Symphony Of The Heart

It was a cool summer evening; the sun was going down and the birds had long since stopped their songs, however music still carried faintly through the wind. All around me, I saw the citizens of Canterlot bustling around the city streets delighting in each other’s company as they went on their way towards whatever destination they were going. I let out a content sigh as I closed my eyes and began to focus once again on the orchestra playing in the large structure behind me.

Popular to contrary belief the highlight of Canterlot was not its large structures, exotic plants, nor the castle itself, but the Canterlot Concert Hall; home of the Canterlot Symphony. I had been stationed to guard there almost two years ago, guarding the area around the main entrance watching the area outside while listening to the faint music coming from the inside. It was funny, no matter how often I heard the same set of songs, they almost seemed to maintain my interest and seem almost more exciting than the last time I had heard them.

I rolled my neck several times popping the joints as the gold helmet atop my head rubbed against my silver fur. Although my shift at the hall had ended over three hours ago, I had taken the shift of the next guard that came to relieve me as I often did on nights like this; I enjoyed the music too much to just leave. My hooves were aching of course but that was to be expected after an eight hour shift of just standing in the same place for so long.

In truth I could have given up my post long ago, allowing myself to be promoted from a lowly corporal rank to something respectable; but after four years of guarding the same spot, I grew attached to it, mainly the music that could be heard from the inside.

Letting out a heavy sigh I began humming along to the soft tune coming from inside to pass the time, several onlookers smiled to me as they passed upon hearing me. Like me they enjoyed the music too which was one of the reasons the square was so popular, although the food and shopping assisted in that aspect as well. It wasn’t always classical though, it seemed like not too long ago a famous band passed through here creating quite the bustle of the younger mares, and other adoring fans alike around the square. I didn’t mind though, everyone had their own taste in music, I just preferred classical.

“Hey Edge!” a voice called from behind making me turn to see another guard slowly approaching. “I’ve been sent to relieve you. Captains orders.”

I looked to the clock in the center of the square, it was late, about an hour away from midnight, the performance would be getting out soon and the next guard wouldn’t be scheduled to arrive until morning. I loved the music, but I didn’t love it so much as to lose sleep over it.

“Alright, I’ll leave you to it then.” I stated as I took off of the ground, soaring into the night air using my strong silver colored wings heading for the station to drop off my armor for the night, my wings aching from being unused as I flew through the air flapping once or twice to maintain my height.

A good half hour of flying later I reached the barracks; an old building located just south of the Canterlot Castle, dim torches hung from either side of the door proving one with enough light to just make out the building from a distance. Inside I could hear several guards laughing amongst themselves.

“Must be their time off.” I mused to myself as I landed just in front of the door, wasting no time to enter, the voices now a whole lot clearer and easier to understand.

“And so I said to him, damn it man I’m a guard not a doctor.” A thunderous voice said over the laughing guards surrounding it earning a hearty laugh from everyone listening. “Ah Straight Edge.” His voice called. “Come. Enjoy a fine tank of mead and unwind, you look exhausted.”

I chuckled to myself ignoring his remark as I removed my helmet from my head, placing it in its usual place among my fellow guard’s ponies. I rolled my shoulders popping the joints in my neck as the golden armor fell from my back.

Suddenly a hoof fell over my neck pulling me away from the corner into the hulking figure of my superior. “Straight Edge, how are you my boy?” a half full tankard of mead was in his shaking hoof; like always after his shift, he was drunk.

“I’m doing well commander.” I replied escaping from his grasp and returning to my locker. “I see you’re off duty.”

“Aye that I am.” He laughed. “How was your shift?”

“You know, the usual.” I replied

“Exiting as always I’m sure.” He laughed again taking a large drink from his mug, the liquid spilling from the sides of his mouth and onto the wooden floor. “Enjoying the music as always?”

“It’s my escape.” I stated as I went for the door. “I don’t really expect you to understand…no offense.”

“None taken my boy.” He stated.

“Why don’t you stay awhile Edge, you never drink with us. Makes me think you hate us or something.”

“That’s because I don’t drink, and besides, you’re blatantly honest when you’re drunk.”

“Well that’s too bad Edge. I just got an order from commander Shining Armor requesting an extra escort for the princess within the next week.” He walked towards me. “She’ll be attending the Canterlot Concert Hall for the symphony that’s playing there. I was going to ask if you wanted to go…but if you’re not interested…”

“Wait a second, the Princess, as in Princess Celestia is going to be attending a concert there?” I asked in disbelief.

“I thought it would give you a chance to actually see the concert for once instead of just hearing it.” He stated. “Are you interested?”

“YES!” I said immediately forgetting my place. “I mean…yes, yes sir I would be interested.”

“And I’m the drunk one.” He chuckled. “Very well, make ready to report to the hall when called upon. Until then, go home and relax, you’ve earned as much.”

“Thank you sir.” I said still unable to believe what I had just heard, my heart racing with excitement, this would be the first time I had seen the inside of the concert hall, to actually hear the music like it was supposed to be heard.

I made my way home that night to my single room apartment on the other side of down. While it was on the edge of the slums of Canterlot it was anything but unlivable. Since I didn’t spend much time there the space was ideal for a single stallion to live comfortably, not that I enjoyed being single, in fact one of the other reasons I stayed out so often on guard duty was to avoid returning to the lonely apartment, at least while guarding I had the opportunity to be somewhat social, even if it was in uniform.

Here in the apartment all I had was a dusty old piano my late father gave me, it was the only enjoyment I got from the old place. Granted I barely knew how to play it and whenever I did the owner of the complex came and complained about the noise saying “No pony needs to hear that ruckus, nor do they want to.”

Sitting down on the red velvet cushion I played a simple scale glancing every so often towards the door expecting the owner to walk in any minute. When she didn’t I began playing something else plucking at the notes, missing a few but playing all the same eventually losing myself in the song.

Suddenly a loud banging sound came from the door followed by the shriveled old voice of a certain old mare. “Edge what have I told you about playing that thing!”

“Sorry Ms. Green!” I yelled back listening as I heard her walk away into her room. “You soulless witch.” I added closing the lid.

“So much for that idea.” I stated walking over to my bed and plopping down on the mattress and burying my face in the pillow ignoring the light that was still on in the room. I turned my head to look at the nightstand beside me where the familiar picture of my mother, father and sister sat.

I smiled picking up the picture and bringing it close to my face looking at my mother and her smiling face, my father and his small grin as he held my mother with one of his powerful wings, my sister and me mere fillies among them.

Putting the picture back on the stand I reached up and flipped off the light closing my eyes and letting out a content sigh as my mind began to relax and sleep slowly claimed my thoughts.

My life wasn’t a hard one, it wasn’t complex; but it was mine, and I wouldn’t trade anything in all of Equestria for anything else.