Mackenzie’s Music
Let’s check in on my favorite (and first) Sim, Mackenzie Tester, once again.
She woke up feeling strange, and couldn’t really explain it. It was a beautiful day in Willow Creek. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and there was a cool crispness to the early morning air. But still, there was something odd going on...
Trying to shake that thought out of her mind, she strolled into her living room and worked on some muscle stretches to wake her body up to the day ahead of her.
“You know, while it’s quiet, I should put Master Quan’s meditation techniques to use”, she thought to herself. So she closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and breathed slow and deep, attempting to calm her spirit and become one with her surroundings.
At first, it was going well. Levitation was a part of the technique, so she wasn’t surprised anymore when it happened. She used to be, though.
Master Quan would always be amused when Mac would fidget at the sensation of being airborne, and even once cackled with glee. “Worry not, my pupil. Your troubles no longer hold you down to the earth. Your spirit is free. Weightless. Trust in the natural order of things.”
Suddenly she felt herself being pulled! A dark force seemed to grip her very soul! The world around her was being torn away! She tried to fight it, to take control, but she was not skilled enough. And then, she vanished!
Mere seconds later, she reappeared outside of her home, still in her meditative state and position, levitating above the ground. At first, she was confused and scared. What had happened? Was she ok? Was this merely the next phase in Master Quan’s teachings that she had achieved earlier than expected? And what was that dark force she felt?
But then she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. Okay, she was still in Willow Creek. She was still on her own property. She breathed in deep. She sighed. She relaxed. She attained her calm state once more. And then she went through the steps to conclude her meditation and stand back on solid ground.
As she turned around cautiously to further survey the situation, she saw it. Right by her mailbox was a white guitar with pink trim. A somewhat punkish, menacing looking skull with wings adorned the front.
Why was it here? She didn’t order it. She didn’t even know how to play a guitar, let alone one this tricked out. Who left it? Was it for her? It appeared to be positioned like any other package to be picked up, right next to her mailbox.
There was a note attached. She read it.
“My pupil, I apologize for the burden that you are about to bear. It should not be yours, but I am without time nor other option. And you are my most skilled, and most trusted of the Circle. You have a pure heart, which I pray will see you through where others have failed. I fear there are dire consequences otherwise.
This is no ordinary guitar. Legend refers to it as ‘The Soul Reaver’. It was conjured into being with the darkest of magics. It’s purpose was to control the spirits of others, to bind them to the musician’s will.
We of the Circle are ordained, perhaps even fated, with protecting the world from these creations. We are the balance for the natural order. The light against the darkness.
I had planned to give you more time, more training, before receiving your own oath of devotion but that can no longer be. The Circle was attacked, and has since gone into hiding until the threat can be assessed and dealt with. A new enemy has emerged from the shadows.
We were only barely able to survive the ambush. The ‘Soul Reaver’ was among the remains of the assailants, and it’s presence alone marks just how dangerous this unknown force truly is. Until the situation changes, and for the better, I must leave this in your guard.
Bind it to you, so that only you can control it. It won’t be easy, but you must play it. Learn it. And protect your very soul against it. Stay pure, for only a pure heart can keep it from being misused. It will fight you, and try to corrupt you. But you must not give in! Remember, trust in the natural order of things, not the unnatural, or impure.
Once bound to a master, the Soul Reaver is theirs alone until they perish, or willingly relinquish control to another. It cannot be taken away and it cannot be destroyed. It must be controlled and secured. This task falls to you, as you are both the most pure of us all, and the most unnoticed by the darkness, as you have not yet been ordained.
You have time. Make the most of it. Our common enemy will cast its watchful eye on you eventually, but for now, ready yourself. Prepare. Do what it does not expect of you. The world needs you. I need you.
You will not see me again for some time, my pupil. But other guides, associates of the Circle, will be around to help. Look for the golden circlet. You are not alone. You can do this. You can achieve more than you ever imagined possible. I believe in you. We all do.
~Master Quan”
While it was a lot to take in, Mackenzie trusted her master and did her best to keep a cool head about the whole thing. “Trust in the natural order”, she told herself. Gingerly, she picked up the mysterious guitar, the supposed powerful artifact of darkness, and pulled its strings.
Having never touched a regular guitar in her life before, let alone a magic one, the sounds reverberating from it at first were less than pleasing. She consoled herself and her lack of skill in the instrument by telling herself it’s a dark weapon and should sound ugly anyway, right?
Reminded of its power when a dark mist formed at her feet, Mac stopped playing and thought better to keep it inside and away from the ears of the innocent for now.
She placed it in the living room next to her favorite vase of flowers and sighed. “This is going to be an adventure for sure. I hope I’m ready.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Peering through the window, Mac could see a dark skinned woman, beautiful and quite professionally dressed, turning and walking away. And then she saw it. The golden circlet upon the mysterious woman’s wrist!
“Hey! Miss! Miss!!” Mackenzie shouted, trying to get her attention, as she jogged out the door to catch up. “Miss! I think I’m supposed to speak to you about something!”
“Greetings, child. I’m Ms. Holiday. Ms. Jasmine Holiday. You must be Ms. Tester, I presume?” she smiled sweetly.
“Why yes, I am!” Mac said with a surprised look on her face. “How did you know?”
“Our ‘mutual friend’ has asked me to give you some assistance, my dear. I do hope you understand that ears are listening, so I must be... careful? You did get the note, yes?”
“Yes, I did! I thought that’s why you were here!” Mackenzie squealed a bit excitedly.
“You’ll forgive me for walking away from your door. I felt... uncomfortable. Anyway, I have things to do as I’m sure you do, so here. ‘Trust in the natural order. May the light guide you.’“
A light flashed all around Mackenzie. The world went an absolute white. A warm, loving energy consumed her essence, and her very being. For a moment, she felt incredible! Smarter! Faster! More alive!
And then Ms. Holiday bowed as if nothing had happened, bid her farewell, and turned to walk away. Overcome with emotion, Mackenzie jumped up and down, crying and laughing and making a bit of a ‘scene’ about the whole thing.
Neighbors stopped to ask if she was okay, and she told them about the light. She asked if they felt it, if they could see it. But they had no idea what she was on about. They looked at her confused. Worried.
Ms. Holiday, walking past Mackenzie as she was making her exit, briefly rested a hand on her shoulder and whispered, “it was a gift for you alone, my dear” and with a wink, she then disappeared around the corner.
“Sorry, guys. I guess I just caught the sun’s glare in my eye. Too much coffee, huh? Or maybe not enough!” she laughed, and that seemed to calm everyone down and people went their separate ways.
Back inside her home, she picked up Soul Reaver again, and played it once more. She spent a couple hours practicing, getting better and better, improving at a much faster rate than she thought possible. She was certain by the time she finished for the day that it was undoubtedly bound to her, but she still feared the worst was to come.
But that would be for another day. For now, she was hungry. And she had a lot to think about and process.
Two grilled cheese sandwiches later and a quick stop by the bathroom left her feeling much better. She spent some time recalling her Master’s teachings, regaining her confidence. She found herself excited, if not a little more than nervous about her future. By all accounts, she was in the Circle now!
But, as we all know, with great power comes great responsibility. And as the evening settled in and she fell into the deepest sleep of her life, Mackenzie’s dreams became nightmares. Untold horrors. A future to be feared. A war that could be lost. And the smallest, quietest voice in the back of her mind hissing “let us sing them a song... string them along...”
Will she play the Soul Reaver, or will it ultimately play her? Stay tuned, next time. Thanks for reading, crazy kids!