//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Pathetique in C minor // Story: Beethoven's Tenth // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// As Celestia carefully guide the sundown towards the horizon, the Apple family was preparing for dinner. The eldest of the clan, Granny Smith, was looking out the back door of the house towards the storage barn. “Y’all sure that giant hadn’t come out since this afternoon?” The red stallion, who was setting the table, only said, “Eeynope,” before placing the plates down. “Ah don’t think he’d ever stepped out once,” Applejack commented, checking the strudel to make sure it wasn’t burnt. “Heck, Ah don’t know what’s he been doin’. Except that sometimes he’s been either singin’ or hummin’ real loud like, other times Ah heard water swooshin’, but a few hours ago, Ah heard him banging away at that piano.” “He’s a mighty strange one, Ah’ll give ya that,” Granny returned to the stove. “And Y'all are sure he’s safe?” “As far as I know, he didn’t do no harm to anypony,” Applejack said, looking at the clock. “Wonder were Applebl-” “Ah’m home!” The three of them heard the front door open, quickly followed by a slam. “In here,” Applejack called out, “Dinner’s about ready.” In came the youngest Apple in the family, a yellow pony with a red mane tied up in a bow. “Where’ve ya been this time?” “Crusadin’,” she replied. “We were at that new art studio because Sweetie Belle had the idea of Cutie Mark Crusader’s Sculptors.” “How’d that go?” Big Mac asked as he was getting out the glasses. “Well… let’s just say that Mr. Clay doesn’t want us there no more.” She jumped into her seat, “So what’s fer dinner?” “Befor’ we get inta that,” the orange mare said looking over her shoulder. “Have ya heard that we have a guest that’s in the barn?” Applebloom shook her head, “Not really, but Ah did hear this rumor of a giant that’s in town.” “Actually dearie,” Granny said as she scooped up some of the strudels. “That’s our guest that’s sleepin’ in the storage barn.” “Really?” the youngest Apple blinked. “We have a giant in the barn?” She then leaned over, “So is that why Y'all are makin’ so much food?” “Some fer us,” the elder pony balanced a tray on her back, “And the other’s fer our guest.” Then, Applebloom got an idea, “Can Ah take it to ‘em? Ah haven’t gotten the chance ta see ‘em.” “You sure sugarcube?” her older sister asked and she nodded. “Well, Ah guess so. But if ya gonna do it, then Ah think ya should know a little somethin’ about him.” “What’s that?” “Well, the giant can’t hear.” Applejack explained, “In fact, the only way we can communicate is if you write it down to him. So as long as the door is unlocked, ya can just walk right with without knockin’.” “Um… okay?” she got out of her seat and with the help of her older sister, had the tray of apple strudel balancing on her back. Before she could reach the back door, she asked, “Hold on, is he there?” “The fella hasn’t gone anywhere,” Granny said. “Or at least, as far as we know. So you jus’ hurry along dearie so that we can all eat.” With her big brother opening the door for her, little Applebloom walked towards the storage barn, wondering what this giant looks like. “Well the guy can’t be too big,” she said to herself. “If he can fit in the barn, maybe he’s jus’ unusually tall for a pony.” But as she got closer to the large doors, her ears picked up a very unusual sound. For a moment, it confused her since not only did she know that her family doesn’t own a piano, but also that her sister said that the giant was deaf. Yet, behind the barn doors was the sound of music being played. “Uh, hello?” the filly called out, yet the music continued to play. Now curious, she opened the doors wide enough to let her and the tray on her back through. Peeking her head in, she found boxes, pieces of oversized furniture, piles of paper and books, and there in the center of the barn right on the floor was the source of the music. Along with the creature lying down, its head with wild hair pressed down on the floorboards and hay. As she entered inside the barn, she found that there was paper everywhere that was either lying or crumpled up on the floor. Setting the tray down on a bale of hay, she picked up one of these papers to find that they were musical notes. Completely messy on the page, but they were without any doubt notes. Setting it aside, her attention was now back at the giant that was lying down like a fur rug; its arms were pressing the keys of the legless piano. Part of her wanted to get this… thing’s attention, to let him know that she has his food. However, there was a part of her told her to wait because of the music that was coming out of the piano. It was as if she had walked in on something personal the way the notes sounded. In fact, this sound that the handicapped piano was making was something that she’d never heard of before. At times, it sounded like it was homesick, at other times sad, or regretful, and even lonely. There was a sense that the piano was crying from the main theme that the giant was playing. “Uh, excuse me,” Applebloom started, wondering if her sister somehow mistaken that he couldn’t hear. But still, he kept on playing. “Hello?” she raised her voice a bit louder, and still got the same ignored response. “Hello! Your dinner’s ready!” even when she screamed, the pianist still played on as if she wasn’t there. Eventually, she gave up getting his attention and just sat down to listen until he was finished. Although her stomach wanted her to just return to the Apple’s dining table, there was something about the music that just kept her there for several minutes. She listened to the melody of the higher and lower notes that danced together in her head. Compared to the tunes that she normally listens to, this solo instrument didn’t try to catch her attention, but it was somehow… straightforward in how heartbreaking it is. Not enough to make her cry, but it did keep her attention as the theme developed. In truth, Applebloom had never heard so much emotion being put into this one song that didn’t have a band or another instrument to play side by side. There were no lyrics, yet the melody was like a song without words. As if it was mute about its loneliness. But eventually, Ludwig played the final chords softly that he opened his eyes to find that he wasn’t alone. “WHAT!” his voice was like a thunderclap that nearly knocked the filly over. “Uh… S-Sorry mister, we’re jus’ about ta have dinner when I was told ta bring yer-” “Stop!” Beethoven got back onto his feet, now towering over the yellow Apple. “You’re saying too many words,” he then went to a table in which he got a pencil and a notebook. Walking back to the piano, he tossed it down on the instrument in front of the filly. “Write it down.” Gulping, she flipped open the book and scribbled in her message by holding the pencil in her mouth. I’m sorry mister. Applejack had me bring that tray over there because it’s time for dinner. But I didn’t want to disturb your playing. She then flipped it over in which the giant leaned over. After reading it, he looked around until he spotted the tray of strudel. “Ah, I see.” He then turned back to her, “And who are you?” Applebloom, I’m Applejack’s and Big Mac’s little sister. He then went over to the tray and felt the food, “It’s nearly cold,” he muttered loudly. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” The filly’s ears folded back, picking up the pencil, she wrote: Because I wanted to listen to that song you were playing. It’s really good. What was it? “Something I wrote a long time ago,” he sighed, picking up the strudel and started eating. “Not bad, although I wish it was warmer – but quite sweet with the cinnamon.” He looked over to find the pony was writing something down. “What are you doing?” He walked over to her, reading the words as they were being written. It was in a form of a question. How did you do that? “What?” My sister says you can’t hear, but if that’s true, how can you play what I’ve just heard? “The floor picks up vibrations,” he said, continuing eating. “My jaw tends to help pick up sounds from the piano. Although on some days I can’t pick up on anything at all so I have to play by the memory of what it used to hear.” Applebloom looked up at him wide eyes, although she didn’t say anything, he could tell what she was thinking by her expression. “No Fräulein, I could barely make out what I was playing. But I can still hear it in my old head of mine. I wasn’t born deaf you know.” Applebloom paused before she made a reply. You know, I just realized that I don’t know if I know your name. Who are you? “Such a nosy little pony you are, asking so many questions. But you’re right; I don’t think I’ve seen you before either, so you can call me Ludwig.” Before the little Apple could write down her response, she thought she saw something moved from the corner of her eye until a voice rang out. “Applebloom!” her older sister’s voice called out, “Did ya get lost?” I have to go; my sister is calling me for dinner. “Well go then, child. You don’t have to wait on me,” before the filly could make it out the door, she heard. “Oh! Tell your sister or brother that I need to have my chamber pot emptied sometime tonight and that I need a fresh towel. Oh! And tell that Princess Twilight to come back to fix my strings from my piano again. I think I’ve already broken a few but I’m not sure.” She nodded, and as she headed back to the house, she came out of the barn with more questions. To Applebloom, what she just saw and heard was completely paradoxical. There was no doubt that the creature was deaf, she screamed at the top of her lungs, after all, to try to get his attention. Yet, what she heard, although heartbreaking, was undoubtedly beautiful that came from a creature that couldn’t hear it. That, and what was it that she saw from the corner of her eye back in the barn? Whatever it was it was so quick that she didn't have time to register what exactly it was. Perhaps it was a ra- “Applebloom!” “Comin’!” she hollered back, quickening her pace to the back door and into the kitchen. “There ya are,” her Granny said as she sat down at the table. “What took ya?” “Can Ah ask you guys somethin’?” the yellow filly inquired. “Are ya sure he can’t hear?” To this, she received some odd looks from her siblings and grandmother. “He is,” her older sister said. “Why?” “Did you know he can play the piano?” This got a laugh from Granny, “Sure does! Badly!” with a smirk, she shook her head, “Ah think that singin’ cats make better music then what’s goin’ on in the barn. He’d been keepin’ me up from mah naps too.” Applebloom raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure about that? What Ah heard was something completely different.” She was immediately questioned what she was talking about, “Well, when Ah was brin’ that tray inta the barn,” she began placing her share of food onto her plate. “Ah heard someone playin’ a sad song that’s really good. Ah tried to get his attention, but he just kept on playin’ like Ah wasn’t there. Ah don’t know what you’ve heard, but what Ah’ve heard was something… beautiful.” She felt her ears being pulled upward, “Are you sure yer ears are workin’?” Applejack questioned. “You weren’t there ta hear it,” Applebloom pushed her hoof away. “Ah’m tellin’ the truth,” then from the corner from her eye, she saw something heading towards the barn. “Is that Twilight?”