//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty Three- Fracture // Story: Notes Of Time // by MLPxMaestro //------------------------------// Notes Of Time: Chapter 23- Fracture: After realizing it wasn’t long before the spell allowing Octave to walk on clouds was going to wear off in a little bit, she knew she needed to go back home. However her home wouldn’t be the same when she arrived back unfortunately…something bad has struck the family. Octave finally arrived back to her house around nine o’ clock sharp luckily. Just as Starlight descended slowly back down to the ground, Octavia was standing there looking like she was concerned about something. “Good morning Starlight.” Said Octavia letting off a slight smile. “Mother!” Octave ran over to her onto the front porch hugging her. “Why there’s my little angel!” Octavia raised her voice up a bit more, hopefully hiding more of the concern on her face with a voice of positivity. Her daughter however was smarter than that, and she herself knew it too. “Mom?” “Yes dear.” “Okay Mrs. Octavia, I brought her back home nine o’clock sharp just as you wanted.” Said Starlight, unintentionally interrupting Octave. “Yes ma’am you did, and thank you very much.” Octavia replied, then signaling for Octave to head inside. Her daughter knew that gesture of her hoof all too well, and went straight on in to the sight of what looked like Maestro worried over something. She stopped herself as she closed the front door behind her, remaining to stand there at the door entrance looking at her father. “Um…father?” “M- wha? Oh its you sweetie, come over here and give dad a hug, he needs one you could say.” “Sure thing!” Octave then quickly scurried over to him hugging him directly into his chest. “Ooh, my word your hugs will kill somepony if you don’t lay off.” Maestro said to her, trying to lighten up the mood. “Dad, I saw you when I first came in…what’s uh, going on? Mom looked kind of worried about something too?” said Octave curiously. “Oh, me? Nah, I’ll be fine…don’t you worry about your old dad.” “You’re not old father, you’re young and handsome…and all that stuff.” Octave smiled, poking his cheek. “It’s so good to hear you say that, glad to see you are happy, though surprised you even got out of bed at this time.” said Maestro. “Well Starlight’s daughter, Comet Trail, decided she wanted to bother me in the morning.” “Well she’s just an early filly, that’s all. You have to admit though, she’s a little ball of love and fun isn’t she?” “Yeah I’ll admit, she’s awfully cute, and very sweet.” Octave replied with a grin. “But seriously though dad, what’s going on?” Maestro then looked back at her with seriousness, and looked away back to the inactive fireplace. “Look dear, there’s no real easy way to say this, but we’re lucky you came by at this time. Me and your mother are about to head out in a little bit.” “But why? Just tell me already…please?” Octave begged him, grabbing one of his hooves and lightly shaking it, anxious to find out the answer. “Your um, or well…my mother…your grandmother…is currently in the hospital.” Maestro answered with no good emotion detected in his voice at all. Octave couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How could her grandmother, so sweet and so humble, takes great care of herself, and to top it all off, looks fantastic for her age, be in the hospital? She didn’t even want to know now, and just wanted to get over there whenever they were heading out. “Oh…well uh, is she doing okay?” “We don’t know, but that’s all I got from the hospital early this morning. I got a knock on the door around seven I believe, and they told me the news.” Her father replied. “Please, don’t tell me that-” “If I know my mother, she will be just fine. Don’t you worry about granny okay?” “But you’re worrying though dad? How can I not worry when you are?” Her father didn’t answer; he really had no desire to answer something like that to stir up the subject even more. “We just need to get over there whenever Octavia comes back inside.” Just as that was said, the twisting of the front door could be heard, and Octavia had arrived back in to get ready to head out. “You have already informed her of the unfortunate news haven’t you?” Octavia asked him. He nodded, and then looked back at Octave not really being too badly affected by it. “Oh sweetie I am so sorry to hear this too. Don’t you worry though okay?” “Well uh…I haven’t really worried much to begin with. I just…don’t really know what to think at the moment.” Octave replied trailing off with her voice. “I know it’s awfully unexpected and too hard to believe Octave dear, but I’m sure your father told you she would be fine, correct?” Octavia then checked over to Maestro’s face, wondering if he had already assured her it would be fine like she said. “Yeah, I told her that stuff, no need to worry about that.” “Wonderful…then I suppose we must be going then.” Said Octavia. A few minutes later, the three of them were out and onto those streets of Canterlot they knew all too well. They were making their way over to the Canterlot Hospital, which was a recently built structure. It was designed and built around the same time as Canterlot Academy was constructed. They had the latest and greatest technology available, and some of the best medical staff a pony could ask for. It was better than Ponyville Hospital for sure, though it was a lot more expensive as far as medical charges and such were concerned. Octave had never been in the hospital her entire life, and she was mesmerized by just how large the lobby was. A high ceiling hung a large crystal chandelier, with a sun and moon design on the tile flooring directly underneath it. There had to have been dozens of chairs, as this hospital seemed to be maybe even double the size of the one in Ponyville. A few Canterlot citizens looked back at them as the three of them made their way in, but not caring either way. Maestro made his way up to the front desk, asking for his mother as the other two wait patiently next to an elevator. “Yes I am looking for a mare by the name of Harmony please.” “Harmony you say? Well it just so happens that I believe they brought in somepony by the name of Harmony just hours ago. They said she collapsed for some odd reason, I have no idea.” Said the pony at the front desk. “That’s her! That’s got to be her! May we please see her? I need to see my mother.” Maestro urged her. “Yes of course, hang on just one second as I try locating her medical information in this stubborn little file cabinet here. Ugh, if only we had something so much more reliable than these things, like something where you could maybe type it in like a typewriter, and it would show up on a board or screen or something, you know?” the pony chuckled lightly before then quickly scribbling down Harmony’s room number on a sticky note. “Thank you dearly.” Maestro then quickly grabbed the note, and caught up to the other two that waited for him, as they went into the elevator together. “What floor is granny on?” said Octave, ready to push buttons. “Room nine-one-three-two.” He replied. “There’s over nine thousand rooms in this place?!” Octave’s voice rose in shock and disbelief. “No you silly girl.” Octavia giggled. “The floors are just rated by thousands, that’s all.” “Ooooh, I get it now. So like the first floor is one thousand, then the one above it is two thousand?” “Precisely…see? You catch on quickly don’t you? Good job sweetie.” Octavia kissed her daughter on her forehead. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the top floor, floor nine, and were heading off into the right direction luckily. Maestro and Octavia continued down one side of the hallway, assuming Octave went along with them. Maestro then looked back down at the room number, forgetting temporarily. “Okay, so we are looking for room-” “Found it!” Octave called out from the other side, echoing as she called out to them. “Wait a moment, I thought she followed us?” “I suppose she catches on quickly after all.” Maestro smiled. “That was by luck she was going in the right direction.” “Feeling embarrassed by our little girl dear?” Maestro giggled. “Remember this Maestro, your mother is still on my side after what happened a few days ago.” “Darn…she remembered.” Maestro thought to himself, then looking back at Octavia still staring at him. He couldn’t keep serious with that face of hers though; it just always seemed to make him smile even slightly on negative moments and days. “I love you.” He added right before they went into the room. “Not working this time dear.” “Darn…”