Weaver of Songs

The road, with its seemingly endless reach, calls to all hooved folk, an urge as old as time, begging to be obeyed. Most are able to ignore the pleading, not understanding it for what it is. But some do listen and answer the call by setting out from the places of their birth and embracing the unending sojourn. Turning away from a comfortable life in the cities of Equestria, for the constant drum of hooves on dirt, the bite of a harness about their shoulders, the creak of the wagon’s wheels, the heat of the sun upon their bare backs and flanks, and the cool embrace of night within the wilderness, these ponies became known as Gallivanters. These individuals left behind everything that had ever mattered to them, and forged themselves anew upon the trails trotted by their forefathers. While most of the Gallivanters leave their hometowns, some are born on the roads and are raised as vagabonds by their parents. Never knowing anything else, they join in the constant migration on their own personal journeys.

I am a Gallivanter, one of the wandering breed; my eyes were the color of rust, my coat is black as the dusk just before the dawn, although around my legs the coloration is that of snow. My mane and tail the deep royal purple of the night sky just before the very last of the light dissipates, but on the days I journey into town I take the time to highlight a streak of dawn red color throughout the long strands of hair.

I was born a unicorn around the area of the Brumby Brushlands, yet remember so very little about my early life. My family was always on the move so I never knew a place long enough to call it home. My youth was spent travelling from place to place with my parents or on the occasions we stopped, I would fumble with the stringed instruments we had in the cart. Magic never came easily for me despite me being a unicorn, the slightest hint of it reverberated from within me was whenever I practiced with the instruments. My parents were confused by this, thinking that I would have to grow into my powers; both of them being earth ponies and neither had talked with any unicorn about their magic and how it worked.

One day my peaceful, carefree life changed and I seemed to have no control over the press of fate. On this day three highwayponies, ponies that plagued travelers out of spite, for sport, self gain, or because they were just plain desperate, materialized from the foliage around us as we cantered along the path toward Ponyville...

“Stund ahnd dewibber” said the earth pony and pegasus both of which were unable to speak coherently between the daggers clenched in their mouths. The pegasus’ coat was of a shade of green similar to the ferns around us, the earth pony’s coat was a garnet red, both had manes of deep sky blue.

“Idiots” stated the unicorn, and leader of the trio, as he facehoofed. His coat was a dusty brown and he had the same color mane as the other two. He drew a simple sabre from the sheath on his flank using his magic; a translucent aura emanated from his horn as well as surrounded his sword both auras were the color of dust.

“Give us all the bits you have and we won’t have any problems,” He said “or, ya know, don’t, that would be more fun.” As he spoke a wicked grin spread across his face.

“Look we don’t have any bits, let us just go on our…oh sweet Celestia look out there’s a distraction,” Said my father thinking quickly. The two ponies with the daggers, not being all that smart, turned a complete 180 and began looking around for the source of my father’s outburst. The unicorn facehooved for a second time, however while he was distracting himself with the idiotic reactions of his cohorts, my father and mother sprang forward and barreled through them, the wheels of the wagons creaked in such a way as I have never heard before or since, the wagons themself bucked up at the intense acceleration. The combination of fast moving ponies, and heavy wooden vehicles forced the trio of highwayponies to move aside or be trampled. The earth pony and pegasus somehow managed to make it out of the way in time, the unicorn, however, attempted to slash at one of my parents. My mother dodged around the sword, causing the wagon behind her to swing wide almost veering of the road. One of the wheels lined up with the unicorn his eyes wide with terror, and then it ran over him. The wagon jerked up hard and his body was crushed under its weight, however between the wide swing of the wagon and the speed bump the unicorn provided, I was dislodged from my seat in the back of the wagon and thrown into the air, clutching onto the guitar I made myself and a simple pouch around my neck, and plunged into the shadows of the forest that lined the road, branches wiped past some grabbing at me, their touch bestowing small cuts as I flew past. I landed heavily in the brush, just short of hitting a thick-trunked tree; I listened to the creak of the wagons, rapidly diminishing as the distance between us increased. I stayed where I was, not knowing what to do, hoping that my parents would realize what had happened and come back to get me. The forest around me wasn’t very bright and behind trunks of trees shadows seemed to lurk waiting for their chance to grab unwary passersby; the forest itself looked as though nopony had travelled through it for a great amount of time. I waited for what seemed like hours but the no sound came from the direction of the road. I curled up in the shadow of the tree and cried not knowing what to do; I was lost, alone, and still quite young, I had just turned six today, and we would have celebrated when we made camp that night. I pushed the thought aside and cried at the loss of my parents not even sure if I would ever see them again. I cried until I felt my eyelids felt heavy with the tears and I drifted into a deep sleep.

I awoke curled on my bed roll, the campsite had been set up and a small fire blazed in between the wagons. Dawn’s first rays of light were just peeking over the horizon, tinting the undersides of clouds with a rich purplish hue. I saw my parents talking across the fire, their conversation was muffled however so couldn’t hear what was being said. Something seemed odd, but when I tried to think about what that could be the feeling faded away. I yawned and stretched my limbs, letting them know I was awake, and their conversation stopped as mother cantered around the fire, smiling her usual unquenchable smile. She sat down next to me, off in the distance a timberwolf howled only to be answered by some of its fellows. Startled, I jumped toward my mother trying to hide behind her front legs, but when I reached her, she and the campsite vanished. Confused I looked about and saw I was surrounded by an impenetrable darkness at the edge of a tree lined clearing. From within the darkness another howl resounded sounding much closer than the others. A pair of eyes glowed suddenly out of the shadows, and a low growl began to sound. More eyes appeared around me and before I could blink there were eyes all around me, in between the trunks of the trees. One of the beings stepped into the light of the clearing, and began growling. It was a timberwolf, oaken fangs sharpened to deadly points, ironwood claws protruded from its birch wolf-like paws carved to a razor sharp edge, the pine logs that made up its body gave an audible creak whenever it moved, its carved yew head was contorted into a hideous snarl, the low growl that emanated from its maw formed a terrifying din when the others joined in, its eyes burned through me with unyielding cruelty and unmatched animalistic cunning. Its stare and growl paralyzed me, fear forced its way into my thoughts and shattered any plans I could come up with. My father’s voice pushed its way through the fear and confusion that resounded through my thoughts.

It said “Son, me and your mother won’t be around forever, one day you will need to learn how to take care of yourself. Don’t let yourself be ruled by fear, if you do you will find you won’t accomplish much. Fear can only control you if you let it, and remember sometimes all that is needed is a little music to brighten up your day. Remember what I taught you, and that I love you, my son. Goodbye…” the voice faded away into nothingness and with it my doubts melted away; I stood as tall as I could, barely over a foot and a half, and stared down the timberwolf. Magic surged through my body, at least I thought it was magic, I had never felt similar to this before. I felt that I would explode just from the sheer buildup of it. I couldn’t see it but I knew and felt my horn being surrounded by a magically aura. The light it sent out illuminated the forest around me in an orange hue, as if dawn had risen in that forest for what seemed like the first time in centuries, revealing the timberwolves hiding among the trees, all of which seemed larger than the one in the clearing. The timberwolf shifted uneasily unsure of what was happening, it took a few steps back as if driven back by the light. Wind began to sweep through the clearing, the tall grass whipped about making an audible rustling that carried a musical quality to. Certain of what to do, I tilted my head skyward and gazed at the roof of leaves above me, my voice joined in creating a simple melody that possessed all the sorrow and pain I was feeling.

“♪ In the wake of all that’s happened, I tried to find some rest
From all the pain and sadness, that beat within my chest.
But now I realize this was a part of my fate,
So why perpetuate this melancholy state.
But what can I do, where can I go
I’m all alone now, and I’m just a foal…”

While I sang the forest around me seemed to join in as well as if understanding my pain, insects began to chirp and buzz, the trees creaked as if trying to dance to the quickly growing chorus, one seemed to pulse, as if lightning dwelled within its trunk, its bare branches sparked and occasionally would burst making leaves magically appear. I paused to listen as the whole of the forest became a part of the song. The timberwolves in the trees started to shy away from the one in the clearing. As the song grew in complexity, the magical aura of my horn shined all the brighter, as if my horn were the sun at midday, its intensity nearly blinding me. I began to feel the magic slowly draining my strength, but I knew the song had only begun and must be finished. So despite my growing weariness, my voice rejoined the melancholy serenade, adding my confusion to the sorrow I heard echoed by the creatures, and felt resonating within.

“♫ I hear the creatures… join in with me
How can this happen, how could this be
Is this my power, that’s been hiding within?
What can I do, where do I begin?”

At this point the timberwolf in front of me growled anew, obviously over the shock my magic had given it. It took a step towards me and paused, waiting for something to happen. Seeing that nothing happened it leapt toward me, jaws opening wide in anticipation of the morsel I would be. When the beast got within a few inches, thunder boomed from what seemed miles away and the beast was caught inside a magical aura. The beast was suspended in the air for a few moments, but the strain of keeping it there was too much. I lowered it to the ground where it began to growl with even more ferocity. I kept on singing as if nothing had happened, my voice quickly showing the strain of keeping the magic going.

“♪ Now that I know what I can do
I will not allow you to follow through.
I can’t allow myself to die this way
I must survive until the next light of day”

The timberwolf looked as if it was trying to struggle away from the magic, which seemed to be doing a good job of holding he creature in place; its eyes seemed to blaze bright yellow in defiance of what was happening. The lightning tree had full leaves now and on some branches some flowers blossoms appeared just as the leaves had. I paused again to listen to the surrounding forest, and attempted to regain my breath. The forest around us became almost discordant, every creature seemed to sound at the same time; the trees no longer creaked with any rhythm, and amongst it all the timberwolves fled, leaving the one trapped by my magic. The timberwolf hung its head, mortified that it had been abandoned; it probably would have lain down as well but the magic kept it in place. A tear rolled its way down from the beast’s eye and landed in the grass. Its eyes dimmed from bright yellow to a charcoal gray color. I saw how miserable it was away from its brethren. Helpless, alone and abandoned it stood within my spell and seemed to just give up, at that point I realized it was like me in a way. With this realization the magical aura around the timberwolf faded and it was finally able to lay itself down. It looked toward me confused; its eyes shining a little brighter than they had before, as if hopeful. I fell to my knees, the magic having drained a lot of energy from me, but I had to set things right. I couldn’t leave this pitiful creature in its current state, but I knew not how to fix what I had wrought. But I also knew that the song couldn’t end like this, so I gathered the last dregs of my strength for the finale. Weariness clearly evident in my voice now, and my body nearly drained and visibly shaking from the effort, I sang on.

“♫ Forgive me, I knew not what I would cause
You now feel my pain, and that gives me pause
For when I look at you, I see myself in your eyes
And now we both suffer alone and I can’t disguise
What I did to you was wrong, and I don’t know how to fix it
Forgive me for what I’ve done, and let me try to set things right.”

As I sang on the forest fell silent with only the wind being my companion once again. It blew through the clearing, my mane following its touch. The light of my horn had dimmed tremendously, the colors emitted seemed to now resemble the setting sun. As the timberwolf listened to the song, another tear rolled down to earth. It looked at me for what seemed like ages, then tilted its head back and howled. With the howl, a small tendril of light extended from my horn and touched the creature upon the brow; the wolf seemed to glow as if light shone through the logs of its body. The lightning tree had a many flowers at this point and the flowers burst into bright rainbow colored apples. The aura around my horn winked out, and I felt my eyes became difficult to keep open. I let them close, as I fell to the side, and felt myself drift away into another better world of swirling dreams.