//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Beginning of Music // by SkypiDashie //------------------------------// A hazy memory in Octavia’s mind appeared; she was reliving what had happened just the previous week. “We’re sorry Octavia, you must attend this school.” The old colt said “So you can bring honour to our family name.” While he comforted the weeping mare at his side. One of Celestia’s Royal Guards walked over to Octavia, and started to drag her to the Pegasus carriage. Octavia was screaming, trying to resist the strong colt’s pull. It was no use. She started to cry. This was the last time Octavia would see her family for a long, long time. “Hey, are you okay? Hello?” A young filly was speaking to Octavia. Octavia started to open her eyes, vision blurred, but she could see a white unicorn with a blue mane. “W-Wha?” Octavia muttered. She was in her dorm bed, confused. “Oh, you’re okay...that’s good. You were thrashing around in your sleep. I was worried for a moment.” the white filly replied. This filly was a unicorn, no cutie mark. Indeed, none of the ponies in the dorm nor the rest of the students in the school had found their special talents yet. Octavia glanced around the dorm, seeing a couple other ponies in the dorm with them. A mint colored unicorn was practicing a harp up above her. Two other ponies left the room in a hurry to get dinner from the mess hall, probably because they wasted too much time fooling around the dorm. Octavia got out her bed, and held out a hoof toward the new white pony, “Glad that you helped me out. I was having a terrible nightmare. My name’s Octavia, and yours?” “The name’s Vinyl Scratch, nice to meet ya’ Octavia.” the white unicorn said, shaking Octavia’s hoof. “So, what instrument do you play?” “The cello. I think it’s an alright instrument to play, it’s very fashionable for important events,” Octavia replied, “and how about yourself?” “Well, uhh. I play the turn tables. The DJ, if you catch my drift.” Vinyl said. “That’s quite interesting, but I’ve never heard of turn tables. They sound like... turning tables... if you would say... Heh.” Octavia scoffed, somewhat indignantly. The white unicorn merely shrugged. “The mess hall’s going to close soon, I’m going to head down, wanna come with?” Vinyl asked, looking back from the door way. “I’ll pass. I’m not that hungry anyway. Bring back an apple, if you could.” Octavia said, sitting back into her bed, still a bit paranoid from the nightmare she just had, not a few moments ago. “Alright, I’ll see what I can do. Catch ‘cha later Octavia!” Vinyl said, trotting out the door and down the hallway. Octavia started to lay down, looking up at the bunk above her, when a head popped over the side, hanging down, looking at Octavia. This new friendly, mint coloured pony, smiled at Octavia. “Heya there, your name’s Octavia, right? Because, I overheard you and that white unicorn talking just a second ago. Not to impose at all, but, you guys were kind of loud.” The new mint pony said, with a slight frown. “No, no. It’s quite alright. Yes, I am Octavia, and you are?” Octavia asked, waiting for a reply, only to hear a song being played from above. Quite beautiful, to Octavia’s taste, it was pretty good. “You play pretty good, you have a great talent!” “Ya. I guess that’s why I’m here.” The mint pony said, looking out the window, “Celestia’s School for Gifted and Talented Ponies. Why would this school be made anyway? It takes us away from our families, but I guess it’s all for the best.” “You have a good point, but, how else would we find our cutie marks? We can’t just paint them on like a piece of art. You got to earn them, by pushing yourself to the limit of what your talented at, so that’s why we’re here.” Octavia said, “I never caught your name though.” “My name’s Lyra, I am very talented with the harp, but still waiting for a cutie mark. What can ya do?” She replied. She had made Octavia very puzzled, rethinking about why she is here now, from this conversation. The two fillies that had left earlier, had came back, looking like they were stuffed with food, soon to find out, trailing behind, Vinyl Scratch trotted into the room, levitating a apple with her magic. Vinyl hovered it over Octavia’s bed, and dropped it onto the bed. “There Octavia, that’s what ‘cha wanted, correct?” Vinyl Scratch asked, looking up at Lyra. “Yes, exactly what I wanted. Thank you, Vinyl Scratch.” Octavia replied. She saw Lyra hop down from above, and landed near the white unicorn. “Hey there Vinyl, I’m Lyra, nice to meet you.” She said with a big smile on her face. Vinyl jumped back a back, startled. “Oh hey, nice to meet ‘cha too!” Vinyl replied, then looked at the clock. All the other ponies in the room glanced at it, looking at the time. “Is there a bed time or something?” Octavia asked out in the blue. “Ya.. It’s almost ten at night, that’s when we wrap up for the night.” One of the other ponies said. “Alright. We might as well.. I’ve been kind of worn out for the day. I’ll see you guys in the morning.” Octavia said, starting to lay down on her side, looking at the rest of the dorm. All the other ponies went over to their bed’s, making their selves comfortable. She noticed that Vinyl didn’t have a bunk mate on the bottom. Octavia felt Lyra jump up to her bed, shaking the bunk as she started to fall asleep. All the lights turned out, the school was very dark. Anypony could get lost in this school now.