//------------------------------// // Mid-Summers Day // Story: Heartstrings and Bronze Gears // by Optimistic Pessimist //------------------------------// "It was far too soon for her to go." Aldous Heartstrings, renowned mechanical genius, stood in front of a small crowd. His coat was a glittering shade of bronze and his eyes the deep gold of the sun. He wore a single monocle on his right eye, and he was dressed in black, despite it being the middle of summer. No one wore black in the middle of the summer, but he had more then good reason to. His daughter had passed away. Lyra Heartstrings, his daughter, was a joyful unicorn, gifted with music and laughter. Aldous loved her dearly, unlike any father loved a child. His wife died giving birth, so Lyra never knew her. Eileena , a unicorn like Aldous, was a lovely mare. Loving and more caring then any mare Aldous had ever seen. He was so happy when they had Lyra, but losing her had nearly killed Aldous. Lyra Heartstrings neither asked nor seemed to notice that her mother was never there. Maybe it was Aldous who kept it from her, or maybe she simply was to happy with her life to be upset about it. Aldous, being the brilliant machine maker he was, had made all sorts of toys for Lyra. She was happy with the toy cars and rolling balls that spewed steam from their metal frame work. But Lyra was more interested in Aldous's music boxes. He made few of the musical things. But what few he made, Lyra had treasured. Aldous knew that Lyra was musically inclined when she began to sing with the voice of an angel. Her voice could make the greatest singers in all of Equestria envious. Aldous thought, what better gift for an angel then a harp? So for Lyra's sixth birthday, he made her a harp. A beautiful brass harp, which echoed like the royal chambers. Lyra was entranced, and with near perfect ease, mastered it. From that point on, Lyra had on her flank, the image of a lyre. Aldous was happy, for Lyra was happy. But, being the Royal engineer, he was only with his daughter for so long. Lyra knew he had a job, but she could not help but begin to feel alone. Despite Lyra begin surrounded by wonderful friends, nothing can ever truly replace family. Lyra missed her father, as Aldous missed his daughter. One day, Aldous came home after three days of work to find her daughter lying in her bed, burning with fever. When the Doctor came by, Lyra was already half gone. The diagnosis a minute late. Fever of Depression. Fatal to most unicorns. And now Lyra was gone. Aldous could do nothing as he stood by his daughters coffin. He could only sit and cry, maybe. And then he'd have to leave her. "It was far too soon for her to go. She was a brilliant sunbeam in the midst of a thunder storm, defying the darkness and fear that came with it. Joy, in the middle of sorrow. Assurance, in times of stress. Love, when I needed comfort. She has stood by me, even when I couldn't do the same." Aldous paused. He sighed as a tear came to his eye. "Now I look back and see, if only I were there for a second longer, she might still be with me. We will miss you, Lyra Heartstrings. I will miss you, and my world will be as cold as the bronze I weld in my works." ~~~~ Aldous opened the front door to his abode. It was quiet, nearing the edge of disturbing. Aldous hung his coat on the oak wood coat hanger. The door shined a bronze gold and shut behind him. He walked slowly up the steps to his workshop. With a push of a button, the room lit up to reveal an expanse cluttered with papers and models. Aldous picked his steps carefully around blueprints and tools. He turned around a stack of papers and sat at his desk. He looked around when a small envelope caught his eye. He lifted it with his magic. It was addressed to him. He opened it and read the parchment inside. Dad, I know you might not see this, with you being so busy and all. I just wanted to let you that your daughter misses you. You spend so much time away from home sometimes I wonder if you had died sometimes. Like Mom. Please, if you ever see this, leave a letter on my desk. You remember where it is, right? Aldous sat there for a while. Tears welled in his eyes as he came to realize what he had already known. He had killed his own daughter. Aldous let the paper fall and began to sob. He was blessed and cursed with his wealth of knowledge. Everything he could ever want, he had. Except that which he wanted most. A family. Aldous slowly walked back through the mess he called his workplace. He ignored the crunch of metal and the rips of paper. He could always remake them. Down the steps he went, and through the kitchen he went. A half eaten sandwich laid upon the table. Aldous turned away and focused at his destination. His daughters room. It was as if he had walked into the workplace of the Princess herself. Everything was as orderly as it could be. Everything was where it was supposed to be. If only he had the organizing skill of his daughter. The harp he had made her sat in a corner, the color worn with use. Aldous walked up to it. He plucked a string and listened to it as it resonated. Aldous turned to Lyras' desk. It was completely organized. Right down to which angle the pen laid down. Aldous was proud of her perfectionism. She was the only one he saw who could accomplish such perfection. He recognized a small bronze box on her desk. It sat perfectly in the center, in the clear space. Slowly, Aldous pressed a small button on the top. He waited as gears could be heard clinking and hissing. Slowly, a soft song played throughout the room. Aldous listened as the music began to drown out the clinking. It was Lyras' favorite. The one he had made her. His head fell onto her desk as he realized he would never see her again. He sobbed his heart out. He felt... No... He was as lonely as his daughter was. Perhaps even more so.