Music of Time

I don’t know how long I lay there. I thought back to what I said and how I snapped. I never was very good at staying calm when I was frustrated or scared. Every so often, a nurse would come to check on my wounds and bandages.

        I sat up, with no small amount of pain, and looked around the room at what I had around me. To my left, there was a small table with an unlit candle on it as well as some books in the shelf below the tabletop. In front of me, the was what seemed to be a medical cabinet and a table. Atop the table, there was two, black, leather bags. One of the bags had some papers sticking out of the slightly opened top. The other had a wire sticking out with the USB symbol on it. Lying next to the bags, was a red and black, plaid, button-down shirt that had a large, bloody hole in it.

I really like that shirt…

        Next to the table was four black cases, each varying in size. Glad to see they made it, though I’ll have to check them to see if they’re damaged. I was relieved to see my stuff had made it out okay, despite a few tears on the black cases and bags. I saw the canvas sway, as if someone were walking up to it, and I braced myself for what I was about to see.

“Hello? Mr. Akins?” The voice I recognized as Princess Celestia’s called.

“...”

        The canvas shifted as the alicorn trotted in. She glanced behind and her and around the room until she saw me watching her. We had a improv staring contest for a couple seconds until she spoke.

“Hello.”

“Howdy.” I responded coldly. She seem to be taken back for a second before she trotted forward and sat on the floor in front of me. Another staring contest was started.

“Did you need something?” I asked.

“We just wanted to say that we’re sorry for earlier. We should’ve seen that it was a delicate matter earlier.” She apologized.

“And I’m sorry for getting so mad. I’m not the best when I’m under stress. As you can imagine, this is rather…different for me.” I responded, to which she smiled at.

“Shall we start over?”

“Sure.” I said, returning the smile.

“Hello, I am Princess Celestia, of Equestria.”

“Hello Princess Celestia, I am Zachary Akins of the United States of America. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Well Mr. Akins, is there anything I can do for you?” She asked.

“As a matter of fact, there is. Could you help me get one of those black cases over there.”

“Oh, of course.” She started to levitate the smallest of the cases over, but stopped when she realised I was staring, mouth agape. “What?”

“How are you doing that?”

“What, levitation?”

“Yes!”

“It’s just simple magic. Every unicorn knows how to do it.” She explained.

“That’s…Amazing. This new planet…It’s gonna take some getting used to.” She simply laughed at my shock and set the case down on my lap.

        I opened the case and pulled out the contents. I looked it over and checked all the keys and pads to make sure they still worked. I set it back in and checked the mouthpiece and neck. Once I was finished there, I checked to make sure the reeds were okay and the disinfectant spray hadn’t spilled all over the place. I closed the case and started to latch it, when I saw Celestia with a puzzled expression.

“What?” I asked.

“What is that that you just pulled out?”

“A soprano saxophone. Do you not have these here?” I asked.

“No. I take it it’s an instrument?”

“Yeah. It’s part of the saxophone family. It’s the third highest of the eight types of saxophones. I also have an alto, a tenor, and a baritone saxophone over there.” I pointed at the other cases.

“Could you play them for us sometime?” She asked.

“Of course.” I said. “But not now. If it hurts to breath, it’ll hurt even more to play one of these.”

“That’s understandable.” She said, nodding.

“I’ll play them someday, I promise. Now, could you pass me the others?”

        I then started explaining the instruments to Celestia while inspecting each of them. She had a lot of questions about the instruments, which then lead to her asking about my life and job, and then about Earth. We talked for hours about everything she had questions for. We then switch over to questions I had about Equestria and her life.

“Our parents were the previous rulers, but after they passed, Luna and I had to take their place. Thankfully, they had taught us how to rule before their passing.”

“Yeah. My mother taught me how to be polite to everyone and make friends easier. I kinda failed at that earlier when I yelled at you and Luna. I really didn’t mean to, I was just scared and I confused. I’m still pretty damn confused, but I have a feeling as long as I am within this world, I’ll have that swirlin’ around in my head.” I said with a sad smile.

“I can imagine so.”

“You know, you remind me a lot of her. My mother, I mean.”

“How so?” She asked with a confused look.

“You’re able to look paste the outside of people and see the inside. You’re also can admit when you were in the wrong. Those, and being polite to those you meet, are the main traits my mother had.”

Minus the whole different species thing, I would think you are her. Well, that and the fact that she passed away around nineteen years ago.” I explained.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” She said sadly. “How old were you, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“Five.”

“...Five years old?” I simply nodded in return. “How?”

“Car accident. The roads had black ice on them, and she just…fell right off the overpass.” I could tell she didn’t know what some of the things I said were, but she seemed to understand enough.

“Where was your father?” She asked.

“He died in battle before I was born.”

“You talk so easily about this topic. Why?” She asked sadly.

“I’ve had nineteen years to accept my mother’s death, and I never met my father. Besides, it’s not easy, it never is. You just have to accept the harshness of reality. Don’t let your pain define you, let it show the goodness inside you instead. After all, it’s easier to see a white circle on black canvas than it is to see a white circle in a dark room.”

“That’s rather philosophical. What did you do for a living back home again?” She asked with a small smile.

“I was a band director at a middle school.” I said with a matching smile. “Anywho, what time is it?”

She glanced out the window. “Midnight.”

“Wow. We’ve been talking for quite a while. I should probably get some sleep. I want to try to walk tomorrow.”

“Well, the doctors would probably hate that, but I can respect that. Goodnight, Zachary.”

“Goodnight Celestia.”