//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: A Quiet Encounter in D Major // Story: Beethoven's Tenth // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// “How in the hay is he able to live like this?” Applejack muttered under her breath as dumped the scrap paper into one of the boxes. “Ah mean really, the pigs are much tidier compared ta him!” It was the orange mare’s turn to clean up the barn once Mr. Beethoven was out. The Apple’s agreed that it’s best to make sure the barn turn guestroom was straightened out while the giant was away so they wouldn’t have to deal with him. However, even being about a week and a half since he appeared, it still boggles Applejack’s mind not only how quickly the barn gets messy, but how massive too. “You’d think that he has wild parties here every night,” she grumbled as her attention turned towards the scattered bottles of her family’s hard apple cider. “At this rate, we’ll be running out before Cider Season kicks in.” Indeed, empty and partly drained bottles lay scattered on the floor. There was so much of it that she had to drag in a trashcan to store them all. As she did so, she heard a soft voice, “Um… Excuse me?” Applejack turned to the door to find her friend was poking her head in. “Hey Fluttershy, can Ah help ya any?” “Not really,” she stepped in further, taking notice of the mess. “Oh my, what happened in here?” “Beethoven happened,” the farm mare said as another bottle clank in the trash. “However, at least it’s not as bad as it was a couple of nights ago when he yelled at mah brother.” “He did? Why?” “Well, from what Ah know,” Applejack leaned against the can. “It was his turn to clean this up when he spotted a puddle over those pots is over there, but since there weren’t any towels around to soak it up, he used some of the paper to do it. Welp, Mr. Beethoven came in and started yellin’ at him, ‘cause he was usin’ the scrap paper that had somethin’ on it. He’d practically chased him out, throwin’ inkwells at ‘em.” “Oh dear,” Fluttershy commented as she looked around the barn once more, “Is he like that every night?” The orange Earth Pony sighed, “Ya know Shy, we’ve had some pretty tough guests in the past, but he really not only takes the cake but the whole bakery too!” she returned to the bottles, “Ta be honest with ya, Ah really hope that he moves out soon. Yet, at the same time, Ah pity the ponies that’ll be takin’ care of him. Ah hate ta says this, but he’s certainly the worst house guest we’ve ever had.” She returned her attention to her yellow friend. “Ah’ve just realized that Ah forgotten ta ask what ya came for.” “I was going to ask if you’ve seen Mr. Beethoven anywhere,” she told him, “Because I wanted to do a checkup to see if he’s alright.” “It’s actually amazin’ that he doesn’t get sick often living in this,” Applejack commented but answered. “The truth is, he left a while ago with nothin’ but papers and pencils in his huge pockets of his. Ah’m not sure where exactly he’s gone off to now, and Ah don’t know when he’ll be back.” “Do you think he’s somewhere in town?” The farmer shrugged, “Maybe. If you do find him though, all Ah can advise ya, is ta be extremely careful around ‘em.” “I know,” the yellow pegasus turned around. “Thank you Applejack, I’ll see you later.” After saying their goodbyes, Fluttershy took to the sky until she was high enough to overlook Ponyville. “Now where could you have gone?” she asked herself as she started flying. She scanned over the streets and public spaces, over the park and peered through windows of the largest buildings big enough for the giant. The mare even asked some of her friends, but all of them concluded that they haven’t seen Mr. Beethoven all day. However, from Twilight, she knew that he hasn’t gone to Canterlot because he didn’t see any reason to go there that day. Fluttershy’s attention turns towards the forests that surround the town, probably towards the woods where the giant emerged from. After several minutes of flying, she was about to move on until she spotted something from the edge of a lake. Taking a closer look, she found Ludwig lying up against a tree, skipping stones over the water. Just so that she doesn’t startle him, she flew gently over the lake, getting into his line of vision before landing nearby. Ludwig grunted as he pulled out his conversation book from his breast pocket, “What do you what? I’m a little busy.” I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I wanted to check up on you to see if you’re doing well. The old man looked up at her, “Aren’t you that doctor that saw me several weeks ago?” I’m not really a doctor, but I just good with animals Mr. Beethoven. I just wanted to see how you’re doing today. “Terrible,” Ludwig stuffed his hand into his pocket and drew out some papers. “I’ve been trying to come up with the opening of my new symphony all morning. But I’m getting nowhere! I would have gone further if that careless excuse of a stallion hadn’t used it to wipe up ink with! I swear I’m surrounded by children on some days.” You know, I’ve heard about that. It really was an accident after all. When Beethoven read it, he put the papers aside, covering his face with his hands and sighed. “I had a brilliant idea of an opening of my symphony so I can know where to start. But now I don’t have it anymore, so thanks to him, I must work on the very beginning again. So far, all I’ve been able to come up with are just ugly cords!” Here, he grabbed one of the papers, crumpled it up and threw it into the lake. Fluttershy stepped back as Ludwig fumed. But then a question popped into her mind before she wrote down her message and gently nudged the conversation book over to him. Why are you out here for? “Because I want to,” he said, tossing another stone into the lake. You haven’t answered my question. Why are you out here away from everypony else? Ludwig reached for another rock, “Because in nature, it’s one of the few places where I can think.” He tossed it, making it skip a couple of times across the water before sinking. “If I had my way, I would spend my life out here, wandering between the trees, over rocks and watching the waters like an animal. And if I actually have good ears, I would listen to the divine music that nature sings daily. I belong out here, not in some city or town that can’t understand what I’m trying to do. "These woods, while still new to me, in a way remind me of home.” Fluttershy asked what did he meant, "In Vienna, there is a place called the Wienerwald Forest, and I've come to think of that place as the most beautiful place on earth. These trees and this lake are the closest things for home to me as there is. Among these woods, I feel like I'm home again." What about parties? Pinkie has been trying to invite you to one for a while now. “Never liked them,” Beethoven reached into his pocket for a clean sheet of paper and started drawing lines. “Could hardly relate to anyone in a room with a large crowd that expects a musician like me to be in the background, like the pieces he plays. I’ve always hated that. Even when it’s for my patrons or someone that has offered me free food, I’ve always hated playing for them like they expect me to be their performing seal.” So you always felt alone in a crowded room? Ludwig waved a hand, “Close enough,” and he proceeded to jot down some notes before getting frustrated, crumpling it up and tossing it into the lake. Fluttershy looked rather thoughtful as the giant took another piece of paper and started scribbling. She wrote down her note and lifted it up to him, in which he raised his eyebrow at what he read. I think I have an idea how you feel. “How can you?” he returned to his writing, “You’re not hard of hearing, are you?” For several minutes, Fluttershy wrote down her reply, take up several pages worth before she showed it to Beethoven. Well… no. But I think I understand why you’re out here now because, in a way, I can relate to you. If anything, you remind me of… well, me when I was younger. I wasn’t all that good at flying when I was a filly that I was laughed at for being so bad at it. Then one day, I fell out of the sky and I landed somewhere out here where my eyes were opened to such wonders that I couldn’t imagine living from above. Since then, I’ve always found it more comfortable being out here, taking care of my animal friends then being with other ponies for a while. This is because I have a passion for feeding, healing, and giving lost animals the care they needed, and they in return are kind to me. You might say that being out here is like a second home too. And like you, I don’t like being in very large crowds or having to talk with somepony new. I know how hard and scary it is to meet someone that you don’t see you can connect with at first. That sometimes they don’t see you as any worth of their time. But one day, something changed that’s slowly helped me crawl out of my shell. What I needed, were some very good friends who take the time and effort to get to know me. Much like I’m trying with you, that is if it’s alright with you. For a long time, Ludwig didn’t say anything as he read her note. But finally, he asked, “How well trained are you in music?” I know a little. I sometimes sing. “You’re a singer?” she nodded and shrugged at the same time. “Are you any good?” My animal friends think so; they’ve always asked me to sing for them before they went to sleep. “What do you sing – is it something popular?” Ludwig inquired. Not really, most of the time it’s just… on the spot. “So you improvise?” she nodded. “Does anyone know that you can not only do this but do this well?” To this, the pegasus looked down at her hooves, shaking her head. “Why not? If you have a talent, and you’re good at it, then not let others know about it?” What if they don’t like it? At this, Beethoven put down his notes, “Little miss, do you know why I compose, even when I can’t hear anymore?” To this, Fluttershy gave a curious look and shook her head. “You see, I never once ever thought about writing music for reputation or honor. What I have in my heart must come out; that is the real reason why I compose. I write to what I believe is good, even when others complain that they can’t understand it. For I make a virtue of making the beauty that only music can provide to make it timeless for me that what I write down now, will be just as wonderful as the day I play it.” You know, you’re a very thoughtful creature, even kind when you want to be. I do wish that you can let ponies see this side of you. Especially to the ones that are trying to take care of you like the Apples. “I’ll give you this,” Ludwig told her. “As clumsy as they may be, whenever they converse with me, I could be thankful that they’ve never once lied to me. At least the one good thing they all have, even that klutz of a stallion, they have good hearts – from their grandmother down to the little one.” How do you know? “In my experience, little Fräulein, anyone who tells a lie has not a pure heart and cannot make good soup.” This made Fluttershy laugh. You know, it would help them if you told them that you do appreciate all the hard work they’re doing for you to keep your room tidy while you’re away. After all, it’s only fair. Ludwig sighed, “I… I suppose you have a point. I’ve been quite stressed in writing up my new symphony that my behavior has lost its control. That, and I've been feeling rather homesick to a degree.” He looked back at the written score he has, and muttered: “But if only I have a beginning, something great and loud to get everyone’s attention.” Then a thought came to Fluttershy’s head as she wrote down: Why does the beginning have to be big and loud? Couldn’t it be soft and quiet? Beethoven looked on at her, perplexed, “Then how would you know if the symphony has started? That’s how all my symphonies have started, with something to catch one’s ear.” It’s just a thought, sometimes when I sing; I start out very softly and let my confidence grow with it. Let those who are really listening pick up the beginning that sprouts out like a tree. Ludwig stared at her words for a very long time, as if in deep thought. “How unusual,” he said at last. “No composer that I know has ever opened their symphonies like that. It’s such an odd idea little pegasus but… I’ll think it over.” Anyway, I just want to do very quick check up on your current health and I’ll be out of your mane in no time. Also, thanks for having this chat with me. “You have been very kind and patient,” he said, “For that; I’ll let you examine me because I do not acknowledge any other sign of superiority then kindness.” Once Fluttershy had examined him and concluded that he was fine, she bid farewell to him before she flew off. For Beethoven, he opened the conversation book up to the yellow pony’s suggestion in deep thought. After a while, he took out some clean sheet of paper and started drawing lines and drew the bass clef for when a solo cello began singing in his head. He marked the opening theme as: Adagietto, in pianissimo. Delicatamente, quasi come una preghiera. In his mind, his imagination constructed an ancient monastery at night where the darkened chapel was lit by candlelight. A cello opened a tome in which the written chant was and began leading the brotherhood of strings. Softly, it recited a prayer to which Beethoven started taking dictation from it, "Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae, Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle." From that one prayer, the rest of the cello and viola section sang together in one voice before the horns, bassoons and low clarinets too joined like a congregation. By the time Ludwig had gotten up from underneath that tree and headed towards the farm, he knew that he had his beginning of his tenth.