The Music Maker

When I came to the second time, I was lying on an uncomfortable table with a bright light from the ceiling shining directly into my face. I absolutely DESPISE being woken up in this manner. The light hurts my eyes and makes me just want to stay in bed longer. To me, it’s a bit like electricity’s middle finger being planted into my face. (Combined with not knowing what happened to me and how I got here, you can imagine that I was probably feeling pretty annoyed right now.) I picked myself up and smacked the light to the side.

“Hey! Leave that alone!” A stern voice called. I saw a tan colored pony with dull brown eyes and blue mane staring at me, annoyed. I saw what looked like a bunch of animals as her cutie mark. Was she a vet? Did she think I was some kind of animal!? Why the hell would she—oh. Right... Humans weren’t the dominant species in this world. I suppose to them I was a monkey with small lips and no fuzz; Aside from the head of course. That probably had ‘shaggy dog complex’ written all over it.

“I swear this is one weird looking thing,” The vet pony mumbled to no one in particular.

So I wasn’t even an animal to her. Just a ‘thing’. I bet she thought I couldn’t understand her. I haven’t really said much anyway other than ‘yowch’. This would be fun. If she thought I was some animal that didn’t share the same language, boy would she be surprised once I started speaking all formal with her. She might even scream! That would be such sweet payback for the bright light wake-up call. As I sat there she didn’t really speak much to me again. After a while, I didn’t think I’d even be able to pull the joke.

After a few more examinations, she finally gave me my chance! She opened up a can of dog biscuits and said in a playful tone, “Now who wants a treat?”

I cleared my throat and said, “Ah, a substance of digestive satisfaction. Could you suggest a good wine to go with my, what was it you said, ‘treat’?” I made sure to trill the ‘r’ in treat, just for good measure.

“That’s right boy! You want a treat oh yes you dooo!”

What… the… HELL!? This pony’s nerves must have been made of steel or something. Well she knew I could speak so I just decided to cut to the chase.

“Alright, cut the crap. You know I speak English, you can understand me, now stop treating me like some animal. It’s really rude.” I said in a stern tone.

“Oh you’re feisty aren’t you? Well if you can’t be nice, you won’t get a treat.” And with that she walked back to her table and pulling out paper and a pen, and began scribbling things down with the pen in her mouth. Which would have surprised me, but I was too busy feeling terrified as what just happened sunk in… They can’t understand me here!

Suddenly, my disorder kicked in. I clasped my knees together and curled into a ball while I began to pant heavily and rock back and forth against the wall behind me. My apprehension was overwhelming. I had to calm down. I just had to. I couldn’t think like this. Frantically I darted my eyes around the room for anything to calm my stress. Doctor tools, lollipops, random assorted papers, my keyboard, my keyboard! The ponies must have brought it with me to the vet’s too! Score 1 for respect for others’ possessions. I looked back at the vet pony. She was busy talking on the phone. Perfect distraction! I quickly tiptoed to my keyboard and picked it up, then carefully and stealthily walked back to the table.

“I hope they didn’t remove the batteries” I thought to myself… I opened the back. Phew, still there… I guess they were too busy wondering what I was to care about my stuff.

“What? Yeah I have the animal right here. No I’m not even sure if it’s some type of monster or what.”

A monster huh? I’ll show you a monster!

With a calm, angry passion, I pressed the power, turned the volume up to the midway setting, and began to play Pop Evil’s Monster You Made on the soft piano setting. (I personally think it sounds better that way.) As soon as I hit the first note, I was captured in the moment of playing a song with feeling. There was no way I could stop now. I began to sing the first verse with a sustained smoothness the way one would spin to a lover. (I’m sure that sounds weird but hey, a song with passion is a song with passion.) I had never felt so justified with that song in my whole life. It felt like my soul was just pouring out of me and rushing through the office like a river of sound. I didn’t care what that vet thought. As I got to the bridge of the song, I had forgotten she was even there. I played on and on and finally got to the last few notes of the end of the song. Once I was finished, I cocked my head and shot that vet pony the smuggest look I could muster. It said, “How’s that for a monster?”

I didn’t expect the look she returned me however. All she could do was stare back at me with a seemingly dumbfounded and awestruck look. Though I have to say, I never knew that jaws could drop so low. Even for a pony. Still staring at me, she pulled the phone back to her head to say one more sentence.

“I-I’ll have to call you back…”

She slowly trotted towards me still staring in amazement.

“What…are you?”

I sort of felt guilty… I wanted to say I’m sorry… I knew she wouldn’t understand me though, so I just kept silent out of nervousness and guilt. At this point I turned the power off on my keyboard. No sense in wasting precious battery life. Especially since I didn’t know how long I’d be stuck here…

“I’ve never heard anything more amazing in my whole life… How did you do that?”

I looked at her with a slight sarcastic confusion, and then gave her a shrug.

“Wait, you can understand me?” She exclaimed.

I just nodded. At this point, I thought I might as well humor her into thinking I was an animal. It was the least I could do for surprising her so badly.

“You mean you can actually understand the words I’m saying?”

Was this pony a blonde originally? “Yes!” I flatly said and gave a harsh nod. She began to laugh nervously. Then she looked up. I could tell she had an idea.

She coolly said, “I think we need to do something about this.”

What did she mean? What was she going to do? Thank god I reached her though. At least that calmed me down. I let out a sigh of content. Not once have I ever impressed anyone with my keyboard ability. My singing has gotten a few to double-take, but never impressed anyone before. I was content. All was right with the world for now. I sighed again and leaned back against the wall. Most of my fear was gone now and I felt secure again. I watched as the tan pony picked up the phone again and dialed quickly.

“...Yes, hello, Ms. Sparkle? Hi, this is the vet. Yes. Listen, I have a favor to ask. I have this… astounding animal here, and I’d like to have you come down to see it. Can you? Today? Great! Thank you so much! Get here as fast as you can! Ok. Yes, thank you. Goodbye.”

Was I hearing right…? Did that vet pony just call me… astounding…? I think I felt as happy as I did the first time I ever got my Casio… I sat there as tears somewhat welled into my eyes. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was worth something.

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Take a good look at me now.

Do you still recognize me?

Am I so different inside?

This world is trying to change me

And I admit, I don’t wanna change with it

And I admit I can’t go on like this

Anymore…

Erase this monster I’ve become

Forgive me for all the damage done

It’s not over, say it’s not over

I’m begging for mercy I’m only

The monster you made me…*

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