A New Land
Equestria! What a wonderful country. The ponies were friendly, love was everywhere, and Tarsus had a spring in his step. Sure there were some less than savory ponies, but the country was practically a paradise.
For years Tarsus had been told over and over that Equestria was an amazing land, and he dreamed of the day his family would leave Germaneigh and move there. Finally, finally, it had happened last year and it was everything he had been promised.
No longer would he or any of his family go hungry. Equestria was large and filled with opportunities. It had been a sad moment when the family split up for different cities, but they were never truly apart.
Tarsus himself had left for Canterlot. There he had experienced so many new and amazing things. Tonight he was coming home from a friend’s house. Friend. Just thinking the word sent quakes of joy running through him. He never would have imagined having friends outside the family back in Germaneigh.
Dancing along the street, pretending he was participating in what the Equestrians called a heartsong, Tarsus swung around a lamppost. All he needed was some rain and a partner to sing with to make this a duet. He made a great leap from where he was hanging at the beginning of his imagined finale and heard a strange twang and a crunch as he landed.
Was that a real heartsong starting? I would love to be in one!
An angry yell was coming from nearby, which pretty much dispelled any hope Tarsus had of more song and dance. Still, his mood was in the clouds and he continued on his way. It seemed that the yelling was following him.
“Hey! Brown unicorn! Where do you think you are going?”
Tarsus turned around to see what was going on and found a gray earth pony staring directly at him. Her mane and tail were both jet black and her cutie mark was a treble clef.
A brief moment of confusion before Tarsus looked at his dark brown coat and matching yellow-brown mane.
“Oh, you mean me. What’s wrong?”
“‘What’s wrong?’” the mare said with the full force of her inexplicable anger behind it. “Is that all you have to say for yourself?”
“Huh?”
“You must be kidding me! You just broke my cello and you did not even notice!”
Completely at a loss, Tarsus innocently asked, “What’s a cello?”
This seemed to be the final straw and the anger in the mare snapped. Her eyes blazed with fury as she began her assault. The brute strength she had as an earth pony would have easily overpowered Tarsus if not for the combat training he received in Germaneigh.
Even then, he had not practiced in a few months and was feeling out of shape. His experience managed to keep her at bay, but he knew it was only a matter of time before he tired and her magic kept her going unaffected by the exertion.
The alternative options to being beat to a pulp were flight and trying to talk. Tarsus fully expected that he would be run down if he tried to flee, so that left talking.
“I’m sorry for whatever I did.”
“No you’re not! You don’t even know what you did!”
The mare brought a swift kick sweeping just past his jaw.
“Please, I wasn’t looking where I was going. I can’t feel sorry if I’m unconscious.”
That seemed to make some sense to the mare. She aborted another incoming kick mid-swing, and although her anger was as strong as ever, a sense of begrudging understanding came from her.
“Fine.” The mare was clearly trying to sound calm, but her voice came out strained. “Come with me.”
Tarsus was led back to the lamppost he had leapt from and saw a large black case lying crushed on the ground. The hinges on the side were broken and the latches had been forced off on the other. A small metal coil protruded from a gap in the case.
“This is my cello. You jumped on it and broke it. I find it hard to believe it was not malicious. As a unicorn, you should not weigh enough to naturally produce this kind of damage. Not that that excuses you.”
The mare’s delectable love for the cello came through loud and clear to Tarsus making it hard for him to feel bad. Regardless, the accident was still his fault, and if he had learned anything at all in Equestria it was that apologizing for wrongs, intentional or not, was important.
“I see. I really did not see it there. I am unusually heavy, comparable with earth ponies, so I will need to be more careful in the future. I can tell you loved this cello a lot, and I know it will not make up for what I’ve done, but please allow me to pay to repair it.”
Tarsus did not know if it was the apology, the acknowledgment of the mare’s love, or the promise of payment that did it, but the earth pony’s mood softened into a dull sadness with only a slight tinge of outrage. Perhaps it was some combination of all three.
The mare sighed, and said, “Alright… I will not be able to get it repaired: It is too badly damaged. Maybe the archmage or Princess Celestia could mend it, but that will not happen. I shall have to get a new one.”
Somewhat warily, Tarsus asked, “…How much will that cost?”
“It is difficult to say. Bids on the very best cellos can get a bit out-of-hoof. This one cost roughly eighty-thousand bits.”
Hoping the mare did not hear him gulp, Tarsus regained his composure.
I…could rob a bank. Nopony would ever know it was me… No, I can’t do that. Maybe she’d consider treating this as a loan.
“Um… Do you need a replacement immediately?”
“No, I have others I can use, but this was my first and my favorite.”
The sadness in the mare intensified at the admission, and a new feeling of resignation arose.
Tarsus shuffled back and forth on his hooves, trying to figure out how to console this mare, but he knew one trick and only one trick. He would try to make friends.
“I suppose this isn’t the best way to meet,” Tarsus began, “but my name is Tarsus.”
The earth pony looked up from her cello, eying Tarsus a moment. Giving in, she extended a hoof, “I am Octavia Melody. My friends generally call me Tavi.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Tavi. I guess you can’t say the same about me, but maybe you could get your anger out by reeducating me.”
“Reeducating?” Tavi asked, confusion now overpowering her other emotions.
“Well, you seemed particularly upset when I said I didn’t know what a cello is. Perhaps you could inform me.”
The mix of emotions in Tavi was difficult to get a read on, but while she was thinking, happiness was clearly sprouting.
“I suppose that could be arranged. One moment.”
Tavi, wedged her hoof into the broken cello case and pulled out a business card.
“Come there tomorrow, and we shall see if we can inject a little culture into you.”
Tarsus held Tavi’s business card next to the address on the building to make sure he had the right address. When he heard that cello cost eighty-thousand bits, he knew he had gotten involved with a reasonably wealthy young mare, but her studio was in the ritziest business district in Canterlot.
There had never been any reason for Tarsus to come to this part of Canterlot, being of modest means himself, so it was with some trepidation that he entered the building in front of him.
The first floor the building held a small lobby and a high-end restaurant. A valet whose dress just screamed wealth approached the obviously out of place Tarsus.
“Excuse me, sir. Might you be looking for any location in particular?”
“I need to get to Ta– Octavia Melody’s studio.”
“You would want the fourth floor then. Please follow me.”
The valet guided Tarsus through the lobby to the elevator. Once inside, he turned Tarsus over to the expertise of the lift operator. A steady hum came from the thaumtech lift and a small bell rang on arrival at the fourth floor.
Leaving the lift, Tarsus took his first steps into Tavi’s studio which seemed to double as her home if first impressions were to be believed. From a few rooms over, Tarsus could sense four happy but focused ponies engaged in weaving musical magic.
Taking the nearest seat, Tarsus relaxed and simply let himself enjoy the quartet’s song. The piece sounded familiar from somewhere, but as he had so untactfully demonstrated the previous night, he had nowhere near enough musical knowledge to place it.
After well over half an hour, the music stopped and the moods of the ponies began shifting. Flashes of happiness and sadness, pride and dissatisfaction came but their overall mood remained positive.
Another half hour later and three unidentified ponies walked into the room he was resting in. Each carried a small black case similar to the one he had crushed in every way except size. Two were smaller and one was a little big larger.
They passed by politely enough but their curiosity was clear as day to Tarsus. He recognized it as the kind of curiosity mares expressed when they found something new to gossip about. He would have to apologize for that as well.
Finally, Tavi herself appeared and motioned for Tarsus to follow her back the way she had come. She led him down a short hallway into a strangely designed room. She briefly mentioned it was a sound room and was designed to produce a clearer sound in the absence of unicorn magic.
Tavi then turned her attention to exhuming one of the many black cases piled in the room, each of which Tarsus assumed contained a cello. Wondering what possible reason one could need so many of the same instrument, he spotted the broken remains of the last night’s cello piled in a corner.
The remains seemed to occupy a place of honor. A small shelter had been built of other cellos and musical props to protect its place of rest. Tarsus was beginning to really feel the sting of what he had done. Though he never had possessed anything he loved so much as his new friend adored her cello, he could at least appreciate the care and devotion she had shown it.
Tarsus sighed. At least Tavi seemed to have banished her misery from last night. Now she only had a constant anticipatory feeling as she finally recovered the case she wanted.
From the case, Tavi pulled a large, brown, wooden device with four strings. This Tarsus safely assumed was a cello.
Accompanying the behemoth of an instrument was a small wooden device which appeared to sport hair taken from Tavi’s own mane. To this, she took what looked like solidified tree sap and rubbed it along the hairs.
Once this was done, the silence was finally broken as Tavi said, “This is a cello, and this is a bow. For my revenge” – Tavi was smirking now and her enjoyment growing – “you are going to learn to play this instrument.”
Tarsus stared dumbfounded before he asked, “Me?”
“Of course,” Tavi said, holding out the bow and cello.
“You’re giving me free lessons for revenge?”
“Well, I do not normally teach, so I think the free factor weighs in less. You will either enjoy this and my work will be done, or you will hate this and my revenge will be complete. You shall just have to hope it is the former. I have been told I am a terrible teacher, so be prepared.”
Tarsus took the bow in his right hoof and the cello in his left. It was surprisingly easy to balance himself on his hindlegs with the cello acting as a third. Tavi was frustrated as she stared at Tarsus.
“You know, I have always imagined it is a thousand times easier to play with telekinesis, than by hoof.”
“Oh… um… This is your revenge so it wouldn’t do if I didn’t learn to play the same way you do, right?”
“Hmm… I suppose. But if you lack proper hoof control like every other unicorn I have met then you are not getting a choice in the matter.”
“I’m sure I can manage.”
Picking up her own cello and bow, Tavi prepared herself to start the lesson.
“Alright, first we will start with playing by ear. We will introduce the basic notions of music into your uncultured brain and then we will move onto sheet music when you prove yourself less than incompetent.”
Tarsus was incredibly bad at playing the cello. His hoofwork had surprised Octavia with its quality, but they both quickly came to two conclusions. First, Tarsus was tone deaf. That could be worked around with enough practice. Second, he couldn’t keep a beat even with six metronomes ticking as one and Tavi trying every other approach she could think of to keep time for him.
Despite this, both Tavi and Tarsus were determined to make this work, and if it just so happened to take years, then they would just have that much more time together. Tarsus guiltily tried to ignore his partner’s budding affections for him, but they were too good to resist.
And then, the strangest thing happened. He began feeling something no one in his family had ever felt before. He was in love. The family had always attempted to surround itself with as much love as possible, and when able, to have the emotion directed specifically towards them. However, it was unheard of for the feeling to be reciprocated.
Perhaps it was Equestria itself that was working changes on the family. Perhaps it was the physical distance they put between each other for the first time. All Tarsus knew was he had found a pony more important than them.
The days passed by quickly and turned into weeks and those weeks became months in a blink. Tarsus sluggishly became a passable beginner cellist. Far more quickly, the two started spending more and more time together outside of lessons, seeing plays, playing games, attending parties, and so much more.
In the midst of his newfound feelings, there was one thing that always weighed on his mind. Even though the broken cello was what brought them together, it meant a lot to Tavi and she still felt sad every time she saw it. Tarsus had wanted to fix his mistake for months and finally he had the chance.
Today, Tavi would be out performing all day and while he would be at the later half of her concert, his job would prevent him from attending the first half. At least, that was what he told Tavi. While it would usually be true, he had managed to get today off and spirited away the broken cello.
Tavi herself had made it clear that Princess Celestia did not take small, personal requests like mending cellos during open court and his friends and colleagues agreed. He could not blame the princess for this. His own queen behaved the same way and he could imagine just how many problems would be laid before them if they started helping with the small things.
But unlike most ponies, he was going to make an exchange, not a request. In trade for fixing the cello, Tarsus would betray the family. He would tell the princess everything: who he was, what he was, who his queen was, where she was, everything. So far he managed to hide his intentions from the family, but he did not know how much longer he could continue to do so. Whatever happened to him afterward, he needed to make his deal now.
Open court was surprisingly easy to get into. There was essentially no security which allowed Tarsus to enter, cello in tow, without resorting to any unpleasant tricks. When the heralds called for attention and lined everyone up, he was relegated nearly to the end of the line. Only six ponies stood behind him, but that was okay. The less witnesses there were to his betrayal the better.
Attention was called once again and everyone turned towards the throne, however Princess Celestia did not appear. Tarsus worried for a moment that the princess had somehow received word of his coming and had opted to skip this session of court. It was a silly notion, but it was paralyzing nonetheless.
And then the archmage appeared instead in the most overtly evil manner Tarsus had ever seen, read about, or imagined. When the first noblepony ran off frightened, he nearly joined the noble’s retreat. Checking himself as he took the first step out, he stayed in line as nearly every pony fled. Only a dozen or so ponies at the end of the line like him remained behind.
And then, Archmage Twilight Sparkle’s emotions did a full about face, shifting from boredom, anger, and sadistic pleasure to a mother-like caring and eagerness.
Tarsus gaped with the rest of the crowd. Partially because the incarnation of evil had turned into a sweet, loving pony, but mostly from the sheer shock of the act’s effectiveness. The archmage actually managed to fool Tarsus by manipulating her emotions. Surely that had to be unintentional.
When his turn came, Tarsus noticed the archmage’s eyes fixate on him. At first there was heavy suspicion but almost immediately it faded as she exploded with curiosity.
Before Tarsus could say a single word, the archmage cut him off. “I would speak with you in private after court. We can discuss whatever your problem is then too.”
Confused, Tarsus bowed and stepped off to the side to await the end of open court.
Tarsus waited backstage while Tavi played an encore performance. At his side was the repaired cello. Neither he nor Tavi had yet spoken of their feelings towards each other, but Tarsus knew them for a fact all the same. He tried to use that knowledge as little as possible, but it didn’t change the fact that he knew.
In particular, he knew exactly what answer he would get when he asked Octavia to be his marefriend tonight. It made him a lot less nervous than he had seen a few of his friends asking out their own sweethearts.
Applause came and the concert was finally over. A good thing too because Tarsus was getting impatient. But then the director came on stage and started talking. And talking. And talking some more. If Tarsus could sense his own emotions, he knew they would be overpowering frustration. Frustration strong enough to overwhelm every other assembled pony’s feelings put together.
Finally the annoying little pegasus was finished blathering on about nothing and Tarsus managed to control himself enough to only want to drain most of the director’s life away. Of course, he would not actually hurt anypony. He had not since he arrived in Equestria and if possible he hoped to keep it that way.
While Tarsus was amusing himself with all of the delightful ways he could put the director in his place, Tavi came into view and all of the annoyance disappeared in an instant.
“Tavi!” Tarsus called out, waving.
Walking over, Octavia gave him a small hug. “Hey, Tarsus. What did you think?”
“You know I’m tone deaf.”
“That does not mean you can not appreciate a good song.”
Tarsus smiled and laughed a bit to himself. “If you already know it was good, why do you need my opinion?”
“Well…” Tavi was blushing profusely. “Because…”
There wouldn’t be a better time than this, so Tarsus worked up what little courage he needed and blurted, “Tavi, I love you so much. I didn’t even know I was biologically able to love before I met you. Would you be my marefriend?”
A little clunky, but it had the intended effect. Tavi’s emotions were a swirl of happiness and love and the answer was as obvious from that as it was from the kiss.
Tarsus had once read that since the invention of the kiss there were only six kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure.
This one may not have left them all behind, for he could tell there was lust in Tavi as well, but he knew he would not find a better partner to share it with. And for that, he said fie on those kisses. Purity was overrated. Passion was all that mattered.
When they finally broke apart from each other, Tavi noticed the cello case at Tarsus’s side.
“Did you bring the cello I gave you?”
“Hmm?” Tarsus said, still dazed. “Oh, no. This one’s a gift for you.”
“You did not have–”
Tarsus put his hoof on her lips and said, “Just open it.”
Nodding, Tavi knelt down and flipped open the lid. When she saw her very first cello inside, she gasped and nearly fainted.
“I don’t understand. Who did you find that could fix it so perfectly?”
“The archmage did it.”
“What? But she doesn’t take personal requests. She doesn’t even show up to court.”
“She did today. I was actually expecting Princess Celestia, but the archmage showed up instead and pranked everypony. She did hold court after that and helped everypony that didn’t run off screaming. I think the princess was out of town or something.”
“Are you serious?” Octavia’s emotions were an elegant mix of confusion and appreciation. Getting confirmation for her first question, the next soon followed. “Did she really just help you? You didn’t have to do anything, did you?”
Tarsus looked around nervously. He may have been able to act well enough in Germaneigh to hide among ponies, but he was absolutely terrible at lying when a question was directly asked of him.
Seeing the familiar tells of her new coltfriend, Tavi asked, “What did she ask of you?”
“Well, I may have, more or less, that is to say, in a manner of speaking, sold her my soul.”
The incredulous look on Tavi prompted Tarsus to clarify. “There were extenuating circumstances. If I were a regular unicorn, I may have been able to work out a simpler deal. But…”
“But what?”
“There’s…something I haven’t told you about me. I think we should go somewhere private before I say anything.”
“Alright. Give me a few minutes to pack up and then we can head over to my place. Could you grab my other cello?” Tavi asked, picking up her gift.
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I was just thinking 'would like to see a bit on that changeling guy with Octavia' as I read through these. Did not disappoint. Maybe something about how Chrysalis allied with Equestria?
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That's on my list of side stories to write. It's a huge list right now. Someday I'll get to it, though there's a lot of other shorts that I want to indulge in first. Hopefully, I'll get a lot done over the summer.
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I'm not going to argue my opinions on love and sex here, but it's not anywhere near as wrong in the most common moral systems as forcing people to fall in love like she does in canon. That is pretty solid case of fridge horror.
Either way, it should be clear from the main story that things worked out, although Twilight said it herself. Cadance is still obsessed with love.
I do believe that 2 bits is 25 cents (USD).
Story's great so far, keep it up!
The hinges on the side where broken
1. Were.
I think this chapter gave me too much; Sweet Mother of Romantic Hnnnngg.
Doesn't matter that I saw this ending coming and connected with the main story for Esp but this was just too firkin adorable and near heart wrenching. I think I may love sappy a little too much...
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There is a ~3.5 year gap between them. In Merry Solstice?, Twilight has been spending nights with Celestia for 2 seasons so she's ~9.5. Memories is one of the critical points in their relationship. It's also when Twilight started spending nights alone again. So she would have been ~13 (more towards 14 than 13) during that short. I have other shorts that will be placed in between these two in the future so that this question will be more implicitly answered.
Merry Solstice? is just discussing the manner in which seasons/solstices are created when you have someone moving the sun. In Memories, they were discussing how she physically/magically moves the sun before things went wrong.
Damn. Just damn. You're the second person who managed to wreck my favorites so utterly.
Octavia having a male husband is one of the things I don't like.