The Music Box

by Northguard

Rating: everyone
Tags: Anthro, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad
Length: 1130

I have lost everything. All I have left is my music box and memories.

I have lost everything. My parents, my siblings and my friends. The only thing I still have is the family house and the music box I got from my mother. It is the only thing keeping me sane. But it turns out that I have more to lose. My life.

Published 2020-06-03 17:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-06-03 17:00:01 UTC

Lullaby

I walked through the rainy weather in Ponyville ignoring everything around me. The pain in my chest was terrible, but I've had it for so long that it isn't visible on the surface anymore. I got to my house and walked inside. The dimly lit house wasn't anything special to others, but it meant the world to me.

As I walked into the living room I thought back at the beautiful memories I made with my family in the house. Just about fifteen years ago my mother had given me a music box which I still hold dear. She used to play it and sing a lullaby when I went to bed to get me to sleep.

"Aawww, but dad you promised!!"

"Sorry, but it's gonna have to be tomorrow."

"Oh come on little brother. You can run faster than that."

"Its not fair! You're faster than me!"

I walked over to the bookshelf and pulled out a book I had nearly finished reading. It had been my mother's favorite when she was alive. She read it every evening after I gave it to her as a Hearth's warming gift.

"Happy Hearth's warming mommy!!"

"Aw how sweet of you. I'm looking forward to reading this."

She didn't get to finish it herself because she caught an illness that blurred her sight. I knew she loved the book and that she wanted to hear the ending, so I read it for her from where she left off. I finished it the day before she died. The last words I heard her say rang through my head.

"What a beautiful story. I am so glad you could take the time to finish it for me. You are a truly kind child. My path ends here, but yours stretches further my daughter. Take the book home and read the whole thing yourself. You'll love it just as much as I did. Goodbye now and always remember. I love you more than anything."

The words echoed in my head as I ignited the fireplace and a few seconds later the fire took a firm grip on the wood.
I sat down in the armchair close to the fireplace and opened the book. I was at the last few pages of the story and the story had made me cry a few times. The proof of it was dry tears on some of the pages. I got to the last page as the memories of reading it for my mother replayed over and over again. I put the book down and pulled out the only thing that had kept me sane during all these years. My music box. I wound it fully and let the sweet music of a lullaby play as I picked up the book again. The words made time feel like it stood still as the soothing tone of the lullaby played. As I finished the book, I pulled the page aside to reveal the blank page under the cover on the back. There my mother's name was written. I pulled out an inkwell and dipped a feather into it. I wrote my name slowly and carefully. I then put the book down by the fireplace to let the ink dry. I leaned back in the chair and relaxed, although I made sure not to fall asleep. I pulled out my diary from beside me and began writing in it.

Dear diary

I think this might be my last day, but instead of fearing death like others do, I feel relaxed. Death will remove the pain I'm feeling, and I'll be able to join my family again. I never really found out who I am, but I don't think it will matter in just a few hours. Heck, I might realize it when death's embrace comes for me. So many things I didn't get to experience, but I'm happy with what I was able to experience nonetheless.

Why should we fear death when it is one of life's many adventures?

Goodnight

I managed to find the will to cast a heat spell and flash dry the ink. I closed the book and put it on the shelf above the fireplace. I picked up my mother's book again and managed to get out one last heat spell to dry the ink there as well before I closed it and put it next to my diary. I sat back down in the armchair and realized the music box had ended. I wound it up again and let the tune play as I closed my eyes. A little while later the music box ended, and I opened my eyes. I felt my time running out and there was still one little thing I needed to do.

I pulled out an envelope and wrote that my house was to be turned into a library and not sold to somepony else as a house. I closed the envelope, put on a jacket and walked out of the house into the rainy weather towards the mayor's office. The rain splashed violently on my face while I kept the envelope inside my jacket, keeping it dry. When I reached the doorstep to the mayor's office, I put the envelope into the mail slot and walked back to my house. When I came inside, I walked into the kitchen and got myself a glass of water. I drank it quickly, but I didn't chug it.

I walked back into the living room and refueled the fireplace with wood and newspaper. I sat down in the armchair and looked around my living room and shot a glance at two books I held dear that stood on top of the fireplace. I looked back down on the music box beside me and picked it up. I wound it up again and let the music overtake me as I got into a comfortable position. My eyes slowly closed never to open again. The music's sweet tone played as my mother's voice came back to me.

Twinkle, twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,
When there nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle all the night.

Then the trav'ller in the dark,
Thanks you for your little spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often thro' my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

'Tis is your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the trav'ller in the dark,
Tho' I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle little star.