Lyra sat on the stage and tried to hide her growing unease. There were only ten minutes until the show began. What in the world was the problem?
A few of the nobles, seemingly more sympathetic to her plight than the rest, had suggested that she duck out quietly. “If she doesn’t show up,” said one, “Luna might get mad at you, and a lot of the Court will shun you if she does. If you leave now, maybe you can dodge that. I know you’re loyal to your friend, but what if she got sick or something? She might not show up, and it’d be a shame if you got hurt too.”
But Lyra hadn’t listened. She had faith in Octavia. If the mare could arrive, if it was at all possible, she would. So long as there was a chance, Lyra would not abandon her friend and run away.
One pony, a pink mare who was bent and wrinkled with age, pulled Lyra aside. “Do you think she can really play it?” she asked, in a soft, raspy voice.
“Yes.”
The pony had smiled wistfully. “That’s good. I really hope she can. I think…” She paused. “I think Luna deserves to hear it performed correctly. And I would love to hear it too… just once.” For a moment, she seemed sad, as if she had some history with the piece. But then it passed, the ancient mare had said goodbye and gone to take her seat, and Lyra could only stare after her.
“Strange,” the lyrist heard another noble murmur. “I don’t know what the green one’s game is.”
“Something to do with the Elements, no doubt,” a third had responded.
“I don’t think so. Lulamoon would be here, then.”
“Isn’t she a friend of the cellist?”
“Not for long, at this rate!” And there was laughter.
An older mare, Vicereine Puissance, had politely inquired about Lyra’s health and affairs. “You know,” she’d said, smiling in a manner that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “I’ve heard good things about your music. And your spirit just now, with Blueblood, was quite bracing. Why don’t we talk after the show?”
“I’m not looking for a patron.”
Puissance had chuckled and withdrawn without saying anything else.
Lyra sighed and checked the door again. Nine minutes. Where was she?
Fancy Pants was standing by Luna’s booth. He glanced around, worried. All their work would go to waste if Octavia couldn’t deliver. He wanted to save the mare from being another victim of Greengrass’s schemes, but he and Fleur would be helpless if Octavia did not arrive.
He couldn’t use the Palace Guards to help her; they would need to take Octavia’s statement and have her evaluated for injuries, both of which would take too long. He couldn’t use the Shadowbolts; they were all working on various national security matters and could not be spared. He couldn’t even go himself, since he had been publically invited as a ‘guest of Luna’ and it would look strange for him to leave early. Fleur had gone to help, but Fancy Pants was worried that she wouldn’t be enough, that she would take on more than she could handle. Please be careful, Fleur. I know you care a lot about Octavia, but if you get hurt… He couldn’t finish the thought.
Up in his booth, Greengrass was looking at the stage. “Think she’ll arrive?” he asked Notary.
“No, sir.”
“Hmm.” Greengrass sighed. “I suppose I agree. Truly a pity. I did so want to hear that piece.”
The other nobles were taking their seats, whispering among themselves. There was only one major topic, though. The cellist, the one who had dared to proclaim she could play a piece that had never been satisfactorily performed in Equestrian history. Where was she? Had she flaked? Was she ill? Or just hiding in the back, waiting for a dramatic moment to take the stage?
And Fancy Pants began to murmur, as if Fleur was next to him. “Fleur…”
“Did you make it clear, that she has to be here?
Does she understand, she cannot reschedule?”
From his booth, Greengrass smiled. He felt unusually moved… moved to song, even.
“How straightforward the Game,
When all its rules are respected!”
(And Fancy Pants continued, “Did you make it clear, there are no exceptions?”)
“And those rules are the same
For a novice and a virtuoso!
No show, no dice! No appeal, no exception – no way!”
(“Do you think she knows, what giving up will cost her?”)
From his seat, one level above Greengrass’s, Archduke Fisher sneered at the scene. Greengrass’s mare had flaked. Very poor form on his part. That earth pony knew nothing of duty and less of tradition, but even a reprobate like him should have understood how a mare like Octavia, who had betrayed her own duties for profit, could be controlled.
“Does the pony exist,
“In any equine endeavor?”
(“Do you think she cares, what giving up will cost her?”)
“Known to resist
Sirens of fame and possessions?
Threaten to cut off supplies; and she’d come out to play.”
(“She’s a broken mare – good as back in Cheneigh.”)
Vicereine Puissance, above the Archduke, nodded to herself. That green mare was being foolish, but one couldn’t help fools. One could only use them. Once her friend crashed and burned, wrecking both their careers in the process, Lyra would be much more desperate… and thus much more amenable to a deal. It was a shame that Lyra was letting something as trivial as friendship lead her into such peril, but… well, again. She was a fool, and that was all there was to it.
“It’s the weak who assert
Tawdy untruths about friendship!
(What a way to learn, not to challenge Greengrass!)
Selling themselves short,
Chasing a spurious starlight!
Twinges of conscience sufficient to lead them astray!”
(“Foolish little mare. Everypony suffers.”)
Blueblood, smirking, trotted over to his seat near the ground floor.
“Though no expert at these things,
I’ll hazard this prognostication!”
(“Foolish little mare. Everypony suffers.”)
“That the cellist and Heartstrings
Have better chances of fighting
An ursa and winning than saving their careers today!”
(“Foolish little mare. Everypony suffers.”)
(“I don’t see that fool, ever playing again.”)
Lyra looked up. The hall had gone quiet. Why were they all staring at her?
And then the entire Night Court burst into song:
“We are all aware, of reputation!
But that empty chair, is condemnation!
Proof a mare has blown it, scuttled with dishonor!
No! She will be here!
Nopony gives a damn, for her dilemma!
A braggart’s failed scam! We’re sick of them! There’s
Far too much at stake for the cellist prima donna!”
Lyra could only shut her eyes. She would not leave, would not give in to fear in hopes of mitigating the Court’s anger at her. She would wait for Octavia. She will come. She will not let me down. I don’t care what they say!
“We can hardly begin to
Imagine why they’d risk all they put into
Their calling through the years!
The blood, the sweat, the tears!
The late late nights, the early starts!”
I won’t lose faith in her!
“Of course the effect is
Exactly what observers would expect, viz
The Court is set to jeer
The mare who isn’t here
Octavia has lost our hearts!”
Greengrass stood, feeling the urge to sing again.
“Is she still in bed?”
“Or in the shower?”
And then there was a loud cracking sound, and every head craned to see Luna appear in her booth. She was looking at the stage with a gaze that was completely inscrutable. Yet when she spoke, it was in a voice of absolute power and authority.
“Even if she’s DEAD,
I won’t allow a
Mare to show up after the appointed hour!”
Lyra looked at Luna, then back at the stage. Five minutes to go. Five minutes, and then it would be—
The door banged open, and Octavia – tail sweaty and askew, coat frazzled, mane a mess – entered the auditorium.
She looked at the staring Court, then nodded. “I apologize for my delay. The concert will still begin at the scheduled time. Thank you for your patience.”
And then she turned her gaze to Lyra. “I’m a few minutes behind,” she said in a calm, implacable, yet out-of-breath voice. “Could you please help me get unpacked?”
“What happened?” asked Lyra, levitating Octavia’s cello up. Octavia began racing through her tuning procedure. They were backstage, but they could hear the whispering Court.
“It doesn’t matter.” Octavia shook her head. “I have arrived. Thank you for waiting for so long.”
“I’d wait forever,” said Lyra. “I knew you’d make it.” Her horn glowed, and Octavia winced as her mane suddenly straightened itself. Another spell, and her tail did the same.
But that didn’t matter. Octavia just said, “I will not disappoint you.”
“The Court –“
“Forget the Court.” Octavia paused.
“They all think they see a mare
Who doesn’t know which way to go.
Whose private life led her decline,
Wrecked her grand design.
Some are mad, some are fools, and I was blind!
To think that I was of their kind!”
Greengrass watched the shadows of the two mares from behind the curtain. Though he couldn’t make out the details of their faces, he could still see that Octavia was ready to fight. Her movements were swift and sure, without betraying even a hint of doubt. Despite himself, he was impressed.
He turned to Notary:
“So she plans to fight, the situation!
See her appetite, and concentration!
How is so focused with her life before her fraying?”
Suddenly, his eyes widened.
“Looking at those mares, it’s her I’m seeing!
Lulamoon’s a fool, but yet her being
Here in spirit boosts them and it screws the way I’m playing!”
Behind the curtain, Octavia suddenly swiveled, pointing her bow out at the Court like a sword. And… was it Greengrass’s imagination, or was she pointing it at him?
Octavia sang to Lyra:
“Here I see some ponies caring
About one ancient composition! Sharing
Wins with the corrupt and the mad,
The petty, greedy, inane, sad.
They don’t pay attention to what goes on around them!
They leave all those they touch worse than they found them!
Is theirs the life I need? Obsessive, fiery greed?
While my friends burn and bleed to death?”
She shook her head – and then moved her bow to point at Lyra.
“When I think of you, my favorite student,
What would you prefer? I hide, for ‘prudence?’
No! They tried to ruin my life, so I’ll fight not to lose it!”
Octavia smiled at the green mare as she finished tuning. “Lyra, I could not have gotten this far without you. You are the greatest friend I could hope for.”
“Thanks.” Lyra grinned. “And you’re the best mentor – and friend, too.”
They embraced.
“Knock ‘em dead,” said Lyra. “Blast Luna’s hooves off.”
Octavia grinned. “I will not let you down.”
Lyra hurried off to take her seat. Octavia took a few moments to compose herself. Nothing else was in her way. The nobles, the Court, they couldn’t touch her. It was time to show Luna how this piece was really meant to be played.
And then – just before the clock struck 10 – Octavia stepped onstage.
The sight of the crowd chilled even a performer as professional and imperturbable as her. Archdukes and archduchesses, viceroys and vicereines, and, of course, Princess Luna. All staring at her. Some with open hostility in their faces.
But she could see Lyra too, in the audience, and she nodded. Lyra had waited for her, had total faith in her and loyalty to her. That faith and loyalty were merited. She was ready to prove it.
The clock struck ten.
Octavia bowed at Luna, raised her cello, brought up her bow, and began to play the Symphony for Moon and Sun.
Remember how I said there were four more chapters? I miscounted -- there were five. So, to remain on schedule, and since not a lot happens in this one besides the song, you get a bonus chapter today!
Ah, Endgame. Endgame is radically different in this version of Chess than any other version; I also highly recommend the one from the original concept album, and also the one from Royal Albert Hall (the official version of Chess). But I love all the versions of this song. Yes, even the stupid knockoff from West End Sinfonia.
I wasn't sure whether to include what I find to be one of the funniest lines in musical theatre. "Is he still in bed/or in the shower?/Even if he's dead/they won't allow a/man to show up after the appointed hour!" I love how they're explicitly stating that they don't allow zombies. I mean, I know what they mean, but still. (Zombie Octavia jokes imminent in 3… 2…)
Hey, Piano's still around. I wasn't planning on having her here, but given what she sacrificed, I think that, if there's a chance that the Symphony can be played right, she's earned the right to hear the attempt.
Originally, the last third of the song (once Octy shows up) was a lot more nihilistic, with Octavia denouncing the whole Court as corrupt and depraved, only caring about music for the political power it would give them, and blasting Luna too (for running the Court, and therefore tacitly approving of Greengrass's corruption, Puissance's greed, Fisher's tribalism, and all the rest). I decided to change it because it gave the story a very sour taste. Among other issues, it meant there was nothing at stake -- if Octy hated the Court and no longer wished to play for them, she had no real motivation to play the piece well enough to avoid being shunned. It also made everything musical up to this point basically irrelevant -- sure, it did progress Octy's character from career-oriented to moral-oriented, but it also meant that all those practicing scenes were meaningless. Lastly, it just seemed not in the spirit of MLP:FiM. So I changed it to have Octy realize that the Court as a whole isn't corrupt, just a few ponies on it.
Tomorrow: we've heard the Symphony six times already. Octavia is the latest to try. Can she do what forty-nine other musicians could not?
1015982: I think I probably will. The reason she made that request is a mix of Octy not liking other ponies hearing her unfinished works (which the fifth movement would be until she wrote it out completely), Octy wanting to impress Lyra at the concert (which wouldn't be as impressive if Lyra had heard Octy working it out before), Lyra not being as useful at this point (a lot of what's left besides the fifth movement composition is just technical practicing, and Lyra can't really help with that), and and a few other things. Neither of them seriously thought this particular problem was a possibility, so they didn't think that Octy might need Lyra as a bodyguard.
Piano! Yay! I'm glad that she's getting her chance to hear the real thing.
I must admit that I wonder if it's not possible to determine if a pony's mind has been magically muddled, absolving them of responsibility for their actions, but I guess that that's not the case here.
Octavia reminding herself of Lyra's loyalty and using that to break free was great.
Well, this should be.....interesting. Watching Greengrass hang himself in the next few chapters should prove most satisfying.
1016020: It probably can, but there's a couple of issues. Emoter is very good at what she does, which includes hiding the evidence of it, so it would take an equally good specialist to recover the evidence. Also, other ponies could easily argue that she hired Emoter herself to give herself an excuse not to show up (unless Blueblood himself was caught). It would also make her look hypocritical, since her (until a few days ago) refusal to consider circumstances as excuses for failure is fairly well known in the musical community, so her suddenly saying, 'okay, but I actually had a good reason to flake!' would look like she was applying different standards to herself than others.
Sigh... I couldn't fully enjoy this chapter.
Wait!
No, I'm not about to lay into you over screwing up a story for the third time, not all, because this time the fault is entirely my own. You see other than the few time it's been mentioned on the Lunaverse boards, my familiarity with this Chess musical is basically zero, so regretfully your attempt at a song based on it is more distracting than compelling to me; I can't even judge whether or not you adapted the song well. Even the Youtube link provided was little help; there's just too many layers to this song for me to familiarize myself with it sufficiently enough in a single sitting and with no context for the scene its part of.
It keeps coming up often enough among discussions though that I guess I'm going to have to look into this musical more, though how and when is something I really don't know. Eventually though I hope to get around to that, and when I do, I'll remember to come back here and tell you what I really think of this chapter.
huh, could've sword I've favorited this a couple of chapters back...
Well, regardless, I'm glad to see it's continuation. I'm still a little pissed off at Luna for the damage she's caused over the centuries over a freaking song, but Piano Amour's part (which I read as "Piano Armor" the first time and wondered if she was related to Twi) made her much more sympathetic to me. I still think she's overreacting, but I at least can see why she's done what she's done.
And the song in this chapter was amusing, but also confusing at the same time; then again, random musical numbers are a part of every Equestria, I suppose, and it can be mostly blamed on me not knowing the song it's based on. (the fact I didn't notice the link and therefore didn't know it was based on anything probably also contributed)
1016085: No problem. When you do, make sure that you're looking up the Broadway version. Chess has been staged many times, and radically changed for most of them. (The original concept album doesn't even have all the characters; the Broadway and the West End ones have totally different endings and largely different music; the Sydney one changes things even more, the Swedish one is practically a whole new story, and don't even get me started on the US Tour edition).
Both songs I've used so far ('No Contest' in Carrot Top Season and this particular version of 'Endgame') are exclusive to the Broadway showing. The other versions do have an 'Endgame' song, but it's very, very different.
1016108
Grreeeaaaattttt............ That will make things so much easier.
Actually, thanks for the heads up, but wow, this could be a somewhat more challenging prospect than I first thought. I would have hoped, if nothing else, I could just wait for a performance to eventually come through my local area (theater just isn't the same when it's not live).
less than 200 views and you're featured.
I must read this.
And now we get to the part I have been waiting for
Knockem dead Octavia.
Though if in the case of Blueblood, you literally know him dead, I won't object.
1016131
If you're familiar with Chess in any way, shape, or form, it's probably because radio stations that play 80s songs tend to play this song, which is personally, leaving beside the musical entirely, one of my favorite 80s songs.
1015929
Brilliant. Within the restrictions of the fact that this was a song transcribed onto paper, anyway - I still don't feel that lyrics and songs do that very well, though that doesn't stop me from trying every now and then. If I could sing and had access to a proper music studio, mind, then probably every chapter of everything I ever wrote, ever would have a song linked in it. Sometimes two.
In any event, I really, really cannot describe how much I want to see this scene animated.
Is the Duke finally realzing how brilliant Trixie truly is?! Even now, is she sitting at home in Ponyville and toasting herself to a brilliant scheme?!
th01.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2011/350/1/4/trixie__s_fantasia_by_furboz-d4jbf1r.jpg
1016373: Glad you like it! And yes, I too think it'd be awesome to actually see this. (I have this image of all the nobles standing and singing up in these booths towering overhead, and Lyra's down below on this little stage watching them...)
And Murray Head's 'One Night in Bangkok' in awesome. 'I Know Him So Well' was also absurdly popular at the time, although it didn't last as long as 'Bangkok' did.
1016373
Actually, this almost looks to me like Greengrass is beginning his downward slide towards 'villainous breakdown'. He doesn't have any respect for the political talents of Trixie Lulamoon, but he can't help but see her influence, real or not, any time one of the Elements ruins his plans. It must be driving him mad.
1016647
Originally I had a picture of Trixie sleeping immediately following that paranoia, but for some reason the picture wasn't working. Hang on, let's try Round 2.
EDIT
That's better.
I'll be honest...I don't really understand why he would think this. The reason being that the only contribution to this whole story Trixie has was making Octavia her spy, which started the whole story in the first place. Whether or not Lyra ever became an Element, it would be likely that if she heard about Octavia trying this song, she would come out and provide moral support like she's done here. So what is it here that makes Trixe's spirit here? Or is Greengrass just being silly?
1016752: Well, there's two reasons:
1. Based on what he knows of Octavia, she shouldn't be so raring to go at this point. She's going down in flames, knows it, and (he thinks) believes she deserves it. Octy should be a dead mare walking. He knows how loyal Lyra is, but also predicted (accurately, as it turned out), that Octy's own self-criticism could drive her away and separate them.
Now, the thing Greengrass doesn't know about is Fleur and her influence on Octy. Not knowing about her, he has to come up with some other reason as to why Octy is handling this a lot better than she should be, and why Lyra is still there and hasn't gone home in frustration yet (and she came very close). The next most likely answer that he gets is that Trixie is involved, somehow, and has manipulated Octy thus.
2. There's a belief among some of the nobles that the Elements are a sort of paramilitary force under Luna's or Trixie's command (as Octy mentioned, this is why a lot of them are nervous -- they don't trust Lulamoon with that power). As such, Lyra's presence and persistence could partially be due to Trixie's orders, so anything she does could be linked back to her.
1016769: Because clowns are fun? :-)
There are magicians that do kid shows and magicians that do fortune-500 retreats. I figure clowns are the same way. This isn't Bozo the Birthday Clown, this is a highly-trained professional entertainer that caters to the elite and awesome.
1016680
Hah! That picture is brilliant!
1016776
I interpreted it to mean "court jester."
I imagine significantly less whipping goes on, but the point is that in Equestria, jesters may not have gone out of fashion. In our timeline they primarily did, at least in England, because of Charles I's overthrow and replacement by the strictly puritanical and theocratic (i.e., no fun) Cromwell government. There being no Oliver Cromwell in Equestria (thank God), the role of the jester is probably a fairly well-respected one.
1016857: That's what I was thinking too. I'll probably go back later and just say 'jester.'
1017001>>1016857
Ah. Silly me and my cultural stereotypes.
1017155: Well, did he actually do anything that was technically illegal? If he was Sweet's legal guardian, one could make a case he was abusing her, but he probably wasn't actually, official her guardian (at least on paper).
Now, make no mistake, I am very confident that Luna had her displeasure known and Off Beat suffered badly for it, but I'm not sure jail would have worked here.
So... freakin'... tense....!
Greengrass probably has a plan for if Octavia plays the symphony right. If not, he could improvise one.
you know I've been having problems with this fic and some of the ideas of the Lunaverse overall.
We know that spells that can show memories exist from the real show. We know the mind to mind communication is possible thanks to this story right here. We know Luna takes an interest in anyone who wants to play this symphony. And of course Luna holds court all the time.
So, why does it have to be gone through with? Why isn't Luna going to end up knowing that Octavia never wanted to play this? That it was an impersonator that gave the interview that talked about this.
1020730: Luna's not the only problem. If Octavia canceled, even if Luna somehow knew the truth, the rest of Canterlot wouldn't. Octavia would be humiliated and would have a reputation as a mare who flaked on her performances, which would tank her career anyway. (I suppose Luna could issue a 'don't blame Octavia' proclamation, but that seems unlikely, and then Greengrass could just spin that as, 'well, Octy's a friend of an Element so of course Luna would say that.'
But since Octy's going through with it, Luna's going to treat her just like all the other artists (excepting Sweet Song, who didn't have as much of a choice). She's taking the gamble on being able to impress Luna, with a potentially huge payoff if Luna likes it, so Luna won't hold back if the performance genuinely offends her like the others have.
Yeah... should've kept in the part where Octavia blasts Luna. Really, she needs a talking-to about those flankholes.
Anyway, enough of my dogging. ;) Great musical number, there. Loved it.
Brilliantly done.
A singing Night Court, love it, Good luck Octavia.
Let's be honest here.
Musical scenes in writing, like this one, are not very easy to pull off---taking a song and changing the lyrics to fit the meaning and tone the author desires, because generally one tries to preserve the meter and conform to the general rhyming structure that exists already. This can put some pretty hefty constraints, and it can be hard to squeeze ideas into the shape that exists without sacrificing clarity and/or quality.
Considering all this, I think it makes this scene's quality even more impressive.
*Gets to his knees in tears* OK! I'll watch Chess. I'll find a live recording of it on youtube and watch it. I swear, by the time I am done this and the Cadenceverse I will probably have known more about the songs from this musical than I do the plot...
...
...
Not that I am complaining. I love the songs