Melody Song is a Pegasus from Cloudsdale who is a blank flank at fifteen. She and her best friend are enrolled in Twilight Sparkle's Friendship School. Then, when Melody accepts a big offer after excelling at a homework assignment, she ends up going on an adventure that leads her to become the mare she is today.
Small disclaimer: while a few of these things happened to me in real life, most of the events were made up for my character.
It was a cool autumn day when a small filly was born in Cloudsdale. She was born to the parents Speeding Light and Dark Song.
As Dark Song cradled her newborn daughter she smiled. The little Pegasus filly had her father's white coat. However, she had her mother's black mane and violet eyes.
"What should we name her Speed?" Dark asked
"She should have your last name Dark." Speeding replied, reaching to tickle his newborn daughter.
The baby cooed up at her father, reaching with her little hooves, tiny wings fluttering. She suddenly began whimpering.
"She certainly sounds like a Song. Look at her, making up tunes already." Dark said, humming to her daughter.
The filly began trying to copy her mother. Her gurgles and giggles seemed like a little chorus all her own.
"I think she likes your humming." Speeding said
"It's not humming, it's a melody." Dark objected, smiling.
"That gives me an idea. How about...Melody Song?" Speeding asked
"Yes. It's perfect Speed. Our little Melody." Dark nuzzled the bundle gently.
"Come on Mel, you've gotta get your mark soon!" Harper Lynn begged me
"I know, I want it to come too." I replied
"Good. We can't start our business-whatever it's gonna be-until you've got yours." Harper added, setting their things down at the desk.
Harper Lynn is my best friend, they and I have done everything together, since we were twelve. They're a light brown pegasus with a pink and blue mane. It's so pretty, the pink fades to blue and creates an interesting shade of purple. Now that we're fifteen, Harper gets to decide how to style their mane. It's shaved close to their head on one side, and hangs low over their face on the other.
Harper's always been Bi, and gender fluid. They explained to me everything I know about the LGBTQ+ community when I came out as Bi myself a few weeks ago. So, of course Harper's extra proud of their mane color. I keep telling them they got lucky that the color is exactly the same as the Bisexual flag. I know I'm only fueling their ego but I can't help it. Their mane is so cool.
Anyway, Harper was so excited when their mark appeared a month ago. It's a paintbrush, but the bristles are covered in paint striped in all the colors of the rainbow. It just proves to me they were meant to be an artist. Harper's always scribbling on papers and tracing designs. Harper really likes drawing Griffons, Hippogriffs, and Kirins. Meanwhile I like learning about them in Headmare Twilight's History of Equestria class.
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention, Harper and I go to Princess Twilight's School of Friendship. I especially like Professor Dash's class, and Headmare Twilight's. Professor Fluttershy's animal lessons are really fun too, it's like escaping into your own private world.
"Mel?" Harper snapped me back to my senses, and I smiled at my bestie.
"Yeah Harp?"
"Class is starting." Harper replied, grinning
I snickered a little at Harper. They really didn't need to tell me that. Then, another student walked in, just before she would have been late.
"She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." Harper and I whispered to each other, then giggled.
Yeah. We have an enemy. We call her She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named because of this book series we like, the Harriet Powell series. One of my other friends, a Griffon (they spell it G-r-y-p-h-o-n though) named Glen, reads the books too. Like Harper, Glen is gender fluid. They actually changed their name to Glen because they didn't like their given name.
"She's the worst." Harper muttered as we watched the unicorn arrange her books neatly on her desk. Harper reminded me, I need to focus on describing our enemy.
Her name is Orchid Gleam. She's a yellow-coated unicorn with blue eyes and a white mane. Her cutie mark is of a lily, which I think is ridiculous. She's nothing like the sweet little flower you'd find on a field minding it's own business. Besides, lilies aren't orchids. Harper and I used to be her friends, until the incident. We don't talk about it.
Before you ask, yes, the Professors know about it. Orchid told them her sob story and Harper and I told the truth. Ever since then the teachers don't really bother us about it, but occasionally if we're in the same class they ask either me or Harper to do things with her. Like, if we're passing out tests or the Professor needs volunteers to help with a demonstration of what we're supposed to be doing.
"Right, class, today, we're going to be discussing Tirek's first attempt at taking over Equestria." Headmare Twilight said, pulling out a pointer rod and beginning to scribble on the chalkboard.
While usually the class would be interesting, I'm too mad at seeing Orchid to focus. As Headmare Twilight launches into her lecture I force myself to pick up the quill and take notes. One of us has to, Harper's a terrible note-taker. They're lucky we share a dorm room, or they'd be flunking Headmare Twilight's class by now.
After the lecture, Headmare Twilight gives us our homework.
"Today the homework is going to be a little different. I'd like you to write a story about what Equestria would be like today if Scorpan didn't alert the Princesses and Tirek managed to overthrow them. Please have it ready to hand in by Thursday." Headmare Twilight instructed, then Harper raised their hoof.
"Does it have to be a paper? Can it be a drawing?"
I heard a snort of laughter from the front of the classroom, and my eyes narrowed. It was probably Orchid. I used to always hide behind Harper and let them protect me, but after the incident I actually enjoy defending myself. And Harper.
"Well, okay. As long as there's a paragraph-long explanation of what the drawing represents." Headmare Twilight allowed, and Harper pumped their hoof in excitement.
I just smiled. I love Friendship School. Its the one place where creativity is allowed in assignments...because the whole school was built on creativity and trying new methods.
I turned from my own desk, where I was just about to start Headmare Twilight's homework. I'd saved it for last because I knew I'd enjoy writing it and probably lose track of time.
"What is it Harp?"
"I finished my drawing, but I don't know what to write for the paragraph." Harper held it up to me.
The drawing was very well done, Harper had inked over the sketch and everything. It showed Princess Celestia and Princess Luna with chains around their necks, heads bowed. The chains led to the Lord Tirek, who gripped them in his hand while he faced away from them, extending his other hand towards a crowd of ponies, the expression on his face full of want. He was demanding something from them, it seemed.
"How about...'Without Scorpan's warning, the Princesses would have been caught by surprise, and Tirek would have easily overpowered them. With the Princesses imprisoned and the magic of the two alicorns at his fingers, Equestria would have been Tirek's for the taking'." I suggested
"Thanks Mel, you're the best." Harper set the drawing down and grabbed their quill, writing the words I'd spoken.
"I try." I joked, then turned back to my own paper.
Actually, Harper's drawing gave me an idea. But first, I'd need some stimulation. I grabbed my headphones from the desk. I usually kept them in Harper and I's room during class. It was too much of a temptation to wear them around my neck during class. I slipped them on and tapped the side to start the music.
It was my personal playlist magically placed on a chip that was in the headphones. When I found a new song I liked, I would take the chip to Ponyville's resident DJ, Vinyl Scratch, who'd put it on for me. Songbird Serenade's "Chase the Sky" began playing. I picked up my preferred Number 2 pencil and began writing, humming along.
"Very good Miss Lynn. Miss Song, you're next." Headmare Twilight said. I slid out of my seat and went to the front of the class, taking a deep breath. I hope they like it.
"Tired, weary ponies trudge past the spires of Canterlot, chains around their necks. Their eyes are dull and their legs buckle as they struggle to stay upright. The Almighty Lord Tirek had taken their magic and leaves them to suffer. Most of them do his bidding and serve him blindly, or face the consequences.
Without Scorpan's warning the Princesses have been overthrown and lie in the depths of Tartarus. Scorpan was exiled by his brother and forced to return to the lands they came from. Any foals born are taken and have their magic removed by Tirek to prevent new magic emerging from the ashes of their ancestors and attacking him. Lord Tirek reigns, the supreme ruler over the ponies of Equestria.
Equestria has become barren and lifeless. Food is scarce without the Earth Ponies to farm the land and grow crops. Without Unicorn magic, the ponies are unable to make solid homes and keep the little food they have from spoiling. There is no weather, because the Pegasi cannot lift their wings to fly and change the seasons.
Soon, Lord Tirek will grow hungry for more magic, just as the Changelings used to do for love. He will seek the magic of lands beyond Equestria to satiate his hunger. Tirek will force the ponies of Equestria into battle until every creature in the world is deprived of their magic and bows to him."
I finished reading my story and looked up. Everycreature is at the edge of their seat. Well, Orchid looks like she's falling asleep, but who cares about her opinion.
"That was fantastic Miss Song." Headmare Twilight said, then looked towards my flank and smiled. "You might want to look down."
I glanced down and gasped. My cutie mark had appeared.
"Finally!" I heard Harper yell.
The mark was a yellow pencil, not unlike my favorite Number 2 pencil. Then, I saw, on top of the yellow pencil, was a musical eighth note. Like my name suggests, I am a good singer, so that might explain the music note.
I trotted back to my seat, after handing in my paper. Headmare Twilight continued on with the lesson. At lunch, Harper and I sat down by the stream outside the school to talk.
"This is amazing! You've finally got a cutie mark!" Harper hugged me eagerly.
"I know Harp, it's so exciting. Clearly my cutie mark is telling me that my destiny is writing."
"Yeah, and you can sing like heck girl! I bet that's what the music note means!"
"Actually, you know that when I sing in public I get nervous. That I can't stand the spotlight. And, this is an eighth note, which is only held for an eighth of the whole note. I think the musical note signifies my desire to sing but my eagerness to step off the stage." I replied. Harper blinked.
"This is why you're one of Headmare Twilight's favorites."
I couldn't help laughing. After all the drama that had happened with Orchid? Why would anyone want me to be their favorite student? I was nice, sure, and excelled in school. But I was just a normal Pegasus, unlike the five other creatures that went here. They stood out and clearly got special attention from the teachers.
I couldn't do anything special, except write, apparently. Sure, writers probably get paid well, if you look at examples like A.K Yearling and Regal Jasmine-the author of the Harriet Powell series. But writing was hard to get into, seeing as how publishers and editors probably decide out of hundreds of ponies whose books to publish.
"Please, me? Headmare Twilight's favorite? What have I ever done to earn that title?"
"Don't sell yourself short quite yet Miss Song." I looked up in shock to see Headmare Twilight looking at me and Harper.
"H-Headmare Twilight, did you need something?" I asked
"Yes, I need to speak with you. Please follow me Miss Song." Headmare Twilight said.
"Good luck." Harper hissed, and I gulped. We knew that Headmare Twilight could be very strict when she wanted to be.
Headmare Twilight led me into her office, where I saw the other Professors, as well as Guidance Counselor Starlight Glimmer waiting. Headmare Twilight gestured for me to stand in the center of the room, and I did. She took her seat behind her desk and I stood, the silence weighing down on me.
"Miss Song, I daresay by now most of the school is aware of your new cutie mark." Headmare Twilight said, and my wings twitched nervously.
"Y-yes." I said, unsure where this was going.
"It's in writing, a rather unusual talent, but useful nonetheless. Which is why I've called you here. My fellow teachers and I were wondering if you would be interested in...a little assignment."
"What kind of assignment?" I asked, confused
"Well, we want to know if you'd like to be a teacher's assistant." Twilight replied
"But...didn't your last assistant kind of try to destroy the school?" I asked, and Twilight chuckled
"Yes, she did. But I believe you're a little more trustworthy than her." Twilight replied
"What-what would I be doing exactly?"
"Well, you'd be running errands for us, showing new students around, maybe even helping to teach a few classes." Twilight said, and I looked around.
"For everyone? What about classes?"
"Oh, you will still attend classes like a usual student, but might be given extensions on assignments, or be allowed to leave one class if a teacher needs help. So, will you accept?" Twilight asked
I thought about it. It was a good position, and I would gladly accept if I could be useful, but there was one thing bothering me.
"Why me?"
"Beg your pardon?"
"No disrespect Headmare Twilight, I'm honored, but...why would you choose me of all ponies? I'm no different than anypony else at this school, and after Harper Lynn and I had that incident with Orchid Gleam it hardly seems like a reason to choose me to help you." I replied
"You're right Miss Song. But we chose you because of those reasons. It's true, you're not different from any other pony, but you are kind, courteous, and very smart. All of us have seen the way you treat your fellow classmates. We are giving you a small pass for Orchid Gleam because, well, we've all got to make enemies at some time or another, it's a part of life. I showed the assignment that got you your cutie mark to the other Professors. They all agreed that it was a very good story, and I think if one of us ever needs help with writing for various reasons, you would be a big help. So, again, I ask, will you accept?"
"Well...okay. I'll do my best. Thank you for the opportunity." I smiled. Headmare Twilight smiled right back.
"Good. Come to my office tomorrow morning and we'll get you set up." she instructed. I nodded and was dismissed.
The second I stepped outside I took a deep breath. I was going to be the teacher's assistant of the Professors! I can't believe this is happening to me.
I had just finished telling Harper after Headmare Twilight showed me the ropes this morning. I'd been avoiding her questioning until now. Mostly because I wasn't sure what she'd think about it. And because I still hadn't figured out how I felt about it. However, it felt like a good time now, seeing as some of our friends were in our room with us, better to get it all done with now.
I laughed softly in embarrassment, looking around at the group of my friends. I should probably explain more about them.
Glen, the Gryphon I mentioned, is there. They're wearing a blue leather jacket with various buttons they'd collected over the years. They had a fondness for "cool ones" from Equestrian culture, rock bands, sexuality equality promoters, the like. Glen's fur is a kind of deep purple, almost maroon. The feathers on their head are black, and longer on one side so it hangs off their face. Their wings are the same deep purple, but with black tips. They also have black marks around the top of their eyes. Glen is kind of our friend, but I'm not really sure. They're a bit more of a loner.
Then there's Zamara. She's a dragon with yellow scales and pale blue frills. She, like Glen, is a bit of a loner, and more reserved. I'm actually not sure if she's our friend, but she's Glen's roommate, so she knows who we are, and seems to enjoy our company.
Next is Shine. She's a Hippogriff, with a light green mane and blue fur. She's really nice, and is definitely my friend. But actually, outside of school, Shine has chosen to remain a Seapony. She'd never spent any time on land before coming here. She's also roommates with the last creature in the room.
Dahlia is a changeling with a deep pink coat and a light purple frill on her head. She's another definite friend, really sweet and nice. But she sometimes teases Shine for being so naive about most things. She spent an hour explaining what a fountain is to Shine.
Regardless of how they vary in being my friend, they all are very excited for me. I smile at them softly.
"This does mean I may have to report some of the trouble we get up to." I warn
"I'm out." Zamara says, half rising. It takes me a minute for me to get she was joking.
"This is awesome Mel! You get to be their assistant!" Harper objected. I smiled.
"True. Um, what about the rest of you? What do you think?" I asked
"It's an amazing opportunity Melody." Glen replied, cracking a small smile.
"Yeah!" Shine added
"It's really cool." Dahlia agreed
"Melody?" Ocellus poked her head into the room. "Professor Rainbow Dash needs you in her classroom."
"Well, duty calls, huh?" Harper teased, and I laughed.
"I'm coming Ocellus." I followed the changeling out to see her group of friends nearby.
Sandbar and Gallus were standing next to each other, talking. Smolder was leaning against the wall, chatting with Silverstream and Yona. I waved to them with my wing before heading off.
"You wanted to see me Professor?" I asked as I entered the Loyalty Classroom.
"Yeah. Can you help me clean the classroom? The last class left it a pretty big mess." Professor Dash asked, and I nodded.
"Oh, sure. Any reason why you didn't just have the class clean it when they were done?"
"No, just wanted to give 'em a break for once." Professor Dash answered.
As we tided up the classroom, I couldn't help noticing that Professor Dash kept glancing out the window.
"What's wrong Professor?" I asked, and she looked around.
"Look, can you keep a secret?" Professor Dash asked me.
"Of course Professor. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
"Cool. By the way, the other Professors and I agree that we don't mind if you call us by our usual names when the rest of the students aren't around. So just call me Rainbow, okay?"
"Alright. What's wrong?"
"Well..." Rainbow went over to the window. "My friends on the Wonderbolts team are coming by, we're going flying together. And...one of them...I kind of have a crush on him." Professor-er-Rainbow, told me, blushing.
"You...do? That's nice." I said, smiling.
"No, it's not." Rainbow banged her head against the wall, making me step back slightly in surprise. "I like him so much I can't think. Worse, our other friends know and they've been saying if I don't tell him by the end of the day, they will for me."
"Why don't you tell him then?"
I was confused, but not so much when Rainbow Dash turned and I saw tears in her eyes. It was the first time I've seen her look so vulnerable. I do hope it's not the last because emotions can't be pent up like that. But still, I at least hope next time, it comes out in front of ponies who know her better.
"Because the last time I told somepony how I felt, it hurt me. He lied to get close to me. Somepony always gets hurt." Rainbow replied to my question at last.
"Not necessarily..." I trotted towards her. "I get it, the last time you fell in love it didn't go so well. But you know this pony, right?"
"Yeah."
"If he's treated you good enough as just a friend, and if your other friends trust he won't hurt you enough to risk telling him themselves, then I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about."
"How do you know Melody?" Rainbow asked, wiping her eyes.
"I don't. I just know that whatever happens, your other friends will support you. Besides, if you know this stallion well enough, he probably won't do anything to hurt you." I said, then laughed. "But...I mean, you probably shouldn't be taking advice from me, I've never had a romantic interest in my life."
Rainbow snorted in amusement, and I blushed.
"Either way, you're great at giving advice. Thanks Melody. You know, you're a pretty good teacher's assistant." Rainbow smiled, and I looked away.
"Oh, I'm just trying to help. And...you can call me Mel if you want. All my close friends do, and since you said I can use your first name..."
"Mel it is then." Rainbow grinned, and I saw movement outside the window. "Oh, they're here!"
"Why don't you go now? I bet you don't get much time to hang out with them."
"True. But a teacher's work is never done." She beckoned to the still messy room.
"I can finish cleaning if you want."
"Well...okay. Thanks Melody." Rainbow lifted off and opened the window.
"What about the door?" I asked, and Rainbow glanced out.
"Uh, well, Twi and the others don't know I'm going flying with them..."
I took that to mean they also don't know about her crush. Now it makes more sense why she asked if I could keep secrets. I just thought she didn't want the other students finding out because it would make her seem girly or something. Nevertheless, I nodded.
"Say no more. Have fun Professor."
"Thanks Melody, I owe you one!" Rainbow called as she flew out of the window and towards the three Pegasi in the air.
It was Spitfire Flare, Soarin Skies, and Fleetfoot. Figures she'd be friends with the three top Wonderbolts. Professor Dash is the fastest Pegasus in Equestria.
"Wait...if Professor Dash said she had a crush on a stallion...and Soarin Skies is the only stallion in the group, then does that mean..." I gasped and couldn't help giggling.
"Oh, she...had some business to take care of. She'll be back soon Headmare Twilight." I assured her.
"She had better be. But as long as you're here Melody, I could use some help sorting the student files."
"Oh, sure Headmare Twilight. Just let me finish up here." I grabbed up the last few things, placing the sport supplies in the appropriate bins and the apple core I found in the trash. "Okay, let's go."
Headmare Twilight smiled approvingly at the clean classroom, then led me out.
I followed Headmare Twilight into her office, where she pulled open a drawer in her filing cabinets with her magic.
"You can help me start organizing by subject title." Headmare Twilight told me, and I nodded, picking up the files. "I know it's a bit hard to carry those in your mouth, sorry."
"It'th fine." I replied, voice muffled by the files as I set them on the floor, then raising my wings. "That's why wings can come in handy."
I grabbed a few more files with the appendages in question and nosed them around to spread the files out. I then grabbed the closest one: Applejack's apple spice muffin recipe and placed it in front. As I worked, I heard Headmare Twilight shuffling files nearby. The next read Ingredients for a perfect Hayburger. I'm sensing a pattern here.
"These seem to all be recipes."
"Oh, yes, they're for the cafeteria. It's hard keeping them organized with all the creatures we have."
"I guess I can understand that. But...Griffons and Dragons eat meat, don't they? And Hippogriffs fish?"
"Well...yes. But Gallus and Smolder both assured me when they first arrived that if it made us uncomfortable to serve it, they were willing to eat other foods. When Zamara and Glen arrived they agreed to the same. Silverstream and Shine also mentioned fish is not a main part of their diets. As a result, we don't currently have any recipes written down that involve...that food option. But we have a few...*ahem* suppliers for any times when it needs to be served."
"Like...friends and family day?" I asked.
"Yes, exactly." Headmare Twilight nodded, then levitated some more files out of one cabinet.
"There, done." I said as I slid the last file into the cabinet and shut it. I then pulled open the next one up. "Hey, these are student files."
"Oh, yes, I do need to re-organize the way I have the cabinets set up. You don't have to look through those if you don't want to invade your friend's privacy."
"It's okay, I pretty much know everything about my friends already, and I don't know many other ponies at school."
I lifted them out, and one of the papers slipped from a file. I knelt down to pick it up, setting the file next to it, and saw it was Orchid Gleam's. Coincidence? Maybe. Should I see what it is? Well...am I really that angry with her...?
"Melody?" Headmare Twilight asked without turning. "You're awfully quiet."
"Oh, well..."
I picked up the file and paper, shoving it hastily in. Wrinkling her probably important paper was good enough. Headmare Twilight looked around and saw the file I was holding.
"Miss Song...?"
"It fell out. I-" I sighed. "I was going to peek, but I realized...why should stoop to her level? I mean, she would have done the same." Headmare Twilight smiled at me.
"I think I made the right decision choosing you to be our assistant, you're learning lessons without anyone needing to teach them to you."
"Oh...thank you Headmare." I then reached up and slid the file back in.
"It takes a lot of integrity for somepony to be able to resist going to the same lengths as an enemy." Headmare Twilight remarked, to which I gave no comment.
We worked in silence a while longer, giving me time to reflect on that.
Headmare Twilight believed I had integrity-another word for having strong moral principles. But really, was I that good? I fought the system a lot after the incident. Not in a bad way...but more with a bit of a vicious streak of refusal to try and make amends with Orchid. Both Harper and I did, really. But Harper's always been a tough pony. Of course they would resist. I was always the good one. But...I don't like that role. I've lately read books like Not Your Perfect Mexicolt Daughter and Valor, and Confinement. They're all about standing up for yourself and I wish I was like the characters in the books, living their lives alongside them.
I'm not saying, of course, that I want to plan walkouts or get locked up in a confinement camp or get shipped off to my homeland like the characters in the books. It's all made up. And even though parts are based on past events, or could actually happen, I know I'd never wish it on anyone.
Either way, whatever Headmare Twilight thinks of me, I'm not perfect. I don't always have integrity and I think...if what was written on the paper had been more visible, I would have looked. I may have integrity. But maybe not completely. But then, that's to be expected for my age, isn't it?
"I think I've got these arranged properly." I spoke up
"Oh, thank you Melody. That's everything I needed you for. You can go hang out with your friends." Headmare Twilight assured me.
"Okay Headmare." I said, closing the cabinet drawer and heading for the door. "And...Headmare Twilight?"
"Yes Melody?"
"...I don't feel right being told I have integrity...there have been times when I behaved very badly. If I do have integrity, it must be very little. Can you...please refrain from calling me that?"
"Hm...alright Miss Song. I'll take your words to heart. But I don't like hearing them. You are a bright student and being praised is natural."
"Oh, I know. I just like being praised when I deserve it for actions or work I've done. In another time...maybe I would have looked at Orchid's file."
"...Very well Melody. You can go."
I left the room with my ears down and breathed a sigh of relief. I headed back to Harper and I's room, just in time for the Pegasus in question to come barreling down the hall.
"Melody! Oh thank Celestia!"
"Harp, what's wrong?"
"Silverstream invited our gang to hang out with theirs!"
"And that's a bad thing...? Oh, are they asking because I'm the new teacher's assistant? I know Ocellus was the one who got me for Professor Dash so maybe she knows and told them-"
"It's not that." Harper interrupted. Oh well, at least they answered my question. "Me and the others were-"
"The others and I." I corrected, getting them back.
"Whatever. We were talking about our views on LGBTQ rights and Silverstream overheard us and asked if we wanted to hang out with her friends and discuss it in greater detail."
"So that means they're pro-rights. Maybe one or two of them are part of the community? But I don't get what the big deal is."
"The big deal is that they paved the way for the other creatures who are students-y'know, the ones in our group of friends-to come here! They were picked because they were the best their kingdoms had to offer. They've also helped save the world! And we're about to hang out with them!"
"...So?"
Harper gaped at me so long I laughed.
"Do shut your mouth Harper, we are not a codfish." I quoted at them.
"...I hate you." Harper's go-to line whenever I said something they couldn't think of a comeback to. They shook their head, mane swinging, and continued. "But seriously, how are you not worried?"
"Because then there'd be two crazy ponies in this conversation. But anyway Harper, I see two reasons you shouldn't be worrying."
"And they are?"
"One: the six students are just normal creatures like you and me. If they don't like us or our friends then that's not a problem, we can just go our separate ways. Two: I'd say they're actually going to be more relieved to make friends with us than you think."
"How do you figure?"
"Think about it. They were picked out of all the others in their age range to come to this school and represent their Kingdoms. That's a lot of pressure to be the very best they can be all the time. Not to mention some of them-like Smolder, Ocellus, and Silverstream-are so close to their leaders it's very possible they may help their leaders as advisors or diplomats one day. Now that our friends are here, it's probably like a huge weight off their shoulders, since there are other representatives of their same kingdoms to help them deal with things."
"...Huh. When you put it that way I actually don't feel so nervous anymore." Harper said.
"Yep. Now when are we meeting them?"
"Tomorrow after classes."
"Great. Now can we get started on our homework?"
"Nnggghhh." Harper turned and put their head against the wall.
"Come on slowpoke." I hooked my foreleg around theirs and dragged them into the room.
The next day, once classes were finished, Zamara, Glen, Shine, Dahlia, Harper, and I headed to the quad. Silverstream, Sandbar, Gallus, Yona, Ocellus, and Smolder were waiting there.
"Hey!" Silverstream waved.
"Hi."
I spoke for us all, just as Silverstream had with her group of friends. I know Gallus often seems to designate himself the unofficial leader of their group but I guess he's okay having one of his other friends speak up for them. He was standing calmly between Sandbar and Ocellus. Well, anyway, Silverstream was the one who invited us, not him, so it makes sense that she'd wave us over.
"So, what were you guys wanting to do?" Zamara asked
Gallus glanced over at Smolder, who nodded, smirking. They looked back at my group, and for some reason I felt a foreboding chill go down my spine.
"Well, you know that treehouse by the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters?" Smolder asked
"Who doesn't? It's big enough to see from space." Glen remarked
"And we heard you guys were the ones who made it." Shine added eagerly
"Well, sort of..." Sandbar replied bashfully
"Anyway..." Gallus stepped forwards "Why don't we head over there? We could give you guys a tour."
"I don't know..." I said slowly "Isn't the Everfree Forest supposed to be really dangerous?"
"Oh, come on Mel, live a little!" Harper encouraged, and I sighed, turning back to them.
"I don't know, Melody has a point..." Dahlia said
"I agree." Ocellus chimed in
"You know...there's a huge library there..." Smolder said
She said the magic words. I perked up and my wings ruffled.
"Really?"
"Yep. You and Celly could browse the shelves or whatever you call it."
"I'm still not entirely sure about this...but okay." I said, smiling
"Whoo! Let's go!" Harper cried, rushing off.
"Oh for the love of Luna, Harper at least wait for us!" I shouted, spreading my wings to fly after them.
Together, we entered the Everfree Forest. I had managed to catch up to Harper at the edge of the place, and convinced them to wait for the others. Once we were all there, Gallus took the lead. He strode confidently into the forest, and while we walked I heard the others talking among themselves. I heard hoofsteps and suddenly Ocellus was at my side.
"Hi." she said, a little nervously.
"Hey." I responded, equally as nervous. Despite what I told Harper, these six are pretty much heroes of the school, if not the world.
"So, um, you're a writer, right?"
"Y-Yeah. It used to just be a hobby, but since I got this..." I opened my wing to reveal my cutie mark. "I've started exploring it a bit more."
"So, why didn't you have a cuteceanera? I, uh, came across the term when looking into books on Pony culture before school. It seemed a bit weird you didn't have one-unless you did and we weren't invited...not that I expected us to be, of course, you barely know us, but-"
I cut Ocellus off with a smile as she struggled, clearly doing her best not to offend me.
"It's okay. I would have invited you six if I'd had one. See, I don't like parties much, and-"
"Heh, yeah, this girl-" Harper suddenly appeared at my side, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. I got a bile taste in my mouth. I knew exactly what incident they were going to bring up and I hated that they held onto it like a grudge. "-She once spent half the night at a party back in Flight School, sitting in the corner, reading a book. Seriously, I had to drag her onto the dance floor and even then she slipped away before we could have fun."
"I-It was a good book, I wanted to know what happened." I defended, blushing. I wish they wouldn't bring this up every time someone mentioned a party.
"Pft, yeah right. I've seen you reading that same book at least twelve times before that day. You knew what happened."
"Sh-shut up Harp..." I mumbled, and Harper just grinned.
"It's okay, I read a lot too." Ocellus said in a low voice, as Harper bounded away towards Smolder.
I sighed and looked away. "I just don't really like parties. Too many creatures. I mean...it's also probably because nopony used to show up to birthday parties-I love Harper but they can be forgetful at times."
"Love?" Ocellus asked, and I whipped around, shaking my head furiously.
"Nonono, not like that. I meant as a friend." I glanced back at the others.
"It's okay, I understood. Your love for her tasted like lemonade." Ocellus said
"Huh?"
"Oh, um..." Ocellus blushed a bit. "See, every changeling tastes love a little differently, and each type of love has different tastes. To me, friendship tastes like lemonade, familial love tastes like sour candy, and romance tastes like chocolate ice cream."
"Oh." I smiled slightly. "Alright, as long as it's clear...anyway, I didn't have a cuteceanera because I'm not really into big parties."
"Oh...that makes sense..." Ocellus looked down at my cutie mark. "You know, in the book I read, it said they used to be called 'Destiny Marks'."
"Huh. That actually sounds much cooler." I said, and we giggled
"The book said they used to be called that because it was believed that there was an alicorn goddess named Destiny who granted the ponies their marks when the discovered their true purpose in life."
My eyes widened in awe. "That sounds like an a great idea...all the possible story concepts you could get out of that...a legendary alicorn powerful enough to make a true mark appear on somepony..."
"I see why you're a writer." Ocellus whispered, and I snapped out of my daze.
"Heh, sorry...I've just never heard that legend before."
"Oh. The book was pretty old..."
"It's okay. It's cool you thought to look into our culture."
"I thought it would be nice to know a bit about the culture I was going to be living among." Ocellus explained "Though...you are a writer...I was actually going to ask if you ever wanted to be an author."
"It would be amazing to be one, yeah. Though I only ever write for myself..." I sighed and looked ahead. "I doubt anyone would want to read the stuff I write."
"I'm sure so many creatures would. Especially if you write about what's real. You're, um, bisexual, right?"
"Yes...how did-"
"Shine mentioned it."
"Oh. Yeah, I am."
"You could write about that. About the community." Ocellus blushed and glanced away. "I'm actually lesbian..."
"You are? That's cool. Harper's been questioning whether they're lesbian or bisexual."
"That's interesting..." Ocellus glanced back. "Why do you write?" she asked suddenly, and I blinked.
It was not a question I expected. Though...why did I feel like I knew the answer?
"Because it's easier than talking." the words came as quickly as if I'd been waiting to say them. I blinked in surprise at myself, but continued. "I can never take back words that I've said. Not if they're awkward, or humiliating, or angry. And I wish I could a lot. But with writing, if I don't like the way I've phrased something, I can just erase it. Make it so it never existed. No one would be the wiser."
Ocellus looked at me and I looked away.
"Sometimes I wish everything I said was pre-written...I'd never have to worry about offending anyone because they take something I said the wrong way...I'd never stumble on my own words or regret something I've said..." I whispered
"I get it. I like to pretend I'm invisible some days...it's better than pretending to be someone I'm not." she murmured.
I looked back to her. It was like I was seeing her truly for the first time. Changelings could become anything they wanted. But Ocellus just wanted to go unnoticed.
"Like I said..." I began "I only sometimes wish that. If I lived my life with a script of what to say, that wouldn't make me very real, would it?"
"I guess so. We are allowed to make mistakes..."
"Mhm." I agreed with a small smile, and she smiled back.
"So, if you write about what's real, do you think maybe you could-"
Ocellus was cut off by a low growl coming from a nearby area. We all heard it, and we all froze.
"Please tell me that was your stomach, Yona." Smolder said
"Yona w-wish it w-was..." Yona replied, backing up.
"Well, if it wasn't Yona, what was it?" Zamara asked, and the logical part of my mind set to work instantly.
"Definitely not a Timberwolf, they have much deeper growls and you can smell their breath from a mile off. It wouldn't have been a manticore because they roar, not growl. A cockatrice doesn't make much sound, hydras aren't native to this part of the forest, and chimeras tend to make a noise in-between a goat bleating, a snake hissing, and a tiger snarling."
"Well, that emliminates pretty much every creature in here." Gallus said.
The growl came again. Ocellus squeaked and transformed into a rock, which Smolder picked up. She fit in the orange dragoness' arms so perfectly I briefly wondered if she'd made herself into that sized rock on purpose. I didn't have time to dwell on their potential relationship now, though.
"It doesn't eliminate every creature, Gal. Professor Fluttershy has mentioned there are bears and other wild animals in here." Sandbar objected to Gallus' statement.
"Bears...what if it's an Ursa Minor?!" Silverstream asked, terrified
"They don't come out until dark, they're nocturnal." I protested
"It r-really sounded like a Timberwolf..." Shine said
"Timberwolf...wolf...it's a wolf!" I yelped, a second too late.
The snarling gray wolf leapt from the bushes as the words came out of my mouth. It's yellow eyes gleamed like specks of flint, and it snarled menacingly. I scrambled backwards as it came out, and dimly heard shrieks of alarm from the others. I saw Harper rushing to me, their wings flapping in alarm.
"Run!!" Shine and Dahlia screamed, and I silently agreed.
We all scrambled away from the wolf, ready to run. I looked to see Smolder carrying Ocellus, who had now transformed back. They were looking back at something behind them, and I followed their gaze. The wolf was not alone, and my heart dropped to my stomach upon seeing there was an entire pack of them. Gallus was making a valiant effort by lunging at them, I noticed Glen giving a few swipes of her own.
"Harper we have to do something." I whispered to them, and they nodded
"I'm with you Mel."
I gulped, hoping I wasn't leading my friend into suicide, and lunged. I punched one of the wolves in the side, though I felt it's claw nearly catch my shoulder. I winced involuntarily and backed away, Harper rushing up behind me to deliver a kick with their back legs.
"Take that! No one messes with my bestie!"
I looked over and saw Zamara, Gallus, Glen, Yona, and Smolder fighting while the others huddled in the center of them. The five creatures surrounding them like a protective circle. I backed away towards them, grabbing Harper by the tail and tugging her along with me.
"I have an idea!" I shouted, hoping it would work. "Smolder, Zamara, use your fire to break them up! Glen, Gallus, corral the wolves into that corner! Yona, Harper, Dahlia, get over to those trees and break some down to box them in! Everycreature else, get ready to run!"
Smolder and Zamara acted first. They breathed huge blazes of fire between the wolves, scorching the ground but luckily not setting any of the surrounding plants on fire. The wolves yelped and backed away from each other. Glen and Gallus took advantage of the wolves' confusion to swipe and claw at them. They managed to herd them into the area I'd indicated.
At the same time, Yona, Harper, and Dahlia raced to the trees. Dahlia transformed into a large yak and barreled into the trees. Harper rose into the air and pushed from above while Yona barged into the trees on the other side. I watched as the plan somehow fell perfectly into place.
The trees fell just as Gallus and Glen flew back to the rest of us. Harper, Yona, and Dahlia backed away as well, to avoid getting trapped with the wolves. The trees hit the ground and created a large half square around the wolves, and when they tried to scrape and claw their way over, Smolder and Zamara blew threatening flames at them.
"Let's go!" I called, and we began to run in a random direction.
Eventually we slowed down to catch our breath and regain our bearings on where in the forest we were.
"I honestly did not think that would work." I panted.
"But it did! You did it!" Harper hugged me tight and I smiled.
"They're right, you did it Melody." Ocellus said
"It wasn't much. I just thought about how we could trap them and get away at the same time while playing to our strengths."
"Still, I know how to 'see the angles' and even I didn't think of that." Gallus said
"See the angles?" Sandbar repeated, and Gallus placed a wing over him nonchalantly.
"It's what Gilda calls it."
"Um, guys, not trying to ruin the mood but...where are we?" Shine asked
"We're somewhere between Zecora's hut and the Treehouse of Friendship." Ocellus answered immediately.
"I say we head for the treehouse. We'll be safe there in case those wolves get out and none of us look injured." Smolder said
"I agree with Smolder." Ocellus said at once
"So do I." Sandbar said, Gallus quickly agreeing as well. The rest of us followed their lead, nodding our heads and giving murmured agreement.
"Alright, take us there." Glen said.
As we began walking, I pricked my ears. It could have been my imagination but I swore I could hear whimpering. Then, a very soft whine reached my ears.
"Do you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?" Zamara asked, as the whine came again, louder this time.
"That."
"What is it?" Silverstream asked
"Let's find out." Harper replied, and they headed in the direction of the noise.
After a moment's hesitation, I followed them. Together, Harper and I located the source of the noise, a dense patch of ferns. We pushed aside the plants with our wings, looking past the leaves to see what it was.
"It's... adorable!" Harper squealed, and the others joined us.
Curled up in the ferns, was a wolf cub. It was a female, and she had a fur coat that was a beautiful silver color. She looked up at us with bright yellow eyes like flecks of gold. I completely agreed with Harper, she was the cutest thing ever.
"She must've been separated from the rest of the pack." Ocellus said
"Welp, then she had better get out of here before she brings the pack to us." Gallus said, making a shooing motion at the cub.
"Gallus, no." Sandbar took Gallus' claw. "What if she's hurt?"
"Yeah, and what if she's alone and without any friends and they left her and they won't ever come back?" Silverstream asked, and Gallus froze.
"I..." he sighed "Okay, so we don't have to chase her off. But what are we going to do with her?"
"Professor Fluttershy knows how to care for wild animals." Ocellus put in. "Maybe she can tell us what to do with her."
"Alright, come on then." Zamara said
"Yeah, I think we can give up on visiting the Treehouse today." Smolder added
"Yona carry wolf cub." Yona said, leaning closer.
The young wolf whined and backed away.
"What's wrong with her?" Zamara asked
"I think she's nervous. Seeing all these new faces has got to be scary for her." Glen responded
"So what do we do?" Shine asked
I hesitated, then extended my hoof. "Shh, it's okay." I soothed, placing my hoof near the cub, then promptly turning my head and focusing on a nearby tree.
"Mel, what are you doing?" Harper asked, and I ignored them.
I felt the wolf sniffing my hoof, then she licked it. I looked back to her, then reached and drew her close to me with my hoof. The cub didn't even struggle as I placed her on my back.
"Woah, how did you do that?" Dahlia asked
"Professor Fluttershy's lesson in animal care." Ocellus replied for me "She told us that dogs often need to be reassured that you aren't going to harm them. So if you hold out your hoof or claw and look away from them, you're giving them a choice whether or not to trust you."
"And dogs are related to wolves. I figured it was worth a try." I explained
"They are?" Gallus asked
"Dogs and wolves are both of the genus Canis of the family Canidae. Dogs are a sub-species, Canis Lupus Familiaris, making them closely related to the Canis Lupis-common wolf." I recited
Everyone stared at me and I blushed. I shuffled my hooves.
"I really like the parts of science class where we study evolution and things along those lines." I mumbled sheepishly.
"That's really cool!" Silverstream said eagerly
"Th-Thanks..."
"Come on, let's get her back to Professor Fluttershy." Smolder said
We headed out, the wolf cub whimpering on my back. Her claws, like all wolves, were non-retractable, but they were dull from her walking on them all the time. So her claws merely dug into my fur. We made it back as quickly as we could, but it would be too strange to see me carrying a wolf onto campus. So Gallus and Zamara went to get Professor Fluttershy while the rest of us waited with the cub.
"Kids?" Professor Fluttershy ran towards us, Gallus and Zamara flying after her. "Where's the wolf?"
"Here Professor." Harper pointed to where the wolf cub was curled at my side.
"Gallus and Zamara told me you were the one who convinced her to follow you." Professor Fluttershy said, and I nodded, looking away.
"I'm sorry, I know it was a risk but she could've been hurt."
"It's perfectly fine Melody, you did the right thing." Professor Fluttershy assured me. "Now, let's take a look at this little one."
Professor Fluttershy leaned down and began to examine the wolf. She backed away, whimpering.
"It's alright sweetie, I won't bite." Professor Fluttershy soothed, and I remembered that her talent meant she could communicate with animals. However, in spite of her coaxing, the cub continued to shy away from her.
"Hey, it's alright." I said, putting my hoof in the cub's fur. "She's trying to help."
When I joined in, helping Professor Fluttershy to urge the cub to come closer, it worked. Professor Fluttershy looked her over, then gave the young wolf a comforting pet on the head.
"Well, she seems alright. I'll keep her at Sweetfeather Sanctuary for a little bit before releasing her."
"Why? Can't she just go find her pack again?" Gallus asked
"Yona not understand why Professor can't let wolf go."
"Yeah, why can't we just let her go back to them in the woods." Shine added
"She's been around all of us for quite a while." Professor Fluttershy explained. "Our scents may be on her, and if she immediately goes back to her pack like this, they might reject her because she smells like us."
"Oh." Shine said
"Come on then, I'll drop her off at the Sanctuary on our way back to the school." Professor Fluttershy said, and we all began to head back, when I felt a tug on my tail.
"Ow!" I yelped, and turned. The wolf cub had my long black tail in her mouth, and was holding me there.
"Heh, she really likes you." Sandbar chuckled
"A little too much, she's pulling out hairs." I said, a sharp edge to my tone. The cub immediately dropped my tail after hearing me.
"Hm... you don't think that she could be... bonding with you, could she?" Glen asked
Bonding. A term I knew of. Sometimes it happened with birds, cats, or dogs, usually in young animals. When the young creature bonds with the first other creature they come into contact with. The young wolf could be bonding with me, but why would she?
"Bonding? With me? Why?" I asked
"You and Harper were the ones who found her, and you were the one who got her to come with us." Smolder said
"Yeah..." I trailed off as the wolf bounded up to me.
"You know, there's probably a slim chance she'll find her pack again once we're allowed to release her..." Shine said
"Are you thinking what I think you are?" Dahlia asked
"Please? I've always wanted a pet!" Shine said
"I don't think that's a good idea, right Professor?" I asked, but Professor Fluttershy was smiling.
"Well, it is true that the chances of finding her pack again will be slim, especially if we wait to make sure she doesn't have our scent on her. Wolves tend to roam, so they may have moved on by then. And I have been asking Twilight about a campus mascot."
"Really?!" Silverstream and Shine asked eagerly.
Professor Fluttershy nodded and the two hippogriffs hugged, squealing. The others looked rather excited too.
"So..." I prompted
"What are you going to name her?" was the Professor's response.
My eyes widened and I looked down at the wolf. "W-Well... she's silver..."
"So... Silver?" Harper asked
"What about Star?!" Shine asked eagerly
"Constellation?" Dahlia suggested
I hesitated, then looked down and smiled. "Echo."
"Ooh, that's a great name!" Silverstream said
"Welcome, Echo." Professor Fluttershy said with a smile.
I smiled in my sleep and cuddled against the pillow, which muffled Harper's snores. I was having this amazing dream about a giant library of my favorite books and ones I'd never heard of. I was reading them, when suddenly I felt a hot breath by my face and a giant tongue.
"Eww! Echo!" I sat up as claws got tangled in my black mane.
I'd had Echo for a few weeks now, and while I liked having a pet, she was pretty eager to wake me up in the morning. Harper seemed to share my grievances.
"Ugh... worse than any alarm clock..." Harper muttered, sitting up.
"Well, we're up. Come on, let's get ready. After what Echo did to my mane I'll have to brush it extra hard." I sighed
"Great." Harper then flopped back down onto their bed. I rolled my eyes and got out of my bed.
"Echo, go wake up Harper, girl." I whispered, and the wolf bounded over.
As I disappeared into the bathroom inside the room, I heard Harper yell out and grinned. I think I'll practice singing in the bathroom. It would waste time, yes. But that was less time for Harper to get back at me.
On the way to class with my friends, Professor Rarity stopped me. I'd run errands for her before, and figured she was looking for someone to help with her fabric or something.
"Professor? Did you want me to help you with your fabric samples?"
"No no dear." Professor Rarity lifted a stack of papers to me. "Twilight's in her lab in the castle and I need her to look over these permission slips. Could you run them to her for me?"
"Oh. Sure, I could do that." I took the papers in my hooves and took off, hovering in midair.
"Thank you dear. It shouldn't take more than a minute or two, Twilight's lab is the third door on the left of the second hallway you see."
"Got it." I smiled and nodded to my friends. "Go on without me, I'll be back soon."
"You sure? We can wait-" Harper began
"No, I wouldn't want you to miss class because of me. I have an excuse. You don't." I replied with a cheeky grin, and Harper groaned. "See you in class!"
I then flew off before Harper could protest. I made my way out of the school and into the castle. I smiled and gave a polite nod to Tempest Shadow, the head (and only) guard for the castle. She greeted me in kind, then continued on her patrol.
I flew down the hallway to the door Professor Rarity told me was the lab. I wonder why it's so close to the school...but then again, the castle was here way before the school, it's probably just coincidence. I made it to the door and knocked politely.
"Hello? Headmare Twilight?"
"Hm?" Headmare Twilight poked her head out. Her mane was very disheveled, like she hadn't slept. "Oh, Melody! What are you doing here, you should be in class."
"I know. Professor Rarity asked me to deliver these permission slips to you."
"Oh, right, for her trip to her Canterlot boutique." Twilight nodded, stepping in. "Come in. If you wouldn't mind setting those down on the first empty table you find? I'm kind of tied up at the moment."
"Of course Headmare." I flew in and looked around.
The room was covered in tables, metal contraptions, and piles of books and scrolls. I chuckled lightly at the disorganization of the one Professor that was known to be the most organized. I found an empty spot and set the permission slips down, landing as I did.
"Thank you Melody. Could you find Rarity before you head to class and let her know I'll look at them later?"
"Of course. Um...what exactly are you doing, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh, I'm studying the possibility of inter-dimensional travel." Headmare Twilight replied, lifting a few papers. "You remember that lesson where we discussed the alternate world, correct?"
"The one where Sunset Shimmer ran off to?"
"Exactly." Headmare Twilight nodded "I'm trying to see if it's possible for us to recreate that mirror's properties. Only this time, to alter it so we can traverse multiple dimensions from the same mirror."
"That's really cool." I said eagerly. "So where's the mirror you're using?"
"I ordered a regular mirror to be shipped in from Reina. But I don't need it right now. I'm testing the theoretical parts of the spells and the way I wrote them first." Headmare Twilight replied, shuffling through the papers and lifting what looked like one of Professor Rarity's mirrors up. "I'm about to test it practically on this hoofheld mirror."
"Oh, I should probably leave then..."
"Good idea, I don't know if there will be any discharge and I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Plus you need to get to class." Headmare Twilight said, and I nodded.
I trotted to the door, but I had to step around a few metal wires and coils, and bumped into a table. I heard Headmare Twilight mumbling behind me and didn't want to leave her more of a mess to clean up. I leaned down and grabbed them, picking them up. Then, I heard a horn ignite, and-
"Melody! I thought you left!"
I set the papers down and quickly spun. "I'm sorry, I was just picking up the-"
Headmare Twilight's magenta aura was making the mirror glow, and as I spoke, it expanded. Both Headmare Twilight and I yelped as the magic exploded around us and caused a glowing portal in the middle of the room. I felt it pulling at me and took to the air, trying to fly away from it as Headmare Twilight made a protective bubble around herself.
"Melody!" she called, and I tried to fly to her.
As I was about to reach her, one of the tables was sucked towards the portal and knocked into me. I screamed as I fell backwards...and into the portal...suddenly, all I could see was teal and violet.
I blinked and rubbed my eyes. "Where am I...?" I murmured.
I looked around, noticing that I was floating in midair. The place was teal at the top and faded to a light purple at the bottom. Well, I assume there's a top... I can't see it. I opened my wings and attempted to fly. It worked. I flapped my wings and flew down, searching for a floor. My hooves touched the violet abyss and I could stand. It was like I was walking on glass. I could feel that there was a bottom but I couldn't see it.
"Okay... stay calm... and asses your surroundings..." I breathed, then walked forwards. "Weird... what is this place-?"
I stiffened involuntarily. Something was tugging at me.
"What's going on? Who's there?"
"What a surprise... it's been a while since I got to share this realm with others..." a familiar chimera-like creature appeared, twirling his goatee.
"D-Discord?" my voice wavered "Where am I, what's going on?"
"Strange... you should've been forced out of here by now..." Discord moved closer to me and I stepped back, scared. "Tell me, do you feel a pulling sensation inside you?"
"S-So what if I do?"
"That's a yes then."
"Discord, I'm not in the mood for games, just please get me out of here!" I yelled, feeling tears begin to come.
"Don't worry, you'll go back home soon." Discord told me. "Now I'd better leave. The Ether doesn't like guests to intrude when it picks it's new masters and I'm afraid I'm no exception."
He disappeared with a snap of his claws.
"Wh-What?! Discord, please! I don't know where I am or what to do, I need help!" I shouted.
I continued to shout for help, begging for Discord to come back. He may be annoying and switch sides more than I move from my mom's to my dad's... but the fact that he found me meant he was a way out. My only hope. But he was gone. I guess he didn't hear me. What did he mean, masters? And what did he call this place...? The 'Ether'?
I gasped as my surroundings suddenly began to glow. They pulsed and seemed to hum with an angelic light and sound. I looked around, scared. What the heck is going on? The light grew brighter and I was lifted into the air. I screamed as I felt something streaking through my mane... it went down to my hooves and wrapped around my wings... even my cutie mark pulsed.
"What's going on?!" I yelled, then something streaked towards my face. I yelped and tried to cover my eyes but the thing entered them and I felt it whirling around inside my pupils.
The whole thing didn't hurt... I felt no pain. But it was so... weird... and wonderful... like I had just taken a breath of fresh air after running a great distance. Or like I'd hugged the summer sun. I hit the invisible ground again and looked around.
"What... what happened?" I asked, receiving no response, of course. "D-Discord? I... I wanna go home..."
I felt tears begin to fall again. I shut my eyes, and suddenly it was like I was in one of those dreams where you fall... I sank, and suddenly there was no floor beneath me... and I was weightless. I couldn't even scream, though I saw a violet colored flash through my eyelids. I hit something solid, then heard screams before I heard nothing.
I slowly opened my eyes, feeling a weight like a blanket over my body. I looked around, seeing Harper's face.
"H-Harp?"
"Mel!" they tackled me in a hug as I sat up. "Don't you ever scare us like that again, you hear me?!"
"W-What are you talking about? What happened?" I asked, as Headmare Twilight, who I hadn't noticed, stepped forwards.
"Melody, what's the last thing you remember?"
I thought back. "Well... you're not going to believe this, but... I ended up in some weird world... Discord was there and he said something about it choosing a new master... then he disappeared and some kind of light wrapped around me. I blacked out after that..."
"Discord?" Headmare Twilight asked, and I nodded. "But then... DISCORD!"
Harper and I both flinched at the volume. As Headmare Twilight left the room, still calling for Discord, I got up.
"Harp, do you know what happened?"
"Well, Headmare Twilight came to get the Professors, and they brought me since I'm your roomate and bestie, obviously. We were in their Cutie Map room and then you suddenly appeared in a purple flash and hit the table. We all screamed, then Headmare Twilight brought you back to our room."
"Oh..."
"Yeah. Love the new mane thing by the way."
"The what?" I asked, and they rolled their eyes, grabbing my hoof and dragging me to the bathroom.
My eyes went wide as I looked in the mirror. Now, embedded in my pure black mane, was a bright purple streak. It ran all the way to the bottom of my mane and seemed to shine and glimmer with magic. I gasped and opened my wings. The outer feathers were also purple.
"Wh-What in Luna's name happened to me?" I asked, looking at Harper.
"Dunno. I like it though." Harper nodded to my mane. "Purple suits you."
I stared at my reflection, then at Harper. Something weird was coming off of Harper. It was hovering around them like a bubble. I blinked and rubbed my eyes.
"Hey, you good?" Harper asked me
"I-I'm fine..." I lied.
I turned and flew out of the room. Well, at least I know my wings still work. But... what was that stuff floating around Harper? As I left my room, I saw something around Headmare Twilight, who was waiting outside. It was magenta, like her magic, and sparkling. It even gave off tiny explosions like mini-fireworks. Though that wasn't very frequent.
"Wh-What...?" I began to say, before a flash distracted me.
"Why, it's not often that the Ether chooses a new master, I think the last one was... oh, over a millennia ago? It's been dormant for a while, and now it's selected someone to wield it's magic again."
"The... the Ether? Is that the place we were in?" I asked, and Discord stepped back, looking... confused?
"Why yes. Did you not know?"
"Know what? All I know is that I fell through Headmare Twilight's accidental portal, and then something wrapped around me and covered me and now my mane is different and I can see stuff around Headmare Twilight and Harper and I think somethings wrong with me." I blurted it all out at once.
"See someth-ah, their cores. Yes..." Discord smiled. "Just the Ether working it's magic."
"Discord, please explain. To all of us." Headmare Twilight said.
"Oh very well." Discord snapped his claws just as Harper came out of the room. In a flash, we were in the Cutie Map Room, and the other Professors were there.
"Discord!"
"What? You said 'to all of us'. This is all of us."
I stood with Harper by Headmare Twilight's throne as the others took their own seats. Discord stood importantly in a suit and tie.
"Now, as I was saying..." Discord cleared his throat. "The place where Melody was taken is known as the Ether. I have no clue how Twiggles here was able to rip open a portal to it, but usually the Ether rejects anyone who enters it aside from myself."
"Then... what happened to her?" Twilight asked
"Melody was chosen." Discord replied "The Ether chose her to become it's next master. It hasn't had one in over a millennia and it seems it was finally ready to select a new one."
"My bestie, chosen to be master of something?" Harper looked at me, and I chuckled.
"Well, you see, the Ether has chosen her, which means..."
"What, Discord?"
"It means that Melody will have a number of new... abilities. Hence why she said something wrapped around her and the fact she now has purple in her mane."
"So... what kind of abilities?" I asked "Does it have to do with the fact that... that there's stuff around everyone?"
They all looked at me, and Discord laughed.
"Yes, you're seeing their magical cores."
"Their what?"
"Magical cores are auras that surround everycreature. Only extremely powerful creatures can see them, like alicorns." Headmare Twilight responded
"So how do I stop seeing them?" I rubbed my eyes.
Discord smirked and placed a paw over my eyes, then snapped his fingers. When he uncovered my eyes the aura like things were no longer there.
"That should stop you seeing the cores until you can gain better control of the Ether and turn it off on your own."
I blinked, and Headmare Twilight trotted up. "Discord... that was... actually helpful."
"What? I'm allowed to do good things every once in a while." Discord snapped his claws and a scroll appeared. He held it out to me. "This is a map of the Ether, I made it myself."
"Okay... thanks..." I took the scroll, then he snapped his claws once more.
"And there. Because I know Twi'lek would start, as it's dubbed, 'Twilighting' if it were to happen, should you get lost I will be immediately alerted and can retrieve you."
"Wow... thanks Discord..." I looked down at the scroll.
"So... you basically put a tracking spell on her like a dog." Harper said. Discord shrugged.
"The easiest solution."
"So... do you know what kind of powers I'll have?" I asked
"It varies between masters. Your being a Pegasus and not naturally attuned to wielding magic will factor in as well. Though it seems your magic will be a purple aura, seeing as you have that streak."
"So... when I was wishing to go home after what I assume was the magic bonding with me, and I saw that violet flash... was that my magic responding to what I wanted?"
"Precisely!" Discord clapped his paws. "I'm afraid no one can help you with your magic, however. Ether magic is not like Alicorn magic, or unicorn magic, or even my chaos magic. You can learn elements of each of those different kinds of magic, but your own brand of magic will be unique to you."
"So... I have to learn how to use it on my own?" I asked, suddenly afraid.
"Essentially."
Headmare Twilight put her hoof on my shoulder. "I am so sorry. I did this..."
"Oh don't go getting your horn in a twist." Discord scoffed. "This would have happened anyway, the Ether was going to choose her no matter what. That's how it works."
"Still, I'm so sorry Melody."
"It's alright... if Discord's right, this isn't your fault." I replied.
Headmare Twilight nodded, then stepped back. "I think you should keep quiet about these powers, Melody. At least until we know more about the magic you have and you can control it."
"You're right Headmare Twilight..." I said, nodding. "I won't tell anyone... except... maybe my friends?"
Headmare Twilight hesitated, then nodded. "Of course. You can tell your friends."
"Wait, really?" Professor Dash asked
"Dash is right Twilight." Professor Applejack trotted over. "You really think that's the best idea? We don't want anyone gettin' hurt, or the wrong types finding out about this new magic."
Headmare Twilight sighed. "Remember when Tirek invaded for the first time, and the other Princesses hid their magic within me?"
"Yes...?"
"Celestia asked me to keep my new power a secret, even from my friends. That was a mistake. I won't make the same one she did."
Professor Applejack hesitated, then nodded and stepped back.
"Thank you Headmare..." I said, and she nodded.
"Go ahead and find them, I'm sure they're all worried." Headmare Twilight said.
I looked at Harper, and they smiled, before extending their wing. My eyes widened. Harper hadn't let me hold wings with them since back when we were friends with Orchid. I took their wing, in my own, then we ran out.
"Just to be clear, it's a one-time thing." they said
"Eh, I don't mind. I'll just enjoy it while it lasts." I replied, as we headed towards the school.
Okay, so it's been a few days. I'm currently sitting in my room and trying to get a grip on this new magic. I learned something new the other day though. Harp and I were talking and I mentioned how I wanted them to see what the Ether was like. Suddenly there was a flash of light, and we were in the Ether.
Yeah... that was kind of fun, once I got Harp calmed down. They're kind of afraid of flying, and when they saw there was no visible floor they panicked. I know, a pegasus is scared of flying. They're aware of the irony. But I digress, I managed to reassure them. Somehow I think the Ether was able to tell Harp was scared, and made the floor a bit more of a solid violet, to show them it was there. Once Harp was calm, showing them around was pretty cool.
And get this, the Ether works for them too. They were talking about how they were getting hungry, and a hayburger appeared. So I guess the Ether works for anyone once they're in the realm. And once I got us out, I did a bit of trial and error. Harp was happy to assist, they seemed interested in trying to make random stuff appear. According to my testing, I have to really concentrate on who specifically I want to bring into the Ether, otherwise I won't be able to.
Also, Discord popped in. Harper and I were telling him about the Ether's ability to give us anything we ask for-yeah, we may have 'tested' that a few dozen times. He actually looked surprised. Then he just shrugged and said it must be a new 'feature' whatever that means. I'm assuming he was talking about it being tied to me now, and it also gaining some new abilities, like me? Though I wonder why a new ability is making anything appear...
Anyway, I'm thinking all of this because I'm currently writing it down. Better to write it out than forget it later.
"Okay, so I can bring others into the Ether, but only if I concentrate on taking them in... the Ether can now make anything I want a reality... I've figured out the magic is mostly channeled into my wings... I can apparently use levitation..." I said, my wings pulsing with violet light as multiple things hovered in the air around me. "And... manipulation..."
I nodded and made the paper I held aloft fold itself into a paper crane.
"Hm... though it seems I can only manipulate it into what I already know. Good to know." I made a note of it on the clipboard beside me. "Let's see, what's next...?"
I examined the clipboard, not noticing the door open.
"Melody, where have you been?" Harper cried, racing into the room.
"What are you talking about?" I looked up at them. "I've been here."
"We were supposed to meet in the quad ages ago!"
"Oh, right!" I jumped up. "The quad, right!"
As I said this, I felt myself vanish in a violet flash. I was in the Ether, but it had changed. Below me, I could clearly see the school, as though I was flying above it.
"Okay, weird..." I took a few steps forward and I was now above the quad. "Oh, I see. It bends reality to allow easy transport. Now, how do I get back...?"
I closed my eyes and thought about the quad. In a violet flash, I felt the grass beneath my hooves.
"Yes!"
"There you are!" Harper ran up to me, panting. "Where... the buck did you... go?!"
"Harper, the Ether did this weird thing that was kind of like teleportation only different." I said quickly
"Huh? Oh, cool! Do it again, do it again!"
"Actually, let me try something." I closed my eyes and in a flash, a pencil and my writing notebook appeared. "Yes!"
"Woah, what did you do?"
"I just thought about summoning them. I was kind of... thinking outside the box."
"Heh, yeah. You're the best at doing that." Harper nudged me.
"Heheh, thanks."
"So, what else?" Harper asked
I hummed thoughtfully, and giggled as I subconsciously began humming some of the words to oath. I was on "you're never alone, we're birds of a feather" my wings suddenly ignited. I squeaked in alarm as the violet light wrapped around Harper's neck. But strangely, all it did was turn into a necklace. It had a silver chain with a charm of half a heart colored like a rainbow. Another identical one with the other half of the rainbow colored heart.
"Awesome!" Harper said, touching the necklace. "It's like, your imagination was already on hyperdrive! And now you've got the magic to put it into reality!"
"Hm..." It made sense...but then why did it only do that when I was humming a song? Unless... "Harp, I've got it!" I said
"What?"
"That's why the Ether can make anything we wish for come true now! It's responding to my imagination!" I said, choosing to ignore the only responding to the song thing for now.
"Of course!" Harper laughed. "Shoulda guessed, you're the best at imagination, Mels."
I nodded. "That must be it. I bet the Ether learns and grows from each new bearer of it's powers!"
Harper laughed and hugged me. "And you're so crazy creative it's letting us do whatever we want!"
"Heh, yeah, it's great! And I can finally-" I broke off. There was a strange pulling sensation in my chest.
"Mels? You okay?" Harper asked, coming towards me.
"I don't know!" I screeched as a violet light flew out of my chest. "Ahh!"
"Ah! Mel!"
"Harper? Harper!" I shouted as I lifted up into the air with a purple light. I was surrounded by it and disappeared.
I reappeared in a strange astral plane. It was teal-purple and sparkling with stars.
"Wh-Where am I...?" I asked
"You're safe, young one." a familiar voice called to me.
"P-Princess Celestia?" I asked, as she approached.
"Yes, Melody Song. It's me. And I must say, it's not every day I am summoned here." she said, smiling. "Though from what Twilight told me about your recent choosing by the Ether it shouldn't be surprising."
"A-And where's here, exactly?" I asked
"The Alicorn dimension, little one." Princess Celestia said, smiling as she opened her wings.
"A-Alicorn? A-As in, alicorn princess?"
"Yes. You, young Melody Song, have proven, that with your young, bright, intelligent, creative mind, that you are worthy. Though you may not fully understand what it is that has brought you here, the new magic you have created, I believe you are ready to be Melody Song, Princess of Creativity and Imagination." Princess Celestia smiled at me.
"I-What?" What did she mean, fully understand?
"Now, for the transformation-"
"No!" I shouted, startling her.
"What?"
"No, no, this shouldn't be happening, I'm no princess!" I yelped
"What? Melody, you have proven you're worthy."
"No I haven't!" I screamed, covering my face with my wings. "No, I'm not a princess. I'm just a normal, boring pegasus."
"Melody, I'm afraid it's not that simple. You've proven you're ready, and the magic won't stop until it's transformed you."
"N-No. I'm not ready." I gasped "I just... I'm not ready to be a royal... I know it's everyone's dream but... I'm not ready."
"I can't stop it Melody, I'm sorry." Princess Celestia said, resting a wing on my back.
I curled up, sobbing. I just want to go. Go anywhere away from here. Somewhere safe. Then, I saw a violet flash, and when I raised my head, I saw I was in the Ether. The Ether was now pure violet with white fades. I looked around, landing and curling up in a ball. I could still feel what was probably the ascension magic tugging at my chest. I wiped my eyes and stood up.
"Well, I guess this is the safest place to hide out until the magic stops affecting me..." I murmured. "Discord did say no other being can enter without either of us..."
I looked around, realizing I was completely lost. I used my magic to summon the map of the Ether that Discord had given me. I opened it, then frowned.
"This thing isn't reliable at all." I muttered, comparing the map to my surroundings. I crumpled it up and then looked around. "It must've changed because a new bearer was chosen... me... it would definitely explain why it's all purple-white now. Well... as long as I'm here I might as well re-map this... it would be something to do..."
I sighed and summoned some loose leaf paper and a case of pencils and erasers. I then walked off, maybe I can find my way back to the school if I map this out...
It's been a week. I finished mapping out as much of the Ether as I could while not getting lost. And I can no longer feel the magic pulling me. I think it's time to go home. I warped the Ether so I was standing over the school, then in a violet flash, I was in my dorm room.
"Melody!" Harper tackled me.
"Hey Harp!"
"Where have you been?!" they asked me
"I'm sorry I worried you Harp, I was just spending a little time in the Ether, thought I'd map it out." I lied, surprised that it came to me so easily. Harper frowned.
"Then why were you panicking when you got sent in?"
"Uh... no reason... hey, how about we go for a walk?" I asked, heading out the door before they could respond.
Okay, that was a mistake. Everyone's looking at me. I lowered my head slightly and trotted on. I can hear Harper snapping at ponies behind me. They're a great friend.
"Well well well." the high, snooty voice catches my attention immediately.
"What do you want Orchid?" I heard Harper growl.
"I'm not here for you, Lynn." she sneered, then turned to me. "I'd like to know where Melody's been. We've all been worried."
"Somehow I doubt you have." I muttered, then raised my voice to a normal volume. "I've just been busy with stuff... I was in my dorm."
"Hmph. Lucky you. The rest of us had school." Orchid huffed. "And you got to stay holed up in your room. Probably because you're the dumb teacher's assistant. Hey, look everyone, the great Princess Melody has decided to grace us with her presence at last!"
Remembering the real reason I had disappeared, I gritted my teeth. I then shoved Orchid rudely aside and raced off.
"Mel, wait!" Harper cried, following me. "What's going on?!"
I spun around and lifted them up in my magic, dragging them into the first empty room I found.
"What's wrong is she's right, Harp!"
"Right? About what?"
"I... I wasn't mapping out the Ether. I mean, I was, but... that's not why I vanished. I was... hiding."
"From what?"
"I... I nearly ascended, Harp."
"You nearly what?!" Harper screeched, and I covered their mouth with a wing. They moved my wing away, talking in a lower voice. "Sorry, but I can't help it! Mel, you nearly ascended?"
"Yeah, and... and I ran."
"What? Why?"
"I... I'm not ready, Harp. I'm not worthy, no matter what the ascension magic clearly thinks." I said, shaking my head.
"I guess that makes sense... of course you'd throw away the chance of a lifetime because you didn't think it was right for you." Harper muttered, and I nodded.
"Yeah, but no one else needs to know, okay?"
"Alright." Harper agreed, then glared at the door. "So then what do we do about Gleam?"
"I have an idea. But it's something I need to do on my own." I said, leading the way out of the room. "I'll meet you back in the dorm, okay? And give Echo a few belly rubs while I'm gone, okay?"
"Alright." Harper replied, smiling. I smiled back.
"Thanks Harp." With that, I left.
I headed out of the school, ignoring the stares, and headed towards the Friendship Castle. Instead of going inside, I veered to the right and ended up behind the castle. There, I saw a certain dark mulberry coated unicorn mare polishing some armor. I headed towards her, planting my hooves firmly on the ground as I locked eyes with her.
"Teach me to fight." I said
"What?" Tempest asked, blinking.
"You heard me. I want to learn to fight." I said "I want to learn everything you know, so I can defend myself."
"Defend yourself, huh?" she raised a brow.
"Yeah." I flared my wings. "I want to be a great fighter, so I can protect myself. I'd rather I walk around unafraid of being attacked because I know to defend myself then scared and expecting to lose an oncoming fight."
"Alright, I'll teach you to fight, Melody." Tempest agreed after a moment, then pointed a hoof at me. "But, you have to promise me that this is for self defense only. I'm not teaching you to start fights, I'm teaching you how to survive them. If I hear you started a fight on purpose to use this training, the lessons stop, deal?"
Deep inside, I know why Tempest is telling me this. I don't want to lose control, or use fighting skills for negative reasons. But... what if I did want to...? No, Melody, stop thinking like that!
"I understand, General." I said, saluting her with a wing.
"Good. Now let's see if we can't get a few more creatures interested. We're gonna need some kind of cover so the Princess doesn't think I'm training you for war or something." Tempest said with a soft chuckle. I managed a smile back.
"Again!" Tempest's voice rang out, and I folded my ears and lunged.
We were sparring. Yeah, we. Tempest and I had managed to recruit a few other students to join what she called "Self Defense Club." It's really just called that so Headmare Twilight doesn't get suspicious. The reason she would be? Tempest's been turning down offers to send recruits from Canterlot here to Ponyville to guard the castle and school. But she won't deny she needs the extra guards. So logically, the only way to get guards that she trusts is to pick creatures to train herself. Naturally not all of us are going to join her, I mean, I just want to learn how to fight. But some creatures might want to.
There's four of us total. Not a lot but more than I expected, honestly. But I digress. Gallus and Smolder joined right off the bat, they seemed interested. And this new student, a crystal pegasus named Crystal Wind, joined too. That's who I'm sparring with now. She's actually pretty good.
Right now, we're in a grassy area behind the Friendship Castle where Tempest trains. I dodged a thrusted spear from Crystal and pressed my weight onto my back legs. My magic is actually coming in handy, I'm using it to hold the spear. Tempest told me that holding it in my magic means I have to keep a firmer control over the spear, as there's more room for it to move off course in the magic's loose grip. But I think I'm getting the hang of it as I use my magic to catch my spear against Crystal's spear, forcing it out of her grip.
"Acceptable form, Melody." Tempest remarked as the spear clattered to the ground. She then looked up. "Smolder, disarm only! No killing blows!"
"Yes ma'am!" Smolder called back begrudgingly. "But so you know, in the Dragonlands this is a legal move! It's only meant to stun a dragon!"
"Your opponent is not a dragon! If you're going against a thief you want to be able to subdue them only, or they won't be able to be questioned!" Tempest shouted, stalking over to Smolder, who was sparring with Gallus.
As Tempest continued berating Smolder, I picked up my spear and began practicing my lunges again. I reared onto my hind legs and began throwing a few punches and kicks. I could only manage a couple before falling back down. I grunted slightly.
"Don't bother with it Melody." Tempest trotted over to me. "There are only two quadrupedal creatures in Equestria who've mastered the Bipedal Stance, and one of them is me."
"So who's the other one?" Gallus asked, he and Smolder flying over.
"Not important." Tempest dismissed
"I still don't understand the Bipedal Stance." Crystal Wind said, taking off. "Isn't it almost identical to the Wing Stance?"
"The Bipedal Stance is designed for creatures who don't have wings or whose wings are useless in a fight."
"Like Celly's wings?" Smolder asked
"Exactly." Tempest replied, rearing onto her hind legs for demonstration. "To do a proper Bipedal Stance, if you have wings they must be kept closed. Opening your wings and flapping them is an intimidation tactic only. If you kept them out while fighting they'd become targets. And they should only be used for balance when mastering the Wing Stance."
Tempest then pushed off with her hind legs and spun into a backflip, hitting the ground squarely. I gasped in awe along with the others. Tempest smirked slightly and trotted back to us.
"Now, Melody, try the Wing Stance and use it to do the same."
I nodded, unsure, but reared, flaring my wings wide to catch the air. I used the wind to give myself extra momentum as a flapped my wings down hard, pushed off my hooves, and ended up in a graceful enough twirl in midair. I hit the ground, stumbling slightly, then straightened up. Tempest nodded.
"Good. You see the difference?"
We all nodded.
"Alright, break into groups again, Gallus, try the Wing Stance, Smolder, Crystal, attack. Melody... you'll be with me."
I nodded. This was probably to be expected, I asked her for this. She reared up, taking the Bipedal Stance again. I rose up and flared my wings. I made sure to remember her advice, and though Wing Stance required using them to balance, I folded them halfway, so they were only slightly exposed. Tempest nodded in approval, then we began.
I lunged, swooping forwards and diving over and over. Tempest dodged all my attacks, then grabbed my shoulder with her hoof and flipped me over her. I landed on my side with a grunt.
"Concentrate, Melody." Tempest reprimanded.
I had to focus, obviously. I sat up, shaking my head. I looked over and saw Gallus swooping upwards and slashing at Smolder with his claws, and her retaliating by spinning around and whipping her tail. Ugh, if only I were a dragon or a griffon, then I'd be a bit more evenly matched against Tempest.
As soon as I thought the words, I was enveloped in a flash of violet light.
"Cool!" Gallus shouted behind me.
I looked down and gasped. I was a griffon! Well, I mean, I looked like one... but I had pitch black fur with golden talons, a purple tuft on my tail, and when I summoned a mirror, I could see that I had a white head with violet markings on my eyes.
"Oh wow..."
"Did you know you could do that?" Smolder asked
"N-No..." I stammered "I-I just was thinking I'd be a bit more matched up against Tempest if I had a griffon's claws or a dragon's whipping tail..."
"So your magic lets you shapeshift! That's awesome!" Gallus flew over to examine my new form. "Woah, you completely resemble a griffon!"
I nodded, sitting up. "Claws feel weird..."
"You'll get used to it." Gallus shrugged
I stood up, facing Tempest with a sly grin. "Want to try to pin me now?"
"Well, if you're so confident..." Tempest said, then reared.
I took off and flew to her, reaching out with my new talons. I felt powerful. I spread my now larger wings wider to catch myself and reached, gripping her shoulders and pulling her backwards. Tempest wrenched herself free and disappeared behind me. I was confused, then screeched as I was yanked backwards. Tempest had grabbed hold of my tail and tugged me down, pinning me easily.
"You got too confident." Tempest told me as I sat up, transforming back into a pegasus. "Concentrate, and don't ever assume you have the upper hoof because of what is a possible advantage."
Okay, so I had to concentrate properly or else I'll never be able to pin Tempest. It didn't matter if I could change forms now, even with more options, Tempest was too good. Think Melody, what helps you to focus? Wait...
I closed my eyes and willed my headphones to appear.
"Melody, trying to block me out won't-"
"That's not what I'm doing." I cut her off, slipping the headphones on.
I smiled as I heard the next song come on. Kings and Queens by Ave Marex. I reared up again and beckoned for Tempest to attack me again. She seemed confused but obeyed. This time, fueled by the feeling of power from the song, I pushed into a flip and flew over her, jutting out my hind leg and catching her in the back. I grinned and began humming along with the song.
"No damsel in distress, don't need to save me." I sang softly as I lunged at Tempest. "Once I start breathing fire you can't tame me. And you might think I'm weak without a sword, but I'm stronger than I ever was before!"
Suddenly, as I reached to pin Tempest, a magic tendril with the same color as my violet aura shot out. It created purple flames around Tempest, and I yelped. The magic instantly retracted, leaving no burns on the grass. I pulled off my headphones, the music still playing.
"What was that?" Gallus asked, flying over.
"You said 'breathing fire' and then the fire just appeared, cool!" Smolder said
"But how?" I asked.
"Those were the lyrics to the song, right?" Crystal Wind asked.
"Yeah... hold on, let me try something." I put on the headphones again. The song had switched but I sang along anyway. "I'm on the battlefield like oh my gosh, knocking soldiers down like house of cards!"
As I sang this, violet magic shot out from my wings, looking much more dangerous than usual. One was shot at Tempest, who quickly nullified it with an electric surge from her horn. I stopped and took off my headphones again.
"I think the magic is responding to my singing." I explained
"Woah. I didn't know that was possible!" Smolder said, moving closer.
"Neither did I, I've read many, if not every, book on magic. Nothing like this has ever been possible that I know of." Tempest said
"I think we need to talk with Headmare Twilight, if anyone knows about this, it's her." I said
"Magical music. I've never seen it before, it's supposed to be just a theory." Twilight said, looking excited as she examined me. "It's the idea that our innate musical magic that gives us all good singing voices and the ability to join in on any song can be amplified and channeled to work like usual magic!"
"So... my magic was literally responding to the music?"
"Exactly!"
I thought back to my close ascension. Princess Celestia said I didn't understand, but I had created a new magic. Maybe she meant Magical Music. If it was only a theory, I might be the first one to be able to make it. But I wonder...
"Headmare, is there anything else on the theory?" I asked
"Well, a few things..." Twilight teleported somewhere, then returned with a small book. "This is a copy of the original notes on the theory. Most of it is the mathematical explanation for how it channels our innate magic. However, the writer did take some notes theorizing how it can be harnessed."
I took the book and flipped through it. "Okay... it says that if used, it has a limit?"
"Yes." Twilight took the book for herself. "The amount of power the Magical Music has all relies on the amount of power of the user. For example, your Ether magic is pretty much limitless, however, you, physically, do have a magical limit. Being a pegasus will also hinder this somewhat."
"So the magic is only as powerful as I am?"
"Yes, in theory. If you were more powerful you could probably move mountains. Your power level now is likely strong, but considering your age as well as only recently getting these powers, you're probably not going to be strong enough to perform major spells." Twilight explained.
"Okay." I said, looking at the book. "Could I keep this? So I have a reference?"
"Of course." Twilight smiled at me. "Please, keep it. You'll probably get some use out of it."
"So, how do I cast spells then? Is it explained in the book?"
"The theory explains that you merely have to sing the words to a song that contains or implies a message or action you want to happen."
"That explains a few things." I muttered, giving her a smile and slight wave before leaving the room.
I understand now. I was humming the lines of Oath which was about best friends, so the magic proved Harper and I were by giving us the necklaces. That's how I created new magic, by doing something that was supposedly only theoretically possible. As I walked back to my room, I closed my eyes in thought. First the Ether, now Magical Music. I just want to be normal. But... maybe normal isn't what I'm destined for.
"Well, if normal isn't what I'm meant to be... maybe I should reflect that." I said, looking at my wings as I made them glow violet momentarily. I smirked slightly. "I'll become so much more than normal, if that's what destiny decides."
I then trotted into my room, petting Echo as I passed by her. She yawned and her wolf jaws opened wide. I sat down on my bed and grabbed my headphones back from around my neck. I then levitated over some paper and pencils, and began making a draft for what I wanted to do. To prove to destiny that I was ready to follow it's lead, but I'll do it in my own way.
I walked through the Ether with a smile. I was standing on two legs, walking forward confidently. I had on a purple hoodie on with a techno-style violet skirt. Violet sneakers with black stripes were on my feet. I wore circular, transparent purple glasses and violet cat ear headphones with black accents. My hair flowed around my shoulders, the purple stripe glowing due to the Ether. A bow and quiver of arrows was on my back. I also wore a violet bandanna around my neck that bore the words "Primo Victoria" in fine stitching.
It's been about five months since I got my magic and I'm getting a much better grip on it. For example, I'm currently talking through a circular bubble of my violet magic to a bacon-haired girl.
"Heh, no trouble at all Sunny, I swear. With your Pharynx, Temp, Thor, and Cellus on the job it was all wrapped up pretty quickly anyway."
"Okay, that's good." Sunset said, smiling. "You have a safe trip home, Twilight would kill me if her student vanished while 'under my care'."
"Relax, I can handle myself." I laughed. "Be worried about Thor and Cellus if anyone."
"Oh relax, Phar's with them, they're fine." a mulberry colored twenty year old said from Sunset's side of my communicator as she walked by.
"Alright. I'll be sure to stop by for you two's wedding then!" I teased
"Oh shush!" Tempest blushed and waved her hand in dismissal. I just giggled more when I noticed that she was waving the hand the ring was on. "If it were up to me you know we'd elope, but Rarity seems to want to dress us up like dolls, so..."
I laughed. "I know Temp. Anyway, say bye to Phar, Thor, and Cellus for me. I hope Thor and Cellus are okay."
"Just a bit shaken. You know they never got any assignments back at that mansion." Tempest replied. "They just have the training-and they're not that good at that anyway."
"Mhm. But I mean, spies are spies." I shrugged. "I like the new business name though. Fighting for Right, Evading Evildoers. Thorax come up with it or Ocellus?"
"F.R.E.E? Who do you think? Thorax the dork." a familiar rough voice called from out of my line of sight, making Tempest giggle.
"How many of you guys are there?!" I exclaimed, laughing.
"Thorax and Ocellus are here too." Tempest replied "We were giving Sunset a briefing on the mission she tasked us with."
"I offered to pay them." Sunset added "The Sirens needed to be captured."
"And we refused." a green skinned eighteen year old with orange hair and magenta purple eyes stuck his head into view. "Friends don't pay."
"Thorax, get back over here, you're still limping!" a cyan boy with bright red hair and lavender eyes shoved him backwards. "And so help me, I'm not letting Ember chew me out for not keeping you safe!"
"Okay, okay!"
"Uh, yeah, we should probably let you go..." Sunset said.
"Nonesense!" I stopped at a place in the Ether where there seemed to be a line. I slung off my bow and arrow and tossed them over the line, making them become smaller. "I have a bit before Twilight's dumb leader's meeting she's making me attend."
"Okay then." Sunset shrugged. "Really just wanted to make sure you were okay, you didn't come over to mom and auntie's when the others did."
"Had to head back to my world." I replied
"Okay then." Sunset said "Now we've got to go, the Synesthetes have another mission in ten."
"Aww, wish I could come, one time thing with the Sirens, right?" I asked
"You never know." Pharynx walked into view, tugging the suit he was now wearing. "Might be another mission where we... ugh, need your specific... assets."
"Magical Music does come in handy when dealing with singing hypnotizers." I said, smirking. "What's the matter, Mr. Valedictorian of Hivelair High School? Ashamed to admit you need help?"
"Whatever." Pharynx rolled his eyes. "Ocellus, Thorax, and I will be infiltrating a charity auction, there's a rumor going around that a play will be made for one of the items."
"That explains the suit." I said "Okay then. See you, I've got to go!"
I shut off the communication bubble. I then took a breath and stepped over the line. I came out on the other side in my normal form again. I flexed my wings, looking down to make sure the bandanna had stayed, which it had.
"Ahh, nice to have these back. The human world never gets old though." I looked down to see the Friendship Castle below me. "The Ether is such a better way of crossing dimensions, take that Headmare." I chuckled.
I picked up my bow and arrow and walked a little further. I stopped over the school, then raised my wings as they glowed. The Ether swirled in front of me and multiple circles appeared, showing me the leaders. It was time for me to resume my role as the Teacher's Assistant of the School of Friendship.
"Okay, so it looks like Thorax and Pharynx are already there... Novo's entering the school, Ember's... being really sweet leaning against Thorax, aww! Rutherford's talking with Pinkie...Celestia's there, huh, that's new. Looks like the only one not there is Gruff, no surprise." I rolled my eyes.
Well, if that old buzzard wasn't going to bother to show up to the meetings, he clearly wasn't the right one for the job of representative of Griffonstone. I thought for a bit, then smirked. I know just the griffons to take his place. Maybe it was finally time for a new leader of Griffonstone. A few leaders, actually.
"Ooh, is Melody plotting something?"
"Heh, not now Cacophony." I said, heading over the school courtyard. "I have an old geezer to replace with some competent griffons."
"Can't I help?"
"You only make me angry. This needs to be handled calmly."
"Oh fine."
Heh, yeah... turns out the near ascension gave my darkest tendencies and my short fuse a consciousness. It's actually kind of helpful, it's letting me get a grip on my emotions. Before you ask, she named herself. Cacophony. Because it's the opposite of a Melody. Bit on the nose but it works. And she's not even at her full power yet. If I ever went completely out of control, she'd emerge as her own pony. But I try not to let that happen so I'm not sure what she'd look like.
Anyway, I'd better get down into that meeting. I have a few "suggestions" to make to Headmare Twilight regarding the Griffonstone monarchy.
