It was raining outside of the small hospital room 208. Slick, tiny rain droplets streaming down the lone window, making the melancholy and dreary scene inside complete. Snugly tucked inside the single bed was a stallion with a bitter face, one that he has been wearing for years and refused to let go.
He hated everything about the world, even himself. He thought it was a bitter place, one where you are subjected to torment; the tragic passing of his wife confirmed that. Even if he didn’t think of that horrible day, he still couldn’t find it within himself to smile. His battered and dusty gray mane complemented greatly to how he felt, but contrasted greatly to his old maroon coat and baby blue eyes. He let out a deep sigh, letting his mind wander to his thoughts.
Only a few moments until-
A sudden and quick knock on the mahogany door made him lose his concentration. Letting the pearl white sheets of the bed become undone he sat upright and said with his baritone voice now gravely and diminished from old age.
“Come in.”
The door opened slowly and with it came a pony pushing a piano. The piano that was being pushed in question wasn’t too grand nor strange. It was around the average size with it’s classic monochrome color scheme. The pony, however, looked a little odd. The strange thing wasn’t his coat and mane was a combination of purple and blond, nor was it the medium frame of his body. The strange thing was his cutie mark; a white mask with a smile.
The stallion looked at his visitor with the most puzzled look. This wasn’t his doctor. With a rather heavy cough he voiced his question, “Who are you?”
The visitor said nothing at first, being too absorbed in placing the piano in the center of the room. When he was content with the placement he turned to the stallion and smiled, “I heard of your,” He paused for a moment. “Predicament, and I decided to help you.”
The stallion’s puzzled look stayed on his face. Help? All this strange pony brought in with him was a piano. Even if he had medical tools, the only thing that could save him now was Princess Celestia herself.
“What are you going to do?” The stallion asked jokingly. “Play me a song?”
The visitor nodded, his smile still there. “Yes. I learned that songs can heal most wounds.”
The stallion let out a chuckle. “All right, knock yourself out. Just keep in mind that most things that are broken with me can’t be fixed.”
The visitor’s smile masked his determination. Setting the stool that was set atop of his piano on the white tiled ground, he opened up the instrument and played a note, checking to see if it was in tune. Satisfied with how it sounded, he began to play.
To the stallion, the song that came out of the piano sounded melancholy and somber at first, but as it progressed, he couldn’t help but smile. The song was resonating to him and bringing back once shrouded memories from his youth into the light.
He could now the fondest of memories of nostalgia, finally ignoring the sadness and heartache. Now he could remember a great memory, the day he received his very own Cutie Mark. After finding out his friends had the same type of Cutie Mark in the same field, they decided to celebrate. Through the day the listened to Flank Sinatra, played cards, talked about mares, and just about everything that young stallions could do. This brought him a smile across his face as he remembered one of the best days with his best friends, who now were taken away from him by the sands of time.
However, the next memory he remembered was more personal than the one before. It was him and a mare standing in a field, sunflowers dancing in the wind. He only made two gestures; a smile and a raise of his hoof. On it was a ring shaped object, one that many couples wish to posses; a wedding ring.
The mare’s tears of joy couldn’t be swayed to stop, and he was happy for that. The two embraced in a long, loving hug. For the stallion, the rest of the day of him asking the mare of his dreams to marry him became blurred, but all that mattered was that one moment that brought him the most joy.
With a final, beautiful note, the song was over. The stallion looked at the visitor with a smile and steadily flowing tears and said, “Thank you.”
The visitor gave a smile back, “It’s my pleasure to help those who need healing in the biggest injury.”
The stallion let out a soft chuckle and asked, “And what might that be?”
“Happiness.”
The stallion smiled again and said sincerely, “Thank you again for helping me with my final hours. Without you, I would’ve died thinking the world was a horrible place. After seeing those memories and hearing that song, it makes me think that the world is a beautiful place and I can leave content knowing others will be able to experience true joy.”
The visitor got up from his stool, softly closed the piano, and placed the stool on top. He smiled once more and replied, “You’re welcome.”
The stallion closed his eyes and went into a deep and blissful sleep.
Pushing the rather heavy piano out of the small room, the visitor could hear a loud and continuous beep, followed by the clamor of hooves and shouts in the hallway. When he was a good distance away, he could hear the beep no more, only a soft sob from the room he came from.
Looking at the hospital exit, he noticed that it was still pouring and put on his black cloak and left the hospital, content he could help one of his clients pass on with a smile on his face.
