(600 years post Celestia)
Off Beat looked out at the stage and could not quite contain his grin. Finally. Finally, he would either get a fraction of his due, or be free of that millstone around his neck forever.
His sister, Sweet Song, was called a ‘savant’ by their parents. That was a very fancy word, despite being only six letters long, but Off Beat knew what it meant. It meant that she could only do one thing – in her case, play music. She couldn’t do anything else; she couldn’t feed herself, or dress herself, or stay out in public for long without supervision. But she could play music, she certainly could, and so she was still the flower and joy of the family. The others had to take second fiddle to her, always and forever, because of her superlative talent. But wasn’t that fair?
No. No it was not.
Everypony loved her. They said her music was spectacular. And it was, but of course, that was all she had to do. She wasn’t capable of attending school with the other foals, so she could stay home and practice. She wasn’t capable of doing chores. Hay, Off Beat was pretty sure that she wasn’t capable of speech. So she remained in her room all day, doing the only thing she could, practicing her music for hours upon hours. Was it any wonder she was good?
Meanwhile, Off Beat went to school. Off Beat did more than his share of chores around their household. Off Beat even got a part-time job, a long and tiring route delivering papers, so that he could have a few bits of his own. And, of course, he also practiced music. Was he as good as Sweet Song, who thanks to her disability could spend sixteen hours a day playing? No. But he was still decent, and he’d have qualified for the Music Academy…
If the family had the money. But no. It went to help pay for the medical care that Sweet Song required.
If it wasn’t for her, Off Beat thought several times a day, I wouldn’t have to work so hard, and I’d have more time to practice. (His schedule was reasonably rigorous -- yes, he did spend evenings out partying with friends or weekends sleeping in, but he wanted to have some relaxation, and he did manage to squeeze in several hours of practice a week.) I’d be able to buy a better violin. Get a good tutor. My family could send me to the Academy, where I could really get well known. But no! She had to ruin everything, because she’s sick and so we all have to suffer for her.
Off Beat had gone to a community college near his family’s home. He’d majored in business, and he’d made good grades. Upon graduation, he’d been planning on heading to Canterlot and trying to make his own way there, but his parents had cornered him. “Sweet Song needs an agent,” they said. “Couldn’t you try? She’d pay you well, and besides, she doesn’t trust many ponies.”
Well, of course. She just relies on me and you, because we’re here and we’ve made it quite clear that we’ll suffer as much as she needs for her sake. Off Beat had been prepared to refuse, to snap at his parents that he was done with her.
But then he’d had a better idea. He’d have his revenge. He’d show the world that, behind Sweet Song’s beautiful performances on stage, lay a total helpless wreck who could only exist as long as she could drain others around her.
He’d taken the job as her agent, and he’d done a very good job. He got her gigs. Good gigs. A lot of gigs. More gigs than most musicians could handle, enough to push even Sweet’s talents to their limits. And he’d smiled from the sidelines, waiting for her to crack or crumble on stage. One failure was all it would take for the music world to pass her over; then he’d have the perfect reason to abandon her and get a real job somewhere.
But she somehow managed to play everything. It kept her up at all hours to learn the music, her health was clearly suffering, and he could tell – oh, she never spoke, but he could see it in her eyes – that she was finally almost as unhappy as he was. He saw her at night, sometimes, crying as she tried to master some absurdly difficult piece that Off Beat had scheduled her to play. But she played everything nonetheless, taking all the challenges he could throw at her. He’d been enraged. Could nothing stop her?
And then he’d learned of the Symphony.
What a stroke of luck that was! It was said that nopony could play it; any who tried were shunned. When Off Beat had learned this, he’d kissed the score, like it was a priceless jewel. It was the answer to all his problems.
If Sweet played it, and somehow got it right, Luna would want to talk to her. And then she would immediately see that she was a complete… well, ‘savant,’ was the nice way to put it. She would know that Sweet Song had to have had help. And Off Beat would finally get the credit he deserved for all the sacrifices he’d made for his sister. That had to be worth something. Money, maybe, or perhaps a tutor. Maybe even a few concerts. After all, if it wasn’t for his sister, he’d be great by now. Luna would see that, and she was just. She’d want to compensate him.
And if his dear sister failed?
Then Luna wouldn’t talk to Sweet Song; she’d just storm out. Song would take the fall. And then, when she was in the dungeons, or banished, or off in some other purgatory, Off Beat would be free. He wouldn’t need to work with her anymore. She wouldn’t be able to drag him or his family down. It would finally, finally be over.
Off Beat understood little of this style of music, though of course he’d picked some things up from his work as his sister’s agent. He knew, vaguely, what this particular Symphony was to be about, and he’d even hired another pony to write the missing movement. It was mostly just a recapitulation of the other four; after all, the performance should hew as closely as possible to the original, and since the original fifth movement was missing, the best option was to ape the style of the remaining sections. Sure, maybe he could have put a little more effort into the new movement… but he didn’t honestly care.
Come on, sis. Let’s let the world see you like you really are.
On stage, Sweet Song was finishing. Off Beat tensed in anticipation. And… and nothing! No applause! No cheers!
Luna’s voice boomed from above. “Remove her from the stage at once!”
Yes! YES! Go to Tartarus! Off Beat had to fight very, very hard not to cheer. I am going to go home, I am going to throw out her crap, and I am going to have the biggest party Baltimare has ever known! I am—
“Excuse us.”
Off Beat turned to see two ponies looking at him. They were wearing weird uniforms, and it took him a moment to place them as members of the Night Guard.
“Y-yes?”
“Princess Luna wishes to speak with you,” said one, moving around him.
“Your cooperation is most appreciated.”
“But – but, I really have business—“
“It will have to wait.” The first guard smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “Princess Luna is quite interested to know how, exactly, Miss Song wound up playing that piece before her.”
“She felt that you, her agent, might have some idea.”
“What? No!” But he couldn’t resist the guards, and was led away.
Wow. Off Beat is kind of a jerk. And he's not really as good a musician as he thinks he is.
So, unlike the others, Luna didn't say Sweet Song was terrible. She just wanted Sweet to get off the stage, presumably to stop her from embarrassing herself further with her sabotaged music. Hmm. Looks like Luna's not quite that easy to fool.
Headcanon: Luna, after determine that Sweet Song wasn't responsible for this, had her put in a safe environment and had a non-sociopath take care of her. Luna didn't shun her or stop her from playing music - it was clearly all her brother's fault - but Sweet Song's interest in music had been more or less killed by her psycho brother. While recuperating, though, she discovered that she also liked animals, and she became sort of a castle Fluttershy. She still couldn't talk, but all the ponies in the castle thought she was one of the nicest ponies there regardless, and Luna seemed to like her a lot.
Off Beat... I think I'll leave his fate to your imaginations.
Running tab of things that don't work playing the piece:
1. Making the ending all about strength
2. Making the ending all about cunning
3. Making the ending all about glitzy, flashy notes that don't mean anything
4. Hoping Luna doesn't show up
5. Making the ending all about magic
6. Making the ending as similar to the previous movements as possible
One more of these to go!
996603
Well, at least one of them has a happy ending. Well, her and Octavia.
Hey. Just thought of something.
Attempt number fifty: Octavia Philharmonica.
Successful performance.
Reason: Final movement had general theme of "Luna the remorseful mourning a horrible choice she didn't want to have to have made."
Poor Sweet Song. At least she ended up happy. Having helped care for my disabled mother, I realise that Off Beat's circumstances weren't great, but his attitude was awful. What kind f horrible person treats their sister that way?
Really enjoying this story so far.
This...
Of all the ponies that have screwed up this performance Off Beat is the only one I well and truly have no sympathy for. Anyone who could treat their own family like that is just about as undeserving of forgiveness or pity as is possible. I'm not sure what his punishment should be, but whatever might be it will probably be better than he deserves.
996930, 996942: Yeah, I felt this guy was the worst of the lot. I'm not sure what his punishment should be either, but I have a feeling it would not be pleasant for Off Beat. Maybe exile to some land that really, really does not like ponies? Turned to stone? Turned into a land-kelpie and sent to Moonville? :-)
But something suitably heavy, that's for sure. You don't do that to family.
996957
Oh I completely agree that Magician's take on the final movement should be 'Magic is Awesome!'. Just that since music isn't his specialty, and because he's controlling a whole orchestra at once, the way he conveys it should purely be the way he interplays the instruments against each other, yet at the same time each individual instrument taken only by itself should feel emotionless and autonomated. The combination might be impressive, but measured in pieces it would all just be so much meaningless noise.
Actually, focusing more on the idea of 'Magic is Awesome!' instead of just victory through magic might be a great way to make his performance stand out from the first failure. He's not necessarily focused on how Luna won the day, and more so on just what a spectacularly wondrous and impressive display he imagines it to have been.
997095: Aww. I was hoping for another sad Trixie picture. :-)
I can just see Luna being all, "I was going to ennoble Trixie, but she's just too much of a jerk. Fancy Pants, who's on deck?"
(Later)
Trixie: "This has to be a mistake. Luna can't put her on the Court."
Ditzy: "Why not?"
Trixie: "Because Dinky's still a foal! She doesn't understand politics!"
Dinky: "My first motion is going to be candy for everypony!"
Off Beat. He's...he's kind of a dick, isn't he?
997107
Trixie: "Dinky, you can't do that."
Dinky: "Why not?"
Trixie: "Because the cost in bits per anum would be - oh, oh Stars you've turned me into Pokey Pierce."
997123: Yeah. Off Beat I tried to write as basically a sociopath. Unfortunately for him, Luna does not approve.
Dinky: But Pinkie Pie says it's the best idea ever!
....wow, what a dick. I hate this guy more than Stringer.
Do I understand Off Beat's frustration with how his life went? Sure. That would get to anyone.
Do I approve of how he dumped all the blame on his sister? Not in the least. It's not her fault she was born or her fault that she's in poor health.
Wow, I hope Luna used the ROYAL CANETERLOCK ob him from about... two feet away. I'm glad Sweet Song has a relatively good ending, at least.
997721: I can understand his frustration, in an intellectual sense, but Sweet Song didn't really screw up his life all that much, at least relative to many other ponies. Plenty of ponies have to balance school, chores, and a part-time job with whatever hobbies they have. Plenty of them probably have to go to a local college due to finance issues. (And there's probably some that can't even afford that, come to think of it). And nopony made him surrender his career ambitions to be her agent; his parents asked him, but he could have said no. He just thought that revenge was more important.
997867
Relevant song is relevant.
I actually fell sorry for both of them, for different reasons. To me, Off Beat practiaclly screams "Look at me as me, and not as my sisters keeper! I want to live a life of my own, not live my life as a proxy for someone! You expect me to live the life of two different ponies! "
As far as his punishment goes, what did he do that was actually illegal under equestrian law at that time?
Song is sympathetic for the obvious reasons.
997931:I don't know about illegal, but as he was trying to get her first to collapse from exhaustion on stage and lose her career, then outright jailed or exiled, I figure Luna wouldn't like that very much.
Sort of like with Greengrass. He might not have broken any laws, but Luna can still ensure (well, eventually) that he suffers for the things he's done.
(And, would she even have to do much more here than just publicize it? Once it comes out what he tried to do, I can't see him getting many more contracts, and it would basically wreck his relationship with his family. He may well be forced into exile).
997945 He was never really a musician in the first place. Luna doing nothing to him and simply ruining his career as an agent (which he hated) would be a good ending for him.
So she'd have to punish him more.
998025: Sure, I'm all for punishing him more. :-) Not a nice fellow, that one.
The thing that hits me about all of these historical performances is that culture (and presumably technology) doesn't seem to have changed in the Lunaverse over the last 1000 years. This story is set 400 years ago and there are comunity colleges and apparently some understanding of Autism. I can't see anything that would indicate this didn't take place in the universes present. Is this something intentional? has equestria been held in cultural stasis, an immortal ruler might lead to this.
998438: There have been colleges for centuries (in the real world), so I don't think it's that unusual. Also, yes, an immortal alicorn might tend to lead to stasis.
997931
I actually started out feeling sorry for Off Beat to, but I changed my mind on the reread when I noticed that he could have easily just said no to being his sister's agent and went off to make a life of his own. Instead he said yes and tried to ruin her life purely out of spite. What a dick.
998680
Huh. I got the impression that he wasn't really given a choice about being her agent.
998861: His parents said it was the 'right' thing to do and that it was what they wanted, but they couldn't have made him if he'd said no.
998992: Yep, Fleur's not much for the sappy specials. She'll support Octavia, but she'll also tell Octy when she's being a jerk and hurting others. Fortunately, Octy values honesty enough to accept that and not get mad.
Glad you liked the saloon scene. I don't do 'depressing' stuff much, but I'm glad that worked out well.
...huh. Someone mentioned earlier that it could make a cool webisode seeing what various Canterlot ponies were doing while Corona showed up (or other ponies who weren't in ponyville). Maybe another cool idea would be Fleur using her 'ghost of christmas future wisdom' powers on various ponies to see how they were enlightened. :-)
999368: I have a feeling that Octavia isn't the sort to let things like "security" or "brick walls" stand in her way. :-) She's got a friend to find, and dang it, she's going to find her.
(I really like the relationship between the two of them. Colleagues, teacher-student, and close friends besides.)
I'd think Off Beat ended up in Foalsom Prison for that little stunt.
It's nice to see that Luna tempers her reaction to the circumstance.
Savant means genius. Sweet Song is an idiot savant. She has severe deficits in some areas and and compensating talents in others areas.
Off Beat is a real flankhole. If he could not handle the responsibility, he could have placed her in a special home, rather than trying to get her thrown in a dungeon. It is good that he rots in the dungeon instead of his sister.
Am I correct to think that Sweet Song has Autism?
And Off Beat needs to have the worst kind of punishment to ever exist in the world. It's a good thing that his sister didn't get shunned.
This is something that I'm sad we don't see the rest of. Sure it's poison to play, and everypony who played it lost. But I doubt Luna would punish a pony who's mentally disabled. Heck she was forgiving to the ponies who impersonated her sister who were mentally ill. So I don't think she'd destroy a life who's only ability to function is in playing music.
Are you ever going to give that little bit an add on? Or what do you think happened to her?
This situation just gets sadder with every new musician...
GUH.
996603
IMO, the brother had a point. It's NOT fair that he had to sacrifice his life to take care of his sister.