//------------------------------// // Ladon Letter // Story: The Composer // by Smug Anime Girl //------------------------------// Dear Output Jack, I'm the filly that played at your concert in Manehattan for Nightmare Night. I had a lot of fun playing the piano. I'm trying to write some music for the Wonderbolts cause I saw a show and think they're really cool. I have a bit of trouble trying to make a core theme. I write classical music and this is something that I don't know if I can do. Could you give me some tips? Sincerely, Schuberry P.S. It's ok if you don't answer, I know you're very busy Hey Schuberry, So glad to hear from you! You say you write classical music, huh? That's amazing, really. You have to send me a record sometime! I will admit, the band's prepping for our next concert, but right after, I think I'll be able to visit if that's alright with Luna. I can leave a few tips that always work for me. First, whenever I feel like I'm not making any progress, I stop and do something else. You should never force music out of yourself, it won't feel right or natural. That's not saying it's impossible to just throw some notes together and have it sound good, but the probability of that is kinda low. But I guess you asked about how to start a song. Well, you did mention that it was going to be about or related to the Wonderbolts. What kind of emotions do they make you feel? Is it happy or proud or amazement, or all three? Classical music is more nuanced, if you want to do something different, don't hold back. Don't forget, we have more advanced technology that helps us make music. You don't have to be held back by drums or guitars or pianos, there are magical options too! Theres a DJ that I worked with a few years back, I'm sure I could convince her to pitch in as well. But yeah, lemme know if it's ok for me to drop by, maybe with a friend or two as well. We'll make this work, I promise! Output Jack Dear Output Jack, I put a recording of the Violet Etude inside with the letter, it's a very fun song to play! Mom says it's alright for you to come by, there's going to be food and drinks. I've taken your advice and have a bit of a start. See you soon! Sincerely, Schuberry Celestia found herself gently brought back to the waking world by Schuberry's baby grand piano. Somepony was playing, but definitely not the pegasus. The notes were rough and choppy, the pianist definitely feeling unsure of themself. With a herculean effort, she opened a single eyelid and found Luna staring right at her with a disapproving expression. "You're finally up." The younger sister stated curtly. Celestia mashed her teeth together and began to slowly push her body upright. "How long was I out?" She finally asked. "I wouldn't know. You were the one who was supposed to stay home and watch Schuberry and our guest." Luna snuck a look at the two fillies by the piano. "Challenging them to make the best drawing of you then napping is not 'keeping an eye on them,' sister." "Not physically, I'll admit." Celestia agreed. "But its effective nonetheless." She raised a piece of paper. "Maybe Schuberry ought to become a different sort of artist." Luna pursed her lips. "You look like a pickle in that one. It's the funniest thing I've ever seen, but besides the point. They could have escaped at any point!" She lowered her voice. "Especially with Schuberry's track record..." "Alright, alright, I get it. You don't need to be such a worrywart." Celestia held up her hooves in surrender, then her lips curled up into a smirk. "I'll be more careful next time so Schuberry doesn't go pick fights with racoons in garbage cans." "There won't be a next time." Luna pushed aside the comforter and joined Celestia on the couch. "For the record, I was gone for three hours." "Uuuugh." Celestia groaned. "Luna, I know, I'll be more careful-" "I'm not talking about your questionable foalsitting." Luna aimed her hoof at Luster. "I thought Mayor Mare said Luster wasn't a good student. Schuberry wrote the Magical Etude as a quick way to teach Luster repertoire. I tried to play it-not the easiest piece I've seen." Celestia's mouth formed an 'O' shape. "Well, perfect practice makes perfection." "Yeah but in under three hours?" Luna muttered. "Say a word enough times and it starts to sound funny." The two mares sat together in silence and listened. The music sped up and slowed down, charged forward and retreated. Every once in a while, Schuberry reached up and flipped over a page of the sheet music. Perhaps she was a good teacher, or Luster was a fast learner, but the airy tune was rather well preserved from composer to musician. "You know, we might have to return custody." Celestia said suddenly. Luna scowled. "What?" "I've put a bit of thought in it, actually quite lot more than a bit. We're no longer legally able to make other ponies' business our own." Celestia explained. "You're getting cold hooves over a moon into this arrangement." Luna laughed humorlessly. "It's too late to want to give her back now." Celestia shook her head. "I don't want to 'give her back' as it were, but Andante's going to ask that we do. He's tried to keep us out of this by denying parenthood-rather convincingly, I might add-and he's rightfully angry about those children that went through his property. She's a reminder of a lot of pain and suffering he's been through, and I think he's done well to look past that and raise her as his own." "We were doing the right thing." Luna maintained. "Were we a bit hasty? Yes, I'll admit it. We jumped into the situation without all of the facts, which those younglings have kindly brought us. You didn't have a problem with Twilight and her friends making 'house calls.' Why should they be any different?" "Of course that's different, one of those things was national security, the other was a private family matter." Celestia tried to counter. "And I'll say it again: it's no longer our business to 'do the right thing.' That's why I mailed Twilight; we're retired, it's her turn to worry about these things. Hay, you even passed off your dream patrols to a government team." "He's stolen her work, tried to dress her up like a colt! That is completely different from banishing a nightmare!" Luna raised her voice. "He's given her the bare minimum to survive and then leeched off of her like some kind of pinworm!" "I'm not saying he's perfect, but I still believe we've judged him too harshly. I'm just letting you know that he's still her legal parent, and that he has a right to her." Celestia sighed. Luna was still unconvinced, so Celestia added on, "Several hundred years ago, Equestria was at war with Griffinstone. Andante's treatment of her would have been seen as above average for those times." Luna thinned her eyes dangerously. "What do you mean, war? You never told me about a war." "Actually, there were a few. But, um, remember that night guard?" Celestia asked nervously, like a foal being forced to confess stealing candy. Luna nodded slowly. "She wasn't a night guard..." "I see." The younger sister finally said. Luna slowly rose. "I took the liberty of sketching you for a few minutes myself, you know." "Can I look?" Celestia's eyes followed Luna to the kitchen. "On the table. I'll start preparing supper." Yellow magic gently clasped the papers and quickly flipped through them. Celestia's ancient lavender eyes settled on a line sketch.