Chapter 1: Not so Musical History
Chapter 1
Not so Musical History
“I’m here grandmother,” I call from the end of the dark corridor, “Where are you?”
“In the living room dear,” a voice replied, “Walk down that hallway and turn a left.”
The path had a lack of lights and the only source was through the handful of small windows. Itchy dust fell onto my gray coat and made me flinch a few times. The floorboard creaked under my hooves. The house on the outside looked like Fancy Pants owned it himself but this hallway was like a scene in a horror movie. Grandma called me here but for no specified reason, she just said that I needed to “learn about my flesh and blood.” It’s probably some science article that she read off of the “newly discovered” internet.
I turned the corner to see a beautifully decorated room with my grandmother sitting on the couch with a smiling face. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, reflecting the portraits of my ancestors which were probably noble musicians. Flowerpots and tables were set at random places in the room while a soft, hoof-made carpet spread across the floor. The walls were cream colored and had faint, red flowers painted on it.
“Come sit down dear!” my grandma called.
I trotted over slowly to marvel the room’s beauty. The couch had some floral patterns that made little bumps which made the couch rather uncomfortable at times. My grandmother still had that bright smile on her face. Her pure white coat began to grow gray and her mane was untended. Even her piano cutie mark seemed to have lost some of its keys.
“Sweetie,” my grandma grumbled, “do you know why I called you here?”
Her sweet inviting smile disappeared and her face was straight as a board. I knew that it was supposed to be something important. I shook my head.
“Well then,” my grandma said, “I’m telling you the story of your ancestors, you are old enough to know now Octavia. Before you create false hope, I will tell you that this is no happy story. You were just a 17-year-old mare when your mom had passed away.” My grandma lowered her head, “That isn’t all that happened, are you ready to listen?”
How could my ancestors be “no happy story?” They were just musicians...right? She’s probably just scaring me. I nodded in agreement and shifted myself to get comfortable.
“Good.” She took a deep breath, “Your father had left you when you were just a little filly. To him, a younger, fresh mare was better. After that, several murder cases were reported and the culprit was always your father and his brand new fillyfriend. When you were 17, your mother had committed suicide but you already know that. If you noticed, not one of them became a musician. “Mommy” spent her time at home moping about and you were the one that had to get a job.”
This was rather surprising but this bad phase only happened to my parents... right? I have a musical cutie mark, so did her grandmother, this was a musical family.
“Your grandfather was a stallion that I wish I had never met. He flirted with the other mares at his work place and eventually grew insane due to drugs and alcohol. Your grandfather... killed your mother’s two sisters... my fillies. He even had a swirl cutie mark. He was later thrown into death row and killed.”
This was rather shocking, I thought he died due to playing the trombone and having asthma.
“Five generations of your ancestors were assassins and bandits. At that time, they were wanted for 1 million bits per pony. I think it was about 1000 ponies that they killed in their lifetime. Fillies are raised as killers you know? They even targeted Princess Celestia herself.”
I flinched a bit, after all that I heard, I didn’t know if I was supposed to be scared or happy.
“Octavia... you and I are the only ones in this whole family with musical abilities. Those portraits on the walls are cropped wanted pictures. Sweetie... that cutie mark... isn’t real.”
I looked down at my flank. Of course it was real! How could it not be? My grandmother put her hoof on my cutie mark and began to rub it really hard. It kind of burned as well. She removed her hoof and there it was. A gray blank flank. I looked up at her with teary eyes. Music was my life! How could it have been fake?! Am I a grow mare without her cutie mark? Has my life been a lie?
“I’m sorry my dear,” she apologized, “this was the only way that you could learn. Even my grand piano that was made by me was created with elephant tusks. I killed those poor elephants with my own bare hooves and some unicorn magic. You are supposed to carry on this dangerous legacy.”
She pointed at me with a stern look. I was terrified of her. Adrenaline burst through my veins and a voice in my head finally called to me. “Run Octavia, run,” the voice called. That’s what I did, I ran as fast as I could to escape her. I wasn’t coming back to this place, I’m making my own history happen.
Chapter 2:Cutie Mark Crusaders
Chapter 2
Cutie Mark Crusaders
I ran as fast as I could away from that monster. How could my family be like that? My mother always told me that we were noble musicians and my dad left us to get a better musical career. Grandmother told me that she had been murdered, not by doing it herself! God dammit this day is terrible, I’m a full grown mare and a blank flank! Only fillies don’t have their cutie marks, not mares. I kept running away, unaware of where I was supposed to be heading. Ponyville was the only place now, I just hope they don’t notice my flank. Maybe a group that I’ve heard called “The Cutie Mark Crusaders” will help me. Oh my god, somepony has to help me now.
My eyes started to tear up again as I ran through the town. I wanted to grow up in the musical life, not a life full of criminal reports. What if one of my fans find out? Where are those crusaders? Thoughts were running a race in my mind. Why can’t I let go of an issue like this? Wait a moment... if my grandma’s piano was made out of ivory... my cello must have an essence of death in it as well! I’ve been playing death’s harmony all my life!
Where are those three fillies?! I need them to help me! I can’t talk to anypony else or they’ll judge me! Oh dear sweet Celestia help me now. *OOF* I suddenly bumped into a white and purple blob. It was later revealed to be a little filly and her two friends. They all had little adorable capes on their flanks. One was yellow with a red mane and a bow, another was orange with a pink mane and was riding her scooter. She seemed to have smaller wings than usual. The white blob was a little filly unicorn with a pink and purple mane.
Out of panic, I asked, “Do you three little fillies know where in Equestria the Cutie Mark Crusaders are?!”
The little orange Pegasus hopped out of her scooter and let it fall to the ground. She put her hoof up and said, “We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders miss! Do you need any help?”
I hugged them tightly, they were here. They looked so happy and playful, no way they could leave me out. “Ah yes,” I replied, “Are you able to recruit anymore blank flanks...?”
They all looked at each other with a smile and nodded. “Miss,” they asked, “Who wants to join?”
I sighed and turned so they could see my side. “You see fillies?” I asked, “Blank flanks come in all shapes and ages. Please don’t laugh at me, my cutie mark was fake all along.”
The three fillies stood there shocked for a moment but the yellow one pulled out a cape. She climbed on my back and put it on me. The cape was just my size for some reason. “We were waiting,” she said, “we needed somepony else to make us feel accepted in this world.” I brushed the cape with my hoof for a bit. The innocence of ponies these days, isn’t it great? They probably don’t even know who I am. That’s fine, I’ll continue my musical career with my fake cutie mark. Might as well just paint it on.
“Hey guys...” I mumbled, “Could you help me paint back my cutie mark? I still have the other side of my flank. Someone here has to be an artist.”
The yellow and white fillies raised their hoof and yelled, “I, Apple Bloom, and my friend Sweetie Belle will help you repaint that flank!” The some how got paint brushes and a brand of “Coat Dye” out of thin air. Oh Celestia, what are they learning in school these days. The two fillies ran over to me and began to inspect my cutie mark. All of a sudden, I felt the feeling of cold, wet paint touch my flank. I shivered a bit but it didn’t seem to interrupt their process. Might as well stand still.
“Done!” Apple Bloom yelled, “Just gotta let it dry!”
I looked at my flank and there is was, a perfectly painted treble clef. I was surprised at their level of skill. I was crusading for a cutie mark and I’ve got a fake one right here on my flank. I just hope that I can continue my music career playing death’s harmony without anypony finding out.
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“Excuse me, Channel 10? I think I may have a good story for you to report. It’s about some crazy runaway who won’t go back to her dear, weak, helpless grandmother...."
