The Possession of Octavia Philharmonica
2 Hearts x 4 Souls
by
Robo00
Chapter One:
The Possession of Octavia Philharmonica
This Life...
Lanta...
This Life...must...find...The Life that is Lanta.
Gona.
The Life that is Gona might have snuffed The Life that is...
No! Mustn't dwell on the dark thoughts. The Life that is Lanta is still strong.
This Life is sure of it.
This Life has landed on this world. A world of strange creatures who walk on all fours. No digits or hands.
The Lives of this world laugh, cry, and show their love freely. Such are the lives of mammals. This Life notices
some of the Lives have appendages growing forth from the foreheads. It seems these creatures are the top of
the hierarchy.
This Life is becoming weary somehow. This world and its Lives are very different to This Life. Must find refuge
in a body of one of these...
Music...yes...that is what the sound is called...music.
This Life follows this "music" into a large white building. Four lives are playing what This Life believes are called
"musical instruments". Even more strange is these Lives can use these "instruments" and yet These Lives are on
the lowest rung of the hierarchy. Very strange indeed. This Life watches from the shadows.
...
"Really, Fredrick.", I said, in the coldest voice I could muster. "The bloody Ponyville Days festival. Have we truly
fallen that low?"
It took Fredrick about a minute and a half to answer.
"Um...pretty much...yes.", he said, sheepishly. I wanted to strangle him with my own two hooves. Of course,
Harpo and Beauty would be witnesses but I could buy their silence with the money I'd make from his memorial
album. Putting aside my VIOLENT, SEETHING RAGE, I decided to start making a plan. Unfortunately, one
that involves showing up.
"So what's the plan, Tavi?", asked Beauty, who was probably filled to the brim with coffee at this time of day. I
mentally added her to my "murder list" and considered our options.
a). We could fake an illness, therefore we can escape with our dignity intact. Of course, there is the chance we
could be found out, so...
b). We preform at the bloody thing and be ostracized even further by the nobles. I even have the rest of what
happens next planned out where I become an alcoholic and die in a drunken stupor.
c). I kill Fredrick, Beauty, and Harpo and run off to live my life in the mountains under an assumed name. I'm
considering calling myself Glenda Greycoat.
d). Sob quietly in a corner for the next six months.
"Um, Tavi?", asked Harpo, in the meekest voice he could muster (which was his normal speaking voice). "What
are going to..."
"All right.", I said, defeated.
"All right what?", Fredrick asked. That was the last straw.
"WE'LL PLAY AT THE BLOODY FESTIVAL! HAPPY?!" Beauty placed a reassuring hoof on my shoulder.
"It won't be that bad, Tavi.", she said with the gentleness of a feather and the patience of a saint, two attributes that
have left me far too early in my young life.
"Won't be that bad?! Won't be that bad?! I got three words for you: THE GRAND GALLOPING GALA!"
"That's four words, Tavi.", Harpo said, trying (and failing) to be helpful.
"I KNOW WHAT I MEANT!", This is what we call in the music business as "losing it". "Our careers have just been
condemned to the pits of Tartarus! Now we truly have nothing! This is the END! E-N-D! The end of our lives as
musicians!"
The three of them stared at me for a couple of seconds, with blank expressions. Finally, Fredrick spoke.
"You through?", he deadpanned. "Well, if we have no other nervous breakdowns, let us practice." Oh, would I
love to hit him...repeatedly...with a bat...studded with nails. The four of us took our places and started to play.
A buzzing could be heard above our heads. I tried to ignore it, annoying as it was.
"Um...?", started Beauty before Fredrick cut her off.
"It's just the light fixtures. This building is one of the few buildings in Canterlot that have actual electricity."
"Oh, is that all. Well let's...OCTAVIA! LOOK OUT!"
Harpo's voice was the second to the last thing I heard. The last was my own scream as a loose wire struck me.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
...
...
...
The Lives of the three surround the Life of the one. The Wounded Life is still alive. Badly injured but The Life
still flickers with a little of its vibrancy. This Life has decided. This Life and That Life shall become one. It would
be beneficial to Both Lives. This Life would have a body to sustain This Life and That Life shall be able to function.
So, This Life enters the body of the Other Life.
"OCTAVIA!"
"HER HEART'S STILL BEATING!"
"WHERE ARE THE BLOODY MEDICAL PONIES?!"
F-Fredrick Horsehoepin? The Life that is called Fredrick Horseshoepin?
"Tavi's not responding, Freddy!"
Harpo? That Life is called Harpo Parish Nadermare?
"Freddy! The ponymedics are here!"
Beauty. The Life that is called Beauty Brass?
"All right. Where is she?"
"Right here, sirs."
"Her name?"
"Octavia Philharmonica. Please you got to help her!"
Oc-ta-via? The Life This Life is inhabiting is called Octavia Philharmonica?
"We ought to call her parents, Freddy."
"Right. Brass, go with the ambulance. We'll contact her parents."
"A-all right. We'll get you fixed up. Hang in there, Tavi!"
These Lives seem to care about The Life This Life is inhabiting. Such an outpouring of warmth. Even This Life
hasn't felt it since This Life was with Lanta.
Lanta.
Be safe, be strong, and be forever.
The Lives are loading This Life into some sort of simple vehicle. The Life that is known as Beauty Brass is in near
hysterics. This Life is still badly injured. This Life. A simple organism formed of cells and tissue. And yet.
This Life needs to rest until This Life is able to search for the Life that is Lanta.
...
...
...
"Thank Celestia, you two are here. Are her parents coming?"
"In the next hour. So how's Octavia?"
"That's what I want to talk to you about.
"..."
"So she's..."
"No, she's still alive but...oh I just have to show you two."
"All right."
"Um..hi Tavi. I brought Freddy and Harpo. We were quite worried about you."
"Ah, it is The Lives known as Fredrick and Harpo! Did This Life get it right? If not please forgive This Life."
"Er..."
"She's been gabbing like a madmare ever since she woke up."
"Are you okay, Octavia?"
"This Life has suffered mild burns on the flesh of This Life. This Life's central nervous system did temporally shut
down for a duration of five minutes and eight seconds. The damage that has occurred to This Life is moderate
and This Life will keep on functioning with proper bed rest. Also, This Life has a sixty to eighty percent chance of
being recovered in time for what is known as the Ponyville Days festival."
"What?"
"Oh? Does This Life need to explain This Life again?"
"No no no! That's fine, Tavi. You seem okay."
"No. This Life is still experiencing pain, a numb but harsh pain."
"Well, can we have the doctor give you some medication for your pain."
"Med-i-ca-tion? This Life supposes. Oh, by the way, did you know The Life This Life is inhabiting is a
homosexual."
The face of the Blue Life has just turned red. This Life wonders why.
"Y-you're gay, Tavi?"
"Awkward."
"Zip it, Harpo!"
"Also the body of The Life This Life is inhabiting masturbates up to three times daily. Is that normal for a
being of This Life's type?"
"Too much information!"
"I guess we know why she reads over the sheet music in private."
"Um...yes? I'm going to speak with Freddy and Harpo in the corner over there."
"Very well."
"Poor Tavi's brain has been fried."
"Now, now Beauty. Octavia has been through major physical trauma so we can't expect her to sound like she's
making sense."
"Or to stop using pronouns."
"Indeed. What is up with that?"
"You sound like a bloody comedian, Freddy. We need to treat Tavi with the love and respect that we would show
a pony who is ill."
"Er..."
"Ohhohoho! You're such a card, Tavi! Isn't she, Harpo."
"No, she not! She's off her nut!"
"Shut up, Harpo! So do you need anything, Octavia?"
"Oh, This Life should have explained. This Life is inhabiting the Life that is called Octavia. This Life if looking
for the Lives called Lanta and Gona. Have the Lives here seen Lanta and Gona?"
The Lives known as Fredrick, Harpo, and Beauty just stare at This Life. Figures, This Life knew that they
wouldn't believe This Life. This Life will have to make Those Lives believe This Life. But how? This Life probes
the body of This Life. Strange. Despite being on the lower hierarchy, This Life, and This Life assumes the Other
Lives similar to This Life. Yes, dominion over flora and fauna. No wildlife in this edifice. But there is a vase
full of flowers. This Life would have to risk it.
"Um...what are you doing, Tavi?"
"This Life is tapping into the latent energies of This Life to make that plant grow."
"That's...nice, Tavi. Poor thing, she lost it."
"Agreed. I'll call the doctor so he can administer a sedative to her."
"Er...Freddy?"
"Yes, Harpo?"
"Is the hospital inside of a jungle?"
"What kind of stupid question...is...that...SWEET CELESTIA!"
"That flower! It's getting bigger!"
"O-octavia! She's...glowing!"
"Tavi?"
This Life looks at the confused faces of the Three Lives. The Three Lives are similar to This Life, so why are
Those Lives surprised?
"This Life is using the latent energies that reside in the body of This Life, in order to make the plant grow. But
now This Life is getting tired. Would the Lives here like to speak The Life that is Octavia?"
"Y-yes."
"..."
"..."
"Ugh..."
My head feels like it is full of cotton candy. At least, it dulls the throbbing headache. What happened? That's right!
I was struck by a live wire. Damn! My ears are still ringing. There's Beauty, Freddy, and Harpo. Awww! They came
to visit me. Now I have to strike them off my "murder list".
Wait a minute?
"B-beauty?", I said, looking at the jungle that was once a hospital room. "I am going to ask you a question so please
answer as true as you can, okay?"
"R-right."
"Where did this jungle come from...and I want you to tell the truth."
"You sure you want the answer?"
"Beauty!"
"All right! You did it!"
"Pardon?"
"You made the flower grow!"
"I thought I was going deaf, but did you say that I did this?"
The three of them nodded in unison. I want to scream. But wait! Of course! It's all a big practical joke to
cheer me up. A "Get Well" gag as it were. Oh, I'm so relived.
"You were also saying some pretty strange things.", said an embarrassed Fredrick as he shuffled his hooves.
"Come on, Freddy! What did I say that was so strange? I was struck by a live wire after all."
"Well, you stopped using pronouns for some reason.", sweat started to pour off of Fredrick's face like water
from a tap.
"I...stopped using pronouns?"
"Yes.", piped in Beauty Brass. "You kept referring to yourself as this life or the life that is Octavia."
"What?"
"You acted like you were possessed by some...thing or rather.", Fredrick said, now standing in a shallow pool of
his own sweat. I would been surprised if he wet himself right there and then. They're keeping something from
me and I'm going to find out what.
"All right, Tavi.", said Harpo. "This joke has gone on long enough."
"Harpo!", chided Beauty. "Octavia just been though Hell. We can't ask her to act normal right away."
"Did I say something peculiar?"
The three of them started hemming and hawing. Now I'm started to regret striking them from my murder list.
"Um..."
"Well..."
"You see..."
Now I'm starting to get mad!
"Out with it!", I said, nearly shouting.
"Tavi, you said that you're...um...a homosexual."
"I said...what?!"
"You know, a fillyfooler."
"I KNOW WHAT THE BLOODY TERM MEANS, HARPO!", I screamed. My empty stomach was in knots as
I went into the Thousand Yard Stare.
"It isn't true, is it Tavi?", asked Beauty Brass.
I gave no answer.
"You are gay!", she squealed in shock.
My silence said it all. I, Octavia Philharmonica, had blurted out my deepest secret to a group of my peers. The
rest of the quartet looked at me, not knowing how to react. (Un) fortunately, I reacted for them.
I started to laugh. Hard. At first, they joined in. We all laughed.
"HeeHeeHee!", I chortled. "So, you all know I'm gay. Ha Ha Ha Ha!"
"Y-yes, Octavia.", stammered Fredrick.
"A-a laugh riot.", added Harpo.
"Ha!", laughed Beauty.
"N-now n-nothing will be the same between us e-ever again. Ha Ha Ha...hic...Ha Ha..."
My laughter soon melting into intense sobbing. Beauty Brass spent the rest of the day and part of the night
trying to console me. Under some sort of influence, I blurted out my deepest secret. It was me who revealed
my true nature.
And quite frankly, that was the scariest thing.
Beauty started to leave for the night. Fredrick and Harpo were long gone. The sedatives were starting to take
hold over.
"Brass...", I said, weakly. "Can you get something to help me tomorrow?"
"Of course, Tavi." she said. "What do you need?"
"An exorcist."
And with that I fell into a deep sleep.