Ghosts Of The Past
We played several more songs, until I noticed something rather odd. Among the instruments required for the songs we played, was a violin duet. I appeared to be the only violinist on stage, yet there was definitely another being played. I turned to look behind me, and saw a ghastly form appear. A mare, pale as a ghost, (as that's what she was) playing right next to me. What else was astounding is that the tattoo on my arm was identical to her 'cutie mark'. She wore a sad smile, one to hide the pain she felt.
"Hello, I don't believe we've met. I am Lark Wolfe." I introduce.
"I am Viola Heartstrings, or, at least I was." I became wide eyed at the realization of who exactly this ghost is.
"Are you by any chance Lyra's sister?" Now was her turn to be surprised.
"You, know my sister?"
"We have a bit of a history. She told me how you went into the woods outside Canterlot one day and never returned."
"Well, I did come back, just like this." She motioned to herself.
"She misses you, you know."
"I... know." She looked down, and began crying ghostly tears. "I disappeared, and never got to say goodbye. She must hate me for leaving her all alone like that." She began crying again.
"No, she doesn't. She loves you and misses you, and would do anything to see you again."
"But, I... I'm stuck in this theater. I'm bound to this place. I can't leave, and it's so hard to be visible. Only moonlight, which shows the true shape of all...."
"Then I'll bring her to you. Excuse me."
I bowed and left the stage, receiving applause from the patrons of the club. I walked over to Prince Blueblood, who was enjoying his evening with his entourage.
"Wonderful Lark, Simply wonderful. I knew I wouldn't regret bringing you here."
"Listen, there is something that I must do. There is no time to waste. Two souls have wept for far too long, and I can reunite them."
"Then go."
"I'll trust you to safeguard my belongings while I'm gone?" He nodded, and I placed my violin within it's case before passing it to him. "I'll return soon."
With that, I exited the establishment, and headed towards the city gate. I left the majestic Canterlot and passed through a train tunnel, where I removed my shirt, and then transformed. I tied the clothing around my arm, then went on all fours and took off down the train track towards Ponyville. There weren't any trains that ran at that hour of the night, so there was no need to worry. I arrived in Ponyville in a three quarters of an hour. Still another fifteen minutes before I could turn back. It wasn't a full moon, so I wasn't forced to stay like that.
Slinking through the back alleyways of Ponyville, I finally found my way to Lyra's house. I circled around to make sure nopony was watching, then knocked on the door. I waited a couple moments, then knocked again.
"Yeah yeah, hold on a minute, I'm coming. It's the middle of the night for Luna's sake, who..... could......." She froze in her speech and stride upon seeing me, and instinctually backed away, eyes wide, and ears splayed back. She was wearing a night cap and pajama shirt, with little replica's of her cutie mark on it.
'Right, she's afraid of me... umm, I know, I'll do what I did in Las Pegasus.' I laid down at her front door, wagged my tail, and gave her the 'sad puppy eyes'. I even gave a slight whimper to enunciate.
"Um... Lark, is that you?" I nodded. She visibly relaxed.
"What are you doing here? And, like that?" She tilted her head to the side. I tried to talk, but it just came out as a growl, making her back off.
'What did I do that first time around that let me talk? Ugh.... I guess I have to do this the hard way.' I grabbed Lyra by the hoof, tossed her on my back, and tied my shirt around her with a knot on my stomach, before running off again towards the train tracks.
"Wha? Whoa! Hey! Stop! Help! somepony help!" I looked over my shoulder and gave her a sad look, which made her immediately stop her cries for help. Her eyes went wide again as she looked into my own. "Okay.... I'll trust you... but whatever it is you got me up for in the middle of the night, it better be good! It's freezing out here!" She slunk down into my fur for warmth as I ran in the night towards the capitol.
"Canterlot? We're going there? Why?" I gave a slight huff. "Oh... right, you can't talk."
We entered the city by going over the wall, rather than through the gate, as to avoid the guards. During my time in the club, and then my absence from the city, the capitol had gone to sleep. It WAS past eleven. I walked up to the League of Dapper Gentlecolts, and very carefully pulled the card I had presented earlier from my pant's pocket, presenting it to them. They moved to the side and allowed me entry to the now nearly empty club. It seems the guests had all gone home for the evening, all save the band who were just beginning to pack up. Well, that and the only one who couldn't leave. She was sitting there, on the stage, in the moonlight coming in through the skylight from the crescent, now unobstructed by the clouds that hung overhead. I let Lyra off of me and stood to the side as I howled. I allowed myself to shift back to my human form and put my shirt back on. Blueblood came up and gave me my violin, then silently walked away.
"V.v.v.v.vvvvv Viola?" Lyra said in shock as she saw the ghost, who nodded sadly as she cried phantasmal tears. As soon as she got confirmation, the seafoam unicorn dashed onto the stage and held her pale, spectral double in an embrace made possible only by the magic of the moon. I removed my instrument from it's case, then nodded to the pianist, as we began to play a song."
"Lyra... I'm... I'm so sorry..... I was walking and I.... I fell down the embankment into the chasm... I walked all the way back to Canterlot but.... I didn't even know I died... I... I left you all alone! I'm so sorry!"
"Viola... it's not your fault. You never meant to. I... I've missed you so much!"
The two sisters stood on the stage, crying into each other's manes, until Viola started to fade away.
"Wait! where are you going? Come back!"
"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. If you ever want to see me, just come here under the light of the moon....." The clouds above obscured Luna's celestial orb, and with the light gone, Viola turned to mist and dust. "I'll always be here."
Lyra sat on the stage, bawling her eyes out, until she felt something on her shoulder. My hand that is. She turned and looked at me with such sadness and gratitude in her eyes, all I could do is give her a warm smile.
"Come on Lyra. I know a place you can stay the night. I'll get you back to Ponyville come the morn." She nodded, still crying, as I gave her a piggyback ride to a nearby inn. She fell asleep on my back, and didn't wake, not even when I put her in bed, tucked her in, and closed the door behind me as I walked out, shedding a tear of my own.
A little ways away, in Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna was looking down on the town below, and smiled. "It's strange how things just have a way of lining up, don't they?"
Wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do with this, and I read a suggestion about the invisible violinist, remembered Lyra's dead sister, and had one of those 'Why didn't I think of that sooner?!?' moments.