//------------------------------// // A Remarkable Trait // Story: A Musician's Shadow // by Evowizard25 //------------------------------// “And you’re sure this is the best restaurant in the empire?” Octavia gave me a skeptical quirked eyebrow. The open menu lay sprawled before her, but she didn’t pay it much mind. I felt a little ire upon hearing the question. A peasant was questioning me? It was disrespectful. I had half a mind to kill her where she sat, even if she was beautiful. I had to keep myself in check. It just goes to show how well kept a pony I am that I didn’t show my anger. Of course, the place wasn’t that much so she was forgiven completely for asking. It was just a little bakery. Nothing more. Not befitting a king, but I made an exception for this place. I nodded. “It may not look like it, but it has the best food in the empire. Cheap too.” “Hmm,” Octavia didn’t seem convinced. Hmph, I didn’t care. I just needed her to take me to the Element bearers so I can suck out their strength and/or kill them. She could think what she wanted, until I take over the world of course. Because one city-state isn’t going to cut the imprisonment of my people. “You’ll change your mind soon enough,” I smirked. My smirk faded as I saw the owner walk up to us. He was an older stallion. Not too old, since he still shined bright. It’s just here and there were crinkles in his skin. He was auburn and had a light red mane. “What can I do you for?” I smiled. It was a genuine one, even if it was a bit faint. Glazed Bagel, or Glaze as I remember everyone calling him, was an honest stallion. He was one of the few ponies in the city I didn’t have the heart to put in the mines or anything like that. I just couldn’t. Not after how well he treated me and Radiant. He even sneaked us a few cookies now and again. “Do not let the past cloud your mind. He is the enemy.” My mother’s words whispered to me. “And I will remember that, mother.” “Two of your home styled bagels will do for me and the lady here,” I commented. Octavia opened her mouth as if to object, but shrugged. “Sounds reasonable.” Glaze nodded. He didn’t carry around paper to write the orders down, since he could remember it well enough. Helps that his business is slow. “And your drinks?” “Just cold milk will suffice for now,” I added and Glaze trotted off to prepare our order. “Just a bagel and milk?” Octavia asked. “I thought you were going to order something a little more extravagant with how much you built this place up.” I chuckled. “Trust me. This is no ordinary bagel.” “You don’t know how many times Pinkie Pie has told me that one,” Octavia stated. “And was she ever right?” I quirked an eyebrow in question. The more I knew about my enemy, the better. Even their cooking skills could come in handy later. “Everytime,” Octavia chuckled. Ever quick, Glaze brought us our meal. He always had a few of each item at standby for small orders. A simple charm kept them fresh and warm for days. “There we go. Have a nice date, you two.” “We’re not dating,” Octavia rolled her eyes. “Honestly, it is irritating how ponies assume you’re dating when you’re just sitting next to each other.” “Quite,” I nodded. I got a lot of that when I spent time with Radiant Hope. Of course, I didn’t care what they said about us. What we did was our own business, nor did I really want to correct them. Radiant was special to me. “And she betrayed you.” I winced. My mother was right. Radiant would get no sympathy from me. Not anymore, the wretch. I’m glad she’s dead. She would have faced my full wrath if she had stayed in the empire. “Are you alright?” Octavia said, reminding me that I had more important matters at hoof than a dead mare. “Oh nothing,” I smiled to reassure her. “Just an unpleasant thought crossed my mind.” “Ah,” Octavia nodded in understanding. “I understand. I used to do the same with my friend, Vinyl’s, dubstep. I didn’t like it at first, but it’s grown on me. It doesn’t compare to a good, classical instrument, but it does it’s job well enough.” I have no idea what dubstep is, but I’ll just nod. I absentmindedly grabbed the bagel and took a bite…. ______________________________________________________________________________ I turned my head to Octavia and she wasn’t there anymore. What happened?!! Where did that mare go? She was the key to my victory. I wanted to go look for her, but I felt myself stuck in place. Everything felt strange, as though I wasn’t here but I was at the same time. “Now Sombra, Radiant,” Chestnut Falls’ voice spoke up somewhere in the room. I looked to see the kind mare who was….a mother to me in so many ways talking to a younger me and Radiant? “You can only choose one treat. I don’t want you getting tummy aches and spoiling your appetites for dinner.” “Yes Miss Falls,” the two children replied. I don’t understand what’s happening? Is this a memory? Why would I…? This is the first time I tried one of these bagels. I wasn’t supposed to remember this. My mother...my true mother repressed these memories. They made me weak. I needed to be strong for my people. Yet, why was I remembering this? “Oooh!” Radiant hopped about like I remember her doing all the time. Even grown up, she was full of energy. I can attest to that in pretty much every aspect of her character. “Can I have one of the special bagels?” “Bagel?” The little colt version of myself asked. “You don’t know what a bagel is?” When I shook my head, Radiant gasped. The little filly turned her head to Chestnut. “We’ve gotta fix this, Miss Falls.” “Oh yes we do,” Chestnut chuckled, giving little me a nuzzle. I miss those. NO! I will not dwell on them anymore. I am strong now. She turned to Glaze, who walked up to the counter. “Glaze, we have an emergency. Little Sombra here has never had a bagel before?” “Never?” Glaze mock gasped. “That’s horrible.” He quickly pulled out two. “Here, have a couple on the house. Nopony should ever go through life without having a bagel. Well, at least I think so.” “Well aren’t you generous today,” Chestnut quickly hoofed the two bagels over to us, er, them. It’s a little strange watching a memory like this. It was almost like I was living through it again. The little colt version of myself looked at the bagel curiously for a while, before biting. My eyes went wide and I scarfed down the rest in a heartbeat. “I love bagels.” “Me too!” Radiant chipped in. “I’m glad somepony appreciates my hard work,” Glaze chuckled. _________________________________________________________________ What was that? Why was I remembering my past now of all times? I had an empire to re-conquer. The past was just that. The past. My mother banished those memories and thoughts away, but I can still feel them, if only faintly. It’s aggravating. These crystal ponies will pay for making me feel this way. My musings were cut off when I felt a warmth on my hoof. “Somber?” I looked down to see that Octavia had put a comforting hoof on my own. I honestly contemplated ripping it off, but I deemed it not worth my time. Checking her face, she was indeed concerned for me. “Are you alright? We can easily reschedule another time to meet if you are unwell.” “No,” I quickly said, shaking my head. “I just remembered something I had long since forgotten.” “And what is that?” Octavia tilted her head to the side, which was cute. “The first time I had a bagel,” I answered. There wasn’t anything in my memory to be ashamed of anyways and it would put her pestering to rest. Octavia smiled. “Ah, I see. I don’t exactly remember my first bagel, but I do remember my first ‘donut’. Vinyl was so insistent I try one and went to great lengths to make me try every single type of donut. Still not exactly a fan of them, but I’ve become partial to a few. I prefer other pastries, such as bagels though.” What is a donut? I know it’s been a thousand years, but so much has changed if these Equestrians were anything to go by. They even have metal carriages that drive on their own. I have no idea what they are called, but the crystal ponies will be quick to make their own. Hopefully it’s something I’d actually want to ride in. Those metal carriages seemed more like children’s toys than anything else. “So how long have you been in the empire?” Octavia asked. “You certainly know your way around.” She took a bite of her bagel. “Hmm, yes this is very good. Exquisite.” I blinked in anger. I should have known she’d ask that. I was too quick to flatter her. It has been ages since I’ve talked with a mare and this one held a lot of importance for my future. “A few days, but I know how to find my way around pretty much anywhere. Being a bard has its payoffs.” “I must hear you play one of these days,” Octavia smiled. “I bet your music is simply smashing.” I have no idea how to play instruments! Why did I think this was a good idea. I’m an idiot. No matter. I’ll stall her. Thankfully, I’m a quick learner. I’ll make sure to read up how to play or rip the knowledge from somepony’s mind. No, they might detect black magic from the second idea. I’ll have to do this the hard way. “I’m not exactly in the mood to play anytime soon.” I looked downcast. “Let’s just say, I don’t have my muse anymore.” Octavia frowned. “That’s a darn shame. I always do love hearing another’s music. It’s so wonderful how everyone has their own song. Oh yes, you may play the same piece of music, but everyone plays differently. I’ve come to notice and it is magnificent. You can tell a lot about a pony by hearing them play or sing.” I’ll have to take her word for it. If that was true, then it just reaffirmed my hatred for crystal ponies. I can’t stand their music. “Sounds like you know a lot about music.” “I make it my business to know everything I can about music,” Octavia stated. “Music is my life. It’s my passion. My drive. It’s beauty the likes of which anyone can understand, but few take the time to really ‘know’ the music for what it truly is. You can listen to a note and hear the note, but do you ever stop to listen to it’s story?” “Notes have stories?” What is this mare on? Octavia nodded. “Every note has it’s own story to tell. You must listen carefully, for you might never hear a note like it again. Sad really, but that is life. Things pass on and can never be recaptured. That is why it’s important to stop and listen to what music has to say. You might hear the ‘Ode to Joy’ several times and never listen to the same song once. Every player will add their own flair. They add a piece of themselves that no one else can. One of the reasons I really wanted to come to the Crystal Empire was to hear the music. To think this place has been gone a thousand years. A thousand years without adding to the music of life. The trip up here was dreadful. The music in the air was joyous, but there was such a sadness.” “What sadness?” This mare was either crazy or brilliant. Perhaps both. “The land was weeping,” Octavia ears were splayed back and her eyes downcast. “It was so miserable. You could hear it in the wind. How the snow would fall. The land was missing it’s crucial instrument. The song was incomplete. As a filly, I broke down crying the first time I came up north. I never wanted to feel like that again.” She smiled. “Now the land is healing. It’s celebrating the empire’s return. Did not the winds blow stronger and with swifter motions on your travel here?” I blinked in confusion. The wind was rather strong and fluid, moreso than usual. “You act as if the land is alive.” “Everything has it’s part to play in the grand orchestra,” Octavia smiled. I mulled this over. “You have quite the gift.” I could use this somehow. If she could detect the emotions of snow, she could detect another pony’s emotions. A living lie detector. Most interesting if my theory is correct. If not for that, I could keep her alive as a personal musician. “Thank you,” Octavia smiled. “It certainly makes my life interesting. To my knowledge, there are few ponies alive that have this gift or anything like it. The only other I’ve met was this strange mare. Tree Hugger, if I remember it correctly.” She tapped her chin in thought. “Most unusual, but most relaxing. Her music was a comforting one, something I’ve never heard from a pony. It was just so peaceful. She couldn’t hear the music of life like I could, but she could see it. It was so fascinating trading stories and what each item or person looks or hears like.” She giggled, which I found rather adorable. “I’m sorry. I’m rambling on. It’s just that it was nice meeting a mare I could relate to.” I held up a hoof to silence her apology. During my rule, ponies grew still as stone whenever I raised my hoof. They feared me. For now, I’ll settle for the pony shutting up. “There is no need to apologize. I know better than most what it means to find somepony you can connect with.” I looked away, banishing Radiant’s visage from my mind once again. That infernal mare would not leave me. She cursed me somehow. “Well a pony shouldn’t be lonely,” Octavia stated. “If you ever feel lonely, come to me. My friends and I can help sort out that problem for you.” She gave me a smile and passed over a little card with instructions on it. I quirked an eyebrow. “Are you asking me out on a date?” “No,” Octavia deadpanned. I got the feeling she had a lot of ‘fans’ and wasn’t all up for dating really. I could manage. I may not have much experience in this field, but I am King Sombra. I can sway a mare, or at least befriend her long enough to meet the bearers. I smirked. “Didn’t think so.” We both chuckled a bit, before continuing our meal.