Subject 6: Musicians and Studying
“Excuse me?” I walked up to the gray mare.
She looked in my direction, and paused. Then she greeted me in a proper, graceful tone, “Oh, hello there. Are you the owner of this antique establishment? I saw a wonderful looking viola in the window that I would like to add to my collection.”
“Oh right,” I nodded, “yeah, I own this place. Let me just unlock the door.” The way it was set up was simple. My front desk was stationed near the entryway, and to the left would be a door that led to the antique store that we used as a cover to avoid our base being sussed out by our enemies. Similarly, our aforementioned folks in the Crystal Empire--Flash Drive and Guttersnipe--ran their location as a crystal pop-rock candy store. Just how the Agency worked.
After a minute or so, I led the mare into the shop to the left. All kinds of old things here. Some may have had historical value, or not. I don’t know. Corkscrew manages it with things he finds at yard sales and in hidden locations. No idea how that boy managed considering we have a few tribal masks, a jewelry set, and what appears to be an ancient predecessor to the yo-yo up for sale.
“Ah, thank you. My name is Octavia Melody. You may know me from my numerous performances around Equestria,” the lady introduced herself with a smile.
Admittedly, I already knew her. Her music was amazing. I had purchased almost every one of her albums when they released. “Yes, I know you well. I’ve...listened to your music on occasion.”
“Have you now? Which was your favorite?”
“La Cinquette’s Accompaniment.”
“Ah, the ‘The Unplayable Piece’. Took me a while to keep my cello in tune with that pianist. But I managed. My hooves were right blistered afterwards, though.”
While it wasn’t on the same level, I could relate due to how often I was sorting files. Paper cuts were nasty. Octavia started to survey the other pieces of history that were there, but soon, her gaze returned to the viola. I never really knew it had a different name. The only string instruments I really knew were the cello, violin, and fiddle. But this?
“Would you mind telling me the difference between a viola and violin?” I asked and approached it with her.
“Certainly. In laymare's terms--the viola is essentially a larger violin with a deeper sound. Do you mind if I test it?”
“Not at all. Though it doesn’t have a bow.”
“That’s quite alright.” In a bizarre twist, the mare plucked a viola bow directly from her tail with her mouth! I didn’t even want to question how she got it to fit there, let alone stay.
She picked it up and held the instrument with her hoof, and the bow in the other. She started playing a soft, gentle melody of notes that filled the little shop with proud sounds. I could almost feel myself slow-dancing to it, until I heard the loud, raspy voice of another individual from outside.
“TAVEY! YOU IN HERE?!”
“Oh dear,” she stopped playing, and put the viola down. “Terribly sorry, but I must leave immediate--”
“I knew you were here the second I heard that dope music playing! Woah...talk about cool.” A white mare with a blue mane and tail and a peculiar set of shades had bolted into the shop. One good look at her and I instantly recognized her as VInyl Scratch--though apparently she prefers DJ-Pon-3.
“Ahem. Cool? Beg your pardon, but I never pegged you for someone interested in bygones of previous centuries.”
The Unicorn started to closely inspect the shells for each item that was on it. “Whaddya talkin’ about? I’ve always been into these old doo-hickeys. Snow globes too? Yoooo...”
“Could’ve fooled me. Oh, and my dearest apologies good sir,” Octavia said to me, “I didn’t expect my friend to show up.”
I went behind the register, “No harm done. Take as much time as you need before you make a decision.”
“Oh yeah, that reminds me!” I observed as Vinyl retrieved a newspaper from outside with her magic before closing the door, “Taves, look at this. Apparently some ponies are in disagreement with Cozy Glow being put away in stone for so long.”
“Oh?” The gray earth pony read the article with her, “Does it say who exactly says this?”
“Nah-uh. But check it, says they’re looking into defying Twilight over it. Do ya think they’ll win?”
They were right before me so I couldn’t help but eavesdrop, even if it was accidental. Still, to avoid being rude I held a book in front of my face.
“No idea. But sadly I don’t think there’s a chance. If that child really did those awful things, then I’m afraid she’ll be stuck there.”
“Whaaaat? But that’s wack Tavey! We don’t know how bad she had it before she decided to go all bonkers n such. Like, don’t gemme wrong--Chrysalis and Tirek deserved it. They’ve been around a long-flanked time and shoulda stopped way before now. But the kid? Man that’s dubious as heck.”
“I never said I disagreed with you. I just don’t think it’s possible to set her free. At least, not without a massive set of reasons and a fair trial.”
“Come to think of it, how does the judicial system work in this world, anyhow?”
I heard Octavia chortle, “Ohohoho. So you have been studying those old books I gave you. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Shh-shh--shuddup!”
“Oh dear, it appears we’ve spent too much time idle. I need to purchase this, and I’ll be right back,” she shoved the newspaper into her friend’s face and grabbed the old string instrument. “How much for this viola, sir?”
Free. Is what I would’ve said. The perspective they had just given me was invaluable. These were two of the top musicians in the world. Even anonymously, they could prove to be an asset. Come to think…
“Yo, bud! You gonna answer my friend or what?” The rowdy one reared her head, and used her magic to forcibly lower the book from my face.
“Oh, forgive me,” I replied, and the mare released the book from her magic aura. “Actually, I overheard what you had to say about that filly. I...may actually know a friend that works with the paper. How would you both like to have your opinions put in the paper--anonymously of course--in exchange, you can have that for no charge.”
“Hm…” She seemed to consider it, until her friend butted in. The force almost knocked her aside. “Hey!”
She was suspicious of me. Rightfully so, I might add, so good on her. “Hold on, bub--what’s your deal? You tryin’a buy her words or somethin’?”
“No, no. I was merely offering her the opportunity to have her voice heard without the fear of ridicule. If she refuses, that’s completely fine.”
“Vinyl you don’t have to be so--” Octavia tried to speak, but was cut off.
“Haaang on a sec,” with her hoof against her chin, she started to look around the room for something she liked. I suppose she figured if her friend was getting something out of this, then she should too. I didn’t blame her. “Ah! Got it!” With her magic, she levitated an item off one of the shelves behind me. A dome ball made out of multiple layers and colors of stained glass. Ah, that one was brought in by Guttersnipe last week from the Empire. “Now let’s say we do decide to help ya out, bub. If she gets the violin--”
“Viola,” Octavia corrected, much to the chagrin of her friend who rolled her eyes.
“Fine. If she can get that viola, then I want this. Then we’ll give ya permission to use our quotes in your buddy’s next article.”
No harm in a simple equivalent exchange. “You ladies have a deal.”
“Haha! Awesome!”
“What do you even plan on using that old thing for, Vy?”
“It’s gonna be a wicked retro disco ball, that’s what! Just needs some TLC. Thanks bro! Now I’m gonna go hook this up for a test run!”
The unicorn mare left the store, followed by an exasperated sigh from the earth pony mare. Her hoof pressed against the top of her forehead in disbelief. “I have to go make sure she washes it before she infects the both of us with a 100-year-old plague from its dust. And please, take this.” She offered me some bits regardless, “And feel free to use our quotations anyways. I’m interested in seeing how the situation plays out.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Someone has to help those who can’t help themselves.”
“TAVEY HURRY UP!” that raspy screaming boombe
“I must go. Thank you once more for the items we found today. Oh, and I never got your name.”
That’s right, she didn’t. May as well give her that much, “Pale Vestige. Have a nice day, my lady.”
They both left, and it was a quiet day from then onwards. Nothing else really happened for that day, so I left the shop/base, and headed home. Maybe I could use the break. Things have been crazy this past month or so.
That’s when I happened upon another familiar face. Cheerilee was walking yet again, but this time she was carrying a large load of bags. Why must it be like this? I felt no other option than to help her out.
“Cheerilee, is everything alright?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah! Just some rough times with these bags here. Don’t worry, I can do it--” I could tell one of them was about to fall off her flank, so I swooped in and grabbed it. “Woah! That was fast...I didn’t even realize that was about to fall.”
It was a bag of fruits. Exotic ones like dragonfruit and coconuts. “Call it an intuition. You’re okay, aren’t you?”
“Of course! Though, sometimes I am a bit jealous of the other ponies. Unicorns can levitate things, pegasi can hold things across their wings, but it’s a bit harder for us earth ponies.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” I started to walk with her, holding the bag with one hoof, “everyone’s got untapped potential, I’d say. We just don’t realize it yet. But I suppose I can let you in on a secret. There was a reason I was able to catch that bag before it fell.”
With her load lightened, the schoolteacher had an easier time balancing three bags on her back instead of four. “Really? Just why is that?”
“Call it an ability I’ve honed over the years. As an investigator your wits need to be quick lest you die due to someone getting the jump on you. That includes hearing, and your reflexes. It’s got a lot more to it, but I don’t wanna bore you with my--”
“Oh no no!” She cut me off to explain how invested she was, her eyes bright as day, “As a fellow earth pony, I’d like to know how to be able to predict the future too!”
We arrived at her home and I followed her inside. I placed one of the bags on her table, “It’s not so much precognition. Rather, it’s got more to do with our connection to the Earth.”
“I see. Please tell me more,” she had already begun to stir the tea kettle. Damn. I would be locked in for another round of hospitality. Oh well.
I took a seat on her couch like last time, “In short, the Earth is where our power comes from. Anything connected to it travels back to us in a manner that allows us to keep track of the aura within living things. Because everything has magic in it, you see.”
Cheerilee sat with me, one cup of hot tea ready for the both of us. “Ah, so it’s more of a sensory thing?”
I took a sip, “Essentially. If you focus hard enough, you can alter your perception until you become almost able to predict what could happen based on the way something is moving. Like that fourth bag of groceries that you tried to balance on your flank. It was tilting too far to one side before you realized, and your fruits would’ve been puree on the grass.”
“Ooh...if I did that, I could predict which direction a paper airplane came from and who threw it in class.”
An idea suddenly came into my head, “Hey, Cheerilee. Have you considered taking a position in the School of Friendship?”
She snorted which devolved into laughter, “Hahaha! Heavens no. I don’t know the first thing about friendship and cultural dependency. I think I’m fine where I am.”
“Are you? I mean, I’m not one to pry, but don’t you think you have potential to...advance?”
Her ears drooped. My heart sank. Did I come across as saying that she wasn’t good enough? “...How so?”
“Well, I mean...your school could become much more. Maybe just as prestigious as the Friendship Academy.”
Then her ears sprang up again, out of shock this time. “What?” Her eyes dilated as if she had seen a spectre, “There’s no way in Tartarus that’s going to happen.”
“Well...maybe not. But what if...you honed your natural earth pony talents and became a specialist teacher? Rebrand as a school for Earth Ponies.”
“Specialist...that sounds...interesting. But I would have to learn more about myself and our race before I decided to do something like that. Beyond extra stamina and durability, I...don’t think we have much special going for us,” she said with a somber expression. There had to be something else bothering her.
“Well, I could help. There are plenty of resources available on earth pony culture. And...there’s more, isn't there?”
Cheerilee sighed, “Ever since the School of Friendship opened, the Ponyville Schoolhouse has lost most of its students. I’m not mad, of course! I’m actually rather happy that so many kids are looking for ways to improve themselves. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss it..most of my old students are fully grown now. The ones I currently teach are for personal tutoring, and not much else…”
Damn. So that was it. The former schoolteacher that gave lessons to the proud Cutie Mark Crusaders had been reduced to a mere background pony. Now I felt especially bad, given that the three had become teachers themselves at the School of Friendship. I knew what it was like to live in the shadows. So that made it all the more reason to compel me to assist her.
“You can get that back,” I said triumphantly as I placed my tea glass down, “Spoiled Rich was discussing something similar with me. Maybe there is a way you can turn your schoolhouse around into something more relevant again.”
“...You spoke with her? I hope that went well. I know how snippy she can get.”
That wasn’t my focus. Right now, I was honed in on making Cheerilee feel like the proud teacher she had always been. “That’s besides the point. I’m sure if you study up and learn the ins and outs of Earth Pony ways, you can open the first EP-centric institute and spread that unknown knowledge to the world.”
“Oh you. That doesn’t sound very likely. But...I suppose it beats being a mere tutor nowadays.” she lazily picked up her teacup again. I could see it in her disappointed eyes, and droopy muzzle. This mare wanted more out of her life than to be forgotten in the background. I would’ve said something else, had it not been for the fact that she changed the subject. “But enough about me. Have you made any progress on your little investigation?” she asked with her cheery expression returned after disappearing for so long.
“Hm? Oh, Cozy Glow. I feel like I’m getting somewhere. But I don’t know if it’s into the light or the pits of Tartarus itself,” I laughed it off, but I knew damn well that things weren’t going to be easy from this point onward.
“Oh-ho, don’t worry. If you’re as smart as you’ve been so far, you won’t have any problems,” Cheerilee comforted me. That felt nice, hearing encouraging words for a change instead of the constant lambasting of Quick Draw. “I’ve seen the paper. So far, you seem to have quite a few ponies who think it was unfair to seal away a child.”
I gave a sigh of relief. “Good. But I have a feeling--a bad one. That feeling is in regards to what the higher powers will think.”
“Tsk, as far as I’m aware, you’ve incited no rebellion,” she put down the notion with a scoff, “what the public chooses to do with information that has been hidden from them is not your fault. However, I do hope it can be resolved peacefully if possible. The last thing we want is a whole ‘nother set of civil disagreements over the treatment of a child. The whole ‘magic first, ask questions later’ mentality is just as bad.”
“I quite agree, miss.”
Magic first, ask questions later. Mentality. That was the main draw of the way the world worked. Everyone was so obsessed with magic and the power used to combat said magic that no one ever stopped to realize if it was a good solution in the first place. They were so focused on whether or not they could, that they didn’t stop to think about whether or not they should.
Where have I heard that before?
In any case, I spent a bit more time with the mare. She even offered me to stay and have dinner with her, but I declined. I didn’t want things to progress in an uncertain direction. Especially with a mare. No offense to her, of course.
“Have a nice evening!” she shouted with a wave as I left for home.
“Indeed. The same for you,” I responded with a tip of my hat. Now back down the road, I traveled towards my house.
Things were starting to indeed look up. Was it possible that Earth Ponies had their own special magic that could rival the other races? Certainly, but they have been untapped by time. Instead, the Unicorns have been given their own special treatment with an entire school of magic dedicated to teaching arts. The Wonderbolts were there to teach Pegasus ponies to become esteemed fliers and combatants with unrivaled skill. Yet no such thing existed for the Earth Ponies.
Maybe if Cheerilee had time to understand herself better, she could give those foals a better understanding of how special they could be, even without wings or horns. It was a daunting task, but nobody else was interested in doing so. So it fell to me.
And of course, I wondered just who would be next on my list of individuals to communicate my ideas with. It would be risky, yes. But it was the only way to seek out justice for the imprisoned filly. Canterlot was the next most obvious choice. Everypony I’ve spoken to so far has had experience being a commoner of sorts. Even Cadence was born a normal Pegasus. Nobility on the other hand? That was a completely different deck.
“Heh…”
Looked like I already knew the set of cards I would play for this next game to turn out in my favor. Yes indeed, it was time for another move. Tomorrow, I would head out to--
“Excuse me.”
I stopped dead in my tracks and turned around.
“Did you happen to speak to my mother a few weeks ago?”
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Looks like Diamond Tiara is next. Either that or it's Flurry Heart. After all, Pale has spoken to two mothers.
Looks like Diamond is next. That should certainly be interesting. Also, all this school talk makes me think how the rest of the friendship school staff and certain former students would react. Either way it should be fun to see an actual crowd demanding that Cozy gets a second chance.
To be fair Tirek was already punished with Tartarus and Discord might just be older then both of them.
10391652
Yup, it's possible we could see a potential revolution! Cheeilee's school really got shafted in later seasons, which makes me think she got less students over time.
And do you honestly think Vinyl Scratch knows that? She probably slept through History class.
10391648
Yes, and there might be more in the future. XD
10391681
Even worse. Twilight hired her friends, neither of them accredited in education, as teachers while ignoring Cheerilee herself.
Don´t get me started on having a program based exclusively on Friendship while ignoring any useful areas like Maths, History, Literature, Biology, etc..
10391046
To each their own. There's always fanfiction, in the end.
10390741
Oh I know, I just figured it makes sense for Celestia and Luna to be on his to-do list. Not only were those two the ones who made the actual decision, which means they are the single most primary source of finding out just why Cozy was interred in stone, Celestia is the single most influential pony in Twilight's life. Convincing her would practically guarantee convincing Twilight on its own.
10391681
Twilight makes a rather important distinction when the CMC try to get into her school: her school specializes in teaching how to socialize, but it doesn't teach basic academy skills (reading, writing, math, language, etc.) that every young creature would need in life.
10391742
Yup. Pale is here to expose that flaw in the education system. but nobody questions it because "the Princess of Friendship can do no wrong! She learned from Celestia and Luna! She's perfect!" Nope. Not even close. She's not a bad ruler by any means, but things could be far better.
But since you have a massive school that was ran by the Princess of Friendship (Twi lives in Canterlot now, but still), close friends of that princess (Starlight/Trixie), and relatives of the friends of that princess (The CMC are now teachers there), you would logically send your foals to there rather than the simple old Schoolhouse where Cheerilee is. That's not to say her job is completely irrelevant, but for the pony that essentially made the CMC what they are...you'd think they'd do her better than that.
10391751
Good, well you may or may not see the former princesses later on.
And that's true, yes. But in my interpretation, Cheerilee's school isn't really on top anymore since the School of Friendship is right in the same town. That's why Pale is suggesting her curriculum to change a little to draw more ponies in.
10392544
That's fair. I respect your opinion on her characterization. But know that this will follow my own interpretation.
And true lol! I like her because I feel like she would've realized her mistakes and made up with her daughter. (This takes place during the timeskip shown in The Last Problem). Since DT is a young mare now, I feel like Spoiled would make amends and learn to back off of her daughter by now. Unfortunately, as a result she's kind of starved for attention, and her husband, Filthy Rich being busy all the time certainly does not help. Because of that, she's pretty...clingy to stallions like Pale and would've made him stay longer if she had her way.
10392580
Yeah you have a point. There's going to be trust issues on both sides. And they'll be addressed when the time comes in the story. Don't worry.
10392580
They did not visualize it, most likely to keep the passage of time visualized instead, but Luna does note that raising the moon (and by extension, Celestia with the sun) is slowly becoming harder, so it did affect them. Previous seasons established that without the active use of magic, the sun and moon don't move, so we can infer that they were using the last dredges of their power to keep day and night going for as long as they could. And that's before going into the seasons also relying on magic to be changed, or the weather being managed by magic, or crop growth, or the many non-sapient creatures that suddenly lose their magical abilities, thus throwing the entire ecological balance of Equestria out of whack. There might be something that would survive and eke out a new existence, but we'd be seeing a mass extinction event unfold first.
Wha?
Until I read this, I thought this was before The Last Problem.