(100 years after Corona’s banishment)
“Please, your majesty, forgive us.” The party organizer bowed low. “We had no idea he would offend you so badly. Please, we beg you, let us make it up to you.”
Fame Fortisi bowed too, which was convenient because she didn’t need to try so hard to hide her smirk. Concerti had flamed out, she knew why, and now she could finally take the lead over him.
They’d been competing their whole lives – for the same positions on the same orchestras, for the same grants and appointments, even for the same marefriend. All had gone to Concerti – until now. Now, Concerti was doomed as a cellist. When the princess hated you, that tended to put a crimp into even the most sterling reputation.
But Fame Fortisi, though always the loser, knew that she was better than Concerti. And now, she was going to prove it.
“It was his offense, not thine,” said Luna, nodding gravely. “No pardon is necessary. I… apologize, if I gave thee the impression that I was mad at thee personally.”
“But it was still an offense. Will you let me present to you another musician, to try the piece? Please? We really do want to make you happy, and… and thank you, for what you’ve done.”
“Take care,” said Luna, in a grave voice. And, Fame sensed – though she still wasn’t looking up – that Luna was examining her. “This work is extremely personal. Musicians often reveal their thoughts of their subjects in their playing. Be certain, Fortisi, that thou art truly prepared to play this piece.”
“I am,” said Fame Fortisi. “Your majesty, I agree with you that Concerti’s performance was a travesty. I just want you to hear it the way it was meant to be played.”
And that was a lie. What Fortisi wanted was to finally win, to finally beat Concerti, to be recognized as smarter, cleverer, more talented – just plain better – like she already knew she was. But to do that, she’d have to win Luna’s favor. Hence the piece.
Luna’s tone was impossible to read. “Very well.”
And so the ballroom was set up, for a small, exclusive audience of Luna herself and a few other nobles. Fortisi took the stage and began to play.
Concerti was a fool, she thought, as she began. Does Luna seem like the type of mare to lord her power over others like that? No. She’s not Corona. Luna is of the Night. Mysterious, impossible to pin down, cleverly twisting about to confound her enemies. She didn’t win that battle with Corona due to brute strength. She won it with superior intellect, and I’m going to show that.
Luna’s theme in the final movement was not that of a cannonball smashing aside her sister. Corona’s theme was quite powerful, and Luna’s didn’t directly challenge it. But it darted around, first here, then there, sliding and skipping over the strings like a fox. Corona’s lumbered after it, casting destruction everywhere, but she couldn’t quite seem to catch it. Luna was just too clever.
In the end, Corona’s theme slowed to a sluggish crawl. It was exhausted from the struggle. And then, only then did Luna rise up and topple it. Fortisi ended the piece with a glorious cadence – Concerti had gotten that part right – and then smiled, waiting for the accolades.
They were not forthcoming.
Luna rose. She was shaking with cold fury, and if possible, she looked even angrier than she had three days ago. “I see. So that is what thee thinkst our fight was like.”
Fortisi blinked. “I, ah, wanted to pay tribute to your intellect and cleverness—“
“Yes, quite clever indeed. When my sister’s fire shattered the Western Canterlot Hospital, I suppose that was all a gambit on my part.” Luna’s voice was deathly low. “All that destruction, all that waste, masterminded by me? Is that how thou seest me?”
“No!” gasped Fortisi. “Of course not! Your majesty, I only meant to show how I thought the battle went, your triumph—“
Somehow, Luna had appeared right in front of her face. “Thou were not there. Thou, evidently, understand nothing.” Her gaze was like ice.
“I – I’ll leave,” said Fortisi, hastily.
“I think that would be wise.” Luna turned away. “Thou needst not bother applying to any more governmental performances, Fortisi.”
And so Fortisi left, and it was only later, when she also could find nopony willing to hire her, that she realized bitterly that she’d finally drawn even with Concerti.
Well, that didn't work either.
My personal 'what happened next': Concerti and Fame both had to go into other lines of work, but they still wanted to play... and the only audience they had at that point was each other. They maintained their competition, but it became friendlier as they became more and more intimately familiar with each other's work. They eventually became good friends, who would perform their day jobs by day, and delight each other with music at night.
Running tab: things that do not work playing the piece:
1. Making the story "Luna was pure, noble, and strong, and justly beat her sister into the ground. Celestia was weaker and EVIL. Huzzah for her getting her flank kicked!!"
2. Making the story "Luna was sly and clever, manipulated her sister the whole way and deftly overcame her with brilliant stratagems. Celestia was dumber and EVIL. Huzzah for her getting her flank kicked!"
By the way, tomorrow's bonus is going to be... well, let's just say that, if I did it right, there won't be much sympathy for the pony who's botching the piece. :-)
Given that Luna is the only pony not to see that there is hope that Celestia might come to her senses, anything that suggests that Corona is evil instead of frightened isn't going to go over too well. Crumbs....I just had an awful vision of Luna yelling THOU WERT THE CHOSEN ONE!!
981177: Aww, that's really cute! Upside-down Fleur would make an awesome tumblr.
(Heh. I can just see the posts right after Duke Greengrass is booted from Canterlot).
And good catch about Octy not appreciating Lyra enough. That's going to come up again in the second act, in a big way. :-)
981177 I agree that the world needs more upside-down Feur.
So the second attempt was by somepony who thought it out bit more, but still nowhere near enough and ended up being even more offensive. Also, her motivations were less sympathetic. Let's find out how many ways this piece can be screwed up!
Luna doesn't do gambits that harm ther along the way.
good to know.
981038
Not frightened...I don't think Corona ever feels real fear. She's insane. Like Luna said in "An Early Reunion:"
981491: Glad you like it!
I'm glad my portrayal of Octavia is working. I edited this part a few times, worried that I was making it too angsty and whiny (which can get boring to read). So I'm pleased that this chapter strikes the right balance.
And, yes, she's very honest, but not as honest about herself and her own conscience. Although that might be more due to a lack of wisdom as well; her philosophy has a few holes in it, and she's not quite wise enough to see them. If only some pony whose talent involved wisdom could talk to her...
Hey, wasn't one of the three points of the fleur de lis supposed to represent wisdom? :-)
981228
Agreed on all counts. Concerti was noble and entirely well intentioned, with no way to know ahead of time his efforts might offend Luna so terribly, but Fortisi was just plain arrogant even if understandably so and far more deserving of her fate. If the next is as G&C2 says even less sympathetic, s/he might as well pack up and join Corona on the sun.
Also yes, there is not nearly enough Upside-Down Fleur in this world.
981507
So when Octavia's theme implies that Corona isn't plugged all the way into the wall, she'll totally floor Greengrass (and herself) by being appointed Court Musician.
981491>>981532 I'm also enjoying Octavia's portrayel and also noticed that she maps to Honesty pretty well.
981638 We can only hope...
981491: Hmm, a Canterlot 6...
Octavia as honesty, Shining Armor as loyalty, I'd pick Fleur as laughter (although as we'll see later on, she does have a more serious side), and, uh...
Hum. That's all I've got. :-(
982064
A singular exclamation point by itself only need convey intensity or excitement, not necessarily volume.
There is a reason why things like multiple exclamation points, all caps, bolding, and oversized font get used after all. As you seem to have rather illustrated quite well no less.
982080
Well, then Fancy Pants is clearly Generosity.
And I like how the second attempt was done by a personal rival of the first musician. That's how these things start after all. Someone good bombs horribly and then all of their rivals in the business smell opportunity rather than heeding a potential warning.
982200:
Some bozo: "The first twenty guys who are always surpassing me failed! This is my chance to shine! If I play it my way -- on the kazoo -- Luna will love it and shower me with praise!"
Luna: "Starlight, remind me again why they were worth saving?"
982209
Starlight: Most of them actually possess two brain cells to rub together.
And that's how it goes. Someone good has a (supposedly) brilliant idea and tries it, but fails horribly due to an innate misunderstanding that is really in no way their fault. Their rivals smell opportunity at succeeding where the first failed miserably and try themselves, but end up learning that they have no greater understanding of what went wrong than the first did. The smart ones eventually get a clue and decide to sit back and observe, seeking out some indication of what might bring success while the less intelligent ones continue to beat their head futily against a wall. Eventually even the idiots get the message and attempts cease until some point in the future where the sting of successive failures has lessened to the point where a new genius in the field can think the endeavor worthwhile again. Rinse and repeat until the repeated failures become the stuff of legend.
981897 <jumps out from behind a pot plant> Not Tumblr as well?! Don't you guys realise how much work it is to stalk you already?
Ah, just forget I said that...
Anyway, I'm enjoying this greatly, but it keeps hitting me in the head about how much music means to Pony related activities in general. I think I've been exposed to more music theory, different genres, and the underlying impulses via this fandom than when I thought I was interested in music.
That said, I'm still woefully ignorant, but I least I have an appreciation of how woefully ignorant I am.
My guess as to what the true ending is: A march and a dirge. Corona will start as a rough bombastic march, and the dirge will try and smooth it out. It will fail, and the march will get steadily more bombastic and rough. The dirge will become polyphonic, overwhelming the march. the dirge then becomes more mournful, and the march is reduced to a bright core.
as for the canterlot 6, I see Fancy Pants as kindness instead of generosity.
Remains a lovely work. Really enjoying the treatment of all the characters especially the Octavia/Lyra relationship. Not as a big a fan of Luna destroying musicians careers over a personal affront though. She seems in the Lunaverse to be much more of a delegate then Celestia was in the mane universe right? So then why is she using her power to push down musicians who just want to play a piece to please her? Saying she's unpleased at their performances yes, and angry with her subjects I can understand too. But going so far as to sabotage them...that I'm having trouble connecting with. Think it'd be wise if you keep showing these interludes with individuals who have tried the piece that she's less bitter and angry with it each time...She wouldn't want to keep hurting her subjects would she? With things rawer in the more distant past yes, but this attitude hopefully won't carry over to the present day. Other then that though this was great work.
Wow I'm starting to see a pattern with these musicians. No-one deserves to have their career so well and truely shattered like this but the term "pride before the fall" springs to mind. Still it will be interesting to see what happens with the next performer.
Even this early in the story, I'm going to go out on a limb and say the symphony is not meant to be joyous, but sorrowful, expressing Luna's regret about what had to be done. Even somepony who puts half a thought into the event itself would be able to see that
...WELL, AREN'T THEY IGNORANT, PRINCESS?
SOOOOO KIND OF YOU TO NEVER BOTHER TELLING US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS!!
IT SURE WOULDN'T CREATE SITUATIONS WHERE, SAY, ONE OF YOUR DUMB NIGHT COURT OFFICIALS WOULD COMPLETELY SCREW OVER SOME MUSICIAN FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT.
YOUR WISDOM AND INTELLECT RUN SOOOO DEEP! IT'S A BUCKING WONDER WHY THE FOX BIT DOESN'T APPLY DIRECTLY TO YOU!
5210080
To be fair, It's an incredibly personal piece. That talks about one of the worst moments of her life. And a message of hope at the end.
I can understand her not wanting to pick at the wound.