500 Words 2024/25: read a finalist's story from the 8-11 category

< 500 Words< Finalists< 8-11

This story was chosen as a top 50 finalist for 500 Words 2024/25.

Remember, spelling, punctuation and grammar are not taken into account for a 500 Words story, therefore all the top 50 stories have been published how they were submitted.

A New Harmony by Theo A.

This story is set in a world far, far away; it is set in a magnificent, musical world. The pulsing streets are filled with musical instrument of all kinds: you could hear the strong rhythmical booms of a double bass building sturdy structures of houses, whilst beautiful, intricate violins delicately decorate them. As the sun wakes up, the bellowing sound of a tuba would shake the ground, terminating any chance of a lie in and the piccolos would cry, their flute mothers cradling them in their loving, silver arms. The instruments would chatter and echo each other playfully. The atmosphere was harmonic, the melody always changing. This world was a symphony.

But symphonies don't last forever. This world would never be the same again. The hovering harp spotted the first plane. The drums frantically sounded the alarms as the conductor skipped a beat, throwing everything out of balance. Fear replaced rhythm, frantic energy replaced pitch. A murmuration of planes followed the first. The sun had disappeared, joy following its lead.

Strange mechanical creatures, unlike anything they had seen before, glided angelically from the aircrafts. A hush spread among the instruments, the planet holding its breath. But then one cheerful jingle was played. "We are AI and we are here to aid, so don't expect some awful raid." All the fear was turned into confusion. Then jingles filled the air, jingle after jingle, rhyme after rhyme. From what they could gather, the weird intruders were here to help, not to kill and destroy.

But life still changed a lot. Before they knew it, the instruments were sat there relaxed, whilst the AI busied themselves doing the instruments' work. The tubas no longer woke up at the crack of dawn, but instead a mechanical beat gently shook the towns (a little too perfect for the tubas' liking!). The young instruments were methodically taught about pulse and rhythm and the piccolo babies were placed in self-shaking cots. No longer did the bassists spend their time creating homes, but functional, modern houses were instead built by the efficient helpers.

The instruments first enjoyed the rest but a pang for a less utopian society came. They noticed their world becoming grey and the background noise became a dull, dreary drone. Boredom struck as it inevitably would, like a powerful, loud gong reverberating through the land.

One day, the instruments were lying around depressed, when a beautiful cello let out a mournful chord of pure sadness that resonated across the world. Every instrument, from oboes to trombones, suddenly joined in and a new emotion- provoking, melancholy melody was born.

The AI watched from afar and knew that such heartfelt emotion could never be created by them. As much as they could help the instruments, they needed the instruments too, as only together could they create a real masterpiece. From that day onwards they worked out that the machines would create functionality and efficiency leaving time for the instruments to bring colour and life.

This was harmony.

Need more inspiration?