Chapter 7: Stranger things have happened.

The sun had risen on another lazy day in Equestria. Luckily for me, it was my day off.
Octavia had left for a wander about town.
I checked the time, 10am. I smiled, not too early, not too late.
Climbing out of bed, I lazily did my usual, music blaring form the phone, shower, peace.
I found myself sitting outside in the sunshine, reading the black book.
I heard hoofsteps coming towards me, "Hey, Rob" Twilight shouted, I simply raised a hand to wave, too engrossed in the book.
"What are you reading?" oh crapbaskets I immediately thought.

"Book," I simply uttered with a sly smile. "Just about to take a break from it"
"Can I read it?" I shook my head. "Why not?" the mare asked.
I bit my lip. "Haven't finished it" I chuckled. "And besides, I don't think you'd like it that much"
"Why exactly do you think that?" she was getting a bit annoyed.
"Well, I wont let you read it, but I'll tell you what it's about" I smiled.

She listened as I explained that the book was a collection of novellas written by H.P. Lovecraft.
She then freaked out when I described one of the eldritch beings.
"So this Cthulu being could potentially destroy time itself?"
I nodded, "pretty much, but you shouldn't worry"
"Why? Her voice trembled.
"Doesn't exist, it's a fictional being remember?"
I heard an embarrassed chuckle and an "oh yeah".

As the day dragged on, I took a walk.
I took in the sights and sounds of ponyville, most ponies seemed to ignore me now.
Some waved hello, some even had a chat.
I gave out a yawn and wandered over to a tree.
I slumped down, resting my back against the trunk. I was glad that I had grabbed my guitar.
Sighing deeply, I plunked the strings, playing a gentle tune.
Some ponies had gathered, and I heard the sounds of a harp attempting to match my song.
I smirked as the mare stood next to me. "Hey, Lyra" I chuckled as I played.
"Hey, yourself" she quipped, all the while matching my picking speed.

We ended up playing a bizarre rendition of whiskey in the jar. I gave a quick flick of the wrist as it ached.
"Well that was different" I smiled, but the smile was cut off due to the arguing pair of ponies.
"YOU'RE COMING BACK HOME THIS INSTANT!" one mare shouted, the mare in question had a burgundy mane and grey fur.
"YOU DO NOT CONTROL MY LIFE MOTHER!" The second voice echoed in my head. I could feel the pain emanating from it.
It was Octavia.
I darted straight to the scene, I tripped over a rock.
My nose was broken, but I didn't care. I wiped the blood off my face and walked up to the arguing duo.
"Fillies please, your causing a scene" they didn't listen.
"You are going to come home, this instant" her mother spat viciously.
I tapped the mare on the shoulder. "Um excuse me, Miss Von Clef?"
"WHAT?" I felt the malice drip from the shout.
"I would advise you to leave now," I said darkly "no one, pony or other wise," I growled.
I then poked her on the nose "shouts at Octavia like that," she gulped.

"What the hell are you?" she shook with fear. I simply grinned.
"I'm a musician," I placed a hand on Octavia's shoulder. "Now I suggest you leave before things turn ugly"
"Not unless she leaves with me" she refused to hear any of it.
I simply walked off, "Tavi, you coming?" she nodded as she trotted next to me.
"Let's go home, Rob" I could tell she had been crying.

Before we even got half way to the house, I felt a pair of hooves connect with my chest.
The force sent me reeling back into a tree. I positioned myself into a fighting stance, using my hand to slow myself down.
"Was that really necessary?" I grumbled sarcastically.
"Get away from her you freak!" the blue unicorn stood in front of me,
"Tavi, is this that Noteworthy, you told me so much about?" I watched as she nodded.
I tried to get to my feet but winced in pain. I ran a hand over my ribs.
Well, there go three of my ribs, totally worth it. I chuckled to myself as I cracked my knuckles.
"Listen, Noteworthy," I spoke calmly, my voice raspy with pain. "She told me everything" I watched as he tried to flee.

"I'm not going to hurt you," I chuckled. "But they will" I pointed to the direction of two blips.
One of orange, one of cyan. "Noteworthy, meet Applejack and Rainbow Dash"
I watched as he sped off, the two bolts of colour endlessly chasing him.

"…And now, im going to hospital" I collapsed.

Octavia P.O.V

I could only watch as Robert stood up for me.
He stood up against my mother, scaring her in the process.
I think he wanted to do that ever since I told him about what she had done to me.
But then as we walked past the carousel boutique, my ex-fiancé bucked him in the chest.
I heard a sickening crack as Noteworthy's hooves connected with Robert's Ribcage.
But what shocked me was Robert's self control. After he had taken the hit, he stood up.
He had the glint of a killer in his eyes. I noticed the two mares speeding towards us. "…and now, im going to the hospital"
I ran to him just as he collapsed. I could only sit with him until a unicorn arrived to help.
It's just me, sitting next to his broken body. The tears started to run down my cheeks.

"Octavia Von Clef, there you are," my idiot mother had finally arrived on the scene.
"Why are you crying? Over this freak? It'll be dead soon" I slapped her across the face.
"This Freak as you see fit to put it, took me in to his home out of the kindness in his heart,"
I stood up, the tears were flowing more out of rage. "He took me with him when he was summoned to see the princesses,"
I bucked her "the only thing you've done for me is treat me like a slave then tried to marry me off to what ever rich stallion you could find"
My tears hit the ground, as the ambulance arrived. "Its apparent that the two weeks that I've lived with him were the best weeks of my life"
"Octavia, you don't…" my mother wasn't going to finish her sentence. She already knew the answer after she watched me jump into the ambulance.
I could only sit there and hold his soft hands in my hooves as the ambulance started moving.
His phone stared to play for some unknown reason; I heard a faint pained whisper. "Don't fear the reaper"
The song played out, uninterrupted by the tears now streaming down my cheeks.
I suddenly felt the ambulance come to a halt. I took his phone and jacket.

"Excuse me miss, could you tell me what happened?" I heard the paramedic ask, but she shot me a strange look as I explained.
"My friend here had a run in with my ex, how bucked him in the chest" I mumbled.
"We'll do everything we can" was the paramedics answer.
With nothing else to do, I simply sat in the waiting room.
I noticed 6 mares waving to me, beckoning me to sit with them.
"Hey, Octavia, come over here" one spoke up, I believe it was Twilight.
I trotted over with my head hanging low, my ears drooped down. "Hello"
I was suddenly pulled into a hug by all six of them. "Octavia, he's going to be fine" the purple mare spoke wisely.
"I, I know" I could only shed tears as I waited to hear news of his injuries.
I was never really that faithful. But just this once…
I couldn't help but pray, I wanted him to live.

"He's in a stable condition," the doctor said to me.
We had been in the waiting room for three hours.
"We had to get Fluttershy in to advise us, his physiology is slightly different to ours" the doctor continued.
"Can I go see him?" I asked. The doctor simply nodded.

I was lead through white corridors; Rob had been given his
own private room so as not to scare any of the other patients.
He was lying there asleep, not moving. I simply sat down next to him.
His breathing was slightly hindered by the multitude of bandages around his chest.
It was then that I took a closer look at his face; he looked remarkably young for what he was.
The lines on his face defined that he was always smiling, but then I noticed the scars around his left eye.
I wondered how he had got them. I took notice of another scar, this time going along his side.
It was another one to ask about. I was worried about him, more than I was before.
I remembered that he didn't even attempt to strike back against Noteworthy.

"Octavia, there you are," my mother burst through the door. "Leave that horrid thing"
I gritted my teeth in a feeble attempt to hold back my anger.
"I just so happen to love that horrid thing as you put it!" I growled.
"Excuse me ma'am, but I suggest you leave the premises" a security guard had clamped a hoof on my mothers shoulder.
My mother huffed, "this isn't over" she grumbled.
"Yes it is," I huffed. "If you want, I am no longer a Von Clef" I stated proudly.
She simply walked out, and left the hospital.

"By the gods, it feels like I've caught in a horde" I heard Rob's voice quietly breaking the silence.
I turned around, "hello, sleeping beauty" I smiled, my vision slightly impaired by my tears.
"Octavia, thanks for sticking by me" he said to me as he pulled me into a hug.
"Tavi, RIBS!" rob choked out with a chuckle.

If there was one thing I was right about, it was that he was and is always smiling.

Robs brain

"Tavi, RIBS!" I choked out, laughing again. It hurt to laugh.
It hurt so good, where was I? Oh yeah.
I was currently in the embrace of Octavia; little does she know that I heard everything.
More importantly I heard her denounce her own name. "don't worry," I noticed she was still crying. "I'm fine"
"no you're not," she stressed, still holding me in a gentle embrace. "you could have died, y-you could have…" she trailed of and began to sob.
"its okay, it'll take a lot more than a simple buck to the chest to take me down for good" I chuckled once more despite my current situation.
"just don't do anything like that again, promise me" our eyes met, I was lost in a sea of violet.
"promise me" I simply nodded.
"I promise," I placed a hand in the air solemnly. "but, I like being reckless" I frowned.

She raised an eyebrow in question. "why exactly?" expecting a detailed answer.
What I said next was purely on impulse.
"want to go out sometime? Maybe after I get out of this hospital?" I noticed the reddening of her cheeks.
I then heard her fumbling her words, but then she gave up.
"whats the" I was cut off as she kissed me, deeply.
As she broke the kiss to breath, I chuckled, completely red in the face. "I -I'll take that as a yes"
the nervousness took over for the first time in a few years.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the six ponies watching with smiles on their faces.

Oh crapbaskets.

"oh this is just like one of those romantic novels I love so much" Rarity beamed.
"well, um… hi guys" I grinned sheepishly.
"don't mind us sugarcube, just happy to know your okay"
"how's the moron who did this to me" I asked with small evil grin on my face.
"he aint getting up anytime soon" Rainbow Dash chuckled.

I grinned and then relaxed knowing I wouldn't have to do anything.

this was going to be a good day.