Rescued By Music
Lukas never thought he’d be anything special. Then again, that is what heroes think of them. As you may have guessed, he will become extraordinary. But for now, our story begins with something nobody looks forward to: the first day of school.
***
Luna Academy was exactly like any other school on Earth. You went, you learned, you did homework, blah, blah, blah. Lukas was actually somewhat excited to arrive. This was because he would be taking part in his first music class. He had been playing the Double Bass ever since he could lift one. Only now, instead of enjoying his love on his own time, it would replace one of his monotonous classes that felt like he was in the movie “1984.” It was also his first class of the day. Despite the fun class, he was apprehensive, as this was an entirely new school, and to top that, he was a freshman!
He eventually went through the maze of a school, and found his classroom. Mostly everybody was already tuning his or her instruments. The other part of the class was chatting away about their summer. Lukas just quietly got one of the basses from the back of the room and made his way to where another girl was already standing.
It was love at first sight for Lukas. She had flowing black hair and grey eyes. For some reason she was wearing a pink bowtie with her uniform. Lukas sauntered over to her and manipulated the pitch on his D string. The second he touched it, it snapped. He could tell that this instrument had not been even looked at for decades.
“Nice going.” Exclaimed a violinist who was clearly 1st chair by the way she pompously sat down with her glossy case resting in her lap. “Name’s Trixie. Better not forget it.” Two other violinists giggled behind Trixie. They each brought their own violins. The first one was painted pink and had a blue tiara on it. The other was painted gray and had a silver spoon with a pink heart in it.
The girl with the grey eyes spoke up. “Hey Trixie, just lay off the kid. Do I have to remind you of the time where you accidentally stepped on your-“ “Hey! That’s about enough Octopus!” retorted Trixie. “I’ve told you over 9,000 times that my name is Octavia” replied the grey eyed girl. “Can you ladies stop shouting?” shouted a kid with his shirt tucked in and greased hair “It is bothering me and I do not like to be bothered! You should respect the royal family of the Bluebloods. “Oh grow up! “ yelled a cellist with golden hair and a cyan jacket that had the name “Lyra” embroidered on it. “My good friend Octavia and I can take you any day.” A violist with a severe sunburn and blonde hair just said “Eeyup.”
Lukas didn’t know what he should do in the middle of this ruckus. He just wished everybody would be like the violinist with pink hair and tan skin that was extremely shy and just stared at her thumbs. Luckily, the conductor walked in and was very surprised at the scene that had unfolded with she was away. “What is with all of this discord?” She had pale yellow hair and wore a broach with smiling flowers on it. The majority of the orchestra didn’t even take notice of her presence. A cellist who dyed her hair a rainbow color screamed “Everybody be quiet!!!!!!!!” And the room fell silent. Lukas just wondered why everybody had the most peculiar sense of fashion. Soon, none of that would matter as long as they were together.
***
Octavia was a simple person. She just wanted to get school over with. She was one of those girls who kept a countdown until summer, the whole yearlong. But she was actually excited for this year because one of the sophomores puts on a special performance for the arts community at the theatre. She did everything that she could to turn her chances toward herself. She practiced for two hours each day, she did extra favors for her conductor, and she basically surrounded her whole entire life with her six-foot double bass.
She especially did not have time for boys.
The class started just as she thought. The new kids were mortified, Trixie messed with them, and it seemed like they hadn’t changed at all during the summer. She didn’t even think that anybody had even grown. The only slight difference was that the volume had gotten a bit louder and she kept holding onto the only hope she had for this year: get the performance and not Trixie instead. But this year was about to turn into the most memorable.
***
Lauren was hoping that she would not get picked on as much this year, even though she was a senior.
Lauren was one of the greatest violinists to come into Luna Academy based on talent alone. She grew even stronger in her skills because she was extremely intrapersonal. Because of this, she received the name Fluttershy. She lived in a cottage by the forest and played the violin softly to all of the animals that would come. They would do this every Saturday morning, and it was worth more than all the popularity in the world to her.
The reason that Fluttershy was so easily bullied is because it would be easy to find outer faults. Instead of her hair turning frizzy, it turns pink, rather than tanning, her skin receives a yellow hue, and she has a small scar of butterflies that touched her arm when she was little. But nobody would care in a few minutes; they would just want to be back home.
***
The orchestra was beginning to play when an announcement came on the intercom. It was a snarly, canine voice. It said, “We likes the musics. Please come to us in the hall, and we won’t hurt your precious schoolses!” The microphone clicked and outbreak came out once again.
“We should go,” said Fluttershy
“We should fight!” exclaimed the sunburned violist
“We should hide.” Commanded the posh violinist
“We should just see what in the bass clef is going on down at the office” replied the conductor.
They all went down and the weirdest sight came upon them. Right by the statue of the unicorn that was their mascot (Luna Unicorns, nobody liked that name except for the person who created the school), were dog-like creatures that had diamond necklaces on and reached out their grubby paws towards…. everybody! They were so fast that before anyone could even wrap their heads around the idea of dogs wearing diamonds, they were already captured and in a wagon to who-knows-where.
***
Lukas knew just as much as anybody what was going on, but he knew it wasn’t good and started forming an escape plan. He was incredibly good at making anything he wanted. Despite the bumpy road, he reached a twig that had been left. He grabbed it and immediately started to file the bandages on his wrists. He learned a trick from his best friend back before he moved. The trick was to lick the bandage that covered your mouth except for the edges. This would ease the pain and fool your captor.
As you may have guessed, teenage boys can find a cure to boredom easily, and they get bored a lot.
He managed to break free and crept upon the dog that was driving the car and pushed him aside onto the ground, but it was no use for the dog just grabbed Lukas, tied him down even more, and knocked him out again.
They ended up in a cave where they spent days harvesting diamonds and then going back to their respective prison cells. One day, Lukas found a little tree that had somehow learned to grow all the way ten feet underground. He nurtured that tree like his life depended on it, and quite literally, he wasn’t sure if it really did. The tree grew incredibly fast and after around 9 months. He knew it was ready for his plan. He shared it with the whole clan.
“Okay”, Lukas whispered “Everybody know their parts?”
“Eeyup. “Replied the violist who still managed to be sunburned.
“Alright” Fluttershy whispered, “Will you tell us when it’s time?”
“Of course!” Lukas cried.
He was quieted by the whole gang, which drew the attention of the dogs more than Lukas did.
“Hey!” shouted a dog that came over “What’s the racket? I don’t hear any diamonds being harvested. I have a whip you know”
This particular dog always used the same dumb threat and never actually ever had a whip in his hand.
All of the workers retired back to their cells and their hearts were beating faster with each passing day. Fluttershy was the most impatient.
“Is it time yet?” she would ask Lukas every day
“No” he would answer
“Is it time yet?”
“Nope”
“Is it time yet?”
“Not yet”
“Is it time yet?”
“Sorry”
“Is it time yet?”
“…Yes.”
Fluttershy did a little squeal as she harvested more diamonds than ever before.
That night. Everyone unlocked their doors with the objects that they had found in their cells. Rock, sticks, and twigs. Trixie managed to unlock herself with a clod of dirt. She was truly adept. Lukas came out with a very well crafted double bass! The conductor’s eyes were like the moon on a clear night. “Are you sure you shouldn’t take woodshop instead?” she asked. “Absolutely not.” Lukas replied. “So, I should have asked this before, but who is the loudest in here?” It was a unanimous vote as everyone pointed to the girl with the rainbow hair. She shrugged “I do what I can.”
The plan was in full action as the girl with the pink violin walked to the Diamond Dogs’ door. “Oh dogs!” she said in a charming voice “I have a surprise for you!” They came out and saw that everybody was working a night shift. They were astonished! “Well, this is a pleasant surprises.” The blue diamond dog said. The girls with the pink violin said “We decided to work a night shift for you.” They were taken aback. The shock transformed into jubilance as they heard music coming from the back of the cave.
As they walked back, Lukas was playing the longest song he knew on the double bass. As the diamond dogs came out.
“Now!!!” The Rainbow-haired girl exclaimed.
Lukas broadsided them with the instrument, knocking them out. They made their escape and cheered as they felt fresh air and saw natural light for the first time in almost a year.
***
Octavia was very surprised when she heard that the community wanted her to play so much that they moved it to May instead of December.
“I’m absolutely honored, but I believe someone else deserves it.” Everyone gasped. This is what she had been working towards for so long! “I want Lukas to play instead.” After she explained she moved to the back stage where Lukas was tuning.
“You didn’t have to do this you know.” Octavia replied, “It’s the least I could do for someone who saved us all. Plus, you got me through a whole year of school without me having to do anything! Break a leg.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked away.
She took a seat in the audience next to her new best friend, Trixie. “What happened back there? Why are you so red?” As Lukas came out in his tuxedo and bass,
Octavia replied “Just watch.”