My name is Octavia, and I live inside a theater.

The sky was its usual grey as I woke up from my peaceful slumber. My sleep was characterized by the black abyss I witness much these days. After a nice sleep, I woke up behind the curtain, eyes groggy and heavy. I pulled the rope further down to show the seats that stood before me.

They were truly beautiful. They held all of my trophies. Gold rings, toasters, microwaves, phones, hats, trophies, CDs, vinyls, paper towels, bracelets, necklaces, anything. Every seat in the front row was filled with all of my treasures.

I had the sudden urge to see myself. I never had a great look at myself and, my friends. I only see a faint reflection when I stare at a small water puddle. I would be smiling back up because I always smile. But I never remember.

I slowly exited the theater, as I passed my treasures. I know I already said this, but oh my! Were they beautiful!

I entered the gray city with a big smile. Trust me, friends, the city bore much fruit to help me with my increasing loneliness. When alone, I tend to go a bit mad. My Collection has saved me multiple times.

My hooves crunched the broken glass on the pavement, and I never failed to marvel at the beauty of the city's destruction. Oh, how I wish I could see it at a closer glance.

Well, my friends, my destination that was planned was a good deal away from the theater. Sometimes, I forget to bring things to ease my mind during these long walks. This was one of those days.

A loud ringing filled my ears as the Nation Clock chimed noon. I hadn’t realized I took this long to wake up, and I began to panic. That clock was one of the few things to keep its Sound. At least here in the North. When the Sound ended, I began to hurry my galloping speed.

Large billboards were unreadable, as were many of the shops littered around. I have already been through all of those my friends, don’t worry. As I went further south, the rubble got worse and more abundant. Bottles, glass, rocks. I had enough of all of those in My Collection. The one thing I couldn’t ever resist was shiny things. I don’t know when, but I developed an obsession with all things shiny and new. It’s just a habit. Those fancy items always made me excited and I could never have enough.

After a few moments, I made it to the Square. In its middle stood a small stand. Around it was burned greenery that never would grow back. Stores stood around the square, but they were not my territory.

A small green creature stood behind the stand, one eye larger than the other, and snot repeatedly running down its nose.

“Desond,” I called to the troll. Desond returned to me with a smile, teeth crooked and out of place.

“Ohhhh! Octavia! A pleasure, a pleasure! I assume I know what you are here for?”

I shook my head because he was wrong. “No no, not today. I wanted tips on going South.”

He became much more serious which frightened me because Desond was rarely serious. I would know. I see him a lot around these days.

“When did you decide to go there?”

I shrugged. “Just now. I forgot gold things for you, this is better now.”

He laughed a pretty raw laugh. “Gloria, did anyone ever tell ya ya talk weird?”

I shook my head. “No, not really. I haven’t met any others.”

“Right right…”

I took a step closer to his shack. He wasn’t answering me and I wanted an answer.

“Desond I know you came from the South so you know the best spots, right?”

He eyed me quizzically. “Octavia...ya ain’t carrying anything. Whatcha gonna do?”

Oh.

“Oh. Well, I forgot.”

He laughed harder now, rocking on his stool. I could see a large pile of trash behind him. He didn’t worry about stealers. A pistol laid on the table. Plus, everyone was very nice around here.

“If ya still want to go, I know a place where there is an infinite amount of supplies for ya little collection.”

Now I was interested.

“If ya follow down to Marion Street-ya know where that is, right?”

I nodded.

“Ok, well if you continue that path enough you’ll get to Holt Street in the south. Hilton Mall is huge. Ya can’t miss it. It’s neutral too, ya wont piss anypony off. Trust me, I couldn’t even grab everything. I think you should wait.”

I couldn't, so I knew the answer. “No, I need something to do. I can go there. Thanks.”

He winked and watched me as I walked down in the direction he told me. And as I walked, there was more sound, as fire was loud and ferocious. Burned bodies littered the street which startled me. In the North, there weren't as many bodies. More ponies like me. I just don’t see them much. I don’t know why, just don’t see them. But this place was full of death and I wasn’t sure if I liked it. And I realized I was paying more attention to death than where I was going, and my friends, I was lost.

But that’s ok. I knew nothing around me had mirrors, so going anywhere near me wasn’t an option. Sometimes I forget that I need to do something like I forgot I had to go South today. I didn’t know what street I was on though. Holt, he said? Well, I didn’t see that. All I saw was Marigold.

I knew I needed to turn back, and I was about to when I saw something. It was a store that was in amazing shape. It bore a weird bendy symbol that I thought looked familiar, and I thought I would take a look.

Music...I walked into the store. When I entered, I immediately saw a large piece of the ceiling above collapse down onto a…

“Ayyy! Get out! Ya don’t belong hear!” A troll-looking figure was trapped underneath a piece of the ceiling, blood pooled around her frame. She was very disgusting and I didn’t want to look. But my friends, she could have been hurt.

“Sorry miss, I need some things.”

She shook her head. “Fuckers like you come in and steal! Get the fuck out! Ya fucking cunt, what the fuck ya doing here? Get the fuck out!!!” She was being very rude to me, and when people shout at me, I can’t think.

“Miss, please, are there any mirrors?”

The small pea wouldn’t stop thrashing. “I eat cockroaches for stupid smurfs like you?”

“Miss, please, I-“

“Something is wrong with your head?”

“Miss, is there a mirror?”

“Back! Back! Get out of here!”

I hurried past her to the back, where it was filled with large instruments. Instruments that...what was that?

It was large, brown, slender, and unique. It called to me. And it had strings. Long springs over a large hole. What could come out of that hole? I wanted to know. Perhaps this was my treasure. Perhaps…

“A cello? For god sake a cello? Bitch, don’t touch my shit? Bring me a-“

As I turned to my left I saw a long long stick, which almost resembled a sword. And some hidden instinct took over me as I stuck it against the cello. And…

Sound. Beautiful Sound. Was this music? Was this what the sign outside said? I needed it. And I forget about the mirror now, because then I couldn’t carry this cello.

I began to walk out.

“HEY! STOP!”

I looked at the trapped troll. “PUT THAT SHIT BACK!”

No. I couldn’t do that, my friends. No, I needed it.

“Ya can't have that! Put it back! It’s mine ya bitch! Put it back!”

“No.”

“If this shit didn’t collapse, you’ll be dead, ya know that?.”

Why was there Sound?

“I won’t. Stop asking.”

“Then fucking kill me.”

“I can’t. I’ll get help.”

“Ya ain’t leaving honey. Give me my shit or fucking end me. Fucking tramp, ya can’t leave! It’s my goddamn store!”

She wouldn’t shut up friends. Why wouldn't she stop? I couldn’t and I wouldn’t. And the Sound was fuzzing up my brain. Oh, oh why can’t it think? I can’t think when things are too loud. She didn’t realize what death was. I couldn’t. Never letting me think. Why would she want to die? Would I mind? Would I? Fuck, let me think! You're yelling. You're yelling at me. Stop. You're confusing. Stop. Raise my cello, but stop screaming. Stop, it’s breaking, but nothing happened, no. Stop stop stop stop and as I walked out there I didn’t do anything. Nothing. It was empty and I didn’t do a goddamn thing. And I had nothing.

~

It took me a while to retrace my steps back to the theater. I had to go past the fire, burning in the vacant stores I dared not to go into. I didn’t want to see another...thing. I didn’t want to be yelled at. I somehow made it back to the square, where Desond was sitting, squatting on his tiny bench. He looked at me, his good eye analyzing what I hadn’t bought.

“Octavia? Wa happened? Wha ya find? Ya back so quickly!”

I didn’t feel like talking to Desond. “No, I didn’t. It was bad advice. Nothing was there.” He squinted at me.

“Da faq do ya mean? Where did you go?”

“I said nothing was there Desond. You were wrong. Bye, have a great day.” I quickly hurried off. His questions were annoying. I don’t know if I like him. I went down the street, and I barely remembered where my theater was. But I found it. It stood on a corner, beautiful red, huge. I went through the entrance, and I was so glad the gray was no longer there. I opened the doors to my home. I didn’t look at the treasures in the seats. I didn’t care at the moment. The curtain was still up. I forget. I forgot to look at my Notes.

That’s why this day was so bad. I didn’t read my Notes. I moved up on the stage, but past my bedroll. I wasn’t tired, or at least I didn’t remember being tired. I went to the back wall, where a small silver box sat. I forgot about the box. I need to write that down too now. I opened it, and inside were many pieces of paper. I needed that. I needed it all. I took the pieces out.

You need to eat

You like the theater

Bring something with you

Your name is Octavia

Everything is OK

You like the Sound

Your name is not Scratch

Your theater is on Maxin Street

Don't go far

Be ok

*You're happy.*

I took out all the pieces of paper in the box. At the bottom was one more piece of paper left. I grabbed the pencil that was also at the bottom. I played down on the wooden stage, my chest up against it. What did I need to write? I didn’t know. The box. Yes, I can't forget the box. Write the box, put it next to my bed, I see it, I remember. Did I play when I was younger? It wasn’t in the box. Why did I like that instrument so much? Was that in the box? Is all I am to eat and sleep and steal to get fucking treasure? What’s in the box? Is that me?

I knew what to write down.

I like the cello.

Author's Note

https://youtu.be/fzxag7U3Snk