The Journal of Written Sound

Waking up

The first thing I feel when waking up is complete and total nausea. My head is spinning. It’s almost like there was an earthquake right under me. I crawl over to a nearby bush and empty the nothingness that was once in my stomach. After a good minute or two of dry heaving, I wipe my muzzle with my fetlock and notice my surroundings. I realize that I’m in some kind of forest. The only weird thing about this forest is that it almost looks like the trees are staring at me, it suddenly made me feel very vulnerable.

 I shudder to myself and began crawl back to the small area I woke up at. Upon returning to where I woke up, I notice several things. There is a smoldering fire, a small knapsack, and a bedroll off to the side. I decide to stand up for the first time on shaky hooves. And try to walk over to the knapsack. About half-way there, I trip and fall.

 Bracing myself for the impact, I realise I’m not touching the ground. I open my eyes and realise that I am staring at the ground, then it hits me, I’m flying ! After erratically flapping my wings, I fold them against my sides and immediately flop down to the ground. , I continue walking over to the knapsack. When I get to it, I immediately realise that this knapsack looks strangely familiar. Shrugging it off, I bite down on the corner and lift it up to empty its contents.

 The items that fall out seem to be just random things. An odd folded piece of cloth with cards in them, a bag of granola bars, a small blanket, and what appears to be a book of some kind. I unfold my left wing and slide the tip under the book to flip it over. What I see both shocks and unnerves me. It is a green felt journal. And on the front, in gold leaf, reads “The Journal of Written Sound.” When I see the title, I am immediately hit with a flood of abrupt memories. There are other ponies smiling, talking, every one of them is a different color, one even has a rainbow mane and tail. There are a few more memories, in one of them I am holding a child, who has a tan pelt, and indigo and green main,tail coloration. When he opens his eyes, I see a brilliant shade of blue with flecks of green looking back.

There is one more memory that I am graced with. This one seems to be the longest. I am playing with my child on my side in a field. Laughing to myself as the little colt tries to catch a butterfly. I remember saying…

 “You have to be quicker than that silent note.”

He looks older than in the last memory. When I hear small hoofsteps, I look up and what I see makes my heart fill with happiness. I see a mare with the most beautiful shade of ocean-blue eyes, light pink hair and wheat-yellow coat. I move my mouth to say something, anything, but I can't; it’s only a memory. I smile and stand up. She walks over to me and says several things, but the only one I can actually hear is…

“I hope I didn't keep you two waiting too long, Written Sound.”

Suddenly, I’m thrust back into reality, into sinister forest, alone. But this time, with a name, MY name. I look back down at the journal and shakily reach over and open it. I then begin to read the first entry.

It reads, “To Silent Note, if you are reading this, I regret to say I am dead. I have written this journal for you and your wonderful mother, Fluttershy. But mainly for you to learn about what my life was like before I had you. I am leaving you four items that I hold near and dear to me. The first will be my entire library, all three hundred books. There are many in my collection I have written myself, and many more that your godmother Twilight has written. Second, there is a small wooden jewelry box on the top of the mantle, inside of it are three things for your mother and one for yourself. In the box, I left you a green crystal I was given on my travels, and if you hold it up to your left ear, it will show you all of my memories I have had of you. It works the same for anyone else who uses it. They will see every memory I have had of them. Now on to the third item. There is a necklace, and when you wear it, it will always keep you on track and never go astray and will always make the right choice. And lastly, I give you Ronny, my pet dog, may he protect you just as I have. Now, for my dearest Fluttershy, I leave you with my wedding ring, my poem book, all sixty poems are hoof-written, all of my music sheets, and lastly, you will find this item under my side of the bed. I knew you would love to have my guitar. I knew you loved me from the moment you heard me play. With as much love as there are melodies, Written Sound.”

 After reading my own will and testament, I am both disturbed and proud with myself. I pause to reflect on what I just read. I am suddenly hit with a crushing realization. I have a child, a colt no less. I'm married to an amazing mare, and I have been missing for who knows how long. I think about the other things that I have just learned, like the fact that I traveled around the world or the fact that I was a great musician.

Wait a minute. I glance at my right flank. There, waiting for me is my semiquaver note over a crossed acoustic guitar. knowing that my greatest talent in life is to make beautiful music for anyone to hear. I ponder what other places I'd gone to before I disappeared, and how long I've been gone for. I also wonder who gave me that crystal.

 I decide to put my journal to the side and grab a granola bar. Leave the folded cloth alone for now, I notice it’s starting to get dark, so I bring the bedroll over and unroll it. I pick up the blanket and dust it off, then lay the blanket down on the bedroll I slide into the bedroll and pull the blanket closer to me. I then tuck the journal into the bed roll with me for safe keeping. I twist until I'm lying on my back, looking at the canopy.  I can faintly see the stars above. I close my eyes and think of my wife and child waiting for me back home, then I close my eyes and dream.