would say yes. For the first time, Melody does not ponder about it and agrees, "I would be happy to!" she said as she steps into the room with Sonorous, Melody closes the door behind her. Starting a great friendship with Sonorous, Melody feels like shes being accepted by being who she is.
Chapter 5: Assimilation.♫-Chapter 5-♫ ♫-Assimilation-♫ =-=-=-=-= Melody and Sonorous Spent the next two weeks hanging out. They would go out to eat, walk around the castle, and even spend the night in each others room. Melody would describe the night sky whenever it was clear enough to see the stars. She even spent some of her free time to look up a few constellations to learn how they look so just in case she is able to spot them and tell Sonorous about them. Whenever one of them would perform, the other one would sit backstage and listen to the one singing. After performing, Sonorous assistance walks up to her, help to guide her to backstage. Melody smiling as she watches, "That was great Sonorous!" she said happily as Sonorous walks to her, "No wonder why your shows always sell out so fast." she continues as the assistance walks off. Even from backstage, you can hear the crowd talking about the Sonorous' performance as they make their way out of the room. "Thanks Melody." Sonorous says smiling, "And they don't always sell out." she continued blushing a little. Both mares sit backstage and talk, waiting for the theater to clear out. Melody leads Sonorous back to her room, once they made it to her room, Melody lets Sonorous in first before following in behind. Locking the door behind herself as she follows the blue mare inside. Without knowing, every night they would spend together, Melody would make sure the door was locked. Not only that, the nights they would spend talking all night, Melody would transform into her changeling form. She thought it would help make her feel more confident about it. Sonorous would lay on one couch as Melody would lay on the other as they talk all night long. As the mares talk, Melody noticed that Sonorous looks like shes really thinking of something or something on her mind has been stuck there for awhile. Melody tilts her head as she looks over at her, "Hey Sonorous? You have something on your mind?" she ask as Sonorous turns her head away for a moment before facing Melody, "It's nothing really. Just kinda been wondering about something..." Sonorous replies as her glassy eyes stare at Melody. Waiting for Sonorous to say what it was that was on her mind, Melody ask, "Well what is it? Is it something I can help with?" she worries when it takes Sonorous a minute before saying anything. Sonorous takes a deep breath before exhaling, "Melody? Are... Are you a changeling..." she ask. Melody freezes like a statue, unable to speak a word. 'How could she know?' 'I thought I was doing well to keep it a secret...' 'Has she told anypony?' 'What will she do if I tell her I am?' Melody ask herself thinking of how to reply. With a little shake in her voice, "What? Me? A changeling? Pffft... No... Why do you ask..." she tries to act calm, but her body starts to act up. Her heart starts beating on her chest, nerves tingling from head to hoof, her legs want to get up and dash out of the room before anything happens. "Well it took me awhile to remember... But hearing you transform the last few nigh..." Sonorous said before Melody interrupts "How would you know how it sounds?" she asked sounding upset, thinking she was able to do it without making a sound. Sonorous lowers her ears, "Quite a few months ago... There was an attack on the castle during a royal wedding... Queen Chrysalis is it? She attempted to take over... I was out in the garden when it happen..." she said taking a moment to remember it all. =-=-=-= In the garden of Canterlot, Sonorous is laying on the ground, her front hooves tucked under her as she listens to all the song birds chirp and whistle. She can also hear other ponies talk about the wedding and how amazing it is. Just a bit before the wedding starts, she can hear the ponies make their way to the castle. Sonorous waits for her helper pony to get her and lead the way. A white stallion walks up to Sonorous, stretching his hoof to rest on her shoulder, "It is about to start Sonorous, Rea..." Before the stallion could finish, a booming shatter sound fills the air as the ground underneath them shaking violently, followed by a loud buzzing sound just before what sounds like mortar shells landing all around Canterlot. The stallion looks up to watch the swarm of changeling rain from the sky as ponies nearby scream in and run. He grabs Sonorous by the hoof and run. Startled by the sounds going on, she lets the stallion lead the way, "Whats was that sound!? What is going on! Where are we going?" Sonorous yells out to the stallion, "Canterlot is under attack! We need to get somewhere safe!" he shouts back leading the blind mare. Spotting a pony waving at him and Sonorous, he lead her to the pony. Quickly running to the pony, making it in the home as they close the door behind them, "Thank you." the stallion said as he turns to the other stallion. Sonorous trying to catch her breath, but before she can give thanks, she hears a warp like sound before a thump. The helpful pony was a changeling in disguise and charged the stallion helping Sonorous, "What happened!" she ask scared. The changeling and the stallion struggling, he shouts, "I was tricked! Quick! Try to get out!" doing his best to keep the changeling from going after her. Sonorous takes a few moments before finding the door as she was shaking in fear, but was able to get out. The sound of battle surrounds her. Not knowing where to go, "Help! Somepony! I need help!" she yells out loud in hope somepony nearby can hear her, but drawing attention to the uninvited guest, she hears the sound of the changeling wings buzz heading right to her, before a sudden purple beam blasted them away. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Twilight Sparkle ask running up to Sonorous, "Yes, I am okay, but the stallion inside needs help." she replies. =-=-=-= "She then told me she was going to teleport me to a safe part of the castle before going in..." Sonorous said with her ears still low, "After some time the kingdom was able to fight off the attack. Twilight got me when everything was clear... I asked if the stallion who was helping me was okay, but... She didn't want to answer it... I feel likes it my fault that something happen to him..." she continued waiting for Melody to say something. Both ponies sat in silence as Melody is informed of what happen before she lost her memory. 'Was I really trying to help overthrow Canterlot? Did I hurt anypony? Why was I the only one left behind...' Melody's head floods with questions and her heart feels guilt for doing such a thing. In the wave of mixed emotions, Melody stops to look at Sonorous. Tears blurring up her vision, and scared, Melody gets off the couch and kneel in front of Sonorous, "I am so sorry that happen! I promise I'm not the same pony from then... Please don't tell anypony... I'll do anything!" she pleads as tears stream down her cheeks. Even with eyes full of tears, Melody can see Sonorous smiling, raising her hoof. Moving around a little, but able to reach, Sonorous rest her hoof on Melody's head. She can feel the rough exoskeleton of Melody, "Calm down Melody. You will be okay. I will not tell anypony about this... I wondered what the sound you always made was, but I didn't really know how to ask it." she said trying to calm Melody down, "But... But aren't you scared of me? Or upset about the things other changelings did?" she ask. Sonorous shakes her head gently, "You silly filly, I'm not scared of you. You are my friend... But I won't lie... I was very scared the first time we met. I thought I was in danger when I heard the sound of you transforming, but you didn't hurt me... Then when I got to know you... I found out you are nothing like the others..." she said down to Melody as she wipes the tears away, "So... You won't turn me in?" Melody ask looking up at Sonorous who is still smiling brightly down at her, "No I won't Melody." she replied. After taking some time to pull herself together, Melody lays back on the other couch, both mares staying quite as they let time pass.
Chapter 6: Coda.♫-Chapter 6-♫ ♫-Coda-♫ =-=-=-=-= Sonorous brakes the silence, "So... Out of curiosity, what made you change your mind to live in Canterlot?" she asked. Melody looks over to Sonorous, "Well... To tell the truth... I don't remember how I have even got here... Last thing I can remember is waking up in an alley to hearing ponies yelling for the guards... Then shortly after the guards chased me. I was lucky and was able to get away..." Melody replied looking at Sonorous, "Well, if you don't mind me asking, what did you do to eat? I remember the other ponies saying something about that changelings fed off of love or something like that." Sonorous asked. Melody lowers her ears, "Well, by now i'm sure you know, everything I told you about when I was a filly was all a lie. After some time trying to figure out a good way to feed off of emotions, I found out that ponies here really enjoy music and singing. I didn't have any bits to buy and practice any instruments. I found out that I am naturally good at mimicking sounds." she said, taking a breath, "I was able to get a few part-time jobs to work near a few ponies that sang, then doing my best to mimic them singing and altering it slightly. I was able to sing a lot like most of the other ponies. The emotions that the ponies would feel when I sang was enough that I could feed off of. Even tho its not as fulfilling as the emotion of love, with enough ponies at once I could go a few days without having to eat." "That's really neat! So you learned how to sing just by listening to other ponies?" Sonorous asked. Melody lightly chuckles, "Well... I wouldn't really call it singing..." she said, clearing her throat a little before replying in a completely different voice, "I'm just mimicking singers voices I've heard and just change it to match mine." she said smiling. Sonorous amazed, "Wow... If I didn't know any better, I would have thought you where Wind Chime. That's amazing!" she said to Melody with a smile. Melody changes her voice back to normal, "Hehe, yeah, I just have to listen to somepony talk for awhile and I am pretty good at sounding like them." she said looking at Sonorous, "Hey, Sonorous..." Melody continued watching her tilt her head a little, "Yes Melody?" Sonorous replied. Taking a moment before saying, "You know... I am really happy you decided to stop by that night... I am sorry I am not like most ponies tho..." she said lowering her ears as she looks away from the blue mare. Sonorous said happily, "I am happy too." before shaking her head some, "But no need to worry about it. You are unique just the way you are Melody!" she continued with a bright smile. Melody looking back at the blue mare, seeing the smile from ear to ear, Melody can't help but to smile back. Before one of the mares say anything else, they both hear a stallion in the hallway, "Sir, can I see your ID." he said before hearing a gasp and somepony galloping down the hall. Melody quickly get up and dashes to the door, transforming back to her normal form before swinging the door open, and taking a step out of the room. The security guard standing just a yard or two from the door. Melody looks at him, down the hall, then back to him, "Who was that?! Why didn't you restrain him?! How long was he out here?!" she asked loudly. The guard looks at Melody, "Sorry ma'am I just got here and I didn't have any time to stop him." he said, "I can check the cameras to see if I can identify..." before he could finish, Melody shout angrily, "No! Go find him!" she said looking at him. The guard sighs, "I will see if I can find him ma'am." he said before walking down the hall. Melody watches him as he makes his way in the same direction the other stallion ran off. "Melody... Is everything okay..." Sonorous ask, looking toward Melody's voice. Stepping back into the room before closing and locking the door. She turns to face Sonorous, "Somepony was outside the door..." her eyes start to blur with tears, "I don't know how long they were out there... They may have heard everything..." she continued. "Sonorous... I am scared... What will happ..." interrupted, Sonorous hushes her, "Melody, calm down, you will be okay, if anything does happen, we will figure it out, together." she said in a calm voice, "Now lay down and get some sleep... We can talk to the security ponies in the morning and see if they can find the pony." she continued trying to settle Melody. Legs shaking, mind racing, her breathing quick and short, but before Melody starts to panic to much, Sonorous' voice calms her. Melody stares at Sonorous though her teary eyes. Even with blurred vision, she can see Sonorous' blank stare, and simple smile. Doing her best to slow her breathing, drawing a deeper breath each time, Melody was able to calm herself down pretty quickly. After a few deep breaths, Melody was able to calm down. She slowly walks back to the couch she was just laying on before the interruption. Resting her head down on the arm as she lays along length of the couch before looking at Sonorous, "Thank you Sonorous... I am sorry, I worry a lot about it... I just don't know what to do if the other ponies found out..." she said letting her wings rest behind her, "Or what may happen." she continued. Sonorous shakes her head, "Melody... Calm down... And get some sleep..." she said before resting her head on the arm of the couch and closing her eyes. Melody watches Sonorous slowly drift off to sleep. She can't help but over think and be nervous about what may happen. Staring at the blue mare as she is fast asleep, Melody convinces herself that she can trust her, she has no reason not to. Sonorous did not tell anypony after the few weeks they hung out, even tho she only suspected what she was, and still treated her like a normal pony. Laying in the dark as she watches her friend sleeps, Melody does her best to remain calm, 'It has been some time from when the other changelings attacked the castle, and I have not harmed anypony... Maybe they will accept me...' she thinks to herself, resting her head on the arm of the couch, 'Maybe I will be able to live with all the other ponies for who I am and not what I am...' she continues thinking, 'But what if some ponies haven't gotten over the attack... And want revenge... Or want me kicked out of the kingdom for what happen...' For some time, Melody continues to think to herself. She thinks of what would happen if word got out about what she is. Would the ponies accept her for who she is? Will the ponies let her continue to live among them? Can they see she is not like the others from the attack? Will she be able to make more friends? Is Sonorous going to be hated for letting a changeling hide in the kingdom? Does Melody have to hide in plain sight for the rest of her life? Before fading into the realm of dreams, Melody has a feeling that no matter what will happen, Sonorous will know what to do.
Chapter 7: Accelerando.♫-Chapter 7-♫ ♫-Accelerando-♫ =-=-=-=-= "Melody... Wake up..." Sonorous said lightly nudging the sleeping mare. Waiting just a few moments before nudging again, "Come on Melody... We need to go and see if they found the pony..." she said looking down at her, waiting for her to wake up. After a few more nudges, Melody finally wakes. Her sight blurry, but starts to clear up as she opens her eyes. Seeing Sonorous' glassy purple eyes looking down at her, she stretches, "Good morning Sonorous... Did you sleep well?" she asked, sitting up to rubbing her eyes. Sonorous nods, "I did. Did you? You didn't stay up late too late worrying about the pony last night did you?" she ask waiting for a reply. Melody gets off the couch and stands next to the blue mare, "No... I was up a little after you fell asleep, but I did not stay up long..." she said stretching her wings out, "We should get going." she told Sonorous as she walks to the door. Sonorous follows Melody's hoof steps as they make their way to the lobby. Once they make it to the counter, Melody walks up to it. The stallion behind the desk looks at Melody and Sonorous, "Hello! Melody! Sonorous! What can I do for you today?" he said smiling at the mares. Melody staying as calm as she can, "Well, we where wondering where the security room is? Something happen last night and was wondering if the guard last night was able to find the pony." she said waiting for the stallion to reply. He look at Melody, "O, I am sorry to hear their was a problem. Well There are two security rooms. Both are located at the end of the East wing and West wing. Just walk past all the rooms. The doors should be unmarked. Feel free to check both if needed." he said still smiling at the mares. Melody thanks the pony and turns to Sonorous, "I guess we should check the East wing first. That one is closer to your room." she said looking at the blue Pegasus. She nods as they both make their way to the East wing's security room. Once they make it to the door, Melody knocks on the door, "Hello? Anypony in there?" she ask taking a step back. Both mares hear somepony grumble something on the other side before the door opening shortly after. Once the door opens, a different stallion then the one from last night, stands in the door frame, "Yes, how can I help you two?" he asked looking at both mares. Melody looks at the stallion, "Well one of the nightly security guards last night found somepony ease dropping on us. We where wanting to know if the guard pony was able to find them." she said to him. The stallion just looks at Melody, "O, well the night guards shift ended about an hour ago. I wouldn't have any information about that." he said scratching his head. Upset from the lazy and uncaring reply, Melody takes a step to the guard, "Well we need to know. That pony may have heard very personal information that does not need to be leaked." she said with a bit of a snappy attitude. The guard looking at Melody, not liking the snappy reply, "Well I am sorry how things are ran around here. I am here just to make sure no pony gets hurt and make sure someponys are not where they are not suppose to be." he said with a stern voice. Melody starting to get really upset, she takes another step to the stallion, "But there was somepony somewhere he was not suppose to be and It was after hours! You ne-" Melody stops when feeling Sonorous' hoof on her shoulder. Turning to looks to the blue mare, the stallion huffs, "Well it may have just been a crazy fan, and if it was personal information you don't want others to hear, don't talk so loudly." he said stepping back before closing the door. As they let the guard close the door, Sonorous steps next to Melody, "No need to continue talking to that pony. He wasn't gonna budge." she said turning around and starting to walk back down the hall. Melody looks back at the door before turning around and follow Sonorous down the hall, "Also don't worry Melody, I will let my manger know about the rude service that guard pony gave." she said humming softly. Melody shakes her head lightly, "No need. I am not worried about how that stallion acted, I just don't want what the pony heard to get out." Melody replies, lowering her ears. Sonorous nods her head some as she hums, "Well, till they find out who the pony was last night, we can try to look, but have no leads. Till then, how about we go out and get some breakfast?" she said before humming again. Melody waits a couple of steps before answering, "Yeah... I guess we can..." she said starting to really think about what will happen, but before she gets to lost in thought, Sonorous stops and hold her hoof out, "No need to worry. Melody, no matter what may happen if the other ponies do find out, we will make the best of it." Melody looking into the purple glassy eyes of Sonorous, lifting her hoof to make contact, "Okay. I will try my best to not worry..." she said able put together a smile. As the two mares make their way to the lobby and out the front door. Melody has a looming feeling of somepony still watching her. Doing her best to shake the feeling, she stays as calm as she can for Sonorous. The mares make their way down the street to the café they first went to. Ordering a plate of muffins, scones, and biscuits with their favorite teas. Waiting for the order, the mares sit at the table outside the building. Melody watching every pony walking by as Sonorous blankly stares in Melody direction. With each pony walking by, Melody grows more and more paranoid, 'Did that pony tell anypony yet? Does she know? Does he know? Will the word spread around the kingdom about it and the guards get me?' she thinks to herself, staying more quiet then normal. "Melody... You are panicking, you said you won't worry about it." Sonorous said turning her head to the sound of ponies walking up and down the street, "No pony will find out, and you will be alright. You need to relax and enjoy the nice day." she said tilting her head up to face the sky. Melody watches as Sonorous moves her head. Once again, just watching Sonorous and listing to her, Melody starts to calm down, "Yeah... I am sorry... It's just a fear I have to work on... It has been sometime, but I have no where to go if I am kicked out..." she said lowering her ears again. Sonorous tilts her head back to the red mare as a café server places the order on the table, thanking them for stopping by then walk back inside, "You are not going anywhere Melody. This is where you are and it will be where you stay. Trust me." Sonorous said giving Melody another bright smile. Once again, by Sonorous' actions, Melody was able to calm down and relax. Melody returning the smile back to Sonorous, "Okay... I trust you Sonorous." she said reaching for a scone before pushing the pate to Sonorous. The two mares spent the rest of the morning sitting at the café as the warm sun continued to climb the sky, they jumped from topic to topic as they talk for hours. They forgot about the pony from last night and the crude serves in the morning, time passes the mares as they spend the day together. After the café, they shopped at a few nearby stores, then went to take a few laps around their favorite park till it got dark.
Chapter 8: Sempre.♫-Chapter 8-♫ ♫-Sempre-♫ =-=-=-=-= With the chilly wind softly flowing past Sonorous and Melody, the leaves under them tumble past them as the leaves still held over their heads rustle. Sonorous softly humming while her glazed eyes fixed on the bright stars above. Watching the blue mare as she hums along with the whistling wind, tumbling leaves, and reckless branches, Melody feels as if Sonorous was preforming just for her. Listening to every note, she let the blind mare continue to sing with the sounds of the park. Melody's eyes start to close, slowly starting to doze off, but just as her eyes close, she hears somepony walking toward them. The sound of crouching leaves interrupts Sonorous' humming. Melody and Sonorous watch as a stallion walks toward them. His coat, brown like tree bark. Mane, forest green, short cut with a white stripe down the middle. Long, but thin tail, matching his mane. His hooves steps nearly echo in the peaceful night, clip, clop, clip, clop. Just standing a few steps away, he grins before bowing, "Hello ladies, quite the wonderful night isn't it?" he ask while lifting his head, "I was out on my midnight walk and I heard a beautiful sound coming from this way. I couldn't help myself, but to see where it was coming from." he continued crossing one hoof over the other, "May I ask who I have the pleasure to be speaking too?" "I am Sonorous, Sonorous Timbre and this is my friend, Melo..." she said before the stallion excitingly interrupted, "O? 'The Sonorous Timbre'? I've always heard about your performances, but never got to stay in town long enough to attend one myself. If you do not mind, may I ask when your next performance will be? I have some time before leaving town in a few days." he ask smiling, staring at Sonorous' blank eyes. Taking a moment before replying, she looks over at Melody, "Well Melody should have one coming up in a day or two." she said, looking back to the stallion. With a slight tilt of the head, he looks at Melody. She can't help but to watch his eyes look her over. His eyes start from her mane, trailing the hair strains down pass her half covered face, continuing to lead his eyes to the fluffy feathery wings folded on her back, then back up to her crystal like eyes, "Melody... That name doesn't quite ring a bell. Are you new to Canterlot?" he asked staring down at Melody. Melody feels as if the gaze was looking past her spell and right at her. Her hooves start to shake, heart slowly thumping louder and louder, as her mind blanks. The stallion continues to glare at the speechless mare, "I just thought you where just a guide for the wonderful Miss. Sonorous." he said in a taunting like voice, "Really thinking about it... I don't think I have ever really heard of that name at all... You seemed to have just appeared out of thin air... Tell me, Ms. Melody is it? Where did you come from and how are you able to preform alongside Sonorous?" The stallions voice rings in Melody's head, "How long have you been preforming in Canterlot and how did you get so popular so quickly?" he asked, voice still bouncing around her head. Shutting her eyes tightly as the world slowly spins out of control around her. The gaze, the voice, the pressure, Melody's constriction starts to vanish as her green flames start to engulf her. Feeling as if she's been exposed to somepony who knew all along, but suddenly a light push stops everything. "Melody... Wake up..." said gently by Sonorous. Melody's eyes open, revealing the empty park around them, "Are you okay? You fell asleep, then started to twitch and making noises... Where you having a bad dream?" she asked in a caring and worried voice. Melody stares up at Sonorous before looking around the area, "Hua... Yeah, I am okay, I..." Melody said before scanning the area one more time to make sure no other pony was nearby, "I am still thinking about the other night..." before she was able to finish, Sonorous hushes her. "Shhh... Didn't we talk about this? We will be okay. You are safe with me." Sonorous said softly, "No pony will find out and if somepony does, I am sure you will be okay." she continued looking back up to the stars, "You mean no harm and you are such a great friend!" she finished looking back down from the starts and at Melody with a smile. Even with the cold wind blowing past the mares, Melody felt warm from Sonorous confidence. Melody sits up enough to lean into the cobalt blue mare, "Thank you Sonorous... You are a great friend too." she said, feeling Sonorous resting her head on top of hers. The two mares stay in place as the rustling leaves was the only thing heard. Before long, Melody starts to shiver, "Hey... Sonorous... Can we start heading back? It's starting to get really cold out here..." she asked starting to move her head, "O yes, of course, its getting really late anyways." Sonorous replies as both mares start to get up. Step by step, Melody leads Sonorous back to building they left early that morning. Just before going into her room, Melody stops, "Sonorous, Go ahead, I need to grab something from my room real quick." she said to as she turns to face nodding her head, "Okay, I'll leave the door unlocked for you so just come on it." Sonorous replied before walking into her room with the door closing. After taking a deep breath. Melody makes her way to the security room, hoping they found about the mysterious intruder. With each step echoing down the empty, dimply lit halls, Melody navigates to her way. With each step, her mind grows paranoid. 'What if they did catch them and they gave out the information they over heard? I am pretty much turning myself in? If they did give out that info, would they believe me or them more?' Melody ask herself as her vision blurs. Melody's legs turn to auto pilot as her mind blinds her vison and shows flashes of her first memory. Being chased guards though the ally and trying to run into the blush, she then sees auditorium she with all the ponies running away. Her vision turning her around to see the brown stallion standing behind her, staring her down, slowly taking a step to her. Eyes flooded with tears, she stops in the middle of the hall, slowly starting to walk backward as if she was stepping away from the stallion before the sensation of falling overtakes her. As her vision tips from the stallion the red curtains behind him that lead to the celling where the light whiten her sight before seeing the row after row of the seats, but suddenly everything stops in motion as she sees Sonorous, still smiling bright with her wings spread out wide and eyes twinkling like the starry nights they spend staring up at. For the moment, she felt weight less. The sensation of falling stopped as she spotted no other pony in the room. It was just her and the blue mare she made friends with. The smiling mare tilts her head slightly as Melody can hear 'Are you okay? Do you need help?', but realizing it was not Sonorous' voice, Melody's vision snaps back to the hall she was just walking down as another security pony was standing over her, holding his hoof out, "Here, take my hoof." he said looking down at Melody. Staring at the extended hoof, up to the stallion, then back to the hoof before lifting her hoof up to letting him help her up. "Yeah... I am okay, I just, hua, had a long day." Melody said standing up. After helping Melody stand up, he nods, "Well do you need help back to your room?" he asked with a steady grin. Shaking her head, "No, I am okay. I was making my way to the security room." she said taking a breath, "I just had a few questions." she continued as the guard bows his head, "Well I am the floor guard for the east wing tonight, maybe I can answer the question for you?" he asked waiting for her question. Melody looks at the guard, taking a breath, "Well the other night, somepony was outside the room 312. By any chance did you hear if any progress was made in finding them?" she asked, slightly worried about the answer. The guard takes a moment to think as he lifts his hoof to his chin, "I want to say the guard that night did mention it. They did not get good view of the face, nor their cutie mark, but it was brown stallion with a green mane." he said thinking of it. The description flashes to the short dream she had in the park, but remembers the smile Sonorous gave her when she woke up. "Well any way we can stop them from being able to enter the building or anything?" Melody asked hoping for the answer she wants. The stallion shakes his head slowly, "Sadly, other then after hours, we can't really say who can or can't be here unless he did something like vandalism or assault. It's a public place..." he said before giving a warm smile, "But I'll keep an extra eye out near 312 on the nights I am here if it helps." Giving a slight smile back, "That will help... Thanks... If anything happens can you let me know? Or Sonorous Timbre if possible." Melody asked as the stallion nods his head, "If I hear anything about it, I will make sure you or Ms. Sonorous know about it. Now would you like for me to follow you back to your room?" he asked. Melody takes a moment before answering, "No thank you sir. I'll let you get back to your duty's." she said bowing her head slightly, then turning around to walk back to Sonorous' room.
