Pony POV Series:7 Dreams/Nightmares: Melody 2/2

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic
My Little Pony Tales
Pony POV Series Side Story Episode 5 of 7
MLP: POV Seven Dreams/ Seven Nightmares
"Melody"
Part 2 of 2
By Jawmax
Edited By Alex Warlorn and Kendell2 and Louis

After Disaster:

The Crystal Rainbow Castle exploded, the mansion was caught in the blast, and fire and smoke were everywhere. I had to find Ace and the others. I struggled to lift beams out of my way. Coughing helplessly every second. My throat feels like it's burning, but friends and family come first. After hours of work I manage to pull everyone out. Poor Pretty Beat, her face has been burned so badly. "Are you guys going to be okay?" I try to ask only for a gasping and wheezing sound to come out of my mouth instead.

We took what precious little from ... from the... the... I'm sorry. I know it's stupid but... my home, our home. The fire and explosion had torn the expensive work of art to a smoldering wreck. I remember when I first brought my luggage through those doors, thinking to myself, 'I've made it! I've got it made! I am good! And Ace is here with me. Someone as great as me to share it all with.' All the praise and accomplishment I always wanted. Then those filthy looters came. We didn't wait around for angry ponies looking for somepony to punish for the death of the world.

We found a doctor; we found Sweetheart. Now living at the farm of Teddy's cousin. She was overjoyed to see us. To see any of us. So was I.

She told us that Pretty Beat's face will be scarred permanently. Then she took a look at me. "I... I'm sorry, Melody," she said, struggling to keep her voice from breaking. "The smoke burned your vocal chords horribly... you'll never speak again. And chances are, there's brain damage as well."

What? No! If I can't talk then I can't sing. Singing is everything to me! "Is there any way to tell if she has brain damage?" Ace asked.

Sweetheart sighed. "Without working equipment the only way to tell is to watch and wait. The whole world seems to have been hit by this... thing. This malaise. You all need to stay out of sight. You were big spokesponies for the Grant-All-Wishes spell. Ponies are going to shift some of the blame on... you. They'll be out for blood."

This can't be happening! We were going to get everything we ever wanted and now we have nothing!

"All of this is your fault!" Pretty Beat yelled at me. "Look at my face!" I couldn't stand to, so I turned away. She grabbed my head and turned me toward her. "Look at me! How am I ever going to find a guy to marry me looking like this?"

Sweetheart tried to interfere despite her still-mending legs, bless her soul, but Pretty Beat just knocked her back. Thank goodness Teddy wasn't in the room or there would have been blood in return.

"Hey, don't scare her like that!" Ting-A-Ling said. "She probably doesn't understand a word your saying!" What? Yes, I do! Ting, I'm still me! Sweetheart said watch and wait! I'm still me!

"No, she's right!" Half Note yelled. "The stupid spell would never have happened if we didn't encourage our fans! We only did that because you told us to!"

"Do you think anyone is going to care about musicians or athletes with society crumbling? Melody, you ended all of our careers!" Tuneful shouted.

Sweet Note joined in too. "This goes way beyond your out-of-control ego! Even if you could speak, we're beyond sorry. Civilization's broken and I don't think it's going to be fixed any time soon. I think it is time we went our separate ways. As far as the world is concerned, the Rockin' Beats died in that fire."

Jing-A-Ling hugged me from behind. "You can't just leave her! My sister needs us right now! She can't take care of herself anymore!" I break out of her grasp. I don't need her babying me! I'm her BIG sister! Not an invalid! I can take care of myself. "Calm down, Melody, it's going to be okay."

"What about you, Ace? Are you going to go or stay with her?" Sweet Note asked.

Ace looked very uncertain "Well, I don't know...she is kind of partially responsible for all of this."

No! Ace! Stay with me! I...I love you, I need you! Don't leave me! I grab him trying to talk to him but all that comes out is more wheezing and gasping. He looks into my crying eyes deep in thought.

"Well, what's it going to be Ace?" Tuneful asked.

"When we got married I promised to stay with her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. I've been with her for all the good things, guess now it's time to stick with her in the bad. She's lost just as much as all of us in this mess and I can see it in her eyes she's still in there. I'm staying with her." Oh Ace! He gives me a kiss.

"Well that's it then. In a few days after we get our strength back four of us will go one way and the other four will go another," Half Note said.

I thought they were going to turn on Sweetheart next, but Teddy stepped into the room and they shut up. As they stormed out of the room, Sweetheart hugged me, Ace and the twins joined in. Turns out I was too shocked to cry.

News came about my other friends: Starlight is dead, Patch is on some kind of quest (but married Buddy, at least that's ONE wish come true), Bob Bon's lost half her family and is going to try to keep track of this mess, Bright Eyes doesn't even know who she is, and nothing can seem to touch Clover, I should be jealous, but at least one of us made it through this without losing someone. No one knows what happened to Mom. Oh, Mom, if only we talked more, I could have at least emailed you more than once a month!

I think of poor Bright Eyes. It actually might be kinder that she can't remember what she's done to the world, and Starlight was... removed. Bright Eyes really has lost herself; she's lost her cutie mark. Her flank is as blank as her memory. And Sweetheart's sister... I may have lost my voice, but at least my memory and body were still my own. My sisters maybe babying me, but at least they're still here with me.

None of us could risk staying with Sweetheart, she was a doctor who would treat anyone for no cost and that made her too precious to lynch. But a big enough, angry enough mob could easily push past her and all her family to get to me. Even if Sweetheart was too valuable to put to death, they could still punish her severely if caught with us. Thankfully, Ace and my sisters realized this without any input from me. So even though Sweetheart begged us to remain on the farm with her, we simply thanked her and moved on.

I don't think any of us tried to reach Paradise Estate. We didn't blame Medley and her friends, even if lots of other ponies might. It had been Bright Eyes' idea, and the Bright Eyes I could have blamed for what happened no longer existed. Travel there on hoof would have taken months. And the destruction had rendered many routes unusable. Then there were the monsters. So many monsters. It was like they were trying to keep Medley and the rest busy. The Paradise Estate ponies became as good as ghosts, I hope Medley is okay.

And so it was three days later we came up to a crossroads. One way led east, the other west.

"We'll go west." Pretty Beat said. "We've all been thinking and while we can't forgive you, especially me... well, Melody, the four of us still have music inside, but you lost it forever. The thing you loved most. Even if you might not understand what I'm saying, but even if whole world ends up hating you, we can't. . . . It's best that we don't meet again. If someone recognizes us together, it'll end badly."

We all hugged and that was the last time I ever saw my bandmates.

***

We mostly have been eating grass and whatever we could find. Clover, alfalfa, daisies, was the diet of the day instead of hamburgers and smoothies. A change of pace from when Bright Eyes and friends lost in the woods and were scared of starving with grass all around and not having the heart to gut a fish.

Ace and my sisters began to construct a house made of debris. It's positioned a little bit away from a newly-formed village of survivors call Saddle Field. Ace and I dare not go there; the ponies in town would lynch us for sure. I tried to help with the building, but Jing-A-Ling and Ting-A-Ling keep pulling me to the side, afraid that I'd hurt myself. I communicate with my family through the very crudest forms of sign language: nodding for yes, shaking my head for no, pointing, waving, clop my hoof on the floor whenever I need to count off a number, glaring or smacking them if they're wrong about what I'm trying to say. Only Ace believes I'm still all there; the twins think I'm just acting out. He does his best to act as my voice to them. Without much to do but look for food and water Ace and I began to spend more time together. Our marriage feels more alive than it has in years.

Then, after nearly a year since the disaster, I began to get sick in the mornings. Ace and I are finally having kids; all it took was the end of the world. My family waits on me like a princess during my pregnancy. Of course there still were some problems.

"Here you are, Mel', some nice juicy apples."

Ace handed me the fruit, which I threw at his head. I pointed again to the only picture we had which was of a bowl of fruit trying to tell him again I am craving peaches!

"Oh, wrong fruit? Did you want grapes?"

I hit him and shook my head no and pointed again.

"Bananas?"

Smack again.

"Grapes?"

Smack.

"Are you sure you don't want apples?"

Eleven months later I gave birth to my daughter, a perfect foal with a cream colored coat and my blue mane. I've had the perfect name picked out months ago but need to find a way to tell my family. "So Dad, what do you think we should name her?" Jing-A-Ling asked Ace.

"I don't know. I only thought of boy names." Typical that he assumed our first born would be a son.

"Do you think we should name her Ding-A-Ling?" Ting-A-Ling suggested.

Over my dead body, I shake my head no. "I don't think Melody likes that name."

"Well we have to think of something." Jing said. Okay time to show them the name I picked. I hand the baby over to Ace and begin to bang the night side stand. "No, Melody! You'll hurt yourself!" I shake her off. Come on, recognize the beat!

"Wait, listen," Ace said. Yes! Listen, you remember! The world still needs this! I want to teach something of music! Our world would be so much sadder without it! "That's the first winning song she ever wrote! That's Sweet Music!"

I would've jumped with joy if I hadn't just given birth.

"So she remembers the song." Ting said.

"Don't you see? That's what she wants to name the baby!"

Jing-A-Ling thought about it. "Well it would be a very pretty name."

"Is that it dear? You want to name the baby Sweet Music?" I nod yes.

"All right, little one your mommy has named you Sweet Music." Sweet Music happily gurgled a little. I only wish I could say how much I love her, I hope my tears of joy would tell that much.

A couple of weeks passed and my sisters are insisting that they take care of Sweet Music. They only let me nurse her! No matter what Ace says they still don't believe I'm all here! They're afraid that I'll hurt her by accident! If I don't do something soon my daughter will grow up thinking that her mother is some kind of crazy mute pony! I'm the only real musician here; if she doesn't learn from me, then the music could die forever! That's it! I have to find some way to talk to them and settle this once and for all!

I took a basket full of roots that we stored for the winter and a cloak. I can't afford to be recognized in town. The Twins are the only ones that go into town if we need something from there. Since they always worked backstage, there's almost no risk of them being recognized. I heard that everything is bartered for, these days so I'll trade these roots for some paper and something to write with. There were a lot of ponies in the market; it has been a long time since I've been this close to ponies outside of my family. I see a stall with what I need.

"Hello, miss, what can I get you?" The stallion asked me. He was a grey and white spotted earth pony with an electric outlet for a cutie mark.

I pointed to some old pens and the single sheet of paper he had for sell.

Papers and pens had been the last thing we would've grabbed when we left our burning mansion. Just trying to live day by day, writing had been a low priority. And my sisters wouldn't let me near anything sharp. I had tried scratching messages in the dirt, but my sisters just ignored that. Now I know what Miss Hackney meant by fundamental attribute error.

"My last sheet of paper and a pen; well what do you want to trade?"

I show him my basket of roots.

"Those roots can be found all over this area. I would have to have to take two whole baskets worth for what could be the last piece of paper in the world."

That paper is worthless to me without something write with. I shake my head no and clop my hoof three times. I know he will want to go higher but this will show how serious I am. I just hope he had a big enough heart to understand.

"You can't speak can you? You must really need to tell someone something. I feel for you I do, but I have a family to support. Tell you what, I give you the paper for the basket and one pen for your cloak, it will help keep the kids warm this winter."

He isn't backing down. If I give him my cloak and someone realizes who I am I could be in big trouble. But if I don't I will have come all this way for nothing and being a real part of my daughter's life is too important to me.

I give a nod and hand over the basket and take off my cloak. I grab my purchases and begin to make my way home hoping no one sees me.

"Hey, is that the lead singer from that Rockin' Beats band? Melody?" Shoot.

"The band that was shilling for Bright Eyes and Starlight? The ones who helped make this nightmare?"

"No wait, couldn't be her, she's too fat." It takes all of my will power not to knock that stallion into next week. Guess I still haven't bounced back from my pregnancy. But in this case it is a good thing. I never thought I would be happy to be called fat. I ran back home not wanting to press my luck again.

The Twins find me halfway home. "Melody, don't wander off like that," Jing scolds me like a child.

"We were all worried about you. You could have gotten hurt or someone could have seen you," Ting said.

I can't wait to show them once and for all I am not brain damaged. As we enter the house I could hear Ace singing softly to Sweet Music. "We make sweet music, you and I." He was singing her namesake to her; that is so sweet! He puts her down in the crib, she is fast asleep.

Then I began to write, quietly, out of sight. Wouldn't do for them to see me holding a sharp object like a pen. Please still have some ink! Yes! When I finished writing I gave what I wrote to my sisters.

"No way," Jing-A-Ling said.

"What does it say?" Ace asked.

Ting-A-Ling read aloud, I think she was about to cry. "I do not have brain damage. I have been the same sister you've know all your lives, except hopefully a little wiser. I appreciate what you girls have tried to do, it is good fortune that I did not end up the way you thought I had, but I swear I am in full control of my faculties. I risked being found out in town for the sake of writing this. I can take care of myself and I want to raise Sweet Music myself. I am not asking you to leave because all of you are all that I have and I still love you. Sincerely, your competent big sister, Melody."

"Melody, I am so sorry," Jing said.

"As am I," Ting added.

"I knew it all along," Ace said embracing me.

After that I focus on caring for Sweet Music. When I'm playing with her I feel so much joy, banging the floor to make the notes of songs. As soon as she began to talk Ace and her aunts taught her to sing. It is the sweetest sound I ever heard. Even though I cannot talk to her, Sweet Music learns how to understand me much quicker than my sisters did. Ace... now it's like all he has to do is look at my face to know what I'm thinking.

***

My life has gone in a completely different direction since the disaster. I've gone from a rich superstar to a mother and homemaker that forages for food for her family in the forest. I've gone from being adored by millions to hiding from her neighbors. Now that I'm allowed near writing instruments again, I've taken up writing songs. Sheet music is easy to make. I can't sing, but Sweet Music can, and... and it felt good just to add music to the world again.

Thanks to Lancer there was a tiny reunion between the five of us: Bonbon, me, Sweetheart, Clover, and Bright Eyes. Bright Eyes didn't recognize any of us, it hurt a little, but Lancer was there for her. Our husbands managed a few jokes with each other and we tried to get back into the old spirit of things, but it didn't take us long to realize we were chasing ghosts. We all gave each other a hug and kiss a before leaving.

A couple of years pass and we have been blessed again, this time with a yellow colt with a black mane that Ace named Champ. We were worried about him at first since he had been born so much smaller than Sweet Music at her birth. Ace, carrying Champ, Sweet Music, and I were out in the woods foraging again when we heard a commotion. We all followed the noise to a clearing to see three earth pony colts beating up a green unicorn colt with a blonde mane. The twins told us that a unicorn town named Horn Haven was built nearby close to the marshes.

"Take that, needle head!" one colt yelled.

"This will teach you to come to earth pony turf!" said another.

"Oh, look, I think he's crying!" The last one said.

I was about to break it up when Sweet Music rocketed passed me! "Leave him alone, you big bullies!" I have never seen my girl so mad. As I came closer she punched and kicked each of the three earth ponies, one colt between the legs when he actually tried to fight back. While I know I should be disappointed that she was fighting I can't help but feel pride that she has my fire in her and WHY she did it. In a world full of so much hate, things like this are something it needs. "Go on! Get out of here! And if I see you do something like this again I'll tell everypony in town you got beat up by a girl! Me!" The bullies ran off. I begin to look her over. "I'm fine, mama. We need to check on him."

"Are you okay?" Ace asks.

The unicorn got up. "A few bruises but nothing too bad. It just hurts. Thank you for helping me. My name is Spell Circle, what's yours?"

"My name's Sweet Music! This is my mom, my dad, and my baby brother Champ!"

I pointed to Spell Circle then waved my forelegs out. "Huh?"

"Mom can't talk. She asked why you here?"

"I just wanted to see a real earth pony. I never saw one before. Dad, the sheriff, and everypony in town says that all earth ponies want is to use our magic for themselves."

"Well, that is not true for most us. I'm sorry that those boys got so rough with you," Ace said.

"The names hurt more than their punches." Spell Circle began to cry.

"Hey, I know what will make you feel better, my favorite song! It always cheers me up when I feel sad." Sweet Music began to sing. "Sweet Music, ooh Sweet Music." No! Not that song! Not here! I closed Sweet Music's mouth shut. She began to complain with her voice muffled and Champ began to cry.

Ace came between us and Spell Circle. "Sorry, we still have some foraging to do. But don't worry, those names they called you are just that, names they said because they didn't know you."

"Oh, okay. Bye Sweet Music, let's play together sometime." Spell Circle waved good bye and ran back home.

Sweet Music was very angry with us after we got out of the colt's sight. "Why? I thought you loved it when I sang! You taught me! You told me that I mustn't let music die!" Sweet Music cried.

Ace handed Champ to me, as I rocked him Ace tried to explain. "Sweetie, we do love to hear you sing. It's just that you can't sing that song in front of other ponies that are not part of this family."

"But it's my favorite! We're always singing it at home and mom even joins in by drumming on the floor! You even told me you named me after that song!"

"Sweet Music, remember when we told you that life wasn't always like this? That when your mother and I were younger we had machines that made things easier and how a well-meaning spell went wrong and made things so that we don't have those helpful machines anymore and the monsters all appeared?"

"Yes."

"Back then, Momma could talk. Not just talk, but she sang so beautifully that she got her cutie mark for it. That song named Sweet Music was the first song she ever sang in public. All the world loved her. Her friends told her of an idea they had for a spell that would make everypony's wishes come true. She used the fame she had as a singer to get other ponies to help with the spell. Sweet Music, THAT was the spell that went wrong! Afterward ponies hated anypony who had anything to do with the spell's creation and their families! Them and their families as well! If ponies knew who your mother was from hearing that song, they could hurt you, Champ, your aunts, your mother and me! Promise us that you will only sing that song around family."

"Okay, Daddy, I promise."

***

More time passes. Sweet Music has grown to a beautiful young mare. Her cutie mark was for singing, just like me, though hers took the form of a red songbird. Champ, while still smaller than other colts his age, has caught the eye of the blacksmith of Saddle Field. He's been asked take an apprenticeship. It gave him a cutie mark of a hammer and an anvil.

Jing-A-Ling and Ting-A-Ling had the time to find their special someponies and each had started their own families. I noticed Sweet Music sneaking out of the house some nights. I knew what was going on.

"Oh, hi, Mom; guess you're wondering what I'm doing up this late, huh?" I gave her a knowing look and patted the couch for her to sit down. "Okay, I've been seeing Spell Circle. We have to meet late at night because well you know how the ponies of both towns feel about each other! Oh, mom, why can't they just let us be in love?" I nuzzled her; I wish I could just make things better for her.

"Hey, what's going on?" It was Champ. He and Ace had just come in the room.

"You and Sweet Music were talking and guess it something to do with a guy," Ace said.

"Yes, Dad. As I told Mom, Spell Circle and I are having a hard time being together because the ponies of Saddle Field hate the unicorns and the unicorns of Horn Haven hate us earth ponies. I know that Spell Circle wants to ask me to marry him but his father Sharp Spear would never allow it." Sweet Music begun to cry.

"Sweet Music, Spell Circle is a grown stallion. Is his father's blessing really that important?" Ace looked at his little princess. I know how fond she's grown of Spell Circle.

"It is if we want to live in Horn Haven!"

"Why would you want to live THERE?!" Champ asked.

"I want to help them. They only focus on what they need to survive. But I want to bring music back to them; just like I did at Saddle Field! I know it can help bring us all back together."

My little girl is talking about getting married? That makes me feel old but in a good way. I just wish my mother could be here for this. Mom, we never did find out what happened to you. Chances are if she didn't die during the disaster, she probably died of old age by now. I place my hoof on her chest.

"Follow my heart, huh? Yeah, we'll do it without his father's blessing, if need be. He'll come around sooner or later."

There was a knock at the door. Ace opens it to see Spell Circle standing there. He has grown quite handsome over the years and has earned a cutie mark for spell casting in the form of a purple magic circle. Sweet Music is so lucky to have such a kind, fine-looking stallion wanting her as his wife. And if the rumors I've heard about the length of a unicorn stallion's horn is true, she is going to love being his wife. "I hope I am not disturbing you."

"It's okay, Spell Circle, they know. My parents gave their blessing. We can get married!" Sweet Music said.

"What about MY father? He would never..."

"We don't need his permission to live in Horn Haven! You are one of the town's most powerful mages! You help keep it safe! I want to teach everything my mother taught me about to the ponies of your town and show that there is more to life than just surviving!"

"Sweet Music, you're right, when my father sees that, no matter what, we love each other he will have no choice but to approve our marriage." These days finding a minister for a wedding was hard so most weddings were now just the couple agreeing to be married. Screw that, my daughter deserves more than that.

There wasn't much to celebrate with but we did all the same. I couldn't sing and there were no electric guitars, but I could still make a good beat with my hooves when I wanted. And my sisters could dance as well as ever. We all managed smiles. An instrumental pony musical number, I think we just made history.

Afterwards Sweet Music gathered her few belongings from her room and got ready to leave for her new life with her new husband. She said her goodbyes to us. "Champ, I'm counting on you to look after Mom and Dad while I'm gone. Think you can handle it, shrimp?"

"Yes, don't worry about a thing," Champ said.

"Daddy, I know that this must be hard for you, giving you little girl away."

Ace had tears in his eyes. "You have no idea. Sweet Music, remember what we talked about the day you first met Spell Circle?"

"Yes."

"He's family now, it's okay to tell him."

Then she turned to me. I hugged her. "I love you too, Mom. You never needed words with me."

"Come on, dear, it's time to go." Spell Circle said. They both left us that misty morning, but I wished them all the happiness this world could offer.

***

Things are so different now. I'm all grey and wrinkled. Ace, who used to have a long flowing mane now hardy has any on his head. Champ who was the tiniest foal I ever saw has grown into a large muscular stallion who every mare in town wants to court. The twins have gotten so busy with their big families.

Patch finally stopped by. I'm jealous of her, honestly, those shards she's been gathering up are slowing down her aging. She's got two now, apparently one came from a monster of a Pegasus. When she told me what he'd been using it for, I didn't blame her for leaving him to the fate he deserved. I only politely shook my head no when she asked if I knew where Starlight was. I only hope she'll be safe as she keeps traveling.

I haven't heard from Sweet Music in so long. This world is a dangerous one I hope she is okay. Early one morning somepony was banging on our door. Champ decided to see who it was incase Ace and I have finally been found out. When he opened the door there was Sweet Music holding a little bundle.

"Champ, is that you? What happened to my scrawny kid brother?"

"Working the forge builds muscle, I'm Saddle Fields' blacksmith now. Sweet Music, what are you doing here?"

"Can I come in?" Sweet Music was on the verge of tears.

"Of course, this will always be your home."

Sweet Music sat down, and broke down. "Spell Circle is dead," No wonder she's so sad. Spell Circle was a good stallion.

"Oh, Sweetie, I'm so sorry. How did it happen?" Ace asked.

"Last year, Horn Haven was attacked by a five headed monster called a hydra. It destroyed the town, Spell Circle used all his magic to fight it but it...it ate him! He blew the head up from the inside and saved my life and a lot of others in the process... but... " I nuzzled my child. This would never have happened if I didn't tell my fans to go through with the mega-spell.

"That would explain why nopony in town has seen a unicorn for months," Champ said.

"And what's worse, he died never seeing our child." Sweet Music then opened the little bundle to show us a month old deep blue unicorn filly with a blonde mane like her father. "Her name is Jewel." It is official, I'm old, I'm somepony's grandma and I couldn't be happier about it.

"Sweet Music, she's beautiful. But why didn't you come home sooner?"

"Because Spell Circle's father, Sharp Spear, wouldn't let me! I thought that I earned their trust, but as soon Spell Circle died, the unicorns treated me like a tramp. Sharp Spear told that if my child wasn't born with a horn on its head he would have us both as slaves! They took me to where they built their new town called New Horn Haven. After I gave birth to Jewel, Sharp Spear told me that after she no longer needed me to nurse her, he would throw me out of town and she would be raised to be a 'proper unicorn.' That 'she would know that she was superior to her mother and all her kind.' And everypony's listening to him! He's in charge of the whole town! I couldn't bear the thought of her turning out like that, so I took her and ran! That was two weeks ago." Jewel began to cry. "Shhhh, it's okay, Jewel." Sweet Music began to rock her and sing. "Sweet music, ooh sweet music. That's what I hear when you appear..."

"You remember." Ace said proud with both of our pride.

"It is my favorite song and it seems to be the only thing that gets her to stop crying."

***

The next day, me and Ace were playing with Jewel giving her tummy tickles and playing peekaboo with her blanket. She surprised me when she walked right through it. "Magic surge," Sweet Music said. "Unicorn babies get them sometimes."

"I'm home, everypony." It was Champ all covered in sweat from a hard day's work. I gave my son a look. "No, mother, I did not make any dates. You already have a grandchild now so would you be so kind as to get off my back about it?"

"She just wants you to be happy, son."

"I know, dad, and I will when I find the right mare."

Just then the door burst open and a mob of unicorns poured into our house. The next thing we knew me, Ace, and Champ were being held against the wall by unicorn magic. Jewel began to wail. Stepping out from the crowd a red unicorn with a mane of grey with age and long mustache and short goatee appeared, blech. "No! Sharp Spear, how did you find us?"

Sharp Spear sneered. "We were never more than a day behind Sweet Music. Did you honestly think I would allow my granddaughter, the only thing I have left of my son, to be raised by earth pony filth? We were lead to this place when one of your townspeople told us you were the sister of the local blacksmith. He was happy to tell us when told him that we were to retrieve Jewel. He wanted no unicorns in his town. It was a simple matter of following your brother home."

"Please don't take my baby away from me, please!" Sweet Music begged, picking up Jewel. It was like the fire had gone out of her.


"Please, she is our granddaughter too!" Ace yelled.

Sharp Spear pulled out a knife. "Quiet, you earth pony seductress; before I cut your tongue out!"

"No! Don't lay one filthy hoof on her, you beast!" Champ screamed He pulled against the spell so hard that four more unicorn added to the spell just to hold him.

I couldn't move so for the first time since before my children were born I tried to speak. But all that came out was the same gasping and wheezing noises. Sharp Spear tuned when he heard the noise I was making and saw my cutie mark.

"Stars and a microphone? You! I should have known that she was your daughter! Her name, how she kept saying how much we need music despite that it does not help in any way for us to survive, it should have been so obvious! You're Melody! You are the singer that told millions to pursue the wish spell! Because of you my sister joined the research team and now all I have left of her is her namesake." Sharp Spear looked at Jewel. "My family was royalty! You swindled my family with your promises and your explosion destroyed our castle and killed most of my family. It's only by luck I wasn't reduced to a pauper. Fate is certainly kinder to me today than it has since, baring my son's birth, that wretched spell was cast! Today justice will finally be served!" With his magic he readied to plunge the knife it my chest.

Sweet Music got on her knees and begged. My little fireball, begging. "No! Sharp Spear please I ask you spare my mother's life! She lost everything that day too! She lost her fortune, her friends, her mother, her voice, without her voice she lost the most precious thing in the world to her, music! Please show mercy and I will do anything you ask, I will go back with you. I will tell my daughter that she is superior to her mother and her kind if only you please spare her grandmother!"

"You would come back to New Horn Haven, teach my granddaughter what I tell you to teach her, and swear on your mother's life to never come back here again."

"Yes!"

No! Sweet Music, please don't do this! Don't sacrifice Jewel's future for this old mare! I gasp. I wheeze but like that day no one can hear me.

"We have an accord then." He then turned to us. "If any of you ever come anywhere near New Horn Haven your daughter's life is forfeit!"

Then in a flash of light they were all gone. We all fell from the wall and I ran to where Sweet Music and Jewel just were. No! Come back! Sweet Music, Jewel, please come back! I wheeze, I gasp, I bang the floor and I cry.

***

Since that awful day it was so quite in our home. Ace hardly ever said anything after that; his heart was broken like mine was. Champ found the pony that told the unicorns how to find us and made sure they would walk with a limp for the rest of his life.

Ace passed away two years ago, Ace, I remember what I heard you say, you are a better pony than you were before. Champ took me to live with him above his blacksmith shop. He burned down our old house; it just had too many memories. He is such a good boy for taking care of his mother but he finally found a mare to marry. Such a sweet girl, too. Jewel, she is probably a teenager by now. Where are you? What are you doing? Please forgive this weak old mare for not being able to save you. It's so cold.



"Miss Melody! You have six minutes left!" Called the stage hoof.

I nod as I check myself in the mirror one more time before I come on stage in front of the cheering crowd. Half-Note and the others behind me begin the introductory music, I open my mouth and my fans go wild at what they hear.

"Listen up: what can you hear?
Will my voice just disappear?
To vanish into the void, so empty and so dark?
There is one thing in this world,
I can be certain of at last
That this music we hold within
Will keep on burning still

I was kept silent and trapped inside
But our song never surrendered
As long as it lives on with those I love, this song of ours will never die.

So I long we have run
But I feel it, even now,
A tune as natural as the beating of my heart

I say Carpe Diem
As we are reaching for our goals
We can create new tomorrows where this world is finally whole

This rhythm I have found
Will be here long after my soul.

Those precious days of youth
Still live on deep in my heart

Time goes on, this song will last
I'm not holding onto the past
Because you'll keep it alive, I am not afraid
No more doubt, no more regret
You will never let them forget
This sweet music in our hearts will echo throughout the land. "

I see my mother and Medley clapping in the front row as I end the song, I blow her a kiss as the lights cut out.


"Melody, Melody come on, babe wake up." I open my eyes. Ace! He was a teen again, as handsome as he ever was!

"It's good to see you again, Melody."

"We missed you."

"It just wasn't the same without you."

I was in shock! "Starlight, Sweet Heart, Bon Bon?" They look they did when they were teens; wait a minute. "My voice! I can talk!"

I was back in my teens too! ... "I guess I'm dead." I'm not that surprised. I sit up. I dare to look behind, and I see a worn-out empty shell with my face. At least it was smiling.

Starlight stares at me in shock. "You know I'm kinda used to more denial than that."

I put my hooves on my hips, and I speak, speak, my voice, -my voice-, it's beautiful to hear. "This doesn't feel like any dream. If this was all in my head there's no reason the rest of us wouldn't be here if I was dreaming about you. There is way too much correct detail for this to be some unicorn's sick joke. And... I can't feel my heart beating or breathing, and for the first time in decades my body doesn't hurt. Oh, and I can talk, which I haven't been able to do in decades."

"And I thought Bright Eyes would be the one to be all objective about dying," Starlight said.

"It's wonderful to speak to you again, Melody," Sweetheart smiled.

"When I dreamed you were on trial, and I said I forgave you, it wasn't just a dream was it?" I asked, that dream had been more real than real, but I hadn't needed more reasons for my sisters to think I was being strange.

"No it wasn't." Starlight smiled at me, "You and the others saved my soul."

"Mother!" I turned to see Champ run into the room and to my old body. Tears wear in his eyes. "No!" He slammed his hoof into the floor causing it to crack.

"Champ..."

"He can't see or hear us, Melody," Starlight said.

"I don't care." I move to him. "My sweet little boy. You will be fine, you're strong and your wife will be with you." I turn back to Ace and my friends. "So what now?"

Starlight spoke. "That's up to you, Ace waited two years for you and the rest of us are waiting for our friends."

"I would love to see them again too but..."

"You're worried about your granddaughter. It's okay, Mel. I know somepony who wants to set your worries to rest. Don't worry, girls, this won't take long."

"What about you, Ace?"

Ace smiled. "I'm going on ahead, and tell the girls to get ready for a Rockin Beats reunion! They're different now, Melody. They've mellowed out. They forgive you. I'll see you when all your friends have joined us."

"Here he is, Melody; this pony will take you to where we need to be for you to get what you need," Starlight said.

He was a tall pony, black and white with a horn and wings. He had to be death itself. "Greetings Melody, I am Mortis, and it is good to see you again."

"We've met before?" I asked.

"That's... a long story, best told later." Starlight said. The next thing I knew we were standing in front of another pony like Mortis but he is so much more! It's like he is the universe itself. I get such a feeling of peace just being here with him. Like I matter. "Melody, meet the Father of All Alicorns. He has other names like Pony Heaven and he has something to show you."

"My Little Pony, Who Is Troubled By Not Knowing Her Granddaughter's Fate, Let Me Put You Mind And Heart At Ease. Behold; Your Legacy."

I could see Sweet Music and she was with a filly who had to have been Jewel! She was teaching her to sing with the song Sweet Music! Things shift and cute but ravenous bugs were eating all the food in New Horn Haven. Jewel ran off to be alone and she began to sing and found that these bug things like and follow her where ever she went as long as she sang. The next thing I knew she was leading all of the unicorns in town in a marching band and taking the bugs away from town. She proved Sharp Spear wrong, music matters. Sharp Spear die of old age, a repentant old stallion, praising Jewel for having a softer heart than him, I swear the pony he's talking to is Patch.

Ting-A-Ling and Jing-A-Ling and their families are finally able to visit their great niece and great niece, it's beautiful. Dancing won't be vanishing from the world any time soon either!

Jewel is grown now and she is teaching her daughter the song too. Medley? Yes it IS HER! Hearing about a town that hadn't given up on music drew her like a bee to honey. It's not fast or easy, but she earns the trust of the unicorns. She acts like a guardian angel to Jewel and her daughter, she's not immortal anymore, but she doesn't care, now she has ponies she can teach her own music to, she hasn't have to be afraid.

Now my great granddaughter is grown up, teaching music classes to young unicorns. It continues like this, generation after generation, mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, brothers, sisters. Unicorns, earth ponies, pegasi, they are all part of our family! I'm shocked to pieces when Glory and Sparkler both marry into my line, each at their own pace, choosing to live in the world again instead of just safeguarding it.

In a town covered in a blizzard with howling spirits circling around but one house is untouched, a house that has that song coming from it. In the middle of chaos an earth pony mother is singing to comfort her pegasus son.

"Do You See Melody? Because Of You And The Love You Gave Your Children And Your Gift Of Music... Music Lives On. It Will Live Forever Because Of You!" The Alicorn Father said. I fell so much joy! For the first time in decades for all of creation to hear I began to sing!

***

Epilogue:

Sweetie Bell woke up after the horrible day of  wild eyed screaming and convulsing. She had to be tied to the bed to keep from hurting herself until she had finally tired herself out. Twilight and the doctors had looked her over in her sleep, they said the only thing to be done for her now was rest.

It was now night, and it felt comforting, peaceful a little. She didn't know what she had felt exactly. It was like something really awful had happened to somepony else, like their heart had just withered and died. But at the same time Sweetie felt it like it had happened to her too!

"Sweetie Bell, are you alright?" Rarity asked, hovering over her little sister, shining like an angel in the room's darkness.

"I... guess I'm okay... but... but... that was so awful!"

Rarity hugged her, slowly rocking her back and forth. "Shhhhh. It's okay, you don't need to talk about it right now, you're safe with me. They'll be plenty of time for that later. Please, just know you're safe here with me." There'd be time for questions later. For now all she wanted was to listen to her little sister's safe beating heart.

"Where's Silver Spoon?"

"I contacted her parents and they took her home but not before I Pinkie Promised her to tell when you woke up. In fact..."

"No! Please stay with me."

Rarity gave a weak smile. "Well I'm sure she and Pinkie Pie would understand. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Well, maybe...since mom and dad left for their vacation I've been waiting for a time when we could sing together."

Rarity remembered Sweetie Bell mentioning something like that before the Sisterhooves Social. "How about that lullaby mother used to sing us? Did you know that it has been passed down the family for generations?"

"Like how you and I get pruney hooves if we stay in the water to long?"

"That is from father's side of the family this is from mother's. It is a song that is only to be sung around family."

"Why?" Sweetie Bell asked her eyes full of wonder.

"I don't know. To make it special I guess, so remember only sing this song around ponies you care about."

"I was really little the last time mom sang it. I don't know if I remember all the words."

"Don't worry, follow along after me."

As Rarity began to sing she felt a presence in the room. It was the same as every time she sang it, a warm loving presence. It actually felt stronger as Rarity sang it to Sweetie Belle than when her mother sang it to her. And that was stronger than when her grandmother had sang it to her mother. There was enough love in this song to feed a changeling for a year. Sweetie Belle felt it chase away the monsters. A warm feeling, always growing. She sang too.

Sweet music, ooh sweet music. That's what I hear when you appear.
Sweet music, ooh sweet music. Life is tune when you near!
When you are gone the song just isn't there. But then I see you face again and music fills the air! Fills the air!
Sweet music, ooh sweet music. I love the sound when you're around!
Sweet music, ooh sweet music. Beautiful harmonies abound!
I know our song will never die! Never die!
We make sweet music you and I! You and I!
We make sweet music you and I!