The Singer's Quest

I woke up. Not gracefully as one would imagine, but very suddenly, sitting up on my flank. I had struggled to remember the horrid details of my nightmare, but glanced outside my dull, filthy, second story window. A rainbow was arched across the pale blue morning sky.

“That’s funny; I don’t remember it raining recently” I thought to myself as I harnessed the energy within to actually get out of my bed, “There’s something… not right about those. Rainbows… pffffffftttt.”

I arose, and did a very quick stretch and walked slowly to my rounded door after finding my thick rimmed glasses. I trotted past all my lovely books, my frilly pink lamp (that I don’t like), and finally, a mirror. I gazed at myself in that mirror, admiring… is that the right word for it? I glanced upon my springy red and yellow mane, noticed my horn, adjusted my glasses and heaved out a big sigh.

I tiptoed down the stairs as to not wake him. Grayson. Slumbering on the couch. Cider mug in hand. Snoring so UNGODFULLY LOUD…

“Alrighty, I just gotta…”

Then, of course with my luck, I tripped on a discarded bag and hit the floor with a loud boom. Grayson stirred, and then the horrible man began to shout.

“SINGSPIEL!” He yelled, leaping from the couch and getting really close to my face. So close I could FEEL his rancid breath on my forehead as his hulking body loomed over me. “What are YOU doing down here?”
“I’m… leaving… Yes! I’m leaving!” I said with all the courage I could muster, and then darted past him to the door. In his hung-over stupor, I managed to flee the encampment where I have spent much, much too long.
Laughing loudly to myself as I picked up speed, I followed a path (South, I believe), until I felt I was far enough away to safely walk at a normal speed. I came to a dead stop when I remembered that I had forgotten a small satchel in my room. I sat myself down, and began to tear up. Inside the forgotten sac was the only thing worth bringing with me on my “adventure” so to speak. Amongst all the clutter, a stupid lamp, books about nothing of interest and a full length mirror, I sought after one thing, a small silver flute, the only thing given to by my mother. Handed down, really. I either never met her or I truly don’t remember. Grayson never talks about her. No one does. No one knows who she is. And I’ve hardly ever left that disgusting place. No one comes to see me, just him. Those loud, loud gatherings at ridiculous times of the night.

I don’t want to think of him anymore. That’s why I left. Finally. After 8 years of this… torture… I’m finally free.

I stood up after a few moments of crying and used my right hoof to wipe my small tears away, after bumping my glasses and feverishly knocking them to the ground. As I picked them up, I saw a flash of pink. Thinking it was someone Grayson sent to find me, I cowered in fear with my hooves over my head and my face in the dirt.

“What in Equestria are you doing, silly? I could hear you crying from allllllllllll the way over there!”

I looked up. A (very pink) pony was pointing far off into the distance, by a pond. I stood up and nodded at her.
“You’re so quiet. And sad!” She awkwardly gave me the biggest hug in my life, and it instantly warmed my heart up. I have never in my life been shown such affection, and from a stranger!
“I… I ran away today.” I said, while poking at the ground, “And I forgot something at my house… I can’t go back to get it.”
The pink one’s face suddenly got substantially less chipper. Her bouncy curls almost began to flatten as the color slowly started to drain from her face. Then, suddenly, the color returned as she beamed and happily shouted.
“WHY WOULD YOU RUN AWAY? ARE YOU HUNGRY? DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS? I CAN HELP! YOU NEED TO… SMILE!”
“Smile…” I thought. “Umm… like this?” I let out a cheeky grin. It felt… Amazing, actually. I haven’t smiled in so long… I wasn’t allowed to be happy. I literally couldn’t. This mare has taught me so much from standing here and shouting at me.
“Yeah! That’s it! Now, let’s sing!” She said as happy as can be as the color sprung back in her mane and she began to hop.
“Oh, I’m not very good at singing. I… can’t.” Or, at least that was what I was told.
“Everypony can sing, like this!” The pink one began to sing about the benefits of smiling, a song that I didn’t know of, yet I softly mumbled the melody.
“Oh, you don’t know that song, do you? Well, sing the song that’s in your heart! I know you can do it!”
I took a deep breath and began to belt out a chilling melody I didn’t even know I remembered.
“Think of me, think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye. Remember me once in a while -please promise me you'll try. When you find that, once again, you long to take your heart back and be free -if you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me.”
The pink mare stared at me for a few moments before getting really excited. Almost a little too excited.
“That’s a beautiful song! Teach me! Teach me! TEACH MEEEE!” She happily screeched while bouncing, yet again.
“Well, it…” I thought long and hard. How does one TEACH another a sentimental song that I don’t even remember where it came from.
Then it hit me. My mother. My scarlet haired, beautiful mother holding me as a filly and singing this to me. Then, a strange bit, I saw the music forming around her as she sang and it went into the distance… Maybe if I could harness that, and …push it into her head or something?
I began to sing again, with more gusto and blue swirling music came out of my gaping mouth. As it danced around her and she, yet again, got exceedingly excited, I took my magic of my horn and pushed it into her mouth. Her eyes glowed that same color of blue for a moment, before she sang the lyrics back to me, almost the same, yet more pitchy and of course, it wasn’t my voice.
I felt something… funny on one of my hips. I looked, and there was a bright flash. A black treble and bass clef making a heart appeared where my “blank flank” once was. MY CUTIE MARK?!