The Violinist
by Craterfist
Chapters
- 1. The Hauntings
- 2. The Past
- 3. Revelations
- 4. Making Up For Lost Time
- 5. School Day
- 6. Unfinished Business
1. The Hauntings
Chapter 1
The Hauntings
It had been a month since the Hauntings started. At first, everypony in Ponyville thought it was their imagination. But as time went by, they realized that this was no trick of the mind. Now, everypony is afraid to go out at night. No living soul was seen outside at night. The townsponies were already inside with their earplugs in. Some were brave enough to peek outside and watch it as it went through town. It appeared to be a mare, ghostly white, with a straight, black mane, and one could see straight through the mare. Her eyes were a deep violet color. The strangest feature, though, was that where there should have been a cutie mark, there was a black void instead. There was a violin floating beside it, constantly playing the same tune, over and over. The ghost sung a haunting tune with the violin, and though it was alone, it sounded as if an entire choir of angels were singing as well (here is the song: http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=pMHWh_pFb4Q). The ponies of Ponyville simply dubbed the ghost 'Void', for her cutie mark, or whatever ghosts have as substitutes. When morning came, sighs of relief could be heard across the town.
Applebloom woke up to a beautiful sunrise. It was the weekend, and she planned to spend the day with her friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Scootaloo had been staying with Sweetie Belle at the Carousell Boutique, since, as it was recently discovered, she had nowhere else to go. Applebloom took out her earplugs and went downstairs to the kitchen, where Applejack was busy making pancakes.
"Mornin', Applejack!"
Applejack turned around and grinned at her sister. "Well, howdy, Applebloom. Ah expected you to sleep in today, with it being a weekend an' all."
"Actually, big sister, there's something ah wanted to talk to you about. See, it was about... Void.."
"APPLEBLOOM! Ah thought ah told you never to say that name!" She scolded, visible shivers running down the cowpony's back.
"But Applejack, yah gotta wonder why she would go through town and the farm, every night, just to play the same song again and again? She must be lonely, or maybe she's trying to get a message to somepony, or-"
"Ah said ah don't want to hear it!!" That silenced Applebloom for the rest of the morning.
After the Apple family finished breakfast, Applebloom trotted over to the Carousel Boutique and knocked on the door. Rarity let out her signature "I'm coooming!", she opened the door and called down Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The three fillies ran off to their clubhouse in Sweet Apple Acres.
Once inside, Scootaloo said "Alright, what's next on the list of cutie mark activities?"
Applebloom spoke up, "Actually, I wanted to do something special today." The two turned to face Applebloom.
"What did'ya have planned?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Well, you know Void, right?" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at each other with uncertain eyes, then nodded at Applebloom.
"Well, why is Void always going through Ponville like that? She's a ghost, right? Well, I want to help her, you know, move on."
Sweetie Belle spoke "Well, we really don't know much about the supernatural. I think we should go talk to Zecora about Void." To this they all agreed, and they left the clubhouse heading for the Everfree Forest.
2. The Past
A/N: Here is the ghost song again.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=pMHWh_pFb4Q
Chapter 2
The Past
The three fillies snuck out of their homes that night, and they met on the edge of the Everfree Forest. They then walked the path to Zecora's hut. When they knocked on the door, the zebra opened it and smiled at the three foals. "Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell, and AppleBloom! What brings you here under the moon?" The zebra was known for her ability to make every sentence rhyme, as well as her knowledge in herbs and other, less common things. The foals walked into the hut. Applebloom spoke first. "Zecora, what do you know about ghosts?" Zecora's eyes widened, and she tilted her head. "I know much of ghosts, that is true, but tell me, with what does your question have to do?" Sweetie Belle spoke. "Well, we wanted to help that ghost, the one that everypony calls Void. She seems so sad, Nopony should be like that." "I have seen this apparition. At this point, very few think it a superstition. If you want to help this mare, you will have to see how she previously fared." Scootaloo spoke up. "How do we do that?" Zecora narrowed her eyes. "Follow her tomorrow night. Where she leads you will give evidence of her plight." Applebloom asked "What'll we do once we get there? What if she's angry we followed her?" "How a ghost interacts with the living shows what kind of message the ghost is giving. If this was the spirit of an angry mare, she would not treat the living with much care. If she does speak, it means she giving you her trust. If you listen, you will more easily end this fuss." Sweetie Belle spoke. "So, she's not angry at anypony, but why is she always playing that same sad song?" If a ghost plays a hymn, it is based off of what emotion it is in." Applebloom's eyes lit up. "That's why she's playin' that song!" Zecora nodded. "Thanks, Zecora. We'll help her out." Sweetie Belle promised.
The Crusaders snuck out once again the very next night, and they met in front of the town hall to wait for Void. After a few minutes, they saw her coming, that same song filling the air. After she circled the town hall, the foals followed behind, keeping pace with her. After following her out of town, and finally reaching a small dirt mound just outside city limits, Void stopped. The Crusaders hid behind a tree and peeked out. Void looked around, and her frown drooped even further. She turned to the dirt mound, but just as she was about to fade back into the mound, Scootaloo jumped out and shouted "WAIT!" Void spun around, and at the sight of Scootaloo, broke into a grin. She dropped her violin, which sunk through the ground. She ran up to Scootaloo and hugged her. Scootaloo wanted to break away, but she felt so comforted in Void's hooves. Then she heard Void speak. What the other two heard was the same illiterate choir of angels, save the fact that the tone was speaking, instead of singing. What Scootaloo heard, however, was something very different. In her mind, she heard something that she never expected.
Oh, my lovely child. You look so beautiful.
A/N: Bwahahaha! Bet you weren't expecting that! Well, tell me how I did. I must know how I did!
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Welcome to the inner workings of my mind, also known as me talking to figments of my imagination in the form of the show's characters.
Scootaloo: You're an ass!
Craterfist: Hey hey whoa whoa hey! Language, missy!
Applebloom: She's kinda right, ya know.
Craterfist: Not you too... Seriously, guys. It's a fanfic, a sad ghost story fanfic.
Scootaloo: Why did you make my mother dead!?
Craterfist: Because it fit! It's a ghost story involving you three, and you're the only character that doesn't have a family, at least, not one that has been revealed as of yet.
Applebloom: We're calling you out on account of Scootabuse!
Craterfist: I promise, it's a sad story, but for you, I'll add a happy ending.
All three in unison: Fine...
Sweetie Belle: Well, what's gonna happen in the next chapter?
Craterfist: You can go see for yourself in the Editing and Revising section. The elevator's right over there.
Applebloom: Thanks, Craterfist!
Sweetie Belle: Hey, Craterfist, what's this in your Favorite Authors section? An author named Blackwing?
Craterfist: Oh, yeah, he's awesome. I'm just waiting for the next chapter of his story to come in. He actually helped to further the creation of a self-insert HiE fanfic of mine. I already had the idea long before I read the story, well, it was more of a daydream fantasy at the time. But I'm still going to write it sooner or later. Say, don't you have an elevator to catch?
Sweetie Belle: Oh, hay, WAIT FOR ME!
(elevator ding)
Craterfist: Aren't they nice? Alright, see you soon!
3. Revelations
Chapter 3
Revelations
My lovley Chella, I've missed you so much.
Scootaloo just stood there. Then it all crashed back on her. She saw long buried memories of herself, little more than a newborn, being carried by her mother as she ran through a field of tall grass, the moon shining high above. Behind them were a pair of royal guards. She didn't know why they were chasing her mommy. She came over a rise, and there was Ponyville in the distance. Her mother urged her on towards the town, and she walked blindly to it. She heard some conversation in the library, but to her infant ears, she heard one word. Scootaloo.
She wandered through town, until a mare with a cloak on came up to her, and called out, looking for the child's mother. When no one answered, she took the child to the Ponyville Orphanage, and handed her over to the caretakers. After a few years, she could only remember one thing, her name, Scootaloo. She walked out of the orphanage one day, without telling anypony. She then has been living on the streets, until one day, two years later, after helping form the Cutie Mark Crusaders, her friend Sweetie Belle found out about her lack of housing. Her older sister Rarity was appalled at the idea, and offered for Scootaloo to stay at her boutique, which she happily accepted.
It all finally fit together, and Scootaloo broke down crying.
"Moomy! I missed you so much!" She said between sobs.
Her friends looked at her with shock and confusion. Finally,
Applebloom walked over and said "Scootaloo, you alright?"
Scootaloo turned around, her eyes red from crying, and said with a smile "Thi-this is my mother, Applebloom."
A look of realization washed over Applebloom's face, as well as Sweetie Belles's, who had been listening. They walked over and hugged their friend. The ghost said something, but all Applebloom and Sweetie Belle heard were the angels.
Scootaloo heard and went "Oh... I didn't know. I would have come if-"
"Hold up a minute. You can understand her Scootaloo?" Applebloom asked.
Scootaloo nodded. "Her name is Fortuna, and she came to Ponyville because she had to leave me here, so i wouldn't get caught by a group of mercenaries, hired by a rival family to kill us. She escaped, but the family cursed her, so she couldn't move on when she died without me. She came to Ponyville because she wanted to see me one last time, and to see if she could break the curse, but she died of pneumonia that she developed over the journey, and died here, right outside city limits."
The other two had tears in their eyes. "Gosh," Applebloom said, "Isn't there anythin' we can do?"
Sweetie Belles's eyes lit up. "I know! We'll get Twilight and bring her here tomorrow night! She'll know what to do!"
The three of them high-hoofed and turned to Fortuna. "Don't worry, Miss Fortuna, we'll be back with a friend tomorrow night. She'll know just what to do." Sweetie Belle stated.
Fortuna smiled, and waved goodbye at them. She then walked back into the dirt mound. The three fillies snuck back into their houses and fell asleep with smiles on their faces.
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Sorry about the shorter chapter, I'll put another chapter up tomorrow (hopefully).
4. Making Up For Lost Time
Chapter 4
Making Up For Lost Time
As the sun was setting, the three fillies knocked on the door of the Ponyville library. They heard from inside "Come in!" They walked inside, and they saw Spike reshelving some books.
Twilight was descending the stairs, and said "Oh, hello you three. What can I do for you?"
Scootaloo stepped forward and asked "Twilight, we need you to come with us. Can you?"
Twilight tilted her head, and asked "What for?"
Applebloom stated "Ya wouldn't believe us. Ya need to see it fer yerself."
Twilight raised an eyebrow, but said "Sure, I'll come. Spike? Can you handle the library for a little bit?"
He turned on his ladder and gave the thumbs-up. The group of four headed out, Twilight following the three fillies to this thing they needed her for.
It was night by the time they reached the dirt mound. Scootaloo went over to the dirt mound, and put her muzzle to it. A few seconds later, Fortuna walked out and smiled at her daughter. Twilight stood there, her mind reeling at seeing the apparition up close.
Scootaloo turned around and smiled at Twilight. "Twilight, meet my mother, Fortuna."
She seemed to be in a trance as she walked over to Fortuna. She stuttered a bit, before calming down and saying slowly.
"He... Hello, Fortuna."
Fortuna smiled, and said something.
Scootaloo responded "She's here to help. She can help you."
Twilight continued to stand still, before Scootaloo poked her shoulder. Twilight shook her head, and looked at Scootaloo.
"Scootaloo, what exactly do you want me to do?"
"She can't move on, Twilight. She's cursed."
Twilight's eyes widened, and she seemed to be thinking of possible solutions. At last, she appeared to have thought of something.
"I think I know of a spell that can help. Its in a book back in the library. Back in a minute!"
At this, she teleported back to the library. About thirty seconds later, she reappeared levitating a book.
"Okay, I found a spell that will bind two souls together, one living, one dead, so when the living one moves on, the dead one will follow, bypassing all curses and charms. Only problem is, who to bind to?"
Scootaloo cleared her throat.
"Scootaloo, are you sure you'd be okay with this?" Scootaloo looked at Fortuna, and they nodded in unison.
"Okay, let me go over the 'side-effects' of this spell. One, the dead soul will always be in vicinity of the living one, like a leash.
Two, the two souls will be able to communicate with each other through thought.
Three, the dead soul can increase it's power and use it, if in agreement of both souls, and at the cost of some stamina of the living soul's body.
Four, the dead soul can posses and speak through the living soul's body, including agreement from both souls. The last one has been known to give the speaker a 'double-voice' effect when possessed, making it sound as if two ponies are speaking in unison.
"That seems to be it. You still want to go through with this?"
They both nodded in unison again.
"Okay, here goes." Twilight began reading allowed the chants from the spell, while her horn began to glow brighter and brighter. Scootaloo felt a tugging feeling inside her chest, and she saw her mother look at her nervously. When the spell reached it's climax, Twilight's horn released an incredible flash of light, and Scootaloo fainted.
Scootaloo slowly opened her eyes, and found herself back in her bedroom in the boutique. She stretched her wings, and yawned loudly.
Good morning, dear, did you sleep well? Scootaloo looked to her left, and saw her mother sitting on the edge of the bed.
Scootaloo smiled and said "So it worked?"
Fortuna nodded. Scootaloo asked "Say, am I the only one who can see you?"
Unless I choose otherwise.
"Good, stay invisible until I give the signal. I have an awesome idea in mind."
Scootaloo walked down the stairs into the kitchen where Rarity was cooking breakfast.
She looked over and exclaimed "Oh, Scootaloo, darling! How are you this morning? I heard you were out quite late last night."
"It's alright. I feel fine. Hey Rarity, fun little fact. I found out what my mother named me. She named me Chella."
"Oh? She didn't name you Scootlaoo? Interesting, how did you come across this information?"
'Now!' Scootaloo thought to Fortuna.
Scootaloo pointed to the staircase, and sitting at the foot of the stairs was Fortuna, plain for any pony to see. Rarity looked ready to shriek. Scootaloo, thinking fast, put her hoof over Rarity's mouth.
"Rarity, meet my mother, Fortuna. She was the one walking through Ponville at night for the past month. As you can see, she's dead. Now, please don't shriek."
Scootaloo removed her hoof, and Rarity went 'eep', and slowly trotted over to the stairs.
"So, you're Scootaloo's mother?"
Fortuna nodded, and floated over to Scootaloo, wrapping her front hooves over Scootaloo's shoulders.
Scootaloo returned the hug as best she could, and stated "She's going to be where ever I am from now on. So get used to seeing her." R
arity took a deep breath, and nodded. She tried some humor. "So, should I set an extra plate?"
Everypony smiled at the joke, and Rarity called Sweetie Belle in, who seemed completely unphased at seeing Fortuna, which Rarity found odd. She just shrugged it off, and made a mental note to ask Twilight about Fortuna later.
5. School Day
Chapter 5
School Day
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle finished breakfast, and exited the boutique with their school saddlebags. Applebloom met up with them after a few minutes. As they walked through town, they discussed the matters of the day.
"So, are you ready for that math test Friday?" Sweetie Belle inquired.
Scootaloo said "Of course, besides, it's only Monday. I have time to... OH NO!"
Scootaloo freaked out. Sweetie Belle gave her an odd look and said "What?"
"Today's monday, Show-and-Tell day! I don't anything to show!"
Sweetie Belle had already packed a picture of a beautiful dress she helped her sister work on for the day. Applebloom had recently gone to Manehattan with Big Mac on a delivery, and had a vintage poster of an early Trotway musical.
"Well, ya could show Fortuna to them?" Applebloom said, motioning to Scootaloo's mother, who allowed herself to be visible to only the three Crusaders at the time.
Scootaloo looked at her mother and thought I can't show you! Everypony will freak out!
Fortuna smiled and thought They will find out sooner or later. Why not sooner?
Scootaloo sighed and said "Alright, I'll show Fortuna."
As they walked into school and put their saddlebags in their cubbies, the bell rang and everypony took their seats. Fortuna stayed over by the left (the left from the student's point of view) of the chalkboard, still only visible to the CMC.
Miss Cheerilee walked in and happily said "Good morning, students!"
"Good morning, Miss Cheerilee!" the class said in unison.
Miss Cheerilee walked over to the left of the chalkboard, directly into Fortuna. Miss Cheerliee started to shiver furiously. A filly by the name of Twist raised her hoof and asked in a nasal tone
"Mith Cheerilee, whath wrong?" Miss Cheerilee walked over to the right of the chalkboard, and stopped shivering.
"Nothing's wrong dear. That corner of the room is just very cold. Now, who would like to go first for show-and-tell?"
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon raised their hooves. "We'd like to go first." Diamond said.
The two of them walked up and Diamond said "So, our parents took us to the Red Carpet event in Flillydelphia, and we got autographs from Pony Gaga and Horse Clooney, and got our photos taken with them!"
Silver Spoon pulled out a folder and opened it. Inside were, as they said, pictures and signatures of the famed celebrities. The class 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at them.
"Very cool girls!" Miss Cheerilee praised. The rest of the class went, and finally only Scootaloo was left.
Ready? she thought to Fortuna.
She nodded. Fortuna made herself visible then, as Scootaloo walked up to the chalkboard. She looked at Miss Cheerilee, who appeared about ready to faint. Scootaloo looked to the class, who, aside from Applebloom and Scootaloo, appeared in a similar manner to Miss Cheerilee. Scootaloo looked back at the smiling Fortuna, and noticed her cutie mark, a quarter note, had appeared.
Scootaloo cleared her throat and said "This is my mother, Fortuna. She passed away about a month ago, but she was cursed, so she couldn't move on. So, through a spell Twilight Sparkle provided, her soul has been bound to mine. She will be with me from now on, where ever I am, but she may or may not allow you to see her. Any questions?"
Miss Cheerilee said "She won't disrupt the class, will she?"
Scootaloo said "You won't even know she's there."
At this, Fortuna walked up the wall (she's a ghost. She don't care about physics.) and turned invisible again. Scootaloo sat back down.
Diamond Tiara leaned over and whispered to Scootaloo "Your mom must be ashamed of you, blank flank."
Scootaloo began to get angry, and somepony's pencil flew of their desk and impaled itself in the wall, barely missing Diamond's head. There was mo magic residue on the pencil as far as anypony could see. Diamond Tiara turned pale as she looked at the pencil. Scootaloo looked at Fortuna, who shrugged her shoulders. If she didn't launch the pencil, and nopony used magic, then who did?
6. Unfinished Business
Chapter 6
Unfinished Business
As the three crusaders left the school building, Fortuna became suddenly coutious and jumpy. Scootaloo willed her energy into Fortuna and allowed Frotuna to speak aloud.
Scootaloo went over to her mom and asked "Mom, what's wrong?"
Fortuna's eyes went wide. "They.. They're here... The family."
Scootaloo looked in the direction Fortuna was facing, and saw Diamond Tiara and her father, Filthy Rich.
Scootaloo tilted her head and asked "Them? They've been in Ponyville the whole time I've been here."
Fortuna shook her head and added "No, their ancestors. They were the ones who drove me away from you. And they still carry the hatred..." Fortuna appeared to be getting angrier and angrier as memories flooded back to the spirit. "I will show them..." But before Fortuna could do anything, there was a shimmer in the air, and another spirit appeared. She was an Earth pony wearing a fur coat and a wide brimmed hat. As a spirit, all color was washed away, leaving only shades of gray.
"Fortuna, how nice to see you again. I would prefer you not harm my son or his daughter."
Scootaloo stared at the new figure while Fortuna shouted "You should have left this Earth while you had the chance, Madame Gemma!" At this, Fortuna summoned an ethereal blade, and swung it wildly at Gemma, but Gemma calmly sidestepped every swing.
"See, that's the thing Fortuna. For some reason, I can't leave this Earth until you do." Gemma explained calmly.
Fortuna stopped and stated "Then you are going to have to wait a very long time. Until my little Chella passes on, and me with her, you are stuck on this rock with the rest of us!"
Madme Gemma smiled devilishly as she faded away. "If I have my way, then we will all be moving on sooner than you think..."
She faded away, leaving Scootaloo with an image of a large wooden mass striking her, then blackness.
Scootaloo regained consciousness, and along with it, a splitting headache. She slowly opened her eyes, and saw the ceiling of the Ponyville Infirmary. She slowly sat up, and when she was in seating position, her mother hugged her tightly, and since they were connected, Scootaloo felt her mother's coat against hers.
"Oh, Chella, you're alright! Thank Celestia, you're alright!" Fortuna said between sobs.
The nurse walked in and saw the tender moment, and walked over to them. "You're very lucky, Scootaloo. That runaway cart hit you hard. You have several broken ribs, and a sprained wing, so you're going to have to stay in bed for a few days. Strange," the nurse muttered, "You have no records."
Fortuna spoke up "I am her mother. I can give you those records."
The nurse was not freaked out by the apparition, as news of her being Scootaloo's mother had already reached everypony in Ponyville. She held out the papers, and Fortuna took a pen with her magic, wispy and unearthly instead of bubbly, and filled out the papers.
The nurse read the papers over. "Chella. You have a nice name, Chella." She said to Scootaloo. "I'll tell your friends you're awake." With that, the nurse left the room.
A minute later, the mane six, as well as Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, entered the hospital room.
They all had looks of worry on their faces, but Rarity was the first to voice everypony's minds. "Chella, darling, are you okay?"
Scootaloo decided to go along with being called Chella, since her mom did name her that. "I'm okay, though I need to stay in bed for a few days to heal."
Chella adjusted her pillow and said "Hey mom, who was that lady?"
Fortuna sighed and said "That was Madame Gemma. She was the leader of the rival family that hired those mercenaries that tried to kill us and separated us. Now she's here to finish the job. She can't move on unless I do, and she's willing to kill Chella to do it."
The silence in the room hung heavy. Finally, Applejack spoke up "Well, Ah don't know how ta stop a ghost, so how are we gonna protect Chella?"
Rainbow Dash looked furious that the one who looked up to her was injured. She looked ready to strangle the pony that did this.
Twilight spoke up "Well, we're just gonna have to keep Chella in our sights, and away from sharp objects."
Everypony in the room unanimously nodded. Madame Gemma would be defeated. That much was certain.