“...and then he just galloped off!” Rarity said, sipping her tea. “I was even about to say yes to going out with this pony, but he ran away when I said my name.”
“That's really weird,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “You said his name was 'Strings'...?”
“Yes, darling,” the dressmaker said, “and he looked like one of those 'rock and roll' types that I've been seeing in Ponyville lately.”
“Maybe he knows Cacophony,” Twilight said quietly to herself.
“And how do you know Cacophony?” Rarity asked, her eyes narrow.
Twilight quickly went on the defensive. “I'm sorry, Rarity,” she said. “He came into the library last night. He seemed a little distraught, saying that he needed to clear his head. He left when I mentioned him seeing his family while he was in town. He seemed even more upset after that.”
Rarity stared into her teacup and sighed. “I know why,” she said quietly.
“Was he your sweetheart growing up?” Twilight asked, cutting right to the chase.
“What?!?!” Rarity asked, her voice almost shrieking, then she laughed. “Oh, dear heavens no, Twilight. Cacophony's my older brother.”
“Your brother?!?!” Twilight yelled, her eyes as large as dinner plates. “You never said anything about an older brother.”
“Well, neither did you, darling,” Rarity replied, her tone haughty, “not until the wedding.”
Twilight sighed. “Yeah, you're right,” she said. “I guess with all that's happened since we became friends, the topic of my family just never came up.
“Anyways,” Twilight continued, “we all know about Sweetie Belle, though. Why not Cacophony?”
“Because the last words he said before leaving home were, well, quite unrepeatable in polite company, you see,” Rarity began. “At least he had the decency to wait until Sweetie Belle was sound asleep.” Rarity sighed. “He always was very fond of Sweetie Belle.”
Twilight motioned for her friend to continue. “The gist of it all was that it became clear to him who Mother and Father's favorites were, and that he 'didn't make the cut', as he said. I suppose some of the things they've said could've given him that impression...”
“Such as...?” Twilight asked.
The ivory-colored unicorn hesitated for a moment, then said, “Oh, things like 'Why can't you be more popular like Rarity?' or 'Stop your singing, Sweetie Belle, or you're gonna grow up like your loser brother.' That last one was Father's usual thing to say while he was around.”
“Rarity, that's horrible!” Twilight shouted. “I can't imagine any parent saying something like that about their own son! And it almost seems like you agreed with them.”
Rarity sighed and said, “Twilight, you must understand that my brother and I rarely ever got along. He always thought I was too fussy and too prissy, and you must understand that he was very uncouth as a colt, what with his loud music and stealing my gems!” The dressmaker took a deep breath, then said, “It's odd, though... he'd only take the flawed ones that I would have to throw away later. It-it-it's the principle of it, though! And then he'd spend all his time in that dirty work shed and I'd hear the most awful noises coming from there. I'll tell you this, Twilight Sparkle, there's a reason my parents named him 'Cacophony'!”
“Rarity,” Twilight began evenly, “the impression that I got from meeting your brother is he's a very kind, very smart pony.” And really cute, as well, Twilight mentally added. “So he likes heavy music; big deal. I actually took the liberty of listening to a band he mentioned: 'Iron Mare'. They're actually really good! I particularly liked their song about Star Swirl the Bearded, called 'The Rhyme of the Ancient Conjurer'.”
“It's not just his music, dear,” Rarity said, turning serious. “One day, I went into the shed and took his journal.”
“Rarity!” Twilight shouted, her eyes wide. “How could you do something like that? Remember how you felt when 'Gabby Gums' published your diary?”
The white unicorn blushed. “Yes, well in hindsight, it was most unbecoming of me to do that. But he had been stealing my gems!
“Anyway,” she continued, “I read through it and found some of the most horrible things I could imagine! I showed it to Mother and she was absolutely aghast!! My parents told him to burn the journal or leave. It would seem, to my dear brother, that his blasphemous poetry was more important than family!”
“What do you mean 'blasphemous'?” Twilight asked, cocking her head.
“Well, if I hadn't known better,” Rarity said, “I'd swear that my brother was worshiping Nightmare Moon! In fact, if you must know what he said before he left, he said that he realized how Nightmare Moon must have felt.”
“Rarity,” Twilight said with a sigh, “I'm getting the impression that your brother felt cast out by your family, and that they loved you more than they loved him. Remember, it was love and friendship that brought Princess Luna back. You should give your brother a chance.”
Rarity sighed. “You're right, Twilight,” she said. “In fact, that's what Pinkie Pie was telling me. After she and I had our talk, I decided to make him something to wear on stage. Maybe our mending bridges will help him make peace with our parents.”
“That would be great,” Twilight said with a smile. “Even if that doesn't happen, though, at least he'll have family again.”
“Yes, he will,” Rarity replied. “I wonder where he is...”
* * * * *
While Rarity and Twilight were having tea, Cacophony was cantering on his way to the Ponyville school when he encountered a gray filly and a pink filly tormenting a white unicorn filly with a curly lavender mane and tail. After their target was reduced to tears, they began to trot away laughing wickedly. “Stupid blank flank loser,” the pink one said.
“Maybe we should find her little hayseed friend and have a little fun,” the gray filly replied.
“You will do no such thing,” Cacophony said, looming over them.
“And what's it to you?” the pink one with a tiara marking her flank asked. “Don't you know who my daddy is?”
“No, and I really don't give a flying feather if your father was advisor to Princess Celestia Herself,” the dark purple stallion growled. “It doesn't make you better than anypony else.”
“Don't listen to him, Diamond Tiara,” the gray filly with a spoon cutie mark said, “what would this cretin know?”
“I know that the filly you were tormenting is my little sister,” Cacophony said, his patience almost depleted. “And if you have a problem with her, you have a problem with me. And since I don't hit fillies, I'll have to take it up with your fathers, stallion to stallion. I wonder what he'd have to say about that, hmmm?”
“Come on, Silver Spoon,” Diamond Tiara said, “let's get out of here.”
“Yeah, maybe you both should,” Cacophony said, his voice suddenly pleasant, “and if I should hear about one little hair on her mane even put slightly out of place by your mangy little hooves, we'll have to have another little chat. Get it?”
The two fillies nodded, their eyes wide. They galloped off, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake. Cacophony then approached the white unicorn filly, who was still on the ground crying. He gently nudged her with his muzzle and whispered, “Hey Sweetie Belle, you can stop crying now.”
The filly sniffed and turned to face the older stallion. “Cacophony?” she said, still sobbing. Her eyes then went wide. “Cacophony!!!” she squealed, bouncing around the stallion. “Yay, my big brother's here!!”
The excited filly cheered and bounced around Cacophony for a few minutes until he was able to scoop her up in his hooves, giving her a warm hug. “I've missed you, Cacophony,” she said, returning the embrace.
“I've missed you, too, Sweetie Belle,” he said, his voice cracking a little. “I've missed you, too. Now you listen to me, kid. If those two give you any more trouble, tell me or tell Rarity. No pony, and I mean no pony messes with my little sister and gets away with it. You understand?”
Sweetie Belle nodded and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. “Good,” Cacophony said. “Now head on home, okay?”
“But I'm spending the night at Rarity's,” the filly replied, her voice a whine.
“Then go on to Rarity's. I'll see you later.” The stallion then kissed the filly on the nose. “That's a promise.”
“You got it, big brother,” Sweetie Belle said and kissed her elder sibling on the nose, then ran off in the direction of the boutique.
“And where were you when the colts would tease me and put dirt in my mane?” a mare's voice said from behind Cacophony.
The purple unicorn turned and faced his other sister. “Oh, I was around, Rares,” he said. “Notice those bullies only ever teased you once. Only once.”
Rarity hung her head low, but smiled slightly. “I suppose this is true,” she said. “I guess I should've thanked you...”
“No need, Rares,” Cacophony said with a smile, “it's what big brothers do. No one teases my little sisters but me, and at least I don't do it to be mean.
“Well, you have mussed up my mane very badly on numerous occasions,” Rarity defensively said.
“Yeah, and you always had it fixed back up in seconds, so there,” the stallion said, blowing a raspberry.
“See, Rarity?” another mare's voice asked. It was Twilight Sparkle, who had been hiding behind a bush. “Big brothers are pretty darned special. Even Shining Armor used to pick on me, but he was never outright cruel. I don't think he even has it in him.”
“Oh, hello Ms Sparkle,” Cacophony said, bowing his head. “So, how much of all that did you two see?”
“All of it,” Rarity said. “Honestly, if I had known those two were being that mean to Sweetie Belle and her friends, I would've put a stop to it sooner. But she never said anything to me, nor did Applebloom or Scootaloo.”
“Well, maybe you should talk to her and let her know that you're there for her,” the stallion said. “I'm on the road a lot lately, you know.”
“I will,” Rarity said before cantering to Carousel Boutique. She then paused, turned her head back and said, “You know, you don't have to live in Manehattan anymore. You're welcome to come back home.”
“You remember what Mom and Dad said before I left.”
“I never said anything about coming back to live with our parents,” Rarity clarified. “Your band can come to live in Ponyville, that way Sweetie Belle and I can see you more often. Deep down, I've always regretted not being closer to you, and you just saw how much Sweetie Belle misses you.”
“I'd like that, Rarity,” Cacophony replied with a smile. “I'd have to talk to my band-mates, though. Can't really make any promises there, but I'll try.”
“I understand,” Rarity said with a smile, trotting back to her brother. She kissed him on the nose and said, “At least write to me and Sweetie.”
“Of course. I'll catch up to you before I leave for Filly.” He watched as his sister trotted to the boutique, then turned to face Twilight. “So, Ms Sparkle, I didn't know you were friends with my sister.”
“I didn't know my friend had an older brother, and please, call me 'Twilight',” she replied with a smile. “So, do you think you'll come back to Ponyville to stay?”
“Like I told Rares, I'll have to talk to my band-mates. I don't think our drummer will have a problem with that, since he met a mare that he seems to like. In fact, it's my old buddy Mac's kid sister.”
“That would be Applejack,” the librarian said with a smile. “It sounds as if you won't have much trouble convincing your band-mates to move here, then!” Twilight said.
“I don't think Thunderwing, our bassist, will have any problem with that, especially since he became quite smitten with a local pegasus here. I've never seen him that ga-ga over a mare!”
“Oh?” Twilight asked. “Maybe I know her.”
“I wouldn't be surprised, since you seem acquainted with a lot of ponies here,” Cacophony replied, getting an embarrassed chuckle from Twilight. “She's really pretty, and seems like a true sweetheart. Yellow coat, pink mane. Extremely quiet and skittish, though.”
“That's Fluttershy for you,” Twilight said, rolling her eyes. “Honestly, I'm surprised she doesn't have more stallions chasing after her.”
“Judging from my impression of her, that'd probably give the poor thing a heart attack.”
“Yeah, she doesn't really like being the center of attention. She tried her hoof at modeling, with Rarity's encouragement. She hated it, though, especially with the ponyrazzi constantly tailing her. Your friend should be careful about how he approaches her, or he'll frighten her away.”
“I'll have a talk with him, and pass along your warning, Twilight,” Cacophony assured her.
“Sooooo, have you met anypony that you like here?” Twilight asked after an awkward pause.
Cacophony shrugged. “Honestly, I hadn't really been looking. I've just had a lot on my mind, especially since coming back here.”
Twilight smiled and replied, “I can understand that. Would you like to go for a walk later tonight? The moon is full tonight and Rarity mentioned that you had a, umm, 'special interest', in Nightmare Moon, and I'm curious about your perspective.”
“That'd be cool,” the musician said with a smile. “Maybe we can grab a bite to eat, too. It'll be my last free night tonight, since the band's gonna try and get some practice in before the train leaves. Plus, I want to spend some time with Sweetie Belle and Rarity.”
“Well, let's see,” Twilight said, magicking a schedule book and a quill out of thin air with her horn, “at five o'clock, I'm brushing up on zebra alchemical lore with my friend Zecora. Then at 5:45, I'll be writing up a checklist of things to put on my checklist for tomorrow morning. I have my dinner scheduled at seven o'clock sharp, but I'd need to be back home by 8:15 so I can finish boning up on the geography of the seven ancient griffon kingdoms, but I suppose I can probably push that to 8:45, but I'd have to make sure I get Spike into bed by nine o'clock...”
“Soooo, I'll meet you at the library at seven?” Cacophony asked, grinning awkwardly.
“Yes,” Twilight said with a nod. “Let me just write this in.... '6:30: Get ready for date with handsome musician'.” Her eyes then went wide. “Oh, no! Now I've got to make a checklist of things I'll need for our date! Gosh, I've got to go see Rarity right now. She'd know far more about this sort of thing than me! Oh my goodness, I've never been on a date before...!”
With that, Twilight sped off, leaving Cacophony with his jaw hanging open. Suddenly, she teleported next to him and kissed him on the cheek. “See you at seven!” she said sweetly, then galloped off again.
* * * * *
A young pegasus colt with a blue coat and green and yellow mane looked at the dingy apartment with disgust. “Mommy,” he spoke to the older pegasus mare who came in with numerous suitcases, “I don't get why we had to move. What if she comes back home and doesn't find us?”
“I've already told you, sweetie,” the mare replied, her voice cracked from seemingly interminable crying, “your sister won't be coming back.”
“Where's Daddy?”
The fuchsia pegasus sighed. “Daddy went away to Los Pegasus,” she said.
“Why?”
“Daddy's upset about your sister, too.”
“When's Daddy coming back?”
“I don't know, Thunderwing,” the colt's mother snapped. “Now, go unpack your things and let Mommy think.”
Young Thunderwing pulled his tiny cart with his toys, books, and other sundries into the room he claimed as his own. He began putting up his posters and pictures when he realized that his favorite one was missing. “Mommy?!” he cried.
“What?!” his mother yelled from the living room.
“I can't find her picture! Where's her picture?!”
“Your sister is gone, Thunderwing!”
The colt began to cry, as he had done many times in the weeks since his sister's disappearance. “She can't be gone...” he whispered between sobs.
“Thunderwing, stop crying!”
“I can't!”
“I said, stop crying!!”
“I can't!!!”
“Thunderwing, please don't cry,” a softer voice called from the distance.
It was no use, for Thunderwing's tears would not stop. The colt then felt soft wings wrap around him, and he felt himself sinking into the warm embrace. He opened his eyes when the wings released him, and found himself in a strange bedroom. He realized that he had been unconscious and dreaming. The room was simply furnished, but thankfully, very cozy and inviting. Seated by the bed was the yellow pegasus mare he had seen earlier, her eyes still wet with tears. “Was I that bad, or that good?” he said, his voice cracking.
The mare gave him a thoroughly confused look. “What do you mean?” she whispered.
“Never mind,” he grumbled. “What am I doing here? How did I get here?”
“I have something to show you,” she replied. With that, she walked over to a nearby bookcase and retrieved a small picture album with her teeth. She then put it on the bed and opened it with her nose. Thunderwing looked at the picture of the mare as a young filly holding a small blue pegasus foal with a messy green and yellow mane. The two young pegasi were smiling. The next picture showed the same pegasi, the foal kissing the blushing filly on the nose. A teardrop suddenly appeared on the picture. “I came back to Cloudsdayle when I got my strength back, but found that you, Mom, and Dad had moved away. Nopony would tell me where you went, and I didn't even know where to begin to look for you.”
Thunderwing was silent for what seemed like an eternity. He began to shake uncontrollably as the tears streamed down his face. He then turned to look at the yellow pegasus, and said something that he hadn't said in nearly 15 years: "Shy-shy?"
The mare began crying anew. “I'm so sorry, Thunderwing. I'm such a horrible sister.”
This had been a moment that, ever since that fateful day that Fluttershy had fallen from the clouds, Thunderwing thought he had prepared himself for. As a colt, he promised himself that he would hug her and never let her go. As a young stallion, he vowed that he would tear into her for leaving him alone, for destroying their family, and for all the punishment he endured from their mother whenever he'd so much as whisper her name. In fact, his mother went through great lengths to practically obliterate any reminder of Fluttershy's existence.
But Thundering couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to verbally destroy her, nor could he bear to be anywhere near her at that moment. So he did the only thing he could think of doing.
He flew away through the open window.