How The Equestrian Fiddle Came To Be
How was the Equestrian Fiddle, our most popular musical instrument in Equestria, created? Why was it decorated with the head of a pony? This is a very sad story.
Way way back in the times of the Greek the gods, Queen Galaxia, King Cosmos, and their daughters, Luna and Celestia ruled the land of Equestria. In the small village of Ponyville there was once an orphan colt named Suho. His grandmother brought him up, and he helped her with the meals, and other household chores, besides taking the sheep to graze. They has a score of sheep, but that was all. When Suho came of age at seventeen, he was a lovable lad with a talent for singing. The neighboring herdsmen often gathered in the evening to hear his songs of the pastureland.
One night, Suho failed to return. His grandmother and all the neighbors became quite worried as it grew late. The night was pitch black when Suho finally appeared with a small thing cradled in his arms. It was a pure white newborn foal!
Seeing all the bewildered, anxious faces around him, Suho said, "I saw this baby alone and helpless on the roadside in a small basket. There was no sign of the mare. I was so afraid that the timber wolves would get him that I brought him home with me."
The small family adopted the small baby. They named him Helios. Suho gave loving care to the colt, and as time went by, he grew strong and beautiful. Everyone who set eyes on him loved him. But of course, he was especially close and dear to his brother Suho.
One night, Suho was awakened by persistent yelling. Getting up from his sleep, he rushed from the yurt. He could hear great confusion and bleating in the sheepfold. Helios was defending the sheep from the pack of timber wolves. Suho took a rock and threw it into each of the timber wolves mouths. They were destroyed for good. He must have been fighting for a long time. He could see he was exhausted and dripping with sweat.
"My dear brother, you're such a good fellow! You have saved the sheep from becoming dinner for the wolves."
Suho patted his panting brother's back and took a rag and wiped the sweat off his face. From that time on, the two were never separated, not even for a moment.
One spring the Khan announced that there would be a race, and the winner would marry his daughter. The news spread over the pastureland, and Suho's friends urged him to join the race.
On the day of the event, many strong, good-looking young stallions, dressed in their best, came trotting into the racing spot.
Helios giggled. "Talk about show offs!" He nudged his brother.
They both cracked up, trying to contain their laughter. Suho had decided to compete, and arrived with Helios. At a given signal, the stallions were off, galloping with the speed of a whirlwind. But Suho was the first to reach the winning post.
"Call the winner of the race over here!" The Khan ordered with the viewing stand. When he saw that the winner was only a simple herdsman, there was no mention of the marriage, and instead he said, "You will be given three big ingots of bits for your brother to become my slave. You may go home."
"What! Does he really think I'd part with my dearest brother?" Suho thought to himself in anger.
But he answered curtly, "I have won the hoof of your daughter, not to sell my brother as some slave."
"You rascal! How dare a poor herdsman talk to me like this. Guards! Seize him!"
Suho was beaten unconscious and lay there until the crowds dispersed and friends came to take him away. Helios was taken away by the Khan.
"Suho! Suho! Help!" He cried out in need of his brother.
There was no response. Suho was later nursed back to health by his grandmother and, within a short time, recovered completely.
Some days later, when Suho was resting, he heard knocking and called out, "Who's there?" Nopony answered, but the knocking persisted, whereupon his grandmother went outside to see.
"Oh! It's Helios! She called out in surprise.
Suho dashed from the yurt. He was so happy to see his brother. But his happiness turned to grief when he saw seven or eight arrows piercing the body of his dear sibling. Gritting his teeth, Suho stifled his own cry as he pulled out the arrows. Blood instantly steamed from the white pony who died the next day.
What had happened? Well, the Khan was overjoyed that he had acquired the splendid looking stallion, and have a banquet to celebrate and exhibit the fine teenager to his family and the nobles. When he tried to offer him food, he refused the offer. When nopony was looking, Helios made a run for it. He galloped off in full speed through the circle of guests.
"Catch him! If you can't catch him, kill him!" the infuriated Khan ordered.
A shower of arrows rained on the helpless pony. But he managed to escape, and return to die near his dear brother.
How sad and unhappy Suho was! He mourned the loss of his brother, day and night, and could not sleep or rest.
One night he lay tossing, he seemed to see his dearest sibling as though he was alive. He came right up to him and he fussed over him, hugging him tightly.
"Can't you think of a way for me to be with you always, my brother?" The white stallion asked, and after a while he said, "Make a fiddle carved with the look of my face. It will bring you remembrance of me every time you play it."
It was true, whenever Suho played on the Equestrian Fiddle, the memory of his dearest brother came back to him. His hatred for Khan increased as he recalled the unfair treatment. These thoughts went into his music and echoed all the desires and emotions of the herdsmen. The Khan was executed for the murder he had committed. Every night after work, ponies flocked to hear him play. Listening, they would forget their weariness of the day.
The End
